Spectrum Scientific (United States)

Differential light scattering techniques appear to represent an attractive physical method for the rapid identification of various microorganisms. Certain general results of inverse scattering theory suggest strongly that characteristic of each distinct microorganism that scatters light is an essentially unique scattering pattern, i.e., unique differential scattered intensity and polarization. Although a mathematically rigorous inversion procedure seems impractical at this time, the use of detailed differential scattered intensity data as an identification fingerprint shows considerable. promise. Published measurements on nonbiological scatterers confirm this possibility. A variety of calculations are presented that contrast the expected scattering characteristics of certain microorganisms such as Bacillus subtilis, B. anthracis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. aureus, Escherichia coli, and the spores of B. mcgaterium and B. cereus. Experimental and instrumentation difficulties and possible procedures are discussed. A review and laboration of some applicable features of Rayleigh-Gans scattering are included as an appendix.

Objective: Anxiety measurement tools have been developed for major health-threatening diseases such as SARS and MERS. There is no specific measurement tool for measuring the anxiety caused by Corona. The purpose of this study was to validate the Corona-related Anxiety Scale in the Iranian sample. Method: The research method was a descriptive correlational.308 individuals participated in the study through online recall. An 18-item Corona-related anxiety inventory was used to collect the data. The data were analyzed by using Guttman's λ2 and Cronbach's alpha internal consistency method. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using Lisrel-8.8 software was used to evaluate the tool construct validity. To standardize the raw scores, they were converted to standard T scores and percentile rank using Jmetrik-4.1.1 software and were prepared as normative tables. Findings: The Guttman's λ2 value for the whole questionnaire was obtained as (λ = 0.922), Cronbach's alpha coefficient for psychological symptoms as (α = 0.879), physical symptoms as (α = 0.861), and for the whole questionnaire as (α= 0.919). The data of this research fit the two-factor model properly. Standard scores tables were plotted, and the range of scores of the questionnaire factors and total score of Corona-related anxiety severity was divided into three domains: mild, moderate, and severe. Conclusion: Corona-related anxiety inventory has good validity in preliminary validation and can be used as a valid and scientific tool for measuring Corona-related anxiety.

Background. The efficacy of neurofeedback training was evaluated in 12 children in the autistic spectrum with matched controls, based on established training protocols for other conditions with similar symptoms.

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of early physical therapy intervention on treatment outcomes for workers with acute low back injuries. A total of 3867 cases were randomly selected from the database of a large occupational health care provider. Cases were assigned to either the early therapy intervention group or one of the two comparison groups on the basis of their delay to physical therapy. The treatment outcomes for the three groups were compared. The results showed that patients in the early therapy intervention had more favorable outcomes than the two comparison groups. Specifically, patients in the early intervention group had fewer physician visits, fewer restricted workdays, fewer days away from work, and shorter case duration. These results provide a strong indication for the effectiveness of early therapy intervention. The financial implications of the findings is discussed.

In this paper, we investigate existence of long-run and short-run equilibrium relationships among the Borsa Istanbul Industrial Index (SINAI), real effective exchange rate (REER), Dollar Index (DXY) and Euro/Turkish Lira exchange rate in Turkey. Applying ARDL cointegration analysis on monthly data for the 2005:01–2013:12 period, we find that the SINAI Index is positively related to the Dollar Index and Euro/TL exchange rate. But, there is no meaningful relationship between real effective exchange rate and SINAI. The results of vector error correction model reveal that the SINAI is positively related to the real effective exchange rate while SINAI is negatively related to the Dollar Index and Euro/TL exchange rate in a statistically significant way

Distribution of bacteria influential on the algal growth during the process of development and decay of Gymnodinium nagasakiense red tide and their effects on the growth of G. nagasakiense and Skeletonema costatum were investigated in Uranouchi Inlet, Kochi. Seawater samples collected around red tide period of G. nagasakiense were filtered through either 0.8μm or 0.2μm filters. Into these filtrates were inoculated axenic cultures of G. nagasakiense or S. costatum. After in-cubation, cell numbers of G. nagasakiense or S. costatum in 0.8μm-filtrates were counted and were compared with those in 0.2μm-filtrates to estimate the bacterial effect on the growth of the two algae. During the time of the development of G. nagasakiense red tide when diatoms were still predominated, natual bacteria were stimulative for both G. nagasakiense and S. costatum. The stimulative effect for S. costatum, however, solely decreased just before the peak of G. nagasakiense red tide, while that for G. nagasakiense was still kept. On the contrary, bacterial effects for both two algae were inhibitory in the decline process of G. nagasakiense bloom. These results indicate that natual communities of bacteria in 0.8μm-filtrates had significant effects on the growth of specific algal species and suggested that they play an important role on the development and decay of algal bloom, in addition to the succession of species predominating.

This study was conducted to develop a dry type of pellet with a high palatability and acceptabili-ty for yellowtail in order to reduce aquaculture wastes and the occurrence of various fish diseases due to raw fish feeding as well as to improve the quality of the cultured fish. After several feeding trials a completely new type of dry pellet (soft-dry) with a high palatability was succesfully produced by a twin extruder. This pellet contained 8-12% moisture but softer than ordinary hard pellets. Its dietary value was compared by feeding juvenile yellowtail weighing 340g on average with moist pellets prepared by mixing sardine and mash in a ratio of 8:2 or soft-dry for about 4 months in net cages (8 × 8 × 8m). Fish fed the moist pellets grew up to about 980g, while the average body weight of fish fed soft-dry was 1180g, quite higher than those on moist pellets. The average feed gain ratio on dry matter basis during 4 months feeding was 1.50 for soft-dry and 1.79 for the moist pellet, respectively. The survival rate was more than 85% in both the groups. Thus, the newly developed soft-dry pellet has been found to have a nutritional quality superior to the moist pellet.

A brief account of the concept of working memory is presented, followed by a more detailed description of one sub-component of the system, namely the phonological loop. The question of the functional significance of this component of working memory is discussed. Evidence suggests a minor role in language comprehension, together with a much more substantial role in the capacity to acquire novel phonological, and possibly grammatical forms. It is suggested that the phonological loop has evolved as a mechanism for language acquisition.

BACKGROUND: Acne vulgaris is an acute inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous units. The bastion of treatment for acne vulgaris has been the use of topical and systemic therapies. Despite many modalities available for treatment, there exists an imperative need for effective noninvasive treatments that reduce the risks of medication side effects. OBJECTIVE: To study the safety and efficacy of the potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) 532 nm pulsed laser for the treatment of acne vulgaris. METHODS: Twenty-six subjects, clinically evaluated with moderate facial acne, were enrolled in this single-center prospective trial. The entire facial area for each subject was divided in half and randomly designated as either a treatment or a control side. Each subject was treated with four laser exposures using a KTP 532 nm laser with continuous contact cooling. The results were assessed at 1 and 4 weeks post-final treatment. Primary outcome measures were Michaëlsson acne severity score and adverse treatment effects. Secondary outcome measures included subjective evaluations from the investigator and patients assessing their overall percent satisfaction. RESULTS: Primary outcome analysis in the Michaëlsson acne severity score demonstrated a mean 34.9% (p = .011) and 20.7% (p = .25) reduction at the 1-week and 4-week post-final treatments, respectively. Subjective investigator evaluations of overall percent satisfaction indicated that all patients demonstrated a minimum 50% overall satisfaction in treatment outcomes at the 4-week follow-up period. No side effects were encountered. CONCLUSION: Use of the KTP 532 nm laser for the treatment and management of acne vulgaris is both safe and effective, with positive results enduring up to 4 weeks post-treatment.

Fly ash samples from two different generating plants have been examined by laser light scattering techniques. Individual particles below approximately 3-microm diam, found to be primarily spherical, were electrostatically levitated in a single-particle light scattering photometer while their differential light scattering (DLS) patterns were recorded. During this measurement period, the relative humidity within the scattering cell could be varied to study the water accretion properties of the suspended particle. The recorded DLS patterns are used to derive the complex refractive index, size, and accreted layer thickness of the particle. Each particle appears to have a different refractive index, probably indicative of the varied microscopic conditions of formation. Even at very high relative humidities, the fly ash particle surface does not appear to have a natural affinity for water, contrary to popular expectations.

Large-scale red tides of Heterocapsa sp. (Dinophyceae) occurred in Ago Bay during the summer and autumn of 1992. The seawater was discolored to yellow brown, and the maximum cell density was 87, 420 cells/ml. The summer red tide occurred from mid to late August, and the autumn red tide from late October to late November. Water temperatures and the salinities were 23.8 to 26.9 °C and 33.2 to 33.4 during the summer red tide, and 16.9 to 22.2 °C and 30.5 to 32.2 during the autumn red tide. Thus, Heterocapsa sp. can form red tides over a wide range of water temperature. The autumn red tide developed slowly as compared to the summer one. This may be due in part to the lower water temperature in autumn. Both red tides were preceded by heavy rainfall and/or vertical mixing of the seawater associated with a typhoon. It is suggested that these physical events promoted and supported the growth of this species. The red tides caused mass mortality of pearl oysters (Pinctada fucata); however, mortalities of cultured and feral fish were not observed. During the red tides, pearl oysters closed their shells tightly and died despite the high concentration of dissolved oxygen. This is the first report of Heterocapsa sp. red tides causing mass mortaliy of pearl oysters in Japan.

The black tiger prawn Penaeus monodon is cultured in barckish water ponds for better growth rate by farmers despite being a marine species. This study on the free amino acid (FAA) variation in the hemolymph and muscle of the prawn in different salinities revealed that the composition of FAA in the hemolymph of 30‰ acclimatized prawns was similar to that in the muscle, indicating this is indeed a physiologically marine-adapted species. The composition of FAA in the muscle from prawns acclimatized to different salinities were similar to each other. The very high concentration of FAA which belong to essential amino acids in the hemolymph of 15‰ acclimatized prawns suggested that these FAA could be more available for tissue to take up at this salinity. Significant amounts of urea were found in the hemolymph of 45‰ acclimatized prawns, suggesting that urea was purposely kept as an inexpensive osmolite. The ability to use urea to adapt to a high salinity environment in invertebrates might have developed long before sharks and rays adapted urea as an osmolite.

The growth and feed efficiency responses of red sea bream fingerlings to ω3 fatty acids were determined by supplementing a corn oil diet and a lauric acid diet with linolenic acid and/or ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The fish fed a linolenic acid supplement showed poor growth and feed efficiency even at a 3 or 4% level, in comparison with those fed the control diet YR-1 of pollack residual oil. PUFA fed at a 2% level supported excellent growth and feed efficiency as did the pollack residual oil.

Background Acne vulgaris is an acute inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous units. The bastion of treatment for acne vulgaris has been the use of topical and systemic therapies. Despite many modalities available for treatment, there exists an imperative need for effective noninvasive treatments that reduce the risks of medication side effects. Objective To study the safety and efficacy of the potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) 532 nm pulsed laser for the treatment of acne vulgaris. Methods Twenty-six subjects, clinically evaluated with moderate facial acne, were enrolled in this single-center prospective trial. The entire facial area for each subject was divided in half and randomly designated as either a treatment or a control side. Each subject was treated with four laser exposures using a KTP 532 nm laser with continuous contact cooling. The results were assessed at 1 and 4 weeks post–final treatment. Primary outcome measures were Michaëlsson acne severity score and adverse treatment effects. Secondary outcome measures included subjective evaluations from the investigator and patients assessing their overall percent satisfaction. Results Primary outcome analysis in the Michaëlsson acne severity score demonstrated a mean 34.9% (p = .011) and 20.7% (p = .25) reduction at the 1-week and 4-week post–final treatments, respectively. Subjective investigator evaluations of overall percent satisfaction indicated that all patients demonstrated a minimum 50% overall satisfaction in treatment outcomes at the 4-week follow-up period. No side effects were encountered. Conclusion Use of the KTP 532 nm laser for the treatment and management of acne vulgaris is both safe and effective, with positive results enduring up to 4 weeks post-treatment.

Carbonation of concrete is one of the most important factors for durabilityc of concrete structures. Although there are some formulae to predict the carbonation speed, quite few experimental studies have been reported concerning the influence of environmental moisture and temperature on the carbonation speed, so far. In this paper, a parametric study was performed to investigate the influence of environmental moisture and temperature on the carbonation speed of mortar. While accelerated carbonation tests were carried out, water cement ratio, relative humidity and temperature were changed. In the moisture condition of 40-50 % RH, the carbonation was mostly accelerated. The higher the temperature, the faster the speed of carbonation became. Temperature increased proportionally in the tested range from 15°C to 37.5°C. Finally carbonation speed of concrete was estimated all over Japan on the basis of the mean values of climate data (relative humidity and temperature) in each region reported by Japan Meteorological Agency.

The changes in the rigor mortis of fish body and the breaking strength of the muscle were com-pared using tilapia. During ice storage, the rigor index measured by the modified Cutting's method reached maximum 9h after death and the full rigor lasted for 4 days, while the breaking strength of the muscle became maximum 3h after death, then decreased continuously for 24h and then did not change. This result strongly suggested that both changes should be clearly distingu-ished. Therefore, we proposed that the change of the apparent rigor of fish body is expressed as “pre-, in and post-rigor” and that the change of the texture of fish muscle is expressed as “tough and weak”. The weakening of muscle may be explained not as a proteolytic breakdown of myofibrils but as a decomposition of the muscle structure, because no proteolytic reaction was detected by the examination of TCA-soluble material and by the analysis on SDS-PAGE.

The bio-economy of the natural population of Strongylocentrotus intermedius, based on the census of the sea urchin and the seaweeds by means of quadrat work, was studied at the rocky shoal of Ikantai, southern Hokkaido. The balance sheet of population metabolism expressed as a unit of dry matter or of nitrogen for the echinoid population was that of the credit side of the balance, where 60.7g/m2/yr or 1.1g-nitrogen/m2/yr was initial biomass; 43.1g/m2/yr or 1.3g-nitrogen/m2/yr was population growth; 46.4g/m2/yr or 0.9g-nitrogen/m2/yr was immigration; and only 0.14g/m2/yr or 0.003g-nitrogen/m2/yr was recruitment. This sum total was divided into the following way on the debit side of the balance, loss of population due to emigration and natural mortality was 72.6g/m2/yr or 1.6g-nitrogen/m2/yr; gametes ejected were 2.9g/m2/yr or 0.2g-nitrogen/m2/yr; and final biomass was 51.3g/m2/yr or 0.9g-nitrogen/m2/yr. Since the population growth of the sea urchin has been sponsored by 412.4g/m2/yr or 8.0g-nitrogen/m2/yr of Laminaria angustata and by 12.2g/m2/yr or 0.5g-nitrogen/m2/ /yr of Ulva pertusa, growth coefficient was about 10% in dry matter and production efficiency was about 4% in dry matter. The annual food consumption of the echinoid population corresponds to about half of the annual growth (production) of the seaweed community.

A simple method has been developed for control and prevention of polarization fade on a single output lead from a remotely located fiber-optic interferometer. The method has been demonstrated using a fiber-optic Michelson interferometer. In contrast to a previously suggested method, only a single detector is required. The technique has application for passive, remotely located sensors. Extension to balanced homodyne detection schemes and coherent communications is discussed.

An in vitro experiment was undertaken to investigate the physiological role of estrogen on the neuromechanism, especially the release of eggs induced by serotonin, in the ovary of the scallop Patinopecten yessoensis. Estradiol-17β(E2) had no direct action on the release of eggs from the ovarian pieces, whereas preincubation with E2 accelerated the release of eggs induced by incuba- tion with 10-7M and 10-6M serotonin (5-HT), depending upon the E2 concentration. In ad-dition, the accelerating effect of E2 was inhibited with aspirin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor) and ac-tinomycin D (RNA synthesis inhibitor). Therefore, it was suggested that prostaglandin (PG), functioning as a neuromodulator on the 5-HT action in the spawning of the scallop, is one of the factors which cause the promoting effect of E2 on 5-HT action, together with the induction of a protein formation via a genomic action, and that E2 may enhance the sensitivity to external stimuli in egg release with the progressing maturity of the scallop.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to define the epidemiologic properties and correlation of physiological and anatomical risk factors with the mortality rate among patients with thorax trauma and to ensure early prediction of severe trauma. METHODS: Files of 371 cases were retrospectively examined. Their initial state in the emergency department was analyzed in terms of mortality development. Age, gender, trauma mechanism, systolic blood pressure and respiration type on admission, accompanying injuries, thorax pathology, trauma scores, and treatment approaches in exitus and surviving cases were compared. Survival probabilities and unexpected mortality rates were computed using the Trauma Revised Score-Injury Severity Score (TRISS). RESULTS: Age, hypotension, pathologic respiration, blunt injury, accompanying injury, abdominal trauma, high Injury Severity Score (ISS), and low Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Revised Trauma Score (RTS), and TRISS were the factors affecting mortality, and presence of blunt injuries, TRISS <85, ISS >22 and GCS <13 were found to be independent prognostic factors. The strongest factor indicating mortality was TRISS. Thirty-four of 307 cases with survival probability of over 50% died. CONCLUSION: In the presence of factors affecting mortality, patients with thorax trauma should be evaluated as being in a high-risk group and treatment strategies must be aggressive. Case analysis based on the TRISS model would further reveal the mistakes and may improve patient care.