A liquid crystalline phase in human intestinal contents during fat digestion

A viscous, gel-like phase was found in ultracentrifuged human upper intestinal contents collected during rapid fat lipolysis. This “gel” phase was layered in the ultracentrifuge tube between the micellar and oil phase. The gel contained lipids typical of the micellar and not the oil phase. The concentration of these lipids was higher and the ratio of total bile salts to lipids was lower in the gel than in the micellar phase. The gel, unlike the micellar phase, was birefringent between crossed polarizers. These data demonstrate that lipids in this gel phase can form liquid crystals in the gut during fat digestion.     

Proliferative response of human CD4+ T lymphocytes stimulated by the lectin jacalin

The Gal beta(1-3)GalNAc-binding lectin jacalin is known to specifically induce the proliferation of human CD4+ T lymphocytes in the presence of autologous monocytes and to interact with the CD4 molecule and block HIV-1 infection of CD4+ cells. We further show that jacalin-induced proliferation is characterized by an unusual pattern of T cell activation and cytokine production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). A cognate interaction between T cells and monocytes was critical for jacalin-induced proliferation, and human recombinant interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6 did not replace the co-stimulatory activity of monocytes. Blocking studies using monoclonal antibodies (mAb) point out the possible importance of two molecular pathways of interaction, the CD2/LFA-3 and LFA-1/ICAM-1 pathways. One out of two anti-CD4 mAb abolished jacalin responsiveness. Jacalin induced interferon-gamma and high IL-6 secretion, mostly by monocytes, and no detectable IL-2 synthesis or secretion by PBMC. In contrast, jacalin-stimulated Jurkat T cells secreted IL-2. CD3- Jurkat cell variants failed to secrete IL-2, suggesting the involvement of the T cell receptor/CD3 complex pathway in jacalin signaling. IL-2 secretion by CD4- Jurkat variant cells was delayed and lowered. In addition to CD4, jacalin interacts with the CD5 molecule. Jacalin-CD4 interaction and the proliferation of PBMC, as well as IL-2 secretion by Jurkat cells were inhibited by specific jacalin-competitive sugars.     

Computational efficiency of the continuous cell-to-cell mapping technique as a function of integration schemes

The continuous cell-to-cell mapping technique (CCCMT) is a recently proposed Markovian approach which can be used for the dynamic reliability and safety analysis of process control systems, as well as for the global analysis of nonlinear dynamic systems in general. A parametric study is performed on the computational efficiency of CCCMT as a function of various integration schemes. The results show that a variable stepsize scheme is desirable with a sufficient required precision. Among the integration schemes considered, a fourth order Runge-Kutta scheme seems to be preferable for short term simulations and the mid-point implicit scheme seems to be preferable for long term simulations or to obtain the steady-state system behavior.     

Effects of cognitive load on semantic priming in patients with schizophrenia.

Schizophrenic and control participants received 2 blocks of trials in each experiment. In 1 block they were exposed to regular priming trials (doctor–nurse), and in another block a nonlexical probe was presented at prime onset for 40 ms. Regardless of stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA), the schizophrenic patients showed hyperpriming when no distractor was present. Paying attention to the distracting stimulus reduced priming in the patient group irrespective of SOA. Under certain situations, the reduction in priming appeared even when participants were asked to ignore the distracting stimulus. Thus, even a nonsemantic distractor may be detrimental to schizophrenic patients' language processing. That SOA did not modulate the reduction in priming effect is consistent with the suggestion that attentional resources are required even with short prime–target intervals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Postinfarction atrioventricular septal rupture

BACKGROUND: The development of venous access devices (VADs) and portable infusion pumps has enabled chemotherapy to be administered continuously within the home environment. AIM: The objective of this study was to describe the experience of establishing an ambulatory chemotherapy programme for patients receiving protracted infusions (PVIs) of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). METHODS: The files of all patients receiving PVI 5-FU as a component of their treatment for gastrointestinal malignancy were reviewed. The types of VADs, infusion pump systems and their management were documented. Information packages and education programmes were developed for patients. RESULTS: Seventy-four patients with gastrointestinal cancer were studies. At the end of the period the Portacath was the preferred VAD, while both pumps used were found to have advantages and disadvantages. The choice of pump was decided more by patient preference than systematic differences in performance of the pumps. CONCLUSIONS: The findings in this review confirm that, with close attention to the potential pitfalls of ambulatory chemotherapy, an acceptable service can be provided.     

Household bottled water consumption in Phoenix: a lifestyle choice

The demand for bottled water has grown tremendously in recent years, together with concern about its environmental impacts. The authors surveyed individuals in Phoenix, Arizona about their water consumption behaviour, socio-demographic characteristics, perception of water quality and trust in the government's willingness to respond to water quality issues. Using a logit model, the authors then tested the relationship between the respondents' characteristics and bottled water consumption for cooking and drinking in the home. Our results indicate that bottled water consumption reflects lifestyle choice not environmental concerns.     

Polymeric Nanocomposites (PNCs) for Wastewater Remediation: An Overview

A decline in the world’s freshwater resources poses a major domestic and industrial challenge. Amelioration efforts that proffer possible water management and reclamation technology is therefore, of utmost priority. One of the most promising solutions to water conservation is to recycle wastewater. The use of polymeric nanocomposites (PNCs) in water treatment/remediation processes provides possible solution to recycling. This overview focused on PNCs; to highlight trends in their fabrication, characterization and application procedures for wastewater remediation and monitoring. Key issues bothering on the regeneration and reuse of PNCs were discussed, along with projections for their rational design for safe application.     

Detection of X‐Rays by Solution‐Processed Cesium‐Containing Mixed Triple Cation Perovskite Thin Films

Materials and technology development for designing innovative and efficient X‐ray radiation detectors is of utmost importance for a wide range of applications ranging from security to medical imaging. Here, highly sensitive direct X‐ray detectors based on novel cesium (Cs)‐based triple cation mixed halide perovskite thin films are reported. Despite being in a thin film form, the devices exhibit a remarkably high X‐ray sensitivity of (3.7 ± 0.1) µC Gy^?1 cm^?2 under short‐circuit conditions. At a small reverse bias of 0.4 V, the sensitivity further increases by orders of magnitude reaching a record value of (97 ± 1) µC Gy^?1 cm^?2 which surpasses state‐of‐the‐art inorganic large‐area detectors (a‐Se and poly‐CZT). Based on detailed structural, electrical, and spectroscopic investigations, the exceptional sensitivity of the triple cation Cs perovskite is attributed to its high ambipolar mobility‐lifetime product as well as to the formation of a pure stable perovskite phase with a low degree of energetic disorder, due to an efficient solution‐based alloying of individual n‐ and p‐type perovskite semiconductors.