Search

Polysaccharides are among the most abundant bioresources on earth and consequently need to play a pivotal role when addressing existential scientific challenges like climate change and the shift from fossil-based to sustainable biobased materials. The Research Roadmap 2040 of the European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence (EPNOE) provides an expert's view on how future research and development strategies need to evolve to fully exploit the vast potential of polysaccharides as renewable bioresources. It is addressed to academic researchers, companies, as well as policymakers and covers five strategic areas that are of great importance in the context of polysaccharide related research: (I) Materials & Engineering, (II) Food & Nutrition, (III) Biomedical Applications, (IV) Chemistry, Biology & Physics, and (V) Skills & Education. Each section summarizes the state of research, identifies challenges that are currently faced, project achievements and developments that are expected in the upcoming 20 years, and finally provides outlines on how future research activities need to evolve.

In order to synthesize changes in pollinating insect communities across space and time, it is necessary to understand whether, and how, sampling methods influence assessments of community patterns. We compared how two common sampling methods—yellow combined flight traps and net sampling—influence our understanding of the species richness, abundance and composition of wild bees and hoverflies, and addressed whether these patterns resulted from potentially biased sampling of individuals or species with different types of functional traits. We sampled bee and hoverfly communities in six sites over three seasons in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. We captured more species and individuals of bees with traps and more species and individuals of hoverflies with net sampling. However, rarefied richness results were less dramatic between the sampling methods for bees and were not different between the sampling methods for hoverflies. Thus, differences in species richness across sampling methods were mostly due to differences in the number of individuals captured in the different methods. We captured more small-sized bees and hoverflies with traps. We tested if the different methods collected individuals and species with different functional traits, such as nesting preferences, sociality and flower specialization for bees and floral preference, migratory status and habitat preference for hoverflies. For most traits, we collected more individuals but not more species with a certain trait in the different methods. This was mainly due to a high abundance of one species being collected in the different methods. These results suggest that the best methodology depends on the aim of the survey, and that the methods cannot be easily combined into synthesis research. Our results have implications for the development of monitoring schemes for pollinators and for synthesis of trends that can identify threats to pollinators and inform research of pollinator conservation strategies.

ABB has written a new chapter in the book of robot applications. While in the past it had been a tedious and time-consuming effort to program a robot for delicate fine-tuning operations, robots can now learn how to best manage such tasks themselves. This innovative approach can reduce overall programming times by up to 80 percent for robots used to grind castings, vastly improving productivity levels. With ABB’s new Flex Finishing system featuring RobotWare Machining FC (force control), one of the last real barriers to productivity improvement in this sector has been lifted.

The paper describes a new object-oriented biomedical continuous system modelling language (OOBSML). It is fully object-oriented and supports model inheritance, encapsulation, and model component instantiation and behaviour polymorphism. Besides the tradit, Addresses: Hakman M, Uppsala Univ, Unit Biomed Informat & Syst Anal, Dept Med Sci, SE-75185 Uppsala, Sweden. Uppsala Univ, Unit Biomed Informat & Syst Anal, Dept Med Sci, SE-75185 Uppsala, Sweden.

Objective: To evaluate the benefit of determining the maximal elimination rate (V-max) and the endogenous production of hyaluronan (HYA) in relation to the basal HYA concentration (c(0)) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients; and to evaluate the compatibi, Addresses: Lindqvist U, Univ Uppsala Hosp, Dept Internal Med, S-75185 Uppsala, Sweden. Univ Uppsala Hosp, Dept Internal Med, S-75185 Uppsala, Sweden. Univ Uppsala Hosp, Dept Clin Chem, S-75185 Uppsala, Sweden. Univ Uppsala Hosp, Dept Biomed Informat & Sys

A short tutorial and a rationale for Object-Oriented Biomedical (Continuous) System Modelling (OOBSM) are given. The paper investigates and defines what is needed in order to make the work with complex bio-medical and pathophysiological models easier, les, Addresses: Hakman M, Univ Uppsala, Dept Med Sci, Unit Biomed Informat & Syst Anal, S-75185 Uppsala, Sweden. Univ Uppsala, Dept Med Sci, Unit Biomed Informat & Syst Anal, S-75185 Uppsala, Sweden.

The purpose of this study of various models of hyaluronan kinetics has been to find the most appropriate model for estimation of parameters which characterize liver endothelial cell function. Five theoretical models for serum hyaluronan distribution and elimination were evaluated by computer analysis of serial measurements of the mass concentration of hyaluronan in serum following an intravenous bolus dose. Three of the models were based on one-compartment distribution of intravenously injected hyaluronan. Model 1A, with assumed first-order elimination, was found to be compatible with measured data and had identifiable parameters. Model 1B, with assumed non-linear Michaelis-Menten kinetics, was also found to be compatible but the Michaelis-Menten constant (K(m)) was not well determined. In model 1C, with non-linear Michaelis-Menten elimination kinetics, K(m) was set to a fixed value of 340 micrograms l-1, and the remaining parameters were well determined and the model was found to be compatible. Two models with an assumed two-compartment distribution of intravenously injected hyaluronan, were not acceptable due to unidentified parameters not discriminating between patients and healthy persons. In conclusion, model 1C, with one-compartment distribution and non-linear Michaelis-Menten kinetics, best fulfilled the criteria of validity and was accepted for further evaluation of clinical materials.

The purpose of this study of various models of hyaluronan kinetics has been to find the most appropriate model for estimation of parameters which characterize liver endothelial cell function. Five theoretical models for serum hyaluronan distribution and e, Addresses: Lindqvist U, UNIV UPPSALA HOSP, DEPT INTERNAL MED, S-75185 UPPSALA, SWEDEN. UPPSALA UNIV, UNIT BIOMED INFORMAT & SYST ANAL, UPPSALA, SWEDEN. PHARMACIA AB, DEPT BIOCHEM RES & PHARMACOKINET, S-75182 UPPSALA, SWEDEN.

Quality specifications for analytical imprecision and bias based on 'the state of the art', 'biology' and 'analysis of clinical situations' have been proposed by several scientists. Most interesting is the assessment of 'diagnostic misclassifications' bas, Addresses: Petersen PH, ODENSE UNIV HOSP, DEPT CLIN CHEM, DK-5000 ODENSE C, DENMARK. UNIV UPPSALA HOSP, DEPT CLIN CHEM, S-75185 UPPSALA, SWEDEN. UNIV UPPSALA, UNIT BIOMED SYST ANAL, BMSA, S-75104 UPPSALA, SWEDEN. UNIV DUNDEE, NINEWELLS HOSP & MED SCH, DEP

This paper examines how the concepts and designs of workflow management systems and distributed systems management can be integrated and customised to manage open laboratory computing services, The paper outlines the objectives of managing laboratory comp, Addresses: Wade V, UNIV DUBLIN TRINITY COLL, DEPT COMP SCI, DUBLIN 2, IRELAND. DUBLIN INST TECHNOL, DEPT ELECT ENGN, DUBLIN 8, IRELAND. UNIV W ENGLAND, INTELLIGENT COMP SYST CTR, BRISTOL, AVON, ENGLAND. UPPSALA UNIV, UNIT BIOMED SYST ANAL, UPPSALA, SWEDEN

Addresses: OMoore R, ST JAMES HOSP, FEDERATED DUBLIN VOLUNTARY HOSP, POB 795, DUBLIN 8, IRELAND. UNIV UPPSALA, BMSA, UNIT BIOMED SYST ANAL, UPPSALA, SWEDEN. DUBLIN INST TECHNOL, DEPT ELECT ENGN, DUBLIN 8, IRELAND. HULL ROYAL INFIRM, NHS TRUST, DEPT CLIN B

The OpenLabs project aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of clinical laboratory services by integrating decision support systems with laboratory information systems and equipment. Standards for electronic data interchange between laboratories, Addresses: Boran G, ROYAL HULL HOSP NHS TRUST, DEPT CHEM PATHOL, KINGSTON HULL, YORKS, ENGLAND. ST JAMES HOSP, DEPT CLIN BIOCHEM, DUBLIN 8, IRELAND. DUBLIN INST TECHNOL, DEPT SYST SCI & ENGN, DUBLIN, IRELAND. QUEEN ELIZABETH MED CTR, WOLFSON COMP LAB, BIR

Growth hormone (GH) secretion rates were estimated from 24-hour plasma GH concentration profiles using a model-based numerical deconvolution method. The basic kinetic parameters describing GH distribution and elimination were obtained from studies using s, Addresses: GOTHENBURG UNIV, CHILDRENS HOSP, INT PEDIAT GROWTH RES CTR, DEPT PEDIAT, S-41685 GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN. GOTHENBURG UNIV, INT PEDIAT GROWTH RES CTR, DEPT PHYSIOL, GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN. UPPSALA UNIV, BIOMED SYST ANAL UNIT, UPPSALA, SWEDEN.

Because of large stores of CO2 in different body tissues, metabolic change cannot be detected by measuring gas exchange until the CO2 stores have adapted to the new situation. Similarly, changes in the CO2 stores not due to metabolic alterations, may lead to error in gas exchange measurements. We studied CO2 production (VCO2) and oxygen consumption (VO2) in mechanically ventilated ICU patients, where CO2 stores were altered by: a) changing minute ventilation by 15%, b) reducing body temperature, and c) changing the level of sedation. Expired gases went through a mixing chamber and were analyzed continuously by a mass spectrometer. Signals from this instrument, together with gas-volume signals from the ventilator, were fed to a computer for calculation of VO2 and VCO2. Twenty to 120 min were required to reach a stable level, depending on the patient's size and circulatory response. Similar results were obtained by computer simulation using a five-compartment model of CO2 stores. These experiments indicate that measuring VO2 (for calculation of metabolic respiratory quotient [RQ]) in ventilated patients should occur after the patients maintain a 60-min period of stable body temperature and awareness. Ventilatory variables should not be changed substantially during the 90-min period before gas sampling. Cardiac output and muscle blood flow should not have changed 2 to 3 h before measuring RQ. If muscle blood flow is low, the stable periods for body temperature and ventilatory variables should be increased.

CO2 kinetics during CPR was investigated in 15 anesthetized piglets. BP, blood gases, and acid-base balance were monitored through catheters in the carotid artery and a central vein, as well as in cerebrospinal fluid. Cardiac arrest was induced by a transthoracic direct current shock. CPR was begun immediately by artificial ventilation and simultaneous external chest compressions. Epinephrine was administered after 8 min of CPR. One group (n = 5) of animals received no buffer treatment while another (n = 5) received an infusion of 75 mmol sodium bicarbonate and a third group (n = 5) received an equivalent amount of tris-buffer mixture. The results of these experiments, as well as previously described circulatory variables during CPR, were analyzed using a computer model describing the CO2 kinetics of the pig. Our main finding was that PaCO2 was positively correlated to cardiac output during CPR; improved cardiac output during CPR resulted in more efficient tissue CO2 elimination and was associated with increased survival rates. PaCO2 was also somewhat reduced by efficient alveolar hyperventilation. The arterial PCO2 and pH did not reflect the acid-base balance in peripheral tissues. During CPR, bicarbonate and tris-buffer mixture both quickly passed through the blood-brain barrier. When buffer treatment is indicated during CPR, a buffer which does not increase tissue PCO2 may be the drug of choice.