Evaluation of a Multisectoral Health Security Alliance Program Through Perceptions of Member States: African Partnership Outbreak Response Alliance (APORA).

Introduction: U.S. DoD global health engagements offer opportunities for strategic engagement and building capability in collaboration with foreign military and civilian counterparts.

Numerical Study on Flame Stabilization and NO Formation in a Novel Burner System for Sulfur Combustion.

Numerical simulations have been conducted for a novel double-concentric swirl burner, which is specifically designed for combustion of sulfur with a high power density. The burner serves as a major component of an enclosed conversion cycle, which uses elemental sulfur as a carbon-free chemical energy carrier for storing solar energy. The focus of the work is to assess operability of the burner and NO formation at fuel-lean conditions with an equivalence ratio of ϕ = 0.

Low Dose Carbon Black Nanoparticle Exposure Does Not Aggravate Allergic Airway Inflammation in Mice Irrespective of the Presence of Surface Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

Exposure to exogenous noxae, such as particulate matter, can trigger acute aggravations of allergic asthma-a chronic inflammatory airway disease. We tested whether Carbon Black nanoparticles (CBNP) with or without surface polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) aggravate an established allergic airway inflammation in mice. In an ovalbumin mouse model, Printex90 (P90), P90 coated with benzo[a]pyrene (P90-BaP) or 9-nitroanthracene (P90-9NA), or acetylene soot exhibiting a mixture of surface PAH (AS-PAH) was administered twice (70 µL, 100 µg/mL) during an established allergic airway inflammation.

Biological effects of carbon black nanoparticles are changed by surface coating with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Background: Carbon black nanoparticles (CBNP) are mainly composed of carbon, with a small amount of other elements (including hydrogen and oxygen). The toxicity of CBNP has been attributed to their large surface area, and through adsorbing intrinsically toxic substances, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). It is not clear whether a PAH surface coating changes the toxicological properties of CBNP by influencing their physicochemical properties, through the specific toxicity of the surface-bound PAH, or by a combination of both.

Modifications of carbon black nanoparticle surfaces modulate type II pneumocyte homoeostasis.

Inhalation uptake of carbon black nanoparticles (CBNP) bears the risk of morphological and functional lung impairment attributed to the highly reactive particle surface area. Chemical particle surface modifications might affect particle-cell interactions; however, thus far these alterations have not been determined. This is the first in vivo study comparing particle-induced acute lung injury using Printex(®)90 (Pr90, 7 µg), Printex®90 covered by benzo[a]pyrene or 9-nitroanthracene (BaP-Pr90, NA-Pr90, 7 µg, 15% BaP or NA by weight), and acetylene carbon black (CB) with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH-AB, 7 µg, 20% PAH by weight).

Lung alterations following single or multiple low-dose carbon black nanoparticle aspirations in mice.

Carbon black nanoparticle (CBNP) applications in high doses have been shown to be harmful to the lung. It is postulated that even small, environmentally relevant concentrations induce changes on lung homeostasis. The present study determined the impact of low-dose single and multiple CBNP (Printex 90) applications on mouse alveolar cell metabolism, especially inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters.

Thermochemistry and kinetics for 2-butanone-1-yl radical (CH2·C(═O)CH2CH3) reactions with O2.

Thermochemistry of reactants, intermediates, transition state structures, and products along with kinetics on the association of CH2·C(═O)CH2CH3 (2-butanone-1-yl) with O2 and dissociation of the peroxy adduct isomers are studied. Thermochemical properties are determined using ab initio (G3MP2B3 and G3) composite methods along with density functional theory (B3LYP/6-311g(d,p)). Entropy and heat capacity contributions versus temperature are determined from structures, vibration frequencies, and internal rotor potentials.

Screening of different metal oxide nanoparticles reveals selective toxicity and inflammatory potential of silica nanoparticles in lung epithelial cells and macrophages.

In cell culture studies, foetal calf serum (FCS) comprising numerous different proteins is added, which might coat the surface of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) and thus could profoundly alter their biological activities. In this study, a panel of industrially most relevant metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) was screened for toxic effects in A549 lung epithelial cells and RAW264.7 macrophages in the presence and absence of FCS.

Thermochemistry and reaction paths in the oxidation reaction of benzoyl radical: C6H5C•(═O).

Alkyl substituted aromatics are present in fuels and in the environment because they are major intermediates in the oxidation or combustion of gasoline, jet, and other engine fuels. The major reaction pathways for oxidation of this class of molecules is through loss of a benzyl hydrogen atom on the alkyl group via abstraction reactions. One of the major intermediates in the combustion and atmospheric oxidation of the benzyl radicals is benzaldehyde, which rapidly loses the weakly bound aldehydic hydrogen to form a resonance stabilized benzoyl radical (C6H5C(•)═O).

Reaction of the i-C4H5 (CH2CCHCH2) radical with O2.

The resonantly stabilized radical i-C(4)H(5) (CH(2)CCHCH(2)) is an important intermediate in the combustion of unsaturated hydrocarbons and is thought to be involved in the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons through its reaction with acetylene (C(2)H(2)) to form benzene + H. This study uses quantum chemistry and statistical reaction rate theory to investigate the mechanism and kinetics of the i-C(4)H(5) + O(2) reaction as a function of temperature and pressure, and unlike most resonantly stabilized radicals we show that i-C(4)H(5) is consumed relatively rapidly by its reaction with molecular oxygen. O(2) addition occurs at the vinylic and allenic radical sites in i-C(4)H(5), with respective barriers of 0.

[Microsurgical reconstruction of the pelvic floor after pelvic exenteration. Reduced morbidity and improved quality of life by an interdisciplinary concept].

Background: Pelvic exenteration for advanced or recurrent rectal cancer often results in complex defects associated with high complication rates and morbidity for the patients. The goal of therapy is therefore restoration of functional stability and adequate soft tissue coverage, thus enhancing the quality of life with limited life expectancy by an interdisciplinary approach.

Patients And Methods: We report on eight patients treated by combined interdisciplinary pelvic exenteration with resection of the sacrum and subsequent coverage of the pelvic floor defect with free latissimus dorsi muscle flaps.

Conformational and thermodynamic properties of gaseous levulinic acid.

Molecular modeling is used to determine low-energy conformational structures and thermodynamic properties of levulinic acid in the gas phase. Structure and IR vibrational frequencies are obtained using density functional and Møller-Plesset perturbation theories. Electronic energies are computed using G3//B3LYP and CBS-QB3 model chemistries.

HERG1 gene expression as a specific tumor marker in colorectal tissues.

Introduction: Colorectal carcinomas exhibit a frequent recurrence after curative surgery, which may partially be due to histopathologically inconspicuous minimal residual disease. Reliable markers for tumor cells in colorectal tissue are still missing. Therefore, in this study we compared the predictive value of the putative tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin-19 (CK19) and cytokeratin-20 (CK20) to that of a novel marker, the human ether-a-go-go-related gene (HERG1) K(+) channel, a suggested regulator of tumor cell proliferation.

Thermochemical properties, rotation barriers, and group additivity for unsaturated oxygenated hydrocarbons and radicals resulting from reaction of vinyl and phenyl radical systems with O2.

Oxidation of unsaturated and aromatic hydrocarbons in atmospheric and combustion processes results in formation of linear and cyclic unsaturated, oxygenated-hydrocarbon intermediates. The thermochemical parameters delatafH degrees 298, S degrees 298, and C(p)(f298)(T) for these intermediates are needed to understand their stability and reaction paths in further oxidation. These properties are not available for a majority of these unsaturated oxy-hydrocarbons and their corresponding radicals, even via group additivity methods.

Thermodynamic and ab initio analysis of the controversial enthalpy of formation of formaldehyde.

There are two values, -26.0 and -27.7 kcal mol(-1), that are routinely reported in literature evaluations for the standard enthalpy of formation, Delta(f) H(o)(298), of formaldehyde (CH(2)=O), where error limits are less than the difference in values.

Soot formation and oxidation in oscillating methane-air diffusion flames at elevated pressure.

Comparisons with respect to the sooting tendency are made between stationary diffusion flames and diffusion flames with pulsations induced by oscillating fuel flow. Time-resolved measurements of the soot particle properties in the flames are obtained by combining Rayleigh-scattering, laser-induced incandescence, and extinction measurements into the RAYLIX method. Furthermore, flame luminosity at 590 nm and OH*-chemoluminescence signals at 310 nm are monitored to obtain data regarding the flame structure.

Development of a measuring technique for simultaneous in situ detection of nanoscaled particle size distributions and gas temperatures.

Point measurements of time-resolved LII signals have been performed in sooting premixed low pressure flames. Soot particle size distribution and gas temperature in these flames are known from independent measurements. This data is used to validate parameters of an improved LII model, where special emphasis is taken on the accurate modelling of mass and heat transfer rates.

Size distributions of nanoscaled particles and gas temperatures from time-resolved laser-induced-incandescence measurements.

Laser-induced-incandescence (LII) signal decays are measured in sooting premixed atmospheric and low-pressure flames. Soot particle temperatures are obtained from LII signals measured at two wavelengths. Soot particle size distributions P(r) and flame temperatures T are measured spatially resolved by independent techniques.

Frequency of the Amsterdam criteria in a regional German cohort of patients with colorectal cancer.

Estimates of the colon cancer burden associated with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) vary from less than 1 % to more than 5 %. Amsterdam criteria fulfilled within a kindred (classic Amsterdam and Amsterdam II criteria) are widely used to identify patients prone to HNPCC. The present study was initiated to assess the frequency of the Amsterdam criteria within a regional German cohort of 207 patients with a history of colorectal cancer (CRC).

Treatment of Morbid Obesity Using an Adjustable Gastric Banding System.

Morbid obesity is a serious disease that is responsible for several co-morbid conditions. Patients with a body mass index of over 40 kg/m2 will require surgical intervention if a dietary program fails. In the US, patients who are morbidly obese number approximately 8 million.

[Video-laparoscopic placement of adjustable gastric banding (lap-band) in the treatment of morbid obesity. Preliminary results after 407 interventions].

Introduction: Morbid obesity is the most frequent nutritional disorder in developed countries. Bariatric surgery is one option for the definitive treatment of this disorder. We present 407 patients who underwent implantation of adjustable silicone gastric banding.

A detailed numerical study of the evolution of soot particle size distributions in laminar premixed flames.

In this work, two numerical techniques, viz. the method of moments and a discrete h-p-Galerkin method, have been applied for numerical simulation of soot formation in a laminar premixed acetylene/oxygen/argon flame. From the evolution of the PAH and the soot particle size distributions, new insight into the different processes of soot formation is provided.

Flamelet modeling of NO formation in laminar and turbulent diffusion flames.

The applicability of the laminar flamelet concept for the formation and destruction of nitric oxides in laminar and turbulent diffusion flames has been studied. In a first step, temperatures and species concentrations in an axisymmetric laminar diffusion flame have been calculated (i) by solving the detailed conservation equations and (ii) by applying the laminar flamelet concept. The main purpose of this step was the identification of differences between results from both approaches.

A prospective randomized trial of different laparoscopic gastric banding techniques for morbid obesity.

Background: Slippage of the stomach is the most common postoperative complication after laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding (LASGB) for morbid obesity. Retrogastric placement (RGP) of the band through the lesser sac can cause posterior slippage Incomplete suturing often is responsible for anterior slippage. A randomized prospective study was constructed to determine whether laparoscopic esophagogastric placement (EGP) is associated with a lower incidence of postoperative slippage and pouch dilation than RGP.

[A new technique for laparoscopic placement of the adjustable gastric band (LAP-band) for preventing slippage].

Background: Slippage (SP) of the stomach is the most common postoperative complication after laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding (LAS-GB) for morbid obesity.

Methods And Patients: A randomized prospective study was constructed in order to determine whether laparoscopic placement behind the cardia (RKP) is associated with a lower incidence of postoperative SP and pouch dilation than after a retrogastric placement (RGP) of the LAP band using a common technique. Morbidly obese patients presenting for LASGB were randomized to undergo either an RKP (n = 50) or an RGP (n = 51).