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It has been submitted that, for the very large number of different traditional type formulae to determine price indices associated with a pair of periods, which are joined with the longstanding question of which one to choose, they should all be abandoned. For the method proposed instead, price levels associated with periods are first all computed together, subject to a consistency of the data, and then price indices that are true taken together are determined from their ratios. An approximation method can apply in the case of inconsistency. Here are illustrations of the method.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of respiratory muscle training on muscle strength and endurance, exercise capacity, and functional status in patients with chronic airflow limitation. Computerized bibliographic data bases (MEDLINE AND SCISEARCH) were searched for published clinical trails, and an independent review of 73 articles by two of the investigators identified 17 relevant randomized trials for inclusion. Study quality was assessed and descriptive information concerning the study populations, interventions, and outcome measurements was extracted. We combined effect sizes across studies (the difference between treatment and control groups divided by the pooled standard deviation of the outcome measure). Across all studies, the effect sizes and associated p-values were as follows: maximal inspiratory pressure 0.12, p = 0.38; maximal voluntary ventilation 0.43, p = 0.02; respiratory muscle endurance 0.21, p = 0.14; laboratory exercise capacity -0.01, p = 0.43; functional exercise capacity 0.20, p = 0.15; functional status 0.06, p = 0.72. Secondary analyses suggested that endurance and function may be improved if resistance training with control of breathing pattern is undertaken. Overall, there is little evidence of clinically important benefit of respiratory muscle training in patients with with chronic airflow limitation. The possibility that benefit may result if resistance training is conducted in a fashion that ensures generation of adequate mouth pressures may be worthy of further study.

Women are more likely to report mMRC breathlessness and this appears to be related to smaller lung volumehttp://ow.ly/hoDM30ayQWH

The bulk thermodynamic properties of proteins originate from a varied and complex combination of interactions. We propose a simple model for the formation of ordered two-dimensional aggregates based on the interactions between pairs of annexin V molecules. Simulations of this model are shown to reproduce the experimental observations of a honeycomb (p6) and a triangular (p3) crystalline phase. The simulations indicate that the transition between these two phases is first order. While this model is extremely simple in that it relies only on hard body and short-range directional interactions, it nevertheless captures the essential physics of the interactions between the protein molecules and reproduces the phase behavior observed in electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy experiments.

AbstractLet H be a complex Hilbert space and let L(H) denote the algebra of all bounded linear operators on H. LetF(z)=∑∞n=0znAnbe an operator-valued analytic function whose coefficients are bounded operators in L(H) forzin the open unit disc D and the series is convergent in the strong operator topology. In this paper, we discuss operator-valued typically real functionsF(z)=∑∞n=0znAnwhich generalize complex-valued typically real functions. We characterize operator-valued typically real functions and study such functionsF(z) induced by a contraction on H. In addition, we considerm×n-tuple operator-valued typically real functions and positively real functions. Finally, we charaterize operator-valued typically real functions in the finite-dimensional cases.

The pressure membrane and pressure plate techniques were used to establish the moisture content-water potential (M-ψ) relationship of red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) sapwood in desorption above the fiber saturation point. The moisture content-water potential relationship is required for the development of a model of drying considering the gradient of water potential as the driving force of moisture in wood. This relationship was established at 18, 56 and 85 °C for radial desorption. The results obtained demonstrate that water potential ψ increases with temperature T at a given moisture content M. There is no significant variation of ∂ψ/∂T with temperature. Also, there is no plateau at intermediate moisture contents as was the case for the M-ψ relationship of aspen sapwood established in a previous work. The effective integral and differential pore size distributions inferred from the M-ψ relationship are also presented. The largest proportion of effective pore openings was found for a radius of 0.2 μm. This value can be related to the pit membrane openings of red pine.

The rocks of the crystalline basement of the East European Craton in southern Estonia show effects of partial melting under granulite facies conditions. Zircons extracted from partial melting products (tonalite from the Tapa Zone – 1824 ± 26, tonalite from the South Estonian Zone – 1788 ± 16 Ma and charnockite from the Tapa Zone – 1761 ± 11 Ma) yield U–Pb crystallisation ages that span over approximately 80 Ma, suggesting a prolonged high-grade metamorphism or several separate events. U–Pb zircon age of one sample of charnockite is concordant with the Nd model age of partial melting of its host mafic granulite facies gneiss (intercept at 1.76 Ga). Linear geochemical trends and similar initial Nd isotopic compositions of mafic granulites and charnockites suggest their possible genetic relationship. From our new and previously published data it follows that the peak granulite metamorphic conditions and formation of tonalites and charnockites (850 °C and 6 kbar) in the Estonian basement occurred at 1788–1778 Ma. Then, the rocks cooled down, passing through the garnet closure temperature of approximately 650–700 °C at 1728 ± 24 Ma. The age of metamorphism of the Estonian granulites is lower than the metamorphic ages known from southern Finland, but it is similar to the age of metamorphism reported from the Belarus-Baltic Granulite Belt in Latvia.

AbstractA small, catalytically active metallopeptide (Nim6SOD, m6SOD=ACDLAC), which was derived from the nickel superoxide dismutase (NiSOD) active site was employed to study the mechanism of superoxide degradation, especially focusing on the protonation states of the NiII donor atoms, the proton source, and the role of the N‐terminal proton(s). Therefore, the NiII‐metallopeptide was studied at various pHs and temperatures using UV/Vis and NMR spectroscopy. These studies indicate a strong reduction of the pKa of the NiII‐ligating donor atoms, resulting in a fully deprotonated NiII active‐site environment. Furthermore, no titratable proton could be observed within a pH ranging from 6.5 to 10.5. This rules out a recently discussed adiabatic proton tunneling‐like hydrogen‐atom transfer process for the metallopeptides, not found in the native enzyme. Furthermore, variable‐temperature 1H NMR measurements uncovered an extended hydrogen‐bond network within the NiII active site of the metallopeptide similar to the enzyme. With respect to the deprotonated NiII active site, the residual N‐terminal proton, which is a prerequisite for catalytic activity, cannot act as proton source. Most likely, it stabilizes the NiII‐coordinated substrate in an end‐on fashion, thus allowing for an inner‐sphere electron transfer. Lastly, and unlike the enzyme, the catalytic rate constant of superoxide degradation by the metallopeptides was determined to be strongly pH dependent, suggesting bulk water to be directly involved in proton donation, which in turn strongly suggests the N‐terminal histidine to be the respective proton donor in the enzyme.

A comparison of chemical and chemo-enzymatic syntheses of α-2,3-sialylated octyl lactoside is reported. The chemical approach, starting from lactose and sialic acid, required 14 steps and proceeded in 5% overall yield; poor α-selectivity in the sialylation step necessitated a difficult and low yielding separation of anomers. A chemoenzymatic approach, employing recombinant Trypanosoma cruzi trans-sialidase to effect the key sialylation reaction, required 10 steps and gave a similar overall yield. Whereas the chemo-enzymatic synthesis required only three chromatographic purification steps overall, the chemical synthesis required at least nine.