Phytogeographical origin of Madeiran common beans based on phaseolin patterns

The objective of this work was to determine the geographic origin of the Madeiran common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) gene pool. Phaseolin patterns of 50 accessions representing the diversity of common bean collected in Madeira, Portugal, and conserved in the ISOPlexis Germplasm Bank, were analysed using the Experion automated electrophoresis system, based on lab-on-a-chip technology. Five common bean standard varieties with typical phaseolin patterns were used to determine the phytogeographical origin of the Madeiran common bean accessions. Ninety two percent of the accessions exhibited a phaseolin pattern consistent with the one of common bean types belonging to the Andean gene pool, while the origin of the remaining 8% of the accessions was indistinguishable. The application of a similarity coefficient of 85%, based on Pearson correlations, increases the number of accessions with uncertain pattern. The analytical approach used permitted the determination of the origin of the common bean gene pool, which is Andean in 98% of the cases, and clustering of the observed variability among the Madeiran common beans.

Prospective study of the barriers to nutritional support in a paediatric intensive care unit : P16

Introduction and aim: Children hospitalised in a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) are mainly fed by nutritional support (NS) which may often be interrupted. The aims of the study were to verify the relationship between prescribed (PEI) and actual energy intake (AEI) and to identify the reasons for NS interruption. Methods: Prospective study in a PICU. PEI and AEI from day 1 to 15, type of NS (enteral, parenteral, mixed), position of the feeding tube, interruptions in NS and reasons for these were noted. Inter - ruptions were classified in categories of barriers and their frequency and duration were analysed. Results: Fifteen children (24 ± 25.2 months) were studied for 84 days. The NS was exclusively enteral (69%) or mixed (31%). PEI were significantly higher than AEI (54.7 ± 32.9 vs 49.2 ± 33.6 kcal/kg, p = 0.0011). AEI represented 93% of the PEI. Ninety-eight interruptions were noted and lasted 189 h, i.e. 9.4% of the evaluated time. The most frequent barriers were nursing procedures, respiratory physiotherapy and unavailability of intravenous access. The longest were caused by the necessity to stop NS for surgery or diagnostic studies, to treat burns or to carry out medical procedures. Conclusion: AEI in PICU were inferior by 7% to PEI, considerably lower than in adult studies. Making these results available to medical staff for greater anticipation and compensation could reduce NS interruptions. Starving protocols should be reconsidered.

Cancer chronotherapeutics: experimental, theoretical, and clinical aspects.

The circadian timing system controls cell cycle, apoptosis, drug bioactivation, and transport and detoxification mechanisms in healthy tissues. As a consequence, the tolerability of cancer chemotherapy varies up to several folds as a function of circadian timing of drug administration in experimental models. Best antitumor efficacy of single-agent or combination chemotherapy usually corresponds to the delivery of anticancer drugs near their respective times of best tolerability. Mathematical models reveal that such coincidence between chronotolerance and chronoefficacy is best explained by differences in the circadian and cell cycle dynamics of host and cancer cells, especially with regard circadian entrainment and cell cycle variability. In the clinic, a large improvement in tolerability was shown in international randomized trials where cancer patients received the same sinusoidal chronotherapy schedule over 24h as compared to constant-rate infusion or wrongly timed chronotherapy. However, sex, genetic background, and lifestyle were found to influence optimal chronotherapy scheduling. These findings support systems biology approaches to cancer chronotherapeutics. They involve the systematic experimental mapping and modeling of chronopharmacology pathways in synchronized cell cultures and their adjustment to mouse models of both sexes and distinct genetic background, as recently shown for irinotecan. Model-based personalized circadian drug delivery aims at jointly improving tolerability and efficacy of anticancer drugs based on the circadian timing system of individual patients, using dedicated circadian biomarker and drug delivery technologies.

Endothelial cells as key determinants of the tumor microenvironment: interaction with tumor cells, extracellular matrix and immune killer cells.

Besides tumor cells, the tumor microenvironment harbors a variety of host-derived cells, such as endothelial cells, fibroblasts, innate and adaptive immune cells. It is a complex and highly dynamic environment, providing very important cues to tumor development and progression. Tumor-associated endothelial cells play a key role in this process. On the one hand, they form tumor-associated (angiogenic) vessels through sprouting from locally preexisting vessels or recruitment of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells, to provide nutritional support to the growing tumor. On the other hand, they are the interface between circulating blood cells, tumor cells and the extracellular matrix, thereby playing a central role in controlling leukocyte recruitment, tumor cell behavior and metastasis formation. Hypoxia is a critical parameter modulating the tumor microenvironment and endothelial/tumor cell interactions. Under hypoxic stress, tumor cells produce factors that promote tumor angiogenesis, tumor cell motility and metastasis. Among these factors, VEGF, a main angiogenesis modulator, can also play a critical role in the control of immune tolerance. This review discusses some aspects of the role of endothelial cells within tumor microenvironment and emphasizes their interaction with tumor cells, the extracellular matrix and with immune killer cells. We will also address the role played by circulating endothelial progenitor cells and illustrate their features and mechanism of recruitment to the tumor microenvironment and their role in tumor angiogenesis.

Yield and nutritional composition of oyster mushroom strains newly introduced in Bangladesh

The objective of this work was to evaluate yield and chemical composition of oyster mushroom strains newly introduced in Bangladesh. Strains of Pleurotus high‑king (strain PHK), P. ostreatus (strain PO2), and P. geesteranus (strains PG1 and PG3) were evaluated as to yield components and proximate composition. Pleurotus ostreatus was used as control. Pleurotus high‑king showed fastest growth of primordia, but moderate flush of effective fruiting bodies. Pleurotus geesteranus (PG1) showed higher economic yield and biological performance, and better chemical composition, especially in terms of protein and mineral contents. Pleurotus geesteranus (PG1) shows better performance than P. ostreatus (PO2), the most commercially cultivated edible species in Bangladesh, and, therefore, it should be recommended for commercial cultivation.

Faba beans in diets for growing-finishing pigs

Selostus: Härkäpapu lihasikojen ruokinnassa

Biological aspects of Harmonia axyridis in comparison with Cycloneda sanguinea and Hippodamia convergens

The objective of this work was to evaluate the development, survival, reproductive capacity, and longevity of the Asian ladybug Harmonia axyridis in comparison with Cycloneda sanguinea and Hippodamia convergens. Coccinellid larvae and adults were fed daily with Schizaphis graminum. Ten couples of each species were isolated for evaluation of the adult phase. The duration of the larval stage of H. axyridis is the longest (10.2 days) and its adults are the heaviest (29.7 mg) compared with C. sanguinea and H. convergens. The three species showed similar percentages of survival during the developmental stages. An average of 82% of C. sanguinea, H. axyridis, and H. convergens larvae reached adulthood, which indicates that temperature (25°C) and the offered prey are favorable to coccinellid development. Harmonia axyridis produces a higher total number of eggs per female (1,029.2) than the other evaluated species. However, H. axyridis, which lives for an average of 147.2 days, does not show a significantly greater longevity than C. sanguinea (87.2 days) and H. convergens (134.3 days).

DFMA- Analysis and Aspects of Applying Internet Based Collaborative Design for Axial Eccentric Oil-Pump Design

The integrated system of design for manufacturing and assembly (DFMA) and internet based collaborative design are presented to support product design, manufacturing process, and assembly planning for axial eccentric oil-pump design. The presented system manages and schedules group oriented collaborative activities. The design guidelines of internet based collaborative design & DFMA are expressed. The components and the manufacturing stages of axial eccentric oil-pump are expressed in detail. The file formats of the presented system include the data types of collaborative design of the product, assembly design, assembly planning and assembly system design. Product design and assembly planning can be operated synchronously and intelligently and they are integrated under the condition of internet based collaborative design and DFMA. The technologies of collaborative modelling, collaborative manufacturing, and internet based collaborative assembly for the specific pump construction are developed. A seven-security level is presented to ensure the security of the internet based collaborative design system.

Les aspects sanitaires du travail de la police auprès des consommateurs de drogues

Voir aussi version en allemand: Gesundheitliche Aspekte der Polizeiarbeit im Drogenbereich.

Topological aspects of DNA function and protein folding.

The Topological Aspects of DNA Function and Protein Folding international meeting provided an interdisciplinary forum for biological scientists, physicists and mathematicians to discuss recent developments in the application of topology to the study of DNA and protein structure. It had 111 invited participants, 48 talks and 21 posters. The present article discusses the importance of topology and introduces the articles from the meeting's speakers.

Harmonization ofsignificant environmental aspects and their risk assessment in UPM paper and pulp mills

Työn tavoite onharmonisoida yhtenäiset rakenteet UPM:n paperi- ja sellutehtaiden merkittävilleympäristönäkökohdille sekä niiden ympäristöriskienhallintajärjestelmille. Näin saavutetaan yhteneväiset tavoitteet ja analysointikeinot yrityksen yksiköille. Harmonisointiprosessi on osa koko yrityksen ympäristöhallintajärjestelmän kehittämistä. Ja konsernin EMS -prosessi puolestaan konvergoi konsernin integroidun johtamisjärjestelmän kehitystä. Lisäksi työn tapaustutkimuksessa selvitettiin riskienhallintajärjestelmien integroitumispotentiaalia. Sen avulla saavutettaisiin paremmin suuren yrityksen synergia-etuja ja vuorovaikutteisuutta toimijoiden kesken, sekä parannettaisiin riskienhallintajärjestelmän mukautuvuutta ja käytettävyyttä. Työssä käsitellään kolmea esimerkkiä, joiden pohjalta tehdään esitys harmonisoiduille merkittäville ympäristönäkökohdille sekä riskienhallintajärjestelmien parametreille. Tutkimusongelmaa lähestytään haastattelujen, kirjallisuuden, yrityksen PWC:llä teettämän selvityksen sekä omien päätelmien avulla. Lisäksi työssä esitetään ympäristöhallintajärjestelmän tehokkuuden todentaminen ympäristösuorituskyvyn muuttujiin suhteutettuna. Pohjana jatkuvan kehityksen päämäärälle on organisaatio-oppiminen, niin yksittäisen työntekijän, tiimien kuin eri yksiköiden kesken. Se antaa sysäyksen aineettoman omaisuuden, kuten ympäristö-osaamisen, hyödyntämiseen parhaalla mahdollisella tavalla. Tärkeimpinä lopputuloksina työssä ovat ehdotukset harmonisoiduille merkittäville ympäristönäkökohdille sekä ympäristöriskienhallintajärjestelmän määritetyille komponenteille. Niitä ovat määritelmät ja skaalat riskien todennäköisyydelle, seurauksille sekä riskiluokille. Työn viimeisenä osana luodaan pohja tapaustutkimuksen avulla Rauman tehtaan jätevedenpuhdistamon kahden erilaisen riskienhallintajärjestelmän integroitumiselle.

Effect of physical exercise on glycogen turnover and net substrate utilization according to the nutritional state.

To determine the metabolic effects of a single bout of exercise performed after a meal or in the fasting state, nine healthy subjects were studied over two 8-h periods during which net substrate oxidation was monitored by indirect calorimetry. On one occasion, exercise was performed 90 min after ingestion of a meal labeled with [U-13C]glucose [protocol meal-exercise (M-E)]. On the second occasion, exercise was performed after an overnight fast and was followed 30 min later by ingestion of an identical meal [protocol exercise-meal (E-M)]. Energy balances were similar in both protocols, but carbohydrate balance was positive (42.2 +/- 5.1 g), and lipid balance was negative (-11.1 +/- 2.0) during E-M, whereas they were nearly even during M-E. Total glycogen synthesis was calculated as carbohydrate intake minus oxidation of exogenous 13C-labeled carbohydrate (calculated from 13CO2 production). Total glycogen synthesis was increased by 90% (from 47.6 +/- 3.8 to 90.7 +/- 5.4 g, P < 0.0001) during E-M vs. M-E. Endogenous glycogen breakdown was calculated as net carbohydrate oxidation minus oxidation of exogenous carbohydrate and was increased by 44% (from 35.8 +/- 5.6 to 51.7 +/- 6.6 g, P < 0.004) during E-M. It is concluded that exercise performed in the fasting state stimulates glycogen turnover and fat oxidation.