Net Absorption Rate Research Articles

Point-of-Care Bedside Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Is Safe in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Patients With Swan Ganz Catheters: A Phantom Experiment and Single Center Experience

IntroductionMore than 1.2 million pulmonary artery catheters (PACs) are used in cardiac patients per annum within the United States. However, it is contraindicated in traditional 1.5 and 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. We aimed to test preclinical and clinical safety of using this imaging modality given the potential utility of needing it in the clinical setting. MethodsWe conducted two phantom experiments to ensure that the electromagnetic field power deposition associated with bare and jacketed PACs was safe and within the acceptable limit established by the Food and Drug Administration. The primary end points were the safety and feasibility of performing Point-of-Care (POC) MRI without imaging-related adverse events. We performed a preclinical computational electromagnetic simulation and evaluated these findings in nine patients with PACs on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. ResultsThe phantom experiments showed that the baseline point specific absorption rate through the head averaged 0.4 W/kg. In both the bare and jacketed catheters, the highest net specific absorption rates were at the neck entry point and tip but were negligible and unlikely to cause any heat-related tissue or catheter damage. In nine patients (median age 66, interquartile range 42-72 y) with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation due to cardiogenic shock and PACs placed for close hemodynamic monitoring, POC MRI was safe and feasible with good diagnostic imaging quality. ConclusionsAdult ECMO patients with PACs can safely undergo point-of-care low-field (64 mT) brain MRI within a reasonable timeframe in an intensive care unit setting to assess for acute brain injury that might otherwise be missed with conventional head computed tomography.

Importance of radiative pumping for the excitation of the H2O submillimeter lines in galaxies

H2O submillimeter emission is a powerful diagnostic of the molecular interstellar medium in a variety of sources, including low- and high-mass star-forming regions of the Milky Way, and from local to high-redshift galaxies. However, the excitation mechanism of these lines in galaxies has been debated, preventing a basic consensus on the physical information that H2O provides. Radiative pumping due to H2O absorption of far-infrared photons emitted by dust and collisional excitation in dense shocked gas have both been proposed to explain the H2O emission. Here we propose two basic diagnostics to distinguish between the two mechanisms: First, the ortho-H2O 321 − 212 75 μm and the para-H2O 220 − 111 101 μm rotational lines in shock-excited regions are expected to be in emission, while when radiative pumping dominates, the two far-infrared lines are expected to be in absorption. Second, the radiative pumping scenario predicts, based on the statistical equilibrium of H2O level populations, that the apparent isotropic net rate of far-infrared absorption in the 321 ← 212 (75 μm) and 220 ← 111 (101 μm) lines should be higher than or equal to the apparent isotropic net rate of submillimeter emission in the 321 → 312 (1163 GHz) and 220 → 211 (1229 GHz) lines, respectively. Applying both criteria to all 16 galaxies and several Galactic high-mass star-forming regions in which the H2O 75 μm and submillimeter lines have been observed with Herschel/PACS and SPIRE, we show that in most (extra)galactic sources, the H2O submillimeter line excitation is dominated by far-infrared pumping, combined in some cases with collisional excitation of the lowest energy levels. Based on this finding, we revisit the interpretation of the correlation between the luminosity of the H2O 988 GHz line and the source luminosity in the combined Galactic and extragalactic sample.

Seed Coated by Boric Acid Enhances Growth, Yield and Kernel quality of both Fine and Coarse Rice (Oryza sativa L.) under Semi-Arid Environmental Condition

Currently, more than half of the world's population relies on rice as a primary crop, making it a crucial cereal crop in the struggle against food security. Sustainable rice production is under great threat because of poor soil productivity and fertility because of nutrient losses due to temperature stress under semiarid conditions. Boron (B) is a vital micronutrient and plays an eminent role in plant proliferation and development. The Super Basmati and KS-282 seeds were coated with boric acid at dosages of 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 g kg-1 in this experiment. Both rice cultivars exhibited the following traits when boric acid was applied at a rate of 0.75g kg-1 seed: plant height, maximum number of productive tillers, number of kernels per panicle, grain weight in the thousand, biological yield, paddy yield and straw yield. When boric acid was applied at 0.75 g kg-1 seed, the physiological characteristics of Super Basmati and KS-282 rice cultivars, such as crop growth rate, leaf area index, leaf area duration and net absorption rate were significantly greater yielding values of 11.08 gm-2d-1 and 11.96 gm-2 d-1, 4.28 and 4.32, 67.52 and 68.94, 7.33 g m-2 d-1, and 8.93 gm When both the super basmati and KS-282 rice cultivars were treated with boric acid at 0.75 g kg-1 seed, considerably higher paddy yields (3.95 t ha-1) and (5.02 t) were obtained. The kernel quality parameters show maximum results when boric acid applied at 0.75g kg-1 seed. Current research shows that coating seed with micro nano-nutrients are highly effective procedure for increasing rice production and fertilizer use efficiency under semiarid climatic conditions.

International Real Estate Review

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of cross border real estate investments on the performance of the direct commercial property market in Australia. Using an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model, factors including volume of cross border real estate investments, real gross domestic product (RGDP), office stock, and vacancy and net absorption rates are examined for their impact on total returns. The results indicate that traditionally established long-term drivers, including RGDP, office stock, and vacancy and net absorption rates, are still relevant. It is found that cross border real estate investments have impact on the performance of the direct commercial office property market in Australia. The results and findings would help property investors, developers, policymakers, and stakeholders in decision making around property investments. This research is an initial study that focuses on the impact that cross border real estate investments have on the performance of the direct commercial/office property market in Australia.

Role of diaphragmatic, visceral, and parietal pathways in peritoneal fluid absorption in rat peritoneal dialysis.

Assessment was made of the contribution of lymphatic and nonlymphatic fluid absorption to net fluid loss from the peritoneal cavity. Diaphragmatic, visceral, and parietal pathways in lymphatics and nonlymphatics were examined using a rat model with adhesion of the diaphragm to the liver, evisceration, these two procedures in combination, and without treatment. In each of these cases, six rats were used, each dialyzed for 180 min with Krebs-Ringer solution. The peritoneal net fluid absorption rate (PNFAR) was determined based on the disappearance of 125I-bovine serum albumin (BSA) from the peritoneal cavity and the lymphatic absorption rate (LAR), was based on the appearance of this albumin in the blood. Seventy-eight percent of net fluid loss occurred via the nonlymphatic pathway, primarily through parietal and visceral absorption; and the remaining 22% through the lymphatics, the main pathway being the subdiaphragmatic lymphatics. Nonlymphatic fluid absorption would thus appear to be a major route of fluid loss from the peritoneal cavity in rat peritoneal dialysis.

Comparison of Different Assessment Quantities to Evaluate Lead Electromagnetic Model for Radio Frequency Energy-Induced Heating

To prevent tissue damage near an active implantable medical device (AIMD), the radio frequency energy-induced heating must be estimated for all possible clinical scenarios in patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging. Four quantities, namely 1) the net dissipated power around an electrode of an AIMD, 2) the net temperature increase, 3) the current flowing from the lead to the electrode, and 4) the net specific absorption rate (SAR) increase were numerically compared for a set of leads to evaluate the analytical lead electromagnetic model (LEM) with respect to radio frequency energy-induced heating. The lead set included 32 generic single electrode leads with straight and helical wires. The LEMs were obtained and validated with 3D electromagnetic and thermal co-simulations at 128 MHz. A shift of the position of temperature or SAR sensor from the electrode tip to the electrode pedestal resulted in a decrease of the linear regression coefficient of determination for the LEM calibration factors. Behavior of different assessment quantities in terms of sensitivity of sensor location significantly varied between leads with the helical and straight wires. In conclusion, utilization of result analysis made for generic leads with straight wire can be significantly misleading for the prediction of results for leads with helical wires.

Effect of straw return on soil respiration and NEE of paddy fields under water-saving irrigation.

Straw return (SR) and rice water-saving irrigation (WSI) affect the greenhouse gas emission of paddy fields. However, studies on CO2 exchange between paddy fields and the atmosphere with joint regulation of SR and WSI are few. We conducted a two-year field experiment to investigate the effects of SR on soil respiration and net ecosystem exchange of CO2 (NEE) in paddy fields under controlled irrigation (CI), which is a typical WSI technique. The rice yields, irrigation water use efficiency, seasonal variations in soil respiration, NEE, and soil organic carbon content were measured. Compared with the control (flooding irrigation and traditional chemical fertilizer), a significant increase in rice yield and irrigation water use efficiency in the paddy fields under CI and SR joint management (CS) was observed. CS increased the soil respiration rate during most of the rice growth stage and increased the net CO2 absorption rate before approximately 80 days after transplanting; afterward, the pattern reversed. Total CO2 emissions through soil respiration in CS paddy fields increased by 43.7% and 182% compared with the control in 2014 and 2015, respectively. However, CS also caused an increase in the total net CO2 absorption by 18.1% and 30.1% in these two years, respectively. The acceleration in the consumption and decomposition of soil organic carbon induced by frequent alternate wet–dry cycles of the CI paddy fields increased the soil respiration and decreased the net CO2 absorption. SR promoted soil respiration but also improved rice growth, increasing the net CO2 absorption. The soil organic carbon content of the CS paddy fields after harvesting increased by 23.2% compared with that before transplanting. The present study concluded that joint regulation of WSI and SR is an effective measure for maintaining yield, increasing irrigation water use efficiency, mitigating CO2 emission, and promoting paddy soil fertility.

The evaluation of the Australian office market forecast accuracy

PurposeProperty market models have the overriding aim of predicting reasonable estimates of key dependent variables (demand, supply, rent, yield, vacancy and net absorption rate). These can be based on independent drivers of core property and economic activities. Accurate predictions can only be conducted when ample quantitative data are available with fewer uncertainties. However, a broad-fronted social, technical and ecological evolution can throw up sudden, unexpected shocks that result in the econometric outputs sceptical to unknown risk factors. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to evaluate Australian office market forecast accuracy and to determine whether the forecasts capture extreme downside risk events.Design/methodology/approachThis study follows a quantitative research approach, using secondary data analysis to test the accuracy of economists’ forecasts. The forecast accuracy evaluation encompasses the measurement of economic and property forecasts under the following phases: testing for the forecast accuracy; analysing outliers of forecast errors; and testing of causal relationships. Forecast accuracy measurement incorporates scale independent metrics that include Theil’s U values (U1 and U2) and mean absolute scaled error. Inter-quartile range rule is used for the outlier analysis. To find the causal relationships among variables, the time series regression methodology is utilised, including multiple regression analysis and Granger causality developed under the vector auto regression (VAR).FindingsThe credibility of economic and property forecasts was questionable around the period of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC); a significant man-made Black Swan event. The forecast accuracy measurement highlighted rental movement and net absorption forecast errors as the critical inaccurate predictions. These key property variables are explained by historic information and independent economic variables. However, these do not explain the changes when error time series of the variables were concerned. According to VAR estimates, all property variables have a significant causality derived from the lagged values of Australian S&P/ASX 200 (ASX) forecast errors. Therefore, lagged ASX forecast errors could be used as a warning signal to adjust property forecasts.Research limitations/implicationsSecondary data were obtained from the premier Australian property markets: Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth. A limited ten-year timeframe (2001-2011) was used in the ex-post analysis for the comparison of economic and property variables. Forecasts ceased from 2011, due to the discontinuity of the Australian Financial Review quarterly survey of economists; the main source of economic forecast data.Practical implicationsThe research strongly recommended naïve forecasts for the property variables, as an input determinant in each office market forecast equation. Further, lagged forecast errors in the ASX could be used as a warning signal for the successive property forecast errors. Hence, data adjustments can be made to ensure the accuracy of the Australian office market forecasts.Originality/valueThe paper highlights the critical inaccuracy of the Australian office market forecasts around the GFC. In an environment of increasing incidence of unknown events, these types of risk events should not be dismissed as statistical outliers in real estate modelling. As a proactive strategy to improve office market forecasts, lagged ASX forecast errors could be used as a warning signal. This causality was mirrored in rental movements and total vacancy forecast errors. The close interdependency between rents and vacancy rates in the forecasting process and the volatility in rental cash flows reflects on direct property investment and subsequently on the ASX, is therefore justified.

Organic fertilizer application increases the soil respiration and net ecosystem carbon dioxide absorption of paddy fields under water-saving irrigation.

Quantifying carbon sequestration in paddy soil is necessary to understand the effect of agricultural practices on carbon cycles. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of organic fertilizer addition (MF) on the soil respiration and net ecosystem carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption of paddy fields under water-saving irrigation (CI) in the Taihu Lake Region of China during the 2014 and 2015 rice-growing seasons. Compared with the traditional fertilizer and water management (FC), the joint regulation of CI and MF (CM) significantly increased the rice yields and irrigation water use efficiencies of paddy fields by 4.02~5.08 and 83.54~109.97% (p < 0.05). The effects of organic fertilizer addition on soil respiration and net ecosystem CO2 absorption rates showed inter-annual differences. CM paddy fields showed a higher soil respiration and net CO2 absorption rates during some periods of the rice growth stage in the first year and during most periods of the rice growth stage in the second year. These fields also had significantly higher total CO2 emission through soil respiration (total Rsoil) and total net CO2 absorption compared with FC paddy fields (p < 0.05). The total Rsoil and net ecosystem CO2 absorption of CM paddy fields were 67.39~91.55 and 129.41~113.75molm-2, which were 27.66~135.52 and 12.96~31.66% higher than those of FC paddy fields. The interaction between water and fertilizer management had significant effects on total net ecosystem CO2 absorption. The frequent alternate wet-dry cycles of CI paddy fields increased the soil respiration and reduced the net CO2 absorption. Organic fertilizer promoted the soil respiration of paddy soil but also increased its net CO2 absorption and organic carbon content. Therefore, the joint regulation of water-saving irrigation and organic fertilizer is an effective measure for maintaining yield, increasing irrigation water use efficiency, mitigating CO2 emission, and promoting paddy soil fertility.

Studying Maize Growth Indices in Different water Stress Conditions and the use of Humic Acid

An experiment was conducted in split plots in a completely randomized block design with three replications to evaluate the impact of drought stress on physiological indices of maize growth and the effect of humic acid fertilizer on alleviating drought stress. The main factor included three irrigation levels of 100%, 75%, and 50% and sub-factor was the use and non-use of humic acid. The results showed that in all different levels of irrigation and humic acid treatments, the index of leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR) and dry matter accumulation are sigmoid. The highest LAI was (4.5) and biological yield was (15.5 ha) in full irrigation treatment with humic acid, and minimum LAI was (3) with biological yield (8.8 tons per hectare) in 50% irrigation treatment and non-use of humic acid. The results showed that LAI and receiving light were the most important factor affecting the growth indices. Moreover, the highest and lowest CGR CGR, relative growth rate (RGR) RGR and net absorption rate (NAR) were related to full irrigation + consumption of humic acid and 50% irrigation and non-use of humic acid respectively. Overall, the results showed that in without stress treatment (irrigation 100%), the use of humic acid compared to non-use increased RGR, CGR, NAR and LAI at 1.3%, 21%, 8% and 12.5% respectively. This is while in water stress (irrigation 50%), humic acid consumption increased these indices 7%, 25%, 14% and 30% respectively representing a reduction drought stress by humic acid. In general, it could be argued that the use of humic acid, due to adjusting the drought, could have a positive role in water stress to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers, reducing environmental pollution, and to mitigate drought stress, and as is suggested a stable source of supplying nutrients in drought conditions for maize.

Soybean Seed Aging and Environmental Factors on Seedling Growth

The effect of seed vigor on seed emergence depends on the type of environmental stress present at the time of seed germination and establishment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the interaction of environmental stresses and aging on soybean (Glycine max L.) seed emergence. A factorial arrangement of treatments imposed on a randomized complete block design with four replications was conducted. Treatments of seed aging for 12, 24, 36, and 48 h at 41°C, salinity (6 and 12 ds/m2), water deficiency (–4 and–9 MPa), and sowing at depths of 3 and 7 cm were selected. Growth measurements were completed 21 and 55 days after planting. Analysis of variance was performed using the regression method for quantitative treatments such as seed aging, and if interactions were significant, interaction slicing was utilized and means compared with least significant difference tests (0.05). For quantitative treatments, regression analysis was conducted and path analysis was performed on growth traits. Results showed that aging had a significant effect on maximum emergence and rate of emergence. The ranking of the stress factors from most to least injurious for maximum emergence were severe salinity, severe drought, medium salinity, sowing depth of 7 cm, and medium drought. Harmful stress conditions on the plant leaf area and seedling dry weight were severe salinity, medium salinity, severe drought, medium drought, and sowing depth of 7 cm (only for seedling dry weight). Relative growth rate, net absorption rate, and leaf area ratio were not affected by aging but were affected by environmental conditions. These findings indicate that the impacts of environmental conditions are at least partially controlled by seed vigor.

Rate of gas absorption on a slippery bubble mattress

We investigate the absorption of a pure gas into a liquid in laminar flow past a superhydrophobic surface consisting of alternating solid walls and micro-bubbles. We experimentally measure and numerically estimate the dynamic mass transfer of gas absorption at stable gas–liquid interfaces for short contacting times. We study the net rate of gas absorption experimentally by in situ measurements of dissolved oxygen concentration profiles in aqueous solutions flowing over oxygen bubbles by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. We numerically analyze the dynamics of interfacial mass transfer of dissolved oxygen by considering (i) kinetic equilibrium conditions at bubble surfaces that are conventionally described by Henry's Law and (ii) non-equilibrium conditions at bubble surfaces using Statistical Rate Theory (SRT). Our experimental results show that kinetic equilibrium is not established for short contact times. Mass transfer of gas into liquid flow past micro-bubbles can be well described by our simulations performed with the non-equilibrium theory for a short exposure time (∼180 μs) of liquid with a microbubble, deviating from the commonly accepted Henry's Law.

Verification of a threshold concept of ecologically effective precipitation pulse: From plant individuals to ecosystem

In water-limited ecosystems, an ecologically significant rainfall pulse was defined as a rainfall event that altered both soil water status and plant physiological activity. We developed a new threshold concept of an ecologically effective precipitation pulse (EEPP) applicable to both plant individual and ecosystem scales. The concept was tested in a typical steppe on Inner Mongolia plateau. Two EEPPs, single 3-mm rainfall and 5-mm rainfall, were applied to investigate their effects on soil and plant water status, CO2 assimilation of five species (four C3 plants and one C4 plant), whole-plot soil respiration (Rs), and net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) on 1 June and 28 July 2009, respectively. Both EEPPs increased leaf water potential (Ψl) of all the species, which peaked 1–3days after rainfall pulses. Soil water content (SWC) in two depths (5cm and 20cm) significantly increased after the two EEPPs for 1–3days. Soil water potential (Ψs) within 20‐cm soil layer in EEPP treatments significantly differed (p<0.05) from control. Net assimilation rates (Anet) of all C3 plants had a slight increase at the next day after two EEPPs, in contrast to the C4 species. Rs elevated and peaked 1–3days later after water supply. Ecosystem net CO2 absorption rate rose to maximum value 3days after the 5-mm pulse on 28 July, higher than the response to 3-mm pulse on June 1. The grassland turned to net emission of CO2 after 3-mm pulse on 28 July. The results supported that there was an ecosystem level threshold for EEPP, and the threshold was temporally variable. It also highlighted the necessity of considering the response threshold of EEPP in rainfall manipulative experiment. In addition, effective rainfall amount was more approriate than total rainfall amount in modeling ecosystem carbon balance.

Different phosphate transport in the duodenum and jejunum of chicken response to dietary phosphate adaptation.

Intestinal phosphate (Pi) absorption across the apical membrane of small intestinal epithelial cells is mainly mediated by the type IIb Na-coupled phosphate co-transporter (NaPi-IIb), but its expression and regulation in the chicken remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the mRNA and protein levels of NaPi-IIb in three regions of chicken small intestine, and related their expression levels to the rate of net phosphate absorption. Our results showed that maximal phosphate absorption occurs in the jejunum, however the highest expression levels of NaPi-IIb mRNA and protein occurs in the duodenum. In response to a low-Pi diet (TP 0.2%), there is an adaptive response restricted to the duodenum, with increased brush border membrane (BBM) Na-Pi transport activity and NaPi-IIb protein and mRNA abundance. However, when switched from a low- (TP 0.2%) to a normal diet (TP 0.6%) for 4 h, there is an increase in BBM NaPi-IIb protein abundance in the jejunum, but no changes in BBM NaPi-IIb mRNA. Therefore, our study indicates that Na-Pi transport activity and NaPi-IIb protein expression are differentially regulated in the duodenum vs the jejunum in the chicken.

Differences in portal flow rates of amino acids and liver composition between rats fed casein or lactalbumin

The portal appearance rates and net rates of amino acids’ absorption were studied in rats fed semi-synthetic diets containing either casein or lactalbumin (CAS and LA, respectively) as the only protein sources. Rats were pre-adapted to the experimental diets for 5 days prior to the absorption studies. Rats fed the LA diet had higher (p < 0.05) portal vein concentrations of free essential amino acids than those fed the CAS diet at 0, 60, 105 and 150 min after feeding. Portal and arterial concentrations of arginine, leucine, tryptophan, lysine and methionine were higher (p < 0.05) in rats fed LA at most time points tested, while concentrations of tyrosine were higher (p < 0.05) in CAS fed rats. When portal flow rates were compared, values for arginine, threonine, alanine, leucine, tryptophan and lysine were higher (p < 0.05) in LA at most time points tested, while proline, tyrosine and valine were higher (p < 0.05) for CAS fed rats after 60 and 105 min feeding. Portal blood flow varied (p < 0.05) with time in rats fed protein-free or LA diets, and was higher (p < 0.05) than that of CAS at 105 min. Intestinal net rates of absorption of tyrosine, valine, leucine and lysine were higher (p < 0.05) for LA fed rats as compared to those fed CAS at most time points tested, while alanine and proline net rates were higher (p < 0.05) for CAS fed rats at 60, 105 and 150 min. Amounts of protein in stomach contents of rats fed the CAS diet were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those in LA fed rats at 60, 105 and 150 min after feeding. The relative liver weight of the rats fed the CAS diet was lower (p < 0.05) than that of animals fed the LA diet. Lower (p < 0.05) liver glycogen and lipid contents were determined in rats fed CAS diet respect to LA or protein-free fed rats. Results indicate that dietary and plasma amino acids profile are only partially related, and that under normal feeding conditions amino acids from CAS and LA are absorbed at different rates, which is likely to affect liver composition and metabolism.

β2-Adrenergic receptors and G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 in rabbit pleural mesothelium

Former studies on net rate of liquid absorption from small Ringer or 1% albumin-Ringer hydrothoraces in rabbits indicated that Na+ transport and solute-coupled liquid absorption by mesothelium is increased by pleural liquid dilution, and stimulation of β2-adrenoreceptors (β2AR). In this research we tried to provide molecular evidence for β2AR in visceral and parietal mesothelium of rabbit pleura. Moreover, because prolonged stimulation of β2AR may lead to desensitization mediated by G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2), we also checked whether GRK2 is expressed in pleural mesothelium. To this end we performed immunoblot assays on total protein extracts from scraped visceral and parietal mesothelium, and from cultured pleural mesothelial cells of rabbits. All three samples showed β2AR and GRK2 specific bands.

Dietary purified oat β-glucan reduces peak glucose absorption and portal insulin release in portal-vein catheterized grower pigs

Kinetics of glucose absorption may affect insulin secretion into the portal vein. The role of wet-fractionated oat β-glucan on these variables is unknown; thus, three 35-kg pigs were fitted with catheters in the portal vein and carotid artery and a portal vein flow probe. Pigs were fed 3 diets containing 0, 3, or 6% purified β-glucan for 7-d in a repeated 3 × 3 Latin square. On d 7, blood was sampled for 12 h postprandially. Net glucose absorption rate was calculated from plasma portal-arterial differences × flow. Blood flow increased ( P < 0.001) after feeding, without a diet effect. Postprandially, β-glucan reduced ( P < 0.05) net glucose absorption during the first h by 22 to 51%. At 30 and 90 min postprandially, β-glucan decreased ( P < 0.05) portal release of C-peptide but did not affect portal insulin at 30 min, indicating that β-glucan reduces peak insulin release while maintaining prehepatic insulin homeostasis. In conclusion, oat β-glucan as a soluble, viscous fibre decreases rate of glucose absorption and peak insulin release in portal vein.

Supply elasticities and developers' expectations: a study of European office markets

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between supply and demand in 19 European office markets in the period 1991‐2006. It estimates the variations in the price elasticity of supply across the different markets. The paper tests whether developers display evidence of myopic or rational expectations in their behaviour.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws upon a time series of rental, take‐up and new completions for 20 European office markets. A static measurement of price elasticity is calculated for each office market. To measure this expected supply response in the empirical analysis, the paper applies an impulse response analysis.FindingsThere is an evidence of positive and negative price elasticity. In a significant proportion of cities, supply increases following falls in rental levels. As a result, there is some evidence of myopic behaviour in a proportion of the markets examined, there is little evidence to support the hypothesis that real estate developers systematically display myopic expectations. The diversity in developer responses to price signals is surprising. It is concluded that idiosyncratic rather than systematic factors may dominate supply‐side responses to market signals.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper is essentially exploratory and raises a number of questions for further investigation. There is scope to address the research questions using better data series, in particular, net absorption rates, construction starts, real rental growth rates and different geographical definitions. There is also scope to extend the research to examine the causal factors underlying differences in supply elasticity, for instance, the relative contribution of constraining variables such regulatory restrictions and limitations in physical capacity. It is also possible to model the supply adjustment process more dynamically in an error‐correction framework.Practical implicationsThe findings would suggest that the complexity and diversity of economic, institutional and capital market influences affecting European commercial real estate markets seem to be far too numerous for any single model of market or developer behaviour to explain.Originality/valueThis is the first paper to examine supply elasticity across a broad range of European office markets.

The physics of the warming of Lake Tanganyika by climate change

Climate warming over the 20th century has increased the density stratification and stability of Lake Tanganyika, a deep rift valley lake. Here we examine the physical processes involved in and affected by the warming of the lake, and we discuss effects on lake productivity. The rate of net heat absorption by Lake Tanganyika has been 0.4 W m−2 since 1913, twice the rate in the global ocean, indicating stronger climate forcing in the East African region. Lakes warm through increased incoming long‐wave radiation. While lakes in general will increase heat outputs in a warming climate, heat outputs will increase more slowly in deeper lakes than in shallower lakes. Temperatures have increased by 0.2°C at 1000 m in depth, in part because of reduced cool marginal inflows, while water surface temperatures have increased by about 1.3°C. This differential heating over depth has increased the density gradient through the water column, reducing the potential for vertical mixing and thereby limiting nutrient fluxes to the phototrophic zone. An increase in transparency, indicating a reduction in productivity as a result of the reduced vertical mixing, occurred both in Lake Tanganyika and in Lake Malawi, a similar deep tropical lake in which warming has also been documented.

Tube Feeding Improves Intestinal Absorption in Short Bowel Syndrome Patients

Tube feeding, recommended for patients with short bowel syndrome in only the postoperative period, has not been compared with oral feeding for absorption. We studied whether tube feeding increased absorption in patients with short bowel syndrome following the postoperative period. A randomized crossover study compared absorption between isocaloric tube feeding and oral feeding in 15 short bowel syndrome patients more than 3 months after short bowel constitution. An oral feeding period combined with enriched (1000 kcal * day(-1)) tube feeding was also tested. We measured the net intestinal absorption rates of proteins, lipids, and total calories using elemental nitrogen, Van de Kamer, and bomb calorimetry methods, respectively. Tube feeding increased the mean (+/-SD) percent absorption (P < .001) of proteins (72% +/- 13% vs 57% +/- 18%), lipids (69% +/- 25% vs 41% +/- 27%), and energy (82% +/- 12% vs 65% +/- 16%) compared with oral feeding. In the group given the combined feedings (n = 9), the total enteral intake and net percent absorption increased (P < .001) for proteins (67% +/- 10%), lipids (59% +/- 19%), and total energy (75% +/- 8%) compared with oral feeding. Absorption (kcal * day(-1)) was greater (P < .001) with tube (2225 +/- 457) and combined feedings (2323 +/- 491) than with oral feeding (1638 +/- 458). In patients with short bowel syndrome, continuous tube feeding (exclusively or in conjunction with oral feeding) following the postoperative period significantly increased net absorption of lipids, proteins, and energy compared with oral feeding.