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Sorption experiments for cadmium removal using two brown macroalgae Lessonia nigrescens and Durvillaea antarctica were carried out. Although both types of algae were capable of retaining cadmium, differences in their performance were observed. The optimum pH was 3.7 ± 0.2, and to achieve the equilibrium, 5 days of contact time were necessary for both biosorbents. The maximum experimental uptake obtained was similar for the two biosorbents: 95.3 mg Cd g −1 by D. antarctica and 109.5 mg Cd g −1 by L. nigrescens. The Langmuir model described the equilibrium sorption isotherms very well for both biosorbents and the Lagergren pseudo primer order model described the sorption kinetics for L. nigrescens satisfactorily and the Ho and Mckay pseudo second order model for D. antarctica . It was found that cadmium uptake by D. antarctica was faster than by L. nigrescens . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Testing stimulates learning, improves long-term retention, and promotes technical performance. No purpose-orientated test of competence in the theoretical aspects of VATS lobectomy has previously been presented. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to develop and gather validity evidence for a theoretical test on VATS lobectomy consisting of multiple-choice questions. Methods: Four European VATS lobectomy experts were interviewed to explore their views on important theoretical VATS lobectomy knowledge (step 1). This information was used to construct the test items in compliance with existing guidelines for multiple-choice questions (step 2). The experts rated the relevance of the items to confirm content validity in a modified Delphi approach (step 3). Finally, the test was administered to physicians, who were categorised into different experience levels based on their experience in VATS procedures overall and in VATS lobectomies specifically. Their answers were used to achieve construct validity (step 4). Results: Initially, 81 items were constructed and two Delphi iterations reduced the test to 50 items. Item analysis led to the exclusion of 19 items and the mean discrimination index of the 31 final items was 0.26. Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency was 0.75. The mean item difficulty was calculated to 0.63. According to performed VATS procedures, significantly different test performances were detected when comparing the group performances ( p = 0.002) and the experts performed significantly better than the novices ( p < 0.001) and intermediates ( p = 0.01). In the category of performed VATS lobectomies, significant group performances were also found. In this category, the experts were also significantly better than the novices ( p < 0.001), the trainees ( p = 0.002), and the intermediates ( p = 0.01). Conclusions: This study led to the development of a theoretical test on VATS lobectomy consisting of multiple-choice questions. Both content and construct validity evidence were established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies indicate that glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, currently used in the management of type 2 diabetes, exhibit neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects in amyloid-β (Aβ) toxicity models of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We investigated the potential pro-cognitive and neuroprotective effects of the once-daily GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide in senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice, a model of age-related sporadic AD not dominated by amyloid plaques. Six-month-old SAMP8 mice received liraglutide (100 or 500 μg/kg/day, s.c.) or vehicle once daily for 4 months. Vehicle-dosed age-matched 50% back-crossed as well as untreated young (4-month-old) SAMP8 mice were used as control groups for normal memory function. Vehicle-dosed 10-month-old SAMP8 mice showed significant learning and memory retention deficits in an active-avoidance T-maze, as compared to both control groups. Also, 10-month-old SAMP8 mice displayed no immunohistological signatures of amyloid-β plaques or hyperphosphorylated tau, indicating the onset of cognitive deficits prior to deposition of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in this AD model. Liraglutide significantly increased memory retention and total hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neuron numbers in SAMP8 mice, as compared to age-matched vehicle-dosed SAMP8 mice. In conclusion, liraglutide delayed or partially halted the progressive decline in memory function associated with hippocampal neuronal loss in a mouse model of pathological aging with characteristics of neurobehavioral and neuropathological impairments observed in early-stage sporadic AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimizing the surface area of nanoparticles is key to achieving high catalytic activities for electrochemical energy conversion devices. In this work, the frequency range (200 kHz–500 kHz) for maximum sonochemical radical formation was investigated for the sonochemical synthesis of Pt-nanoparticles to assess whether an optimum frequency exists or if the entire range provides reproducible particle properties. Through physical and electrochemical characterization, it was found that the frequency dependent mechanical effects of ultrasound resulted in smaller, more open agglomerates at lower frequencies with agglomerate sizes of (238 ± 4) nm at 210 kHz compared to (274 ± 2) nm at 326 kHz, and electrochemical surface areas of (12.4 ± 0.9) m2g−1 at 210 kHz compared to (3.4 ± 0.5) m2g−1 at 326 kHz. However, the primary particle size (2.1 nm) and the catalytic activity towards hydrogen evolution, (19 ± 2) mV at 10mA cm2,remained unchanged over the entire frequency range. Highly reproducible Pt-nanoparticles are therefore easily attainable within a broad range of ultrasonic frequencies for the sonochemical synthesis route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Smoking reduces life years in good health but it is unclear how education modifies the impact of smoking. We hypothesize that the vulnerability of the effect of smoking on health expectancy decreases with educational level in both genders and examine the contributions of mortality and health effects. Methods: Life tables by educational level and smoking category were constructed from registers and survey data. For each educational level, difference in expected lifetime in self-rated good and poor health between 30-year-old never smokers and smokers were estimated and decomposed into contributions from mortality and health status. Results: Difference in expected lifetime in good health between never smokers and smokers decreased with educational level for women but increased for men. Thus, the differences between never smokers and heavy smokers among 30-year-old women with a low, medium and high educational level were 12.9, 8.9 and 4.1 years, respectively. In contrast, the differences between male never smokers and heavy smokers with a low, medium and high educational level were 10.3, 11.4 and 14.3 years, respectively. Regardless of educational level, the mortality effect increased by exposure to smoking but the effect of health status increased by educational level for men and decreased for women. Conclusion: The social differential vulnerability to the effect of smoking differed between genders. Thus, whereas smoking had a substantial effect on health among women with a low educational level the pattern for men was opposite because the health gain for never smokers was greatest for men with a high education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the electrodialysis technique is tested as a possible treatment of smelter wastewater containing mainly copper and arsenic. The results show that it is not feasible to treat the raw wastewater, because the highly acidic pH favours the proton electro migration compared to copper. However, when adjusting the pH of the wastewater to 2 and 3, the copper could be removed entirely into a copper concentration section. Less than 2.5% of the total arsenic migrated into the copper concentration section, indicating the possibility to separate copper from arsenic. At higher pH values and current density, copper is removed faster but at pH values greater than 3 precipitates start to form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The population of Palestine comprises almost 200 000 Palestinians aged 60 or older. The purpose of the study was to estimate disability-free life expectancy for Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and to evaluate changes from 2006 to 2010. Methods: The study combined mortality data and prevalence of activity limitation derived from the Palestinian Family Health Surveys carried out in 2006 and 2010. Based on questions about the ability to perform five basic daily activities, disability-free life expectancy was estimated. Changes between 2006 and 2010 were decomposed into contributions from changes in mortality and disability. Results: Life expectancy at age 60 increased from 17.1 years in 2006 to 17.3 years in 2010 for men and from 18.7 years to 19.0 years for women. Disability-free life expectancy increased significantly, by 1.3 years for 60-year-old men (from 12.8 years to 14.1 years) and 1.8 years for 60-year-old women (from 12.6 years to 14.4 years). This increase was seen in the Gaza Strip as well as in the West Bank. While the modest contribution of the mortality effect did not differ between gender and regions, the strong contributions from the disability effects varied, being greatest for women in the Gaza Strip. Conclusion: The significant increase in disability-free life expectancy for both genders is remarkable and, to our knowledge, not seen in other low-income countries. This change may be due to decreasing incidence of disability and greater recovery from disability as a result of better prevention, care and rehabilitation of chronic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We randomised 46 newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (median age 56) to receive dasatinib 100 mg QD or imatinib 400 mg QD and report outcome as an intention-to-treat analysis with 36 months follow-up. Early cytogenetic and molecular responses were superior in the dasatinib group, with a tendency that imatinib patients caught up with time. For instance, MR3.0 was reached at 3 months in 36% vs. 8% ( P = 0.02), at 12 months in 81% vs. 46% ( P = 0.02) and at 18 months in 73% vs. 65% (n.s.) of the patients in the two groups. In contrast, MR4.5 was consistently superior in the dasatinib group at all time points from 6 months onwards, reaching 61% vs. 21% ( P < 0.05) at 36 months. Sixty-four vs. 71% of the patients in the dasatinib and imatinib arms, respectively, remained on assigned drug. Dasatinib dose was frequently reduced, but with maintained excellent effect. One imatinib patient progressed to blastic phase, but no CML-related deaths occurred. In conclusion, our data compare favourably with those of the dasatinib registration study, DASISION. The fast and deep molecular responses induced by dasatinib compared with imatinib may be exploited to increase the proportion of patients who can achieve a treatment-free remission after treatment discontinuation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linagliptin is a dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-IV inhibitor approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. DPP-IV inhibitors are considered weight neutral, suggesting that elevation of endogenous incretin levels is not sufficient to promote weight loss per se. Here we evaluated the effect of linagliptin in combination with subcutaneous treatment of GLP-1(7-36) on body weight regulation in diet-induced obese (DIO) rats. Linagliptin administered perorally (1.5 mg/kg, b.i.d.), but not subcutaneously (0.5 mg/kg, b.i.d.), evoked a very modest body weight loss (2.2%) after 28 days of treatment. GLP-1 (0.5 mg/kg, s.c.) treatment alone induced a body weight loss of 4.1%. In contrast, combined linagliptin (1.5 mg/kg, p.o., or 0.5 mg/kg, s.c.) and GLP-1 (0.5 mg/kg) treatment evoked a marked anorectic response with both routes of linagliptin administration being equally effective on final body weight loss (7.5–8.0%). In comparison, liraglutide monotherapy (0.2 mg/kg, s.c., b.i.d.) reduced body weight by 10.1%. Interestingly, the weight lowering effect of combined linagliptin and GLP-1 treatment was associated with a marked increase in chow preference, being more pronounced as compared to liraglutide treatment. In addition, linagliptin and GLP-1 co-treatment, but not liraglutide, specifically increased prepro-dynorphin mRNA levels in the caudate–putamen, an effect not obtained with administration of the compounds individually. In conclusion, co-treatment with linagliptin and GLP-1 synergistically reduces body weight in obese rats. The anti-obesity effect was caused by appetite suppression with a concomitant change in diet preference, which may potentially be associated with increased dynorphin activity in forebrain regions involved in reward anticipation and habit learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Late Cretaceous Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE2) represents a major perturbation of the global carbon cycle caused by the widespread deposition of organic-rich black shales. Although the paleoceanographic response and the spatial extent of bottom-water anoxia in low and mid-paleolatitudes are reasonably well constrained for OAE2, similar data from high paleolatitudes are lacking. Here, we present palynostratigraphy and organic-carbon isotope stratigraphy from the Sverdrup Basin, Axel Heiberg Island (Canada). It is shown that episodes of high marine organic-carbon burial at paleolatitudes of ~70°N is contemporaneous with the widely observed occurrence of black shale deposition during OAE2. Paleontological, lithological, and geochemical data indicate normal marine conditions with persistent anoxic bottom waters during OAE2. The results imply that the high marine primary productivity pulse during OAE2 may have caused massive organic-carbon burial on the Arctic shelf in general, with important implications for hydrocarbon source-rock distribution in the Arctic region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Celiac disease (CD) is characterized by an inappropriate immunological reaction against gluten driven by gluten-specific CD4 + T cells. We screened 25 proteases and tested 10 for their potential to degrade gluten in vitro. Five proteases were further tested for their ability to prevent the proliferative response by a gluten-specific CD4 + T cell clone and seven gluten-reactive T cell lines to protease-digested gluten peptides. A proline-specific endo-peptidase from Aspergillus niger (AnP2) was particularly efficient at diminishing proliferation after stimulation with cleaved antigen, and could completely block the response against both native and deamidated gluten peptides. We found that AnP2 was efficient down to a 1:64 protease:substrate ratio (w:w). When AnP2 was tested in assays using seven gluten-reactive T cell lines from individual CD patients (three adults and four children), the response to gluten was diminished in all cases. Our study indicates a therapeutic benefit of AnP2 to CD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Tobacco smoking is among the leading risk factors for chronic disease and early death in developed countries, including Denmark, where smoking causes 14% of the disease burden. In Denmark, many public health interventions, including smoking prevention, are undertaken by the municipalities, but models to estimate potential health effects of local interventions are lacking. The aim of the current study was to model the effects of decreased smoking prevalence in Copenhagen, Denmark. Methods: The DYNAMO-HIA model was applied to the population of Copenhagen, by using health survey data and data from Danish population registers. We modelled the effects of four intervention scenarios aimed at different target groups, compared to a reference scenario. The potential effects of each scenario were modelled until 2040. Results: A combined scenario affecting both initiation rates among youth, and cessation and re-initiation rates among adults, which reduced the smoking prevalence to 4% by 2025, would have large beneficial effects on incidence and prevalence of smoking-related diseases and mortality. Health benefits could also be obtained through interventions targeting only cessation or re-initiation rates, whereas an intervention targeting only initiation among youth had marginal effects on morbidity and mortality within the modelled time frame. Conclusions: By modifying the DYNAMO-HIA model, we were able to estimate the potential health effects of four interventions to reduce smoking prevalence in the population of Copenhagen. The effect of the interventions on future public health depended on population subgroup(s) targeted, duration of implementation and intervention reach. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Stø Formation contains the main target reservoirs for petroleum exploration in the Norwegian Barents Sea Area, however, the clean sandstones of the Stø Formation can be heavily quartz cemented in areas that have undergone extensive post depositional burial. The Stø Formation in well 7219/8-2 has previously been identified as having porosities well above the expected porosity depth trend due to the porosity preserving effects of illitic grain coating. In this study the Stø Formation in 14 wells with maximum burial depths at top of formation ranging from 2672 to 3623 m have been investigated and several new intervals of the formation show abnormally high porosities relative to the expected burial trend. Thin sections from 4 wells were available and in all of these remnants of grain coating illitic clay was observed in varying amounts, with the effectiveness in reducing quartz cement overgrowth being determined by the continuity of grain coats. This indicates that the degree of grain coating coverage exerts the main control on the porosity of the clean deeply buried parts of the Stø Formation. With increasing burial depths, the porosity difference between intervals with continuous grain coats and intervals with less continuous grain coats becomes ever larger. Intervals observed to have extensive grain coating coverage compact with a significantly reduced rate with increasing burial compared to poorer coated intervals in the chemical compaction domain. The noticeable and consistent difference in the chemical compaction trend between coated- and negligible coated intervals within the Stø Formation could allow for establishment of powerful predictive models without the need for expensive petrographic- or core plug data. • Extent of grain coating coverage is the main factor in controlling porosities in deeply buried parts of the Stø Formation. • Emplacement of grain coating clay was common on a large regional scale. • Understanding the extent of coating coverage in the Stø Formation is vital in deep reservoir prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: We estimate the causal effect of food standards on Vietnamese pangasius farmers’ wellbeing measured by per capita consumption expenditure. We estimate both the average effects and the local average treatment effects on poorer and richer farmers by instrumental variable quantile regression. Our results indicate that large returns can be accrued from food standards, but only for the upper middle-class farmers, i.e., those between the 50% and 85% quantiles of the expenditure distribution. Overall, our result points to an exclusionary impact of standards for the poorest farmers while the richest do not apply standards because the added gain is too small. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Electric fields moves or immobilizes copper within mine tailings. [•] EKR stabilizes copper mine tailings environmentally. [•] Sinusoidal electric field enhances the removal and energy consumption of EKR. [•] Pulsed sinusoidal electric field is better if polarity reversal of electrodes occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine credit constraint differentials between male and female manufacturing entrepreneurs using firm data from 16 sub-Saharan Africa countries. Small enterprises owned by female entrepreneurs are less likely to be credit constrained compared to their male counterparts, while this is reversed for medium-sized enterprises. A generalised Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition shows that the gap is predominantly a pure gender effect. We argue that this finding is mainly due to female favouritism in loans to micro and small firms because the gap is reversed for medium-sized enterprises and because we find no sign of superior female entrepreneurial performance in observable indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

There is a long-standing debate as to whether nonexperimental estimators of causal effects of social programs can overcome selection bias. Most existing reviews either are inconclusive or point to significant selection biases in nonexperimental studies. However, many of the reviews, the so-called between-studies, do not make direct comparisons of the estimates. We survey four impact studies, all using data from development interventions that directly compare experimental and nonexperimental impact estimates. Our review illustrates that when the program participation process is well understood, and correctly modeled, then the nonexperimental estimators can overcome the selection bias to the same degree as randomized controlled trials. Hence, we suggest that evaluators of development programs aim to be careful and precise in the formulation of the statistical model for the assignment into the program and also to use the assignment information for model-based systematic sampling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Tesofensine is a triple monoamine reuptake inhibitor which inhibits noradrenaline, 5-HT and dopamine reuptake. Tesofensine is currently in clinical development for the treatment of obesity, however, the pharmacological basis for its strong and sustained effects in obesity management is not clarified. Tesofensine effectively induces appetite suppression in the diet-induced obese (DIO) rat partially being ascribed to an indirect stimulation of central dopamine receptor function subsequent to blocked dopamine transporter activity. This is interesting, as obese patients have reduced central dopaminergic activity thought to provide a drive for compensatory overeating, but whether treatment with an uptake inhibitor counteracts these changes or not has not been investigated. Tesofensine treatment (2.0mg/kg/day for 14days) caused a pronounced anorexigenic and weight-reducing response in DIO rats as compared to age-matched chow-fed rats. DIO rats also exhibited a marked reduction in baseline extracellular dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and prefrontal cortex (PFC), as compared to chow-fed rats using microdialysis. While acute administration of tesofensine (2.0mg/kg) normalized accumbal dopamine levels in DIO rats, the drug had no effect on dopamine levels in chow-fed rats. Tesofensine evoked a stronger stimulatory response on NAcc and PFC dopamine levels in DIO rats, and also induced discrete changes in striatal dopamine D2 receptor expression and transporter binding. In conclusion, tesofensine produces weight loss together with reversal of lowered forebrain dopamine levels in DIO rats, suggesting that tesofensine's anti-obesity effects, at least in part, are associated with positive modulation of central dopaminergic activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Eleven cored boreholes, with depths up to c. 360 m were drilled in north-east Baffin Bay, a frontier area offshore West Greenland by the vessel Joides Resolution. The cores were part of the Baffin Bay scientific shallow coring program, expedition 344S in 2012, funded by a consortium of eight petroleum companies. The main drilling target was a succession of dipping strata in the Kap York Basin that proved to be of Cretaceous age. Here we report the results of comprehensive core analyses involving lithofacies interpretation, palynological dating, palynofacies studies, isotope geochronology, organic geochemistry and reservoir characterization. The Lower Cretaceous succession comprises sandstones, mudstones and few thin coal beds of Albian age. Terrestrial material and a sparse and low diversity assemblage of brackish-water dinoflagellate cysts (dinocyst) species dominate the organic particles. The sedimentary environments range from floodplain to deep bay and suggest deposition in a large non-marine to brackish embayment. The kerogen type is immature to marginally mature, type III/IV, with very restricted potential for generation of petroleum or gaseous petroleum. The Upper Cretaceous sedimentary succession of Cenomanian–Turonian age consists of black marine mudstone with varying amounts of discrete sand layers. The amorphous organic material and marine dinocysts suggest that most of the succession was deposited in an anoxic–dysoxic to oxygen restricted palaeoenvironment, probably ranging from outer shelf and prodelta fringe to lower delta front. The organic richness and petroleum potential are variable. The black mudstones include organic rich intervals with TOC of 3–6%, HI of 200–350 and SPI value of 3.0, comparable to well-known petroleum source rock successions of this age worldwide. The δ13C org curves for the Cenomanian–Turonian sections display values and trends characteristic of Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE2). A marine transgression between the Lower and Upper Cretaceous successions caused dramatic changes in depositional environments. • Eleven shallow cores from Baffin Bay, Greenland dated Albian–Turonian (Cretaceous). • Studies of lithofacies, palynology, palynofacies, isotopes, geochemistry, porosity. • Net sandstone thickness of 100 m with an average porosity of 25%. • TOC 3–6%, HI 200–350, SPI 3.0 values of organic-rich intervals indicate source rock. • δ13C org curves for the Cenomanian–Turonian corresponds to the Oceanic Anoxic Event 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly sensitive assays for anti–drug antibodies (ADAs) are both a regulatory requirement and requisite for proper evaluation of the effects of immunogenicity on clinical efficacy and safety. Determination of ADA assay sensitivity depends on positive control antibodies to represent naturally occurring or treatment–induced ADA responses. An accurate determination of the proportion of drug–specific antibodies in these polyclonal positive control batches is critical for correct evaluation of assay sensitivity. Target purification of positive control antibodies is commonly applied but infers the risk to lose a proportion of the antibodies. This may lead to an incorrect estimate of the ADA assay sensitivity, especially if high–affinity antibodies are lost that may be representative of natural ADAs with clinical implication. The Surface Plasmon Resonance platform on the Biacore™ systems offers methods for real–time analysis of biomolecular interactions without introducing any modifications to the analysed material. Calibration–free concentration analysis (CFCA) is such an application for determination of the proportion of drug–specific antibodies, which allows direct determination of active antibody concentrations, as defined by the ligand, in a flow–based system. Here, we present a novel CFCA method for ADA quantification developed and validated using polyclonal positive control antibodies against endogenous human insulin, insulin degludec (Tresiba®) and turoctocog alfa (NovoEight®). We find that CFCA precisely and accurately measures concentrations of drug–specific IgG antibodies with a precision of ±10% and 90%–112% recovery of expected values of monoclonal positive control antibodies. Additionally, we have achieved a more accurate measure of the sensitivity of a cell–based bioassay for in vitro neutralising ADAs using the specific concentration determined with CFCA. Moreover, we effectively quantified serum anti–insulin antibodies in high–titre clinical samples from individuals with diabetes mellitus. This application extends the relevance of the CFCA technology to analysis of immunogenicity for accurate quantification of ADAs in both the polyclonal positive control and in clinical samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Durvillaea antarctica is an efficient lead biosorbent at pH 1.5. [•] The Langmuir model showed maximum uptake value of 135.1mgg−1. [•] The lead uptake followed 2nd order kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This work compares and evaluates the copper removal efficiency when applying electric fields to two mine tailings originating from the same mine but of different age. Eight experiments were carried out – four on tailings deposited more than 20years ago (old tailings) and four on tailings deposited less than 2years ago (new tailings). Parameters analyzed were the applied voltage drop, acid concentration during pretreatment, and the use of either passive or ion exchange membranes in the experimental setup. The comparison of the results confirms that there are differences in the electroremediation between the two tailings, even if the pH is similar and a mineralogical analysis showed similarities between the samples with respect to composition. It was found that an electroremediation is more favorable on the old tailings. The results showed that the best experimental conditions for both tailings is a pretreatment with H2SO4 1M followed by applying 40V for 7days, using ion exchange membranes. In this case 16.7% of copper was removed from the anode section for the old tailings, whereas only 11.2% was removed from the new tailings. The current efficiencies with respect to copper for the old and new tailings were 1.7% and 1.6%, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this work an electrokinetic remediation cell for copper mine tailings using sinusoidal electric field in pulses was analyzed. The sinusoidal electric field was obtained by applying simultaneously continuous-alternating voltages; in this work an alternating voltage of 50Hz was applied. The system was tested considering the effect of: (1) pulses in an EKR with sinusoidal electric field, (2) the effective voltage of the sinusoidal electric field, and (3) the pulses ratio. According to the conditions studied in this investigation, the laboratory results showed that pulses in a sinusoidal electric field improves the EKR process, especially when the pulses and a polarity inversion in the sinusoidal electric field are present simultaneously, since both phenomena reduce polarization during the process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Purpose: Knee function is reduced in patients with Benign Joint Hypermobility Syndrome. The aim was to study knee function in children and adults with Generalised Joint Hypermobility (GJH) and Non-GJH (NGJH)). Materials and methods: In a matched comparative study, 39 children and 36 adults (mean age children 10.2years; adults 40.3years) were included, comprising 19 children and 18 adults with GJH (Beighton ≥5/9; Beighton ≥4/9), minimum one hypermobile knee, no knee pain (children), and 20 children and 18 adults with NGJH (Beighton <5; Beighton <4). Totally, 85% of the adults were parents to these children. Knee function was determined by self-reported physical fitness (100mm VAS), Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) (only adults), measured maximum isokinetic knee strength (60°/s) and peak vertical jump displacement (PVJD), with calculated knee strength balance, Hamstring/Quadriceps (H/Q) ratio and peak rate of force development (PRFD). Results: Adults with GJH had lower knee function (KOOS: pain, p=0.001; symptoms, p=0.001; Activities of Daily Living, p=0.001; Sport/Recreation, p=0.003; knee-related quality of life, p<0.001), and H/Q ratio (0.46 vs. 0.54, p=0.046) than adults with NGJH, regardless of age and knee pain. Both GJH groups had normal physical fitness, isokinetic knee strength, and (only children) H/Q ratio. Conclusions: Children at 10years with GJH have normal, but adults with GJH have impaired knee function. To track the risk of developing impaired knee function, children with GJH must be followed longitudinally. Meanwhile, attention to knee function may be given to children with GJH who have parents presenting GJH. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Electroconvulsive stimulation (ECS) remains one of the most effective treatments of major depression. However, the underlying molecular changes still remain to be elucidated. Since ECS causes rapid and significant changes in gene expression we have looked at epigenetic regulation of two important immediate early genes that are both induced after ECS: c-Fos and Arc. We examined Arc and c-Fos protein expression and found Arc present over 4h, in contrast to c-Fos presence lasting only 1h. Both genes had returned to baseline expression at 24h post-ECS. Histone H4 acetylation (H4Ac) is one of the important epigenetic marks associated with gene activation. We show increased H4Ac at the c-Fos promoter at 1h post-ECS. Surprisingly, we also observed a significant increase in DNA methylation of the Arc gene promoter at 24h post-ECS. DNA methylation, which is responsible for gene silencing, is a rather stable covalent modification. This suggests that Arc expression has been repressed and may consequently remain inhibited for a prolonged period post-ECS. Arc plays a critical role in the maintenance phase of long-term potentiation (LTP) and consolidation of memory in the rat brain. Thus, this study is one of the first to demonstrate DNA methylation as a regulator of ECS-induced gene expression and it provides a molecular link to the memory deficits observed after ECS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: During the last 40years, merchant ships have become safer and a number of new safety measures have been introduced. The purpose of the first part of this study was to investigate the trend of fatalities due to maritime disasters in the Danish merchant fleet over a 40-year period from 1970 to 2009, during which a total of 146 seafarers lost their lives. The relative risk of fatal accidents in the period 1990–2009 compared with the period 1970–1989 was 0.81 (CI: 0.58–1.14). The second part of the study focuses on seafarers who abandoned a merchant ship in the period from 1990 to 2009. The purpose was to investigate factors influencing survival. During the 20-year period 44 incidents were identified involving a total of 267 seafarers. Among these, 51 did not survive. The fatality risk for seafarers on small and large ships was 3.68 and 0.64 per 1000years at risk, respectively. Among the 171 seafarers who were rescued dry, one was injured and did not survive (0.6%). Out of 64 seafarers ending up in the water, 18 (28%) did not survive. Among the remaining 32 seafarers, 23 were with great certainty inside the vessel when it sank and another nine may have remained inside the sinking vessel. None of these survived. Suboptimal organisation of the evacuation process was of importance in some cases. Survival suits and automatic emergency transmitters (EPIRB’s) have been shown to work in practice but their introduction has had limited influence on survival statistics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a key standard treatment for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with documented effect on symptom relief, improved physical function, and quality of life. However, referral, uptake and adherence rates remain low. Pulmonary telerehabilitation (PTR) is a safe and effective alternative to conventional PR. This study explores associations, thoughts and attitudes towards PTR in patients with COPD who decline referral to outpatient hospital-based routine PR. Methods: A mixed-methods study with integration of survey data (n=84) and semi-structured interviews (n=9). Results: We found a significant association between belief of effect of PTR and willingness to participate. Increasing age was significantly associated with reduced odds of daily use of central processing unit (CPU) or tablet. One-third of the participants were undecided about potential participation in PTR. Qualitative findings highlight that participants perceived participating in PTR as more convenient and had preferences for individualized, supervised, and monitored rehabilitation. Conclusion: Those willing to participate in a PTR program believed in the benefits, were comfortable with technological devices, had preferences for exercising at home, and saw opportunities in the social setting. Future PTR programs should include monitoring, preferably managed by a familiar health care professional (HCP). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new palynological event biostratigraphy for the Cretaceous–lower Palaeogene succession in the Kangerlussuaq Basin, onshore southern East Greenland is presented. Sixty-three biostratigraphical marker events are recognised, based on the first and last occurrences of dinoflagellate cysts and pollen from eleven key outcrop sections through the Sorgenfri, Christian IV, Sediment Bjerge and Vandfaldsdalen Formations of the Kangerdlugssuaq and Blosseville Groups. The palynological events are correlated with published event stratigraphies and with palynological zonations from North–East Greenland, West Greenland, North America, the North Sea and the Faroe–Shetland Basin. The palynological records date the Sorgenfri Formation as middle Albian to Coniacian or ?early Santonian, the Christian IV Formation as ?late Campanian to late Maastrichtian and the Sediment Bjerge Formation as late Danian to late Selandian. The biostratigraphic ranges of dinoflagellate cysts, pollen and macrofossils around the lower to upper Maastrichtian boundary are discussed and correlated. The palynological records and recent isotopic dating results (40Ar/39Ar) of volcanic rocks indicate that the youngest sediments of the Vandfaldsdalen Formation are of Thanetian or early Ypresian age. The study documents two major hiatuses in the area: the boundary between the Sorgenfri and Christian IV Formations spans the ?upper Coniacian–Santonian and Campanian, whilst the unconformity between the Christian IV and Sediment Bjerge Formations possibly spans the uppermost Maastrichtian and the lower Danian, indicating that the Cretaceous–Palaeogene boundary is represented by a major unconformity, as recognised widely around the northern North Atlantic. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The dominant nicotine acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtype in the brain is the pentameric receptor containing both α4 and β2 subunits (α4β2). Due to the lack of selective agonists it has not been ruled out what neuronal circuits that are stimulated after systemic administration with nicotine. We used the novel and selective α4β2 receptor agonist ispronicline (10 and 30mg/kg s.c.) to localise the activated neurons in the rat forebrain using c-Fos-immunoreactivity as a marker of immediate neuronal activity. In the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, a large increase of c-Fos-positive cells was found only within its medial part. In addition, an increased number of c-Fos-immunoreactive cells were observed in the central nucleus of the amygdala, and the dorsolateral part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. The restricted distribution of c-Fos to these areas, all of which are directly or indirectly involved in acute stress regulation after a single dose of ispronicline, supports earlier studies that the α4β2 receptors are strongly involved in nicotine-dependent activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenocortical axis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The effects of the Kv7 channel modulators retigabine (opener) and XE991 (blocker) on rat bladder function were investigated ex vivo and in vivo to assess the potential of Kv7 openers for the treatment of overactive bladder. In organ bath studies, capsaicin-stimulated rat urinary bladder rings were exposed to retigabine and XE991 and the effect on tension and amplitude was evaluated. In anaesthetized rats, retigabine (0.01-1 mg/kg, i.v.) effects on bladder function, in which overactivity was induced by continuous infusion of 0.5% acetic acid, were assessed. The effect of retigabine (10 mg/kg, p.o.) on cystometric parameters was also measured in conscious rats with capsaicin-induced irritated bladders. Localization of Kv7 subunits within bladder tissue was analysed by RT-qPCR and western blotting. In organ bath studies, retigabine robustly reduced capsaicin-induced contractility of bladder rings and this effect was blocked by XE991 confirming the specificity of action via Kv7 channels. In anaesthetized rats with acetic acid-irritated bladders, retigabine markedly increased bladder capacity with no concomitant reduction in blood pressure. Retigabine also reduced bladder pressure and delayed voiding in conscious rats with capsaicin-irritated bladders. Kv7.1, Kv7.4 and Kv7.5 subunit mRNA transcripts were detected in rat bladder. Western blot analysis confirmed that Kv7.4 subunit protein was expressed in rat bladder. These results suggest that retigabine and other Kv7 channel positive modulators may have beneficial effects on bladder overactivity partly via activation of Kv7 channels expressed in bladder tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Altered bone metabolism has been reported in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia treated with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib. Several studies have shown that imatinib inhibits the differentiation and activity of osteoclasts in vitro, whereas the effects of imatinib on osteoblast differentiation are less clear. In this study osteoblast differentiation was induced in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) by treatment with bone morphogenetic protein 2 in vitro. Imatinib inhibited proliferation of hMSCs in a dose-dependent manner. Even though imatinib promoted early osteoblast differentiation assessed by alkaline phosphate activity, mineralization measured by Alizarin Red staining (ARS) was reduced by imatinib. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of imatinib on mineralization was most prominent at low concentrations of imatinib. When we measured the relative mRNA expression levels of Runx2, we found that Runx2 expression was higher in imatinib-treated (5 μM) cultures at early time points during differentiation. On the other hand, the expression of Osterix late during differentiation was lower in imatinib-treated (5 μM) cultures, corresponding to the ARS results. Thus, the effect of imatinib on osteoblast differentiation is not only dependent on the drug concentration, but indeed also on the maturation stage of the cells. This finding might partly explain why previous studies on the effects of imatinib osteoblast differentiation have shown different results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dynamics of the social composition of the population might influence the interpretation of statements of the increasing gap of social inequality in life expectancy. The aim of the study was to estimate trends during a quarter of a century in social inequality in life expectancy and to compare results based on different social stratifications. Methods: Life tables by sex and various levels of education and income were constructed for each year in the period 1987-2011 by linking individual data from nationwide registers comprising information on all Danish citizens on date of birth, date of death, education and income. Trends in life expectancies were compared for different categories of social grouping of the population. Results: When categories of educational level were kept fixed, implying a decreasing proportion of persons with a short education, the educational inequality in life expectancy increased. Thus, the difference in life expectancy at age 30 between men with primary or lower secondary education and men with tertiary education increased from 4.8 years in 1987 to 6.4 years in 2011. For women the difference increased from 3.7 years in 1987 to 4.7 in 2011. A similar growing social disparity was observed when educational level was based on quartiles established from prescribed length of education. A considerable increasing inequality was reached for men when the population was divided in quartiles of equivalent disposable income, whereas the change was only modest for women. Conclusions: During the past 25 years, the social gap in life expectancy has widened in Denmark. This conclusion could not be explained by changes of the social compositions of the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this work an electrokinetic remediation cell for copper mine tailings using sinusoidal electric field was analyzed. The sinusoidal electric field was obtained by applying simultaneously continuous-alternating voltages; in this work an alternating voltage of high frequency was applied. The system was tested considering the effect of: (1) the effective voltage applied to the cell and (2) the polarity reversal of the cell. According to the conditions studied in this investigation, the laboratory results showed that a high frequency sinusoidal electric field improves the EKR process, and increasing the effective voltage improves the remediation action, especially when a polarity inversion is present, which reduces polarization during the process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The arsenic content in wastewater is of major concern in copper mineral processing. Typically, a complex wastewater treatment is needed with a combination of chemical and physical processes. Electrocoagulation (EC) has shown its potential for arsenic removal due to the formation of ferric hydroxide-arsenate precipitates but the acidic conditions in the wastewater disfavours the hydroxide formation. This work evaluates the feasibility of EC combined with addition of zero valent iron nanoparticles in the treatment process. The results showed that copper smelter wastewater could be treated efficiently with EC and presence of nanoparticles. The treatment with EC or nanoparticles alone was less efficient. Increasing the concentration of nanoparticles during EC did not increase the efficiency accordingly. The arsenic removal was favoured by an increase of the current density during EC but only until a limiting current density; thereafter the anodes got partly passivated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), a marker of renal tubular damage, predicts progression in non-diabetic chronic kidney. We evaluated urinary (u)-NGAL as a predictor of progression in diabetic nephropathy in type 1 diabetic (T1D) patients. Methods: As a substudy of a 4-year randomized, intervention study evaluating low-protein diet in T1D patients with diabetic nephropathy, 78 patients were studied with yearly measurements of u-NGAL (ELISA, BioPorto). Outcome: Decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (51Cr-EDTA), and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or death. Results: Mean age 40.7 (8.2) years and 50 men. 13 patients developed ESRD or died. Baseline GFR (mean, SD): 68 (31) ml/min/1.73 m2. Baseline u-NGAL [geometric mean (95% CI)] and GFR were 15.6 ng/24 h (11.8-20.7) and 68 (31) ml/min/1.73 m2. During follow-up, an increase in u-NGAL [geometric mean (95% CI)] of 15%/year (4-27) and a decline in GFR of 3.7 (3.0) ml/min/year were observed. Baseline u-NGAL was not associated with the decline in GFR. Elevated u-NGAL at baseline (log-transformed) predicted death and ESRD (HR 3.8, 95% CI 1.04-14.0), however not after adjustment for known progression promoters (HR 2.0, p = 0.6). Conclusion: Elevated u-NGAL was not related to decline in GFR during a 4-year follow-up. Elevated u-NGAL was associated with the development of ESRD and death, but not after adjustment. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lobectomy using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) still is a controversial operation despite its many observed benefits. The controversy may be due to difficulties performing the procedure. This study addresses a standardized anterior approach facilitating the operation. Methods: This report describes 156 VATS lobectomies performed with a uniform anterior three-port technique. The surgeon and the assistant stand on the abdominal side of the patient, and the setup is independent of the lobe to be resected. Results: From 2005 to 2007, 156 VATS lobectomies and 13 conversions (7.7%) were performed with an anterior three-port technique. No mortality occurred among the VATS lobectomies during a 30-day period. The major comorbidity rate was 78%. The comorbidities included former thoracic surgery (9%) or a history of another cancer (22%), indicating potentially difficult surgery and a nonselected population. The majority (92%) of the patients had lung cancer. The major postoperative problem was air leakage, which usually prolongs the tube time and the in-hospital stay, but a 'no-touch fissure' technique significantly reduced the median tube time to 4 days and the postoperative hospital stay to 5 days. Conclusions: This study shows that VATS lobectomies can be performed using a standardized anterior approach with low rates of conversion and morbidity. A 'no-touch fissure' technique lowers the postoperative tube time, the in-hospital stay, and the number of patients with prolonged air leakage. A uniform anterior approach facilitates VATS lobectomy and makes this advanced procedure more easily adaptable by many surgeons familiar with an open anterior approach. The findings show that VATS lobectomy can be performed safely for a large proportion of lung cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the Palaeogene deposits on several localities on Wollaston Forland, Sabine Ø and Hold with Hope in North-East Greenland in 2010. It believes that the Palaeogene sediments in the areas comprise Paleocene and earliest Eocene strata with hiatus that could span the major part of the Selandian and Thanetian. It also notes that the age of the underlying Cretaceous deposits east of the fault in Haredal is Early-Middle Campanian.

Abstract: Repeated phencyclidine (PCP) administration in mice reproduces several histopathological features of schizophrenia, such as reduced synaptophysin and parvalbumin mRNA expression in the frontal cortex. These changes can be prevented by co-administering the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonist SSR180711 with PCP, but it is not known to what extent PCP-induced changes can be normalized once they have already occurred. Here we use semi-quantitative in situ hybridization to show that repeated administration of SSR180711 (3mg/kg b.i.d. for 5 days) subsequent to repeated PCP administration (10mg/kg/day for 10 days) is able to mitigate the reduction of synaptophysin mRNA expression induced by PCP in two prefrontal cortical regions, the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the ventrolateral orbitofrontal cortex (VLO). This effect is accompanied by a normalization of the PCP-induced increase in Arc mRNA expression in the same regions. In contrast, subsequent administration of SSR180711 does not affect PCP-induced decreases in parvalbumin mRNA in the mPFC, and glutamate decarboxylase 67 mRNA in the mPFC or VLO. These data demonstrate that it is possible to restore some, but not all, of the molecular dysregulations induced by repeated PCP administration with an α7 nAChR agonist. They also suggest that the previously demonstrated cognitive improvement with SSR180711 subsequent to PCP treatment does not require normalization of parvalbumin expression, but may instead be related to a restoration of synaptophysin and/or Arc levels in the frontal cortex. These data lend support to the potential for development of α7 nAChR agonists for the treatment of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), a marker of renal tubular damage, predicts progression in non-diabetic chronic kidney. We evaluated urinary (u)-NGAL as a predictor of progression in diabetic nephropathy in type 1 diabetic (T1D) patients. Methods: As a substudy of a 4-year randomized, intervention study evaluating low-protein diet in T1D patients with diabetic nephropathy, 78 patients were studied with yearly measurements of u-NGAL (ELISA, BioPorto). Outcome: Decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (51Cr-EDTA), and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or death. Results: Mean age 40.7 (8.2) years and 50 men. 13 patients developed ESRD or died. Baseline GFR (mean, SD): 68 (31) ml/min/1.73 m2. Baseline u-NGAL [geometric mean (95% CI)] and GFR were 15.6 ng/24 h (11.8-20.7) and 68 (31) ml/min/1.73 m2. During follow-up, an increase in u-NGAL [geometric mean (95% CI)] of 15%/year (4-27) and a decline in GFR of 3.7 (3.0) ml/min/year were observed. Baseline u-NGAL was not associated with the decline in GFR. Elevated u-NGAL at baseline (log-transformed) predicted death and ESRD (HR 3.8, 95% CI 1.04-14.0), however not after adjustment for known progression promoters (HR 2.0, p = 0.6). Conclusion: Elevated u-NGAL was not related to decline in GFR during a 4-year follow-up. Elevated u-NGAL was associated with the development of ESRD and death, but not after adjustment. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies on adults have indicated that lower spirometric lung function may be associated with increased systemic inflammation, but no studies have investigated if this association is already present in adolescence. We explored the temporal relationship between changes in lung function and concentrations of plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) in a population-based cohort study at ages 14 and 20 years using a high-sensitivity CRP assay. CRP measurements were performed in a total of 420 subjects at mean age of 13.9 years. Of these, 262 subjects (62%) participated in the follow-up investigation at mean age of 20.1 years. Levels of log-CRP at age 14 were not significantly associated with forced expiratory volume (FEV) or FEV/ forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio at age 20, nor with the change in FEV, FVC or FEV/FVC ratio between 14 and 20 years after controlling for body mass index (BMI), airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), asthma, smoking, sex, and height at 14 years, and change in height between 14 and 20 years. Sex, BMI, AHR, ECP and change in height between 14 and 20 years were identified as independent factors associated with the change in FEV, FVC and FEV/FVC ratio in adolescence. We did not find an association between CRP levels at age 14 and change in lung function by age 20; whereas, sex, change in height, BMI, AHR and ECP were associated with lung function change in adolescence. Our findings indicate that systemic inflammation is of less importance for change in lung function in adolescence. Please cite this paper as: Nybo M, Hansen HS, Siersted HC and Rasmussen F. No relationship between lung function and high-sensitive C-reactive protein in adolescence. The Clinical Respiratory Journal 2010; 4: 230-236. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Mining activities generate large amounts of wastewater, which contain heavy metals of elevated concentration according to legislative threshold values. Therefore, treatment is necessary, and there has been a recent focus on more environmentally friendly methods. One of these is biosorption, where heavy metals are adsorbed from the wastewater via materials of biological origin. In this work copper sorption capacity, kinetics and isotherms of different low-cost residual agricultural materials was studied. Seven different materials were investigated: peanut shells, nut shells, plum seeds, eucalyptus bark, olive pips, peach stones, and pine sawdust. The best sorption results were obtained in acidic pH for olive pips, peach stones and pine sawdust. Furthermore, it was observed that at higher pH, a longer duration of time is required before equilibrium is established. In general, the better biosorbents were found to be peach stones and pine sawdust with a sorption capacity at acidic pH around 10–15mgCug−1 biosorbent. In addition it was found, that the Ho and McKay second order model described the sorption kinetics very satisfactorily. Both Langmuir and Freundlich models described the equilibrium sorption isotherms well for the biosorbents studied – with the last model being slightly better. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Selandien [58 Ma (PP3c-d)] Tyr sand in the Nini area, Siri Fairway, Danish North Sea, is severely influenced by the syn-depositional movement of the Nini Salt Diapir. The sand is faulted and remobilized into a degree where no original depositional signature can be recognized. The Tyr sand is drilled (and cored) by a number of wells, and the sand is never found in the same stratigraphic position. In some wells, the Tyr sand is injected down into the chalk of the Danian Ekofisk Formation, whereas other wells show the Tyr sand embedded in the Selandien Vile Member claystone, with varying degree of remobilization. The Tyr sand is thin (2–7 m) and is therefore below seismic resolution and close to seismic detection. Standard reflection seismic data has proven problematic in determining the actual thickness and spatial distribution of the thin Tyr sand located within or immediately above the chalk. A simultaneous AVO (amplitude vs. offset) inversion using time-aligned angle stack seismic data, has improved resolution of the thin and complex reservoir, allowing a better understanding of the remobilization processes occurring above the rising salt diapir, and thereby an improved understanding of the reservoir and its performance. Three different remobilization features are described: injection into the chalk, injection up along fault planes and compactional driven injection. The force for the remobilization spans in orders of magnitude from metre scale phenomena, to injections of 100s of metres, moving millions of tons of material and fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Tesofensine, a novel triple monoamine reuptake inhibitor, produces a significant weight loss in humans. The present study aimed at characterizing the weight-reducing effects of tesofensine in a rat model of diet-induced obesity. Sibutramine and rimonabant were used as reference comparators. Compared to baseline, long-term treatment with tesofensine (28days, 1.0 or 2.5mg/kg, p.o.) resulted in a significant, dose-dependent and sustained weight loss of 5.7 and 9.9%, respectively. Sibutramine (7.5mg/kg, p.o.) treatment caused a sustained weight loss of 7.6%, whereas the employed dose of rimonabant (10mg/kg, p.o.) only produced a transient weight reduction. While all compounds exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on food intake which gradually wore off, the hypophagic effect of tesofensine was longer lasting than sibutramine and rimonabant. In contrast to tesofensine, the body weight of pair-fed rats returned to baseline at the end of the study, which may indicate that tesofensine stimulated energy expenditure. The differential efficacy on weight reduction was also reflected in lowered body fat depots, as tesofensine and sibutramine most efficiently reduced abdominal and subcutaneous fat mass which was paralleled by reduced plasma lipid levels. In an oral glucose tolerance test, only tesofensine significantly suppressed the plasma insulin response below the level that could be obtained by paired feeding, indicating that tesofensine further improved glycemic control. In conclusion, the robust weight loss with long-term tesofensine treatment is likely due to a combined synergistic effect of appetite suppression and increased energy expenditure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The arsenic content in wastewater is of major concern for copper smelters. A typical complex wastewater treatment is needed with a combination of chemical and physical processes. Electrocoagulation (EC) has shown its potential for arsenic removal due to the formation of ferric hydroxide-arsenate precipitates. This work evaluates the feasibility of EC as a treatment process at various stages during conventional copper smelter wastewater treatment - with a focus on arsenic. The reactor used is a batch airlift electrocoagulator. The results showed that raw copper smelter wastewater was difficult to treat for arsenic and heavy metals with EC, mainly due to the very low pH. On the other hand, after a preliminary Ca(OH)2 treatment for sulphate and heavy metal removal, arsenic could be removed totally by EC. In addition, EC could also be applied as a final remediation control tool for arsenic since the national threshold value for wastewater discharge could rapidly be reached when the conventional method did not clean the wastewater sufficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical peroxidation (ECP) is a method that recently has been applied in the treatment of heavy metal polluted wastewater. This method is based on the anodic dissolution of iron to ferrous ions that reacts with H2O2 to produce tiny particles of ferric oxides. These oxides adsorb metals efficiently from aqueous solutions. In the present study, the technique was tested experimentally on copper smelter wastewaters with high concentrations of copper and arsenic. A completely mixed airlift batch reactor was used, and the copper and arsenic removal was measured both for synthetic and real wastewater samples. The concentric iron electrodes acted as ferrous ion source when applying a constant direct current with current reversal every minute and the H2O2 was added dropwise. Initial pH was fixed at 3.5, 5.0 and 6.5, respectively. The best results with the synthetic wastewater showed >99% removal of copper and 80% removal of arsenic (at pH 6.5). When treating the real wastewater samples, both arsenic and copper could be removed more than 99% for all pH levels studied. It can be concluded that presence of other substances in the real wastewater favours the arsenic adsorption and/or precipitation. The copper and arsenic removal velocity was found to be dependent of pH—with the fastest removal at pH 3.5. The ECP could be regarded as a promising remediation method for treating highly contaminated wastewaters since arsenic (from 1000 mg L−1) and copper (from 300 mg L−1) was removed nearly completely from copper smelter wastewaters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work an electrodialytic remediation cell for copper mine tailings using sinusoidal electric field was analyzed, in order to increase the removal efficiency. The sinusoidal electric field was obtained by applying simultaneously continuous-alternating voltages; in this work an alternating voltage of low frequency was applied. The system was tested considering the effect of: (1) the effective voltage applied to the cell, (2) the period for the alternating voltage, (3) remediation time, and (4) copper complexing capacity of citric acid. According to the conditions studied in this investigation, the laboratory results showed that decreasing the effective voltage improves the remediation action, due to polarity reversal of the system, which reduces polarization during the process, but in terms of the period for the alternating voltage there is no effect. As expected the remediation time and copper complexing capacity of citric acid improves the amount of remediated material and the remediation action in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Based on the naturally occurring stilbene, Resveratrol, a series of novel stilbene derivatives were synthesized, which have the ability to induce the expression of the ApoA-I gene. Several compounds equally or more potent than Resveratrol were identified. trans-4,4′-Dihydroxy-2-methoxystilbene was the most potent (4.6× more potent than Resveratrol). These compounds provide an early lead into new drugs to treat atherosclerosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper investigates the short-run macroeconomic impact of aid in small developing countries (SDCs) by using a vector auto regression (VAR) model to study the impact of aid on net import (absorption) and domestic demand (spending). We focus on average country effects within two country sub-groups, and find substantial differences between 'aid-dependent' SDCs and other SDCs that are more dependent on natural resources, tourism or financial services. In aid-dependent SDCs, aid absorption more or less equals spending, although only half of the aid flow is absorbed and spent. In the non-aid-dependent group, aid does not seem to be absorbed or spent in any systematic fashion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: Thoracoscopic (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)) lobectomy is a safe and effective method for treating early-stage lung cancer. Despite this, it is still not widely practised, which could be due to a shallow learning curve. We have evaluated the surgical outcome in a training programme at an institution with an established VATS lobectomy programme. We present the surgical data and outcome of the first 50 intended VATS lobectomies performed by a consultant in training as the primary surgeon. Methods: Data were obtained from a prospectively registered surgical database consisting of 262 consecutively intended VATS lobectomies. A single consultant performed 212 intended VATS lobectomies. His first 50 intended VATS lobectomies were excluded, as they were considered to be his learning curve, leaving 162 intended VATS lobectomies, of which 12 were converted to open lobectomy, performed from January 2005 to April 2008. Fifty intended VATS lobectomies were performed by a consultant in a training programme for VATS lobectomies, of which three were converted to open lobectomy from April 2007 to April 2008. The training consultant was experienced in open thoracic surgery and had performed more than 200 minor VATS procedures prior to the training programme. The surgical data and outcome between the 47 VATS lobectomies were compared with the 150 VATS lobectomies performed by the experienced consultant using statistical analysis. Results: There were significantly better results for the training consultant regarding prolonged air leak, chest tube duration and length of stay, which probably reflects the careful selection of the patients favouring the training consultant. The operation time was significant longer for the consultant in training (p <0.0001). Conclusions: With careful selection of patients, VATS lobectomy can be taught safely in a surgical institution experienced in VATS lobectomies. Using statistical analysis, the surgical outcome for the training consultant was acceptable in comparison to the outcome of the experienced consultant. The consultant in training did spend more time in the operating theatre (p <0.0001) and we recommend taking that into account when planning future training programmes in VATS lobectomy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]