Decreasing the molar feed ratio of CA/LA

Decreasing the molar feed ratio of CA/LA Epigenetics inhibitor from 1/15 to 1/128 reduced the average number of CA units embedded in the copolymer from 4 to 1. With 1/15 CA/LA, the copolymer was not a star-shaped polymer, and its weight-average molecular weight was the biggest (weight-average molecular weight = 12,700 Da, weight-average molecular weight/number-average molecular weight = 1.68). With 1/32 CA/LA, the copolymer with two CA units was not a star-shaped polymer either. With 1/64, 1/100, and 1/128 CA/LA, the copolymer mainly had one CA unit core embedded as a normal star-shaped PDLLA with four arms, and certain crystallinity could be detected. The novel direct copolycondensation method was

simple and practical for the synthesis of the asymmetrical star-shaped PDLLA material, and it was advantageous for this PDLLA material embedded in the special bioactive molecule CA to be applied in the field of drug delivery and tissue engineering. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 117: 1405-1415, 2010″
“Objective. The purpose of this study was STI571 Protein Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor to evaluate the effects of different surface treatments on the bond strength of a fiber post to dentin.

Study design. Sixty extracted human

maxillary incisor teeth were manually shaped with K-files using the step-back technique. ISO size 45 files were used as master apical files. Post spaces were prepared and then the root canals were subjected to one of the following 5 surface treatments: irrigation with 5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl); treatment with ethanol, ethyl acetate, and acetone-based cleansing agent (Sikko Tim); irrigation with 17% EDTA; etching with 37% orthophosphoric acid for 15 seconds; and etching with 10% citric acid for 15 seconds. Fiber posts were luted using self-etching/self-priming dual polymerized

resin cement. From the coronal part of each root, 3 slides of 0.6-mm thickness were obtained. A push-out bond strength test was performed by a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. Dentin surfaces were examined under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) after different surface treatments. Data were analyzed with a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey HSD test.

Results. PCI-32765 mw ANOVA revealed that canal surface treatment affected the bond strength (P < .001). The highest bond strength was obtained in the Sikko Tim group. The results also showed that surface treatment methods increased the bond strength to dentin when compared with the control group.

Conclusions. Sikko Tim group was the more effective surface treatment agent compared with EDTA, orthophosphoric acid, citric acid, and control groups; however, it could not remove the smear layer and sealer remnants effectively on radicular dentin surfaces. Removal of the smear layer and opening of dentinal tubules are not recommended when a self-etching/self-priming adhesive system is used. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2009; 108:e74-e80)”
“The effects of accelerating voltage (0.

(C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Bombyx

(C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Bombyx mori/Somatic mutation/Diapause Egg/Heavy-ion microbeam. Using heavy-ion microbeam, we report target irradiation of selected compartments within the diapause-terminated egg and its mutational consequences in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. On one hand, carbon-ion exposure of embryo to 0.5-6 Gy increased the somatic Mutation frequency. suggesting targeted radiation

effects. On the Other, Such increases were not observed when yolk was targeted, suggesting a lack of nontargeted bystander effect.”
“Poly(vinyl alcohol)-based proton-conducting membranes, this website due to their high selectivity for water with respect to alcohols, have been suggested as a promising alternative to perfluorinated ionomer, Nafion (R), widely used as an electrolyte in hydrogen (PEMFC) and direct methanol (DMFC) fuel cells. Sulfosuccinic acid (SSA) has been commonly used as a crosslinking agent to form an inter-crosslinked structure and a promoting sulfonating agent to enhance the ion conductivity. The introduction of SSA increases proton conductivity of PVA-based polymer electrolyte membranes and reduces methanol permeability. Crosslinking

produces deep changes in the crystallinity of PVA membranes and also alters the state and content of water in the membrane. In addition, BMS202 the presence of the protonic acid promotes the appearance of degradation reactions at temperatures Dihydrotestosterone research buy well below those of unmodified PVA, thus producing a decrease in thermal and mechanical stability. In this work, the thermal and mechanical properties of membranes prepared using PVA with different proportions of SSA were investigated by calorimetry and mechanical thermal analysis.

The results indicate that the crystallinity disappears in membranes containing 2% of SSA or more. As a result of the combined effect of the disappearance of crystallinity and the increase of crosslinking, the equilibrium water content first increases (up to 5% SSA) but at higher proportions of SSA it decreases. Above 100 degrees C, the amorphous membranes undergo degradation reactions such as the elimination of lateral OH groups of PVA and the formation of polyene structures, making the membrane colored, brittle and crackly. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012″
“Background: This project examined the ability of the popular DUI/DWI offender assessment instrument, the Driver Risk Inventory (DRI; Behavior Data Systems, Ltd., 1985), to identify short-term DUI recidivists in a sample of Floridian DUI offenders who were charged with DUI between January 1st, 2008 and December 31st, 2009. The DRI provides a number of behavioral risk scales, DSM-IV substance abuse and dependence classifications, as well as measurement of demographic and criminal history characteristics.

Soon after, the parallel grafts were sequentially delivered. Self

Soon after, the parallel grafts were sequentially delivered. Self-spanding Wallstents(R) were used for parallel grafts reinforcement. Ballooning was routinely used for parallel grafts and rarely for aortic graft.

Results: This technique https://www.selleckchem.com/products/pd-1-pd-l1-inhibitor-3.html was used in 2 cases. The first one was a lady with 72 years old, with an aortic

retrograde dissection from left subclavian artery and involving remaining arch branches. Through right common carotid artery a stent-graft was placed in the ascending aorta and through the left common carotid artery a ViaBahn was inserted parallel to the former. A thoracic endograft then covered all the aortic arch dissection extending into the ascending aorta close to the sinu-tubular junction. The second case was a 82 year old male patient with a 7 cm aortic arch aneurysm. Through both common carotid arteries ViaBahn grafts were introduced and positioned into the ascending aorta. Soon after, the deployment of the thoracic stent graft covered all parallel grafts of the aortic arch, excluding the aneurysm. Both cases did not have neurologic or cardiac complications and were discharged 10 days after the procedure.

Conclusions: This technique may be a good minimal invasive off-the-shelf technical option for BAY 63-2521 aortic arch

“”debranching”". More data and further improvements are required before this promising technique can be widely advocated. (C) 2011 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Combined cardiac and renal dysfunction has gained considerable attention. Hypotheses about its pathogenesis have been formulated, albeit based on a relatively small body of experimental studies, and a clinical classification system has been proposed. Cardiorenal syndrome, as presently defined, comprises a heterogeneous group of acute and chronic clinical conditions, in which the failure of one organ ( heart or kidney) initiates or aggravates failure of the other. This conceptual framework, however, has two major drawbacks: the first is that, despite worldwide interest,

universally accepted definitions of cardiorenal syndrome are lacking and characterization of heart and kidney failure is not uniform. This lack of consistency hampers experimental studies on mechanisms of the disease. Batimastat in vitro The second is that, although progress has been made in developing hypotheses for the pathogenesis of cardiorenal syndrome, these initiatives are at an impasse. No hierarchy has been identified in the myriad of haemodynamic and non-haemodynamic factors mediating cardiorenal syndrome. This Review discusses current understanding of cardiorenal syndrome and provides a roadmap for further studies in this field. Ultimately, discussion of the definition and characterization issues and of the lack of organization among pathogenetic factors is hoped to contribute to further advancement of this complex field.

1 www.selleckch

1 PS-341 order +/- 1.16 d). In addition, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IFN-gamma were diminished in the Ad-I kappa B alpha-IRES2-sCD40L-treated group, which was commensurate with the reduced cellular infiltration (P < 0.01). Simultaneous blockade of the CD40/CD40L and I kappa B/NF-kappa B pathways could effectively extend the survival of islet grafts.”
“Accurate modeling of the pi-bands of armchair graphene nanoribbons (AGNRs) requires correctly reproducing asymmetries in the bulk graphene bands, as well as providing a realistic model for hydrogen passivation of the edge atoms. The commonly used single-p(z) orbital approach fails on both these counts. To overcome these failures we introduce a nearest-neighbor, three orbital

per atom p/d tight-binding model for graphene. The parameters of the model are fit to first-principles density-functional theory -based calculations as well as to those based on the many-body Green’s function and screened-exchange formalism, giving excellent agreement with the ab initio AGNR bands. We employ this model to calculate the current-voltage characteristics of an AGNR MOSFET and the conductance of rough-edge AGNRs, finding significant differences versus the single-p(z) model. These results show that an accurate band structure model is essential

for predicting the performance of graphene-based nanodevices. (C) 2011 American Institute Selleck EVP4593 of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3582136]“
“Background: To identify associations between polyphenol intake and health and disease outcomes

in cohort studies, it is important to identify biomarkers of intake for the various compounds commonly consumed as part of the diet.

Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to assess the usefulness of polyphenol metabolites excreted in urine as biomarkers of polyphenol intake in humans.

Design: The method included a structured search strategy for polyphenol intervention studies on Ovid Nepicastat cost MEDLINE, EMBASE (Ovid), and Cochrane databases; formal inclusion and exclusion criteria; data extraction into an Access database; validity assessment; and meta-analysis.

Results: One hundred sixty-two controlled intervention studies with polyphenols were included, and mean recovery yield and correlations with the dose ingested were determined for 40 polyphenols. Polyphenols such as daidzein, genistein, glycitein, enterolactone, and hydroxytyrosol showed both a high recovery yield (12-37%) and a high correlation with the dose (Pearson’s correlation coefficients: 0.67-0.87), which showed good sensitivity and robustness as biomarkers of intake throughout the different studies. Weaker recovery for anthocyanins (0.06-0.2%) and weaker correlations with dose [Pearson's correlation coefficients: 0.21-0.52 for hesperidin, naringenin, (-)-epicatechin, (-)-epigallocatechin, quercetin, and 3 microbial metabolites of isoflavones (dihydrodaidzein, equol, and O-desmethylangolensin)] suggest that they are currently less suitable as biomarkers of intake.

The improved spatial coverage of these 3D sequences may facilitat

The improved spatial coverage of these 3D sequences may facilitate visualization of vessel wall edema to enable detection and monitoring of vulnerable carotid atherosclerotic plaques.”
“Objective: To check whether individual or combined mutated genotypes for Ala-9Val (Mn-SOD) and Arg213Gly (EC-SOD) are associated with preeclampsia; to check the influence of the mutated genotypes on the degree of severity and perinatal outcome of preeclampsia. Methods: We genotyped 97 pregnant women (47 with preeclampsia and 50 normal pregnant women) using PCR-RFLP analysis. Results: The Val/Val (Mn-SOD) genotype (OR 5.99, p = 0.004) but not S63845 research buy the Gly/Gly (EC-SOD) genotype (OR 4.23,

p = 0.027) was significantly associated with preeclampsia. Higher frequency of both polymorphisms in women with -preeclampsia (42.55%) compared to normal pregnant women (8%). Higher frequency of women diagnosed with PIH (27.27%, OR 4.31), mild (50%, OR 11.5) and severe preeclampsia (37.5%, OR 6.9) positive for both polymorphism click here compared to control women (8%). There was a statistically significant difference in gestational age at delivery according to Mn-SOD (Ala/Ala vs. Val/Val, 39 +/- 1.41 weeks vs. 32.77 +/- 3.7 weeks) and EC-SOD genotypes (Arg/Arg vs. Gly/Gly, 37.05 +/- 3.18 weeks vs. 31.5 +/- 3.84 weeks). There also was a statistically significant difference in birth weight according to Mn-SOD (grams,

Ala/Ala vs. Val/Val, 3080 +/- 481.66 vs. 2376.92 +/- 916.88) and EC-SOD genotypes (grams, Arg/Arg vs. Gly/Gly, 2934.09 +/- 662.14 vs. 2080 +/- 721.19). Conclusions: Our study demonstrates a relationship between these two mutated genes, the clinical severity and the

perinatal outcome of preeclampsia.”
“Purpose of review

It has been recognized for some time now, that compared with the normal population, patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) live with an increased risk of developing malignancy. In the majority of these patients, cancer-associated myositis appears to have some paraneoplastic features. The aim of the present review is to describe new data that explain the connection between myositis and malignant VEGFR inhibitor diseases, as well as to highlight its value in the current management of these patients.

Recent findings

Antigen expressions and patterns shared by regenerating muscle and cancers raise questions about whether myositis cases without clinically observable cancer may represent a fully successful antitumor immune response with bystander damage to regenerating muscle. The discovery of anti-155/140 autoantibody may aid in the better diagnosis of adult IN patients with a higher risk of malignancy. It also may help the better understanding of paraneoplastic myositis.

Summary

Cancer-associated myositis differs from primary myositis in many aspects. Prognosis and life-expectancy are determined by the underlying malignancy.

Furthermore, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was also perform

Furthermore, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was also performed to evaluate the variation of GBE. The present approach combining CFA and MIQ is a powerful and meaningful tool to comprehensively conduct the quality control of traditional Chinese medicines.”
“Background: Coronary flow reserve (CFR) in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) can be reduced in nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of CFR in LAD and in the posterior descending

artery (PD) in DCM patients.

Methods: Seventy-two DCM patients (44 men, mean age 64 +/- 13 years) underwent dipyridamole (0.84 mg/kg in 6 minutes) stress echo. CFR was defined as the ratio between maximal vasodilation and rest peak diastolic flow velocity Sirtuin inhibitor in LAD selleck chemicals and PD.

Results: CFR was abnormal in LAD in 42 out of 72 patients and in PD in 31 out of 55. All patients completed the clinical follow-up, and 56 patients completed the echocardiographic

follow-up. During median follow-up of 42 months, 33 events (7 deaths, 26 major cardiac events) occurred. Event rate was markedly higher for patients with reduced CFR compared with DCM patients with normal CRF in LAD (0 vs 19 events; P < .001) and in PD (1 vs 13 events; P < .001). CFR in LAD and in PD were significantly related to the change in end-systolic volume during follow-up (r = 0.481, P < .001; and r = 0.407, P = .028; respectively). Preserved CFR in both LAD and PD was associated with better (P < .0001) event-free survival compared with abnormal CFR (log rank: 28.1; P < .0001).

Conclusions: In DCM patients, impairment of CFR in LAD and PD is related to a worse outcome; CFR impairment is more relevant when it occurs in LAD. PD evaluation may be redundant and time-consuming, because the additive value is small and the feasibility suboptimal.

(J Cardiac Fail 2011;17:39-46)”
“Based on a general expression previously derived for the effective coefficient for second harmonic generation (SHG) in a random composite of nonlinear dielectrics, LY2874455 datasheet we develop and compare several possible effective medium approximations (EMAs). The general expression involves the volume average of products of local field factors of the form < E omega E omega E2 omega >, and the three EMAs amount to different decoupling schemes, and they all invoke the EMA for a linear binary composite. The performance of these EMAs is assessed by comparing with numerical results obtained by simulations on random resistor networks. We also derived the corresponding dilute limit expressions for each of the EMAs.

Colchicine not only significantly inhibited the elevation of chol

Colchicine not only significantly inhibited the elevation of cholestasis-related serum components and enzyme activity but also significantly attenuated the decrease of the bile flow and biliary excretion. Colchicine also remarkably increased the hepatic expression

of FXR, BSEP and MRP2, but decreased that of CYP7A1. Our data indicates that colchicine treatment attenuated EE-induced cholestasis in rats, most likely by promoting bile flow and biliary excretion, and reduced the synthesis of bile acids.”
“OBJECTIVE: To estimate whether the severity of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and the loop electrosurgical excision IACS-10759 procedure (LEEP) increase the risk for preterm delivery, and to evaluate the role of repeat LEEP and time interval since LEEP.

METHODS: This was a retrospective register-based study from Finland from 1997 to 2009. We linked Hospital Discharge Register and Finnish Medical Birth Register data. Case group women consisted of 20,011 women who underwent LEEP during the study period and their subsequent singleton deliveries in 1998-2009. Control population included women from the Medical Birth

Register with no LEEP (n=430,975). The main outcome measure was preterm delivery before 37 weeks of gestation.

RESULTS: The risk for preterm delivery increased after LEEP. GSK2118436 concentration Women with previous LEEP had 547 (7.2%) preterm deliveries, whereas the control population had 30,151 (4.6%) preterm deliveries (odds ratio [OR] 1.61, confidence interval [CI] 1.47-1.75, number needed to harm 38.5). The overall preterm delivery rate in the study period was 4.6% for singleton deliveries.

Repeat LEEP was associated with an almost threefold risk for preterm delivery (OR 2.80, CI 2.28-3.44). The severity of CIN did not increase the risk for preterm delivery. However, LGK-974 ic50 with LEEP for carcinoma in situ or microinvasive cancer, the risk for preterm delivery was higher (OR 2.55, CI 1.68-3.87). The increased risk also was associated with non-CIN lesions (OR 2.04, CI 1.46-2.87). Similarly, the risk was increased after diagnostic LEEP (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.16-1.67). Time interval since LEEP was not associated with preterm delivery. Adjusting for maternal age, parity, socioeconomic or marital status, urbanism, and previous preterm deliveries did not change the results.

CONCLUSION: The risk for preterm delivery was increased after LEEP regardless of the histopathologic diagnosis. The risk was highest after repeat LEEP, which should be avoided, especially among women of reproductive age.”
“In an attempt to develop effective and safer analgesic anti-inflammatory agents, nine compounds belonging to 4-[1-oxo-3-(substituted aryl)-2-propenyfi-3-(4-methoxyphenyl) sydnones, containing the structural features of mesoionic sydnone and styrylketone, have been designed and synthesized by condensing 4-acetyl-3-(4-methoxyphenyl(sydnone with various substituted aryl aldehydes and characterized by spectral studies.


“BACKGROUND

Atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX) is a r


“BACKGROUND

Atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX) is a rare cutaneous malignancy of older adults. Little is known about the behavior of AFX in the setting of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

OBJECTIVE

To further understand

the development, characteristics, and behavior of AFX in the setting of concomitant CLL and other types of NHL.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Study approval was obtained from the Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board. The master diagnosis index was queried from January 1, 1980, through December 31, 2008, to identify patients with AFX and CLL or other types of NHL. A retrospective chart review was conducted.

RESULTS

Ten patients were identified with AFX and NHL. These patients selleck screening library did not show a greater risk of recurrence, metastasis, or death than that found in previous case reports. Of these 10 patients, four had AFX ABT-737 purchase and CLL. The outcomes of these patients were no different from those of patients with AFX and other types of lymphoma.

CONCLUSIONS

AFX did not demonstrate aggressive features such as recurrence or metastasis in patients with concomitant CLL or other NHL. More studies are needed to definitively characterize the behavior of AFX in this patient population.

The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.”
“Nitric oxide (NO) is involved together with reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the activation of various stress

responses in plants. We have used ozone (O(3)) as a tool to elicit ROS-activated stress responses, and to activate cell death in plant leaves. Here, selleck we have investigated the roles

and interactions of ROS and NO in the induction and regulation of O(3)-induced cell death. Treatment with O(3) induced a rapid accumulation of NO, which started from guard cells, spread to adjacent epidermal cells and eventually moved to mesophyll cells. During the later time points, NO production coincided with the formation of hypersensitive response (HR)-like lesions. The NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and O(3) individually induced a large set of defence-related genes; however, in a combined treatment SNP attenuated the O(3) induction of salicylic acid (SA) biosynthesis and other defence-related genes. Consistent with this, SNP treatment also decreased O(3)-induced SA accumulation. The O(3)-sensitive mutant rcd1 was found to be an NO overproducer; in contrast, Atnoa1/rif1 (Arabidopsis nitric oxide associated 1/resistant to inhibition by FSM1), a mutant with decreased production of NO, was also O(3) sensitive. This, together with experiments combining O(3) and the NO donor SNP suggested that NO can modify signalling, hormone biosynthesis and gene expression in plants during O(3) exposure, and that a functional NO production is needed for a proper O(3) response. In summary, NO is an important signalling molecule in the response to O(3).

Sixty-two mammotome core biopsy with a diagnosis of pure flat epi

Sixty-two mammotome core biopsy with a diagnosis of pure flat epithelial atypia (flat epithelial atypia without associated atypical ductal hyperplasia, in situ and/or invasive carcinoma) were identified. From these 62 cases, 20 presented

residual microcalcifications and underwent an immediate surgical excision after mammotome. Of the 20 patients with excised microcalcifications, 8 (40%) cases had residual pure flat epithelial atypia, 4 (20%) cases had atypical ductal hyperplasia, 4 (20%) cases had Dinaciclib ic50 lobular in situ neoplasia, no lesions were retrieved in 4 (20%) case. None of the patients had either in situ ductal carcinoma and/or invasive carcinoma. Surgical resection of residual microcalcifications after the diagnosis of pure flat epithelial atypia on core

needle biopsy remains still a debate. The present study shows no cases of in situ ductal and/or invasive carcinoma on immediate excision of residual microcalcifications after mammotome core biopsies. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Whether serum magnesium deficiency is independently associated with the prevalence of microalbuminuria is still unclear. The objective of the present study was to elucidate the association between serum magnesium and microalbuminuria in diabetic patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted CCI-779 solubility dmso in 1829 diabetic subjects (aged >= 40 years) from Shanghai, China. Subjects

were divided into three groups according to serum magnesium tertiles. A first-voided early-morning spot urine sample was obtained for CUDC-907 ic50 urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) measurement. Microalbuminuria was defined as 30mg/g <= UACR < 300 mg/g. Overall, 208 (11.37%) of the study population had microalbuminuria, with similar proportions in both genders (P = 0.44). The prevalence of microalbuminuria in tertile 1 of serum magnesium was higher than the prevalence in tertile 2 and tertile 3 (15.98%, 9.72%, and 8.46%, resp.; P for trend < 0.0001). After adjustment for age, sex, BMI, blood pressure, lipidaemic profile, HbA1c, eGFR, history of cardiovascular disease, HOMA-IR, antihypertensive and antidiabetic medication, and diabetes duration, we found that, compared with the subjects in tertile 3 of serum magnesium, those in tertile 1 had 1.85 times more likeliness to have microalbuminuria. We concluded that low serum magnesium level was significantly associated with the prevalence of microalbuminuria in middle-aged and elderly Chinese.”
“Sr3SiO5: Eu2+, Dy3+ exhibits a strong orange phosphorescence and photostimulated luminescence, originating from 4f(6)5d-4f(7) transition of Eu2+, after ultraviolet exposure. Shallow and deep traps are evidenced by thermoluminescence spectrum and decay curve of phosphorescence, which consists of a very fast and a slow component.

H1 is found in all, and Z1 in all but one, of the samples in thei

H1 is found in all, and Z1 in all but one, of the samples in their as-received state but with a wide range of concentrations. However, annealing the samples in air up to 900 degrees C reduces the volume concentration range and the areal concentrations all become of order 10(11) cm(-2). Irradiation with gamma-rays does not affect their concentration. The Z1 centers are found to be the same as those previously observed in ZrO2 powders that were attributed to Zr3+ ions in coordinatively unsaturated (cus) sites at and/or near the surface. Our results are consistent with this model for Z1 and with an analogous model of cus Hf3+ for H1, H4 and Z4 are 4SC-202 chemical structure centers of isotropic

symmetry with values LB-100 in vivo that are both within +/-0.0004 of 2.0027; they are produced in all HfO2 and ZrO2 samples, respectively, that are heated in vacuum at >= 300 degrees C. Their concentration reaches a maximum of order 10(17) cm(-3) or 10(12) cm(-2) in the range of 550-750 degrees C. They are also most likely to be mainly at and/or near the surface and to involve an electron trapped in an oxygen vacancy cluster. The EPR spectra of H2 and Z2 are consistent with those of S = 1/2 centers of orthorhombic symmetry with principal g values about equal to or just less than g(e) suggesting that they

are trapped electron centers. The electrons produced by gamma-irradiation are trapped at precursors to H2 but are easily detrapped. Z2 centers also appear to be shallow electron traps. Their identity is uncertain; they have some characteristics of electrons trapped in oxygen vacancies and of CO2- radicals. H3 and Z3 are likely to involve holes trapped click here oil oxygen, possibly as O- and O-2(-) type centers, respectively, but their location in not known. Their concentration increases to an upper limit as the gamma-ray dose is increased and this shows that their precursors are trapping

charge generated by the gamma-rays. Like the H2 and Z2 centers, even annealing at 100 degrees C releases the charge but their precursors, at least in HfO2, are not destroyed. The significance of these centers is discussed. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3259405]“
“Background and aims: The role of diet in the aetiology of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is not well understood. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and MetS.

Methods and results: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 808 high cardiovascular risk participants of the Reus PREDIMED Centre. MetS was defined by the updated National Cholesterol and Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria.

An inverse association between quartiles of adherence to the MedDiet (14-point score) and the prevalence of MetS (P for trend < 0.001) was observed.