PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Blain

Publications and source records attributed to S Blain.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

High frequency monitoring of the coastal marine environment using the MAREL buoy.

The MAREL Iroise data buoy provides physico-chemical measurements acquired in surface marine water in continuous and autonomous mode. The water is pumped 1.5 m from below the surface through a sampling pipe and flows through the measuring cell located in the floating structure. Technological innovations implemented inside the measuring cell atop the buoy allow a continuous cleaning of the sensor, while injection of chloride ions into the circuit prevents biological fouling. Specific sensors for temperature, salinity, oxygen and fluorescence investigated in this paper have been evaluated to guarantee measurement precision over a 3 month period. A bi-directional link under Internet TCP-IP protocols is used for data, alarms and remote-control transmissions with the land-based data centre. Herein, we present a 29 month record for 4 parameters measured using a MAREL buoy moored in a coastal environment (Iroise Sea, Brest, France). The accuracy of the data provided by the buoy is assessed by comparison with measurements of sea water weekly sampled at the same site as part of SOMLIT (Service d'Observation du Milieu LIToral), the French network for monitoring of the coastal environment. Some particular events (impact of intensive fresh water discharges, dynamics of a fast phytoplankton bloom) are also presented, demonstrating the worth of monitoring a highly variable environment with a high frequency continuous reliable system.

Automation↗
PubMed1998

Knowledge and attitudes among California dental care providers regarding child abuse and neglect.

The authors surveyed California dentists about their knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding child abuse and neglect. Only 16 percent of the respondents claimed to have seen or suspected a case of child abuse or neglect during the preceding five years, and only 6 percent claimed to have reported such a case. The authors also found that the respondents had little knowledge of California law regarding the reporting of such cases and little information or training in diagnosing and reporting suspected child abuse and neglect.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1992

mTFE3, an X-linked transcriptional activator containing basic helix-loop-helix and zipper domains, utilizes the zipper to stabilize both DNA binding and multimerization.

Southwestern (DNA-protein) screening of a murine L-cell cDNA library by using a probe for the microE3 site in the immunoglobulin heavy-chain enhancer yielded a clone, mTFE3, which is a member of the subset of basic helix-loop-helix (BHLH) proteins that also contain a leucine zipper (ZIP). Since the individual contribution of these domains is not well understood for proteins which contain them both, mutational analyses were performed to assess the functional roles of the HLH and ZIP regions for DNA binding and multimerization. The HLH region is stringently required for DNA binding but not for multimerization. The ZIP region is not stringently required for binding or multimerization, but stabilizes both multimer formation and DNA binding. A high degree of conservation at both the amino acid and nucleotide levels between the human transcription factor TFE3 and mTFE3 suggests that mTFE3 is the murine homolog of human TFE3. By using fluorescent in situ hybridization, mTFE3 was mapped to mouse chromosome X in band A2, which is just below the centromere. We show that in addition to the immunoglobulin heavy-chain microE3 site, mTFE3 binds to transcriptional elements important for lymphoid-specific, muscle-specific, and ubiquitously expressed genes. Binding of mTFE3 to DNA induces DNA bending.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

A histopathological study of the appendix at autopsy and after surgical resection.

In a study of 101 autopsy appendices and over 3000 surgically resected appendices the range of histopathological features seen in each group is described. Fibrosis and faecoliths were more common in the older autopsy group than in the younger surgically resected group. The high incidence of fibrosis in the autopsy group suggests that this is an age-related change, although some may be due to previous inflammation. The low incidence of faecoliths in the surgically resected group does not support the hypothesis that they are a major cause of appendicitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Dose-response effects of scopolamine on activity in an open field.

The frequency of the responses, i.e., squares entered (ambulation), rearing and grooming, were recorded over 30 min for saline, and 0.25, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 mg/kg scopolamine treated groups. Scopolamine produced an inverted U dose-response curve for ambulation, an increase in rearing but no effect on grooming. All three responses decreased over time; scopolamine did not attenuate this rate of habituation. There did appear a dose-related time effect. It was concluded that scopolamine may have different effects on various responses recorded simultaneously over a range of doses. The results when compared to other experiments emphasized the importance of environmental factors in determining drug effects on behaviour.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Attitudes to women undergoing TOP.

This article describes a research project which was carried out to investigate the quality of the nursing service within a newly established unit for women undergoing termination of pregnancy (TOP). Staff and patient attitudes were examined to see what effect this might have on the expected and perceived quality of the nursing care. The results showed mostly positive attitudes and general satisfaction with the quality of the nursing service, although there were some areas of concern. The author recommends that more specialist units should be set up for the care of these women and reviews the implications for research and education.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ethics: ova the hill?

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Ethics, Medical↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Norplant: the uses of a new contraceptive.

Norplant is a subdermal implant providing contraceptive protection over a five-year period. After worldwide trials, it has been available in the UK since September 1993. The author discusses the mode of action of this contraceptive method, its efficacy, advantages and disadvantages and describes the procedure for insertion of the implants.

Drug Implants↗