Displacement mechanism of binary competitive adsorption for aqueous divalent metal ions onto a novel IDA-chelating resin: isotherm and kinetic modeling.

Adsorptive properties for Cu (II), Pb (II) and Cd (II) onto an iminodiacetic acid (IDA) chelating resin were systematically investigated at the optimal pH-value in both single and binary solutions using batch experiments. The Langmuir isotherm model and the pseudo second-order rate equation could explain respectively the isotherm and kinetic experimental data for sole-component system with much satisfaction. The maximum adsorption capacity in single system for Cu (II), Pb (II) and Cd (II) was calculated to be 2.

A simple method of supplementation of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: use of fortified yogurt in healthy volunteers.

Background: A relative dietary ω-3 fatty acid deficiency exists in Western diets, and this deficiency may be associated with some chronic diseases. The aim of the present study was to supplement yogurt with docosahexaenoic acid and assess whether this fatty acid could be incorporated into plasma lipids.

Methods: We developed a stable emulsion of docosahexaenoic acid that was incorporated into yogurt.

Using Market Research to Characterize College Students and Identify Potential Targets for Influencing Health Behaviors.

Marketing campaigns, such as those developed by the tobacco industry, are based on market research, which defines segments of a population by assessing psychographic characteristics (i.e., attitudes, interests).

Effect of a fish oil-containing beverage on changes in plasma lipid fatty acids in patients with malabsorption.

Background: The aim of this pilot study was to assess tolerance of a beverage containing ω-3 fatty acids (fish oil) in patients with malabsorption receiving chronic parenteral nutrition (PN). The authors wanted to determine whether fish oil could be absorbed and incorporated into plasma fatty acids and reduce markers of inflammation.

Methods: This was a small intervention study in home-dwelling PN-dependent patients with chronic malabsorption.

Using self-assembled nanomaterials to inhibit the formation of metastatic cancer stem cell colonies in vitro.

The isolation of cells with stem-like properties from prostate tumors suggests the presence of a cancer stem cell (CSC) population, which may account for the initiation, progression, and metastasis as well as drug resistance of the disease. We hypothesized that containing, or at least immobilizing, the CSCs in a nano-self-assembling material might help prevent prostate tumor progression or metastasis. CSCs were plated in three conditions: 1) placed in 1% concentration self-assembled peptide (SAP) preequilibrate with culture medium; 2) placed in 3% concentration SAP preequilibrate with culture medium; and 3) in nonadherent culture.

Early development of essential fatty acid deficiency in rats: fat-free vs. hydrogenated coconut oil diet.

This study examined the effects of feeding an essential fatty acid deficient (EFAD) diet either without fat or with added hydrogenated coconut oil (HCO) on fatty acid profiles in rats. Both diets induced equivalent biochemical evidence of EFAD reflected by the triene/tetraene ratio in plasma phospholipids within 2 weeks. However, the HCO diet led to larger increases of 16:1n7 and 18:1n9 in muscle but smaller increases in fat tissue and plasma triglycerides than the fat-free diet, suggesting greater increases in hepatic de novo lipogenesis with the latter.

Detection of pathogenic elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus in routine trunk washes from healthy adult Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) by use of a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay.

Objective: To investigate the pathogenesis and transmission of elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV1) by analyzing various elephant fluid samples with a novel EEHV1-specific real-time PCR assay.

Animals: 5 apparently healthy captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) from the same herd.

Procedures: A real-time PCR assay was developed that specifically detects EEHV1.

CAEP position statement on cellphone use while driving.

Distracted driving caused by cellphone use is a significant source of needless injuries. These injuries place unnecessary financial burden, emotional stress and health care resource misuse on society. This paper states the Canadian Association of Emergency Physician's (CAEP's) position on cellphone use while driving.

Quantifying the effects of promoting smokeless tobacco as a harm reduction strategy in the USA.

Background: Snus (a form of smokeless tobacco) is less dangerous than cigarettes. Some health professionals argue that snus should be promoted as a component of a harm reduction strategy, while others oppose this approach. Major US tobacco companies (RJ Reynolds and Philip Morris) are marketing snus products as cigarette brand line extensions.

Improvement of xylanase production by thermophilic fungus Thermomyces lanuginosus SDYKY-1 using response surface methodology.

Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize medium composition for the production of a thermostable xylanase from T. lanuginosus SDYKY-1 using economical carbon and nitrogen sources (soybean meal and corncobs, respectively). Plackett-Burman (P-B) design was applied to evaluate the effects of nine variables (powdered corncobs, soybean meal, Tween-80, CaCl(2), MgSO(4)·7H(2)O, FeSO(4), KH(2)PO(4), initial pH and inoculum culture volume).

Interaction between thymidylate synthase and its cognate mRNA in zebrafish embryos.

Thymidylate synthase (TS), which catalyzes the de novo synthesis of dUMP, is an important target for cancer therapy. In this report, the effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and ZD1694 on the regulation of TS gene expression were evaluated in zebrafish embryos. Our results revealed that the expression of TS was increased by about six-fold when embryos were treated with 1.

[Discussion of the characteristic indexs in using three-dimensional fluorescence method to identify different crude oils].

The present paper investigates the influence of solvent purity on the test of three-dimensional fluorescence spectra, determines the process of its pre-purification, and studies the influence of the concentrations on the three-dimensional fluorescence characteristic indexes such as the characteristic peaks position, fluorescence intensity (F), and ratio (R) of fluorescence intensity when the phenomena of fluorescence quenching won't appear. The result shows that the concentration affects the value F and value R largely but its effect on the relative peak intensity (R(s)) is relatively small. Different crude oils has different value R(s).

Adsorption of divalent heavy metal ions onto IDA-chelating resins: simulation of physicochemical structures and elucidation of interaction mechanisms.

The adsorption performances, under static as well as dynamic conditions, for such metal ions as Cu(II), Pb(II) and Cd(II) toward chelating resins (IRC748 and NDC702) similarly containing iminodiacetic acid group but diverse pore structures, are systematically performed and deeply exploited. The physicochemical characteristics of both IDA-chelating resins are thoroughly explored by EA, FT-IR, SEM-EDX and PSD. Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order equation could satisfactorily describe the batch experimental data, based on which the equilibrium and kinetic parameters are calculated and compared.

Improved poly-gamma-glutamic acid production by chromosomal integration of the Vitreoscilla hemoglobin gene (vgb) in Bacillus subtilis.

In order to alleviate oxygen limitation and improve the yield of poly-gamma-glutamic acid (gamma-PGA) during fermentation, the Vitreoscilla hemoglobin gene (vgb) was integrated into the chromosome of Bacillus subtilis and expressed during gamma-PGA production. The activity of the expressed Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) was confirmed by CO-difference spectrum. Expression of VHb enhanced cell growth under high viscosity fermentation conditions 1.

Effects of glucose or fat calories in total parenteral nutrition on fat metabolism and systemic inflammation in rats.

This study compared the effects of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) by central vein with or without fat provided at maintenance energy requirement on fatty acid metabolism, de novo lipogenesis, and the risk of hepatic and systemic inflammation in rats. Study 1 was conducted in 2 groups: high glucose (HG), where fat-free TPN was given at maintenance levels of 180 kcal/(kg d), and low glucose (LG), where fat-free TPN containing 30% fewer calories at 126 kcal/(kg d) was provided by reducing 54 kcal/(kg d) from parenteral glucose. Study 2 contained 3 TPN groups: 1 LG group at 126 kcal/(kg d) and 2 groups at 180 kcal/(kg d) with 30% of total calories (54 kcal/[kg d]) either from soybean or fish oil emulsion.

Branding the rodeo: a case study of tobacco sports sponsorship.

Rodeo is one of the few sports still sponsored by the tobacco industry, particularly the US Smokeless Tobacco Company. Rodeo is popular in rural communities, where smokeless tobacco use is more prevalent. We used previously secret tobacco industry documents to examine the history and internal motivations for tobacco company rodeo sponsorship.

Tobacco industry consumer research on smokeless tobacco users and product development.

Since 2006, RJ Reynolds (RJR) and Philip Morris have both introduced new smokeless "snus" tobacco products. We analyzed previously secret tobacco industry documents describing the history of RJR and Philip Morris's consumer research, smokeless product development, and marketing strategies. We found that RJR had invested in smokeless research, development, and marketing since 1968.

Pulmonary artery aneurysm associated with severe degenerative aortic stenosis.

We report a pulmonary artery (PA) aneurysm associated with severe aortic stenosis and an aortic root dilatation occurring in a 59-year-old woman who presented with dyspnoea and chest pain. PA aneurysms are rare, and there are no definitive guidelines on its management. There are contentious opinions on whether such aneurysms should be managed conservatively or surgically.

Beta interferon plus gamma interferon efficiently reduces acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus infection in mice in a T-cell-independent manner.

Acyclovir (ACV)-resistant herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) causes severe diseases in immunocompromised patients, so identification of new therapies is needed. Interferons (IFNs) are used to treat several other viral infections in the clinic, and IFN-beta and IFN-gamma are known to cooperatively reduce wild-type HSV-1 replication in the corneas of immunocompetent mice. Because IFN-gamma has been shown to exert an antiviral effect mostly through T cells, whether combined IFN treatment can still inhibit ACV-resistant HSV-1 replication, especially in immunocompromised hosts, is unknown.

Effect of a dietary intervention and n-3 fatty acid supplementation on measures of serum lipid and insulin sensitivity in persons with HIV.

Background: Elevated serum triglyceride and low HDL-cholesterol concentrations have been reported in persons with HIV.

Objective: The effect of a dietary intervention plus n-3 (omega-3) fatty acid supplementation on serum triglycerides and markers of insulin sensitivity was investigated.

Design: Fifty-four persons with HIV and elevated serum triglycerides (>150 mg/dL) and/or abnormal Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index values (<0.

Heat treatment effects on the characteristics and sonocatalytic performance of TiO2 in the degradation of organic dyes in aqueous solution.

The ambient sonocatalytic degradation of congo red, methyl orange, and methylene blue by titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) catalyst at initial concentrations between 10 and 50mg/L, catalyst loadings between 1.0 and 3.0mg/L and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) concentrations up to 600 mg/L is reported.