Complement factor C4 and immunoglobulins in recurrent or chronic mucosal infections

The study assessed whether plasma concentrations of complement factors C3, C4, or immunoglobulins, serum classical pathway hemolytyic activity, or polymorphisms in the class I and II HLA genes, isotypes and gene numbers of C4, or allotypes of IgG1 and IgG3 heavy chain genes were associated with severe frequently recurring or chronic mucosal infections. According to strict clinical criteria, 188 consecutive voluntary patients without a known immunodeficiency and 198 control subjects were recruited. Frequencies of low levels in IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 were for the first time tested from adult general population and patients with acute rhinosinusitis. Frequently recurring intraoral herpes simplex type 1 infections, a rare form of the disease, was associated with homozygosity in HLA -A*, -B*, -C*, and -DR* genes. Frequently recurrent genital HSV-2 infections were associated with low levels of IgG1 and IgG3, present in 54% of the recruited patients. This association was partly allotype-dependent. The G3mg,G1ma/ax haplotype, together with low IgG3, was more common in patients than in control subjects who lacked antibodies against herpes simplex viruses. This is the first found immunogenetic deficiency in otherwise healthy adults that predisposes to highly frequent mucosal herpes recurrences. According to previous studies, HSV effectively evades the allotype G1ma/ax of IgG1, whereas G3mg is associated with low IgG3. Certain HLA genes were more common in patients than in control subjects. Having more than one C4A or C4B gene was associated with neuralgias caused by the virus. Low levels of IgA, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 were common in the general adult population, but even more frequent in patients with chronic sinusitis. Only low IgG1 was more common chronic than in acute rhinosinusitis. Clinically, nasal polyposis and bronchial asthma were associated with complicated disease forms. The best differentiating immunologic parameters were C4A deficiency and the combination of low plasma IgG4 together with low IgG1 or IgG2, performing almost equally. The lack of C4A, IgA, and IgG4, all known to possess anti-inflammatory activity, together with a concurrently impaired immunity caused by low subclass levels, may predispose to chronic disease forms. In severe chronic adult periodontitis, any C4A or C4B deficiency combined was associated with the disease. The new quantitative analysis of C4 genes and the conventional C4 allotyping method complemented each other. Lowered levels of plasma C3 or C4 or both, and serum CH50 were found in herpes and periodontitis patients. In rhinosinusitis, there was a linear trend with the highest levels found in the order: acute > chronic rhinosinusitis > general population > blood donors with no self-reported history of rhinosinusitis. Complement is involved in the defense against the tested mucosal infections. Seemingly immunocompetent patients with chronic or recurrent mucosal infections frequently have subtle weaknesses in different arms of immunity. Their susceptibility to chronic disease forms may be caused by these. Host s subtly impaired immunity often coincides with effective immune evasion from the same arms of immunity by the disease-causing pathogens. The interpretation of low subclass levels, if no additional predisposing immunologic factors are tested, is difficult and of limited value in early diagnosis and treatment.

Humanitaarisuuden varjossa : Poliittiset tekijät lastensiirroissa Ruotsiin sotiemme aikana ja niiden jälkeen

The evacuation of Finnish children to Sweden during WW II has often been called a small migration . Historical research on this subject is scarce, considering the great number of children involved. The present research has applied, apart from the traditional archive research, the framework of history-culture developed by Rüsen in order to have an all-inclusive approach to the impact of this historical event. The framework has three dimensions: political, aesthetic and cognitive. The collective memory of war children has also been discussed. The research looks for political factors involved in the evacuations during the Winter War and the Continuation War and the post-war period. The approach is wider than a purely humanitarian one. Political factors have had an impact in both Finland and Sweden, beginning from the decision-making process and ending with the discussion of the unexpected consequences of the evacuations in the Finnish Parliament in 1950. The Winter War (30.11.1939 13.3.1940) witnessed the first child transports. These were also the model for future decision making. The transports were begun on the initiative of Swedes Maja Sandler, the wife of the resigned minister of foreign affairs Rickard Sandler, and Hanna Rydh-Munck af Rosenschöld , but this activity was soon accepted by the Swedish government because the humanitarian help in the form of child transports lightened the political burden of Prime Minister Hansson, who was not willing to help Finland militarily. It was help that Finland never asked for and it was rejected at the beginning. The negative response of Minister Juho Koivisto was not taken very seriously. The political forces in Finland supporting child transports were stronger than those rejecting them. The major politicians in support belonged to Finland´s Swedish minority. In addition, close to 1 000 Finnish children remained in Sweden after the Winter War. No analysis was made of the reasons why these children did not return home. A committee set up to help Finland and Norway was established in Sweden in 1941. Its chairman was Torsten Nothin, an influential Swedish politician. In December 1941 he appealed to the Swedish government to provide help to Finnish children under the authority of The International Red Cross. This plea had no results. The delivery of great amounts of food to Finland, which was now at war with Great Britain, had automatically caused reactions among the allies against the Swedish imports through Gothenburg. This included the import of oil, which was essential for the Swedish navy and air force. Oil was later used successfully to force a reduction in commerce between Sweden and Finland. The contradiction between Sweden´s essential political interests and humanitarian help was solved in a way that did not harm the country´s vital political interests. Instead of delivering help to Finland, Finnish children were transported to Sweden through the organisations that had already been created. At the beginning of the Continuation War (25.6.1941 27.4.1945) negative opinion regarding child transports re-emerged in Finland. Karl-August Fagerholm implemented the transports in September 1941. In 1942, members of the conservative parties in the Finnish Parliament expressed their fear of losing the children to the Swedes. They suggested that Finland should withdraw from the inter-Nordic agreement, according to which the adoptions were approved by the court of the country where the child resided. This initiative failed. Paavo Virkkunen, an influential member of the conservative party Kokoomus in Finland, favoured the so-called good-father system, where help was delivered to Finland in the form of money and goods. Virkkunen was concerned about the consequences of a long stay in a Swedish family. The risk of losing the children was clear. The extreme conservative party (IKL, the Patriotic Movement of the Finnish People) wanted to alienate Finland from Sweden and bring Finland closer to Germany. Von Blücher, the German ambassador to Finland, had in his report to Berlin, mentioned the political consequences of the child transports. Among other things, they would bring Finland and Sweden closer to each other. He had also paid attention to the Nordic political orientation in Finland. He did not question or criticize the child transports. His main interest was to increase German political influence in Finland, and the Nordic political orientation was an obstacle. Fagerholm was politically ill-favoured by the Germans, because he had a strong Nordic political disposition and had criticised Germany´s activities in Norway. The criticism of child transports was at the same time criticism of Fagerholm. The official censorship organ of the Finnish government (VTL) denied the criticism of child transports in January 1942. The reasons were political. Statements made by members of the Finnish Parliament were also censored, because it was thought that they would offend the Swedes. In addition, the censorship organ used child transports as a means of active propaganda aimed at improving the relations between the two countries. The Finnish Parliament was informed in 1948 that about 15 000 Finnish children still remained in Sweden. These children would stay there permanently. In 1950 the members of the Agrarian Party in Finland stated that Finland should actively strive to get the children back. The party on the left (SKDL, the Democratic Movement of Finnish People) also focused on the unexpected consequences of the child transports. The Social Democrats, and largely Fagerholm, had been the main force in Finland behind the child transports. Members of the SKDL, controlled by Finland´s Communist Party, stated that the war time authorities were responsible for this war loss. Many of the Finnish parents could not get their children back despite repeated requests. The discussion of the problem became political, for example von Born, a member of the Swedish minority party RKP, related this problem to foreign policy by stating that the request to repatriate the Finnish children would have negative political consequences for the relations between Finland and Sweden. He emphasized expressing feelings of gratitude to the Swedes. After the war a new foreign policy was established by Prime Minister (1944 1946) and later President (1946 1956) Juho Kusti Paasikivi. The main cornerstone of this policy was to establish good relations with the Soviet Union. The other, often forgotten, cornerstone was to simultaneously establish good relations with other Nordic countries, especially Sweden, as a counterbalance. The unexpected results of the child evacuation, a Swedish initiative, had violated the good relations with Sweden. The motives of the Democratic Movement of Finnish People were much the same as those of the Patriotic Movement of Finnish People. Only the ideology was different. The Nordic political orientation was an obstacle to both parties. The position of the Democratic Movement of Finnish People was much better than that of the Patriotic Movement of Finnish People, because now one could clearly see the unexpected results, which included human tragedy for the many families who could not be re-united with their children despite their repeated requests. The Swedes questioned the figure given to the Finnish Parliament regarding the number of children permanently remaining in Sweden. This research agrees with the Swedes. In a calculation based on Swedish population registers, the number of these children is about 7 100. The reliability of this figure is increased by the fact that the child allowance programme began in Sweden in 1948. The prerequisite to have this allowance was that the child be in the Swedish population register. It was not necessary for the child to have Swedish nationality. The Finnish Parliament had false information about the number of Finnish children who remained in Sweden in 1942 and in 1950. There was no parliamentary control in Finland regarding child transports, because the decision was made by one cabinet member and speeches by MPs in the Finnish Parliament were censored, like all criticism regarding child transports to Sweden. In Great Britain parliamentary control worked better throughout the whole war, because the speeches regarding evacuation were not censored. At the beginning of the war certain members of the British Labour Party and the Welsh Nationalists were particularly outspoken about the scheme. Fagerholm does not discuss to any great extent the child transports in his memoirs. He does not evaluate the process and results as a whole. This research provides some possibilities for an evaluation of this sort. The Swedish medical reports give a clear picture of the physical condition of the Finnish children when arriving in Sweden. The transports actually revealed how bad the situation of the poorest children was. According to Titmuss, similar observations were made in Great Britain during the British evacuations. The child transports saved the lives of approximately 2 900 children. Most of these children were removed to Sweden to receive treatment for illnesses, but many among the healthy children were undernourished and some suffered from the effects of tuberculosis. The medical inspection in Finland was not thorough. If you compare the figure of 2 900 children saved and returned with the figure of about 7 100 children who remained permanently in Sweden, you may draw the conclusion that Finland as a country failed to benefit from the child transports, and that the whole operation was a political mistake with far-reaching consequenses. The basic goal of the operation was to save lives and have all the children return to Finland after the war. The difficulties with the repatriation of the children were mainly psychological. The level of child psychology in Finland at that time was low. One may question the report by Professor Martti Kaila regarding the adaptation of children to their families back in Finland. Anna Freud´s warnings concerning the difficulties that arise when child evacuees return are also valid in Finland. Freud viewed the emotional life of children in a way different from Kaila: the physical survival of a small child forces her to create strong emotional ties to the person who is looking after her. This, a characteristic of all small children, occurred with the Finnish children too, and it was something the political decision makers in Finland could not see during and after the war. It is a characteristic of all little children. Yet, such experiences were already evident during the Winter War. The best possible solution had been to limit the child transports only to children in need of medical treatment. Children from large and poor families had been helped by organising meals and by buying food from Denmark with Swedish money. Assisting Finland by all possible means should have been the basic goal of Fagerholm in September 1941, when the offer of child transports came from Sweden. Fagerholm felt gratitude towards the Swedes. The risks became clear to him only in 1943. The war children are today a rather scattered and diffuse group of people. Emotionally, part of these children remained in Sweden after the war. There is no clear collective memory, only individual memories; the collective memory of the war children has partly been shaped later through the activities of the war child associations. The main difference between the children evacuated in Finland (for example from Karelia to safer areas with their families) and the war children, who were sent abroad, is that the war children lack a shared story and experience with their families. They were outsiders . The whole matter is sensitive to many of such mothers and discussing the subject has often been avoided in families. The war-time censorship has continued in families through silence and avoidance and Finnish politicians and Finnish families had to face each other on this issue after the war. The lack of all-inclusive historical research has also prevented the formation of a collective awareness among war children returned to Finland or those remaining permanently abroad.. Knowledge of historical facts will help war-children by providing an opportunity to create an all-inclusive approach to the past. Personal experiences should be regarded as part of a large historical entity shadowed by war and where many political factors were at work in both Finland and Sweden. This means strengthening of the cognitive dimension discussed in Rüsen´s all-inclusive historical approach.

Observation of the Ωb- baryon and measurement of the properties of the Ξb- and Ωb- baryons

We report the observation of the bottom, doubly-strange baryon Omega^-_b through the decay chain Omega^-_b -> J/psi Omega^-, where J/psi -> mu^+ mu^-, Omega^- -> Lambda K^-, and Lambda -> p pi^-, using 4.2 fb^{-1} of data from p\bar p collisions at sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV, and recorded with the Collider Detector at Fermilab. A signal is observed whose probability of arising from a background fluctuation is 4.0 * 10^{-8}, or 5.5 Gaussian standard deviations. The Omega^-_b mass is measured to be 6054.4 +/- 6.8 (stat.) +/- 0.9 (syst.) MeV/c^2. The lifetime of the Omega^-_b baryon is measured to be 1.13^{+0.53}_{-0.40}(stat.) +/- 0.02(syst.)$ ps. In addition, for the \Xi^-_b baryon we measure a mass of 5790.9 +/- 2.6(stat.) +/- 0.8(syst.) MeV/c^2 and a lifetime of 1.56^{+0.27}_{-0.25}(stat.) +/-0.02(syst.) ps. Under the assumption that the \Xi_b^- and \Omega_b^- are produced with similar kinematic distributions to the \Lambda^0_b baryon, we find sigma(Xi_b^-) B(Xi_b^- -> J/psi Xi^-)}/ sigma(Lambda^0_b) B(Lambda^0_b -> J/psi Lambda)} = 0.167^{+0.037}_{-0.025}(stat.) +/-0.012(syst.) and sigma(Omega_b^-) B(Omega_b^- -> J/psi Omega^-)/ sigma(Lambda^0_b) B(Lambda^0_b -> J/psi Lambda)} = 0.045^{+0.017}_{-0.012}(stat.) +/- 0.004(syst.) for baryons produced with transverse momentum in the range of 6-20 GeV/c.

Modern Societal Impulses and their Nordic Manifestations : On Emancipation and Constraint in Societal Development

The 1980s and the early 1990s have proved to be an important turning point in the history of the Nordic welfare states. After this breaking point, the Nordic social order has been built upon a new foundation. This study shows that the new order is mainly built upon new hierarchies and control mechanisms that have been developed consistently through economic and labour market policy measures. During the post-war period Nordic welfare states to an increasing extent created equality of opportunity and scope for agency among people. Public social services were available for all and the tax-benefit system maintained a level income distribution. During this golden era of Nordic welfare state, the scope for agency was, however, limited by social structures. Public institutions and law tended to categorize people according to their life circumstances ascribing them a predefined role. In the 1980s and 1990s this collectivist social order began to mature and it became subject to political renegotiation. Signs of a new social order in the Nordic countries have included the liberation of the financial markets, the privatizing of public functions and redefining the role of the public sector. It is now possible to reassess the ideological foundations of this new order. As a contrast to widely used political rhetoric, the foundation of the new order has not been the ideas of individual freedom or choice. Instead, the most important aim appears to have been to control and direct people to act in accordance with the rules of the market. The various levels of government and the social security system have been redirected to serve this goal. Instead of being a mechanism for redistributing income, the Nordic social security system has been geared towards creating new hierarchies on the Nordic labour markets. During the past decades, conditions for receiving income support and unemployment benefit have been tightened in all Nordic countries. As a consequence, people have been forced to accept deteriorating terms and conditions on the labour market. Country-specific variations exist, however: in sum Sweden has been most conservative, Denmark most innovative and Finland most radical in reforming labour market policy. The new hierarchies on the labour market have co-incided with slow or non-existent growth of real wages and with a strong growth of the share of capital income. Slow growth of real wages has kept inflation low and thus secured the value of capital. Societal development has thus progressed from equality of opportunity during the age of the welfare states towards a hierarchical social order where the majority of people face increasing constraints and where a fortunate minority enjoys prosperity and security.

Evolution of Transformation Texture in a Metastable B - Titanium Alloy

Texture evolution in h. c. p. (alpha) phase derived from aging of a differently processed metastable b.c.c. (beta) titanium alloy was investigated. The study was aimed at examining (i) the effect of different b. c. c. cold rolling textures and (ii) the effect of different defect structures on the h. c. p transformation texture. The alloy metastable beta alloy Ti-10V-4.5Fe-1.5Al was rolled at room temperature by unidirectional (UDR) and multi-step cross rolling (MSCR). A piece of the as-rolled materials were subjected to aging in order to derive the h. c. p. (alpha) phase. In the other route, the as-rolled materials were recrystallized and then aged. Textures were measured using X-ray as well as Electron Back Scatter Diffraction. Rolling texture of beta phase, as characterized by the presence of a strong gamma fibre, was found stronger in M S C R compared to UDR, although they were qualitatively similar. The stronger texture of MSCR sample could be attributed to the inhomogeneous deformation taking place in the sample that might contribute to weakening of texture. Upon recrystallization in beta phase field close to beta-transus. the textures qualitatively resembled the corresponding beta deformation textures; however, they got strengthed. The aging of differently beta rolled samples resulted in the product alpha-phase with different textures. The (UDR + Aged) sample had a stronger texture than (MSCR + Aged) sample, which could be due to continuation of defect accumulation in UDR sample, thus providing more potential sites for the nucleation of alpha phase. The trend was reversed in samples recrystallized prior to aging. The (MSCR + Recrystallized + Aged) sample showed stronger texture of alpha phase than the (UDR + Recrystallized + Aged) sample. This could be attributed to extensive defect annihilation in the UDR sample on recrystallization prior to aging. The (MSCR + Aged) sample exhibited more alpha variants when compared to (MSCR + Recrystallized + Aged) sample. This has been attributed to the availability of more potential sites for nucleation of alpha phase in the former. It could be concluded that alpha transformation texture depends mainly on the defect structure of the parent phase.

Factors associated with 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccination acceptance among university students from India during the post-pandemic phase

Background: There was a low adherence to influenza A (H1N1) vaccination program among university students and health care workers during the pandemic influenza in many parts of the world. Vaccination of high risk individuals is one of the recommendations of World Health Organization during the post-pandemic period. It is not documented about the student's knowledge, attitude and willingness to accept H1N1 vaccination during the post-pandemic period. We aimed to analyze the student's knowledge, attitude and willingness to accept H1N1 vaccination during the post-pandemic period in India. Methods: Vaccine against H1N1 was made available to the students of Vellore Institute of Technology, India from September 2010. The data are based on a cross-sectional study conducted during October 2010 to January 2011 using a self-administered questionnaire with a representative sample of the student population (N = 802). Results: Of the 802 respondents, only 102/802 (12.7%) had been vaccinated and 105/802 (13%) planned to do so in the future, while 595/802 (74%) would probably or definitely not get vaccinated in the future. The highest coverage was among the female (65/102, 63.7%) and non-compliance was higher among men in the group (384/595; 64.5%) (p < 0.0001). The representation of students from school of Bio-sciences and Bio-technology among vaccinees is significantly higher than that of other schools. Majority of the study population from the three groups perceived vaccine against H1N1 as the effective preventive measure when compared to other preventive measures. 250/595 (42%) of the responders argued of not being in the risk group. The risk perception was significantly higher among female (p < 0.0001). With in the study group, 453/802 (56.4%) said that they got the information, mostly from media. Conclusions: Our study shows that the vaccination coverage among university students remains very low in the post-pandemic period and doubts about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine are key elements in their rejection. Our results indicate a need to provide accessible information about the vaccine safety by scientific authorities and fill gaps and confusions in this regard.

Bimodal distribution of motility and cell fate in Dictyostelium discoideum

Pre-starvation amoebae of Dictyostelium discoideum exhibit random movements. Starved cells aggregate by directed movements (chemotaxis) towards cyclic AMP and differentiate into live spores or dead stalk cells. Many differences between presumptive spore and stalk cells precede differentiation. We have examined whether cell motility-related factors are also among them. Cell speeds and localisation of motility-related signalling molecules were monitored by live cell imaging and immunostaining (a) in nutrient medium during growth, (b) immediately following transfer to starvation medium and (c) in nutrient medium that was re-introduced after a brief period of starvation. Cells moved randomly under all three conditions but mean speeds increased following transfer from nutrient medium to starvation medium; the transition occurred within 15 min. The distribution of speeds in starvation medium was bimodal: about 20% of the cells moved significantly faster than the remaining 80%. The motility-related molecules F-actin, PTEN and PI3 kinase were distributed differently in slow and fast cells. Among starved cells, the calcium content of slower cells was lower than that of the faster cells. All differences reverted within 15 min after restoration of the nutrient medium. The slow/fast distinction was missing in Polysphondylium pallidum, a cellular slime mould that lacks the presumptive stalk and spore cell classes, and in the trishanku (triA(center dot)) mutant of D. discoideum, in which the classes exist but are unstable. The transition from growth to starvation triggers a spontaneous and reversible switch in the distribution of D. discoideum cell speeds. Cells whose calcium content is relatively low (known to be presumptive spore cells) move slower than those whose calcium levels are higher (known to be presumptive stalk cells). Slow and fast cells show different distributions of motility-related proteins. The switch is indicative of a bistable mechanism underlying cell motility.

Climatic variability in Central Indian Himalaya during the last similar to 1800 years: Evidence from a high resolution speleothem record

Stable isotopes from a U/Th dated aragonite stalagmite from the Central Kumaun Himalaya provide evidence of variation in climatic conditions in the last similar to 1800 years. The delta O-18 and delta C-13 values vary from -4.3 parts per thousand to -7.6 parts per thousand and -3.4 parts per thousand to -9.1 parts per thousand respectively, although the stalagmite was not grown in isotopic equilibrium with cave drip water, a clear palaeoclimatic signal in stalagmite delta O-18 values is evident based on the regional climate data. The stalagmite showed a rapid growth rate during 830-910 AD, most likely the lower part of Medieval Warm Period (MWP), and 1600-1640 AD, the middle part of Little Ice Age (LIA). Two distinct phases of reduced precipitation are marked by a 2 parts per thousand shift in 8180 values towards the end of MWP (similar to 1080-1160 AD) and after its termination from similar to 1210 to 1440 AD. The LIA (similar to 1440-1880 AD) is represented by sub-tropical climate similar to modern conditions, whereas the post-LIA was comparatively drier. The Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) was located over the cave location during wetter/warmer conditions. When it shifted southward, precipitation over the study area decreased. A prominent drop in delta O-18 and delta C-13 values during the post-LIA period may also have been additionally influenced by anthropogenic activity in the area. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.

Spatial variation of seismicity parameters across India and adjoining areas

An attempt has been made to quantify the variability in the seismic activity rate across the whole of India and adjoining areas (0–45°N and 60–105°E) using earthquake database compiled from various sources. Both historical and instrumental data were compiled and the complete catalog of Indian earthquakes till 2010 has been prepared. Region-specific earthquake magnitude scaling relations correlating different magnitude scales were achieved to develop a homogenous earthquake catalog for the region in unified moment magnitude scale. The dependent events (75.3%) in the raw catalog have been removed and the effect of aftershocks on the variation of b value has been quantified. The study area was divided into 2,025 grid points (1°91°) and the spatial variation of the seismicity across the region have been analyzed considering all the events within 300 km radius from each grid point. A significant decrease in seismic b value was seen when declustered catalog was used which illustrates that a larger proportion of dependent events in the earthquake catalog are related to lower magnitude events. A list of 203,448 earth- quakes (including aftershocks and foreshocks) occurred in the region covering the period from 250 B.C. to 2010 A.D. with all available details is uploaded in the website http://www.civil.iisc.ernet.in/*sreevals/resource.htm.

Absence of systemic toxicity in mouse model towards BaTiO3 nanoparticulate based eluate treatment

One of the existing issues in implant failure of orthopedic biomaterials is the toxicity induced by the fine particles released during long term use in vivo, leading to acute inflammatory response. In developing a new class of piezobiocomposite to mimic the integrated electrical and mechanical properties of bone, bone-mimicking physical properties as well as in vitro cytocompatibility properties have been achieved with spark plasma sintered hydroxyapatite (HA)-barium titanate (BaTiO3) composites. However, the presence of BaTiO3 remains a concern towards the potential toxicity effect. To address this issue, present work reports the first result to conclusively confirm the non-toxic effect of HA-BaTiO3 piezobiocomposite nanoparticulates, in vivo. Twenty BALB/c mice were intraarticularly injected at their right knee joints with different concentrations of HA-BaTiO3 composite of up to 25 mg/ml. The histopathological examination confirmed the absence of any trace of injected particles or any sign of inflammatory reaction in the vital organs, such as heart, spleen, kidney and liver at 7 days post-exposure period. Rather, the injected nanoparticulates were found to be agglomerated in the vicinity of the knee joint, surrounded by macrophages. Importantly, the absence of any systemic toxicity response in any of the vital organs in the treated mouse model, other than a mild local response at the site of delivery, was recorded. The serum biochemical analyses using proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta) also complimented to the non-immunogenic response to injected particulates. Altogether, the absence of any inflammatory/ adverse reaction will open up myriad of opportunities for BaTiO3 based piezoelectric implantable devices in biomedical applications.

Estimation of the components of municipal solid waste settlement

Estimation of the municipal solid waste settlements and the contribution of each of the components are essential in the estimation of the volume of the waste that can be accommodated in a landfill and increase the post-usage of the landfill. This article describes an experimental methodology for estimating and separating primary settlement, settlement owing to creep and biodegradation-induced settlement. The primary settlement and secondary settlement have been estimated and separated based on 100% pore pressure dissipation time and the coefficient of consolidation. Mechanical creep and biodegradation settlements were estimated and separated based on the observed time required for landfill gas production. The results of a series of laboratory triaxial tests, creep tests and anaerobic reactor cell setups were conducted to describe the components of settlement. All the tests were conducted on municipal solid waste (compost reject) samples. It was observed that biodegradation accounted to more than 40% of the total settlement, whereas mechanical creep contributed more than 20% towards the total settlement. The essential model parameters, such as the compression ratio (C-c'), rate of mechanical creep (c), coefficient of mechanical creep (b), rate of biodegradation (d) and the total strain owing to biodegradation (E-DG), are useful parameters in the estimation of total settlements as well as components of settlement in landfill.

Estudio preliminar del comportamiento productivo y reproductivo de un hato criollo reyna bajo condiciones de confinamiento en Masatepe, Nicaragua

El presente trabajo se realizó con el objetivo de estudiar el comportamiento productivo y reproductivo de un hato criollo lechero Reyna, bajo condiciones de explotación en confinamiento, en la finca San José ubicada en Masatepe, Masaya, Nicaragua. Se analizaron 148 registros productivos y reproductivos correspondientes al período 1982 a 1989. Las características estudiadas fueron producción de leche total por lactancia (PLTOT), producción de leche ajustada a 305 días (PL305), duración de la lactancia (DL), intervalo entre partos (IEP) y edad al primer parto (EPP), además se evaluó el comportamiento de la curva de lactancia y se estimaron los parámetros que la caracterizan (a) parámetro que regula la producción inicial, (b) parámetro que regula el ascenso al pico y (c) parámetro que regula la declinación post pico, a partir de pico (RP), análisis se éstos se calcularon las variables rendimiento al tiempo al pico (TP) y la persistencia (S). En los utilizaron los métodos 1) Mínimos cuadrados (Harvey, 1987), 2) Iterativo de estimación no lineal (Mardquardt, 1968), 3) Modelo y ecuaciones propuestas por Wood, (1967) a través de procedimientos computarizados (Harvey, 1987 y SAS, 1987). Mediante análisis de varianza se estudió el efecto de los factores ambientales año de parto, época, número de partos y las interacciones año de parto por época y época por número de partos sobre PLT, PL305, DL, e IEP. Las medias de mínimos cuadrados obtenidas en este estudio fueron 1,577.65 ± 92.06 Kg, 1,560.64 ± 89.65 Kg, 264.23 ± 9.5 días, 425.96 ± 11.4 días y 1,401.08 ± 120 días para PLTOT, PL305, DL, IEP y EPP respectivamente. Los valores de a, b, c, RP, TP, y S fueron 4.19006 ± 0.5381, 0.221751 ± 0.0402, 0.005152 ± 0.00051, 7,73 Kg, 43.3 días y 6.43 % respectivamente. En el ANDEVA se encontró un efecto altamente significativo (P<0.01) del año de parto sobre las características estudiadas, resultando NS las otras fuentes de variación. Los valores y efectos antes señalados hacen notar que el criollo lechero no responde muy satisfactoriamente a condiciones de confinamiento, aunque es observable su ventaja productiva, respecto al promedio del hato nacional. Al caracterizar la curva de lactancia estimada para el hato y por número de partos ésta presentó valores sobre estimados de producción, respecto a la producción real, sin embargo no presentó atipicidad en su forma.

Efecto de exposición a deshidratación del coyolillo (Cyperus rotundus L.) sobre su densidad y el crecimiento y rendimiento del cultivo de Ajonjolí (Sesamun indicum L.) c.v. Cuyumaqui

En 1991 se estableció un ensayo en época seca (20-30 Abril) en el Centro Experimental del Algodón, Posoltega, Chinandega, con los objetivos de determinar si el efecto de diferentes tiempos de exposición a deshidratación del coyolillo (Cyperus rotundus L.) al arar el suelo en seco con arado de discos para reducir su densidad, se mantiene hasta la época de postrera y asimismo si tiene efecto sobre el crecimiento y rendimiento del cultivo de ajonjolí (Sesamun indicum L.). Para tales efectos se usó un diseño de Bloques Completos al Azar (B.C.A.) con seis tratamientos y seis repeticiones, evaluándose el factor tiempo de exposición a deshidratación del coyolillo. Los tratamientos consistieron en realizar la práctica de arar el suelo en seco en las diferentes parcelas a intervalos de dos días, empezando el 20 de abril con el tratamiento diez días y terminando el 30 de abril con el tratamiento cero días de exposición, aplicándose ese mismo día el riego en todo el área. Los tubérculos quedaron expuestos a la deshidratación durante 1O, 8, 6, 4, 2 y O días. Después de establecer lo tratamientos, se sembró el 2 de mayo el cultivo de soya (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) (Época de primera) y el cultivo de ajonjolí del presente ensayo el 5 de septiembre (época de postrera). Las variables evaluadas consistieron para coyolillo: densidad y para ajonjolí: altura de plantas, número de hojas, diámetro del tallo y rendimiento. El análisis de varianza mostró significancia estadística (P < 0.05) en densidad a los 14, 28 y 42• dds, altura de plantas 42 y 89 dds, número de hojas 28 dds y diámetro del tallo 42 dds. El contraste olinomial planificado presentó significancia estadística para la tendencia lineal (P <0.05) para densidad a los 14, 28.y 42.dds, altura de plantas 14, 42y 89 dds, número de hojas 28 y 42 dds, diámetro del tallo 28 y 42 dds y rendimiento. Los mayores valores de medias para densidad de coyolillo se presentan en el tratamiento cero días y los menores valores en el tratamiento ocho días de exposición a deshidratación del coyolillo para las tres fechas de muestreo. Todas las variables evaluadas en el cultivo de ajonjolí presentan los mayores valores en el tratamiento ocho días y los menores valores en el tratamiento cero días de exposición, excepto altura 14 dds, donde el mayor valor se presenta en el tratamiento cero días y el 'menor valor en el tratamiento seis días de exposición a deshidratación del coyolillo. Los análisis de regresión realizados entre la variable independiente tiempo de exposición y las variables dependientes del coyolillo y el cultivo del ajonjolí, mostraron una respuesta de tendencia lineal negativa en densidad de coyolillo y tendencia lineal positiva en todas las variables del cultivo de ajonjolí, excepto altura 14 dds que presentó una tendencia lineal negativa.

Salamanca, de poblado a ciudad : aproximación histórica a su origen, configuración y desarrollo sociourbanístico antes de la invasión musulmana

Resumen: En este artículo se aborda el origen, configuración y evolución urbana de Salamanca durante las ocupaciones soteña, celtibérica, romana y visigoda, comprendidas entre el siglo VII a.C., Primera Edad del Hierro, y la invasión musulmana de principios del siglo VIII d.C. La principal base documental la constituyen informes de las numerosas excavaciones arqueológicas, en su gran mayoría inéditos depositados en el Museo Provincial, realizadas a partir del año 1984 tanto en el cerro de San Vicente, núcleo germinal de la ciudad, como en el cerro de las Catedrales, núcleo de consolidación definitiva de Salamanca.

Evaluación comparativa de concentrados pre-iniciadores comerciales vs. ración convencional para cerdos en etapa de iniciación

En las instalaciones de Porcina Gallo Solo S.A. ubicadas en el Departamento de León, se efectuó una prueba de alimentación durante el periodo comprendido del 31 de Enero al 21 de Abril, para verificar la calidad de tres concentrados comerciales (A,B,C), al compararlos con una ración convencional (D), en cerdos en etapa de iniciación. El experimento comprendió 2 etapas. Inicialmente se utilizaron las camadas provenientes de 24 cerdas, distribuidas al azar en 4 grupos, a las cuales se llevo registro de peso semanal y consumo de alimentos, hasta los 42 días, fecha de destete. El diseño utilizado fue completamente azarizado. Como segunda etapa se seleccionaron 72 cerdos de 7-8 semanas de edad, se desparasitaron y fueron distribuidos en 4 tratamientos, y continuaron recibiendo sus respectivos concentrados pre-iniciadores durante 3 semanas, hasta alcanzar aproximadamente 23 kilogramos de peso vivo. El numero de cerdos destetados por camada fue sometido a análisis de varianza; y las ganancias de peso vivo en ambos periodos analizados fueron sometidos a análisis de covarianza y prueba de Duncan. La ganancia de peso vivo, de 5.45 kilogramos obtenida por los lechones en el tratamiento "D", durante el periodo de lactancia, fue similar a la de los tratamientos "A" y "C", pero significativamente diferente P(.05), con la lograda por el tratamiento "B", de 3.78 kilogramos. La mayor ganancia de peso vivo, durante el periodo post-destete, se obtuvo con los cerdos que recibian la racion comercial "B" (9.59 kgs), la que fue similar a la del tratamiento "D"; siendo diferentes de las obtenidas con los tratamientos "A" (6.09 kgs.) y "C" (7.52 kgs.). El mayor promedio, de 8.66 lechones destetados por camada, se obtuvo con el tratamiento "C". Sin embargo no se encontraron diferencias significativas al compararlo con los resultados obtenidos con los tratamientos A, B y D respectivamente. El tratamiento "B" resulto ser la ración comercial mas económica, revelando un costo unitario de C$ 3.. por kilogramo de cerdo producido durante el periodo post-destete. Los costos unitarios obtenidos con los tratamientos "A" (C$ 3.93) y "C" (3.88) fueron mayores a los obtenidos con el testigo "D" (3.36).