168 research outputs found
Performance qualification of a HEPA filter at high temperature
No full textThe authors propose a method for the control of the filtering characteristics of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters set up in the sterilization tunnels at a temperature of 300°C and beyond, corresponding to the operating conditions. In the present work the HEPA filter efficiency has been evaluated both with oily aerosol of bis(2-ethylhexyl)sebacate and with pre-calibrated barium sulphate particles. The former was used at room temperature, while for the latter also the working temperature of the sterilization tunnel was employed. Furthermore, attention was given to the airborne particulate cleanliness classes of the filtering characteristics of HEPA filters at high temperature. The results obtained in the present investigation confirm the practicability of our method to evaluate the filtering characteristics at the working conditions, primarily during the performance qualification steps
Long-term effects on cortical excitability and motor recovery induced by repeated muscle vibration in chronic stroke patients
No full textBackground. Muscle vibration modifies corticomotor excitability in healthy subjects and reduces muscle tonus in stroke patients. Objective. This study examined whether repeated muscle vibration (rMV) applied over the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) and biceps brachii (BB) can induce long-lasting changes, using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), in patients with chronic stroke. Methods. Thirty hemiparetic patients who offered at least minimal wrist and elbow isometric voluntary contractions were randomly assigned to either an experimental group, which received rMV in addition to physiotherapy (rMV + PT), or a control group that underwent PT alone. The following parameters of the FCR, BB, and extensor digitorum communis (EDC) were measured through TMS before, and 1 hour, 1 week, and 2 weeks after the end of intervention: resting motor threshold (RMT), map area, map volume, short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), and intracortical facilitation (ICF). Muscle tonus and motor function were assessed on the same day as TMS. Results. Pre-post analysis revealed a reduction in RMT and an increase in motor map areas occurred in the vibrated muscles only in the rMV + PT group, with an increase in map volumes of all muscles. Moreover, SICI increased in the flexors and decreased in the extensor. These neurophysiological changes lasted for at least 2 weeks after the end of rMV + PT and paralleled the reduction in spasticity and increase in motor function. A significant correlation was found between the degree of spasticity and the amount of intracortical inhibition. Conclusion. rMV with PT may be used as a nonpharmacological intervention in the neurorehabilitation of mild to moderate hemiparesis. © The Author(s) 2011
The Archaeological Survey: Methods and Materials
No full textArkeolojik araştırmalar: yöntem ve buluntular. Floransa Üniversitesi’ne bağlı bir ekip tarafından gerçekleştirilen arkeolojik araştırmalar, Eğriöz deresinin yukarı çığırı boyunca ve Kerkenes Dağı’nın kuzeyinde yer alan ve bölgedeki en geniş yüzölçümüne sahip sit olma özelliğini taşıyan Uşaklı Höyük ile onu çevreleyen 5 km yarıçaplı havzası üzerinde odaklanmıştır [1].
Araştırmanın hedefi, sit yakınında sonraki dönemlerde başka yerleşmelerin de gözlendiğine ve yerleşim düzeninin zaman içerisindeki gelişimine dikkat çekerek, sit kapsamındaki yerleşmeyi tarihlenmek ve daha geniş bir bölgesel ve kronolojik bağlam içerisinde değerlenmektir [2].
Yaygın ve yoğun yöntemleri birleştirmek ve farklı örnekleme stratejilerinden yararlanmak suretiyle tümsekli araziler, tarlalar, otlaklar, yaylalar ve alçak vadiler beş çalışma sezonu boyunca dikkatle araştırılmıştır [2.1]. Arkeolojik buluntuların toplanmasına en olarak, yüksek höyüğün dik yamacı boyunca gerçekleştirilen odaklı yüzey kazıma operasyonları ile yerleşim sekansına dair daha fazla bilgi elde edilmesi planlanmıştır.
Başlıca topografik veya araştırmaya tâbi ünitelerle ilişkilendirilen tüm artefaktları kapsayan yoğun bir örnekleme stratejisi ile, öncelikle farklı buluntu kategorilerinin ayrıntılı bir saçılımını elde edebilmek hedeflenmiştir. Araştırılan her bir ünite için yüzeyden elde edilen tüm artefaktlar işaretlenmiş, haritalandırılmış ve toplanmıştır. Bu sistematik buluntu toplama işlemi sayesinde teşhis edilerek şekillere göre gruplandırılmak için yeterli sayıda çanak çömlek ele geçirilmiş olup, buradan hareketle alandaki yerleşmenin daha geniş bir kronolojik dönem içerisinde tarihlendirilmesi mümkün olmuştur [2.2].
Buna ek olarak, belirli kategorilerdeki buluntuların dağılım düzeni, tarihi dönemlerden bazılarının daha iyi tespit edilmesinin mümkün olacağı alanların varlığına işaret etmektedir [2.3]. Yürütülen araştırma ve toplama çalışmaları sayesinde, alanın yerleşim tarihinin genel hatlarıyla Geç Kalkolitik Çağı ile Osmanlı Dönemi arasında uzandığı belirlenmiştir [3]. Elde edilen sonuçlar doğrultusunda, Uşaklı sitinin M.Ö II. milenyuma uzanan yoğun bir yerleşim sürecinden geçtiğini ve M.Ö I. milenyuma tarihlendirilebilen önemli bir yerleşim düzeninin varlığına dair kanıtlar sunduğunu söylemek mümkündür [4].The team of Florence University carried out an archaeological survey at Uşaklı Höyük, the largest site by area on the upper course of the Eğri Öz Dere, north of the Kerkenes Dağ, and its catchment are within a 5km range [1]. The aim of the research was to attempt to determine the date of occupation at the site and place it in a wider regional and chronological context, pinpointing the presence of further nearby sites and the development of settlement pattern over the course of time [2].
Combining extensive and intensive methods and varying sampling strategies, mounded sites, fields, grazing land, uplands and valley floors were explored over the course of five work seasons [2.1]. Along with collecting archaeological materials, focused scraping operations on the steep slope of the high mound were planned in order to obtain more information on the settlement sequence.
An intensive sampling strategy of all the artefacts relating to the main topographical or surveyed units had the initial aim of obtaining a detailed scatter of the different categories of finds. In each of the surveyed units we marked, mapped and picked up all of the artefacts found on the surface. This systematic collection yielded a sufficient amount of pottery to identify the ware and shape groups and, accordingly, to date the occupation of the site in terms of wide chronological periods [2.2]. Moreover, the dispersal of specific categories of materials provided an indication of areas where some of these periods may be better documented [2.3]. The surveying and collecting carried out in the field enabled us to sketch a rough history of settlement in the area, from the Late Chalcolithic to the Ottoman period [3]. According to our results, the site of Uşaklı shows an intensive phase of occupation dating to the 2nd millennium, and evidence for a significant settlement dating to the 1st millennium [4]
Sexing European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) and mountain hares (Lepus timidus) with ZFX and ZFY loci
No full textWe describe a new method for the sex determination of tissue originating from Oryctolagus cuniculus (European rabbit), Lepus europaeus (European brown hare) and Lepus timidus (mountain hare) based on PCR-RFLP analysis of point mutations that differentiate the ZFX and ZFY gene sequences. Among several applications, this PCR-RFLP method could be used to investigate gender ratio and evaluate the population dynamics of these species using samples collected when sex cannot be identified
Genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Ixodes ricinus ticks from the autonomous Province of Trento, Italy
No full textSequences of the variable intergenic spacer region 5S (rrfA) 23S (rrlB) rRNA were used to identify Borrelia genospecies present in Ixodes ricinus nymphs collected from the Lamar Lakes area of the Province of Trento, Italy (overall prevalence 1⁄4 6.3%). Four genospecies were identified, one for the first time in this Province (B. valaisiana),
and three which have been noted previously (B. afzelii, B. garinii, and B. burgdorferi s.s.). In order to compare the genetic variability of these genospecies in Trento with that at a European level, our 21 sequences (15 new haplotypes) and all appropriate European Borrelia sequences registered in GenBank (up to the end of 2004) were subjected to a phylogenetic analysis (for a total of 73 sequences and 43 haplotypes). Clusters of sequences representing the five main European genospecies (afzelii, garinii, burgdorferi s.s., valaisiana, lusitaniae) are well-supported. At least two other groups of haplotypes (genospecies) are suggested by our analysis; moreover, divergent evolution may be occurring in several genospecies. The maximum uncorrected pairwise differences between sequences within genospecies ranges from 1.5% (B. burgdorferi s.s.), to 2.3% (B. garinii and B. valaisiana) to 4.7% (B. afzelii), and are not correlated with
geographical distribution. Within the Province of Trento, these values for the same genospecies are 1.5%, 2.3%, 0.9%,
1.9%, respectively. These high mutation rates within genospecies suggest that the sequencing of haplotypes should continue if we are to fully understand and monitor the evolution and epidemiology of Borrelia
ZFX and ZFY gene sequences: use for molecular sexing European rabbits, European brown hares and mountain hares and perspectives for sex determination of other leporid species
No full textWe have developed a new molecular sexing method for three leporid species (Oryctolagus cuniculus, Lepus europaeus and Lepus timidus) based on the analysis by PCR-RFLP of point mutations that differentiate the ZFX and ZFY gene sequences. Polymorphic positions on the X and Y chromosomes of male samples were recognizable as double peaks in the sequencing chromatograms. Comparison of
these sequences with those obtained from the females of O. cuniculus, L. europaeus and L. timidus allowed us to deduce the sequence of the Y fragment for these species. Analysis of the obtained sequences revealed an AluI restriction site in the female but not in the male sequences and a BglII restriction site in the male but not in the female sequences. A HinfI restriction site was present only in male O. cuniculus sequences but not in the female fragment. Digestion of the amplified fragments obtained in all collected samples for these three species produced the expected fragments for all
analysed samples (70 European rabbits, 37 European brown hares and 24 mountain hares), for which sex was recorded during their collection proving a high accuracy of the methods. The method described here enables the identification or confirmation of gender of tissue samples from three species of Leporidae using restriction enzymes that cut male or female fragments. The specificity of
this method means that the probability of incorrect sex identification due to polymorphisms within species that might involve the two gender specific restriction sites is low enough to be ignored. Then,
we obtained sequence information for the ZFX/ZFY loci for other 6 leporid species (Bunolagus monticularis, Lepus americanus, Pentalagus furnessi, Romerolagus diazi, Sylvilagus floridanus and Sylvilagus nuttallii) including a few threatened taxa. Several polymorphic sites can be identified
between sexes and among species. However, as few samples were available for these species further investigation should be carried out to develop and evaluate appropriate sexing protocols
Validation of four automatic devices for self-measurement of blood pressare accordino to the International Protocol: The Pic Indolor Personal Check, Comfort Check, My Check and Travel Check.
No full textCorrelatìon entre la masa ventricculaar izquierda,otros factores pronòsticos y el registro ccontinuo de la presiòn arterial.
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