Correlation Of Amount Research Articles

Correlation of Amount of Cigarette Smoking with Thickness and Elasticity of Distal Femoral Cartilages using Sono-Elastography Techniques of Ultrasound, a Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Cigarette smoking is a well-known etiology for chronic musculoskeletal system disorders, like osteoarthritis, affecting the distal femoral cartilages. However, recent studies show protective effects of smoking against osteoarthritis. Ultrasound is an easily accessible and reliable imaging tool for the evaluation of the cartilages, measurement of their thickness, and tissue stiffness. This study seeks to objectively show the effects of smoking by affecting their knee joints’ cartilage and clarify whether it has a chondroprotective effect, or support the usual evidence that smoking is harmful at any cost. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study compares the thickness and elasticity of distal femoral cartilage in heavy, ordinary smokers and non-smokers using B-mode scanning and real-time strain elastographic technique of ultrasound respectively. Results: Among 377 individuals with a mean age of 27.66 years, male predominance (70 %) and mean Body Mass Index (BMI) of 24.55, a higher proportion (50 %) of volunteers were ordinary smokers (pack years <20). Elasticity strain ratios were found to be significantly lower in heavy smokers in both sides’ distal femoral cartilages except in right lateral cartilage (p = <0.001) using Fisher’s exact test. Significantly lower thickness was noted in both cartilages of the right side (p <0.001) and left lateral cartilage (p = 0.001) among heavy smokers. After adjusting for the effects of age, sex, BMI, and occupation using one-way ANOVA, similar results were obtained. Conclusions: Heavy cigarette smoking causes degradation of distal femoral cartilages by decreasing their thickness and elasticity.

Association between ocular optical components and refractive errors in bank’s Employees of Sari, Iran

AbstractPurpose To investigate the association between ocular optical components and refractive errors in bank’s employees of Sari, IranMethods In this cross sectional study 398 bank’s employees of Sari, Iran were selected, 232 of them used the eyes for close work (computers, etc…) for a minimum of 7 hours per day for the 5 past years. The other 166 bank’s employees acted as a control group and did not did a close work more than one hour daily for the 5 past years. Age of the participants were between 25 to 40 years old. Axial length, anterior chamber depth, lens diameter and vitreous depth were measured with Nidek biometer. Corneal radius and non cycloplegic refraction performed with autorefracto‐keratometer; refractive errors were checked by retinoscopy and subjective tests. There was a high correlation between equivalent sphere (ES) right and left eyes of the subjects (0.9) and data of the right eye was analyzed. Data were analyzed by using version 19 of SPSS software.Results The results showed that the bank’s employees who had excessive use of the eyes for near work have more axial length (p<0.001), more anterior chamber depth (p=0.003) and more vitreous chamber depth (p<0.001) than the control group. There was no significant difference between lens diameter (p=0.525) and cornel radius (p=0.666) of the two groups. There was correlation between axial length and SE by increasing in axial length (p<0.000). The least amount correlation was found between lens diameter and ES (P< 0.000).Conclusion The results of this study indicated that ocular optical components changed toward myopia in people who had excessive close work.

The relationship between organic matter and specific surface area in <2 μm clay size fraction of muddy source rock

The adsorption of organic matter (OM) onto clay minerals has long been considered as a significant way of OM preservation in source rock. Here we analyzed the relationship between OM and the specific surface area (SSA) of <2 μm clay size fraction isolated from 13 source rock cores collected from Dongying depression. Rock-Eval pyrolysis and N2 adsorption experiment were employed to probe the characteristics of OM and SSA (denoted S BET) in samples before and after OM extraction using trichloromethane. The results indicate that various kinds of OM occurrence coexist in clay size fraction and their contributions to hydrocarbon are different in each period of OM evolution. The occurrence and amount of OM affect the S BET of clay size fraction, and a nonlinear negative correlation between total organic carbon (TOC) and SBET can be recognized. The soluble OM (chloroform extract “A”), mainly stored in the pore space of clay size fraction, shows a negative correlation in amount with S BET. Our data also indicate that free hydrocarbon (S1) was stored mainly in the pore space and/or the surface of clay size fraction, whereas pyrolysis hydrocarbon (S2) was mingled mainly with clay minerals. Therefore, to understand various OM occurrences and their relationship with S BET in the clay size fraction is significant in the study of generation, accumulation, and migration of hydrocarbon in muddy source rock.

Expression of 67-Kda Laminin Receptor (67LR) Relates to the Aggressiveness and Poor Prognosis of AML: Modulation of the Expression of GM-CSF Receptor by 67LR.

Background: The 67-kDa laminin receptor (67LR) is a non-integrin cell surface receptor for laminin, one of the major components of extracellular matrix. Previously (at ASH 2007, PS 2845), we reported that the high expression of 67LR on CD34+AML cells was related with a poor prognosis of AML, and that the forced expression of 67LR resulted in the enhanced proliferation and the resistance against apoptosis of leukemia cells by increasing phosphorylated STAT5. However, there was no information about how the expression of 67LR modulated the signaling of STAT5 pathway.Objective: To elucidate how 67LR enhances the signaling of STAT5 pathway and the role of 67LR in clinical course of AML.Methods: The cDNA or short interfering RNA for LR cloned into various kinds of plasmids was expressed in TF-1 and AML193 leukemia cell lines via stable transfection. As overexpressors of LR, TF-1LR and AML193LR were generated, and as a suppressor of LR, TF-1si. Because it is well known that the signaling of STAT5 pathway was enhancing by GM-CSF signaling, the expression of the GM-CSF receptor α subunit (GM-CSFRα) was analyzed by flowcytometry. To test the interaction between 67LR with V5-tag and GM-CSFRα with Flag-tag protein, we transiently transfected expression plasmids containing cDNA for these protein into human 293T cells. Lysates of these transfected cells were subjected to the immunoprecipitation using anti-V5 or anti-Flag Ab, followed by immunoblotting with HRP conjugated antibodies. From 44 AML patients (M0[2], M1[4], M2[18], M4[11], M5[3], M6[3], MDS/AML[3]), CD34-positive cells were isolated by column method to examine the surface expression of 67LR with flowcytometry. To assess the clinical significance of 67LR expression, 44 pattients with AML were divided into two groups by the surface-expression level of 67LR: 20 cases in the high-expression group (positive in >25% of cells, LR-H) and 24 cases in the low-expression group (LRL). Clinical factors including WBC, LDH, and overall survival were compared between two groups.Results: The surface expression of 67LR was 64% in parental TF-1, 92% in TF-1LR, and 36% in TF-1si, and that was 65% in AML193 and 91% in AML193LR. The surface expression of GM-CSFRα was lower in TF-1si (MFI: 5.1) than its control (MFI:7.3), whereas that was higher in TF-1LR (MFI:19.2) than its control (MFI:7.3). In AML193LR, GM-CSFRα was also higher than the control (MFI:34.7 and 18.9, respectively). These results demonstrated that the modulation of 67LR expression contributed to changes in the level of GM-CSFRα on cell surface. Immunoprecipitation assays indicated that 67LR and GM-CSFRα protein were present in the same protein complex in vivo. In clinical samples, median surface expression of 67LR on CD34 positive AML cells was 17%, and the median intensity of GM-CSFRα was 5.8. We found a significant positive relationship between the surface expression of 67LR and the median intensity of GM-CSFRα on CD34 positive AML cells (chi-square value was 0.04). WBC counts and LDH levels at diagnosis were significantly higher in LR-H group than that in LH-L (p=0.04, p=0.02, respectively). There was a significant difference in survival between LR-L and LR-H groups (median survival 803 and 239 days, respectively, p=0.009).Conclusion: We found the level of 67LR could modulate the expression of GM-CSFRα, thereby it might enhance the phosphorylation of STAT5. Among AML patients, high level of 67LR expression was related to the higher WBC count, elevated LDH and shorter survival. The expression of 67LR and GM-CSFRα in clinical samples also showed significant correlation in amount. These data suggested that the high expression of 67LR resulted in the proliferation of AML cells by increasing the expression of GM-CSFRα. These features could contribute, at least in part, to a poor prognosis of AML.

Reciprocal altruism, rather than kin selection, maintains nepotistic food transfers on an Ache reservation

Cooperation among relatives is often regarded as evidence of kin selection. Yet altruism not requiring shared genes can also evolve among relatives. If characteristics of relatives (such as proximity, familiarity, or trust) make kin preferred social partners, the primary causes of nepotistic biases may reside principally in direct fitness payoffs from cooperation rather than indirect fitness payoffs acquired from aiding collateral kin. We consider the roles of kin selection and reciprocal altruism in maintaining nepotistic food transfers on an Ache reservation in northeastern Paraguay. Households do not primarily direct aid to related households that receive larger comparative marginal gains from food intake as we would predict under kin selection theory. Instead, (1) food transfers favor households characterized by lower relative net energy production values irrespective of kinship ties, (2) households display significant positive correlations in amounts exchanged with each other, suggesting contingency in food transfers, and (3) kinship interacts with these positive correlations in amounts households exchange with each other, indicating even stronger contingency in sharing among related households than among unrelated households. While kin are preferred recipients of food aid, food distributions favor kin that have given more to the distributing household in the past rather than kin that would benefit more from the aid. Such discrimination among kin accords better with reciprocal altruism theory than with kin selection theory.

Method for chronological recording of antigen appearance in human head-hair shafts and its use for monitoring glycation products in diabetes

We describe immunochemical assays of non-enzymatic glycation products in human head-hair protein extracts and hair cross sections using Western blots and a novel “dot-block” methodology. In the latter, groups of approximately 15 hair fibers, clipped at about 1 mm proximal to the scalp–skin were aligned, wound around, and attached to 3 mm diameter araldite screw rods. Up to 40 such rods were next embedded lengthwise in additional araldite polymer creating a solid block and the top surface of the block was sectioned off to the half-diameters of the screw rods thus exposing accurately transected hair cross sections at regular (∼ 0.5 cm) intervals. Early- and advanced-glycation products (EGAs and AGEs, respectively) were determined in the exposed cross sections in-situ using specific antibodies and ECL densitometry as in conventional Western blots. Both Western blots and this technique demonstrated 3.1 fold EGAs increases in the proximal 2 cm of hair of diabetics as compared to non-diabetics. Dot-blocks, in addition, were less variable and demonstrated exponential EGAs decreases along fibers distally, with calculated intercepts (at the hair roots) of 4.9 fold increases in diabetics as opposed to non-diabetics and half-lives of 6.0, 5.9 and 9.0 months in hair of non-diabetics, gestational diabetics and diabetic patients, respectively. Correlations in amounts of BG vs. HbA1 c, BG vs. EGAs, and HbA1 c vs. EGAs, using dot-block and clinical lab data were all significant ( p < 0.05). Acute onset T1D patients, defined as previously unsuspected patients diagnosed upon hospitalization due to diabetic complications, exhibited nearly identical EGAs levels in their proximal 0–9 cm hair as did T1D patients with long-established diabetes, thus supporting the notion of long and insidious T1D etiology. Removal of 1–2 μm layers from dot-block surfaces enabled their re-use for multiple assays. Applied anti-AGEs antibodies demonstrated slight decreases or no significant changes in CML and MGI along hair shafts of normal and diabetic subjects. Fluctuations in EGAs and AGEs along hair shafts, indicating alterations in glycemic control were also observed. We conclude that the dot-block method has a potential for early diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes, and more generally, as a long term “biological record” of various chronic medical conditions.

A rapid fractionation method for heavy metals in soil by continuous-flow sequential extraction assisted by focused microwaves

A microwave-assisted continuous-flow sequential extraction system was developed for rapid fractionation analysis of heavy metals in soil. Insertion of pressure-adjusted air between the extractants provided stable flows of the extractants without mutual mixing and back-pressure influence of a column packed with soil, thereby facilitating reliable continuous-flow extractions. In addition, use of pure water as a pumping solvent removed metal contamination because of direct contact between corrosive extractants and the pump containing metallic materials. Focused microwave irradiation to the soil accelerated the selective extractions of the acid-soluble and reducible fractions of heavy metals in soil in the first and second steps of the sequential extraction conditions, as defined by the Commission of the European Bureau of Reference (BCR). The microwave-assisted continuous-flow extraction provided high correlations in amounts of six heavy metals except Zn in the first step and Cu in the second step extracted from a reference sludge soil, BCR CRM 483, with a conventional batchwise extraction proposed by BCR; continuous-flow extraction assisted by conductive heating provided lower correlations for all the six metals. The proposed method drastically reduced the time required for the sequence extraction to ca. 65 min without losing accuracy and precision of the fractionation analysis of heavy metals in soil, whereas the BCR batchwise method requires ca. 33 h.

Depiction of alcohol, tobacco, and other substances in G-rated animated feature films.

To quantify and characterize the depiction of alcohol, tobacco, and other substances in G-rated animated feature films. The content of all G-rated animated feature films released in theaters between 1937 and 2000, recorded in English, and available on videocassette in the United States by October 31, 2000, was reviewed for portrayals of alcohol, tobacco, and other substances and their use. Duration of scenes depicting alcohol, tobacco, or other substances; type of characters using them (good, neutral, or bad); and correlation of amount and type used with character type and movie type were evaluated. Of the 81 films reviewed, 38 films (47%) showed alcohol use (mean exposure: 42 seconds per film; range: 2 seconds to 2.9 minutes) and 35 films (43%) showed tobacco use (mean exposure: 2.1 minutes per film; range: 2 seconds to 10.5 minutes). Analysis of time trends showed a significant decrease in both tobacco and alcohol use over time (both corrected for total screen duration and uncorrected.) No films showed the use of illicit drugs, although 3 films showed characters consuming a substance that transfigured them and 2 films showed characters injected with a drug. Analysis of the correlation of alcohol and tobacco depiction revealed several scenes in which alcohol and tobacco were shown in use in the same scene and that bar scenes in these movies depict a significant amount of drinking, smoking, and violence. Three films contained a message that a character should stop smoking but none contained messages about restricting consumption of alcohol. The depiction of alcohol and tobacco use in G-rated animated films seems to be decreasing over time. Nonetheless, parents should be aware that nearly half of the G-rated animated feature films available on videocassette show alcohol and tobacco use as normative behavior and do not convey the long-term consequences of this use.

Correlation of Amounts of Transplutonium Nuclides with Burnup in the JPDR-I Spent Fuel

The amounts of 241Am, 242Cm and 244Cm were determined by means of a radiochemical technique in several specimens taken from the spent fuel of the JPDR-I. The yields of the transplutonium nuclides were examined in connection with the burnup determined by a conventional method. It was found that the burnup correlates well with the yield ratios of various transplutonium nuclides.

INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN THE VISUAL PURSUIT BEHAVIOR OF NEONATES

BARTEN, SYBIL; BIRNS, BEVERLY; and RONCH, JUDAH. Individual Differences in the Visual Pursuit Behavior of Neonates. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1971, 42, 313-319. The purpose of this study was to determine whether stable individual differences in amount of visual pursuit exist at birth. Babies presented with 2 moving stimuli at 2 days of age and retested 24 hours later showed high day-to-day correlations in amount of oculocephalic pursuit of both stimuli and also in ocular pursuit of the stronger stimulus. These two responses seemed to be on a single dimension.

Lysogenization and superinfection immunity in Salmonella

Immunity to superinfection is a consequence of lysogenization. An analysis of some of the events leading to lysogenization by phage P22 of Salmonella has led to the conclusion that following infection there is at first a decision by the cell phage complex not to lyse. After several generations of bacterial growth the phage may then be integrated. A particular mutant, v1, of phage P22 seems to be able to initiate the reactions leading to lysogeny but fails to be stably integrated. During the period following infection, it replicates in a way that is comparable neither to vegetative growth nor to growth of prophage. Two phages serologically related to P22 have been isolated from other lysogenic Salmonella. They differ from P22 by three loci of such properties that they can be called host range genes. One of these loci, which is linked to v1, controls the ability to confer superinfection immunity. The others control ability to grow on specified bacterial strains. When a phage does not confer to a bacterium immunity to superinfection by related phage, the same general events occur as those following infection of nonlysogenic recipients. The first step in this process seems to be comparable to UV induction of prophage development. Prophage-controlled immunity to superinfection is compared with the immunity to superinfection exhibited by cells immediately after infection. An hypothesis is presented on the nature of the control of these two kinds of immunity. Correlated with lysogenization by P22 and its relatives is the appearance of the somatic antigen 1 and an impairment of phage adsorption. In a general way there is a correlation in amount of antigen, degree of impairment of phage adsorption, and completeness of superinfection immunity.