Debris Research Articles

Chemistry compound dynamic of leaf-litter and fauna associated with breakdown process of arboreous species in a stream from North of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

The present study aimed at evaluating the concentrations of chemistry compounds in leaf-litter during the breakdown process, and the colonization of Sebastiania commersoniana (Baill.) Smith and Downs and Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden for aquatic invertebrates, as well as verifying the influence of breakdown process in native and exotic species of the aquatic fauna. There were incubated 28 litterbags in a first order stream in Erechim, RS, Brazil. After 1, 3, 7, 15, 30, 45 e 60 days of breakdown, we determined polyphenols contends, nitrogen e total phosphorous of the leaf-litter remanecent material. The colonizing fauna of the leaf-litter was quantified in the same periods. The results showed no significant difference in the leaf-litter compounds liberation. Breakdown of E. grandis was slower than S. commersoniana . The contents of polyphenols showed more importance for the colonization of the S. commersoniana . The more slowly liberation of compounds by E. grandis leaves is probably due to more difficulty in fragmenting the organic debris. The aquatic invertebrates that colonized the E. grandis debris showed that their presence or absence was more associated with the nitrogen concentrations. Key words: leaf-litter, macroinvertebrates, Sebastiania commersoniana , Eucalyptus grandis .

Securing an Airway When You Can’t Reach the Patient

Prehospital personnel (including physicians who participate in disaster relief or emergency medical services operations) might encounter patients who require airway management while they are trapped in vehicles, under debris, or in other confined spaces. In a prospective study, 22 paramedics, 25 emergency medicine residents, and 9 EM faculty attempted to intubate manikins in three different scenarios: manikin lying supine under a table with …

The Confiscated Dreams: Occupation and the City in Khalifeh’s Writings

Sahar Khalifeh, a Palestinian academician and novelist, explores in her narratives, among other things, the impact of occupation on the day-to-day life of Palestinians in their cities and villages. In her 1980 Sunflower, Khalifeh vividly portrays the city of Nablus from the perspectives of several male and female characters who view the city and themselves under occupation from the perspectives of class, gender, ethnicity and situatedness. Cut off from the outside by military occupation, cordoned by hostile settlements, and impaired sexually and emotionally, the city and its inhabitants in Khalifeh’s narrative suffer from excessive atrophy. As a result of its devastating effect on the growth of the city, Khalifeh perceives in occupation vicious machinery that consumes up the land and the people creating a wasteland, a system of physical debris and human dereliction. Urban entropy is at work in Nablus where chaos threatens order and urban forms of death intrude upon the social in the form of sexual impotence, and upon the commercial and economic processes in the form of obfuscation, confiscation and destruction of the city’s resources and green belts.

Lutein and zeaxanthin uptake in cultured retinal pigmented epithelial cells.

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) has the essent ial role of providing oxygen and nutrients to the photoreceptors but also to removes their deb ris and metabolites. The RPE is subject to continuo usly and high level of oxidative stress. RPE use endogenous enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants as a mechanism of reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification. RP E is also particularly rich in non-enzymatic antiox idants such are tocopherols, ascorbic acid, lutein and zea xanthin. In this study we investigated the ability of RPE cu ltured cells to incorporate lutein and zeaxanthin, in free and esterified forms, the carotenoid effect on cell culture viability and on cell antioxidant defense. Carotenoids were delivered to the cell culture using small amou nts of tetrahydrofuran added to the fetal calf seru m. The incorporation yield was determined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, the cells viability by MTT assay and t he antioxidant effect by intracellular ROS assay (DCF- DA). Human RPE cultured cells can incorporate the major dietary carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin. The highest incorporation yield was found for zeaxanthi n, with 8.1 % of incorporation yield, while lutein incorporation yield was 7.12 %. Esterified xanthop hylls can not be incorporated into RPE cells. Lutei n and zeaxanthin administrated to RPE cells does not sign ificantly influence the cell viability. They showed a small positive effect on the cell viability in a concentr ation of 10 �M in the culture media. Lutein and zeaxanthin have an inhibitory effect on reactive oxygen species gen eration in the RPE cells.

Iron smelting in pre-colonial Zimbabwe: Evidence for diachronic change from Swart village and Baranda, northern Zimbabwe

In conventional reconstructions of southern African archaeology, the production of iron has been seen as unchanging for the last 2000 years. Significantly, this contrasts with the changes that have been noted in broader society and other classes of material culture of the same period. Despite iron being used as a chronostratigraphic indicator, virtually nothing is known on the patterns of iron production within the Iron Age and whether change in technology and the socio-cultural context of production took place. From a combined archaeological and metallurgical perspective, the historical development of iron working has never been explored. For example, it is not known whether similar types of furnaces were constantly operated throughout the last two millennia. Excavations at two sites in northern Zimbabwe, one Gokomere-Ziwa (800 - 1200 cal AD) and one Zimbabwe tradition (1500 - 1700 cal AD), have shown differences in iron pyrometallurgical debris, tentatively suggesting that they represent separate metal working practices. By comparing the archaeological and metallurgical evidence from the two sites, this paper represents an initial step in delineating patterns of indigenous iron production in one region of Zimbabwe.

Vertical geomorphologic zonation on the Northwest Sichuan Plateau and the effects of mountain hazards on the West Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project

Vertical geomorphologic zoning on the Northwest Sichuan Plateau is obvious and elevations for different geomorphologic zones are: fluvial zone3800m;glacial margin zone 3800-4200m;and glacial zone4200m.Their correspondent principal geomorphologic processes are water erosion,thawing erosion and glacial erosion.The plateau terrain was formed as a result of the thawing erosion under the conditions of vast expanse tectonic uplift.Crystalline rocks of granite and limestone have higher strength against thawing erosion than Triassic epimetasediment rocks of sandstone and slate.Therefore,crystalline rocks are able to form high glacial mountains while Triassic epimetasediment rocks are not.However,Triassic epimetasediment rocks are prone to form hilly plateau terrain.The 1~(st) stage subproject of the West Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project is basically located along the boundary between the fluvial zone and the peri glacial zone,landslides,rock-falls and thawing solifluctions are major slope failure hazards and most of those hazards are of small-medium scales.There are a number of debris flow gullies where small-medium scale debris flows occur frequently in the project area,however,large scale debris flows may occur in the gullies of the fluvial zone.Thawing solifluctions are the main river sediment sources in the area and attentions should be paid to the effects of their sediment production on silting of the planned reservoirs.Geomorphologic processes are very sensitive to climate changes in the boundary area between the fluvial zone and the periglacial zone.

Technical Notes and Tips: Knee Arthroscopy: 1-ml Syringe as an Outflow Cannula

A ‘soft’ quill can be used to drain ‘arthroscopy debris’. A 1-ml syringe with the nozzle cut off at an angle of 45° is a better alternative – being stiff, it is easier to manoeuvre in the joint. To direct the entry of the syringe during, insertion, slide it over the arthroscopic trochar, positioning the trochar point where the syringe will end at insertion into the joint. This ‘Seldinger technique’ also eases its passage through the soft tissues.

以GT鎳-鈦旋轉器械修形至0.06錐度之根管清潔率評估

The success of root canal therapy is related with optimal root canal shaping and cleanliness. How to improve the quality of cleaning and shaping at the same time was interested by the dentists. The aim of this study was to investigate the root canal cleanliness of the coronal, middle and apical levels after preparation with 30/.06 Ni-Ti rotary instruments. Twenty canals were included in this study. System GT Rotary Files were used to prepare the root canals with crown-down technique. The canals were shaped with Ni-Ti alloys in tapers of 0.06 and the apical stop size was 30. The 5.25% NaOCl and 17% EDTA were used to enhance the cleanliness. After the roots were split longitudinally, the scanning electron microscope (SEM) study was to compare the cleanliness of the root canal walls at low (x 200) and high (x 1000) magnifications at the coronal, middle and apical levels to calculate the amounts of debris and smear layer. One-way ANOVA was used to analyze the differences in the amounts of debris and smear layer. The highest scores of the debris and smear layer were found in the apical third, and a significant difference were between apical and coronal third, and between apical and middle third. In summary, the root canal cleanliness of the apical third was the worst than the others. And the cleaning efficiency of root canals after preparation with 30/.06 Ni-Ti rotary instruments was insufficiency.

Urban Risk Assessment Research of Major Natural Disasters in China

According to disaster system theory and the natural disaster database of China,this paperbuilds the urban vulnerability indexon the basis of the integrated urbanization level index(CL) of hazard-affected bodies;and considering the structural damage and the influence on traffic of different naturaldisasters,this paper chooses five major disaster types(including flood,earthquake,debris flow-rockslide,typhoon and dust storm) to build and compute the integrated intensity index of major natural haz-ards(QC).Then through qualitative analysis and semi-quantitative calculation,the integrated urban riskof major natural disasters in china is divided into five grades,namely very high,high,medium,lowandvery lowgrades,and the corresponding assessment map is worked out.At last,some further discussion isdone about the integrated risk assessment of natural disaster chains.

Subretinal transplantation of human fetal lung fibroblasts expressed ciliary neurotrophic factor gene prevent photoreceptor degeneration in RCS rats

To investigate the efficacy of subretinal transplantation of CNTF gene transfected fibroblasts for preventing photoreceptor degeneration in RCS. The human fetal lung fibroblasts with high level expression of CNTF were established by liposome mediated gene transfer and MTX selection. A 5 microl of cell suspension, containing 1 x 10(5) cells, was injected through pars plana of ciliary body into the subretinal space of the right eye at postnatal 4-5 weeks, the left eye was left without injection or injected with PBS as controls. The both eyes were enucleated for histopathological examinations at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 15 weeks following transplantation. The level of CNTF protein (91,046.15 pg/ml) expressed in the transfected cells was determined by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The four of seven eyes examined by light microscopy and the ten of 14 eyes examined by electro microscopy showed rescue effect. The prolonged photoreceptor survival, reduction of apoptotic cells and debris were observed in transplanted eyes in comparison with untreated or sham-injected eyes. This study provides the first indication that transplanted human fibroblasts with high level expression of CNTF are able to rescue photoreceptor degeneration in RCS dystrophic rat retina.

Caeco-vesical fistula--an unusual sequel of colonic tuberculosis.

Extracted from text ... Letter to the Editor SAJS 38 VOL 44, NO. 1, FEBRUARY 2006 SAJS To the Editor: We would like to report on a rare case of caeco-vesical fistula complicating ileo-caecal tuberculosis, a condition that has not been described in the literature. A 4-year-old boy, with a positive family history of tuberculosis, presented to hospital with a month's history of dysuria and faecaluria. He was pyrexial, with a tender right suprapubic mass and leucocytosis. The chest radiograph was normal; abdominal ultrasonography demonstrated the presence of a fistula with echogenic debris originating from within a bowel loop and extending into a ..

Risks in Space from Orbiting Debris

Risks in Space from Orbiting Debris

Are Patent Foramen Ovale and Aortic Arch Atherosclerosis Commonly Associated with Stroke

Cryptogenic strokes are those that cannot be attributed to large-vessel stenotic, small-vessel lacunar, or cardioembolic etiologies. Several studies have suggested that paradoxical embolism through a patent foramen ovale (PFO) and embolism of atherosclerotic aortic arch debris are important causes of cryptogenic stroke. Now, in a pair of population-based …

EVOLUTION OF DIAMETER AND VERTICAL GROWTH OF THE SAPLINGS USED IN THE ECOLOGIC RECONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN BARREN GANGUE WASTE AREAS WITHIN TURDA FORESTRY AREA

Barren gangue waste areas are one of the most sever e problems of all the environment protection issues we are confronting. This is the reason why ecologic reconstruction and reinstating the natural initial state of things represent a permanent preoccupation of fo restry specialists. These are, in essence, areas w here different materials have been deposited (industrial and household waste, mine barren gangue, grind res ts, debris etc). These areas are quite large and are normally grouped around large industrial works or (depth or surface) mines. Due to mine exploitation (kaolin, bentonite , gravel etc), in Cluj county there have always bee n many such areas. Some of them managed to be successfull y reafforested (Aghire � , Turda, Morlaca, Ciucea, etc.), others are currently being rehabilitated. Among th ese, the kaolin and bentonite barren gangue areas a dministered by Turda Forestry Area within Cluj- Napoca Forestry Board. The respective terrains are not only a sou rce of pollution, but they are also economically unusable. The ecologic reconstruction can be best done (bot h technically and economically) through afforestation , using saplings of high quality, of species that h ave low ecologic requirements, given the present conditions . The quality of the edaphic substrate in which th e saplings are introduced is, however, of vital importance whe n aiming at achieving remarkable growth rates (in d iameter and height), as well as in achieving good adjustmen t of the saplings to the new conditions. MATERIAL, METHOD AND EXPERIMENTAL CONDITIONS The waste area where the determinations were made is formed of the barren gangue coming from the bentonite exploitation in Borzesti quarry and is situated next to the communal road between Petresti and Borzesti. The afforestation was carried out in spring 2005, using saplings of black pine ( Pinus nigra ) ( Pi.n ), in the (regeneration and afforestation) composition 10Pi.n , the total surface being 0,50 ha. The planting de vice was square having the dimensions 2x1m; 2.500 black pine saplings were used (5.000 per hectare). Considering the fact that in the barren gangue cont ent there is also fertile soil, the planting was carried out directly on the surface of the area , without additional soil. The saplings were planted in 60cm /80 cm large square areas. To be n oted that the surface is mostly plane, due to the levelling of the barren gangue. The sapling s used were of different dimensions; the basic criterion in choosing them was a minimum diameter of 5 mm, according to current specifications. The saplings came from the Mihai V iteazu Nurseries in the neighbourhood of Turda, about 15 Km from the area to be afforested. The fact that the nursery lies closeby means that there are greater chances of success due to the fact that the saplings were grown in similar climatic conditions. The only thing on whi ch their adapting to the new life depends is, thus, the edaphic conditions offered by the waste a rea. The work was carried out manually in the spring of 2005, and the plantation building conditions were upheld. As aforementioned, the sap lings were planted directly into the soil of the waste area. In order to check whether an addit ion of vegetal soil would have boosted the

PFO, Aortic Plaque, and Stroke: Conflicting Findings or Straw Man?

These two articles from the same research group focus on relatively recently identified potential causes of cryptogenic cerebral ischemia (stroke or TIA): patent foramen ovale (PFO) and aortic atherosclerotic debris. The first study addressed PFO as a risk factor in two groups of case patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) after a first cerebral ischemic event — 133 cryptogenic (median age, 70; only 25 patients younger than 55) and 158 non-cryptogenic. There were two groups of controls — 519 randomly selected population controls without cerebral ischemia and 262 control patients referred to TEE for indications “other than a cardiac source of embolism.” Compared with the population controls and after adjustments for age, sex, number of …

Eliminating debris

Eliminating debris

Author’s reply to discussion on “Hazard assessment of debris flows for Leung King Estate of Hong Kong by incorporating GIS with numerical simulations by S. Parry, M. E. Ruse and S. J. Williamson

Author’s reply to discussion on “Hazard assessment of debris flows for Leung King Estate of Hong Kong by incorporating GIS with numerical simulations by S. Parry, M. E. Ruse and S. J. Williamson

Discussion of Chau and Lo (2004): Hazard assessment of debris flow for Leung King Estate of Hong Kong by incorporating GIS with numerical simulations (Vol. 4, p. 103–116)

Discussion of Chau and Lo (2004): Hazard assessment of debris flow for Leung King Estate of Hong Kong by incorporating GIS with numerical simulations (Vol. 4, p. 103–116)

Morphological Changes in the Temporal Bone and the Expression of Fas Ligand in Patients with Cholesteatoma

Objectives The unique feature of cholesteatoma is the hyperproliferation and accumulation of keratin debris within the middle ear and mastoid cavity, a process that leads to destruction of the surrounding structures in the temporal bone. The proliferation of keratin and the resulting bony destruction in the cholesteatoma matrix are associated with apoptosis. FasL, when conjugated with Fas, is known to trigger apoptosis. This study aimed to analyze the temporal bone patterns in patients with cholesteatoma and the expression of FasL in the cholesteatoma matrix. Methods. From July 1999 to July 2001, all patients with cholesteatoma who received ear operations at the China Medical University Hospital were enrolled in this study. Surgical specimens from all patients were shown histopathologically to have cholesteatoma. The temporal bone patterns in these patients were reviewed by high resolution temporal bone computed tomography. Immunoperoxidase stain with a monoclonal antibody to FasL evaluated the expression of FasL in the cholesteatoma matrix. Postauricular skin, which was harvested during the same surgical procedure served as the control. Result& The temporal bone patterns in the patients were classified as blunted scutum (58%), ossicular chain erosion (58%), erosion of tegmen mastoid-tympanicum (30%), erosion of the otic capsule (25%) and marked sclerosis (50%). Expression of FasL was not detected in the postauricular skin, cholesteatoma matrix or subepidermal granulation tissue. Conclusions. The temporal bone patterns in the patients with cholesteatoma included bony destruction and new bone formation. No expression of FasL was detected in the cholesteatoma matrix or subepidermal granulation tissue. This indicates that apoptosis in the cholesteatoma matrix may not be through the FasL pathway. Therefore, the destruction of the temporal bone in patients with cholesteatoma may not be associated with FasL.

Performance Optimization of a High-Repetition-Rate KrF Laser Plasma X-Ray Source for Microlithography.

In order to develop a high-intensity laser plasma x-ray source appropriate for industrial application of x-ray lithography, experiments have been carried out using a high-repetition-rate (up to 40 Hz) excimer laser (249 nm, 300 mJ) with a power density of 2 × 1013 W/ cm2 in the laser focus. In this study emphasis is given to remedying specific problems inherent in operating the laser plasma x-ray source at high repetition rates and in its prolonged operation. Two different methods of minimizing the production of target debris are investigated. First, the use of helium as a quenching gas results in a reduction of the amount of atomic debris particles by more than two orders of magnitude with negligible x-ray absorption. Second, a tape target as opposed to a solid target reduces the production of larger debris particles by a further factor of 100. Remaining debris is stopped by an aluminized plastic or beryllium filter used to avoid exposure of the resist by plasma ultraviolet radiation. The x-ray source has been used to image x-ray transmission mask structures down to 0.3 μm onto general purpose x-ray photo-resist. Results have been analyzed with SEM. The x-ray emission spectrum of the repetitive laser plasmas created from an iron target has been recorded and the conversion efficiency of the laser light into x-rays that contribute to exposure of the resist was measured to be 0.3% over 2π sr.