202 research outputs found
Direct evidence of extensive diversity of HIV-1 in Kinshasa by 1960
No full textHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) sequences that pre-date the recognition of AIDS are critical to defining the time of origin and the timescale of virus evolution. A viral sequence from 1959 (ZR59) is the oldest known HIV-1 infection. Other historically documented sequences, important calibration points to convert evolutionary distance into time, are lacking, however; ZR59 is the only one sampled before 1976. Here we report the amplification and characterization of viral sequences from a Bouin's-fixed paraffin-embedded lymph node biopsy specimen obtained in 1960 from an adult female in Léopoldville, Belgian Congo (now Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)), and we use them to conduct the first comparative evolutionary genetic study of early pre-AIDS epidemic HIV-1 group M viruses. Phylogenetic analyses position this viral sequence (DRC60) closest to the ancestral node of subtype A (excluding A2). Relaxed molecular clock analyses incorporating DRC60 and ZR59 date the most recent common ancestor of the M group to near the beginning of the twentieth century. The sizeable genetic distance between DRC60 and ZR59 directly demonstrates that diversification of HIV-1 in west-central Africa occurred long before the recognized AIDS pandemic. The recovery of viral gene sequences from decades-old paraffin-embedded tissues opens the door to a detailed palaeovirological investigation of the evolutionary history of HIV-1 that is not accessible by other method
Working Paper 12-02 - Constructing productive ICT capital stock series for Belgium
No full textWe are grateful to our colleagues at the Federal Planning Bureau and to staff at the National Accounts Division of the National Bank of Belgium for their comments and suggestions. We also like to thank Marleen Keytsman for her help in preparing the document. All remaining errors are ours.In this paper, a methodology is proposed for the construction of ICT investment and capital stocks in Belgium. The series are obtained in nominal and in real terms and at macroeconomic as well as sector level. The ICT assets distinguished are IT equipment and communications equipment, leaving software out of the analysis. After calculation of investment expenditure on both assets, the expenditure is transformed into quality-adjusted volume terms by means of harmonised price indices derived from appropriate U.S. indices. Productive capital stocks are calculated by means of the perpetual inventory method, and rental prices of the ICT capital services are obtained as well.
New theoretical solution for soft soil consolidation under vacuum pressure via horizontal drainage enhanced geotextile sheets
No full textLand reclamation is a major construction activity in Singapore and other Asian countries. When granular fills become scarce, soft materials have to be used for land reclamation. A new land reclamation and soil improvement method using vacuum preloading and horizontal drainage enhanced non-woven geotextile (HDeG) sheets for soft soil consolidation has been proposed to reduce consolidation time and save costs. This paper presents a new theoretical solution for analysing the consolidation process of soil under vacuum pressure via horizontal drainage enhanced geotextile sheets as such a solution is not available yet. To verify the proposed theoretical solution, model tests and finite element analyses (FEA) have also been conducted. The proposed analytical solution agrees well with the results from FEA and the model tests in settlement, average effective stress and degree of consolidation. Thus, this solution could be used for design and analysis for land reclamation with soft materials consolidated using vacuum preloading together with HDeG sheets or other horizontal drainage materials with an adequately high transmissivity. The prediction of the consolidation performance relies on the proper selection of the coefficient of consolidation based on the effective stress history of soil.Nanyang Technological UniversitySingapore Maritime Institute (SMI)The authors would like to acknowledge gratefully the study presented in this paper is financial support provided through Grant No. SMI-2022-MTP-02 by Singapore Maritime Institute. The support from Centre for Urban Solutions, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, is also gratefully acknowledged. The first author is also grateful to the scholarship provided by NTU for his PhD
Data for "Bone-associated gene evolution and the origin of flight in birds"
No full textThe data contained in them pretains to the manuscript: Machado, JP, Johnson, WE, Gilbert, MTP, Zhang, G, Jarvis, ED, O’Brien, SJ, & Antunes, A (2016). Bone-associated gene evolution and the origin of flight in birds. BMC genomics, 17(1), 1.4 zip files:1) Codeml site models: gene alignments, tree, parameters template.2) Codeml branch models: gene alignments, tree, parameters template, results from Codeml.3) Codeml branch-site models: gene alignments, tree, parameters template, results from Codeml. 4) CoEvol: input files and results.</div
Corrosion prevention of stell structures for Sri Lanka Author Premachandrasiri, W.N.
No full textSri Lanka has made a significant development in the design and construction sector during the last 10 years. The use of steel is one of the governing construction materials in the industries. One of the major concerns of existing steel structures is the durability. Corrosion and deterioration have become major challenges in the lifetime of the structure, as it is one of the major public focuses on the structures.
Standards are intended to assist engineers and corrosion experts in adopting best practice in corrosion protection of structural steel at new constructions with proper identification of an actual exposure. There are six environmental corrosivity categories according to BS ISO 12944 as C1, C2 C3, C4, C5 and C5 –M. Those are according to BS standard and they should be adapted for Sri Lanka. In this research environmental corrosivity category of SC1, SC2, SC3 and SC4 are classified for Sri Lanka considering corrosion affecting factors temperature, rainfall, coastal region and industrial zones. A field survey was carried out in different locations of the structure in the country to identify the pattern of corrosion according to variation of corrosion affecting factors.
Among the methods used to clean the surface of the steel before applying corrosion protection, sand blasting cleans best. However, it cannot be carried out in every location due to environmental issues and equipment required. Steel surface is difficult to clean using light tools because temporary stabilized corroded layer on the steel surface. If we change this surface (Convert surface grade A to Surface grade B), the light tools can be used for the surface preparation. Therefore a new method is proposed to change this surface grade. Firstly, sea water is sprayed on to the surface to increase the rate of corrosion and left for a day for rust to appear. Then it is cleaned by fresh water and surface salinity level should be checked using salinity meter. Then the surface can be prepared using “Cup-Brush application” method without using sand blasting. By this method well cleaned surface can be obtained and then the surface protection primer is applied on it immediately. This surface protection primer type and primer and paint thickness should be defined according to environmental corrosivity category
Study of water towers
No full textAt present, there is little published literature for estimating the requirements of material, and cost of construction of elevated water tanks. The author has carried out a detailed analysis of costs and the requirements for material for elevated water tanks of various capacities, staging height, bearing capacities of soil and lateral forces due to wind.
This author has taken an opportunity to design elevated tanks of Intze, Conical and Cylindrical with the designer's requirements, such as capacity, dimensions, bearing capacity of soil, wind force, option of tank full or empty condition, and reinforcement details. The bar schedule details are also presented by this author. That particular designer's requirement is fulfilled and the cost is estimated with the present rate of materials and form works.
The findings of this study are useful in the design process for deciding upon the cost
optimization for the three types of elevated towers. On the one hand, for optimization of intze tower the horizontal angle of conical shell to be maintained between 40 degree and 50 degree. On the other hand, the cylindrical tower is the least costly tower at less than 400 m' capacities while the intze tower is least costly at more than 400 m3 capacities. Although these comparisons are based on the condition of supporting structure height = 15 m, basic wind speed = 38 mis, soil bearing capacity = 150 kN/m2 and the National Water Supply and Drainage Board 'Rate book - 2007' prices.
In general for intze tanks, the cost for foundation is between 13% and 20%, supporting structure is between 10% and 26% and tank is between 55% and 75%. But for cylindrical tanks, the cost for foundation is between 15% and 21%, supporting structure is between 16% and 29% and tank is between 53% and 65%.
In view of material cost, steel has the greatest effect on tank and supporting structure
while concrete has the greatest effect on foundation. For proper planning and execution of a project, accurate estimates of the cost and requirements for materials for water towers are essential
Barriers to, and Recommendations for, Sustainable Water Usage: The Case of the Malta Tourism Policy (2015-2020)
No full textWater scarcity, limited natural aquifer recharge and high abstraction levels pose policy management challenges within regions of concentrated tourism development in the Mediterranean Basin. Focusing upon water scarcity in Malta, this paper seeks to examine the barriers and recommendations for sustainable water usage within the Malta Tourism Policy (MTP) (2015-2020). Drawing upon a systematic literature review and interviews with government officials, NGOs and private sector stakeholders, the dichotomy of supply and demand is deemed a key influence upon Maltese water scarcity, alongside a sustainability rhetoric adding political legitimacy to resource-intensive water usage. The MTP (2015-2020) prioritises economic growth and short term tourist numbers, limiting the sustainability of water usage upon Malta, with future augmentation of tourism policy requiring a greater emphasis upon integration between the environmental, socio-cultural and economic pillars of sustainability
Copper status in multiple trauma patients: measurement of copper balance, serum copper and ceruloplasmin
No full textChanges in copper metabolism have been reported in both thermal injury and skeletal trauma; data regarding copper status in multiple trauma patients (MTP) are nonexistent. Hypercatabolism following multiple trauma may increase copper utilization, deplete copper stores and compromise cuproenzyme synthesis and function. The purpose of this study was to provide information on copper status in MTP and determine whether age, injury severity, clinical outcome or nutritional intake influenced copper status. Twenty-four hour copper losses, serum copper and ceruloplasmin were measured in 11 MTP with Injury Severity Scores (ISS) >12 at 24-48 hours post admission. Collections of biological fluids (urine, nasogastric, chest tube, drains, stools) were analyzed for copper using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) and quantified over 5 days. Serial serum copper and ceruloplasmin were determined on days 1,3,5,10,15 and patient discharge by ASS and rate nephelometry inmunoprecipition, respectively. Eight patients received parenteral nutrition (PN). Three received intravenous glucose/electrolyte infusions (IV). urine (n=11) and nasogastric losses (n=8) were statistically greater than normal (p<.001). The mean ± SEM cumulative copper losses of urine, chest tube drainage, nasogastric secretions and other drains were 790 ± 116 (n=11), 833 ± 130 (n=7), 261 ± 46 (n+8), and 150 ± 58 μg/5 d (n=8), respectively. Urinary losses represented 10 to 12 times the normal copper excretion. Serum copper on day 1 and ceruloplasmin day 3 were significantly higher than normal (p<.025). Cumulative copper balance in the IV group was - 2266 μg and -440 μg in the PN group. No relationship was found between copper loss and ISS. Patients in their twenties demonstrated the greatest urinary copper loss. The physiological and biochemical effects of extensive copper loss in the MTP require further evaluation. These patients may have a predisposition to copper deficiency due to excessive copper losses and may require increased copper supplementation.Ph. D
Reliability and Validity of the Turkish Version of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Hallux Metatarsophalangeal-Interphalangeal Joint Scale
No full textBackground: The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Hallux Metatarsophalangeal-Interphalangeal (AOFAS Hallux MTP-IP) scale is one of the most widely used outcome measures to evaluate hallux pathologies. This study aimed to translate the AOFAS Hallux MTP-IP scale into Turkish and investigate its psychometric properties. Methods: The psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the AOFAS Hallux MTP-IP (AOFAS Hallux MTP-IP-T) scale were tested in 66 patients with hallux pathologies (52 women; mean age, 47.64 ± 12.75 years). Cronbach’s alpha was used to assess internal consistency. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to estimate test-retest. Construct validity was analyzed with the Turkish version of the Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and 12-item Short-Form Health Survey(SF-12). Results: The AOFAS Hallux MTP-IP-T scale had adequate internal consistency (? = 0.71) and test-retest reliability (ICC2,1 = 0.93 for pain, ICC2,1 = 0.97 for function, and ICC2,1 = 0.97 for total score). The AOFAS Hallux MTP-IP-T total score has a moderate to strong correlation with VAS-activity and MOXFQ (? = ?0.77, P =.001; ? = ?0.69, P =.001, respectively). The weakest correlation was found between the AOFAS Hallux MTP-IP-T and the SF-12 mental component scale (? = 0.31, P =.01). Conclusion: AOFAS Hallux MTP-IP-T has sufficient reliability and validity to evaluate Turkish-speaking individuals with a variety of forefoot pathologies including the hallux. Levels of Evidence: Level II © 2023 The Author(s)
The isolation of nucleic acids from fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues-which methods are useful when?
No full textMuseums and pathology collections around the world represent an archive of genetic material to study populations and diseases. For preservation purposes, a large portion of these collections has been fixed in formalin-containing solutions, a treatment that results in cross-linking of biomolecules. Cross-linking not only complicates isolation of nucleic acid but also introduces polymerase "blocks" during PCR. A wide variety of methods exists for the recovery of DNA and RNA from archival tissues, and although a number of previous studies have qualitatively compared the relative merits of the different techniques, very few have undertaken wide scale quantitative comparisons. To help address this issue, we have undertaken a study that investigates the quality of nucleic acids recovered from a test panel of fixed specimens that have been manipulated following a number of the published protocols. These include methods of pre-treating the samples prior to extraction, extraction and nucleic acid purification methods themselves, and a post-extraction enzymatic repair technique. We find that although many of the published methods have distinct positive effects on some characteristics of the nucleic acids, the benefits often come at a cost. In addition, a number of the previously published techniques appear to have no effect at all. Our findings recommend that the extraction methodology adopted should be chosen carefully. Here we provide a quick reference table that can be used to determine appropriate protocols for particular aims
- …
