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Testing specimens for laboratory analysis were created from borehole samples of municipal solid waste (MSW) drilled from different depths at the Qizishan landfill, China. Laboratory water retention curve (WRC), water permeability, and air permeability tests were carried out to study the effects of compression and biodegradation on intrinsic permeability and the effect of water content on the relative permeability of the borehole specimens. The value of intrinsic permeability coefficient, [k.sub.o], in the Kozeny-Carman model was found to be influenced by both the compression and biodegradation processes. Furthermore, the intrinsic permeability, [k.sub.i], measured by air was found to be about one order of magnitude larger than that measured by water. Based on the regression results of WRC, relative water and air permeabilities were analyzed through the van Genuchten-Mualem ([v.sub.G]-M) model. The measured relative air permeability could be well fitted by the [v.sub.G]-M model. The value of parameter [γ.sub.v] was found to be critical for a good prediction of relative water and air permeabilities using the [v.sub.G]-M model. Key words: municipal solid waste (MSW), permeability, water retention, porosity, saturation, biodegradation. Des specimens pour analyses de laboratoire ont ete crees a partir de carottes de forage de differentes profondeurs provenant de dechets municipaux solides (DMS) du site d'enfouissement de Qizishan, Chine. Des essais de laboratoire ont ete realises pour determiner la courbe de retention d'eau (CRE) et la permeabilite a l'eau et a l'air afin d'etudier les effets de la compression et de la biodegradation sur la permeabilite intrinseque et l'effet de la teneur en eau sur la permeabilite relative des echantillons de carottes. Selon les resultats, la valeur du coefficient de permeabilite intrinseque, [k.sub.o], dans le modele KozenyCarman est influencee par les processus de compression et de biodegradation. De plus, la permeabilite intrinseque, [k.sub.i], mesuree avec l'air est d'environ un ordre de grandeur superieur a celle mesuree avec l'eau. Base sur les resultats de regression de la CRE, les permeabilites relatives a l'eau et a l'air ont ete analysees avec le modele van Genuchten-Mualem ([v.sub.G]-M). La permeabilite relative a l'air mesuree peut etre bien representee par le modele van [v.sub.G]-M. La valeur du parametre [γ.sub.v] s'avere etre critique pour une bonne prediction des permeabilites relatives a l'eau et a l'air avec le modele [v.sub.G]-M. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: dechets municipaux solides (DMS), permeabilite, retention d'eau, porosite, saturation, biodegradation., Introduction Landfilling remains one of the main forms of municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal worldwide, and the control of leachate pollution and gas emissions remain major environmental concerns. Furthermore, there [...]

To help reduce leachate heads in lined and unlined landfills, vertical leachate abstraction wells are commonly used. The effectiveness of vertical wells in landfills is, however, often perceived to be poor and to deteriorate over time. To investigate possible reasons for this, a downwell closed-circuit television (CCTV) survey of 25 leachate wells was carried out. Observations revealed significant corrosion of steel well screens, although only within the permanently unsaturated zone. Within the saturated parts of the well, corrosion of the screen and clogging did not occur. No biological fouling was observed in any of the wells examined. Exhumation and examination of three steel well screens from a landfill demonstrated significant screen corrosion in the unsaturated zone, with up toa6mm loss in section. Within the saturated zone, the gravel pack from each well showed no evidence of biological clogging, but there was some invasion of the gravel by intermediate cover material in two wells that had been developed. Key words: landfill, wells, clogging, well development, leachate. Dans le but de reduire la charge des lixiviats dans les sites d'enfouissements avec et sans revetement, des puits de captage verticaux sont souvent utilises. Cependant, l'efficacite de puits verticaux dans les sites d'enfouissement est souvent perdue comme etant faible et se deteriorant avec le temps. Afin d'investiguer les raisons possibles de ces phenomenes, une etude en plongee utilisant la television en circuit ferme (CCTV) a ete realisee sur 25 puits de lixiviat. Les observations ont revele la corrosion significative des grillages en acier des puits, et ce, seulement dans la zone non saturee en permanence. Dans les zones saturees des puits, la corrosion des grillages et le colmatage n'ont pas ete observes. Aucun encrassement biologique n'a ete observe dans tous les puits examines. L'exhumation et l'examen des grillages en acier de trois puits d'un site d'enfouissement ont demontre que la corrosion affecte de facon significative les grilles dans la zone non saturee, avec des pertes en section atteignant 6 mm. A l'interieur de la zone saturee, le gravier provenant de chacun des puits n'a demontre aucune evidence de colmatage biologique, par contre on a observe que le materiau de recouvrement intermediaire avait infiltre le gravier dans deux puits. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: site d'enfouissement, puits, colmatage, developpement de puits, lixiviat., Introduction Leakage of leachate from a landfill into the surrounding ground represents a major potential pollution pathway. To prevent it, modern landfills (including those compliant with the EU Landfill Directive [...]

Introduction Neutrophils are the most abundant cell type in the immune system and play critical roles in host defense against pathogens. In healthy individuals, neutrophil half-life is exceedingly short, with [...], The most abundant immune cell type is the neutrophil, a key first responder after pathogen invasion. Neutrophil numbers in the periphery are tightly regulated to prevent opportunistic infections and aberrant inflammation. In healthy individuals, more than 1 x [10.sup.9] neutrophils per kilogram body weight are released from the bone marrow every 24 hours. To maintain homeostatic levels, an equivalent number of senescent cells must be cleared from circulation. Recent studies indicate that clearance of senescent neutrophils by resident tissue macrophages and DCs helps to set homeostatic levels of neutrophils via effects on the IL-23/IL-17/G-CSF cytokine axis, which stimulates neutrophil production in the bone marrow. However, the molecular events in phagocytes underlying this feedback loop have remained indeterminate. Liver X receptors (LXRs) are members of the nuclear receptor superfamily that regulate both lipid metabolic and inflammatory gene expression. Here, we demonstrate that LXRs contribute to the control of neutrophil homeostasis. Using gain- and loss-of-function models, we found that LXR signaling regulated the efficient clearance of senescent neutrophils by peripheral tissue APCs in a Mer-dependent manner. Furthermore, activation of LXR by engulfed neutrophils directly repressed the IL-23/IL-17/G-CSF granulopoietic cytokine cascade. These results provide mechanistic insight into the molecular events orchestrating neutrophil homeostasis and advance our understanding of LXRs as integrators of phagocyte function, lipid metabolism, and cytokine gene expression.

Impaired estrogen action is associated with the metabolic syndrome in humans. We sought to determine whether impaired estrogen action in female C57B16 mice, produced by whole body Esrl ablation, could recapitulate aspects of this syndrome, including inflammation, insulin resistance, and obesity. Indeed, we found that global knockout (KO) of the estrogen receptor (ER)[alpha] leads to reduced oxygen uptake and caloric expenditure compared with wild-type (WT) mice. In addition, fasting insulin, leptin, and PAL1 levels were markedly elevated, whereas adiponectin levels were reduced in normal chow-fed KO. Furthermore, ER[alpha]-KO mice exhibited impaired glucose tolerance and marked skeletal muscle insulin resistance that was accompanied by the accumulation of bioactive lipid intermediates, inflammation, and diminished PPAR[alpha], PPAR[delta], and UCP2 transcript levels. Although the relative glucose intolerance and insulin resistance phenotype in KO mice became more severe with high-fat feeding, WT mice were refractory to these dietary-induced effects, and this protection coincided with a marked increase in circulating adiponectin and heat shock protein 72 levels in muscle, liver, and fat. These data indicate that ER[alpha] is critical for the maintenance of whole body insulin action and protection against tissue inflammation during both normal chow and high-fat feeding. estrogen receptor-m; estrogen action; fatty acid metabolism; insulin action doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00504.2009

The purpose of this investigation was to assess changes in strength, power, and levels of testosterone and cortisol over a 13-week elite competitive rugby union season. Thirty-two professional rugby union athletes from a Super 14 rugby team (age, 24.4 [+ or -] 2.7 years; height, 184.7 [+ or -] 6.2 cm; mass, 104.0 [+ or -] 11.2 kg; mean [+ or -] SD) were assessed for upper-body and lower-body strength (bench press and box squat, respectively) and power (bench throw and jump squat, respectively) up to 5 times throughout the competitive season. Salivary testosterone and cortisol samples, along with ratings of perceived soreness and tiredness, were also obtained before each power assessment. An effect size of 0.2 was interpreted as the smallest worthwhile change. A small increase in lower-body strength was observed over the study period (8.5%; 90% confidence limits [+ or -]7.2%), whereas upper-body strength was maintained (-1.2%; [+ or -]2.7%). Decreases in lower-body power (-3.3%; [+ or -]5.5%) and upper-body power (-3.4; [+ or -]4.9%) were small and trivial. There were moderate increases in testosterone (54% ; [+ or -]27%) and cortisol (97%; [+ or -]51%) over the competitive season, and the testosterone to cortisol ratio showed a small decline (22%; [+ or -]25%), whereas changes in perceived soreness and tiredness were trivial. Individual differences over the competitive season for all measures were mostly trivial or inestimable. Some small to moderate relationships were observed between strength and power; however, relationships between hormonal concentrations and performance were mainly trivial but unclear. Positive adaptation in strength and power may be primarily affected by cumulative training volume and stimulus over a competitive season. Greater than 2 resistance sessions per week may be needed to improve strength and power in elite rugby union athletes during a competitive season. KEY WORDS elite athletes, cortisol, resistance training, testosterone

Hyperspectral change detection offers a promising approach to detect objects and features of remotely sensed areas that are too difficult to find in single images, such as slight changes in land cover and the insertion, deletion, or movement of small objects, by exploiting subtle differences in the imagery over time. Methods for performing such change detection, however, must effectively maintain invariance to typically larger image-to-image changes in illumination and environmental conditions, as well as misregistration and viewing differences between image observations, while remaining sensitive to small differences in scene content. Previous research has established predictive algorithms to overcome such natural changes between images, and these approaches have recently been extended to deal with space-varying changes. The challenges to effective change detection, however, are often exacerbated in an airborne imaging geometry because of the limitations in control over flight conditions and geometry, and some of the recent change detection algorithms have not been demonstrated in an airborne setting. We describe the airborne implementation and relative performance of such methods. We specifically attempt to characterize the effects of spatial misregistration on change detection performance, the efficacy of class-conditional predictors in an airborne setting, and extensions to the change detection approach, including physically motivated shadow transition classifiers and matched change filtering based on in-scene atmospheric normalization. OCIS codes: 100.4145, 100.3010, 280.4991.

The acute response of free salivary testosterone (T) and cortisol (C) concentrations to four resistance exercise (RE) protocols in 23 elite men rugby players was investigated. We hypothesized that hormonal responses would differ among individuals after four distinct RE protocols: four sets of 10 repetitions (reps) at 70% of 1 repetition maximum (1RM) with 2 minutes' rest between sets (4 x 10-70%); three sets of five reps at 85% 1RM with 3 minutes' rest (3 x 5-85%); five sets of 15 reps at 55% 1RM with 1 minute's rest (5 x 15-55%); and three sets of five reps at 40% 1RM with 3 minutes' rest (3 x 5-40%). Each athlete completed each of the four RE protocols in a random order on separate days. T and C concentrations were measured before exercise (PRE), immediately after exercise (POST), and 30 minutes post exercise (30 POST). Each protocol consisted of four exercises: bench press, leg press, seated row, and squats. Pooled T data did not change as a result of RE, whereas C declined significantly. Individual athletes differed in their T response to each of the protocols, a difference that was masked when examining the pooled group data. When individual data were retrospectively tabulated according to the protocol in which each athlete showed the highest T response, a significant protocol-dependent T increase for all individuals was revealed. Therefore, RE induced significant individual, protocol-dependent hormonal changes lasting up to 30 minutes after exercise. These individual responses may have important ramifications for modulating adaptation to RE and could explain the variability often observed in studies of hormonal response to RE. KEY WORDS hypertrophy, maximal strength, strength endurance, power, endocrine response

Our previous work has demonstrated that professional athletes show protocol-dependent variability in salivary testosterone (T) responses to resistance exercise (RE). The current study examines the consistency and functional outcomes of prescribing a RE regimen based on T response. We hypothesized that prescribing an individual-specific RE protocol based on T response would enhance weight training gains. Sixteen amateur rugby players [(mean [+ or -] SD) age: 20 [+ or -] 2 years; height: 181.5 [+ or -] 8.2 cm; weight: 94.2 [+ or -] 11.1 kg] were characterized by their maximal ([T.sub.max]) and minimal ([T.sub.min]) T response to four RE protocols: four sets of 10 repetitions (reps) at 70% of one repetition maximum (1RM) with 2 minutes' rest between sets (4 x 10-70%); three sets of five reps at 85% 1RM with 3 minutes' rest (3 x 5-85%); five sets of 15 reps at 55% of 1RM with 1 minute's rest (5 x 15-55%); and three sets of 5 reps at 40% 1RM with 3 minutes' rest (3 x 5-40%). Eight athletes then performed a 3-week training block performing only their [T.sub.max] protocol. The remaining eight only performed [T.sub.min]. After 3 weeks, the athletes were retested on the RE protocols and then crossed over and performed the alternate 3-week training block. All 16 athletes showed significant increases in estimated bench and leg press 1RM strength and bodyweight while performing [T.sub.max]. When [T.sub.min] was performed, 75% of athletes showed either no change or a significant decline in 1RM performance. Consistent protocol-responses over the experimental period were seen for both the [T.sub.max] and [T.sub.min] protocols in 12 of 16 athletes. Thus, a relationship between an individual's biologically available T response to RE and enhanced functional gains is reported. KEY WORDS hypertrophy, maximal strength, strength endurance, power, endocrine response, hormonal response

This paper presents data on gas and leachate flow rates and leachate levels obtained during a 600 day pumping trial on three retrofitted horizontal wells in a domestic waste landfill at Rainham, United Kingdom. The changes in gas and leachate flow rate with time and atmospheric pressure, and the interaction between the two flows, are discussed. The spatial variability of the response of the leachate levels within the landfill is explored with reference to the anisotropy and heterogeneity of the permeability of the waste. It is shown that horizontal wells can be an effective means of controlling leachate heads near the base of a landfill, and that leachate levels must be measured using piezometers with a discrete response zone rather than fully screened observation wells if meaningful results are to be obtained. It is argued that the large amounts of gas pumped from the nominally saturated zone of the landfill must have come from the ongoing degradation of the waste within the zone of influence of the well. CE Database subject headings: Anisotropy; Drainage; Gas flow; Landfills; Pumping tests; Two phase flow; Wells.

Mast cells play a pivotal role in inflammatory and immediate-type allergic reactions by secreting a variety of potent inflammatory mediators, including sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). However, it is not known how S1P is released from cells. Here, we report that SIP is exported from mast cells independently of their degranulation and demonstrate that it is mediated by ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters. Constitutive and antigen-stimulated SIP release was inhibited by MK571, an inhibitor of ABCC1 (MRP1), but not by inhibitors of ABCB1 (MDR-1, P-glycoprotein). Moreover, down-regulation of ABCC1 with small interfering RNA, which decreased its cell surface expression, markedly reduced S1P export from both rat RBL-2H3 and human LAD2 mast ceils. Transport of S1P by ABCC1 influenced migration of mast cells toward antigen but not degranulation. These findings have important implications for S1P functions in mast cell-mediated immune responses. secretion | sphingolipids | multidrug resistance | allergic responses | sphingosine kinase

Leachate levels within a landfill must often be controlled for environmental and/or regulatory reasons by means of pumping from wells. Conventional vertical wells are usually used for this purpose, but there is a perception that they are inefficient. In this paper, the feasibility of using directional drilling to install horizontal wells for leachate control in landfills is investigated with reference to pilot and full scale field trials at Rainham, U.K. The difficulties of well-screen design and installation in a landfilled waste are discussed; the insights gained during trial installation are described; and the effectiveness of three trial wells is assessed with reference to the leachate flow rates and drawdowns achieved, in comparison with conventional vertical wells. It is concluded that the drilling rig used must be sufficiently powerful to cope with the likelihood of at least partial borehole collapse around the well-screen during installation; that the screen slot size can be based on at least the [D.sub.30] particle size of the waste and a natural filter allowed to develop around the well (provided that the resulting well screen is strong enough); and that as experience with the technology grows, directionally drilled horizontal wells could represent a viable, cost effective alternative to conventional vertical wells for leachate control in landfills. CE Database subject headings: Drawdown; Drilling; Drainage; Landfills; Pumping tests; Waste sites; Wells.

ABSTRACT Hemocytes from the American lobster (Homarus americanus) were exposed to several receptor-independent and -dependent putative NADPH oxidase stimulators. This stimulation should result in the generation of cytotoxic reactive oxygen [...]

The dominant O -> Ni CT transition of [(PhTt(super tBu))2Ni2(mu-O)2] observed at 17700 cm(super -1) is red-shifted by ~7000 cm(super -1) relative to the corresponding transition in bis-mu-oxo(Ni(super 3+))2 dimers with nitrogen supporting ligands. This red-shift along with a relatively low Ni-O bond strength are primarily due to the presence of the thioether ligands in [(PhTt(super tBu))2Ni2(mu-O)2] that directly influence the characters of the Ni2O2 core MOs.

Young first-year sea ice is nearly as important as open water in modulating heat flux between the ocean and atmosphere in the Arctic. Just after the onset of freeze-up, first-year ice is in the early stages of growth and will consist of young first-year and thin ice. The distribution of sea ice in this thickness range impacts heat transfer in the Arctic. Therefore, improving the estimates of ice concentrations in this thickness range is significant. NASA Team Algorithm (NTA) for passive microwave data inaccurately classifies sea ice during the melt and freeze-up seasons because it misclassifies multiyear ice as first-year ice. We developed a hybrid fusion technique for incorporating multiyear ice information derived from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images into a passive microwave algorithm to improve ice type concentration estimates. First, we classified SAR images using a dynamic thresholding technique and estimated the multiyear ice concentration. Then we used the SAR-derived multiyear ice concentration to constrain the NTA and obtained an improved first-year ice concentration estimate. We computed multiyear and first-year ice concentration estimates over a region in the eastern-central Arctic in which field observations of ice and in situ radar backscatter measurements were performed. With the NTA alone, the first-year ice concentration in our study area varied between 0.11 and 0.40, while the multiyear ice concentration varied from 0.63 to 0.39. With the hybrid fusion technique, the first-year ice concentration varied between 0.08 and 0.23 and the multiyear ice concentration was between 0.62 and 0.66. The fused estimates of first-year and multiyear ice concentration appear to be more accurate than NTA, based on ice observations that were logged aboard the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Polar Star in the study area during 1991.

We utilized the concept of a compact antenna range to obtain plane-wave illumination to accurately measure scattering properties of simulated sea ice. We also made simultaneous measurements using conventional antennas. Measured scattering coefficients obtained with the plane-wave system at 10 GHz decreased by about 35 dB when the incidence angle increased from 0 [degrees] to 10 [degrees]. Scattering coefficients derived from data collected with the radar system at 13.5 GHz using conventional far-field antennas decreased by about 20 dB over the same angular region. This demonstrates that the far-field properties of a widebeam antenna are inadequate for measuring the angular scattering response of smooth surfaces. We believe that application of the compact antenna range concept for scattering measurements has a wide range of applications and is the solution to the long-standing problem of how to directly measure scattering consisting of coherent and incoherent components.

The nonhydrolyzable analog of guanosine triphosphate (GTP), guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP-γ-S), when introduced into patch-clamped (1) or streptolysin O (SLO)--permeabilized mast cells (2, 3), stimulates exocytosis independently of phospholipase C (PLC). [...], Secretagogues of rat peritoneal mast cells, such as mastoparan and compound 48/80, induce mast cell exocytosis by activating directly the guanosine triphosphate--binding proteins that are required for exocytosis. The introduction of a synthetic peptide that corresponds to the carboxyl-terminal end sequence of G[α.sub.i3] into the cells specifically blocked this secretion. Similar results were obtained when antibodies to this peptide were introduced. The G[α.sub.i3] was located in both the Golgi and the plasma membrane, but only the latter source of G[α.sub.i3] appeared to be essential for secretion. These results indicate that G[α.sub.i3] functions to control regulated exocytosis in mast cells.

Several months ago, one of my patients came in grumbling because of a newspaper article about doctors who were refusing to accept Medicare patients. This elderly man was incensed because [...]

A study was conducted to examine the acute effect of caffeine on the exercise-associated increases in testosterone and cortisol. Results conclude that the anabolic effects of the increase in testosterone concentration caffeine has some potential to benefit training outcomes but can be counteracted by increase in cortisol and resulting decline in testosterone cortisol ratio.

A study was conducted on the important role played by nuclear hormone receptors in lipid and inflammatory homeostasis, which forms the basis for future therapies. Results show that the liver X receptor (LXR) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) are made attractive molecular targets for managing lipid-related diseases as a result of glucose homeostasis and inflammation.

The structural and physicochemical properties of the manganese-corrolazine (Cz) complexes (TBP8Cz)Mn(super V) equivalent to O and (TBP8Cz)Mn(super III) (where TBP=p-tert-butylphenyl) are determined. The improved synthesis of manganese(III) and manganese(V)-oxo corrolazine complexes is accomplished.

The catalytic oxidation of thioanisole (PhSMe) to sulfoxide (PhS(O)Me) with iodosylbenzene (PhIO) as the oxygen source and Mn(III) triazacorrole as added catalyst is stated. A novel PhIO-Mn(V)O adduct is most likely the active oxidizing species in the catalytic mechanism.

Research has been conducted on Ni (super)+ four-coordinate complex. Results demonstrate that this complex serves as a Ni-CO reaction intermediate in the acetyl-CoA synthase catalytic cycle.