Effect of imitated global warming on Delta C-13 values in seven plant species growing in Tibet alpine meadows

Open-top chambers were used to estimate the possible effects of global warming on delta C-13 of seven plant species grown in alpine meadow ecosystem. The delta C-13 values of plant species were lower after long-term growth in open-top chambers. In the course of experiment, temperature significantly increased inside the chambers by 4 degrees C. Plant species grown at a lower elevation above sea level had higher delta C-13 values as compared to those grown at a higher elevation. This was in accordance with the effect of open-top chamber on delta C-13 values in plants. Greater availability of CO2 and lower water vapor as indicated by an increase in discrimination against (CO2)-C-13, probably result in more negative delta C-13 values of plants because higher stomatal conductance increases availability of CO2 and causes greater discrimination against (CO2)-C-13. The plant species studied could be the indicator species for testing global warming by the change in carbon isotope ratios at the two growth temperatures.

Blood-gas properties of plateau zokor (Myospalax baileyi)

Plateau zokor (Myospalax baileyi) is one of the blind subterranean mole rats that spend their life solely underground in scaled burrows. It is one of the special species of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. In their burrows, oxygen is low and carbon dioxide is high and their contents fluctuate with the change of seasons, soil types, rain and depth of burrows. However, plateau zokors show successful adaptation to that extreme environment. In this study, their adapting mechanisms to the hypoxic hypercapnic environment were analyzed through the comparison of their blood-gas properties with that of pikas (Ochotona curzniae) and Sprague-Dawley rats. The results indicated that plateau zokors had higher red blood corpuscle counts (8.11 +/- 0.59 (10(12)/L)) and hemoglobin concentrations (147 +/- 9.85 g/L), but hematocrit (45.9 +/- 3.29%) and mean corpuscular volume (56.67 +/- 2.57 fL) were lower than the other rodents. Their arterial blood and venous blood pH were 7.46 +/- 0.07 and 7.27 +/- 0.07. Oxygen pressure in arterial blood of plateau zokors was about 1.5 times higher than that of pikas and rats, and it was 0.36 and 0.26 times in their venous blood. Partial pressure for carbon dioxide in arterial and venous blood of plateau zokors was 1.5-fold and 2.0-fold higher, respectively, than in rats and pikas. Oxygen saturation of plateau zokors was 5.7 and 9.3 times lower in venous blood than that of pikas and rats, respectively. As result, the difference of oxygen saturation in arterial blood to venous blood was 2- and 4.5-fold higher in plateau zokors as that of pikas and rats, respectively. In conclusion, plateau zokors had a high tolerance to pH changes in tissues, together with strong capabilities to obtain oxygen from their hypoxic-hypercapnic environment. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Effect of N fertilizer on the productivity and nutritive values of perennial grass mixtures in the alpine region of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China

A study was conducted on grass mixtures that included smooth bromegrass (SB) + drooping wild ryegrass (DW), smooth bromegrass + Siberian wild ryegrass (SW) + crested wheatgrass (CW) and smooth bromegrass + Siberian wild ryegrass + drooping wild ryegrass + crested wheatgrass in the alpine region of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The study was conducted from 1998 to 2000 to investigate the effects of N application rates and growing year on herbage dry matter (DM) yield and nutritive values. Herbage DM production increased linearly with N application rates. The effect of N application on DM yields was greater (P < 0.05) in the 2nd and 3rd production years than in the establishment year. Dry matter yields of SB + SW + CW and SB + SW + DW + CW can reach as high as 15 000 kg ha(-1) at 345 kg ha(-1) N rate in the 3rd growing year. With increased N application rates, crude protein (CP) contents and 48 h in sacco DM degradability of grasses increased (P < 0.05). No effect (P > 0.05) of N application was detected on organic matter (OM) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) concentration. It can be concluded that for increased biomass production in the alpine region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, a minimum of 345 kg N ha(-1) should be applied to grass stands in three split application of 115 kg N ha(-1), in early June, early July and late July

Prediction of GC retention values under various column temperature conditions from temperature programmed data

A numerical approach has been developed for the correlation of retention limes (total retention lime) with temperature in gas chromatography, which allows the calculation of retention parameters including retention index from data acquired under two or more different temperature program conditions. By using this procedure the optimization of temperature condition can be further achieved, especially when a temperature-programmed run is the most suitable mode in the preliminary development of an analytical method for the analysis of an unknown sample.

Identification of phospholipid structures in human blood by direct-injection quadrupole-linear ion-trap mass spectrometry

Direct-injection electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in combination with information-dependent data acquisition (IDA), using a triple-quadrupole/linear ion trap combination, allows high-throughput qualitative analysis of complex phospholipid species from child whole blood. In the IDA experiments, scans to detect specific head groups (precursor ion or neutral loss scans) were used as survey scans to detect phospholipid classes. An enhanced resolution scan was then used to confirm the mass assignments, and the enhanced product ion scan was implemented as a dependent scan to determine the composition of each phospholipid class. These survey and dependent scans were performed sequentially and repeated for the entire duration of analysis, thus providing the maximum information from a single injection. In this way, 50 different phospholipids belonging to the phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin classes were identified in child whole blood. Copyright (C) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Altered of apoptotic markers of both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways induced by hepatitis C virus infection in peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Background: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) has emerged as a leading cause of cirrhosis in the U. S. and across the world. To understand the role of apoptotic pathways in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, we studied the mRNA and protein expression patterns of apoptosis-related genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from patients with HCV infection.Methods: the present study included 50 subjects which plasma samples were positive for HCV, but negative for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis B virus (HBV). These cases were divided into four groups according to METAVIR, a score-based analysis which helps to interpret a liver biopsy according to the degree of inflammation and fibrosis. mRNA expression of the studied genes were analyzed by reverse transcription of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and protein levels, analyzed by ELISA, was also conducted. HCV genotyping was also determined.Results: HCV infection increased mRNA expression and protein synthesis of caspase 8 in group 1 by 3 fold and 4 fold, respectively (p < 0.05). in group 4 HCV infection increased mRNA expression and protein synthesis of caspase 9 by 2 fold and 1,5 fold, respectively (p < 0.05). Also, caspase 3 mRNA expression and protein synthesis had level augumented by HCV infection in group 1 by 4 fold and 5 fold, respectively, and in group 4 by 6 fold and 7 fold, respectively (p < 0.05).Conclusions: HCV induces alteration at both genomic and protein levels of apoptosis markers involved with extrinsic and intrinsic pathways.

Mixed methods feasibility study for a trial of blood pressure telemonitoring for people who have had stroke/transient ischaemic attack (TIA).

Background Good blood pressure (BP) control reduces the risk of recurrence of stroke/transient ischaemic attack (TIA). Although there is strong evidence that BP telemonitoring helps achieve good control, none of the major trials have considered the effectiveness in stroke/TIA survivors. We therefore conducted a feasibility study for a trial of BP telemonitoring for stroke/ TIA survivors with uncontrolled BP in primary care. Method Phase 1 was a pilot trial involving 55 patients stratified by stroke/TIA randomised 3:1 to BP telemonitoring for 6 months or usual care. Phase 2 was a qualitative evaluation and comprised semi-structured interviews with 16 trial participants who received telemonitoring and 3 focus groups with 23 members of stroke support groups and 7 carers. Results Overall, 125 patients (60 stroke patients, 65 TIA patients) were approached and 55 (44%) patients were randomised including 27 stroke patients and 28 TIA patients. Fifty-two participants (95%) attended the 6-month follow-up appointment, but one declined the second daytime ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) measurement resulting in a 93% completion rate for ABPM − the proposed primary outcome measure for a full trial. Adherence to telemonitoring was good; of the 40 participants who were telemonitoring, 38 continued to provide readings throughout the 6 months. There was a mean reduction of 10.1 mmHg in systolic ABPM in the telemonitoring group compared with 3.8 mmHg in the control group, which suggested the potential for a substantial effect from telemonitoring. Our qualitative analysis found that many stroke patients were concerned about their BP and telemonitoring increased their engagement, was easy, convenient and reassuring Conclusions A full-scale trial is feasible, likely to recruit well and have good rates of compliance and follow-up.

Transformation Based Interpolation with Generalized Representative Values

Z. Huang and Q. Shen. Transformation Based Interpolation with Generalized Representative Values. Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Fuzzy Systems, pages 821-826.

Blood and urinary abnormalities induced during and after 24-hour continuous running: A case report

In this reported clinical case, a healthy and well-trained male subject [aged 37 years, maximal oxygen uptake (V[Combining Dot Above]O2max) 64 mL·kg·min] ran for 23 hours and 35 minutes covering 160 km (6.7 km/h average running speed). The analysis of hematological and biochemical parameters 3 days before the event, just after termination of exercise, and after 24 and 48 hours of recovery revealed important changes on muscle and liver function, and hemolysis. The analysis of urine sediments showed an increment of red and white blood cells filtrations, compatible with transient nephritis. After 48 hours, most of these alterations were recovered. Physicians and health professionals who monitor such athletic events should be aware that these athletes could exhibit transient symptoms compatible with severe pathologies and diseases, although the genesis of these blood and urinary abnormalities are attributable to transient physiological adaptations rather to pathological status.

Fuzzy interpolation with generalized representative values

Z. Huang and Q. Shen. Fuzzy interpolation with generalized representative values. Proceedings of the 2004 UK Workshop on Computational Intelligence, pages 161-171.