Search results for "methods"
showing 10 items of 4526 documents
Obesity under full fresh fruit and vegetable access conditions
2021
There is no agreement regarding the role of fresh fruit and vegetables’ affordability, accessibility and availability, or access in general, on obesity rates. In this article we investigated whether access to fresh fruit and vegetables is related to better biometric indicators such as weight and body mass index. Using mediation and matching methods and assuming that farmers and traditional market sellers have easy access to fruit and vegetables, we found that having better access is not associated to a reduction in weight or body mass index. Potential explanations for this result are that better access was not associated with fresh fruit and vegetables’ consumption and fruit and vegetables’…
PCR for the detection of pathogens in neonatal early onset sepsis.
2020
Background A large proportion of neonates are treated for presumed bacterial sepsis with broad spectrum antibiotics even though their blood cultures subsequently show no growth. This study aimed to investigate PCR-based methods to identify pathogens not detected by conventional culture. Methods Whole blood samples of 208 neonates with suspected early onset sepsis were tested using a panel of multiplexed bacterial PCRs targeting Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS), Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS), Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Ureaplasma parvum, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis and Mycoplasma genitalium, a …
Establishment of a pulmonary epithelial barrier on biodegradable poly-L-lactic-acid membranes
2019
Development of biocompatible and functional scaffolds for tissue engineering is a major challenge, especially for development of polarised epithelia that are critical structures in tissue homeostasis. Different in vitro models of the lung epithelial barrier have been characterized using non-degradable polyethylene terephthalate membranes which limits their uses for tissue engineering. Although poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) membranes are biodegradable, those prepared via conventional Diffusion Induced Phase Separation (DIPS) lack open-porous geometry and show limited permeability compromising their use for epithelial barrier studies. Here we used PLLA membranes prepared via a modification of the…
Autoradiographic technique to assess distribution of blood flow within organs
1969
A method is described for assessing the distribution of blood flow within organs. Microspheres, 5–50 μ in diameter, labelled with a beta-emitting isotope were injected into the left ventricle of experimental animals. The distribution of the indicator within the tissues, which is assumed to represent the regional distribution of flow, was visualized and measured quantitatively by autoradiography. Local flow rates in areas of about 1,2 mm in diameter could be determined. Application of the technique for the study of regional myocardial and renal circulation is demonstrated.
Flow field, swimming velocity and boundary layer: parameters which affect the stimulus for the lateral line organ in blind fish
1988
The data presented support the hypothesis that the flow field supplies the stimulus to the lateral line organ (LLO) in blind cave fish (Anoptichthys jordani). Two basic predictions from the theoretical analysis of the flow field were confirmed: (i) individual blind cave fish prefer particular swimming velocities, (ii) the velocity preferred depends on the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the fish, i.e. the smaller the CSA the higher the swimming velocity. This relationship was found also in experimentally blinded fish of other species. Furthermore, when placed in unfamiliar surroundings, blind cave fish swim at higher velocities than in familiar surroundings for a certain habituation period. T…
Odd haemoglobins in odd-toed ungulates: Impact of selected haemoglobin characteristics of the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) on the monitorin…
2019
Background Due to the current poaching crisis in Africa, increasing numbers of white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum) require opioid immobilisation for medical interventions or management procedures. Alarmingly, the results of both blood gas analysis and pulse oximetry regularly indicate severe hypoxaemia. Yet, the recovery of the animals is uneventful. Thus, neither of the techniques seems to represent the real oxygenation level. We hypothesized that unusual haemoglobin characteristics of this species interfere with the techniques developed and calibrated for the use in human patients. Methods Haemoglobin was isolated from blood samples of four adult, white rhinoceroses. Oxygen dissociat…
Modic changes-Their associations with low back pain and activity limitation: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis.
2018
Background Previous systematic reviews have reported positive associations between Modic changes (MCs) and low back pain (LBP), but due to their narrow scope and new primary studies, there is a need for a comprehensive systematic review. Our objectives were to investigate if MCs are associated with non-specific LBP and/or activity limitation and if such associations are modified by other factors. Methods A protocol for this review was registered at PROSPERO prior to commencing the work (PROSPERO record: CRD42015017350). The MEDLINE, CINAHL and EMBASE databases were searched for relevant studies from first record to June 15th 2016. Prospective or retrospective cross-sectional cohort studies …
Innovative technologies for the recovery of phytochemicals from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni leaves: A review.
2018
Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni has gained increased industrial and scientific interests in the last 20 years, representing a suitable nutritional alternative to sucrose and artificial sweeteners. Moreover, this plant contains polyphenols, chlorophylls, and carotenoids that may be extracted for production of nutraceuticals and functional foods. Because of nutritional and technological advantages over sucrose, innovative approaches for the extraction of highly valued compounds from Stevia leaves have been developed and optimized. In contrast to conventional alternatives, innovative extraction methods allow higher yields in a shorter time, less usage of organic solvents, and reduced energy consumpt…
π conjugation across the tetrathiafulvalene core: Synthesis of extended tetrathiafulvalene derivatives and theoretical analysis of their unusual elec…
2000
A series of extended tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) derivatives bearing one or two 1,4-dithiafulven-6-yl substitutents has been prepared. The new compounds present remarkable electrochemical singularities compared with other TTF derivatives, which are strongly affected by the nature of the substitution on the lateral heterocycle(s). This unusual electrochemical behaviour follows a square-scheme sequence and is attributed to structural changes upon oxidation of the pi-donating molecules. Digital simulations of the electrochemical data have been used to reach the values of the kinetic and thermodynamic constants involved in the square scheme. Theoretical calculations establish an important contribu…
Real-time Fluorescence Measurement of Enterovirus Uncoating
2019
Viruses need to open, i.e., uncoat, in order to release their genomes for efficient replication and translation. Especially for non-enveloped viruses, such as enteroviruses, the cues leading to uncoating are less well known. The status of the virus has previously been observed mainly by transmission electron microscopy using negative staining, cryo electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography or gradient separation (reviewed in Tuthill et al., 2010, Myllynen et al., 2016, Ruokolainen et al., 2019). However, monitoring of uncoating has been limited by the lack of methods detecting dynamic changes of the virions. Here, we present a real-time fluorescence based protocol, which detects the viral …