47-4.00), P = 0.0019), parity <= 2 (OR 2.50 (1.20-5.26) P = 0.0137), and the Bishop score <= 3 (OR = 2.62 (1.45-4.72), P = 0.0014) were significantly and independently associated to prostaglandin Z-DEVD-FMK order ripening failure.

Conclusion. Obesity seems to be associated to lower E2 prostaglandin sensitivity.”
“Tai Lake is the third largest freshwater lake in China with annual cyanobacteria blooms. Microcystins

produced by these blooms have serious health risks for populations surrounding the lake, especially for people living on Tai Lake, because they usually drink raw lake water after a simple alum treatment. This study presents data on the detection and identification of microcystins in waters used for daily life by people living on Tai Lake, during the cyanobacterial blooming in July 2007. The health risks from drinking these microcystin-polluted waters were also calculated. The main microcystins detected by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in the water samples collected from two parts of Tai Lake (Wuli Lake and Meiliang Bay) were MC-LR (4.33-12.27 mu g/L), MC-RR (8.36-16.91 mu g/L) and MC-YR (1.41-5.57 mu g/L). Risk assessment showed that the drinking water simply treated by alum was not safe. The lowest calculated hazards ratios in

all water samples was 6.4, which indicated that the risk of microcystins exposure from drinking water was over six times higher than the tolerable daily intake (TDI) recommended by The World Ricolinostat Health Organization (WHO). Further studies should be conducted to elucidate the relationships between the epidemiology of people living on Tai Lake and microcystins exposure from drinking HM781-36B nmr water. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 24: 82-86, 2009.”
“We were interested to read the

paper by Tarazona B, and colleagues published in the May 2012 issue of Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. The authors aimed to evaluate the reliability and reproducibility of calculating the Bolton Index using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and to compare this with measurements obtained using the 2D Digital Method. They report by determining the regression lines for both measurement methods, as well as the difference between both of their values, the two methods are shown to be comparable, despite the fact that the measurements analysed presented statistically significant differences. (1) Why did the authors not use well known statistical tests as Sensitivity, Specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) to test the validity of the Bolton Index? (2,3) or use other methods such as likelihood ratio positive and negative (LR+ & LR-)? (2,3) It is good to know that reliability (precision) and validity (accuracy) are two completely different methodological issues evaluating by different tests (2-4).

Multiple novel treatments have shown limited evidence of effectiveness superior to permethrin. Wet combing is an effective nonpharmacologic treatment option. Finding pubic lice should prompt an evaluation for other sexually transmitted infections. Body lice infestation should be suspected when a patient with poor hygiene presents with pruritus.

Washing affected clothing and bedding is essential if lice infestation is found, but no other environmental decontamination is necessary. Scabies in adults is recognized as a pruritic, papular rash with excoriations in a typical distribution pattern. In infants, children, and immunocompromised adults, the rash also can Selleck Proteasome inhibitor be vesicular, pustular, or nodular. First-line treatment of scabies is topical permethrin 5% cream. Clothing and bedding of persons with scabies should be washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer. (Am Fam Physician. 2012;86(6):535-541. Copyright (C) 2012 American

Academy of Family Physicians.)”
“Objective. The 1936G AKAP10 allele is associated with increased adult basal heart rate (HR) and decreased variability, markers of low cholinergic/vagus sensitivity associated Compound C ic50 with hypertension. Blood pressure (BP) values in newborns are important measurable markers of cardiovascular risk later in life. The question was whether decreased vagal function-related 1936A>G AKAP10 is associated with newborn BP. Study design. 114 healthy Polish newborns born after 37th gestational week to healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies. At birth, newborn cord blood obtained for isolation of genomic DNA. BP and HR measured on days 1 and 3 after delivery.

Results. Diastolic BP on day 3 and absolute and relative differences between diastolic BP values, as well as between mean BP values on day 3 and on day 1 after birth, in carriers of 1936G AKAP10 allele, were significantly higher as compared with wild-type homozygotes. Conclusion. Results demonstrate possible Ricolinostat association between 1936G AKAP10 variant and BP in Polish newborns.”
“Interferon Lambda (IFN-lambda) is a type III interferon which belongs to a novel family of cytokines and possesses antiviral and antitumor properties. It is unique in its own class of cytokines; because of the specificity towards its heterodimer receptors and its structural similarities with cytokines of other classes. This renders IFN-lambda a better choice for the treatment against many diseases including viral hepatitis and human coronavirus (HCoV-EMC). The present study describes a computational approach known as relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU); used to enhance the expression of IFN-lambda protein in a eukaryotic expression system. Manually designed and commercially synthesized IFN-lambda gene was cloned into pET-22b expression plasmid under the control of inducible T7-lac promoter. Maximum levels of IFN-lambda, expression was observed with 0.4 mM IPTG in transformed E. coil incubated for 4 hours in LB medium.

Research should explore whether it is more useful to consider nonrandomized studies in reviews of some intervention types than others. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Although “”cerebellar ataxia”" is often used in reference to a disease process, presumably there are different underlying pathogenetic mechanisms

for different subtypes. Indeed, spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) types 2 and 6 demonstrate complementary phenotypes, this website thus predicting a different anatomic pattern of degeneration. Here, we show that an unsupervised classification method, based on principal component analysis (PCA) of cerebellar shape characteristics, can be used to separate SCA2 and SCA6 into two classes, which may represent disease-specific archetypes. Patients with SCA2 (n = 11) and SCA6 (n = 7) were compared against controls (n = 15) using

PCA to classify cerebellar anatomic shape characteristics. Within the first three principal components, SCA2 and SCA6 differed from controls and from each other. In a secondary VX-689 inhibitor analysis, we studied five additional subjects and found that these patients were consistent with the previously defined archetypal clusters of clinical and anatomical characteristics. Secondary analysis of five subjects with related diagnoses showed that disease groups that were clinically and pathophysiologically similar also shared similar anatomic characteristics. Specifically, Archetype #1 consisted of SCA3 (n = 1) and SCA2, suggesting that cerebellar syndromes accompanied by atrophy of Compound C the pons may be associated with a characteristic pattern of cerebellar neurodegeneration. In comparison, Archetype #2 was comprised of disease groups with pure cerebellar atrophy (episodic ataxia

type 2 (n = 1), idiopathic late-onset cerebellar ataxias (n = 3), and SCA6). This suggests that cerebellar shape analysis could aid in discriminating between different pathologies. Our findings further suggest that magnetic resonance imaging is a promising imaging biomarker that could aid in the diagnosis and therapeutic management in patients with cerebellar syndromes.”
“Physical activity and exercise play critical roles in energy balance. While many interventions targeted at increasing physical activity have demonstrated efficacy in promoting weight loss or maintenance in the short term, long term adherence to such programmes is not frequently observed. Numerous factors have been examined for their ability to predict and/or influence physical activity and exercise adherence. Although physical activity has been demonstrated to have a strong genetic component in both animals and humans, few studies have examined the association between genetic variation and exercise adherence.

04) and the subdimension physical functioning (P = 0.009) predicted mortality. Bodily pain was only marginally associated with mortality (P = 0.08).

Independent of cancer, HRQOL and comorbidity predicted mortality among NH residents without cognitive impairment.”
“Purpose: To use regenerating Planaria Dugesia dorotocethala as a model to determine whether an intermittent modulated extremely low frequency electro-magnetic field (ELF-EMF)

produces elevated levels of the heat shock protein hsp70 and stimulates GS-7977 intracellular pathways known to be involved in injury and repair. We focused on serum response element (SRE) binding through the extra-cellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) cascade.

Materials and methods: Planaria were transected equidistant between the tip of the head and the tip of the tail. Individual head and tail portions from the same worm were exposed to a 60 Hertz 80 milliGauss ELF-EMF for 1 h twice daily for 15 days post-transection under carefully controlled exposure conditions. The regenerating heads and tails SRT1720 order were photographed and the lengths measured at three-day intervals. In other experiments, the timing of the appearance of pigmented eyes was monitored in the tail portion at 12-h intervals following transection in both ELF-EMF exposed and sham control. In some experiments protein lysates were

analysed for hsp70 levels, doubly phosphorylated (pp)-ERK, Elk-1 kinase activity and serum response factor (SRF)-SRE binding.

Results: ELF-EMF exposure during the initial 3-days post-surgery caused a significant increase in regeneration for both heads and tails, but especially tails. The first appearance of eyes occurred at day seven post-transection in tail portions exposed to ELF-EMF. In the sham control tail samples the initial appearance of eyes occurred 48 h later. Concurrently,

ELF-EMF-exposed heads and tails exhibited an elevation in the level of hsp70 protein, an activation of an ERK cascade, and an increase in SRF-SRE binding.

Conclusion: Exposures to a modulated sinusoidal ELF-EMF were delivered by a Helmholtz configuration at a frequency of 60 Hz and 80 mG twice a day for one hour. This is accompanied by an increase in hsp70 protein levels, activation of specific kinases and upregulation of transcription factors that FAK inhibitor are generally associated with repair processes.”
“OBJECTIVES:

To assess outcomes of prenatally diagnosed tetralogy of Fallot and determine factors associated with the choice to undergo a valve-sparing repair versus transannular patch, and the use of prostaglandins at birth.METHODS:

All cases at The Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto, Ontario) with a fetal diagnosis of tetralogy of Fallot from 1998 to 2006, were reviewed for demographic and fetal echocardiographic data to determine factors associated with the valve-sparing repair and need for perinatal support.RESULTS:

Sixty-four fetuses met inclusion criteria (median gestational age 22 weeks) with 47 live births.

Histological and immunohistochemical assays are mandatory to confirm our results.”
“We encountered a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 in which the viral load was undetectable with the Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 ver. 1.0 (CTM v.1.0) in a patient

with acute HIV-1 infection. The CTM v.1.0 assay showed more than 1,000-fold underestimation compared with the subsequent Cobas Amplicor Monitor v.1.5 assay. Because five mismatches to the CTM v.1.0 assay probe in the HIV-1 virus in the patient were disclosed by the manufacturer, partial Dinaciclib nmr gag regions of the HIV genome were directly sequenced from the patient’s plasma viral RNA. The detected single nucleotide point mutations were located near the 5′-end of the Cobas Amplicor Monitor probe. Clinicians should be very careful in making interpretations when indeterminate Western blot analysis results and a low or even undetectable HIV-1 viral load are encountered with the CTM HIV-1 ver. 1.0 assay in patients with suspected acute HIV infection. Repeating Western blot analysis is essential before considering a low HIV-1

learn more viral load to be a false-positive result.”
“Warfarin-related intracerebral hemorrhage carries a particularly high risk of neurologic deterioration and death because of a high rate of hematoma expansion of about 50%. Novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs)-apixaban, dabigatran, and rivaroxaban-have a significantly smaller risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). However, two facts make this situation complicated: First, the risk of hematoma expansion is unknown

for NOACs. Second, there is no specific antidote for neither of the NOACs. We present a case that suggests that hematoma expansion may occur after NOACrelated ICH.”
“The prevalence of hearing loss varies with age, affecting at least 25 percent of patients older than 50 years and more than 50 percent of those older than 80 years. Adolescents and young adults represent groups in which the prevalence of hearing loss is increasing and may therefore benefit from screening. If offered, screening can be performed periodically by asking the patient or family if there are perceived hearing problems, or by using clinical office tests AZD1480 such as whispered voice, finger rub, or audiometry. Audiometry in the family medicine clinic setting is a relatively simple procedure that can be interpreted by a trained health care professional. Pure-tone testing presents tones across the speech spectrum (500 to 4,000 Hz) to determine if the patient’s hearing levels fall within normal limits. A quiet testing environment, calibrated audiometric equipment, and appropriately trained personnel are required for in-office testing. Pure-tone audiometry may help physicians appropriately refer patients to an audiologist or otolaryngologist. Unilateral or asymmetrical hearing loss can be symptomatic of a central nervous system lesion and requires additional evaluation. (Am Fam Physician. 2013;87(1) :41-47.

01). No significant difference in terms of security and tolerability was observed between the three groups.

Conclusion: This study suggests that a daily administration of an oral sachet

of 1200 mg of chondroitin 4826 sulfate allows a significant clinical improvement compared to a placebo, and a similar improvement when compared to a regimen of three daily capsules of 400 mg of the same active ingredient. (C) 2012 Osteoarthritis GDC-0994 ic50 Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Purpose of review

The frequency of knee osteoarthritis continues to accelerate, likely because of the increasing proliferation of obesity, particularly in men and women 40-60 years of age at the leading edge of the ‘baby boom’ demographic expansion. The increasing pervasiveness

of obesity and the growing appreciation of obesity’s accompanying metabolic/inflammatory activities suggest rethinking the knee osteoarthritis paradigm.

Recent findings

Whereas once knee osteoarthritis was considered a ‘wear-and-tear’ condition, it is now recognized that knee osteoarthritis exists in the highly metabolic and inflammatory environments of Quisinostat mw adiposity. Cytokines associated with adipose tissue, including leptin, adiponectin, and resistin, may influence osteoarthritis though direct joint degradation or control of local inflammatory processes. Further, pound-for-pound, not all obesity is equivalent for the development of knee osteoarthritis; development appears to be strongly related to the co-existence of disordered glucose and lipid metabolism. Additionally, obesity loads may be detected by mechanoreceptors on chondrocyte surfaces triggering intracellular signaling cascades of cytokines, growth factors, and metalloproteinases.

Summary

This review summarizes recent literature about obesity, knee osteoarthritis and joint pain. Consideration of adipocytokines, metabolic factors, and mechanical loading-metabolic factor interactions will help to broaden the thinking about targets for both prevention and intervention for knee osteoarthritis.”
“Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the immediate effects of medial arch supports

AZD1208 on indices of medial knee joint load (the peak external knee adduction moment (KAM) and knee adduction angular (KAA) impulse) and knee pain during walking in people with medial knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Design: Twenty-one people with medial compartment OA underwent gait analysis in standardised athletic shoes wearing (1) no medial arch supports and (2) prefabricated medial arch supports, in random order. Outcomes were the first and second peaks in the external RAM, the KAA impulse and severity of knee pain during testing. Outcomes were compared across conditions using paired t tests (gait data) and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test (pain data).

Results: There were no significant changes in either first or second peak KAM, or in the KAA impulse, with the addition of medial arch supports (all P > 0.05).

Methods: The modulatory effects of phytoestrogens and curcumin on the induction ofANXA1 were investigated via sandwich ELISA method, while their effects on the activity of sPLA(2)-V were determined by photometric assays. Besides, the cell viability of these compounds was determined by standard trypan blue exclusion method using PBMCs.

Results: The results indicate a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the total content ofANXA1, particularly by coumestrol (p < 0.01), in both inflammatory and non-inflammatory

cells. Besides, the compounds also exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition Panobinostat research buy of sPLA(2)-V activity; however, among these compounds, curcumin and genistein were the strongest inhibitors with an IC50 value of 11.1 +/- 0.3 mu M and 13.6 +/- 0.6 mu M respectively.

Conclusion: The investigated compounds have a potential to induce synthesis and secretion ofANXA1 as well as inhibitory activity of sPLA(2)-V, suggesting

their inhibitory role in phospholipid metabolism and inflammation.”
“Dejerine-Sottas disease is classified as hereditary motor sensory neuropathy (HMSN) type III and shows HSP990 mw evidence of Friedreich’s ataxia, significant reduction in nerve conduction velocity (NCV), hypomyelination and demyelination of the nerve fibers.

In this study, a 10-years-old girl with Dejerine-Sottas disease is presented in which routine clinical signs (ataxia and reduced NCV) seem with significant impairments of auditory brainstem pathway. It is indicated that pure tone audiometry, standard tympanometry (tympanometry and acoustic reflex), and otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) showed normal results

in both ears (normal peripheral auditory system). In contrast, auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) indicated AC220 abnormal findings in absolute latencies of I, III, and V and inter-peak latencies of I-III and I-V. These findings suggested auditory brainstem involvement especially in low and mid regions. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The spectrum of orbital inflammatory diseases ranges broadly from specific diseases as connective tissue disorders, thyroid ophthalmopathy to non-specific inflammations, which may involve one or multiple structures of the orbit and/ or the surrounding sinus. Idiopathic orbital myositis (IOM) may be a localized process or it can be secondary to systemic diseases. We report 4 patients affected by IOM; in all relapsing diplopia was the main complaint, associated with orbital pain in 3 and with abnormal visual evoked responses in 2. Computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) supported the diagnosis revealing enlargement, altered signal intensity of affected muscles. Repeated MRI scans and extensive laboratory examinations comprising of the search for a remote malignacy, lymproliferative, connective tissue diseases, thyroid ophthalmopathy were necessary to confirm the diagnosis.

5 standard deviation A1155463 between time points. Hierarchical

regression indicated that change in body image between T1 and T2 was significantly associated with change in QOL between T1 and T3, while controlling for demographic variables, treatment, treatment-related functioning, and general and treatment-specific positive expectations. In predicting change in body image between T1 and T2, treatment-specific positive expectation was the only significant predictor. Conclusions The present study demonstrates that body image is an important component of the prostate cancer experience. Findings suggest that body image has a meaningful association with QOL among prostate cancer survivors.Copyright (c) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.”
“In order to enhance 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) fraction in copolyesters of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), the propionate permease gene prpP or the propionyl-CoA synthase gene prpE was transformed into Escherichia coli XL10-Gold with

co-expression of PHB operon (phaCAB) from Rolstonia eutropha. The recombinant E. coli strains were Cultured on mixed carbon Sources composed of glucose and propionic acid to promote PHBV accumulation. It was shown that the over-expression of prpE suppressed 3HV incorporation into PHBV copolymer, which led to reduced 3HV fraction. In contrast, the over-expression of prpP improved the 3HV Selleck IPI-145 content from 5.6 to 14.3 mol%, followed by an increased PHBV accumulation Selleck ALK inhibitor up to 62 wt%. The results showed

that the expression of prpP stimulated the uptake and utilization of propionic acid and increased the 3HV fraction in PHBV. However, the over-expression of prpE in E coli did not affect 3HV content in PHBV. Surprisingly, co-expression of prpE and prpP did not lead to any 3HV formation. This Study showed the possibility to change the PHBV composition without overdose of propionic acid which is expensive and toxic for the cells. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Crystalline nanoneedles of Eu3+-doped GdPO4 and Eu3+-doped GdPO4 covered with GdPO4 shell (core shell) have been prepared at relatively low temperature of 150 degrees C in ethylene glycol medium. From luminescence study, asymmetric ratio of Eu3+ emission at 612 nm (electric dipole transition) to 592 nm (magnetic dipole transition) is found to be less than one. Maximum luminescence was observed from the nanoparticles with Eu3+ concentration of 5 at. %. For a fixed concentration of Eu3+ doping, there is an improvement in emission intensity for core-shell nanoparticles compared to that for core. This has been attributed to effective removal of surface inhomogeneities around Eu3+ ions present on the surface of core as well as the passivation of inevitable surface states, defects or capping ligand (ethylene glycol) of core nanoparticles by bonding to the shell.

The goal of this study was to show that a penile block using a local anesthetic with epinephrine is safe.

Patients and Methods: In a follow-up study between 2005 and 2010, we analyzed 95 patients who got a penile ring block with subcutaneous infusion anesthesia (SIA). The SIA solution consisted of ropivacaine and lidocaine (0.11% and 0.21%) plus epinephrine.

Results: There were no anesthetic complications. Short-term negative postoperative occurrences (<72 hrs.) were swelling (42%), problems with suture material (22%), pain (19%), hematoma and paresthesia (each 13%), erectile dysfunction (12%), small-area skin necrosis after wound

healing without requiring further surgery (13%), micturition disorders (7%), and wound infection Taselisib cost (6%). Two patients on anticoagulation therapy had postoperative bleeding requiring revision surgery. 5% of the patients were given further analgesic sedation. 19% complained about postoperative pain. Persistent complaints (maximum 6 months) were disturbances of skin sensation (7%), swelling (4%), and redness

and micturition disorders (3% each).

Conclusions: Supplementing a local anesthetic with epinephrine in penis operations has many advantages, including high patient Anlotinib solubility dmso satisfaction, relatively painless infiltration, low complication rates, improved view of the operating field, and an extended effect of anesthetics with a prolonged reduction in pain. Because of the anatomy of the organ, there is no risk of necrosis related to using a subcutaneous penile ring block. Thus selleck products the view that epinephrine should not be used in penis procedures is obsolete.”
“There is currently no data on the safety and efficacy of the Advantage

sling despite its widespread use.

We compared the efficiency and safety outcome data of 556 tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) and 108 Advantage slings after assessing for potential confounding factors.

The two groups proved comparable. Bladder injury rates were 4.6% for the Advantage group and 2.9% for the TVT group (p = 0.36). Subjective stress incontinence cure were 83.3% and 85.3%, respectively (p = 0.66). Incidences of de novo urgency, urge incontinence, and voiding difficulties were 22.2% vs 14.7% (p = 0.06), 9.3% vs 7.4% (p = 0.55), and 11.1% vs 6.7% (p = 0.11), respectively.

No major differences between the two slings were observed apart from a non-significant trend towards more de novo urgency and voiding difficulty symptoms with the Advantage group. It may be possible that due to its different biomechanical properties, the Advantage slings should be left looser.”
“Background: A relation between birth weight and adult body composition has been reported in singleton populations, especially when more accurate measures of body composition, such as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were used.

Forty-eight

rats with a mean weight of 140.0 g were divided into 2 equal groups and separately treated with PS and Berenil. Each group was further subdivided into uninfected, infected with Tbb and infected with Tbc subgroups. The drugs were administered after parasitemia was confirmed via microscopic examination. G6PD activity, total organ protein and haemoglobin levels were determined spectrophtometrically in the hemolysate and homogenates of brain, heart, kidney, liver and skeletal muscle tissues. The results were statistically analysed by using the two-tailed student’s t-test. The results of the two types of trypanosomal infections showed that they were comparable and showing similar patterns. The hemolysate DZNeP concentration indicated the highest selleck inhibitor activity of G6PD followed by the homogenates of the brain, liver, heart, kidney and muscle in that order. PS- treated animals did not demonstrate a significantly different G6PD activity when compared with those treated with Berenil (p > 0.05) and the values between uninfected and infected animals (both Tbb and Tbc) did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). This suggests that the mechanism by which PS and Berenil effect anti-trypanosomal actions may not be via the

regulation of the pentose phosphate pathway.”
“Zn1-xCoxFe2O4 ( x = 0 1 in a step of 0.2) nanoparticles with different range of particle size including 5-10 nm and 200-250 nm have been prepared by sol-gel process. Mossbauer spectra at room temperature indicated that, with increasing selleck cobalt content, there is a transition from paramagnetic to magnetically ordered-ferrimagnetic state. Magnetic properties were measured at 300 and 10 K using a Quantum Design MPMS-5S SQUID magnetometer. It was found that with an increase in cobalt content the saturation magnetization and coercivity increase. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:

10.1063/1.3553777]“
“We report in this article the results of nanosilica (SiO2)-filled epoxy composites with different loadings and their electrical, thermal, mechanical, and free-volume properties characterized with different techniques. The morphological features were studied by transmission electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry was used to investigate the glass-transition temperature (T-g) of the nanocomposites. The properties of the nanocomposites showed that the electrical resistivity (rho), ultimate tensile strength, and hardness of the composites increased with SiO2 weight fraction up to 10 wt % and decreased there-after; this suggested that the beneficial properties occurred up to this weight fraction. The temperature and seawater aging had a negative influence on rho; that is, rho decreased with increases in the temperature and aging.