Pulmonary artery pressure and cardiac function in children and adolescents after rapid ascent to 3,450 m

High-altitude destinations are visited by increasing numbers of children and adolescents. High-altitude hypoxia triggers pulmonary hypertension that in turn may have adverse effects on cardiac function and may induce life-threatening high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), but there are limited data in this young population. We, therefore, assessed in 118 nonacclimatized healthy children and adolescents (mean ± SD; age: 11 ± 2 yr) the effects of rapid ascent to high altitude on pulmonary artery pressure and right and left ventricular function by echocardiography. Pulmonary artery pressure was estimated by measuring the systolic right ventricular to right atrial pressure gradient. The echocardiography was performed at low altitude and 40 h after rapid ascent to 3,450 m. Pulmonary artery pressure was more than twofold higher at high than at low altitude (35 ± 11 vs. 16 ± 3 mmHg; P < 0.0001), and there existed a wide variability of pulmonary artery pressure at high altitude with an estimated upper 95% limit of 52 mmHg. Moreover, pulmonary artery pressure and its altitude-induced increase were inversely related to age, resulting in an almost twofold larger increase in the 6- to 9- than in the 14- to 16-yr-old participants (24 ± 12 vs. 13 ± 8 mmHg; P = 0.004). Even in children with the most severe altitude-induced pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular systolic function did not decrease, but increased, and none of the children developed HAPE. HAPE appears to be a rare event in this young population after rapid ascent to this altitude at which major tourist destinations are located.

Ms.Ff.F.Stoltze 3. 450 - Brief von Friedrich Stoltze an Laura Stoltze

Frankfurter Latern, Produktion

La congruencia en la sentencia anticipada

Una de las tantas preocupaciones es la concerniente a la emisión de fallos en los que se deja de lado la imputación nodal o la calificación provisional que el evento ameritara, esto es, cuando el juez sanciona por delito distinto al determinado

Temperature dependence on the electrical properties of Ba(Ti0.90Zr0.10)O-3:2V ceramics

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Genetic structure of populations of Rhizoctonia solani AG-3 on potato in eastern North Carolina

A polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was developed to identify and differentiate genotypes of Rhizoctonia solani anastomosis group 3 subgroup PT (AG-3 PT), a fungal pathogen of potato. Polymorphic co-dominant single-locus PCR-RFLP markers were identified after sequencing of clones from a genomic library and digestion with restriction enzymes. Multilocus genotypes were determined by a combination of PCR product and digestion with a specific restriction enzyme for each of seven loci. A sample of 104 isolates from one commercial field in each of five counties in eastern North Carolina was analyzed, and evidence for high levels of gene flow between populations was revealed. When data were clone-corrected and samples pooled into one single North Carolina population, random associations of alleles were found for all loci or pairs of loci, indicating random mating. However, when all genotypes were analyzed, the observed genotypic diversity deviated from panmixia and alleles within and between loci were not randomly associated. These findings support a model of population structure for R. solani AG-3 PT on potato that includes both recombination and clonality.

Teachers reporting suspected child sexual abuse : results of a three-state study

Over 3000 cases of child sexual abuse are identified every year in Australia, but the real incidence is higher still. As a strategy to identify child sexual abuse, Australian States and Territories have enacted legislation requiring members of selected professions, including teachers, to report suspected cases. In addition, policy-based reporting obligations have been developed by professions, including the teaching profession. These legislative and industry-based developments have occurred in a context of growing awareness of the incidence and consequences of child sexual abuse. Teachers have frequent contact and close relationships with children, and possess expertise in monitoring changes in children’s behaviour. Accordingly, teachers are seen as being well-placed to detect and report suspected child sexual abuse. To date, however, there has been little empirical research into the operation of these reporting duties. The extent of teachers’ awareness of their duties to report child sexual abuse is unknown. Further, there is little evidence about teachers’ past reporting practice. Teachers’ duties to report sexual abuse, especially those in legislation, differ between States, and it is not known whether or how these differences affect reporting practice. This article presents results from the first large-scale Australian survey of teachers in three States with different reporting laws: New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia. The results indicate levels of teacher knowledge of reporting duties, reveal evidence about past reporting practice, and provide insights into anticipated future reporting practice and legal compliance. The findings have implications for reform of legislation and policy, training of teachers about the reporting of child sexual abuse, and enhancement of child protection.

An upstream open reading frame is essential for feedback regulation of ascorbate biosynthesis in arabidopsis

Ascorbate (vitamin C) is an essential antioxidant and enzyme cofactor in both plants and animals. Ascorbate concentration is tightly regulated in plants, partly to respond to stress. Here, we demonstrate that ascorbate concentrations are determined via the posttranscriptional repression of GDP-l-galactose phosphorylase (GGP), a major control enzyme in the ascorbate biosynthesis pathway. This regulation requires a cis-acting upstream open reading frame (uORF) that represses the translation of the downstream GGP open reading frame under high ascorbate concentration. Disruption of this uORF stops the ascorbate feedback regulation of translation and results in increased ascorbate concentrations in leaves. The uORF is predicted to initiate at a noncanonical codon (ACG rather than AUG) and encode a 60- to 65-residue peptide. Analysis of ribosome protection data from Arabidopsis thaliana showed colocation of high levels of ribosomes with both the uORF and the main coding sequence of GGP. Together, our data indicate that the noncanonical uORF is translated and encodes a peptide that functions in the ascorbate inhibition of translation. This posttranslational regulation of ascorbate is likely an ancient mechanism of control as the uORF is conserved in GGP genes from mosses to angiosperms.

Use of biomass fuels in the brick-making industries of Sudan: Implications for deforestation and greenhouse gas emission

The study focuses on the potential roles of the brick making industries in Sudan in deforestation and greenhouse gas emission due to the consumption of biofuels. The results were based on the observation of 25 brick making industries from three administrative regions in Sudan namely, Khartoum, Kassala and Gezira. The methodological approach followed the procedures outlined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). For predicting a serious deforestation scenario, it was also assumed that all of wood use for this particular purpose is from unsustainable sources. The study revealed that the total annual quantity of fuelwood consumed by the surveyed brick making industries (25) was 2,381 t dm. Accordingly, the observed total potential deforested wood was 10,624 m3, in which the total deforested round wood was 3,664 m3 and deforested branches was 6,961 m3. The study observed that a total of 2,990 t biomass fuels (fuelwood and dung cake) consumed annually by the surveyed brick making industries for brick burning. Consequently, estimated total annual emissions of greenhouse gases were 4,832 t CO2, 21 t CH4, 184 t CO, 0.15 t N20, 5 t NOX and 3.5 t NO while the total carbon released in the atmosphere was 1,318 t. Altogether, the total annual greenhouse gases emissions from biomass fuels burning was 5,046 t; of which 4,104 t from fuelwood and 943 t from dung cake burning. According to the results, due to the consumption of fuelwood in the brick making industries (3,450 units) of Sudan, the amount of wood lost from the total growing stock of wood in forests and trees in Sudan annually would be 1,466,000 m3 encompassing 505,000 m3 round wood and 961,000 m3 branches annually. By considering all categories of biofuels (fuelwood and dung cake), it was estimated that, the total emissions from all the brick making industries of Sudan would be 663,000 t CO2, 2,900 t CH4, 25,300 t CO, 20 t N2O, 720 t NOX and 470 t NO per annum, while the total carbon released in the atmosphere would be 181,000 t annually.

端基官能化共轭齐聚物的设计与合成

和共轭聚合物相比，单分散共轭齐聚物具有结构确定、易提纯等优点，不仅是建立共轭体系结构与性能关系的最佳模型，而且是一类高纯度光电子材料，还是构造具有规整结构嵌段共聚物和超分子体系的理想构造单元。鉴于基于芴单元的共轭齐聚物与聚合物具有优异的光电性能，引入不同端基能够有效调节共轭齐聚物的性能，本论文以端基官能化齐聚芴为研究对象，设计与合成了具有不同端基结构的系列单分散齐聚芴，研究了它们基本的物理化学性质，主要成果与创新点如下： 1、利用Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons反应、Wittig反应和Heck偶联反应，交替引入极性、非极性反应端基，成功解决了发散法合成较长单分散共轭齐聚物过程中产物难以提纯的技术问题，合成了系列芴撑乙烯撑共轭齐聚物。其中，最长的齐聚物含11个芴单元，光谱外推得到的有效共轭长度可达19个重复单元。DSC和偏光显微镜研究表明，芴单元数大于5的齐聚物可形成向列型液晶相。含7个芴单元以上的齐聚物可用于制备有机发光二极管，含11个芴单元的齐聚物电致发光效率是相应聚合物的5倍。 2、通过Hagigara-Sonogashira偶联、Diels-Alder环加成等反应合成了一系列端基为刚性的苯乙炔基和五苯基苯的单分散齐聚芴。但典型Scholl反应条件不能实现完全氧化脱氢，获得六苯并晕苯封端的齐聚芴。光谱研究表明苯乙炔基的引入导致吸收光谱和荧光光谱有1-2 nm的红移。五苯基苯结构的引入能显著提高齐聚芴的Tg，从而提高齐聚物的形态稳定性。 3、利用Yamamoto反应，采用端基溴代的齐聚芴大分子单体聚合结合制备色谱分离，成功地制备了分子量超过20000 Da的单分散共轭聚合物，说明大分子单体聚合结合制备色谱分离制备单分散共轭聚合物是可行的。 4、通过Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons反应合成一系列端基为三苯胺乙烯撑的单分散齐聚芴，其中，最长的齐聚物含9个芴单元。光谱研究表明，随芴单元数的增加，两个三苯胺乙烯撑端基间共轭作用显著减弱，最大吸收波长蓝移；当芴的单元数≥3时，最大发射波长均位于450 nm，和聚芴和齐聚芴相比，这类共轭齐聚物的蓝光发光峰位更佳。电化学研究表明三苯胺乙烯撑单元的氧化还原过程不受齐聚芴单元长度的影响，该封端齐聚芴的HOMO能级主要是由三苯胺乙烯撑单元决定。 关键词：端基官能化，齐聚芴，单分散共轭聚合物

中国钢铁工业区域竞争力的人工神经网络判定

将人工神经网络和最优分割法相结合,构建竞争力评价模型,并对1995年和2000年中国钢铁工业区域竞争力进行了评价。模型运行结果表明,1995~2000年中国钢铁工业区域竞争力发生了显著分化,2000年以来钢铁工业发展态势也充分证明了这一点。沿海地区正成为中国钢铁工业发展的重点地区,优化钢铁工业布局是当前面临的一个重要任务。可见,将人工神经网络和最优分割法相结合的组合模型用于评价钢铁工业区域竞争力水平简便、实用,且避免了人工确定指标权重的主观性,是一种具有发展和应用前景的有效评价方法。

Upconversion luminescence of Y2O3 : Er3+, Yb3+ nanoparticles prepared by a homogeneous precipitation method

Y2O3: Er3+, Yb3+ nanoparticles were synthesized by a homogeneous precipitation method without and with different concentrations of EDTA 2Na. Upconversion luminescence spectra of the samples were studied under 980 nm laser excitation. The results of XRD showed that the obtained Y2O3:Er3+,Yb3+ nanoparticles were of a cubic structure. The average crystallite sizes calculated were in the range of 28-40 nm. Green and red upconversion emission were observed, and attributed to H-2(11/2), S-4(3/2) -> I-4(15/2) and F-4(9/2) -> I-4(15/2) transitions of the Er3+ ion, respectively.

Glucocorticoid induced muscle atrophy is associated with upregulation of myostatin gene expression

The mechanisms by which excessive glucocorticoids cause muscular atrophy remain unclear. We previously demonstrated that dexamethasone increases the expression of myostatin, a negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass, in vitro. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that dexamethasone-induced muscle loss is associated with increased myostatin expression in vivo. Daily administration (60, 600, 1,200 micro g/kg body wt) of dexamethasone for 5 days resulted in rapid, dose-dependent loss of body weight (-4.0, -13.4, -17.2%, respectively, P <0.05 for each comparison), and muscle atrophy (6.3, 15.0, 16.6% below controls, respectively). These changes were associated with dose-dependent, marked induction of intramuscular myostatin mRNA (66.3, 450, 527.6% increase above controls, P <0.05 for each comparison) and protein expression (0.0, 260.5, 318.4% increase above controls, P <0.05). We found that the effect of dexamethasone on body weight and muscle loss and upregulation of intramuscular myostatin expression was time dependent. When dexamethasone treatment (600 micro g. kg-1. day-1) was extended from 5 to 10 days, the rate of body weight loss was markedly reduced to approximately 2% within this extended period. The concentrations of intramuscular myosin heavy chain type II in dexamethasone-treated rats were significantly lower (-43% after 5-day treatment, -14% after 10-day treatment) than their respective corresponding controls. The intramuscular myostatin concentration in rats treated with dexamethasone for 10 days returned to basal level. Concurrent treatment with RU-486 blocked dexamethasone-induced myostatin expression and significantly attenuated body loss and muscle atrophy. We propose that dexamethasone-induced muscle loss is mediated, at least in part, by the upregulation of myostatin expression through a glucocorticoid receptor-mediated pathway.

Mid- to late-Holocene climate variability and anthropogenic impacts: multi-proxy evidence from Lake Bliden, Denmark

We conducted multi-proxy geochemical analyses (including measurements of organic carbon, nitrogen and sulphur stable isotope composition, and carbonate carbon and oxygen isotope composition) on a 13.5 m sediment core from Lake Bliden, Denmark, which provide a record of shifting hydrological conditions for the past 6,700 years. The early part of the stratigraphic record (6,700-5,740 cal year BP) was wet, based on delta O-18(carb) and lithology, and corresponds to the Holocene Thermal Maximum. Shifts in primarily delta O-18(carb) indicate dry conditions prevailed from 5,740 to 2,800 cal year BP, although this was interrupted by very wet conditions from 5,300 to 5,150, 4,300 to 4,050 and 3,700 to 3,450 cal year BP. The timing of the latter two moist intervals is consistent with other Scandinavian paleoclimatic records. Dry conditions at Lake Bliden between 3,450 and 2,800 cal year BP is consistent with other paleolimnological records from southern Sweden but contrasts with records in central Sweden, possibly suggesting a more northerly trajectory of prevailing westerlies carrying moisture from the North Atlantic at this time. Overall, fluctuating moisture conditions at Lake Bliden appear to be strongly linked to changing sea surface temperatures in the Greenland, Iceland and Norwegian seas. After 2,800 cal year BP, sedimentology, magnetic susceptibility, delta C-13(ORG), delta C-13(carb) and delta O-18(carb) indicate a major reduction on water level, which caused the depositional setting at the coring site to shift from the profundal to littoral zone. The Roman Warm Period (2,200-1,500 cal year BP) appears dry based on enriched delta O-18(carb) values. Possible effects of human disturbance in the watershed after 820 cal year BP complicate attempts to interpret the stratigraphic record although tentative interpretation of the delta O-18(carb), magnetic susceptibility, delta C-13(ORG), delta C-13(carb) and delta O-18(carb) records suggest that the Medieval Warm Period was dry and the Little Ice Age was wet.