A swirler stabilized combustion chamber for a micro-gas turbine fuelled with natural gas

Micro-gas turbines are a good alternative for on-site power generation, since their operation is very reliable. The possibility of operating with various fuels increases versatility and, as a result, the usage of these devices. Focusing on a performance improvement of a tri-fuel low-cost micro-gas turbine, this work presents investigations of the inner flow of its combustion chamber. The aim of this analysis was the characterization of the flame structure by the temperature field of the chamber inner flow. The chamber was fuelled with natural gas. In the current chamber, a swirler and a reversed flow configuration were utilized to provide flame stabilization. The inner flow investigations were done with numerical analysis, which were compared to experimental data. The analysis of the inner flow was done with numerical simulations, which used the RSM turbulence model. A β-PDF equilibrium model was adopted to account for the turbulent combustion process. Different models of heat transfer were compared. Thermal radiation and specially heat conduction in the liner walls played significant roles on results.

Quadro geral dos direitos da personalidade

Este artigo pretende oferecer uma vis��o global dos direitos da personalidade, desde a possibilidade de sua aplica����o ��s pessoas jur��dicas, passando pela superposi����o do estudo de seu objeto por outros ramos do Direito, assim como por dados hist��ricos, classifica����o, an��lise jurisprudencial, doutrin��ria e legislativa dos pontos centrais que envolvem tais direitos.

Die Mammographie als Anwendungsbeispiel der elektrischen Impedanztomographie

Die medizinische Forschung hat gezeigt, da�� die fr��hzeitigeErkennung des Brustkrebses die Heilungschancen entscheidendverbessert. Die vorliegende Arbeit befa��t sich mit demVersuch, dieses Vorhaben durch die elektrischeImpedanztomographie zu realisieren. Dazu werden an der BrustElektroden angebracht, ��ber die Strom in die Brust flie��t.Zu verschiedenen Stromkonfigurationen werden die jeweilsresultierenden Potentialverteilungen gemessen, wasR��ckschl��sse auf die Leitf��higkeitsverteilung zul����t. Tumorelassen sich somit aufgrund ihrer im Vergleich zu normalemGewebe anderen elektrischen Eigenschaften lokalisieren. Diese Dissertation beschreibt verschiedene in der Praxisdenkbare Vorgehensweisen. Das Problem wird in zwei und indrei Dimensionen mit ein oder mehreren Stromkonfigurationen untersucht. Im zweidimensionalen Fall werden Schnittbildervon Objekten in einem Versuchstank mit realistischenMe��daten berechnet. Alle Untersuchungen in drei Dimensionenbeziehen sich auf k��nstlich generierte Daten. Ein weiterer Schwerpunkt der Arbeit liegt in der Bestimmungdes Stromflusses durch Elektroden in drei Dimensionen. DieKenntnis dieser Stromdichten ist f��r eine pr��zise Behandlungdes Vorw��rtsproblems von gro��er Bedeutung.

Methoden und Modelle zur Phytoplanktonanalyse am Beispiel einer Restaurierungsma��nahme an der Bleiloch Talsperre

Methoden und Modelle zur Phytoplanktonanalyse am Beispiel einer Restaurierungsma��nahme an der Bleiloch Talsperre Zusammenfassung An der hypertrophen Bleiloch Talsperre (Th��ringen, BRD) werden die Auswirkungen der 1997 in Betrieb genommenen partiellen Destratifikation (0- 20m) untersucht. Ziel der Ma��nahme war die Hemmung des Phytoplanktonwachstums durch Lichtlimitation.Da es nicht gelang, auch die Oberfl��chenlammelle in die Durchmischung einzubeziehen, wurde auch keine Reduktion des Phytoplanktons beobachtet. Seine zeitliche Dynamik nahm deutlich zu und es traten neben typischen L��ngsgradienten auch extreme, kleinr��umige Konzentrationsunterschiede auf. Die vorher h��ufigen Cyanobakterien spielten jedoch keine quantitativ bedeutsame Rolle mehr. Es wird diskutiert, wie die Bel��ftung die Saisonalit��t des Planktons st��rt und zu Verschiebungen der Zusammensetzung f��hrt. Der Zusammenhang zwischen der Chlorophyll a Menge und der Stabilit��t der Wassers��ule sowie der Einflu�� wachstumsbestimmender Gr����en werden modelliert. Methodische Schwerpunkte umfassen die Auswertung von Phytoplankton-Pigmentdaten (HPLC-Analyse) und die Entwicklung einer Durchflu��zytometer-Methode. Bei letzerer werden an lebenden Phytoplanktern die Vorw��rtsstreuung sowie vier Fluoreszenzen (2 Phycoerythrine, Phycocyanin und Chlorophyll a, 514nm Anregungswellenl��nge) gemessen. Zur Klassifizierung von Algen anhand von Referenzen werden zwei Methoden entwickelt, M��glichkeiten des Sortierens aufgezeigt und es wird ein Vergleich mit Mikroskopie und HPLC- Pigmentanalyse durchgef��hrt. Anhand von Modellrechnungen wird demonstriert, wie sich systematische bzw. zuf��llige Abweichungen der Pigmentst��chiometrien auf die Berechnung von Algengruppenanteilen auswirken. Strategien zur Auswertung von Pigmentdaten werden empfohlen.

Verkehrsmonitoring mit Hilfe von Radarfernerkundung

F��r die Zukunft wird eine Zunahme an Verkehr prognostiziert, gleichzeitig herrscht ein Mangel an Raum und finanziellen Mitteln, um weitere Stra��en zu bauen. Daher m��ssen die vorhandenen Kapazit��ten durch eine bessere Verkehrssteuerung sinnvoller genutzt werden, z.B. durch Verkehrsleitsysteme. Daf��r werden r��umlich aufgel��ste, d.h. den Verkehr in seiner fl��chenhaften Verteilung wiedergebende Daten ben��tigt, die jedoch fehlen. Bisher konnten Verkehrsdaten nur dort erhoben werden, wo sich ��rtlich feste Me��einrichtungen befinden, jedoch k��nnen damit die fehlenden Daten nicht erhoben werden. Mit Fernerkundungssystemen ergibt sich die M��glichkeit, diese Daten fl��chendeckend mit einem Blick von oben zu erfassen. Nach jahrzehntelangen Erfahrungen mit Fernerkundungsmethoden zur Erfassung und Untersuchung der verschiedensten Ph��nomene auf der Erdoberfl��che wird nun diese Methodik im Rahmen eines Pilotprojektes auf den Themenbereich Verkehr angewendet. Seit Ende der 1990er Jahre wurde mit flugzeuggetragenen optischen und Infrarot-Aufnahmesystemen Verkehr beobachtet. Doch bei schlechten Wetterbedingungen und insbesondere bei Bew��lkung, sind keine brauchbaren Aufnahmen m��glich. Mit einem abbildenden Radarverfahren werden Daten unabh��ngig von Wetter- und Tageslichtbedingungen oder Bew��lkung erhoben. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wird untersucht, inwieweit mit Hilfe von flugzeuggetragenem synthetischem Apertur Radar (SAR) Verkehrsdaten aufgenommen, verarbeitet und sinnvoll angewendet werden k��nnen. Nicht nur wird die neue Technik der Along-Track Interferometrie (ATI) und die Prozessierung und Verarbeitung der aufgenommenen Verkehrsdaten ausf��hrlich dargelegt, es wird dar��berhinaus ein mit dieser Methodik erstellter Datensatz mit einer Verkehrssimulation verglichen und bewertet. Abschlie��end wird ein Ausblick auf zuk��nftige Entwicklungen der Radarfernerkundung zur Verkehrsdatenerfassung gegeben.

Analisi climatica ad alta risoluzione delle precipitazioni sul nord Italia (1961-2005)

L���obiettivo di questo lavoro di tesi �� di ottenere un���analisi climatica giornaliera ad alta risoluzione della precipitazione sul territorio del nord Italia realizzata con tecniche di controllo statistico, di analisi e di strumenti di descrizione dei risultati presentati nella recente letteratura. A tal fine, sono stati utilizzati i dati dell���Archivio ARCIS. In seguito alle fasi di controllo qualit��, omogeneit�� e sincronicit�� i dati sono stati utilizzati per realizzare un���analisi giornaliera su grigliato regolare a 10 km di risoluzione utile alla rappresentazione della variabilit�� spazio-temporale della precipitazione sul Nord Italia per il periodo 1961-2005. I risultati di tale analisi mettono in evidenza dei valori medi di precipitazione annuale abbastanza intensi sulla parte centrale dell���arco Alpino, con massimi (oltre 2000 mm) sull���estremit�� orientale e sull���Appennino Ligure. Valori minimi (500 ��� 600 mm) sono osservati lungo le aree prospicienti il fiume Po, in Val d���Aosta ed in Alto Adige. La corrispondente analisi del trend temporale indica la presenza di lievi cali statisticamente significativi solo in aree limitate del territorio. In coerenza con questi risultati, la variazione nel tempo della precipitazione annuale mediata su tutto il territorio mette in evidenza un���intensa variabilit�� decennale, ma solo una lieve flessione lineare sull���intero periodo. Il numero annuo di giorni piovosi ed il 90�� percentile della precipitazione giornaliera presentano invece trend lineari un po��� pi�� pronunciati. In particolare, sul periodo considerato si nota un calo del numero di giorni piovosi su gran parte del territorio e solo su alcune aree del territorio un aumento dell���intensit�� del 90�� percentile, sia a scala annuale che stagionale. Nell���ultima parte di questo lavoro �� stato realizzato uno studio della relazione fra la forzante climatica e l���evoluzione della morfologia dell���Appennino Emiliano-Romagnolo. I risultati mostrano che a parit�� di quota, di pendenza e di litologia, la franosit�� �� influenzata dalle precipitazioni.

Ricerca di nuove strategie differenziative: Analisi degli effetti di stimoli fisici e molecolari su cellule mesenchimali umane isolate da tessuto adiposo

Introduzione. Le cellule mesenchimali derivate dal tessuto adiposo (hASC) rappresentano un importante strumento per la terapia cellulare, in quanto derivano da un tessuto adulto abbondante e facilmente reperibile. Con il dispositivo medico Lipogems l���isolamento di tali cellule e�� eseguito esclusivamente mediante sollecitazioni meccaniche. Il prodotto ottenuto e�� quindi minimamente manipolato e subito utilizzabile. Ad oggi, il condizionamento pro-differenziativo delle staminali e�� per lo piu�� attuato mediante molecole di sintesi. Tuttavia, altri fattori possono modulare la fisiologia cellulare, come gli stimoli fisici e molecole naturali. Onde elettromagnetiche hanno indotto in modelli cellulari staminali l���espressione di alcuni marcatori di differenziamento e, in cellule adulte, una riprogrammazione, mentre estratti embrionali di Zebrafish sono risultati antiproliferativi sia in vitro che in vivo. Metodi. La ricerca di nuove strategie differenziative sia di natura fisica che molecolare, nel particolare onde acustiche ed estratti embrionali di Zebrafish, e�� stata condotta utilizzando come modello cellulare le hASC isolate con Lipogems. Onde acustiche sono state somministrate mediante l���utilizzo di due apparati di trasduzione, un generatore di onde meccaniche e il Cell Exciter . I trattamenti con gli estratti embrionali sono stati effettuati utilizzando diverse concentrazioni e diversi tempi sperimentali. Gli effetti sull���espressione dei marcatori di staminalita�� e differenziamento relativi ai trattamenti sono stati saggiati in RT-PCR quantitativa relativa e/o in qPCR. Per i trattamenti di tipo molecolare e�� stata valutata anche la proliferazione. Risultati e conclusioni. La meta-analisi dei dati delle colture di controllo mostra la stabilita�� d���espressione genica del modello. I trattamenti con i suoni inducono variazioni dell���espressione genica, suggerendo un ruolo regolatorio di tali stimoli, in particolare del processo di commitment cardiovascolare. Due degli estratti embrionali di Zebrafish testati inibiscono la proliferazione alle 72 ore dalla somministrazione. L���analisi d���espressione associata ai trattamenti antiproliferativi suggerisce che tale effetto abbia basi molecolari simili ai processi di differenziamento.

Expressionsunterschiede verschiedener miRNAs bei chronisch-entz��ndlichen Darmerkrankungen

Chronisch-entz��ndliche Darmerkrankungen konfrontieren unsere heutige Gesellschaft mit hohen Inzidenzraten in der westlichen Welt und zunehmend steigenden Inzidenzraten im asiatischen Raum. Die Folgen f��r die Patienten sind eine starke Beeintr��chtigung der Lebensqualit��t, mit sozialen und wirtschaftlichen Folgen sowie ein erh��htes Risiko f��r die Entwicklung kolorektaler Karzinome. Durch die Entdeckung von 22 nt langen, regulierenden RNAs, auch genannt miRNAs, wurde ein neuer Baustein im Verst��ndnis zellul��rer Regelprozesse und der Differenzierung und Aktivierung von Antworten etwa des Immunsystems entdeckt. Somit stellt sich die Frage nach der Bedeutung von miRNAs im Rahmen von chronisch-entz��ndlichen Darmerkrankungen. Hierzu wurden in dieser Arbeit ��ber ein miRNA-Array System 12 miRNAs als potentiell relevante Ziele identifiziert und an einem Kollektiv aus insgesamt 131 Patienten und 163 Biopsien aus dem Bereich des Darmes ��berpr��ft. Es zeigte sich hierbei, dass im Rahmen eines Morbus Crohn mit Befall des Dickdarms die miRNAs let-7d und miR-22 in gesteigerter Expression vorlagen. Da im terminalen Ileum eine gesonderte Immunsituation vorliegt, wurde dieser Bereich zus��tzlich bei der Erkrankung Morbus Crohn untersucht. Es zeigten sich Expressionsver��nderungen f��r die miRNAs miR-30e, miR-185, miR-374b und miR-424. Bei Patienten mit einer Colitis ulcerosa waren die miRNAs let-7d, miR-185 und miR-424 in ihrem Expressionsverhalten ver��ndert. Zus��tzlich konnte gezeigt werden, dass in Abh��ngigkeit vom Entz��ndungsgrad bei bestehender Colitis ulcerosa eine zunehmenden ��berexpression der miRNAs let-7d, miR-185 und miR-424 erfolgte. Die miRNAs miR-18a und miR-185 wiesen unter Remissionsbedingungen Expressionsver��nderungen auf und lassen somit den Verdacht eines protektiven Effektes aufkommen. Mit Hilfe von computerbasierten Datenbankanalysen konnten gemeinsam regulierenden miRNAs Proteine und Pathways zugeordnet werden, welche einen Zusammenhang mit bereits pathogenetisch best��tigten Signalwegen wie etwa dem nF-��B und MAPK-Signalweg nahelegen. Auch konnte herausgearbeitet werden, dass einige, der von diesen miRNAs regulierten Proteine, bereits in ver��ffentlichten Arbeiten als fehlreguliert festgestellt wurden, jedoch blieb die Ursache dieser Fehlregulation g��nzlich unbekannt. Mit den in dieser Arbeit erhobenen Daten konnte gezeigt werden, dass eine Kongruenz der Befunde vorliegt, welche einen Zusammenhang der miRNA-Expression mit der Fehlregulation bestimmter Proteine nicht nur nahelegt, sondern dar��ber hinaus auch noch einige weitere potentielle Proteinziele f��r weitere Untersuchungen auff��hrt. Dazu ist es jedoch notwendig, die Relevanz der hier entdeckten, computerbasierten Proteine in zuk��nftigen Untersuchungen einer genauen Pr��fung zu unterziehen.

The Role of Features and Context in Recognition of Novel Melodies

WE INVESTIGATED HOW WELL STRUCTURAL FEATURES such as note density or the relative number of changes in the melodic contour could predict success in implicit and explicit memory for unfamiliar melodies. We also analyzed which features are more likely to elicit increasingly confident judgments of "old" in a recognition memory task. An automated analysis program computed structural aspects of melodies, both independent of any context, and also with reference to the other melodies in the testset and the parent corpus of pop music. A few features predicted success in both memory tasks, which points to a shared memory component. However, motivic complexity compared to a large corpus of pop music had different effects on explicit and implicit memory. We also found that just a few features are associated with different rates of "old" judgments, whether the items were old or new. Rarer motives relative to the testset predicted hits and rarer motives relative to the corpus predicted false alarms. This data-driven analysis provides further support for both shared and separable mechanisms in implicit and explicit memory retrieval, as well as the role of distinctiveness in true and false judgments of familiarity.

Epoetin and Darbepoetin for Managing Anemia in Patients Undergoing Cancer Treatment: Comparative Effectiveness Update

Objectives: To update the 2006 systematic review of the comparative benefits and harms of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) strategies and non-ESA strategies to manage anemia in patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation for malignancy (excluding myelodysplastic syndrome and acute leukemia), including the impact of alternative thresholds for initiating treatment and optimal duration of therapy. Data sources: Literature searches were updated in electronic databases (n=3), conference proceedings (n=3), and Food and Drug Administration transcripts. Multiple sources (n=13) were searched for potential gray literature. A primary source for current survival evidence was a recently published individual patient data meta-analysis. In that meta-analysis, patient data were obtained from investigators for studies enrolling more than 50 patients per arm. Because those data constitute the most currently available data for this update, as well as the source for on-study (active treatment) mortality data, we limited inclusion in the current report to studies enrolling more than 50 patients per arm to avoid potential differential endpoint ascertainment in smaller studies. Review methods: Title and abstract screening was performed by one or two (to resolve uncertainty) reviewers; potentially included publications were reviewed in full text. Two or three (to resolve disagreements) reviewers assessed trial quality. Results were independently verified and pooled for outcomes of interest. The balance of benefits and harms was examined in a decision model. Results: We evaluated evidence from 5 trials directly comparing darbepoetin with epoetin, 41 trials comparing epoetin with control, and 8 trials comparing darbepoetin with control; 5 trials evaluated early versus late (delay until Hb ���9 to 11 g/dL) treatment. Trials varied according to duration, tumor types, cancer therapy, trial quality, iron supplementation, baseline hemoglobin, ESA dosing frequency (and therefore amount per dose), and dose escalation. ESAs decreased the risk of transfusion (pooled relative risk [RR], 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53 to 0.64; I2 = 51%; 38 trials) without evidence of meaningful difference between epoetin and darbepoetin. Thromboembolic event rates were higher in ESA-treated patients (pooled RR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.30 to 1.74; I2 = 0%; 37 trials) without difference between epoetin and darbepoetin. In 14 trials reporting the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT)-Fatigue subscale, the most common patient-reported outcome, scores decreased by ���0.6 in control arms (95% CI, ���6.4 to 5.2; I2 = 0%) and increased by 2.1 in ESA arms (95% CI, ���3.9 to 8.1; I2 = 0%). There were fewer thromboembolic and on-study mortality adverse events when ESA treatment was delayed until baseline Hb was less than 10 g/dL, in keeping with current treatment practice, but the difference in effect from early treatment was not significant, and the evidence was limited and insufficient for conclusions. No evidence informed optimal duration of therapy. Mortality was increased during the on-study period (pooled hazard ratio [HR], 1.17; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.31; I2 = 0%; 37 trials). There was one additional death for every 59 treated patients when the control arm on-study mortality was 10 percent and one additional death for every 588 treated patients when the control-arm on-study mortality was 1 percent. A cohort decision model yielded a consistent result���greater loss of life-years when control arm on-study mortality was higher. There was no discernible increase in mortality with ESA use over the longest available followup (pooled HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.99 to 1.10; I2 = 38%; 44 trials), but many trials did not include an overall survival endpoint and potential time-dependent confounding was not considered. Conclusions: Results of this update were consistent with the 2006 review. ESAs reduced the need for transfusions and increased the risk of thromboembolism. FACT-Fatigue scores were better with ESA use but the magnitude was less than the minimal clinically important difference. An increase in mortality accompanied the use of ESAs. An important unanswered question is whether dosing practices and overall ESA exposure might influence harms.

Immediate versus deferred chemotherapy after radical cystectomy in patients with pT3-pT4 or N+ M0 urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (EORTC 30994): an intergroup, open-label, randomised phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND Patients with muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder have poor survival after cystectomy. The EORTC 30994 trial aimed to compare immediate versus deferred cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy after radical cystectomy in patients with pT3-pT4 or N+ M0 urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. METHODS This intergroup, open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial recruited patients from hospitals across Europe and Canada. Eligible patients had histologically proven urothelial carcinoma of the bladder, pT3-pT4 disease or node positive (pN1-3) M0 disease after radical cystectomy and bilateral lymphadenectomy, with no evidence of any microscopic residual disease. Within 90 days of cystectomy, patients were centrally randomly assigned (1:1) by minimisation to either immediate adjuvant chemotherapy (four cycles of gemcitabine plus cisplatin, high-dose methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin [high-dose MVAC], or MVAC) or six cycles of deferred chemotherapy at relapse, with stratification for institution, pT category, and lymph node status according to the number of nodes dissected. Neither patients nor investigators were masked. Overall survival was the primary endpoint; all analyses were by intention to treat. The trial was closed after recruitment of 284 of the planned 660 patients. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00028756. FINDINGS From April 29, 2002, to Aug 14, 2008, 284 patients were randomly assigned (141 to immediate treatment and 143 to deferred treatment), and followed up until the data cutoff of Aug 21, 2013. After a median follow-up of 7��0 years (IQR 5��2-8��7), 66 (47%) of 141 patients in the immediate treatment group had died compared with 82 (57%) of 143 in the deferred treatment group. No significant improvement in overall survival was noted with immediate treatment when compared with deferred treatment (adjusted HR 0��78, 95% CI 0��56-1��08; p=0��13). Immediate treatment significantly prolonged progression-free survival compared with deferred treatment (HR 0��54, 95% CI 0��4-0��73, p<0��0001), with 5-year progression-free survival of 47��6% (95% CI 38��8-55��9) in the immediate treatment group and 31��8% (24��2-39��6) in the deferred treatment group. Grade 3-4 myelosuppression was reported in 33 (26%) of 128 patients who received treatment in the immediate chemotherapy group versus 24 (35%) of 68 patients who received treatment in the deferred chemotherapy group, neutropenia occurred in 49 (38%) versus 36 (53%) patients, respectively, and thrombocytopenia in 36 (28%) versus 26 (38%). Two patients died due to toxicity, one in each group. INTERPRETATION Our data did not show a significant improvement in overall survival with immediate versus deferred chemotherapy after radical cystectomy and bilateral lymphadenectomy for patients with muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma. However, the trial is limited in power, and it is possible that some subgroups of patients might still benefit from immediate chemotherapy. An updated individual patient data meta-analysis and biomarker research are needed to further elucidate the potential for survival benefit in subgroups of patients. FUNDING Lilly, Canadian Cancer Society Research.

Interannual Variability in Timing of Bloom Initiation in the California Current System

In the California Current System the spring transition from poleward to equatorward alongshore wind stress heralds the beginning of upwelling-favorable conditions. The phytoplankton response to this transition is investigated using 8 years ( 1998-2005) of daily, 4-km resolution, Sea-viewing Wide Field of view Sensor ( SeaWiFS) chlorophyll a concentration data. Cluster analysis of the chlorophyll a time series at each location is used to separate the inshore upwelling region from offshore and oligotrophic areas. An objective method for estimating the timing of bloom initiation is used to construct a map of the mean bloom start date. Interannual variability in bloom timing and magnitude is investigated in four regions: 45 degrees N - 50 degrees N, 40 degrees N - 45 degrees N, 35 degrees N - 40 degrees N and 20 degrees N - 35 degrees N. Daily satellite derived wind data ( QuikSCAT) allow the timing of the first episode of persistently upwelling favorable winds to be estimated. Bloom initiation generally coincides with the onset of upwelling winds ( +/- 15 days). South of similar to 35 degrees N, where winds are southward year-round, the timing of increased chlorophyll concentration corresponds closely to timing of the seasonal increase in upwelling intensity. A 1-D model and satellite derived photosynthetically available radiation data are used to estimate time series of depth- averaged irradiance. In the far north of the region (> 46 degrees N) light is shown to limit phytoplankton growth in early spring. In 2005 the spring bloom in the northern regions (> 35 degrees N) had a "false start''. A sharp increase in chl a in February quickly receded, and a sustained increase in biomass was delayed until July. We hypothesize that this resulted in a mismatch in timing of food availability to higher trophic levels.

The illness narratives of Hispanic American women with coronary heart disease (CHD): An ethnographic approach

Purpose. To provide a descriptive representation of the illness narratives described by Hispanic American women with CHD. ^ Design. Focused ethnographic design. ^ Setting. One outpatient general medicine clinic, one nurse-managed health promotion clinic, and informants' homes in a large metropolitan city located in southeast Texas. ^ Sample. Purposeful sampling from two different sites resulted in 17 interviews being conducted with 14 informants. ^ Method. Focused ethnographic techniques were employed in the designation of participants for the study, data collection, analysis and re-presentation. Audiotaped interviews and fieldwork were transcribed verbatim and analyzed through an iterative process of data reduction, data display, drawing conclusions and verification. ^ Findings. The developing conceptual framework that emerged from the data is labeled after the overarching experience described by informants, the experience of Embodied Exhaustion. Embodied Exhaustion, as described in this study, refers to an ongoing, dynamic, indeterminate experience of mind-body exhaustion resulting from a complex constellation of biologic, psychological and social distresses occurring over the life course. The experience consists of three categories: Taking Care of Others, Wearing Down and Hurting Hearts. Two stabilizing forces were identified: Collective Self and Believing in God. ^ Conclusions. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of framing all research, theory and practice targeting Hispanic women with CHD within a sociocentric paradigm. Nursing is challenged to provide care that extends beyond the physical body of the patient to include the social context of illness, especially the family. ^

THE IMPACT OF FAMILY HISTORY ON MEDULLARY THYROID CANCER IN MEN2A PATIENTS

The American Thyroid Association recently classified all MEN2A-associated codons into increasing risk levels A-C and stated that some patients may delay prophylactic thyroidectomy if certain criteria are met. One criterion is a less aggressive family history of MTC but whether families with the same mutated codon have variable MTC aggressiveness is not well described. We developed several novel measures of MTC aggressiveness and compared families with the same mutated codon to determine if there is significant inter-familial variability. Pedigrees of families with MEN2A were reviewed for codon mutated and proportion of RET mutation carriers with MTC. Individuals with MTC were classified as having local or distant MTC and whether they had progressive MTC. MTC status and age were assessed at diagnosis and most advanced MTC stage. For those without MTC, age was recorded at prophylactic thyroidectomy or last follow-up if the patient did not have a thyroidectomy. For each pedigree, the mean age of members without MTC, with MTC, and the proportion of RET mutation carriers with local or distant and progressive MTC were calculated. We assessed differences in these variables using ANOVA and the Fisher���s exact test. Sufficient data for analysis were available for families with mutated codons 609 (92 patients from 13 families), 618 (41 patients from 7 families), and 634 (152 patients from 13 families). The only significant differences found were the mean age of patients without MTC between families with codon 609 and 618 mutations even after accounting for prophylactic thyroidectomy (p=0.006 and 0.001, respectively), and in the mean age of MTC diagnosis between families with codon 618 and 634 mutations even after accounting for symptomatic presentation (p=0.023 and 0.014, respectively). However, these differences may be explained by generational differences in ascertainment of RET carriers and the availability of genetic testing when the proband initially presented.

Caracterizaci��n por contenido de ��-carotenos de ocho cultivares de zanahoria (Daucus carota L.) y su relaci��n con el color

El objetivo fue determinar, durante dos a��os, el contenido de ��-caroteno y su relaci��n con el ��ndice de Color (IC), de ocho cultivares comerciales del tipo 'Flakkee' cultivadas en el INTA La Consulta. El dise��o experimental a campo utilizado fue en bloques al azar con 3 repeticiones. Se evalu�� ��-caroteno (espectrofotometr��a a 450 nm) y se calcul�� el IC, mediante captaci��n de imagen digital con PC y esc��ner, midiendo L, a y b del Sistema CIELAB. Los datos fueron analizados por ACP (an��lisis de componentes principales), la visualizaci��n de la variabilidad, por cartografiado de datos, an��lisis de varianza, pruebas de diferencia de medias y correlaciones. Los contenidos de ��-carotenos y el IC de los cultivares se mantuvieron constantes durante los dos a��os estudiados, resultando las cultivares Natasha, Flakesse y Colmar las de mayor valor nutricional en cuanto a aporte de ��-carotenos. En el rango de valores menores de 18 mg%g de ��-carotenos, se observ�� una correlaci��n positiva significativa en las cultivares Supreme, Spring y Laval. No se encontr�� una correlaci��n alta lineal entre el IC y el contenido de ��-carotenos. El uso del IC resulta adecuado para predecir, en un intervalo de valores, el contenido de ��-carotenos en cultivares de zanahoria.