Conclusions. The increases in P(ga) and PEF with electrical stimulation using the novel posterolateral electrode placement are 2 to 3 times greater than improvements reported in other studies. This suggests that posterolateral electrical stimulation of abdominal muscles is a simple noninvasive way to enhance cough in individuals with SCI.”
“Seasonal monitoring was carried out to investigate the influence of extracellular enzymatic activity

(EEA) on metal speciation and organic matter cycling in the rhizosediment of Spartina maritima. Heavy metal speciation was achieved by the Tessier scheme, and showed a similar pattern of variation of the organic-bound fraction, indicating a decomposition process in progress. Both humic acid and organic matter showed the same seasonal pattern. selleck chemical The basal respiration of the rhizosediments also presented a similar seasonal pattern, indicating a microbial degradation of organic matter. The high organic-bound fraction found in the summer gradually decreased towards the

winter. This decrease was found to be related to the increase of activity of peroxidase, beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase and protease. Also the activity of sulphatase was found to be related to the depletion on the exchangeable fraction, probably due to sulphide formation and consequent mobilization. GSK923295 The results show an interaction between several microbial activities, affecting metal speciation.”
“Simultaneous improvements of thermostability and activity of a Ca-independent -amylase from Bacillus subtilisCN7 were achieved by C-terminal truncation and his(6)-tag fusion. C-terminal truncation, which eliminates C-terminal 194-amino-acid residues from the intact mature -amylase, raised the turnover number by 35% and increased the thermostability in terms of half-life at FK228 65 degrees C by threefold. A his(6)-tag fusion at either the C- or N-terminus of truncated -amylase further enhanced its turnover number by 59% and 37%, respectively.

Molecular modeling revealed that these improvements could be attributed to structural rearrangement and reorientation of the catalytic residues.”
“Objective of the study was to assess saddle pressure distribution in a normal horse population and to determine whether or not the pressure pad used is able to provide reliable information on saddle fit in a field setting. In addition the influence of type of saddle, type of saddle pad and back conformation on saddle pressure distribution was investigated. Forty randomly sampled horses were equipped and measured with a pressure pad at rest, during free and medium (collected) walk and during rising and sifting trot. All measurements were made on the straight line and were summarized according to the percentage pressure distribution front to back, as well as left, right and middle (spinal), of the saddle. Additional data were collected by a questionnaire and all data were statistical analyzed by the program STS 3.42 and NCSS 2007 (ANOVA).