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PubMed1968

Comparison of rumen microbial inhibition resulting from various essential oils isolated from relatively unpalatable plant species.

Essential oils were isolated from eight plant species which were relatively unpalatable to sheep and deer. The inhibitory potency of these essential oils upon sheep and deer rumen microorganisms was compared, in terms of total gas and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, by use of an anaerobic manometric technique. Inhibitory effects of oils from the eight plant species may be placed in four groups: (i) essential oils from vinegar weed (Trichostema lanceoletum) and California bay (Umbellularia californica) inhibited rumen microbial activity most; (ii) lesser inhibition was exhibited by rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and California mugwort (Artemisia douglasiana) oils, followed by (iii) blue-gum eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) and sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) oils; and (iv) oils from Douglas fir (Psuedotsuga menziesii) and Jerusalem oak (chenopodium botrys) resulted in the least inhibition, when 0.3 ml of each oil was used. A highly significant correlation coefficient (r = 0.98(**)) between total gas and VFA production indicated the validity of either method to measure the activity of rumen microorganisms. Our results are discussed in relation to the hypothesis that the selectivity and voluntary consumption of ruminants are related to the characteristic odor and antibacterial action of essential oils isolated from relatively unpalatable plant species.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗
PubMed2006

Sequence analysis and organization of the Neodiprion abietis nucleopolyhedrovirus genome.

Of 30 baculovirus genomes that have been sequenced to date, the only nonlepidopteran baculoviruses include the dipteran Culex nigripalpus nucleopolyhedrovirus and two hymenopteran nucleopolyhedroviruses that infect the sawflies Neodiprion lecontei (NeleNPV) and Neodiprion sertifer (NeseNPV). This study provides a complete sequence and genome analysis of the nucleopolyhedrovirus that infects the balsam fir sawfly Neodiprion abietis (Hymenoptera, Symphyta, Diprionidae). The N. abietis nucleopolyhedrovirus (NeabNPV) is 84,264 bp in size, with a G+C content of 33.5%, and contains 93 predicted open reading frames (ORFs). Eleven predicted ORFs are unique to this baculovirus, 10 ORFs have a putative sequence homologue in the NeleNPV genome but not the NeseNPV genome, and 1 ORF (neab53) has a putative sequence homologue in the NeseNPV genome but not the NeleNPV genome. Specific repeat sequences are coincident with major genome rearrangements that distinguish NeabNPV and NeleNPV. Genes associated with these repeat regions encode a common amino acid motif, suggesting that they are a family of repeated contiguous gene clusters. Lepidopteran baculoviruses, similarly, have a family of repeated genes called the bro gene family. However, there is no significant sequence similarity between the NeabNPV and bro genes. Homologues of early-expressed genes such as ie-1 and lef-3 were absent in NeabNPV, as they are in the previously sequenced hymenopteran baculoviruses. Analyses of ORF upstream sequences identified potential temporally distinct genes on the basis of putative promoter elements.

Amino Acid Motifs↗
PubMed2005

Genetic structure and migration from mainland to island populations in Abies procera Rehd.

Noble fir (Abies procera Rehd) is a narrowly distributed conifer with a typical mainland-island structure of natural distribution. Here, we examined the genetic structure of populations native to the Pacific coast from Oregon to Washington (5 island and 16 mainland populations) with 14 polymorphic allozyme loci. A general method for estimating the number of unidirectional migrants from the mainland to island populations is presented in terms of the relation of average heterozygosity between the mainland and island populations. The results indicated that there were substantial island-mainland population differentiations (Fst = 0.107+/-0.029~0.154+/-0.039) but small differentiation within the mainland/submainland populations (0.037+/-0.008 approximately 0.054+/-0.010). Significant isolation by distance existed among the island-mainland populations and among the populations in Washington submainland. Four islands investigated received different numbers of migrants from the mainland/submainland. The southern island populations received a smaller number of migrants from the mainland but had greater genetic diversity, implying that there could be introgression with A. magnifica and (or) they represented possible glacial refuges and had expanded northwards after the last glaciations. The island populations close to the Pacific coast were more likely mainland-dependent.

Abies↗
PubMed1994

Smoke inhalation with a concurrent systemic stress results in lung alveolar injury.

Smoke inhalation causes injuries to lung airways, and, at times, alveolar inflammation also develops over approximately 24 h. The pathophysiology of parenchymal lung injuries is unknown, and it is often fatal. We hypothesized that an inflammatory stress remote from the smoke-related lung insult was required for development of alveolar injuries. Spontaneously breathing rats were exposed, head only, to smoke generated by nonflaming pyrolysis (smoldering) of Douglas fir wood (DF), polyvinylchloride (PVC), or the combination of DF+PVC. Intraperitoneal injection of sterile oyster shell glycogen 4 h before smoke inhalation was used as an extra inflammatory stimulus. Histologic examinations revealed extensive airway inflammation in all smoke-exposed groups. Glycogen peritonitis alone caused no lung injuries, and in the absence of glycogen, smoke inhalation caused neither parenchymal lung injuries, assessed by [125I]bovine serum albumin (BSA) leakage, nor neutrophil infiltration, quantified by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. However, in rats pretreated with glycogen and studied 24 h after exposure to smoke from burning DF+PVC, [125I]BSA permeability was increased by 232 +/- 41% (SE; n = 13), MPO activity was increased 5-fold, from 2.6 +/- 0.4 (n = 7) to 13.9 +/- 1.4 (n = 19) A460/min/g lung, and histopathologic findings included extensive pulmonary inflammation. We conclude that inhalation of certain types of smoke will trigger pulmonary injury when an inflammatory process remote from the lungs is present.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1994

Role of neutrophils and nitric oxide in lung alveolar injury from smoke inhalation.

We examined potential mechanisms responsible for the parenchymal lung injury seen in an animal model of smoke inhalation with concurrent inflammation. Rats injected with sterile glycogen and exposed to smoke generated by the nonflaming pyrolysis of combined Douglas fir wood and polyvinylchloride showed a 74% increase in 125I-albumin lung permeability and a fivefold increase in lung myeloperoxidase (MPO) compared with control rats. There was also a significant increase in plasma indices of oxidative injury in these animals. Compared with control animals, plasma concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were elevated by 62%, the concentrations of reduced sulfhydryl groups declined by 37%, and the levels of dinitrophenylhydrazine-reactive proteins (DNPH-RP) were doubled. In addition, the plasma concentrations of nitrate (NO3-) in rats exposed to glycogen plus smoke were increased three times that of control animals. Injection of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), immediately after smoke exposure or induction of neutropenia using either nitrogen mustard or antineutrophil antiserum, abolished the increase in concentrations of circulating NO3-, and prevented changes in plasma concentrations of TBARS, DNPH-RP, lung MPO activity, and tissue permeability index. These data suggest that neutrophil activation and the production of nitric oxide-derived oxidants contribute to the lung and plasma indices of oxidative injury in this smoke inhalation model.

2,4-Dinitrophenol↗
PubMed1984

Alterations in the antibacterial properties of rabbit pulmonary macrophages exposed to wood smoke.

We studied the local response of the bronchoalveolar cell population after acute exposure to smoke from pyrolysis of Douglas fir wood. Cell viability experiments and function of the pulmonary macrophages were assessed, including adherence to surfaces, bacterial phagocytosis, and the intracellular bactericidal process. The smoke-exposed group (n=23) when compared with control animals (n=15) produced a significantly greater total cell yield (p less than 0.01) on bronchoalveolar lavage. There was no increase in the percentage of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. As carboxyhemoglobin levels increased, macrophage adherence to glass decreased (r = -0.79, p = 0.0001). Pulmonary macrophages from exposed animals were 33% less adherent at 120 min in vitro; however, these nonadherent smoke-exposed macrophages remained viable (55 to 78% viable by trypan blue dye exclusion). Both the phagocytic rate (361 14C cpm/unit time) and the maximal number of bacteria associated (at 60 min) with the exposed macrophages were significantly less than in the sham-exposed animals (uptake = 672 14C cpm/time, p less than 0.002 for each). The antibacterial properties of pulmonary macrophages are adversely affected by exposure to wood pyrolysis.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Use of risk-adjusted CUSUM and RSPRT charts for monitoring in medical contexts.

In this paper we discuss the use of charts derived from the sequential probability ratio test (SPRT): the cumulative sum (CUSUM) chart, RSPRT (resetting SPRT), and FIR (fast initial response) CUSUM. The theoretical development of the methods is described and some considerations one might address when designing a chart, explored, including the approximation of average run lengths (ARLs), the importance of detecting improvements in a process as well as detecting deterioration and estimation of the process parameter following a signal. Two examples are used to demonstrate the practical issues of quality control in the medical setting, the first a running example and the second a fully worked example at the end of the paper. The first example relates to 30-day mortality for patients of a single cardiac surgeon over the period 1994-1998, the second to patient deaths in the practice of a single GP, Harold Shipman. The charts' performances relative to each other are shown to be sensitive to the definition of the 'out of control' state of the process being monitored. In light of this, it is stressed that a suitable means by which to compare charts is chosen in any specific application.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Pervasive influence of large-scale climate in the dynamics of a terrestrial vertebrate community.

BACKGROUND: Large-scale climatic variability has been implicated in the population dynamics of many vertebrates throughout the Northern Hemisphere, but has not been demonstrated to directly influence dynamics at multiple trophic levels of any single system. Using data from Isle Royale, USA, comprising time series on the long-term dynamics at three trophic levels (wolves, moose, and balsam fir), we analyzed the relative contributions of density dependence, inter-specific interactions, and climate to the dynamics of each level of the community. RESULTS: Despite differences in dynamic complexity among the predator, herbivore, and vegetation levels, large-scale climatic variability influenced dynamics directly at all three levels. The strength of the climatic influence on dynamics was, however, strongest at the top and bottom trophic levels, where density dependence was weakest. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the conflicting influences of environmental variability and intrinsic processes on population stability, a direct influence of climate on the dynamics at all three levels suggests that climate change may alter stability of this community. Theoretical considerations suggest that if it does, such alteration is most likely to result from changes in stability at the top or bottom trophic levels, where the influence of climate was strongest.

Abies↗
PubMed1990

Lignified materials as potential medicinal resources. III. Diversity of biological activity and possible molecular species involved.

Diverse biological activities of hot-water and alkali extracts of lignified materials were reviewed and the molecular species involved are discussed. Materials tested included pine cone of Pinus parviflora SIEB. et Zucc., wood chips of slash pine, Douglas fir, and tallow wood, and two basidiocarps, in addition to their partially degraded preparations and commercial lignins. As a tentative conclusion, the lignin structure of these extracts might be responsible for the potent stimulation of granulocytic cell iodination, inhibition of viral infection and/or proliferation in vitro, and inactivation of viral ribonucleic acid (RNA)-dependent RNA polymerase and (adenosine diphosphate-ribose)n glycohydrolase. Other activities displayed by some of these extracts, such as antibacterial and antitumor activities, induction of hemolytic plaque-forming-cells in mice, and stimulation of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis of isolated splenocytes, remain to be investigated.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Firearms accidents in Northern India (1980-2000).

This paper investigates firearms accidents from the last two decades (1980-2000), with information received from the three North Indian states, Chandigarh, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh and from the military and paramilitary organisations working in the region. In this study 139 cases were analysed for evaluation of various parameters such as type of accident, type of firearm used, age, sex, occupation and caste of victim, day of the week and the season in which the accident occurred, place of incident and location of wound. Information was extracted from the case histories and First Information Reports (FIR), and also from autopsy and injury reports. The accidents were self-inflicted in nine cases while another person fired the weapon in 130 cases. Most accidents occurred during hunting or from mishandling the firearm. Gun cleaning accidents rarely occurred and few cases were due to technical defects of the firearm. Shotguns and rifles caused most of the accidents. Shotgun accidents occurred mostly in rural areas whereas the cases involving rifles and handguns were from urban areas. Victims were predominantly male with a mean age of 26 and 30 years for males and females respectively. Victims' occupations were principally agricultural followed by service class and housewives. The most aggressive community was the Kshatriya caste. Most of the accidents occurred during the winter season and on days between Sunday and Tuesday. Accident locations were most commonly the forest, the fields or the home. The chest and head were the most common anatomical sites of injury. All accidental cases were the result of only one firing. It is important to mention that, based on these findings, firearm accidents could be reduced significantly if firearm holders were better trained regarding the handling and safety aspects of their guns, particularly farmers to whom firearm licences are granted specifically for the protection of crops.

Accidents↗
PubMed2005

Comparison of methods for transfer of calibration models in near-infared spectroscopy: a case study based on correcting path length differences using fiber-optic transmittance probes in in-line near-infrared spectroscopy.

This article addresses problems related to transfer of calibration models due to variations in distance between the transmittance fiber-optic probes. The data have been generated using a mixture design and measured at five different probe distances. A number of techniques reported in the literature have been compared. These include multiplicative scatter correction (MSC), path length correction (PLC), finite impulse response (FIR), orthogonal signal correction (OSC), piecewise direct standardization (PDS), and robust calibration. The quality of the predictions was expressed in terms of root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP). Robust calibration gave good calibration transfer results, while the other methods did not give acceptable results.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

Enzymatic hydrolysis of steam-exploded and ethanol organosolv-pretreated Douglas-Firby novel and commercial fungal cellulases.

Softwood residues are the most abundant feedstock available for bioconversion in many northern countries. However, the high costs for delignification and enzymatic hydrolysis currently deter commercialization of softwood bioconversion processes. This study evaluates the abilities of two novel fungal preparations (MSUBC1 and MSUBC2) and two commercial cellulase preparations (TR1 and TR2) to hydrolyze cellulose in Douglas-firpretreated by steam explosion or ethanol organosolv process. MSUBC1 showed significantly better performance than the other preparations on both lignocellulosic substrates. In particular, MSUBC1 achieved >76% cellulose conversion for hydrolysis of steam-exploded Douglas-fir (approximately 44% lignin) after 72 h at low enzyme loading (10 filter paper units/g of cellulose) and without beta-glucosidase supplementation.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗
PubMed1999

The nature of lignin from steam explosion/ enzymatic hydrolysis of softwood: structural features and possible uses: scientific note.

Effective utilization of the lignin by-product is a prerequisite to the commercial viability of ethanol production from softwood wastes using a steam explosion (SE)/enzymatic hydrolysis (EH)/fermentation process. Changes in the chemical composition of Douglas fir wood on SO2-catalyzed SE followed by EH were assessed using conventional analytical methods and new halogen-probe techniques. A significant solubilization of hemicelluloses was observed in the SE stage, the severity of which affected subsequent fermentation of cellulose and sorption of enzymes. SE of softwood resulted in dramatic changes in the chemical structure of lignin in the residual material involving chemical reactions via the benzyl cation. This leads to a more condensed lignin with partly blocked alpha-reaction centres. Possible uses for this lignin are discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Influence of mixing regime on enzymatic saccharification of steam-exploded softwood chips.

In an attempt to elucidate the effect of reduced mixing on the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic feedstocks, a pretreated softwood substrate was hydrolyzed under various mixing regimes using a commercial cellulase mixture. The substrate was generated by SO2-catalyzed steam explosion of Douglas fir wood chips followed by alkali-peroxide treatment to remove lignin. Three mixing regimes were tested; continuous mixing at low (25 rpm) and high (150 rpm) speeds, and mixing at low-speed interspersed with 5-min intervals of high-speed agitation at 150 rpm. At both substrate concentrations (7.5 and 10% [w/w]), the mixed-speed mixing was able to produce sufficiently high conversion rates and yields (93% after 96 h), close or slightly better than those obtained under vigorous mixing (150 rpm). The low-speed shaking produced appreciably lower conversion yields at both levels of substrate concentration. Therefore, the mixed-speed regime may be a viable process option, because it does not seem to have an adverse impact on the cellulose conversion yield and can be an effective means of reducing the mixing energy requirements of an enzymatic hydrolysis process.

Cellulose↗
PubMed2002

Enhancing the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic materials using simultaneous ball milling.

One of the limiting factors restricting the effective and efficient bioconversion of softwood-derived lignocellulosic residues is the recalcitrance of the substrate following pretreatment. Consequently, the ensuing enzymatic process requires relatively high enzyme loadings to produce monomeric carbohydrates that are readily fermentable by ethanologenic microorganisms. In an attempt to circumvent the need for larger enzyme loadings, a simultaneous physical and enzymatic hydrolysis treatment was evaluated. A ball-mill reactor was used as the digestion vessel, and the extent and rate of hydrolysis were monitored. Concurrently, enzyme adsorption profiles and the rate of conversion during the course of hydrolysis were monitored. alpha-Cellulose, employed as a model substrate, and SO2-impregnated steam-exploded Douglas-fir wood chips were assessed as the cellulosic substrates. The softwood-derived substrate was further posttreated with water and hot alkaline hydrogen peroxide to remove >90% of the original lignin. Experiments at different reaction conditions were evaluated, including substrate concentration, enzyme loading, reaction volumes, and number of ball beads employed during mechanical milling. It was apparent that the best conditions for the enzymatic hydrolysis of alpha-cellulose were attained using a higher number of beads, while the presence of air-liquid interface did not seem to affect the rate of saccharification. Similarly, when employing the lignocellulosic substrate, up to 100% hydrolysis could be achieved with a minimum enzyme loading (10 filter paper units/g of cellulose), at lower substrate concentrations and with a greater number of reaction beads during milling. It was apparent that the combined strategy of simultaneous ball milling and enzymatic hydrolysis could improve the rate of saccharification and/or reduce the enzyme loading required to attain total hydrolysis of the carbohydrate moieties.

Biotechnology↗
PubMed2004

Latent autoimmune diabetes mellitus in children (LADC) with autoimmune thyroiditis and Celiac disease.

Latent autoimmune diabetes mellitus in adults (LADA) is characterized by clinical presentation as type 2 diabetes mellitus after 25 years of age, initial control achieved with oral hypoglycemic agents for at least 6 months, presence of autoantibodies and some immunogenetic features of type 1 diabetes mellitus. An 8.3 year-old girl was referred to our pediatric endocrinology department because of incidental glucosuria. She did not complain of polyuria, polydipsia, or weight loss. Her body mass index (BMI) was at the 80th percentile. Fasting glucose was 126 mg/dl, and OGTT glucose level at 120 min was 307 mg/dl. Although C-peptide levels were normal, her first phase insulin response (FIR) was lower than the 1st percentile. Anti-insulin antibody (AIA), islet cell antibody (ICA), and anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (antiGAD) were negative. According to the clinical and laboratory findings, she was diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes mellitus. She was started with oral anti-diabetic treatment for a period of 1 year. Insulin had to be initiated for worsening of HbA1c levels. In the fourth year of follow-up, she was admitted to our hospital with diabetic ketoacidosis although she was on an intensive insulin regimen. At this time, C-peptide levels were low, antiGAD and AIA were positive with HLA DR3/DQ2 haplotype. In addition, her thyroid peroxidase antibody and endomysium antibody were found to be high at follow-up. Small intestinal biopsy revealed celiac disease. This patient may represent the first case of latent autoimmune diabetes mellitus in children (LADC) with autoimmune thyroiditis and celiac disease.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1986

Variability analysis of fetal heart rate signals as obtained from abdominal electrocardiographic recordings.

The present paper introduces an original method of digital signal processing for an automatic analysis of non-invasive abdominal ECG recordings on pregnant women starting from the 25th week of gestation. The procedure has been implemented on a DEC-VAX 750 digital computer at the Department of Electrical Engineering, Polytechnic of Milano and the signals are recorded at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology "L. Mangiagalli", University of Milano, Italy. The experimental results presented in here are still preliminary as only few cases have been considered up to now (about 20) and the goal of the paper is mainly focused on the algorithmic aspects of the whole procedure implemented in the computer and on the approach of heart rate variability (HRV) signal analysis both in the mother and in the fetus. Abdominal ECG lead processing is illustrated starting from the step of maternal (M) and fetal (F) QRS recognitions through linear digital filtering (derivative and low-pass FIR filter, Weber-Cappellini window) and weighted averaging techniques synchronized with maternal QRS's. Figure 1 a shows the original abdominal lead; figure 1 b the filtered signal for MQRS recognitions; figure 2 a the template of maternal cardiac cycle as obtained after the averaging operation synchronized with the instants of MQRS occurrence. The subtraction of the template results in the abdominal lead shown in figure 1 c in which the contribution of MECG is practically entirely reduced even in the case of MQRS and FQRS overlapping.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Electrocardiography↗
PubMed2004

Comparative mapping in the Pinaceae.

A comparative genetic map was constructed between two important genera of the family Pinaceae. Ten homologous linkage groups in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) were identified using orthologous expressed sequence tag polymorphism (ESTP) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers. The comparative mapping revealed extensive synteny and colinearity between genomes of the Pinaceae, consistent with the hypothesis of conservative chromosomal evolution in this important plant family. This study reports the first comparative map in forest trees at the family taxonomic level and establishes a framework for comparative genomics in Pinaceae.

Base Sequence↗