This study examined the nutritional composition of the intertidal marine polychaete Perinereis helleri (Nereididae) when artificially cultured in sand filters treating mariculture wastewater. ...Moisture levels in harvested P. helleri ranged from 758 to 855 g kg⁻¹, and ash, from 23 to 61 g kg⁻¹ wet matter (WM). Stocking density and graded size after harvest significantly affected their composition. Higher total lipid contents were found in large (>0.6 g) P. helleri (16–19 g kg⁻¹ WM) and those grown at the lowest density (1000 m⁻²: 18 g kg⁻¹ WM) than in small (≤0.6 g) ones (14 g kg⁻¹ WM) and those grown at the highest densities (4000–6000 m⁻²: 13–16 g kg⁻¹ WM). Several fatty acids within a very broad profile (some 30 identified) reflected this pattern, yet their ARA/EPA/DHA ratios were relatively unaffected. Feeding the polychaete‐assisted sand filters (PASF) with fish meal to increase worm biomass productivity significantly increased their DHA content. Other components (e.g. protein, phospholipids, cholesterol, carbohydrate, amino acids, nitrogen, minerals and bromophenols) and nutritional factors (e.g. maturity, feeding seaweed and endemic shrimp viral content) were also investigated. Results suggest that PASF‐produced P. helleri have a well‐balanced nutritional profile for penaeid shrimp and fish broodstock.
Full text
Available for:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Full text
Available for:
EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
3.
Activity of CERN and LNF groups on large area GEM detectors Alfonsi, M.; Bencivenni, G.; Brock, I. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
05/2010, Volume:
617, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
We report on the activity of CERN and INFN-LNF groups on the development of large area GEM detectors. The two groups work together within the RD51 Collaboration, to aim at the development of ...Micro-pattern Gas detectors technologies. The vast request for large area foils by the GEM community has driven a change in the manufacturing procedure by the TS-DEM-PMT laboratory, needed to overcome the previous size limitation of
450
×
450
mm
2
. Now a single-mask technology is used allowing foils to be made as large as
450
×
2000
mm
2
. The limitation in the short size, due to the definite width of the raw material, can be overcome by splicing more foils together. A
10
×
10
cm
2
GEM detector with the new single-mask foil has been tested with X-rays and the results are shown. Possible future applications for large area GEM are the TOTEM experiment upgrade at CERN, and the KLOE-2 experiment at the Dafne
Φ
-factory in Frascati.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
A delayed asthma reaction occurring several hours after exposure is difficult to diagnose.
To confirm a delayed asthma reaction in five workers following epoxy exposure.
Working conditions with ...exposure to epoxy encountered at the workplace were reproduced in a challenge chamber. Specific inhalation challenge (SIC) with epoxy was compared to a control challenge. All five cases had delayed a asthma response 6-15 h after epoxy exposure.
Our study confirms that SIC is a useful tool in diagnosing delayed asthma response.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the QuantiFERON-TB® test in BCG-vaccinated, non-BCG-vaccinated and tuberculosis (TB) patient donor groups, and to compare its diagnostic performance with that of a blood test ...based on the Mycobacterium tuberculosis specific antigens ESAT-6 and CFP-10.DESIGN: Analysis of the IFN-γ responses of whole blood cells from BCG-vaccinated or non-BCG-vaccinated donors or patients with tuberculosis, stimulated with PPD, ESAT-6 or CFP-10 antigens, and evaluation of the specificity and sensitivity of the test.RESULTS: None of the non-vaccinated donors showed positive responses to M. tuberculosis-PPD, ESAT-6 or CFP-10. In BCG-vaccinated donors, 9/19 (47%) donors responded to the QuantiFERON-TB® test based on M. tuberculosis-PPD, whereas 2/19 (10.5%) responded to either ESAT-6 or CFP-10. Comparable levels of sensitivity were obtained with the QuantiFERON-TB® test based on M. tuberculosis-PPD (79%) and ESAT-6 or CFP-10 antigens (72%).CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that the whole blood test based on M. tuberculosis-PPD did not efficiently distinguish BCG-vaccinated donors from individuals with disease due to M. tuberculosis. The introduction of new recombinant antigens specific for M. tuberculosis, such as ESAT-6 or CFP-10, should increase the specificity of the whole blood test and enable discrimination between TB infection, atypical mycobacterial reactivity and reactivity due to BCG vaccination. Such a test would provide a quantum improvement over the current practice of using the tuberculin skin test for TB control and elimination.
The purpose of this study was to compare clinical features of
Clostridium difficile
infection (CDI) to toxin gene profiles of the strains isolated from Danish hospitalized patients.
C. difficile
...isolates were characterized by PCR based molecular typing methods including toxin gene profiling and analysis of deletions and truncating mutations in the toxin regulating gene
tcdC
. Clinical features were obtained by questionnaire. Thirty percent of the CDI cases were classified as community-acquired. Infection by
C. difficile
with genes encoding both toxin A, toxin B and the binary toxin was significantly associated with hospital-acquired/healthcare-associated CDI compared to community-acquired CDI. Significantly higher leukocyte counts and more severe clinical manifestations were observed in patients infected by
C. difficile
containing genes also encoding the binary toxin together with toxin A and B compared to patients infected by
C. difficile
harbouring only toxin A and B. In conclusion, infection by
C. difficile
harbouring genes encoding both toxin A, toxin B and the binary toxin were associated with hospital acquisition, higher leukocyte counts and severe clinical disease.
Full text
Available for:
EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Sago starch is an important dietary carbohydrate in lowland Papua New Guinea (PNG). An investigation was conducted to determine whether microbes play a role in its preservation using traditional ...methods. In 12 stored sago samples collected from PNG villages, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were present (≥3.6
×
10
4
cfu/g) and pH ranged from 6.8 to 4.2. Acetic and propionic acids were detected in all samples, while butyric, lactic and valeric acids were present in six or more. In freshly prepared sago, held in sealed containers in the laboratory at 30
°C, spontaneous fermentation by endogenous microflora of sago starch was observed. This was evident by increasing concentrations of acetic, butyric and lactic acids over 4 weeks, and pH reducing from 4.9 to 3.1: both LAB and yeasts were involved. Survival of potential bacterial pathogens was monitored by seeding sago starch with ∼10
4/g of selected organisms. Numbers of
Bacillus cereus,
Listeria monocytogenes and
Staphylococcus aureus fell to <30/g within 7 days.
Salmonella sp. was present only in low numbers after 7 days (<36/g), but
Escherichia coli was still detectable after three weeks (>10
2/g). Fermentation appeared to increase the storability and safety of the product.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Aims: To compare insulin Aspart and human insulin with respect to glycaemic control, hypoglycaemic frequency and counter‐regulatory responses to spontaneous hypoglycaemia.
Methods: Glycaemic ...control, hypoglycaemic frequency, p‐insulin concentrations, insulin dosages and patients’ satisfaction were examined in a randomized, double‐blinded cross‐over study for two periods of 8 weeks. Sixteen patients with type 1 diabetes were subjected to three daily injections of human soluble insulin or Aspart in addition to Neutral Protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin twice daily. Each intervention period was followed by hospitalization where episodes of spontaneous hypoglycaemia and counter‐regulatory hormone responses were evaluated from frequently obtained blood samples.
Results: No difference between soluble insulin and insulin Aspart was found regarding HbA1c (7.0 ± 0.2 vs. 7.0 ± 0.2%, ns), hypoglycaemic frequency (1.1 ± 0.2 vs. 0.9 ± 0.1 events per patient per week, ns), nocturnal hypoglycaemia, severe hypoglycaemic events, dosages of bolus insulin (31.8 ± 0.4 vs. 30.0 ± 0.6 IU day−1, ns), or NPH insulin (26.7 ± 1.8 vs. 26.0 ± 1.7 IU day−1, ns) or in patients satisfaction (ns). Modest differences existed in the counter‐regulatory responses regarding growth hormone, glucagon and ghrelin whereas no differences were found in relation to free fatty acid, cortisol, insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐I, IGF‐II and IGF‐binding proteins 1 and 2. Treatment with insulin Aspart resulted in well‐defined peaks in serum insulin concentrations as compared with more blunted insulin peaks using human soluble insulin.
Conclusion: Although insulin Aspart treatment was associated with clear postprandial insulin peaks, no improvement in glycaemic control was obtained and no difference in the hypoglycaemic frequency was observed. However, insulin Aspart elicited a slightly different physiological response to spontaneous hypoglycaemia compared with human insulin.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, DOBA, FSPLJ, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
We examine possible sources of a substantial increase in tree ring 14C measurements for the years AD 774‐775. Contrary to claims regarding a coronal mass ejection (CME), the required CME energy is ...not several orders of magnitude greater than known solar events. We consider solar proton events (SPEs) with three different fluences and two different spectra. The data may be explained by an event with fluence about one order of magnitude beyond the October 1989 SPE. Two hard spectrum cases considered here result in moderate ozone depletion, so no mass extinction is implied, though we do predict increases in erythema and damage to plants from enhanced solar UV. We are able to rule out an event with a very soft spectrum that causes severe ozone depletion and subsequent biological impacts. Nitrate enhancements are consistent with their apparent absence in ice core data. The modern technological implications of such an event may be extreme, and considering recent confirmation of superflares on solar‐type stars, this issue merits attention.
Key Points
AD 774‐775 14C spike may be explained by solar event
Implication for greater likelihood of
Significant atmospheric effect but no mass extinction
Full text
Available for:
FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
PDF
