Although functional histamine receptors have generally been restricted to those human T lymphocytes expressing suppressor cell functions, more recent evidence suggests that histamine receptor-bearing human T lymphocytes are functionally heterogeneous and capable of other immunomodulatory activities. Lymphocyte chemoattractant factor (LCF) is a cationic sialoprotein with an apparent m.w. of 56,000, whose production is limited to histamine-type 2 receptor-bearing human T cells. LCF is selectively chemokinetic for T lymphocytes, and presumably contributes to the recruitment of unsensitized effector lymphocytes at inflammatory sites. In addition to LCF, Sephadex G-100 gel filtration of histamine-induced lymphocyte supernatants revealed two regions of migration inhibitory activity for human blood T and rat splenic lymphocytes. These regions corresponded to m.w. of 70,000 to 80,000 (LyMIF75K) and 30,000 to 40,000 (LyMIF35K). LyMIF75K had a single pI of 7.5 to 8.0, and its biologic activity was sensitive to trypsin but not to neuraminidase or heat (56 degrees C). LyMIF35K had a single pI of 8.5 to 8.8, and its biologic activity was sensitive to neuraminidase and heat but not to trypsin. These LyMIFs therefore appeared to be distinct from one another and physicochemically different from other migration inhibitory lymphokines. All three lymphokine activities appeared within 4 hr of incubation. The minimum concentration of histamine required to stimulate production of the LyMIF was 10(-6) M. Lymphocytes that did not adhere to a histamine affinity matrix were unable to produce either LyMIF upon subsequent stimulation with histamine or concanavalin A (Con A). Lymphocytes incubated with histamine and diphenhydramine produced LCF but neither LyMIF, whereas cells incubated with histamine in the presence of cimetidine produced both LyMIF but not LCF. These data suggest that a subset of lymphocytes defined by the presence of histamine-type 1 receptors are capable of producing two distinct species of lymphocyte migration inhibitory activity. These cells may contribute to the immobilization of effector T lymphocytes chemokinetically attracted to certain inflammatory sites.

A chemotactic factor was identified in the supernatants of human large granular lymphocytes (LGL) activated by a glutaraldehyde-fixed NK-sensitive tumor, K562. The factor stimulated migration of human LGL, rat alveolar macrophage (RAM), and human monocytes and neutrophils (PMN). The locomotor response was chemotactic and chemokinetic on the basis of unidirectional migration in concentration gradients. The cell producing the factor was detected exclusively in LGL-rich Percoll fraction coincident with the peak of NK lytic activity and HNK-1+ cells. The monoclonal phenotype of the cell was HNK-1+, partially OKT-11+, OKM-1-, OKT-3-, OKT-4-, and OKT-8-. The factor was released by LGL within 20 min of incubation with Sr++, a cation that is able to induce LGL degranulation. A powerful chemoattractant was also detected in the granules of the rat LGL leukemia, RNK. Chemotactic activity coincided with granule enzyme beta-glucuronidase and cytolysin after RNK nitrogen cavitation and Percoll fractionation of subcellular constituents. The RNK granule chemoattractant induced unidirectional migration of human LGL and was also active against rat alveolar macrophages and human PMN. Anti-RNK granule antibody conjugated to Sepharose 4B was able to deplete the chemotactic activity from both K562-induced LGL supernatants and solubilized RNK granules. These observations indicate that a leukocyte chemotactic factor (NK-LCF) is present in NK cell granules and is probably released after tumor-induced granule exocytosis.

The objective of the study was to describe the normal anatomy of the ligamentum capitis femoris and to determine the neurovascular structures potentially at risk during its reconstruction. Ten cadaveric specimens of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) were dissected and photographed. Magnetic resonance (MR) and Computed tomography (CT) arthrography evaluation of the anatomy of the LCF in 30 hips were performed to measure length of the ligament and to study the proximity of neurovascular structures. The anatomical study showed that the LCF has a pyramidal structure and a banded appearance. The thickness of the medial wall of the acetabulum 3 mm superior to the inferior acetabular boundary was found to be 6.7 mm (4-9 mm) at point 1 (anterior), 4.1 mm (3-7 mm) at point 2 (central), and 6.5 mm (4-9 mm) at point 3 (posterior). Central anchors or screws were found to lie within 1.7 cm (1.6-1.9 cm) of the external iliac vein and artery. Angulation of anchors in the anterior and posterior columns in the axial plane with respect to acetabular fossa floor (the Optimal Angulation Angle or OAA), is safer (0 to 45º the safest optimal angles). The sagittal angulation created by the safe pathway in the anterior and posterior columns with respect to the plane of the facies lunata in this area was also measured and termed the Optimal Angle of Penetration (OAP) with normal values being: 110º (102-123º) for the posterior column and 90º (85-94º) for the anterior column. Our results suggest that reconstruction of the LCF can be safely performed if these guidelines are followed.

Dental arch morphology and tooth position are affected by lip-closing force (LCF). This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the relationships between the horizontal or vertical balance of the LCF generated during maximum voluntary pursing-like movements and dental arch length (DAL) or width (DAW) or the lingual inclination of the upper or lower 1st molars (LIUM, LILM) in patients with Angle Class I malocclusion. Sixteen subjects with Angle Class I malocclusion (median age: 23·4 ± 5·9 years) who had never undergone orthodontic treatment were randomly selected. LCF was measured in eight directions during maximum voluntary pursing-like lip-closing movements. Dental arch models were scanned and analysed to obtain DAW, DAL, LIUM and LILM measurements. Mandibular deviation was measured on posteroanterior cephalograms. A significant negative correlation was detected between maxillary DAL and upper LCF. Maxillary DAL, DAW and the DAL/DAW ratio displayed significant negative correlations with total LCF and upper LCF. However, no significant correlations were detected between any mandibular dental arch morphological parameter and LCF. The difference in the LIUM between the deviation and non-deviation sides exhibited a significant positive correlation with the difference in upper LCF between the deviation and non-deviation sides and was significantly negatively correlated with the difference in lower LCF between the deviation and non-deviation sides. These results suggest that upper LCF is related to maxillary DAL, and the horizontal balance of the LCF of the upper and lower lips is related to the LIUM during pursing-like lip-closing movements in patients with Angle Class I malocclusion.

The negative impacts of air pollution have made monitoring of air quality increasingly important, especially in heavily industrialized areas such as the South Durban Basin (SDB), in South Africa. Bioindicators such as trees can complement conventional air quality monitoring and be used to prioritise vulnerable areas. This study assessed the utility of Brachylaena discolor DC. tree leaves as a bioindicator of sulfur dioxide pollution. This involved correlating ground level sulfur dioxide concentrations ([SO2]) with B. discolor leaf sulfate concentrations ([sulfate]) at three industrial (treatment) sites within the SBD and control site at which [SO2] was significantly lower for all four seasons. Based on this significant positive correlation between the aforementioned (p = 0.005; ρ = 0.667) leaf sulfate levels were related to various biochemical (intracellular hydrogen peroxide production, total aqueous [TAA] and enzymic antioxidants [superoxide dismutase and catalase], lipid peroxidation [LPO] and electrolyte leakage), physiological (leaf chlorophyll fluorescence [LCF] and relative chlorophyll content) and morphological (leaf area [LA]) biomarkers of stress measured on leaves from trees at the treatment and control sites. Annual [SO2] and leaf [sulfate] at the treatments were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the control and high by global standards. TAA, LPO, electrolyte leakage, LCF, and LA were significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with seasonal [sulfate]. Except for superoxide dismutase, catalase and relative chlorophyll content all other biomarkers could differentiate between the treatment sites and the control. However, TAA, electrolyte leakage and LA were the only biomarkers sensitive enough to reflect differences in annual [sulfate] across the treatment sites; these should be used to establish B. discolor leaves as a bioindicator of SO2 pollution.

A pulse-echo ultrasonic method is presented to measure elastic parameter variations during thermal loading with high accuracy. Using a dry coupling configuration dedicated to high temperature investigation, this technique has been applied on 6061-T6 aluminium samples up to 220 degrees C. Experimental settings are described to assess the measurement reproducibility estimated at a value of 0.2%. Consequently, the anisotropy of this aluminium between the rolling direction and two orthogonal axes has been clearly detected and also measured versus temperature. As regards the temperature dependence of these elastic parameters, these results are compared with the estimations of the Young's modulus obtained during mechanical tests in conditions of low cycle fatigue (LCF). The same linear variation versus temperature is found but with a shift of 7GPa. This difference has been classically attributed to systematic experimental error sources and to the distinction existing between dynamic and static elastic modulus.

BACKGROUND

Enteral low-carbohydrate formulas (LCFs) could serve as a noninsulin alternative for the treatment of stress hyperglycemia in critically ill patients. We compared the glycemic effects of an LCF with a standard formula.

METHODS

We conducted an open-label randomized trial in patients admitted to our intensive care unit between September 2015 and June 2016. Adult patients with an indication for enteral nutrition were randomized to an LCF (Glucerna 1.5 kcal) or a standard enteral formula (Fresubin Energy Fibre, with additional protein supplement). Primary outcome was glucose variability defined as mean absolute glucose (MAG) change (mmol/L/h). Secondary outcomes were mean glucose, time in target, hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic events, and insulin requirements. We assessed glycemic outcomes per blinded continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system and compared outcomes with glucose measurements per blood gas analysis and point-of-care device.

RESULTS

We randomized 107 patients (LCF: n = 53; standard: n = 54). Six patients had no CGM data, leaving 101 patients (n = 52; n = 49) for the intention-to-treat analysis. MAG change and time in target range were not different between groups. LCF gave a lower mean glucose measured per point-of-care device (7.8 ± 1.0 vs 8.4 ± 1.1 mmol/L, P = .007). LCF patients required significantly less insulin on the second study day (46.8 vs 68.0 IU, P = .036).

CONCLUSIONS

LCF showed a trend toward a modestly reduced mean glucose and significantly lower insulin requirements as compared with standard feeding but had no effect on glucose variability or time in target range.

Control of fluorescent dye localization in live cells is crucial for fluorescence imaging. Here, we describe quantitative structure activity relation (QSAR) models for predicting intracellular localization of fluorescent dyes. For generating the QSAR models, electric charge (Z) calculated by pKa, conjugated bond number (CBN), the largest conjugated fragment (LCF), molecular weight (MW) and log P were used as parameters. We identified the intracellular localization of 119 BODIPY dyes in live NIH3T3 cells, and assessed the accuracy of our models by comparing their predictions with the observed dye localizations. As predicted by the models, no BODIPY dyes localized in nuclei or plasma membranes. The accuracy of the model for localization in fat droplets was 92%, with the models for cytosol and lysosomes showing poorer agreement with observed dye localization, albeit well above chance levels. Overall therefore the utility of QSAR models for predicting dye localization in live cells was clearly demonstrated.

BACKGROUND

Joint mechanoreceptors are afferent neural elements involved in pain sensation and tactile sense.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to detect the free nerve endings (FNE) and other types of mechanoreceptors and to compare their quantities in human hip joint capsule (HJC) and ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) of babies with developmantal dysplasia of hip (DDH) and intrauterine ex foetuses (control group) to find out whether there is an increase in the amount of mechanoreceptors in hip joint due to the occured anatomical chages.

METHODS

We took 15 LCF and HJC biopsies from 15 patients undergoing hip surgery for DDH, and 15 HJC and LCFs from intrauterine ex fetuses. Total of 60 specimens were investigated. The mean age of the babies was 10.3 months (6-18 months) at the time of surgery. Full thickness 1 × 1 cm HJC and LCF portions were taken as biopsy specimens. An immunohistochemical technique was performed for neurogenic protein S-100 and examined under light microscopy.

RESULTS

FNEs were detected in all four different tissues (type IVa). Other types of mechanoreceptors (Type I-II and III) were not detected in any of the specimens. The positive rates of FNE staining in the control group were % 2.60 ± 1.24 for the LCF and % 2.67 ± 1.11 for the HJC respectively and FNE staining in the DDH group were found to be % 2.67 ± 1.11 for the LCF and % 2.73 ± 1.16 for the HJC. We did not find a statistically significant difference in number of FNEs between the specimens of the DDH group and the control group (p>0.05), also there was no statistically significant difference in number of FNEs between the HJC and LCF within each group (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the number of FNEs does not increase in HJC and LCF of DDH patients even though LCF hypertrophy and capsular elongation occurs.

Lingulodinium polyedrum luciferase is a bioluminescent protein found in the marine dinoflagellate formerly known as Gonyaulax. It is located in organelles called scintillons that emit brief and bright flashes of light that are regulated by an endogenous circadian clock. The complete luciferase molecule has a molecular mass of 136 994 Da and contains three homologous domains, each of which is a separately active luciferase. Two of these domains, D2-LCF and D3-LCF, have been cloned, expressed and crystallized. Crystals of D2-LCF were obtained from PEG 10 000 in space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 49.1, b = 104.7, c = 180.3 A. They diffract to 2.9 A on a rotating anode. Crystals of D3-LCF were grown from PEG 2000 in space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 58.86, b = 63.98, c = 95.76 A. They diffract to 2.3 A on a rotating anode.

The Low Carbon Fuel Standards (LCFS) represents a new policy approach designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by applying standards to all stages of motor fuel production. We use the synthetic control and difference-in-differences econometric methods, and Lasso machine learning to analyze the effect of the LCFS on emissions in California's transportation sector. The three different techniques provide robust evidence that the LCFS reduced carbon dioxide emissions in California's transportation sector by around 10%. Furthermore, our calculations show that improved air quality, due to the application of the LCFS, may have benefited California in the magnitude of hundreds of millions of dollars through an increase in worker's productivity.

To understand better the temporal sequence of coronary collateral development and the factors that may govern that development, dogs were chronically instrumented with left circumflex (LCf) Doppler flow probe, ameroid constrictor, balloon occluder, and left atrial and aortic catheters. Collateral blood flow was measured at least weekly or when the coronary artery occluded. The reactive hyperemic response (RH) to a 15-second LCf occlusion was recorded three times per week. Most LCf arteries occluded during the 4th week after surgery. Two patterns of coronary collateral development were observed. In 11 animals collateral flow did not change for 2 or 3 weeks; peak RH and flow debt repayment, indexes of coronary vascular reserve, changed little. The next week there was an abrupt increase in collateral flow from approximately 15% of normal to 100%. This increase was coincident with a sudden loss of coronary vascular reserve and therefore suggests myocardial ischemia was the principal stimulus. However, in 11 dogs collateral flow increased gradually over 3 to 4 weeks as indexes of RH slowly decreased. The greatest increase in collateral flow occurred while peak RH was still approximately twice baseline flow, representing 80% of peak flow measured 1 week after surgery. Therefore in these animals ischemia is less likely to have been the major stimulus of coronary collateral development.

To investigate the possible effect of heparin on coronary-collateral growth, dogs were instrumented chronically with a left circumflex (LCF) flow probe, an ameroid constrictor, a balloon occluder, and left and right atrial and aortic catheters. Collateral blood flow was measured at least weekly or when the coronary artery was occluded. Animals were allocated randomly to a control or treatment group. The latter received a continuous right-atrial infusion of a heparin solution at a rate of 2 to 3 ml/hour and a concentration adjusted daily to increase the activated clotting time to approximately 3 times the pre-drug level. After LCF occlusion, coronary-collateral flow was measured during exercise. There was no difference in time to LCF occlusion in the anticoagulated dogs. Furthermore, neither the rate of collateral development, the magnitude of collateral flow shortly after spontaneous LCF occlusion, nor the degree of collateral vascular reserve during exercise was different in the two groups. Therefore, in this model of coronary obstructive disease, heparin does not accelerate coronary-collateral development.

The present study assessed the potential of lip muscle training for improving sleep. A patient with heavy snoring, daytime sleepiness and dry mouth underwent lip muscle training. Lip closure force LCFmax increased by 67.3% and LCFmin by 152% post-training. AHI decreased from 12.2 to 3.9 events/h by reducing hypopneic episodes. TST, sleep stage N3 and REM sleep increased, and WASO, sleep stage N1, and AI decreased. The patient switched from mouth to nose breathing during sleep and stopped snoring. Improved LCF, by moving the tongue into the anterior-superior oral cavity, may increase upper airway space and reduce the hypopnea index.

Plasma disappearance of sulfobromophthalein (BSP) after an intravenous bolus (5 mg/kg) was determined in six lab chow-fed (LCF) rabbits and in six rabbits maintained on total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for 5 days. A common bile duct cannula enabled measurements of bile flow and biliary BSP excretion. Compartmental analysis of the biexponential plasma disappearance curve yielded three fractional transfer rates, plasma to liver (hepatic uptake), liver to plasma (reflux), and liver to bile (canalicular excretion). The transfer rates for hepatic uptake were 0.253 +/- 0.061/min for LCF and 0.147 +/- 0.040/min for TPN (P less than 0.01) and for the canalicular excretion of BSP were 0.038 +/- 0.019/min for LCF and 0.019 +/- 0.002/min for TPN (P less than 0.05). Model-computed rates for BSP excretion in bile over 60 min were lower with TPN (61%) than with LCF (80%); the measured excretory rates were 53% for TPN rabbits and 75% of injected dose for LCF animals. Basal biliary flow was reduced by 50% in the TPN group. With a two-compartmental model, assuming two pools and three transfer rates, we have demonstrated for the first time significant decreases in hepatic uptake and canalicular excretion of the organic anion BSP during TPN. A decrease in hepatic blood flow due to the enteral fast of TPN could have contributed in part to the decreased hepatic uptake. But, because the second exponent of the biexponential curve is independent of hepatic blood flow, the decrease in liver to bile transfer rate is a true approximation of a diminished canalicular excretory capacity during TPN. It is concluded that the movement of organic anions along the hepatic BSP/bilirubin transport system is impaired early during TPN.

This study aimed to quantify the directional specificity of multidirectional lip-closing force (LCF) and evaluate the reliability of multidirectional LCF measurements made using a novel system. In fourteen healthy subjects (seven females, seven males, median age = 28 years), LCFs in eight directions and electromyograms (EMGs) from four parts of the orbicularis oris muscles (OOM) were recorded during voluntary pursing-like lip closure tasks. The quantitative reliability was assessed from repeated measurements of the LCFs in the eight directions and from summed values for all eight directions [total lip-closing force (TLCF)]. The intra- and inter-investigator reliabilities for TLCF were assessed by the interclass correlation of the measurements by the same investigator and two investigators, respectively. Lip-closing forces showed directional specificity in vertical, horizontal and oblique directions but those in oblique and horizontal directions were symmetrical bilaterally. The quantitative reliability of measurements was between 0·735 and 0·948 in the eight directions and that of TLCF was 0·934. Interclass correlations of intra- and inter-investigator reliabilities were 0·96 [lower limit of 95% confidence interval (95% LL), 0·87] and 0·96 (95% LL, 0·91), respectively. The intra- and inter-investigator differences of measurements were randomly distributed in the whole range of measurements. The 95% confidence intervals of these differences were significantly narrower than those of the limits of agreement (mean ± 1·96 s.d.). In 13 subjects, Pearson's correlation coefficients between LCF and EMGs from OOM were above 0·95. We conclude that this system has a reasonable quality and reliability for quantitative measurements of multidirectional LCF for evaluating lip functions.

BACKGROUND

Severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are linked to high morbidity and mortality rates and have important individual and social costs, not only because of the high incidence of deaths they cause but also owing to the large number of individuals who are left with some kind of disability.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to analyse the epidemiological, clinical, functional and rehabilitational aspects of patients with severe TBI admitted to a brain damage unit for neurorehabilitation therapy with special emphasis on the functional outcome at discharge.

METHODS

We carried out a descriptive study of patients suffering from TBI admitted to the Brain Damage Unit of the Institut Guttmann hospital between January 2000 and June 2002. We analysed epidemiological (age, sex, cause of the TBI), clinical (aetiology, initial Glasgow Coma Scale --GCS--, motor deficit, type of injury, duration of post-traumatic amnesia), functional (Glasgow Outcome Scale --GOS--, Level of Cognitive Functioning Scale --LCFS-- and Disability Rating Scale --DRS--) variables, in addition to patients' destination on discharge.

RESULTS

Of a total of 174 hospitalised patients, 88.52% were cases of serious TBI, 80% of which involved males, with a mean age of 29.72 years (standard deviation: 12.63), and an average of 99.28 days' hospitalisation (standard deviation: 60.72). Road accidents were the chief cause of the TBI (78%). The most frequent neurological injuries were parenchymatous (68.05%), followed by subarachnoid haemorrhages (40.58%). 87.58% of the patients presented TBI-related complications. Functional improvement at discharge was statistically significant (p < 0.001) as regards the GOS, LCFS and DSR scales, and 87.5% of the patients were able to reintegrate into their home life.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the severity of the sequelae left by serious TBI, the functional outcome at discharge, associated with the high rate of reintegration into home life, justifies admission of these patients to a brain damage unit for neurorehabilitation therapy.

Studies of lymphocyte locomotion in vitro are reviewed. This locomotion is important (a) for recirculation and the traversing of high endothelial venules in lymphoid tissue; (b) for recruitment of lymphocytes into inflammatory sites. In the latter situation, activated lymphocytes migrate more actively than resting lymphocytes. Our studies indicate that lymphocyte activators such as PHA, anti-CD3 antibodies, or the Cowan staphylococcus confer locomotor capacity on populations of human blood lymphocytes which, in the resting state, are immotile. Locomotor capacity is acquired in the G1 phase of growth and requires protein and RNA synthesis but not DNA synthesis. Anti-CD3-driven locomotor activation is inhibited by cyclosporin A, suggesting that new gene expression is required. The mitogens do not act directly as locomotor stimulants, i.e. they are not themselves chemotactic or chemokinetic factors. Rather they activate the potential for motility of lymphocytes and also cause release of lymphokines which are the direct stimulants for locomotion. One of these lymphokines (lymphocyte chemotactic factor: LCF) has been partially characterized.

Model fly ash (MFA) containing activated carbon (AC) as source of carbon, NaCl as source of chlorine and either NiO or NiCl2 as de novo catalyst, was heated for 1h at 350 °C in a carrier gas flow composed of N2 containing 0, 6, 10, and 21 vol.% O2, to study the formation of PCDD/Fs (dioxins) and its dependence on oxygen. The formation of PCDD/Fs with NiCl2 was stronger by about two orders of magnitude than with NiO and the difference augmented with rising oxygen concentration. The thermodynamics of the NiO-NiCl2 system were represented, X-ray absorption near edge structural (XANES) spectroscopy allowed to probe the state of oxidation of the nickel catalyst in the MFA and individual metal species were distinguished using the LCF (Linear combination fitting) technique: thus three supplemental nickel compounds (Ni2O3, Ni(OH)2, and Ni) were found in the fly ash. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicates that both Ni2O3 and NiCl2 probably played an important role in the formation of PCDD/Fs.

Interstitial hyperthermia techniques have been developed by several groups for use in a number of sites, especially those for which brachytherapy is to be given. Three basic methods have been developed for interstitial hyperthermia, namely: local current fields, microwave antennas and various hot-source techniques. In this paper a numerical study comparing two of these techniques (local current fields and hot sources) is carried out to investigate whether any improvement can be gained by combining them. It is found that both methods are sensitive to inter-electrode spacing and to blood flow, and become less able to produce adequate temperature distributions as these parameters are increased. By controlling the temperature of the electrodes it is shown that more uniform temperature distributions can be obtained over those obtained when the localized current field technique is used alone.

We report on the solid-phase speciation of naturally occurring Zn in metalliferous organic-matter-rich surface soils. Synchrotron-based studies were used to probe elemental distribution and associations in soil particles (micro-XRF) together with the mineralogy (micro-XRD) and Zn bonding environment (Zn-micro-XANES) at the micrometer-scale level. The average bonding environment of Zn was also probed for bulk soils using XANES. We found the distribution of elements within soil particles to be heterogeneous; however, some elements are consistently co-located. While conventional XRD analyses of whole soils did not identify any Zn mineral phase, synchrotron-based-micro-XRD analyses indicated that sphalerite (ZnS) is present in a particle from a wetland soil (soil labeled G3). Linear combination fit (LCF) analyses of XANES spectra collected for bulk soils (Zn-XANES) and microm-regions (Zn-micro-XANES) within soil particles suggest Zn bonds to oxygen-, nitrogen-, and sulfur-functional groups in these sulfur-, nitrogen-, and zinc-rich organic surface soils. The XANES spectra of all bulk soils and of all microm-regions except for the wetland soil (G3), where ZnS was the most significant constituent, were best fitted by the Zn-arginine reference compound and therefore seems to indicate Zn bonding to nitrogen. Thus, these results provide compelling evidence of the formation of highly covalent Zn-organic bonds in the organic-rich surface soils that were studied. This may explain in part why metal partition coefficients (Kd) are generally higher in organic soils, and why the toxic thresholds for total metal concentrations are higher in organic than in mineral soils.

Defined, quartz-diluted mixtures of sulfur (S) compounds with different oxidation state (OS) were analyzed by K-edge XANES spectroscopy using linear combination fitting (LCF) and spectrum deconvolution by fitting several Gaussian and arctangent functions (GCF). Additionally, for different soils the S speciation as calculated by both methods was compared with results of a wet-chemical S speciation. For mixtures of FeS, L-cysteine, and Na2SO4, the S speciation was recovered with satisfactory accuracy and precision by both methods at the 2 and 0.2 mg S g(-1) level. For GCF, white-line peaks must be normalized with respect to their OS-specific absorption cross-section. LCF must be conducted with dilute reference compounds to avoid self-absorption effects. For mixtures of FeS, FeS2, S°, and L-cysteine, both procedures showed poor accuracy. For the soils, similar percentages of reduced inorganic S, organic S, and sulfate were calculated by LCF, GCF, and wet chemical S speciation. GCF allows a fair estimation of S species groups with different OS (inorganic reduced S, organic reduced S, organic intermediate S, oxidized S) in soils without standards. If dilute standards of all S compounds assumed to be present in a sample are available, LCF is more objective and allows a more detailed S speciation.

A 4×3 factorial experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of age at entry to feedlot (AEF) and levels of concentrate feeding (LCF) on body weight gain, feed utilization and killing out characteristics of Tanzanian long-fat- tailed castrate sheep. The AEF points were 9, 12, 15 and 18 months, designated as AEF9, AEF12, AEF15 and AEF18, and the LCF were 50, 75 and 100 % of ad libitum concentrate intake designated as LCFLCFLCFLCF. Daily gain in high level (LCFLCFLCF. Age at entry × level of concentrate feeding interaction was detected for DMI, feed conversion ratio (FCR), slaughter body weight (SBW), muscle/bone ratio and bone (as % cold carcass weight (CCW)), but the effect was not regular. Entering fattening at 18th month seems too late, hence to get in the shortest time the highest output slaughter and carcass weights, fattening should start latest at 15 month.

OBJECTIVE

Both, the constant presence of apparent hypermetabolism of the vermis cerebelli compared to the cerebellar hemispheres in traumatic brain injury, and the presence of a good relationship between the intensity of this sign and the severity of the clinical conditions have been addressed in previous studies. Aim of the present paper is to evaluate the possible correlation between the intensity of the finding and the medium and long term outcome in a group of patients.

METHODS

A group of 105 patients consecutively admitted to the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center of our Hospital between 2005 and 2012 was studied with a 18FDG-PET/CT study of the brain after head trauma; the metabolic activity of the cerebellar vermis was semiquantitatively assessed (vermis/cerebellum ratio, V/C). After that, all patients received systematic monitoring of their performance status via the timely administration of commonly used tests (DRS, LCF and GOS) during one whole year after the head trauma. The V/C parameter was compared with the evolution of performance abilities, as shown by the rating scales.

RESULTS

Statistical analysis showed a significant direct association between the V/C ratio and the DRS score at each time point (3 months: P<0.001; 6 months: P<0.001; 12 months: P<0.001) and significant inverse association with the LCF score (3 months: P<0.001; 6 months: P<0.001; 12 months: P<0.001) and the GOS score (3 months: P<0.001; 6 months: P<0.001; 12 months: P<0.001) at each time point. Moreover, patients with a V/C ratio ≥ 1 have a significantly greater probability to achieve a good functional outcome as defined by a DRS score ≥ 3 points, a LCF score ≥ 7 points and and a GOS score =5 points.

CONCLUSIONS

In our group of patients, the V/C parameter has demonstrated to be a predictor of outcome. If validated by more extensive experiences, this approach could offer the possibility of performing a reliable prognostic evaluation in a notoriously "difficult" class of patients with an acceptable technique and economical effort.