A Dynamic Model For Ice-Induced Vibration Of Structures

A dynamic model for the ice-induced vibration (IIV) of structures is developed in the present study. Ice properties have been taken into account, such as the discrete failure, the dependence of the crushing strength on the ice velocity, and the randomness of ice failure. The most important prediction of the model is to capture the resonant frequency lock-in, which is analog to that in the vortex-induced vibration. Based on the model, the mechanism of resonant IIV is discussed. It is found that the dependence of the ice crushing strength on the ice velocity plays an important role in the resonant frequency lock-in of IIV. In addition, an intermittent stochastic resonant vibration is simulated from the model. These predictions are supported by the laboratory and field observations reported. The present model is more productive than the previous models of IIV.

A Possible Role Of Alpha-Amylase Isoenzymes From The Style Of The Mussel Choromytilus-Meridionalis (Krauss) Following Thermal-Acclimation

Separation of the proteins comprising the crystalline style of the mussel Choromytilus meridionalis (Krauss) by anion exchange chromatography shows that there are three fractions displaying α-amylase activity in both warm- and cold-acclimated mussels. These fractions correspond with one or more proteins which remain unbound to the resin (Peak I), a bound fraction which is eluted at 100–150 mM NaCl (Peak II) and a further fraction which is eluted at 200–250 mM NaCl (Peak III) but which may represent contamination carried over from Peak II. Cold-acclimation to 8°C results in the appearance of a fourth α-amylase fraction (Peak IV) which is eluted from the column between 300–400 mM NaCl. Thermal acclimation also results in changes in the activities of Fractions I–IV such that a specific activity of 0.47 mg glucose liberated per A280 unit of protein per 8 min incubation at 8°C in Fraction IV is increased nearly 10-fold to a specific rate of 4.10 in protein Fraction I following acclimation to 22°C. It is suggested that an increased of digestive activity may be of equal importance to a suppression of metabolic costs in the maintenance of energy flow into growth and reproduction in ectothermic organisms which experience an increase of environmental temperature, especially in bivalves such as C. meridionalis which do not show a compensatory increase in filtration rate.

Spatial and inter-decadal variability in plankton abundance and composition in the Northwest Atlantic (1958-2006)

The results of Continuous Plankton Recorder sampling in the NW Atlantic between 1958 and 2006 are presented for 11 plankton taxa in eight shelf and deep ocean regions. For shelf regions, phytoplankton abundances increased in the early 1990s, mainly in winter, as the contribution of Arctic-derived freshwater to the Newfoundland (NLS) and Scotian shelves (SS) increased. Farther east, in the sub-polar gyre, phytoplankton levels increased with rising temperatures during the 1990s and 2000s. In both areas, the changes can be explained by increased stratification. The increased influx of arctic water to the NLS in the 1990s was also probably directly responsible for the increased abundances of two arctic Calanus species (C. glacialis and C. hyperboreus) and indirectly responsible for the decreased abundance of Calanus I–IV (mainly C. finmarchicus), perhaps via changes in food composition. On the SS the arctic Calanus species increased in abundance in the 2000s, likely as the result of increased transport from the Arctic via the Gulf of St Lawrence. In the deep ocean, plankton seasonal cycles changed little over the decades and increasing phytoplankton levels in the 2000s were accompanied by increases in zooplankton abundance, suggesting bottom-up control. In shelf regions, phytoplankton increases in the 1990s were in winter and Calanus I–IV appeared earlier in spring than in previous decades. Zooplankton levels generally did not change overall however, perhaps because the species examined were mainly inactive during winter.

Population pharmacokinetic and pharmacogenetic analysis of 6-mercaptopurine in paediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT center dot The cytotoxic effects of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) were found to be due to drug-derived intracellular metabolites (mainly 6-thioguanine nucleotides and to some extent 6-methylmercaptopurine nucleotides) rather than the drug itself. center dot Current empirical dosing methods for oral 6-MP result in highly variable drug and metabolite concentrations and hence variability in treatment outcome. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS center dot The first population pharmacokinetic model has been developed for 6-MP active metabolites in paediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and the potential demographic and genetically controlled factors that could lead to interpatient pharmacokinetic variability among this population have been assessed. center dot The model shows a large reduction in interindividual variability of pharmacokinetic parameters when body surface area and thiopurine methyltransferase polymorphism are incorporated into the model as covariates. center dot The developed model offers a more rational dosing approach for 6-MP than the traditional empirical method (based on body surface area) through combining it with pharmacogenetically guided dosing based on thiopurine methyltransferase genotype. To investigate the population pharmacokinetics of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) active metabolites in paediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and examine the effects of various genetic polymorphisms on the disposition of these metabolites. Data were collected prospectively from 19 paediatric patients with ALL (n = 75 samples, 150 concentrations) who received 6-MP maintenance chemotherapy (titrated to a target dose of 75 mg m(-2) day(-1)). All patients were genotyped for polymorphisms in three enzymes involved in 6-MP metabolism. Population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed with the nonlinear mixed effects modelling program (nonmem) to determine the population mean parameter estimate of clearance for the active metabolites. The developed model revealed considerable interindividual variability (IIV) in the clearance of 6-MP active metabolites [6-thioguanine nucleotides (6-TGNs) and 6-methylmercaptopurine nucleotides (6-mMPNs)]. Body surface area explained a significant part of 6-TGNs clearance IIV when incorporated in the model (IIV reduced from 69.9 to 29.3%). The most influential covariate examined, however, was thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) genotype, which resulted in the greatest reduction in the model's objective function (P

Evaluation of fruit and seed diversity and characterization of carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) cultivars in Algarve region

The genetic diversity of 15 carob ( Ceratonia siliqua L.) cultivars located in an experimental field from Algarve (Portugal) was evaluated over 7 years using 12 fruit and seed phenotypic characters, in order to characterize carob cultivars. The values of morphological traits obtained by cultiv ar were compared with those from other countries of the Mediterranean basin. Statistically significant differences were found between cultivars for al l characters which were examined, what indicates a high genetic diversity. The relationship among these characters was analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) resulting in the separation of these cultivars classed in four groups (clusters I–IV) and in four ungrouped cultivars. A three dimension of the model was found to be significant and explained 74.5% of the total variation, in which the first component accounting for 34.6% of the total variation is dominated by fruit characters, while the second component is dominated by seed characters. Cultivars plotted on the left-lower quadrant on the space determined by principal components 1 and 2 are characterized by fruits with high seed yield more appropriated for industrial rentability. The correlation analyses established by cultivar provided a specific understanding about the way how fruit and seed characteristics correlate within each cultivar. This approach can be useful for the development of a breeding programme, aiming to increase the seed yield, seed thickness, individual and total seed weight by fruit, characteristics that are determinant to improve the industrial exploitation of carob.

Pontificale Aquense.

F. 1 Bénédictions épiscopales. F. 6v Séries de fêtes où l'évêque officie pontificalement. F. 78v Ordinations. F. 117v Bénédictions, capitules. F. 121 « Ordo de constructione ecclesiae et dedicatione » (incompl. de la fin). F. I-IIv Fragment d'un graduel noté : messes de s. Jean l'Évangéliste (XIIe s.). En marge, table du ms.

Cartulaire de l'abbaye de Troarn [diocèse de Bayeux].

Acquis le 22 février 1842 par don de M. Auguste Le Prevost; cf. B.n.F., département des Manuscrits, registre des acquisitions 1833-1848, n° 3067; — note "Ce manuscrit, sorti des archives de l'abbaie de Troarn à l'époque de la Révolution, a été acquis par mon ami Frédéric Galeron des héritiers de monsieur l'abbé de La Rue, qui y avait inscrit quelques notes. Au moment où il fut enlevé aux recherches locales qu'il cultivait avec tant de zèle et de succès, mon excellent ami me fit l'honneur de me le léguer par son testament. Désirant concourir autant qu'il peut dépendre de moi, à compléter la collection des mss. relatifs à l'histoire et à la topographie de la France, que renferme la Bibliothèque du roi de Paris; convaincu par une triste expérience des inconvénients graves et des chances de destruction que présente le passage de ces précieux documents dans des collections privées, où ils restent trop souvent inaccessibles aux amis de l'histoire; voulant enfin rendre un hommage durable à la mémoire d'un ami dont le souvenir me sera à jamais regrettable et cher, et entrer dans les vues généreuses qui l'ont engagé à me léguer ce cartulaire de l'abbaie de Troarn; je déclare faire hommage du présent ms. à la Bibliothèque du roi de Paris, désirant qu'il y demeure comme un monument authentique de ma reconnaissance pour le bienveillant accueil que j'y ai constamment reçu, de ma pieuse vénération pour la mémoire de l'excellent ami de qui je le tiens et de ma sollicitude pour les progrès futurs du genre de recherches auquel j'ai voué ma vie. Paris, ce 17 février 1842. A. Le Prevost" (IIv); cf. Delisle, Cab. des mss., II, 298.

Traité de Smaragdus sur Donat et l'orthographe d'Isidore (91).

Catalogue de l'abbaye de Corbie (éd. d'E. Coyecque, Cat des mss des bibliothèques de France, XIX, p.XI-XLVIII) XIIe s.: n°276 Ex-libris : f.1 : « Liber S. Petri Corbeiensis » ; — f.IIv : « Sti Germani a Pratis »

Layer-by-Layer Assembly of Carbon Nanotubes Incorporated in Light-Addressable Potentiometric Sensors

The integration of carbon nanotubes in conjunction with a chemical or biological recognition element into a semiconductor field-effect device (FED) may lead to new (bio)chemical sensors. In this study, we present a new concept to develop field-effect-based sensors, using a light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) platform modified with layer-by-layer (LbL) films of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers. Film growth was monitored for each layer adsorbed on the LAPS chip by Measuring current-voltage (IIV) curves. The morphology of the films was analyzed via atomic force microscopy (AFM) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), revealing the formation of a highly interconnected nanostructure of SWNTs-network into the dendrimer layers. Constant current (CC) Measurements showed that the incorporation of the PAMAM/SWNT LbL film containing LIP to 6 bilayers onto the LAPS Structure has a high pH sensitivity of ca. 58 mV/pH. The biosensing ability of the devices was tested for penicillin G via adsorptive immobilization of the enzyme penicillinase atop the LgL film. LAPS architectures modified with the LbL film exhibited higher sensitivity, ca. 100 mV/decade, in comparison to ca. 79 mV/decade for all unmodified LAPS, which demonstrates the potential application of the CNT-LbL Structure in field-effect-based (bio)chemical sensors.

A pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model for duodenal levodopa infusion

Objective Levodopa in presence of decarboxylase inhibitors is following two-compartment kinetics and its effect is typically modelled using sigmoid Emax models. Pharmacokinetic modelling of the absorption phase of oral distributions is problematic because of irregular gastric emptying. The purpose of this work was to identify and estimate a population pharmacokinetic- pharmacodynamic model for duodenal infusion of levodopa/carbidopa (Duodopa®) that can be used for in numero simulation of treatment strategies. Methods The modelling involved pooling data from two studies and fixing some parameters to values found in literature (Chan et al. J Pharmacokinet Pharmacodyn. 2005 Aug;32(3-4):307-31). The first study involved 12 patients on 3 occasions and is described in Nyholm et al. Clinical Neuropharmacology 2003:26:156-63. The second study, PEDAL, involved 3 patients on 2 occasions. A bolus dose (normal morning dose plus 50%) was given after a washout during night. Plasma samples and motor ratings (clinical assessment of motor function from video recordings on a treatment response scale between -3 and 3, where -3 represents severe parkinsonism and 3 represents severe dyskinesia.) were repeatedly collected until the clinical effect was back at baseline. At this point, the usual infusion rate was started and sampling continued for another two hours. Different structural absorption models and effect models were evaluated using the value of the objective function in the NONMEM package. Population mean parameter values, standard error of estimates (SE) and if possible, interindividual/interoccasion variability (IIV/IOV) were estimated. Results Our results indicate that Duodopa absorption can be modelled with an absorption compartment with an added bioavailability fraction and a lag time. The most successful effect model was of sigmoid Emax type with a steep Hill coefficient and an effect compartment delay. Estimated parameter values are presented in the table. Conclusions The absorption and effect models were reasonably successful in fitting observed data and can be used in simulation experiments.

Análise da expressão dos genes da subfamília DREB em resposta à seca em plantas de Coffea canephora Conilon

Coffea canephora is one of the most economically important coffee species and in Brazil, Conilon is the most widely cultivated plant of this species. Abiotic stresses such as temperature variations and drought periods are factors that significantly affect their production and tend to worsen with globally recognized climate changes. In an attempt to understand the molecular responses of coffee plants in water deficit conditions, recent studies have identified candidate genes (CGs) as CcDREB1D. This gene showed increased expression in response to drought in the leaves of clone 14 (drought tolerant) in relation to the clone 22 (sensitive to drought) of C. canephora Conilon. Based on these results, the identification of DREB genes and their subgroups (SGs) of C. canephora, the objective is to analyze in silico and also in vivo these genes expression in leaf and root of tolerant (14, 73 and 120) and sensitive clones (22) of C. canephora Conilon submitted or not to a water deficit. In silico expressions of all DREB genes were analyzed from the Coffee Genome Hub Database and in vivo expression was performed by the technique "reverse transcription-quantitative PCR" (RT-qPCR). In silico gene expression analysis was possible to identify DREB genes with potential responses to abiotic stresses, corroborating some validated in vivo results. In this analysis, several genes showed differential expression in response to drought among the SGs (IIV), the tolerant and sensitive clones and the leaf and root. These differentially expressed genes were identified as potential CGs and among them, it was found that most tolerant clones showed increased expression in relation to sensitive in response to drought, with higher expression levels for clones 14 and 73. These highest levels were observed in leaves compared to the roots and SG-I stood at greater number of genes expressed in response to drought. These results suggest that DREB CGs, as Cc05_g06840, Cc02_g03420 e Cc08_g13960, play an important role in the regulatory mechanisms of response to drought in C. canephora Conilon.

Pastejo alternado de ovinos e bovinos na profilaxia das helmintoses ovinas

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