| 1. |
- Boman, Johan, 1955, et al.
(författare)
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Elemental content of aerosol particles in an underground tram station
- 2009
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Ingår i: X-Ray Spectrometry. - : Wiley. - 0049-8246 .- 1097-4539.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Particulate matter is an important air pollutant, especially in closed environments like a tunnel. The aim of this study was to determine the mass, black carbon, and elemental concentrations of particulate matter of two size fractions at an underground tram station in Hammarkullen, Gothenburg, Sweden. Samples were collected during June 2007 using a dichotomous virtual impactor separating the sampled aerosol particles into coarse (PM(2.5-10)) and fine (PM2.5) fractions. To minimize the possible influence of waiting passengers, the platform for trams going towards the suburb Angered was chosen. The elemental analysis of the samples, collected on Teflon filters, was carried out using energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry, resulting in concentrations of 14 elements in most of the samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to identify possible sources for the elements in the particles. Owing to the tunnel environment, the elemental difference between the fine and coarse particle fractions was not as large as that in similar particles collected under normal outdoor ambient conditions. Likewise, the influence of the local weather situation was not significant. Particle content from the tram traffic was identified by PCA, with Fe being the major element in both coarse and fine particles. The particle mass concentration was higher in the tunnel compared to the ambient concentration at the monitoring station Femman in downtown Gothenburg. In some days, the mass concentration exceeded the Swedish daily ambient air quality standard of 50 µg m-3, but it was lower than the limits in the environmental work act, 5 mg m-3.
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| 2. |
- Carvalho, Marcelo, et al.
(författare)
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Analysis of a set of missense, frameshift, and in-frame deletion variants of BRCA1
- 2009
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Ingår i: Mutation research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0027-5107 .- 1873-135X .- 1879-2871. ; 660:1-2, s. 1-11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Germline mutations that inactivate BRCA1 are responsible for breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility. One possible outcome of genetic testing for BRCA1 is the finding of a genetic variant of uncertain significance for which there is no information regarding its cancer association. This outcome leads to problems in risk assessment, counseling and preventive care. The purpose of the present study was to functionally evaluate seven unclassified variants of BRCA1 including a genomic deletion that leads to the in-frame loss of exons 16/17 (Delta exons 16/17) in the mRNA, an insertion that leads to a frameshift and an extended carboxy-terminus (5673insC), and five missense variants (K1487R, S1613C, M1652I, Q1826H and V1833M). We analyzed the variants using a functional assay based on the transcription activation property of BRCA1 combined with supervised learning computational models. Functional analysis indicated that variants S1613C, Q1826H, and M1652I are likely to be neutral, whereas variants V1833M, Delta exons 16/17, and 5673insC are likely to represent deleterious variants. In agreement with the functional analysis, the results of the computational analysis also indicated that the latter three variants are likely to be deleterious. Taken together, a combined approach of functional and bioinformatics analysis, plus structural modeling, can be utilized to obtain valuable information pertaining to the effect of a rare variant on the structure and function of BRCA1. Such information can, in turn, aid in the classification of BRCA1 variants for which there is a lack of genetic information needed to provide reliable risk assessment.
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| 3. |
- Carvalho, Maria da Glória S, et al.
(författare)
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Designation of the provisional new enterococcus species CDC PNS-E2 as Enterococcus sanguinicola sp. nov., isolated from human blood, and identification of a strain previously named Enterococcus CDC PNS-E1 as Enterococcus italicus Fortina, Ricci, Mora, and Manachini 2004.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of clinical microbiology. - 1098-660X. ; 46:10, s. 3473-3476
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We have previously characterized two new enterococcal species (provisionally designated CDC PNS-E1 and CDC PNS-E2) recovered from clinically significant specimens associated with invasive infections in humans. In the present report we provide additional data and propose formal denominations for isolates of these two species of Enterococcus. Results of 16S rRNA gene sequencing, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of whole-cell protein profiles, and DNA-DNA reassociation experiments indicated that the blood isolate ATCC BAA-780 (SS 1728; CDC PNS-E1) corresponds to Enterococcus italicus, whose species epithet was proposed to designate isolates from artisanal Italian cheese. Strain ATCC BAA-781 (CCUG 47861; SS 1729; CDC PNS-E2), a vancomycin-resistant isolate recovered from the blood of a patient in the United States, was found to be highly related at the species level to another blood isolate (SS 1743; CCUG 47884) from Sweden, and for these we propose the designation Enterococcus sanguinicola sp. nov.
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| 4. |
- Chouhy Leborgne, Roberto, 1972, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of PQ-monitor connection on voltage dip indices: PN vs PP voltages
- 2006
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Ingår i: Electric Power Quality and Utilisation Magazine. ; 2:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This work addresses the influence of the PQ-monitor connection on the estimation of voltage dip site and system indices. Voltage dip indices are estimated for a set of events obtained from simulation and measurement of voltage dips. The simulated dips are obtained applying the method of fault positions on a large transmission network and the measured dips come from a one-year survey realized on three buses of a sub-transmission and distribution network.The site and system indices estimated to compare phase-to-phase and phase-to-neutral dips are SARFI-90, SARFI-70, SARFI-ITIC, expected voltage dip amplitude (µ[VDA]), and the cumulative distribution frequency of voltage dip amplitude. These indices are estimated at the bus level and then they are aggregated to estimate the system performance. The comparison of phase-to-phase and phase-to-neutral indices indicates that, at high voltage level, phase-to-neutral dips are more frequent and more severe than phase-to-phase ones. However, these differences are damped at low voltage level, where the monitored bus presented similar indices for phase and line voltages. These observations must be taken in consideration to compare voltage dip benchmark because the lack of information about the type of the measured voltages may lead to derive inaccurate conclusions about the site and system performance regarding voltage dips.
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| 5. |
- Chouhy Leborgne, Roberto, 1972, et al.
(författare)
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Voltage sag propagation: Case study based on measurements
- 2006
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Ingår i: 12th International Conference on Harmonics and Quality of Power.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper presents an analysis of the propagation of voltage sags caused by faults in a transmission grid. The investigation is performed considering a set of measured voltage sags obtained during a six month monitoring period. The analysis includes vertical and horizontal propagation and its quantification through a sag propagation index. The results show how the propagation of the disturbance is affected by the network topology, the transformers winding connection, and the load characteristics.
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| 6. |
- Clark, Andrew G., et al.
(författare)
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Evolution of genes and genomes on the Drosophila phylogeny
- 2007
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Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 450:7167, s. 203-218
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Comparative analysis of multiple genomes in a phylogenetic framework dramatically improves the precision and sensitivity of evolutionary inference, producing more robust results than single-genome analyses can provide. The genomes of 12 Drosophila species, ten of which are presented here for the first time (sechellia, simulans, yakuba, erecta, ananassae, persimilis, willistoni, mojavensis, virilis and grimshawi), illustrate how rates and patterns of sequence divergence across taxa can illuminate evolutionary processes on a genomic scale. These genome sequences augment the formidable genetic tools that have made Drosophila melanogaster a pre-eminent model for animal genetics, and will further catalyse fundamental research on mechanisms of development, cell biology, genetics, disease, neurobiology, behaviour, physiology and evolution. Despite remarkable similarities among these Drosophila species, we identified many putatively non-neutral changes in protein-coding genes, non-coding RNA genes, and cis-regulatory regions. These may prove to underlie differences in the ecology and behaviour of these diverse species.
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| 7. |
- Clé de Oliveira, Thiago, et al.
(författare)
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Voltage Sags: Statistical Evaluation of Monitoring Results based on Predicted Stochastic Simulation
- 2006
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Ingår i: 12th International Conference on Harmonics and Quality of Power.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper presents a methodology specially developed for the estimation of voltage sag characteristics such as magnitude and frequency. The aim of this methodology is to evaluate sags monitoring results based on a stochastic assessment of long-term voltage sag indices. The measured sag indices are evaluated by means of two statistic tools, namely the confidence interval and analysis of variance based on hypothesis testing. A case study based on the evaluation of a six-month monitoring period shows the applicability of the proposed methodology.
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| 8. |
- de Oliveira, Thiago Clé, et al.
(författare)
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Voltage sags : validating short-term monitoring by using long-term stochastic simulation
- 2009
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Ingår i: IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery. - 0885-8977 .- 1937-4208. ; 24:3, s. 1344-1351
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper presents a procedure to validate voltage sag results based on a short-term monitoring program and stochastic assessment of voltage sag characteristics. The main practical use of this methodology is to analyze the accuracy of sag characteristics obtained from short monitoring periods. With a Monte Carlo Simulation approach, probabilistic models of several factors are taken into account: lines and busbars fault rate, pre-fault voltage, fault-type distribution, fault-location uncertainty, and fault resistance distribution. Confidence intervals based on the percentile method and hypothesis tests are the statistical tools selected to perform the validation of voltage sags magnitude and frequency. A case study based on the evaluation of a six-month monitoring period shows the applicability of the proposed methodology.
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| 9. |
- Fagundes, Ticiane Cestari, et al.
(författare)
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Clinical evaluation of two packable posterior composites : a five-year follow-up
- 2009
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Ingår i: The Journal of the American Dental Association (1939). - 0002-8177 .- 1943-4723. ; 140:4, s. 447-54
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Research has suggested that packable resin-based composites inserted with a placement technique similar to amalgam condensation can reduce the sensitivity associated with posterior restorations. The authors evaluated the clinical performance, including associated sensitivity, of two packable composites in a randomized five-year clinical trial. METHODS: A single operator randomly placed two restorations in each of 33 patients: one restoration consisting of Alert (Jeneric/Pentron, Wallingford, Conn.) and the other consisting of SureFil (Dentsply/Caulk, Milford, Del.). There were 30 Class I and 36 Class II restorations. Two independent evaluators evaluated the restorations by using modified U.S. Public Health Service criteria. The authors analyzed data by means of the Fisher, chi(2) and McNemar tests at P < .05. RESULTS: Of 60 restorations evaluated at five years, two Class II restorations (one SureFil, one Alert) failed. All other restorations received the highest score possible for sensitivity and vitality. The only difference between the composites at the five-year recall was the significantly better surface texture of SureFil. The authors observed significantly different scores between the baseline and at five years for marginal discoloration (Alert and SureFil), surface texture (Alert and SureFil) and color (SureFil). CONCLUSIONS: Both packable resin-based composites showed excellent durability during the five-year follow-up. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The investigated resin-based composites are suitable for posterior restorations.
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| 10. |
- Lima, Estevao, et al.
(författare)
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Endoscopic closure of transmural bladder wall perforations.
- 2009
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Ingår i: European urology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1873-7560 .- 0302-2838. ; 56:1, s. 151-7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Traditionally, intraperitoneal bladder perforations caused by trauma or iatrogenic interventions have been treated by open or laparoscopic surgery. Additionally, transvesical access to the peritoneal cavity has been reported to be feasible and useful for natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) but would be enhanced by a reliable method of closing the vesicotomy. OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility and safety of an endoscopic closure method for vesical perforations using a flexible, small-diameter endoscopic suturing kit in a survival porcine model. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This pilot study was performed at the University of Minho, Braga, Portugal, using six anesthetized female pigs. INTERVENTIONS: Closure of a full-thickness longitudinal incision in the bladder dome (up to 10 mm in four animals and up to 20 mm in two animals) with the endoscopic suturing kit using one to three absorbable stitches. MEASUREMENTS: The acute quality of sealing was immediately tested by distending the bladder with methylene-blue dye under laparoscopic control (in two animals). Without a bladder catheter, the animals were monitored daily for 2 wk, and a necropsy examination was performed to check for the signs of peritonitis, wound dehiscence, and quality of healing. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Endoscopic closure of bladder perforation was carried out easily and quickly in all animals. The laparoscopic view revealed no acute leak of methylene-blue dye after distension of the bladder. After recovery from anaesthesia, the pigs began to void normally, and no adverse event occurred. Postmortem examination revealed complete healing of vesical incision with no signs of infection or adhesions in the peritoneal cavity. No limitations have yet been studied clinically. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the feasibility and the safety of endoscopic closure of vesical perforations with an endoscopic suturing kit in a survival porcine model. This study provides support for further studies using endoscopic closure of the bladder which may lead to a new era in management of bladder rupture and adoption of the transvesical port in NOTES procedures.
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