Dry tropics water smart : a community based approach to residential outdoor water consumption

This paper discusses the Townsville City Council Dry Tropics Water Smart (DTWS) initiative, developed by TCC Integrated Sustainability Services (ISS) and Townsville Water, and informed by The University of Adelaide. The program draws on many years of experience by the TCC team to blend key community-based research approaches in order to develop this residential outdoor water conservation program. Several community pilots have been conducted to test different behaviour change strategies and messages. This paper outlines recent steps taken to develop the community trials, as guided by a combination of behaviour change theories including community-based social marketing and thematic communications methods. Some preliminary results are outlined focused on community uptake of different strategies, community perceptions of communication materials, and some insights into the effectiveness of outdoor water hardware.

Upregulated MT1-MMP/TIMP-2 axis in the TSU-Pr1-B1/B2 model of metastatic progression in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

Muscle invasive transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder is associated with a high frequency of metastasis, resulting in poor prognosis for patients presenting with this disease. Models that capture and demonstrate step-wise enhancement of elements of the human metastatic cascade on a similar genetic background are useful research tools. We have utilized the transitional cell carcinoma cell line TSU-Pr1 to develop an in vivo experimental model of bladder TCC metastasis. TSU-Pr1 cells were inoculated into the left cardiac ventricle of SCID mice and the development of bone metastases was monitored using high resolution X-ray. Tumor tissue from a single bone lesion was excised and cultured in vitro to generate the TSU-Pr1-B1 subline. This cycle was repeated with the TSU-Pr1-B1 cells to generate the successive subline TSU-Pr1-B2. DNA profiling and karyotype analysis confirmed the genetic relationship of these three cell lines. In vitro, the growth rate of these cell lines was not significantly different. However, following intracardiac inoculation TSU-Pr1, TSU-Pr1-B1 and TSU-Pr1-B2 exhibited increasing metastatic potential with a concomitant decrease in time to the onset of radiologically detectable metastatic bone lesions. Significant elevations in the levels of mRNA expression of the matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) membrane type 1-MMP (MT1-MMP), MT2-MMP and MMP-9, and their inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease-2 (TIMP-2), across the progressively metastatic cell lines, were detected by quantitative PCR. Given the role of MT1-MMP and TIMP-2 in MMP-2 activation, and the upregulation of MMP-9, these data suggest an important role for matrix remodeling, particularly basement membrane, in this progression. The TSU-Pr1-B1/B2 model holds promise for further identification of important molecules.

Inflammation and Complement Activation in Intracranial Artery Aneurysms

Intracranial artery aneurysms (IAs) are estimated to be present in 2.3% of the population. A rupture of an IA causes subarachnoid hemorrhage, with up to 50% mortality. The annual low rupture risk of an IA indicates that most IAs never rupture. The current treatment options are invasive and somewhat risky. Thus rupture-prone IAs should be identified and this requires a better understanding of the IA wall pathobiology. Inflammatory cell infiltrations have been found to precede IA rupture, indicating the role of inflammation in IA wall degeneration and rupture. The complement system is a key mediator of inflammation and house-hold processing of injured tissue. This study aimed at identifying the role of complement activation in IA wall degeneration and the complement activators involved and determining how the complement system is regulated in the IA wall. In immunostainings, the end-product of complement activation, the terminal complement complex (TCC), was located mainly in the outer part of the IA wall, in areas that had also sustained loss of cells. In electron microscopy, the area of maximum TCC accumulation contained cellular debris and evidence of both apoptotic and necrotic cell death. Complement activation correlated with IA wall degeneration and rupture, de-endothelialization, and T-cell and CD163-positive macrophage infiltration. The complement system was found to become activated in all IAs by the classical pathway, with recruitment of alternative pathway amplification. Of the potential activators immunoglobulins G and M and oxidatively modified lipids were found in large areas. Lipid accumulation was observed to clearly colocalize with TCC and C-reactive protein. In the luminal parts of the IA wall, complement activation was limited by cellular expression of protectin (CD59) and extracellular matrix-bound inhibitors, C4b binding protein and factor H whereas the outer part of the wall lacked cells expressing protectin as well as matrix-bound factor H. In single nucleotide polymorphism-analysis, age-related macular degeneration-associated factor H Y402H polymorphism did not associate with the presence of IAs or their rupture The data suggest that complement activation and TCC formation are involved in IA wall degeneration and rupture. Complement seems to become activated by more than one specific activator. The association of complement with de-endothelialization and expression of several complement activators indicate a possible role of endothelial dysfunction and/or impaired clearance mechanisms. Impaired complement regulation seems to be associated with increased complement activation in IA walls. These results stress the role of chronic inflammation in IA wall pathobiology and the regulatory role of complement within this process. Imaging inflammation would possibly enhance the diagnostics of rupture-prone IAs, and targeting IA treatment to prevent chronic inflammation might improve IA treatment in the future.

Theoretical results of QoS-guaranteed resource scaling for cloud-based MapReduce

Quality of Service (QoS) is a new issue in cloud-based MapReduce, which is a popular computation model for parallel and distributed processing of big data. QoS guarantee is challenging in a dynamical computation environment due to the fact that a fixed resource allocation may become under-provisioning, which leads to QoS violation, or over-provisioning, which increases unnecessary resource cost. This requires runtime resource scaling to adapt environmental changes for QoS guarantee. Aiming to guarantee the QoS, which is referred as to hard deadline in this work, this paper develops a theory to determine how and when resource is scaled up/down for cloud-based MapReduce. The theory employs a nonlinear transformation to define the problem in a reverse resource space, simplifying the theoretical analysis significantly. Then, theoretical results are presented in three theorems on sufficient conditions for guaranteeing the QoS of cloud-based MapReduce. The superiority and applications of the theory are demonstrated through case studies.

A Unique Nickel System having Versatile Catalytic Activity of Biological Significance

A new dinuclear nickel(II) complex, [Ni-2(LH2)(H2O)(2)(OH)(NO3)](NO3)(3) (1), of an ``end-off'' compartmental ligand 2,6-bis(N-ethylpiperazine-iminomethyl)-4-methyl-phenolato, has been synthesized and structurally characterized. The X-ray single crystal structure analysis shows that the piperazine moieties assume the expected chair conformation and are protonated. The complex 1 exhibits versatile catalytic activities of biological significance, viz. catecholase, phosphatase, and DNA cleavage activities, etc. The catecholase activity of the complex observed is very dependent on the nature of the solvent. In acetonitrile medium, the complex is inactive to exhibit catecholase activity. On the other hand, in methanol, it catalyzes not only the oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (3,5-DTBC) but also tetrachlorocatechol (TCC), a catechol which is very difficult to oxidize, under aerobic conditions. UV vis spectroscopic investigation shows that TCC oxidation proceeds through the formation of an intermediate. The intermediate has been characterized by an electron spray ionizaton-mass spectrometry study, which suggests a bidentate rather than a monodentate mode of TCC coordination in that intermediate, and this proposition have been verified by density functional theory calculation. The complex also exhibits phosphatase (with substrate p-nitrophenylphosphate) and DNA cleavage activities. The DNA cleavage activity exhibited by complex 1 most probably proceeds through a hydroxyl radical pathway. The bioactivity study suggests the possible applications of complex 1 as a site specific recognition of DNA and/or as an anticancer agent.

A Unique Nickel System having Versatile Catalytic Activity of Biological Significance

A new dinuclear nickel(II) complex, [Ni-2(LH2)(H2O)(2)(OH)(NO3)](NO3)(3) (1), of an "end-off" compartmental ligand 2,6-bis(N-ethylpiperazine-iminomethyl)-4-methyl-phenolato, has been synthesized and structurally characterized. The X-ray single crystal structure analysis shows that the piperazine moieties assume the expected chair conformation and are protonated. The complex 1 exhibits versatile catalytic activities of biological significance, viz. catecholase, phosphatase, and DNA cleavage activities, etc. The catecholase activity of the complex observed is very dependent on the nature of the solvent. In acetonitrile medium, the complex is inactive to exhibit catecholase activity. On the other hand, in methanol, it catalyzes not only the oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (3,5-DTBC) but also tetrachlorocatechol (TCC), a catechol which is very difficult to oxidize, under aerobic conditions. UV vis spectroscopic investigation shows that TCC oxidation proceeds through the formation of an intermediate. The intermediate has been characterized by an electron spray ionizaton-mass spectrometry study, which suggests a bidentate rather than a monodentate mode of TCC coordination in that intermediate, and this proposition have been verified by density functional theory calculation. The complex also exhibits phosphatase (with substrate p-nitrophenylphosphate) and DNA cleavage activities. The DNA cleavage activity exhibited by complex 1 most probably proceeds through a hydroxyl radical pathway. The bioactivity study suggests the possible applications of complex 1 as a site specific recognition of DNA and/or as an anticancer agent.

An Experimental Study to Show the Effect of Thermal Stress on Thermal Contact Conductance at Sub-megapascal Contact Pressures

Experimental studies are presented to show the effect of thermal stresses on thermal contact conductance (TCC) at low contact pressures. It is observed that in a closed contact assembly, contact pressure acting on the interface changes with the changing temperature of contact members. This change in contact pressure consequently causes variations in the TCC of the junction. A relationship between temperature change and the corresponding magnitude of developed thermal stress in a contact assembly is determined experimentally. Inclusion of a term called temperature dependent load correction factor is suggested in the theoretical model for TCC to make it capable of predicting TCC values more accurately in contact assemblies that experience large temperature fluctuations. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4001615]

Thermal gap conductance at low contact pressures (<1 MPa): Effect of gold plating and plating thickness

Thermal contact conductance (TCC) measurements are made on bare and gold plated (<= 0.5 mu m) oxygen free high conductivity (OFHC) Cu and brass contacts in vacuum, nitrogen, and argon environments. It is observed that the TCC in gaseous environment is significantly higher than that in vacuum due to the enhanced thermal gap conductance. It is found that for a given contact load and gas pressure, the thermal gap conductance for bare OFHC Cu contacts is higher than that for gold plated contacts. It is due to the difference in the molecular weights of copper and gold, which influences the exchange of kinetic energy between the gas molecules and contact surfaces. Furthermore, the gap conductance is found to increase with increasing thickness of gold plating. Topography measurements and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of contact surfaces revealed that surfaces become smoother with increasing gold plating thickness, thus resulting in smaller gaps and consequently higher gap conductance. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

One pot synthesis of polycyclic oxygen aromatics. Part III mechanism of formation

Reaction of 6-Image -butyl-1-bromomethyl-2-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-naphthalene2c with tetrachlorocatechol (TCC) in acetone in presence of K2CO3 gave diastereomers 6c and 7c. A mechanism (Scheme-1) invoking the base induced cleavage of the pyranyl ether 2 to 1,2-naphthoquinone-1-methide 8 as the first step has been postulated. The cleavage of the pyranyl ether linkage in 2 to give dimers 4 and 5 of 1,2-naphthoquinone-1-methide has been demonstrated with different bases. 1,2-Naphthoquinone-1-methide 8, thus generated, undergoes Michael addition with TCC followed by elimination of chloride ions to give a diketone, which further undergoes aldolisation with acetone to give diastereomers 6 and 7. Michael reaction of 8, generated Image from pyranyl ethers 2a-c, with tetrabromocatechol (TBC) under similar-reaction conditions gave the expected monobromo compounds 6h, 6i, 6k, 7n, 7n and 7q. The last step in the proposed mechanism, Image ., aldolisation has also been demonstrated using different ketonic solvents. Thus, reaction of 2a-c with TCC/TBC in diethyl ketone/methyl ethyl ketone under similar reaction conditions gave the expected compounds 6 and 7.

One pot synthesis of polycyclic oxygen aromatics. Part IV reaction of THP ether of 2-bromomethyl phenols

Reaction of 2-bromomethyl-1-(2′-tetrahydropyranyloxy) benzene 3a with tetrachlorocatechol(TCC) in acetone in presence of anhydrous K2CO3 resulted in the formation of diastereomeric products to which cis- & trans- 6-chloro-8-hydroxy-8-(2-oxopropyl)spiro[9H-benzo[a]xanthen- 9,2′(1′H) benzofuran]-7(8H)-one (7a & 8a) structures were assigned, along with tetrachlorocatechol ethers (5a & 6a). Similar reaction of 3a with tetrabromocatechol(TBC) gave the expected monobromo compounds 7d & 8d along with the ethers 5d & 6d. When the reaction was repeated with substrates 3b–c with TCC/TBC in ketonic solvents(acetone/methyl ethyl ketone), the corresponding compounds 5b–c to 8b–c, 5e–f to 6e–f, 7e–g & 8e–h were obtained. A suitable explanation has been given for the formation of acetonyl compound 6 in this reaction.

Terapias cognitivo-conductuales en la fobia social, en adultos

La fobia social es una enfermedad psiquiátrica que causa costes socioeconómicos significativos y que presenta una alta comorbilidad. Las terapias cognitivo-conductuales (TCC) pueden ser una alternativa de tratamiento efectiva, ya que buscan el cambio de pensamientos y comportamientos adquiridos en una enfermedad con un alto componente de aprendizaje. Objetivo: Verificar la efectividad de las terapias cognitivo-conductuales (TCC) con respecto a otros tratamientos empleados en la fobia social, en adultos (farmacoterapia y otras técnicas de psicoterapia). Metodología: Revisión bibliográfica de estudios de los últimos 10 años, en bases de datos (Pumed etc...). Se seleccionan 12 artículos, 10 ensayos clínicos y 2 meta-análisis. Resultados: Los estudios muestran una respuesta positiva de los pacientes (en términos de reducción de síntomas según escalas de medida estandarizadas para la fobia social) al tratamiento con terapias cognitivo-conductuales (TCC), en sus distintas modalidades de aplicación (individual, grupal y por internet). Estos ratios de respuesta son similares a los que se obtienen en otros tratamientos (farmacoterapia y terapia psicodinámica). Las TCC presentan como ventaja la ausencia de efectos secundarios; como desventaja, su efecto se produce a más largo plazo Conclusiones: No hay resultados concluyentes en relación al beneficio de estas terapias respecto de otras; los factores que determinan fundamentalmente el éxito de las mismas son la situación y la predisposición individual de cada paciente. Dadas las implicaciones de esta patología en la sociedad actual, sería conveniente invertir más medios en el desarrollo de nuevas técnicas.

Tratamento da Neofobia Alimentar em pacientes com obesidade associada ou não à compulsão alimentar

Tendo como base a visão evolucionista e a abordagem terapêutica cognitivo-comportamental, o objetivo deste trabalho foi propor um protocolomodificado de tratamento para pessoas obesas com compulsão alimentar periódica.A idéia norteadora é que estratégias que foram úteis para a sobrevivência daespécie poderiam estar influenciando no ganho de peso. Entre estas estratégias,destacam-se: a tendência a consumir uma grande quantidade de alimentos, facilitando o consumo de alimentos hipercalóricos; e a neofobia alimentar, dificultando o consumo de frutas, legumes e verduras. Obedecendo à lógicaancestral herdada pela espécie, a primeira proporciona reservas para momentos deescassez de alimentos e a segunda implica em uma recusa em consumir alimentosdesconhecidos evitando que substâncias tóxicas sejam ingeridas. Ambos os fatores poderiam contribuir para a obesidade. Os tratamentos convencionais buscam controlar a ingestão calórica. O que aqui se propõe, além desse controle, é tentardiminuir o nível de neofobia alimentar. Com essa hipótese de trabalho espera-se aumentar o consumo de alimentos, principalmente os mais saudáveis e hipocalóricos, contribuindo para reduzir a ingestão de alimentos hipercalóricos. Otratamento incluiu técnicas de exposição, modelação e imitação adicionadas a umtratamento já utilizado para obesos com compulsão alimentar periódica. Foram criados dois grupos, o primeiro com 4 participantes funcionando como grupo decontrole, que recebeu um tratamento convencional de TCC; o outro, com 6 participantes aqui denominado grupo de intervenção, que recebeu o tratamento deTCC modificado. A pesquisa foi qualificada como quase-experimental. O resultadoobtido foi uma redução do índice de neofobia alimentar, do Índice de massa corporal, um aumento no consumo de alimentos saudáveis e a redução de gordurase açúcares no chamado grupo de intervenção. Embora tenha alcançado estes resultados, o tratamento ainda precisa ser reformulado e ampliado.

Microbiological quality study of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man 1879) during storage at -20°C temperature

The shelf life of fresh water prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii by applying low temperature was investigated. M. rosenbergii preserved at -20°C was subjected for quality assessment before storage and at 15, 30, 45, and 90 days of storage period. The quality assessments as done microbiological viz. total bacterial count (TBC), total mould count (TMC), total yeast count (TYC), total coliform count (TCC) and salmonella count. All the samples were acceptable during 90 days because the upper limit of all spoilage indicator was not exceeding within the experimental time period.

Effect of gamma radiation in combination with freezing on the microbiological changes in frozen shrimp Penaeus monodon

In this study gamma radiation (3, 6 and 9 kGy) in combination with low temperature (-20°C) were applied to retain the quality and shelf-life of shrimp, Penaeus monodon for a longer period. The quality was assessed by monitoring microbiological changes (TBC, TMC, TYC, TCC and Salmonella count) in irradiated and non-irradiated (control) samples. Among microbiological indicators of spoilage, total bacterial count (TBC) values for irradiated shrimps were found to be 1875, 1625 and 1525 cfugˉ¹ of sample at 3, 6 and 9 kGy respectively after 90 days whereas for non-irradiated samples it was found 2475 cfugˉ¹ of sample. Total moulds count (TMC) value for non-irradiated samples after 90 days were found 425 cfugˉ¹ sample whereas that for irradiated shrimps at 3, 6 and 9 kGy were found to be 275, 250 and 200 cfugˉ¹ sample respectively. Total yeast count (TYC) value for non-irradiated samples after 90 days were found 4125 cfugˉ¹ sample whereas that for irradiated shrimps at 3, 6 and 9 kGy were found to be 2850, 2150 and 1725 cfugˉ¹ sample respectively. Total coliform count and Salmonella count showed that those were absent during 90 days storage period. From this study, it was clear that gamma radiation in combination with low temperature showed shelf-life extension (90 days) in each dose of radiation used but during the use of 9 kGy radiation, Penaeus monodon showed best quality.

Study of physicochemical, microbial and sensory properties of surimi produced from black mouth croaker (Atrobucca nibe) at freezing condition (-18ºC)

Black mouth croaker (Atrobucca nibe) is considered as a new valuable fish stock in the Oman Sea. In this study, surimi was manufactured from nonmarket size of the fish, manually and different cryoprotectant agents were added to the surimi. Finally changes in physiochemical, microbiological and sensory quality, characteristics of the surimi and kamaboko gel samples were assessed during 6 months at freezing storage (-18ºC). Surimi samples with the addition of Iranian tragacanth gum (TG), xanthan gum (XG), chitosan (CS) and whey protein concentrate (WPC) at 1% (w/w) were prepared to evaluate their impacts as a cryoprotectant on the surimi, individually. The results showed that the whiteness and lightness indexes in all surimi samples were gradually decreased during frozen storage. This trend of decreasing was more intensity in the control sample from 61.08±0.131 to 54.21±0.067 was recorded (p<0.05). Water holding capacity (WHC) in all treatments was decreased during 6 months. The lowest WHC (g/g) was obtained in the surimi without cryoprotectants and maximum WHC was measured in Tcs and Twpc samples, respectively (p<0.05). The lowest breaking force was calculated in Txg (166.00±22.627 g) and Tc (271.50±263.16 g) during 6 months at frozen storage, respectively (p<0.05), while Twpc treatment with slight variations showed the highest breaking force (p<0.05). Also, the lowest gel strength was obtained in Txg (68.22±6.740 g.cm) after 6 month of frozen storage (p<0.05). All Kamaboko surimi gels texture profile analysis parameters decreaced with increasing shelf life. This decreasing trend in the control sample was more severe. Floding results were reduced in all samples during storage (p<0.05). The best protective results probably were obtained in WPC, chitosan and commercial cryoprotectant agents, respectively due to protein stabilization of myofibrillar proteins and the protein-protein network structure, leading to the formation of surimi gel with strong textural properties during frozen conditions. The average number of surimi polygonal structures were significantly decreased (number per mm2) and their area were significantly increased (μm2) in all treatments (p<0.05). With increasing storage time, moisture, protein contents and pH were decreaced. Maximun TVB-N index was calculated in Tc (7.93±0.400 mg/100g) and Txg (7.88±0.477), respectively (p<0.05). TBRAs index was increased in all treatments during frozen storage, while this trend was reached in maximum value in Tc (p<0.05). Sensory evaluation of the fish finger quality characteristics (color, odor, texture and overall acceptability) preapare from frozen black mouth croaker surimi was decreaced during 6 month frozen storage. After the period of frozen storage the highest quality scores were measured in Twpc, Tcs and Tcc samples, respectively (p<0.05). In this study, coliform bacteria were not found in all treatments during frozen storage. The surimi sample containing chitosan showed lower mesophilic and psychrotropic bacteria (log cfu/g) than other treatments during frozen storage (p<0.05). Salt-soluble proteins extractions of all treatments were decreased during frozen storage. This decreacing trend was highest in Tcs (45.74±0.176%) and lowest in Tc treatments after 6 month of frozen storage (29.92±0.224%) (p<0.05). Although commercial cryoprotectant agents were successful in limiting the denaturation of proteins but sugar contents were not accepted for diabetics or those who disagree with the sweet taste and high calorie food. Hence, commercial cryoprotectant agents can be replaced with whey protein concentrate and chitosan at 1% level (w/w) consider that they were showed proper protection of the surimi myofibrillar proteins during storage.