Ultrasound imaging in rehabilitation: Just a fad?

Real-time ultrasound imaging provides an unrivalled opportunity to observe muscle morphology and contraction. This has obvious potential for clinical practice and the tool is beginning to be adopted into physical therapy. The implementation of ultrasound imaging has become particularly widespread for assessment of size and activation of deep trunk muscles, such as the transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus, and for assessment of the pelvic floor muscles. The obvious benefit for these areas is that ultrasound permits observation of muscles that are difficult to assess through noninvasive means. This realization of the clinical potential of ultrasound imaging has been paralleled by an explosion of clinical and physiological research. However, despite the enthusiasm for utilization of ultrasound imaging, a question that is critical to address is whether ultrasound can actually improve rehabilitation.

Crystallization of the FAD-independent acetolactate synthase of Klebsiella pneumoniae

Leucine and valine are formed in a common pathway from pyruvate in which the first intermediate is 2-acetolactate. In some bacteria, this compound also has a catabolic fate as the starting point for the butanediol fermentation. The enzyme (EC 4.1.3.18) that forms 2-acetolactate is known as either acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) or acetolactate synthase (ALS), with the latter name preferred for the catabolic enzyme. A significant difference between AHAS and ALS is that the former requires FAD for catalytic activity, although the reason for this requirement is not well understood. Both enzymes require the cofactor thiamine diphosphate. Here, the crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of the Klebsiella pneumoniae ALS is reported. Data to 2.6 Angstrom resolution have been collected at 100 K using a rotating-anode generator and an R-AXIS IV++ detector. Crystals have unit-cell parameters a = 137.4, b = 143.9, c = 134.4 Angstrom, alpha = 90, beta = 108.4, gamma = 90degrees and belong to space group C2. Preliminary analysis indicates that there are four monomers located in each asymmetric unit.

Centre cultural Leoia, Bizcaia : FAD

Descripció del projecte. S’han de destacar les innovacions i aportacions a l’avanç del coneixement que incorpora el projecte. Es poden incorporar memòries, plànols, fotografies, esbossos, etc. També l’adreça web si s’ha penjat més informació sobre el projecte a la web.www.arq-infad.arqa.com/fad2005www.arqa.com/informacion.cfm/n.5910.cfmDESCRIPCIÓ DE L’EDIFICI: El Centre Cultural, donat el seu caràcter de contenidor flexible de funcions diverses haurà d'assumir unes visions mes funcionals. La seva pròpia imatge reclamarà d'una part una identitat pròpia allunyada del seus veïns, i d'altra unes connexions, tant visuals com físiques amb les arquitectures adjacents. Serà en aquest cas que la representativitat de l'edifici serà provocada pel seu propi llenguatge formal i la voluntat de manifestar-se com un vertader contenidor funcional.

Passarel·la per a vianants sobre el riu Segre : Premis FAD d'Arquitectura i Urbanisme

Descripció del projecte. S'han de destacar les innovacions i aportacions a l'avanç del coneixement que incorpora el projecte. Es poden incorporar memòries, plànols, fotografies, esbossos, etc. També l'adreça web si s'ha penjat més informació sobre el projecte a la web.Passarel.la per a vianants sobre el riu Segre.Memòria.La passera vol ser simplement el vincle entre les dues ribes del Segre. Entesa més com a itinerari quecom a lloc d'estada, pretén no esborrar mai la percepció d'estar suspès a una cota alta sobre el llit delriu. Tot això ha dut a dimensionar-la ajustadament per a fer compatible el pas de vianants i bicicletes, ipermetre el trànsit eventual de vehicles de servei.Participa de la mateixa idea l'esforç en atravessar tot el llit del riu amb dos únics pilars i sense cap altreelement que alteri l'essència del pont, entès com a itinerari.L'arribada a la ciutat és molt diferent a cada un dels dos marges. Al marge dret, sobre el passeigconsolidat, el recolzament de la passera pretén no alterar substancialment l'entorn, sent la mateixavorera la que s'aixeca per absorbir una petita diferència de cota provocada per la preservació de lasecció hidràulica. Pel contrari, al marge esquerra, l'espai buit entre els Camps Elisis i el nou mur deribera permet ordenar una major embocadura del pont que es perllonga, i sense solució de continuitat,es transforma en la pròpia passera. Es aquesta part del pont, eixamplat en forma de vano, la que estransforma en espai d'estada per a la contemplació de la vista sobre la ciutat vella i la Seu. Al mateixtemps, ofereix un racó d'ombra sobre el parc fluvial. Contràriament al marge dret, aquí es pretén esborrarels límits entre passera i ciutat. La perllongació dels elements urbans -paviments, bancs umbracles...- enterra ferma ve acompanyada també per l'aparició dels arbres del llit del riu a través dels mateixos foratsque deixen passar llum cap a la zona inferior del pont.L'estructura de la passera és conseqüent amb aquestes intencions i ofereix una plataforma lliured'obstacles visuals on els perfils de la ciutat i el propi riu es converteixin en el protagonistes. Duesbigues-calaix solidaritzades per bigues transversals,també d'acer, i una llosa col.laborant de formigó,permeten entendre el tauler com un conjunt estructural en forma de Z i ajuden a reduir el cantell total, enel repte d'atravessar els 83 metres de llum. La llosa vola 1,15 metres sobre la biga inferior i redueixl'efecte visual dels 2 metres de cantell.Aquesta secció en forma de Z ofereix dos alçats diversos i dues maneres de relacionar-se amb l’entorn.A la banda sud, la llosa vola per sobre la biga inferior i queda rematada per una barana de vidre,recolzant les visuals cap a la Seu i la ciutat vella. A l’altre costat, la biga superior actua com a baranaopaca i constitueix l’alçat del pont.Pere Joan Ravetllat/Carme Ribas/Nicolás Markuerkiaga/Javier Rui Wamba

Torre Diagonal 682 : Premis FAD d'Arquitectura i Urbanisme

Renovació integral d’un edifici existent conservant solament la seva estructura, per a la seva adequació als requeriments i prestacions propis dels actuals edificis d’oficines.Data Projecte: 1998Data Obra: 1999Emplaçament: Avgda. Diagonal 682 BarcelonaS. Construïda: 12.000 m2.Pressupost: 6.200.000 €

Passarel·la per a vianants al Parc de Vallparadís. Terrassa : Premis FAD 2004 d'Arquitectura i Urbanisme

Per conèixer més dades sobre el projecte podeu adreçar-vos a la pàgina web següent: www.rga.es

The antibiotics roseoflavin and 8-demethyl-8-amino-riboflavin from Streptomyces davawensis are metabolized by human flavokinase and human FAD synthetase

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Método para determinação de distribuição de tamanho de microbolhas (DTMB) em sistemas flotação (FAD) para tratamento de águas utilizando a análise de imagem digital

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Clarificação por flotação com ar dissolvido (FAD) da calda de açúcar cristal para produção de açúcar refinado

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Estudo hidrodinâmico quali-quantitativo de uma unidade de flotação por ar dissolvido (FAD): o efeito do dispositivo de coleta de água flotada

The main article aim was to investigate the collecting system of a dissolved air flotation (DAF) unit in pilot scale. Referring to the collecting system position, two options were analyzed: (i) top manifold and (ii) bottom manifold, pipes or plates. Qualitative and quantitative essays were performed, as image and stimulusresponse tests, respectively. The results of the essays standardized were adjusted by N-continuous stirred tank reactors in series and theoretical models of dispersion (low and high). The bottom manifold (plates with orifices) was more appropriate. The results pointed out that the N-continuous stirred tank reactors in series model was more adequate to describe the hydrodynamic behavior of the DAF unit.

Crystal structures of Leptospira interrogans FAD-containing ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase and its complex with NADP+

Abstract Background Ferredoxin-NADP(H) reductases (FNRs) are flavoenzymes that catalyze the electron transfer between NADP(H) and the proteins ferredoxin or flavodoxin. A number of structural features distinguish plant and bacterial FNRs, one of which is the mode of the cofactor FAD binding. Leptospira interrogans is a spirochaete parasitic bacterium capable of infecting humans and mammals in general. Leptospira interrogans FNR (LepFNR) displays low sequence identity with plant (34% with Zea mays) and bacterial (31% with Escherichia coli) FNRs. However, LepFNR contains all consensus sequences that define the plastidic class FNRs. Results The crystal structures of the FAD-containing LepFNR and the complex of the enzyme with NADP+, were solved and compared to known FNRs. The comparison reveals significant structural similarities of the enzyme with the plastidic type FNRs and differences with the bacterial enzymes. Our small angle X-ray scattering experiments show that LepFNR is a monomeric enzyme. Moreover, our biochemical data demonstrate that the LepFNR has an enzymatic activity similar to those reported for the plastidic enzymes and that is significantly different from bacterial flavoenzymes, which display lower turnover rates. Conclusion LepFNR is the first plastidic type FNR found in bacteria and, despite of its low sequence similarity with plastidic FNRs still displays high catalytic turnover rates. The typical structural and biochemical characteristics of plant FNRs unveiled for LepFNR support a notion of a putative lateral gene transfer which presumably offers Leptospira interrogans evolutionary advantages. The wealth of structural information about LepFNR provides a molecular basis for advanced drugs developments against leptospirosis.

Cytochrome P-450 reductase FAD binding domain: Cloning, enzymatic activity and flavin binding characterization

The Mixed Function Oxidase System metabolizes a wide range of biochemicals including drugs, pesticides and steroids. Cytochrome P450 reductase is a key enzymatic component of this system, supplying reducing equivalents from NADPH to cytochrome P450. The electrons are shuttled through reductase via two flavin moieties: FAD and FMN. Although the exact mechanism of flavins action is not known, the enzymatic features of reductase greatly depleted of either FMN of FAD have been characterized. Additionally, flavin location within reductase has been proposed by homology and chemical modification studies. This study seeks to extend the flavin depletion analysis in a more controlled system by eliminating the proposed FMN binding domain with recombinant DNA techniques and biochemical analysis. Two P450 reductase cDNA clones containing only the FMN and NADPH binding domain were isolated, expressed and the protein products purified and analysed. This study confirms the proposed FAD binding site, role of FAD in electron shuttling pathway and provides new methods to study the FAD binding domain. ^