Inviting Calm Within: ADD, Neurology, and Mindfulness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Riner, Phillip S.; Tanase, Madalina

2014-01-01

The fourth edition of the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" ("DSM IV") describes ADD as behaviorally observed impairments in attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Officially known as AD/HD, we use ADD here because we are dealing primarily with attention, organizational, and impulsivity issues. A more…

radEq Add-On Module for CFD Solver Loci-CHEM

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McCloud, Peter

2013-01-01

Loci-CHEM to be applied to flow velocities where surface radiation due to heating from compression and friction becomes significant. The module adds a radiation equilibrium boundary condition to the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code to produce accurate results. The module expanded the upper limit for accurate CFD solutions of Loci-CHEM from Mach 4 to Mach 10 based on Space Shuttle Orbiter Re-Entry trajectories. Loci-CHEM already has a very promising architecture and performance, but absence of radiation equilibrium boundary condition limited the application of Loci-CHEM to below Mach 4. The immediate advantage of the add-on module is that it allows Loci-CHEM to work with supersonic flows up to Mach 10. This transformed Loci-CHEM from a rocket engine- heritage CFD code with general subsonic and low-supersonic applications, to an aeroheating code with hypersonic applications. The follow-on advantage of the module is that it is a building block for additional add-on modules that will solve for the heating generated at Mach numbers higher than 10.

Effects of Vildagliptin Add-on Insulin Therapy on Nocturnal Glycemic Variations in Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes.

PubMed

Li, Feng-Fei; Shen, Yun; Sun, Rui; Zhang, Dan-Feng; Jin, Xing; Zhai, Xiao-Fang; Chen, Mao-Yuan; Su, Xiao-Fei; Wu, Jin-Dan; Ye, Lei; Ma, Jian-Hua

2017-10-01

To investigate whether vildagliptin add-on insulin therapy improves glycemic variations in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared to patients with placebo therapy. This was a 24-week, single-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Inadequately controlled T2D patients treated with insulin therapy were recruited between June 2012 and April 2013. The trial included a 2-week screening period and a 24-week randomized period. Subjects were randomly assigned to a vildagliptin add-on insulin therapy group (n = 17) or a matched placebo group (n = 16). Scheduled visits occurred at weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) was performed before and at the endpoint of the study. A total of 33 subjects were admitted, with 1 patient withdrawing from the placebo group. After 24 weeks of therapy, HbA1c values were significantly reduced at the endpoint in the vildagliptin add-on group. CGM data showed that patients with vildagliptin add-on therapy had a significantly lower 24-h mean glucose concentration and mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (MAGE). At the endpoint of the study, patients in the vildagliptin add-on group had a significantly lower MAGE and standard deviation compared to the control patients during the nocturnal period (0000-0600). A severe hypoglycemic episode was not observed in either group. Vildagliptin add-on therapy to insulin has the ability to improve glycemic variations, especially during the nocturnal time period, in patients with uncontrolled T2D.

Stiripentol add-on therapy for focal refractory epilepsy.

PubMed

Brigo, Francesco; Igwe, Stanley C; Bragazzi, Nicola Luigi

2018-05-10

intervals were very wide and showed the possibility of substantial increases and small reductions in risks of neurological (RR 2.65, 95% CI 0.88 to 8.01, low-quality evidence) or gastrointestinal adverse effects (RR 11.56, 95% CI 0.71 to 189.36, low-quality evidence). Researchers noted no clear reduction in the risk of study withdrawal (RR 0.66, 95% CI 0.30 to 1.47, low-quality evidence), which was high in both groups (35.0% in add-on placebo and 53.3% in stiripentol group, low-quality evidence). The external validity of this study was limited because only responders to stiripentol (i.e. patients experiencing a ≥ 50% decrease in seizure frequency compared with baseline) were included in the randomised, add-on, placebo-controlled, double-blind phase. Furthermore, carry-over and withdrawal effects probably influenced outcomes related to seizure frequency. Very limited information derived from the only included study shows that adverse effects considered as a whole seemed to occur significantly more often with add-on stiripentol than with add-on placebo. Since the last version of this review was published, we have found no new studies. Hence, we have made no changes to the conclusions of this update as presented in the initial review. We can draw no conclusions to support the use of stiripentol as add-on treatment for focal refractory epilepsy. Additional large, randomised, well-conducted trials are needed.

Efficacy and safety of add on low-dose mirtazapine in depression.

PubMed

Matreja, Prithpal S; Badyal, Dinesh K; Deswal, Randhir S; Sharma, Arvind

2012-03-01

Although antidepressant medications are effective, they have a delayed onset of effect. Mirtazapine, an atypical antidepressant is an important option for add-on therapy in major depression. There is insufficient data on mirtazapine in Indian population; hence this study was designed to study the add-on effect of low-dose mirtazapine with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in major depressive disorder (MDD) in Indian population. In an open, randomized study, 60 patients were divided into two groups. In Group A (n=30) patients received conventional SSRIs for 6 weeks. In Group B (n=30) patients received conventional SSRIs with low-dose mirtazapine for 6 weeks. Patients were evaluated at baseline and then at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 weeks. There was significant improvement in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Montgomery and Asberg depression rating scale (MADRS) scores (P<0.05) in both groups. Mirtazapine in low dose as add on therapy showed improvement in scores, had earlier onset of action, and more number of responders and remitters as compared to conventional treatment (P<0.05). No serious adverse event was reported in either of the groups. Low-dose mirtazapine as add-on therapy has shown better efficacy, earlier onset of action and more number of responders and remitters as compared to conventional treatment in MDD in Indian patients.

Lacosamide add-on therapy for partial epilepsy.

PubMed

Weston, Jennifer; Shukralla, Arif; McKay, Andrew J; Marson, Anthony G

2015-06-16

with placebo was 1.70 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38 to 2.10); for seizure freedom for all doses of lacosamide compared with placebo was 2.50 (95% CI 0.85 to 7.34); and for treatment withdrawal for all doses of lacosamide compared with placebo was 1.88 (95% CI 1.40 to 2.52). Adverse effects significantly associated with lacosamide were abnormal co-ordination (risk ratio (RR) 6.12, 99% CI 1.35 to 27.77), diplopia (RR 5.29, 99% CI 1.97 to 14.23), dizziness (RR 3.53, 99% CI 2.20 to 5.68), nausea (RR 2.37, 99% CI 1.23 to 4.58) and vomiting (RR 3.49, 99% CI 1.43 to 8.54). Adverse effects that were not statistically significant were headache (RR 1.34, 99% CI 0.83 to 2.18), fatigue (RR 2.11, 99% CI 0.92 to 4.85), nystagmus (RR 1.47, 99% CI 0.61 to 3.52) and somnolence (RR 1.44, 99% CI 0.67 to 3.09). This review has shown lacosamide to be effective and fairly well tolerated in the short term when used as add-on treatment for drug-resistant partial epilepsy in adults. Higher doses of lacosamide may be more associated with adverse effects and withdrawal of the drug than lower doses. Additional evidence on children is needed, and longer-term efficacy is unknown.

Experimental re-evaluation of flunarizine as add-on antiepileptic therapy.

PubMed

Thakur, Anamika; Sahai, A K; Thakur, J S

2011-04-01

Experimental studies have found several calcium channel blockers with anticonvulsant property. Flunarizine is one of the most potent calcium channel blockers, which has shown anticonvulsant effect against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and maximal electroshock (MES)-induced seizures. However, further experimental and clinical trials have shown varied results. We conducted a PTZ model experimental study to re-evaluate the potential of flunarizine for add-on therapy in the management of refractory epilepsy. Experiments were conducted in PTZ model involving Swiss strain mice. Doses producing seizures in 50% and 99% mice, i.e. CD(50) and CD(99) values of PTZ were obtained from the dose-response study. Animals received graded, single dose of sodium valproate (100-300 mg/kg), lamotrigine (3-12 mg/kg) and flunarizine (5-20 mg/kg), and then each group of mice was injected with CD(99) dose of PTZ (65mg/kg i.p.). Another group of mice received single ED(50) dose (dose producing seizure protection in 50% mice) of sodium valproate and flunarizine separately in left and right side of abdomen. Results were analysed by Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA on Ranks test. As compared to control, sodium valproate at 250 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg produced statistical significant seizure protection. At none of the pre-treatment dose levels of lamotrigine, the seizure score with PTZ differed significantly from that observed in the vehicle-treated group. Pre-treatment with flunarizine demonstrated dose-dependent decrease in the seizure score to PTZ administration. As compared to control group, flunarizine at 20 mg/kg produced statistical significant seizure protection. As combined use of sodium valproate and flunarizine has shown significant seizure protection in PTZ model, flunarizine has a potential for add-on therapy in refractory cases of partial seizures. It is therefore, we conclude that further experimental studies and multicenter clinical trials involving large sample size are needed to establish

Alternative Fuels Data Center: Seattle Rideshare Fleet Adds EVs, Enjoys

Science.gov Websites

Fuels Data Center: Seattle Rideshare Fleet Adds EVs, Enjoys Success on Facebook Tweet about Alternative Fuels Data Center: Seattle Rideshare Fleet Adds EVs, Enjoys Success on Twitter Bookmark Alternative Fuels Data Center: Seattle Rideshare Fleet Adds EVs, Enjoys Success on Google Bookmark Alternative Fuels

Prognostic Significance of Circulating Immune Complexes in Cancer Patients

PubMed Central

Dass, Tushar Kanti; Ashok, Ashok

1991-01-01

Circulating immune complexes (CIC) were estimated in 100 cancer patients and 25 healthy control volunteers by means of the polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation test and latex agglutination inhibition (LAI) test. Pathological levels of CIC were found in 47% of the patients by PEG precipitation test and in 59% of the patients by LAI test; both tests were positive in 33% of the patients. Consequently, the use of the two assays resulted in 73% seropositivity for CIC. The PEG precipitation test detects antigen‐antibody complexes formed in the ratio of 2:1 (Ag2Ab), while the LAI test could detect immune complexes formed over an extended range of antigen‐antibody ratio including complexes as small as SS. CIC values were significantly higher by combined assays (P < 0.001) as compared to individual assays (P < 0.01) when compared with the control group. It was found that 75% of post‐operative follow‐up patients became seronegative for CIC in the combined assays, whereas the 25% of post‐operative patients who remained seropositive for CIC showed recurrence within three months after surgery. Immune‐complex deposition was demonstrated on malignant cells in vitro by direct immunofluorescence studies in 73.3% of patients, while 60% of patients revealed complement‐fixing antigen‐antibody complexes. It was found that 20% of patients showing positive immunofluorescence with anti‐C3‐antisera had decreased levels of CIC. Complement‐mediated cytotoxic injury results in reduction of tumor cell mass and subsequent decrease in CIC. Necrotizing and leucocytoclastic vasculitis in the tumor mass was initiated by raised CIC levels in vivo in 71% of patients. Necrosis of malignant tumors was seen in 58% of patients, and hemorrhage in 36% of patients. These changes were considered to be an aftermath of immuno‐complex vasculitis initiated by CIC. PMID:1752784

Add-on conservation benefits of marine territorial user rights fishery policies in central Chile.

PubMed

Gelcich, Stefan; Godoy, Natalio; Prado, Luis; Castilla, Juan Carlos

2008-01-01

To combine the rational use of marine benthic resources and economic development of small-scale fishers, Chile passed legislation in 1991 establishing a comanagement policy that grants exclusive territorial user rights for fisheries (TURFs) to artisanal fisher organizations in well-defined inshore coastal areas, known as Management and Exploitation Areas for Benthic Resources (MEABRs). In general the policy has been proclaimed a management and economic success because benthic resource abundances have increased inside MEABRs in comparison with open-access areas. However, there is a lack of studies assessing the impact of this management policy on nontargeted subtidal species and community assemblages and the policy's implications for biodiversity and conservation. This study starts to fill this gap and links the allocation of TURFs for benthic resources with add-on conservation benefits for species that are not directly linked with the fishery policy. Comparative subtidal surveys inside vs. outside MEABRs were used to assess the effects of three MEABRs on managed targeted benthic species, biodiversity (species richness), and community assemblages in central Chile. Surveys focused exclusively on subtidal kelp forest habitats dominated by Lessonia trabeculata, spanning 4-12 m in depth and with similar levels of habitat complexity. The study comprised: (1) quantification of kelp forest complexity, (2) understory survey of sessile species, (3) quantification of conspicuous benthic macroinvertebrates, including those under management, and (4) quantification of reef-fish species inside the kelp habitat. Results showed population enhancement of target-managed invertebrates inside MEABRs. Moreover, reef-fish species were significantly more diverse and abundant inside MEABRs, and community assemblages of nontarget benthic invertebrates and reef fish were significantly different inside vs. outside MEABRs. The comanagement of inshore benthic resources in Chile, through MEABRs

Add-on unidirectional elastic metamaterial plate cloak

PubMed Central

Lee, Min Kyung; Kim, Yoon Young

2016-01-01

Metamaterial cloaks control the propagation of waves to make an object invisible or insensible. To manipulate elastic waves in space, a metamaterial cloak is typically embedded in a base system that includes or surrounds a target object. The embedding is undesirable because it structurally weakens or permanently alters the base system. In this study, we propose a new add-on metamaterial elastic cloak that can be placed over and mechanically coupled with a base structure without embedding. We designed an add-on type annular metamaterial plate cloak through conformal mapping, fabricated it and performed cloaking experiments in a thin-plate with a hole. Experiments were performed in a thin plate by using the lowest symmetric Lamb wave centered at 100 kHz. As a means to check the cloaking performance of the add-on elastic plate cloak, possibly as a temporary stress reliever or a so-called “stress bandage”, the degree of stress concentration mitigation and the recovery from the perturbed wave field due to a hole were investigated. PMID:26860896

Add-on unidirectional elastic metamaterial plate cloak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Min Kyung; Kim, Yoon Young

2016-02-01

Metamaterial cloaks control the propagation of waves to make an object invisible or insensible. To manipulate elastic waves in space, a metamaterial cloak is typically embedded in a base system that includes or surrounds a target object. The embedding is undesirable because it structurally weakens or permanently alters the base system. In this study, we propose a new add-on metamaterial elastic cloak that can be placed over and mechanically coupled with a base structure without embedding. We designed an add-on type annular metamaterial plate cloak through conformal mapping, fabricated it and performed cloaking experiments in a thin-plate with a hole. Experiments were performed in a thin plate by using the lowest symmetric Lamb wave centered at 100 kHz. As a means to check the cloaking performance of the add-on elastic plate cloak, possibly as a temporary stress reliever or a so-called “stress bandage”, the degree of stress concentration mitigation and the recovery from the perturbed wave field due to a hole were investigated.

Discovering Focus: Helping Students with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Valkenburg, Jim

2012-01-01

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is a neurological disorder which effects learning and that has a confusing set of diagnostic symptoms and an even more confusing set of remedies ranging from medication to meditation to nothing at all. Current neurological research suggests, however, that there are strategies that the individual with ADD can use to…

Alternative Fuels Data Center: Ozinga Adds 14 Natural Gas Concrete Mixers

Science.gov Websites

to Its Fleet Ozinga Adds 14 Natural Gas Concrete Mixers to Its Fleet to someone by E-mail Share Alternative Fuels Data Center: Ozinga Adds 14 Natural Gas Concrete Mixers to Its Fleet on Facebook Tweet about Alternative Fuels Data Center: Ozinga Adds 14 Natural Gas Concrete Mixers to Its Fleet on Twitter Bookmark

Impact of Modafinil Add-on with Atypical Anti-psychotics on Excessive Daytime Drowsiness

PubMed Central

Prasuna, P Lakshmi; Sudhakar, TP

2015-01-01

Background: Atypical antipsychotic drugs are known to cause many side effects which include daytime drowsiness. So many add on drugs are tried to reduce the same. Materials and Methods: 72 patients who were on atypical antipsychotic drugs were randomly assigned to either Modafinil or placebo and were followed for a period of 12 weeks. Daytime drowsiness, was taken at baseline, week 3, and at week 12 by using VAS, EDD scales. Results: The results were analyzed and showed that the Modafinil add on therapy significantly reduced the daytime Drowsiness. Conclusions: Modafinil could be a potential candidate in selected group of patients to decrease some of the unwanted adverse events like daytime drowsiness produced by atypical antipsychotics. PMID:26702168

Statistical significance of the rich-club phenomenon in complex networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Zhi-Qiang; Zhou, Wei-Xing

2008-04-01

We propose that the rich-club phenomenon in complex networks should be defined in the spirit of bootstrapping, in which a null model is adopted to assess the statistical significance of the rich-club detected. Our method can serve as a definition of the rich-club phenomenon and is applied to analyze three real networks and three model networks. The results show significant improvement compared with previously reported results. We report a dilemma with an exceptional example, showing that there does not exist an omnipotent definition for the rich-club phenomenon.

WITHDRAWN: Oxcarbazepine add-on for drug-resistant partial epilepsy.

PubMed

Castillo, Sergio M; Schmidt, Dieter B; White, Sarah; Shukralla, Arif

2016-11-15

Most people with epilepsy have a good prognosis and their seizures can be well controlled with the use of a single antiepileptic drug, but up to 30% develop refractory epilepsy, especially those with partial seizures. In this review we summarize the current evidence regarding oxcarbazepine when used as an add-on treatment for drug-resistant partial epilepsy. To evaluate the effects of oxcarbazepine when used as an add-on treatment for drug-resistant partial epilepsy. We searched the Cochrane Epilepsy Group's Specialized Register (28 March 2006), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library Issue 1, 2006), MEDLINE (1966 to March 2006). No language restrictions were imposed. We checked the reference lists of retrieved studies for additional reports of relevant studies. We also contacted Novartis (manufacturers of oxcarbazepine) and experts in the field. Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, add-on trials of oxcarbazepine in patients with drug-resistant partial epilepsy. Two review authors independently assessed trials for inclusion and extracted the relevant data. The following outcomes were assessed : (a) 50% or greater reduction in seizure frequency; (b) treatment withdrawal (any reason); (c) side effects. Primary analyses were intention-to-treat. Summary odds ratios were estimated for each outcome. Two trials were included representing 961 randomized patients.Overall Odds Ratio (OR) (95% Confidence Interval (CIs)) for 50% or greater reduction in seizure frequency compared to placebo 2.96 (2.20, 4.00).Treatment withdrawal OR (95% CIs) compared to placebo 2.17 (1.59, 2.97).Side effects: OR (99% CIs) compared to placebo, ataxia 2.93 (1.72, 4.99); dizziness 3.05 (1.99, 4.67); fatigue 1.80 (1.02, 3.19); nausea 2.88 (1.77, 4.69); somnolence 2.55 (1.84, 3.55); diplopia 4.32 (2.65, 7.04), were significantly associated with oxcarbazepine. Oxcarbazepine has efficacy as an add-on treatment in patients with drug

Sensitivity and specificity of the amer dizziness diagnostic scale (adds) for patients with vestibular disorders.

PubMed

Al Saif, Amer; Alsenany, Samira

2015-01-01

[Purpose] To investigate the sensitivity and specificity of a newly developed diagnostic tool, the Amer Dizziness Diagnostic Scale (ADDS), to evaluate and differentially diagnose vestibular disorder and to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the scale and its usefulness in clinical practice. [Subjects and Methods] Two hundred subjects of both genders (72 males, 128 females) aged between 18 to 60 (49.5±7.8) who had a history of vertigo and/or dizziness symptoms for this previous two weeks or less were recruited for the study. All subjects were referred by otolaryngologists, neurologists or family physicians in and around Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. On the first clinic visit, all the patients were evaluated once using the ADDS, following which they underwent routine testing of clinical signs and symptoms, audiometry, and a neurological examination, coupled with tests of Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex function, which often serves as the "gold standard" for determining the probability of a vestibular deficit. [Results] The results show that the ADDS strongly correlated with "true-positive" and "true-negative" responses for determining the probability of a vestibular disorder (r =0.95). A stepwise linear regression was conducted and the results indicate that the ADDS was a significant predictor of "true-positive" and "true-negative" responses in vestibular disorders (R(2) =0.90). Approximately 90% of the variability in the vestibular gold standard test was explained by its relationship to the ADDS. Moreover, the ADDS was found to have a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 96%. [Conclusion] This study showed that the Amer Dizziness Diagnostic Scale has high sensitivity and specificity and that it can be used as a method of differential diagnosis for patients with vestibular disorders.

Social Capital: Does It Add to the Health Inequalities Debate?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chappell, Neena L.; Funk, Laura M.

2010-01-01

This paper empirically examines the relationship between advantage, social capital and health status to assess (a) whether social capital adds explanatory power to what we already know about the relationship between advantage and health and (b) whether social capital adds anything beyond its component parts, namely social participation and trust.…

The Source for ADD/ADHD: Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Richard, Gail J.; Russell, Joy L.

This book is intended for professionals who are responsible for designing and implementing educational programs for children with attention deficit disorders and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD). Chapters address: (1) myths and realities about ADD/ADHD; (2) definitions, disorders associated with ADD/ADHD, and federal educational…

Development of an add-on kit for scanning confocal microscopy (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Kaikai; Zheng, Guoan

2017-03-01

Scanning confocal microscopy is a standard choice for many fluorescence imaging applications in basic biomedical research. It is able to produce optically sectioned images and provide acquisition versatility to address many samples and application demands. However, scanning a focused point across the specimen limits the speed of image acquisition. As a result, scanning confocal microscope only works well with stationary samples. Researchers have performed parallel confocal scanning using digital-micromirror-device (DMD), which was used to project a scanning multi-point pattern across the sample. The DMD based parallel confocal systems increase the imaging speed while maintaining the optical sectioning ability. In this paper, we report the development of an add-on kit for high-speed and low-cost confocal microscopy. By adapting this add-on kit to an existing regular microscope, one can convert it into a confocal microscope without significant hardware modifications. Compared with current DMD-based implementations, the reported approach is able to recover multiple layers along the z axis simultaneously. It may find applications in wafer inspection and 3D metrology of semiconductor circuit. The dissemination of the proposed add-on kit under $1000 budget could also lead to new types of experimental designs for biological research labs, e.g., cytology analysis in cell culture experiments, genetic studies on multicellular organisms, pharmaceutical drug profiling, RNA interference studies, investigation of microbial communities in environmental systems, and etc.

Safety and tolerability of dapagliflozin, saxagliptin and metformin in combination: Post-hoc analysis of concomitant add-on versus sequential add-on to metformin and of triple versus dual therapy with metformin.

PubMed

Del Prato, Stefano; Rosenstock, Julio; Garcia-Sanchez, Ricardo; Iqbal, Nayyar; Hansen, Lars; Johnsson, Eva; Chen, Hungta; Mathieu, Chantal

2018-06-01

The safety of triple oral therapy with dapagliflozin plus saxagliptin plus metformin versus dual therapy with dapagliflozin or saxagliptin plus metformin was compared in a post-hoc analysis of 3 randomized trials of sequential or concomitant add-on of dapagliflozin and saxagliptin to metformin. In the concomitant add-on trial, patients with type 2 diabetes on stable metformin received dapagliflozin 10 mg/d plus saxagliptin 5 mg/d. In sequential add-on trials, patients on metformin plus either saxagliptin 5 mg/d or dapagliflozin 10 mg/d received dapagliflozin 10 mg/d or saxagliptin 5 mg/d, respectively, as add-on therapy. After 24 weeks, incidences of adverse events and serious adverse events were similar between triple and dual therapy and between concomitant and sequential add-on regimens. Urinary tract infections were more common with sequential than with concomitant add-on therapy; genital infections were reported only with sequential add-on of dapagliflozin to saxagliptin plus metformin. Hypoglycaemia incidence was <2.0% across all analysis groups. In conclusion, the safety and tolerability of triple therapy with dapagliflozin, saxagliptin and metformin, as either concomitant or sequential add-on, were similar to dual therapy with either agent added to metformin. © 2018 The Authors. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Eslicarbazepine acetate add-on for drug-resistant partial epilepsy.

PubMed

Chang, Xian-Chao; Yuan, Hai; Wang, Yi; Xu, Hui-Qin; Hong, Wen-Ke; Zheng, Rong-Yuan

2017-10-25

This is an updated version of the Cochrane Review published in the Cochrane Library 2011, Issue 12.The majority of people with epilepsy have a good prognosis, but up to 30% of people continue to have seizures despite several regimens of antiepileptic drugs. In this review, we summarized the current evidence regarding eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) when used as an add-on treatment for drug-resistant partial epilepsy. To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of ESL when used as an add-on treatment for people with drug-resistant partial epilepsy. The searches for the original review were run in November 2011. Subsequently, we searched the Cochrane Epilepsy Group Specialized Register (6 December 2016), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL 2016, Issue 11) and MEDLINE (1946 to 6 December 2016). There were no language restrictions. We reviewed the reference lists of retrieved studies to search for additional reports of relevant studies. We also contacted the manufacturers of ESL and experts in the field for information about any unpublished or ongoing studies. Randomized placebo controlled double-blind add-on trials of ESL in people with drug-resistant partial epilepsy. Two review authors independently selected trials for inclusion and extracted data. Outcomes investigated included 50% or greater reduction in seizure frequency, seizure freedom, treatment withdrawal, adverse effects, and drug interactions. Primary analyses were by intention to treat (ITT). The dose-response relationship was evaluated in regression models. We included five trials (1799 participants) rated at low risk of bias; all studies were funded by BIAL. The overall risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for 50% or greater reduction in seizure frequency was 1.71 (95% CI 1.42 to 2.05). Dose regression analysis showed evidence that ESL reduced seizure frequency with an increase in efficacy with increasing doses of ESL. ESL was significantly associated with seizure freedom

Add-on deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS) for the treatment of chronic migraine: A preliminary study.

PubMed

Rapinesi, Chiara; Del Casale, Antonio; Scatena, Paola; Kotzalidis, Georgios D; Di Pietro, Simone; Ferri, Vittoria Rachele; Bersani, Francesco Saverio; Brugnoli, Roberto; Raccah, Ruggero Nessim; Zangen, Abraham; Ferracuti, Stefano; Orzi, Francesco; Girardi, Paolo; Sette, Giuliano

2016-06-03

Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS) can be an alternative treatment to relieve pain in chronic migraine (CM). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of high-frequency dTMS in add-on to standard treatment for CM in patients not responding to effective abortive or preventive drug treatment. We randomized 14 patients with International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd Edition (ICHD-3) treatment-resistant CM to add-on dTMS (n=7) or standard abortive or preventive antimigraine treatment (n=7). Three sessions of alternate day 10Hz dTMS consisting of 600 pulses in 10 trains were delivered to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), bilaterally, but with left hemisphere prevalence, for 12 sessions spread over one month. The add-on dTMS treatment was well tolerated. Patients treated with dTMS showed significant reduction of pain intensity, frequency of attacks, analgesic overuse, and depressive symptoms during treatment and one month later, compared to the month preceding treatment and at the same time-points compared to the control group. As compared to standard pharmacological treatment alone, add-on high-frequency dTMS of the bilateral DLPFC reduced the frequency and intensity of migraine attack, drug overuse, and depressive symptoms. This study supports the add-on dTMS treatment in treatment-resistant CM. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Cognitive Control and Attentional Selection in Adolescents with ADHD versus ADD

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carr, Laurie; Henderson, John; Nigg, Joel T.

2010-01-01

An important research question is whether Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is related to early- or late-stage attentional control mechanisms and whether this differentiates a nonhyperactive subtype (ADD). This question was addressed in a sample of 145 ADD/ADHD and typically developing comparison adolescents (aged 13-17). Attentional…

76 FR 49508 - ``Add Us In'' Initiative

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-10

... DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Office of Disability Employment Program ``Add Us In'' Initiative AGENCY: Office of Disability Employment Policy, Department of Labor. ACTION: Correction to the Funding Opportunity Number and Closing Date. SUMMARY: The Office of Disability Employment Policy, Department of Labor...

ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION: ADD-ON NOX CONTROLS

EPA Science Inventory

The paper discusses the environmental technology verification (ETV) of add-on nitrogen oxide (NOx) controls. Research Triangle Institute (RTI) is EPA's cooperating partner for the Air Pollution Control Technology (APCT) Program, one of a dozen ETV pilot programs. Verification of ...

Prevalence of Aggression and Defiance in Children with ADD/ADHD Tendencies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hill, Janella

2011-01-01

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) appear to have become more prevalent in the past few years. Many children who display ADD/ADHD tendencies also display behaviors which cause problems in a classroom setting. Considering the fact that these behaviors could be displayed by the student population as…

76 FR 47240 - ``Add Us In'' Initiative

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-04

... DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Office of Disability Employment Policy ``Add Us In'' Initiative AGENCY: Office of Disability Employment Policy, Department of Labor. Announcement Type: New Notice of Availability... Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) announces the availability of approximately $1.65 million to be awarded...

Analysis of silicon on insulator (SOI) optical microring add-drop filter based on waveguide intersections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaźmierczak, Andrzej; Bogaerts, Wim; Van Thourhout, Dries; Drouard, Emmanuel; Rojo-Romeo, Pedro; Giannone, Domenico; Gaffiot, Frederic

2008-04-01

We present a compact passive optical add-drop filter which incorporates two microring resonators and a waveguide intersection in silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology. Such a filter is a key element for designing simple layouts of highly integrated complex optical networks-on-chip. The filter occupies an area smaller than 10μm×10μm and exhibits relatively high quality factors (up to 4000) and efficient signal dropping capabilities. In the present work, the influence of filter parameters such as the microring-resonators radii and the coupling section shape are analyzed theoretically and experimentally

Mode-routed fiber-optic add-drop filter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moslehi, Behzad (Inventor); Black, Richard James (Inventor); Shaw, Herbert John (Inventor)

2000-01-01

New elements mode-converting two-mode grating and mode-filtering two-mode coupler are disclosed and used as elements in a system for communications, add-drop filtering, and strain sensing. Methods of fabrication for these new two-mode gratings and mode-filtering two-mode couplers are also disclosed.

Effects of saxagliptin add-on therapy to insulin on blood glycemic fluctuations in patients with type 2 diabetes

PubMed Central

Li, Feng-fei; Jiang, Lan-lan; Yan, Reng-na; Zhu, Hong-hong; Zhou, Pei-hua; Zhang, Dan-feng; Su, Xiao-fei; Wu, Jin-dan; Ye, Lei; Ma, Jian-hua

2016-01-01

Abstract Background: To investigate whether saxagliptin add-on therapy to continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) further improve blood glycemic control than CSII therapy in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: This was a single-center, randomized, control, open-labeled trial. Newly diagnosed T2D patients were recruited between February 2014 and December 2015. Subjects were divided into saxagliptin add-on therapy to CSII group (n = 31) and CSII therapy group (n = 38). The treatment was maintained for 4 weeks. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed at baseline. Serum samples were obtained before and 30 and 120 minutes after oral administration for glucose, insulin, and C-peptide determination. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) was performed before and endpoint. Results: A total of 69 subjects were admitted. After 4-week therapy, CGM data showed that patients with saxagliptin add-on therapy exhibited further improvement of mean amplitude glycemic excursion (MAGE), the incremental area under curve of plasma glucose >7.8 and 10 mmol/L compared with that of control group. In addition, the hourly mean blood glucose concentrations, especially between 0000 and 0600 in patient with saxagliptin add-on therapy, were significantly lower compared with that of the control patients. Furthermore, patients in saxagliptin add-on group needed lower insulin dose to maintain euglycemic control. In addition, severe hypoglycemic episode was not observed from any group. Conclusion: Saxagliptin add-on therapy to insulin had the ability of further improve blood glycemic controlling, with lower insulin dose required by patients with T2D to maintain euglycemic controlling. PMID:27787387

Regulatory role of glycogen synthase kinase 3 for transcriptional activity of ADD1/SREBP1c.

PubMed

Kim, Kang Ho; Song, Min Jeong; Yoo, Eung Jae; Choe, Sung Sik; Park, Sang Dai; Kim, Jae Bum

2004-12-10

Adipocyte determination- and differentiation-dependent factor 1 (ADD1) plays important roles in lipid metabolism and insulin-dependent gene expression. Because insulin stimulates carbohydrate and lipid synthesis, it would be important to decipher how the transcriptional activity of ADD1/SREBP1c is regulated in the insulin signaling pathway. In this study, we demonstrated that glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3 negatively regulates the transcriptional activity of ADD1/SREBP1c. GSK3 inhibitors enhanced a transcriptional activity of ADD1/SREBP1c and expression of ADD1/SREBP1c target genes including fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1), and steroyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) in adipocytes and hepatocytes. In contrast, overexpression of GSK3beta down-regulated the transcriptional activity of ADD1/SREBP1c. GSK3 inhibitor-mediated ADD1/SREBP1c target gene activation did not require de novo protein synthesis, implying that GSK3 might affect transcriptional activity of ADD1/SREBP1c at the level of post-translational modification. Additionally, we demonstrated that GSK3 efficiently phosphorylated ADD1/SREBP1c in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, these data suggest that GSK3 inactivation is crucial to confer stimulated transcriptional activity of ADD1/SREBP1c for insulin-dependent gene expression, which would coordinate lipid and glucose metabolism.

The Integration of the Neurosciences, Child Public Health, and Education Practice: Hemisphere-Specific Remediation Strategies as a Discipline Partnered Rehabilitation Tool in ADD/ADHD.

PubMed

Leisman, Gerry; Mualem, Raed; Machado, Calixto

2013-01-01

ADD/ADHD is the most common and most studied neurodevelopmental problem. Recent statistics from the U.S. Center for Disease Control state that 11% or approximately one out of every nine children in the US and one in five high school boys are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. This number is thought to be increasing at around 15-20% per year. The US National Institute of Mental Health's Multi-modal Treatment Study has shown that medication has no long-term benefit for those with ADHD. To effectively address ADD/ADHD from within the framework of child public health, an interdisciplinary strategy is necessary that is based on a neuroeducational model that can be readily implemented on a large-scale within the educational system. This study is based on previous findings that ADD/ADHD children possess underactivity between sub-cortical and cortical regions. An imbalance of activity or arousal in one area can result in functional disconnections similar to that seen in split-brain patients. Since ADD/ADHD children exhibit deficient performance on tests developed to measure perceptual laterality, evidence of weak laterality or failure to develop laterality has been found across various modalities (auditory, visual, tactile). This has reportedly resulted in abnormal cerebral organization and ineffective cortical specialization necessary for the development of language and non-language function. This pilot study examines groups of ADD/ADHD and control elementary school children all of whom were administered all of the subtests of the Wechsler Individual Achievement Tests, the Brown Parent Questionnaire, and given objective performance measures on tests of motor and sensory coordinative abilities. Results measured after a 12-week remediation program aimed at increasing the activity of the hypothesized underactive right hemisphere function, yielded significant improvement of greater than 2 years in grade level in all domains except in mathematical reasoning. The treated group also

Word add-in for ontology recognition: semantic enrichment of scientific literature.

PubMed

Fink, J Lynn; Fernicola, Pablo; Chandran, Rahul; Parastatidis, Savas; Wade, Alex; Naim, Oscar; Quinn, Gregory B; Bourne, Philip E

2010-02-24

In the current era of scientific research, efficient communication of information is paramount. As such, the nature of scholarly and scientific communication is changing; cyberinfrastructure is now absolutely necessary and new media are allowing information and knowledge to be more interactive and immediate. One approach to making knowledge more accessible is the addition of machine-readable semantic data to scholarly articles. The Word add-in presented here will assist authors in this effort by automatically recognizing and highlighting words or phrases that are likely information-rich, allowing authors to associate semantic data with those words or phrases, and to embed that data in the document as XML. The add-in and source code are publicly available at http://www.codeplex.com/UCSDBioLit. The Word add-in for ontology term recognition makes it possible for an author to add semantic data to a document as it is being written and it encodes these data using XML tags that are effectively a standard in life sciences literature. Allowing authors to mark-up their own work will help increase the amount and quality of machine-readable literature metadata.

Word add-in for ontology recognition: semantic enrichment of scientific literature

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background In the current era of scientific research, efficient communication of information is paramount. As such, the nature of scholarly and scientific communication is changing; cyberinfrastructure is now absolutely necessary and new media are allowing information and knowledge to be more interactive and immediate. One approach to making knowledge more accessible is the addition of machine-readable semantic data to scholarly articles. Results The Word add-in presented here will assist authors in this effort by automatically recognizing and highlighting words or phrases that are likely information-rich, allowing authors to associate semantic data with those words or phrases, and to embed that data in the document as XML. The add-in and source code are publicly available at http://www.codeplex.com/UCSDBioLit. Conclusions The Word add-in for ontology term recognition makes it possible for an author to add semantic data to a document as it is being written and it encodes these data using XML tags that are effectively a standard in life sciences literature. Allowing authors to mark-up their own work will help increase the amount and quality of machine-readable literature metadata. PMID:20181245

Memantine add-on to antipsychotic treatment for residual negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia: a meta-analysis.

PubMed

Kishi, Taro; Matsuda, Yuki; Iwata, Nakao

2017-07-01

We examined whether memantine add-on to antipsychotic treatment is beneficial in schizophrenia treatment. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to achieve stronger evidence on the efficacy and safety of memantine add-on for treating schizophrenia. We analyzed double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials of memantine add-on treatment in schizophrenia patients receiving antipsychotics. The primary outcomes were amelioration of negative symptoms and all-cause discontinuation. Dichotomous outcomes are presented as risk ratios (RRs), and continuous outcomes are presented as mean differences (MDs) or standardized mean differences (SMDs). Eight studies (n = 448) were included. Although memantine add-on treatment was superior to placebo for ameliorating negative symptoms (SMD = -0.96, p = 0.006, I 2  = 88%; N = 7, n = 367) in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale general subscale (MD = -1.62, p = 0.002, I 2  = 0%; N = 4, n = 151) and Mini-Mental Status Examination score (MD = -3.07, p < 0.0001, I 2  = 21%; N = 3, n = 83), there were no statistically significant differences in the amelioration of overall (SMD = -0.75, p = 0.06, I 2  = 86%; N = 5, n = 271), positive (SMD = -0.46, p = 0.07, I 2  = 80%; N = 7, n = 367), and depressive symptoms (SMD = -0.127, p = 0.326, I 2  = 0%; N = 4, n = 201); all-cause discontinuation (RR = 1.34, p = 0.31, I 2  = 0%; N = 8, n = 448); and individual adverse events (fatigue, dizziness, headache, nausea, constipation) between the groups. For negative symptoms, the significant heterogeneity disappeared when risperidone studies alone were considered (I 2  = 0%). However, memantine add-on treatment remained superior to placebo (SMD = -1.29, p = 0.00001). Meta-regression analysis showed that patient age was associated with memantine-associated amelioration of negative symptoms (slope = 0.171, p = 0.0206). Memantine add-on treatment may be

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) I/D and Alpha-Adducin (ADD1) G460W Gene Polymorphisms in Turkish Patients with Severe Chronic Tinnitus.

PubMed

Yuce, Salim; Sancakdar, Enver; Bağcı, Gokhan; Koc, Sema; Kurtulgan, Hande Kucuk; Bağcı, Binnur; Doğan, Mansur; Uysal, İsmail Onder

2016-04-01

Tinnitus is described as a disturbing sound sensation in the absence of external stimulation. We aimed to investigate whether there is any relationship between severe chronic tinnitus and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) I/D and α-adducin (ADD1) G460W gene polymorphisms. The patient group and control group consisted of 89 and 104 individuals, respectively. The evaluation of tinnitus was performed using the Strukturiertes Tinnitus-Interview (STI). The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) was used to evaluate the tinnitus severity. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) techniques were used for genotyping. With regard to the ACE I/D polymorphism, there was no significant difference in genotype and allele frequencies between the patient group and control group. However, a statistically significant difference was found in genotype (p<0.01) and allele frequencies (p=0.021) of the ADD1 G460W gene polymorphism. Combined genotype analysis showed that the ACE II /ADD1 GW genotype was statistically significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group (X2: 7.15, p=0.007). The odds ratio value of the GW genotype was 2.5 (95% CI=1.4-4.7) (p<0.01). Our results demonstrate an association between ADD1 G460W gene polymorphism and susceptibility to severe chronic tinnitus. It was found that the GW genotype increased the disease risk by 2.5-fold compared with other genotypes. This indicates that ADD1 G460W polymorphism could be an important factor in the pathophysiology of tinnitus.

Add-On Memantine Treatment for Bipolar II Disorder Comorbid with Alcohol Dependence: A 12-Week Follow-Up Study.

PubMed

Lee, Sheng-Yu; Wang, Tzu-Yun; Chen, Shiou-Lan; Chang, Yun-Hsuan; Chen, Po-See; Huang, San-Yuan; Tzeng, Nian-Sheng; Wang, Liang-Jen; Lee, I Hui; Chen, Kao Ching; Yang, Yen Kuang; Hong, Jau-Shyong; Lu, Ru-Band

2018-06-01

Bipolar disorder (BD), especially BD-II, is frequently comorbid with alcohol dependence. Because BD-II and alcohol dependence are neurodegenerative disorders, agents with anti-inflammatory and neurotrophic effects might provide effective therapy. We investigated whether add-on memantine to regular valproic acid treatment ameliorated clinical symptoms, reduced alcohol use, and cytokine levels, and increased plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in BD-II patients with comorbid alcohol dependence. In a single-arm 12-week clinical trial, BD-II patients with comorbid alcohol dependence (n = 45) undergoing regular valproic acid treatments were given add-on memantine (5 mg/d). Symptom severity, alcohol use, cytokine (plasma tumor necrosis factor-α and C-reactive protein [CRP], transforming growth factor-β1 [TGF-β1], interleukin-8 [IL-8], IL-10), and plasma BDNF levels were regularly assessed. Mean within-group decreases in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) scores, alcohol use, CRP, BDNF, and IL-8 levels were significantly different from baseline after 12 weeks of treatment. We found no significant correlation between alcohol use levels and changes in HDRS or YMRS scores. The correlation between reduced alcohol use and reduced TGF-β1 level was significant (B = 0.003, p = 0.019). BD-II comorbid with alcohol dependence might benefit from add-on memantine treatment, which significantly reduced clinical severity, alcohol use, and plasma cytokine levels, and increased BDNF levels. Copyright © 2018 by the Research Society on Alcoholism.

Comparison of the clinical outcomes between antiviral-naïve patients treated with entecavir and lamivudine-resistant patients receiving adefovir add-on lamivudine combination treatment

PubMed Central

Kim, Hong Joo; Park, Soo Kyung; Yang, Hyo Joon; Jung, Yoon Suk; Park, Jung Ho; Park, Dong Il; Cho, Yong Kyun; Sohn, Chong Il; Jeon, Woo Kyu; Kim, Byung Ik; Choi, Kyu Yong

2016-01-01

Background/Aims To analyze the effects of preexisting lamivudine (LAM) resistance and applying antiviral treatment (adefovir [ADV] add-on LAM combination treatment) on long-term treatment outcomes, and comparing the clinical outcomes of antiviral-naïve chronic hepatitis B patients receiving entecavir (ETV) monotherapy. Methods This study enrolled 73 antiviral-naïve patients who received 0.5-mg ETV as an initial therapy and 54 patients who received ADV add-on LAM combination treatment as a rescue therapy from July 2006 to July 2010. Results During 24-month treatments, the decreases in serum log10HBV-DNA values (copies/mL) were significantly greater in the antiviral-naïve patients treated with ETV than the patients receiving ADV add-on LAM combination treatment. The biochemical response rates for alanine aminotransferase normalization at 6 months (ETV) and 12 months (ADV add-on LAM) were 90.4% (66/73) and 77.8% (42/54), respectively (P=0.048). A Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that the rates of serologic response, viral breakthrough, and emergence of genotypic resistance did not differ significantly between the two patient groups. There were also no significant intergroup differences in the rates of disease progression (PD) and new development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Conclusion The long-term clinical outcomes of antiviral-naïve patients treated with ETV and LAM-resistant patients receiving ADV add-on LAM combination treatment were comparable in terms of the emergence of HCC and disease progression. PMID:27729626

A common reference-based indirect comparison meta-analysis of eslicarbazepine versus lacosamide as add on treatments for focal epilepsy.

PubMed

Brigo, Francesco; Trinka, Eugen; Bragazzi, Nicola Luigi; Nardone, Raffaele; Milan, Alberto; Grillo, Elisabetta

2016-11-01

Eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) and lacosamide (LCM) have recently emerged as add-on treatments in patients with focal epilepsy experiencing seizures despite adequate monotherapy. Both drugs enhance slow inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels. To date no randomized controlled trial (RCT) has directly compared ESL with LCM as add-on treatments for focal epilepsy. Our aim was to indirectly compare the efficacy of ESL and LCM used as add-on treatments in patients with focal epilepsy using common reference-based indirect comparison meta-analysis. We systematically searched RCTs in which ESL or LCM has been used as add-on treatment in patients with focal epilepsy and compared with placebo. Following outcomes were considered: ≥50% reduction in seizure frequency; seizure freedom; treatment withdrawal for any reason; ≥25% increase in seizure frequency. Random-effects Mantel-Haenszel meta-analyses were performed to obtain odds ratios (ORs) for the efficacy of ESL or LCM versus placebo. Adjusted indirect comparisons were then made between ESL and LCM using the obtained results, and comparing the minimum and the highest effective recommended daily dose of each drug. Eight studies were included. Indirect comparisons adjusted for dose-effect showed no difference between ESL and LCM for responder rate, seizure freedom, and withdrawal rates. We could not assess increase in seizure frequency due to lack of data. Indirect comparisons failed to find a significant difference in efficacy between add-on ESL and LCM in patients with focal epilepsy. Direct head-to-head clinical trials comparing ESL with LCM as add-on antiepileptic treatment are required to confirm these results. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect and Potential Mechanism of Electroacupuncture Add-On Treatment in Patients with Parkinson's Disease

PubMed Central

Wang, Fang; Sun, Li; Zhang, Xiao-zhe; Jia, Jun; Liu, Zhuo; Huang, Xi-yan; Yu, Shu-yang; Zuo, Li-jun; Cao, Chen-jie; Wang, Xiao-min; Zhang, Wei

2015-01-01

Objectives. To explore effectiveness and mechanisms of electroacupuncture (EA) add-on treatment in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Methods. Fifty PD patients were randomly assigned to drug plus EA (D + EA) group and drug alone (D) group. Subjects in D + EA group received stimulation in points of bilateral fengfu, fengchi, hegu, and central dazhui. Participants were evaluated by scales for motor and nonmotor symptoms. Levels of neuroinflammatory factors and neurotransmitters in serum were detected. Results. EA add-on treatment remarkably reduced scores of Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) III and its subitems of tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia and conspicuously decreased UPDRS III scores in patients with bradykinesia-rigidity and mixed types and mild severity. Depression and sleep disturbances were eased, which were reflected by decreased scores of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and elevated noradrenaline level. Effects of EA add-on treatment on motor symptoms and sleep disturbances were superior to drug alone treatment, markedly improving life quality of PD patients. EA add-on treatment decreased nitric oxide level in serum. Conclusions. EA add-on treatment is effective on most motor symptoms and some nonmotor symptoms and is particularly efficacious in PD patients at early stage. Antineuroinflammation may be a mechanism of EA add-on treatment. PMID:26351515

One-year efficacy and safety of saxagliptin add-on in patients receiving dapagliflozin and metformin.

PubMed

Matthaei, S; Aggarwal, N; Garcia-Hernandez, P; Iqbal, N; Chen, H; Johnsson, E; Chin, A; Hansen, L

2016-11-01

Greater reductions in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) with saxagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, versus placebo add-on in patients with type 2 diabetes who had inadequate glycaemic control with dapagliflozin 10 mg/d plus metformin were demonstrated after 24 weeks of treatment. Results over 52 weeks of treatment were assessed in this analysis. Patients (mean baseline HbA1c 7.9%) receiving open-label dapagliflozin 10 mg/d plus metformin were randomized to double-blind saxagliptin 5 mg/d or placebo add-on. The adjusted mean change from baseline to week 52 in HbA1c was greater with saxagliptin than with placebo add-on -0.38% vs 0.05%; difference -0.42% (95% confidence interval -0.64, -0.20)]. More patients achieved the HbA1c target of <7% with saxagliptin than with placebo add-on (29% vs 13%), and fewer patients were rescued or discontinued the study for lack of glycaemic control with saxagliptin than with placebo add-on (19% vs 28%). Reductions from baseline in body weight (≤1.5 kg) occurred in both groups. Similar proportions of patients reported ≥1 adverse event with saxagliptin (58.2%) and placebo add-on (58.0%); no new safety signals were detected. Hypoglycaemia was infrequent in both treatment groups (≤2.5%), with no major episodes. The rate of urinary tract infections was similar in the saxagliptin and placebo add-on groups (7.8% vs 7.4%). The incidence of genital infections was 3.3% with saxagliptin versus 6.2% with placebo add-on. Triple therapy with saxagliptin add-on to dapagliflozin plus metformin for 52 weeks resulted in sustained improvements in glycaemic control without an increase in body weight or increased risk of hypoglycaemia. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Time-Scale Modification of Complex Acoustic Signals in Noise

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-02-04

of a response from a closing stapler . 15 6 Short-time processing of long waveforms. 16 7 Time-scale expansion (x 2) of sequence of transients using...filter bank/overlap- add. 17 8 Time-scale expansion (x2) of a closing stapler using filter bank/overlap-add. 18 9 Composite subband time-scale...INTRODUCTION Short-duration complex sounds, as from the closing of a stapler or the tapping of a drum stick, often consist of a series of brief

Add Control: plant virtualization for control solutions in WWTP.

PubMed

Maiza, M; Bengoechea, A; Grau, P; De Keyser, W; Nopens, I; Brockmann, D; Steyer, J P; Claeys, F; Urchegui, G; Fernández, O; Ayesa, E

2013-01-01

This paper summarizes part of the research work carried out in the Add Control project, which proposes an extension of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) models and modelling architectures used in traditional WWTP simulation tools, addressing, in addition to the classical mass transformations (transport, physico-chemical phenomena, biological reactions), all the instrumentation, actuation and automation & control components (sensors, actuators, controllers), considering their real behaviour (signal delays, noise, failures and power consumption of actuators). Its ultimate objective is to allow a rapid transition from the simulation of the control strategy to its implementation at full-scale plants. Thus, this paper presents the application of the Add Control simulation platform for the design and implementation of new control strategies at the WWTP of Mekolalde.

Quality of life, mood and seizure control in patients with brain tumor related epilepsy treated with lacosamide as add-on therapy: A prospective explorative study with a historical control group.

PubMed

Maschio, Marta; Zarabla, Alessia; Maialetti, Andrea; Fabi, Alessandra; Vidiri, Antonello; Villani, Veronica; Giannarelli, Diana

2017-08-01

Brain tumor-related epilepsy (BTRE) is often drug resistant and patients can be forced to take polytherapy that can adversely affect their quality of life (QoL). Lacosamide (LCM) is a new antiepileptic drug (AED) used as adjunctive therapy in patients with partial seizures with or without secondary generalization, with a favorable pharmacokinetic profile that seems to be effective and well tolerated. Therefore it represents a possible therapeutic choice for patients with BTRE. We propose a prospective study with a historical control group to evaluate the effect of LCM as add-on therapy on seizure control and quality of life in patients with BTRE. This study has been designed to test the superiority of Lacosamide over Levetiracetam as an add-on. We compared a prospective cohort of 25 patients treated with Lacosamide with a historical control group (n=19) treated with Levetiracetam as an add-on. We recruited 25 adult patients (M 18, F 7; mean age 41.9) affected by BTRE with uncontrolled partial-onset seizures treated with AED polytherapy. We added LCM as an add-on. Patients were evaluated at baseline, after 3months and at 6months. This population has been compared with a historical control group of 19 BTRE adult patients (M 13, F 6; median age 48.0, range: 28-70) with uncontrolled partial-onset seizures treated with LEV as add-on. The patients underwent QoL, mood and adverse events tests (Adverse Event Profile-AEP) and evaluation of seizure frequency. Twelve patients had high grade gliomas, and thirteen had low grade gliomas. During follow-up, thirteen patients underwent chemotherapy, three radiotherapy and five patients had disease progression. Nine patients had simple partial seizures, eight had complex partial seizures, and eight had secondary generalized seizures. Fifteen patients were in monotherapy and ten in polytherapy with AEDs. LCM was added up to reach the maximum dosage of 400mg/die (mean final dose 300mg/die). Four patients dropped out due to poor

Alternative Deployment Duration - Reserve Component (ADD-RC)

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-02-01

Other Personnel Equipment & S 8,375.00 1.50 12,562.50 2.00 16,750.00 Medical Support/Health Services 158.50...VAARNG) CPT Zana , 29th Infantry Division (VAARNG) ADD-RC A-1 CAA-R-01-67 (THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY... Medical , Signal) as well as on availability of qualified instructors - Current training requirements being fulfilled through an additional cycle of

Randomized, Double-Blind Trial of Triple Therapy With Saxagliptin Add-on to Dapagliflozin Plus Metformin in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes.

PubMed

Matthaei, Stephan; Catrinoiu, Doina; Celiński, Aleksander; Ekholm, Ella; Cook, William; Hirshberg, Boaz; Chen, Hungta; Iqbal, Nayyar; Hansen, Lars

2015-11-01

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of triple therapy with saxagliptin add-on versus placebo add-on to dapagliflozin plus metformin in adults with type 2 diabetes. Patients on stable metformin (≥1,500 mg/day) for ≥8 weeks with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) 8.0-11.5% (64-102 mmol/mol) at screening received open-label dapagliflozin (10 mg/day) plus metformin immediate release (IR) for 16 weeks. Patients with inadequate glycemic control (HbA1c 7-10.5% [53-91 mmol/mol]) were then randomized to receive placebo (n = 153) or saxagliptin 5 mg/day (n = 162) in addition to background dapagliflozin plus metformin IR. The primary efficacy end point was change in HbA1c from baseline to week 24. There was a significantly greater reduction in HbA1c at 24 weeks with saxagliptin add-on (-0.51% [-5.6 mmol/mol]) versus placebo (-0.16% [-1.7 mmol/mol]) add-on to dapagliflozin plus metformin (difference, -0.35% [95% CI -0.52% to -0.18%] and -3.8 [-5.7 to -2.0 mmol/mol], respectively; P < 0.0001). Reductions in fasting plasma glucose and 2-h postprandial glucose were similar between treatment arms. A larger proportion of patients achieved HbA1c <7% (53 mmol/mol) with saxagliptin add-on (35.3%) versus placebo add-on (23.1%) to dapagliflozin plus metformin. Adverse events were similar between treatment groups. Episodes of hypoglycemia were infrequent in both treatment arms, and there were no episodes of major hypoglycemia. Triple therapy with the addition of saxagliptin to dapagliflozin plus metformin was well tolerated and produced significant improvements in HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with dapagliflozin plus metformin. © 2015 by the American Diabetes Association. Readers may use this article as long as the work is properly cited, the use is educational and not for profit, and the work is not altered.

Equilibrium expert: an add-in to Microsoft Excel for multiple binding equilibrium simulations and parameter estimations.

PubMed

Raguin, Olivier; Gruaz-Guyon, Anne; Barbet, Jacques

2002-11-01

An add-in to Microsoft Excel was developed to simulate multiple binding equilibriums. A partition function, readily written even when the equilibrium is complex, describes the experimental system. It involves the concentrations of the different free molecular species and of the different complexes present in the experiment. As a result, the software is not restricted to a series of predefined experimental setups but can handle a large variety of problems involving up to nine independent molecular species. Binding parameters are estimated by nonlinear least-square fitting of experimental measurements as supplied by the user. The fitting process allows user-defined weighting of the experimental data. The flexibility of the software and the way it may be used to describe common experimental situations and to deal with usual problems such as tracer reactivity or nonspecific binding is demonstrated by a few examples. The software is available free of charge upon request.

Top 5 Ways to Help Students with ADD/ADHD

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Kathy

2011-01-01

This article suggests five ways to help students with ADD/ADHD. These are: (1) Integrate the primitive reflexes; (2) Diet; (3) Visual attention; (4) Help for auditory attention; and (5) Cognitive training.

Sensitivity analysis of add-on price estimate for select silicon wafering technologies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mokashi, A. R.

1982-01-01

The cost of producing wafers from silicon ingots is a major component of the add-on price of silicon sheet. Economic analyses of the add-on price estimates and their sensitivity internal-diameter (ID) sawing, multiblade slurry (MBS) sawing and fixed-abrasive slicing technique (FAST) are presented. Interim price estimation guidelines (IPEG) are used for estimating a process add-on price. Sensitivity analysis of price is performed with respect to cost parameters such as equipment, space, direct labor, materials (blade life) and utilities, and the production parameters such as slicing rate, slices per centimeter and process yield, using a computer program specifically developed to do sensitivity analysis with IPEG. The results aid in identifying the important cost parameters and assist in deciding the direction of technology development efforts.

Nintedanib with Add-on Pirfenidone in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Results of the INJOURNEY Trial.

PubMed

Vancheri, Carlo; Kreuter, Michael; Richeldi, Luca; Ryerson, Christopher J; Valeyre, Dominique; Grutters, Jan C; Wiebe, Sabrina; Stansen, Wibke; Quaresma, Manuel; Stowasser, Susanne; Wuyts, Wim A

2018-02-01

Nintedanib and pirfenidone slow the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), but the disease continues to progress. More data are needed on the safety and efficacy of combination therapy with nintedanib and add-on pirfenidone. To investigate safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic and exploratory efficacy endpoints in patients treated with nintedanib and add-on pirfenidone versus nintedanib alone. Patients with IPF and FVC greater than or equal to 50% predicted at screening who completed a 4- to 5-week run-in with nintedanib 150 mg twice daily without dose reduction or treatment interruption were randomized to receive nintedanib 150 mg twice daily with add-on pirfenidone (titrated to 801 mg three times daily) or nintedanib 150 mg twice daily alone in an open-label manner for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients with on-treatment gastrointestinal adverse events from baseline to Week 12. Analyses were descriptive and exploratory. On-treatment gastrointestinal adverse events were reported in 37 of 53 patients (69.8%) treated with nintedanib with add-on pirfenidone and 27 of 51 patients (52.9%) treated with nintedanib alone. Predose plasma trough concentrations of nintedanib were similar when it was administered alone or with add-on pirfenidone. Mean (SE) changes from baseline in FVC at Week 12 were -13.3 (17.4) ml and -40.9 (31.4) ml in patients treated with nintedanib with add-on pirfenidone (n = 48) and nintedanib alone (n = 44), respectively. Nintedanib with add-on pirfenidone had a manageable safety and tolerability profile in patients with IPF, in line with the adverse event profiles of each drug. These data support further research into combination regimens in the treatment of IPF. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02579603).

24 CFR 983.206 - HAP contract amendments (to add or substitute contract units).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false HAP contract amendments (to add or... Contract § 983.206 HAP contract amendments (to add or substitute contract units). (a) Amendment to substitute contract units. At the discretion of the PHA and subject to all PBV requirements, the HAP contract...

Long-term efficacy and safety of vildagliptin add-on therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus with insulin treatment.

PubMed

Kanazawa, Ippei; Tanaka, Ken-Ichiro; Notsu, Masakazu; Tanaka, Sayuri; Kiyohara, Nobuaki; Koike, Sayo; Yamane, Yuko; Tada, Yuko; Sasaki, Motofumi; Yamauchi, Mika; Sugimoto, Toshitsugu

2017-01-01

The use of dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with insulin may be beneficial. However, the long-term efficacy and safety of vildagliptin add-on therapy in these patients remains unclear. A total of 73 patients with type 2 diabetes treated with insulin were randomly assigned to receive either add-on therapy of vildagliptin (n=37) or conventional therapy without DPP-4 inhibitors (n=36) for glucose control. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, dose and number of insulin injections, number of hypoglycemia episodes, and liver and renal function were monitored for 2years. The baseline characteristics of subjects, including age, dose of insulin injections, or HbA1c levels, did not differ between the two groups. In the vildagliptin group, HbA1c levels significantly decreased and the significance of HbA1c reduction was maintained for 24months (from 8.0±1.2% to 7.4±1.0%, p<0.05, at the end of observational period). In addition, the dose and number of insulin injections significantly reduced (-5.6units, p<0.01, and -0.9 times, p<0.001). However, these parameters were unchanged in the control group. The number of patients who experienced three or more episodes of hypoglycemia per year was significantly lower in the vildagliptin group (n=4) than in the control group (n=11) (odds ratio, 0.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.08-0.97; p<0.05). Vildagliptin as an add-on to insulin treatment for 24months was well tolerated and led to sustained reductions in HbA1c, the dose and number of insulin injections, and the risk of hypoglycemia. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Measuring Narcissism within Add Health: The Development and Validation of a New Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Davis, Mark S.; Brunell, Amy B.

2012-01-01

This study reports the development of a measure of narcissism within the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) data set. In Study 1, items were selected from Wave III to form the Add Health Narcissism Scale (AHNS). These were factor analyzed, yielding a single factor comprised of five subscales. We correlated the AHNS and…

DNA entropy reveals a significant difference in complexity between housekeeping and tissue specific gene promoters.

PubMed

Thomas, David; Finan, Chris; Newport, Melanie J; Jones, Susan

2015-10-01

The complexity of DNA can be quantified using estimates of entropy. Variation in DNA complexity is expected between the promoters of genes with different transcriptional mechanisms; namely housekeeping (HK) and tissue specific (TS). The former are transcribed constitutively to maintain general cellular functions, and the latter are transcribed in restricted tissue and cells types for specific molecular events. It is known that promoter features in the human genome are related to tissue specificity, but this has been difficult to quantify on a genomic scale. If entropy effectively quantifies DNA complexity, calculating the entropies of HK and TS gene promoters as profiles may reveal significant differences. Entropy profiles were calculated for a total dataset of 12,003 human gene promoters and for 501 housekeeping (HK) and 587 tissue specific (TS) human gene promoters. The mean profiles show the TS promoters have a significantly lower entropy (p<2.2e-16) than HK gene promoters. The entropy distributions for the 3 datasets show that promoter entropies could be used to identify novel HK genes. Functional features comprise DNA sequence patterns that are non-random and hence they have lower entropies. The lower entropy of TS gene promoters can be explained by a higher density of positive and negative regulatory elements, required for genes with complex spatial and temporary expression. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sensory feedback add-on for upper-limb prostheses.

PubMed

Fallahian, Nader; Saeedi, Hassan; Mokhtarinia, Hamidreza; Tabatabai Ghomshe, Farhad

2017-06-01

Sensory feedback systems have been of great interest in upper-limb prosthetics. Despite tremendous research, there are no commercial modality-matched feedback systems. This article aims to introduce the first detachable and feedback add-on option that can be attached to in-use prostheses. A sensory feedback system was tested on a below-elbow myoelectric prosthesis. The aim was to have the amputee grasp fragile objects without crushing while other accidental feedback sources were blocked. A total of 8 successful trials (out of 10) showed that sensory feedback system decreased the amputee's visual dependency by improving awareness of his prosthesis. Sensory feedback system can be used either as post-fabrication (prosthetic add-on option) or para-fabrication (incorporated into prosthetic design). The use of these direct feedback systems can be explored with a current prosthesis before ordering new high-tech prosthesis. Clinical relevance This technical note introduces the first attach/detach-able sensory feedback system that can simply be added to in-use (myo)electric prosthesis, with no obligation to change prosthesis design or components.

Cilostazol as an add-on therapy for patients with Alzheimer's disease in Taiwan: a case control study.

PubMed

Tai, Shu-Yu; Chen, Chun-Hung; Chien, Chen-Yu; Yang, Yuan-Han

2017-02-23

Combination therapy using acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) and cilostazol is of unknown efficacy for patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). We explored the therapeutic responses by using a case-control study, which was conducted in Taiwan. We enrolled 30 participants with stable AD who were receiving cilostazol (50 mg) twice per day as an add-on therapy combined with AChEIs, and 30 participants as controls who were not receiving cilostazol as an add-on therapy. The therapeutic responses were measured using neuropsychological assessments and analyzed in relation to cilostazol use, apolipoprotein E genotype, and demographic characteristics. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and clinical dementia rating sum of boxes (CDR-SB) were administered at the outset of the study and 12 months later. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between the therapeutic response and cilostazol use. For the therapeutic indicator of cognition, Cilostazol use (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.03-0.80), initial CDR-SB score (aOR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.31-3.72), and initial MMSE score (aOR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.11-1.90), but not age, sex, education, or ApoE ε4 status, were significantly associated with poor therapeutic outcomes. For the therapeutic indicator of global status, no significant association was observed between the covariates and poor therapeutic outcomes. Cilostazol may reduce the decline of cognitive function in stable AD patients when applied as an add-on therapy.

An add-in implementation of the RESAMPLING syntax under Microsoft EXCEL.

PubMed

Meineke, I

2000-10-01

The RESAMPLING syntax defines a set of powerful commands, which allow the programming of probabilistic statistical models with few, easily memorized statements. This paper presents an implementation of the RESAMPLING syntax using Microsoft EXCEL with Microsoft WINDOWS(R) as a platform. Two examples are given to demonstrate typical applications of RESAMPLING in biomedicine. Details of the implementation with special emphasis on the programming environment are discussed at length. The add-in is available electronically to interested readers upon request. The use of the add-in facilitates numerical statistical analyses of data from within EXCEL in a comfortable way.

Enhancing Teaching using MATLAB Add-Ins for Excel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hamilton, Paul V.

2004-01-01

In this paper I will illustrate how to extend the capabilities of Microsoft Excel spreadsheets with add-ins created by MATLAB. Excel provides a broad array of fundamental tools but often comes up short when more sophisticated scenarios are involved. To overcome this short-coming of Excel while retaining its ease of use, I will describe how…

Optical add/drop filter for wavelength division multiplexed systems

DOEpatents

Deri, Robert J.; Strand, Oliver T.; Garrett, Henry E.

2002-01-01

An optical add/drop filter for wavelength division multiplexed systems and construction methods are disclosed. The add/drop filter includes a first ferrule having a first pre-formed opening for receiving a first optical fiber; an interference filter oriented to pass a first set of wavelengths along the first optical fiber and reflect a second set of wavelengths; and, a second ferrule having a second pre-formed opening for receiving the second optical fiber, and the reflected second set of wavelengths. A method for constructing the optical add/drop filter consists of the steps of forming a first set of openings in a first ferrule; inserting a first set of optical fibers into the first set of openings; forming a first set of guide pin openings in the first ferrule; dividing the first ferrule into a first ferrule portion and a second ferrule portion; forming an interference filter on the first ferrule portion; inserting guide pins through the first set of guide pin openings in the first ferrule portion and second ferrule portion to passively align the first set of optical fibers; removing material such that light reflected from the interference filter from the first set of optical fibers is accessible; forming a second set of openings in a second ferrule; inserting a second set of optical fibers into the second set of openings; and positioning the second ferrule with respect to the first ferrule such that the second set of optical fibers receive the light reflected from the interference filter.

Photothermally tunable silicon-microring-based optical add-drop filter through integrated light absorber.

PubMed

Chen, Xi; Shi, Yuechun; Lou, Fei; Chen, Yiting; Yan, Min; Wosinski, Lech; Qiu, Min

2014-10-20

An optically pumped thermo-optic (TO) silicon ring add-drop filter with fast thermal response is experimentally demonstrated. We propose that metal-insulator-metal (MIM) light absorber can be integrated into silicon TO devices, acting as a localized heat source which can be activated remotely by a pump beam. The MIM absorber design introduces less thermal capacity to the device, compared to conventional electrically-driven approaches. Experimentally, the absorber-integrated add-drop filter shows an optical response time of 13.7 μs following the 10%-90% rule (equivalent to a exponential time constant of 5 μs) and a wavelength shift over pump power of 60 pm/mW. The photothermally tunable add-drop filter may provide new perspectives for all-optical routing and switching in integrated Si photonic circuits.

The profiles of students with significant cognitive disabilities and complex communication needs.

PubMed

Erickson, Karen A; Geist, Lori A

2016-09-01

Understanding the characteristics of students with complex communication needs and significant cognitive disabilities is an important first step toward creating the kinds of supports and services required to help them successfully access the general education curriculum, achieve grade-level standards, and improve overall communication competence. The First Contact Survey was designed to collect important information about students with significant cognitive disabilities who were eligible to take the Dynamic Learning Maps™ (DLM(®)) alternate assessment based on alternate achievement standards. From November 2012-May 2013, the survey was used to gather information regarding more than 44,787 students. At that time, the goal was to use the data to inform the development of the DLM assessment. Although the survey includes a wealth of information regarding this large sample of students, the reanalysis of the data reported in the current study focused on the motor, sensory, language, reading, and writing skills of students with significant cognitive disabilities, based on their speech production abilities. Significant differences were identified across each of the domains between students who do and do not use speech with or without aided augmentative and alternative communication.

47 CFR 73.9006 - Add-in covered demodulator products.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... Section 73.9006 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED) BROADCAST RADIO SERVICES... passed to an output (e.g., where a demodulator add-in card in a personal computer passes such content to an associated software application installed in the same computer), it shall pass such content: (1...

Spironolactone Add-on for Preventing or Slowing the Progression of Diabetic Nephropathy: A Meta-analysis.

PubMed

Hou, Jing; Xiong, Weiquan; Cao, Ling; Wen, Xiangqiong; Li, Ailing

2015-09-01

The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the benefits and potential adverse effects of adding spironolactone to standard antidiabetic/renoprotective/antihypertensive (AD/RP/AHT) treatment in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN). PubMed/MEDLINE and Web of Knowledge were searched for relevant randomized, controlled studies (RCTs) or quasi-RCTs of the effects of adding spironolactone to standard AD/RP/AHT treatment in patients with DN. Results were summarized with a random-effects model or a fixed-effects model. According to the outcomes measured (benefits and risks of adding spironolactone to standard AD/RP/AHT treatment), compared with controls, the addition of spironolactone significantly decreased end-of-treatment (EOT) 24-hour urinary albumin/protein excretion and significantly increased percentage reduction from baseline in urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR), although it did not significantly affect EOT UACR. The addition of spironolactone further led to a significantly greater reduction from baseline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR)/estimated (e) GFR, although it did not significantly affect EOT GFR/eGFR. Further, the addition of spironolactone significantly reduced EOT in-office, 24-hour, and daytime systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP, respectively) and led to significantly greater reductions from baseline in in-office SBP and DBP, although it did not significantly affect nighttime SBP or DBP. Finally, the addition of spironolactone significantly increased mean serum/plasma potassium levels and the risk for hyperkalemia. Spironolactone could be added to preexisting AD/RP/AHT therapy in patients with DN to prevent or slow DN progression by reducing proteinuria. The addition of spironolactone would likely provide even more beneficial effect in patients with DN and hypertension due to the BP reduction associated with spironolactone use. However, the beneficial effects of spironolactone add-on should be weighed against its potential

Randomized trial of safinamide add-on to levodopa in Parkinson's disease with motor fluctuations

PubMed Central

Borgohain, Rupam; Szasz, J; Stanzione, P; Meshram, C; Bhatt, M; Chirilineau, D; Stocchi, F; Lucini, V; Giuliani, R; Forrest, E; Rice, P; Anand, R

2014-01-01

Levodopa is effective for the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), but is associated with motor fluctuations and dyskinesia. Many patients require add-on therapy to improve motor fluctuations without exacerbating dyskinesia. The objective of this Phase III, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of safinamide, an α-aminoamide with dopaminergic and nondopaminergic mechanisms, as add-on to l-dopa in the treatment of patients with PD and motor fluctuations. Patients were randomized to oral safinamide 100 mg/day (n = 224), 50 mg/day (n = 223), or placebo (n = 222) for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was total on time with no or nontroublesome dyskinesia (assessed using the Hauser patient diaries). Secondary endpoints included off time, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) Part III (motor) scores, and Clinical Global Impression-Change (CGI-C). At week 24, mean ± SD increases in total on time with no or nontroublesome dyskinesia were 1.36 ± 2.625 hours for safinamide 100 mg/day, 1.37 ± 2.745 hours for safinamide 50 mg/day, and 0.97 ± 2.375 hours for placebo. Least squares means differences in both safinamide groups were significantly higher versus placebo. Improvements in off time, UPDRS Part III, and CGI-C were significantly greater in both safinamide groups versus placebo. There were no significant between-group differences for incidences of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) or TEAEs leading to discontinuation. The addition of safinamide 50 mg/day or 100 mg/day to l-dopa in patients with PD and motor fluctuations significantly increased total on time with no or nontroublesome dyskinesia, decreased off time, and improved parkinsonism, indicating that safinamide improves motor symptoms and parkinsonism without worsening dyskinesia. PMID:24323641

Preliminary, open-label, pilot study of add-on oral Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in chronic post-traumatic stress disorder.

PubMed

Roitman, Pablo; Mechoulam, Raphael; Cooper-Kazaz, Rena; Shalev, Arieh

2014-08-01

Many patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) achieve but partial remission with current treatments. Patients with unremitted PTSD show high rates of substance abuse. Marijuana is often used as compassion add-on therapy for treatment-resistant PTSD. This open-label study evaluates the tolerance and safety of orally absorbable Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for chronic PTSD. Ten outpatients with chronic PTSD, on stable medication, received 5 mg of Δ(9)-THC twice a day as add-on treatment. There were mild adverse effects in three patients, none of which led to treatment discontinuation. The intervention caused a statistically significant improvement in global symptom severity, sleep quality, frequency of nightmares, and PTSD hyperarousal symptoms. Orally absorbable Δ(9)-THC was safe and well tolerated by patients with chronic PTSD.

12 CFR 502.60 - When will OTS adjust, add, waive, or eliminate a fee?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 12 Banks and Banking 5 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false When will OTS adjust, add, waive, or eliminate a fee? 502.60 Section 502.60 Banks and Banking OFFICE OF THRIFT SUPERVISION, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY ASSESSMENTS AND FEES Fees § 502.60 When will OTS adjust, add, waive, or eliminate a fee? Under...

Effects of add-on treatment with sitagliptin on narrowing the range of glucose fluctuations in Japanese type 2 diabetes patients receiving insulin therapy.

PubMed

Mori, Yutaka; Taniguchi, Yukiko; Miyazaki, Shigeru; Yokoyama, Junichi; Utsunomiya, Kazunori

2013-03-01

In an earlier continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)-based study, we reported that sitagliptin not only reduced 24-h mean glucose levels but also suppressed postprandial glucose increases, thus reducing the range of glycemic fluctuations in type 2 diabetes patients. In this study, we investigated whether sitagliptin might provide similar benefits in type 2 diabetes patients receiving insulin therapy by using CGM. The study included a total of 13 type 2 diabetes patients in whom stable glycemic control had been achieved after admission for glycemic control. Insulin regimens used included long-acting insulin preparations once daily in four patients and biphasic insulin preparations twice daily in nine, with the daily insulin dose being 19.0±12.7 U. During the CGM-based study, the patients were given insulin therapy alone on Days 1 and 2 and were given sitagliptin 50 mg/day as add-on treatment on Days 3-6, with their daily insulin doses maintained. The add-on treatment with sitagliptin led to significant decreases in 24-h mean glucose levels and SDs of 288 glucose levels measured by CGM for 24 h, as well as in the indices for magnitude of glucose variability and proportion of time in hyperglycemia, compared with insulin therapy alone (P<0.01), whereas there was no significant change seen in regard to the proportion of time in hypoglycemia with or without add-on treatment with sitagliptin. This CGM-based study clearly demonstrated that insulin therapy alone, whether with long-acting or biphasic insulin preparations, does not provide adequate glycemic control in type 2 diabetes patients. In contrast, add-on sitagliptin was shown to narrow the range of 24-h glucose fluctuations in these patients, suggesting that add-on treatment with sitagliptin is effective for postprandial glucose control in type 2 diabetes patients receiving insulin therapy.

Does fibrinogen add to prediction of cardiovascular disease? Results from the Scottish Heart Health Extended Cohort Study.

PubMed

Woodward, Mark; Tunstall-Pedoe, Hugh; Rumley, Ann; Lowe, Gordon D O

2009-08-01

Plasma fibrinogen is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), but it has not been established whether it adds predictive value to risk scores. In the Scottish Heart Health Extended Cohort Study, we measured plasma fibrinogen in 13 060 men and women, aged 30-74 years, initially free of CVD. After follow-up for a median of 19.2 years, 2626 subjects had at least one CVD event. After adjusting for classical CVD risk factors and socio-economic status, the hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for a one unit (g/l) increase in plasma fibrinogen were 1.09 (1.02, 1.16) for men and 1.10 (1.02, 1.19) for women. Although fibrinogen added significantly to the discrimination of the Framingham risk score for women, it failed to do so for men. Fibrinogen did not add significantly to the ASSIGN risk score. Fibrinogen added between 1.3% and 3.2% to the classification of CVD status by the existing risk scores. We conclude that the added value of fibrinogen to two currently used risk scores is low; hence population screening with fibrinogen for this purpose is unlikely to be clinically useful or cost-effective.

Do petroleum-based protective coatings add fuel value to slash

Treesearch

James L. Murphy; Charles W. Philpot

1965-01-01

Asphalts and wax emulsions have been recommended as protective coatings to help obtain clean, safe burns in slash disposal work. Fuel value determinations in the laboratory indicate that such coatings add little to the fuel value of slash.

Typological diversity of tall buildings and complexes in relation to their functional structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Generalov, Viktor P.; Generalova, Elena M.; Kalinkina, Nadezhda A.; Zhdanova, Irina V.

2018-03-01

The paper focuses on peculiarities of tall buildings and complexes, their typology and its formation in relation to their functional structure. The research is based on the analysis of tall buildings and complexes and identifies the following main functional elements of their formation: residential, administrative (office), hotel elements. The paper also considers the following services as «disseminated» in the space-planning structure: shops, medicine, entertainment, kids and sports facilities, etc., their location in the structure of the total bulk of the building and their impact on typological diversity. Research results include suggestions to add such concepts as «single-function tall buildings» and «mixed-use tall buildings and complexes» into the classification of tall buildings. In addition, if a single-function building or complex performs serving functions, it is proposed to add such concepts as «a residential tall building (complex) with provision of services», «an administrative (public) tall building (complex) with provision of services» into the classification of tall buildings. For mixed-use buildings and complexes the following terms are suggested: «a mixed-use tall building with provision of services», «a mixed-use tall complex with provision of services».

24 CFR 990.190 - Other formula expenses (add-ons).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... operating subsidy is determined to be zero based on the formula is still eligible to receive operating... formula expenses (add-ons). In addition to calculating operating subsidy based on the PEL and UEL, a PHA's... receive an amount for PILOT in accordance with section 6(d) of the 1937 Act, based on its cooperation...

24 CFR 990.190 - Other formula expenses (add-ons).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... operating subsidy is determined to be zero based on the formula is still eligible to receive operating... formula expenses (add-ons). In addition to calculating operating subsidy based on the PEL and UEL, a PHA's... receive an amount for PILOT in accordance with section 6(d) of the 1937 Act, based on its cooperation...

Effects of saxagliptin add-on therapy to insulin on blood glycemic fluctuations in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, control, open-labeled trial.

PubMed

Li, Feng-Fei; Jiang, Lan-Lan; Yan, Reng-Na; Zhu, Hong-Hong; Zhou, Pei-Hua; Zhang, Dan-Feng; Su, Xiao-Fei; Wu, Jin-Dan; Ye, Lei; Ma, Jian-Hua

2016-10-01

To investigate whether saxagliptin add-on therapy to continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) further improve blood glycemic control than CSII therapy in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D). This was a single-center, randomized, control, open-labeled trial. Newly diagnosed T2D patients were recruited between February 2014 and December 2015. Subjects were divided into saxagliptin add-on therapy to CSII group (n = 31) and CSII therapy group (n = 38). The treatment was maintained for 4 weeks. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed at baseline. Serum samples were obtained before and 30 and 120 minutes after oral administration for glucose, insulin, and C-peptide determination. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) was performed before and endpoint. A total of 69 subjects were admitted. After 4-week therapy, CGM data showed that patients with saxagliptin add-on therapy exhibited further improvement of mean amplitude glycemic excursion (MAGE), the incremental area under curve of plasma glucose >7.8 and 10 mmol/L compared with that of control group. In addition, the hourly mean blood glucose concentrations, especially between 0000 and 0600 in patient with saxagliptin add-on therapy, were significantly lower compared with that of the control patients. Furthermore, patients in saxagliptin add-on group needed lower insulin dose to maintain euglycemic control. In addition, severe hypoglycemic episode was not observed from any group. Saxagliptin add-on therapy to insulin had the ability of further improve blood glycemic controlling, with lower insulin dose required by patients with T2D to maintain euglycemic controlling.

Power Parenting for Children with ADD/ADHD: A Practical Parent's Guide for Managing Difficult Behaviors.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flick, Grad L.

The first step in dealing with an attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD) child's difficult behavior is to understand its origins. This book presents behavior management techniques to help parents care for their ADD child while ensuring that the child continues to develop positive, healthy self-esteem. The guide shows how to: (1) ensure an accurate…

The significance of ACTH for the process of formation of complex heparin compounds in the blood during immobilization stress

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kudryashov, B. A.; Shapiro, F. B.; Lomovskaya, F. B.; Lyapina, L. A.

1979-01-01

Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) was administered to rats at different times following adrenalectomy. Adrenocorticotropin caused a significant increase in the formation of heparin complexes even in the absence of stress factor. When ACTH secretion is blocked, immobilization stress is not accompanied by an increase in the process of complex formation. The effect of ACTH on the formation of heparin complexes was mediated through its stimulation of the adrenal cortex.

Novel tunable dynamic tweezers using dark-bright soliton collision control in an optical add/drop filter.

PubMed

Teeka, Chat; Jalil, Muhammad Arif; Yupapin, Preecha P; Ali, Jalil

2010-12-01

We propose a novel system of the dynamic optical tweezers generated by a dark soliton in the fiber optic loop. A dark soliton known as an optical tweezer is amplified and tuned within the microring resonator system. The required tunable tweezers with different widths and powers can be controlled. The analysis of dark-bright soliton conversion using a dark soliton pulse propagating within a microring resonator system is analyzed. The dynamic behaviors of soliton conversion in add/drop filter is also analyzed. The control dark soliton is input into the system via the add port of the add/drop filter. The dynamic behavior of the dark-bright soliton conversion is observed. The required stable signal is obtained via a drop and throughput ports of the add/drop filter with some suitable parameters. In application, the trapped light/atom and transportation can be realized by using the proposed system.

Neural Biomarkers for Dyslexia, ADHD, and ADD in the Auditory Cortex of Children.

PubMed

Serrallach, Bettina; Groß, Christine; Bernhofs, Valdis; Engelmann, Dorte; Benner, Jan; Gündert, Nadine; Blatow, Maria; Wengenroth, Martina; Seitz, Angelika; Brunner, Monika; Seither, Stefan; Parncutt, Richard; Schneider, Peter; Seither-Preisler, Annemarie

2016-01-01

Dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and attention deficit disorder (ADD) show distinct clinical profiles that may include auditory and language-related impairments. Currently, an objective brain-based diagnosis of these developmental disorders is still unavailable. We investigated the neuro-auditory systems of dyslexic, ADHD, ADD, and age-matched control children (N = 147) using neuroimaging, magnetencephalography and psychoacoustics. All disorder subgroups exhibited an oversized left planum temporale and an abnormal interhemispheric asynchrony (10-40 ms) of the primary auditory evoked P1-response. Considering right auditory cortex morphology, bilateral P1 source waveform shapes, and auditory performance, the three disorder subgroups could be reliably differentiated with outstanding accuracies of 89-98%. We therefore for the first time provide differential biomarkers for a brain-based diagnosis of dyslexia, ADHD, and ADD. The method allowed not only allowed for clear discrimination between two subtypes of attentional disorders (ADHD and ADD), a topic controversially discussed for decades in the scientific community, but also revealed the potential for objectively identifying comorbid cases. Noteworthy, in children playing a musical instrument, after three and a half years of training the observed interhemispheric asynchronies were reduced by about 2/3, thus suggesting a strong beneficial influence of music experience on brain development. These findings might have far-reaching implications for both research and practice and enable a profound understanding of the brain-related etiology, diagnosis, and musically based therapy of common auditory-related developmental disorders and learning disabilities.

Neural Biomarkers for Dyslexia, ADHD, and ADD in the Auditory Cortex of Children

PubMed Central

Serrallach, Bettina; Groß, Christine; Bernhofs, Valdis; Engelmann, Dorte; Benner, Jan; Gündert, Nadine; Blatow, Maria; Wengenroth, Martina; Seitz, Angelika; Brunner, Monika; Seither, Stefan; Parncutt, Richard; Schneider, Peter; Seither-Preisler, Annemarie

2016-01-01

Dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and attention deficit disorder (ADD) show distinct clinical profiles that may include auditory and language-related impairments. Currently, an objective brain-based diagnosis of these developmental disorders is still unavailable. We investigated the neuro-auditory systems of dyslexic, ADHD, ADD, and age-matched control children (N = 147) using neuroimaging, magnetencephalography and psychoacoustics. All disorder subgroups exhibited an oversized left planum temporale and an abnormal interhemispheric asynchrony (10–40 ms) of the primary auditory evoked P1-response. Considering right auditory cortex morphology, bilateral P1 source waveform shapes, and auditory performance, the three disorder subgroups could be reliably differentiated with outstanding accuracies of 89–98%. We therefore for the first time provide differential biomarkers for a brain-based diagnosis of dyslexia, ADHD, and ADD. The method allowed not only allowed for clear discrimination between two subtypes of attentional disorders (ADHD and ADD), a topic controversially discussed for decades in the scientific community, but also revealed the potential for objectively identifying comorbid cases. Noteworthy, in children playing a musical instrument, after three and a half years of training the observed interhemispheric asynchronies were reduced by about 2/3, thus suggesting a strong beneficial influence of music experience on brain development. These findings might have far-reaching implications for both research and practice and enable a profound understanding of the brain-related etiology, diagnosis, and musically based therapy of common auditory-related developmental disorders and learning disabilities. PMID:27471442

A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of add-on therapy in moderate-to-severe Parkinson's disease.

PubMed

Zhao, Shifu; Cheng, Rongchuan; Zheng, Jian; Li, Qianning; Wang, Jingzhou; Fan, Wenhui; Zhang, Lili; Zhang, Yanling; Li, Hongzeng; Liu, Shuxiao

2015-10-01

The primary objective was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of droxidopa as add-on therapy in improving stiffness, tremors and other motor functions and activities of daily living for moderate-to-severe Parkinson's disease (PD). PD patients, above Hoehn-Yahr III (including Hoehn-Yahr III), were randomly assigned to drug therapy (droxidopa 600 mg/day for 8 weeks) or placebo. Efficacy indicators were the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) part I, II, III subscale, Clinical Global Impression (CGI) rating score, and individual symptom scores (e.g. stiffness, tremors), to evaluate motor function and activities of daily life. There are 109 patients in the droxidopa group, and 110 in the placebo group, at baseline, there were no differences between the two groups for age, body weight, disease severity and previous drugs therapy. At days 14 and 57 of droxidopa add on treatment, UPDRS-II scores reflecting activities of daily life and UPDRS-III scores reflecting motor functions were significantly different compared to the pre-treatment baseline scores (P < 0.01), UPDRS- II and UPDRS-III scores at day 14 and day 57 were also significantly different (P < 0.01) between the two groups. Individual motor symptoms such as stiffness, resting tremor, and alternate hand motion were also significantly improved with droxidopa on days 14 and 57 of treatment (P < 0.01 vs placebo), showing that droxidopa is effective in improving rigidity, tremor and alternate motion of hand. Droxidopa was effective as symptomatic adjunct therapy, improved significantly motor function and activities of daily living, benefited patients with signs of tremor and Stiffness. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of add-on devices for the prevention of phlebitis and other complications associated with the use of peripheral catheters in hospitalised adults: a randomised controlled study.

PubMed

Martínez, J A; Piazuelo, M; Almela, M; Blecua, P; Gallardo, R; Rodríguez, S; Escalante, Z; Robau, M; Trilla, A

2009-10-01

The aim of this study was to assess the role of add-on devices for the prevention of phlebitis and other complications associated with the use of peripheral catheters. Patients admitted to an infectious diseases ward and requiring the insertion of a peripheral catheter for at least 24h were randomly allocated to be managed with or without add-on devices. Incidence of phlebitis and all complications were the primary outcomes. Extravasation, inadvertent withdrawal, obstruction and rupture were considered to be mechanical complications, and analysis was performed using survival methods. Of 683 evaluated catheters, 351 were allocated to the add-on device arm and 332 to the control arm. Despite randomisation, patients in the add-on device group were older (P=0.048), less likely to have human immunodeficiency virus (P=0.02) and more likely to have received antibiotics (P=0.05). After adjustment for these variables, the hazard ratio for phlebitis remained non-significant (hazard ratio: 0.95; 95% confidence interval: 0.7-1.3), but the risk of mechanical complications became lower in the add-on device arm (0.68; 0.5-0.94). This translated into a trend towards a lower risk of any complication (0.83; 0.67-1.01). The beneficial effect on mechanical or all complications was noticeable after six days of catheterisation. Add-on devices do not reduce the incidence of phlebitis but may prevent mechanical complications. However, the impact of add-on devices on the incidence of all complications is at most small and only apparent after the sixth day of catheter use.

A large indel mutation of the bovine ADD1/SREBP1c gene and its effects on growth traits in some native cattle breeds from China.

PubMed

Huang, Yong-Zhen; Zhang, En-Ping; Wang, Jing; Huai, Yong-Tao; Ma, Liang; Chen, Fu-Ying; Lan, Xian-Yong; Lei, Chu-Zhao; Fang, Xing-Tang; Wang, Ju-Qiang; Chen, Hong

2011-03-01

Adipocyte determination and differentiation-dependent factor 1/sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (ADD1/SREBP1c) is a major determinant of tissue differential lipogenic capacity in mammalian and avian species. The objectives of the present study were to focus on insertion-deletion polymorphism (indel) in the bovine ADD1/SREBP1c gene, and analyzing its effect on growth traits in a sample of 1035 cattle belonging to four Chinese cattle breeds. PCR-SSCP, DNA sequencing and agarose electrophoresis methods were used. The 778 bp PCR products of ADD1/SREBP1c gene exhibited three genotypes and two alleles were revealed: W and D. Frequencies of the W allele varied from 0.8651 to 1.000. The associations of the 84 bp indel mutation of ADD1/SREBP1c gene with growth traits of 265 Nanyang cows were analyzed. The animals with genotype WD had significantly higher birth weight, body weight, average daily gain than those with genotype WW at birth, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month old (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). These results suggest that the indel mutation of bovine ADD1/SREBP1c gene may influence the growth traits in cattle.

Meeting Learning Challenges: Working with the Child Who Has ADD

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Greenspan, Stanley I.

2006-01-01

The terms ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) are applied to several symptoms, including: difficulty in paying attention, distractibility, having a hard time following through on things, and sometimes over-activity and impulsivity. There are many different reasons why children have these symptoms.…

Rivastigmine as an effective add-on to standard treatment of veterans with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder: a case series.

PubMed

Fayyazi Bordbar, Mohammad Reza; Talaei, Ali

2013-10-01

After 23 years of the end of the Iran-Iraq war, the country is left with many patients with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who need close psychiatric services and are in need for recurrent hospitalization. So far, there are no reports of the rivastigmine use in PTSD patients. We report dramatic reduction of symptoms in 3 veterans with chronic PTSD, after rivastigmine augmentation. This report describes the efficacy of rivastigmine as an add-on to standard treatment of 3 Iranian male veterans with chronic PTSD (aged 52, 46, and 45 years) with severe active symptoms in all 3 dimensions of the disorder. Although they had gone through many approved drug treatments (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, β-blockers, and so on), from the beginning of the disorder, their recovery remained poor (PTSD Checklist-Military Version [PCL-M] scores were 67, 71, and 73 before rivastigmine add-on). Rivastigmine was added to the ongoing therapeutic regimens of the patients for 6 months.Evaluating their condition with PCL-M after 1 and 6 months of treatment showed a significant improvement in patients with PTSD (PCL-M scores were 37, 40, and 47 and dropped to 30, 27, and 31, respectively). Hyperarousal symptoms of PTSD in patients are noted to be the most improved. The rivastigmine add-on experience did not report any adverse effects. The present study showed that rivastigmine is an effective and safe add-on to treatment of patients with chronic PTSD. This effect could be due to improved cognitive status or cholinergic-adrenergic balance adjustment in patients.

Humor adds the creative touch to CQI teams.

PubMed

Balzer, J W

1994-07-01

The health care industry is looking to continuous quality improvement as a process to both improve patient care and promote cost effectiveness. Interdisciplinary teams are learning to work together and to use data-driven problem solving. Humor adds a creative and welcome touch to the process that makes it easier and more fun to work in teams. The team leader or facilitator who uses humor along the journey sanctions the risk-taking behavior that accompanies creative solutions to tough problems.

A complex case of congenital cystic renal disease

PubMed Central

Cordiner, David S; Evans, Clair A; Brundler, Marie-Anne; McPhillips, Maeve; Murio, Enric; Darling, Mark; Taheri, Sepideh

2012-01-01

This case outlines the potential complexity of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). It highlights the challenges involved in managing this condition, some of the complications faced and areas of uncertainty in the decision making process. With a paucity of published paediatric cases on this subject, this should add to the pool of information currently available. PMID:22605879

The dubious assessment of gay, lesbian, and bisexual adolescents of add health.

PubMed

Savin-Williams, Ritch C; Joyner, Kara

2014-04-01

In this essay, we argue that researchers who base their investigations of nonheterosexuality derived from reports of romantic attractions of adolescent participants from Wave 1 of Add Health must account for their disappearance in future waves of data collection. The high prevalence of Wave 1 youth with either both-sex or same-sex romantic attractions was initially striking and unexpected. Subsequent data from Add Health indicated that this prevalence sharply declined over time such that over 70 % of these Wave 1 adolescents identified as exclusively heterosexual as Wave 4 young adults. Three explanations are proposed to account for the high prevalence rate and the temporal inconsistency: (1) gay adolescents going into the closet during their young adult years; (2) confusion regarding the use and meaning of romantic attraction as a proxy for sexual orientation; and (3) the existence of mischievous adolescents who played a "jokester" role by reporting same-sex attraction when none was present. Relying on Add Health data, we dismissed the first explanation as highly unlikely and found support for the other two. Importantly, these "dubious" gay, lesbian, and bisexual adolescents may have led researchers to erroneously conclude from the data that sexual-minority youth are more problematic than heterosexual youth in terms of physical, mental, and social health.

Experimental Investigation of the Influence of a Reverse Delta Type Add-on Device on the Flap-tip Vortex of a Wing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Altaf, A.; Thong, T. B.; Omar, A. A.; Asrar, W.

2017-03-01

Particle Image Velocimetry was used in a low speed wind tunnel to investigate the effect of interactions of vortices produced by an outboard flap-tip of a half wing (NACA 23012 in landing configuration) and a slender reverse delta type add-on device, placed in the proximity of the outboard flap-tip, on the upper surface of the half wing. This work investigates the characteristics of the vortex interactions generated downstream in planes perpendicular to the free stream direction at a chord-based Reynolds number of Rec=2.74×105 . It was found that the add-on device significantly reduces the tangential velocity magnitude and enlarges the vortex core of the resultant vortex by up to 36.1% and 36.8%, respectively.

NASA Adds Leap Second to Master Clock

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-12-08

On Dec. 31, 2016, official clocks around the world will add a leap second just before midnight Coordinated Universal Time — which corresponds to 6:59:59 p.m. EST. NASA missions will also have to make the switch, including the Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, which watches the sun 24/7. Clocks do this to keep in sync with Earth's rotation, which gradually slows down over time. When the dinosaurs roamed Earth, for example, our globe took only 23 hours to make a complete rotation. In space, millisecond accuracy is crucial to understanding how satellites orbit. "SDO moves about 1.9 miles every second," said Dean Pesnell, the project scientist for SDO at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "So does every other object in orbit near SDO. We all have to use the same time to make sure our collision avoidance programs are accurate. So we all add a leap second to the end of 2016, delaying 2017 by one second." The leap second is also key to making sure that SDO is in sync with the Coordinated Universal Time, or UTC, used to label each of its images. SDO has a clock that counts the number of seconds since the beginning of the mission. To convert that count to UTC requires knowing just how many leap seconds have been added to Earth-bound clocks since the mission started. When the spacecraft wants to provide a time in UTC, it calls a software module that takes into consideration both the mission's second count and the number of leap seconds — and then returns a time in UTC.

Project DyAdd: Visual Attention in Adult Dyslexia and ADHD

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Laasonen, Marja; Salomaa, Jonna; Cousineau, Denis; Leppamaki, Sami; Tani, Pekka; Hokkanen, Laura; Dye, Matthew

2012-01-01

In this study of the project DyAdd, three aspects of visual attention were investigated in adults (18-55 years) with dyslexia (n = 35) or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD, n = 22), and in healthy controls (n = 35). Temporal characteristics of visual attention were assessed with Attentional Blink (AB), capacity of visual attention…

Alteration of complex sphingolipid composition and its physiological significance in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae lacking vacuolar ATPase.

PubMed

Tani, Motohiro; Toume, Moeko

2015-12-01

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, complex sphingolipids have three types of polar head group and five types of ceramide; however, the physiological significance of the structural diversity is not fully understood. Here, we report that deletion of vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) in yeast causes dramatic alteration of the complex sphingolipid composition, which includes decreases in hydroxylation at the C-4 position of long-chain bases and the C-2 position of fatty acids in the ceramide moiety, decreases in inositol phosphorylceramide (IPC) levels, and increases in mannosylinositol phosphorylceramide (MIPC) and mannosyldiinositol phosphorylceramide [M(IP)2C] levels. V-ATPase-deleted cells exhibited slow growth at pH 7.2, whereas the increase in MIPC levels was significantly enhanced when V-ATPase-deleted cells were incubated at pH 7.2. The protein expression levels of MIPC and M(IP)2C synthases were significantly increased in V-ATPase-deleted cells incubated at pH 7.2. Loss of MIPC synthesis or an increase in the hydroxylation level of the ceramide moiety of sphingolipids on overexpression of Scs7 and Sur2 sphingolipid hydroxylases enhanced the growth defect of V-ATPase-deleted cells at pH 7.2. On the contrary, the growth rate of V-ATPase-deleted cells was moderately increased on the deletion of SCS7 and SUR2. In addition, supersensitivities to Ca2+, Zn2+ and H2O2, which are typical phenotypes of V-ATPase-deleted cells, were enhanced by the loss of MIPC synthesis. These results indicate the possibility that alteration of the complex sphingolipid composition is an adaptation mechanism for a defect of V-ATPase.

Baclofen add-on to citalopram in treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder.

PubMed

Manteghi, Ali Akhoundpour; Hebrani, Paria; Mortezania, Mohammad; Haghighi, Mehri Baghban; Javanbakht, Arash

2014-04-01

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic disabling illness, resulting from exposure to extreme traumatic event. Although different pharmacologic agents are suggested for treatment of PTSD, none have been completely effective in eliminating symptoms. The purpose of this study was to assess the use of baclofen as an add-on to citalopram in treatment of PTSD. In this double-blind clinical trial, 40 Iranian combat veterans with PTSD were randomly assigned to 2 groups. The first group received a combination treatment of 20 to 60 mg/d citalopram and 40 mg/d baclofen, and the second group received 20 to 60 mg/d citalopram plus placebo. Symptom severity was assessed by Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale at the beginning of the study and after 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. Global Assessment of Functioning and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety and Depression were also used at the same periods. Data were analyzed with independent t test and paired t test using SPSS software version 13 (IBM, Armonk, NY). Twenty-three male patients (baclofen group, 13 patients; placebo group, 10 patients) completed the study. Dropout from the treatment was not caused by adverse effects of the new medications in any of the subjects. Baclofen group showed significantly larger improvement in Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale total (P = 0.040), hyperarousal (P = 0.020), and avoidance (0.020) scores, Global Assessment of Functioning score (0.001), depression (P = 0.000), and anxiety (P = 0.000) after 8 weeks of treatment. No intergroup difference was found in improvement of reexperience symptoms (P = 0.740). Baclofen showed to be an effective add-on to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in treatment of PTSD for better symptom recovery and functional improvement.

40 CFR 63.4167 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.4167 Section 63.4167... Emission Rate with Add-on Controls Option § 63.4167 How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? During the performance test required...

Significance of the DNA-Histone Complex Level as a Predictor of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Hemodialysis Patients: The Effect of Uremic Toxin on DNA-Histone Complex Formation.

PubMed

Jeong, Jong Cheol; Kim, Ji-Eun; Gu, Ja-Yoon; Yoo, Hyun Ju; Ryu, Ji Won; Kim, Dong Ki; Joo, Kwon Wook; Kim, Hyun Kyung

2016-01-01

Neutrophils can release the DNA-histone complex into circulation following exposure to inflammatory stimuli. This prospective study investigated whether the DNA-histone complex and other biomarkers could predict major cardiovascular adverse events (MACEs) in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The levels of circulating DNA-histone complexes, cell-free DNA, interleukin (IL)-6, and neutrophil elastase were measured in 60 HD patients and 28 healthy controls. MACE was assessed at 24 months. Uremic toxin-induced neutrophil released contents were measured in vitro. Compared with controls, HD patients showed higher levels of DNA-histone complexes and IL-6. The DNA-histone complex level was inversely associated with the Kt/V. In a multivariable Cox analysis, the high level of DNA-histone complexes was a significant independent predictor of MACE. The uremic toxins induced DNA-histone complex formation in normal neutrophils in vitro. The DNA-histone complex is a potentially useful marker to predict MACE in HD patients. Uremic toxins induced DNA-histone complex formation in vitro. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Chance of reimbursement for ADD-ON therapies in Poland and in the world - review of the reimbursement recommendations

PubMed

Borowiack, Ewa; Marzec, Magdalena; Nowotarska, Anna; Jarosz, Joanna; Orkisz, Agata; Prząda-Machno, Patrycja

2018-01-01

Oncology drugs combined with standard therapies (so-called add-on therapies, e.g. bevacizumab, palbociclib) often receive negative recommendations regarding the legitimacy of public financing, issued by government agencies responsible for their assessment, i.e. health technology assessment agencies. The aim of the study was to estimate the scale of the problem related to the reimbursement of add-on therapies used in the treatment of breast and genitourinary cancers in Poland and in the world. A multimodal approach was used to select add-on therapies. The reimbursement routes were analysed in 8 reference countries (Poland, Canada, England, Wales, France, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand). Based on a systematic search, data for breast and urogenital cancers were included. A total of 68 reimbursement documents for add-on therapies were identified. The analysis showed that in Poland, 20% of innovative schemes including add-on therapies should be reimbursed, while in the world the percentage of positive recommendations reaches 56%. It was observed that globally (including data for Poland) the chance for a favorable reimbursement recommendation for add-on therapies is 53%, with 29% being positive recommendations with limitations. In Poland, the majority of negative recommendations concern genitourinary cancers in comparison to breast cancer (83% vs 75%). Poland is at the head of the countries in terms of the number of negative reimbursement recommendations. Bearing in mind the world’s need of modifying the criteria for the evaluation of oncological therapies in the context of the possibility of their reimbursement, one should expect a change in the approach to the assessment of the legitimacy of financing innovative add-on therapies in Poland.

Significance tests for functional data with complex dependence structure.

PubMed

Staicu, Ana-Maria; Lahiri, Soumen N; Carroll, Raymond J

2015-01-01

We propose an L 2 -norm based global testing procedure for the null hypothesis that multiple group mean functions are equal, for functional data with complex dependence structure. Specifically, we consider the setting of functional data with a multilevel structure of the form groups-clusters or subjects-units, where the unit-level profiles are spatially correlated within the cluster, and the cluster-level data are independent. Orthogonal series expansions are used to approximate the group mean functions and the test statistic is estimated using the basis coefficients. The asymptotic null distribution of the test statistic is developed, under mild regularity conditions. To our knowledge this is the first work that studies hypothesis testing, when data have such complex multilevel functional and spatial structure. Two small-sample alternatives, including a novel block bootstrap for functional data, are proposed, and their performance is examined in simulation studies. The paper concludes with an illustration of a motivating experiment.

The effect of bifocal add on accommodative lag in myopic children with high accommodative lag.

PubMed

Berntsen, David A; Mutti, Donald O; Zadnik, Karla

2010-12-01

To determine the effect of a bifocal add and manifest correction on accommodative lag in myopic children with high accommodative lag, who have been reported to have the greatest reduction in myopia progression with progressive addition lenses (PALs). Monocular accommodative lag to a 4-D Badal stimulus was measured on two occasions 6 months apart in 83 children (mean ± SD age, 9.9 ± 1.3 years) with high lag randomized to wearing single-vision lenses (SVLs) or PALs. Accommodative lag was measured with the following corrections: habitual, manifest, manifest with +2.00-D add, and habitual with +2.00-D add (6-month visit only). At baseline, accommodative lag was higher (1.72 ± 0.37 D; mean ± SD) when measured with manifest correction than with habitual correction (1.51 ± 0.50; P < 0.05). This higher lag with manifest correction correlated with a larger amount of habitual undercorrection at baseline (r = -0.29, P = 0.009). A +2.00-D add over the manifest correction reduced lag by 0.45 ± 0.34 D at baseline and 0.33 ± 0.38 D at the 6-month visit. Lag results at 6 months were not different between PAL and SVL wearers (P = 0.92). A +2.00-D bifocal add did not eliminate accommodative lag and reduced lag by less than 25% of the bifocal power, indicating that children mainly responded to a bifocal by decreasing accommodation. If myopic progression is substantial, measuring lag with full correction can overestimate the hyperopic retinal blur that a child most recently experienced. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00335049.).

The Effect of Bifocal Add on Accommodative Lag in Myopic Children with High Accommodative Lag

PubMed Central

Mutti, Donald O.; Zadnik, Karla

2010-01-01

Purpose. To determine the effect of a bifocal add and manifest correction on accommodative lag in myopic children with high accommodative lag, who have been reported to have the greatest reduction in myopia progression with progressive addition lenses (PALs). Methods. Monocular accommodative lag to a 4-D Badal stimulus was measured on two occasions 6 months apart in 83 children (mean ± SD age, 9.9 ± 1.3 years) with high lag randomized to wearing single-vision lenses (SVLs) or PALs. Accommodative lag was measured with the following corrections: habitual, manifest, manifest with +2.00-D add, and habitual with +2.00-D add (6-month visit only). Results. At baseline, accommodative lag was higher (1.72 ± 0.37 D; mean ± SD) when measured with manifest correction than with habitual correction (1.51 ± 0.50; P < 0.05). This higher lag with manifest correction correlated with a larger amount of habitual undercorrection at baseline (r = −0.29, P = 0.009). A +2.00-D add over the manifest correction reduced lag by 0.45 ± 0.34 D at baseline and 0.33 ± 0.38 D at the 6-month visit. Lag results at 6 months were not different between PAL and SVL wearers (P = 0.92). Conclusions. A +2.00-D bifocal add did not eliminate accommodative lag and reduced lag by less than 25% of the bifocal power, indicating that children mainly responded to a bifocal by decreasing accommodation. If myopic progression is substantial, measuring lag with full correction can overestimate the hyperopic retinal blur that a child most recently experienced. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00335049.) PMID:20688729

ATRX ADD domain links an atypical histone methylation recognition mechanism to human mental-retardation syndrome

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Iwase, Shigeki; Xiang, Bin; Ghosh, Sharmistha

ATR-X (alpha-thalassemia/mental retardation, X-linked) syndrome is a human congenital disorder that causes severe intellectual disabilities. Mutations in the ATRX gene, which encodes an ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeler, are responsible for the syndrome. Approximately 50% of the missense mutations in affected persons are clustered in a cysteine-rich domain termed ADD (ATRX-DNMT3-DNMT3L, ADD{sub ATRX}), whose function has remained elusive. Here we identify ADD{sub ATRX} as a previously unknown histone H3-binding module, whose binding is promoted by lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) but inhibited by lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3). The cocrystal structure of ADD{sub ATRX} bound to H3{sub 1-15}K9me3 peptide reveals an atypical composite H3K9me3-binding pocket,more » which is distinct from the conventional trimethyllysine-binding aromatic cage. Notably, H3K9me3-pocket mutants and ATR-X syndrome mutants are defective in both H3K9me3 binding and localization at pericentromeric heterochromatin; thus, we have discovered a unique histone-recognition mechanism underlying the ATR-X etiology.« less

ATRX ADD Domain Links an Atypical Histone Methylation Recognition Mechanism to Human Mental-Retardation Syndrome

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

S Iwase; B Xiang; S Ghosh

ATR-X (alpha-thalassemia/mental retardation, X-linked) syndrome is a human congenital disorder that causes severe intellectual disabilities. Mutations in the ATRX gene, which encodes an ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeler, are responsible for the syndrome. Approximately 50% of the missense mutations in affected persons are clustered in a cysteine-rich domain termed ADD (ATRX-DNMT3-DNMT3L, ADD{sub ATRX}), whose function has remained elusive. Here we identify ADD{sub ATRX} as a previously unknown histone H3-binding module, whose binding is promoted by lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) but inhibited by lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3). The cocrystal structure of ADD{sub ATRX} bound to H3{sub 1-15}K9me3 peptide reveals an atypical composite H3K9me3-binding pocket,more » which is distinct from the conventional trimethyllysine-binding aromatic cage. Notably, H3K9me3-pocket mutants and ATR-X syndrome mutants are defective in both H3K9me3 binding and localization at pericentromeric heterochromatin; thus, we have discovered a unique histone-recognition mechanism underlying the ATR-X etiology.« less

40 CFR 63.4767 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.4767 Section 63.4767... Rate with Add-on Controls Option § 63.4767 How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? During the performance test required by § 63...

40 CFR 63.3546 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.3546 Section 63.3546... device or system of multiple capture devices. The average duct static pressure is the maximum operating... Add-on Controls Option § 63.3546 How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control...

40 CFR 63.4966 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.4966 Section 63.4966... outlet gas temperature is the maximum operating limit for your condenser. (e) Emission capture system... Emission Rate with Add-on Controls Option § 63.4966 How do I establish the emission capture system and add...

40 CFR 63.3546 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.3546 Section 63.3546... device or system of multiple capture devices. The average duct static pressure is the maximum operating... Add-on Controls Option § 63.3546 How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control...

40 CFR 63.4767 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.4767 Section 63.4767... Rate with Add-on Controls Option § 63.4767 How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? During the performance test required by § 63...

40 CFR 63.4966 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.4966 Section 63.4966... outlet gas temperature is the maximum operating limit for your condenser. (e) Emission capture system... with Add-on Controls Option § 63.4966 How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control...

40 CFR 63.4966 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.4966 Section 63.4966... outlet gas temperature is the maximum operating limit for your condenser. (e) Emission capture system... with Add-on Controls Option § 63.4966 How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control...

40 CFR 63.4167 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.4167 Section 63.4167... with Add-on Controls Option § 63.4167 How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? During the performance test required by § 63.4160...

40 CFR 63.4167 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.4167 Section 63.4167... with Add-on Controls Option § 63.4167 How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? During the performance test required by § 63.4160...

Evaluation of ADD392124 for the Delayed Treatment of Nerve Agent-Induced Status Epilepticus Seizures

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-09-01

Induced Status Epilepticus Seizures John H. McDonough Kerry E. Van Shura Megan E. Lyman Claire G. Eisner Amelia Mazza Robert K. Kan Tsung...TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER Evaluation of ADD392124 for the delayed treatment of nerve agent-induced status epilepticus seizures 5b... status epilepticus seizures. We evaluated the ability of ADD392124 to control seizures induced by the nerve agent soman. Rats were exposed to a

Digging Postholes Adds Depth and Authenticity to a Shallow Curriculum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Virtue, David C.; Buchanan, Anne; Vogler, Kenneth E.

2012-01-01

In the current era of high-stakes testing and accountability, many social studies teachers struggle to find creative ways to add depth and authenticity to a broad, shallow curriculum. Teachers can use the time after tests are administered for students to reflect back on the social studies curriculum and select topics they want to study more deeply…

Project DyAdd: Implicit Learning in Adult Dyslexia and ADHD

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Laasonen, Marja; Väre, Jenni; Oksanen-Hennah, Henna; Leppämäki, Sami; Tani, Pekka; Harno, Hanna; Hokkanen, Laura; Pothos, Emmanuel; Cleeremans, Axel

2014-01-01

In this study of the project DyAdd, implicit learning was investigated through two paradigms in adults (18-55 years) with dyslexia (n?=?36) or with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD, n?=?22) and in controls (n?=?35). In the serial reaction time (SRT) task, there were no group differences in learning. However, those with ADHD exhibited…

A novel photonic crystal ring resonator configuration for add/drop filtering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Juan; Liu, Hao; Ding, Yipeng; Wang, Yang

2018-07-01

A novel compact photonic crystal ring resonator (PCRR) configuration is proposed to realize high-efficiency waveguided add-drop filtering. Its wavelength selection and dropping-direction exchange functions are demonstrated numerically. The working mechanism of this nested dual-loop resonant cavity structure is analyzed in detail.

Characterising Complex Enzyme Reaction Data

PubMed Central

Rahman, Syed Asad; Thornton, Janet M.

2016-01-01

The relationship between enzyme-catalysed reactions and the Enzyme Commission (EC) number, the widely accepted classification scheme used to characterise enzyme activity, is complex and with the rapid increase in our knowledge of the reactions catalysed by enzymes needs revisiting. We present a manual and computational analysis to investigate this complexity and found that almost one-third of all known EC numbers are linked to more than one reaction in the secondary reaction databases (e.g., KEGG). Although this complexity is often resolved by defining generic, alternative and partial reactions, we have also found individual EC numbers with more than one reaction catalysing different types of bond changes. This analysis adds a new dimension to our understanding of enzyme function and might be useful for the accurate annotation of the function of enzymes and to study the changes in enzyme function during evolution. PMID:26840640

Early add-on treatment vs alternative monotherapy in patients with partial epilepsy.

PubMed

Semah, Franck; Thomas, Pierre; Coulbaut, Safia; Derambure, Philippe

2014-06-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of two different therapeutic strategies in patients with partial seizures who were intractable to the first prescribed antiepileptic drug (AED); alternative monotherapy vs early add-on treatment. We conducted an open, cluster-randomised, prospective, controlled trial in patients with persistent partial seizures, despite treatment with one AED, who were never administered any other AEDs. Neurologists were randomised to two strategies: in group A, an alternative monotherapy with a second AED was employed; in group B, add-on treatment with a second AED was employed. The primary outcome was the percentage of seizure-free patients during a two-month period after six months of treatment. The secondary outcomes were: (i) the percentage of patients achieving a 50% reduction in the number of seizures at six months; (ii) the quality of life based on the Quality Of Life In Epilepsy scale; and (iii) tolerability. A total of 143 neurologists were included and randomised, and 264 patients were evaluated. At six months, the primary outcome was 51% in group A and 45% in group B (p=0.34). The percentage of patients achieving a 50% reduction in the number of seizures at six months was 76% in group A and 84% in group B (p=0.53). The quality of life and the tolerability did not significantly differ between the two groups. Alternative monotherapy or early treatment initiation with another AED drug resulted in similar efficacy, and the side effects associated with monotherapy and combined therapies were similar, which suggests that individual susceptibility is more important than the number and burden of AEDs used.

USP <800> Adds Significant Safety Standards: Facility Upgrades Needed to Protect Employees From Hazardous Drugs.

PubMed

Beans, Bruce E

2017-05-01

The new USP standard for handling hazardous drugs (HDs) will require millions of dollars in capital outlays for facility and equipment upgrades and also requires in-depth assessments of each HD that facilities handle, significant workflow and work practice changes, and thorough staff training.

dAdd1 and dXNP prevent genome instability by maintaining HP1a localization at Drosophila telomeres.

PubMed

Chavez, Joselyn; Murillo-Maldonado, Juan Manuel; Bahena, Vanessa; Cruz, Ana Karina; Castañeda-Sortibrán, América; Rodriguez-Arnaiz, Rosario; Zurita, Mario; Valadez-Graham, Viviana

2017-12-01

Telomeres are important contributors to genome stability, as they prevent linear chromosome end degradation and contribute to the avoidance of telomeric fusions. An important component of the telomeres is the heterochromatin protein 1a (HP1a). Mutations in Su(var)205, the gene encoding HP1a in Drosophila, result in telomeric fusions, retrotransposon regulation loss and larger telomeres, leading to chromosome instability. Previously, it was found that several proteins physically interact with HP1a, including dXNP and dAdd1 (orthologues to the mammalian ATRX gene). In this study, we found that mutations in the genes encoding the dXNP and dAdd1 proteins affect chromosome stability, causing chromosomal aberrations, including telomeric defects, similar to those observed in Su(var)205 mutants. In somatic cells, we observed that dXNP and dAdd1 participate in the silencing of the telomeric HTT array of retrotransposons, preventing anomalous retrotransposon transcription and integration. Furthermore, the lack of dAdd1 results in the loss of HP1a from the telomeric regions without affecting other chromosomal HP1a binding sites; mutations in dxnp also affected HP1a localization but not at all telomeres, suggesting a specialized role for dAdd1 and dXNP proteins in locating HP1a at the tips of the chromosomes. These results place dAdd1 as an essential regulator of HP1a localization and function in the telomere heterochromatic domain.

Association between genetic variants of the ADD1 and GNB3 genes and blood pressure response to the cold pressor test in a Chinese Han population: the GenSalt Study.

PubMed

Wang, Laiyuan; Chen, Shufeng; Zhao, Qi; Hixson, James E; Rao, Dabeeru C; Jaquish, Cashell E; Huang, Jianfeng; Lu, Xiangfeng; Chen, Jichun; Cao, Jie; Li, Jianxin; Li, Hongfan; He, Jiang; Liu, De-Pei; Gu, Dongfeng

2012-08-01

Genetic factors influence blood pressure (BP) response to the cold pressor test (CPT), which is a phenotype related to hypertension risk. We examined the association between variants of the α-adducin (ADD1) and guanine nucleotide binding protein (G protein) β-polypeptide 3 (GNB3) genes and BP response to the CPT. A total of 1998 Han Chinese participants from the Genetic Epidemiology Network of Salt Sensitivity completed the CPT. The area under the curve (AUC) above the baseline BP during the CPT was used to measure the BP response. Twelve single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the ADD1 and GNB3 genes were selected and genotyped. Both single-marker and haplotype association analyses were conducted using linear mixed models. The rs17833172 and rs3775067 SNPs of the ADD1 gene and the rs4963516 SNP of the GNB3 gene were significantly associated with the BP response to CPT, even after adjusting for multiple testing. For the ADD1 gene, the AA genotype of SNP rs17833172 was associated with lower systolic BP (SBP) reactivity (P<0.0001) and faster BP recovery (P=0.0003). The TT genotype of rs3775067 was associated with slower SBP recovery (P=0.004). For the GNB3 gene, the C allele of SNP rs4963516 was associated with faster diastolic BP recovery (P=0.002) and smaller overall AUC (P=0.003). Haplotype analysis indicated that the CCGC haplotype of ADD1 constructed by rs1263359, rs3775067, rs4961 and rs4963 was significantly associated with the BP response to CPT. These data suggest that genetic variants of the ADD1 and GNB3 genes may have important roles in BP response to the CPT. Future studies aimed at replicating these novel findings are warranted.

Lopez-Alegria adds patch to bulkhead in Node 1 / Unity module

NASA Image and Video Library

2007-04-17

ISS014-E-19541 (17 April 2007) --- Astronaut Michael E. Lopez-Alegria, Expedition 14 commander and NASA space station science officer, adds the Expedition 14 patch to the Unity node's growing collection of insignias representing crews who have lived and worked on the International Space Station.

Add/drop filters based on SiC technology for optical interconnects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vieira, M.; Vieira, M. A.; Louro, P.; Fantoni, A.; Silva, V.

2014-03-01

In this paper we demonstrate an add/drop filter based on SiC technology. Tailoring of the channel bandwidth and wavelength is experimentally demonstrated. The concept is extended to implement a 1 by 4 wavelength division multiplexer with channel separation in the visible range. The device consists of a p-i'(a-SiC:H)-n/p-i(a-Si:H)-n heterostructure. Several monochromatic pulsed lights, separately or in a polychromatic mixture illuminated the device. Independent tuning of each channel is performed by steady state violet bias superimposed either from the front and back sides. Results show that, front background enhances the light-to-dark sensitivity of the long and medium wavelength channels and quench strongly the others. Back violet background has the opposite behaviour. This nonlinearity provides the possibility for selective removal or addition of wavelengths. An optoelectronic model is presented and explains the light filtering properties of the add/drop filter, under different optical bias conditions.

Studies with lucid dreaming as add-on therapy to Gestalt therapy.

PubMed

Holzinger, B; Klösch, G; Saletu, B

2015-06-01

The aim of the present exploratory clinical study was to evaluate LD as an add-on therapy for treating nightmares. Thirty-two subjects having nightmares (ICD-10: F51.5) at least twice a week participated. Subjects were randomly assigned to group: A) Gestalt therapy group (= GTG), or B) Gestalt and lucid dreaming group therapy (= LDG). Each group lasted ten weeks. Participants kept a sleep/dream diary over the treatment. Examinations with respect to nightmare frequency and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) were carried out at the beginning, after five and ten weeks and at a follow-up three months later. Concerning nightmare frequency, a significant reduction was found in both groups after the ten-week-study and at the follow-up (Wilcoxon test: P ≤ 0.05). Significant reduction in dream recall frequency could only be observed in the GTG (Wilcoxon test: P ≤ 0.05). For subjects having succeeded in learning lucid dreaming, reduction was sooner and higher. Sleep quality improved for both groups at the follow-up (P ≤ 0.05, Wilcoxon test). Only the LDG showed significant improvement at the end of therapy (P ≤ 0.05). Lucid dreaming, in combination with Gestalt therapy, is a potent technique to reduce nightmare frequency and improve the subjective quality of sleep. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Variable complexity online sequential extreme learning machine, with applications to streamflow prediction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lima, Aranildo R.; Hsieh, William W.; Cannon, Alex J.

2017-12-01

In situations where new data arrive continually, online learning algorithms are computationally much less costly than batch learning ones in maintaining the model up-to-date. The extreme learning machine (ELM), a single hidden layer artificial neural network with random weights in the hidden layer, is solved by linear least squares, and has an online learning version, the online sequential ELM (OSELM). As more data become available during online learning, information on the longer time scale becomes available, so ideally the model complexity should be allowed to change, but the number of hidden nodes (HN) remains fixed in OSELM. A variable complexity VC-OSELM algorithm is proposed to dynamically add or remove HN in the OSELM, allowing the model complexity to vary automatically as online learning proceeds. The performance of VC-OSELM was compared with OSELM in daily streamflow predictions at two hydrological stations in British Columbia, Canada, with VC-OSELM significantly outperforming OSELM in mean absolute error, root mean squared error and Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency at both stations.

Long-term efficacy and safety of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors as add-on to metformin treatment in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus

PubMed Central

Li, Jian; Gong, Yanping; Li, Chunlin; Lu, Yanhui; Liu, Yu; Shao, Yinghong

2017-01-01

Abstract Background: Drug intensification is often required for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on stable metformin therapy. Among the potential candidates for a combination therapy, sodium-glucose transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have shown promising outcomes. This meta-analysis was performed to compare the efficacy and safety of SGLT2 inhibitors with non-SGLT2 combinations as add-on treatment to metformin. Methods: Literature search was carried out in multiple electronic databases for the acquisition of relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) by following a priori eligibility criteria. After the assessment of quality of the included RCTs, meta-analyses of mean differences or odds ratios (OR) were performed to achieve overall effect sizes of the changes from baseline in selected efficacy and safety endpoints reported in the individual studies. Between-studies heterogeneity was estimated with between-studies statistical heterogeneity (I2) index. Results: Six RCTs fulfilled the eligibility criteria. SGLT2 inhibitors as add-on to metformin treatment reduced % HbA1c significantly more than non-SGLT2 combinations after 52 weeks (P = .002) as well as after 104 weeks (P < .00001). Among other endpoints, SGLT2 inhibitors also reduced fasting plasma glucose levels, body weight, systolic, and diastolic blood pressures after 52 weeks and 104 weeks significantly (P < .00001) more than non-SGLT2 combinations. Incidence of hypoglycemia was significantly lower (P = .02) but incidence of suspected or confirmed genital tract infections was significantly higher (P < .00001) in SGLT2 inhibitors treated in comparison with non-SGLT2 combinations. Conclusion: As add-on to metformin treatment, SGLT2 inhibitors are found significantly more efficacious than non-SGLT2 inhibitor combinations in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus, although, SGLT2 inhibitor therapy is associated with significantly higher incidence of suspected or confirmed genital tract

Randomized trial of safinamide add-on to levodopa in Parkinson's disease with motor fluctuations.

PubMed

Borgohain, Rupam; Szasz, J; Stanzione, P; Meshram, C; Bhatt, M; Chirilineau, D; Stocchi, F; Lucini, V; Giuliani, R; Forrest, E; Rice, P; Anand, R

2014-02-01

Levodopa is effective for the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), but is associated with motor fluctuations and dyskinesia. Many patients require add-on therapy to improve motor fluctuations without exacerbating dyskinesia. The objective of this Phase III, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of safinamide, an α-aminoamide with dopaminergic and nondopaminergic mechanisms, as add-on to l-dopa in the treatment of patients with PD and motor fluctuations. Patients were randomized to oral safinamide 100 mg/day (n = 224), 50 mg/day (n = 223), or placebo (n = 222) for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was total on time with no or nontroublesome dyskinesia (assessed using the Hauser patient diaries). Secondary endpoints included off time, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) Part III (motor) scores, and Clinical Global Impression-Change (CGI-C). At week 24, mean ± SD increases in total on time with no or nontroublesome dyskinesia were 1.36 ± 2.625 hours for safinamide 100 mg/day, 1.37 ± 2.745 hours for safinamide 50 mg/day, and 0.97 ± 2.375 hours for placebo. Least squares means differences in both safinamide groups were significantly higher versus placebo. Improvements in off time, UPDRS Part III, and CGI-C were significantly greater in both safinamide groups versus placebo. There were no significant between-group differences for incidences of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) or TEAEs leading to discontinuation. The addition of safinamide 50 mg/day or 100 mg/day to l-dopa in patients with PD and motor fluctuations significantly increased total on time with no or nontroublesome dyskinesia, decreased off time, and improved parkinsonism, indicating that safinamide improves motor symptoms and parkinsonism without worsening dyskinesia. © 2013 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley on behalf of the International Parkinson and Movement

Application of shift-and-add algorithms for imaging objects within biological media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aizert, Avishai; Moshe, Tomer; Abookasis, David

2017-01-01

The Shift-and-Add (SAA) technique is a simple mathematical operation developed to reconstruct, at high spatial resolution, atmospherically degraded solar images obtained from stellar speckle interferometry systems. This method shifts and assembles individual degraded short-exposure images into a single average image with significantly improved contrast and detail. Since the inhomogeneous refractive indices of biological tissue causes light scattering similar to that induced by optical turbulence in the atmospheric layers, we assume that SAA methods can be successfully implemented to reconstruct the image of an object within a scattering biological medium. To test this hypothesis, five SAA algorithms were evaluated for reconstructing images acquired from multiple viewpoints. After successfully retrieving the hidden object's shape, quantitative image quality metrics were derived, enabling comparison of imaging error across a spectrum of layer thicknesses, demonstrating the relative efficacy of each SAA algorithm for biological imaging.

Efficacy and Safety of Saxagliptin as Add-On Therapy in Type 2 Diabetes

PubMed Central

Neumiller, Joshua J.

2014-01-01

In Brief Combination therapy for type 2 diabetes using agents with complementary mechanisms of action may improve glycemic control to a greater extent than monotherapy and allow the use of lower doses of antihyperglycemic medications. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, including saxagliptin, are recommended as add-on therapy to metformin and as part of two- or three-drug combinations in patients not meeting individualized glycemic goals with metformin alone or as part of a dual-therapy regimen. This article reviews the efficacy and safety of saxagliptin as an add-on therapy to metformin, glyburide, a thiazolidinedione, or insulin (with or without metformin) and as a component of triple therapy with metformin and a sulfonylurea. PMID:25646943

How to Add Philosophy Dimensions in Your Basic International Business Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thanopoulos, John

2010-01-01

This article aims to assist professors in introducing concepts of self, philosophy, religions, the universe, existential dilemmas, etc., in their basic international business classes. Using active learning and five-member student teams, a student organized and administered conference adds a very useful dimension of knowledge sacrificing only one…

Long-term efficacy and safety of safinamide as add-on therapy in early Parkinson's disease.

PubMed

Schapira, A H V; Stocchi, F; Borgohain, R; Onofrj, M; Bhatt, M; Lorenzana, P; Lucini, V; Giuliani, R; Anand, R

2013-02-01

Safinamide is an α-aminoamide with both dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic mechanisms of action in Phase III clinical development as a once-daily add-on to dopamine agonist (DA) therapy for early Parkinson's disease (PD). Study 017 was a 12-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pre-planned extension study to the previously reported Study 015. Patients received safinamide 100 or 200 mg/day or placebo added to a single DA in early PD. The primary efficacy endpoint was the time from baseline (Study 015 randomization) to 'intervention', defined as increase in DA dose; addition of another DA, levodopa or other PD treatment; or discontinuation due to lack of efficacy. Safinamide groups were pooled for the primary efficacy endpoint analysis; post hoc analyses were performed on each separate dose group. Of the 269 patients randomized in Study 015, 227 (84%) enrolled in Study 017 and 187/227 (82%) patients completed the extension study. Median time to intervention was 559 and 466 days in the pooled safinamide and placebo groups, respectively (log-rank test; P = 0.3342). In post hoc analyses, patients receiving safinamide 100 mg/day experienced a significantly lower rate of intervention compared with placebo (25% vs. 51%, respectively) and a delay in median time to intervention of 9 days (P < 0.05; 240- to 540-day analysis). The pooled data from the safinamide groups failed to reach statistical significance for the primary endpoint of median time from baseline to additional drug intervention. Post hoc analyses indicate that safinamide 100 mg/day may be effective as add-on treatment to DA in PD. © 2012 The Author(s) European Journal of Neurology © 2012 EFNS.

The COMT Val158Met Polymorphism Is Associated With Response to Add-on Dextromethorphan Treatment in Bipolar Disorder.

PubMed

Lee, Sheng-Yu; Chen, Shiou-Lan; Wang, Tzu-Yun; Chang, Yun-Hsuan; Chen, Po See; Huang, San-Yuan; Tzeng, Nian-Sheng; Wang, Liang-Jen; Lee, I Hui; Chen, Kao Ching; Yang, Yen Kuang; Lu, Ru-Band

2017-02-01

We previously conducted a randomized, double-blind, controlled, 12-week study evaluating the effect of add-on dextromethorphan (DM), a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, on patients with bipolar disorder (BD) treated using valproate (VPA), which showed negative clinical differences. The genetic variation between each individual may be responsible for interindividual differences. The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene has been a candidate gene for BD. In the current study, we investigated whether the COMT Val158Met polymorphism predicts treatment response to VPA + add-on DM and to VPA + placebo. Patients with BD (n = 309) undergoing regular VPA treatments were randomly assigned to groups given either add-on DM (30 mg/d) (n = 102), DM (60 mg/d) (n = 101), or placebo (n = 106) for 12 weeks. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Young Mania Rating Scale were used to evaluate clinical response during weeks 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12. The genotypes of the COMT Val158Met polymorphism were determined using polymerase chain reaction plus restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. To adjust for within-subject dependence over repeated assessments, multiple linear regression with generalized estimating equation methods was used. When stratified by the COMT Val158Met genotypes, significantly greater decreases in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores were found in the VPA + DM (30 mg/d) group in patients with the Val/Met genotype (P = 0.008). We conclude that the COMT Val158Met polymorphism may influence responses to DM (30 mg/d) by decreasing depressive symptoms in BD patients.

A Study to Determine if Addition of Palatal Petechiae to Centor Criteria Adds More Significance to Clinical Diagnosis of Acute Strep Pharyngitis in Children.

PubMed

Nibhanipudi, Kumara V

2016-01-01

Objective. A study to determine if addition of palatal petechiae to Centor criteria adds more value for clinical diagnosis of acute strep pharyngitis in children. Hypothesis. In children, Centor Criteria does not cover all the symptoms and signs of acute strep pharyngitis. We hypothesize that addition of palatal petechiae to Centor Criteria will increase the possibility of clinical diagnosis of group A streptococcal pharyngitis in children. Methods. One hundred patients with a complaint of sore throat were enrolled in the study. All the patients were examined clinically using the Centor Criteria. They were also examined for other signs and symptoms like petechial lesions over the palate, abdominal pain, and skin rash. All the patients were given rapid strep tests, and throat cultures were sent. No antibiotics were given until culture results were obtained. Results. The sample size was 100 patients. All 100 had fever, sore throat, and erythema of tonsils. Twenty of the 100 patients had tonsillar exudates, 85/100 had tender anterior cervical lymph nodes, and 86/100 had no cough. In total, 9 out of the 100 patients had positive throat cultures. We observed that petechiae over the palate, a very significant sign, is not included in the Centor Criteria. Palatal petechiae were present in 8 out of the 100 patients. Six out of these 8 with palatal petechiae had positive throat culture for strep (75%). Only 7 out of 20 with exudates had positive strep culture. Sixteen out of the 100 patients had rapid strep test positive. Those 84/100 who had negative rapid strep also had negative throat culture. Statistics. We used Fisher's exact test, comparing throat culture positive and negative versus presence of exudates and palatal hemorrhages with positive and negative throat cultures and the resultant P value <.0001. Conclusion. Our study concludes that addition of petechiae over the palate to Centor Criteria will increase the possibility of diagnosing acute group A streptococcal

Sturckow adds STS-128 crew patch to wall in Node 1 Unity

NASA Image and Video Library

2009-09-07

S128-E-007940 (7 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-128 commander, adds his crew’s patch to the growing collection, in the Unity node, of insignias representing crews who have worked on the International Space Station.

Sturckow adds STS-128 crew patch to wall in Node 1 Unity

NASA Image and Video Library

2009-09-07

S128-E-007939 (7 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-128 commander, adds his crew’s patch to the growing collection, in the Unity node, of insignias representing crews who have worked on the International Space Station.

ALDH2 polymorphism, associated with attenuating negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia treated with add-on dextromethorphan.

PubMed

Lee, Sheng-Yu; Chen, Shiou-Lan; Chang, Yun-Hsuan; Chen, Po-See; Huang, San-Yuan; Tzeng, Nian-Sheng; Wang, Liang-Jen; Lee, I-Hui; Wang, Tzu-Yun; Chen, Kao-Chin; Yang, Yen-Kuang; Hong, Jau-Shyong; Lu, Ru-Band

2015-10-01

Increasing the evidence of inflammation's contribution to schizophrenia; using anti-inflammatory or neurotrophic therapeutic agents to see whether they improve schizophrenia treatment. Dextromethorphan (DM), a non-competitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, might protect monoamine neurons. Whether treating schizophrenia with risperidone plus add-on DM is more effective than risperidone (RISP) alone, and the association between the ALDH2 polymorphism and treatment response were investigated. A double-blind study in which patients with schizophrenia were randomly assigned to the RISP + DM (60 mg/day; n = 74) or the RISP + Placebo (n = 75) group. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) scores were used to evaluate clinical response during weeks 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 11. The genotypes of the ALDH2 polymorphism were determined using polymerase chain reactions plus restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. A generalized estimating equation was used to analyze the effects of ALDH2 polymorphism on the clinical performance of DM. PANSS and SANS scores were significantly lower in both groups after 11 weeks of treatment. SANS total scores were significantly lower in the RISP + DM group in patients with the ALDH2*2*2 genotype. RISP plus add-on DM treatment reduced negative schizophrenia symptoms in patients with the ALDH2 polymorphism. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

76 FR 37114 - Determination Concerning a Petition To Add a Class of Employees to the Special Exposure Cohort

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-24

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Determination Concerning a Petition To Add a Class of Employees to the Special Exposure Cohort AGENCY: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health... determination concerning a petition to add a class of employees from the Linde Ceramics Plant in Tonawanda, New...

77 FR 76490 - Determination Concerning a Petition to Add a Class of Employees to the Special Exposure Cohort

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-28

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Determination Concerning a Petition to Add a Class of Employees to the Special Exposure Cohort AGENCY: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health...). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: HHS gives notice of a determination concerning a petition to add a class of...

76 FR 37114 - Determination Concerning a Petition To Add a Class of Employees to the Special Exposure Cohort

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-24

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Determination Concerning a Petition To Add a Class of Employees to the Special Exposure Cohort AGENCY: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health... determination concerning a petition to add a class of employees from the Dow Chemical Company in Madison...

77 FR 9251 - Determination Concerning a Petition To Add a Class of Employees to the Special Exposure Cohort

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-16

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Determination Concerning a Petition To Add a Class of Employees to the Special Exposure Cohort AGENCY: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health...). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: HHS gives notice of a determination concerning a petition to add a class of...

78 FR 98 - Determination Concerning a Petition To Add a Class of Employees to the Special Exposure Cohort

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-01-02

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Determination Concerning a Petition To Add a Class of Employees to the Special Exposure Cohort AGENCY: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health...). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: HHS gives notice of a determination concerning a petition to add a class of...

76 FR 37115 - Determination Concerning a Petition To Add a Class of Employees to the Special Exposure Cohort

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-24

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Determination Concerning a Petition To Add a Class of Employees to the Special Exposure Cohort AGENCY: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health... determination concerning a petition to add a class of employees from the Bliss & Laughlin Steel Company located...

76 FR 37115 - Determination Concerning a Petition To Add a Class of Employees to the Special Exposure Cohort

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-24

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Determination Concerning a Petition To Add a Class of Employees to the Special Exposure Cohort AGENCY: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health... determination concerning a petition to add a class of employees from the Wah Chang facility in Albany, Oregon...

78 FR 64501 - Determination Concerning a Petition to Add a Class of Employees to the Special Exposure Cohort

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-10-29

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Determination Concerning a Petition to Add a Class of Employees to the Special Exposure Cohort AGENCY: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health...). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: HHS gives notice of a determination concerning a petition to add a class of...

77 FR 58383 - Determination Concerning a Petition To Add a Class of Employees to the Special Exposure Cohort

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-20

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Determination Concerning a Petition To Add a Class of Employees to the Special Exposure Cohort AGENCY: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health...). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: HHS gives notice of a determination concerning a petition to add a class of...

78 FR 64502 - Determination Concerning a Petition To Add a Class of Employees to the Special Exposure Cohort

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-10-29

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Determination Concerning a Petition To Add a Class of Employees to the Special Exposure Cohort AGENCY: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health...). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: HHS gives notice of a determination concerning a petition to add a class of...

76 FR 37115 - Determination Concerning a Petition To Add a Class of Employees to the Special Exposure Cohort

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-24

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Determination Concerning a Petition To Add a Class of Employees to the Special Exposure Cohort AGENCY: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health... determination concerning a petition to add a class of employees from the Chapman Valve Manufacturing Company (i...

Effect of ezetimibe add-on therapy over 52 weeks extension analysis of prospective randomized trial (RESEARCH study) in type 2 diabetes subjects.

PubMed

Sakamoto, Kentaro; Kawamura, Mitsunobu; Watanabe, Takayuki; Ashidate, Keiko; Kohro, Takahide; Tanaka, Akira; Mori, Yasumichi; Tagami, Motoki; Hirano, Tsutomu; Yamazaki, Tsutomu; Shiba, Teruo

2017-06-24

Lowering cholesterol levels decreases the risk of atherosclerotic diseases. Effective ways to stably reduce LDL-C level are warranted in type 2 diabetic patients, a high-risk population for CVD, with various anti-diabetic therapeutic background. The RESEARCH study focuses on LDL-C reduction in this population along with modifications of the lipid profiles. We evaluated long-term ezetimibe add-on therapy in T2DM patients with hypercholesterolemia. In a randomized, multicenter, open-label, prospective study, a total of 109 T2DM patients not attaining LDL-C target value despite first-line dose statin (10 mg of atorvastatin or 1 mg of pitavastatin) therapy in Japan were recruited. We investigated the difference in cholesterol lowering effect between ezetimibe (10 mg) add-on statin (EAT) group and double-dose statin (DST) group. Changes of parameters related to atherosclerotic event risks were assessed. The reduction of LDL-C was larger in the EAT group (28.3%) than in the DST group (9.2%) at 52 weeks as well as the primary endpoint of 12 weeks. EAT achieved significant lower levels of TC and apo B, respectively. Both treatments attained significant reduction in sd-LDL-C or hsCRP on this long-term basis. Notably, sd-LDL-C in EAT reduced as low as 36.1 ± 14.9 mg/dl to reach near the threshold (35.0 mg/dl) for atherosclerosis with significantly higher achievement rate (55.6%) than DST treatment. Simultaneously, hsCRP reduction by EAT attained as low value as 0.52 ± 0.43 mg/l. In the present 52-week long-term period, ezetimibe add-on therapy showed a robust advantage in lowering LDL-C and in attaining target LDL-C values compared with the doubling of statin dose. Moreover, it's meaningful that sd-LDL, powerfully atherogenic lipoprotein, exhibited prominent decrease consistently prominently by ezetimibe add-on therapy. DM patients with hypercholesterolemia are at high risk for CAD, and adding ezetimibe onto usual-dose statin treatment in Japan has been

Add-on treatment of benzoate for schizophrenia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of D-amino acid oxidase inhibitor.

PubMed

Lane, Hsien-Yuan; Lin, Ching-Hua; Green, Michael F; Hellemann, Gerhard; Huang, Chih-Chia; Chen, Po-Wei; Tun, Rene; Chang, Yue-Cung; Tsai, Guochuan E

2013-12-01

In addition to dopaminergic hyperactivity, hypofunction of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) has an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Enhancing NMDAR-mediated neurotransmission is considered a novel treatment approach. To date, several trials on adjuvant NMDA-enhancing agents have revealed beneficial, but limited, efficacy for positive and negative symptoms and cognition. Another method to enhance NMDA function is to raise the levels of d-amino acids by blocking their metabolism. Sodium benzoate is a d-amino acid oxidase inhibitor. To examine the clinical and cognitive efficacy and safety of add-on treatment of sodium benzoate for schizophrenia. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 2 major medical centers in Taiwan composed of 52 patients with chronic schizophrenia who had been stabilized with antipsychotic medications for 3 months or longer. Six weeks of add-on treatment of 1 g/d of sodium benzoate or placebo. The primary outcome measure was the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score. Clinical efficacy and adverse effects were assessed biweekly. Cognitive functions were measured before and after the add-on treatment. Benzoate produced a 21% improvement in PANSS total score and large effect sizes (range, 1.16-1.69) in the PANSS total and subscales, Scales for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms-20 items, Global Assessment of Function, Quality of Life Scale and Clinical Global Impression and improvement in the neurocognition subtests as recommended by the National Institute of Mental Health's Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia initiative, including the domains of processing speed and visual learning. Benzoate was well tolerated without significant adverse effects. Benzoate adjunctive therapy significantly improved a variety of symptom domains and neurocognition in patients with chronic schizophrenia. The preliminary results show promise for d-amino acid oxidase

Antileukotriene Agents Versus Long-Acting Beta-Agonists in Older Adults with Persistent Asthma: A Comparison of Add-On Therapies.

PubMed

Altawalbeh, Shoroq M; Thorpe, Carolyn T; Zgibor, Janice C; Kane-Gill, Sandra; Kang, Yihuang; Thorpe, Joshua M

2016-08-01

To compare the effectiveness and cardiovascular safety of long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs) with those of leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) as add-on treatments in older adults with asthma already taking inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs). Retrospective cohort study. Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) claims (2009-10) for a 10% random sample of beneficiaries continuously enrolled in Parts A, B, and D in 2009. Medicare beneficiaries aged 66 and older continuously enrolled in FFS Medicare with Part D coverage with a diagnosis of asthma before 2009 treated exclusively with ICSs plus LABAs or ICSs plus LTRAs (N = 14,702). The augmented inverse propensity-weighted estimator was used to compare the effect of LABA add-on therapy with that of LTRA add-on therapy on asthma exacerbations requiring inpatient, emergency, or outpatient care and on cardiovascular (CV) events, adjusting for demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and county-level healthcare-access variables. The primary analysis showed that LTRA add-on treatment was associated with greater odds of asthma-related hospitalizations or emergency department visits (odds ratio (OR) = 1.4, P < .001), as well as outpatient exacerbations requiring oral corticosteroids or antibiotics (OR = 1.41, P < .001) than LABA treatment. LTRA add-on therapy was also less effective in controlling acute symptoms, as indicated by greater use of short-acting beta agonists (rate ratio = 1.58, P < .001). LTRA add-on treatment was associated with lower odds of experiencing a CV event than LABA treatment (OR = 0.86, P = .006). This study provides new evidence specific to older adults to help healthcare providers weigh the risks and benefits of these add-on treatments. Further subgroup analysis is needed to personalize asthma treatments in this high-risk population. © 2016, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2016, The American Geriatrics Society.

Relative significance of heat transfer processes to quantify tradeoffs between complexity and accuracy of energy simulations with a building energy use patterns classification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heidarinejad, Mohammad

This dissertation develops rapid and accurate building energy simulations based on a building classification that identifies and focuses modeling efforts on most significant heat transfer processes. The building classification identifies energy use patterns and their contributing parameters for a portfolio of buildings. The dissertation hypothesis is "Building classification can provide minimal required inputs for rapid and accurate energy simulations for a large number of buildings". The critical literature review indicated there is lack of studies to (1) Consider synoptic point of view rather than the case study approach, (2) Analyze influence of different granularities of energy use, (3) Identify key variables based on the heat transfer processes, and (4) Automate the procedure to quantify model complexity with accuracy. Therefore, three dissertation objectives are designed to test out the dissertation hypothesis: (1) Develop different classes of buildings based on their energy use patterns, (2) Develop different building energy simulation approaches for the identified classes of buildings to quantify tradeoffs between model accuracy and complexity, (3) Demonstrate building simulation approaches for case studies. Penn State's and Harvard's campus buildings as well as high performance LEED NC office buildings are test beds for this study to develop different classes of buildings. The campus buildings include detailed chilled water, electricity, and steam data, enabling to classify buildings into externally-load, internally-load, or mixed-load dominated. The energy use of the internally-load buildings is primarily a function of the internal loads and their schedules. Externally-load dominated buildings tend to have an energy use pattern that is a function of building construction materials and outdoor weather conditions. However, most of the commercial medium-sized office buildings have a mixed-load pattern, meaning the HVAC system and operation schedule dictate

Stereovision Imaging in Smart Mobile Phone Using Add on Prisms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bar-Magen Numhauser, Jonathan; Zalevsky, Zeev

2014-03-01

In this work we present the use of a prism-based add on component installed on top of a smart phone to achieve stereovision capabilities using iPhone mobile operating system. Through these components and the combination of the appropriate application programming interface and mathematical algorithms the obtained results will permit the analysis of possible enhancements for new uses to such system, in a variety of areas including medicine and communications.

Mononuclear nickel (II) and copper (II) coordination complexes supported by bispicen ligand derivatives: Experimental and computational studies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Singh, Nirupama; Niklas, Jens; Poluektov, Oleg

2017-01-01

The synthesis, characterization and density functional theory calculations of mononuclear Ni and Cu complexes supported by the N,N’-Dimethyl-N,N’-bis-(pyridine-2-ylmethyl)-1,2-diaminoethane ligand and its derivatives are reported. The complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography as well as by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and EPR spectroscopy. The solid state structure of these coordination complexes revealed that the geometry of the complex depended on the identity of the metal center. Solution phase characterization data are in accord with the solid phase structure, indicating minimal structural changes in solution. Optical spectroscopy revealed that all of the complexes exhibit color owing to d-d transition bands in the visiblemore » region. Magnetic parameters obtained from EPR spectroscopy with other structural data suggest that the Ni(II) complexes are in pseudo-octahedral geometry and Cu(II) complexes are in a distorted square pyramidal geometry. In order to understand in detail how ligand sterics and electronics affect complex topology detailed computational studies were performed. The series of complexes reported in this article will add significant value in the field of coordination chemistry as Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes supported by tetradentate pyridyl based ligands are rather scarce.« less

Development of FQ-PCR method to determine the level of ADD1 expression in fatty and lean pigs.

PubMed

Cui, J X; Chen, W; Zeng, Y Q

2015-10-30

To determine how adipocyte determination and differentiation factor 1 (ADD1), a gene involved in the determination of pork quality, is regulated in Laiwu and Large pigs, we used TaqMan fluorescence quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR) to detect differential expression in the longissimus muscle of Laiwu (fatty) and Large White (lean) pigs. In this study, the ADD1 and GAPDH cDNA sequences were cloned using a T-A cloning assay, and the clone sequences were consistent with those deposited in GenBank. Thus, the target fragment was successfully recombined into the vector, and its integrity was maintained. The standard curve and regression equation were established through the optimized FQ-PCR protocol. The standard curve of porcine ADD1 and GAPDH cDNA was determined, and its linear range extension could reach seven orders of magnitudes. The results showed that this method was used to quantify ADD1 expression in the longissimus muscle of two breeds of pig, and was found to be accurate, sensitive, and convenient. These results provide information regarding porcine ADD1 mRNA expression and the mechanism of adipocyte differentiation, and this study could help in the effort to meet the demands of consumers interested in the maintenance of health and prevention of obesity. Furthermore, it could lead to new approaches in the prevention and clinical treatment of this disease.

Feasibility study of veterinary antibiotic consumption in Germany--comparison of ADDs and UDDs by animal production type, antimicrobial class and indication.

PubMed

Merle, Roswitha; Robanus, Matthias; Hegger-Gravenhorst, Christine; Mollenhauer, Yvonne; Hajek, Peter; Käsbohrer, Annemarie; Honscha, Walther; Kreienbrock, Lothar

2014-01-08

Within a feasibility study the use of antibiotics in pigs and cattle was determined in 24 veterinary practices in Lower Saxony and on 66 farms in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. Focus was laid on the comparison of the Used Daily Doses (UDD) (dose per animal and day prescribed by the veterinarians) with the Defined Animal Daily Doses (ADD) (dose per animal and day calculated by means of recommended dosages and estimated live weights). For piglets and calves most of the UDD (50% and 46% of nUDD, respectively) were above the ADD (i.e. UDD/ADD-ratio above 1.25). Regarding sows, fattening pigs, dairy and beef cattle, most of the UDDs (49% to 65% of nUDD) were lower than the respective ADD (i.e. UDD/ADD-ratio below 0.8). In pigs, the UDDs of beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins, and in cattle, those of macrolides and beta-lactams were often below the ADDs. Tetracyclines were frequently used above the recommended dose.Enteric diseases were more often treated below the recommended dose than respiratory diseases, possibly due to overestimation of the live weight (diarrhea in young animals, respiratory diseases in elder animals) and consequently overestimation of the recommended dose. Comparisons between UDD and ADD can be used to observe differences between antimicrobials and trends in the usage of antibiotics. But individual treatment comparisons of UDD and ADD must be interpreted carefully, because they may be due to lower live weights than estimated. Correlating such data with data on the occurrence of resistant bacteria in future may help to improve resistance prevention and control.

Feasibility study of veterinary antibiotic consumption in Germany - comparison of ADDs and UDDs by animal production type, antimicrobial class and indication

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Within a feasibility study the use of antibiotics in pigs and cattle was determined in 24 veterinary practices in Lower Saxony and on 66 farms in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. Focus was laid on the comparison of the Used Daily Doses (UDD) (dose per animal and day prescribed by the veterinarians) with the Defined Animal Daily Doses (ADD) (dose per animal and day calculated by means of recommended dosages and estimated live weights). Results For piglets and calves most of the UDD (50% and 46% of nUDD, respectively) were above the ADD (i.e. UDD/ADD-ratio above 1.25). Regarding sows, fattening pigs, dairy and beef cattle, most of the UDDs (49% to 65% of nUDD) were lower than the respective ADD (i.e. UDD/ADD-ratio below 0.8). In pigs, the UDDs of beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins, and in cattle, those of macrolides and beta-lactams were often below the ADDs. Tetracyclines were frequently used above the recommended dose. Enteric diseases were more often treated below the recommended dose than respiratory diseases, possibly due to overestimation of the live weight (diarrhea in young animals, respiratory diseases in elder animals) and consequently overestimation of the recommended dose. Conclusion Comparisons between UDD and ADD can be used to observe differences between antimicrobials and trends in the usage of antibiotics. But individual treatment comparisons of UDD and ADD must be interpreted carefully, because they may be due to lower live weights than estimated. Correlating such data with data on the occurrence of resistant bacteria in future may help to improve resistance prevention and control. PMID:24401194

Significance of Clostridium spiroforme in the enteritis-complex of commercial rabbits.

PubMed

Peeters, J E; Geeroms, R; Carman, R J; Wilkins, T D

1986-06-01

Commercial rabbits showing clinical signs of enteritis-complex were examined for the presence of Clostridium spiroforme and its iota-like toxin. The bacterium was detected by Gram stain in 52.4% of 149 cecal samples and iota-like toxin in 7.4%. From 29 strains of C. spiroforme tested, 26 were toxigenic, originating from 24 of 29 rabbitries. In 13.4% of the samples, C. spiroforme was present as the only known disease agent. Gross and microscopic lesions were similar to those described in the literature. In the other samples, C. spiroforme was associated with attaching effacing Escherichia coli (29.5%), Bacillus piliformis (10.3%), rotaviruses (25.6%), coronavirus (2.6%), Eimeria spp. (44.9%) and cryptosporidia (6.4%). In 33.3% of C. spiroforme-containing samples, more than one of these agents was present. There was no significant difference between the presence of these organisms in C. spiroforme-positive and negative samples. On the basis of these results as well as that of previous data, we suggest that C. spiroforme-mediated diarrhea is favoured by maldigestion, initiated by infectious agents and/or nutritional factors.

42 CFR § 510.320 - Treatment of incentive programs or add-on payments under existing Medicare payment systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2017-10-01

... INFRASTRUCTURE AND MODEL PROGRAMS COMPREHENSIVE CARE FOR JOINT REPLACEMENT MODEL Pricing and Payment § 510.320 Treatment of incentive programs or add-on payments under existing Medicare payment systems. The CJR model... 42 Public Health 5 2017-10-01 2017-10-01 false Treatment of incentive programs or add-on payments...

42 CFR § 510.320 - Treatment of incentive programs or add-on payments under existing Medicare payment systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2016-10-01

... INFRASTRUCTURE AND MODEL PROGRAMS COMPREHENSIVE CARE FOR JOINT REPLACEMENT MODEL Pricing and Payment § 510.320 Treatment of incentive programs or add-on payments under existing Medicare payment systems. The CJR model... 42 Public Health 5 2016-10-01 2016-10-01 false Treatment of incentive programs or add-on payments...

40 CFR 63.3169 - What are the requirements for a capture system or add-on control device which is not taken into...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... systems or add-on control devices which you choose not to take into account when demonstrating compliance... system or add-on control device which is not taken into account when demonstrating compliance with the....3169 What are the requirements for a capture system or add-on control device which is not taken into...

Novel all-optical logic gate using an add/drop filter and intensity switch.

PubMed

Threepak, T; Mitatha, S; Yupapin, P P

2011-12-01

A novel design of all-optical logic device is proposed. An all-optical logic device system composes of an optical intensity switch and add/drop filter. The intensity switch is formed to switch signal by using the relationship between refraction angle and signal intensity. In operation, two input signals are coupled into one with some coupling loss and attenuation, in which the combination of add/drop with intensity switch produces the optical logic gate. The advantage is that the proposed device can operate the high speed logic function. Moreover, it uses low power consumption. Furthermore, by using the extremely small component, this design can be put into a single chip. Finally, we have successfully produced the all-optical logic gate that can generate the accurate AND and NOT operation results.

42 CFR § 512.320 - Treatment of incentive programs or add-on payments under existing Medicare payment systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2017-10-01

... INFRASTRUCTURE AND MODEL PROGRAMS EPISODE PAYMENT MODEL Pricing and Payment § 512.320 Treatment of incentive... under such models are independent of, and do not affect, any incentive programs or add-on payments under... 42 Public Health 5 2017-10-01 2017-10-01 false Treatment of incentive programs or add-on payments...

Health and labour force participation of older people in Europe: what do objective health indicators add to the analysis?

PubMed

Kalwij, Adriaan; Vermeulen, Frederic

2008-05-01

This paper studies labour force participation of older individuals in 11 European countries. The data are drawn from the new Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). We examine the value added of objective health indicators in relation to potentially endogenous self-reported health. We approach the endogeneity of self-reported health as an omitted variables problem. In line with the literature on the reliability of self-reported health ambiguous results are obtained. In some countries self-reported health does a fairly good job and controlling for objective health indicators does not add much to the analysis. In other countries, however, the results show that objective health indicators add significantly to the analysis and that self-reported health is endogenous due to omitted objective health indicators. These latter results illustrate the multi-dimensional nature of health and the need to control for objective health indicators when analysing the relation between health status and labour force participation. This makes an instrumental variables approach to deal with the endogeneity of self-reported health less appropriate.

A single competency-based education and training and competency-based career framework for the Australian health workforce: discussing the potential value add.

PubMed

Brownie, Sharon Mary; Thomas, Janelle

2014-09-01

This brief discusses the policy implications of a research study commissioned by Health Workforce Australia (HWA) within its health workforce innovation and reform work program. The project explored conceptually complex and operationally problematic concepts related to developing a whole-of-workforce competency-based education and training and competency-based career framework for the Australian health workforce and culminated with the production of three reports published by HWA. The project raised important queries as to whether such a concept is desirable, feasible or implementable - in short what is the potential value add and is it achievable? In setting the scene for discussion, the foundation of the project's genesis and focus of the study are highlighted. A summary of key definitions related to competency-based education and training frameworks and competency-based career frameworks are provided to further readers' commonality of understanding. The nature of the problem to be solved is explored and the potential value-add for the Australian health workforce and its key constituents proposed. The paper concludes by discussing relevance and feasibility issues within Australia's current and changing healthcare context along with the essential steps and implementation realities that would need to be considered and actioned if whole-of-workforce frameworks were to be developed and implemented.

A single competency-based education and training and competency-based career framework for the Australian health workforce: discussing the potential value add

PubMed Central

Brownie, Sharon Mary; Thomas, Janelle

2014-01-01

This brief discusses the policy implications of a research study commissioned by Health Workforce Australia (HWA) within its health workforce innovation and reform work program. The project explored conceptually complex and operationally problematic concepts related to developing a whole-of-workforce competency-based education and training and competency-based career framework for the Australian health workforce and culminated with the production of three reports published by HWA. The project raised important queries as to whether such a concept is desirable, feasible or implementable – in short what is the potential value add and is it achievable? In setting the scene for discussion, the foundation of the project’s genesis and focus of the study are highlighted. A summary of key definitions related to competency-based education and training frameworks and competency-based career frameworks are provided to further readers’ commonality of understanding. The nature of the problem to be solved is explored and the potential value-add for the Australian health workforce and its key constituents proposed. The paper concludes by discussing relevance and feasibility issues within Australia’s current and changing healthcare context along with the essential steps and implementation realities that would need to be considered and actioned if whole-of-workforce frameworks were to be developed and implemented. PMID:25279384

Strategies for Successfully Teaching Students with ADD or ADHD in Instrumental Lessons

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Melago, Kathleen A.

2014-01-01

Teachers can easily encounter students with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the instrumental lesson setting. Applicable to instrumental lesson settings in the public or private schools, private studios, or college studios, this article focuses on specific strategies ranging from the…

Medicalization, ambivalence and social control: mothers' descriptions of educators and ADD/ADHD.

PubMed

Malacrida, Claudia

2004-01-01

Conrad notes that non-medical personnel often accomplish the routine, everyday work of medicalization. This is particularly so in the case of Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder, where teachers, special educators and school psychologists identify, assess and administer medication to 'problematic' children. Drawing on data from interviews with Canadian and British mothers of ADD/ADHD children, this article explores mothers' perceptions of educators' roles in medicalizing children who are different, comparing medicalization in two divergent sites. In Canada, where ADD/ADHD is a highly medicalized phenomenon, and teachers have few alternative forms of social control available to them in classrooms, it appears that educators are prepared to identify problem children and press for medical treatment with remarkable vigor. In Britain, where medicalization remains incomplete, and where teachers and special educators have more stringent alternative forms of social control available to them, educators were often described as gatekeepers who will refuse the label or to administer medication.

Add-on lacosamide: a retrospective study on the relationship between serum concentration, dosage, and adverse events.

PubMed

Hillenbrand, Barbara; Wisniewski, Ilona; Jürges, Uta; Steinhoff, Bernhard J

2011-11-01

We performed a retrospective study in patients with poorly controlled epilepsy treated with add-on lacosamide (LCM) to investigate the relationship of LCM-related adverse events with LCM serum concentration and weight-dependent dosage. We collected serum concentrations, weight-related dosages, and occurrences of the seven most frequent adverse events according to the randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. Seventy of 131 patients could be sufficiently evaluated. LCM serum concentrations and weight-related dosages in patients with and without typical adverse events did not differ significantly. Closer analysis of the data suggested that dizziness as the leading adverse event occurred significantly more often if LCM was combined with classic sodium channel blockers. There was a significant correlation between LCM serum concentrations and co-medication, so there is still evidence for dependent variables that might have a relevant impact in individual cases. However, our data do not allow definition of a safety range for LCM. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Early add-on lacosamide in a real-life setting: results of the REALLY study.

PubMed

Villanueva, Vicente; Garcés, Mercedes; López-Gomáriz, Elena; Serratosa, José María; González-Giráldez, Beatriz; Parra, Jaime; Rodríguez-Uranga, Juan; Toledo, Manuel; López González, Francisco Javier; Bermejo, Pedro; Giner, Pau; Castillo, Ascensión; Molins, Albert; Campos, Dulce; Mauri, José Ángel; Muñoz, Rosario; Bonet, Macarena; Serrano-Castro, Pedro; del Villar, Ana; Saiz-Díaz, Rosa Ana

2015-02-01

Many patients with epilepsy are treated with antiepileptic drug (AED) polytherapy. Several factors influence the choice of early add-on therapy, and deciding on the most appropriate drug can be difficult. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and tolerability of lacosamide as early add-on therapy in patients with partial-onset seizures. REALLY (REtrospective study of lAcosamide as earLy add-on aLong one Year) was a multicenter, retrospective, 1-year, real-life study. Patients included were aged older than 16 years, had partial-onset seizures, and were treated with lacosamide as add-on therapy after one or two prior AEDs. Data were collected retrospectively from clinical records. The primary study objective was to assess the efficacy of lacosamide over 12 months (seizure-free and responder rates), and the secondary objective was to assess the tolerability of lacosamide at 3, 6, and 12 months [adverse events (AEs) and discontinuation]. One hundred and ninety-nine patients were enrolled in the study; 89 patients (44.7 %) had tried one AED and 110 patients (55.3 %) had tried two AEDs before lacosamide. At 12 months, the proportion of patients who were seizure free was 44.9 %, and 76 % of patients were responders. The seizure-free rate at 12 months for patients who had previously received one or two AEDs was 58 and 34.3 %, and the responder rate at 12 months was 83.0 and 70.4 %, respectively. The AE rate was 21.5 % at 3 months, 27.1 % at 6 months, and 31.2 % at 12 months, with 7.0 % of patients discontinuing treatment because of an AE. The most common AE reported was dizziness (11.6 %). Cryptogenic epilepsy, a higher number of prior AEDs, and the use of a sodium channel blocker at onset were associated with a worse outcome. The number of concomitant AEDs decreased over 1 year (Z = 5.89; p < 0.001). Twenty-two patients were converted to lacosamide monotherapy with at least one evaluation ≥6 months from the beginning of monotherapy conversion

Real-world data on eslicarbazepine acetate as add-on to antiepileptic monotherapy.

PubMed

Holtkamp, M; McMurray, R; Bagul, M; Sousa, R; Kockelmann, E

2016-07-01

To assess retention, tolerability, and safety, efficacy and effects on quality of life (QoL) of eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) add-on treatment over 6 months in a real-world adult population with partial-onset seizures. This non-interventional, multicenter, prospective study was performed in eight European countries. Adult patients (n = 247) for whom the physician had decided to initiate ESL as add-on to an existing antiepileptic drug (AED) monotherapy were invited to participate. The study comprised three visits: baseline, and after 3 and 6 months. Data on ESL retention, efficacy, tolerability, safety, and QoL were collected. After 6 months, the retention rate of ESL was 82.2%, and 81.8% of patients reported a reduction of seizure frequency of at least 50%; 39.2% of patients reported seizure freedom at this time. The mean QOLIE-10 score improved from 2.9 (SD ± 0.8) at baseline to 2.1 (SD ± 0.8) after 6 months. 109 adverse events (AEs) were reported in 57 patients (26.0%); the majority were rated as related to ESL by the investigator and led to a discontinuation of ESL in 25 patients (11.4%). Eight patients (3.7%) suffered at least one serious AE. The most frequently reported AEs were dizziness, headache, convulsion, and fatigue. This study shows that ESL was well tolerated and efficacious as add-on therapy to one baseline AED. The use of ESL in patients less refractory than those included in previous clinical trials led to higher responder and seizure freedom rates. No new safety issues were observed. © 2016 Esai Europe Ltd. Acta Neurologica Scandinavica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

40 CFR 63.3167 - How do I establish the add-on control device operating limits during the performance test?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... device operating limits during the performance test? 63.3167 Section 63.3167 Protection of Environment... Limitations § 63.3167 How do I establish the add-on control device operating limits during the performance.... (a) Thermal oxidizers. If your add-on control device is a thermal oxidizer, establish the operating...

Robotic partial nephrectomy for complex renal tumors: surgical technique.

PubMed

Rogers, Craig G; Singh, Amar; Blatt, Adam M; Linehan, W Marston; Pinto, Peter A

2008-03-01

Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy requires advanced training to accomplish tumor resection and renal reconstruction while minimizing warm ischemia times. Complex renal tumors add an additional challenge to a minimally invasive approach to nephron-sparing surgery. We describe our technique, illustrated with video, of robotic partial nephrectomy for complex renal tumors, including hilar, endophytic, and multiple tumors. Robotic assistance was used to resect 14 tumors in eight patients (mean age: 50.3 yr; range: 30-68 yr). Three patients had hereditary kidney cancer. All patients had complex tumor features, including hilar tumors (n=5), endophytic tumors (n=4), and/or multiple tumors (n=3). Robotic partial nephrectomy procedures were performed successfully without complications. Hilar clamping was used with a mean warm ischemia time of 31 min (range: 24-45 min). Mean blood loss was 230 ml (range: 100-450 ml). Histopathology confirmed clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (n=3), hybrid oncocytic tumor (n=2), chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (n=2), and oncocytoma (n=1). All patients had negative surgical margins. Mean index tumor size was 3.6 cm (range: 2.6-6.4 cm). Mean hospital stay was 2.6 d. At 3-mo follow-up, no patients experienced a statistically significant change in serum creatinine or estimated glomerular filtration rate and there was no evidence of tumor recurrence. Robotic partial nephrectomy is safe and feasible for select patients with complex renal tumors, including hilar, endophytic, and multiple tumors. Robotic assistance may facilitate a minimally invasive, nephron-sparing approach for select patients with complex renal tumors who might otherwise require open surgery or total nephrectomy.

The MMPI-168(L) and ADD in Assessing Psychopathology in Individuals with Mental Retardation: Between and within Instrument Associations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McDaniel, William F.; Passmore, Corie E.; Sewell, Hollie M.

2003-01-01

A study involving 58 adults with mental retardation and mental disorders found few correlations between the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the Assessment of Dual Diagnosis (ADD). The major exception was the Mania scale of the MMPI, which correlated moderately well with the ADD Schizophrenia and Dementia scales. (Contains…

36 CFR 1011.5 - What interest, penalty charges and administrative costs will the Presidio Trust add to a debt?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... charges and administrative costs will the Presidio Trust add to a debt? 1011.5 Section 1011.5 Parks, Forests, and Public Property PRESIDIO TRUST DEBT COLLECTION Procedures To Collect Presidio Trust Debts § 1011.5 What interest, penalty charges and administrative costs will the Presidio Trust add to a debt...

Aerodynamic drag reduction tests on a full-scale tractor-trailer combination with several add-on devices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Montoya, L. C.; Steers, L. L.

1974-01-01

Aerodynamic drag tests were performed on a conventional cab-over-engine tractor with a 45-foot trailer and five commercially available or potentially available add-on devices using the coast-down method. The tests ranged in velocity from approximately 30 miles per hour to 65 miles per hour and included some flow visualization. A smooth, level runway at Edwards Air Force Base was used for the tests, and deceleration measurements were taken with both accelerometers and stopwatches. An evaluation of the drag reduction results obtained with each of the five add-on devices is presented.

Using patient lists to add value to integrated data repositories.

PubMed

Wade, Ted D; Zelarney, Pearlanne T; Hum, Richard C; McGee, Sylvia; Batson, Deborah H

2014-12-01

Patient lists are project-specific sets of patients that can be queried in integrated data repositories (IDR's). By allowing a set of patients to be an addition to the qualifying conditions of a query, returned results will refer to, and only to, that set of patients. We report a variety of use cases for such lists, including: restricting retrospective chart review to a defined set of patients; following a set of patients for practice management purposes; distributing "honest-brokered" (deidentified) data; adding phenotypes to biosamples; and enhancing the content of study or registry data. Among the capabilities needed to implement patient lists in an IDR are: capture of patient identifiers from a query and feedback of these into the IDR; the existence of a permanent internal identifier in the IDR that is mappable to external identifiers; the ability to add queryable attributes to the IDR; the ability to merge data from multiple queries; and suitable control over user access and de-identification of results. We implemented patient lists in a custom IDR of our own design. We reviewed capabilities of other published IDRs for focusing on sets of patients. The widely used i2b2 IDR platform has various ways to address patient sets, and it could be modified to add the low-overhead version of patient lists that we describe. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Does waist circumference uncorrelated with BMI add valuable information?

PubMed

Ngueta, Gerard; Laouan-Sidi, Elhadji A; Lucas, Michel

2014-09-01

Estimation of relative contribution of Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) on health outcomes requires a regression model that includes both obesity metrics. But, multicollinearity could yield biased estimates. To address the multicollinearity issue between BMI and WC, we used the residual model approach. The standard WC (Y-axis) was regressed on the BMI (X-axis) to obtain residual WC. Data from two adult population surveys (Nunavik Inuit and James Bay Cree) were analysed to evaluate relative effect of BMI and WC on four cardiometabolic risk factors: insulin, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure and high-density lipoprotein levels. In multivariate models, standard WC and BMI were significantly associated with cardiometabolic outcomes. Residual WC was not linked with any outcomes. The BMI effect was weakened by including standard WC in the model, but its effect remained unchanged if residual WC was considered. The strong correlation between standard WC and BMI does not allow assessment of their relative contributions to health in the same model without a risk of making erroneous estimations. By contrast with BMI, fat distribution (residual WC) does not add valuable information to a model that already contains overall adiposity (BMI) in Inuit and Cree. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Lopez-Alegria adds patch to collection in Node 1 / Unity module

NASA Image and Video Library

2007-04-17

ISS014-E-19545 (17 April 2007) --- Astronauts Michael E. Lopez-Alegria (right), Expedition 14 commander and NASA space station science officer; Sunita L. Williams, flight engineer; and cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin (left), flight engineer representing Russia's Federal Space Agency, add the Expedition 14 patch to the Unity node's growing collection of insignias representing crews who have lived and worked on the International Space Station.

77 FR 6476 - Modification of Significant New Uses of Tris Carbamoyl Triazine

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-08

.... Revises the hazard communication requirements under Sec. 721.72 to add the human health hazard and... hood or helmet, or tight- fitting face piece (either half-face or full-face). (ii) Hazard communication...). ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: EPA is finalizing an amendment to the significant new use rule (SNUR) under...

Add-on clinical effects of selective antagonist of 5HT6 receptors AVN-211 (CD-008-0173) in patients with schizophrenia stabilized on antipsychotic treatment: pilot study.

PubMed

Morozova, Margarita A; Lepilkina, Taisiya A; Rupchev, Georgy E; Beniashvily, Allan G; Burminskiy, Denis S; Potanin, Sergey S; Bondarenko, Evgeny V; Kazey, Vasily I; Lavrovsky, Yan; Ivachtchenko, Alexandre V

2014-08-01

The serotoninergic system as a target for add-on treatment seems to be a promising approach in patients with schizophrenia. To clarify if selective 5HT-6 antagonist AVN-211 (CD-008-0173) adds clinical and cognitive effects to stable antipsychotic treatment. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, add-on, 4r-week trial in 47 schizophrenia patients (21 patients receiving study drug and 26 receiving placebo) who were stabilized on antipsychotic medication was performed. Seventeen patients from the study drug group and 25 patients from the placebo group completed the trial. Treatment effects were measured using clinical rating scales and attention tests. With no differences at baseline, there was a significant difference between the groups in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) positive subscale score (p = 0.058) in favor of patients in the treatment group at the endpoint. The PANSS positive subscore (p = 0.0068) and Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) (p = 0.048) score significantly changed only in the treatment group. Only in the placebo group were significant changes in Calgary Depression Rating Scale (CDRS) total score registered. The indices of attention tests at endpoint did not show differences between the groups, with the exception of the scope of change in the results of the subtest VIII of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), which showed difference between the groups (p = 0.02) and was significantly larger in the treatment group. Only inside the study drug group, significant changes in selectivity and continuous attention were observed regarding total correct responses (p = 0.0038) and reaction time (p = 0.058) in the Continuous Attention Task (CAT) test. Selective 5HT6 antagonist AVN-211 (CD-008-0173) added antipsychotic and some procognitive (attention) effects to antipsychotic medication.

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart Jjjj of... - Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System If you are required to comply with operating... 40 Protection of Environment 12 2011-07-01 2009-07-01 true Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System 1 Table 1 to Subpart JJJJ of Part 63 Protection of Environment...

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart Ssss of... - Operating Limits if Using Add-on Control Devices and Capture System

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Using Add-on Control Devices and Capture System If you are required to comply with operating limits by... 40 Protection of Environment 12 2011-07-01 2009-07-01 true Operating Limits if Using Add-on Control Devices and Capture System 1 Table 1 to Subpart SSSS of Part 63 Protection of Environment...

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart Ssss of... - Operating Limits if Using Add-on Control Devices and Capture System

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Using Add-on Control Devices and Capture System If you are required to comply with operating limits by... 40 Protection of Environment 12 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 true Operating Limits if Using Add-on Control Devices and Capture System 1 Table 1 to Subpart SSSS of Part 63 Protection of Environment...

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart Jjjj of... - Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System If you are required to comply with operating... 40 Protection of Environment 12 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 true Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System 1 Table 1 to Subpart JJJJ of Part 63 Protection of Environment...

Add+VantageMR® Assessments: A Case Study of Teacher and Student Gains

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Briand, Cathy

2013-01-01

This case study analyzes the effect of the Add+VantageMRRTM (AVMR) program on a teacher's pedagogy and on her students' progress in mathematics. AVMR, a professional development program in early mathematics, trains teachers to assess their students' progress and apply those insights to their teaching pedagogy. The AVMR assessment uses a…

Efficacy and safety of lacosamide as first add-on or later adjunctive treatment for uncontrolled partial-onset seizures: A multicentre open-label trial.

PubMed

Zadeh, Wendy Waldman; Escartin, Antonio; Byrnes, William; Tennigkeit, Frank; Borghs, Simon; Li, Ting; Dedeken, Peter; De Backer, Marc

2015-09-01

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of lacosamide administered as either first add-on or later add-on antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy for patients with uncontrolled partial-onset seizures (POS). In this open-label, multicentre trial, patients with POS initiated oral lacosamide (titrated to 400 mg/day) either as add-on to first AED monotherapy, or as later add-on to 1-3 concomitant AEDs after ≥ 2 previous AEDs. The primary efficacy variable was the proportion of patients achieving seizure freedom for the first 12 weeks of the 24-week Maintenance Phase. 456 patients received ≥ 1 dose of lacosamide (96 as first add-on, 360 as later add-on). In the first add-on cohort, 27/72 (37.5%) patients completed 12 weeks treatment and remained seizure-free; 18/68 (26.5%) remained seizure-free after 24 weeks. 64/91 (70.3%) patients achieved ≥ 50% reduction in seizure frequency during maintenance treatment. This was accompanied by a mean 7.1 ± 16.00 point improvement from Baseline in the Quality of Life Inventory in Epilepsy (QOLIE-31-P) total score for 24-week completers, with improvement reported in all subscales. Most common treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were dizziness (31.3%) and headache (13.5%). In the later add-on cohort, 39/261 (14.9%) and 29/249 (11.6%) patients remained seizure-free after completing 12 and 24 weeks' treatment, respectively. 178/353 (50.4%) patients achieved ≥ 50% reduction in seizure frequency during maintenance treatment. Mean change in QOLIE-31-P total score was 4.8 ± 14.74 points among 24-week completers. Common TEAEs were dizziness (33.6%), somnolence (15.0%) and headache (11.4%). Lacosamide initiated as first add-on treatment was efficacious and well tolerated in patients with uncontrolled POS. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Changes in biomarkers of bone turnover in an aripiprazole add-on or switching study.

PubMed

Lodhi, Rohit J; Masand, Salaj; Malik, Amna; Shivakumar, Kuppuswami; McAllister, Victoria D M; O'Keane, Veronica; Young, Leah C; Heald, Adrian H; Sherwood, Roy A; Aitchison, Katherine J

2016-02-01

The association between mental illness and osteoporosis and fractures is particularly pronounced in psychotic disorders. Antipsychotic use has previously been described to affect bone density. A 52-week follow-up of patients switched to aripiprazole or with aripiprazole added on, conducting a specific analysis of markers of bone turnover: urinary NTX (a biomarker of bone resorption) and serum BSAP (a biomarker of bone formation). Baseline and serial measurements of bone markers NTX, BSAP and of hormones prolactin, oestrogen and testosterone were done at weeks 0 and 1, 2, 6, 12, 26 and 52, respectively. NTX concentration reduced over time but this did not reach significance in the whole group (log-NTX: β=-0.0012, p=0.142). For BSAP the addition of or replacement with aripiprazole produced a significant reduction (log-BSAP: β=-0.00039, p=0.002). Analysis with prolactin similarly showed a significant reduction (log-prolactin: β=-0.0024, p<0.001); other hormones did not change significantly. Sensitivity analysis to compare the switchers to aripiprazole versus the "add-on" showed that the former group had a significant reduction in NTX. We found that switching to aripiprazole was associated with changes in molecular biomarkers of bone resorption, indicating a more favourable profile for bone health. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sliding tethered ligands add topological interactions to the toolbox of ligand–receptor design

PubMed Central

Bauer, Martin; Kékicheff, Patrick; Iss, Jean; Fajolles, Christophe; Charitat, Thierry; Daillant, Jean; Marques, Carlos M.

2015-01-01

Adhesion in the biological realm is mediated by specific lock-and-key interactions between ligand–receptor pairs. These complementary moieties are ubiquitously anchored to substrates by tethers that control the interaction range and the mobility of the ligands and receptors, thus tuning the kinetics and strength of the binding events. Here we add sliding anchoring to the toolbox of ligand–receptor design by developing a family of tethered ligands for which the spacer can slide at the anchoring point. Our results show that this additional sliding degree of freedom changes the nature of the adhesive contact by extending the spatial range over which binding may sustain a significant force. By introducing sliding tethered ligands with self-regulating length, this work paves the way for the development of versatile and reusable bio-adhesive substrates with potential applications for drug delivery and tissue engineering. PMID:26350224

40 CFR Table 2 to Subpart Oooo of... - Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... to Subpart OOOO of Part 63—Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System If you... 40 Protection of Environment 13 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System 2 Table 2 to Subpart OOOO of Part 63 Protection of Environment...

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart Jjjj of... - Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

...—Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System If you are required to comply with... 40 Protection of Environment 13 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System 1 Table 1 to Subpart JJJJ of Part 63 Protection of Environment...

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart Ssss of... - Operating Limits if Using Add-on Control Devices and Capture System

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

...—Operating Limits if Using Add-on Control Devices and Capture System If you are required to comply with... 40 Protection of Environment 13 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Operating Limits if Using Add-on Control Devices and Capture System 1 Table 1 to Subpart SSSS of Part 63 Protection of Environment...

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart Jjjj of... - Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...—Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System If you are required to comply with... 40 Protection of Environment 13 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System 1 Table 1 to Subpart JJJJ of Part 63 Protection of Environment...

40 CFR Table 2 to Subpart Oooo of... - Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... to Subpart OOOO of Part 63—Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System If you... 40 Protection of Environment 13 2013-07-01 2012-07-01 true Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System 2 Table 2 to Subpart OOOO of Part 63 Protection of Environment...

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart Ssss of... - Operating Limits if Using Add-on Control Devices and Capture System

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...—Operating Limits if Using Add-on Control Devices and Capture System If you are required to comply with... 40 Protection of Environment 13 2013-07-01 2012-07-01 true Operating Limits if Using Add-on Control Devices and Capture System 1 Table 1 to Subpart SSSS of Part 63 Protection of Environment...

40 CFR Table 2 to Subpart Oooo of... - Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... to Subpart OOOO of Part 63—Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System If you... 40 Protection of Environment 13 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System 2 Table 2 to Subpart OOOO of Part 63 Protection of Environment...

40 CFR Table 2 to Subpart Oooo of... - Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... OOOO of Part 63—Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System If you are required... 40 Protection of Environment 12 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 true Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System 2 Table 2 to Subpart OOOO of Part 63 Protection of Environment...

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart Ssss of... - Operating Limits if Using Add-on Control Devices and Capture System

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...—Operating Limits if Using Add-on Control Devices and Capture System If you are required to comply with... 40 Protection of Environment 13 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Operating Limits if Using Add-on Control Devices and Capture System 1 Table 1 to Subpart SSSS of Part 63 Protection of Environment...

40 CFR Table 2 to Subpart Oooo of... - Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... OOOO of Part 63—Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System If you are required... 40 Protection of Environment 12 2011-07-01 2009-07-01 true Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System 2 Table 2 to Subpart OOOO of Part 63 Protection of Environment...

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart Jjjj of... - Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...—Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System If you are required to comply with... 40 Protection of Environment 13 2013-07-01 2012-07-01 true Operating Limits if Using Add-On Control Devices and Capture System 1 Table 1 to Subpart JJJJ of Part 63 Protection of Environment...

Efficacy and Safety of Vildagliptin as an Add-On Therapy in Inadequately Controlled Type 2 Diabetes Patients Treated With Basal Insulin.

PubMed

Saito, Daisuke; Kanazawa, Akio; Shigihara, Nayumi; Sato, Fumihiko; Uchida, Toyoyoshi; Sato, Junko; Goto, Hiromasa; Miyatsuka, Takeshi; Ikeda, Fuki; Ogihara, Takeshi; Ohmura, Chie; Watada, Hirotaka

2017-03-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of vildagliptin as an add-on therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus inadequately controlled with basal insulin. Twenty-four patients treated with basal insulin and oral anti-diabetes drugs were randomly allocated into two groups: the control group (did not receive any add-on drugs) and vildagliptin group (received vildagliptin 100 mg/day for 6 months). The primary outcome was changes in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) from baseline to end of study. Treatment with vildagliptin significantly reduced HbA1c from 8.1±0.7% at baseline to 7.1±0.7% (P < 0.01), while there was no significant change of HbA1c in the control group. Vildagliptin group showed significant reduction of HbA1c compared with control group (-1.0±0.3% vs. 0.2±0.8%, P < 0.01). In addition, vildagliptin group showed a significant increase in 1,5-anhydroglucitol compared with the control group (4.5 ± 3.4 vs. 0.5 ± 4.1 μg/mL, P < 0.05). Mild hypoglycemia was reported in one patient of the vildagliptin group and two patients of the control group. Vildagliptin improved glycemic control without increasing hypoglycemia in Japanese type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with basal insulin treatment and other oral anti-diabetes drugs. This study was registered with UMIN (University Hospital Medical Information Network ID#000010849).

Evolution and the complexity of bacteriophages.

PubMed

Serwer, Philip

2007-03-13

The genomes of both long-genome (> 200 Kb) bacteriophages and long-genome eukaryotic viruses have cellular gene homologs whose selective advantage is not explained. These homologs add genomic and possibly biochemical complexity. Understanding their significance requires a definition of complexity that is more biochemically oriented than past empirically based definitions. Initially, I propose two biochemistry-oriented definitions of complexity: either decreased randomness or increased encoded information that does not serve immediate needs. Then, I make the assumption that these two definitions are equivalent. This assumption and recent data lead to the following four-part hypothesis that explains the presence of cellular gene homologs in long bacteriophage genomes and also provides a pathway for complexity increases in prokaryotic cells: (1) Prokaryotes underwent evolutionary increases in biochemical complexity after the eukaryote/prokaryote splits. (2) Some of the complexity increases occurred via multi-step, weak selection that was both protected from strong selection and accelerated by embedding evolving cellular genes in the genomes of bacteriophages and, presumably, also archaeal viruses (first tier selection). (3) The mechanisms for retaining cellular genes in viral genomes evolved under additional, longer-term selection that was stronger (second tier selection). (4) The second tier selection was based on increased access by prokaryotic cells to improved biochemical systems. This access was achieved when DNA transfer moved to prokaryotic cells both the more evolved genes and their more competitive and complex biochemical systems. I propose testing this hypothesis by controlled evolution in microbial communities to (1) determine the effects of deleting individual cellular gene homologs on the growth and evolution of long genome bacteriophages and hosts, (2) find the environmental conditions that select for the presence of cellular gene homologs, (3) determine

Innovation versus complexity: what is too much of a good thing?

PubMed

Gottfredson, Mark; Aspinall, Keith

2005-11-01

What's the number of product or service offerings that would optimize both your revenues and your profits? For most firms, it's considerably lower than the number they offer today. The fact is, companies have strong incentives to be overly innovative in new product development. But continual launches of new products and line extensions add complexity throughout a company's operations, and as the costs of managing that complexity multiply, margins shrink. To maximize profit potential, a company needs to identify its innovation fulcrum, the point at which an additional offering destroys more value than it creates. The usual antidotes to complexity miss their mark because they treat the problem on the factory floor rather than at its source: in the product line. Mark Gottfredson and Keith Aspinall of Bain & Company present an approach that goes beyond the typical Six Sigma or lean-operations program to root out complexity hidden in the value chain. The first step is to ask, What would our company look like if it made and sold only a single product or service? In other words, you identify your company's equivalent of Henry Ford's one-size-fits-all Model T-for Starbucks, it might be a medium-size cup of coffee; for a bank, a simple checking account-and then determine the cost of producing that baseline offering. Next, you add variety back into the business system, product by product, and carefully forecast the resulting impact on sales as well as the cost implications across the value chain. When the analysis shows the costs beginning to overwhelm the added revenues, you've found your innovation fulcrum. By deconstructing their companies to a zero-complexity baseline, managers can break through organizational resistance and deeply entrenched ways of thinking to find the right balance between innovation and complexity.

Efficacy and Safety of Dapagliflozin or Dapagliflozin Plus Saxagliptin Versus Glimepiride as Add-on to Metformin in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes.

PubMed

Müller-Wieland, Dirk; Kellerer, Monika; Cypryk, Katarzyna; Skripova, Dasa; Rohwedder, Katja; Johnsson, Eva; Garcia-Sanchez, Ricardo; Kurlyandskaya, Raisa; David Sjöström, C; Jacob, Stephan; Seufert, Jochen; Dronamraju, Nalina; Csomós, Katalin

2018-06-27

To compare efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin ± saxagliptin with glimepiride as add-on to metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes. This 52-week, multicenter, double-blind, active-controlled study (NCT02471404) randomized (1:1:1) patients (n=939; HbA 1C 7.5-10.5%) on metformin monotherapy (≥1500 mg/day) to add-on dapagliflozin 10 mg, dapagliflozin 10 mg plus saxagliptin 5 mg, or glimepiride 1-6 mg (titrated). The primary efficacy end point was change in HbA 1C from baseline to week 52. Baseline mean age, diabetes duration and HbA 1C were 58.4 years, 7.0 years and 8.3%, respectively. Adjusted mean HbA 1C change from baseline was -1.20% with dapagliflozin plus saxagliptin and -0.82% with dapagliflozin, vs. -0.99% with glimepiride (mean dose at week 52: 4.6 mg). Changes in body weight (-3.2 kg and -3.5 k vs +1.8 kg) and systolic blood pressure (SBP; -6.4 mmHg and -5.6 mmHg vs -1.6 mmHg) were significantly greater with dapagliflozin plus saxagliptin and dapagliflozin vs glimepiride; FPG decreased significantly with dapagliflozin plus saxagliptin vs glimepiride (-2.1 mmol/L vs -1.5 mmol/L) and was similar for dapagliflozin (-1.6 mmol/L) vs glimepiride. Confirmed hypoglycemia incidence was lower with dapagliflozin regimens than with glimepiride (0 and 1 vs 13 patients) and fewer patients required rescue. Genital infections were more frequent with dapagliflozin; other AE profiles were similar. Dapagliflozin, saxagliptin and metformin improved glycemic control compared with glimepiride plus metformin; add-on of dapagliflozin alone showed similar efficacy to glimepiride. Both dapagliflozin regimens decreased body weight and SBP, with lower hypoglycemia incidence compared with glimepiride. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

40 CFR 63.3556 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.3556 Section 63... system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? During the performance... of key parameters of the valve operating system (e.g., solenoid valve operation, air pressure...

40 CFR 63.3556 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.3556 Section 63... system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? During the performance... of key parameters of the valve operating system (e.g., solenoid valve operation, air pressure...

40 CFR 63.4966 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.4966 Section 63... system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? During the performance... outlet gas temperature is the maximum operating limit for your condenser. (e) Emission capture system...

40 CFR 63.4966 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.4966 Section 63... system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? During the performance... outlet gas temperature is the maximum operating limit for your condenser. (e) Emission capture system...

Vinogradov adds a patch to the Node 1/Unity collection during Expedition 13

NASA Image and Video Library

2006-09-04

ISS013-E-75813 (4 Sept. 2006) --- Cosmonaut Pavel V. Vinogradov, Expedition 13 commander representing Russia's Federal Space Agency, adds the Expedition 13 patch to the Unity node's growing collection of insignias representing crews who have lived and worked on the International Space Station.

Significance and costs of complex biopsychosocial health care needs in elderly people: results of a population-based study.

PubMed

Wild, Beate; Heider, Dirk; Maatouk, Imad; Slaets, Joris; König, Hans-Helmut; Niehoff, Dorothea; Saum, Kai-Uwe; Brenner, Hermann; Söllner, Wolfgang; Herzog, Wolfgang

2014-09-01

To improve health care for the elderly, a consideration of biopsychosocial health care needs may be of particular importance-especially because of the prevalence of multiple conditions, mental disorders, and social challenges facing elderly people. The aim of the study was to investigate significance and costs of biopsychosocial health care needs in elderly people. Data were derived from the 8-year follow-up of the ESTHER study-a German epidemiological study in the elderly population. A total of 3124 participants aged 57 to 84 years were visited at home by trained medical doctors. Biopsychosocial health care needs were assessed using the INTERMED for the Elderly (IM-E) interview. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was measured by the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey, and psychosomatic burden was measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire. The IM-E correlated with decreased mental (mental component score: r = -0.38, p < .0001) and physical HRQOL (physical component score: r = -0.45, p < .0001), increased depression severity (r = 0.53, p < .0001), and costs (R = 0.41, p < .0001). The proportion of the participants who had an IM-E score of at least 21 was 8.2%; according to previous studies, they were classified as complex patients (having complex biopsychosocial health care needs). Complex patients showed a highly reduced HRQOL compared with participants without complex health care needs (mental component score: 37.0 [10.8] versus 48.7 [8.8]; physical component score: 33.0 [9.1] versus 41.6 [9.5]). Mean health care costs per 3 months of complex patients were strongly increased (1651.1 &OV0556; [3192.2] versus 764.5 &OV0556; [1868.4]). Complex biopsychosocial health care needs are strongly associated with adverse health outcomes in elderly people. It should be evaluated if interdisciplinary treatment plans would improve the health outcomes for complex patients.

Using complex networks towards information retrieval and diagnostics in multidimensional imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banerjee, Soumya Jyoti; Azharuddin, Mohammad; Sen, Debanjan; Savale, Smruti; Datta, Himadri; Dasgupta, Anjan Kr; Roy, Soumen

2015-12-01

We present a fresh and broad yet simple approach towards information retrieval in general and diagnostics in particular by applying the theory of complex networks on multidimensional, dynamic images. We demonstrate a successful use of our method with the time series generated from high content thermal imaging videos of patients suffering from the aqueous deficient dry eye (ADDE) disease. Remarkably, network analyses of thermal imaging time series of contact lens users and patients upon whom Laser-Assisted in situ Keratomileusis (Lasik) surgery has been conducted, exhibit pronounced similarity with results obtained from ADDE patients. We also propose a general framework for the transformation of multidimensional images to networks for futuristic biometry. Our approach is general and scalable to other fluctuation-based devices where network parameters derived from fluctuations, act as effective discriminators and diagnostic markers.

Using complex networks towards information retrieval and diagnostics in multidimensional imaging.

PubMed

Banerjee, Soumya Jyoti; Azharuddin, Mohammad; Sen, Debanjan; Savale, Smruti; Datta, Himadri; Dasgupta, Anjan Kr; Roy, Soumen

2015-12-02

We present a fresh and broad yet simple approach towards information retrieval in general and diagnostics in particular by applying the theory of complex networks on multidimensional, dynamic images. We demonstrate a successful use of our method with the time series generated from high content thermal imaging videos of patients suffering from the aqueous deficient dry eye (ADDE) disease. Remarkably, network analyses of thermal imaging time series of contact lens users and patients upon whom Laser-Assisted in situ Keratomileusis (Lasik) surgery has been conducted, exhibit pronounced similarity with results obtained from ADDE patients. We also propose a general framework for the transformation of multidimensional images to networks for futuristic biometry. Our approach is general and scalable to other fluctuation-based devices where network parameters derived from fluctuations, act as effective discriminators and diagnostic markers.

40 CFR 63.4767 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.4767 Section 63.4767... system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? During the performance... operating limits required by § 63.4692 according to this section, unless you have received approval for...

40 CFR 63.3967 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.3967 Section 63.3967... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? During the... the operating limits required by § 63.3892 according to this section, unless you have received...

40 CFR 63.3967 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.3967 Section 63.3967... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? During the... the operating limits required by § 63.3892 according to this section, unless you have received...

40 CFR 63.3967 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.3967 Section 63.3967... emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? During the... the operating limits required by § 63.3892 according to this section, unless you have received...

40 CFR 63.4167 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.4167 Section 63... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? During the... the operating limits required by § 63.4092 according to this section unless you have received approval...

40 CFR 63.4567 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.4567 Section 63... emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? During the... the operating limits required by § 63.4492 according to this section, unless you have received...

40 CFR 63.4167 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.4167 Section 63... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? During the... the operating limits required by § 63.4092 according to this section unless you have received approval...

40 CFR 63.4767 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.4767 Section 63... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? During the... the operating limits required by § 63.4692 according to this section, unless you have received...

40 CFR 63.4767 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.4767 Section 63... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? During the... the operating limits required by § 63.4692 according to this section, unless you have received...

40 CFR 63.4567 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.4567 Section 63... emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? During the... the operating limits required by § 63.4492 according to this section, unless you have received...

40 CFR 63.4567 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.4567 Section 63.4567... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? During the... the operating limits required by § 63.4492 according to this section, unless you have received...

Adjunctive antiepileptic drugs in adult epilepsy: how the first add-on could be the last.

PubMed

Cretin, Benjamin; Hirsch, Edouard

2010-05-01

In adult epilepsies, incomplete seizure control under monotherapy affects approximately 20-25% of patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsies (IGE) and approximately 20-40% of patients with epilepsies with focal seizures (FE). The choice of an adjunctive therapy is therefore a common event. Efficacy studies of add-on anti-epileptic drugs for adult epilepsies--approved since the early 1990s until 2008--were reviewed. An exception was made for valproate. Efficacy studies give important clues for add-on drug choice but--beyond this--we encourage physicians to consider other parameters, especially co-morbidity(ies) and special situation(s). According to clinical and pharmacological data, an original, practical approach is proposed, by which decisions are based on three main criteria, which aim to optimize patients' seizure control and quality of life. The need for drugs that act not only on 'ictogenesis' but also on 'epileptogenesis' is also discussed briefly. Given the increasing disposal of anti-epileptic drugs, the choice of an add-on therapy appears to be partly based on subjective criteria (physician opinions and preferences). In fact, the selection criteria can be clarified as: treatment decisions rely not only on seizure type, efficacy and tolerability profiles but also on patient-related factors.

[Toric add-on intraocular lenses for correction of high astigmatism after pseudophakic keratoplasty].

PubMed

Hassenstein, A; Niemeck, F; Giannakakis, K; Klemm, M

2017-06-01

Perforating keratoplasty shows good morphological results with a clear cornea; however, a limiting factor is often the resulting astigmatism, which cannot be corrected with either glasses or contact lenses (CL) in up to 20% of the patients. We retrospectively investigated 15 patients after pseudophakic perforating keratoplasty, who received implantation of toric add-on intraocular lenses (IOL) to correct astigmatism. The mean preoperative astigmatism of 6.5 diopter (dpt) could be reduced to a mean postoperative value of 1.0 dpt. The mean visual acuity could be improved from a preoperative value of sc <0.05 (cc 0.6) to a postoperative value of sc 0.4 (cc 0.63). There were no complications except for one case of a lens extension tear. Based on our good experiences we now provide toric add-on IOL to all patients with pseudophakic perforating keratoplasty when this cannot be corrected or only insufficiently corrected by conservative methods.

40 CFR 63.9324 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.9324 Section 63... Requirements § 63.9324 How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating... the operating limits required by § 63.9302 according to this section, unless you have received...

40 CFR 63.3556 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.3556 Section 63.3556... of key parameters of the valve operating system (e.g., solenoid valve operation, air pressure.../outlet Concentration Option § 63.3556 How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control...

40 CFR 63.9324 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.9324 Section 63... Requirements § 63.9324 How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating... the operating limits required by § 63.9302 according to this section, unless you have received...

40 CFR 63.9324 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.9324 Section 63... Requirements § 63.9324 How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating... the operating limits required by § 63.9302 according to this section, unless you have received...

40 CFR 63.9324 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.9324 Section 63... Requirements § 63.9324 How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating... the operating limits required by § 63.9302 according to this section, unless you have received...

40 CFR 63.3967 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.3967 Section 63... establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test... must establish the operating limits required by § 63.3892 according to this section, unless you have...

40 CFR 63.9324 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.9324 Section 63... Requirements § 63.9324 How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating... the operating limits required by § 63.9302 according to this section, unless you have received...

40 CFR 63.3556 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.3556 Section 63.3556... of key parameters of the valve operating system (e.g., solenoid valve operation, air pressure.../outlet Concentration Option § 63.3556 How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control...

40 CFR 63.3967 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.3967 Section 63... establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test... must establish the operating limits required by § 63.3892 according to this section, unless you have...

Effects of pitavastatin add-on therapy on chronic kidney disease with albuminuria and dyslipidemia.

PubMed

Ohsawa, Masato; Tamura, Kouichi; Wakui, Hiromichi; Kanaoka, Tomohiko; Azushima, Kengo; Uneda, Kazushi; Haku, Sona; Kobayashi, Ryu; Ohki, Kohji; Haruhara, Kotaro; Kinguchi, Sho; Toya, Yoshiyuki; Umemura, Satoshi

2015-12-09

In non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with dyslipidemia, statin therapy is recommended to prevent cardiovascular complications. Dyslipidemia has been also shown to be an independent risk factor for the progression of CKD. However, it is still unclear whether statin therapy exerts an inhibitory effect on renal deterioration in CKD patients with dyslipidemia. The purpose of the present study was to examine possible therapeutic effects of statin add-on therapy on renal function as well as parameters of lipid and glucose metabolism, arterial stiffness and oxidative stress, in comparison to diet therapy, in CKD patients with dyslipidemia. This study was a randomized, open-label, and parallel-group trial consisted of a 12-months treatment period in non-dialysis CKD patients with alubuminuria and dyslipidemia. Twenty eight patients were randomly assigned either to receive diet counseling alone (diet therapy group) or diet counseling plus pitavastatin (diet-plus-statin therapy group), to achieve the LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) target of <100 mg/dl. The statin treatment by pitavastatin was well tolerated in all of the patients without any significant adverse events and the average dose of pitavastatin was 1.0 ± 0.0 mg daily after treatment. After the 12-months treatment period, LDL-C was significantly lower in the diet-plus-statin therapy group compared with the diet therapy group (diet vs diet-plus-statin: LDL-C, 126 ± 5 vs 83 ± 4 mg/dL, P < 0.001). On the other hand, the diet-plus-statin therapy did not significantly reduce albuminuria or delay the decline in eGFR compared with the diet therapy, and there was no relationship between the change in LDL-C and the change in eGFR or albuminuria. However, diet therapy as well as diet-plus-statin therapy exerted similar lowering effects on the pentosidine levels (diet therapy group, baseline vs 12 months: 40 ± 4 vs 24 ± 3 ng/mL, P = 0.001; diet-plus-statin therapy, 46 ± 7 vs 34�

Add-on deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) in patients with dysthymic disorder comorbid with alcohol use disorder: a comparison with standard treatment.

PubMed

Girardi, Paolo; Rapinesi, Chiara; Chiarotti, Flavia; Kotzalidis, Georgios D; Piacentino, Daria; Serata, Daniele; Del Casale, Antonio; Scatena, Paola; Mascioli, Flavia; Raccah, Ruggero N; Brugnoli, Roberto; Digiacomantonio, Vittorio; Ferri, Vittoria Rachele; Ferracuti, Stefano; Zangen, Abraham; Angeletti, Gloria

2015-01-01

Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is dysfunctional in mood and substance use disorders. We predicted higher efficacy for add-on bilateral prefrontal high-frequency deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS), compared with standard drug treatment (SDT) in patients with dysthymic disorder (DD)/alcohol use disorder (AUD) comorbidity. We carried-out a 6-month open-label study involving 20 abstinent patients with DSM-IV-TR AUD comorbid with previously developed DD. Ten patients received SDT for AUD with add-on bilateral dTMS (dTMS-AO) over the DLPFC, while another 10 received SDT alone. We rated alcohol craving with the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS), depression with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), clinical status with the Clinical Global Impressions scale (CGI), and global functioning with the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). At the end of the 20-session dTMS period (or an equivalent period in the SDT group), craving scores and depressive symptoms in the dTMS-AO group dropped significantly more than in the SDT group (P < 0.001 and P < 0.02, respectively). High frequency bilateral DLPFC dTMS with left preference was well tolerated and found to be effective as add-on in AUD. The potential of dTMS for reducing craving in substance use disorder patients deserves to be further investigated.

Psychometric Properties and Norms of the German ABC-Community and PAS-ADD Checklist

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zeilinger, Elisabeth L.; Weber, Germain; Haveman, Meindert J.

2011-01-01

Aim: The aim of the present study was to standardize and generate psychometric evidence of the German language versions of two well-established English language mental health instruments: the "Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community" (ABC-C) and the "Psychiatric Assessment Schedule for Adults with Developmental Disabilities" (PAS-ADD) Checklist. New…

40 CFR 63.3555 - How do I determine the outlet THC emissions and add-on control device emission destruction or...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 12 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 true How do I determine the outlet THC.../outlet Concentration Option § 63.3555 How do I determine the outlet THC emissions and add-on control... section to determine either the outlet THC emissions or add-on control device emission destruction or...

40 CFR 63.3555 - How do I determine the outlet THC emissions and add-on control device emission destruction or...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 12 2011-07-01 2009-07-01 true How do I determine the outlet THC.../outlet Concentration Option § 63.3555 How do I determine the outlet THC emissions and add-on control... section to determine either the outlet THC emissions or add-on control device emission destruction or...

Coupling analysis of high Q resonators in add-drop configuration through cavity ringdown spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frigenti, G.; Arjmand, M.; Barucci, A.; Baldini, F.; Berneschi, S.; Farnesi, D.; Gianfreda, M.; Pelli, S.; Soria, S.; Aray, A.; Dumeige, Y.; Féron, P.; Nunzi Conti, G.

2018-06-01

An original method able to fully characterize high-Q resonators in an add-drop configuration has been implemented. The method is based on the study of two cavity ringdown (CRD) signals, which are produced at the transmission and drop ports by wavelength sweeping a resonance in a time interval comparable with the photon cavity lifetime. All the resonator parameters can be assessed with a single set of simultaneous measurements. We first developed a model describing the two CRD output signals and a fitting program able to deduce the key parameters from the measured profiles. We successfully validated the model with an experiment based on a fiber ring resonator of known characteristics. Finally, we characterized a high-Q, home-made, MgF2 whispering gallery mode disk resonator in the add-drop configuration, assessing its intrinsic and coupling parameters.

Comparison of vildagliptin as an add-on therapy and sulfonylurea dose-increasing therapy in patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes using metformin and sulfonylurea (VISUAL study): A randomized trial.

PubMed

Hong, A Ram; Lee, Jeun; Ku, Eu Jeong; Hwangbo, Yul; Kim, Kyoung Min; Moon, Jae Hoon; Choi, Sung Hee; Jang, Hak Chul; Lim, Soo

2015-07-01

The aim of present study is to compare the efficacy and safety of adding vildagliptin with sulfonylurea dose-increasing as an active comparator in patients who had inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using metformin plus sulfonylurea in real clinical practice. Patients using metformin plus sulfonylurea were assigned to either vildagliptin add-on (50 mg twice a day, n=172) or sulfonylurea dose-increasing by 50% (n=172) treatment groups. The primary endpoint was a change in HbA(1c) after 24 weeks. The secondary endpoints were patients achieving HbA(1c)≤7.0% (53 mmol/mol) and changes in the fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-h postprandial glucose (2pp), lipid profiles, and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio. Body weight and hypoglycemia were also investigated. The mean HbA(1c) at baseline was 8.6% (70 mmol/mol) in both groups. At week 24, the adjusted mean HbA(1c) levels decreased by -1.19% (-13.09 mmol/mol) with vildagliptin add-on and -0.46% (-5.06 mmol/mol) with sulfonylurea (P<0.001). Significantly more vildagliptin add-on patients achieved HbA(1c)≤7.0% (53 mmol/mol) than did sulfonylurea patients (40.1% vs. 7.9%; P<0.001). Greater reductions in FPG and 2pp were observed with vildagliptin add-on than with sulfonylurea (P<0.001). The vildagliptin add-on group exhibited no clinically relevant weight gain and had a lower incidence of hypoglycemia compared with the sulfonylurea group. Vildagliptin add-on therapy might be a suitable option for patients with T2DM that is controlled inadequately by metformin and sulfonylurea, based on its greater glucose control and better safety profile (ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT01099137). Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

76 FR 20377 - Applications and Amendments to Facility Operating Licenses Involving Proposed No Significant...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-12

... amendment requests approval of the Exelon Cyber Security Plan, provides an Implementation Schedule, and adds... require Exelon to fully implement and maintain in effect all provisions of the approved Cyber Security..., Revision 6, ``Cyber Security Plan for Nuclear Power Reactors.'' Basis for proposed no significant hazards...

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors or sodium glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors as an add-on to insulin therapy: A comparative review

PubMed Central

Singh, Awadhesh Kumar; Singh, Ritu

2016-01-01

The gradual decline in β-cell function is inevitable in type 2 diabetes mellitus and therefore, substantial proportions of patients require insulin subsequently, in order to achieve optimal glucose control. While weight gain, hypoglycemia, and fluid retention especially during dose intensification is a known limitation to insulin therapy, these adverse effects also reduce patient satisfaction and treatment adherence. It is also possible that the benefits of intensive control achieved by insulin therapy, perhaps get nullified by the weight gain and hypoglycemia. In addition, improvement in plasma glucose or glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) itself is associated with weight gain. Notably, studies have already suggested that reduction in body weight by ~3–5%, may allow a significantly better glycemic control. Thus, a class of drugs, which can reduce HbA1c effectively, yet are weight neutral or preferably reduce body weight, could be the most sought out strategy as an add-on therapy to insulin. While sulfonylureas (SUs) are associated with weight gain and hypoglycemia, pioglitazone increases body weight and fluid retention. Moreover, SUs are not recommended once premix or prandial insulin is commenced. The addition of newer agents, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist to insulin certainly appears to be an effective tool in reducing both HbA1c and body weight as is evident across the studies; however, this approach incurs an additional injection as well as cost. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4I) and sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2I) are other exciting options, as an add-on to insulin therapy primarily because these are oral drugs and do not possess any intrinsic potential of hypoglycemia. Furthermore, these are either weight neutral or induce significant weight loss. This review article aims to comparatively analyze the safety and efficacy of DPP-4I and SGLT-2I, as an add-on therapy to insulin. PMID:26904466

Impaired postural balance correlates with complex walking performance in mildly disabled persons with multiple sclerosis.

PubMed

Brincks, John; Andersen, Elisabeth Due; Sørensen, Henrik; Dalgas, Ulrik

2017-01-01

It is relevant to understand the possible influence of impaired postural balance on walking performance in multiple sclerosis (MS) gait rehabilitation. We expected associations between impaired postural balance and complex walking performance in mildly disabled persons with MS, but not in healthy controls. Thirteen persons with MS (Expanded Disability Status Scale = 2.5) and 13 healthy controls' walking performance were measured at fast walking speed, Timed Up & Go and Timed 25 Feet Walking. Postural balance was measured by stabilometry, 95% confidence ellipse sway area and sway velocity. Except from sway velocity (p = 0.07), significant differences were found between persons with MS and healthy controls in postural balance and walking. Significant correlations were observed between sway area and Timed Up & Go (r = 0.67) and fastest safe walking speed (r = -0.63) in persons with MS but not in healthy controls (r = 0.52 and r = 0.24, respectively). No other significant correlations were observed between postural balance and walking performance in neither persons with MS nor healthy controls. Findings add to the understanding of postural balance and walking in persons with MS, as impaired postural balance was related to complex walking performance. Exercises addressing impaired postural balance are encouraged in early MS gait rehabilitation.

Complexed prostate specific antigen provides significant enhancement of specificity compared with total prostate specific antigen for detecting prostate cancer.

PubMed

Brawer, M K; Cheli, C D; Neaman, I E; Goldblatt, J; Smith, C; Schwartz, M K; Bruzek, D J; Morris, D L; Sokoll, L J; Chan, D W; Yeung, K K; Partin, A W; Allard, W J

2000-05-01

Determining serum total prostate specific antigen (PSA) has proved to be a valuable diagnostic aid for detecting prostatic carcinoma, although the lack of specificity has limited its usefulness. Studies indicate that the use of percent free PSA would improve specificity while maintaining sensitivity. Since complexed PSA represents the major proportion of measurable PSA in serum, we determined whether it represents a single test alternative to the use of percent free PSA for the early detection of prostate cancer. Archival serum was obtained from 385 men with no evidence of malignancy on biopsy and 272 with biopsy confirmed prostate cancer. We determined the concentration and proportion of total, complexed and free PSA. Receiver operating characteristics analysis using total PSA results from all samples (range 0.32 to 117 ng./ml.) indicated that the areas under the curve for complexed PSA alone as well as the free-to-total and complexed-to-total PSA ratios were similar and significantly greater than those for total PSA alone. Within the range of 85% to 95% sensitivity receiver operating characteristics analysis revealed that the specificity of complexed PSA was higher than that of total PSA and equivalent to that of the free-to-total PSA ratio. We noted a similar improvement in specificity in the 4 to 10 ng./ml. total PSA range. Using published cutoff values for complexed, total and percent free PSA when total PSA was in the 4 to 10 ng./ml. range the sensitivity and specificity of complexed and percent free PSA were similar. Within the 4 to 10 ng./ml. total PSA range the population of patients with no evidence of malignancy and complexed PSA below the upper limit was different with respect to total PSA from that with no evidence of malignancy and free PSA greater than 25%. The measurement of complexed PSA represents an alternative to the use of percent free PSA, although the patient populations identified by the 2 tests are different.

Using complex networks towards information retrieval and diagnostics in multidimensional imaging

PubMed Central

Banerjee, Soumya Jyoti; Azharuddin, Mohammad; Sen, Debanjan; Savale, Smruti; Datta, Himadri; Dasgupta, Anjan Kr; Roy, Soumen

2015-01-01

We present a fresh and broad yet simple approach towards information retrieval in general and diagnostics in particular by applying the theory of complex networks on multidimensional, dynamic images. We demonstrate a successful use of our method with the time series generated from high content thermal imaging videos of patients suffering from the aqueous deficient dry eye (ADDE) disease. Remarkably, network analyses of thermal imaging time series of contact lens users and patients upon whom Laser-Assisted in situ Keratomileusis (Lasik) surgery has been conducted, exhibit pronounced similarity with results obtained from ADDE patients. We also propose a general framework for the transformation of multidimensional images to networks for futuristic biometry. Our approach is general and scalable to other fluctuation-based devices where network parameters derived from fluctuations, act as effective discriminators and diagnostic markers. PMID:26626047

Scientific Data Analysis Toolkit: A Versatile Add-in to Microsoft Excel for Windows

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Halpern, Arthur M.; Frye, Stephen L.; Marzzacco, Charles J.

2018-01-01

Scientific Data Analysis Toolkit (SDAT) is a rigorous, versatile, and user-friendly data analysis add-in application for Microsoft Excel for Windows (PC). SDAT uses the familiar Excel environment to carry out most of the analytical tasks used in data analysis. It has been designed for student use in manipulating and analyzing data encountered in…

Carbon-tuned bonding method significantly enhanced the hydrogen storage of BN-Li complexes.

PubMed

Deng, Qing-ming; Zhao, Lina; Luo, You-hua; Zhang, Meng; Zhao, Li-xia; Zhao, Yuliang

2011-11-01

Through first-principles calculations, we found doping carbon atoms onto BN monolayers (BNC) could significantly strengthen the Li bond on this material. Unlike the weak bond strength between Li atoms and the pristine BN layer, it is observed that Li atoms are strongly hybridized and donate their electrons to the doped substrate, which is responsible for the enhanced binding energy. Li adsorbed on the BNC layer can serve as a high-capacity hydrogen storage medium, without forming clusters, which can be recycled at room temperature. Eight polarized H(2) molecules are attached to two Li atoms with an optimal binding energy of 0.16-0.28 eV/H(2), which results from the electrostatic interaction of the polarized charge of hydrogen molecules with the electric field induced by positive Li atoms. This practical carbon-tuned BN-Li complex can work as a very high-capacity hydrogen storage medium with a gravimetric density of hydrogen of 12.2 wt%, which is much higher than the gravimetric goal of 5.5 wt % hydrogen set by the U.S. Department of Energy for 2015.

Low complexity 1D IDCT for 16-bit parallel architectures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bivolarski, Lazar

2007-09-01

This paper shows that using the Loeffler, Ligtenberg, and Moschytz factorization of 8-point IDCT [2] one-dimensional (1-D) algorithm as a fast approximation of the Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) and using only 16 bit numbers, it is possible to create in an IEEE 1180-1990 compliant and multiplierless algorithm with low computational complexity. This algorithm as characterized by its structure is efficiently implemented on parallel high performance architectures as well as due to its low complexity is sufficient for wide range of other architectures. Additional constraint on this work was the requirement of compliance with the existing MPEG standards. The hardware implementation complexity and low resources where also part of the design criteria for this algorithm. This implementation is also compliant with the precision requirements described in MPEG IDCT precision specification ISO/IEC 23002-1. Complexity analysis is performed as an extension to the simple measure of shifts and adds for the multiplierless algorithm as additional operations are included in the complexity measure to better describe the actual transform implementation complexity.

Pubertal Stress and Nutrition and their Association with Sexual Orientation and Height in the Add Health Data

PubMed Central

Bogaert, Anthony F.

2018-01-01

A number of studies have indicated that gay men tend to be shorter, on average, than heterosexual men. Less evidence exists that lesbian women are taller, on average, than heterosexual women. The most popular explanation of the association between sexual orientation and height involves prenatal factors, such that, for example, gay men may have been exposed to lower than typical androgens during fetal development, which impacts their height and sexual orientation as adults. An alternative explanation involves stress, given that stress has been associated with sexual minority identification and with lower height. Another alternative explanation involves nutrition, although its relationship is less clear with sexual minority identification. Using the Add Health data, which is a large, nationally representative and longitudinal sample of American adolescents (n = 14,786), we tested a mediation model, such that sexual orientation → pubertal stress/nutrition → height. Within men, we found that gay men (n = 126) were shorter, on average, than heterosexual men (n = 6412). None of the 24 pubertal stress-related and 15 pubertal nutrition-related variables assessed in the Add Health data mediated the relationship between sexual orientation and height in men. Within women, lesbians (n = 75) did not differ significantly in stature compared to heterosexual women (n = 6267). Thus, prenatal mechanisms (e.g., hormones, maternal immune response) are likely better candidates for explaining the height difference between gay men and heterosexual men. PMID:27511207

Pubertal Stress and Nutrition and their Association with Sexual Orientation and Height in the Add Health Data.

PubMed

Skorska, Malvina N; Bogaert, Anthony F

2017-01-01

A number of studies have indicated that gay men tend to be shorter, on average, than heterosexual men. Less evidence exists that lesbian women are taller, on average, than heterosexual women. The most popular explanation of the association between sexual orientation and height involves prenatal factors, such that, for example, gay men may have been exposed to lower than typical androgens during fetal development, which impacts their height and sexual orientation as adults. An alternative explanation involves stress, given that stress has been associated with sexual minority identification and with lower height. Another alternative explanation involves nutrition, although its relationship is less clear with sexual minority identification. Using the Add Health data, which is a large, nationally representative and longitudinal sample of American adolescents (n = 14,786), we tested a mediation model, such that sexual orientation → pubertal stress/nutrition → height. Within men, we found that gay men (n = 126) were shorter, on average, than heterosexual men (n = 6412). None of the 24 pubertal stress-related and 15 pubertal nutrition-related variables assessed in the Add Health data mediated the relationship between sexual orientation and height in men. Within women, lesbians (n = 75) did not differ significantly in stature compared to heterosexual women (n = 6267). Thus, prenatal mechanisms (e.g., hormones, maternal immune response) are likely better candidates for explaining the height difference between gay men and heterosexual men.

Inflammation in Patients with Schizophrenia: the Therapeutic Benefits of Risperidone Plus Add-On Dextromethorphan

PubMed Central

Chen, Shiou-Lan; Lee, Sheng-Yu; Chang, Yun-Hsuan; Chen, Shih-Heng; Chu, Chun-Hsieh; Tzeng, Nian-Sheng; Lee, I-Hui; Chen, Po-See; Yeh, Tzung Lieh; Huang, San-Yuan; Yang, Yen-Kuang; Lu, Ru-Band; Hong, Jau-Shyong

2013-01-01

Objectives Increasing evidence suggests that inflammation contributes to the etiology and progression of schizophrenia. Molecules that initiate inflammation, such as virus- and toxin-induced cytokines, are implicated in neuronal degeneration and schizophrenia-like behavior. Using therapeutic agents with anti-inflammatory or neurotrophic effects may be beneficial for treating schizophrenia. Methods One hundred healthy controls and 95 Han Chinese patients with schizophrenia were tested in this double-blind study. Their PANSS scores, plasma interleukin (IL)-1β, TNF-α and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were measured before and after pharmacological treatment. Results Pretreatment, plasma levels of IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly higher in patients with schizophrenia than in controls, but plasma BDNF levels were significantly lower. Patients were treated with the atypical antipsychotic risperidone (Risp) only or with Risp+add-on dextromethorphan (DM). PANSS scores and plasma IL-1β levels significantly decreased, but plasma TNF-α and BDNF levels significantly increased after 11 weeks of Risp treatment. Patients in the Risp+DM group showed a greater and earlier reduction of symptoms than did those in the Risp-only group. Moreover, Risp+DM treatment attenuated Risp-induced plasma increases in TNF-α. Conclusion Patients with schizophrenia had a high level of peripheral inflammation and a low level of peripheral BDNF. Long-term Risp treatment attenuated inflammation and potentiated the neurotrophic function but also produced a certain degree of toxicity. Risp+DM was more beneficial and less toxic than Risp-only treatment. PMID:22730040

Complex matrix multiplication operations with data pre-conditioning in a high performance computing architecture

DOEpatents

Eichenberger, Alexandre E; Gschwind, Michael K; Gunnels, John A

2014-02-11

Mechanisms for performing a complex matrix multiplication operation are provided. A vector load operation is performed to load a first vector operand of the complex matrix multiplication operation to a first target vector register. The first vector operand comprises a real and imaginary part of a first complex vector value. A complex load and splat operation is performed to load a second complex vector value of a second vector operand and replicate the second complex vector value within a second target vector register. The second complex vector value has a real and imaginary part. A cross multiply add operation is performed on elements of the first target vector register and elements of the second target vector register to generate a partial product of the complex matrix multiplication operation. The partial product is accumulated with other partial products and a resulting accumulated partial product is stored in a result vector register.

Channel add-drop filter based on dual photonic crystal cavities in push-pull mode.

PubMed

Poulton, Christopher V; Zeng, Xiaoge; Wade, Mark T; Popović, Miloš A

2015-09-15

We demonstrate an add-drop filter based on a dual photonic crystal nanobeam cavity system that emulates the operation of a traveling wave resonator, and, thus, provides separation of the through and drop port transmission from the input port. The device is on a 3×3  mm chip fabricated in an advanced microelectronics silicon-on-insulator complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (SOI CMOS) process (IBM 45 nm SOI) without any foundry process modifications. The filter shows 1 dB of insertion loss in the drop port with a 3 dB bandwidth of 64 GHz, and 16 dB extinction in the through port. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first implementation of a port-separating, add-drop filter based on standing wave cavities coupled to conventional waveguides, and demonstrates a performance that suggests potential for photonic crystal devices within optical immersion lithography-based advanced CMOS electronics-photonics integration.

Associations between dopamine and serotonin genes and job satisfaction: preliminary evidence from the Add Health Study.

PubMed

Song, Zhaoli; Li, Wendong; Arvey, Richard D

2011-11-01

Previous behavioral genetic studies have found that job satisfaction is partially heritable. We went a step further to examine particular genetic markers that may be associated with job satisfaction. Using an oversample from the National Adolescent Longitudinal Study (Add Health Study), we found 2 genetic markers, dopamine receptor gene DRD4 VNTR and serotonin transporter gene 5-HTTLPR, to be weakly but significantly associated with job satisfaction. Furthermore, we found study participants' level of pay to mediate the DRD4 and job satisfaction relationship. However, we found no evidence that self-esteem mediated the relationships between these 2 genes and job satisfaction. The study represents an initial effort to introduce a molecular genetics approach to the fields of organizational psychology and organizational behavior. (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved.

A Binuclear 1,1'-Bis(boratabenzene) Complex: Unprecedented Intramolecular Metal-Metal Communication through a B-B Bond.

PubMed

Braunschweig, Holger; Demeshko, Serhiy; Ewing, William C; Krummenacher, Ivo; Macha, Bret B; Mattock, James D; Meyer, Franc; Mies, Jan; Schäfer, Marius; Vargas, Alfredo

2016-06-27

We report the synthesis of the first 1,1'-bis(boratabenzene) species by tetrabromodiborane(4)-induced ring-expansion reactions of cobaltocene. Six equivalents of cobaltocene are required as the species plays the dual role of reagent and reductant to yield [{(η(5) -C5 H5 )Co}2 {μ:η(6) ,η(6) -(BC5 H5 )2 }]. The formally dianionic bis(boratabenzene) moiety with a boron-boron single bond can be viewed as a symmetric dimer of the parent boratabenzene anion as well as the first example of a diboron analogue of biphenyl. The solution electrochemistry of the bimetallic complex shows four stepwise redox events, indicating significant intramolecular interaction between the cobalt ions across the 1,1'-bis(boratabenzene) unit. The magnetic properties, as investigated by variable-temperature SQUID magnetometry, reveal weak intramolecular antiferromagnetic interactions. Density functional theory calculations support the experimental results and add insight into the various electronic states of the complex. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Pregabalin as mono- or add-on therapy for patients with refractory chronic neuropathic pain: a post-marketing prescription-event monitoring study.

PubMed

Lampl, Christian; Schweiger, Christine; Haider, Bernhard; Lechner, Anita

2010-08-01

This observational study examined the outcome of two different therapeutic strategies in the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain by including pregabalin (PGB) as mono- or add-on therapy in one of two treatment options. Patients with a pain score of > or =4, refractory to usual care for neuropathic pain for at least 6 months, were allocated consecutively to one of two treatment strategies according to the decision of the physician: complete switch to a flexible-dosage, monotherapeutic or add-on therapy with pregabalin (PGB group), or change established doses and combinations of pre-existing mono- or combination therapy without pregabalin (non-PGB group). After 4 weeks (primary endpoint) a significant improvement in pain reduction was documented in both intention-to treat (ITT) analysis (PGB group, n = 85: mean pain score reduction of 3.53, SD 2.03, p < 0.001; non-PGB group, n = 102; mean pain score reduction of 2.83, SD 2.23, p < 0.001) and per-protocol (PP) analysis (PGB group, n = 79: mean pain score reduction 3.53 vs. 2.83, p < 0.05; non-PGB group, n = 81; 3.5 vs. 2.9, p < 0.05) compared to baseline. Comparison of the results observed in the two groups shows that patients in the PGB group achieved significantly greater pain reduction. These results demonstrate that PGB administered twice daily is superior to treatment regimes without PGB in reducing pain and pain-related interference in quality of life.

Integrating Mass Spectrometry of Intact Protein Complexes into Structural Proteomics

PubMed Central

Hyung, Suk-Joon; Ruotolo, Brandon T.

2013-01-01

Summary Mass spectrometry analysis of intact protein complexes has emerged as an established technology for assessing the composition and connectivity within dynamic, heterogeneous multiprotein complexes at low concentrations and in the context of mixtures. As this technology continues to move forward, one of the main challenges is to integrate the information content of such intact protein complex measurements with other mass spectrometry approaches in structural biology. Methods such as H/D exchange, oxidative foot-printing, chemical cross-linking, affinity purification, and ion mobility separation add complementary information that allows access to every level of protein structure and organization. Here, we survey the structural information that can be retrieved by such experiments, demonstrate the applicability of integrative mass spectrometry approaches in structural proteomics, and look to the future to explore upcoming innovations in this rapidly-advancing area. PMID:22611037

Reticulate Structures Reveal the Significance of Cell Motility in the Morphogenesis of Complex Microbial Structures in Pavilion Lake, British Columbia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shepard, R.

2008-12-01

Microbial communities are architects of incredibly complex and diverse morphological structures. Each morphology is a snapshot that reflects the complex interactions within the microbial community and between the community and its environment. Characterizing morphology as an emergent property of microbial communities is thus relevant to understanding the evolution of multicellularity and complexity in developmental systems, to the identification of biosignatures, and to furthering our understanding of modern and ancient microbial ecology. Recently discovered cyanobacterial mats in Pavilion Lake, British Columbia construct unusual complex architecture on the scale of decimeters that incorporates significant void space. Fundamental mesoscale morphological elements include terraces, arches, bridges, depressions, domes, and pillars. The mats themselves also exhibit several microscale morphologies, with reticulate structures being the dominant example. The reticulate structures exhibit a diverse spectrum of morphologies with endmembers characterized by either angular or curvilinear ridges. In laboratory studies, aggregation into reticulate structures occurs as a result of the random gliding and colliding among motile cyanobacterial filaments. Likewise, when Pavilion reticulate mats were sampled and brought to the surface, cyanobacteria invariably migrated out of the mat onto surrounding surfaces. Filaments were observed to move rapidly in clumps, preferentially following paths of previous filaments. The migrating filaments organized into new angular and ropey reticulate biofilms within hours of sampling, demonstrating that cell motility is responsible for the reticulate patterns. Because the morphogenesis of reticulate structures can be linked to motility behaviors of filamentous cyanobacteria, the Willow Point mats provide a unique natural laboratory in which to elucidate the connections between a specific microbial behavior and the construction of complex microbial

TEST DESIGN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION (ETV) OF ADD-ON NOX CONTROL UTILIZING OZONE INJECTION

EPA Science Inventory

The paper discusses the test design for environmental technology verification (ETV) of add-0n nitrogen oxides (NOx) control utilizing ozone injection. (NOTE: ETV is an EPA-established program to enhance domestic and international market acceptance of new or improved commercially...

Complexity analysis of fetal heart rate preceding intrauterine demise.

PubMed

Schnettler, William T; Goldberger, Ary L; Ralston, Steven J; Costa, Madalena

2016-08-01

gestation advanced whereas the controls' median complexity increased over time. However, this difference was not statistically significant [-0.83 (-2.03 to 0.47) vs. 0.14 (-1.25 to 0.94); p=.62]. The degree of short-term variability of FHR tracings, as measured by the pNN metric, was significantly lower (p<.005) for the controls (1.1 [0.8-1.3]) than the IUFD cases (1.3 [1.1-1.6]). FHR complexity analysis using multiscale entropy analysis may add value to other measures in detecting and monitoring pregnancies at the highest risk for IUFD. The decrease in complexity and short-term variability seen in the IUFD cases may reflect perturbations in neuroautonomic control due to multiple maternal-fetal factors. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

40 CFR 63.3174 - What are the requirements for a capture system or add-on control device which is not taken into...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... control device which is not taken into account when demonstrating compliance with the applicable emission limitations? You may have capture systems or add-on control devices which you choose not to take into account... system or add-on control device which is not taken into account when demonstrating compliance with the...

5 CFR 591.227 - What adjustment factors does OPM add to the price indexes?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 5 Administrative Personnel 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false What adjustment factors does OPM add to the price indexes? 591.227 Section 591.227 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS ALLOWANCES AND DIFFERENTIALS Cost-of-Living Allowance and Post Differential-Nonforeign Areas Cost-Of-Living Allowances §...

Renal function preservation with pioglitazone or with basal insulin as an add-on therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PubMed

Chang, Yu-Hung; Hwu, Der-Wei; Chang, Dao-Ming; An, Ling-Wang; Hsieh, Chang-Hsun; Lee, Yau-Jiunn

2017-06-01

Clinical outcome may differ owing to the distinct pharmacological characteristics of insulin sensitizers and insulin. This study was performed to compare the metabolic and renal function changes with add-on pioglitazone treatment versus basal insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in whom sulfonylurea and metformin regimens failed. Patients who were consecutively managed in the diabetes comprehensive program with add-on pioglitazone or detemir/glargine treatment for at least 2 years following sulfonylurea and metformin treatment failure were included. A total of 1002 patients were enrolled (pioglitazone: 559, detemir: 264, glargine: 179). After propensity score matching, there were 105 patients with matchable baseline characteristics in each group. After a mean of 3.5 years of follow-up, the pioglitazone group showed a greater HbA1c reduction than the detemir group and the glargine group. Despite patients in all three groups exhibiting significant body weight gain, those in the pioglitazone group and the glargine group showed greater body weight increases than the patients in the detemir group (2.1, 1.6 and 0.8 kg, respectively, p < 0.05). Interestingly, Cox regression analysis indicated that patients under detemir or glargine treatment had a higher probability of CKD progression as compared with the pioglitazone group, with hazard ratios of 2.63 (95% CI 1.79-3.88) and 3.13 (95% CI 2.01-4.87), respectively. Our study first showed that treatment with both pioglitazone and basal insulin improved glycemic control, while only pioglitazone treatment was observed to be advantageous in terms of preserving renal function when used as an add-on therapy for patients with type 2 DM in whom sulfonylurea and metformin regimens failed.

Stratigraphic units overlying the Zambales Ophiolite Complex (ZOC) in Luzon, (Philippines): Tectonostratigraphic significance and regional implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Queaño, Karlo L.; Dimalanta, Carla B.; Yumul, Graciano P.; Marquez, Edanjarlo J.; Faustino-Eslava, Decibel V.; Suzuki, Shigeyuki; Ishida, Keisuke

2017-07-01

The Zambales Ophiolite Complex (ZOC) on the island of Luzon, Philippines is one of the most well-studied crust-mantle sequences in the region. Several massifs comprise the ZOC, one of which is the Coto Block overlain by clastic sedimentary units previously dated as Eocene. Geochronologic studies from diabase, granodiorites and other late-stage magmatic products similarly yielded the same age. Succeeding tectonic models have therefore all been grounded on the assumption that the entire ZOC is Eocene. Recent investigations, however, revealed the presence of chert blocks within the Early to Middle Miocene clastic formation overlying the Acoje Block in the northern part of the ophiolite complex. Radiolarians extracted from the cherts yielded a stratigraphic range that suggests a Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous age. The recognition of a much older age than previously reported of the ZOC warrants a re-examination of its actual distribution and genesis. Correlating with other similarly-aged ophiolites, we suggest defining a western Mesozoic ophiolite belt, largely extending from the west-central portion of the archipelago to the northeastern tip of Luzon island. Tentatively, we attribute the Mesozoic ophiolitic and associated rocks in western Luzon to an arc-continent collision involving the Philippine Mobile Belt and the Palawan Microcontinental Block. In addition, differences in the clastic compositions of the Cenozoic sedimentary formations provide material not only for deciphering the ZOC's unroofing history but also for constraining the timing of province linkage. The intermittent appearance of lithic fragments and detrital minerals from the ophiolite in the units of the Middle Miocene Candelaria Limestone and the Late Miocene to Early Pliocene Sta. Cruz Formation indicates significant but geographically variable contributions from the ophiolite complex. In the northern Zambales Range, the Sta. Cruz Formation caps the Coto Block and the Acoje Block of the ZOC

The MBD7 complex promotes expression of methylated transgenes without significantly altering their methylation status

PubMed Central

Li, Dongming; Palanca, Ana Marie S; Won, So Youn; Gao, Lei; Feng, Ying; Vashisht, Ajay A; Liu, Li; Zhao, Yuanyuan; Liu, Xigang; Wu, Xiuyun; Li, Shaofang; Le, Brandon; Kim, Yun Ju; Yang, Guodong; Li, Shengben; Liu, Jinyuan; Wohlschlegel, James A; Guo, Hongwei; Mo, Beixin; Chen, Xuemei; Law, Julie A

2017-01-01

DNA methylation is associated with gene silencing in eukaryotic organisms. Although pathways controlling the establishment, maintenance and removal of DNA methylation are known, relatively little is understood about how DNA methylation influences gene expression. Here we identified a METHYL-CpG-BINDING DOMAIN 7 (MBD7) complex in Arabidopsis thaliana that suppresses the transcriptional silencing of two LUCIFERASE (LUC) reporters via a mechanism that is largely downstream of DNA methylation. Although mutations in components of the MBD7 complex resulted in modest increases in DNA methylation concomitant with decreased LUC expression, we found that these hyper-methylation and gene expression phenotypes can be genetically uncoupled. This finding, along with genome-wide profiling experiments showing minimal changes in DNA methylation upon disruption of the MBD7 complex, places the MBD7 complex amongst a small number of factors acting downstream of DNA methylation. This complex, however, is unique as it functions to suppress, rather than enforce, DNA methylation-mediated gene silencing. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.19893.001 PMID:28452714

Effectiveness of vildagliptin as add-on to metformin monotherapy among uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in a real-world setting.

PubMed

Melzer Cohen, Cheli; Davis, Carla; Shalev, Varda; Chodick, Gabriel

2018-01-01

Vildagliptin is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor commonly used as a dual oral agent with metformin, thiazolidinediones, or sulfonylurea for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The efficacy of dual therapy with vildagliptin and metformin has been established in randomized controlled trials, but there is little evidence from observational studies. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the effectiveness of vildagliptin as an add-on therapy to metformin in reducing HbA1c and its affects on body weight and blood lipids in a real-life setting. Included in the present retrospective cohort were T2DM patients (n = 345) who were uncontrolled on metformin monotherapy and intensified treatment with vildagliptin. The efficacy of at least 90 days of dual therapy with vildagliptin and metformin in reducing HbA1c levels, as well as changes in blood lipids and body weight, were evaluated. After 180 days (range 90-365 days) from the index date with a mean daily dose of 92 mg vildagliptin, HbA1c was significantly (P < 0.001) reduced by an average of 0.9% (95% confidence interval -1.0%, -0.7%). The absolute reduction in HbA1c was positively associated with baseline HbA1c levels. In addition to HbA1c, a modest but significant (P < 0.05) decrement was also calculated in the patients' body weight and blood lipids. The present analysis of real-world data corroborates the results of previous randomized controlled trials indicating that add-on therapy with vildagliptin in uncontrolled patients on metformin monotherapy is associated with a significant improvement in the control of HbA1c. © 2017 Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Cochlear implantation with hearing preservation yields significant benefit for speech recognition in complex listening environments

PubMed Central

Gifford, René H.; Dorman, Michael F.; Skarzynski, Henryk; Lorens, Artur; Polak, Marek; Driscoll, Colin L. W.; Roland, Peter; Buchman, Craig A.

2012-01-01

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the benefit of having preserved acoustic hearing in the implanted ear for speech recognition in complex listening environments. Design The current study included a within subjects, repeated-measures design including 21 English speaking and 17 Polish speaking cochlear implant recipients with preserved acoustic hearing in the implanted ear. The patients were implanted with electrodes that varied in insertion depth from 10 to 31 mm. Mean preoperative low-frequency thresholds (average of 125, 250 and 500 Hz) in the implanted ear were 39.3 and 23.4 dB HL for the English- and Polish-speaking participants, respectively. In one condition, speech perception was assessed in an 8-loudspeaker environment in which the speech signals were presented from one loudspeaker and restaurant noise was presented from all loudspeakers. In another condition, the signals were presented in a simulation of a reverberant environment with a reverberation time of 0.6 sec. The response measures included speech reception thresholds (SRTs) and percent correct sentence understanding for two test conditions: cochlear implant (CI) plus low-frequency hearing in the contralateral ear (bimodal condition) and CI plus low-frequency hearing in both ears (best aided condition). A subset of 6 English-speaking listeners were also assessed on measures of interaural time difference (ITD) thresholds for a 250-Hz signal. Results Small, but significant, improvements in performance (1.7 – 2.1 dB and 6 – 10 percentage points) were found for the best-aided condition vs. the bimodal condition. Postoperative thresholds in the implanted ear were correlated with the degree of EAS benefit for speech recognition in diffuse noise. There was no reliable relationship among measures of audiometric threshold in the implanted ear nor elevation in threshold following surgery and improvement in speech understanding in reverberation. There was a significant correlation between ITD

Adult Dyslexia and Attention Deficit Disorder in Finland--Project DyAdd: WAIS-III Cognitive Profiles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Laasonen, Marja; Leppamaki, Sami; Tani, Pekka; Hokkanen, Laura

2009-01-01

The project Adult Dyslexia and Attention Deficit Disorder in Finland (Project DyAdd) compares adults (n = 119, 18-55 years) with dyslexia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia together with ADHD (comorbid), and healthy controls with neuropsychological, psychophysical, and biological methods. The focus of this article is on the…

Toolkits Control Motion of Complex Robotics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2010-01-01

That space is a hazardous environment for humans is common knowledge. Even beyond the obvious lack of air and gravity, the extreme temperatures and exposure to radiation make the human exploration of space a complicated and risky endeavor. The conditions of space and the space suits required to conduct extravehicular activities add layers of difficulty and danger even to tasks that would be simple on Earth (tightening a bolt, for example). For these reasons, the ability to scout distant celestial bodies and perform maintenance and construction in space without direct human involvement offers significant appeal. NASA has repeatedly turned to complex robotics for solutions to extend human presence deep into space at reduced risk and cost and to enhance space operations in low Earth orbit. At Johnson Space Center, engineers explore the potential applications of dexterous robots capable of performing tasks like those of an astronaut during extravehicular activities and even additional ones too delicate or dangerous for human participation. Johnson's Dexterous Robotics Laboratory experiments with a wide spectrum of robot manipulators, such as the Mitsubishi PA-10 and the Robotics Research K-1207i robotic arms. To simplify and enhance the use of these robotic systems, Johnson researchers sought generic control methods that could work effectively across every system.

Having Older Siblings Is Associated with Lower Rates of Depression, ADD/ADHD, Anxiety and Behavior Problems Among Children with ASD.

PubMed

Montes, Guillermo

2018-05-01

Objective Within the social determinants of mental health framework, this article investigated whether children with ASD who have older siblings are less likely to experience depression, anxiety, behavior problems or have ADD/ADHD after controlling for standard social determinants of mental health such as household income, parental education and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Methods Using the National Survey of Children's Health 2011-2012, children with ASD spectrum disorders (n = 1624) were categorized into three groups: only child, oldest child and has older siblings. Design corrected cross-tabulations, univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were estimated. Results The three groups of children with ASD were comparable in demographic characteristics (except age), ACEs, and parent-reported ASD severity. Children with ASD who had older siblings were significantly less likely to experience depression, anxiety or behavior problems. They were also less likely to have been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD. Adjusted odds ratios ranged from 0.12 to 0.53 indicating robust associations. Conclusions for Practice Children with ASD who have older siblings were less likely to have comorbid mental health disorders than other children with ASD. Conversely, oldest and only children with ASD were at increased risk for these disorders. Further research is needed to understand how this protection is conferred on children with ASD, and whether it can be adapted into interventions for only and oldest children with ASD.

Influence of the effective lens position, as predicted by axial length and keratometry, on the near add power of multifocal intraocular lenses.

PubMed

Savini, Giacomo; Hoffer, Kenneth J; Lombardo, Marco; Serrao, Sebastiano; Schiano-Lomoriello, Domenico; Ducoli, Pietro

2016-01-01

To calculate the near focal distance of different multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) as a function of the 2 parameters that are measured before cataract surgery; that is, axial length (AL) and refractive corneal power (keratometry [K]). GB Bietti Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy. Noninterventional theoretical study. The IOL power for emmetropia was first calculated in an eye model with the AL ranging from 20 to 30 mm and K from 38 to 48 diopters (D). Then, the predicted myopic refraction for any given IOL add power (from +1.5 to +4.0 D) was calculated, and from this value the near focal distance was obtained. Calculations were also performed for the average eye (K = 43.81 D; AL = 23.65 mm). The near focal distance increased with increasing values of K and AL for each near power add. The near focal distance ranged between 53 cm and 72 cm (21 inches and 28 inches) for a multifocal IOL with +2.50 D, between 44 cm and 60 cm (17 inches and 24 inches) for a multifocal IOL with +3.00 D add, and between 33 cm and 44 cm (13 inches and 18 inches) for a multifocal IOL with +4.00 D add. In the average eye, the near focal distance ranges between 36 cm (near add power = 4.00 D) and 99 cm (near add power = 1.5 D). Longer eyes with steeper corneas showed the longest near focal distance and could experience more difficulties in focusing near objects after surgery. The opposite was true for short hyperopic eyes. Dr. Hoffer receives licensing fees for the commercial use of the registered trademark Hoffer from all biometry manufacturers using the Hoffer Q formula to ensure that it is programmed correctly and book royalties from Slack, Inc., for the textbook IOL Power. None of the authors has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. Copyright © 2016 ASCRS and ESCRS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Retrospective comparison of voglibose or acarbose as an add-on therapy to sulfonylureas in Western Indian patients with uncontrolled overweight/obese type 2 diabetes.

PubMed

Talaviya, Praful A; Saboo, Banshi D; Dodiya, Hardik G; Rao, Shaival K; Joshi, Shashank R; Modh, Vipul B; Ghadiya, Sneha V

2016-01-01

The study was aimed to investigate the effect of voglibose or acarbose as an add-on treatment in overweight/obese type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients who are uncontrolled with metformin and sulfonylureas (SUs) in Western part of India. A retrospective study included 77 participants (BMI≥25kg/m(2); HbA1c level>8% and<9.5%) with overweight/obese T2DM. These participants were treated with either voglibose or acarbose. Glycemic parameters (fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c]), bodyweight, BMI and lipid parameters were evaluated at baseline, 3-month, 6-month and 9-month of treatment. Adverse events were also captured at respective time points. Voglibose showed significant reduction in HbA1c and bodyweight with short duration of treatment (6 months; P<0.05 and 9 months; P<0.01) whereas acarbose showed significant reduction with longer duration of treatment (9 months; P<0.05) when compared with baseline. Moreover, both treatment groups were reported with reduction in BMI. Further, significant improvement in lipid parameters except LDL and HDL were observed in both treatment groups when compared with baseline. None of participant was discontinued due to side effects of the treatment. In addition, the frequency of hypoglycemia was decreased in both treatment groups. Voglibose or acarbose as an add-on treatment with metformin and sulfonylureas in uncontrolled obese/overweight T2DM provides desired glycemic control, reduces bodyweight and improves lipid parameters with good tolerability profile. Copyright © 2015 Diabetes India. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Safety and efficacy of doxazosin as an "add-on" antihypertensive therapy in mild to moderate heart failure patients.

PubMed

Spoladore, Roberto; Roccaforte, Rosa; Fragasso, Gabriele; Gardini, Chiara; Palloshi, Altin; Cuko, Amarild; Arioli, Francesco; Salerno, Anna; Margonato, Alberto

2009-08-01

Doxazosin treatment has been discouraged in hypertensive patients in order to prevent heart failure (HF) development. However, this drug is still prescribed as an "add-on" medication to achieve a better blood pressure (BP) control. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of doxazosin as an "add-on" medication in HF patients with uncontrolled hypertension. We reviewed our HF clinic files to collect patient variables recorded at baseline and during follow-up visits in patients receiving, or not, doxazosin. We compared HF-related hospitalization rates and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality rates between patients on doxazosin and those not on doxazosin. We constructed cumulative risk curves for time to first event (HF-related hospitalization and/or death) for both groups of patients. Fifty-two HF patients had been prescribed doxazosin. At baseline, several relevant variables were unevenly distributed between patients receiving doxazosin and those not receiving doxazosin (N=122), such as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and NYHA class. HF-related hospitalization and death rates were similar between patients on doxazosin and those not on doxazosin at the end of the follow-up. Even after adjustment for all potentially confounding variables, doxazosin was not associated with HF-related hospitalization and/or death. Doxazosin significantly reduced BP, but did not affect NYHA class. Doxazosin, "on top" of other antihypertensive treatments was safe and effective, and did not appear to be associated with HF-related hospitalization and mortality rates in our patients with mild/moderate HF.

Measured dose to ovaries and testes from Hodgkin's fields and determination of genetically significant dose

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Niroomand-Rad, A.; Cumberlin, R.

The purpose of this study was to determine the genetically significant dose from therapeutic radiation exposure with Hodgkin's fields by estimating the doses to ovaries and testes. Phantom measurements were performed to verify estimated doses to ovaries and testes from Hodgkin's fields. Thermoluminescent LiF dosimeters (TLD-100) of 1 x 3 x 3 mm[sup 3] dimensions were embedded in phantoms and exposed to standard mantle and paraaortic fields using Co-60, 4 MV, 6 MV, and 10 MV photon beams. The results show that measured doses to ovaries and testes are about two to five times higher than the corresponding graphically estimatedmore » doses for Co-60 and 4 MVX photon beams as depicted in ICRP publication 44. In addition, the measured doses to ovaries and testes are about 30% to 65% lower for 10 MV photon beams than for their corresponding Co-60 photon beams. The genetically significant dose from Hodgkin's treatment (less than 0.01 mSv) adds about 4% to the genetically significant dose contribution to medical procedures and adds less than 1% to the genetically significant dose from all sources. Therefore, the consequence to society is considered to be very small. The consequences for the individual patient are, likewise, small. 28 refs., 3 figs., 5 tabs.« less

Approach to the unfolding and folding dynamics of add A-riboswitch upon adenine dissociation using a coarse-grained elastic network model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Chunhua; Lv, Dashuai; Zhang, Lei; Yang, Feng; Wang, Cunxin; Su, Jiguo; Zhang, Yang

2016-07-01

Riboswitches are noncoding mRNA segments that can regulate the gene expression via altering their structures in response to specific metabolite binding. We proposed a coarse-grained Gaussian network model (GNM) to examine the unfolding and folding dynamics of adenosine deaminase (add) A-riboswitch upon the adenine dissociation, in which the RNA is modeled by a nucleotide chain with interaction networks formed by connecting adjoining atomic contacts. It was shown that the adenine binding is critical to the folding of the add A-riboswitch while the removal of the ligand can result in drastic increase of the thermodynamic fluctuations especially in the junction regions between helix domains. Under the assumption that the native contacts with the highest thermodynamic fluctuations break first, the iterative GNM simulations showed that the unfolding process of the adenine-free add A-riboswitch starts with the denature of the terminal helix stem, followed by the loops and junctions involving ligand binding pocket, and then the central helix domains. Despite the simplified coarse-grained modeling, the unfolding dynamics and pathways are shown in close agreement with the results from atomic-level MD simulations and the NMR and single-molecule force spectroscopy experiments. Overall, the study demonstrates a new avenue to investigate the binding and folding dynamics of add A-riboswitch molecule which can be readily extended for other RNA molecules.

Cochlear implantation with hearing preservation yields significant benefit for speech recognition in complex listening environments.

PubMed

Gifford, René H; Dorman, Michael F; Skarzynski, Henryk; Lorens, Artur; Polak, Marek; Driscoll, Colin L W; Roland, Peter; Buchman, Craig A

2013-01-01

The aim of this study was to assess the benefit of having preserved acoustic hearing in the implanted ear for speech recognition in complex listening environments. The present study included a within-subjects, repeated-measures design including 21 English-speaking and 17 Polish-speaking cochlear implant (CI) recipients with preserved acoustic hearing in the implanted ear. The patients were implanted with electrodes that varied in insertion depth from 10 to 31 mm. Mean preoperative low-frequency thresholds (average of 125, 250, and 500 Hz) in the implanted ear were 39.3 and 23.4 dB HL for the English- and Polish-speaking participants, respectively. In one condition, speech perception was assessed in an eight-loudspeaker environment in which the speech signals were presented from one loudspeaker and restaurant noise was presented from all loudspeakers. In another condition, the signals were presented in a simulation of a reverberant environment with a reverberation time of 0.6 sec. The response measures included speech reception thresholds (SRTs) and percent correct sentence understanding for two test conditions: CI plus low-frequency hearing in the contralateral ear (bimodal condition) and CI plus low-frequency hearing in both ears (best-aided condition). A subset of six English-speaking listeners were also assessed on measures of interaural time difference thresholds for a 250-Hz signal. Small, but significant, improvements in performance (1.7-2.1 dB and 6-10 percentage points) were found for the best-aided condition versus the bimodal condition. Postoperative thresholds in the implanted ear were correlated with the degree of electric and acoustic stimulation (EAS) benefit for speech recognition in diffuse noise. There was no reliable relationship among measures of audiometric threshold in the implanted ear nor elevation in threshold after surgery and improvement in speech understanding in reverberation. There was a significant correlation between interaural time

42 CFR 83.19 - How can the Secretary cancel or modify a final decision to add a class of employees to the Cohort?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 42 Public Health 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false How can the Secretary cancel or modify a final... to the Cohort § 83.19 How can the Secretary cancel or modify a final decision to add a class of employees to the Cohort? (a) The Secretary can cancel a final decision to add a class to the Cohort, or can...

FAQs Related to Response to Petition to Add Oil And Gas Extraction Sector to the TRI Program

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Questions and answers related to EPA's response to a petition by the Environmental Integrity Project and 16 other organizations to add the Oil and Gas Extraction sector to the scope of industries subject to TRI reporting requirements.

Higher efficacy of pegylated interferon-α2b add-on therapy in hepatitis B envelope antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B patients on tenofovir monotherapy.

PubMed

Jindal, Ankur; Vyas, Ashish Kumar; Kumar, Devesh; Kumar, Guresh; Sharma, Manoj Kumar; Sarin, Shiv Kumar

2018-05-01

Monotherapy with pegylated interferon-α (Peg-IFNα) or the nucleos(t)ide analogs (NA) currently approved for treating chronic hepatitis B (CHB) has limited efficacy. Studies on the combination of Peg-IFNα/NA have shown conflicting results. We investigated whether sequentially adding on Peg-IFNα to tenofovir enhances serological response rates. Treatment-naïve, hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg)-positive CHB patients with moderately elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT; 48-200 IU/mL) were started on tenofovir (300 mg/day) and enrolled at week 12 in a 1:1 ratio to either receive Peg-IFNα2b add-on (1.5 μg/kg/week) from week 12 to 36 (n = 53) or continue tenofovir monotherapy (n = 53). Both treatment arms received tenofovir consolidation therapy until week 72. The primary end-point was HBeAg loss at week 72. At week 72, the rate of HBeAg loss was higher in the Peg-IFNα2b add-on group (35.8%) compared to the tenofovir monotherapy group (17%) (P = 0.028; odds ratio, 2.73, 95% confidence interval, 1.09-6.79), and considerably higher in patients with a baseline hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA level >6 log IU/mL (32.6% vs 11.4%; P = 0.021). Rates of HBV-DNA loss (77.4% vs 71.7%; P = 0.51), ALT normalization (62.3% vs 52.8%; P = 0.32), and sustained virologic response (20.8% vs 11.3%; P = 0.18) at week 72 were comparable between the two groups. Significantly more patients in the add-on group had >3 log HBV-DNA reduction at week 36 (92.5% vs 66%; P = 0.001). Four patients treated with Peg-IFNα2b add-on achieved hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss compared with one patient receiving tenofovir monotherapy. Decline of HBV-DNA of >2 log at week 4 led to higher HBeAg loss at week 72, independent of treatment arm. No patient had treatment-related adverse effects requiring treatment discontinuation. Twenty-four weeks of Peg-IFNα2b as an add-on sequential regimen to tenofovir is safe and resulted in greater loss of HBeAg and HBs

Structural consequences of disease-causing mutations in the ATRX-DNMT3-DNMT3L (ADD) domain of the chromatin-associated protein ATRX.

PubMed

Argentaro, Anthony; Yang, Ji-Chun; Chapman, Lynda; Kowalczyk, Monika S; Gibbons, Richard J; Higgs, Douglas R; Neuhaus, David; Rhodes, Daniela

2007-07-17

The chromatin-associated protein ATRX was originally identified because mutations in the ATRX gene cause a severe form of syndromal X-linked mental retardation associated with alpha-thalassemia. Half of all of the disease-associated missense mutations cluster in a cysteine-rich region in the N terminus of ATRX. This region was named the ATRX-DNMT3-DNMT3L (ADD) domain, based on sequence homology with a family of DNA methyltransferases. Here, we report the solution structure of the ADD domain of ATRX, which consists of an N-terminal GATA-like zinc finger, a plant homeodomain finger, and a long C-terminal alpha-helix that pack together to form a single globular domain. Interestingly, the alpha-helix of the GATA-like finger is exposed and highly basic, suggesting a DNA-binding function for ATRX. The disease-causing mutations fall into two groups: the majority affect buried residues and hence affect the structural integrity of the ADD domain; another group affects a cluster of surface residues, and these are likely to perturb a potential protein interaction site. The effects of individual point mutations on the folding state and stability of the ADD domain correlate well with the levels of mutant ATRX protein in patients, providing insights into the molecular pathophysiology of ATR-X syndrome.

The food-borne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni depends on the AddAB DNA repair system to defend against bile in the intestinal environment.

PubMed

Gourley, Christopher R; Negretti, Nicholas M; Konkel, Michael E

2017-10-31

Accurate repair of DNA damage is crucial to ensure genome stability and cell survival of all organisms. Bile functions as a defensive barrier against intestinal colonization by pathogenic microbes. Campylobacter jejuni, a leading bacterial cause of foodborne illness, possess strategies to mitigate the toxic components of bile. We recently found that growth of C. jejuni in medium with deoxycholate, a component of bile, caused DNA damage consistent with the exposure to reactive oxygen species. We hypothesized that C. jejuni must repair DNA damage caused by reactive oxygen species to restore chromosomal integrity. Our efforts focused on determining the importance of the putative AddAB DNA repair proteins. A C. jejuni addAB mutant demonstrated enhanced sensitivity to deoxycholate and was impaired in DNA double strand break repair. Complementation of the addAB mutant restored resistance to deoxycholate, as well as function of the DNA double strand break repair system. The importance of these findings translated to the natural host, where the AddAB system was found to be required for efficient C. jejuni colonization of the chicken intestine. This research provides new insight into the molecular mechanism utilized by C. jejuni, and possibly other intestinal pathogens, to survive in the presence of bile.

Psychometric properties and norms of the German ABC-Community and PAS-ADD Checklist.

PubMed

Zeilinger, Elisabeth L; Weber, Germain; Haveman, Meindert J

2011-01-01

The aim of the present study was to standardize and generate psychometric evidence of the German language versions of two well-established English language mental health instruments: the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community (ABC-C) and the Psychiatric Assessment Schedule for Adults with Developmental Disabilities (PAS-ADD) Checklist. New methods in this field were introduced: a simulation method for testing the factor structure and an exploration of long-term stability over two years. The checklists were both administered to a representative sample of 270 individuals with intellectual disability (ID) and, two years later in a second data collection, to 128 participants of the original sample. Principal component analysis and parallel analysis were performed. Reliability measures, long-term stability, subscale intercorrelations, as well as standardized norms were generated. Prevalence of mental health problems was examined. Psychometric properties were mostly excellent, with long-term stability showing moderate to strong effects. The original factor structure of the ABC-C was replicated. PAS-ADD Checklist produced a similar, but still different structure compared with findings from the English language area. The overall prevalence rate of mental health problems in the sample was about 20%. Considering the good results on the measured psychometric properties, the two checklists are recommended for the early detection of mental health problems in persons with ID. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of heart failure reversal treatment as add-on therapy in patients with chronic heart failure: A randomized, open-label study.

PubMed

Sane, Rohit; Aklujkar, Abhijeet; Patil, Atul; Mandole, Rahul

The present study was designed to evaluate effect of heart failure reversal therapy (HFRT) using herbal procedure (panchakarma) and allied therapies, as add-on to standard CHF treatment (SCT) in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. This open-label, randomized study conducted in CHF patients (aged: 25-65 years, ejection fraction: 30-65%), had 3-phases: 1-week screening, 6-week treatment (randomized [1:1] to HFRT+SCT or SCT-alone) and follow-up (12-week). Twice weekly HFRT (60-75min) consisting of snehana (external oleation), swedana (passive heat therapy), hrudaydhara (concoction dripping treatment) and basti (enema) was administered. Primary endpoints included evaluation of change in metabolic equivalents of task (MET) and peak oxygen uptake (VO 2peak ) from baseline, at end of 6-week treatment and follow-up at week-18 (non-parametric rank ANCOVA analysis). Safety and quality of life (QoL) was assessed. Seventy CHF patients (n=35, each treatment-arm; mean [SD] age: 53.0 [8.6], 80% men) were enrolled in the study. All patients completed treatment phase. Add-on HFRT caused a significant increase in METs (least square mean difference [LSMD], 6-week: 1.536, p=0.0002; 18-week: -1.254, p=0.0089) and VO 2peak (LSMD, 6-week: -5.52, p=0.0002; 18-week: -4.517, p=0.0089) as compared with SCT-alone. Results were suggestive of improved functional capacity in patients with HFRT (QoL; Mean [SD] HFRT+SCT vs. SCT-alone; 6-week: -0.44 [0.34] vs. -0.06 [0.25], p<0.0001 and 18-week: -0.53 [0.35] vs. -0.29 [0.26], p=0.0013). Seven treatment-emergent adverse events (mild severity) were reported in HFRT-arm. Findings of this study highlight therapeutic efficacy of add-on HFRT vs. SCT-alone in CHF patients. The non-invasive HFRT showed no safety concerns. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Characteristics of Learning Disabled, Emotionally Disturbed, ADHD/ADD, and Nonexceptional Children: A Behavioral Assessment Measurement Approach.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Palomares, Ronald S.; And Others

This paper presents data comparing normal, learning-disabled (LD), emotionally disturbed (ED), and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or attention deficit disorder (ADD) children, from a total of 1,303 children used to standardize the Texas Features of Emotional Disturbance (Tx-FED), an assessment system involving parent and teacher…

Progress in the Analysis of Complex Atmospheric Particles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Laskin, Alexander; Gilles, Mary K.; Knopf, Daniel A.

2016-06-16

This manuscript presents an overview on recent advances in field and laboratory studies of atmospheric particles formed in processes of environmental air-surfaces interactions. The overarching goal of these studies is to advance predictive understanding of atmospheric particle composition, particle chemistry during aging, and their environmental impacts. The diversity between chemical constituents and lateral heterogeneity within individual particles adds to the chemical complexity of particles and their surfaces. Once emitted, particles undergo transformation via atmospheric aging processes that further modify their complex composition. We highlight a range of modern analytical approaches that enable multi-modal chemical characterization of particles with both molecularmore » and lateral specificity. When combined, they provide a comprehensive arsenal of tools for understanding the nature of particles at air-surface interactions and their reactivity and transformations with atmospheric aging. We discuss applications of these novel approaches in recent studies and highlight additional research areas to explore environmental effects of air-surface interactions.« less

Progress in the Analysis of Complex Atmospheric Particles.

PubMed

Laskin, Alexander; Gilles, Mary K; Knopf, Daniel A; Wang, Bingbing; China, Swarup

2016-06-12

This article presents an overview of recent advances in field and laboratory studies of atmospheric particles formed in processes of environmental air-surface interactions. The overarching goal of these studies is to advance predictive understanding of atmospheric particle composition, particle chemistry during aging, and their environmental impacts. The diversity between chemical constituents and lateral heterogeneity within individual particles adds to the chemical complexity of particles and their surfaces. Once emitted, particles undergo transformation via atmospheric aging processes that further modify their complex composition. We highlight a range of modern analytical approaches that enable multimodal chemical characterization of particles with both molecular and lateral specificity. When combined, these approaches provide a comprehensive arsenal of tools for understanding the nature of particles at air-surface interactions and their reactivity and transformations with atmospheric aging. We discuss applications of these novel approaches in recent studies and highlight additional research areas to explore the environmental effects of air-surface interactions.

Progress in the analysis of complex atmospheric particles

DOE PAGES

Laskin, Alexander; Gilles, Mary K.; Knopf, Daniel A.; ...

2016-06-01

This study presents an overview of recent advances in field and laboratory studies of atmospheric particles formed in processes of environmental air-surface interactions. The overarching goal of these studies is to advance predictive understanding of atmospheric particle composition, particle chemistry during aging, and their environmental impacts. The diversity between chemical constituents and lateral heterogeneity within individual particles adds to the chemical complexity of particles and their surfaces. Once emitted, particles undergo transformation via atmospheric aging processes that further modify their complex composition. We highlight a range of modern analytical approaches that enable multimodal chemical characterization of particles with both molecularmore » and lateral specificity. When combined, these approaches provide a comprehensive arsenal of tools for understanding the nature of particles at air-surface interactions and their reactivity and transformations with atmospheric aging. We discuss applications of these novel approaches in recent studies and highlight additional research areas to explore the environmental effects of air-surface interactions.« less

No evidence for an effect on brain atrophy rate of atorvastatin add-on to interferon β1b therapy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (the ARIANNA study).

PubMed

Lanzillo, Roberta; Quarantelli, Mario; Pozzilli, Carlo; Trojano, Maria; Amato, Maria Pia; Marrosu, Maria G; Francia, Ada; Florio, Ciro; Orefice, Giuseppe; Tedeschi, Gioacchino; Bellantonio, Paolo; Annunziata, Pasquale; Grimaldi, Luigi M; Comerci, Marco; Brunetti, Arturo; Bonavita, Vincenzo; Alfano, Bruno; Marini, Stefano; Brescia Morra, Vincenzo

2016-08-01

A previous phase 2 trial has suggested that statins might delay brain atrophy in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of atorvastatin add-on therapy on cerebral atrophy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. This randomised, placebo-controlled study compared atorvastatin 40 mg or placebo add-on therapy to interferon β1b for 24 months. Brain magnetic resonance imaging, multiple sclerosis functional composite score, Rao neuropsychological battery and expanded disability status scale were evaluated over 24 months. A total of 154 patients were randomly assigned, 75 in the atorvastatin and 79 in the placebo arms, with a comparable drop-out rate (overall 23.4%). Brain atrophy over 2 years was not different in the two arms (-0.38% and -0.32% for the atorvastatin and placebo groups, respectively). Relapse rate, expanded disability status scale, multiple sclerosis functional composite score or cognitive changes were not different in the two arms. Patients withdrawing from the study had a higher number of relapses in the previous 2 years (P=0.04) and a greater probability of relapsing within 12 months. Our results suggest that the combination of atorvastatin and interferon β1b is not justified in early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and adds to the body of evidence indicating an absence of significant radiological and clinical benefit of statins in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. © The Author(s), 2015.

Open-label add-on treatment trial of minocycline in fragile X syndrome.

PubMed

Paribello, Carlo; Tao, Leeping; Folino, Anthony; Berry-Kravis, Elizabeth; Tranfaglia, Michael; Ethell, Iryna M; Ethell, Douglas W

2010-10-11

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a disorder characterized by a variety of disabilities, including cognitive deficits, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism, and other socio-emotional problems. It is hypothesized that the absence of the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) leads to higher levels of matrix metallo-proteinase-9 activity (MMP-9) in the brain. Minocycline inhibits MMP-9 activity, and alleviates behavioural and synapse abnormalities in fmr1 knockout mice, an established model for FXS. This open-label add-on pilot trial was conducted to evaluate safety and efficacy of minocycline in treating behavioural abnormalities that occur in humans with FXS. Twenty individuals with FXS, ages 13-32, were randomly assigned to receive 100 mg or 200 mg of minocycline daily. Behavioural evaluations were made prior to treatment (baseline) and again 8 weeks after daily minocycline treatment. The primary outcome measure was the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist-Community Edition (ABC-C) Irritability Subscale, and the secondary outcome measures were the other ABC-C subscales, clinical global improvement scale (CGI), and the visual analog scale for behaviour (VAS). Side effects were assessed using an adverse events checklist, a complete blood count (CBC), hepatic and renal function tests, and antinuclear antibody screen (ANA), done at baseline and at 8 weeks. The ABC-C Irritability Subscale scores showed significant improvement (p < 0.001), as did the VAS (p = 0.003) and the CGI (p < 0.001). The only significant treatment-related side effects were minor diarrhea (n = 3) and seroconversion to a positive ANA (n = 2). Results from this study demonstrate that minocycline provides significant functional benefits to FXS patients and that it is well-tolerated. These findings are consistent with the fmr1 knockout mouse model results, suggesting that minocycline modifies underlying neural defects that account for behavioural abnormalities. A placebo-controlled trial of

78 FR 17624 - Wireline Competition Bureau Adds New Discussion Topic To Connect America Cost Model Virtual Workshop

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-22

... FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 47 CFR Part 54 [WC Docket No. 10-90; DA 13-311] Wireline... Communications Commission. ACTION: Proposed rule. SUMMARY: In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau adds... . Follow the instructions for submitting comments. [ssquf] Federal Communications Commission's Web Site...

78 FR 23192 - Wireline Competition Bureau Adds New Discussion Topic to Connect America Cost Model Virtual Workshop

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-18

... FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 47 CFR Part 54 [WC Docket No. 10-90; DA 13-704] Wireline... Communications Commission. ACTION: Proposed rule. SUMMARY: In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau adds...://www.regulations.gov . Follow the instructions for submitting comments. [ssquf] Federal Communications...

Associations between Dopamine and Serotonin Genes and Job Satisfaction: Preliminary Evidence from the Add Health Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Song, Zhaoli; Li, Wendong; Arvey, Richard D.

2011-01-01

Previous behavioral genetic studies have found that job satisfaction is partially heritable. We went a step further to examine particular genetic markers that may be associated with job satisfaction. Using an oversample from the National Adolescent Longitudinal Study (Add Health Study), we found 2 genetic markers, dopamine receptor gene DRD4 VNTR…

The Impact of Specific and Complex Trauma on the Mental Health of Homeless Youth.

PubMed

Wong, Carolyn F; Clark, Leslie F; Marlotte, Lauren

2016-03-01

This study investigates the relative impact of trauma experiences that occurred prior to and since becoming homeless on depressive symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and self-injurious behaviors among a sample of homeless youth (N = 389). Youth (aged 13 to 25) who had been homeless or precariously housed in the past year completed a survey about housing history, experiences of violence and victimization, mental health, and service utilization. In addition to examining the impact associated with specific trauma types, we also considered the effect of "early-on" poly-victimization (i.e., cumulative number of reported traumas prior to homelessness) and the influence of a compound sexual trauma variable created to represent earlier complex trauma. This created-variable has values ranging from no reported trauma, single trauma, multiple non-sexual traumas, and multiple traumas that co-occurred with sexual abuse. Multivariate analyses revealed that specific traumatic experiences prior to homelessness, including sexual abuse, emotional abuse/neglect, and adverse home environment, predicted greater mental health symptoms. Poly-victimization did not add to the prediction of mental health symptoms after the inclusion of specific traumas. Results with early compound sexual trauma revealed significant differences between lower-order trauma exposures and multiple-trauma exposures. Specifically, experience of multiple traumas that co-occurred with sexual trauma was significantly more detrimental in predicting PTSD symptoms than multiple traumas of non-sexual nature. Findings support the utility of an alternate/novel conceptualization of complex trauma, and support the need to carefully evaluate complex traumatic experiences that occurred prior to homelessness, which can impact the design and implementation of mental health care and services for homeless youth. © The Author(s) 2014.

Differential Denaturation of Serum Proteome Reveals a Significant Amount of Hidden Information in Complex Mixtures of Proteins

PubMed Central

Polci, Maria Letizia; Rossi, Stefania; Cordella, Martina; Carlucci, Giuseppe; Marchetti, Paolo; Antonini-Cappellini, Giancarlo; Facchiano, Antonio; D'Arcangelo, Daniela; Facchiano, Francesco

2013-01-01

Recently developed proteomic technologies allow to profile thousands of proteins within a high-throughput approach towards biomarker discovery, although results are not as satisfactory as expected. In the present study we demonstrate that serum proteome denaturation is a key underestimated feature; in fact, a new differential denaturation protocol better discriminates serum proteins according to their electrophoretic mobility as compared to single-denaturation protocols. Sixty nine different denaturation treatments were tested and the 3 most discriminating ones were selected (TRIDENT analysis) and applied to human sera, showing a significant improvement of serum protein discrimination as confirmed by MALDI-TOF/MS and LC-MS/MS identification, depending on the type of denaturation applied. Thereafter sera from mice and patients carrying cutaneous melanoma were analyzed through TRIDENT. Nine and 8 protein bands were found differentially expressed in mice and human melanoma sera, compared to healthy controls (p<0.05); three of them were found, for the first time, significantly modulated: α2macroglobulin (down-regulated in melanoma, p<0.001), Apolipoprotein-E and Apolipoprotein-A1 (both up-regulated in melanoma, p<0.04), both in mice and humans. The modulation was confirmed by immunological methods. Other less abundant proteins (e.g. gelsolin) were found significantly modulated (p<0.05). Conclusions: i) serum proteome contains a large amount of information, still neglected, related to proteins folding; ii) a careful serum denaturation may significantly improve analytical procedures involving complex protein mixtures; iii) serum differential denaturation protocol highlights interesting proteomic differences between cancer and healthy sera. PMID:23533572

Aprepitant as an add-on therapy in children receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

PubMed

Bakhshi, Sameer; Batra, Atul; Biswas, Bivas; Dhawan, Deepa; Paul, Reeja; Sreenivas, Vishnubhatla

2015-11-01

Aprepitant, a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist, in combination with 5 HT-3 antagonist and dexamethasone is recommended in adults receiving moderately and highly emetogenic chemotherapy to reduce chemotherapy-induced vomiting (CIV). Data for use of aprepitant in children is limited and hence aprepitant is not recommended by Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario guidelines for prevention of CIV in children <12 years. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at a single center in chemotherapy naïve children (5-18 years) receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy. All patients received intravenous ondansetron (0.15 mg/kg) and dexamethasone (0.15 mg/kg) prior to chemotherapy followed by oral ondansetron and dexamethasone. Patients randomly assigned to aprepitant arm received oral aprepitant (15-40 kg = days 1-3, 80 mg; 41-65 kg = day 1, 125 mg and days 2-3, 80 mg) 1 h before chemotherapy. Control group received placebo as add-on therapy. Primary outcome measure was the incidence of acute moderate to severe vomiting, which was defined as more than two vomiting episodes within 24 h after the administration of the first chemotherapy dose until 24 h after the last chemotherapy dose in the block. Complete response (CR) was defined as absence of vomiting and retching during the specified phase. Of the 96 randomized patients, three were excluded from analysis; 93 patients were analyzed (50 in aprepitant arm and 43 in placebo arm). Acute moderate and severe vomiting was reported in 72 % patients receiving placebo and 38 % patients receiving aprepitant (p = 0.001). Complete response rates during acute phase were significantly higher in aprepitant arm (48 vs. 12 %, p < 0.001). No major adverse effects were reported by patients/guardians. This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial shows that aprepitant significantly decreases the incidence of CIV during acute phase when used as an add-on drug with ondansetron and dexamethasone in children

Simulation of complex pharmacokinetic models in Microsoft Excel.

PubMed

Meineke, Ingolf; Brockmöller, Jürgen

2007-12-01

With the arrival of powerful personal computers in the office numerical methods are accessible to everybody. Simulation of complex processes therefore has become an indispensible tool in research and education. In this paper Microsoft EXCEL is used as a platform for a universal differential equation solver. The software is designed as an add-in aiming at a minimum of required user input to perform a given task. Four examples are included to demonstrate both, the simplicity of use and the versatility of possible applications. While the layout of the program is admittedly geared to the needs of pharmacokineticists, it can be used in any field where sets of differential equations are involved. The software package is available upon request.

In Building a Script for an Emotion, Do Preschoolers Add Its Cause before Its Behavior Consequence?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Widen, Sherri C.; Russell, James A.

2011-01-01

An emotion concept is a script in which an emotion event is an ordered sequence of subevents from situational cause through bodily changes to behavioral consequence. As children build a script for each emotion, in what order do they add each subevent? Preschoolers (N = 108, three to five years), were asked to name the protagonist's emotion in…

How to Reach and Teach Children with ADD/ADHD: Practical Techniques, Strategies, and Interventions. Third Edition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rief, Sandra F.

2016-01-01

The third edition of "How to Reach and Teach Children and Teens with ADD/ADHD" has been completely revised to offer the most updated and comprehensive guidance to everyone engaged in the positive education of children and teens who have been diagnosed with ADHD or show signs and symptoms of the disorder. This valuable resource contains…

Add-on anticholinergic therapy for residual nocturia in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms receiving α1-blocker treatment: a multi-centre, prospective, randomised study.

PubMed

Yokoyama, Osamu; Tsujimura, Akira; Akino, Hironobu; Segawa, Naoki; Tamada, Satoshi; Oguchi, Naoki; Kitagawa, Yasuhide; Tsuji, Hidenori; Watanabe, Akihiko; Inamoto, Teruo; Shimizu, Nobutaka; Fujiuchi, Yasuyoshi; Katsuoka, Yoji; Azuma, Haruhito; Matsuda, Tadashi; Namiki, Mikio; Uemura, Hirotsugu; Okuyama, Akihiko; Nonomura, Norio; Fuse, Hideki; Nakatani, Tatsuya

2015-05-01

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of imidafenacin (IM), a novel short half-life anticholinergic, as add-on therapy for male LUTS with nocturia and nocturnal polyuria. This multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-labelled study was conducted and involved men who had frequency, urgency, and nocturia despite receiving a stable dose of α1-blocker for ≥1 month. Subjects were randomised to control (α1-blocker alone), IM twice/day (α1-blocker +0.1 mg imidafenacin twice daily), or IM nightly (α1-blocker plus 0.1 mg imidafenacin nightly) group; the treatment period was 8 weeks. Primary endpoints included improvements in night-time frequency and Nocturia Quality of Life Questionnaire (N-QOL) scores. Secondary endpoints included changes from the baseline in frequency volume chart variables, and post-void residual volume. Compared with the controls, IM twice/day and IM nightly patients had a significantly lower night-time frequency (changes from baseline: 0.1 ± 0.8 in control, -0.6 ± 0.9 in IM twice/day, and -0.4 ± 1.0 in IM nightly, p = 0.5227, 0.0006 and 0.0143, respectively). The hours of undisturbed sleep and N-QOL score were significantly improved in IM twice/day group, though not IM nightly group. Nocturnal urine volume was significantly reduced in IM nightly group, although total urine volume remained unchanged. A short half-life anticholinergic is suggested to be safe and effective as an add-on therapy for residual nocturia in patients with male LUTS receiving α1-blocker treatment. Anticholinergic administration nightly could reduce the nocturnal urine volume.

Effects of vildagliptin as add-on treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: insights from long-term clinical studies in Japan.

PubMed

Odawara, Masato; Sagara, Rieko

2015-01-01

Vildagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, is wildly used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with mono- or combination-therapy. We review two previously published open-label studies to extract insights on the long-term efficacy and safety of vildagliptin. Two studies were conducted in Japan to assess the efficacy and safety of vildagliptin as an add-on to other oral antidiabetes drugs (OADs) for 52 weeks. These studies were performed under the similar protocol in Japanese patients with T2DM who were inadequately controlled with OAD monotherapy [excluding other dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors]. Addition of vildagliptin (50 mg twice daily) to other OAD monotherapy [sulfonylurea (SU), metformin, thiazolidinedione, alpha-glucosidase inhibitor and glinide] reduced glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels by -0.64 %,-0.75 %,-0.92 %,-0.94 % and - 0.64 %, respectively, over 52 weeks of treatment. Overall, the incidence of hypoglycemia was low and was slightly higher in the add-on to SU treatment group compared with the other groups. The incidences of adverse events were comparable among the treatment groups, and vildagliptin was well-tolerated as add-on therapy to other OADs. The evidence from the two studies indicates that vildagliptin as an add-on therapy to other OADs is a clinically reasonable option for Japanese patients with T2DM who respond inadequately to other OAD monotherapy.

Processing of Positive-Causal and Negative-Causal Coherence Relations in Primary School Children and Adults: A Test of the Cumulative Cognitive Complexity Approach in German

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Knoepke, Julia; Richter, Tobias; Isberner, Maj-Britt; Naumann, Johannes; Neeb, Yvonne; Weinert, Sabine

2017-01-01

Establishing local coherence relations is central to text comprehension. Positive-causal coherence relations link a cause and its consequence, whereas negative-causal coherence relations add a contrastive meaning (negation) to the causal link. According to the cumulative cognitive complexity approach, negative-causal coherence relations are…

AHRQ series on complex intervention systematic reviews-paper 7: PRISMA-CI elaboration and explanation.

PubMed

Guise, Jeanne-Marie; Butler, Mary; Chang, Christine; Viswanathan, Meera; Pigott, Terri; Tugwell, Peter

2017-10-01

Complex interventions are widely used in health care, public health, education, criminology, social work, business, and welfare. They have increasingly become the subject of systematic reviews and are challenging to effectively report. The Complex Interventions Methods Workgroup developed an extension to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Complex Interventions (PRISMA-CI). Following the EQUATOR Network guidance for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extensions, this Explanation and Elaboration (EE) document accompanies the PRISMA-CI checklist to promote consistency in reporting of systematic reviews of complex interventions. The EE document explains the meaning and rationale for each unique PRISMA-CI checklist item and provides examples to assist systematic review authors in operationalizing PRISMA-CI guidance. The Complex Interventions Workgroup developed PRISMA-CI as an important start toward increased consistency in reporting of systematic reviews of complex interventions. Because the field is rapidly expanding, the Complex Interventions Methods Workgroup plans to re-evaluate periodically for the need to add increasing specificity and examples as the field matures. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Helping Students with Disabilities Transition to College: 21 Tips for Students with LD and/or ADD/ADHD

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Connor, David J.

2012-01-01

Making the transition from high school to college poses challenges for most students. Moving from a secure, regulated world of secondary education into an unfamiliar environment requiring greater independence can be a destabilizing experience. For students with learning disabilities (LD) and/or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), managing this…

Marriage and Health in the Transition to Adulthood: Evidence for African Americans in the Add Health Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harris, Kathleen Mullan; Lee, Hedwig; DeLeone, Felicia Yang

2010-01-01

This article explores the relationships among early marriage (before age 26 years), cohabitation, and health for African Americans and Whites during the transition to adulthood using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). The study examines three categories of health outcomes relevant to young adulthood: physical…

Gender characteristics of cerebral hemodynamics during complex cognitive functioning.

PubMed

Misteli, Maria; Duschek, Stefan; Richter, André; Grimm, Simone; Rezk, Markus; Kraehenmann, Rainer; Boeker, Heinz; Seifritz, Erich; Schuepbach, Daniel

2011-06-01

Functional Transcranial Doppler sonography (fTCD) has been applied to assess peak mean cerebral blood flow velocity (MFV) with a high temporal resolution during cognitive activation. Yet, little attention has been devoted to gender-related alterations of MFV, including spectral analysis. In healthy subjects, fTCD was used to investigate a series of cerebral hemodynamic parameters in the middle cerebral arteries (MCA) during the Trail Making Tests (TMT), a means of selective attention and complex cognitive functioning. In females, there was a frequency peak at 0.375 Hz in both MCA, and we observed a dynamic shift in hemispheric dominance during that condition. Further, after the start phase, there was an MFV decline during complex functioning for the entire sample. These novel results suggest condition-specific features of cerebral hemodynamics in females, and it adds to the notion that gender is a fundamental confounder of brain physiology. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Cognitive bias modification as an add-on treatment in clinical depression: Results from a placebo-controlled, single-blinded randomized control trial.

PubMed

Vrijsen, Janna N; Fischer, Verena S; Müller, Bernhard W; Scherbaum, Norbert; Becker, Eni S; Rinck, Mike; Tendolkar, Indira

2018-06-06

Only 60% of depressed patients respond sufficiently to treatment, so there is a dire need for novel approaches to improve treatment effects. Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) may be an effective and easily implemented computerized add-on to treatment-as-usual. Therefore, we investigated the effects of a positivity-attention training and a positivity-approach training compared to control trainings. In a blinded randomized-controlled design, 139 depressed inpatients received either the CBM Attention Dot-Probe Training (DPT) or the CBM Approach-Avoidance Training (AAT), next to treatment as usual. N = 121 finished all four training sessions. Both trainings had an active and a control condition. In both active conditions, patients were trained to preferentially process generally positive pictures over neutral pictures. Depressive symptom severity was assessed before and after CBM, and positivity bias was measured at the start and end of each session. Clinician-rated depressive symptom severity decreased more in patients who received the active condition of the DPT or the AAT compared to patients in the control conditions. Significant change in positivity bias was found for the DPT (not the AAT), but did not mediate the effect of the training on depressive symptoms. The results suggest that both types of CBM (i.e., DPT and AAT) may provide a fitting add-on treatment option for clinical depression. The working mechanisms and optimal dose of CBM trainings, plus their possible combination, should be examined in more detail. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Acupuncture and related therapies used as add-on or alternative to prokinetics for functional dyspepsia: overview of systematic reviews and network meta-analysis.

PubMed

Ho, Robin S T; Chung, Vincent C H; Wong, Charlene H L; Wu, Justin C Y; Wong, Samuel Y S; Wu, Irene X Y

2017-09-04

Prokinetics for functional dyspepsia (FD) have relatively higher number needed to treat values. Acupuncture and related therapies could be used as add-on or alternative. An overview of systematic reviews (SRs) and network meta-analyses (NMA) were performed to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of different acupuncture and related therapies. We conducted a comprehensive literature search for SRs of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in eight international and Chinese databases. Data from eligible RCTs were extracted for random effect pairwise meta-analyses. NMA was used to explore the most effective treatment among acupuncture and related therapies used alone or as add-on to prokinetics, compared to prokinetics alone. From five SRs, 22 RCTs assessing various acupuncture and related therapies were included. No serious adverse events were reported. Two pairwise meta-analyses showed manual acupuncture has marginally stronger effect in alleviating global FD symptoms, compared to domperidone or itopride. Results from NMA showed combination of manual acupuncture and clebopride has the highest probability in alleviating patient reported global FD symptom. Combination of manual acupuncture and clebopride has the highest probability of being the most effective treatment for FD symptoms. Patients who are contraindicated for prokinetics may use manual acupuncture or moxibustion as alternative. Future confirmatory comparative effectiveness trials should compare clebopride add-on manual acupuncture with domperidone add-on manual acupuncture and moxibustion.

Game theory and extremal optimization for community detection in complex dynamic networks.

PubMed

Lung, Rodica Ioana; Chira, Camelia; Andreica, Anca

2014-01-01

The detection of evolving communities in dynamic complex networks is a challenging problem that recently received attention from the research community. Dynamics clearly add another complexity dimension to the difficult task of community detection. Methods should be able to detect changes in the network structure and produce a set of community structures corresponding to different timestamps and reflecting the evolution in time of network data. We propose a novel approach based on game theory elements and extremal optimization to address dynamic communities detection. Thus, the problem is formulated as a mathematical game in which nodes take the role of players that seek to choose a community that maximizes their profit viewed as a fitness function. Numerical results obtained for both synthetic and real-world networks illustrate the competitive performance of this game theoretical approach.

Improving wait times to care for individuals with multimorbidities and complex conditions using value stream mapping.

PubMed

Sampalli, Tara; Desy, Michel; Dhir, Minakshi; Edwards, Lynn; Dickson, Robert; Blackmore, Gail

2015-04-05

Recognizing the significant impact of wait times for care for individuals with complex chronic conditions, we applied a LEAN methodology, namely - an adaptation of Value Stream Mapping (VSM) to meet the needs of people with multiple chronic conditions and to improve wait times without additional resources or funding. Over an 18-month time period, staff applied a patient-centric approach that included LEAN methodology of VSM to improve wait times to care. Our framework of evaluation was grounded in the needs and perspectives of patients and individuals waiting to receive care. Patient centric views were obtained through surveys such as Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) and process engineering based questions. In addition, LEAN methodology, VSM was added to identify non-value added processes contributing to wait times. The care team successfully reduced wait times to 2 months in 2014 with no wait times for care anticipated in 2015. Increased patient engagement and satisfaction are also outcomes of this innovative initiative. In addition, successful transformations and implementation have resulted in resource efficiencies without increase in costs. Patients have shown significant improvements in functional health following Integrated Chronic Care Service (ICCS) intervention. The methodology will be applied to other chronic disease management areas in Capital Health and the province. Wait times to care in the management of multimoribidities and other complex conditions can add a significant burden not only on the affected individuals but also on the healthcare system. In this study, a novel and modified LEAN methodology has been applied to embed the voice of the patient in care delivery processes and to reduce wait times to care in the management of complex chronic conditions. © 2015 by Kerman University of Medical Sciences.

Possible origin and significance of extension-parallel drainages in Arizona's metamophic core complexes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Spencer, J.E.

2000-01-01

The corrugated form of the Harcuvar, South Mountains, and Catalina metamorphic core complexes in Arizona reflects the shape of the middle Tertiary extensional detachment fault that projects over each complex. Corrugation axes are approximately parallel to the fault-displacement direction and to the footwall mylonitic lineation. The core complexes are locally incised by enigmatic, linear drainages that parallel corrugation axes and the inferred extension direction and are especially conspicuous on the crests of antiformal corrugations. These drainages have been attributed to erosional incision on a freshly denuded, planar, inclined fault ramp followed by folding that elevated and preserved some drainages on the crests of rising antiforms. According to this hypothesis, corrugations were produced by folding after subacrial exposure of detachment-fault foot-walls. An alternative hypothesis, proposed here, is as follows. In a setting where preexisting drainages cross an active normal fault, each fault-slip event will cut each drainage into two segments separated by a freshly denuded fault ramp. The upper and lower drainage segments will remain hydraulically linked after each fault-slip event if the drainage in the hanging-wall block is incised, even if the stream is on the flank of an antiformal corrugation and there is a large component of strike-slip fault movement. Maintenance of hydraulic linkage during sequential fault-slip events will guide the lengthening stream down the fault ramp as the ramp is uncovered, and stream incision will form a progressively lengthening, extension-parallel, linear drainage segment. This mechanism for linear drainage genesis is compatible with corrugations as original irregularities of the detachment fault, and does not require folding after early to middle Miocene footwall exhumations. This is desirable because many drainages are incised into nonmylonitic crystalline footwall rocks that were probably not folded under low

The Hidden Complexity of Biological "Dirty Bombs": Implications for Special Operations Medical Personnel.

PubMed

Washington, Michael A; Blythe, Jauchia

The recent capture of a terrorist in Belgium carrying explosives, fecal matter, and animal tissue may indicate a shift from conventional weapons to crude bacteriological preparations as instruments of terror. It is important to note that although such weapons lack technological sophistication, bacteria are inherently complex, unpredictable, and undetectable in the field. Therefore, it is important that Special Operations medical personnel understand the complications that such seemingly simple devices can add to the treatment of casualties in the field and subsequent evaluation in the clinic. 2016.

Squill Oxymel, a traditional formulation from Drimia Maritima (L.) Stearn, as an add-on treatment in patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma: A pilot, triple-blind, randomized clinical trial.

PubMed

Nejatbakhsh, Fatemeh; Karegar-Borzi, Hossein; Amin, Gholamreza; Eslaminejad, Alireza; Hosseini, Mostafa; Bozorgi, Mahbubeh; Gharabaghi, Mehrnaz Asadi

2017-01-20

In Traditional Iranian Medicine (TIM), Squill (Drimia maritima (L.) Stearn) Oxymel was utilized in the treatment of asthma. Squill has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-cholinergic, and mucus secretion modulating effects. This study aimed to make a preliminary evaluation of the efficacy and safety of an add-on Squill Oxymel treatment in patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma. In a 6-week, triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 60 patients with stable moderate to severe persistent asthma were randomly allocated to receive either 10ml syrup of Squill Oxymel, simple oxymel, or a placebo 2 times a day, as an add-on to their routine treatment (inhaled corticosteroids and β2 agonists). Spirometry and plethysmography were performed on patients to evaluate the effect of the treatment at baseline and end of intervention. Forced Expiratory Volume in first second (FEV1) was considered the primary outcome. St. George's respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ) was also used for the subjective evaluation of patients' responses. Fifty-four patients completed the study. The results showed significant improvement in spirometry parameters, especially FEV1 (1.54±.38 vs. 2.11±.49l), in the Squill Oxymel group compared with the other groups. The increases in FEV1 liter, FEV1%, FEV1/FVC%, and MEF 25-75% during the intervention were significantly higher in the Squill Oxymel group than in the other groups (p<.001). However, the improvement of plethysmographic parameters showed no significant difference between the study groups (p>.05). The SGRQ scores (symptoms, activity, and total score) were significantly improved after intervention in both the Squill Oxymel and the simple honey oxymel groups (p<.001), but not in the placebo group. Nausea and vomiting was reported in 5 patients in Squill oxymel and simple oxymel groups. No other serious adverse event was observed. The results of the current study show preliminary evidence for the efficacy

Empagliflozin as add-on to metformin in people with Type 2 diabetes.

PubMed

Merker, L; Häring, H-U; Christiansen, A V; Roux, F; Salsali, A; Kim, G; Meinicke, T; Woerle, H J; Broedl, U C

2015-12-01

To investigate the long-term efficacy and safety of empagliflozin as add-on to metformin in people with Type 2 diabetes. Of 637 participants treated with empagliflozin 10 mg, empagliflozin 25 mg, or placebo once daily for 24 weeks, 463 (72.7%) were treated in a double-blind extension trial for ≥ 52 weeks. Prespecified exploratory endpoints included changes from baseline in HbA1c , weight and blood pressure at week 76. Compared with placebo, adjusted mean changes from baseline in HbA1c (overall baseline mean ± sd 63 ± 9 mmol/mol [7.9 ± 0.9%]) were -7 mmol/mol [(-0.6%) 95% CI -8, -5 mmol/mol (-0.8, -0.5%); P < 0.001] and -8 mmol/mol [(-0.7%) 95% CI -10, -6 mmol/mol (-0.9, -0.6%); P < 0.001], for empagliflozin 10 mg and 25 mg, respectively. Compared with placebo, adjusted mean changes from baseline in weight were -1.9 kg (95% CI -2.5, -1.3; P < 0.001) and -2.2 kg (95% CI -2.8, -1.6; P < 0.001) for empagliflozin 10 mg and 25 mg, respectively. Empagliflozin led to sustained reductions in systolic blood pressure vs. placebo. Adverse events were reported in 77.7, 80.2 and 72.0% of participants on placebo, empagliflozin 10 mg and empagliflozin 25 mg, respectively. Confirmed hypoglycaemic adverse events (glucose ≤ 3.9 mmol/l and/or event requiring assistance) were reported in 3.4, 4.1 and 4.2% of participants in these groups, respectively. In people with Type 2 diabetes, empagliflozin 10 mg and 25 mg given as add-on to metformin for 76 weeks were well tolerated and led to sustained reductions in HbA1c , weight and systolic blood pressure. © 2015 The Authors. Diabetic Medicine © 2015 Diabetes UK.

Randomized, Double-Blind, Phase 3 Trial of Triple Therapy With Dapagliflozin Add-on to Saxagliptin Plus Metformin in Type 2 Diabetes.

PubMed

Mathieu, Chantal; Ranetti, Aurelian Emil; Li, Danshi; Ekholm, Ella; Cook, William; Hirshberg, Boaz; Chen, Hungta; Hansen, Lars; Iqbal, Nayyar

2015-11-01

To compare the efficacy and safety of treatment with dapagliflozin versus that with placebo add-on to saxagliptin plus metformin in patients whose type 2 diabetes is inadequately controlled with saxagliptin plus metformin treatment. Patients receiving treatment with stable metformin (stratum A) (screening HbA1c level 8.0-11.5% [64-102 mmol/mol]) or stable metformin and a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor (stratum B) (HbA1c 7.5-10.5% [58-91 mmol/mol]) for ≥8 weeks received open-label saxagliptin 5 mg/day and metformin for 16 weeks (stratum A) or 8 weeks (stratum B) (saxagliptin replaced any DPP-4 inhibitor). Patients with inadequate glycemic control (HbA1c 7-10.5% [53-91 mmol/mol]) were randomized to receive placebo or dapagliflozin 10 mg/day plus saxagliptin and metformin. The primary end point was the change in HbA1c from baseline to week 24. Secondary end points included fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level, 2-h postprandial glucose (PPG) level, body weight, and proportion of patients achieving an HbA1c level of <7% (53 mmol/mol). Treatment with dapagliflozin add-on to saxagliptin plus metformin resulted in a greater mean HbA1c reduction than placebo (-0.82 vs. -0.10% [-9 vs. -1.1 mmol/mol], P < 0.0001). Significantly greater reductions in FPG level, 2-h PPG level, and body weight were observed, and more patients achieved an HbA1c level of <7% (53 mmol/mol) with treatment with dapagliflozin versus placebo. Adverse events were similar across treatment groups, with a low overall risk of hypoglycemia (∼1%). Genital infections developed in more patients with dapagliflozin treatment (5%) than with placebo (0.6%). Triple therapy with dapagliflozin add-on to saxagliptin plus metformin improves glycemic control and is well tolerated in patients whose type 2 diabetes is inadequately controlled with saxagliptin plus metformin therapy. © 2015 by the American Diabetes Association. Readers may use this article as long as the work is properly cited, the use is

Linagliptin as add-on to empagliflozin and metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes: Two 24-week randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group trials.

PubMed

Tinahones, Francisco J; Gallwitz, Baptist; Nordaby, Matias; Götz, Sophia; Maldonado-Lutomirsky, Mario; Woerle, Hans J; Broedl, Uli C

2017-02-01

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of linagliptin vs placebo as add-on to empagliflozin and metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes. Patients with inadequate glycaemic control despite stable-dose metformin received open-label empagliflozin 10 mg (study 1) or 25 mg (study 2) as add-on therapy for 16 weeks. Subsequently, those with HbA1c ≥7.0 and ≤10.5% (>53 and ≤91 mmol/mol) (N = 482) were randomized to 24 weeks' double-blind, double-dummy treatment with linagliptin 5 mg or placebo in study 1, or to linagliptin 5 mg or placebo in study 2; all patients continued treatment with metformin and empagliflozin 10 mg (study 1) or metformin and empagliflozin 25 mg (study 2). The primary endpoint was change from baseline (defined as the last value before first intake of randomized, double-blind treatment) in HbA1c at week 24. At week 24, HbA1c (mean baseline 7.82-8.04 [62-64 mmol/mol]) was significantly reduced with linagliptin vs placebo; adjusted mean (SE) differences in change from baseline in HbA1c with linagliptin vs placebo were -.32% (.10) (-3.59 [1.08] mmol/mol) ( P = .001) for patients on empagliflozin 10 mg and metformin, and -0.47% (0.10) (-5.15 [1.04] mmol/mol) ( P < 0.001) for patients on empagliflozin 25 mg and metformin. Adverse events were reported in more patients receiving placebo than in those receiving linagliptin: 55.5% vs 48.4% in study 1 and 58.9% vs 52.7% in study 2. Linagliptin as add-on to empagliflozin and metformin for 24 weeks improved glycaemic control vs placebo, and was well tolerated. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

How PET/MR Can Add Value For Children With Cancer.

PubMed

Daldrup-Link, Heike

2017-03-01

To review how PET/MR technology could add value for pediatric cancer patients. Since many primary tumors in children are evaluated with MRI and metastases are detected with PET/CT, integrated PET/MR can be a time-efficient and convenient solution for pediatric cancer staging. 18 F-FDG PET/MR can assess primary tumors and the whole body in one imaging session, avoid repetitive anesthesia and reduce radiation exposure compared to 18 F-FDG PET/CT. This article lists 10 action points, which might improve the clinical value of PET/MR for children with cancer. However, even if PET/MR proves valuable, it cannot enter mainstream applications if it is not accessible to the majority of pediatric cancer patients. Therefore, innovations are needed to make PET/MR scanners affordable and increase patient throughput. PET/MR offers opportunities for more efficient, accurate and safe diagnoses of pediatric cancer patients. The impact on patient management and outcomes has to be substantiated by large-scale prospective clinical trials.

76 FR 65763 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; ICE Clear Credit LLC; Order Approving Proposed Rule Change To Add...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-24

... Organizations; ICE Clear Credit LLC; Order Approving Proposed Rule Change To Add Rules Related to the Clearing of Emerging Markets Sovereigns October 18, 2011. I. Introduction On August 30, 2011, ICE Clear Credit... Contracts by ICE Trust), 26D- 315 (Terms of the Cleared SES Contract), 26D-316 (Relevant Physical Settlement...

Anticancer efficacy of a supramolecular complex of a 2-diethylaminoethyl-dextran-MMA graft copolymer and paclitaxel used as an artificial enzyme.

PubMed

Onishi, Yasuhiko; Eshita, Yuki; Ji, Rui-Cheng; Onishi, Masayasu; Kobayashi, Takashi; Mizuno, Masaaki; Yoshida, Jun; Kubota, Naoji

2014-01-01

The anticancer efficacy of a supramolecular complex that was used as an artificial enzyme against multi-drug-resistant cancer cells was confirmed. A complex of diethylaminoethyl-dextran-methacrylic acid methylester copolymer (DDMC)/paclitaxel (PTX), obtained with PTX as the guest and DDMC as the host, formed a nanoparticle 50-300 nm in size. This complex is considered to be useful as a drug delivery system (DDS) for anticancer compounds since it formed a stable polymeric micelle in water. The resistance of B16F10 melanoma cells to PTX was shown clearly through a maximum survival curve. Conversely, the DDMC/PTX complex showed a superior anticancer efficacy and cell killing rate, as determined through a Michaelis-Menten-type equation, which may promote an allosteric supramolecular reaction to tubulin, in the same manner as an enzymatic reaction. The DDMC/PTX complex showed significantly higher anticancer activity compared to PTX alone in mouse skin in vivo. The median survival times of the saline, PTX, DDMC/PTX4 (particle size 50 nm), and DDMC/PTX5 (particle size 290 nm) groups were 120 h (treatment (T)/control (C), 1.0), 176 h (T/C, 1.46), 328 h (T/C, 2.73), and 280 h (T/C, 2.33), respectively. The supramolecular DDMC/PTX complex showed twice the effectiveness of PTX alone (p < 0.036). Above all, the DDMC/PTX complex is not degraded in cells and acts as an intact supramolecular assembly, which adds a new species to the range of DDS.

Sociodemographic and diagnostic characteristics of prescribing a second-line lipid-lowering medication: ezetimibe used as initial medication, switch from statins, or add-on medication.

PubMed

Wallach-Kildemoes, Helle; Hansen, Ebba Holme

2015-10-01

Ezetimibe is used as a second-line lipid-lowering medication (LLM) if statin therapy is not tolerated or cholesterol targets are not reached by statins alone. We aimed to investigate the impact of sociodemographic factors on ezetimibe initiation as (a) incident LLM therapy, (b) add-on therapy, and (c) switch from statins. All individuals aged 30+ who had filled at least one prescription for either statins (N = 581.074) or ezetimibe (N = 7.932) in 2011 were followed in the nationwide Danish registries to explore LLM prescribing patterns from 1 January 2011 to end 2012. Using logistic regression analyses, the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was calculated for (a) incident ezetimibe use among LLM initiators (N = 77,472), (b) ezetimibe switching by discontinuing statin users (N = 37,509), and (c) ezetimibe as add-on by non-discontinuing statin users (N = 442,672). Women had higher odds for initiating ezetimibe than men (switch OR = 1.55; 95% CI = 1.32-1.82). While prior use of newer high-potency statins was the strongest predictor (add-on (5.56; 4.95-6.24), income was the strongest socioeconomic predictor for incident LLM use (1.33; 1.14-1.56) and switching (1.64; 1.27-2.13). Both income and education were predictors for add-on therapy, with the educational effect mediated by prior use of high-potency statins. Odds for ezetimibe prescribing were highest in myocardial infarction patients. While higher income is a predictor for switching to ezetimibe, both higher education and income are weak predictors for using ezetimibe as add-on therapy. Women and individuals with myocardial infarction are more likely to be prescribed ezetimibe than others, despite lack of evidence of ezetimibe lowering the risk of cardiovascular events.

N-Acetylcysteine in the Treatment of Pediatric Trichotillomania: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Add-On Trial

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bloch, Michael H.; Panza, Kaitlyn E.; Grant, Jon E.; Pittenger, Christopher; Leckman, James F.

2013-01-01

Objective: To examine the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) for the treatment of pediatric trichotillomania (TTM) in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, add-on study. Method: A total of 39 children and adolescents aged 8 to 17 years with pediatric trichotillomania were randomly assigned to receive NAC or matching placebo for 12 weeks. Our primary…

78 FR 12409 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; ICE Clear Credit LLC; Order Approving Proposed Rule Change To Add...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-22

... Organizations; ICE Clear Credit LLC; Order Approving Proposed Rule Change To Add Rules Related to the Clearing of iTraxx Europe Index CDS February 15, 2013. I. Introduction On December 6, 2012, ICE Clear Credit... (Acceptance of iTraxx Europe Untranched Contracts by ICE Clear Credit), 26F-315 (Terms of the Cleared iTraxx...

Efficacy and safety of ipragliflozin as an add-on therapy to sitagliptin and metformin in Korean patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Han, Kyung-Ah; Chon, Suk; Chung, Choon Hee; Lim, Soo; Lee, Kwan-Woo; Baik, SeiHyun; Jung, Chang Hee; Kim, Dong-Sun; Park, Kyong Soo; Yoon, Kun-Ho; Lee, In-Kyu; Cha, Bong-Soo; Sakatani, Taishi; Park, Sumi; Lee, Moon-Kyu

2018-06-04

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ipragliflozin versus placebo as add-on therapy to metformin and sitagliptin in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center, phase 3 study was conducted in Korea in 2015-2017. Patients were randomized to receive either ipragliflozin 50 mg/day or placebo once daily for 24 weeks in addition to metformin and sitagliptin. The primary endpoint was the change in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) from baseline to end of treatment (EOT). In total, 143 patients were randomized and 139 were included in efficacy analyses (ipragliflozin: 73, placebo: 66). Baseline mean (SD) HbA1c levels were 7.90% (0.69) for ipragliflozin add-on and 7.92% (0.79) for placebo. The corresponding mean (SD) changes from baseline to EOT were -0.79% (0.59) and 0.03% (0.84), respectively, in favor of ipragliflozin (adjusted mean difference: -0.83% [95% CI -1.07 to -0.59%]) (P<0.0001). More ipragliflozin-treated patients than placebo-treated patients achieved HbA1c target levels of <7.0% (44.4% vs. 12.1%) and <6.5% (12.5% vs. 1.5%) at EOT (P<0.05 for both). Fasting plasma glucose, fasting serum insulin, body weight, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance decreased significantly at EOT, in favor of ipragliflozin (adjusted mean difference: -29.55 mg/dL, -1.50 μU/mL, -1.72 kg, and -0.99, respectively) (P<0.05 for all). Adverse event rates were similar between groups (ipragliflozin: 51.4%; placebo: 50.0%). No previously unreported safety concerns were noted. Ipragliflozin add-on to metformin and sitagliptin significantly improved glycemic parameters and demonstrated a good safety profile in Korean patients with inadequately controlled T2DM. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The Psychiatric Assessment Schedule for Adult with Developmental Disability (PAS-ADD) Checklist: Reliability and Validity of French Version

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gerber, F.; Carminati, G. Galli

2013-01-01

Background: The lack of psychometric measures of psychopathology especially in intellectual disabilities (ID) population was addressed by creation of the Psychiatric Assessment Schedule for Adult with Developmental Disability (PAS-ADD-10) in Moss et?al. This schedule is a structured interview designed for professionals in psychopathology. The…

77 FR 76490 - Determination Concerning a Petition to Add a Class of Employees to the Special Exposure Cohort

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-28

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Determination Concerning a Petition to Add a Class of... (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS... employees from the Mound Plant in Miamisburg, Ohio, to the Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) under the Energy...

40 CFR 63.3966 - How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... device emission destruction or removal efficiency? 63.3966 Section 63.3966 Protection of Environment... or removal efficiency? You must use the procedures and test methods in this section to determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency as part of the performance test...

40 CFR 63.3966 - How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... device emission destruction or removal efficiency? 63.3966 Section 63.3966 Protection of Environment... or removal efficiency? You must use the procedures and test methods in this section to determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency as part of the performance test...

A low-power and high-quality implementation of the discrete cosine transformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heyne, B.; Götze, J.

2007-06-01

In this paper a computationally efficient and high-quality preserving DCT architecture is presented. It is obtained by optimizing the Loeffler DCT based on the Cordic algorithm. The computational complexity is reduced from 11 multiply and 29 add operations (Loeffler DCT) to 38 add and 16 shift operations (which is similar to the complexity of the binDCT). The experimental results show that the proposed DCT algorithm not only reduces the computational complexity significantly, but also retains the good transformation quality of the Loeffler DCT. Therefore, the proposed Cordic based Loeffler DCT is especially suited for low-power and high-quality CODECs in battery-based systems.

[Social-professional status, identity, social participation and media utilization. Analysis of a complex dynamics].

PubMed

Laflamme, Simon; Roggero, Pascal; Southcott, Chris

2010-08-01

This article examines the link between the domain and level of occupation, on the one hand, and use of media, including internet, on the other. It adds to this investigation an analysis of identity in its relation to media use and accessibility. It challenges the hypothesis of a strong correlation between level of occupation and use and accessibility to media. It reveals complex phenomena of social homogenization and differentiation. Data is extracted from a sample of workers who completed a questionnaire which focused on use of media.

78 FR 18351 - Determination Concerning a Petition To Add a Class of Employees to the Special Exposure Cohort

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-26

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Determination Concerning a Petition To Add a Class of... (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS... monitored (urine or fecal), who worked at the Plutonium Finishing Plant in the 200 Area at the Hanford site...

40 CFR 63.9323 - How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... device emission destruction or removal efficiency? 63.9323 Section 63.9323 Protection of Environment... determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency? You must use the procedures... removal efficiency as part of the performance test required by § 63.9310. You must conduct three test runs...

40 CFR 63.9323 - How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... device emission destruction or removal efficiency? 63.9323 Section 63.9323 Protection of Environment... determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency? You must use the procedures... removal efficiency as part of the performance test required by § 63.9310. You must conduct three test runs...

40 CFR 63.4166 - How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... device emission destruction or removal efficiency? 63.4166 Section 63.4166 Protection of Environment....4166 How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency? (a) For... device organic emissions destruction or removal efficiency, using Equation 2 of this section. ER23JY02...

40 CFR 63.4566 - How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... device emission destruction or removal efficiency? 63.4566 Section 63.4566 Protection of Environment... efficiency? You must use the procedures and test methods in this section to determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency as part of the performance test required by § 63.4560...

40 CFR 63.4965 - How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... device emission destruction or removal efficiency? 63.4965 Section 63.4965 Protection of Environment....4965 How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency? You must... destruction or removal efficiency as part of the performance test required by § 63.4960. You must conduct...

40 CFR 63.4566 - How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... device emission destruction or removal efficiency? 63.4566 Section 63.4566 Protection of Environment... efficiency? You must use the procedures and test methods in this section to determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency as part of the performance test required by § 63.4560...

Add-on levetiracetam in children and adolescents with refractory epilepsy: results of an open-label multi-centre study.

PubMed

Callenbach, Petra M C; Arts, Willem Frans M; ten Houten, Robert; Augustijn, Paul; Gunning, W Boudewijn; Peeters, Els A J; Weber, Alma M; Stroink, Hans; Geerts, Yvette; Geerts, Ada T; Brouwer, Oebele F

2008-07-01

To study the efficacy and tolerability of add-on levetiracetam in children and adolescents with refractory epilepsy. In this prospective multi-centre, open-label, add-on study, 33 children aged 4-16 years (median 8.5 years) with epilepsy refractory to at least two antiepileptic drugs were treated with levetiracetam in addition to their present treatment regimen with a follow-up of 26 weeks. The starting dose of 10 mg/kg/day was increased with 2-week steps of 10 mg/kg/day, if necessary, up to a maximum dose of 60 mg/kg/day. Retention rate was 69.7% after 26 weeks on a median levetiracetam dosage of 22 mg/kg/day. Four children dropped-out because levetiracetam was ineffective, four because seizure frequency increased and/or seizures became more severe, and two because they developed aggressive behaviour. Compared to their baseline seizure frequency, 13 children (39.4%) had a >50% seizure reduction 12 weeks after initiation of levetiracetam, and 17 children (51.5%) at 26 weeks. At 26 weeks, nine children (27.3%) had been seizure-free for at least the last 4 weeks, terminal remission ranged from 0 to 187 days (mean 46 days). Levetiracetam was effective in both partial and primary generalized seizures, but had most effect in partial seizures. Most reported side effects were hyperactivity (48.5%), somnolence (36.4%), irritability (33.3%) and aggressive behaviour (27.3%). Severity of most side effects was mild. Five children had a serious adverse event, which all concerned hospital admissions that were not related to levetiracetam use. Levetiracetam proved to be an effective and well-tolerated add-on treatment in this group of children with refractory epilepsy.

The use of a supplemental sulcus fixated IOL (HumanOptics Add-On IOL) to correct pseudophakic refractive errors.

PubMed

Basarir, Berna; Kaya, Vedat; Altan, Cigdem; Karakus, Sezen; Pinarci, Eylem Y; Demirok, Ahmet

2012-01-01

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of piggybacking with the HumanOptics Add-On intraocular lens (IOL) to correct pseudophakic refractive errors. Ten eyes of 10 patients with pseudophakic refractive errors were included in this study. All patients were targeted for a range of refraction -0.50 to +0.50 D. Uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuities (UDVA and CDVA, respectively), endothelial cell count (ECC), anterior chamber depth (ACD), the distance between intraocular lenses, and contrast sensitivity measurements under mesopic, scotopic, and scotopic with glare conditions were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively. The mean age of the patients was 54±27 years (range 4-78). Mean follow-up time was 10.5±1.36 months (range 6-15 months). Mean diopters of implanted Add-On IOLs were -1.4±6.9 (range -12 to +9 D). Mean preoperative and postoperative UDVA was 0.133±0.12 and 0.73±0.27, respectively (p=0.0001); mean preoperative and postoperative CDVA were 0.77±0.26 and 0.79±0.27, respectively (p=0.066). Mean preoperative and postoperative ACD were 3.87±0.91 mm vs 3.58±1.05 mm, respectively (p=0.343); mean inter-IOL distance was 0.53±0.08 mm. Mean preoperative and postoperative ECC were 2455±302 and 2426±294, respectively (p=0.55). All patients were within the targeted refractive range of -0.50 D to +0.50 D. No complications were observed during the operations or postoperative follow-up period. Piggybacking with the Add-On IOL is a safe, efficient, and reliable technique to correct pseudophakic refractive errors.

Postsynaptic density protein transcripts are differentially modulated by minocycline alone or in add-on to haloperidol: Implications for treatment resistant schizophrenia.

PubMed

Buonaguro, Elisabetta F; Tomasetti, Carmine; Chiodini, Paolo; Marmo, Federica; Latte, Gianmarco; Rossi, Rodolfo; Avvisati, Livia; Iasevoli, Felice; de Bartolomeis, Andrea

2017-04-01

In this study, we investigated whether minocycline, a second-generation tetracycline proposed as an add-on to antipsychotics in treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS), may affect the expression of Homer and Arc postsynaptic density (PSD) transcripts, implicated in synaptic regulation. Minocycline was administered alone or with haloperidol in rats exposed or not to ketamine, mimicking acute glutamatergic psychosis or naturalistic conditions, respectively. Arc expression was significantly reduced by minocycline compared with controls. Minocycline in combination with haloperidol also significantly reduced Arc expression compared with both controls and haloperidol alone. Moreover, haloperidol/minocycline combination significantly affected Arc expression in cortical regions, while haloperidol alone was ineffective on cortical gene expression. These results suggest that minocycline may strongly affect the expression of Arc as mediated by haloperidol, both in terms of quantitative levels and of topography of haloperidol-related expression. It is noteworthy that no significant pre-treatment effect was found, suggesting that pre-exposure to ketamine did not grossly affect gene expression. Minocycline was not found to significantly affect haloperidol-related Homer1a expression. No significant changes in Homer1b/c expression were observed. These results are consistent with previous observations that minocycline may modulate postsynaptic glutamatergic transmission, affecting distinct downstream pathways initiated by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor modulation, i.e. Arc-mediated but not Homer1a-mediated pathways.

Granisetron as an add-on to risperidone for treatment of negative symptoms in patients with stable schizophrenia: randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study.

PubMed

Khodaie-Ardakani, Mohammad-Reza; Seddighi, Sahar; Modabbernia, Amirhossein; Rezaei, Farzin; Salehi, Bahman; Ashrafi, Mandana; Shams-Alizadeh, Narges; Mohammad-Karimi, Maryam; Esfandiari, Gholam-Reza; Hajiaghaee, Reza; Akhondzadeh, Shahin

2013-04-01

Some 5-HT3 antagonists such as ondansetron have shown beneficial effects on negative symptoms of patients with schizophrenia. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of granisetron (another 5-HT3 antagonist) add-on therapy in the treatment of negative symptoms of patients with stable schizophrenia. In a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study, forty stable patients with schizophrenia (DSM-IV-TR), were randomized to either granisetron (1 mg twice daily) or placebo (twice daily) in addition to risperidone up to 6 mg/day for eight weeks. The patients were assessed using positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) and extrapyramidal symptom rating scale (ESRS) at baseline, week 4 and 8. Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS) was used to assess depression at baseline and week 8. Thirty-eight patients completed the trial. Granisetron group showed a significantly greater improvement on negative subscale than the placebo group at endpoint [t(38) = 6.046, mean difference (±95% CI) = 3.2(1.8-3.7), P < 0.001]. The same effect was observed for total score [t(38) = 4.168, mean difference (95% CI) = 3.2(1.6-4.7), P < 0.001]. However the placebo and granisetron groups did not differ in their reduction of positive and general psychopathology symptoms scores. HDRS scores and its changes did not differ between the two groups. The ESRS score at week 4 was significantly lower in the granisetron than the placebo group while the two groups showed similar ESRS score at week 8. Frequency of other side effects was similar between the two groups. In summary, granisetron add-on can safely and effectively reduce the primary negative symptoms of patients with schizophrenia. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

15 CFR 19.5 - How will Commerce entities add interest, penalty charges, and administrative costs to a Commerce...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 15 Commerce and Foreign Trade 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false How will Commerce entities add interest, penalty charges, and administrative costs to a Commerce debt? 19.5 Section 19.5 Commerce and Foreign Trade Office of the Secretary of Commerce COMMERCE DEBT COLLECTION Procedures To Collect Commerce...

15 CFR 19.5 - How will Commerce entities add interest, penalty charges, and administrative costs to a Commerce...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 15 Commerce and Foreign Trade 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false How will Commerce entities add interest, penalty charges, and administrative costs to a Commerce debt? 19.5 Section 19.5 Commerce and Foreign Trade Office of the Secretary of Commerce COMMERCE DEBT COLLECTION Procedures To Collect Commerce...

15 CFR 19.5 - How will Commerce entities add interest, penalty charges, and administrative costs to a Commerce...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 15 Commerce and Foreign Trade 1 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false How will Commerce entities add interest, penalty charges, and administrative costs to a Commerce debt? 19.5 Section 19.5 Commerce and Foreign Trade Office of the Secretary of Commerce COMMERCE DEBT COLLECTION Procedures To Collect Commerce...

15 CFR 19.5 - How will Commerce entities add interest, penalty charges, and administrative costs to a Commerce...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 15 Commerce and Foreign Trade 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false How will Commerce entities add interest, penalty charges, and administrative costs to a Commerce debt? 19.5 Section 19.5 Commerce and Foreign Trade Office of the Secretary of Commerce COMMERCE DEBT COLLECTION Procedures To Collect Commerce...

15 CFR 19.5 - How will Commerce entities add interest, penalty charges, and administrative costs to a Commerce...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 15 Commerce and Foreign Trade 1 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false How will Commerce entities add interest, penalty charges, and administrative costs to a Commerce debt? 19.5 Section 19.5 Commerce and Foreign Trade Office of the Secretary of Commerce COMMERCE DEBT COLLECTION Procedures To Collect Commerce...

40 CFR 63.3166 - How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... device emission destruction or removal efficiency? 63.3166 Section 63.3166 Protection of Environment... Limitations § 63.3166 How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency... emission destruction or removal efficiency as part of the performance test required by § 63.3160. You must...

40 CFR 63.3166 - How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... device emission destruction or removal efficiency? 63.3166 Section 63.3166 Protection of Environment... Limitations § 63.3166 How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency... emission destruction or removal efficiency as part of the performance test required by § 63.3160. You must...

40 CFR 63.4766 - How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... device emission destruction or removal efficiency? 63.4766 Section 63.4766 Protection of Environment... Option § 63.4766 How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency... emission destruction or removal efficiency as part of the performance test required by § 63.4760. You must...

Meeting the food, energy, and water demands of nine billion people: Will climate change add a new dimension?

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Climate change will add a new stress to our ability to produce food and supply water and energy for the expanding population. There is an emerging gap between the current production trends in food commodities around the world and the projected needs to meet the demands for the world population. This...

Drug-resistant MS spasticity treatment with Sativex(®) add-on and driving ability.

PubMed

Freidel, M; Tiel-Wilck, K; Schreiber, H; Prechtl, A; Essner, U; Lang, M

2015-01-01

The aim of the present observational study was to determine the effects of a delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) oromucosal spray (Sativex(®) spray), brand name Sativex(®), indicated for drug-resistant MS spasticity, on the driving ability of treated MS patients. The study was conducted over a period of 4-6 weeks. Thirty-three MS patients with moderate to severe treatment-resistant spasticity and planned to begin add-on treatment with Sativex(®) were enrolled at three specialized MS centres in Germany. A set of five driving test procedures from a validated computerized test battery was used to evaluate the driving ability of eligible patients. Tests were performed by patients at baseline and repeated after 4-6 weeks of treatment with Sativex(®) oromucosal spray. According to German normative data, the test thresholds achieved by the general population served as a reference to allow for a fitness/unfitness to drive classification. Patients showed comparable driving test results at baseline and at final visits. Only two patients changed classification shifting from 'unfit' to drive to 'fit' and vice versa. The mean severity of spasticity, as self-reported by the patients, improved with statistical significance. Sativex(®) was generally well tolerated. Treatment of MS patients with Sativex(®) does not negatively impact on driving ability and may improve moderate to severe treatment-resistant MS spasticity. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The microRNA effector RNA-induced silencing complex in hidradenitis suppurativa: a significant dysregulation within active inflammatory lesions.

PubMed

Hessam, S; Sand, M; Skrygan, M; Bechara, Falk G

2017-09-01

Recently, we could show that the expression levels of the key regulators of the microRNA (miRNA) maturation and transport were dysregulated in inflamed hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) tissue (Heyam et al. in Wiley Interdiscip Rev RNA 6:271-289, 2015). The RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) is the central element of the miRNA pathway and regulates miRNA formation and function. We investigated the expression of the RISC components, namely transactivation-responsive RNA-binding protein-1 (TRBP1), TRBP2, protein activator (PACT) of the interferon-induced protein kinase R, Argonaute RISC Catalytic Component-1 (AGO1) and Component-2 (AGO2), metadherin, and staphylococcal nuclease and Tudor domain-containing-1 (SND1) in inflamed HS tissue compared to healthy and psoriatic controls by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Expression levels of all investigated components were significantly lower in lesional HS skin (n = 18) compared to healthy controls (n = 10). TRBP1, PACT, AGO1, AGO2, and SND1 expression levels were significantly down-regulated in lesional HS skin compared to healthy-appearing perilesional skin (n = 7). TRBP2 and SND1 expression levels were significantly lower in healthy-appearing perilesional skin compared to healthy controls. In lesional HS skin, expression levels of PACT, AGO1, and AGO2 were significantly lower compared to psoriatic skin (n = 10). In summary, our data showed that all investigated components of RISC are dysregulated in the skin of HS patients, providing support for the hypothesis that miRNAs may have a pathological role in the inflammatory pathogenesis of HS.

Risk analysis with a fuzzy-logic approach of a complex installation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peikert, Tim; Garbe, Heyno; Potthast, Stefan

2016-09-01

This paper introduces a procedural method based on fuzzy logic to analyze systematic the risk of an electronic system in an intentional electromagnetic environment (IEME). The method analyzes the susceptibility of a complex electronic installation with respect to intentional electromagnetic interference (IEMI). It combines the advantages of well-known techniques as fault tree analysis (FTA), electromagnetic topology (EMT) and Bayesian networks (BN) and extends the techniques with an approach to handle uncertainty. This approach uses fuzzy sets, membership functions and fuzzy logic to handle the uncertainty with probability functions and linguistic terms. The linguistic terms add to the risk analysis the knowledge from experts of the investigated system or environment.

Scaffold Diversity Synthesis Delivers Complex, Structurally, and Functionally Distinct Tetracyclic Benzopyrones

PubMed Central

Sankar, Muthukumar G.; Roy, Sayantani; Tran, Tuyen Thi Ngoc; Wittstein, Kathrin; Bauer, Jonathan O.; Strohmann, Carsten; Ziegler, Slava

2018-01-01

Abstract Complexity‐generating chemical transformations that afford novel molecular scaffolds enriched in sp 3 character are highly desired. Here, we present a highly stereoselective scaffold diversity synthesis approach that utilizes cascade double‐annulation reactions of diverse pairs of zwitterionic and non‐zwitterionic partners with 3‐formylchromones to generate highly complex tetracyclic benzopyrones. Each pair of annulation partners adds to the common chroman‐4‐one scaffold to build two new rings, supporting up to four contiguous chiral centers that include an all‐carbon quaternary center. Differently ring‐fused benzopyrones display different biological activities, thus demonstrating their immense potential in medicinal chemistry and chemical biology research. PMID:29721402

GWAS4D: multidimensional analysis of context-specific regulatory variant for human complex diseases and traits.

PubMed

Huang, Dandan; Yi, Xianfu; Zhang, Shijie; Zheng, Zhanye; Wang, Panwen; Xuan, Chenghao; Sham, Pak Chung; Wang, Junwen; Li, Mulin Jun

2018-05-16

Genome-wide association studies have generated over thousands of susceptibility loci for many human complex traits, and yet for most of these associations the true causal variants remain unknown. Tissue/cell type-specific prediction and prioritization of non-coding regulatory variants will facilitate the identification of causal variants and underlying pathogenic mechanisms for particular complex diseases and traits. By leveraging recent large-scale functional genomics/epigenomics data, we develop an intuitive web server, GWAS4D (http://mulinlab.tmu.edu.cn/gwas4d or http://mulinlab.org/gwas4d), that systematically evaluates GWAS signals and identifies context-specific regulatory variants. The updated web server includes six major features: (i) updates the regulatory variant prioritization method with our new algorithm; (ii) incorporates 127 tissue/cell type-specific epigenomes data; (iii) integrates motifs of 1480 transcriptional regulators from 13 public resources; (iv) uniformly processes Hi-C data and generates significant interactions at 5 kb resolution across 60 tissues/cell types; (v) adds comprehensive non-coding variant functional annotations; (vi) equips a highly interactive visualization function for SNP-target interaction. Using a GWAS fine-mapped set for 161 coronary artery disease risk loci, we demonstrate that GWAS4D is able to efficiently prioritize disease-causal regulatory variants.

The non-small cell lung cancer immune landscape: emerging complexity, prognostic relevance and prospective significance in the context of immunotherapy.

PubMed

Anichini, Andrea; Tassi, Elena; Grazia, Giulia; Mortarini, Roberta

2018-06-01

Immunotherapy of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), by immune checkpoint inhibitors, has profoundly improved the clinical management of advanced disease. However, only a fraction of patients respond and no effective predictive factors have been defined. Here, we discuss the prospects for identification of such predictors of response to immunotherapy, by fostering an in-depth analysis of the immune landscape of NSCLC. The emerging picture, from several recent studies, is that the immune contexture of NSCLC lesions is a complex and heterogeneous feature, as documented by analysis for frequency, phenotype and spatial distribution of innate and adaptive immune cells, and by characterization of functional status of inhibitory receptor + T cells. The complexity of the immune landscape of NSCLC stems from the interaction of several factors, including tumor histology, molecular subtype, main oncogenic drivers, nonsynonymous mutational load, tumor aneuploidy, clonal heterogeneity and tumor evolution, as well as the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. All these factors contribute to shape NSCLC immune profiles that have clear prognostic significance. An integrated analysis of the immune and molecular profile of the neoplastic lesions may allow to define the potential predictive role of the immune landscape for response to immunotherapy.

Do "premium" joint implants add value?: analysis of high cost joint implants in a community registry.

PubMed

Gioe, Terence J; Sharma, Amit; Tatman, Penny; Mehle, Susan

2011-01-01

Numerous joint implant options of varying cost are available to the surgeon, but it is unclear whether more costly implants add value in terms of function or longevity. We evaluated registry survival of higher-cost "premium" knee and hip components compared to lower-priced standard components. Premium TKA components were defined as mobile-bearing designs, high-flexion designs, oxidized-zirconium designs, those including moderately crosslinked polyethylene inserts, or some combination. Premium THAs included ceramic-on-ceramic, metal-on-metal, and ceramic-on-highly crosslinked polyethylene designs. We compared 3462 standard TKAs to 2806 premium TKAs and 868 standard THAs to 1311 premium THAs using standard statistical methods. The cost of the premium implants was on average approximately $1000 higher than the standard implants. There was no difference in the cumulative revision rate at 7-8 years between premium and standard TKAs or THAs. In this time frame, premium implants did not demonstrate better survival than standard implants. Revision indications for TKA did not differ, and infection and instability remained contributors. Longer followup is necessary to demonstrate whether premium implants add value in younger patient groups. Level III, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Steering air bubbles with an add-on vacuum layer for biopolymer membrane biofabrication in PDMS microfluidics.

PubMed

Pham, Phu; Vo, Thanh; Luo, Xiaolong

2017-01-17

Membrane functionality is crucial in microfluidics for realizing operations such as filtration, separation, concentration, signaling among cells and gradient generation. Currently, common methods often sandwich commercially available membranes in multi-layer devices, or use photopolymerization or temperature-induced gelation to fabricate membrane structures in one-layer devices. Biofabrication offers an alternative to forming membrane structures with biomimetic materials and mechanisms in mild conditions. We have recently developed a biofabrication strategy to form parallel biopolymer membranes in gas-permeable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic devices, which used positive pressure to dissipate air bubbles through PDMS to initiate membrane formation but required careful pressure balancing between two flows. Here, we report a technical innovation by simply placing as needed an add-on PDMS vacuum layer on PDMS microfluidic devices to dissipate air bubbles and guide the biofabrication of biopolymer membranes. Vacuuming through PDMS was simply achieved by either withdrawing a syringe or releasing a squeezed nasal aspirator. Upon vacuuming, air bubbles dissipated within minutes, membranes were effortlessly formed, and the add-on vacuum layer can be removed. Subsequent membrane growth could be robustly controlled with the flows and pH of solutions. This new process is user-friendly and has achieved a 100% success rate in more than 200 trials in membrane biofabrication.

Integrating technology into complex intervention trial processes: a case study.

PubMed

Drew, Cheney J G; Poile, Vincent; Trubey, Rob; Watson, Gareth; Kelson, Mark; Townson, Julia; Rosser, Anne; Hood, Kerenza; Quinn, Lori; Busse, Monica

2016-11-17

Trials of complex interventions are associated with high costs and burdens in terms of paperwork, management, data collection, validation, and intervention fidelity assessment occurring across multiple sites. Traditional data collection methods rely on paper-based forms, where processing can be time-consuming and error rates high. Electronic source data collection can potentially address many of these inefficiencies, but has not routinely been used in complex intervention trials. Here we present the use of an on-line system for managing all aspects of data handling and for the monitoring of trial processes in a multicentre trial of a complex intervention. We custom built a web-accessible software application for the delivery of ENGAGE-HD, a multicentre trial of a complex physical therapy intervention. The software incorporated functionality for participant randomisation, data collection and assessment of intervention fidelity. It was accessible to multiple users with differing levels of access depending on required usage or to maintain blinding. Each site was supplied with a 4G-enabled iPad for accessing the system. The impact of this system was quantified through review of data quality and collation of feedback from site coordinators and assessors through structured process interviews. The custom-built system was an efficient tool for collecting data and managing trial processes. Although the set-up time required was significant, using the system resulted in an overall data completion rate of 98.5% with a data query rate of 0.1%, the majority of which were resolved in under a week. Feedback from research staff indicated that the system was highly acceptable for use in a research environment. This was a reflection of the portability and accessibility of the system when using the iPad and its usefulness in aiding accurate data collection, intervention fidelity and general administration. A combination of commercially available hardware and a bespoke online database

Saxagliptin versus glipizide as add-on therapy to metformin: assessment of hypoglycemia.

PubMed

Mintz, Matthew L; Minervini, Gianmaria

2014-05-01

To compare characteristics of hypoglycemic episodes in patients with type 2 diabetes receiving saxagliptin or glipizide add-on therapy to metformin. This was a post hoc analysis of an international, randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, active-controlled, phase 3 trial. The 52-week trial and 52-week extension were conducted from December 2007 to August 2010. Patients aged ≥18 years with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) >6.5% to 10.0% receiving stable metformin doses (≥1500 mg/d) were randomized 1:1 to add-on therapy with saxagliptin 5 mg/d or glipizide 5 to 20 mg/d (titrated to optimal effect or highest tolerable dose during the initial 18 weeks). Hypoglycemic episodes were recorded in patient diaries. Confirmed hypoglycemic events were defined as fingerstick glucose ≤50 mg/dL (≤2.8 mmol/L) with associated symptoms. Of 858 patients randomized, 428 received saxagliptin + metformin, and 430 received glipizide + metformin. Saxagliptin was noninferior to glipizide in lowering HbA1c. Hypoglycemia with saxagliptin + metformin and glipizide + metformin was reported by 15 (24 events) and 165 (896 events) patients, respectively, through week 104. The mean (SD) number of hypoglycemic events per patient reporting hypoglycemia was lower with saxagliptin + metformin versus glipizide + metformin through weeks 52 (1.5 [SD 0.88] vs 4.8 [SD 4.9], respectively) and 104 (1.6 [SD 0.99] vs 5.4 [SD 5.8]). Most patients receiving glipizide + metformin with hypoglycemia had multiple events (124/165 patients [75%]). Confirmed hypoglycemia, major events, and severe events occurred only with glipizide + metformin. Time to first hypoglycemic event was shorter with glipizide versus saxagliptin. Limitations of this analysis include its post hoc nature, a high rate of study discontinuation, and exclusion of patients with serious comorbidities and complications. Saxagliptin + metformin was associated with fewer patients reporting hypoglycemia

Channel-transporter complexes: an emerging theme in cell signaling.

PubMed

Abbott, Geoffrey W

2016-11-01

In a recent edition of Biochemical Journal, Mistry et al. described the discovery of a novel protein complex, formed from the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) and the sodium chloride cotransporter (NCC) [Mistry et al. (2016) Biochem. J. 473, 3237–3252]. The importance of these two proteins in the regulation of salt balance and blood pressure has long been known, as has their overlapping expression in the distal convoluted tubule of the kidney. The new study by Mistry et al. now demonstrates their physical interaction in the kidney and when heterologously co-expressed. Furthermore, the authors demonstrate some degree of functional co-dependence between ENaC and NCC, with pharmacological inhibition of the latter diminishing activity of the former when the two are co-assembled. This novel and potentially important interaction adds to a growing number of recently identified channel-transporter ('chansporter') complexes, which together constitute an emerging theme in cell signaling. © 2016 The Author(s); published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society.

Going beyond the hero in leadership development: the place of healthcare context, complexity and relationships: Comment on "Leadership and leadership development in healthcare settings - a simplistic solution to complex problems?".

PubMed

Ford, Jackie

2015-04-01

There remains a conviction that the torrent of publications and the financial outlay on leadership development will create managers with the skills and characters of perfect leaders, capable of guiding healthcare organisations through the challenges and crises of the 21st century. The focus of much attention continues to be the search for the (illusory) core set of heroic qualities, abilities or competencies that will enable the development of leaders to achieve levels of supreme leadership and organisational performance. This brief commentary adds support to McDonald's (1) call for recognition of the complexity of the undertaking.

Adjuncts in the IVF laboratory: where is the evidence for 'add-on' interventions?

PubMed

Harper, Joyce; Jackson, Emily; Sermon, Karen; Aitken, Robert John; Harbottle, Stephen; Mocanu, Edgar; Hardarson, Thorir; Mathur, Raj; Viville, Stephane; Vail, Andy; Lundin, Kersti

2017-03-01

Globally, IVF patients are routinely offered and charged for a selection of adjunct treatments and tests or 'add-ons' that they are told may improve their chance of a live birth, despite there being no clinical evidence supporting the efficacy of the add-on. Any new IVF technology claiming to improve live birth rates (LBR) should, in most cases, first be tested in an appropriate animal model, then in clinical trials, to ensure safety, and finally in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to provide high-quality evidence that the procedure is safe and effective. Only then should the technique be considered as 'routine' and only when applied to the similar patient population as those studied in the RCT. Even then, further pediatric and long-term follow-up studies will need to be undertaken to examine the long-term safety of the procedure. Alarmingly, there are currently numerous examples where adjunct treatments are used in the absence of evidence-based medicine and often at an additional fee. In some cases, when RCTs have shown the technique to be ineffective, it is eventually withdrawn from the clinic. In this paper, we discuss some of the adjunct treatments currently being offered globally in IVF laboratories, including embryo glue and adherence compounds, sperm DNA fragmentation, time-lapse imaging, preimplantation genetic screening, mitochondria DNA load measurement and assisted hatching. We examine the evidence for their safety and efficacy in increasing LBRs. We conclude that robust studies are needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of any adjunct treatment or test before they are offered routinely to IVF patients. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Sensitivity analysis of the add-on price estimate for the silicon web growth process

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mokashi, A. R.

1981-01-01

The web growth process, a silicon-sheet technology option, developed for the flat plate solar array (FSA) project, was examined. Base case data for the technical and cost parameters for the technical and commercial readiness phase of the FSA project are projected. The process add on price, using the base case data for cost parameters such as equipment, space, direct labor, materials and utilities, and the production parameters such as growth rate and run length, using a computer program developed specifically to do the sensitivity analysis with improved price estimation are analyzed. Silicon price, sheet thickness and cell efficiency are also discussed.

The efficacy of tramadol/acetaminophen combination tablets (Ultracet®) as add-on and maintenance therapy in knee osteoarthritis pain inadequately controlled by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

PubMed

Park, Kyung-Su; Choi, Jin-Jung; Kim, Wan-Uk; Min, June-Ki; Park, Sung-Hwan; Cho, Chul-Soo

2012-02-01

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of tramadol 37.5 mg/acetaminophen 325 mg combination tablets (tramadol/APAP) with that of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as maintenance therapy following tramadol/APAP and NSAID combination therapy in knee osteoarthritis (OA) pain which was inadequately controlled by NSAIDs. Subjects with knee OA for over 1 year and moderate pain (numerical rating scale [NRS] ≥5) despite at least 4 weeks' NSAID therapy (meloxicam 7.5 mg or 15 mg qd or aceclofenac 100 mg bid) received tramadol/APAP add-on (combination with NSAID) for 4 weeks. Thereafter, subjects with significant pain improvement (NRS <4) were randomized to receive either tramadol/APAP or NSAID for 8 weeks. On days 29 and 57, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) OA index score was measured. Secondary measures included pain intensity (NRS), pain relief score, and subjects' and investigators' overall medication assessments. Of 143 subjects enrolled, 112 completed the 4-week tramadol/APAP and NSAID combination phase and 97 (67.8%) experienced significant pain improvement. Of the 97 subjects randomized, 36 in tramadol/APAP group and 47 in NSAID group completed the 8-week comparator study. On days 29 and 57, WOMAC scores and pain intensities did not increase in both groups compared to measurements immediately after the combination therapy. At these two time points, there were no significant differences in WOMAC scores, pain intensities, and other secondary measures between the two groups. Overall adverse event rates were similar in both groups. Tramadol/APAP add-on significantly improved knee OA pain which had been inadequately controlled by NSAIDs. In those subjects who showed favorable response to tramadol/APAP and NSAID combination therapy, both tramadol/APAP and NSAIDs were effective at maintaining the pain-reduced state and there was no significant difference in efficacy between tramadol/APAP and NSAIDs.

Safinamide: an add-on treatment for managing Parkinson's disease.

PubMed

Müller, Thomas

2018-01-01

Heterogeneous expression of neurotransmitter deficits results from onset and progression of Parkinson's disease. Intervals, characterized by reappearance of motor and associated certain nonmotor symptoms, determine the end of good tolerability and efficacy of oral levodopa therapy. These "OFF" states result from levodopa pharmacokinetics and disease progression-related deterioration of the central buffering capacity for fluctuations of dopamine levels. This review discusses safinamide as an add-on therapeutic agent in orally levodopa-treated patients with "OFF" phenomena. Safinamide provided beneficial effects on "OFF" symptoms in pivotal trials with doses of 50 or 100 mg once daily. Safinamide reversibly inhibits mono-amine oxidase B and declines abnormal glutamate release by modulation of potassium- and sodium ion channels. An ideal candidate for combination with safinamide is opicapone. This inhibitor of peripheral catechol-O-methyltransferase supports continuous brain delivery of levodopa and, thus, the continuous dopaminergic stimulation concept. Both compounds with their once-daily application and good tolerability may complement each other by reduction of necessary oral levodopa intakes and "OFF" times. Thus, a promising, future option will be combination of safinamide and opicapone in one formulation. It will reduce adherence issues and may complement levodopa treatment. It will probably cause less nausea and edema than a dopamine agonist/levodopa regimen.

'Add women & stir'--the biomedical approach to cardiac research!

PubMed

O'Donnell, Sharon; Condell, Sarah; Begley, Cecily M

2004-07-01

In conditions shared by women and men, the biomedical model of disease assumes that illness-symptoms and outcomes are biologically and socially 'neutral'. Consequently, up until a decade ago, white middle-aged men were the model subjects in most funded cardiac trials, with the assumption that whatever the findings, the results would also hold true for women. This 'add women and stir' approach has resulted in imbalances in cardiac care and an image of coronary artery disease, which portrays a middle-aged male as its victim. Moreover, cardiac health care has been designed with the male anatomy and male experience of illness in mind, and health promotional measures have been targeted towards men. Women have received these health promotional messages to protect the hearts of men, and have been less likely to modify their own lifestyles in a cardio-protective manner. However, the biological and social differences that exist between women and men, must surely invalidate such biased biomedical assertions, and signify a need to delve beyond the realm of biomedical reductionism for greater insights and understanding. This review examines how scientific reductionism has failed to explore the impact of coronary artery disease on the lives of women and how the gendered image of this disease has privileged the normative frame.

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart IIIi of... - Operating Limits for Capture Systems and Add-On Control Devices

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 12 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 true Operating Limits for Capture Systems... 63—Operating Limits for Capture Systems and Add-On Control Devices If you are required to comply with operating limits by § 63.3093, you must comply with the applicable operating limits in the following table...

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart IIIi of... - Operating Limits for Capture Systems and Add-On Control Devices

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 12 2011-07-01 2009-07-01 true Operating Limits for Capture Systems... 63—Operating Limits for Capture Systems and Add-On Control Devices If you are required to comply with operating limits by § 63.3093, you must comply with the applicable operating limits in the following table...

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart IIIi of... - Operating Limits for Capture Systems and Add-On Control Devices

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 13 2013-07-01 2012-07-01 true Operating Limits for Capture Systems... Subpart IIII of Part 63—Operating Limits for Capture Systems and Add-On Control Devices If you are required to comply with operating limits by § 63.3093, you must comply with the applicable operating limits...

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart IIIi of... - Operating Limits for Capture Systems and Add-On Control Devices

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 13 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Operating Limits for Capture Systems... Subpart IIII of Part 63—Operating Limits for Capture Systems and Add-On Control Devices If you are required to comply with operating limits by § 63.3093, you must comply with the applicable operating limits...

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart IIIi of... - Operating Limits for Capture Systems and Add-On Control Devices

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 13 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Operating Limits for Capture Systems... Subpart IIII of Part 63—Operating Limits for Capture Systems and Add-On Control Devices If you are required to comply with operating limits by § 63.3093, you must comply with the applicable operating limits...

Gene-carried hepatoma targeting complex induced high gene transfection efficiency with low toxicity and significant antitumor activity.

PubMed

Zhao, Qing-Qing; Hu, Yu-Lan; Zhou, Yang; Li, Ni; Han, Min; Tang, Gu-Ping; Qiu, Feng; Tabata, Yasuhiko; Gao, Jian-Qing

2012-01-01

The success of gene transfection is largely dependent on the development of a vehicle or vector that can efficiently deliver a gene to cells with minimal toxicity. A liver cancer-targeted specific peptide (FQHPSF sequence) was successfully synthesized and linked with chitosan-linked polyethylenimine (CP) to form a new targeted gene delivery vector called CPT (CP/peptide). The structure of CPT was confirmed by (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The particle size of CPT/ DNA complexes was measured using laser diffraction spectrometry and the cytotoxicity of the copolymer was evaluated by methylthiazol tetrazolium method. The transfection efficiency evaluation of the CP copolymer was performed using luciferase activity assay. Cellular internalization of the CP/DNA complex was observed under confocal laser scanning microscopy. The targeting specificity of the polymer coupled to peptide was measured by competitive inhibition transfection study. The liver targeting specificity of the CPT copolymer in vivo was demonstrated by combining the copolymer with a therapeutic gene, interleukin-12, and assessed by its abilities in suppressing the growth of ascites tumor in mouse model. The results showed that the liver cancer-targeted specific peptide was successfully synthesized and linked with CP to form a new targeted gene delivery vector called CPT. The composition of CPT was confirmed and the vector showed low cytotoxicity and strong targeting specificity to liver tumors in vitro. The in vivo study results showed that interleukin-12 delivered by the new gene vector CPT/DNA significantly enhanced the antitumor effect on ascites tumor-bearing imprinting control region mice as compared with polyethylenimine (25 kDa), CP, and other controls, which further demonstrate the targeting specificity of the new synthesized polymer. The synthesized CPT copolymer was proven to be an effective liver cancer-targeted vector for therapeutic gene

Bread, beer and wine: yeast domestication in the Saccharomyces sensu stricto complex.

PubMed

Sicard, Delphine; Legras, Jean-Luc

2011-03-01

Yeasts of the Saccharomyces sensu stricto species complex are able to convert sugar into ethanol and CO(2) via fermentation. They have been used for thousands years by mankind for fermenting food and beverages. In the Neolithic times, fermentations were probably initiated by naturally occurring yeasts, and it is unknown when humans started to consciously add selected yeast to make beer, wine or bread. Interestingly, such human activities gave rise to the creation of new species in the Saccharomyces sensu stricto complex by interspecies hybridization or polyploidization. Within the S. cerevisiae species, they have led to the differentiation of genetically distinct groups according to the food process origin. Although the evolutionary history of wine yeast populations has been well described, the histories of other domesticated yeasts need further investigation. Copyright © 2011 Académie des sciences. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

Electronic structure and reactivity of three-coordinate iron complexes.

PubMed

Holland, Patrick L

2008-08-01

[Reaction: see text]. The identity and oxidation state of the metal in a coordination compound are typically thought to be the most important determinants of its reactivity. However, the coordination number (the number of bonds to the metal) can be equally influential. This Account describes iron complexes with a coordination number of only three, which differ greatly from iron complexes with octahedral (six-coordinate) geometries with respect to their magnetism, electronic structure, preference for ligands, and reactivity. Three-coordinate complexes with a trigonal-planar geometry are accessible using bulky, anionic, bidentate ligands (beta-diketiminates) that steer a monodentate ligand into the plane of their two nitrogen donors. This strategy has led to a variety of three-coordinate iron complexes in which iron is in the +1, +2, and +3 oxidation states. Systematic studies on the electronic structures of these complexes have been useful in interpreting their properties. The iron ions are generally high spin, with singly occupied orbitals available for pi interactions with ligands. Trends in sigma-bonding show that iron(II) complexes favor electronegative ligands (O, N donors) over electropositive ligands (hydride). The combination of electrostatic sigma-bonding and the availability of pi-interactions stabilizes iron(II) fluoride and oxo complexes. The same factors destabilize iron(II) hydride complexes, which are reactive enough to add the hydrogen atom to unsaturated organic molecules and to take part in radical reactions. Iron(I) complexes use strong pi-backbonding to transfer charge from iron into coordinated alkynes and N 2, whereas iron(III) accepts charge from a pi-donating imido ligand. Though the imidoiron(III) complex is stabilized by pi-bonding in the trigonal-planar geometry, addition of pyridine as a fourth donor weakens the pi-bonding, which enables abstraction of H atoms from hydrocarbons. The unusual bonding and reactivity patterns of three

Add-on LABA in a separate inhaler as asthma step-up therapy versus increased dose of ICS or ICS/LABA combination inhaler.

PubMed

Price, David B; Colice, Gene; Israel, Elliot; Roche, Nicolas; Postma, Dirkje S; Guilbert, Theresa W; van Aalderen, Willem M C; Grigg, Jonathan; Hillyer, Elizabeth V; Thomas, Victoria; Martin, Richard J

2016-04-01

Asthma management guidelines recommend adding a long-acting β 2 -agonist (LABA) or increasing the dose of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) as step-up therapy for patients with uncontrolled asthma on ICS monotherapy. However, it is uncertain which option works best, which ICS particle size is most effective, and whether LABA should be administered by separate or combination inhalers. This historical, matched cohort study compared asthma-related outcomes for patients (aged 12-80 years) prescribed step-up therapy as a ≥50% extrafine ICS dose increase or add-on LABA, via either a separate inhaler or a fine-particle ICS/LABA fixed-dose combination (FDC) inhaler. Risk-domain asthma control was the primary end-point in comparisons of cohorts matched for asthma severity and control during the baseline year. After 1:2 cohort matching, the increased extrafine ICS versus separate ICS+LABA cohorts included 3232 and 6464 patients, respectively, and the fine-particle ICS/LABA FDC versus separate ICS+LABA cohorts included 7529 and 15 058 patients, respectively (overall mean age 42 years; 61-62% females). Over one outcome year, adjusted OR (95% CI) for achieving asthma control were 1.25 (1.13-1.38) for increased ICS versus separate ICS+LABA and 1.06 (1.05-1.09) for ICS/LABA FDC versus separate ICS+LABA. For patients with asthma, increased dose of extrafine-particle ICS, or add-on LABA via ICS/LABA combination inhaler, is associated with significantly better outcomes than ICS+LABA via separate inhalers.

Psychological distress and the role of significant others in a population of gay/bisexual men in the era of HIV.

PubMed

Britton, P J; Zarski, J J; Hobfoll, S E

1993-01-01

This study, based on The Conservation of Resources Theory (COR), explores the relationship between social resources and psychological distress, as reported by gay/bisexual men who are at varying degrees of risk for HIV. This study involves theory-based stress research, and adds to the body of literature that addresses social support and gay men. Specific emphasis was placed on the process of social support by significant others in relationship to the devastating impact HIV has on the gay/bisexual community. The investigators employed an ex-post facto design that was guided by past and present theoretical and empirical data, and by specific research hypotheses. The findings suggest that facets of social support appear to be interactively related to the perceived threat of HIV in predicting distress. In general, this study supports COR theory in that resources were related to the experience of psychological distress, yet it emphasizes that the relationship between support and gay men is complex, and thus generalizations from findings based on research with the majority culture may not apply to a population of gay/bisexual men. Implications for future research are also provided.

Functional complexity emerging from anatomical constraints in the brain: the significance of network modularity and rich-clubs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zamora-López, Gorka; Chen, Yuhan; Deco, Gustavo; Kringelbach, Morten L.; Zhou, Changsong

2016-12-01

The large-scale structural ingredients of the brain and neural connectomes have been identified in recent years. These are, similar to the features found in many other real networks: the arrangement of brain regions into modules and the presence of highly connected regions (hubs) forming rich-clubs. Here, we examine how modules and hubs shape the collective dynamics on networks and we find that both ingredients lead to the emergence of complex dynamics. Comparing the connectomes of C. elegans, cats, macaques and humans to surrogate networks in which either modules or hubs are destroyed, we find that functional complexity always decreases in the perturbed networks. A comparison between simulated and empirically obtained resting-state functional connectivity indicates that the human brain, at rest, lies in a dynamical state that reflects the largest complexity its anatomical connectome can host. Last, we generalise the topology of neural connectomes into a new hierarchical network model that successfully combines modular organisation with rich-club forming hubs. This is achieved by centralising the cross-modular connections through a preferential attachment rule. Our network model hosts more complex dynamics than other hierarchical models widely used as benchmarks.

Functional complexity emerging from anatomical constraints in the brain: the significance of network modularity and rich-clubs

PubMed Central

Zamora-López, Gorka; Chen, Yuhan; Deco, Gustavo; Kringelbach, Morten L.; Zhou, Changsong

2016-01-01

The large-scale structural ingredients of the brain and neural connectomes have been identified in recent years. These are, similar to the features found in many other real networks: the arrangement of brain regions into modules and the presence of highly connected regions (hubs) forming rich-clubs. Here, we examine how modules and hubs shape the collective dynamics on networks and we find that both ingredients lead to the emergence of complex dynamics. Comparing the connectomes of C. elegans, cats, macaques and humans to surrogate networks in which either modules or hubs are destroyed, we find that functional complexity always decreases in the perturbed networks. A comparison between simulated and empirically obtained resting-state functional connectivity indicates that the human brain, at rest, lies in a dynamical state that reflects the largest complexity its anatomical connectome can host. Last, we generalise the topology of neural connectomes into a new hierarchical network model that successfully combines modular organisation with rich-club forming hubs. This is achieved by centralising the cross-modular connections through a preferential attachment rule. Our network model hosts more complex dynamics than other hierarchical models widely used as benchmarks. PMID:27917958

40 CFR 63.4965 - How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... an alternative to Method 3B, the manual method for measuring the oxygen, carbon dioxide, and carbon..., Instruments and Apparatus]” (incorporated by reference, see § 63.14). (4) Use Method 4 of appendix A to 40 CFR... total gaseous organic mass emissions as carbon at the inlet and outlet of the add-on control device...

40 CFR 63.3545 - How do I determine the add-on control device emission destruction or removal efficiency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... an alternative to Method 3B the manual method for measuring the oxygen, carbon dioxide, and carbon..., Instruments and Apparatus]” (incorporated by reference, see § 63.14). (4) Use Method 4 of appendix A to 40 CFR... total gaseous organic mass emissions as carbon at the inlet and outlet of the add-on control device...

Add-on prolonged-release melatonin for cognitive function and sleep in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: a 6-month, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial.

PubMed

Wade, Alan G; Farmer, Mildred; Harari, Gil; Fund, Naama; Laudon, Moshe; Nir, Tali; Frydman-Marom, Anat; Zisapel, Nava

2014-01-01

A link between poor sleep quality and Alzheimer's disease (AD) has recently been suggested. Since endogenous melatonin levels are already reduced at preclinical AD stages, it is important to ask whether replenishing the missing hormone would be beneficial in AD and whether any such effects would be related to the presence of sleep disorder in patients. The effects of add-on prolonged-release melatonin (PRM) (2 mg) to standard therapy on cognitive functioning and sleep were investigated in 80 patients (men [50.7%], women [49.3%], average age 75.3 years [range, 52-85 years]) diagnosed with mild to moderate AD, with and without insomnia comorbidity, and receiving standard therapy (acetylcholinesterase inhibitors with or without memantine). In this randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study, patients were treated for 2 weeks with placebo and then randomized (1:1) to receive 2 mg of PRM or placebo nightly for 24 weeks, followed by 2 weeks placebo. The AD Assessment Scale-Cognition (ADAS-Cog), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), sleep, as assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and a daily sleep diary, and safety parameters were measured. Patients treated with PRM (24 weeks) had significantly better cognitive performance than those treated with placebo, as measured by the IADL (P=0.004) and MMSE (P=0.044). Mean ADAS-Cog did not differ between the groups. Sleep efficiency, as measured by the PSQI, component 4, was also better with PRM (P=0.017). In the comorbid insomnia (PSQI ≥6) subgroup, PRM treatment resulted in significant and clinically meaningful effects versus the placebo, in mean IADL (P=0.032), MMSE score (+1.5 versus -3 points) (P=0.0177), and sleep efficiency (P=0.04). Median ADAS-Cog values (-3.5 versus +3 points) (P=0.045) were significantly better with PRM. Differences were more significant at longer treatment duration. PRM was well tolerated, with an adverse event profile similar to that

42 CFR 82.16 - How will NIOSH add to monitoring data to remedy limitations of individual monitoring and missed...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 42 Public Health 1 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false How will NIOSH add to monitoring data to remedy limitations of individual monitoring and missed dose? 82.16 Section 82.16 Public Health PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES...

42 CFR 82.16 - How will NIOSH add to monitoring data to remedy limitations of individual monitoring and missed...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 42 Public Health 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false How will NIOSH add to monitoring data to remedy limitations of individual monitoring and missed dose? 82.16 Section 82.16 Public Health PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES...

42 CFR 82.16 - How will NIOSH add to monitoring data to remedy limitations of individual monitoring and missed...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 42 Public Health 1 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false How will NIOSH add to monitoring data to remedy limitations of individual monitoring and missed dose? 82.16 Section 82.16 Public Health PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES...

42 CFR 82.16 - How will NIOSH add to monitoring data to remedy limitations of individual monitoring and missed...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 42 Public Health 1 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false How will NIOSH add to monitoring data to remedy limitations of individual monitoring and missed dose? 82.16 Section 82.16 Public Health PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES...

42 CFR 82.16 - How will NIOSH add to monitoring data to remedy limitations of individual monitoring and missed...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 42 Public Health 1 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false How will NIOSH add to monitoring data to remedy limitations of individual monitoring and missed dose? 82.16 Section 82.16 Public Health PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES...

Add on Exenatide Treatment is Beneficial in Poorly Controlled Obese Type 2 Diabetics under Intensive Insulin Regimens.

PubMed

Sönmez, Alper; Dinç, Mustafa; Taşlıpınar, Abdullah; Aydoğdu, Aydogan; Meriç, Coskun; Başaran, Yalcin; Haymana, Cem; Demir, Orhan; Yılmaz, İlker; Azal, Ömer

2017-04-01

Background: Intensive insulin treatment is bothersome in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. High insulin dosages further increase weight gain and the risk of hypoglycemia. Glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonists decrease the insulin need, cause weight loss and reduce the risk of hypoglycemia. There is limited data about the effect of exenatide on obese diabetics under intensive insulin regimens. Methods: This retrospective case series report the clinical outcomes of 23 obese (13 morbidly obese) patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus (Age=59±10.44 years, body mass index 41.1±6.8 kg/m 2 , HbA1c 9.9±1.5%), under high dose (94.1±39.6 unit) intensive insulin. Exenatide twice daily was added for a mean follow-up period of 11.22±7.01 (3-30) months. Intensive insulin regimens were continued in 7 patients while the others were switched to basal insulin during the follow-up. Results: During the follow-up, mean HbA1c levels of the patients significantly improved (p=0.019), along with the significant decrease in body mass index and the total insulin need (p<0.001 for both). Baseline insulin dosages were significantly higher in the intensive regimen group (p=0.013) while other demographical and clinical characteristics were similar. No significant difference was present between the groups regarding the alterations of HbA1c, body mass index and the reduction in total insulin dosages. Conclusion: Add on exenatide appears to be a rational treatment modality in uncontrolled obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus despite intensive insulin regimens. Further prospective randomized studies with longer follow-up periods are recommended. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

triADD: The Risk for Alcohol Abuse, Depression, and Diabetes Multimorbidity in the American Indian and Alaska Native Population

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tann, Sheila S.; Yabiku, Scott T.; Okamoto, Scott K.; Yanow, Jessica

2007-01-01

This study examined the risk for alcoholism, diabetes, and depression (triADD) in American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations in the U.S. Using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a series of descriptive statistics and regression models were used to examine the interrelationships among these disorders in AI/AN populations.…

Two-year, randomized, controlled study of safinamide as add-on to levodopa in mid to late Parkinson's disease.

PubMed

Borgohain, Rupam; Szasz, Jozsef; Stanzione, Paolo; Meshram, Chandrashekhar; Bhatt, Mohit H; Chirilineau, Dana; Stocchi, Fabrizio; Lucini, Valentina; Giuliani, Rodolfo; Forrest, Emma; Rice, Patricia; Anand, Ravi

2014-09-01

In a 6-month double-blind, placebo-controlled study of Parkinson's disease patients with motor fluctuations, safinamide 50 and 100 mg/d significantly increased ON-time without increasing dyskinesia. Further long-term safinamide use in these patients was evaluated over an additional 18 months. Patients continued on their randomized placebo, 50, or 100 mg/d safinamide. The primary endpoint was change in Dyskinesia Rating Scale total score during ON-time over 24 months. Other efficacy endpoints included change in ON-time without troublesome dyskinesia, changes in individual diary categories, depressive symptoms, and quality of life measures. Change in Dyskinesia Rating Scale was not significantly different in safinamide versus placebo groups, despite decreased mean total Dyskinesia Rating Scale with safinamide compared with an almost unchanged score in placebo. Ad hoc subgroup analysis of moderate to severe dyskinetic patients at baseline (36% of patients) showed a decrease with safinamide 100 mg/d compared with placebo (P = 0.0317). Improvements in motor function, activities of daily living, depressive symptoms, clinical status, and quality of life at 6 months remained significant at 24 months. Adverse events and discontinuation rates were similar with safinamide and placebo. This 2-year, controlled study of add-on safinamide in mid-to-late Parkinson's disease with motor fluctuations, although not demonstrating an overall difference in dyskinesias between patients and controls, showed improvement in dyskinesia in patients at least moderately dyskinetic at baseline. The study additionally demonstrated significant clinical benefits in ON-time (without troublesome dyskinesia), OFF-time, activities of daily living, motor symptoms, quality of life, and symptoms of depression. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Benzocaine complexation with p-sulfonic acid calix[n]arene: experimental ((1) H-NMR) and theoretical approaches.

PubMed

Arantes, Lucas M; Varejão, Eduardo V V; Pelizzaro-Rocha, Karin J; Cereda, Cíntia M S; de Paula, Eneida; Lourenço, Maicon P; Duarte, Hélio A; Fernandes, Sergio A

2014-05-01

The aim of this work was to study the interaction between the local anesthetic benzocaine and p-sulfonic acid calix[n]arenes using NMR and theoretical calculations and to assess the effects of complexation on cytotoxicity of benzocaine. The architectures of the complexes were proposed according to (1) H NMR data (Job plot, binding constants, and ROESY) indicating details on the insertion of benzocaine in the cavity of the calix[n]arenes. The proposed inclusion compounds were optimized using the PM3 semiempirical method, and the electronic plus nuclear repulsion energy contributions were performed at the DFT level using the PBE exchange/correlation functional and the 6-311G(d) basis set. The remarkable agreement between experimental and theoretical approaches adds support to their use in the structural characterization of the inclusion complexes. In vitro cytotoxic tests showed that complexation intensifies the intrinsic toxicity of benzocaine, possibly by increasing the water solubility of the anesthetic and favoring its partitioning inside of biomembranes. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

40 CFR 63.3546 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.3546 Section 63.3546... of key parameters of the valve operating system (e.g., solenoid valve operation, air pressure... minimum operating limit for that specific capture device or system of multiple capture devices. The...

40 CFR 63.3546 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.3546 Section 63... of key parameters of the valve operating system (e.g., solenoid valve operation, air pressure... minimum operating limit for that specific capture device or system of multiple capture devices. The...

40 CFR 63.3546 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... capture system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.3546 Section 63... of key parameters of the valve operating system (e.g., solenoid valve operation, air pressure... minimum operating limit for that specific capture device or system of multiple capture devices. The...

Significance of tuber size for complications of tuberous sclerosis complex.

PubMed

Pascual-Castroviejo, I; Hernández-Moneo, J L; Pascual-Pascual, S I; Viaño, J; Gutiérrez-Molina, M; Velazquez-Fragua, R; Quiñones Tapia, D; Morales Bastos, C

2013-01-01

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is one of the most frequent neurocutaneous disorders. Cortical tubers are the most common pathological changes in TSC and they are directly related to the disease's main clinical manifestations: seizures, mental retardation, and autistic behaviour. The aim of this study is to establish a correlation between tuber size and the severity of clinical features in TSC. We performed a retrospective study of the clinical and imaging findings from 45 TSC patients (22 females and 23 males) and compared the clinical features with the location, size, and number of the cortical tubers in each patient. Four patients had voluminous tubers located in 1 or both cerebral hemispheres. All of these patients had intractable seizures and severe mental retardation; 3 of these cases also presented with autistic behaviour, despite tubers having been resected in all 4 patients. Thirteen patients had tubers of large-to-average size, and all patients in this group showed intractable seizures and mental retardation. Nine patients who had experienced infantile spasms during the first year of life presented autistic behaviour. Multiple tubers of small to average size were found in 28 patients. In general, this group had seizures that responded well to antiepileptic drugs and a low prevalence of autism. In 3 patients who all presented good seizure control and normal intelligence, single cortical/subcortical tubers were located in the frontal or occipital lobes. Of the total of 45 patients, 13 had cerebellar as well as cerebral tubers; these were generally present in cases with more severe clinical features. Although large tubers are less common than small to medium-sized ones, they are much more likely to be accompanied by severe clinical symptoms (seizures, mental retardation and autistic behaviour), even when the smaller tubers are quite numerous. Copyright © 2012 Sociedad Española de Neurología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

76 FR 4399 - Joint Industry Plan; Order Approving Amendment To Add the BATS Y-Exchange, Inc. as Participant to...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-25

...; Order Approving Amendment To Add the BATS Y- Exchange, Inc. as Participant to National Market System... September 9, 2010, the BATS Y-Exchange, Inc. (``BYX'' or ``Exchange'') submitted to the Securities and... their monthly reports available to the public under Rule 11Ac1-5 under the Act (n/ k/a Rule 605 of...

Ozone therapy as add-on treatment in fibromyalgia management by rectal insufflation: an open-label pilot study.

PubMed

Hidalgo-Tallón, Javier; Menéndez-Cepero, Silvia; Vilchez, Juan S; Rodríguez-López, Carmen M; Calandre, Elena P

2013-03-01

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of ozone therapy by rectal insufflation as add-on therapy in fibromyalgia management. Patients with fibromyalgia received 24 sessions of ozone therapy during a 12-week period. At each session, the administered dose of ozone was 8 mg (200 mL of gas, at a concentration of 40 μg/mL). Ozone sessions were given 5 days a week during the first 2 weeks, twice a week from weeks 3-6, and weekly from weeks 7-12. Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) was the main outcome measure, and was administered at baseline and at weeks 4, 8, and 12. Secondary outcome measures, administered at baseline and at endpoint, were the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Beck Depression Inventory, the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the SF-12, the abbreviated form of the Short Form Health Survey. Emergent adverse reactions to treatment were recorded. FIQ total scores decreased significantly during the study period, with the decrease being observed in the first 4 weeks of the study. Significant improvement was also seen both in depression scores and in the Physical Summary Score of the SF-12. Transient meteorism after ozone therapy sessions was the most frequently reported side-effect. At the dose and number of sessions used in this study, ozone therapy by rectal insufflation seems to be beneficial for physical symptoms and depression of fibromyalgia.

Add-On Antihypertensive Medications to Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Blockers in Diabetes: A Comparative Effectiveness Study.

PubMed

Schroeder, Emily B; Chonchol, Michel; Shetterly, Susan M; Powers, J David; Adams, John L; Schmittdiel, Julie A; Nichols, Gregory A; O'Connor, Patrick J; Steiner, John F

2018-05-07

In individuals with diabetes, the comparative effectiveness of add-on antihypertensive medications added to an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker on the risk of significant kidney events is unknown. We used an observational, multicenter cohort of 21,897 individuals with diabetes to compare individuals who added β -blockers, dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, loop diuretics, or thiazide diuretics to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers. We examined the hazard of significant kidney events, cardiovascular events, and death using Cox proportional hazard models with propensity score weighting. The composite significant kidney event end point was defined as the first occurrence of a ≥30% decline in eGFR to an eGFR<60 ml/min per 1.73 m 2 , initiation of dialysis, or kidney transplant. The composite cardiovascular event end point was defined as the first occurrence of hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, stroke, or congestive heart failure; coronary artery bypass grafting; or percutaneous coronary intervention, and it was only examined in those free of cardiovascular disease at baseline. Over a maximum of 5 years, there were 4707 significant kidney events, 1498 deaths, and 818 cardiovascular events. Compared with thiazide diuretics, hazard ratios for significant kidney events for β -blockers, calcium channel blockers, and loop diuretics were 0.81 (95% confidence interval, 0.74 to 0.89), 0.67 (95% confidence interval, 0.58 to 0.78), and 1.19 (95% confidence interval, 1.00 to 1.41), respectively. Compared with thiazide diuretics, hazard ratios of mortality for β -blockers, calcium channel blockers, and loop diuretics were 1.19 (95% confidence interval, 0.97 to 1.44), 0.73 (95% confidence interval, 0.52 to 1.03), and 1.67 (95% confidence interval, 1.31 to 2.13), respectively. Compared with thiazide diuretics, hazard ratios of cardiovascular events

N-Acetylcysteine in the Treatment of Pediatric Trichotillomania: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Add-On Trial

PubMed Central

Bloch, Michael H.; Panza, Kaitlyn E.; Grant, Jon E.; Pittenger, Christopher; Leckman, James F.

2013-01-01

Objective To examine the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) for the treatment of pediatric trichotillomania (TTM) in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, add-on study. Method A total of 39 children and adolescents aged 8 to 17 years with pediatric trichotillomania were randomly assigned to receive NAC or matching placebo for 12 weeks. Our primary outcome was change in severity of hairpulling as measured by the Massachusetts General Hospital–Hairpulling Scale (MGH-HPS). Secondary measures assessed hairpulling severity, automatic versus focused pulling, clinician-rated improvement, and comorbid anxiety and depression. Outcomes were examined using linear mixed models to test the treatment × time interaction in an intention-to-treat population. Results No significant difference between N-acetylcysteine and placebo was found on any of the primary or secondary outcome measures. On several measures of hairpulling, subjects significantly improved with time regardless of treatment assignment. In the NAC group, 25% of subjects were judged as treatment responders, compared to 21% in the placebo group. Conclusions We observed no benefit of NAC for the treatment of children with trichotillomania. Our findings stand in contrast to a previous, similarly designed trial in adults with TTM, which demonstrated a very large, statistically significant benefit of NAC. Based on the differing results of NAC in pediatric and adult TTM populations, the assumption that pharmacological interventions demonstrated to be effective in adults with TTM will be as effective in children, may be inaccurate. This trial highlights the importance of referring children with TTM to appropriate behavioral therapy before initiating pharmacological interventions, as behavioral therapy has demonstrated efficacy in both children and adults with trichotillomania. PMID:23452680

Statistically significant relational data mining :

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Berry, Jonathan W.; Leung, Vitus Joseph; Phillips, Cynthia Ann

This report summarizes the work performed under the project (3z(BStatitically significant relational data mining.(3y (BThe goal of the project was to add more statistical rigor to the fairly ad hoc area of data mining on graphs. Our goal was to develop better algorithms and better ways to evaluate algorithm quality. We concetrated on algorithms for community detection, approximate pattern matching, and graph similarity measures. Approximate pattern matching involves finding an instance of a relatively small pattern, expressed with tolerance, in a large graph of data observed with uncertainty. This report gathers the abstracts and references for the eight refereed publicationsmore » that have appeared as part of this work. We then archive three pieces of research that have not yet been published. The first is theoretical and experimental evidence that a popular statistical measure for comparison of community assignments favors over-resolved communities over approximations to a ground truth. The second are statistically motivated methods for measuring the quality of an approximate match of a small pattern in a large graph. The third is a new probabilistic random graph model. Statisticians favor these models for graph analysis. The new local structure graph model overcomes some of the issues with popular models such as exponential random graph models and latent variable models.« less

SCEW: a Microsoft Excel add-in for easy creation of survival curves.

PubMed

Khan, Haseeb Ahmad

2006-07-01

Survival curves are frequently used for reporting survival or mortality outcomes of experimental pharmacological/toxicological studies and of clinical trials. Microsoft Excel is a simple and widely used tool for creation of numerous types of graphic presentations however it is difficult to create step-wise survival curves in Excel. Considering the familiarity of clinicians and biomedical scientists with Excel, an algorithm survival curves in Excel worksheet (SCEW) has been developed for easy creation of survival curves directly in Excel worksheets. The algorithm has been integrated in the form of Excel add-in for easy installation and usage. The program is based on modification of frequency data for binary break-up using the spreadsheet formula functions whereas a macro subroutine automates the creation of survival curves. The advantages of this program are simple data input, minimal procedural steps and the creation of survival curves in the familiar confines of Excel.

The SKATE study: an open-label community-based study of levetiracetam as add-on therapy for adults with uncontrolled partial epilepsy.

PubMed

Steinhoff, Bernhard J; Somerville, Ernest R; Van Paesschen, Wim; Ryvlin, Philippe; Schelstraete, Isabelle

2007-08-01

The Safety of Keppra as Adjunctive Therapy in Epilepsy (SKATE) study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of levetiracetam (Keppra, LEV) as add-on therapy for refractory partial seizures in clinical practice. This Phase IV, 16-week, open-label study recruited patients > or =16-year old with treatment-resistant partial seizures. LEV (1000 mg/day) was added to a stable concomitant antiepileptic drug regimen. LEV dosage was adjusted based on seizure control and tolerability to a maximum of 3000 mg/day. 1541 patients (intent-to-treat population) were recruited including 1346 (87.3%) who completed the study and 77.0% who declared further continuing on LEV after the trial. Overall, 50.5% of patients reported at least one adverse event that was considered related to LEV treatment. The most frequently reported drug-related adverse events were mild-to-moderate somnolence, fatigue, dizziness and headache. Serious adverse events considered related to LEV occurred in 1.0% of patients. 7.5% of patients reported adverse events as the most important reason for study drug discontinuation. The median reduction from baseline in the frequency of all seizures was 50.2%; 15.8% of patients were seizure free; 50.1% had seizure frequency reduction of > or =50%. At the end of the study, 60.4% of patients were considered by the investigator to show marked or moderate improvement. There was a significant improvement in health-related quality of life as assessed with the QOLIE-10-P (total score increasing from 55.6 to 61.6; p<0.001). This community-based study suggests that LEV is well tolerated and effective as add-on therapy for refractory partial seizures in adults. These data provide supportive evidence for the safety and efficacy of LEV demonstrated in the pivotal Phase III placebo-controlled studies.

40 CFR 63.3556 - How do I establish the emission capture system and add-on control device operating limits during...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... system and add-on control device operating limits during the performance test? 63.3556 Section 63.3556... of key parameters of the valve operating system (e.g., solenoid valve operation, air pressure... Control Efficiency/outlet Concentration Option § 63.3556 How do I establish the emission capture system...

Mutations in LZTR1 add to the complex heterogeneity of schwannomatosis.

PubMed

Smith, Miriam J; Isidor, Bertand; Beetz, Christian; Williams, Simon G; Bhaskar, Sanjeev S; Richer, Wilfrid; O'Sullivan, James; Anderson, Beverly; Daly, Sarah B; Urquhart, Jill E; Fryer, Alan; Rustad, Cecilie F; Mills, Samantha J; Samii, Amir; du Plessis, Daniel; Halliday, Dorothy; Barbarot, Sebastien; Bourdeaut, Franck; Newman, William G; Evans, D Gareth

2015-01-13

We aimed to determine the proportion of individuals in our schwannomatosis cohort whose disease is associated with an LZTR1 mutation. We used exome sequencing, Sanger sequencing, and copy number analysis to screen 65 unrelated individuals with schwannomatosis who were negative for a germline NF2 or SMARCB1 mutation. We also screened samples from 39 patients with a unilateral vestibular schwannoma (UVS), plus at least one other schwannoma, but who did not have an identifiable germline or mosaic NF2 mutation. We identified germline LZTR1 mutations in 6 of 16 patients (37.5%) with schwannomatosis who had at least one affected relative, 11 of 49 (22%) sporadic patients, and 2 of 39 patients with UVS in our cohort. Three germline mutation-positive patients in total had developed a UVS. Mosaicism was excluded in 3 patients without germline mutation in NF2, SMARCB1, or LZTR1 by mutation screening in 2 tumors from each. Our data confirm the relationship between mutations in LZTR1 and schwannomatosis. They indicate that germline mutations in LZTR1 confer an increased risk of vestibular schwannoma, providing further overlap with NF2, and that further causative genes for schwannomatosis remain to be identified. © 2014 American Academy of Neurology.

Mutations in LZTR1 add to the complex heterogeneity of schwannomatosis

PubMed Central

Smith, Miriam J.; Isidor, Bertand; Beetz, Christian; Williams, Simon G.; Bhaskar, Sanjeev S.; Richer, Wilfrid; O'Sullivan, James; Anderson, Beverly; Daly, Sarah B.; Urquhart, Jill E.; Fryer, Alan; Rustad, Cecilie F.; Mills, Samantha J.; Samii, Amir; du Plessis, Daniel; Halliday, Dorothy; Barbarot, Sebastien; Bourdeaut, Franck

2015-01-01

Objectives: We aimed to determine the proportion of individuals in our schwannomatosis cohort whose disease is associated with an LZTR1 mutation. Methods: We used exome sequencing, Sanger sequencing, and copy number analysis to screen 65 unrelated individuals with schwannomatosis who were negative for a germline NF2 or SMARCB1 mutation. We also screened samples from 39 patients with a unilateral vestibular schwannoma (UVS), plus at least one other schwannoma, but who did not have an identifiable germline or mosaic NF2 mutation. Results: We identified germline LZTR1 mutations in 6 of 16 patients (37.5%) with schwannomatosis who had at least one affected relative, 11 of 49 (22%) sporadic patients, and 2 of 39 patients with UVS in our cohort. Three germline mutation–positive patients in total had developed a UVS. Mosaicism was excluded in 3 patients without germline mutation in NF2, SMARCB1, or LZTR1 by mutation screening in 2 tumors from each. Conclusions: Our data confirm the relationship between mutations in LZTR1 and schwannomatosis. They indicate that germline mutations in LZTR1 confer an increased risk of vestibular schwannoma, providing further overlap with NF2, and that further causative genes for schwannomatosis remain to be identified. PMID:25480913

Effects of postmeal exercise on postprandial glucose excursions in people with type 2 diabetes treated with add-on hypoglycemic agents.

PubMed

Erickson, Melissa L; Little, Jonathan P; Gay, Jennifer L; McCully, Kevin K; Jenkins, Nathan T

2017-04-01

Type 2 diabetes treatment primarily focuses on reducing hyperglycemia, including postprandial glucose excursions. Hypoglycemic agents are used clinically to lower fasting and postprandial glucose. Metformin is the first-line therapy; however, if metformin is inadequate then 'add-on' hypoglycemic agents are implemented. Postmeal exercise has been shown to lower postprandial glucose. The aim of this study was to assess if postmeal exercise provides additional glucose-lowering benefit, beyond medication alone, in those on add-on hypoglycemic agents. Postprandial glucose excursions in eight participants with type 2 diabetes (Age: 60±10.7, HbA 1C : 7.9±2.3) being treated with add-on hypoglycemic agents were assessed during both drug-treated sedentary and drug-treated postmeal exercise conditions. Continuous glucose monitoring was used to assess peak and area under the glucose curve (AUC) during exercise, as well as peak within a 2-h time window, 2-h total and 2-h incremental AUC after a standardized breakfast meal. Postmeal exercise consisted of 3×10-min intervals of treadmill walking at 50% maximal oxygen uptake. Glucose peak (drug only: 13.8±3.7, drug/exercise: 9.9±2.7mmol/L; p=0.02) and AUC (drug only: 500±136, drug/exercise: 357±89mmol/L×40min; p=0.03) were reduced during postmeal exercise. Breakfast 2-h incremental AUC was also reduced (drug only: 585±291, drug/exercise: 330±294; p=0.047). Post-breakfast exercise lowered glucose during the exercise bout, although this effect was not sustained on later meals. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Depression requiring anti-depressant drug therapy in adult congenital heart disease: prevalence, risk factors, and prognostic value.

PubMed

Diller, Gerhard-Paul; Bräutigam, Andrea; Kempny, Aleksander; Uebing, Anselm; Alonso-Gonzalez, Rafael; Swan, Lorna; Babu-Narayan, Sonya V; Baumgartner, Helmut; Dimopoulos, Konstantinos; Gatzoulis, Michael A

2016-03-01

Depression is prevalent in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD), but limited data on the frequency of anti-depressant drug (ADD) therapy and its impact on outcome are available. We identified all ACHD patients treated with ADDs between 2000 and 2011 at our centre. Of 6162 patients under follow-up, 204 (3.3%) patients were on ADD therapy. The majority of patients were treated with selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (67.4%), while only 17.0% of patients received tricyclic anti-depressants. Twice as many female patients used ADDs compared with males (4.4 vs. 2.2%, P < 0.0001). The percentage of patients on ADDs increased with disease complexity (P < 0.0001) and patient age (P < 0.0001). Over a median follow-up of 11.1 years, 507 (8.2%) patients died. After propensity score matching, ADD use was found to be significantly associated with worse outcome in male ACHD patients [hazard ratio 1.44 (95% confidence interval 1.17-1.84)]. There was no evidence that this excess mortality was directly related to ADD therapy, QT-prolongation, or malignant arrhythmias. However, males taking ADDs were also more likely to miss scheduled follow-up appointments compared with untreated counterparts, while no such difference in clinic attendance was seen in females. The use of ADD therapy in ACHD relates to gender, age, and disease complexity. Although, twice as many female patients were on ADDs, it were their male counterparts, who were at increased mortality risk on therapy. Furthermore, males on ADDs had worse adherence to scheduled appointments suggesting the need for special medical attention and possibly psychosocial intervention for this group of patients. Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2015. For permissions please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Lacosamide in refractory mixed pediatric epilepsy: a prospective add-on study.

PubMed

Rastogi, Reena Gogia; Ng, Yu-Tze

2012-04-01

Lacosamide is a new antiepileptic drug that is currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for adults 17 years or older for partial-onset seizures. The authors reviewed 21 pediatric patients (<17 years) with various seizure types who were started on oral lacosamide as part of a prospective add-on study as adjunctive therapy for refractory epilepsy. Five patients were excluded due to less than 3 months of meaningful follow-up. Maintenance dosages used ranged from 2.4 to 19.4 mg/kg/d. Eight of 16 (50%) patients had greater than 50% reduction in seizure frequency with adjunctive lacosamide therapy. Eight (50%) patients had generalized epilepsy including 4 with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Lacosamide was effective therapy for most seizure types but was particularly effective for partial-onset seizures. Lacosamide was effective in treating 5 of 8 (62.5%) localization-related epilepsies but only 2 of 8 (25%) generalized epilepsies, both Lennox-Gastaut syndrome patients with greater than 90% seizure reduction. None of these very refractory patients remained seizure free.

Philanthropies Add Weight to "i3" Effort

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robelen, Erik W.; McNeil, Michele

2010-01-01

The author reports on a new effort by 12 major education philanthropies that aims to dovetail with the Education Department's "i3" agenda, raising complex issues. The decision by a dozen major education grantmakers to team up on an initiative designed to dovetail with the federal "Investing in Innovation" grant competition is being seen by…

Sirolimus for epilepsy in children with tuberous sclerosis complex: A randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Overwater, Iris E; Rietman, André B; Bindels-de Heus, Karen; Looman, Caspar W N; Rizopoulos, Dimitris; Sibindi, Tafadzwa M; Cherian, Perumpillichira J; Jansen, Floor E; Moll, Henriëtte A; Elgersma, Ype; de Wit, Marie-Claire Y

2016-09-06

To investigate whether mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) inhibitors could reduce seizure frequency in children with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Due to slow inclusion rate, target inclusion of 30 children was not reached. Twenty-three children with TSC and intractable epilepsy (age 1.8-10.9 years) were randomly assigned (1:1) to open-label, add-on sirolimus treatment immediately or after 6 months. Sirolimus was titrated to trough levels of 5-10 ng/mL. Primary endpoint was seizure frequency change during the sixth month of sirolimus treatment. Intention-to-treat analysis showed sirolimus treatment resulted in 41% seizure frequency decrease (95% confidence interval [CI] -69% to +14%; p = 0.11) compared to the standard-care period. Per protocol analysis of 14 children who reached sirolimus target trough levels in the sixth sirolimus month showed a seizure frequency decrease of 61% (95% CI -86% to +6%; p = 0.06). Cognitive development did not change. All children had adverse events. Five children discontinued sirolimus prematurely. We describe a randomized controlled trial for a non-antiepileptic drug that directly targets a presumed causal mechanism of epileptogenesis in a genetic disorder. Although seizure frequency decreased, especially in children reaching target trough levels, we could not show a significant benefit. Larger trials or meta-analyses are needed to investigate if patients with TSC with seizures benefit from mTORC1 inhibition. This trial was registered at trialregister.nl (NTR3178) and supported by the Dutch Epilepsy Foundation. This study provides Class III evidence that sirolimus does not significantly reduce seizure frequency in children with TSC and intractable epilepsy. The study lacked the precision to exclude a benefit from sirolimus. © 2016 American Academy of Neurology.

The Roles of Chronic Disease Complexity, Health System Integration, and Care Management in Post-Discharge Healthcare Utilization in a Low-Income Population.

PubMed

Hewner, Sharon; Casucci, Sabrina; Castner, Jessica

2016-08-01

Economically disadvantaged individuals with chronic disease have high rates of in-patient (IP) readmission and emergency department (ED) utilization following initial hospitalization. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between chronic disease complexity, health system integration (admission to accountable care organization [ACO] hospital), availability of care management interventions (membership in managed care organization [MCO]), and 90-day post-discharge healthcare utilization. We used de-identified Medicaid claims data from two counties in western New York. The study population was 114,295 individuals who met inclusion criteria, of whom 7,179 had index hospital admissions in the first 9 months of 2013. Individuals were assigned to three disease complexity segments based on presence of 12 prevalent conditions. The 30-day inpatient (IP) readmission rates ranged from 6% in the non-chronic segment to 12% in the chronic disease complexity segment and 21% in the organ system failure complexity segment. Rehospitalization rates (both inpatient and emergency department [ED]) were lower for patients in MCOs and ACOs than for those in fee-for-service care. Complexity of chronic disease, initial hospitalization in a facility that was part of an ACO, MCO membership, female gender, and longer length of stay were associated with a significantly longer time to readmission in the first 90 days, that is, fewer readmissions. Our results add to evidence that high-value post-discharge utilization (fewer IP or ED rehospitalizations and early outpatient follow-up) require population-based transitional care strategies that improve continuity between settings and take into account the illness complexity of the Medicaid population. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Anomalies in T Cell Function Are Associated With Individuals at Risk of Mycobacterium abscessus Complex Infection

PubMed Central

Lutzky, Viviana P.; Ratnatunga, Champa N.; Smith, Daniel J.; Kupz, Andreas; Doolan, Denise L.; Reid, David W.; Thomson, Rachel M.; Bell, Scott C.; Miles, John J.

2018-01-01

The increasing global incidence and prevalence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection is of growing concern. New evidence of person-to-person transmission of multidrug-resistant NTM adds to the global concern. The reason why certain individuals are at risk of NTM infections is unknown. Using high definition flow cytometry, we studied the immune profiles of two groups that are at risk of Mycobacterium abscessus complex infection and matched controls. The first group was cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and the second group was elderly individuals. CF individuals with active M. abscessus complex infection or a history of M. abscessus complex infection exhibited a unique surface T cell phenotype with a marked global deficiency in TNFα production during mitogen stimulation. Importantly, immune-based signatures were identified that appeared to predict at baseline the subset of CF individuals who were at risk of M. abscessus complex infection. In contrast, elderly individuals with M. abscessus complex infection exhibited a separate T cell phenotype underlined by the presence of exhaustion markers and dysregulation in type 1 cytokine release during mitogen stimulation. Collectively, these data suggest an association between T cell signatures and individuals at risk of M. abscessus complex infection, however, validation of these immune anomalies as robust biomarkers will require analysis on larger patient cohorts. PMID:29942313

Anomalies in T Cell Function Are Associated With Individuals at Risk of Mycobacterium abscessus Complex Infection.

PubMed

Lutzky, Viviana P; Ratnatunga, Champa N; Smith, Daniel J; Kupz, Andreas; Doolan, Denise L; Reid, David W; Thomson, Rachel M; Bell, Scott C; Miles, John J

2018-01-01

The increasing global incidence and prevalence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection is of growing concern. New evidence of person-to-person transmission of multidrug-resistant NTM adds to the global concern. The reason why certain individuals are at risk of NTM infections is unknown. Using high definition flow cytometry, we studied the immune profiles of two groups that are at risk of Mycobacterium abscessus complex infection and matched controls. The first group was cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and the second group was elderly individuals. CF individuals with active M. abscessus complex infection or a history of M. abscessus complex infection exhibited a unique surface T cell phenotype with a marked global deficiency in TNFα production during mitogen stimulation. Importantly, immune-based signatures were identified that appeared to predict at baseline the subset of CF individuals who were at risk of M. abscessus complex infection. In contrast, elderly individuals with M. abscessus complex infection exhibited a separate T cell phenotype underlined by the presence of exhaustion markers and dysregulation in type 1 cytokine release during mitogen stimulation. Collectively, these data suggest an association between T cell signatures and individuals at risk of M. abscessus complex infection, however, validation of these immune anomalies as robust biomarkers will require analysis on larger patient cohorts.

Homoleptic Ce(III) and Ce(IV) Nitroxide Complexes: Significant Stabilization of the 4+ Oxidation State

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bogart, Justin A.; Lewis, Andrew J.; Medling, Scott A.

2014-06-25

Electrochemical experiments performed on the complex Ce-IV[2-((BuNO)-Bu-t)py](4), where [2-((BuNO)-Bu-t)py](-) = N-tert-butyl-N-2-pyridylnitroxide, indicate a 2.51 V stabilization of the 4+ oxidation state of Ce compared to [(Bu4N)-Bu-n](2)[Ce(NO3)(6)] in acetonitrile and a 2.95 V stabilization compared to the standard potential for the ion under aqueous conditions. Density functional theory calculations suggest that this preference for the higher oxidation state is a result of the tetrakis(nitroxide) ligand framework at the Ce cation, which allows for effective electron donation into, and partial covalent overlap with, vacant 4f orbitals with delta symmetry. The results speak to the behavior of CeO2 and related solid solutions inmore » oxygen uptake and transport applications, in particular an inherent local character of bonding that stabilizes the 4+ oxidation state. The results indicate a cerium(IV) complex that has been stabilized to an unprecedented degree through tuning of its ligand-field environment.« less

Study of Environmental Data Complexity using Extreme Learning Machine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leuenberger, Michael; Kanevski, Mikhail

2017-04-01

The main goals of environmental data science using machine learning algorithm deal, in a broad sense, around the calibration, the prediction and the visualization of hidden relationship between input and output variables. In order to optimize the models and to understand the phenomenon under study, the characterization of the complexity (at different levels) should be taken into account. Therefore, the identification of the linear or non-linear behavior between input and output variables adds valuable information for the knowledge of the phenomenon complexity. The present research highlights and investigates the different issues that can occur when identifying the complexity (linear/non-linear) of environmental data using machine learning algorithm. In particular, the main attention is paid to the description of a self-consistent methodology for the use of Extreme Learning Machines (ELM, Huang et al., 2006), which recently gained a great popularity. By applying two ELM models (with linear and non-linear activation functions) and by comparing their efficiency, quantification of the linearity can be evaluated. The considered approach is accompanied by simulated and real high dimensional and multivariate data case studies. In conclusion, the current challenges and future development in complexity quantification using environmental data mining are discussed. References - Huang, G.-B., Zhu, Q.-Y., Siew, C.-K., 2006. Extreme learning machine: theory and applications. Neurocomputing 70 (1-3), 489-501. - Kanevski, M., Pozdnoukhov, A., Timonin, V., 2009. Machine Learning for Spatial Environmental Data. EPFL Press; Lausanne, Switzerland, p.392. - Leuenberger, M., Kanevski, M., 2015. Extreme Learning Machines for spatial environmental data. Computers and Geosciences 85, 64-73.

The science and complexity of bitter taste.

PubMed

Drewnowski, A

2001-06-01

Food choices and eating habits are largely influenced by how foods taste. Without being the dominant taste sensation, bitter taste contributes to the complexity and enjoyment of beverages and foods. Compounds that are perceived as bitter do not share a similar chemical structure. In addition to peptides and salts, bitter compounds in foods may include plant-derived phenols and polyphenols, flavonoids, catechins, and caffeine. Recent studies have shown that humans possess a multitude of bitter taste receptors and that the transduction of bitter taste may differ between one compound and another. Studies of mixture interactions suggest further that bitter compounds suppress or enhance sweet and sour tastes and interact with volatile flavor molecules. Caffeine, a natural ingredient of tea, coffee, and chocolate, has a unique flavor profile. Used as a flavoring agent, it enhances the sensory appeal of beverages. Research developments on the genetics and perception of bitter taste add to our understanding of the role of bitterness in relation to food preference.

Going beyond the hero in leadership development: the place of healthcare context, complexity and relationships

PubMed Central

Ford, Jackie

2015-01-01

There remains a conviction that the torrent of publications and the financial outlay on leadership development will create managers with the skills and characters of perfect leaders, capable of guiding healthcare organisations through the challenges and crises of the 21st century. The focus of much attention continues to be the search for the (illusory) core set of heroic qualities, abilities or competencies that will enable the development of leaders to achieve levels of supreme leadership and organisational performance. This brief commentary adds support to McDonald’s (1) call for recognition of the complexity of the undertaking. PMID:25844391

Significant Scales in Community Structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Traag, V. A.; Krings, G.; van Dooren, P.

2013-10-01

Many complex networks show signs of modular structure, uncovered by community detection. Although many methods succeed in revealing various partitions, it remains difficult to detect at what scale some partition is significant. This problem shows foremost in multi-resolution methods. We here introduce an efficient method for scanning for resolutions in one such method. Additionally, we introduce the notion of ``significance'' of a partition, based on subgraph probabilities. Significance is independent of the exact method used, so could also be applied in other methods, and can be interpreted as the gain in encoding a graph by making use of a partition. Using significance, we can determine ``good'' resolution parameters, which we demonstrate on benchmark networks. Moreover, optimizing significance itself also shows excellent performance. We demonstrate our method on voting data from the European Parliament. Our analysis suggests the European Parliament has become increasingly ideologically divided and that nationality plays no role.

Does aquaculture add resilience to the global food system?

PubMed

Troell, Max; Naylor, Rosamond L; Metian, Marc; Beveridge, Malcolm; Tyedmers, Peter H; Folke, Carl; Arrow, Kenneth J; Barrett, Scott; Crépin, Anne-Sophie; Ehrlich, Paul R; Gren, Asa; Kautsky, Nils; Levin, Simon A; Nyborg, Karine; Österblom, Henrik; Polasky, Stephen; Scheffer, Marten; Walker, Brian H; Xepapadeas, Tasos; de Zeeuw, Aart

2014-09-16

Aquaculture is the fastest growing food sector and continues to expand alongside terrestrial crop and livestock production. Using portfolio theory as a conceptual framework, we explore how current interconnections between the aquaculture, crop, livestock, and fisheries sectors act as an impediment to, or an opportunity for, enhanced resilience in the global food system given increased resource scarcity and climate change. Aquaculture can potentially enhance resilience through improved resource use efficiencies and increased diversification of farmed species, locales of production, and feeding strategies. However, aquaculture's reliance on terrestrial crops and wild fish for feeds, its dependence on freshwater and land for culture sites, and its broad array of environmental impacts diminishes its ability to add resilience. Feeds for livestock and farmed fish that are fed rely largely on the same crops, although the fraction destined for aquaculture is presently small (∼4%). As demand for high-value fed aquaculture products grows, competition for these crops will also rise, as will the demand for wild fish as feed inputs. Many of these crops and forage fish are also consumed directly by humans and provide essential nutrition for low-income households. Their rising use in aquafeeds has the potential to increase price levels and volatility, worsening food insecurity among the most vulnerable populations. Although the diversification of global food production systems that includes aquaculture offers promise for enhanced resilience, such promise will not be realized if government policies fail to provide adequate incentives for resource efficiency, equity, and environmental protection.

Safinamide: an add-on treatment for managing Parkinson’s disease

PubMed Central

Müller, Thomas

2018-01-01

Heterogeneous expression of neurotransmitter deficits results from onset and progression of Parkinson’s disease. Intervals, characterized by reappearance of motor and associated certain nonmotor symptoms, determine the end of good tolerability and efficacy of oral levodopa therapy. These “OFF” states result from levodopa pharmacokinetics and disease progression-related deterioration of the central buffering capacity for fluctuations of dopamine levels. This review discusses safinamide as an add-on therapeutic agent in orally levodopa-treated patients with “OFF” phenomena. Safinamide provided beneficial effects on “OFF” symptoms in pivotal trials with doses of 50 or 100 mg once daily. Safinamide reversibly inhibits mono-amine oxidase B and declines abnormal glutamate release by modulation of potassium- and sodium ion channels. An ideal candidate for combination with safinamide is opicapone. This inhibitor of peripheral catechol-O-methyltransferase supports continuous brain delivery of levodopa and, thus, the continuous dopaminergic stimulation concept. Both compounds with their once-daily application and good tolerability may complement each other by reduction of necessary oral levodopa intakes and “OFF” times. Thus, a promising, future option will be combination of safinamide and opicapone in one formulation. It will reduce adherence issues and may complement levodopa treatment. It will probably cause less nausea and edema than a dopamine agonist/levodopa regimen. PMID:29670409

40 CFR 63.3555 - How do I determine the outlet THC emissions and add-on control device emission destruction or...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 13 2013-07-01 2012-07-01 true How do I determine the outlet THC... Control Efficiency/outlet Concentration Option § 63.3555 How do I determine the outlet THC emissions and... methods in this section to determine either the outlet THC emissions or add-on control device emission...

40 CFR 63.3555 - How do I determine the outlet THC emissions and add-on control device emission destruction or...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 13 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false How do I determine the outlet THC... Control Efficiency/outlet Concentration Option § 63.3555 How do I determine the outlet THC emissions and... methods in this section to determine either the outlet THC emissions or add-on control device emission...

40 CFR 63.3555 - How do I determine the outlet THC emissions and add-on control device emission destruction or...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 13 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false How do I determine the outlet THC... Control Efficiency/outlet Concentration Option § 63.3555 How do I determine the outlet THC emissions and... methods in this section to determine either the outlet THC emissions or add-on control device emission...

Add-on perampanel and aggressive behaviour in severe drug-resistant focal epilepsies.

PubMed

Juhl, S; Rubboli, G

This study aimed to investigate the incidence of aggressiveness in patients with severe drug-refractory focal epilepsy (DRE) who started perampanel (PER) as add-on treatment, and to identify possible predisposing factors. Data on 49 consecutive patients with severe DRE who initiated PER were retrospectively collected. Twelve of the 49 patients experienced aggressiveness as adverse event related to PER treatment, one third of them on low (2-4 mg/day) PER dosages. PER was discontinued in 10/12 patients because of aggressive behaviors. Aggressiveness could appear after several months or even more than one year of PER treatment. One third of patients with PER-related aggressiveness had intellectual disabilities and 5/12 patients took levetiracetam as a concomitant antiepileptic drug. Our study suggests that the occurrence of aggressive behaviors in patients with severe DRE is not uncommon during PER treatment and that it may occur after months or even years of treatment with a stable dosage, requiring PER discontinuation in the great majority of patients.

Non-severe Hypoglycemia Risk Difference between Sulfonylurea and Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors (SGLT2-I) as an Add-On to Metformin in Randomized Controlled Trials.

PubMed

Farahani, Pendar

2017-05-23

Non-severe hypoglycemia reduces well-being, lowers quality of life, reduces productivity and increases treatment costs. The non-severe hypoglycemia rate, attributable to sulfonylurea (SU) utilization compared with newer classes such as SGLT2-I, could be of clinical significance. To explore the non-severe hypoglycemia risk difference (RD) for SU use compared with SGLT2-I in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) as an add on to metformin. A search was conducted for RCTs of SGLT2-I. PubMed database were utilized for this search. The search was limited to RCTs reported in English language for canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin. SU dose comparison was utilized to convert the dose of SUs to glimepiride equivalent doses. Totally, 118 RCTs were reviewed; 6 articles had an arm for a SU as add on to metformin. Six articles belong to 3 RCTs, which reported results for 52 weeks and 104 weeks. Average non-severe hypoglycemia rate for SU arm was 30% (5.5%) [Mean (SD)] for 52 weeks and 35.6% (6.1%) for 104 weeks. RD for non-severe hypoglycemia events for SU compared to SGLT2-I was 26.7% (4.9%) for 52 weeks (p-value less than 0.001) and 30.6% (5.5%) for 104 weeks (p-value less than 0.001). There was a significant correlation between dose of SU and hypoglycemia rate (Pearson correlation 0.995; R-square 99%). This study illustrated that a large proportion of patients who had exposure to SU in RCTs of SGLT2-I experienced non-severe hypoglycemia compared to SGLT2-I. There was a close relation between SU dose and increased probability of non-severe hypoglycemia events. © 2017 Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology. All rights reserved.

Noise-Coupled Image Rejection Architecture of Complex Bandpass ΔΣAD Modulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

San, Hao; Kobayashi, Haruo

This paper proposes a new realization technique of image rejection function by noise-coupling architecture, which is used for a complex bandpass ΔΣAD modulator. The complex bandpass ΔΣAD modulator processes just input I and Q signals, not image signals, and the AD conversion can be realized with low power dissipation. It realizes an asymmetric noise-shaped spectra, which is desirable for such low-IF receiver applications. However, the performance of the complex bandpass ΔΣAD modulator suffers from the mismatch between internal analog I and Q paths. I/Q path mismatch causes an image signal, and the quantization noise of the mirror image band aliases into the desired signal band, which degrades the SQNDR (Signal to Quantization Noise and Distortion Ratio) of the modulator. In our proposed modulator architecture, an extra notch for image rejection is realized by noise-coupled topology. We just add some passive capacitors and switches to the modulator; the additional integrator circuit composed of an operational amplifier in the conventional image rejection realization is not necessary. Therefore, the performance of the complex modulator can be effectively raised without additional power dissipation. We have performed simulation with MATLAB to confirm the validity of the proposed architecture. The simulation results show that the proposed architecture can achieve the realization of image-rejection effectively, and improve the SQNDR of the complex bandpass ΔΣAD modulator.

Modification of liposomal concentration in liposome/adenoviral complexes allows significant protection of adenoviral vectors from neutralising antibody, in vitro.

PubMed

Steel, Jason C; Cavanagh, Heather M A; Burton, Mark A; Dingwall, Daniel J; Kalle, Wouter H J

2005-06-01

Adenoviral vectors have been commonly used in gene therapy protocols, however the success of their use is often limited by the induction of host immunity to the vector. Following exposure to the adenoviral vector, adenoviral-specific neutralising antibodies are produced which limits further administration. This study examines the efficacy of complexing liposomes to adenovirus for the protection of the adenovirus from neutralising antibodies in an in vitro setting. Dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DDAB)-dioleoyl-l-phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) liposomes were bound at varying concentrations to adenovirus to form AL complexes and tested these complexes' ability to prevent adenoviral neutralisation. It is shown that by increasing the concentration of liposomes in the adenoviral-liposome (AL) complexes we can increase the level of immuno-shielding afforded the adenovirus. It is also shown that the increase in liposomal concentration may lead to drawbacks such as increased cytotoxicity and reductions in expression levels.

Just add a pinch of salt!--current directions for the use of salt in recipes in Australian magazines.

PubMed

Webster, Jacqui; Dunford, Elizabeth; Barzi, Federica; Neal, Bruce

2010-02-01

Australians currently consume too much salt causing adverse consequences for health. The media play an important role in the provision of nutrition advice to consumers. Previous research shows that many foods advertized in consumer magazines are high in salt, but little research has examined magazine recipes in this context. The aim of this project was to summarize directions for salt use in recipes in leading Australian magazines. In August 2007 and 2008, the top 10 magazines by circulation that included at least five recipes, were examined. Standardized information was collected about directions for salt use in recipes. Three hundred and thirty recipes were identified in 2007 and 417 in 2008. About 68% of recipes included high-salt ingredients, 37% instructed to season with salt, 10% instructed to add a specific quantity of salt and 15% recommended selection of low-salt ingredients. There was substantial variability in directions for salt use in recipes between magazines, but no clear differences between 2007 and 2008. Many recipes advised to add salt in direct contradiction to national dietary guidelines. There is clear potential for editorial guidelines on salt use in recipes to play a role in advancing public health efforts in Australia and other such nations.

Hybrid optical fiber add-drop filter based on wavelength dependent light coupling between micro/nano fiber ring and side-polished fiber

PubMed Central

Yu, Jianhui; Jin, Shaoshen; Wei, Qingsong; Zang, Zhigang; Lu, Huihui; He, Xiaoli; Luo, Yunhan; Tang, Jieyuan; Zhang, Jun; Chen, Zhe

2015-01-01

In this paper, we report our experimental study on directly coupling a micro/nano fiber (MNOF) ring with a side-polished fiber(SPF). As a result of the study, the behavior of an add-drop filter was observed. The demonstrated add-drop filter explored the wavelength dependence of light coupling between a MNOF ring and a SPF. The characteristics of the filter and its performance dependence on the MNOF ring diameter were investigated experimentally. The investigation resulted in an empirically obtained ring diameter that showed relatively good filter performance. Since light coupling between a (MNOF) and a conventional single mode fiber has remained a challenge in the photonic integration community, the present study may provide an alternative way to couple light between a MNOF device and a conventional single mode fiber based device or system. The hybridization approach that uses a SPF as a platform to integrate a MNOF device may enable the realization of other all-fiber optical hybrid devices. PMID:25578467

Hybrid optical fiber add-drop filter based on wavelength dependent light coupling between micro/nano fiber ring and side-polished fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Jianhui; Jin, Shaoshen; Wei, Qingsong; Zang, Zhigang; Lu, Huihui; He, Xiaoli; Luo, Yunhan; Tang, Jieyuan; Zhang, Jun; Chen, Zhe

2015-01-01

In this paper, we report our experimental study on directly coupling a micro/nano fiber (MNOF) ring with a side-polished fiber(SPF). As a result of the study, the behavior of an add-drop filter was observed. The demonstrated add-drop filter explored the wavelength dependence of light coupling between a MNOF ring and a SPF. The characteristics of the filter and its performance dependence on the MNOF ring diameter were investigated experimentally. The investigation resulted in an empirically obtained ring diameter that showed relatively good filter performance. Since light coupling between a (MNOF) and a conventional single mode fiber has remained a challenge in the photonic integration community, the present study may provide an alternative way to couple light between a MNOF device and a conventional single mode fiber based device or system. The hybridization approach that uses a SPF as a platform to integrate a MNOF device may enable the realization of other all-fiber optical hybrid devices.

Hybrid optical fiber add-drop filter based on wavelength dependent light coupling between micro/nano fiber ring and side-polished fiber.

PubMed

Yu, Jianhui; Jin, Shaoshen; Wei, Qingsong; Zang, Zhigang; Lu, Huihui; He, Xiaoli; Luo, Yunhan; Tang, Jieyuan; Zhang, Jun; Chen, Zhe

2015-01-12

In this paper, we report our experimental study on directly coupling a micro/nano fiber (MNOF) ring with a side-polished fiber(SPF). As a result of the study, the behavior of an add-drop filter was observed. The demonstrated add-drop filter explored the wavelength dependence of light coupling between a MNOF ring and a SPF. The characteristics of the filter and its performance dependence on the MNOF ring diameter were investigated experimentally. The investigation resulted in an empirically obtained ring diameter that showed relatively good filter performance. Since light coupling between a (MNOF) and a conventional single mode fiber has remained a challenge in the photonic integration community, the present study may provide an alternative way to couple light between a MNOF device and a conventional single mode fiber based device or system. The hybridization approach that uses a SPF as a platform to integrate a MNOF device may enable the realization of other all-fiber optical hybrid devices.

N-Acetylcysteine in the treatment of pediatric trichotillomania: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled add-on trial.

PubMed

Bloch, Michael H; Panza, Kaitlyn E; Grant, Jon E; Pittenger, Christopher; Leckman, James F

2013-03-01

To examine the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) for the treatment of pediatric trichotillomania (TTM) in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, add-on study. A total of 39 children and adolescents aged 8 to 17 years with pediatric trichotillomania were randomly assigned to receive NAC or matching placebo for 12 weeks. Our primary outcome was change in severity of hairpulling as measured by the Massachusetts General Hospital-Hairpulling Scale (MGH-HPS). Secondary measures assessed hairpulling severity, automatic versus focused pulling, clinician-rated improvement, and comorbid anxiety and depression. Outcomes were examined using linear mixed models to test the treatment×time interaction in an intention-to-treat population. No significant difference between N-acetylcysteine and placebo was found on any of the primary or secondary outcome measures. On several measures of hairpulling, subjects significantly improved with time regardless of treatment assignment. In the NAC group, 25% of subjects were judged as treatment responders, compared to 21% in the placebo group. We observed no benefit of NAC for the treatment of children with trichotillomania. Our findings stand in contrast to a previous, similarly designed trial in adults with TTM, which demonstrated a very large, statistically significant benefit of NAC. Based on the differing results of NAC in pediatric and adult TTM populations, the assumption that pharmacological interventions demonstrated to be effective in adults with TTM will be as effective in children, may be inaccurate. This trial highlights the importance of referring children with TTM to appropriate behavioral therapy before initiating pharmacological interventions, as behavioral therapy has demonstrated efficacy in both children and adults with trichotillomania. Copyright © 2013 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Safety and effectiveness of tacrolimus add-on therapy for rheumatoid arthritis patients without an adequate response to biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs): Post-marketing surveillance in Japan.

PubMed

Takeuchi, Tsutomu; Ishida, Kota; Shiraki, Katsuhisa; Yoshiyasu, Takashi

2018-01-01

Post-marketing surveillance (PMS) was conducted to assess the safety and effectiveness of tacrolimus (TAC) add-on therapy for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and an inadequate response to biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Patients with RA from 180 medical sites across Japan were registered centrally with an electronic investigation system. The observational period was 24 weeks from the first day of TAC administration concomitantly with biological DMARDs. Safety and effectiveness populations included 624 and 566 patients, respectively. Patients were predominantly female (81.1%), with a mean age of 61.9 years. Overall, 125 adverse drug reactions (ADRs) occurred in 94 patients (15.1%), and 15 serious ADRs occurred in 11 patients (1.8%). These incidences were lower compared with previously reported incidences after TAC treatment in PMS, and all of the observed ADRs were already known. A statistically significant improvement was observed in the primary effectiveness variable of Simplified Disease Activity Index after TAC treatment; 62.7% of patients achieved remission or low disease activity at week 24. TAC is well tolerated and effective when used as an add-on to biological DMARDs in Japanese patients with RA who do not achieve an adequate response to biological DMARDs in a real-world clinical setting.

Balancing model complexity and measurements in hydrology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Van De Giesen, N.; Schoups, G.; Weijs, S. V.

2012-12-01

The Data Processing Inequality implies that hydrological modeling can only reduce, and never increase, the amount of information available in the original data used to formulate and calibrate hydrological models: I(X;Z(Y)) ≤ I(X;Y). Still, hydrologists around the world seem quite content building models for "their" watersheds to move our discipline forward. Hydrological models tend to have a hybrid character with respect to underlying physics. Most models make use of some well established physical principles, such as mass and energy balances. One could argue that such principles are based on many observations, and therefore add data. These physical principles, however, are applied to hydrological models that often contain concepts that have no direct counterpart in the observable physical universe, such as "buckets" or "reservoirs" that fill up and empty out over time. These not-so-physical concepts are more like the Artificial Neural Networks and Support Vector Machines of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) community. Within AI, one quickly came to the realization that by increasing model complexity, one could basically fit any dataset but that complexity should be controlled in order to be able to predict unseen events. The more data are available to train or calibrate the model, the more complex it can be. Many complexity control approaches exist in AI, with Solomonoff inductive inference being one of the first formal approaches, the Akaike Information Criterion the most popular, and Statistical Learning Theory arguably being the most comprehensive practical approach. In hydrology, complexity control has hardly been used so far. There are a number of reasons for that lack of interest, the more valid ones of which will be presented during the presentation. For starters, there are no readily available complexity measures for our models. Second, some unrealistic simplifications of the underlying complex physics tend to have a smoothing effect on possible model

The impact of add-on catalytic devices on pollutant emissions from unvented kerosene heaters

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Apte, M.G.; Traynor, G.W.; Froehlich, D.A.

1989-09-01

Many studies have documented pollutant emission rates from kerosene heaters. Carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}), nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO{sub 2}), formaldehyde (HCHO), suspended particles, and semivolatile and nonvolatile organic compounds, including some nitrated and non-nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, can be emitted by kerosene heaters. Recently, several add-on catalytic devices designed to reduce some pollutant emissions have become commercially available. The tests described here were designed to measure the impact of these devices on pollutant emissions from unvented kerosene heaters. Emissions of CO, NO, NO{sub 2}, HCHO, and total suspended particles were investigated in this study. Inmore » addition, analyses of particulate sulfur and chromium were conducted for some tests.« less

Phacomatosis pigmento-pigmentaria: should we add a new type of phacomatosis? Fact and controversies.

PubMed

Wolf, Ronni; Wolf, Danny; Ruocco, Vincenzo; Baroni, Adone; Ruocco, Eleonora

2013-01-01

There are currently five types of recognized phacomatosis pigmentovascularis plus one more, phacomatosis pigmentokeratotica, making six types altogether. Should we stop here and consider the classification as being complete? Or, do we leave room to add more types or, alternatively, lump the ones we have together and shorten the list? We present our reasons for adding one or two new types of phacomatoses to the current classification, in full recognition that it is already complicated and somewhat cumbersome. We consider that the benefits of doing so outweigh any additional strain on the already complicated classification. We expect that this might not sit well with some of our colleagues, but we are prepared to do battle. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Clinical significance of fragmented QRS complexes or J waves in patients with idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias.

PubMed

Seong, Choong Sil; Gwag, Hye Bin; Hwang, Jin Kyung; Park, Seung Jung; Park, Kyoung-Min; Kim, June Soo; On, Young Keun

2018-01-01

Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF) can cause sudden cardiac death. Previous studies have reported that J waves and fragmented QRS complexes (f-QRS) are arrhythmogenic markers and predictors of cardiac events. We evaluated the prevalence and clinical significance of J waves and f-QRS in patients with IVF. We studied 81 patients who received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) due to IVF between October 1999 and June 2015. We assessed the prevalence of J waves and f-QRS using electrocardiograms (ECGs). Patients were classified into three groups: J wave group (n = 35), f-QRS group (n = 20), or normal ECG group (n = 26). The control group included 81 subjects without heart disease who were matched for age, sex, and race. We compared syncope, sudden cardiac arrest, and appropriate ICD shock between the three groups. The follow-up duration was 4.1 years. J waves and f-QRS were more frequent in patients with IVF than in control subjects (43.2%, 21% vs. 24.7%, 19.7%, P < 0.001). Out of the three groups, clinical cardiac events were most frequent in the f-QRS group (50% vs. 45.7% vs. 11.5%, P = 0.028). A comparison of the combined group of J wave and f-QRS versus the normal ECG group revealed that the combined group had a higher frequency of clinical cardiac events than the normal ECG group (47.3% vs. 11.5%, respectively, P = 0.009). Patients with IVF had higher prevalence of f-QRS or J waves. And patients with f-QRS or J waves were at higher risk of recurrent ventricular fibrillation.

Comparative behavioral and neurochemical analysis of phenytoin and valproate treatment on epilepsy induced learning and memory deficit: Search for add on therapy.

PubMed

Mishra, Awanish; Goel, Rajesh Kumar

2015-08-01

Our previous work demonstrated, chronic epilepsy affects learning and memory of rodents along with peculiar neurochemical changes in discrete brain parts. Most commonly used antiepileptic drugs (phenytoin and sodium valproate) also worsen learning and memory in the patients with epilepsy. Therefore this study was designed to carry out comparison of behavioral and neurochemical changes with phenytoin and sodium valproate treatment in pentylenetetrazole-kindling induced learning and memory deficit to devise add on therapy for this menace. For the experimental epilepsy, animals were kindled using PTZ (35 mg/kg; i.p., at 48 ± 2 h intervals) and successful kindled animals were involved in the study. These kindled animals were treated with saline, phenytoin (30 mg/kg/day, i.p.) and sodium valproate (300 mg/kg/day, i.p.) for 20 days. These animals were challenged with PTZ challenging dose (35 mg/kg) on day 5, 10, 15 and 20 to evaluate the effect on seizure severity score on different days. Effect on learning and memory was evaluated using elevated plus maze and passive shock avoidance paradigm. On day 20, after behavioral evaluations, animals were sacrificed to analyze glutamate, GABA, norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, total nitrite level and acetylcholinesterase level in cortex and hippocampus. Behavioral evaluations suggested that phenytoin and sodium valproate treatment significantly reduced seizure severity in the kindled animals, while sodium valproate treatment controls seizures with least memory deficit in comparison to phenytoin. Neurochemical findings revealed that elevated cortical acetylcholinesterase level could be one of the responsible factors leading to memory deficit in phenytoin treated animals. However sodium valproate treatment reduced cortical acetylcholinesterase level and had least debilitating consequences on memory deficit. Therefore, attenuation of elevated AChE activity can be one of add-on approach for management of memory deficit

Unraveling chaotic attractors by complex networks and measurements of stock market complexity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cao, Hongduo; Li, Ying, E-mail: mnsliy@mail.sysu.edu.cn

2014-03-15

We present a novel method for measuring the complexity of a time series by unraveling a chaotic attractor modeled on complex networks. The complexity index R, which can potentially be exploited for prediction, has a similar meaning to the Kolmogorov complexity (calculated from the Lempel–Ziv complexity), and is an appropriate measure of a series' complexity. The proposed method is used to research the complexity of the world's major capital markets. None of these markets are completely random, and they have different degrees of complexity, both over the entire length of their time series and at a level of detail. However,more » developing markets differ significantly from mature markets. Specifically, the complexity of mature stock markets is stronger and more stable over time, whereas developing markets exhibit relatively low and unstable complexity over certain time periods, implying a stronger long-term price memory process.« less

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of safinamide as add-on therapy in early Parkinson's disease patients.

PubMed

Stocchi, Fabrizio; Borgohain, Rupam; Onofrj, Marco; Schapira, Anthony H V; Bhatt, Mohit; Lucini, Valentina; Giuliani, Rodolfo; Anand, Ravi

2012-01-01

Safinamide is an α-aminoamide with both dopaminergic and nondopaminergic mechanisms of action evaluated as an add-on to dopamine agonist (DA) therapy in early-stage PD. In this 24-week, double-blind study, patients with early PD receiving a stable dose of a single DA were randomized to once-daily safinamide 100 mg, safinamide 200 mg, or placebo. The primary efficacy variable was UPDRS part III (motor examination) total score. Analysis was hierarchical: 200 mg of safinamide versus placebo was tested first; the success of safinamide 100 mg versus placebo was contingent on this. Two hundred sixty-nine patients received safinamide 100 mg (n = 90), safinamide 200 mg (n = 89), or placebo (n = 90); 70, 81, and 81 patients, respectively, completed the study. Mean improvements from baseline to week 24 in UPDRS III total scores were -3.90 for safinamide 200 mg, -6.0 for safinamide 100 mg and -3.60 for placebo. The difference between safinamide 200 mg and placebo was not significant [point estimate: -0.4; 95% confidence interval (CI): -2.3-1.4; P = 0.6504]. Although the difference between 100 mg/day and placebo was significant (point estimate: -1.9; 95% CI: -3.7 to -0.1; P = 0.0419), these results are considered exploratory. No clinically meaningful differences from placebo were observed for any safety variables. This study did not demonstrate a significant improvement of the primary endpoint for safinamide 200 mg/day. Exploratory analysis of the primary endpoint for 100 mg/day demonstrated that the addition of safinamide to a stable dose of DA improves motor symptoms in early PD and warrants further investigation. Copyright © 2011 Movement Disorder Society.

Progressive but Previously Untreated CLL Patients with Greater Array CGH Complexity Exhibit a Less Durable Response to Chemoimmunotherapy

PubMed Central

Kay, Neil E.; Eckel-Passow, Jeanette E.; Braggio, Esteban; VanWier, Scott; Shanafelt, Tait D.; Van Dyke, Daniel L.; Jelinek, Diane F.; Tschumper, Renee C.; Kipps, Thomas; Byrd, John C.; Fonseca, Rafael

2010-01-01

To better understand the implications of genomic instability and outcome in B-cell CLL, we sought to address genomic complexity as a predictor of chemosensitivity and ultimately clinical outcome in this disease. We employed array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), using a one-million probe array and identified gains and losses of genetic material in 48 patients treated on a chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) clinical trial. We identified chromosomal gain or loss in ≥6% of the patients on chromosomes 3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 17. Higher genomic complexity, as a mechanism favoring clonal selection, was associated with shorter progression-free survival and predicted a poor response to treatment. Of interest, CLL cases with loss of p53 surveillance showed more complex genomic features and were found both in patients with a 17p13.1 deletion and in the more favorable genetic subtype characterized by the presence of 13q14.1 deletion. This aCGH study adds information on the association between inferior trial response and increasing genetic complexity as CLL progresses. PMID:21156228

EMDR as Add-On Treatment for Psychiatric and Traumatic Symptoms in Patients with Substance Use Disorder

PubMed Central

Carletto, Sara; Oliva, Francesco; Barnato, Micaela; Antonelli, Teresa; Cardia, Antonina; Mazzaferro, Paolo; Raho, Carolina; Ostacoli, Luca; Fernandez, Isabel; Pagani, Marco

2018-01-01

improvement of post-traumatic and dissociative symptoms, accompanied by a reduction in anxiety and overall psychopathology levels, whereas TAU group showed a significant reduction only in post-traumatic symptoms. Although our results can only be considered preliminary, this study suggests that a combined TF- and AF- EMDR protocol is an effective and well-accepted add-on treatment for patients with SUD. PMID:29375445

The ESC/E(Z) complex, an effector of response to ovarian steroids, manifests an intrinsic difference in cells from women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

PubMed Central

Dubey, Neelima; Hoffman, Jessica F.; Schuebel, Kornel; Yuan, Qiaoping; Martinez, Pedro E.; Nieman, Lynnette K.; Rubinow, David R.; Schmidt, Peter J.; Goldman, David

2016-01-01

Clinical evidence suggests that mood and behavioral symptoms in Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), a common, recently recognized, psychiatric condition among women, reflect abnormal responsivity to ovarian steroids. This differential sensitivity could be due to an unrecognized aspect of hormonal signaling or a difference in cellular response. In this study, lymphoblastoid cell line cultures (LCLs) from women with PMDD and asymptomatic Controls were compared via whole transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) during untreated (ovarian steroid-free) conditions and following hormone treatment. The women with PMDD manifested ovarian steroid-triggered behavioral sensitivity during a hormone suppression and add-back clinical trial, and Controls did not, leading us to hypothesize that women with PMDD might differ in their cellular response to ovarian steroids. In untreated LCLs, our results overall suggest a divergence between mRNA (e.g., gene transcription) and protein (e.g., RNA translation in proteins) for the same genes. Pathway analysis of the LCL transcriptome revealed, among others, over-expression of ESC/E(Z) complex genes (an ovarian steroid-regulated gene silencing complex) in untreated LCLs from women with PMDD, with more than half of these genes over-expressed as compared to Controls, and with significant effects for MTF2, PHF19, and SIRT1 (p<0.05). RNA and protein expression of the 13 ESC/E(Z) complex genes were individually quantitated. This pattern of increased ESC/E(Z) mRNA expression was confirmed in a larger cohort by qRT-PCR. In contrast, protein expression of ESC/E(Z) genes was decreased in untreated PMDD LCLs with MTF2, PHF19, and SIRT1 all significantly decreased (p<0.05). Finally, mRNA expression of several ESC/E(Z) complex genes were increased by progesterone in Controls only, and decreased by estradiol in PMDD LCLs. These findings demonstrate that LCLs from women with PMDD manifest a cellular difference in ESC/E(Z) complex function both in the

Complex-learning Induced Modifications in Synaptic Inhibition: Mechanisms and Functional Significance.

PubMed

Reuveni, Iris; Lin, Longnian; Barkai, Edi

2018-06-15

Following training in a difficult olfactory-discrimination (OD) task rats acquire the capability to perform the task easily, with little effort. This new acquired skill, of 'learning how to learn' is termed 'rule learning'. At the single-cell level, rule learning is manifested in long-term enhancement of intrinsic neuronal excitability of piriform cortex (PC) pyramidal neurons, and in excitatory synaptic connections between these neurons to maintain cortical stability, such long-lasting increase in excitability must be accompanied by paralleled increase in inhibitory processes that would prevent hyper-excitable activation. In this review we describe the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying complex-learning-induced long-lasting modifications in GABA A -receptors and GABA B -receptor-mediated synaptic inhibition. Subsequently we discuss how such modifications support the induction and preservation of long-term memories in the in the mammalian brain. Based on experimental results, computational analysis and modeling, we propose that rule learning is maintained by doubling the strength of synaptic inputs, excitatory as well as inhibitory, in a sub-group of neurons. This enhanced synaptic transmission, which occurs in all (or almost all) synaptic inputs onto these neurons, activates specific stored memories. At the molecular level, such rule-learning-relevant synaptic strengthening is mediated by doubling the conductance of synaptic channels, but not their numbers. This post synaptic process is controlled by a whole-cell mechanism via particular second messenger systems. This whole-cell mechanism enables memory amplification when required and memory extinction when not relevant. Copyright © 2018 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Why significant variables aren't automatically good predictors.

PubMed

Lo, Adeline; Chernoff, Herman; Zheng, Tian; Lo, Shaw-Hwa

2015-11-10

Thus far, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been disappointing in the inability of investigators to use the results of identified, statistically significant variants in complex diseases to make predictions useful for personalized medicine. Why are significant variables not leading to good prediction of outcomes? We point out that this problem is prevalent in simple as well as complex data, in the sciences as well as the social sciences. We offer a brief explanation and some statistical insights on why higher significance cannot automatically imply stronger predictivity and illustrate through simulations and a real breast cancer example. We also demonstrate that highly predictive variables do not necessarily appear as highly significant, thus evading the researcher using significance-based methods. We point out that what makes variables good for prediction versus significance depends on different properties of the underlying distributions. If prediction is the goal, we must lay aside significance as the only selection standard. We suggest that progress in prediction requires efforts toward a new research agenda of searching for a novel criterion to retrieve highly predictive variables rather than highly significant variables. We offer an alternative approach that was not designed for significance, the partition retention method, which was very effective predicting on a long-studied breast cancer data set, by reducing the classification error rate from 30% to 8%.

Magnetic navigation facilitates percutaneous coronary intervention for complex lesions.

PubMed

Sandhu, Gurpreet S; Sanon, Saurabh; Holmes, David R; Gulati, Rajiv; Brilakis, Emmanouil S; Lennon, Ryan J; Rihal, Charanjit S

2014-10-01

We sought to determine the utility of a magnetic navigation system (MNS) in treating a variety of coronary artery lesions including those that could not be revascularized with standard percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). MNS may add value in the treatment of tortuous arteries and bifurcation lesions; however its widespread adoption has lagged because of cost and a lack of clear advantage over conventional PCI. We performed a retrospective analysis to determine whether MNS improved procedural success for highly complex lesions. One hundred and forty-eight patients underwent treatment with MNS at Mayo Clinic, Rochester. Clinical data, angiographic and procedural characteristics, lesion crossing success and outcomes were reviewed. Overall 133 patients underwent successful revascularization with 87% (143) of 164 lesions crossed using MNS alone. Another six lesions required a combination of MNS and conventional devices resulting in overall success of 91% (149/164). Eighteen complex lesions had previously failed PCI and 12 (67%) were successfully treated with MNS. Success after failed PCI was higher (88%) when a frequent user operated MNS, but occasional users also noted incremental success (30%). Twenty-five chronic total occlusions were included amongst these 164 lesions, with observed antegrade MNS lesion crossing rates of 78% for regular and 14% for occasional users. MNS is a useful adjunct to performance of PCI. This specialized technology has a clear learning curve and can facilitate treatment of highly complex lesions. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Theoretical lower bounds for parallel pipelined shift-and-add constant multiplications with n-input arithmetic operators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cruz Jiménez, Miriam Guadalupe; Meyer Baese, Uwe; Jovanovic Dolecek, Gordana

2017-12-01

New theoretical lower bounds for the number of operators needed in fixed-point constant multiplication blocks are presented. The multipliers are constructed with the shift-and-add approach, where every arithmetic operation is pipelined, and with the generalization that n-input pipelined additions/subtractions are allowed, along with pure pipelining registers. These lower bounds, tighter than the state-of-the-art theoretical limits, are particularly useful in early design stages for a quick assessment in the hardware utilization of low-cost constant multiplication blocks implemented in the newest families of field programmable gate array (FPGA) integrated circuits.

Ruthenium(II) Complexes Containing Lutidine-Derived Pincer CNC Ligands: Synthesis, Structure, and Catalytic Hydrogenation of C-N bonds.

PubMed

Hernández-Juárez, Martín; López-Serrano, Joaquín; Lara, Patricia; Morales-Cerón, Judith P; Vaquero, Mónica; Álvarez, Eleuterio; Salazar, Verónica; Suárez, Andrés

2015-05-11

A series of Ru complexes containing lutidine-derived pincer CNC ligands have been prepared by transmetalation with the corresponding silver-carbene derivatives. Characterization of these derivatives shows both mer and fac coordination of the CNC ligands depending on the wingtips of the N-heterocyclic carbene fragments. In the presence of tBuOK, the Ru-CNC complexes are active in the hydrogenation of a series of imines. In addition, these complexes catalyze the reversible hydrogenation of phenantridine. Detailed NMR spectroscopic studies have shown the capability of the CNC ligand to be deprotonated and get involved in ligand-assisted activation of dihydrogen. More interestingly, upon deprotonation, the Ru-CNC complex 5 e(BF4 ) is able to add aldimines to the metal-ligand framework to yield an amido complex. Finally, investigation of the mechanism of the hydrogenation of imines has been carried out by means of DFT calculations. The calculated mechanism involves outer-sphere stepwise hydrogen transfer to the C-N bond assisted either by the pincer ligand or a second coordinated H2 molecule. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Modeling two-phase flow in three-dimensional complex flow-fields of proton exchange membrane fuel cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jinyong; Luo, Gang; Wang, Chao-Yang

2017-10-01

3D fine-mesh flow-fields recently developed by Toyota Mirai improved water management and mass transport in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell stacks, suggesting their potential value for robust and high-power PEM fuel cell stack performance. In such complex flow-fields, Forchheimer's inertial effect is dominant at high current density. In this work, a two-phase flow model of 3D complex flow-fields of PEMFCs is developed by accounting for Forchheimer's inertial effect, for the first time, to elucidate the underlying mechanism of liquid water behavior and mass transport inside 3D complex flow-fields and their adjacent gas diffusion layers (GDL). It is found that Forchheimer's inertial effect enhances liquid water removal from flow-fields and adds additional flow resistance around baffles, which improves interfacial liquid water and mass transport. As a result, substantial improvements in high current density cell performance and operational stability are expected in PEMFCs with 3D complex flow-fields, compared to PEMFCs with conventional flow-fields. Higher current density operation required to further reduce PEMFC stack cost per kW in the future will necessitate optimizing complex flow-field designs using the present model, in order to efficiently remove a large amount of product water and hence minimize the mass transport voltage loss.

Floodlights illuminate view of Skylab 3 vehicle at Pad B, Launch Complex 39

NASA Image and Video Library

1973-07-20

S73-32568 (20 July 1973) --- Floodlights illuminate this nighttime view of the Skylab 3/Saturn 1B space vehicle at Pad B, Launch Complex 39, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, during prelaunch preparations. The reflection is the water adds to the scene. In addition to the Command/Service Module and its launch escapte system, the Skylab 3 space vehicle consists of the Saturn 1B first (S-1B) stage and the Saturn 1B second (S-IVB) stage. The crew for the scheduled 59-day Skylab 3 mission in Earth orbit will be astronauts Alan L. Bean, Owen K. Garriott and Jack R. Lousma. Skylab 3 was launched on July 28, 1973. Photo credit: NASA

Does aquaculture add resilience to the global food system?

PubMed Central

Troell, Max; Naylor, Rosamond L.; Metian, Marc; Beveridge, Malcolm; Tyedmers, Peter H.; Folke, Carl; Arrow, Kenneth J.; Barrett, Scott; Crépin, Anne-Sophie; Ehrlich, Paul R.; Gren, Åsa; Kautsky, Nils; Levin, Simon A.; Nyborg, Karine; Österblom, Henrik; Polasky, Stephen; Scheffer, Marten; Walker, Brian H.; Xepapadeas, Tasos; de Zeeuw, Aart

2014-01-01

Aquaculture is the fastest growing food sector and continues to expand alongside terrestrial crop and livestock production. Using portfolio theory as a conceptual framework, we explore how current interconnections between the aquaculture, crop, livestock, and fisheries sectors act as an impediment to, or an opportunity for, enhanced resilience in the global food system given increased resource scarcity and climate change. Aquaculture can potentially enhance resilience through improved resource use efficiencies and increased diversification of farmed species, locales of production, and feeding strategies. However, aquaculture’s reliance on terrestrial crops and wild fish for feeds, its dependence on freshwater and land for culture sites, and its broad array of environmental impacts diminishes its ability to add resilience. Feeds for livestock and farmed fish that are fed rely largely on the same crops, although the fraction destined for aquaculture is presently small (∼4%). As demand for high-value fed aquaculture products grows, competition for these crops will also rise, as will the demand for wild fish as feed inputs. Many of these crops and forage fish are also consumed directly by humans and provide essential nutrition for low-income households. Their rising use in aquafeeds has the potential to increase price levels and volatility, worsening food insecurity among the most vulnerable populations. Although the diversification of global food production systems that includes aquaculture offers promise for enhanced resilience, such promise will not be realized if government policies fail to provide adequate incentives for resource efficiency, equity, and environmental protection. PMID:25136111

Saxagliptin vs. glipizide as add-on therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus inadequately controlled on metformin alone: long-term (52-week) extension of a 52-week randomised controlled trial.

PubMed

Göke, Burkhard; Gallwitz, Baptist; Eriksson, Johan G; Hellqvist, Åsa; Gause-Nilsson, Ingrid

2013-04-01

To compare the long-term safety, tolerability and efficacy of saxagliptin vs. glipizide as add-on therapy to metformin. Adults with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) > 6.5-10% (on stable metformin ≥ 1500 mg/day) were randomised to saxagliptin 5 mg/day (n = 428) or glipizide titrated from 5 to 20 mg/day (mean dose 15 mg/day; n = 430) for 52 weeks with a 52-week extension (NCT00575588). Assessment of the long-term safety, tolerability and efficacy of add-on saxagliptin vs. glipizide after 104 weeks was a tertiary objective of the initial 52-week study. Saxagliptin was well tolerated during the 104-week period; 67.1% of patients receiving saxagliptin vs. 72.6% receiving glipizide had ≥ 1 adverse event (AE), and few patients (4.9% vs. 5.6%) discontinued owing to AEs. Fewer patients treated with saxagliptin experienced hypoglycaemia (3.5% vs. 38.4% with glipizide; difference, -34.9%, 95% CI, -39.8 to -30.0) or confirmed hypoglycaemia (0 vs. 9.1% with glipizide). Weight loss was observed with saxagliptin (-1.5 kg) vs. weight gain with glipizide (+1.3 kg; between-group difference, -2.8 kg, 95% CI, -3.32 kg to -2.20 kg). Change from baseline in HbA1c was -0.41 ± 0.04% with saxagliptin and -0.35 ± 0.04% with glipizide (between-group difference, -0.05%, 95% CI, -0.17 to 0.06%). A post hoc analysis showed that the proportion of patients with baseline HbA1c ≥ 7% who achieved HbA1c < 7% (observed data) at week 104 was 23.1% for saxagliptin + metformin and 22.7% for glipizide + metformin. A lower risk of hypoglycaemia and reduced body weight were observed with saxagliptin vs. glipizide. No other clinically significant differences were observed between groups in safety profile. No significant between-group differences were observed for reductions in glycaemic parameters. After week 24, a smaller weekly rise in HbA1c was observed with saxagliptin vs. glipizide as add-on therapy to metformin.

Globes from global data: Charting international research networks with the GRASS GIS r.out.polycones add-on module.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Löwe, Peter

2015-04-01

Many Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) tools have been created for the various application fields within geoscience. While FOSS allows re-implementation of functionalities in new environments by access to the original codebase, the easiest approach to build new software solutions for new problems is the combination or merging of existing software tools. Such mash-ups are implemented by embedding and encapsulating FOSS tools within each another, effectively focusing the use of the embedded software to the specific role it needs to perform in the given scenario, while ignoring all its other capabilities. GRASS GIS is a powerful and established FOSS GIS for raster, vector and volume data processing while the Generic Mapping Tools (GMT) are a suite of powerful Open Source mapping tools, which exceed the mapping capabilities of GRASS GIS. This poster reports on the new GRASS GIS add-on module r.out.polycones. It enables users to utilize non-continuous projections for map production within the GRASS production environment. This is implemented on the software level by encapsulating a subset of GMT mapping capabilities into a GRASS GIS (Version 6.x) add-on module. The module was developed at the German National Library of Science and Technology (TIB) to provide custom global maps of scientific collaboration networks, such as the DataCite consortium, the registration agency for Digital Object Identifiers (DOI) for research data. The GRASS GIS add-on module can be used for global mapping of raster data into a variety of non continuous sinosoidal projections, allowing the creation of printable biangles (gores) to be used for globe making. Due to the well structured modular nature of GRASS modules, technical follow-up work will focus on API-level Python-based integration in GRASS 7 [1]. Based on this, GMT based mapping capabilities in GRASS will be extended beyond non-continuous sinosoidal maps and advanced from raster-layers to content GRASS display monitors. References

The Case for Adopting the "Species Complex" Nomenclature for the Etiologic Agents of Cryptococcosis.

PubMed

Kwon-Chung, Kyung J; Bennett, John E; Wickes, Brian L; Meyer, Wieland; Cuomo, Christina A; Wollenburg, Kurt R; Bicanic, Tihana A; Castañeda, Elizabeth; Chang, Yun C; Chen, Jianghan; Cogliati, Massimo; Dromer, Françoise; Ellis, David; Filler, Scott G; Fisher, Matthew C; Harrison, Thomas S; Holland, Steven M; Kohno, Shigeru; Kronstad, James W; Lazera, Marcia; Levitz, Stuart M; Lionakis, Michail S; May, Robin C; Ngamskulrongroj, Popchai; Pappas, Peter G; Perfect, John R; Rickerts, Volker; Sorrell, Tania C; Walsh, Thomas J; Williamson, Peter R; Xu, Jianping; Zelazny, Adrian M; Casadevall, Arturo

2017-01-01

Cryptococcosis is a potentially lethal disease of humans/animals caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii . Distinction between the two species is based on phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. Recently, it was proposed that C. neoformans be divided into two species and C. gattii into five species based on a phylogenetic analysis of 115 isolates. While this proposal adds to the knowledge about the genetic diversity and population structure of cryptococcosis agents, the published genotypes of 2,606 strains have already revealed more genetic diversity than is encompassed by seven species. Naming every clade as a separate species at this juncture will lead to continuing nomenclatural instability. In the absence of biological differences between clades and no consensus about how DNA sequence alone can delineate a species, we recommend using " Cryptococcus neoformans species complex" and " C. gattii species complex" as a practical intermediate step, rather than creating more species. This strategy recognizes genetic diversity without creating confusion.

Synthesis of highly integrated optical network based on microdisk-resonator add-drop filters in silicon-on-insulator technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaźmierczak, Andrzej; Dortu, Fabian; Giannone, Domenico; Bogaerts, Wim; Drouard, Emmanuel; Rojo-Romeo, Pedro; Gaffiot, Frederic

2009-10-01

We analyze a highly compact optical add-drop filter topology based on a pair of microdisk resonators and a bus waveguide intersection. The filter is further assessed on an integrated optical 4×4 network for optical on-chip communication. The proposed network structure, as compact as 50×50 μm, is fabricated in a CMOS-compatible process on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. Finally, the experimental results demonstrate the proper operation of the fabricated devices.

Immunostaining of skin biopsy adds no diagnostic value in MGUS-associated peripheral neuropathy.

PubMed

Al-Zuhairy, Ali; Schrøder, Henrik Daa; Plesner, Torben; Abildgaard, Niels; Sindrup, Søren H

2015-02-15

For several decades an association between MGUS, IgM-MGUS in particular, and peripheral neuropathy has been suspected. Several histopathology studies have shown binding of IgM to myelin and a secondary widening of myelin lamellae in cutaneous nerves and in the sural nerve of patients with IgM-MGUS, or Waldenström's Macroglobulinaemia (WM), and peripheral neuropathy. In this retrospective study we investigated the value of skin biopsy examination in the diagnosis of MGUS- and WM-associated peripheral neuropathy. A total of 117 patients, who were examined for an M-component in serum with associated nerve symptoms, had a skin biopsy taken and examined for immunoglobulin deposition in cutaneous nerves. Thirty-five patients were diagnosed with MGUS or WM and peripheral neuropathy with no other cause of neuropathy. Nineteen patients had MGUS but no peripheral neuropathy. Of the 35 patients with MGUS or WM and peripheral neuropathy, four had immunoglobulin deposition in the skin biopsy, all of whom had an IgM gammopathy. In the control group of 19 without peripheral neuropathy, three had immunoglobulin deposition in the skin biopsy, all of whom had IgM-MGUS. In both groups, there was a trend towards higher IgM blood levels in patients with immunoglobulin deposition. Half of the patients with IgM gammopathy in the neuropathy group had anti-MAG reactivity, whereas only one in the control group had weak anti-MAG reactivity. Our study indicates that examination of skin biopsies for immunoglobulin deposition does not add significant diagnostic value in the evaluation of neuropathies suspected to be caused by MGUS or WM. IgM immunoglobulin deposition in skin biopsy might merely be an epiphenomenon secondary to high IgM blood levels. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Add-On Effect of Probucol in Atherosclerotic, Cholesterol-Fed Rabbits Treated with Atorvastatin

PubMed Central

Keyamura, Yuka; Nagano, Chifumi; Kohashi, Masayuki; Niimi, Manabu; Nozako, Masanori; Koyama, Takashi; Yasufuku, Reiko; Imaizumi, Ayako; Itabe, Hiroyuki; Yoshikawa, Tomohiro

2014-01-01

Objective Lowering the blood concentration of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is the primary strategy employed in treating atherosclerotic disorders; however, most commonly prescribed statins prevent cardiovascular events in just 30% to 40% of treated patients. Therefore, additional treatment is required for patients in whom statins have been ineffective. In this study of atherosclerosis in rabbits, we examined the effect of probucol, a lipid-lowering drug with potent antioxidative effects, added to treatment with atorvastatin. Methods and Results Atherosclerosis was induced by feeding rabbits chow containing 0.5% cholesterol for 8 weeks. Probucol 0.1%, atorvastatin 0.001%, and atorvastatin 0.003% were administered solely or in combination for 6 weeks, beginning 2 weeks after the start of atherosclerosis induction. Atorvastatin decreased the plasma concentration of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDLC) dose-dependently; atorvastatin 0.003% decreased the plasma concentration of non-HDLC by 25% and the area of atherosclerotic lesions by 21%. Probucol decreased the plasma concentration of non-HDLC to the same extent as atorvastatin (i.e., by 22%) and the area of atherosclerotic lesions by 41%. Probucol with 0.003% atorvastatin decreased the plasma concentration of non-HDLC by 38% and the area of atherosclerotic lesions by 61%. Co-administration of probucol with atorvastatin did not affect the antioxidative effects of probucol, which were not evident on treatment with atorvastatin alone, such as prevention of in vitro LDL-oxidation, increase in paraoxonase-1 activity of HDL, and decreases in plasma and plaque levels of oxidized-LDL in vivo. Conclusions Probucol has significant add-on anti-atherosclerotic effects when combined with atorvastatin treatment; suggesting that this combination might be beneficial for treatment of atherosclerosis. PMID:24810608

Addiction surplus: the add-on margin that makes addictive consumptions difficult to contain.

PubMed

Adams, Peter J; Livingstone, Charles

2015-01-01

Addictive consumptions generate financial surpluses over-and-above non-addictive consumptions because of the excessive consumption of addicted consumers. This add-on margin or 'addiction surplus' provides a powerful incentive for beneficiaries to protect their income by ensuring addicted consumers keep consuming. Not only that, addiction surplus provides the financial base that enables producers to sponsor activities which aim to prevent public health initiatives from reducing consumption. This paper examines the potency of addiction surplus to engage industry, governments and communities in an on-going reliance on addiction surplus. It then explores how neo-liberal constructions of a rational consumer disguise the ethical and exploitative dynamics of addiction surplus by examining ways in which addictive consumptions fail to conform to notions of autonomy and rationality. Four measures are identified to contain the distorting effects of addiction surplus. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Complex energies and the polyelectronic Stark problem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Themelis, Spyros I.; Nicolaides, Cleanthes A.

2000-12-01

The problem of computing the energy shifts and widths of ground or excited N-electron atomic states perturbed by weak or strong static electric fields is dealt with by formulating a state-specific complex eigenvalue Schrödinger equation (CESE), where the complex energy contains the field-induced shift and width. The CESE is solved to all orders nonperturbatively, by using separately optimized N-electron function spaces, composed of real and complex one-electron functions, the latter being functions of a complex coordinate. The use of such spaces is a salient characteristic of the theory, leading to economy and manageability of calculation in terms of a two-step computational procedure. The first step involves only Hermitian matrices. The second adds complex functions and the overall computation becomes non-Hermitian. Aspects of the formalism and of computational strategy are compared with those of the complex absorption potential (CAP) method, which was recently applied for the calculation of field-induced complex energies in H and Li. Also compared are the numerical results of the two methods, and the questions of accuracy and convergence that were posed by Sahoo and Ho (Sahoo S and Ho Y K 2000 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 33 2195) are explored further. We draw attention to the fact that, because in the region where the field strength is weak the tunnelling rate (imaginary part of the complex eigenvalue) diminishes exponentially, it is possible for even large-scale nonperturbative complex eigenvalue calculations either to fail completely or to produce seemingly stable results which, however, are wrong. It is in this context that the discrepancy in the width of Li 1s22s 2S between results obtained by the CAP method and those obtained by the CESE method is interpreted. We suggest that the very-weak-field regime must be computed by the golden rule, provided the continuum is represented accurately. In this respect, existing one-particle semiclassical formulae seem

Clobazam and Its Active Metabolite N-desmethylclobazam Display Significantly Greater Affinities for α2- versus α1-GABAA–Receptor Complexes

PubMed Central

Jensen, Henrik Sindal; Nichol, Kathryn; Lee, Deborah; Ebert, Bjarke

2014-01-01

Clobazam (CLB), a 1,5-benzodiazepine (BZD), was FDA-approved in October 2011 for the adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) in patients 2 years and older. BZDs exert various CNS effects through allosteric modulation of GABAA receptors. The structurally distinct, 1,4-BZD clonazepam (CLN) is also approved to treat LGS. The precise mechanisms of action and clinical efficacy of both are unknown. Data show that the GABAA α1-subunit–selective compound zolpidem [ZOL] exhibits hypnotic/sedative effects. Conversely, data from knock-in mice carrying BZD binding site mutations suggest that the α2 subunit mediates anticonvulsant effects, without sedative actions. Hence, the specific pattern of interactions across the GABAA receptor complexes of BZDs might be reflected in their clinical efficacies and adverse effect profiles. In this study, GABAA-receptor binding affinities of CLB, N-desmethylclobazam (N-CLB, the major metabolite of CLB), CLN, and ZOL were characterized with native receptors from rat-brain homogenates and on cloned receptors from HEK293 cells transfected with combinations of α (α1, α2, α3, or α5), β2, and γ2 subtypes. Our results demonstrate that CLB and N-CLB have significantly greater binding affinities for α2- vs. α1-receptor complexes, a difference not observed for CLN, for which no distinction between α2 and α1 receptors was observed. Our experiments with ZOL confirmed the high preference for α1 receptors. These results provide potential clues to a new understanding of the pharmacologic modes of action of CLB and N-CLB. PMID:24533090

Efficacy and tolerability of vildagliptin as add-on therapy to metformin in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PubMed

Pan, C; Xing, X; Han, P; Zheng, S; Ma, J; Liu, J; Lv, X; Lu, J; Bader, G

2012-08-01

To investigate the efficacy and tolerability of vildagliptin as add-on therapy to metformin in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) inadequately controlled with metformin. This was a 24-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients with T2DM (N = 438) with haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of 7.0-10.0% and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) <15 mmol/l (<270 mg/dl) were randomized (1 : 1 : 1) to vildagliptin 50 mg bid, vildagliptin 50 mg qd or placebo in addition to metformin. The treatment groups were well balanced at baseline [mean HbA1c, 8.0%, FPG, 8.8 mmol/l (158 mg/dl); body mass index, 25.5 kg/m(2) ]. The adjusted mean change (AMΔ) in HbA1c at endpoint was -1.05 ± 0.08%, -0.92 ± 0.08% and -0.54 ± 0.08% in patients receiving vildagliptin 50 mg bid, 50 mg qd and placebo, respectively. The between-treatment difference (vildagliptin 50 mg bid-placebo) was -0.51 ± 0.11%, p < 0.001. A greater proportion of vildagliptin-treated patients met at least one responder criterion (82.1 and 70.7%) compared to placebo-treated patients (60.4%). The AMΔ at endpoint for FPG with vildagliptin 50 mg bid, -0.95 mmol/l (-17.1 mg/dl); 50 mg qd, -0.84 mmol/l (-15.1 mg/dl) was significantly different compared with the placebo -0.26 mmol/l (-4.68 mg/dl) (p ≤ 0.001). Adverse events (AEs) were reported as 34.2, 36.5 and 37.5% for patients receiving vildagliptin 50 mg bid, 50 mg qd or placebo, respectively. Two patients in the vildagliptin 50 mg qd and one in the placebo group reported serious AEs, which were not considered to be related to the study drug; one incidence of hypoglycaemic event was reported in the vildagliptin 50 mg bid group. Vildagliptin as add-on therapy to metformin improved glycaemic control and was well tolerated in Chinese patients who were inadequately controlled by metformin only. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Mail merge can be used to create personalized questionnaires in complex surveys.

PubMed

Taljaard, Monica; Chaudhry, Shazia Hira; Brehaut, Jamie C; Weijer, Charles; Grimshaw, Jeremy M

2015-10-16

Low response rates and inadequate question comprehension threaten the validity of survey results. We describe a simple procedure to implement personalized-as opposed to generically worded-questionnaires in the context of a complex web-based survey of corresponding authors of a random sample of 300 published cluster randomized trials. The purpose of the survey was to gather more detailed information about informed consent procedures used in the trial, over and above basic information provided in the trial report. We describe our approach-which allowed extensive personalization without the need for specialized computer technology-and discuss its potential application in similar settings. The mail merge feature of standard word processing software was used to generate unique, personalized questionnaires for each author by incorporating specific information from the article, including naming the randomization unit (e.g., family practice, school, worksite), and identifying specific individuals who may have been considered research participants at the cluster level (family doctors, teachers, employers) and individual level (patients, students, employees) in questions regarding informed consent procedures in the trial. The response rate was relatively high (64%, 182/285) and did not vary significantly by author, publication, or study characteristics. The refusal rate was low (7%). While controlled studies are required to examine the specific effects of our approach on comprehension, quality of responses, and response rates, we showed how mail merge can be used as a simple but useful tool to add personalized fields to complex survey questionnaires, or to request additional information required from study authors. One potential application is in eliciting specific information about published articles from study authors when conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

An index of floodplain surface complexity

USGS Publications Warehouse

Scown, Murray W.; Thoms, Martin C.; DeJager, Nathan R.

2016-01-01

Floodplain surface topography is an important component of floodplain ecosystems. It is the primary physical template upon which ecosystem processes are acted out, and complexity in this template can contribute to the high biodiversity and productivity of floodplain ecosystems. There has been a limited appreciation of floodplain surface complexity because of the traditional focus on temporal variability in floodplains as well as limitations to quantifying spatial complexity. An index of floodplain surface complexity (FSC) is developed in this paper and applied to eight floodplains from different geographic settings. The index is based on two key indicators of complexity, variability in surface geometry (VSG) and the spatial organisation of surface conditions (SPO), and was determined at three sampling scales. FSC, VSG, and SPO varied between the eight floodplains and these differences depended upon sampling scale. Relationships between these measures of spatial complexity and seven geomorphological and hydrological drivers were investigated. There was a significant decline in all complexity measures with increasing floodplain width, which was explained by either a power, logarithmic, or exponential function. There was an initial rapid decline in surface complexity as floodplain width increased from 1.5 to 5 km, followed by little change in floodplains wider than 10 km. VSG also increased significantly with increasing sediment yield. No significant relationships were determined between any of the four hydrological variables and floodplain surface complexity.

Artistic forms and complexity.

PubMed

Boon, J-P; Casti, J; Taylor, R P

2011-04-01

We discuss the inter-relationship between various concepts of complexity by introducing a complexity 'triangle' featuring objective complexity, subjective complexity and social complexity. Their connections are explored using visual and musical compositions of art. As examples, we quantify the complexity embedded within the paintings of the Jackson Pollock and the musical works of Johann Sebastian Bach. We discuss the challenges inherent in comparisons of the spatial patterns created by Pollock and the sonic patterns created by Bach, including the differing roles that time plays in these investigations. Our results draw attention to some common intriguing characteristics suggesting 'universality' and conjecturing that the fractal nature of art might have an intrinsic value of more general significance.

Effectiveness of vildagliptin versus other oral antidiabetes drugs as add-on to sulphonylurea monotherapy: Post hoc analysis from the EDGE study.

PubMed

Prasanna Kumar, K M; Phadke, U; Brath, H; Gawai, A; Paldánius, P M; Mathieu, C

2016-12-01

In this post hoc analysis of the EDGE study, we assessed the effectiveness and safety of vildagliptin versus other oral antidiabetes drugs (OADs) as add-on to first-line sulphonylurea (SU) therapy in patients who did not receive metformin in a real-life setting. The primary endpoint was odds of achieving an HbA1c reduction of >0.3% without tolerability issues. Secondary endpoint was odds of achieving HbA1c <7.0% without hypoglycaemia or weight gain. Changes in HbA1c, body weight; and safety were also assessed. 2936 patients received vildagliptin and 820 received comparator OADs (any α-GI, TZD, glinide) as add-on to first-line SU therapy. Overall, the mean age, disease duration, HbA1c, and BMI at baseline were 57.1 years, 6.3 years, 8.5%, and 27.7kg/m 2 , respectively. The odds ratios for achieving primary and secondary endpoints were 1.6 (95% CI: 1.36, 1.86; p<0.0001) and 1.8 (1.45, 2.21; p<0.0001), respectively, in favour of vildagliptin. The between-treatment differences (vildagliptin vs. comparator OAD) for the mean change in HbA1c and body weight were -0.2±0.04% (p<0.0001) and -0.8±0.16kg (p<0.0001), respectively. Overall, the incidence of adverse events was low (vildagliptin, 7% vs. comparator, 8.2%) in both groups. Similar results were observed in a subset of patients enrolled from India and patients who received TZDs as a comparator OAD. Under real-life settings, vildagliptin as add-on to SU monotherapy showed better glycaemic response without tolerability issues compared with other OADs. Copyright © 2016 Primary Care Diabetes Europe. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Cloud Greenhouse Effect on Mars: Significant Climate Change in the Recent Past

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haberle, Robert M.; Kahre, Melinda A.; Schaeffer, James R.; Montmessin, Frank; Phillips, R J.

2012-01-01

The large variations in Mars orbit parameters are known to be significant drivers of climate change on the Red planet. The recent discovery of buried CO2 ice at the South Pole adds another dimension to climate change studies. In this paper we present results from the Ames GCM that show within the past million years it is possible that clouds from a greatly intensified Martian hydrological cycle may have produced a greenhouse effect strong enough to raise global mean surface temperatures by several tens of degrees Kelvin. It is made possible by the ability of the Martian atmosphere to transport water to high altitudes where cold clouds form, reduce the outgoing longwave radiation, and drive up surface temperatures to maintain global energy balance.

Add Java extensions to your wiki: Java applets can bring dynamic functionality to your wiki pages

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Scarberry, Randall E.

Virtually everyone familiar with today’s world wide web has encountered the free online encyclopedia Wikipedia many times. What you may not know is that Wikipedia is driven by an excellent open-source product called MediaWiki which is available to anyone for free. This has led to a proliferation of wiki sites devoted to just about any topic one can imagine. Users of a wiki can add content -- all that is required of them is that they type in their additions into their web browsers using the simple markup language called wikitext. Even better, the developers of wikitext made it extensible.more » With a little server-side development of your own, you can add your own custom syntax. Users aware of your extensions can then utilize them on their wiki pages with a few simple keystrokes. These extensions can be custom decorations, formatting, web applications, and even instances of the venerable old Java applet. One example of a Java applet extension is the Jmol extension (REF), used to embed a 3-D molecular viewer. This article will walk you through the deployment of a fairly elaborate applet via a MediaWiki extension. By no means exhaustive -- an entire book would be required for that -- it will demonstrate how to give the applet resize handles using using a little Javascript and CSS coding and some popular Javascript libraries. It even describes how a user may customize the extension somewhat using a wiki template. Finally, it explains a rudimentary persistence mechanism which allows applets to save data directly to the wiki pages on which they reside.« less

[Adequacy of clinical interventions in patients with advanced and complex disease. Proposal of a decision making algorithm].

PubMed

Ameneiros-Lago, E; Carballada-Rico, C; Garrido-Sanjuán, J A; García Martínez, A

2015-01-01

Decision making in the patient with chronic advanced disease is especially complex. Health professionals are obliged to prevent avoidable suffering and not to add any more damage to that of the disease itself. The adequacy of the clinical interventions consists of only offering those diagnostic and therapeutic procedures appropriate to the clinical situation of the patient and to perform only those allowed by the patient or representative. In this article, the use of an algorithm is proposed that should serve to help health professionals in this decision making process. Copyright © 2014 SECA. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Nanospray FAIMS Fractionation Provides Significant Increases in Proteome Coverage of Unfractionated Complex Protein Digests*

PubMed Central

Swearingen, Kristian E.; Hoopmann, Michael R.; Johnson, Richard S.; Saleem, Ramsey A.; Aitchison, John D.; Moritz, Robert L.

2012-01-01

High-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) is an atmospheric pressure ion mobility technique that can be used to reduce sample complexity and increase dynamic range in tandem mass spectrometry experiments. FAIMS fractionates ions in the gas-phase according to characteristic differences in mobilities in electric fields of different strengths. Undesired ion species such as solvated clusters and singly charged chemical background ions can be prevented from reaching the mass analyzer, thus decreasing chemical noise. To date, there has been limited success using the commercially available Thermo Fisher FAIMS device with both standard ESI and nanoLC-MS. We have modified a Thermo Fisher electrospray source to accommodate a fused silica pulled tip capillary column for nanospray ionization, which will enable standard laboratories access to FAIMS technology. Our modified source allows easily obtainable stable spray at flow rates of 300 nL/min when coupled with FAIMS. The modified electrospray source allows the use of sheath gas, which provides a fivefold increase in signal obtained when nanoLC is coupled to FAIMS. In this work, nanoLC-FAIMS-MS and nanoLC-MS were compared by analyzing a tryptic digest of a 1:1 mixture of SILAC-labeled haploid and diploid yeast to demonstrate the performance of nanoLC-FAIMS-MS, at different compensation voltages, for post-column fractionation of complex protein digests. The effective dynamic range more than doubled when FAIMS was used. In total, 10,377 unique stripped peptides and 1649 unique proteins with SILAC ratios were identified from the combined nanoLC-FAIMS-MS experiments, compared with 6908 unique stripped peptides and 1003 unique proteins with SILAC ratios identified from the combined nanoLC-MS experiments. This work demonstrates how a commercially available FAIMS device can be combined with nanoLC to improve proteome coverage in shotgun and targeted type proteomics experiments. PMID:22186714

The cancrinite-syenite/carbonatite complex of Lueshe, Kivu/NE-Zaire: petrographic and geochemical studies and its economic significance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maravic, H. v.; Morteani, G.; Roethe, G.

The Luesche cancrinite-syenite/carbonatite complex is located in NE-Zaire about 50 km SSW of Lake Edward. The alkaline rocks have intruded metamorphic rocks of Burundian age (1.100 m.y.). The country rocks are quartzites and mica schists bearing chlorite, garnet, Kyanite and staurolite, which indicates P-T conditions of some 4 kbar and 430-500°C, maximum 6 kbar and 620°C. The K/Ar age of the biotites from the carbonatite is found to be 516 m.y. The core of the alkaline complex is composed of cancrinite-syenites which vary from place to place with respect to the contents of garnet, amphibole, aegirine, sodalite and cancrinite. Significant variations of the pyrochlore content are also observed. The core is surrounded by fine grained calcitic carbonatite (alvikite) which often shows a banded texture and grades into coarse grained calcitic carbonatite (søvite). In the SE of the søvite ring there is a separate dolomitic carbonatite body (beforsite) while at the contacts between the alkaline rocks and the country rocks a wide range of low to high grade fenites enriched in Na or K occurs. Within the alkaline complex the highest niobium values are found associated with metasomatic rocks of the contact zones such as carbosyenites, pyroxentic rocks and fenites. The main niobium mineral is a Ca, Na-pyrochlore enriched in Ti and/or Sr. The geochemical distribution patterns of the major elements as well as of the trace elements, especially the REE, suggests that the carbonatites are of primary magmatic origin derived from mantle material which was affected by later remobilizations, most likely as a result of postmagmatic hydrothermal solutions. Regarding the cancrinite-syenites, there is no evidence for a comagmatic formation with the carbonatites. They are rather of subcrustal origin; formed in the course of various metasomatic processes where the alkalic carbonate melts or volatile carbonate phases interacted with the metamorphic country rocks to form rheomorphic syenites

Field Collection Methods for an EPA Pilot Study Evaluating Personal, Housing, and Community Factors Influencing Children’s Potential Exposures to Indoor Contaminants at Various Lifestages (EPA Pilot Study Add-On to the GreenHousing Study)

EPA Science Inventory

This compilation of field collection standard operating procedures (SOPs) was assembled for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Pilot Study add-on to the Green Housing Study (GHS). A detailed description of this add-on study can be found in the peer reviewed research...

Retention of Habitat Complexity Minimizes Disassembly of Reef Fish Communities following Disturbance: A Large-Scale Natural Experiment

PubMed Central

Emslie, Michael J.; Cheal, Alistair J.; Johns, Kerryn A.

2014-01-01

High biodiversity ecosystems are commonly associated with complex habitats. Coral reefs are highly diverse ecosystems, but are under increasing pressure from numerous stressors, many of which reduce live coral cover and habitat complexity with concomitant effects on other organisms such as reef fishes. While previous studies have highlighted the importance of habitat complexity in structuring reef fish communities, they employed gradient or meta-analyses which lacked a controlled experimental design over broad spatial scales to explicitly separate the influence of live coral cover from overall habitat complexity. Here a natural experiment using a long term (20 year), spatially extensive (∼115,000 kms2) dataset from the Great Barrier Reef revealed the fundamental importance of overall habitat complexity for reef fishes. Reductions of both live coral cover and habitat complexity had substantial impacts on fish communities compared to relatively minor impacts after major reductions in coral cover but not habitat complexity. Where habitat complexity was substantially reduced, species abundances broadly declined and a far greater number of fish species were locally extirpated, including economically important fishes. This resulted in decreased species richness and a loss of diversity within functional groups. Our results suggest that the retention of habitat complexity following disturbances can ameliorate the impacts of coral declines on reef fishes, so preserving their capacity to perform important functional roles essential to reef resilience. These results add to a growing body of evidence about the importance of habitat complexity for reef fishes, and represent the first large-scale examination of this question on the Great Barrier Reef. PMID:25140801

Retention of habitat complexity minimizes disassembly of reef fish communities following disturbance: a large-scale natural experiment.

PubMed

Emslie, Michael J; Cheal, Alistair J; Johns, Kerryn A

2014-01-01

High biodiversity ecosystems are commonly associated with complex habitats. Coral reefs are highly diverse ecosystems, but are under increasing pressure from numerous stressors, many of which reduce live coral cover and habitat complexity with concomitant effects on other organisms such as reef fishes. While previous studies have highlighted the importance of habitat complexity in structuring reef fish communities, they employed gradient or meta-analyses which lacked a controlled experimental design over broad spatial scales to explicitly separate the influence of live coral cover from overall habitat complexity. Here a natural experiment using a long term (20 year), spatially extensive (∼ 115,000 kms(2)) dataset from the Great Barrier Reef revealed the fundamental importance of overall habitat complexity for reef fishes. Reductions of both live coral cover and habitat complexity had substantial impacts on fish communities compared to relatively minor impacts after major reductions in coral cover but not habitat complexity. Where habitat complexity was substantially reduced, species abundances broadly declined and a far greater number of fish species were locally extirpated, including economically important fishes. This resulted in decreased species richness and a loss of diversity within functional groups. Our results suggest that the retention of habitat complexity following disturbances can ameliorate the impacts of coral declines on reef fishes, so preserving their capacity to perform important functional roles essential to reef resilience. These results add to a growing body of evidence about the importance of habitat complexity for reef fishes, and represent the first large-scale examination of this question on the Great Barrier Reef.

Reversible preoperative renal dysfunction does not add to the risk of postoperative acute kidney injury after cardiac valve surgery

PubMed Central

Xu, Jia-Rui; Zhuang, Ya-Min; Liu, Lan; Shen, Bo; Wang, Yi-Mei; Luo, Zhe; Teng, Jie; Wang, Chun-Sheng; Ding, Xiao-Qiang

2017-01-01

Objective To evaluate the impact of the renal dysfunction (RD) type and change of postoperative cardiac function on the risk of developing acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients who underwent cardiac valve surgery. Method Reversible renal dysfunction (RRD) was defined as preoperative RD in patients who had not been initially diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Cardiac function improvement (CFI) was defined as postoperative left ventricular ejection function – preoperative left ventricular ejection function (ΔEF) >0%, and cardiac function not improved (CFNI) as ΔEF ≤0%. Results Of the 4,805 (94%) cardiac valve surgery patients, 301 (6%) were RD cases. The AKI incidence in the RRD group (n=252) was significantly lower than in the CKD group (n=49) (36.5% vs 63.3%, P=0.018). The AKI and renal replacement therapy incidences in the CFI group (n=174) were significantly lower than in the CFNI group (n=127) (33.9% vs 50.4%, P=0.004; 6.3% vs 13.4%, P=0.037). After adjustment for age, gender, and other confounding factors, CKD and CKD + CFNI were identified as independent risk factors for AKI in all patients after cardiac valve surgery. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors for postoperative AKI in preoperative RD patients were age, gender (male), hypertension, diabetes, chronic heart failure, cardiopulmonary bypass time (every 1 min added), and intraoperative hypotension, while CFI after surgery could reduce the risk. Conclusion For cardiac valve surgery patients, preoperative CKD was an independent risk factor for postoperative AKI, but RRD did not add to the risk. Improved postoperative cardiac function can significantly reduce the risk of postoperative AKI. PMID:29184415

Rapid response to methylphenidate as an add-on therapy to mirtazapine in the treatment of major depressive disorder in terminally ill cancer patients: a four-week, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study.

PubMed

Ng, Chong Guan; Boks, Marco P M; Roes, Kit C B; Zainal, Nor Zuraida; Sulaiman, Ahmad Hatim; Tan, Seng Beng; de Wit, Niek J

2014-04-01

This is a 4 week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to examine the effects of methylphenidate as add-on therapy to mirtazapine compared to placebo for treatment of depression in terminally ill cancer patients. It involved 88 terminally ill cancer patients from University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. They were randomized and treated with either methylphenidate or placebo as add on to mirtazapine. The change in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score from baseline to day 3 was analyzed by linear regression. Changes of MADRS and Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale (CGI-S) over 28 days were analyzed using mixed model repeated measures (MMRM). Secondary analysis of MADRS response rates, defined as 50% or more reduction from baseline score. A significantly larger reduction of Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score in the methylphenidate group was observed from day 3 (B=4.14; 95% CI=1.83-6.45). Response rate (defined as 50% or more reduction from baseline MADRS score) in the methylphenidate treated group was superior from day 14. Improvement in Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale (CGI-S) was greater in the methylphenidate treated group from day 3 until day 28. The drop-out rates were 52.3% in the methylphenidate group and 59.1% in the placebo group (relative risk=0.86, 95%CI=0.54-1.37) due to cancer progression. Nervous system adverse events were more common in methylphenidate treated subjects (20.5% vs 9.1%, p=0.13). In conclusions, methylphenidate as add on therapy to mirtazapine demonstrated an earlier antidepressant response in terminally ill cancer patients, although at an increased risk of the nervous system side effects. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. and ECNP. All rights reserved.

SwathProfiler and NProfiler: Two new ArcGIS Add-ins for the automatic extraction of swath and normalized river profiles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pérez-Peña, J. V.; Al-Awabdeh, M.; Azañón, J. M.; Galve, J. P.; Booth-Rea, G.; Notti, D.

2017-07-01

The present-day great availability of high-resolution Digital Elevation Models has improved tectonic geomorphology analyses in their methodological aspects and geological meaning. Analyses based on topographic profiles are valuable to explore the short and long-term landscape response to tectonic activity and climate changes. Swath and river longitudinal profiles are two of the most used analysis to explore the long and short-term landscape responses. Most of these morphometric analyses are conducted in GIS software, which have become standard tools for analyzing drainage network metrics. In this work we present two ArcGIS Add-Ins to automatically delineate swath and normalized river profiles. Both tools are programmed in Visual Basic . NET and use ArcObjects library-architecture to access directly to vector and raster data. The SwathProfiler Add-In allows analyzing the topography within a swath or band by representing maximum-minimum-mean elevations, first and third quartile, local relief and hypsometry. We have defined a new transverse hypsometric integral index (THi) that analyzes hypsometry along the swath and offer valuable information in these kind of graphics. The NProfiler Add-In allows representing longitudinal normalized river profiles and their related morphometric indexes as normalized concavity (CT), maximum concavity (Cmax) and length of maximum concavity (Lmax). Both tools facilitate the spatial analysis of topography and drainage networks directly in a GIS environment as ArcMap and provide graphical outputs. To illustrate how these tools work, we analyzed two study areas, the Sierra Alhamilla mountain range (Betic Cordillera, SE Spain) and the Eastern margin of the Dead Sea (Jordan). The first study area has been recently studied from a morphotectonic perspective and these new tools can show an added value to the previous studies. The second study area has not been analyzed by quantitative tectonic geomorphology and the results suggest a landscape

"Effect of pranayama and meditation as an add-on therapy in rehabilitation of patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome--a randomized control pilot study".

PubMed

Sendhilkumar, Ragupathy; Gupta, Anupam; Nagarathna, Raghuram; Taly, Arun B

2013-01-01

To study the add-on effects of pranayama and meditation in rehabilitation of patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). This randomized control pilot study was conducted in neurological rehabilitation unit of university tertiary research hospital. Twenty-two GBS patients, who consented for the study and satisfied selection criteria, were randomly assigned to yoga and control groups. Ten patients in each group completed the study. The yoga group received 15 sessions in total over a period of 3 weeks (1 h/session), one session per day on 5 days per week that consisted of relaxation, Pranayama (breathing practices) and Guided meditation in addition to conventional rehabilitation therapeutics. The control group received usual rehabilitation care. All the patients were assessed using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Numeric pain rating scale, Hospital anxiety and Depression scale and Barthel index score. Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon's signed rank test were used for statistical analysis. Quality of sleep improved significantly with reduction of PSQI score in the yoga group (p = 0.04). There was reduction of pain scores, anxiety and depression in both the groups without statistical significance between groups (pain p > 0.05, anxiety p > 0.05 and depression p > 0.05). Overall functional status improved in both groups without significant difference (p > 0.05). Significant improvement was observed in quality of sleep with yogic relaxation, pranayama, and meditation in GBS patients.

Space station systems technology study (add-on task). Volume 2: Trade study and technology selection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1985-01-01

The current Space Station Systems Technology Study add on task was an outgrowth of the Advanced Platform Systems Technology Study (APSTS) that was completed in April 1983 and the subsequent Space Station System Technology Study completed in April 1984. The first APSTS proceeded from the identification of 106 technology topics to the selection of five for detailed trade studies. During the advanced platform study, the technical issues and options were evaluated through detailed trade processes, individual consideration was given to costs and benefits for the technologies identified for advancement, and advancement plans were developed. An approach similar to that was used in the subsequent study, with emphasis on system definition in four specific technology areas to facilitate a more in depth analysis of technology issues.

Impact of maternal and paternal preconception health on birth outcomes using prospective couples’ data in Add Health

PubMed Central

Moss, Jennifer L.; Harris, Kathleen Mullan

2014-01-01

Purpose Retrospective studies of preconception health have demonstrated that parents’ health conditions and behaviors can impact a newborn’s birth outcomes and, subsequently, future health status. This study sought to examine the impact of preconception health, measured prospectively, among both mothers and fathers, on two important birth outcomes: birthweight and gestational age. Methods Data came from Add Health (the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health), which included interviews with original participants and a subsample of their partners in 2001–02. In 2008, the original respondents again completed an interview for Add Health. For 372 eligible infants born to these couples, birth outcomes (measured in 2008) were regressed on preconception health conditions and behaviors among non-pregnant heterosexual partners (measured in 2001–02). Results Mean birthweight was 3399 grams, and mean gestational age was 39 weeks. Birthweight was higher for infants born to mothers with diabetes or high blood pressure, and for mothers who drank alcohol at least once per month, and lower for infants born to fathers with diabetes (p < .05). Infant gestational age was marginally lower for infants born to mothers with higher levels of depression (p < .10), and lower for infants born to fathers with diabetes and with higher levels of fast food consumption (p < .05). Conclusions Both maternal and paternal preconception health conditions and behaviors influenced infant birth outcomes. Interventions to promote preconception health should focus on prevention of diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as minimizing consumption of alcohol and fast food. PMID:25367598

Randomized, controlled trial of rasagiline as an add-on to dopamine agonists in Parkinson's disease.

PubMed

Hauser, Robert A; Silver, Dee; Choudhry, Azhar; Eyal, Eli; Isaacson, Stuart

2014-07-01

Dopamine agonists (DA) are often used as first-line monotherapy for the symptomatic control of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, DA monotherapy typically becomes inadequate within a few years, at which time the DA dosage must be increased or other antiparkinsonian medications added. Adding a monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitor to DA monotherapy might improve symptomatic control while maintaining good safety and tolerability. We conducted an 18-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of rasagiline 1 mg/d as an add-on to DA therapy (ropinirole ≥ 6 mg/d or pramipexole ≥ 1.0 mg/d) in early PD patients whose conditions were not adequately controlled on their current treatment regimen. The primary efficacy variable was the change in total Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) score (sum of parts I, II, and III) from baseline to week 18, comparing rasagiline and placebo groups. The modified intent-to-treat (ITT) population included 321 subjects whose mean ± SD age was 62.6 ± 9.7, and duration of PD was 2.1 ± 2.1 years. Results demonstrated a significantly greater improvement in total UPDRS scores from baseline to week 18 in the rasagiline group compared with the placebo group (least squares [LS] mean difference ± SE, -2.4 ± 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], -4.3, -0.5; P = 0.012). Mean improvement (LS mean ± SE) was -3.6 ± 0.68 in the rasagiline group and -1.2 ± 0.68 in the placebo group. Rasagiline was well tolerated, and the most common adverse events (AEs; rasagiline vs. placebo) were dizziness (7.4% vs. 6.1%), somnolence (6.8% vs. 6.7%), and headache (6.2% vs. 4.3%). Rasagiline 1 mg/d provided statistically significant improvement when added to dopamine agonist therapy and was well tolerated. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

CosmoCalc: An Excel add-in for cosmogenic nuclide calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vermeesch, Pieter

2007-08-01

As dating methods using Terrestrial Cosmogenic Nuclides (TCN) become more popular, the need arises for a general-purpose and easy-to-use data reduction software. The CosmoCalc Excel add-in calculates TCN production rate scaling factors (using Lal, Stone, Dunai, and Desilets methods); topographic, snow, and self-shielding factors; and exposure ages, erosion rates, and burial ages and visualizes the results on banana-style plots. It uses an internally consistent TCN production equation that is based on the quadruple exponential approach of Granger and Smith (2000). CosmoCalc was designed to be as user-friendly as possible. Although the user interface is extremely simple, the program is also very flexible, and nearly all default parameter values can be changed. To facilitate the comparison of different scaling factors, a set of converter tools is provided, allowing the user to easily convert cut-off rigidities to magnetic inclinations, elevations to atmospheric depths, and so forth. Because it is important to use a consistent set of scaling factors for the sample measurements and the production rate calibration sites, CosmoCalc defines the production rates implicitly, as a function of the original TCN concentrations of the calibration site. The program is best suited for 10Be, 26Al, 3He, and 21Ne calculations, although basic functionality for 36Cl and 14C is also provided. CosmoCalc can be downloaded along with a set of test data from http://cosmocalc.googlepages.com.

Spontaneous Partitioning of Californium from Curium: Curious Cases from the Crystallization of Curium Coordination Complexes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cary, Samantha K.; Silver, Mark A.; Liu, Guokui

The reaction of 248CmCl3 with excess 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (DPA) under mild solvothermal conditions results in crystallization of the tris-chelate complex Cm(HDPA)3·H2O. Approximately half of the curium remains in solution at the end of this process, and evaporation of the mother liquor results in crystallization of the bis-chelate complex [Cm(HDPA)- (H2DPA)(H2O)2Cl]Cl·2H2O. 248Cm is the daughter of the α decay of 252Cf and is extracted in high purity from this parent. However, trace amounts of 249,250,251Cf are still present in all samples of 248Cm. During the crystallization of Cm(HDPA)3·H2O and [Cm(HDPA)(H2DPA)(H2O)2Cl]Cl·2H2O, californium(III) spontaneously separates itself from the curium complexes and is foundmore » doped within crystals of DPA in the form of Cf(HDPA)3. These results add to the growing body of evidence that the chemistry of californium is fundamentally different from that of earlier actinides.« less

Whole genome sequencing and imputation in isolated populations identify genetic associations with medically-relevant complex traits

PubMed Central

Southam, Lorraine; Gilly, Arthur; Süveges, Dániel; Farmaki, Aliki-Eleni; Schwartzentruber, Jeremy; Tachmazidou, Ioanna; Matchan, Angela; Rayner, Nigel W.; Tsafantakis, Emmanouil; Karaleftheri, Maria; Xue, Yali; Dedoussis, George; Zeggini, Eleftheria

2017-01-01

Next-generation association studies can be empowered by sequence-based imputation and by studying founder populations. Here we report ∼9.5 million variants from whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of a Cretan-isolated population, and show enrichment of rare and low-frequency variants with predicted functional consequences. We use a WGS-based imputation approach utilizing 10,422 reference haplotypes to perform genome-wide association analyses and observe 17 genome-wide significant, independent signals, including replicating evidence for association at eight novel low-frequency variant signals. Two novel cardiometabolic associations are at lead variants unique to the founder population sequences: chr16:70790626 (high-density lipoprotein levels beta −1.71 (SE 0.25), P=1.57 × 10−11, effect allele frequency (EAF) 0.006); and rs145556679 (triglycerides levels beta −1.13 (SE 0.17), P=2.53 × 10−11, EAF 0.013). Our findings add empirical support to the contribution of low-frequency variants in complex traits, demonstrate the advantage of including population-specific sequences in imputation panels and exemplify the power gains afforded by population isolates. PMID:28548082

Infantile sexuality, primary object-love and the anthropological significance of the Oedipus complex: re-reading Freud's 'Female sexuality'.

PubMed

van Haute, Philippe

2005-12-01

The author attempts to show why and in what respect Freud's famous article 'Female sexuality' can still be a source of inspiration for a contemporary metapsychology. In this text, Freud acknowledges the importance of the child's tie to its mother for the first time. Both Balint and Bowlby consider this text to be a distant forerunner of their own theories on primary object-love and attachment respectively. At the same time, Freud's text contains some elements of a 'theory of generalized seduction' as it was developed in the last decades by Jean Laplanche. 'Female sexuality' therefore presents itself as the perfect point of departure for a discussion of the relation between primary object-love (and attachment) and sexuality. Based on his reading of Freud's text, the author argues that human subjectivity is characterized by the lack of attunement between the world of the adult and the world of the child. This insight allows for a reformulation of the anthropological significance of the Oedipus and castration complexes. They are no longer interpreted as universal problems that every child has to face, but as historical and contingent solutions to the lack of attunement between the child and the adult that is essential to human subjectivity.