Health Information Technology (HIT) Adaptation: Refocusing on the Journey to Successful HIT Implementation

PubMed Central

McAlearney, Ann Scheck; Sieck, Cynthia J; Hefner, Jennifer L; Huerta, Timothy R

2017-01-01

In past years, policies and regulations required hospitals to implement advanced capabilities of certified electronic health records (EHRs) in order to receive financial incentives. This has led to accelerated implementation of health information technologies (HIT) in health care settings. However, measures commonly used to evaluate the success of HIT implementation, such as HIT adoption, technology acceptance, and clinical quality, fail to account for complex sociotechnical variability across contexts and the different trajectories within organizations because of different implementation plans and timelines. We propose a new focus, HIT adaptation, to illuminate factors that facilitate or hinder the connection between use of the EHR and improved quality of care as well as to explore the trajectory of changes in the HIT implementation journey as it is impacted by frequent system upgrades and optimizations. Future research should develop instruments to evaluate the progress of HIT adaptation in both its longitudinal design and its focus on adaptation progress rather than on one cross-sectional outcome, allowing for more generalizability and knowledge transfer. PMID:28882812

Health Information Technology (HIT) Adaptation: Refocusing on the Journey to Successful HIT Implementation.

PubMed

Yen, Po-Yin; McAlearney, Ann Scheck; Sieck, Cynthia J; Hefner, Jennifer L; Huerta, Timothy R

2017-09-07

In past years, policies and regulations required hospitals to implement advanced capabilities of certified electronic health records (EHRs) in order to receive financial incentives. This has led to accelerated implementation of health information technologies (HIT) in health care settings. However, measures commonly used to evaluate the success of HIT implementation, such as HIT adoption, technology acceptance, and clinical quality, fail to account for complex sociotechnical variability across contexts and the different trajectories within organizations because of different implementation plans and timelines. We propose a new focus, HIT adaptation, to illuminate factors that facilitate or hinder the connection between use of the EHR and improved quality of care as well as to explore the trajectory of changes in the HIT implementation journey as it is impacted by frequent system upgrades and optimizations. Future research should develop instruments to evaluate the progress of HIT adaptation in both its longitudinal design and its focus on adaptation progress rather than on one cross-sectional outcome, allowing for more generalizability and knowledge transfer. ©Po-Yin Yen, Ann Scheck McAlearney, Cynthia J Sieck, Jennifer L Hefner, Timothy R Huerta. Originally published in JMIR Medical Informatics (http://medinform.jmir.org), 07.09.2017.

Overview of HIT-SI Results and Plans

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ennis, D. A.; Akcay, C.; Hansen, C. J.; Hicks, N. K.; Hossack, A. C.; Jarboe, T. R.; Marklin, G. J.; Nelson, B. A.; Victor, B. S.

2011-10-01

Experiments in the Helicity Injected Torus-Steady Inductive (HIT-SI) device have achieved record spheromak current amplification during operations in deuterium plasmas. HIT-SI investigates steady inductive helicity injection with the aim of forming and sustaining a high-beta equilibrium in a spheromak geometry using two semi-toroidal injectors. Recent operations in deuterium plasmas have produced toroidal plasma currents greater than 50 kA, with current amplifications (Itor / Iinj) > 3 , and poloidal flux amplifications (ψpol /ψinj) > 10 . High performance deuterium discharges are achieved by initially conditioning the plasma-facing alumina surface of the HIT-SI confinement volume with helium plasmas. During subsequent deuterium operation the alumina surface strongly pumps deuterium, thereby limiting the density in the confinement volume. Additional measurements during high current deuterium discharges demonstrate reduced current and electron density fluctuations, impurity O III ion temperatures up to 50 eV and a toroidal current persistence for 0.6 ms after the injectors are shut off. Progress and plans for the HIT-SI3 configuration, with three injectors mounted on the same side of the confinement volume, will also be presented. Work supported by USDoE and ARRA.

Formulation of the Multi-Hit Model With a Non-Poisson Distribution of Hits

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

Vassiliev, Oleg N., E-mail: Oleg.Vassiliev@albertahealthservices.ca

2012-07-15

Purpose: We proposed a formulation of the multi-hit single-target model in which the Poisson distribution of hits was replaced by a combination of two distributions: one for the number of particles entering the target and one for the number of hits a particle entering the target produces. Such an approach reflects the fact that radiation damage is a result of two different random processes: particle emission by a radiation source and interaction of particles with matter inside the target. Methods and Materials: Poisson distribution is well justified for the first of the two processes. The second distribution depends on howmore » a hit is defined. To test our approach, we assumed that the second distribution was also a Poisson distribution. The two distributions combined resulted in a non-Poisson distribution. We tested the proposed model by comparing it with previously reported data for DNA single- and double-strand breaks induced by protons and electrons, for survival of a range of cell lines, and variation of the initial slopes of survival curves with radiation quality for heavy-ion beams. Results: Analysis of cell survival equations for this new model showed that they had realistic properties overall, such as the initial and high-dose slopes of survival curves, the shoulder, and relative biological effectiveness (RBE) In most cases tested, a better fit of survival curves was achieved with the new model than with the linear-quadratic model. The results also suggested that the proposed approach may extend the multi-hit model beyond its traditional role in analysis of survival curves to predicting effects of radiation quality and analysis of DNA strand breaks. Conclusions: Our model, although conceptually simple, performed well in all tests. The model was able to consistently fit data for both cell survival and DNA single- and double-strand breaks. It correctly predicted the dependence of radiation effects on parameters of radiation quality.« less

Isolated orbital mass as the primary presentation of a triple-hit lymphoma transformed from a systemic follicular lymphoma.

PubMed

Zhou, Xiao Yi; Lu, Xinyan; Raparia, Kirtee; Chen, Yi-Hua

2018-06-01

Triple-hit lymphoma is a highly aggressive B-cell lymphoma. We report a case of triple-hit lymphoma transformed from systemic follicular lymphoma (FL) after 9-year remission and presented primarily as an isolated orbital mass without systemic symptoms or lymphadenopathy. A 58-year-old female presented with intermittent vertical binocular diplopia, left upper eyelid swelling and pain and was found to have a 2.9 cm orbital mass. Histological section revealed a CD10-positive large B-cell lymphoma, consistent with transformation of FL. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis demonstrated rearrangements involving C-MYC, BCL-2 and BCL-6 genes, indicating a high grade, triple-hit lymphoma. Triple-hit lymphoma transformed from a low-grade lymphoma may initially present as an isolated orbital mass without systemic evidence of transformation. Early recognition of double or triple-hit lymphomas is important since these patients require aggressive chemotherapy.

Spontaneous heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) syndrome: HIT without any heparin exposure.

PubMed

Miyata, Shigeki

2016-01-01

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a pro-thrombotic side effect of heparin therapy caused by HIT antibodies with platelet-activating properties. Recent advances in understanding of spontaneous HIT syndrome, which can occur even without any heparin exposure despite its clinical and serological characteristics being similar to those of HIT, reveal the following HIT clinical features atypical for an immune-mediated disease. Heparin-naïve patients can develop IgG antibodies as early as day 4, as in a secondary immune response. Evidence for an anamnestic response upon heparin re-exposure is lacking. In addition, HIT antibodies are relatively short-lived, unlike those in a secondary immune response. Antigen immunoassays are commonly used worldwide for serological diagnosis of HIT. However, such assays do not indicate whether HIT antibodies have platelet-activating properties, leading to low diagnostic specificity for HIT. The detection of platelet-activating antibodies using a washed platelet activation assay is crucial for making a HIT diagnosis. These atypical clinical and serological features should be carefully considered while appropriately diagnosing HIT, which leads to appropriate therapy such as immediate administration of an alternative anticoagulant for preventing thromboembolic events and re-administration of heparin during surgery involving cardiopulmonary bypass when HIT antibodies are no longer detectable.

Overview of the HIT-SI3 spheromak experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hossack, A. C.; Jarboe, T. R.; Chandra, R. N.; Morgan, K. D.; Sutherland, D. A.; Everson, C. J.; Penna, J. M.; Nelson, B. A.

2017-10-01

The HIT-SI and HIT-SI3 spheromak experiments (a = 23 cm) study efficient, steady-state current drive for magnetic confinement plasmas using a novel method which is ideal for low aspect ratio, toroidal geometries. Sustained spheromaks show coherent, imposed plasma motion and low plasma-generated mode activity, indicating stability. Analysis of surface magnetic fields in HIT-SI indicates large n = 0 and 1 mode amplitudes and little energy in higher modes. Within measurement uncertainties all the n = 1 energy is imposed by the injectors, rather than being plasma-generated. The fluctuating field imposed by the injectors is sufficient to sustain the toroidal current through dynamo action whereas the plasma-generated field is not (Hossack et al., Phys. Plasmas, 2017). Ion Doppler spectroscopy shows coherent, imposed plasma motion inside r 10 cm in HIT-SI and a smaller volume of coherent motion in HIT-SI3. Coherent motion indicates the spheromak is stable and a lack of plasma-generated n = 1 energy indicates the maximum q is maintained below 1 for stability during sustainment. In HIT-SI3, the imposed mode structure is varied to test the plasma response (Hossack et al., Nucl. Fusion, 2017). Imposing n = 2, n = 3, or large, rotating n = 1 perturbations is correlated with transient plasma-generated activity. Work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Fusion Energy Sciences, under Award Number DE-FG02-96ER54361.

Overview of HIT-SI3 experiment: Simulations, Diagnostics, and Summary of Current Results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Penna, James; Jarboe, Thomas; Nelson, Brian; Hossack, Aaron; Sutherland, Derek; Morgan, Kyle; Hansen, Chris; Benedett, Thomas; Everson, Chris; Victor, Brian

2016-10-01

The Helicity Injected Torus - Steady Inductive 3(HIT-SI3)experiment forms and maintains spheromaks via Steady Inductive Helicity Injection (SIHI). Three injector units allow for continuous injection of helicity into a copper flux conserver in order to sustain a spheromak. Firing of the injectors with a phase difference allows finite rotation of the plasma to provide a stabilizing effect. Simulations in the MHD code NIMROD and the fluid-model code PSI-TET provide validation and a basis for interpretation of the observed experimental data. Thompson Scattering (TS) and Far Infrared (FIR) Interferometer systems allow temperature and line-averaged density measurements to be taken. An Ion Doppler Spectroscopy (IDS) system allows measurement of the plasma rotation and velocity. HIT-SI3 data has been used for validation of IDCD predictions, in particular the projected impedance of helicity injectors according to the theory. The experimental impedances have been calculated here for the first time for different HIT-SI3 regimes. Such experimental evidence will contribute to the design of future experiments employing IDCD as a current-drive mechanism. Work supported by the D.O.E., Office of Science, Office of Fusion Science.

On the accuracy of the Head Impact Telemetry (HIT) System used in football helmets.

PubMed

Jadischke, Ron; Viano, David C; Dau, Nathan; King, Albert I; McCarthy, Joe

2013-09-03

On-field measurement of head impacts has relied on the Head Impact Telemetry (HIT) System, which uses helmet mounted accelerometers to determine linear and angular head accelerations. HIT is used in youth and collegiate football to assess the frequency and severity of helmet impacts. This paper evaluates the accuracy of HIT for individual head impacts. Most HIT validations used a medium helmet on a Hybrid III head. However, the appropriate helmet is large based on the Hybrid III head circumference (58 cm) and manufacturer's fitting instructions. An instrumented skull cap was used to measure the pressure between the head of football players (n=63) and their helmet. The average pressure with a large helmet on the Hybrid III was comparable to the average pressure from helmets used by players. A medium helmet on the Hybrid III produced average pressures greater than the 99th percentile volunteer pressure level. Linear impactor tests were conducted using a large and medium helmet on the Hybrid III. Testing was conducted by two independent laboratories. HIT data were compared to data from the Hybrid III equipped with a 3-2-2-2 accelerometer array. The absolute and root mean square error (RMSE) for HIT were computed for each impact (n=90). Fifty-five percent (n=49) had an absolute error greater than 15% while the RMSE was 59.1% for peak linear acceleration. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Prenatal cannabis exposure - The "first hit" to the endocannabinoid system.

PubMed

Richardson, Kimberlei A; Hester, Allison K; McLemore, Gabrielle L

As more states and countries legalize medical and/or adult recreational marijuana use, the incidences of prenatal cannabis exposure (PCE) will likely increase. While young people increasingly view marijuana as innocuous, marijuana preparations have been growing in potency in recent years, potentially creating global clinical, public health, and workforce concerns. Unlike fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, there is no phenotypic syndrome associated with PCE. There is also no preponderance of evidence that PCE causes lifelong cognitive, behavioral, or functional abnormalities, and/or susceptibility to subsequent addiction. However, there is compelling circumstantial evidence, based on the principles of teratology and fetal malprogramming, suggesting that pregnant women should refrain from smoking marijuana. The usage of marijuana during pregnancy perturbs the fetal endogenous cannabinoid signaling system (ECSS), which is present and active from the early embryonic stage, modulating neurodevelopment and continuing this role into adulthood. The ECSS is present in virtually every brain structure and organ system, and there is also evidence that this system is important in the regulation of cardiovascular processes. Endocannabinoids (eCBs) undergird a broad spectrum of processes, including the early stages of fetal neurodevelopment and uterine implantation. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive chemical in cannabis, enters maternal circulation, and readily crosses the placental membrane. THC binds to CB receptors of the fetal ECSS, altering neurodevelopment and possibly rewiring ECSS circuitry. In this review, we discuss the Double-Hit Hypothesis as it relates to PCE. We contend that PCE, similar to a neurodevelopmental teratogen, delivers the first hit to the ECSS, which is compromised in such a way that a second hit (i.e., postnatal stressors) will precipitate the emergence of a specific phenotype. In summary, we conclude that perturbations of the

NIMROD Modeling of HIT-SI and HIT-SI3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morgan, Kyle; Jarboe, Tom; Hossack, Aaron

2016-10-01

The HIT-SI and HIT-SI3 devices are spheromaks formed and sustained via a set of Steady Inductive Helicity Injectors (SIHI) that are operated in AC. The experiment explores the formation and sustain of stable spheromaks with a variety of perturbation mode structures. The HIT-SI device consisted of two injectors with primarily n = 1 toroidal symmetry while the HIT-SI3 device has three injectors capable of a mixture of n = 1 and n = 2 perturbations or a primarily n = 3 perturbation, depending on the relative phase of the injectors. Using the NIMROD code to model these devices, we are able to validate with experimental results (previously only done on HIT-SI) and examine the interaction between the injectors and the spheromak. Simulations are performed with both finite and zero- β models to gain an understanding of the thermal properties of the device. Additionally, a set of extrapolation simulations has been performed illustrating the spontaneous formation of closed flux surfaces at high current amplification. Work supported by the US DOE.

First Plasma Results from the HIT-SI Spheromak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sieck, P. E.; Hamp, W. T.; Izzo, V. A.; Jarboe, T. R.; Nelson, B. A.; O'Neill, R. G.; Redd, A. J.; Smith, R. J.

2003-10-01

HIT-SI is the newest device in the Helicity Injected Torus (HIT) program. HIT-SI is a ``bow tie'' spheromak formed and sustained by Steady Inductive Helicity Injection (SIHI) current drive. SIHI injects helicity at a nearly constant rate with no open field lines intersecting the boundary. (T. R. Jarboe, Fusion Technology 36) (1), p. 85, 1999 HIT-SI has been designed with a bow tie geometry to achieve stable high-β (>10%) spheromak equilibria. (U. Shumlak and T. R. Jarboe, Phys. Plasmas 7) (7), p. 2959, 2000 Diagnostics currently include surface magnetic probes and flux loops, visible light imaging, H-alpha line radiation monitors, voltage measurements across insulating breaks, injector current Rogowski coils, and injector flux loops. HIT-SI is currently operating in parallel with experiments on HIT-II. At the conclusion of HIT-II operations, HIT-SI will inherit a multi-point Thomson Scattering system, a scanning two-chord FIR interferometer, and other advanced diagnostics, as well as more power supplies to extend the discharge duration. Results are presented which characterize injector operation and possible evidence for spheromak formation.

The accelerator facility of the Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Centre (HIT)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peters, Andreas

The following sections are included: * Introduction * Beam parameters * General layout of the HIT facility * The accelerator chain in detail * Operational aspects of a particle therapy facility * 24/7 accelerator operation at 335 days per year * Safety and regulatory aspects * Status and perspectives * References

Tanzania Health Information Technology (T-HIT) System: Pilot Test of a Tablet-Based System to Improve Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV.

PubMed

Bull, Sheana; Thomas, Deborah Sk; Nyanza, Elias C; Ngallaba, Sospatro E

2018-01-15

The prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV requires innovative solutions. Although routine monitoring is effective in some areas, standardized and easy-to-scale solutions to identify and monitor pregnant women, test them for HIV, and treat them and their children is still lacking. Mobile health (mHealth) offers opportunities for surveillance and reporting in rural areas of low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to document the preliminary impacts of the Tanzania Health Information Technology (T-HIT) system mHealth intervention aimed at health workers for PMTCT care delivery and capacity building in a rural area of Tanzania. We developed T-HIT as a tablet-based system for an electronic data collection system designed to capture and report PMTCT data during antenatal, delivery, and postnatal visits in Misungwi, Tanzania. T-HIT was tested by health workers in a pilot randomized trial comparing seven sites using T-HIT assigned at random to seven control sites; all sites maintained standard paper record-keeping during the pilot intervention period. We compared numbers of antenatal visits, number of HIV tests administered, and women testing positive across all sites. Health workers recorded data from antenatal visits for 1530 women; of these, 695 (45.42%) were tested for HIV and 3.59% (55/1530) tested positive. Health workers were unable to conduct an HIV test for 103 women (6.73%, 103/1530) because of lack of reagent, which is not captured on paper logs. There was no difference in the activity level for testing when comparing sites T-HIT to non-T-HIT sites. We observed a significant postintervention increase in the numbers of women testing positive for HIV compared with the preintervention period (P=.04), but this was likely not attributable to the T-HIT system. T-HIT had a high degree of acceptability and feasibility and is perceived as useful by health workers, who documented more antenatal visits during the pilot intervention

Tanzania Health Information Technology (T-HIT) System: Pilot Test of a Tablet-Based System to Improve Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV

PubMed Central

Bull, Sheana; Nyanza, Elias C; Ngallaba, Sospatro E

2018-01-01

Background The prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV requires innovative solutions. Although routine monitoring is effective in some areas, standardized and easy-to-scale solutions to identify and monitor pregnant women, test them for HIV, and treat them and their children is still lacking. Mobile health (mHealth) offers opportunities for surveillance and reporting in rural areas of low- and middle-income countries. Objective The aim of this study was to document the preliminary impacts of the Tanzania Health Information Technology (T-HIT) system mHealth intervention aimed at health workers for PMTCT care delivery and capacity building in a rural area of Tanzania. Methods We developed T-HIT as a tablet-based system for an electronic data collection system designed to capture and report PMTCT data during antenatal, delivery, and postnatal visits in Misungwi, Tanzania. T-HIT was tested by health workers in a pilot randomized trial comparing seven sites using T-HIT assigned at random to seven control sites; all sites maintained standard paper record-keeping during the pilot intervention period. We compared numbers of antenatal visits, number of HIV tests administered, and women testing positive across all sites. Results Health workers recorded data from antenatal visits for 1530 women; of these, 695 (45.42%) were tested for HIV and 3.59% (55/1530) tested positive. Health workers were unable to conduct an HIV test for 103 women (6.73%, 103/1530) because of lack of reagent, which is not captured on paper logs. There was no difference in the activity level for testing when comparing sites T-HIT to non-T-HIT sites. We observed a significant postintervention increase in the numbers of women testing positive for HIV compared with the preintervention period (P=.04), but this was likely not attributable to the T-HIT system. Conclusions T-HIT had a high degree of acceptability and feasibility and is perceived as useful by health workers, who documented more

NIMROD Simulations of the HIT-SI and HIT-SI3 Devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morgan, Kyle; Jarboe, Tom; Hossack, Aaron; Chandra, Rian; Everson, Chris

2017-10-01

The Helicity Injected Torus with Steady Inductive helicity injection (HIT-SI) experiment uses a set of inductively driven helicity injectors to apply non-axisymmetric current drive on the edge of the plasma, driving an axisymmetric spheromak equilibrium in a central confinement volume. Significant improvements have been made to extended MHD modeling of HIT-SI, with both the resolution of disagreement at high injector frequencies in HIT-SI in addition to successes with the new upgraded HIT-SI3 device. Previous numerical studies of HIT-SI, using a zero-beta eMHD model, focused on operations with a drive frequency of 14.5 kHz, and found reduced agreement with both the magnetic profile and current amplification at higher frequencies (30-70 kHz). HIT-SI3 has three helicity injectors which are able to operate with different mode structures of perturbations through the different relative temporal phasing of the injectors. Simulations that allow for pressure gradients have been performed in the parameter regimes of both devices using the NIMROD code and show improved agreement with experimental results, most notably capturing the observed Shafranov-shift due to increased beta observed at higher finj in HIT-SI and the variety of toroidal perturbation spectra available in HIT-SI3. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Fusion Energy Sciences under Award Number DE-FG02- 96ER54361.

Ion beam collimating grid to reduce added defects

DOEpatents

Lindquist, Walter B.; Kearney, Patrick A.

2003-01-01

A collimating grid for an ion source located after the exit grid. The collimating grid collimates the ion beamlets and disallows beam spread and limits the beam divergence during transients and steady state operation. The additional exit or collimating grid prevents beam divergence during turn-on and turn-off and prevents ions from hitting the periphery of the target where there is re-deposited material or from missing the target and hitting the wall of the vessel where there is deposited material, thereby preventing defects from being deposited on a substrate to be coated. Thus, the addition of a collimating grid to an ion source ensures that the ion beam will hit and be confined to a specific target area.

Treatment of pediatric patients and young adults with particle therapy at the Heidelberg Ion Therapy Center (HIT): establishment of workflow and initial clinical data

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background To report on establishment of workflow and clinical results of particle therapy at the Heidelberg Ion Therapy Center. Materials and methods We treated 36 pediatric patients (aged 21 or younger) with particle therapy at HIT. Median age was 12 years (range 2-21 years), five patients (14%) were younger than 5 years of age. Indications included pilocytic astrocytoma, parameningeal and orbital rhabdomyosarcoma, skull base and cervical chordoma, osteosarcoma and adenoid-cystic carcinoma (ACC), as well as one patient with an angiofibroma of the nasopharynx. For the treatment of small children, an anesthesia unit at HIT was established in cooperation with the Department of Anesthesiology. Results Treatment concepts depended on tumor type, staging, age of the patient, as well as availability of specific study protocols. In all patients, particle radiotherapy was well tolerated and no interruptions due to toxicity had to be undertaken. During follow-up, only mild toxicites were observed. Only one patient died of tumor progression: Carbon ion radiotherapy was performed as an individual treatment approach in a child with a skull base recurrence of the previously irradiated rhabdomyosarcoma. Besides this patient, tumor recurrence was observed in two additional patients. Conclusion Clinical protocols have been generated to evaluate the real potential of particle therapy, also with respect to carbon ions in distinct pediatric patient populations. The strong cooperation between the pediatric department and the department of radiation oncology enable an interdisciplinary treatment and stream-lined workflow and acceptance of the treatment for the patients and their parents. PMID:23072718

42 CFR 495.344 - Approval of the State Medicaid HIT plan, the HIT PAPD and update, the HIT IAPD and update, and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 42 Public Health 5 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Approval of the State Medicaid HIT plan, the HIT... Health CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED... Requirements Specific to the Medicaid Program § 495.344 Approval of the State Medicaid HIT plan, the HIT PAPD...

Argatroban for an alternative anticoagulant in HIT during ECMO.

PubMed

Rougé, Alain; Pelen, Felix; Durand, Michel; Schwebel, Carole

2017-01-01

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) have become more frequently used in daily ICU practice, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a rare but life-threatening complication while on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). HIT confirmation directly impacts on anticoagulant strategy requiring no delay unfractionated heparin discontinuation to be replaced by alternative systemic anticoagulant treatment. We report two clinical cases of HIT occurring during ECMO in various settings with subsequent recovery with argatroban and provide literature review to help physicians treat HIT during ECMO in clinical daily practice. HIT during ECMO is uncommon, and despite the absence of recommendation, argatroban seems to be an appropriate and safe therapeutic option. Finally, there are not enough arguments favouring routine circuit change in the event of HIT during ECMO.

How I treat double-hit lymphoma.

PubMed

Friedberg, Jonathan W

2017-08-03

The 2016 revision of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification for lymphoma has included a new category of lymphoma, separate from diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, termed high-grade B-cell lymphoma with translocations involving myc and bcl-2 or bcl-6 . These lymphomas, which occur in <10% of cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, have been referred to as double-hit lymphomas (or triple-hit lymphomas if all 3 rearrangements are present). It is important to differentiate these lymphomas from the larger group of double-expressor lymphomas, which have increased expression of MYC and BCL-2 and/or BCL-6 by immunohistochemistry, by using variable cutoff percentages to define positivity. Patients with double-hit lymphomas have a poor prognosis when treated with standard chemoimmunotherapy and have increased risk of central nervous system involvement and progression. Double-hit lymphomas may arise as a consequence of the transformation of the underlying indolent lymphoma. There are no published prospective trials in double-hit lymphoma, however retrospective studies strongly suggest that aggressive induction regimens may confer a superior outcome. In this article, I review my approach to the evaluation and treatment of double-hit lymphoma, with an eye toward future clinical trials incorporating rational targeted agents into the therapeutic armamentarium. © 2017 by The American Society of Hematology.

Optical Diagnostics on HIT-SI3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Everson, Christopher; Jarboe, Thomas; Morgan, Kyle

2016-10-01

Interferometry and Thomson Scattering are implemented on the HIT-SI3 (Helicity Injected Torus - Steady Inductive 3) device to provide time resolved measurements of electron density and spatially resolved measurements of electron temperature, respectively. HIT-SI3 is a modification of the original HIT-SI apparatus that uses three injectors instead of two. The scientific aim of HIT-SI3 is to develop a deeper understanding of how injector behavior and interactions influence current drive and spheromak stability. The interferometer system makes use of an intermediate frequency between two parallel 184.3 μm Far-Infrared (FIR) laser cavities which are optically pumped by a CO2 laser. The phase shift in this beat frequency due to the plasma index of refraction is used to calculate the line-integrated electron density. To measure the electron temperature, Thomson Scattered light from a 20 J (1 GW pulse) Ruby laser off of free electrons in the HIT-SI3 plasma is measured simultaneously at four locations across the spheromak (nominally 23 cm minor radius). Polychromators bin the collected light into 3 spectral bands to detect the relative level of scattering. Work supported by the D.O.E.

Post-hit dynamics of price limit hits in the Chinese stock markets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Ting; Wang, Yue; Li, Ming-Xia

2017-01-01

Price limit trading rules are useful to cool off traders short-term trading mania on individual stocks. The price dynamics approaching the limit boards are known as the magnet effect. However, the price dynamics after opening price limit hits are not well investigated. Here, we provide a detailed analysis on the price dynamics after the hits of up-limit or down-limit is open based on all A-share stocks traded in the Chinese stock markets. A "W" shape is found in the expected return, which reveals high probability of a continuous price limit hit on the following day. We also find that price dynamics after opening limit hits are dependent on the market trends. The time span of continuously hitting the price limit is found to an influence factor of the expected profit after the limit hit is open. Our analysis provides a better understanding of the price dynamics around the limit boards and contributes potential practical values for investors.

Evaluation of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) laboratory testing and the 4Ts scoring system in the intensive care unit.

PubMed

Pierce, Wesly; Mazur, Joseph; Greenberg, Charles; Mueller, Joan; Foster, Joyce; Lazarchick, John

2013-01-01

Over-diagnosis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) results in costly and unnecessary laboratory screening and treatment with direct thrombin inhibitors. Our aim was to evaluate the utility of the 4Ts scoring system to predict HIT in multiple ICU settings and to characterize our treatment of these cases. Eighty-two patients from multiple ICU settings who underwent laboratory testing for HIT were classified as low-, intermediate-, or high-risk patients based on retrospectively adjudicated 4Ts scores. These results were compared with platelet-factor 4 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (PF4 ELISAs), optical density (OD) values, and serotonin-release assays (SRAs) to assess the utility of the 4Ts score to rule out ICU-related HIT and reduce laboratory and drug expenditures. Of the 82 patients reviewed, only 12 (11.4%) were PF4-positive and only 1 (1.2%) was SRA-positive for HIT. Heparin was discontinued in only 63.4% of patients suspected to have HIT. There were no significant differences in mean day of platelet fall, mean platelet nadir, and mean percent fall in platelet count between PF4-positive and negative patients (all p > 0.2). There was, however, a significantly higher proportion of patients with an intermediate to high 4Ts score in the PF4-positive group than in the PF4-negative group (66% vs. 30%, respectively; p = 0.02). The mean PF4 OD value in patients with intermediate to high 4Ts scores was significantly higher than in patients with low 4Ts scores (0.658 vs. 0.258, respectively; p < 0.001). The negative predictive values of the 4Ts score relative to the PF4 and SRA were 92% and 100%, respectively. The estimated laboratory and pharmacologic cost avoidance potential of the scoring system in this cohort was $21,450. Our modified 4Ts scoring system appears to be an effective tool for predicting HIT in the ICU and could avoid significant drug and laboratory expenditures if implemented prospectively. The clinical management of patients suspected of HIT

Eyewitness Identification Reforms: Are Suggestiveness-Induced Hits and Guesses True Hits?

PubMed

Wells, Gary L; Steblay, Nancy K; Dysart, Jennifer E

2012-05-01

Research-based reforms for collecting eyewitness identification evidence (e.g., unbiased pre-lineup instructions, double-blind administration) have been proposed by psychologists and adopted in increasing numbers of jurisdictions across the United States. It is well known that reducing rates of mistaken identifications can also reduce accurate identification rates (hits). But the reforms are largely designed to reduce the suggestiveness of the procedures they are meant to replace. Accordingly, we argue that it is misleading to label any hits obtained because of suggestive procedures as "hits" and then saddle reforms with the charge that they reduce the rate of these illegitimate hits. Eyewitness identification evidence should be based solely on the independent memory of the witness, not aided by biased instructions, cues from lineup administrators, or the use of lineup fillers who make the suspect stand out. Failure to call out these hits as being illegitimate can give solace to those who are motivated to preserve the status quo. © The Author(s) 2012.

Identifying and Synchronizing Health Information Technology (HIT) Events from FDA Medical Device Reports.

PubMed

Kang, Hong; Wang, Frank; Zhou, Sicheng; Miao, Qi; Gong, Yang

2017-01-01

Health information technology (HIT) events, a subtype of patient safety events, pose a major threat and barrier toward a safer healthcare system. It is crucial to gain a better understanding of the nature of the errors and adverse events caused by current HIT systems. The scarcity of HIT event-exclusive databases and event reporting systems indicates the challenge of identifying the HIT events from existing resources. FDA Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database is a potential resource for HIT events. However, the low proportion and the rapid evolvement of HIT-related events present challenges for distinguishing them from other equipment failures and hazards. We proposed a strategy to identify and synchronize HIT events from MAUDE by using a filter based on structured features and classifiers based on unstructured features. The strategy will help us develop and grow an HIT event-exclusive database, keeping pace with updates to MAUDE toward shared learning.

77 FR 32639 - HIT Standards Committee and HIT Policy Committee; Call for Nominations

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-01

... with the implementation of the Federal Health IT Strategic Plan, and in accordance with policies... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Standards Committee and HIT Policy Committee; Call for... Health Information Technology Policy Committee (HITPC). Name of Committees: HIT Standards Committee and...

Quantitative Single-Ion Irradiation by ASIPP Microbeam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xu-Fei; Chen, Lian-Yun; Hu, Zhi-Wen; Wang, Xiao-Hua; Zhang, Jun; Li, Jun; Chen, Bin; Hu, Su-Hua; Shi, Zhong-Tao; Wu, Yu; Xu, Ming-Liang; Wu, Li-Jun; Wang, Shao-Hu; Yu, Zeng-Liang

2004-05-01

A single-ion microbeam facility has been constructed by the microbeam research group in ASIPP (Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Science). The system was designed to deliver defined numbers of hydrogen ions produced by a van de Graaff accelerator, covering an energy range from 200 keV to 3 MeV, into living cells (5 mum-20 mum diameter) growing in culture on thin plastic films. The beam is collimated by a 1- mum inner diameter HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) capillary, which forms the micron-dimensional beam-line exit. A microbeam collimator, a scintillation ion counting system and a fast beam shutter, which constitute a precise dosage measuring and controlling system, jointly perform quantitative single-ion irradiation. With this facility, we can presently acquire ion-hitting efficiency close to 95%.

Electron cyclotron resonance ion sources in use for heavy ion cancer therapy.

PubMed

Tinschert, K; Iannucci, R; Lang, R

2008-02-01

The use of electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion sources for producing ion beams for heavy ion cancer therapy has been established for more than ten years. After the Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator (HIMAC) at Chiba, Japan started therapy of patients with carbon ions in 1994 the first carbon ion beam for patient treatment at the accelerator facility of GSI was delivered in 1997. ECR ion sources are the perfect tool for providing the required ion beams with good stability, high reliability, and easy maintenance after long operating periods. Various investigations were performed at GSI with different combinations of working gas and auxiliary gas to define the optimal beam conditions for an extended use of further ion species for the dedicated Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy (HIT) facility installed at the Radiological University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany. Commercially available compact all permanent magnet ECR ion sources operated at 14.5 GHz were chosen for this facility. Besides for (12)C(4+) these ion sources are used to provide beams of (1)H(3)(1+), (3)He(1+), and (16)O(6+). The final commissioning at the HIT facility could be finished at the end of 2006.

Biophysics Representation of the Two-Hit Model of Alzheimer's Disease for the Exploration of Late CNS Risks from Space Radiation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cucinotta, Francis A.; Ponomarev, Artem

2009-01-01

A concern for long-term space travel outside the Earth s magnetic field is the late effects to the central nervous system (CNS) from galactic cosmic ray (GCR) or solar particle events (SPE). Human epidemiology data is severely limited for making CNS risk estimates and it is not clear such effects occur following low LET exposures. We are developing systems biology models based on biological information on specific diseases, and experimental data for proton and heavy ion radiation. A two-hit model of Alzheimer s disease (AD) has been proposed by Zhu et al.(1), which is the framework of our model. Of importance is that over 50% of the US population over the age of 75-y have mild to severe forms of AD. Therefore we recommend that risk assessment for a potential AD risk from space radiation should focus on the projection of an earlier age of onset of AD and the prevention of this possible acceleration through countermeasures. In the two-hit model, oxidative stress and aberrant cell cycle-related abnormalities leading to amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are necessary and invariant steps in AD. We have formulated a stochastic cell kinetics model of the two-hit AD model. In our model a population of neuronal cells is allowed to undergo renewal through neurogenesis and is susceptible to oxidative stress or cell cycle abnormalities with age-specific accumulation of damage. Baseline rates are fitted to AD population data for specific ages, gender, and for persons with an apolipoprotein 4 allele. We then explore how low LET or heavy ions may increase either of the two-hits or neurogenesis either through persistent oxidative stress, direct mutation, or through changes to the micro-environment, and suggest possible ways to develop accurate quantitative estimates of these processes for predicting AD risks following long-term space travel.

The Helicity Injected Torus (HIT) Program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jarboe, T. R.; Gu, P.; Hamp, W.; Izzo, V.; Jewell, P.; Liptac, J.; McCollam, K. J.; Nelson, B. A.; Raman, R.; Redd, A. J.; Shumlak, U.; Sieck, P. E.; Smith, R. J.; Jain, K. K.; Nagata, M.; Uyama, T.

2000-10-01

The purpose of the Helicity Injected Torus (HIT/hit.html>HIT) program is to develop current drive techniques for low-aspect-ratio toroidal plasmas. The present HIT-II spherical tokamak experiment is capable of both Coaxial Helicity Injection (CHI) and transformer action current drive. The HIT-II device itself is modestly sized (major radius R = 0.3 m, minor radius a = 0.2 m, with an on-axis magnetic field of up to Bo = 0.5 T), but has demonstrated toroidal plasma currents of up to 200 kA, using either CHI or transformer drive. An overview of ongoing research on HIT-II plasmas, including recent results, will be presented. An electron-locking model has been developed for helicity injection current drive; a description of this model will be presented, as well as comparisons to experimental results from the HIT and HIT-II devices. Empirical results from both the HIT program and past spheromak research, buttressed by theoretical developments, have led to the design of the upcoming HIT/hit.html>HIT-SI (Helicity Injected Torus with Steady Inductive helicity injection) device (T.R. Jarboe, Fusion Technology 36, p. 85, 1999). HIT-SI will be able to form a high-beta spheromak, a low aspect ratio RFP or a spherical tokamak using constant inductive helicity injection. The HIT-SI design and construction progress will be presented.

Universal Hitting Time Statistics for Integrable Flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dettmann, Carl P.; Marklof, Jens; Strömbergsson, Andreas

2017-02-01

The perceived randomness in the time evolution of "chaotic" dynamical systems can be characterized by universal probabilistic limit laws, which do not depend on the fine features of the individual system. One important example is the Poisson law for the times at which a particle with random initial data hits a small set. This was proved in various settings for dynamical systems with strong mixing properties. The key result of the present study is that, despite the absence of mixing, the hitting times of integrable flows also satisfy universal limit laws which are, however, not Poisson. We describe the limit distributions for "generic" integrable flows and a natural class of target sets, and illustrate our findings with two examples: the dynamics in central force fields and ellipse billiards. The convergence of the hitting time process follows from a new equidistribution theorem in the space of lattices, which is of independent interest. Its proof exploits Ratner's measure classification theorem for unipotent flows, and extends earlier work of Elkies and McMullen.

A Two-Hit Model of Autism: Adolescence as the Second Hit

PubMed Central

Picci, Giorgia; Scherf, K. Suzanne

2015-01-01

Adolescence brings dramatic changes in behavior and neural organization. Unfortunately, for some 30% of individuals with autism, there is marked decline in adaptive functioning during adolescence. We propose a two-hit model of autism. First, early perturbations in neural development function as a “first hit” that sets up a neural system that is “built to fail” in the face of a second hit. Second, the confluence of pubertal hormones, neural reorganization, and increasing social demands during adolescence provides the “second hit” that interferes with the ability to transition into adult social roles and levels of adaptive functioning. In support of this model, we review evidence about adolescent-specific neural and behavioral development in autism. We conclude with predictions and recommendations for empirical investigation about several domains in which developmental trajectories for individuals with autism may be uniquely deterred in adolescence. PMID:26609500

Two Methods for Efficient Solution of the Hitting-Set Problem

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vatan, Farrokh; Fijany, Amir

2005-01-01

A paper addresses much of the same subject matter as that of Fast Algorithms for Model-Based Diagnosis (NPO-30582), which appears elsewhere in this issue of NASA Tech Briefs. However, in the paper, the emphasis is more on the hitting-set problem (also known as the transversal problem), which is well known among experts in combinatorics. The authors primary interest in the hitting-set problem lies in its connection to the diagnosis problem: it is a theorem of model-based diagnosis that in the set-theory representation of the components of a system, the minimal diagnoses of a system are the minimal hitting sets of the system. In the paper, the hitting-set problem (and, hence, the diagnosis problem) is translated from a combinatorial to a computational problem by mapping it onto the Boolean satisfiability and integer- programming problems. The paper goes on to describe developments nearly identical to those summarized in the cited companion NASA Tech Briefs article, including the utilization of Boolean-satisfiability and integer- programming techniques to reduce the computation time and/or memory needed to solve the hitting-set problem.

Laboratory Testing Protocols for Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT) Testing.

PubMed

Lau, Kun Kan Edwin; Mohammed, Soma; Pasalic, Leonardo; Favaloro, Emmanuel J

2017-01-01

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) represents a significant high morbidity complication of heparin therapy. The clinicopathological diagnosis of HIT remains challenging for many reasons; thus, laboratory testing represents an important component of an accurate diagnosis. Although there are many assays available to assess HIT, these essentially fall into two categories-(a) immunological assays, and (b) functional assays. The current chapter presents protocols for several HIT assays, being those that are most commonly performed in laboratory practice and have the widest geographic distribution. These comprise a manual lateral flow-based system (STiC), a fully automated latex immunoturbidimetric assay, a fully automated chemiluminescent assay (CLIA), light transmission aggregation (LTA), and whole blood aggregation (Multiplate).

Enhanced HTS hit selection via a local hit rate analysis.

PubMed

Posner, Bruce A; Xi, Hualin; Mills, James E J

2009-10-01

The postprocessing of high-throughput screening (HTS) results is complicated by the occurrence of false positives (inactive compounds misidentified as active by the primary screen) and false negatives (active compounds misidentified as inactive by the primary screen). An activity cutoff is frequently used to select "active" compounds from HTS data; however, this approach is insensitive to both false positives and false negatives. An alternative method that can minimize the occurrence of these artifacts will increase the efficiency of hit selection and therefore lead discovery. In this work, rather than merely using the activity of a given compound, we look at the presence and absence of activity among all compounds in its "chemical space neighborhood" to give a degree of confidence in its activity. We demonstrate that this local hit rate (LHR) analysis method outperforms hit selection based on ranking by primary screen activity values across ten diverse high throughput screens, spanning both cell-based and biochemical assay formats of varying biology and robustness. On average, the local hit rate analysis method was approximately 2.3-fold and approximately 1.3-fold more effective in identifying active compounds and active chemical series, respectively, than selection based on primary activity alone. Moreover, when applied to finding false negatives, this method was 2.3-fold better than ranking by primary activity alone. In most cases, novel hit series were identified that would have otherwise been missed. Additional uses of and observations regarding this HTS analysis approach are also discussed.

Effects of detector dead-time on quantitative analyses involving boron and multi-hit detection events in atom probe tomography.

PubMed

Meisenkothen, Frederick; Steel, Eric B; Prosa, Ty J; Henry, Karen T; Prakash Kolli, R

2015-12-01

In atom probe tomography (APT), some elements tend to field evaporate preferentially in multi-hit detection events. Boron (B) is one such element. It is thought that a large fraction of the B signal may be lost during data acquisition and is not reported in the mass spectrum or in the 3-D APT reconstruction. Understanding the relationship between the field evaporation behavior of B and the limitations for detecting multi-hit events can provide insight into the signal loss mechanism for B and may suggest ways to improve B detection accuracy. The present work reports data for nominally pure B and for B-implanted silicon (Si) (NIST-SRM2137) at dose levels two-orders of magnitude lower than previously studied by Da Costa, et al. in 2012. Boron concentration profiles collected from SRM2137 specimens qualitatively confirmed a signal loss mechanism is at work in laser pulsed atom probe measurements of B in Si. Ion correlation analysis was used to graphically demonstrate that the detector dead-time results in few same isotope, same charge-state (SISCS) ion pairs being properly recorded in the multi-hit data, explaining why B is consistently under-represented in quantitative analyses. Given the important role of detector dead-time as a signal loss mechanism, the results from three different methods of estimating the detector dead-time are presented. The findings of this study apply to all quantitative analyses that involve multi-hit data, but the dead-time will have the greatest effect on the elements that have a significant quantity of ions detected in multi-hit events. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Is There an Association Between Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT) and Autoimmune Disease?

PubMed

Klinkhammer, Brent; Gruchalla, Michael

2018-03-01

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a drug-induced, immunoglobulin G medicated autoimmune disorder associated with several negative clinical outcomes including increased morbidity, mortality, and increased medical costs. Previous studies have shown associations between comorbid autoimmune diseases, but there is little known about associations between HIT and autoimmunity. To provide clinical data to suggest an association between HIT and autoimmunity. Retrospective chart review of 59 cases with a diagnosis of HIT and 251 matched controls without a HIT diagnosis, comparing the prevalence of autoimmunity in each group. A single, large upper Midwest health care system. Patients with a diagnosis of HIT were significantly more likely to have a comorbid autoimmune disease than those without a HIT diagnosis (55.9% vs 10.8%, P < 0.001). In disease-specific analyses, patients with a diagnosis of HIT were significantly more likely to have a diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome (15.3% vs 0.0%, P < 0.001), systemic lupus erythematous (8.5% vs 0.4%, P = 0.001), rheumatoid arthritis (5.1% vs 0.0%, P = 0.007), Hashimoto's thyroiditis (13.6% vs 3.6%, P = 0.006), or nonischemic cardiomyopathy (5.1% vs 0.0%, P = 0.007). Patients diagnosed with HIT were significantly older than controls ( P < 0.001). This novel study gives evidence to suggest an association between HIT and autoimmune disease and suggests a need for more research into the relationship between HIT and autoimmunity. These results could alter the anticoagulation management of venous thromboembolism and acute coronary syndrome in patients with a previously identified autoimmune disease. Copyright© Wisconsin Medical Society.

Computational Physics' Greatest Hits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bug, Amy

2011-03-01

The digital computer, has worked its way so effectively into our profession that now, roughly 65 years after its invention, it is virtually impossible to find a field of experimental or theoretical physics unaided by computational innovation. It is tough to think of another device about which one can make that claim. In the session ``What is computational physics?'' speakers will distinguish computation within the field of computational physics from this ubiquitous importance across all subfields of physics. This talk will recap the invited session ``Great Advances...Past, Present and Future'' in which five dramatic areas of discovery (five of our ``greatest hits'') are chronicled: The physics of many-boson systems via Path Integral Monte Carlo, the thermodynamic behavior of a huge number of diverse systems via Monte Carlo Methods, the discovery of new pharmaceutical agents via molecular dynamics, predictive simulations of global climate change via detailed, cross-disciplinary earth system models, and an understanding of the formation of the first structures in our universe via galaxy formation simulations. The talk will also identify ``greatest hits'' in our field from the teaching and research perspectives of other members of DCOMP, including its Executive Committee.

Linear energy transfer in water phantom within SHIELD-HIT transport code

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ergun, A.; Sobolevsky, N.; Botvina, A. S.; Buyukcizmeci, N.; Latysheva, L.; Ogul, R.

2017-02-01

The effect of irradiation in tissue is important in hadron therapy for the dose measurement and treatment planning. This biological effect is defined by an equivalent dose H which depends on the Linear Energy Transfer (LET). Usually, H can be expressed in terms of the absorbed dose D and the quality factor K of the radiation under consideration. In literature, various types of transport codes have been used for modeling and simulation of the interaction of the beams of protons and heavier ions with tissue-equivalent materials. In this presentation we used SHIELD-HIT code to simulate decomposition of the absorbed dose by LET in water for 16O beams. A more detailed description of capabilities of the SHIELD-HIT code can be found in the literature.

Statistical properties and pre-hit dynamics of price limit hits in the Chinese stock markets.

PubMed

Wan, Yu-Lei; Xie, Wen-Jie; Gu, Gao-Feng; Jiang, Zhi-Qiang; Chen, Wei; Xiong, Xiong; Zhang, Wei; Zhou, Wei-Xing

2015-01-01

Price limit trading rules are adopted in some stock markets (especially emerging markets) trying to cool off traders' short-term trading mania on individual stocks and increase market efficiency. Under such a microstructure, stocks may hit their up-limits and down-limits from time to time. However, the behaviors of price limit hits are not well studied partially due to the fact that main stock markets such as the US markets and most European markets do not set price limits. Here, we perform detailed analyses of the high-frequency data of all A-share common stocks traded on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange from 2000 to 2011 to investigate the statistical properties of price limit hits and the dynamical evolution of several important financial variables before stock price hits its limits. We compare the properties of up-limit hits and down-limit hits. We also divide the whole period into three bullish periods and three bearish periods to unveil possible differences during bullish and bearish market states. To uncover the impacts of stock capitalization on price limit hits, we partition all stocks into six portfolios according to their capitalizations on different trading days. We find that the price limit trading rule has a cooling-off effect (object to the magnet effect), indicating that the rule takes effect in the Chinese stock markets. We find that price continuation is much more likely to occur than price reversal on the next trading day after a limit-hitting day, especially for down-limit hits, which has potential practical values for market practitioners.

An Analytic Model for the Success Rate of a Robotic Actuator System in Hitting Random Targets.

PubMed

Bradley, Stuart

2015-11-20

Autonomous robotic systems are increasingly being used in a wide range of applications such as precision agriculture, medicine, and the military. These systems have common features which often includes an action by an "actuator" interacting with a target. While simulations and measurements exist for the success rate of hitting targets by some systems, there is a dearth of analytic models which can give insight into, and guidance on optimization, of new robotic systems. The present paper develops a simple model for estimation of the success rate for hitting random targets from a moving platform. The model has two main dimensionless parameters: the ratio of actuator spacing to target diameter; and the ratio of platform distance moved (between actuator "firings") to the target diameter. It is found that regions of parameter space having specified high success are described by simple equations, providing guidance on design. The role of a "cost function" is introduced which, when minimized, provides optimization of design, operating, and risk mitigation costs.

Statistical Properties and Pre-Hit Dynamics of Price Limit Hits in the Chinese Stock Markets

PubMed Central

Wan, Yu-Lei; Xie, Wen-Jie; Gu, Gao-Feng; Jiang, Zhi-Qiang; Chen, Wei; Xiong, Xiong; Zhang, Wei; Zhou, Wei-Xing

2015-01-01

Price limit trading rules are adopted in some stock markets (especially emerging markets) trying to cool off traders’ short-term trading mania on individual stocks and increase market efficiency. Under such a microstructure, stocks may hit their up-limits and down-limits from time to time. However, the behaviors of price limit hits are not well studied partially due to the fact that main stock markets such as the US markets and most European markets do not set price limits. Here, we perform detailed analyses of the high-frequency data of all A-share common stocks traded on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange from 2000 to 2011 to investigate the statistical properties of price limit hits and the dynamical evolution of several important financial variables before stock price hits its limits. We compare the properties of up-limit hits and down-limit hits. We also divide the whole period into three bullish periods and three bearish periods to unveil possible differences during bullish and bearish market states. To uncover the impacts of stock capitalization on price limit hits, we partition all stocks into six portfolios according to their capitalizations on different trading days. We find that the price limit trading rule has a cooling-off effect (object to the magnet effect), indicating that the rule takes effect in the Chinese stock markets. We find that price continuation is much more likely to occur than price reversal on the next trading day after a limit-hitting day, especially for down-limit hits, which has potential practical values for market practitioners. PMID:25874716

First experimental-based characterization of oxygen ion beam depth dose distributions at the Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurz, C.; Mairani, A.; Parodi, K.

2012-08-01

Over the last decades, the application of proton and heavy-ion beams to external beam radiotherapy has rapidly increased. Due to the favourable lateral and depth dose profile, the superposition of narrow ion pencil beams may enable a highly conformal dose delivery to the tumour, with better sparing of the surrounding healthy tissue in comparison to conventional radiation therapy with photons. To fully exploit the promised clinical advantages of ion beams, an accurate planning of the patient treatments is required. The clinical treatment planning system (TPS) at the Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT) is based on a fast performing analytical algorithm for dose calculation, relying, among others, on laterally integrated depth dose distributions (DDDs) simulated with the FLUKA Monte Carlo (MC) code. Important input parameters of these simulations need to be derived from a comparison of the simulated DDDs with measurements. In this work, the first measurements of 16O ion DDDs at HIT are presented with a focus on the determined Bragg peak positions and the understanding of factors influencing the shape of the distributions. The measurements are compared to different simulation approaches aiming to reproduce the acquired data at best. A simplified geometrical model is first used to optimize important input parameters, not known a priori, in the simulations. This method is then compared to a more realistic, but also more time-consuming simulation approach better accounting for the experimental set-up and the measuring process. The results of this work contributed to a pre-clinical oxygen ion beam database, which is currently used by a research TPS for corresponding radio-biological cell experiments. A future extension to a clinical database used by the clinical TPS at HIT is foreseen. As a side effect, the performed investigations showed that the typical water equivalent calibration approach of experimental data acquired with water column systems leads to slight

Rapid exclusion of the diagnosis of immune HIT by AcuStar HIT and heparin-induced multiple electrode aggregometry.

PubMed

Minet, V; Baudar, J; Bailly, N; Douxfils, J; Laloy, J; Lessire, S; Gourdin, M; Devalet, B; Chatelain, B; Dogné, J M; Mullier, F

2014-06-01

Accurate diagnosis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is essential but remains challenging. We have previously demonstrated, in a retrospective study, the usefulness of the combination of the 4Ts score, AcuStar HIT and heparin-induced multiple electrode aggregometry (HIMEA) with optimized thresholds. We aimed at exploring prospectively the performances of our optimized diagnostic algorithm on suspected HIT patients. The secondary objective is to evaluate performances of AcuStar HIT-Ab (PF4-H) in comparison with the clinical outcome. 116 inpatients with clinically suspected immune HIT were included. Our optimized diagnostic algorithm was applied to each patient. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value (PPV) of the overall diagnostic strategy as well as AcuStar HIT-Ab (at manufacturer's thresholds and at our thresholds) were calculated using clinical diagnosis as the reference. Among 116 patients, 2 patients had clinically-diagnosed HIT. These 2 patients were positive on AcuStar HIT-Ab, AcuStar HIT-IgG and HIMEA. Using our optimized algorithm, all patients were correctly diagnosed. AcuStar HIT-Ab at our cut-off (>9.41 U/mL) and at manufacturer's cut-off (>1.00 U/mL) showed both a sensitivity of 100.0% and a specificity of 99.1% and 90.4%, respectively. The combination of the 4Ts score, the HemosIL® AcuStar HIT and HIMEA with optimized thresholds may be useful for the rapid and accurate exclusion of the diagnosis of immune HIT. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Clinical Computer Systems Survey (CLICS): learning about health information technology (HIT) in its context of use.

PubMed

Lichtner, Valentina; Cornford, Tony; Klecun, Ela

2013-01-01

Successful health information technology (HIT) implementations need to be informed on the context of use and on users' attitudes. To this end, we developed the CLinical Computer Systems Survey (CLICS) instrument. CLICS reflects a socio-technical view of HIT adoption, and is designed to encompass all members of the clinical team. We used the survey in a large English hospital as part of its internal evaluation of the implementation of an electronic patient record system (EPR). The survey revealed extent and type of use of the EPR; how it related to and integrated with other existing systems; and people's views on its use, usability and emergent safety issues. Significantly, participants really appreciated 'being asked'. They also reminded us of the wider range of administrative roles engaged with EPR. This observation reveals pertinent questions as to our understanding of the boundaries between administrative tasks and clinical medicine - what we propose as the field of 'administrative medicine'.

Dosimetry in radiobiological studies with the heavy ion beam of the Warsaw cyclotron

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaźmierczak, U.; Banaś, D.; Braziewicz, J.; Czub, J.; Jaskóła, M.; Korman, A.; Kruszewski, M.; Lankoff, A.; Lisowska, H.; Malinowska, A.; Stępkowski, T.; Szefliński, Z.; Wojewódzka, M.

2015-12-01

The aim of this study was to verify various dosimetry methods in the irradiation of biological materials with a 12C ion beam at the Heavy Ion Laboratory of the University of Warsaw. To this end the number of ions hitting the cell nucleus, calculated on the basis of the Si-detector system used in the set-up, was compared with the number of ion tracks counted in irradiated Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors and with the number of ion tracks detected in irradiated Chinese Hamster Ovary cells processed for the γ-H2AX assay. Tests results were self-consistent and confirmed that the system serves its dosimetric purpose.

Electron cyclotron resonance ion source experience at the Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Centera)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winkelmann, T.; Cee, R.; Haberer, T.; Naas, B.; Peters, A.; Scheloske, S.; Spädtke, P.; Tinschert, K.

2008-02-01

Radiotherapy with heavy ions is an upcoming cancer treatment method with to date unparalleled precision. It associates higher control rates particularly for radiation resistant tumor species with reduced adverse effects compared to conventional photon therapy. The accelerator beam lines and structures of the Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT) have been designed under the leadership of GSI, Darmstadt with contributions of the IAP Frankfurt. Currently, the accelerator is under commissioning, while the injector linac has been completed. When the patient treatment begins in 2008, HIT will be the first medical heavy ion accelerator in Europe. This presentation will provide an overview about the project, with special attention given to the 14.5GHz electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion sources in operation with carbon, hydrogen, helium, and oxygen, and the experience of one year of continuous operation. It also displays examples for beam emittances, measured in the low energy beam transport. In addition to the outlook of further developments at the ECR ion sources for a continuously stable operation, this paper focuses on some of the technical processings of the past year.

Multiple-hit parameter estimation in monolithic detectors.

PubMed

Hunter, William C J; Barrett, Harrison H; Lewellen, Tom K; Miyaoka, Robert S

2013-02-01

We examine a maximum-a-posteriori method for estimating the primary interaction position of gamma rays with multiple interaction sites (hits) in a monolithic detector. In assessing the performance of a multiple-hit estimator over that of a conventional one-hit estimator, we consider a few different detector and readout configurations of a 50-mm-wide square cerium-doped lutetium oxyorthosilicate block. For this study, we use simulated data from SCOUT, a Monte-Carlo tool for photon tracking and modeling scintillation- camera output. With this tool, we determine estimate bias and variance for a multiple-hit estimator and compare these with similar metrics for a one-hit maximum-likelihood estimator, which assumes full energy deposition in one hit. We also examine the effect of event filtering on these metrics; for this purpose, we use a likelihood threshold to reject signals that are not likely to have been produced under the assumed likelihood model. Depending on detector design, we observe a 1%-12% improvement of intrinsic resolution for a 1-or-2-hit estimator as compared with a 1-hit estimator. We also observe improved differentiation of photopeak events using a 1-or-2-hit estimator as compared with the 1-hit estimator; more than 6% of photopeak events that were rejected by likelihood filtering for the 1-hit estimator were accurately identified as photopeak events and positioned without loss of resolution by a 1-or-2-hit estimator; for PET, this equates to at least a 12% improvement in coincidence-detection efficiency with likelihood filtering applied.

Multiple-Hit Parameter Estimation in Monolithic Detectors

PubMed Central

Barrett, Harrison H.; Lewellen, Tom K.; Miyaoka, Robert S.

2014-01-01

We examine a maximum-a-posteriori method for estimating the primary interaction position of gamma rays with multiple interaction sites (hits) in a monolithic detector. In assessing the performance of a multiple-hit estimator over that of a conventional one-hit estimator, we consider a few different detector and readout configurations of a 50-mm-wide square cerium-doped lutetium oxyorthosilicate block. For this study, we use simulated data from SCOUT, a Monte-Carlo tool for photon tracking and modeling scintillation- camera output. With this tool, we determine estimate bias and variance for a multiple-hit estimator and compare these with similar metrics for a one-hit maximum-likelihood estimator, which assumes full energy deposition in one hit. We also examine the effect of event filtering on these metrics; for this purpose, we use a likelihood threshold to reject signals that are not likely to have been produced under the assumed likelihood model. Depending on detector design, we observe a 1%–12% improvement of intrinsic resolution for a 1-or-2-hit estimator as compared with a 1-hit estimator. We also observe improved differentiation of photopeak events using a 1-or-2-hit estimator as compared with the 1-hit estimator; more than 6% of photopeak events that were rejected by likelihood filtering for the 1-hit estimator were accurately identified as photopeak events and positioned without loss of resolution by a 1-or-2-hit estimator; for PET, this equates to at least a 12% improvement in coincidence-detection efficiency with likelihood filtering applied. PMID:23193231

Hit-and-run, hit-and-stay, and commensal bacteria present different peptide content when viewed from the perspective of the T cell.

PubMed

He, Lu; De Groot, Anne S; Bailey-Kellogg, Chris

2015-11-27

Different types of bacteria face different pressures from the immune system, with those that persist ("hit-and-stay") potentially having to adapt more in order to escape than those prone to short-lived infection ("hit-and-run"), and with commensal bacteria potentially different from both due to additional physical mechanisms for avoiding immune detection. The Janus Immunogenicity Score (JIS) was recently developed to assess the likelihood of T cell recognition of an antigen, using an analysis that considers both binding of a peptide within the antigen by major histocompatability complex (MHC) and recognition of the peptide:MHC complex by cognate T cell receptor (TCR). This score was shown to be predictive of T effector vs. T regulatory or null responses in experimental data, as well as to distinguish viruses representative of the hit-and-stay vs. hit-and-run phenotypes. Here, JIS-based analyses were conducted in order to characterize the extent to which the pressure to avoid T cell recognition is manifested in genomic differences among representative hit-and-run, hit-and-stay, and commensal bacteria. Overall, extracellular proteins were found to have different JIS profiles from cytoplasmic ones. Contrasting the bacterial groups, extracellular proteins were shown to be quite different across the groups, much more so than intracellular proteins. The differences were evident even at the level of corresponding peptides in homologous protein pairs from hit-and-run and hit-and-stay bacteria. The multi-level analysis of patterns of immunogenicity across different groups of bacteria provides a new way to approach questions of bacterial immune camouflage or escape, as well as to approach the selection and optimization of candidates for vaccine design. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Progress on FIR interferometry and Thomson Scattering measurements on HIT-SI3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Everson, Christopher; Jarboe, Thomas; Morgan, Kyle

2017-10-01

Spatially resolved measurements of the electron temperature (Te) and density (ne) will be fundamental in assessing the degree to which HIT-SI3 demonstrates closed magnetic flux and energy confinement. Further, electron temperature measurements have not yet been made on an inductively-driven spheromak. Far infrared (FIR) interferometer and Thomson Scattering (TS) systems have been installed on the HIT-SI3 spheromak. The TS system currently implemented on HIT-SI3 was originally designed for other magnetic confinement experiments, and progress continues toward modifying and optimizing for HIT-SI3 plasmas. Initial results suggest that the electron temperature is of order 10 eV. Plans to modify the TS system to provide more sensitivity and accuracy at low temperatures are presented. The line-integrated ne is measured on one chord by the FIR interferometer, with densities near 5x1019 m-3. Four cylindrical volumes have been added to the HIT-SI3 apparatus to enhance passive pumping. It is hoped that this will allow for more control of the density during the 2 ms discharges. Density measurements from before and after the installation of the passive pumping volumes are presented for comparison.

Creating a safe place for pediatric care: A no hit zone.

PubMed

Frazier, Erin R; Liu, Gilbert C; Dauk, Kelly L

2014-07-01

Our goal was to create and implement a program, Kosair Children's Hospital's No Hit Zone, which trains health care workers in de-escalation techniques to address parental disruptive behaviors and physical discipline of children commonly encountered in the hospital environment. The Child Abuse Task Force, a multidisciplinary group, along with key hospital administrators developed specific content for the policy, as well as marketing and educational materials. The No Hit Zone policy designates Kosair Children's Hospital as "an environment in which no adult shall hit a child, no adult shall hit another adult, no child shall hit an adult, and no child shall hit another child. When hitting is observed, it is everyone's responsibility to interrupt the behavior as well as communicate system policy to those present." Via a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach, the No Hit Zone was successfully implemented at Kosair Children's Hospital in 2012. Cost was nominal, and the support of key hospital administrators was critical to the program's success. Education of health professionals on de-escalation techniques and intervention with families at the early signs of parental stress occurred via live sessions and online training via case-based scenarios. The No Hit Zone is an important program used to provide a safe and caring environment for all families and staff of Kosair Children's Hospital. Demand for the program continues, demonstrated by the establishment of No Hit Zones at other local hospitals and multiple outpatient clinics. This article offers information for other organizations planning to conduct similar initiatives. Copyright © 2014 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Rapid development of two factor IXa inhibitors from hit to lead.

PubMed

Parker, Dann L; Walsh, Shawn; Li, Bing; Kim, Esther; Sharipour, Aurash; Smith, Cameron; Chen, Yi-Heng; Berger, Richard; Harper, Bart; Zhang, Ting; Park, Min; Shu, Min; Wu, Jane; Xu, Jiayi; Dewnani, Sunita; Sherer, Edward C; Hruza, Alan; Reichert, Paul; Geissler, Wayne; Sonatore, Lisa; Ellsworth, Kenneth; Balkovec, James; Greenlee, William; Wood, Harold B

2015-06-01

Two high-throughput screening hits were investigated for SAR against human factor IXa. Both hits feature a benzamide linked to a [6-5]-heteroaryl via an alkyl amine. In the case where this system is a benzimidazolyl-ethyl amine the binding potency for the hit was improved >500-fold, from 9 μM to 0.016 μM. For the other hit, which contains a tetrahydropyrido-indazole amine, potency was improved 20-fold, from 2 μM to 0.09 μM. X-ray crystal structures were obtained for an example of each class which improved understanding of the binding, and will enable further drug discovery efforts. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Estimating residual fault hitting rates by recapture sampling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, Larry; Gupta, Rajan

1988-01-01

For the recapture debugging design introduced by Nayak (1988) the problem of estimating the hitting rates of the faults remaining in the system is considered. In the context of a conditional likelihood, moment estimators are derived and are shown to be asymptotically normal and fully efficient. Fixed sample properties of the moment estimators are compared, through simulation, with those of the conditional maximum likelihood estimators. Properties of the conditional model are investigated such as the asymptotic distribution of linear functions of the fault hitting frequencies and a representation of the full data vector in terms of a sequence of independent random vectors. It is assumed that the residual hitting rates follow a log linear rate model and that the testing process is truncated when the gaps between the detection of new errors exceed a fixed amount of time.

Data Independent Acquisition analysis in ProHits 4.0.

PubMed

Liu, Guomin; Knight, James D R; Zhang, Jian Ping; Tsou, Chih-Chiang; Wang, Jian; Lambert, Jean-Philippe; Larsen, Brett; Tyers, Mike; Raught, Brian; Bandeira, Nuno; Nesvizhskii, Alexey I; Choi, Hyungwon; Gingras, Anne-Claude

2016-10-21

Affinity purification coupled with mass spectrometry (AP-MS) is a powerful technique for the identification and quantification of physical interactions. AP-MS requires careful experimental design, appropriate control selection and quantitative workflows to successfully identify bona fide interactors amongst a large background of contaminants. We previously introduced ProHits, a Laboratory Information Management System for interaction proteomics, which tracks all samples in a mass spectrometry facility, initiates database searches and provides visualization tools for spectral counting-based AP-MS approaches. More recently, we implemented Significance Analysis of INTeractome (SAINT) within ProHits to provide scoring of interactions based on spectral counts. Here, we provide an update to ProHits to support Data Independent Acquisition (DIA) with identification software (DIA-Umpire and MSPLIT-DIA), quantification tools (through DIA-Umpire, or externally via targeted extraction), and assessment of quantitative enrichment (through mapDIA) and scoring of interactions (through SAINT-intensity). With additional improvements, notably support of the iProphet pipeline, facilitated deposition into ProteomeXchange repositories and enhanced export and viewing functions, ProHits 4.0 offers a comprehensive suite of tools to facilitate affinity proteomics studies. It remains challenging to score, annotate and analyze proteomics data in a transparent manner. ProHits was previously introduced as a LIMS to enable storing, tracking and analysis of standard AP-MS data. In this revised version, we expand ProHits to include integration with a number of identification and quantification tools based on Data-Independent Acquisition (DIA). ProHits 4.0 also facilitates data deposition into public repositories, and the transfer of data to new visualization tools. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Examining the use of HIT functions among physicians serving minority populations.

PubMed

Tarver, Will; Menachemi, Nir

2014-02-01

The Institute of Medicine highlighted the fact that the U.S. health care system does not provide consistent, high quality medical care to all people. The routine use of health information technology (HIT) that includes certain key functions may be critical in reducing such disparities. We used logistic regression analyses to examine differences when it comes to the routine use of key HIT functions that are linked to improvements in clinical care. Physicians predominantly serving Black patients were more likely than physicians predominantly serving White patients to routinely use HIT to generate reminders for clinicians and patients about preventive services. Similarly, physicians predominantly serving Hispanic patients were more likely than physicians predominantly serving White patients to routinely use HIT to access patients' preferred language. Importantly, although minority-serving institutions have lower adoption rates overall, differences exist in the routine use of key HIT functions that have the potential to reduce health disparities.

76 FR 25355 - HIT Standards Committee; Schedule for the Assessment of HIT Policy Committee Recommendations

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-04

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Standards Committee; Schedule for the Assessment of HIT Policy Committee Recommendations AGENCY: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information... Committee regarding health information technology standards, implementation specifications, and/or...

Range of plasma ions in cold cluster gases near the critical point

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, G.; Quevedo, H. J.; Bonasera, A.; Donovan, M.; Dyer, G.; Gaul, E.; Guardo, G. L.; Gulino, M.; La Cognata, M.; Lattuada, D.; Palmerini, S.; Pizzone, R. G.; Romano, S.; Smith, H.; Trippella, O.; Anzalone, A.; Spitaleri, C.; Ditmire, T.

2017-05-01

We measure the range of plasma ions in cold cluster gases by using the Petawatt laser at the University of Texas-Austin. The produced plasma propagated in all directions some hitting the cold cluster gas not illuminated by the laser. From the ratio of the measured ion distributions at different angles we can estimate the range of the ions in the cold cluster gas. It is much smaller than estimated using popular models, which take only into account the slowing down of charged particles in uniform matter. We discuss the ion range in systems prepared near a liquid-gas phase transition.

Development of a single ion hit facility at the Pierre Sue Laboratory: a collimated microbeam to study radiological effects on targeted living cells.

PubMed

Daudin, L; Carrière, M; Gouget, B; Hoarau, J; Khodja, H

2006-01-01

A single ion hit facility is being developed at the Pierre Süe Laboratory (LPS) since 2004. This set-up will be dedicated to the study of ionising radiation effects on living cells, which will complete current research conducted on uranium chemical toxicity on renal and osteoblastic cells. The study of the response to an exposure to alpha particles will allow us to distinguish radiological and chemical toxicities of uranium, with a special emphasis on the bystander effect at low doses. Designed and installed on the LPS Nuclear microprobe, up to now dedicated to ion beam microanalysis, this set-up will enable us to deliver an exact number of light ions accelerated by a 3.75 MV electrostatic accelerator. An 'in air' vertical beam permits the irradiation of cells in conditions compatible with cell culture techniques. Furthermore, cellular monolayer will be kept in controlled conditions of temperature and atmosphere in order to diminish stress. The beam is collimated with a fused silica capillary tubing to target pre-selected cells. Motorisation of the collimator with piezo-electric actuators should enable fast irradiation without moving the sample, thus avoiding mechanical stress. An automated epifluorescence microscope, mounted on an antivibration table, allows pre- and post-irradiation cell observation. An ultra thin silicon surface barrier detector has been developed and tested to be able to shoot a cell with a single alpha particle.

78 FR 29134 - HIT Standards Committee; Schedule for the Assessment of HIT Policy Committee Recommendations

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-17

... quality, clinical operations, implementation, consumer technology, nationwide health information networks and privacy and security. Other groups will be convened to address specific issues as needed. HIT...) Direct the appropriate workgroup or other special group to develop a report for the HIT Standards...

Interpretation of mutation induction by accelerated heavy ions in bacteria

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

Kozubek, S.; Ryznar, L.; Horneck, G.

In this report, a quantitative interpretation of mutation induction cross sections by heavy charged particles in bacterial cells is presented. The approach is based on the calculation of the fraction of energy deposited by indirect hits in the sensitive structure. In these events the particle does not pass through the sensitive volume, but this region is hit by {delta} rays. Four track structure models, developed by Katz, Chatterjee et al, Kiefer and Straaten and Kudryashov et al., respectively, were used for the calculations. With the latter two models, very good agreement of the calculations with experimental results on mutagenesis inmore » bacteria was obtained. Depending on the linear energy transfer (LET{infinity}) of the particles, two different modes of mutagenic action of heavy ions are distinguished: {open_quotes}{delta}-ray mutagenesis,{close_quotes} which is related to those radiation qualities that preferentially kill the cells in direct hits (LET{infinity} {ge} 100 keV/{mu}m), and {open_quotes}track core mutagenesis,{close_quotes} which arises from direct hits and is observed for lighter ions or ions with high energy (LET{infinity} {le} 100 keV/{mu}m). 37 refs., 6 figs., 1 tab.« less

Protons from carbon ion fragmentation at 0.3–2.0 GeV/nucleon: Comparison with models of ion-ion interactions

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

Abramov, B. M.; Alekseev, P. N.; Borodin, Yu. A.

2015-05-15

Yields of protons at 3.5° from carbon ion fragmentation at energies of T{sub 0} = 0.3, 0.6, 0.95, and 2.0 GeV/nucleon on a Be target were measured in the FRAGM experiment at TWA-ITEP heavy-ion facility. Proton momentum spectra cover both the region of the fragmentation maximum and the cumulative region. The differential cross sections span six orders of its magnitude. The spectra are compared with the predictions of four models of ion-ion interactions: LAQGSM03.03, SHIELD-HIT, QMD, and BC.

Heparin-independent, PF4-dependent binding of HIT antibodies to platelets: implications for HIT pathogenesis.

PubMed

Padmanabhan, Anand; Jones, Curtis G; Bougie, Daniel W; Curtis, Brian R; McFarland, Janice G; Wang, Demin; Aster, Richard H

2015-01-01

Antibodies specific for platelet factor 4 (PF4)/heparin complexes are the hallmark of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (HIT), but many antibody-positive patients have normal platelet counts. The basis for this is not fully understood, but it is believed that antibodies testing positive in the serotonin release assay (SRA) are the most likely to cause disease. We addressed this issue by characterizing PF4-dependent binding of HIT antibodies to intact platelets and found that most antibodies testing positive in the SRA, but none of those testing negative, bind to and activate platelets when PF4 is present without any requirement for heparin (P < .0001). Binding of SRA-positive antibodies to platelets was inhibited by chondroitinase ABC digestion (P < .05) and by the addition of chondroitin-4-sulfate (CS) or heparin in excess quantities. The findings suggest that although all HIT antibodies recognize PF4 in a complex with heparin, only a subset of these antibodies recognize more subtle epitopes induced in PF4 when it binds to CS, the major platelet glycosaminoglycan. Antibodies having this property could explain "delayed HIT" seen in some individuals after discontinuation of heparin and the high risk for thrombosis that persists for weeks in patients recovered from HIT. © 2015 by The American Society of Hematology.

Influence of Running on Pistol Shot Hit Patterns.

PubMed

Kerkhoff, Wim; Bolck, Annabel; Mattijssen, Erwin J A T

2016-01-01

In shooting scene reconstructions, risk assessment of the situation can be important for the legal system. Shooting accuracy and precision, and thus risk assessment, might be correlated with the shooter's physical movement and experience. The hit patterns of inexperienced and experienced shooters, while shooting stationary (10 shots) and in running motion (10 shots) with a semi-automatic pistol, were compared visually (with confidence ellipses) and statistically. The results show a significant difference in precision (circumference of the hit patterns) between stationary shots and shots fired in motion for both inexperienced and experienced shooters. The decrease in precision for all shooters was significantly larger in the y-direction than in the x-direction. The precision of the experienced shooters is overall better than that of the inexperienced shooters. No significant change in accuracy (shift in the hit pattern center) between stationary shots and shots fired in motion can be seen for all shooters. © 2015 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Coincidence ion imaging with a fast frame camera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Suk Kyoung; Cudry, Fadia; Lin, Yun Fei; Lingenfelter, Steven; Winney, Alexander H.; Fan, Lin; Li, Wen

2014-12-01

A new time- and position-sensitive particle detection system based on a fast frame CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductors) camera is developed for coincidence ion imaging. The system is composed of four major components: a conventional microchannel plate/phosphor screen ion imager, a fast frame CMOS camera, a single anode photomultiplier tube (PMT), and a high-speed digitizer. The system collects the positional information of ions from a fast frame camera through real-time centroiding while the arrival times are obtained from the timing signal of a PMT processed by a high-speed digitizer. Multi-hit capability is achieved by correlating the intensity of ion spots on each camera frame with the peak heights on the corresponding time-of-flight spectrum of a PMT. Efficient computer algorithms are developed to process camera frames and digitizer traces in real-time at 1 kHz laser repetition rate. We demonstrate the capability of this system by detecting a momentum-matched co-fragments pair (methyl and iodine cations) produced from strong field dissociative double ionization of methyl iodide.

Coincidence ion imaging with a fast frame camera

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

Lee, Suk Kyoung; Cudry, Fadia; Lin, Yun Fei

2014-12-15

A new time- and position-sensitive particle detection system based on a fast frame CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductors) camera is developed for coincidence ion imaging. The system is composed of four major components: a conventional microchannel plate/phosphor screen ion imager, a fast frame CMOS camera, a single anode photomultiplier tube (PMT), and a high-speed digitizer. The system collects the positional information of ions from a fast frame camera through real-time centroiding while the arrival times are obtained from the timing signal of a PMT processed by a high-speed digitizer. Multi-hit capability is achieved by correlating the intensity of ion spots onmore » each camera frame with the peak heights on the corresponding time-of-flight spectrum of a PMT. Efficient computer algorithms are developed to process camera frames and digitizer traces in real-time at 1 kHz laser repetition rate. We demonstrate the capability of this system by detecting a momentum-matched co-fragments pair (methyl and iodine cations) produced from strong field dissociative double ionization of methyl iodide.« less

Live cell imaging combined with high-energy single-ion microbeam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Na; Du, Guanghua; Liu, Wenjing; Guo, Jinlong; Wu, Ruqun; Chen, Hao; Wei, Junzhe

2016-03-01

DNA strand breaks can lead to cell carcinogenesis or cell death if not repaired rapidly and efficiently. An online live cell imaging system was established at the high energy microbeam facility at the Institute of Modern Physics to study early and fast cellular response to DNA damage after high linear energy transfer ion radiation. The HT1080 cells expressing XRCC1-RFP were irradiated with single high energy nickel ions, and time-lapse images of the irradiated cells were obtained online. The live cell imaging analysis shows that strand-break repair protein XRCC1 was recruited to the ion hit position within 20 s in the cells and formed bright foci in the cell nucleus. The fast recruitment of XRCC1 at the ion hits reached a maximum at about 200 s post-irradiation and then was followed by a slower release into the nucleoplasm. The measured dual-exponential kinetics of XRCC1 protein are consistent with the proposed consecutive reaction model, and the measurements obtained that the reaction rate constant of the XRCC1 recruitment to DNA strand break is 1.2 × 10-3 s-1 and the reaction rate constant of the XRCC1 release from the break-XRCC1 complex is 1.2 × 10-2 s-1.

HIT implementation in critical access hospitals: extent of implementation and business strategies supporting IT use.

PubMed

Bahensky, James A; Ward, Marcia M; Nyarko, Kwame; Li, Pengxiang

2011-08-01

Small rural hospitals face considerable financial and personnel resource shortages which hinder their efforts to implement complex health information technology (HIT) systems. A survey on the use of HIT was completed by 85% of Iowa's 82 Critical Access Hospitals (CAH). Analyses indicate that low IT staffing in CAHs is a barrier to implementing HIT solutions. CAHs with fewer staff tend to employ alternative business strategies. There is a clear relationship between having IT staff at a CAH and the types of technologies used. Many CAHs report having difficulty expanding upon HIT functionalities due to the challenges of finding IT staff with healthcare expertise. Most CAHs are in the transition point of planning for or beginning implementation of complex clinical information systems. Strategies for addressing these challenges will need to evolve as the HIT investments by rural hospitals race to keep pace with the goals for the nation.

Current insights into the laboratory diagnosis of HIT.

PubMed

Bakchoul, T; Zöllner, H; Greinacher, A

2014-06-01

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an adverse drug reaction and prothrombotic disorder caused by immunization against platelet factor 4 (PF4) after complex formation with heparin or other polyanions. After antibody binding to PF4/heparin complexes, HIT antibodies are capable of intravascular platelet activation by cross-linking Fc gamma receptor IIa (FcγRIIa) on the platelet surface leading to a platelet count decrease and/or thrombosis. In contrast to most other immune-mediated disorders, the currently available laboratory tests for anti-PF4/heparin antibodies show a high sensitivity also for clinically irrelevant antibodies. This makes the diagnosis of HIT challenging and bears the risk to substantially overdiagnose HIT. The strength of the antigen assays for HIT is in ruling out HIT when the test is negative. Functional assays have a higher specificity for clinically relevant antibodies, but they are restricted to specialized laboratories. Currently, a Bayesian approach combining the clinical likelihood estimation for HIT with laboratory tests is the most appropriate approach to diagnose HIT. In this review, we give an overview on currently available diagnostic procedures and discuss their limitations. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Quantum algorithms for Gibbs sampling and hitting-time estimation

DOE PAGES

Chowdhury, Anirban Narayan; Somma, Rolando D.

2017-02-01

In this paper, we present quantum algorithms for solving two problems regarding stochastic processes. The first algorithm prepares the thermal Gibbs state of a quantum system and runs in time almost linear in √Nβ/Ζ and polynomial in log(1/ϵ), where N is the Hilbert space dimension, β is the inverse temperature, Ζ is the partition function, and ϵ is the desired precision of the output state. Our quantum algorithm exponentially improves the dependence on 1/ϵ and quadratically improves the dependence on β of known quantum algorithms for this problem. The second algorithm estimates the hitting time of a Markov chain. Formore » a sparse stochastic matrix Ρ, it runs in time almost linear in 1/(ϵΔ 3/2), where ϵ is the absolute precision in the estimation and Δ is a parameter determined by Ρ, and whose inverse is an upper bound of the hitting time. Our quantum algorithm quadratically improves the dependence on 1/ϵ and 1/Δ of the analog classical algorithm for hitting-time estimation. Finally, both algorithms use tools recently developed in the context of Hamiltonian simulation, spectral gap amplification, and solving linear systems of equations.« less

Hitting Is Contagious in Baseball: Evidence from Long Hitting Streaks

PubMed Central

Bock, Joel R.; Maewal, Akhilesh; Gough, David A.

2012-01-01

Data analysis is used to test the hypothesis that “hitting is contagious”. A statistical model is described to study the effect of a hot hitter upon his teammates’ batting during a consecutive game hitting streak. Box score data for entire seasons comprising streaks of length games, including a total observations were compiled. Treatment and control sample groups () were constructed from core lineups of players on the streaking batter’s team. The percentile method bootstrap was used to calculate confidence intervals for statistics representing differences in the mean distributions of two batting statistics between groups. Batters in the treatment group (hot streak active) showed statistically significant improvements in hitting performance, as compared against the control. Mean for the treatment group was found to be to percentage points higher during hot streaks (mean difference increased points), while the batting heat index introduced here was observed to increase by points. For each performance statistic, the null hypothesis was rejected at the significance level. We conclude that the evidence suggests the potential existence of a “statistical contagion effect”. Psychological mechanisms essential to the empirical results are suggested, as several studies from the scientific literature lend credence to contagious phenomena in sports. Causal inference from these results is difficult, but we suggest and discuss several latent variables that may contribute to the observed results, and offer possible directions for future research. PMID:23251507

Validation of the Impact of Health Information Technology (I-HIT) Scale: an international collaborative.

PubMed

Dykes, Patricia C; Hurley, Ann C; Brown, Suzanne; Carr, Robyn; Cashen, Margaret; Collins, Rita; Cook, Robyn; Currie, Leanne; Docherty, Charles; Ensio, Anneli; Foster, Joanne; Hardiker, Nicholas R; Honey, Michelle L L; Killalea, Rosaleen; Murphy, Judy; Saranto, Kaija; Sensmeier, Joyce; Weaver, Charlotte

2009-01-01

In 2005, the Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Nursing Informatics Community developed a survey to measure the impact of health information technology (HIT), the I-HIT Scale, on the role of nurses and interdisciplinary communication in hospital settings. In 2007, nursing informatics colleagues from Australia, England, Finland, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland and the United States formed a research collaborative to validate the I-HIT across countries. All teams have completed construct and face validation in their countries. Five out of six teams have initiated reliability testing by practicing nurses. This paper reports the international collaborative's validation of the I-HIT Scale completed to date.

Antibodies associated with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) inhibit activated protein C generation: new insights into the prothrombotic nature of HIT.

PubMed

Kowalska, M Anna; Krishnaswamy, Sriram; Rauova, Lubica; Zhai, Li; Hayes, Vincent; Amirikian, Karine; Esko, Jeffrey D; Bougie, Daniel W; Aster, Richard H; Cines, Douglas B; Poncz, Mortimer

2011-09-08

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is caused by antibodies that recognize complexes between platelet factor 4 (PF4) and heparin or glycosaminoglycan side chains. These antibodies can lead to a limb- and life-threatening prothrombotic state. We now show that HIT antibodies are able to inhibit generation of activated protein C (aPC) by thrombin/thrombomodulin (IIa/TM) in the presence of PF4. Tetrameric PF4 potentiates aPC generation by formation of complexes with chondroitin sulfate (CS) on TM. Formation of these complexes occurs at a specific molar ratio of PF4 to glycosaminoglycan. This observation and the finding that the effect of heparin on aPC generation depends on the concentration of PF4 suggest similarity between PF4/CS complexes and those that bind HIT antibodies. HIT antibodies reduced the ability of PF4 to augment aPC formation. Cationic protamine sulfate, which forms similar complexes with heparin, also enhanced aPC generation, but its activity was not blocked by HIT antibodies. Our studies provide evidence that complexes formed between PF4 and TM's CS may play a physiologic role in potentiating aPC generation. Recognition of these complexes by HIT antibodies reverses the PF4-dependent enhancement in aPC generation and may contribute to the prothrombotic nature of HIT.

78 FR 29135 - HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-17

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting AGENCY: Office of...: HIT Standards Committee. General Function of the Committee: To provide recommendations to the National... Federal Health IT Strategic Plan, and in accordance with policies developed by the HIT Policy Committee...

Cyclone Chris Hits Australia

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

This false-color image shows Cyclone Chris shortly after it hit Australia's northwestern coast on February 6, 2002. This scene was acquired by the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), flying aboard NASA's Terra satellite. (Please note that this scene has not been reprojected.) Cyclone Chris is one of the most powerful storms ever to hit Australia. Initially, the storm contained wind gusts of up to 200 km per hour (125 mph), but shortly after making landfall it weakened to a Category 4 storm. Meteorologists expect the cyclone to weaken quickly as it moves further inland.

Progress and Plans for the HIT--SI Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sieck, P. E.; Gu, P.; Hamp, W. T.; Izzo, V. A.; Jarboe, T. R.; Nelson, B. A.; O'Neill, R. G.; Redd, A. J.; Rogers, J. A.; Smith, R. J.

2002-11-01

The next step in the Helicity Injected Torus (HIT) program is HIT/hit.html>HIT--SI, a ``bow tie'' spheromak to be formed and sustained by Steady Inductive Helicity Injection (SIHI). SIHI injects helicity at a nearly constant rate with no open field lines intersecting the boundary.(T. R. Jarboe, Fusion Technology 36) (1), p. 85, 1999 HIT--SI has been designed with a bow tie geometry to achieve stable high-β (>10%) spheromak equilibria.(U. Shumlak and T. R. Jarboe, Phys. Plasmas 7) (7), p. 2959, 2000 Injector dynamics depend greatly on reconnection rates in two locations: deep in the injector, and at the edge of the spheromak equilibrium. The first stage of HIT--SI operation concentrates on formation of a spheromak and sustainment for 1 ms, where the injector dynamics can be studied and the formation parameter space can be explored. Once these goals are met, the experiment will move into the second stage of operation, where the discharge duration will be extended and the device will inherit a suite of diagnostics from the existing HIT--II device.

Implementation of a rapid HIT immunoassay at a university hospital - Retrospective analysis of HIT laboratory orders in patients with thrombocytopenia.

PubMed

Black, Anne; Heimerl, Susanne; Oertli, Linnéa; Wilczek, Wolf; Greinacher, Andreas; Spannagl, Michael; Herr, Wolfgang; Hart, Christina

2017-10-01

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a rare cause of thrombocytopenia and a potentially life-threatening adverse drug reaction. Clinical overdiagnosis of HIT results in costly laboratory tests and anticoagulation. Criteria and algorithms for diagnosis are established, but their translation into clinical practice is still challenging. In a retrospective approach we studied all HIT related laboratory test requests within four years and evaluated data before (1st period, 24month) and after (2nd period, 24month) replacing particle gel immunoassay (PaGIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) by a chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA). HIT was confirmed by heparin-induced platelet activation (HIPA) test. Clinical pretest probability for HIT using an implemented simplified 4Ts score and platelet count were evaluated. Costs for laboratory tests and alternative anticoagulation were calculated. In 1850 patients with suspected HIT, 2327 laboratory orders were performed. In 87.2% of these orders an intermediate/high simplified 4Ts score was found. Thrombocytopenia was present in 87.1%. After replacing PaGIA and ELISA by CLIA the number of immunological and functional laboratory tests was reduced by 38.2%. The number of positive HIT immunoassays declined from 22.6% to 6.0%, while the number of positive HIPA tests among positive immunological tests increased by 19%. Altogether, acute HIT was confirmed in 59 patients. A decline in the use of alternative anticoagulants was observed in the 2nd period. Our study shows that in a university hospital setting HIT is well-known, but diagnosis requires a precise laboratory confirmation. Replacing PaGIA and ELISA by CLIA did not influence laboratory order behavior but results in reduced overall costs for laboratory diagnostics and alternative anticoagulation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

External validation of the HIT Expert Probability (HEP) score.

PubMed

Joseph, Lee; Gomes, Marcelo P V; Al Solaiman, Firas; St John, Julie; Ozaki, Asuka; Raju, Manjunath; Dhariwal, Manoj; Kim, Esther S H

2015-03-01

The diagnosis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) can be challenging. The HIT Expert Probability (HEP) Score has recently been proposed to aid in the diagnosis of HIT. We sought to externally and prospectively validate the HEP score. We prospectively assessed pre-test probability of HIT for 51 consecutive patients referred to our Consultative Service for evaluation of possible HIT between August 1, 2012 and February 1, 2013. Two Vascular Medicine fellows independently applied the 4T and HEP scores for each patient. Two independent HIT expert adjudicators rendered a diagnosis of HIT likely or unlikely. The median (interquartile range) of 4T and HEP scores were 4.5 (3.0, 6.0) and 5 (3.0, 8.5), respectively. There were no significant differences between area under receiver-operating characteristic curves of 4T and HEP scores against the gold standard, confirmed HIT [defined as positive serotonin release assay and positive anti-PF4/heparin ELISA] (0.74 vs 0.73, p = 0.97). HEP score ≥ 2 was 100 % sensitive and 16 % specific for determining the presence of confirmed HIT while a 4T score > 3 was 93 % sensitive and 35 % specific. In conclusion, the HEP and 4T scores are excellent screening pre-test probability models for HIT, however, in this prospective validation study, test characteristics for the diagnosis of HIT based on confirmatory laboratory testing and expert opinion are similar. Given the complexity of the HEP scoring model compared to that of the 4T score, further validation of the HEP score is warranted prior to widespread clinical acceptance.

Live cell imaging combined with high-energy single-ion microbeam

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

Guo, Na; Du, Guanghua, E-mail: gh-du@impcas.ac.cn; Liu, Wenjing

DNA strand breaks can lead to cell carcinogenesis or cell death if not repaired rapidly and efficiently. An online live cell imaging system was established at the high energy microbeam facility at the Institute of Modern Physics to study early and fast cellular response to DNA damage after high linear energy transfer ion radiation. The HT1080 cells expressing XRCC1-RFP were irradiated with single high energy nickel ions, and time-lapse images of the irradiated cells were obtained online. The live cell imaging analysis shows that strand-break repair protein XRCC1 was recruited to the ion hit position within 20 s in themore » cells and formed bright foci in the cell nucleus. The fast recruitment of XRCC1 at the ion hits reached a maximum at about 200 s post-irradiation and then was followed by a slower release into the nucleoplasm. The measured dual-exponential kinetics of XRCC1 protein are consistent with the proposed consecutive reaction model, and the measurements obtained that the reaction rate constant of the XRCC1 recruitment to DNA strand break is 1.2 × 10{sup −3} s{sup −1} and the reaction rate constant of the XRCC1 release from the break-XRCC1 complex is 1.2 × 10{sup −2} s{sup −1}.« less

High-Throughput Screening and Hit Validation of Extracellular-Related Kinase 5 (ERK5) Inhibitors.

PubMed

Myers, Stephanie M; Bawn, Ruth H; Bisset, Louise C; Blackburn, Timothy J; Cottyn, Betty; Molyneux, Lauren; Wong, Ai-Ching; Cano, Celine; Clegg, William; Harrington, Ross W; Leung, Hing; Rigoreau, Laurent; Vidot, Sandrine; Golding, Bernard T; Griffin, Roger J; Hammonds, Tim; Newell, David R; Hardcastle, Ian R

2016-08-08

The extracellular-related kinase 5 (ERK5) is a promising target for cancer therapy. A high-throughput screen was developed for ERK5, based on the IMAP FP progressive binding system, and used to identify hits from a library of 57 617 compounds. Four distinct chemical series were evident within the screening hits. Resynthesis and reassay of the hits demonstrated that one series did not return active compounds, whereas three series returned active hits. Structure-activity studies demonstrated that the 4-benzoylpyrrole-2-carboxamide pharmacophore had excellent potential for further development. The minimum kinase binding pharmacophore was identified, and key examples demonstrated good selectivity for ERK5 over p38α kinase.

Azimuthal correlations between directed and elliptic flow in heavy ion collisions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Feng-Juan; Shan, Lian-Qiang; Zhang, Jing-Bo; Tang, Gui-Xin; Huo, Lei

2008-12-01

A method for investigating the azimuthal correlations between directed and elliptic flow in heavy ion collisions is described. The transverse anisotropy of particle emission at AGS energies is investigated within the RQMD model. It is found that the azimuthal correlations between directed and elliptic flow are sensitive to the incident energy and impact parameter. The fluctuations in the initial stage and dynamical evolution of heavy ion collisions are not negligible. Supported by Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province (A0208) and Science Foundation of Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT.2002.47, HIT.2003.33)

HIT: time to end behavioral health discrimination.

PubMed

Rosenberg, Linda

2012-10-01

While the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, provided $20.6 billion for incentive payments to support the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology (HIT), behavioral health organizations were not eligible to receive facility payments. The consequences of excluding behavioral health from HIT incentive payments are found in the results of the "HIT Adoption and Meaningful Use Readiness in Community Behavioral Health" survey. The survey found that only 2% of community behavioral health organizations are able to meet federal meaningful use (MU) requirements-compare this to the 27% of Federally Qualified Health Centers and 20% of hospitals that already meet some level of MU requirements. Behavioral health organizations, serving more than eight million adults, children, and families with mental illnesses and addiction disorders, are ready and eager to adopt HIT to meet the goals of better healthcare, better health, and lower costs. But reaching these goals may prove impossible unless behavioral health achieves "parity" within healthcare and receives resources for the adoption of HIT.

Evaluation of new Deflux administration techniques: intraureteric HIT and Double HIT for the endoscopic correction of vesicoureteral reflux.

PubMed

Kirsch, Andrew J; Arlen, Angela M

2014-09-01

Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is one of the most common urologic diagnoses affecting children, and optimal treatment requires an individualized approach that considers potential risks. Management options include observation with or without continuous antibiotic prophylaxis and surgical correction via endoscopic, open or laparoscopic/robotic approaches. Endoscopic correction of VUR is an outpatient procedure associated with decreased morbidity compared with ureteral reimplantation. The concept of ureteral hydrodistention and intraluminal submucosal injection (Hydrodistention Implantation Technique [HIT]) has led to improved success rates in eliminating VUR compared with the subureteral transurethral injection technique. Further modifications now include use of proximal and distal intraluminal injections (Double HIT) that result in coaptation of both the ureteral tunnel and orifice. Endoscopic injection of dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer, via the HIT and Double HIT, has emerged as a highly successful, minimally invasive alternative to open surgical correction, with minimal associated morbidity.

Focused ion beam system

DOEpatents

Leung, Ka-Ngo; Gough, Richard A.; Ji, Qing; Lee, Yung-Hee Yvette

1999-01-01

A focused ion beam (FIB) system produces a final beam spot size down to 0.1 .mu.m or less and an ion beam output current on the order of microamps. The FIB system increases ion source brightness by properly configuring the first (plasma) and second (extraction) electrodes. The first electrode is configured to have a high aperture diameter to electrode thickness aspect ratio. Additional accelerator and focusing electrodes are used to produce the final beam. As few as five electrodes can be used, providing a very compact FIB system with a length down to only 20 mm. Multibeamlet arrangements with a single ion source can be produced to increase throughput. The FIB system can be used for nanolithography and doping applications for fabrication of semiconductor devices with minimum feature sizes of 0.1 .mu.m or less.

Focused ion beam system

DOEpatents

Leung, K.; Gough, R.A.; Ji, Q.; Lee, Y.Y.

1999-08-31

A focused ion beam (FIB) system produces a final beam spot size down to 0.1 {mu}m or less and an ion beam output current on the order of microamps. The FIB system increases ion source brightness by properly configuring the first (plasma) and second (extraction) electrodes. The first electrode is configured to have a high aperture diameter to electrode thickness aspect ratio. Additional accelerator and focusing electrodes are used to produce the final beam. As few as five electrodes can be used, providing a very compact FIB system with a length down to only 20 mm. Multibeamlet arrangements with a single ion source can be produced to increase throughput. The FIB system can be used for nanolithography and doping applications for fabrication of semiconductor devices with minimum feature sizes of 0.1 m or less. 13 figs.

Novel HIT antibody detection method using Sonoclot® coagulation analyzer.

PubMed

Wanaka, Keiko; Asada, Reiko; Miyashita, Kumiko; Kaneko, Makoto; Endo, Hirokazu; Yatomi, Yutaka

2015-01-01

Since heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), caused by the generation of antibodies against platelet factor 4 (PF4)/heparin complexes (HIT antibodies), may induce serious complications due to thrombosis, a prompt diagnosis is desirable. Functional tests with platelet activation to detect HIT antibodies are useful for diagnosis of HIT, in particular (14)C-selotonin release assay (SRA). However, they are complicated and so can be performed only in limited laboratories. We tested if a blood coagulation test using Sonoclot® analyzer can serve for the detection of HIT antibodies. A murine monoclonal antibody (HIT-MoAb) against PF4/heparin complexes was used as an alternative to human HIT antibodies. To the mixture of HIT-MoAb and heparin (0.5 U/mL, final), whole blood obtained from a healthy volunteer was added, and then the activated clotting time (ACT), clot rate (CR), and area under the curve (AUC) were measured with Sonoclot® analyzer for 30minutes. The HIT-MoAb (30 to 100μg/mL, final) concentration dependently suppressed the anticoagulation activity (prolongation of ACT and decrease of CR and AUC) of heparin. The suppression of anticoagulation effect of heparin by HIT-MoAb was demonstrated by measurements using Sonoclot® analyzer. This method may provide a new tool for screening of HIT antibodies. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hit detection in serial femtosecond crystallography using X-ray spectroscopy of plasma emission.

PubMed

Jönsson, H Olof; Caleman, Carl; Andreasson, Jakob; Tîmneanu, Nicuşor

2017-11-01

Serial femtosecond crystallography is an emerging and promising method for determining protein structures, making use of the ultrafast and bright X-ray pulses from X-ray free-electron lasers. The upcoming X-ray laser sources will produce well above 1000 pulses per second and will pose a new challenge: how to quickly determine successful crystal hits and avoid a high-rate data deluge. Proposed here is a hit-finding scheme based on detecting photons from plasma emission after the sample has been intercepted by the X-ray laser. Plasma emission spectra are simulated for systems exposed to high-intensity femtosecond pulses, for both protein crystals and the liquid carrier systems that are used for sample delivery. The thermal radiation from the glowing plasma gives a strong background in the XUV region that depends on the intensity of the pulse, around the emission lines from light elements (carbon, nitrogen, oxygen). Sample hits can be reliably distinguished from the carrier liquid based on the characteristic emission lines from heavier elements present only in the sample, such as sulfur. For buffer systems with sulfur present, selenomethionine substitution is suggested, where the selenium emission lines could be used both as an indication of a hit and as an aid in phasing and structural reconstruction of the protein.

Heparin-independent, PF4-dependent binding of HIT antibodies to platelets: implications for HIT pathogenesis

PubMed Central

Jones, Curtis G.; Bougie, Daniel W.; Curtis, Brian R.; McFarland, Janice G.; Wang, Demin; Aster, Richard H.

2015-01-01

Antibodies specific for platelet factor 4 (PF4)/heparin complexes are the hallmark of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (HIT), but many antibody-positive patients have normal platelet counts. The basis for this is not fully understood, but it is believed that antibodies testing positive in the serotonin release assay (SRA) are the most likely to cause disease. We addressed this issue by characterizing PF4-dependent binding of HIT antibodies to intact platelets and found that most antibodies testing positive in the SRA, but none of those testing negative, bind to and activate platelets when PF4 is present without any requirement for heparin (P < .0001). Binding of SRA-positive antibodies to platelets was inhibited by chondroitinase ABC digestion (P < .05) and by the addition of chondroitin-4-sulfate (CS) or heparin in excess quantities. The findings suggest that although all HIT antibodies recognize PF4 in a complex with heparin, only a subset of these antibodies recognize more subtle epitopes induced in PF4 when it binds to CS, the major platelet glycosaminoglycan. Antibodies having this property could explain “delayed HIT” seen in some individuals after discontinuation of heparin and the high risk for thrombosis that persists for weeks in patients recovered from HIT. PMID:25342714

CHI during an ohmic discharge in HIT-II

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mueller, Dennis; Nelson, Brian A.; Redd, Aaron J.; Hamp, William T.

2004-11-01

Coaxial Helicity Injection (CHI) has been used on the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX), the Helicity Injected Torus (HIT) and HIT-II to initiate plasma and to drive up to 400 kA of toroidal current. The primary goal of the CHI systems is to provide a start-up plasma with substantial toroidal current that can be heated and sustained with other methods. We have investigated the use of CHI systems to add current to an established, inductively driven plasma. This may be an attractive method to add edge current that may modify the stability characteristics of the discharge or modify the particle and energy transport in a spherical torus. For example, divertor biasing experiments have been successful in modifying particle and energy transport in the scrape-off layer of tokamaks. Use of IGBT power supplies to modulate the injector current makes analysis of current penetration feasible by comparisons of before and after CHI using EFIT analysis of the data.

The validation of Huffaz Intelligence Test (HIT)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahim, Mohd Azrin Mohammad; Ahmad, Tahir; Awang, Siti Rahmah; Safar, Ajmain

2017-08-01

In general, a hafiz who can memorize the Quran has many specialties especially in respect to their academic performances. In this study, the theory of multiple intelligences introduced by Howard Gardner is embedded in a developed psychometric instrument, namely Huffaz Intelligence Test (HIT). This paper presents the validation and the reliability of HIT of some tahfiz students in Malaysia Islamic schools. A pilot study was conducted involving 87 huffaz who were randomly selected to answer the items in HIT. The analysis method used includes Partial Least Square (PLS) on reliability, convergence and discriminant validation. The study has validated nine intelligences. The findings also indicated that the composite reliabilities for the nine types of intelligences are greater than 0.8. Thus, the HIT is a valid and reliable instrument to measure the multiple intelligences among huffaz.

MYC/BCL2/BCL6 triple hit lymphoma: a study of 40 patients with a comparison to MYC/BCL2 and MYC/BCL6 double hit lymphomas.

PubMed

Huang, Wenting; Medeiros, L Jeffrey; Lin, Pei; Wang, Wei; Tang, Guilin; Khoury, Joseph; Konoplev, Sergej; Yin, C Cameron; Xu, Jie; Oki, Yasuhiro; Li, Shaoying

2018-05-21

High-grade B-cell lymphomas with MYC, BCL2, and BCL6 rearrangements (triple hit lymphoma) are uncommon. We studied the clinicopathologic features of 40 patients with triple hit lymphoma and compared them to 157 patients with MYC/BCL2 double hit lymphoma and 13 patients with MYC/BCL6 double hit lymphoma. The triple hit lymphoma group included 25 men and 15 women with a median age of 61 years (range, 34-85). Nine patients had a history of B-cell lymphoma. Histologically, 23 (58%) cases were diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and 17 cases had features of B-cell lymphoma, unclassifiable, with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma. Most cases of triple hit lymphoma were positive for CD10 (100%), BCL2 (95%), BCL6 (82%), MYC (74%), and 71% with MYC and BCL2 coexpression. P53 was overexpressed in 29% of triple hit lymphoma cases. The clinicopathological features of triple hit lymphoma patients were similar to patients with MYC/BCL2 and MYC/BCL6 double hit lymphoma, except that triple hit lymphoma cases were more often CD10 positive compared with MYC/BCL6 double hit lymphoma (p < 0.05). Induction chemotherapy used was similar for patients with triple hit lymphoma and double hit lymphoma and overall survival in triple hit lymphoma patients was 17.6 months, similar to the overall survival of patients with double hit lymphoma (p = 0.67). Patients with triple hit lymphoma showing P53 overexpression had significantly worse overall survival compared with those without P53 overexpression (p = 0.04). On the other hand, double expressor status and prior history of B-cell lymphoma did not correlate with overall survival. In conclusion, most patients with triple hit lymphoma have an aggressive clinical course and poor prognosis and these tumors have a germinal center B-cell immunophenotype, similar to patients with double hit lymphomas. P53 expression is a poor prognostic factor in patients with triple hit lymphoma.

Ion mobility sensor system

DOEpatents

Xu, Jun; Watson, David B.; Whitten, William B.

2013-01-22

An ion mobility sensor system including an ion mobility spectrometer and a differential mobility spectrometer coupled to the ion mobility spectrometer. The ion mobility spectrometer has a first chamber having first end and a second end extending along a first direction, and a first electrode system that generates a constant electric field parallel to the first direction. The differential mobility spectrometer includes a second chamber having a third end and a fourth end configured such that a fluid may flow in a second direction from the third end to the fourth end, and a second electrode system that generates an asymmetric electric field within an interior of the second chamber. Additionally, the ion mobility spectrometer and the differential mobility spectrometer form an interface region. Also, the first end and the third end are positioned facing one another so that the constant electric field enters the third end and overlaps the fluid flowing in the second direction.

Sonic Simulation of Near Projectile Hits

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Statman, J. I.; Rodemich, E. R.

1988-01-01

Measured frequencies identify projectiles and indicate miss distances. Developmental battlefield-simulation system for training soldiers uses sounds emitted by incoming projectiles to identify projectiles and indicate miss distances. Depending on projectile type and closeness of each hit, system generates "kill" or "near-kill" indication. Artillery shell simulated by lightweight plastic projectile launched by compressed air. Flow of air through groove in nose of projectile generates acoustic tone. Each participant carries audio receiver measure and process tone signal. System performs fast Fourier transforms of received tone to obtain dominant frequency during each succeeding interval of approximately 40 ms (an interval determined from practical signal-processing requirements). With modifications, system concept applicable to collision-warning or collision-avoidance systems.

Monte Carlo-based parametrization of the lateral dose spread for clinical treatment planning of scanned proton and carbon ion beams

PubMed Central

Parodi, Katia; Mairani, Andrea; Sommerer, Florian

2013-01-01

Ion beam therapy using state-of-the-art pencil-beam scanning offers unprecedented tumour-dose conformality with superior sparing of healthy tissue and critical organs compared to conventional radiation modalities for external treatment of deep-seated tumours. For inverse plan optimization, the commonly employed analytical treatment-planning systems (TPSs) have to meet reasonable compromises in the accuracy of the pencil-beam modelling to ensure good performances in clinically tolerable execution times. In particular, the complex lateral spreading of ion beams in air and in the traversed tissue is typically approximated with ideal Gaussian-shaped distributions, enabling straightforward superimposition of several scattering contributions. This work presents the double Gaussian parametrization of scanned proton and carbon ion beams in water that has been introduced in an upgraded version of the worldwide first commercial ion TPS for clinical use at the Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT). First, the Monte Carlo results obtained from a detailed implementation of the HIT beamline have been validated against available experimental data. Then, for generating the TPS lateral parametrization, radial beam broadening has been calculated in a water target placed at a representative position after scattering in the beamline elements and air for 20 initial beam energies for each ion species. The simulated profiles were finally fitted with an idealized double Gaussian distribution that did not perfectly describe the nature of the data, thus requiring a careful choice of the fitting conditions. The obtained parametrization is in clinical use not only at the HIT center, but also at the Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia Oncologica. PMID:23824133

Monte Carlo-based parametrization of the lateral dose spread for clinical treatment planning of scanned proton and carbon ion beams.

PubMed

Parodi, Katia; Mairani, Andrea; Sommerer, Florian

2013-07-01

Ion beam therapy using state-of-the-art pencil-beam scanning offers unprecedented tumour-dose conformality with superior sparing of healthy tissue and critical organs compared to conventional radiation modalities for external treatment of deep-seated tumours. For inverse plan optimization, the commonly employed analytical treatment-planning systems (TPSs) have to meet reasonable compromises in the accuracy of the pencil-beam modelling to ensure good performances in clinically tolerable execution times. In particular, the complex lateral spreading of ion beams in air and in the traversed tissue is typically approximated with ideal Gaussian-shaped distributions, enabling straightforward superimposition of several scattering contributions. This work presents the double Gaussian parametrization of scanned proton and carbon ion beams in water that has been introduced in an upgraded version of the worldwide first commercial ion TPS for clinical use at the Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT). First, the Monte Carlo results obtained from a detailed implementation of the HIT beamline have been validated against available experimental data. Then, for generating the TPS lateral parametrization, radial beam broadening has been calculated in a water target placed at a representative position after scattering in the beamline elements and air for 20 initial beam energies for each ion species. The simulated profiles were finally fitted with an idealized double Gaussian distribution that did not perfectly describe the nature of the data, thus requiring a careful choice of the fitting conditions. The obtained parametrization is in clinical use not only at the HIT center, but also at the Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia Oncologica.

Ion beam accelerator system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Aston, G. (Inventor)

1981-01-01

A system is described that combines geometrical and electrostatic focusing to provide high ion extraction efficiency and good focusing of an accelerated ion beam. The apparatus includes a pair of curved extraction grids with multiple pairs of aligned holes positioned to direct a group of beamlets along converging paths. The extraction grids are closely spaced and maintained at a moderate potential to efficiently extract beamlets of ions and allow them to combine into a single beam. An accelerator electrode device downstream from the extraction grids is at a much lower potential than the grids to accelerate the combined beam. The application of the system to ion implantation is mentioned.

Ion thrusting system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hartley, Frank T. (Inventor)

2007-01-01

An ion thrusting system is disclosed comprising an ionization membrane having at least one area through which a gas is passed, and which ionizes the gas molecules passing therethrough to form ions and electrons, and an accelerator element which accelerates the ions to form thrust. In some variations, a potential is applied to the ionization membrane may be reversed to thrust ions in an opposite direction. The ionization membrane may also include an opening with electrodes that are located closer than a mean free path of the gas being ionized. Methods of manufacture and use are also provided.

Using ProHits to store, annotate and analyze affinity purification - mass spectrometry (AP-MS) data

PubMed Central

Liu, Guomin; Zhang, Jianping; Choi, Hyungwon; Lambert, Jean-Philippe; Srikumar, Tharan; Larsen, Brett; Nesvizhskii, Alexey I.; Raught, Brian; Tyers, Mike; Gingras, Anne-Claude

2012-01-01

Affinity purification coupled with mass spectrometry (AP-MS) is a robust technique used to identify protein-protein interactions. With recent improvements in sample preparation, and dramatic advances in MS instrumentation speed and sensitivity, this technique is becoming more widely used throughout the scientific community. To meet the needs of research groups both large and small, we have developed software solutions for tracking, scoring and analyzing AP-MS data. Here, we provide details for the installation and utilization of ProHits, a Laboratory Information Management System designed specifically for AP-MS interaction proteomics. This protocol explains: (i) how to install the complete ProHits system, including modules for the management of mass spectrometry files and the analysis of interaction data, and (ii) alternative options for the use of pre-existing search results in simpler versions of ProHits, including a virtual machine implementation of our ProHits Lite software. We also describe how to use the main features of the software to analyze AP-MS data. PMID:22948730

HitWalker2: visual analytics for precision medicine and beyond.

PubMed

Bottomly, Daniel; McWeeney, Shannon K; Wilmot, Beth

2016-04-15

The lack of visualization frameworks to guide interpretation and facilitate discovery is a potential bottleneck for precision medicine, systems genetics and other studies. To address this we have developed an interactive, reproducible, web-based prioritization approach that builds on our earlier work. HitWalker2 is highly flexible and can utilize many data types and prioritization methods based upon available data and desired questions, allowing it to be utilized in a diverse range of studies such as cancer, infectious disease and psychiatric disorders. Source code is freely available at https://github.com/biodev/HitWalker2 and implemented using Python/Django, Neo4j and Javascript (D3.js and jQuery). We support major open source browsers (e.g. Firefox and Chromium/Chrome). wilmotb@ohsu.edu Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. Additional information/instructions are available at https://github.com/biodev/HitWalker2/wiki. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press.

Focused electron and ion beam systems

DOEpatents

Leung, Ka-Ngo; Reijonen, Jani; Persaud, Arun; Ji, Qing; Jiang, Ximan

2004-07-27

An electron beam system is based on a plasma generator in a plasma ion source with an accelerator column. The electrons are extracted from a plasma cathode in a plasma ion source, e.g. a multicusp plasma ion source. The beam can be scanned in both the x and y directions, and the system can be operated with multiple beamlets. A compact focused ion or electron beam system has a plasma ion source and an all-electrostatic beam acceleration and focusing column. The ion source is a small chamber with the plasma produced by radio-frequency (RF) induction discharge. The RF antenna is wound outside the chamber and connected to an RF supply. Ions or electrons can be extracted from the source. A multi-beam system has several sources of different species and an electron beam source.

A comparison of the double hydrodistention implantation technique (HIT) and the HIT with a polyacrylate/polyalcohol copolymer (PPC) for the endoscopic treatment of primary vesicoureteral reflux.

PubMed

Akin, Melih; Erginel, Basak; Karadag, Cetin Ali; Yildiz, Abdullah; Ozçelik, Gül Sumru; Sever, Nihat; Genc, Nimetullah Mete; Dokucu, Ali Ihsan

2014-11-01

We aimed to compare the success rates of the double hydrodistention implantation technique (HIT) and the HIT with a polyacrylate/polyalcohol copolymer (PPC) for the treatment of primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) with a new nonbiodegradable tissue-augmenting substance (Vantris, Promedon, Cordoba, Argentina). Between January 2011 and December 2012, fifty-two children who underwent subureteric injection for primary VUR are included. The children were randomly separated into two groups, the HIT and the double HIT groups, according to the type of injection. Success was defined as no reflux on a follow-up voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) after 6 months. The patients were evaluated according to sex, age, grade of reflux, number of injections, and injected volume, and the radiological success rates were compared. Fifty-two patients underwent an endoscopic injection for primary grade III-V VUR. The HIT group consisted of 26 patients with 33 ureters, and the double HIT group consisted of 26 patients with 35 ureters. There were no significant differences in terms of the sex, ages, VUR grades, bilaterality between the two groups. The mean injected volumes were ml 1.12 (1.02-1.22) in the HIT group and 1.24 ml (95 % CI 1.10-1.38) in the double HIT group. The reflux was resolved in 21/33 (63.6 %) ureters in the HIT group and in 30/35 (85.7 %) ureters in the double HIT group, (p < 0.05). We had only one complication. This patient in the double HIT group, developed bilateral hydronephrosis and oliguric renal failure requiring open reimplantation at the sixth month. We observed successful results double HIT method with PPC in Grade III-V reflux, but the long-term follow-up of patients is needed for hydronephrosis. As the double HIT treatment leads to a higher success rate, its use is preferable.

Health information technology knowledge and skills needed by HIT employers.

PubMed

Fenton, S H; Gongora-Ferraez, M J; Joost, E

2012-01-01

To evaluate the health information technology (HIT) workforce knowledge and skills needed by HIT employers. Statewide face-to-face and online focus groups of identified HIT employer groups in Austin, Brownsville, College Station, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, Lubbock, San Antonio, and webinars for rural health and nursing informatics. HIT employers reported needing an HIT workforce with diverse knowledge and skills ranging from basic to advanced, while covering information technology, privacy and security, clinical practice, needs assessment, contract negotiation, and many other areas. Consistent themes were that employees needed to be able to learn on the job and must possess the ability to think critically and problem solve. Many employers wanted persons with technical skills, yet also the knowledge and understanding of healthcare operations. The HIT employer focus groups provided valuable insight into employee skills needed in this fast-growing field. Additionally, this information will be utilized to develop a statewide HIT workforce needs assessment survey.

Health Information Technology Knowledge and Skills Needed by HIT Employers

PubMed Central

Fenton, S.H.; Gongora-Ferraez, M.J.; Joost, E.

2012-01-01

Objective To evaluate the health information technology (HIT) workforce knowledge and skills needed by HIT employers. Methods Statewide face-to-face and online focus groups of identified HIT employer groups in Austin, Brownsville, College Station, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, Lubbock, San Antonio, and webinars for rural health and nursing informatics. Results HIT employers reported needing an HIT workforce with diverse knowledge and skills ranging from basic to advanced, while covering information technology, privacy and security, clinical practice, needs assessment, contract negotiation, and many other areas. Consistent themes were that employees needed to be able to learn on the job and must possess the ability to think critically and problem solve. Many employers wanted persons with technical skills, yet also the knowledge and understanding of healthcare operations. Conclusion The HIT employer focus groups provided valuable insight into employee skills needed in this fast-growing field. Additionally, this information will be utilized to develop a statewide HIT workforce needs assessment survey. PMID:23646090

A prototype scintillating fibre beam profile monitor for Ion Therapy beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leverington, B. D.; Dziewiecki, M.; Renner, L.; Runze, R.

2018-05-01

A prototype plastic scintillating fibre based beam profile monitor was tested at the Heidelberg Ion Therapy Centre/Heidelberg Ionenstrahl Therapiezentrum (HIT) in 2016 to determine its beam property reconstruction performance and the feasibility of further developing an expanded system. At HIT protons, helium, carbon, and oxygen ions are available for therapy and experiments. The beam can be scanned in two dimensions using fast deflection magnets. A tracking system is used to monitor beam position and to adjust scanning magnet currents online. A new detector system with a finer granularity and without the drift time delay of the current MWPC system with a similar amount of material along the beamline would prove valuable in patient treatment. The sensitive detector components in the tested prototype detector are double-clad Kuraray SCSF-78MJ scintillating fibres with a diameter of 0.250 mm wound as a thin multi-layer ribbon. The scintillation light is detected at the end of the ribbon with Hamamatsu S11865-64 photodiode arrays with a pitch of 0.8 mm. Commercial or readily available readout electronics have been used to evaluate the system feasibility. The results shown in this paper include the linearity with respect to beam intensity, the RMS of the beam intensity as measured by two planes, along with the RMS of the mean position, and the measured beam width RMS. The Signal-to-Noise ratio of the current system is also measured as an indicator of potential performance. Additionally, the non-linear light yield of the scintillating fibres as measured by the photodiode arrays is compared to two models which describe the light yield as a function of the ion stopping power and Lorentz β.

Coincidence electron/ion imaging with a fast frame camera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Wen; Lee, Suk Kyoung; Lin, Yun Fei; Lingenfelter, Steven; Winney, Alexander; Fan, Lin

2015-05-01

A new time- and position- sensitive particle detection system based on a fast frame CMOS camera is developed for coincidence electron/ion imaging. The system is composed of three major components: a conventional microchannel plate (MCP)/phosphor screen electron/ion imager, a fast frame CMOS camera and a high-speed digitizer. The system collects the positional information of ions/electrons from a fast frame camera through real-time centroiding while the arrival times are obtained from the timing signal of MCPs processed by a high-speed digitizer. Multi-hit capability is achieved by correlating the intensity of electron/ion spots on each camera frame with the peak heights on the corresponding time-of-flight spectrum. Efficient computer algorithms are developed to process camera frames and digitizer traces in real-time at 1 kHz laser repetition rate. We demonstrate the capability of this system by detecting a momentum-matched co-fragments pair (methyl and iodine cations) produced from strong field dissociative double ionization of methyl iodide. We further show that a time resolution of 30 ps can be achieved when measuring electron TOF spectrum and this enables the new system to achieve a good energy resolution along the TOF axis.

Chronic porcine two-hit model with hemorrhagic shock and Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis.

PubMed

Eissner, B; Matz, K; Smorodchenko, A; Röschmann, A; v Specht, B U

2002-01-01

Sepsis is still a major cause of death despite well-developed therapeutical strategies such as antibiotics and supportive medication. The aim of this study was to characterize the long-term effects of a two-hit porcine sepsis model with a hemorrhagic shock as 'first hit' followed by a Pseudomonas aeruginosa infusion as 'second hit'. Twelve juvenile healthy pigs were anesthetized and hemodynamically monitored. The two-hit group (n = 6) underwent a hemorrhagic shock with a 50% reduction of the mean arterial pressure and/or cardiac index for 45 min, followed by resuscitation, while the control group (n = 6) received no pretreatment. All chronically catheterized conscious pigs were challenged with a P. aeruginosa infusion (1.6 x 10(7) CFU/kg/h for the first 24 h followed by 1.6 x 10(6) CFU/kg/h for the next 24 h) and observed for another 48 h. The two-hit group showed the following significant differences to the control group: higher APACHE II scores prior to sepsis induction, increased persisting mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI) during bacterial challenge. In contrast, systemic vascular resistance (SVRI) was reduced at the end of the study. Throughout the observation period, the mean arterial pressure (MAP) was significantly reduced. The present study shows that the clinical course and hemodynamic effects of a P. aeruginosa sepsis will be aggravated by a preceding hemorrhagic shock during an observation period of 96 h. This two-hit model represents a valid, clinically relevant experimental protocol in sepsis research. Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel

Systems and Methods for Ejection of Ions from an Ion Trap

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cooks, Robert Graham (Inventor); Snyder, Dalton (Inventor)

2018-01-01

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for ejection of ions from an ion trap. In certain embodiments, systems and methods of the invention sum two different frequency signals into a single summed signal that is applied to an ion trap. In other embodiments, an amplitude of a single frequency signal is modulated as the single frequency signal is being applied to the ion trap. In other embodiments, a first alternating current (AC) signal is applied to an ion trap that varies as a function of time, while a constant radio frequency (RF) signal is applied to the ion trap.

Lens system for a photo ion spectrometer

DOEpatents

Gruen, Dieter M.; Young, Charles E.; Pellin, Michael J.

1990-01-01

A lens system in a photo ion spectrometer for manipulating a primary ion beam and ionized atomic component. The atomic components are removed from a sample by a primary ion beam using the lens system, and the ions are extracted for analysis. The lens system further includes ionization resistant coatings for protecting the lens system.

Lens system for a photo ion spectrometer

DOEpatents

Gruen, D.M.; Young, C.E.; Pellin, M.J.

1990-11-27

A lens system in a photo ion spectrometer for manipulating a primary ion beam and ionized atomic component is disclosed. The atomic components are removed from a sample by a primary ion beam using the lens system, and the ions are extracted for analysis. The lens system further includes ionization resistant coatings for protecting the lens system. 8 figs.

Ion-Responsive Drug Delivery Systems.

PubMed

Yoshida, Takayuki; Shakushiro, Kohsuke; Sako, Kazuhiro

2018-02-08

Some kinds of cations and anions are contained in body fluids such as blood, interstitial fluid, gastrointestinal juice, and tears at relatively high concentration. Ionresponsive drug delivery is available to design the unique dosage formulations which provide optimized drug therapy with effective, safe and convenient dosing of drugs. The objective of the present review was to collect, summarize, and categorize recent research findings on ion-responsive drug delivery systems. Ions in body fluid/formulations caused structural changes of polymers/molecules contained in the formulations, allow formulations exhibit functions. The polymers/molecules responding to ions were ion-exchange resins/fibers, anionic or cationic polymers, polymers exhibiting transition at lower critical solution temperature, self-assemble supramolecular systems, peptides, and metalorganic frameworks. The functions of ion-responsive drug delivery systems were categorized to controlled drug release, site-specific drug release, in situ gelation, prolonged retention at the target sites, and enhancement of drug permeation. Administration of the formulations via oral, ophthalmic, transdermal, and nasal routes has showed significant advantages in the recent literatures. Many kinds of drug delivery systems responding to ions have been reported recently for several administration routes. Improvement and advancement of these systems can maximize drugs potential and contribute to patients in the world. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

USER FRUSTRATION IN HIT INTERFACES: EXPLORING PAST HCI RESEARCH FOR A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF CLINICIANS’ EXPERIENCES

PubMed Central

Opoku-Boateng, Gloria A.

2015-01-01

User frustration research has been one way of looking into clinicians’ experience with health information technology use and interaction. In order to understand how clinician frustration with Health Information Technology (HIT) use occurs, there is the need to explore Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) literature that addresses both frustration and HIT use. In the past three decades, HCI frustration research has increased and expanded. Researchers have done a lot of work to understand emotions, end-user frustration and affect. This paper uses a historical literature review approach to review the origins of emotion and frustration research and explore the research question; Does HCI research on frustration provide insights on clinicians’ frustration with HIT interfaces? From the literature review HCI research on emotion and frustration provides additional insights that can indeed help explain user frustration in HIT. Different approaches and HCI perspectives also help frame HIT user frustration research as well as inform HIT system design. The paper concludes with a suggested directions on how future design and research may take. PMID:26958238

USER FRUSTRATION IN HIT INTERFACES: EXPLORING PAST HCI RESEARCH FOR A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF CLINICIANS' EXPERIENCES.

PubMed

Opoku-Boateng, Gloria A

2015-01-01

User frustration research has been one way of looking into clinicians' experience with health information technology use and interaction. In order to understand how clinician frustration with Health Information Technology (HIT) use occurs, there is the need to explore Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) literature that addresses both frustration and HIT use. In the past three decades, HCI frustration research has increased and expanded. Researchers have done a lot of work to understand emotions, end-user frustration and affect. This paper uses a historical literature review approach to review the origins of emotion and frustration research and explore the research question; Does HCI research on frustration provide insights on clinicians' frustration with HIT interfaces? From the literature review HCI research on emotion and frustration provides additional insights that can indeed help explain user frustration in HIT. Different approaches and HCI perspectives also help frame HIT user frustration research as well as inform HIT system design. The paper concludes with a suggested directions on how future design and research may take.

Do pigeons prefer alternatives that include near-hit outcomes?

PubMed

Stagner, Jessica P; Case, Jacob P; Sticklen, Mary F; Duncan, Amanda K; Zentall, Thomas R

2015-07-01

Pigeons show suboptimal choice on a gambling-like task similar to that shown by humans. Humans also show a preference for gambles in which there are near hits (losses that come close to winning). In the present research, we asked if pigeons would show a preference for alternatives with near-hit-like trials. In Experiment 1, we included an alternative that presented a near hit, in which a stimulus associated with reinforcement (a presumed conditioned reinforcer) changed to a stimulus associated with the absence of reinforcement (a presumed conditioned inhibitor). The pigeons tended to avoid this alternative. In Experiment 2, we varied the duration of the presumed conditioned reinforcer (2 vs. 8 s) that changed to a presumed conditioned inhibitor (8 vs. 2 s) and found that the longer the conditioned reinforcer was presented, the more the pigeons avoided it. In Experiment 3, the near-hit alternative involved an ambiguous stimulus for 8 s that changed to a presumed conditioned reinforcer (or a presumed conditioned inhibitor) for 2 s, but the pigeons still avoided it. In Experiment 4, we controlled for the duration of the conditioned reinforcer by presenting it first for 2 s followed by the ambiguous stimulus for 8 s. Once again, the pigeons avoided the alternative with the near-hit trials. In all 4 experiments, the pigeons tended to avoid alternatives that provided near-hit-like trials. We concluded that humans may be attracted to near-hit trials because near-hit trials give them the illusion of control, whereas this does not appear to be a factor for pigeons. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

Lead generation and examples opinion regarding how to follow up hits.

PubMed

Orita, Masaya; Ohno, Kazuki; Warizaya, Masaichi; Amano, Yasushi; Niimi, Tatsuya

2011-01-01

In fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD), not only identifying the starting fragment hit to be developed but also generating a drug lead from that starting fragment hit is important. Converting fragment hits to leads is generally similar to a high-throughput screening (HTS) hits-to-leads approach in that properties associated with activity for a target protein, such as selectivity against other targets and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADME/Tox), and physicochemical properties should be taken into account. However, enhancing the potency of the fragment hit is a key requirement in FBDD, unlike HTS, because initial fragment hits are generally weak. This enhancement is presently achieved by adding additional chemical groups which bind to additional parts of the target protein or by joining or combining two or more hit fragments; however, strategies for effecting greater improvements in effective activity are needed. X-ray analysis is a key technology attractive for converting fragments to drug leads. This method makes it clear whether a fragment hit can act as an anchor and provides insight regarding introduction of functional groups to improve fragment activity. Data on follow-up chemical synthesis of fragment hits has allowed for the differentiation of four different strategies: fragment optimization, fragment linking, fragment self-assembly, and fragment evolution. Here, we discuss our opinion regarding how to follow up on fragment hits, with a focus on the importance of fragment hits as an anchor moiety to so-called hot spots in the target protein using crystallographic data. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Rare transformation to double hit lymphoma in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia.

PubMed

Okolo, Onyemaechi N; Johnson, Ariel C; Yun, Seongseok; Arnold, Stacy J; Anwer, Faiz

2017-08-01

Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a lymphoproliferative lymphoma that is characterized by monoclonal immunoglobulin M (IgM) protein and bone marrow infiltration. Its incidence is rare and rarer still is its ability to transform to a B-cell lymphoma, particularly the aggressive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, which bodes a poor prognosis. When transformation includes mutations of MYC, BCL-2 and/or BCL-6, it is known as a 'double hit' or 'triple hit' lymphoma respectively. This paper presents a rare case of WM with mutations positive for MYC and BCL2, making it a case of double hit B-cell lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma with plasmatic differentiation without morphological transformation to aggressive histology like DLBCL. The paper also broadens to include discussions on current topics in the classification, diagnosis, possible causes of transformation, and treatment of WM, including transformation to double hit lymphoma. The significance of this case lies in that the presence of double hit lymphoma-like genetic mutations in WM have not been previously described in the literature and potentially such changes are harbinger of extra-nodal presentation, aggressive growth, and possibly poor prognosis, if data from other double-hit lymphoma are extrapolated.

Hitting Is Contagious: Experience and Action Induction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gray, Rob; Beilock, Sian L.

2011-01-01

In baseball, it is believed that "hitting is contagious," that is, probability of success increases if the previous few batters get a hit. Could this effect be partially explained by action induction--that is, the tendency to perform an action related to one that has just been observed? A simulation was used to investigate the effect of inducing…

Secondary ion collection and transport system for ion microprobe

DOEpatents

Ward, James W.; Schlanger, Herbert; McNulty, Jr., Hugh; Parker, Norman W.

1985-01-01

A secondary ion collection and transport system, for use with an ion microprobe, which is very compact and occupies only a small working distance, thereby enabling the primary ion beam to have a short focal length and high resolution. Ions sputtered from the target surface by the primary beam's impact are collected between two arcuate members having radii of curvature and applied voltages that cause only ions within a specified energy band to be collected. The collected ions are accelerated and focused in a transport section consisting of a plurality of spaced conductive members which are coaxial with and distributed along the desired ion path. Relatively high voltages are applied to alternate transport sections to produce accelerating electric fields sufficient to transport the ions through the section to an ion mass analyzer, while lower voltages are applied to the other transport sections to focus the ions and bring their velocity to a level compatible with the analyzing apparatus.

Validation of concussion risk curves for collegiate football players derived from HITS data.

PubMed

Funk, James R; Rowson, Steven; Daniel, Ray W; Duma, Stefan M

2012-01-01

For several years, Virginia Tech and other schools have measured the frequency and severity of head impacts sustained by collegiate American football players in real time using the Head Impact Telemetry (HIT) System of helmet-mounted accelerometers. In this study, data from 37,128 head impacts collected at Virginia Tech during games from 2006 to 2010 were analyzed. Peak head acceleration exceeded 100 g in 516 impacts, and the Head Injury Criterion (HIC) exceeded 200 in 468 impacts. Four instrumented players in the dataset sustained a concussion. These data were used to develop risk curves for concussion as a function of peak head acceleration and HIC. The validity of this biomechanical approach was assessed using epidemiological data on concussion incidence from other sources. Two specific aspects of concussion incidence were addressed: the variation by player position, and the frequency of repeat concussions. The HIT System data indicated that linemen sustained the highest overall number of head impacts, while skill positions sustained a higher number of more severe head impacts (peak acceleration > 100 g or HIC > 200). When weighted using injury risk curves, the HIT System data predicted a higher incidence of concussion in skill positions compared to linemen at rates that were in strong agreement with the epidemiological literature (Pearson's r = 0.72-0.87). The predicted rates of repeat concussions (21-39% over one season and 33-50% over five seasons) were somewhat higher than the ranges reported in the epidemiological literature. These analyses demonstrate that simple biomechanical parameters that can be measured by the HIT System possess a high level of power for predicting concussion.

Evaluation of flow cytometric HIT assays in relation to an IgG-Specific immunoassay and clinical outcome.

PubMed

Kerényi, Adrienne; Beke Debreceni, Ildikó; Oláh, Zsolt; Ilonczai, Péter; Bereczky, Zsuzsanna; Nagy, Béla; Muszbek, László; Kappelmayer, János

2017-09-01

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a severe side effect of heparin treatment caused by platelet activating IgG antibodies generated against the platelet factor 4 (PF4)-heparin complex. Thrombocytopenia and thrombosis are the leading clinical symptoms of HIT. The clinical pretest probability of HIT was evaluated by the 4T score system. Laboratory testing of HIT was performed by immunological detection of antibodies against PF4-heparin complex (EIA) and two functional assays. Heparin-dependent activation of donor platelets by patient plasma was detected by flow cytometry. Increased binding of Annexin-V to platelets and elevated number of platelet-derived microparticles (PMP) were the indicators of platelet activation. EIA for IgG isotype HIT antibodies was performed in 405 suspected HIT patients. Based on negative EIA results, HIT was excluded in 365 (90%) of cases. In 40 patients with positive EIA test result functional tests were performed. Platelet activating antibodies were detected in 17 cases by Annexin V binding. PMP count analysis provided nearly identical results. The probability of a positive flow cytometric assay result was higher in patients with elevated antibody titer. 71% of patients with positive EIA and functional assay had thrombosis. EIA is an important first line laboratory test in the diagnosis of HIT; however, HIT must be confirmed by a functional test. Annexin V binding and PMP assays using flow cytometry are functional HIT tests convenient in a clinical diagnostic laboratory. The positive results of functional assays may predict the onset of thrombosis. © 2016 International Clinical Cytometry Society. © 2016 International Clinical Cytometry Society.

HIT and brain reward function: A case of mistaken identity (theory).

PubMed

Wright, Cory; Colombo, Matteo; Beard, Alexander

2017-08-01

This paper employs a case study from the history of neuroscience-brain reward function-to scrutinize the inductive argument for the so-called 'Heuristic Identity Theory' (HIT). The case fails to support HIT, illustrating why other case studies previously thought to provide empirical support for HIT also fold under scrutiny. After distinguishing two different ways of understanding the types of identity claims presupposed by HIT and considering other conceptual problems, we conclude that HIT is not an alternative to the traditional identity theory so much as a relabeling of previously discussed strategies for mechanistic discovery. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Geometric Hitting Set for Segments of Few Orientations

DOE PAGES

Fekete, Sandor P.; Huang, Kan; Mitchell, Joseph S. B.; ...

2016-01-13

Here we study several natural instances of the geometric hitting set problem for input consisting of sets of line segments (and rays, lines) having a small number of distinct slopes. These problems model path monitoring (e.g., on road networks) using the fewest sensors (the \\hitting points"). We give approximation algorithms for cases including (i) lines of 3 slopes in the plane, (ii) vertical lines and horizontal segments, (iii) pairs of horizontal/vertical segments. Lastly, we give hardness and hardness of approximation results for these problems. We prove that the hitting set problem for vertical lines and horizontal rays is polynomially solvable.

Multi-arm multilateral haptics-based immersive tele-robotic system (HITS) for improvised explosive device disposal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Erickson, David; Lacheray, Hervé; Lai, Gilbert; Haddadi, Amir

2014-06-01

This paper presents the latest advancements of the Haptics-based Immersive Tele-robotic System (HITS) project, a next generation Improvised Explosive Device (IED) disposal (IEDD) robotic interface containing an immersive telepresence environment for a remotely-controlled three-articulated-robotic-arm system. While the haptic feedback enhances the operator's perception of the remote environment, a third teleoperated dexterous arm, equipped with multiple vision sensors and cameras, provides stereo vision with proper visual cues, and a 3D photo-realistic model of the potential IED. This decentralized system combines various capabilities including stable and scaled motion, singularity avoidance, cross-coupled hybrid control, active collision detection and avoidance, compliance control and constrained motion to provide a safe and intuitive control environment for the operators. Experimental results and validation of the current system are presented through various essential IEDD tasks. This project demonstrates that a two-armed anthropomorphic Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) robot interface can achieve complex neutralization techniques against realistic IEDs without the operator approaching at any time.

Factors associated with hit-and-run pedestrian fatalities and driver identification.

PubMed

MacLeod, Kara E; Griswold, Julia B; Arnold, Lindsay S; Ragland, David R

2012-03-01

As hit-and-run crashes account for a significant proportion of pedestrian fatalities, a better understanding of these crash types will assist efforts to reduce these fatalities. Of the more than 48,000 pedestrian deaths that were recorded in the United States between 1998 and 2007, 18.1% of them were caused by hit-and-run drivers. Using national data on single pedestrian-motor vehicle fatal crashes (1998-2007), logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors related to hit-and-run and to identify factors related to the identification of the hit-and-run driver. Results indicate an increased risk of hit-and-run in the early morning, poor light conditions, and on the weekend. There may also be an association between the type of victim and the likelihood of the driver leaving and being identified. Results also indicate that certain driver characteristics, behavior, and driving history are associated with hit-and-run. Alcohol use and invalid license were among the leading driver factor associated with an increased risk of hit-and-run. Prevention efforts that address such issues could substantially reduce pedestrian fatalities as a result of hit-and-run. However, more information about this driver population may be necessary. Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

A silver ion water sterilization system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parry, E. P.

1971-01-01

Small amounts of silver are incorporated in mixture of ion exchange resins, and water passing through this mixture is thus exposed to silver ion concentration. System is useful in self-contained water systems except city water systems where residual chlorine level is stipulated.

Helium ions at the heidelberg ion beam therapy center: comparisons between FLUKA Monte Carlo code predictions and dosimetric measurements.

PubMed

Tessonnier, T; Mairani, A; Brons, S; Sala, P; Cerutti, F; Ferrari, A; Haberer, T; Debus, J; Parodi, K

2017-08-01

In the field of particle therapy helium ion beams could offer an alternative for radiotherapy treatments, owing to their interesting physical and biological properties intermediate between protons and carbon ions. We present in this work the comparisons and validations of the Monte Carlo FLUKA code against in-depth dosimetric measurements acquired at the Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT). Depth dose distributions in water with and without ripple filter, lateral profiles at different depths in water and a spread-out Bragg peak were investigated. After experimentally-driven tuning of the less known initial beam characteristics in vacuum (beam lateral size and momentum spread) and simulation parameters (water ionization potential), comparisons of depth dose distributions were performed between simulations and measurements, which showed overall good agreement with range differences below 0.1 mm and dose-weighted average dose-differences below 2.3% throughout the entire energy range. Comparisons of lateral dose profiles showed differences in full-width-half-maximum lower than 0.7 mm. Measurements of the spread-out Bragg peak indicated differences with simulations below 1% in the high dose regions and 3% in all other regions, with a range difference less than 0.5 mm. Despite the promising results, some discrepancies between simulations and measurements were observed, particularly at high energies. These differences were attributed to an underestimation of dose contributions from secondary particles at large angles, as seen in a triple Gaussian parametrization of the lateral profiles along the depth. However, the results allowed us to validate FLUKA simulations against measurements, confirming its suitability for 4 He ion beam modeling in preparation of clinical establishment at HIT. Future activities building on this work will include treatment plan comparisons using validated biological models between proton and helium ions, either within a Monte Carlo

Helium ions at the heidelberg ion beam therapy center: comparisons between FLUKA Monte Carlo code predictions and dosimetric measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tessonnier, T.; Mairani, A.; Brons, S.; Sala, P.; Cerutti, F.; Ferrari, A.; Haberer, T.; Debus, J.; Parodi, K.

2017-08-01

In the field of particle therapy helium ion beams could offer an alternative for radiotherapy treatments, owing to their interesting physical and biological properties intermediate between protons and carbon ions. We present in this work the comparisons and validations of the Monte Carlo FLUKA code against in-depth dosimetric measurements acquired at the Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT). Depth dose distributions in water with and without ripple filter, lateral profiles at different depths in water and a spread-out Bragg peak were investigated. After experimentally-driven tuning of the less known initial beam characteristics in vacuum (beam lateral size and momentum spread) and simulation parameters (water ionization potential), comparisons of depth dose distributions were performed between simulations and measurements, which showed overall good agreement with range differences below 0.1 mm and dose-weighted average dose-differences below 2.3% throughout the entire energy range. Comparisons of lateral dose profiles showed differences in full-width-half-maximum lower than 0.7 mm. Measurements of the spread-out Bragg peak indicated differences with simulations below 1% in the high dose regions and 3% in all other regions, with a range difference less than 0.5 mm. Despite the promising results, some discrepancies between simulations and measurements were observed, particularly at high energies. These differences were attributed to an underestimation of dose contributions from secondary particles at large angles, as seen in a triple Gaussian parametrization of the lateral profiles along the depth. However, the results allowed us to validate FLUKA simulations against measurements, confirming its suitability for 4He ion beam modeling in preparation of clinical establishment at HIT. Future activities building on this work will include treatment plan comparisons using validated biological models between proton and helium ions, either within a Monte Carlo

Effects of Device on Video Head Impulse Test (vHIT) Gain.

PubMed

Janky, Kristen L; Patterson, Jessie N; Shepard, Neil T; Thomas, Megan L A; Honaker, Julie A

2017-10-01

Numerous video head impulse test (vHIT) devices are available commercially; however, gain is not calculated uniformly. An evaluation of these devices/algorithms in healthy controls and patients with vestibular loss is necessary for comparing and synthesizing work that utilizes different devices and gain calculations. Using three commercially available vHIT devices/algorithms, the purpose of the present study was to compare: (1) horizontal canal vHIT gain among devices/algorithms in normal control subjects; (2) the effects of age on vHIT gain for each device/algorithm in normal control subjects; and (3) the clinical performance of horizontal canal vHIT gain between devices/algorithms for differentiating normal versus abnormal vestibular function. Prospective. Sixty-one normal control adult subjects (range 20-78) and eleven adults with unilateral or bilateral vestibular loss (range 32-79). vHIT was administered using three different devices/algorithms, randomized in order, for each subject on the same day: (1) Impulse (Otometrics, Schaumberg, IL; monocular eye recording, right eye only; using area under the curve gain), (2) EyeSeeCam (Interacoustics, Denmark; monocular eye recording, left eye only; using instantaneous gain), and (3) VisualEyes (MicroMedical, Chatham, IL, binocular eye recording; using position gain). There was a significant mean difference in vHIT gain among devices/algorithms for both the normal control and vestibular loss groups. vHIT gain was significantly larger in the ipsilateral direction of the eye used to measure gain; however, in spite of the significant mean differences in vHIT gain among devices/algorithms and the significant directional bias, classification of "normal" versus "abnormal" gain is consistent across all compared devices/algorithms, with the exception of instantaneous gain at 40 msec. There was not an effect of age on vHIT gain up to 78 years regardless of the device/algorithm. These findings support that vHIT gain is

Verbs in the lexicon: Why is hitting easier than breaking?

PubMed

McKoon, Gail; Love, Jessica

2011-11-01

Adult speakers use verbs in syntactically appropriate ways. For example, they know implicitly that the boy hit at the fence is acceptable but the boy broke at the fence is not. We suggest that this knowledge is lexically encoded in semantic decompositions. The decomposition for break verbs (e.g. crack, smash) is hypothesized to be more complex than that for hit verbs (e.g. kick, kiss). Specifically, the decomposition of a break verb denotes that "an entity changes state as the result of some external force" whereas the decomposition for a hit verb denotes only that "an entity potentially comes in contact with another entity." In this article, verbs of the two types were compared in a lexical decision experiment - Experiment 1 - and they were compared in sentence comprehension experiments with transitive sentences (e.g. the car hit the bicycle and the car broke the bicycle) - Experiments 2 and 3. In Experiment 1, processing times were shorter for the hit than the break verbs and in Experiments 2 and 3, processing times were shorter for the hit sentences than the break sentences, results that are in accord with the complexities of the postulated semantic decompositions.

77 FR 65691 - HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-30

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of... public. Name of Committee: HIT Standards Committee. General Function of the Committee: To provide... developed by the HIT Policy Committee. Date and Time: The meeting will be held on November 13, 2012, from 9...

76 FR 70455 - HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-14

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of... public. Name of Committee: HIT Standards Committee. General Function of the Committee: to provide... developed by the HIT Policy Committee. Date and Time: The meeting will be held on December 14, 2011, from 9...

77 FR 65690 - HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-30

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of... public. Name of Committee: HIT Standards Committee. General Function of the Committee: To provide... developed by the HIT Policy Committee. Date and Time: The meeting will be held on December 19, 2012, from 9...

77 FR 2727 - HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-19

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of... public. Name of Committee: HIT Standards Committee. General Function of the Committee: To provide... developed by the HIT Policy Committee. Date and Time: The meeting will be held on February 29, 2012, from 9...

77 FR 73661 - HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meetings; Notice of Meetings

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-11

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meetings; Notice of... public. Name of Committee: HIT Standards Committee. General Function of the Committee: To provide... developed by the HIT Policy Committee. Date and Time: These meetings will be held on the following dates and...

77 FR 50690 - HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-22

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of... public. Name of Committee: HIT Standards Committee. General Function of the Committee: To provide... developed by the HIT Policy Committee. Date and Time: The meeting will be held on September 19, 2012, from 9...

Some recent advances of intelligent health monitoring systems for civil infrastructures in HIT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ou, Jinping

2005-06-01

The intelligent health monitoring systems more and more become a technique for ensuring the health and safety of civil infrastructures and also an important approach for research of the damage accumulation or even disaster evolving characteristics of civil infrastructures, and attracts prodigious research interests and active development interests of scientists and engineers since a great number of civil infrastructures are planning and building each year in mainland China. In this paper, some recent advances on research, development nad implementation of intelligent health monitoring systems for civil infrastructuresin mainland China, especially in Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), P.R.China. The main contents include smart sensors such as optical fiber Bragg grating (OFBG) and polivinyllidene fluoride (PVDF) sensors, fatigue life gauges, self-sensing mortar and carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), wireless sensor networks and their implementation in practical infrastructures such as offshore platform structures, hydraulic engineering structures, large span bridges and large space structures. Finally, the relative research projects supported by the national foundation agencies of China are briefly introduced.

Single-hit mechanism of tumour cell killing by radiation.

PubMed

Chapman, J D

2003-02-01

To review the relative importance of the single-hit mechanism of radiation killing for tumour response to 1.8-2.0 Gy day(-1) fractions and to low dose-rate brachytherapy. Tumour cell killing by ionizing radiation is well described by the linear-quadratic equation that contains two independent components distinguished by dose kinetics. Analyses of tumour cell survival curves that contain six or more dose points usually provide good estimates of the alpha- and beta-inactivation coefficients. Superior estimates of tumour cell intrinsic radiosensitivity are obtained when synchronized populations are employed. The characteristics of single-hit inactivation of tumour cells are reviewed and compared with the characteristics of beta-inactivation. Potential molecular targets associated with single-hit inactivation are discussed along with strategies for potentiating cell killing by this mechanism. The single-hit mechanism of tumour cell killing shows no dependence on dose-rate and, consequently, no evidence of sublethal damage repair. It is uniquely potentiated by high linear-energy-transfer radiation, exhibits a smaller oxygen enhancement ratio and exhibits a larger indirect effect by hydroxyl radicals than the beta-mechanism. alpha-inactivation coefficients vary slightly throughout interphase but mitotic cells exhibit extremely high alpha-coefficients in the range of those observed for lymphocytes and some repair-deficient cells. Evidence is accumulating to suggest that chromatin in compacted form could be a radiation-hypersensitive target associated with single-hit radiation killing. Analyses of tumour cell survival curves demonstrate that it is the single-hit mechanism (alpha) that determines the majority of cell killing after doses of 2Gy and that this mechanism is highly variable between tumour cell lines. The characteristics of single-hit inactivation are qualitatively and quantitatively distinct from those of beta-inactivation. Compacted chromatin in tumour cells

Adjustable ECR Ion Source Control System: Ion Source Hydrogen Positive Project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arredondo, I.; Eguiraun, M.; Jugo, J.; Piso, D.; del Campo, M.; Poggi, T.; Varnasseri, S.; Feuchtwanger, J.; Bilbao, J.; Gonzalez, X.; Harper, G.; Muguira, L.; Miracoli, R.; Corres, J.; Belver, D.; Echevarria, P.; Garmendia, N.; Gonzalez, P.; Etxebarria, V.

2015-06-01

ISHP (Ion Source Hydrogen Positive) project consists of a highly versatile ECR type ion source. It has been built for several purposes, on the one hand, to serve as a workbench to test accelerator related technologies and validate in-house made developments, at the first stages. On the other hand, to design an ion source valid as the first step in an actual LINAC. Since this paper is focused on the control system of ISHP, besides the ion source, all the hardware and its control architecture is presented. Nowadays the ion source is able to generate a pulse of positive ions of Hydrogen from 2 μs to a few ms range with a repetition rate ranging from 1 Hz to 50 Hz with a maximum of 45 mA of current. Furthermore, the first experiments with White Rabbit (WR) synchronization system are presented.

Assessing the lipophilicity of fragments and early hits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mortenson, Paul N.; Murray, Christopher W.

2011-07-01

A key challenge in many drug discovery programs is to accurately assess the potential value of screening hits. This is particularly true in fragment-based drug design (FBDD), where the hits often bind relatively weakly, but are correspondingly small. Ligand efficiency (LE) considers both the potency and the size of the molecule, and enables us to estimate whether or not an initial hit is likely to be optimisable to a potent, druglike lead. While size is a key property that needs to be controlled in a small molecule drug, there are a number of additional properties that should also be considered. Lipophilicity is amongst the most important of these additional properties, and here we present a new efficiency index (LLEAT) that combines lipophilicity, size and potency. The index is intuitively defined, and has been designed to have the same target value and dynamic range as LE, making it easily interpretable by medicinal chemists. Monitoring both LE and LLEAT should help both in the selection of more promising fragment hits, and controlling molecular weight and lipophilicity during optimisation.

77 FR 37408 - HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-21

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of... be open to the public. Name of Committee: HIT Standards Committee. General Function of the Committee... with policies developed by the HIT Policy Committee. Date and Time: The meeting will be held on July 19...

77 FR 15760 - HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-16

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of... public. Name of Committee: HIT Standards Committee. General Function of the Committee: to provide... developed by the HIT Policy Committee. Date and Time: The meeting will be held on April 18, 2012, from 9 a.m...

76 FR 79684 - HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-22

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of... public. Name of Committee: HIT Standards Committee. General Function of the Committee: to provide... developed by the HIT Policy Committee. Date and Time: The meeting will be held on January 25, 2012, from 9 a...

77 FR 45353 - HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-31

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of... public. Name of Committee: HIT Standards Committee. General Function of the Committee: To provide... developed by the HIT Policy Committee. Date and Time: The meeting will be held on August 15, 2012, from 9:00...

77 FR 27459 - HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-10

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of... public. Name of Committee: HIT Standards Committee. General Function of the Committee: To provide... developed by the HIT Policy Committee. Date and Time: The meeting will be held on June 20, 2012, from 9 a.m...

77 FR 60438 - HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-03

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of... public. Name of Committee: HIT Standards Committee. General Function of the Committee: To provide... developed by the HIT Policy Committee. Date and Time: The meeting will be held on October 17, 2012, from 9 a...

Throat hit in users of the electronic cigarette: An exploratory study.

PubMed

Etter, Jean-François

2016-02-01

A cross-sectional survey on the Internet in 2012-2014 was used to study the "throat hit," the specific sensation in the throat felt by users of e-cigarettes. Participants were 1672 current users of e-cigarettes, visitors of Websites dedicated to e-cigarettes and to smoking cessation. It was assessed whether the strength of the throat hit was associated with the characteristics of e-cigarettes and e-liquids, modifications of the devices, patterns of use, reasons for use, satisfaction with e-cigarettes, dependence on e-cigarettes, smoking behavior, and perceived effects on smoking. The strongest throat hit was obtained by using better-quality models and liquids with high nicotine content. Those who reported a "very strong" throat hit used liquids with 17.3 mg/mL nicotine, versus 7.1 mg/mL for those reporting a "very weak" hit (p < .001). The strength of the throat hit was also associated with ratings of dependence on e-cigarettes, and with the perceived efficacy of e-cigarettes to relieve craving for tobacco and to facilitate smoking cessation. All the variables assessing satisfaction with e-cigarettes were associated with a stronger throat hit. From a public health perspective, there is a trade-off between e-cigarette models that provide high levels of nicotine, a strong throat hit, high satisfaction, and more effects on smoking, but may also be addictive, and models than contain less nicotine and are less addictive, but produce a weaker throat hit, are less satisfactory, and are possibly less efficient at helping people quit smoking. This trade-off must be kept in mind when regulating e-cigarettes. (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

B-HIT - A Tool for Harvesting and Indexing Biodiversity Data

PubMed Central

Barker, Katharine; Braak, Kyle; Cawsey, E. Margaret; Coddington, Jonathan; Robertson, Tim; Whitacre, Jamie

2015-01-01

With the rapidly growing number of data publishers, the process of harvesting and indexing information to offer advanced search and discovery becomes a critical bottleneck in globally distributed primary biodiversity data infrastructures. The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) implemented a Harvesting and Indexing Toolkit (HIT), which largely automates data harvesting activities for hundreds of collection and observational data providers. The team of the Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem has extended this well-established system with a range of additional functions, including improved processing of multiple taxon identifications, the ability to represent associations between specimen and observation units, new data quality control and new reporting capabilities. The open source software B-HIT can be freely installed and used for setting up thematic networks serving the demands of particular user groups. PMID:26544980

B-HIT - A Tool for Harvesting and Indexing Biodiversity Data.

PubMed

Kelbert, Patricia; Droege, Gabriele; Barker, Katharine; Braak, Kyle; Cawsey, E Margaret; Coddington, Jonathan; Robertson, Tim; Whitacre, Jamie; Güntsch, Anton

2015-01-01

With the rapidly growing number of data publishers, the process of harvesting and indexing information to offer advanced search and discovery becomes a critical bottleneck in globally distributed primary biodiversity data infrastructures. The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) implemented a Harvesting and Indexing Toolkit (HIT), which largely automates data harvesting activities for hundreds of collection and observational data providers. The team of the Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem has extended this well-established system with a range of additional functions, including improved processing of multiple taxon identifications, the ability to represent associations between specimen and observation units, new data quality control and new reporting capabilities. The open source software B-HIT can be freely installed and used for setting up thematic networks serving the demands of particular user groups.

HIT collaborative base project at APS of Argonne

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, H.; Wang, L.

2012-12-01

Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) launched collaborative base project at Argonne National Laboratory in 2010, and progress will be presented in this paper. The staff and students from HIT involved in advanced technological developments, which included tomography. high energy PDF, diffraction and scattering, and inelastic scattering techniques in APS to study structures changes under high pressure conditions.

Aftermath of early Hit-and-Run collisions in the Inner Solar System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarid, Gal; Stewart, Sarah T.; Leinhardt, zoe M.

2015-08-01

Planet formation epoch, in the terrestrial planet region and the asteroid belt, was characterized by a vigorous dynamical environment that was conducive to giant impacts among planetary embryos and asteroidal parent bodies, leading to diverse outcomes. Among these the greatest potential for producing diverse end-members lies is the erosive Hit-and-Run regime (small mass ratios, off-axis oblique impacts and non-negligible ejected mass), which is also more probable in terms of the early dynamical encounter configuration in the inner solar system. This collision regime has been invoked to explain outstanding issues, such as planetary volatile loss records, origin of the Moon and mantle stripping from Mercury and some of the larger asteroids (Vesta, Psyche).We performed and analyzed a set of simulations of Hit-and-Run events, covering a large range of mass ratios (1-20), impact parameters (0.25-0.96, for near head-on to barely grazing) and impact velocities (~1.5-5 times the mutual escape velocity, as dependent on the mass ratio). We used an SPH code with tabulated EOS and a nominal simlated time >1 day, to track the collisional shock processing and the provenance of material components. of collision debris. Prior to impact runs, all bodies were allowed to initially settle to negligible particle velocities in isolation, within ~20 simulated hrs. The total number of particles involved in each of our collision simulations was between (1-3 x 105). Resulting configurations include stripped mantles, melting/vaporization of rock and/or iron cores and strong variations of asteroid parent bodies fromcanonical chondritic composition.In the context of large planetary formation simulations, velocity and impact angle distributions are necessary to asses impact probabilities. The mass distribution and interaction within planetary embryo and asteroid swarms depends both on gravitational dynamics and the applied fragmentation mechanism. We will present results pertaining to general

Efficient hit-finding approaches for histone methyltransferases: the key parameters.

PubMed

Ahrens, Thomas; Bergner, Andreas; Sheppard, David; Hafenbradl, Doris

2012-01-01

For many novel epigenetics targets the chemical ligand space and structural information were limited until recently and are still largely unknown for some targets. Hit-finding campaigns are therefore dependent on large and chemically diverse libraries. In the specific case of the histone methyltransferase G9a, the authors have been able to apply an efficient process of intelligent selection of compounds for primary screening, rather than screening the full diverse deck of 900 000 compounds to identify hit compounds. A number of different virtual screening methods have been applied for the compound selection, and the results have been analyzed in the context of their individual success rates. For the primary screening of 2112 compounds, a FlashPlate assay format and full-length histone H3.1 substrate were employed. Validation of hit compounds was performed using the orthogonal fluorescence lifetime technology. Rated by purity and IC(50) value, 18 compounds (0.9% of compound screening deck) were finally considered validated primary G9a hits. The hit-finding approach has led to novel chemotypes being identified, which can facilitate hit-to-lead projects. This study demonstrates the power of virtual screening technologies for novel, therapeutically relevant epigenetics protein targets.

Air ion exposure system for plants

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morrow, R. C.; Tibbitts, T. W.

1987-01-01

A system was developed for subjecting plants to elevated air ion levels. This system consisted of a rectangular Plexiglas chamber lined with a Faraday cage. Air ions were generated by corona discharge from frayed stainless steel fibers placed at one end of the chamber. This source was capable of producing varying levels of either positive or negative air ions. During plant exposures, environmental conditions were controlled by operating the unit in a growth chamber.

Air ion exposure system for plants.

PubMed

Morrow, R C; Tibbitts, T W

1987-02-01

A system was developed for subjecting plants to elevated air ion levels. This system consisted of a rectangular Plexiglas chamber lined with a Faraday cage. Air ions were generated by corona discharge from frayed stainless steel fibers placed at one end of the chamber. This source was capable of producing varying levels of either positive or negative air ions. During plant exposures, environmental conditions were controlled by operating the unit in a growth chamber.

Combination of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid with heavy ion therapy shows promising effects in infantile sarcoma cell lines

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Introduction The pan-HDAC inhibitor (HDACI) suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) has previously shown to be a radio-sensitizer to conventional photon radiotherapy (XRT) in pediatric sarcoma cell lines. Here, we investigate its effect on the response of two sarcoma cell lines and a normal tissue cell line to heavy ion irradiation (HIT). Materials and methods Clonogenic assays after different doses of heavy ions were performed. DNA damage and repair were evaluated by measuring γH2AX via flow-cytometry. Apoptosis and cell cycle analysis were also measured via flow cytometry. Protein expression of repair proteins, p53 and p21 were measured using immunoblot analysis. Changes of nuclear architecture after treatment with SAHA and HIT were observed in one of the sarcoma cell lines via light microscopy after staining towards chromatin and γH2AX. Results Corresponding with previously reported photon data, SAHA lead to an increase of sensitivity to heavy ions along with an increase of DSB and apoptosis in the two sarcoma cell lines. In contrast, in the osteoblast cell line (hFOB 1.19), the combination of SAHA and HIT showed a significant radio-protective effect. Laser scanning microscopy revealed no significant morphologic changes after HIT compared to the combined treatment with SAHA. Immunoblot analysis revealed no significant up or down regulation of p53. However, p21 was significantly increased by SAHA and combination treatment as compared to HIT only in the two sarcoma cell lines - again in contrast to the osteoblast cell line. Changes in the repair kinetics of DSB p53-independent apoptosis with p21 involvement may be part of the underlying mechanisms for radio-sensitization by SAHA. Conclusion Our in vitro data suggest an increase of the therapeutic ratio by the combination of SAHA with HIT in infantile sarcoma cell lines. PMID:21933400

Database for High Throughput Screening Hits (dHITS): a simple tool to retrieve gene specific phenotypes from systematic screens done in yeast.

PubMed

Chuartzman, Silvia G; Schuldiner, Maya

2018-03-25

In the last decade several collections of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strains have been created. In these collections every gene is modified in a similar manner such as by a deletion or the addition of a protein tag. Such libraries have enabled a diversity of systematic screens, giving rise to large amounts of information regarding gene functions. However, often papers describing such screens focus on a single gene or a small set of genes and all other loci affecting the phenotype of choice ('hits') are only mentioned in tables that are provided as supplementary material and are often hard to retrieve or search. To help unify and make such data accessible, we have created a Database of High Throughput Screening Hits (dHITS). The dHITS database enables information to be obtained about screens in which genes of interest were found as well as the other genes that came up in that screen - all in a readily accessible and downloadable format. The ability to query large lists of genes at the same time provides a platform to easily analyse hits obtained from transcriptional analyses or other screens. We hope that this platform will serve as a tool to facilitate investigation of protein functions to the yeast community. © 2018 The Authors Yeast Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Dosimetric verification in water of a Monte Carlo treatment planning tool for proton, helium, carbon and oxygen ion beams at the Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tessonnier, T.; Böhlen, T. T.; Ceruti, F.; Ferrari, A.; Sala, P.; Brons, S.; Haberer, T.; Debus, J.; Parodi, K.; Mairani, A.

2017-08-01

The introduction of ‘new’ ion species in particle therapy needs to be supported by a thorough assessment of their dosimetric properties and by treatment planning comparisons with clinically used proton and carbon ion beams. In addition to the latter two ions, helium and oxygen ion beams are foreseen at the Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT) as potential assets for improving clinical outcomes in the near future. We present in this study a dosimetric validation of a FLUKA-based Monte Carlo treatment planning tool (MCTP) for protons, helium, carbon and oxygen ions for spread-out Bragg peaks in water. The comparisons between the ions show the dosimetric advantages of helium and heavier ion beams in terms of their distal and lateral fall-offs with respect to protons, reducing the lateral size of the region receiving 50% of the planned dose up to 12 mm. However, carbon and oxygen ions showed significant doses beyond the target due to the higher fragmentation tail compared to lighter ions (p and He), up to 25%. The Monte Carlo predictions were found to be in excellent geometrical agreement with the measurements, with deviations below 1 mm for all parameters investigated such as target and lateral size as well as distal fall-offs. Measured and simulated absolute dose values agreed within about 2.5% on the overall dose distributions. The MCTP tool, which supports the usage of multiple state-of-the-art relative biological effectiveness models, will provide a solid engine for treatment planning comparisons at HIT.

High efficiency ion beam accelerator system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Aston, G.

1981-01-01

An ion accelerator system that successfully combines geometrical and electrostatic focusing principles is presented. This accelerator system uses thin, concave, multiple-hole, closely spaced graphite screen and focusing grids which are coupled to single slot accelerator and decelerator grids to provide high ion extraction efficiency and good focusing. Tests with the system showed a substantial improvement in ion beam current density and collimation as compared with a Pierce electrode configuration. Durability of the thin graphite screen and focusing grids has been proven, and tests are being performed to determine the minimum screen and focusing grid spacing and thickness required to extract the maximum reliable beam current density. Compared with present neutral beam injector accelerator systems, this one has more efficient ion extraction, easier grid alignment, easier fabrication, a less cumbersome design, and the capacity to be constructed in a modular fashion. Conceptual neutral beam injector designs using this modular approach have electrostatic beam deflection plates downstream of each module.

Comparison of Document Index Graph Using TextRank and HITS Weighting Method in Automatic Text Summarization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hadyan, Fadhlil; Shaufiah; Arif Bijaksana, Moch.

2017-01-01

Automatic summarization is a system that can help someone to take the core information of a long text instantly. The system can help by summarizing text automatically. there’s Already many summarization systems that have been developed at this time but there are still many problems in those system. In this final task proposed summarization method using document index graph. This method utilizes the PageRank and HITS formula used to assess the web page, adapted to make an assessment of words in the sentences in a text document. The expected outcome of this final task is a system that can do summarization of a single document, by utilizing document index graph with TextRank and HITS to improve the quality of the summary results automatically.

A business case for HIT adoption: effects of "meaningful use" EHR financial incentives on clinic revenue.

PubMed

Behkami, Nima A; Dorr, David A; Morrice, Stuart

2010-01-01

The goal of this study is to describe a framework that allows decision makers to efficiently evaluate factors that affect Electronic Health Record (EHR) adoption and test suitable interventions; specifically financial incentives. The United States healthcare delivery system is experiencing a transformation to improve population health. There is strong agreement that "meaningful use" of Health Information Technology (HIT) is a major enabler in this effort. However it's also understood that the high cost of implementing an EHR is an obstacle for adoption. To help understand these complexities we developed a simulation model designed to capture the dynamic nature of policy interventions that affect the adoption of EHR. We found that "Effective" use of HIT approaches break-even-point and larger clinic revenue many times faster that "average" or "poor" use of HIT. This study uses a systems perspective to the evaluate EHR adoption process through the "meaningful use" redesign as proposed in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act 2009 in the United States healthcare industry by utilizing the System Dynamics methodology and Scenario Analysis.

Robust statistical methods for hit selection in RNA interference high-throughput screening experiments.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiaohua Douglas; Yang, Xiting Cindy; Chung, Namjin; Gates, Adam; Stec, Erica; Kunapuli, Priya; Holder, Dan J; Ferrer, Marc; Espeseth, Amy S

2006-04-01

RNA interference (RNAi) high-throughput screening (HTS) experiments carried out using large (>5000 short interfering [si]RNA) libraries generate a huge amount of data. In order to use these data to identify the most effective siRNAs tested, it is critical to adopt and develop appropriate statistical methods. To address the questions in hit selection of RNAi HTS, we proposed a quartile-based method which is robust to outliers, true hits and nonsymmetrical data. We compared it with the more traditional tests, mean +/- k standard deviation (SD) and median +/- 3 median of absolute deviation (MAD). The results suggested that the quartile-based method selected more hits than mean +/- k SD under the same preset error rate. The number of hits selected by median +/- k MAD was close to that by the quartile-based method. Further analysis suggested that the quartile-based method had the greatest power in detecting true hits, especially weak or moderate true hits. Our investigation also suggested that platewise analysis (determining effective siRNAs on a plate-by-plate basis) can adjust for systematic errors in different plates, while an experimentwise analysis, in which effective siRNAs are identified in an analysis of the entire experiment, cannot. However, experimentwise analysis may detect a cluster of true positive hits placed together in one or several plates, while platewise analysis may not. To display hit selection results, we designed a specific figure called a plate-well series plot. We thus suggest the following strategy for hit selection in RNAi HTS experiments. First, choose the quartile-based method, or median +/- k MAD, for identifying effective siRNAs. Second, perform the chosen method experimentwise on transformed/normalized data, such as percentage inhibition, to check the possibility of hit clusters. If a cluster of selected hits are observed, repeat the analysis based on untransformed data to determine whether the cluster is due to an artifact in the data

Applications of Biophysics in High-Throughput Screening Hit Validation.

PubMed

Genick, Christine Clougherty; Barlier, Danielle; Monna, Dominique; Brunner, Reto; Bé, Céline; Scheufler, Clemens; Ottl, Johannes

2014-06-01

For approximately a decade, biophysical methods have been used to validate positive hits selected from high-throughput screening (HTS) campaigns with the goal to verify binding interactions using label-free assays. By applying label-free readouts, screen artifacts created by compound interference and fluorescence are discovered, enabling further characterization of the hits for their target specificity and selectivity. The use of several biophysical methods to extract this type of high-content information is required to prevent the promotion of false positives to the next level of hit validation and to select the best candidates for further chemical optimization. The typical technologies applied in this arena include dynamic light scattering, turbidometry, resonance waveguide, surface plasmon resonance, differential scanning fluorimetry, mass spectrometry, and others. Each technology can provide different types of information to enable the characterization of the binding interaction. Thus, these technologies can be incorporated in a hit-validation strategy not only according to the profile of chemical matter that is desired by the medicinal chemists, but also in a manner that is in agreement with the target protein's amenability to the screening format. Here, we present the results of screening strategies using biophysics with the objective to evaluate the approaches, discuss the advantages and challenges, and summarize the benefits in reference to lead discovery. In summary, the biophysics screens presented here demonstrated various hit rates from a list of ~2000 preselected, IC50-validated hits from HTS (an IC50 is the inhibitor concentration at which 50% inhibition of activity is observed). There are several lessons learned from these biophysical screens, which will be discussed in this article. © 2014 Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening.

Two-dimensional silicon-based detectors for ion beam therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martišíková, M.; Granja, C.; Jakůbek, J.; Hartmann, B.; Telsemeyer, J.; Huber, L.; Brons, S.; Pospíšil, S.; Jäkel, O.

2012-02-01

Radiation therapy with ion beams is a highly precise kind of cancer treatment. As ion beams traverse material, the highest ionization density occurs at the end of their path. Due to this Bragg-peak, ion beams enable higher dose conformation to the tumor and increased sparing of the surrounding tissue, in comparison to standard radiation therapy using high energy photons. Ions heavier than protons offer in addition increased biological effectiveness and lower scattering. The Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT) is a state-of-the-art ion beam therapy facility and the first hospital-based facility in Europe. It provides proton and carbon ion treatments. A synchrotron is used for ion acceleration. For dose delivery to the patient, narrow pencil-like beams are scanned over the target volume.

The rationale and design of the national familial hypercholesterolemia registries in Turkey: A-HIT1 and A-HIT2 studies.

PubMed

Kayıkçıoğlu, Meral; Tokgözoğlu, Lale

2017-04-01

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disease characterized by extremely high levels of cholesterol, leading to premature atherosclerosis. Although many countries have already addressed the burden of FH by means of national registries, Turkey has no national FH registry or national screening program to detect FH. Creation of a series of FH registries is planned as part of Turkish FH Initiative endorsed by the Turkish Society of Cardiology to meet this need. This article provides detailed information on the rationale and design of the first 2 FH registries (A-HIT1 and A-HIT2). A-HIT1 is a nationwide survey of adult homozygous FH (HoFH) patients undergoing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis (LA) in Turkey. A-HIT1 will provide insight into the clinical status of HoFH patients undergoing LA. Primary objective of this cross-sectional study is to identify how HoFH patients on LA are managed. Inclusion criteria are age >12 years, diagnosis of HoFH, and regular LA treatment. All available apheresis centers were electronically invited to participate in the study. The principal physicians of each center will respond to a questionnaire regarding their attitude toward LA. For each patient, another questionnaire will be used to collect data on clinical status, medication use, and disease data. In addition, patients will be asked to complete self-report questionnaires that provide information on quality of life, disease-related anxiety, and depression. A-HIT2 is a registry of adult FH patients presenting at outpatient clinics. At least 1000 FH patients will be recruited from 30 outpatient clinics representing the 12 statistical regions in Turkey based on the EU NUTS classification. Sites specializing in cardiology, internal medicine, and endocrinology were invited to participate. The primary objective of this cross-sectional study is to determine clinical status and management of patients in Turkey diagnosed with FH. Eligibility for screening was defined as having

42 CFR 495.332 - State Medicaid health information technology (HIT) plan requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 42 Public Health 5 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false State Medicaid health information technology (HIT... HEALTH RECORD TECHNOLOGY INCENTIVE PROGRAM Requirements Specific to the Medicaid Program § 495.332 State Medicaid health information technology (HIT) plan requirements. Each State Medicaid HIT plan must include...

42 CFR 495.332 - State Medicaid health information technology (HIT) plan requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 42 Public Health 5 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false State Medicaid health information technology (HIT... HEALTH RECORD TECHNOLOGY INCENTIVE PROGRAM Requirements Specific to the Medicaid Program § 495.332 State Medicaid health information technology (HIT) plan requirements. Each State Medicaid HIT plan must include...

42 CFR 495.332 - State Medicaid health information technology (HIT) plan requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 42 Public Health 5 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false State Medicaid health information technology (HIT... HEALTH RECORD TECHNOLOGY INCENTIVE PROGRAM Requirements Specific to the Medicaid Program § 495.332 State Medicaid health information technology (HIT) plan requirements. Each State Medicaid HIT plan must include...

42 CFR 495.332 - State Medicaid health information technology (HIT) plan requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 42 Public Health 5 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false State Medicaid health information technology (HIT... HEALTH RECORD TECHNOLOGY INCENTIVE PROGRAM Requirements Specific to the Medicaid Program § 495.332 State Medicaid health information technology (HIT) plan requirements. Each State Medicaid HIT plan must include...

42 CFR 495.332 - State Medicaid health information technology (HIT) plan requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 42 Public Health 5 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false State Medicaid health information technology (HIT... HEALTH RECORD TECHNOLOGY INCENTIVE PROGRAM Requirements Specific to the Medicaid Program § 495.332 State Medicaid health information technology (HIT) plan requirements. Each State Medicaid HIT plan must include...

Ion beam accelerator system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Aston, Graeme (Inventor)

1984-01-01

A system is described that combines geometrical and electrostatic focusing to provide high ion extraction efficiency and good focusing of an accelerated ion beam. The apparatus includes a pair of curved extraction grids (16, 18) with multiple pairs of aligned holes positioned to direct a group of beamlets (20) along converging paths. The extraction grids are closely spaced and maintained at a moderate potential to efficiently extract beamlets of ions and allow them to combine into a single beam (14). An accelerator electrode device (22) downstream from the extraction grids, is at a much lower potential than the grids to accelerate the combined beam.

HIT: a new approach for hiding multimedia information in text

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El-Kwae, Essam A.; Cheng, Li

2002-04-01

A new technique for hiding multimedia data in text, called the Hiding in Text (HIT) technique, is introduced. The HIT technique can transform any type of media represented by a long binary string into innocuous text that follows correct grammatical rules. This technique divides English words into types where each word can appear in any number of types. For each type, there is a dictionary, which maps words to binary codes. Marker types are special types whose words do not repeat in any other type. Each generated sentence must include at least one word from the marker type. In the hiding phase, a binary string is input to the HIT encoding algorithm, which then selects sentence templates at random. The output is a set of English sentences according to the selected templates and the dictionaries of types. In the retrieving phase, the HIT technique uses the position of the marker word to identify the template used to build each sentence. The proposed technique greatly improves the efficiency and the security features of previous solutions. Examples for hiding text and image information in a cover text are given to illustrate the HIT technique.

Plasma formed ion beam projection lithography system

DOEpatents

Leung, Ka-Ngo; Lee, Yung-Hee Yvette; Ngo, Vinh; Zahir, Nastaran

2002-01-01

A plasma-formed ion-beam projection lithography (IPL) system eliminates the acceleration stage between the ion source and stencil mask of a conventional IPL system. Instead a much thicker mask is used as a beam forming or extraction electrode, positioned next to the plasma in the ion source. Thus the entire beam forming electrode or mask is illuminated uniformly with the source plasma. The extracted beam passes through an acceleration and reduction stage onto the resist coated wafer. Low energy ions, about 30 eV, pass through the mask, minimizing heating, scattering, and sputtering.

Silver Ion Biocide Delivery System for Water Disinfection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Slote, Benjamin M.; Salley, Edward; Carr, Daniel; Kimble, Michael C.; Adam, Niklas

2016-01-01

U.S. space exploration missions have long considered returning to the Moon and exploration of Mars that challenge life support systems. For these long duration missions, there is interest in replacing the iodine water treatment system with ionic silver, a proven biocide. For long duration exploration missions, it is imperative that an effective biocide be used that prevents microbial growth, biofilm formation, and microbially induced corrosion in the water storage and distribution systems while minimizing logistical supply requirements associated with the biocide delivery system. Two biocide delivery systems have been developed that electrochemically produce silver ions for disinfecting water throughout the water storage and distribution system. One system uses a newly developed hybrid micro-filtration and ion-exchange membrane to produce an abundance of silver ions at the 1000 ppb level upstream in the water distribution system to prevent biofilm growth. This is followed by a downstream collection module that electrochemically removes these silver ions before the water is discharged. Another approach uses a membraneless reactor to produce a 1000 ppb silver ion concentration level that also has a mechanically driven electrode cleaning mechanism that removes oxide films ensuring long life operation. By maintaining a sufficiently high level of silver ions throughout the water storage and distribution system, biofilm formation is suppressed. This approach overcomes present concerns where spurious silver deposition occurs on the container and flow line surfaces thus lowering the silver ion concentration to unsatisfactory disinfection levels.

Optoelectronic hit/miss transform for screening cervical smear slides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Narayanswamy, R.; Turner, R. M.; McKnight, D. J.; Johnson, K. M.; Sharpe, J. P.

1995-06-01

An optoelectronic morphological processor for detecting regions of interest (abnormal cells) on a cervical smear slide using the hit/miss transform is presented. Computer simulation of the algorithm tested on 184 Pap-smear images provided 95% detection and 5% false alarm. An optoelectronic implementation of the hit/miss transform is presented, along with preliminary experimental results.

[Diagnosis and treatment of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) based on its atypical immunological features].

PubMed

Miyata, Shigeki; Maeda, Takuma

2016-03-01

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a prothrombotic side effect of heparin therapy caused by HIT antibodies, i.e., anti-platelet factor 4 (PF4)/heparin IgG with platelet-activating properties. For serological diagnosis, antigen immunoassays are commonly used worldwide. However, such assays do not indicate their platelet-activating properties, leading to low specificity for the HIT diagnosis. Therefore, over-diagnosis is currently the most serious problem associated with HIT. The detection of platelet-activating antibodies using a washed platelet activation assay is crucial for appropriate HIT diagnosis. Recent advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of HIT include it having several clinical features atypical for an immune-mediated disease. Heparin-naïve patients can develop IgG antibodies as early as day 4, as in a secondary immune response. Evidence for an anamnestic response on heparin re-exposure is lacking. In addition, HIT antibodies are relatively short-lived, unlike those in a secondary immune response. These lines of evidence suggest that the mechanisms underlying HIT antibody formation may be compatible with a non-T cell-dependent immune reaction. These atypical clinical and serological features should be carefully considered while endeavoring to accurately diagnose HIT, which leads to appropriate therapies such as immediate administration of an alternative anticoagulant to prevent thromboembolic events and re-administration of heparin during surgery involving cardiopulmonary bypass when HIT antibodies are no longer detectable.

Mapping of RBE-Weighted Doses Between HIMAC- and LEM-Based Treatment Planning Systems for Carbon Ion Therapy

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

Steinstraeter, Olaf, E-mail: o.steinstraeter@gsi.de; Gruen, Rebecca; Institut fuer Medizinische Physik und Strahlenschutz, TH-Mittelhessen, Giessen

2012-11-01

Purpose: A method was developed to convert clinically prescribed RBE (Relative Biological Effectiveness)-weighted doses from the approach used at the Heavy-Ion Medical Accelerator (HIMAC) at the National Institute of Radiological Science, Chiba, Japan, to the LEM (Local Effect Model)-based TReatment planning for Particles (TRiP98) approach used in the pilot project at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum, Darmstadt, and the Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT). Methods and Materials: The proposed conversion method is based on a simulation of the fixed spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP) depth dose profiles as used for the irradiation at HIMAC by LEM/TRiP98 and a recalculation of the resulting RBE-weightedmore » dose distribution. We present data according to the clinical studies conducted at GSI in the past decade (LEM I), as well as data used in current studies (refined LEM version: LEM IV). Results: We found conversion factors (RBE-weighted dose LEM/RBE-weighted dose HIMAC) reaching from 0.4 to 2.0 for prescribed carbon ion doses from 1 to 60 Gy (RBE) for SOBP extensions ranging from 20 to 120 mm according to the HIMAC approach. A conversion factor of 1.0 was found for approximately 5 Gy (RBE). The conversion factor decreases with increasing prescribed dose. Slightly smaller values for the LEM IV-based data set compared with LEM I were found. A significant dependence of the conversion factor from the SOBP width could be observed in particular for LEM IV, whereas the depth dependence was found to be small. Conclusions: For the interpretation and comparison of clinical trials performed at HIMAC and GSI/HIT, it is of extreme importance to consider these conversion factors because according to the various methods to determine the RBE-weighted dose, similar dose values might not necessarily be related to similar clinical outcomes.« less

"Hit-and-Run" leaves its mark: catalyst transcription factors and chromatin modification.

PubMed

Varala, Kranthi; Li, Ying; Marshall-Colón, Amy; Para, Alessia; Coruzzi, Gloria M

2015-08-01

Understanding how transcription factor (TF) binding is related to gene regulation is a moving target. We recently uncovered genome-wide evidence for a "Hit-and-Run" model of transcription. In this model, a master TF "hits" a target promoter to initiate a rapid response to a signal. As the "hit" is transient, the model invokes recruitment of partner TFs to sustain transcription over time. Following the "run", the master TF "hits" other targets to propagate the response genome-wide. As such, a TF may act as a "catalyst" to mount a broad and acute response in cells that first sense the signal, while the recruited TF partners promote long-term adaptive behavior in the whole organism. This "Hit-and-Run" model likely has broad relevance, as TF perturbation studies across eukaryotes show small overlaps between TF-regulated and TF-bound genes, implicating transient TF-target binding. Here, we explore this "Hit-and-Run" model to suggest molecular mechanisms and its biological relevance. © 2015 The Authors. Bioessays published by WILEY Periodicals, Inc.

Hit identification and optimization in virtual screening: practical recommendations based on a critical literature analysis.

PubMed

Zhu, Tian; Cao, Shuyi; Su, Pin-Chih; Patel, Ram; Shah, Darshan; Chokshi, Heta B; Szukala, Richard; Johnson, Michael E; Hevener, Kirk E

2013-09-12

A critical analysis of virtual screening results published between 2007 and 2011 was performed. The activity of reported hit compounds from over 400 studies was compared to their hit identification criteria. Hit rates and ligand efficiencies were calculated to assist in these analyses, and the results were compared with factors such as the size of the virtual library and the number of compounds tested. A series of promiscuity, druglike, and ADMET filters were applied to the reported hits to assess the quality of compounds reported, and a careful analysis of a subset of the studies that presented hit optimization was performed. These data allowed us to make several practical recommendations with respect to selection of compounds for experimental testing, definition of hit identification criteria, and general virtual screening hit criteria to allow for realistic hit optimization. A key recommendation is the use of size-targeted ligand efficiency values as hit identification criteria.

Hit Identification and Optimization in Virtual Screening: Practical Recommendations Based Upon a Critical Literature Analysis

PubMed Central

Zhu, Tian; Cao, Shuyi; Su, Pin-Chih; Patel, Ram; Shah, Darshan; Chokshi, Heta B.; Szukala, Richard; Johnson, Michael E.; Hevener, Kirk E.

2013-01-01

A critical analysis of virtual screening results published between 2007 and 2011 was performed. The activity of reported hit compounds from over 400 studies was compared to their hit identification criteria. Hit rates and ligand efficiencies were calculated to assist in these analyses and the results were compared with factors such as the size of the virtual library and the number of compounds tested. A series of promiscuity, drug-like, and ADMET filters were applied to the reported hits to assess the quality of compounds reported and a careful analysis of a subset of the studies which presented hit optimization was performed. This data allowed us to make several practical recommendations with respect to selection of compounds for experimental testing, defining hit identification criteria, and general virtual screening hit criteria to allow for realistic hit optimization. A key recommendation is the use of size-targeted ligand efficiency values as hit identification criteria. PMID:23688234

Perioperative use of iloprost in cardiac surgery patients diagnosed with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia-reactive antibodies or with true HIT (HIT-reactive antibodies plus thrombocytopenia): An 11-year experience.

PubMed

Palatianos, George; Michalis, Alkiviadis; Alivizatos, Petros; Lacoumenda, Stavroula; Geroulanos, Stefanos; Karabinis, Andreas; Iliopoulou, Eugenia; Soufla, Giannoula; Kanthou, Chryso; Khoury, Mazen; Sfyrakis, Petros; Stavridis, George; Astras, George; Vassili, Maria; Antzaka, Christina; Marathias, Katerina; Kriaras, Ioannis; Tasouli, Androniki; Papadopoulos, Kyrillos; Katafygioti, Marina; Matoula, Nikoletta; Angelidis, Antonios; Melissari, Euthemia

2015-07-01

Thrombocytopenia and thromboembolism(s) may develop in heparin immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (HIT) patients after reexposure to heparin. At the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, 530 out of 17,000 patients requiring heart surgery over an 11-year period underwent preoperative HIT assessment by ELISA and a three-point heparin-induced platelet aggregation assay (HIPAG). The screening identified 110 patients with HIT-reactive antibodies, out of which 46 were also thrombocytopenic (true HIT). Cardiac surgery was performed in HIT-positive patients under heparin anticoagulation and iloprost infusion. A control group of 118 HIT-negative patients received heparin but no iloprost during surgery. For the first 20 patients, the dose of iloprost diminishing the HIPAG test to ≤5% was determined prior to surgery by in vitro titration using the patients' own plasma and donor platelets. In parallel, the iloprost "target dose" was also established for each patient intraoperatively, but before heparin administration. Iloprost was infused initially at 3 ng/kg/mL and further adjusted intraoperatively, until ex vivo aggregation reached ≤5%. As a close correlation was observed between the "target dose" identified before surgery and that established intraoperatively, the remaining 90 patients were administered iloprost starting at the presurgery identified "target dose." This process significantly reduced the number of intraoperative HIPAG reassessments needed to determine the iloprost target dose, and reduced surgical time, while maintaining similar primary clinical outcomes to controls. Therefore, infusion of iloprost throughout surgery, under continuous titration, allows cardiac surgery to be undertaken safely using heparin, while avoiding life-threatening iloprost-induced hypotension in patients diagnosed with HIT-reactive antibodies or true HIT. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Overview of the Helicity Injected Torus (HIT) Program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Redd, A. J.; Jarboe, T. R.; Hamp, W. T.; Nelson, B. A.; O'Neill, R. G.; Sieck, P. E.; Smith, R. J.; Sutphin, G. L.; Wrobel, J. S.

2007-06-01

The Helicity Injected Torus with Steady Inductive Helicity Injection (HIT-SI) consists of a "bowtie"-shaped axisymmetric confinement region, with two half-torus helicity injectors mounted on each side of the axisymmetric flux conserver [Sieck et al, IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci., v.33, p.723 (2005); Jarboe, Fusion Technology, v.36, p.85 (1999)]. Current and flux are driven sinusoidally with time in each injector, with the goal of generating and sustaining an axisymmetric spheromak in the main confinement region. Improvements in machine conditioning have enabled systematic study of HIT-SI discharges with significant toroidal current ITOR, including cases in which this current ITOR switches sign one or more times during the discharge. Statistical studies of all HIT-SI discharges to date demonstrate a minimum injected power to form significant ITOR, and that the maximum ITOR scales approximately linearly with the total injected power.

Direct oral anticoagulants for treatment of HIT: update of Hamilton experience and literature review.

PubMed

Warkentin, Theodore E; Pai, Menaka; Linkins, Lori-Ann

2017-08-31

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are attractive options for treatment of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). We report our continuing experience in Hamilton, ON, Canada, since January 1, 2015 (when we completed our prospective study of rivaroxaban for HIT), using rivaroxaban for serologically confirmed HIT (4Ts score ≥4 points; positive platelet factor 4 [PF4]/heparin immunoassay, positive serotonin-release assay). We also performed a literature review of HIT treatment using DOACs (rivaroxaban, apixaban, dabigatran, edoxaban). We focused on patients who received DOAC therapy for acute HIT as either primary therapy (group A) or secondary therapy (group B; initial treatment using a non-DOAC/non-heparin anticoagulant with transition to a DOAC during HIT-associated thrombocytopenia). Our primary end point was occurrence of objectively documented thrombosis during DOAC therapy for acute HIT. We found that recovery without new, progressive, or recurrent thrombosis occurred in all 10 Hamilton patients with acute HIT treated with rivaroxaban. Data from the literature review plus these new data identified a thrombosis rate of 1 of 46 patients (2.2%; 95% CI, 0.4%-11.3%) in patients treated with rivaroxaban during acute HIT (group A, n = 25; group B, n = 21); major hemorrhage was seen in 0 of 46 patients. Similar outcomes in smaller numbers of patients were observed with apixaban (n = 12) and dabigatran (n = 11). DOACs offer simplified management of selected patients, as illustrated by a case of persisting (autoimmune) HIT (>2-month platelet recovery with inversely parallel waning of serum-induced heparin-independent serotonin release) with successful outpatient rivaroxaban management of HIT-associated thrombosis. Evidence supporting efficacy and safety of DOACs for acute HIT is increasing, with the most experience reported for rivaroxaban. © 2017 by The American Society of Hematology.

Efficiency Improvement of HIT Solar Cells on p-Type Si Wafers.

PubMed

Wei, Chun-You; Lin, Chu-Hsuan; Hsiao, Hao-Tse; Yang, Po-Chuan; Wang, Chih-Ming; Pan, Yen-Chih

2013-11-22

Single crystal silicon solar cells are still predominant in the market due to the abundance of silicon on earth and their acceptable efficiency. Different solar-cell structures of single crystalline Si have been investigated to boost efficiency; the heterojunction with intrinsic thin layer (HIT) structure is currently the leading technology. The record efficiency values of state-of-the art HIT solar cells have always been based on n-type single-crystalline Si wafers. Improving the efficiency of cells based on p-type single-crystalline Si wafers could provide broader options for the development of HIT solar cells. In this study, we varied the thickness of intrinsic hydrogenated amorphous Si layer to improve the efficiency of HIT solar cells on p-type Si wafers.

77 FR 23250 - HIT Standards Committee; Schedule for the Assessment of HIT Policy Committee Recommendations

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-18

... quality, clinical operations, implementation, and privacy and security. Other groups are convened to address specific issues as needed, such as the Nationwide Health Information Network Power Team, the... appropriate workgroup or other special group to develop a report for the HIT Standards Committee, to the...

NIMROD simulations of HIT-SI plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akcay, Cihan; Jarboe, Thomas; Nelson, Brian; Kim, Charlson

2011-10-01

HIT-SI (Steady Inductive Helicity Injected Torus) is a current drive experiment that uses two semi-toroidal helicity injectors driven at 5-15 kHz to generate steady inductive helicity injection (SIHI). All the plasma-facing walls of the experiment are coated with an insulating material to guarantee an inductive discharge. NIMROD is a 3-D extended MHD code that can only model toroidally-uniform geometries. The helicity injectors of the experiment are simulated as flux and voltage boundary conditions with odd toroidal symmetry. A highly resistive, thin edge-layer approximates the insulating walls. The simulations are initial-value calculations that use a zero β resistive MHD (rMHD) model with uniform density. The Prandtl number (Pr = 10), and Lundquist number (S = 5 - 50) closely match the experimental values. rMHD calculations at S ~ 10 show no growth of an n = 0 mode and only a few kA of toroidal current whereas HIT-SI has demonstrated toroidal currents greater than 50 kA with a current amplification of 3. At higher S (>= 20) the simulations exhibit significant n = 0 magnetic energy growth and a current amplification exceeding unity: Itor/Iinj >= 1 . While HIT-SI has shown evidence for separatrix formation, rMHD calculations indicate an entirely stochastic magnetic structure during sustainment. Results will also presented for Hall MHD, anticipated to play a crucial role in the physics of SIHI.

But Can You Hit?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, R. E.

2009-01-01

The author shares a story told to him by a colleague more than thirty years ago. The dean of a midsized American university was explaining the path to tenure to a roomful of newly appointed assistant professors. "We know you boys can all "field"," he declared. "Now we want to see if you can hit." A lot has changed over the intervening decades. If…

Object Rotation Effects on the Timing of a Hitting Action

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scott, Mark A.; van der Kamp, John; Savelsbergh, Geert J. P.; Oudejans, Raoul R. D.; Davids, Keith

2004-01-01

In this article, the authors investigated how perturbing optical information affects the guidance of an unfolding hitting action. Using monocular and binocular vision, six participants were required to hit a rectangular foam object, released from two different heights, under four different approach conditions, two with object rotation (to perturb…

The impact of Health Information Technology (I-HIT) Scale: the Australian results.

PubMed

Cook, Robyn; Foster, Joanne

2009-01-01

One of role of the nurse in the clinical setting is that of co-ordinating communication across the healthcare team. On a daily basis nurses interact with the person receiving care, their family members, and multiple care providers thus placing the nurse in the central position with access to a vast array of information on the person. Through this nurses have historically functioned as "information repositories". With the advent of Health Information Technology (HIT) tools there is a potential that HIT could impact interdisciplinary communication, practice efficiency and effectiveness, relationships and workflow in acute care settings [1][3]. In 2005, the HIMSS Nursing Informatics Community developed the I-HIT Scale to measure the impact of HIT on the nursing role and interdisciplinary communication in USA hospitals. In 2007, nursing informatics colleagues from Australia, Finland, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland and the USA formed a research collaborative to validate the I-HIT in six additional countries. This paper will discuss the background, methodology, results and implications from the Australian I-HIT survey of over 1,100 nurses. The results are currently being analyzed and will be presented at the conference.

Triple Hit Lymphoma: Rare Cases With Less Dire Than Usual Prognosis.

PubMed

Kallen, Michael E; Alexanian, Serge; Said, Jonathan; Quintero-Rivera, Fabiola

2016-12-01

Triple hit lymphomas are a subset of so-called double hit non-Hodgkin lymphomas exhibiting simultaneous gene translocations/disruption of MYC, BCL2, and BCL6; however, their overlapping morphologic features and complex genetic rearrangements can render classification and prognostication vexing. Clinically triple hit lymphomas are thought to demonstrate aggressive behavior, similar to or worse than that of double hit lymphomas. Only rare reports of long term survivors exist and raise the possibility that unidentified morphologic, immunologic, or cytogenetic differences may impart a less adverse prognosis than current literature and opinion may suggest. Here we report 3 such cases with less aggressive behavior. Cases such as these may prove useful in comparing outcomes, and underlying mechanisms of tumor progression, in aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas. © The Author(s) 2016.

"Hit-and-Run" transcription: de novo transcription initiated by a transient bZIP1 "hit" persists after the "run".

PubMed

Doidy, Joan; Li, Ying; Neymotin, Benjamin; Edwards, Molly B; Varala, Kranthi; Gresham, David; Coruzzi, Gloria M

2016-02-03

Dynamic transcriptional regulation is critical for an organism's response to environmental signals and yet remains elusive to capture. Such transcriptional regulation is mediated by master transcription factors (TF) that control large gene regulatory networks. Recently, we described a dynamic mode of TF regulation named "hit-and-run". This model proposes that master TF can interact transiently with a set of targets, but the transcription of these transient targets continues after the TF dissociation from the target promoter. However, experimental evidence validating active transcription of the transient TF-targets is still lacking. Here, we show that active transcription continues after transient TF-target interactions by tracking de novo synthesis of RNAs made in response to TF nuclear import. To do this, we introduced an affinity-labeled 4-thiouracil (4tU) nucleobase to specifically isolate newly synthesized transcripts following conditional TF nuclear import. Thus, we extended the TARGET system (Transient Assay Reporting Genome-wide Effects of Transcription factors) to include 4tU-labeling and named this new technology TARGET-tU. Our proof-of-principle example is the master TF Basic Leucine Zipper 1 (bZIP1), a central integrator of metabolic signaling in plants. Using TARGET-tU, we captured newly synthesized mRNAs made in response to bZIP1 nuclear import at a time when bZIP1 is no longer detectably bound to its target. Thus, the analysis of de novo transcripomics demonstrates that bZIP1 may act as a catalyst TF to initiate a transcriptional complex ("hit"), after which active transcription by RNA polymerase continues without the TF being bound to the gene promoter ("run"). Our findings provide experimental proof for active transcription of transient TF-targets supporting a "hit-and-run" mode of action. This dynamic regulatory model allows a master TF to catalytically propagate rapid and broad transcriptional responses to changes in environment. Thus, the

An Advanced Battery Management System for Lithium Ion Batteries

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-08-01

MINI-SYMPOSIUM AUGUST 9-11 DEARBORN, MICHIGAN AN ADVANCED BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR LITHIUM ION BATTERIES Bruce Pilvelait, Ph.D...COVERED - 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE An Advanced Battery Management System for Lithium Ion Batteries 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c...Management System for Lithium Ion Batteries Page 2 of 7 Figure 1: BMS architecture for a 24 VDC lithium-ion Silent Watch battery pack

Evaluation of two new automated chemiluminescent assays (HemosIL® AcuStar HIT-IgG and HemosIL® AcuStar HIT-Ab) for the detection of heparin-induced antibodies in the diagnosis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

PubMed

Van Hoecke, F; Devreese, K

2012-08-01

Recently, two new, fully automated quantitative chemiluminescent immunoassays, the HemosIL(®) AcuStar HIT-IgG (PF4-H), specific for IgG anti-PF4/H antibodies, and the HemosIL(®) AcuStar HIT-Ab(PF4-H), detecting IgG, IgM and IgA anti-PF4/H antibodies, were introduced into the market. In this study, their performance was compared mutually and with the Zymutest HIA IgG and HIA IgGAM ELISA. Citrated plasmas from 87 patients with clinical suspicion of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) were analyzed with all four assays and with a functional confirmation assay. Apart from the manufacturer's cutoffs, optimalized cutoffs were evaluated as well. Sensitivities of all assays were 100%. The Acustar HIT-IgG assay showed a higher specificity compared with the HIT-Ab assay (85%vs. 73%), using the manufacturer's cutoffs. Specificities of all assays, except for the AcuStar HIT-IgG, could be significantly improved when altering the cutoff. Titers were significantly higher for the HIT-Ab assay compared with the HIT-IgG assay (P = 0.0001). This was also the case for the patients with confirmed HIT (P = 0.0495), indicating that the one cutoff (1.0 OD) for both Acustar assays, as proposed by the manufacturer, can be adapted for the AcuStar Hit-Ab assay resulting in an increased specificity. Performance characteristics of the Acustar HIT-IgG and HIT-Ab assay are comparable to the Zymutest HIA IgG and HIA IgGAM. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

HIT-6 and MIDAS as measures of headache disability in a headache referral population.

PubMed

Sauro, Khara M; Rose, Marianne S; Becker, Werner J; Christie, Suzanne N; Giammarco, Rose; Mackie, Gordon F; Eloff, Arnoldas G; Gawel, Marek J

2010-03-01

The objective of this study was to compare the headache impact test (HIT-6) and the migraine disability assessment scale (MIDAS) as clinical measures of headache-related disability. The degree of headache-related disability is an important factor in treatment planning. Many quality of life and headache disability measures exist but it is unclear which of the available disability measures is the most helpful in planning and measuring headache management. We compared HIT-6 and MIDAS scores from 798 patients from the Canadian Headache Outpatient Registry and Database (CHORD). Correlation and regression analyses were used to examine the relationships between the HIT-6 and MIDAS total scores, headache frequency and intensity, and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) scores. A positive correlation was found between HIT-6 and MIDAS scores (r = 0.52). The BDI-II scores correlated equally with the HIT-6 and the MIDAS (r = 0.42). There was a non-monotonic relationship between headache frequency and the MIDAS, and a non-linear monotonic relationship between headache frequency and the HIT-6 (r = 0.24). The correlation was higher between the intensity and the HIT-6 scores (r = 0.46), than MIDAS (r = 0.26) scores. Seventy-nine percent of patients fell into the most severe HIT-6 disability category, compared with the 57% of patients that fell into the most severe MIDAS disability category. Significantly more patients were placed in a more severe category with the HIT-6 than with the MIDAS (McNemar chi-square = 191 on 6 d.f., P < .0001). The HIT-6 and MIDAS appear to measure headache-related disability in a similar fashion. However, some important differences may exist. Headache intensity appears to influence HIT-6 score more than the MIDAS, whereas the MIDAS was influenced more by headache frequency. Using the HIT-6 and MIDAS together may give a more accurate assessment of a patient's headache-related disability.

A biomechanical comparison in the lower limb and lumbar spine between a hit and drag flick in field hockey.

PubMed

Ng, Leo; Rosalie, Simon M; Sherry, Dorianne; Loh, Wei Bing; Sjurseth, Andreas M; Iyengar, Shrikant; Wild, Catherine Y

2018-03-01

Research has revealed that field hockey drag flickers have greater odds of hip and lumbar injuries compared to non-drag flickers (DF). This study aimed to compare the biomechanics of a field hockey hit and a specialised field hockey drag flick. Eighteen male and seven female specialised hockey DF performed a hit and a drag flick in a motion analysis laboratory with an 18-camera three-dimensional motion analysis system and a calibrated multichannel force platform to examine differences in lower limb and lumbar kinematics and kinetics. Results revealed that drag flicks were performed with more of a forward lunge on the left lower limb resulting in significantly greater left ankle dorsiflexion, knee, hip and lumbar flexion (Ps<0.001) compared to a hit. Drag flicks were also performed with significantly greater lateral flexion (P < 0.002) and rotation of the lumbar spine (P < 0.006) compared to a hit. Differences in kinematics lead to greater shear, compression and tensile forces in multiple left lower limb and lumbar joints in the drag flick compared to the hit (P < 0.05). The biomechanical differences in drag flicks compared to a hit may have ramifications with respect to injury in field hockey drag flickers.

Helium ion beam imaging for image guided ion radiotherapy.

PubMed

Martišíková, M; Gehrke, T; Berke, S; Aricò, G; Jäkel, O

2018-06-14

Ion beam radiotherapy provides potential for increased dose conformation to the target volume. To translate it into a clinical advantage, it is necessary to guarantee a precise alignment of the actual internal patient geometry with the treatment beam. This is in particular challenging for inter- and intrafractional variations, including movement. Ion beams have the potential for a high sensitivity imaging of the patient geometry. However, the research on suitable imaging methods is not conclusive yet. Here we summarize the research activities within the "Clinical research group heavy ion therapy" funded by the DFG (KFO214). Our aim was to develop a method for the visualization of a 1 mm thickness difference with a spatial resolution of about 1 mm at clinically applicable doses. We designed and built a dedicated system prototype for ion radiography using exclusively the pixelated semiconductor technology Timepix developed at CERN. Helium ions were chosen as imaging radiation due to their decreased scattering in comparison to protons, and lower damaging potential compared to carbon ions. The data acquisition procedure and a dedicated information processing algorithm were established. The performance of the method was evaluated at the ion beam therapy facility HIT in Germany with geometrical phantoms. The quality of the images was quantified by contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and spatial resolution (SR) considering the imaging dose. Using the unique method for single ion identification, degradation of the images due to the inherent contamination of the outgoing beam with light secondary fragments (hydrogen) was avoided. We demonstrated experimentally that the developed data processing increases the CNR by 350%. Consideration of the measured ion track directions improved the SR by 150%. Compared to proton radiographs at the same dose, helium radiographs exhibited 50% higher SR (0.56 ± 0.04lp/mm vs. 0.37 ± 0.02lp/mm) at a comparable CNR in the middle of the

Atomic features of an autoantigen in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).

PubMed

Cai, Zheng; Zhu, Zhiqiang; Greene, Mark I; Cines, Douglas B

2016-07-01

Autoantigen development is poorly understood at the atomic level. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an autoimmune thrombotic disorder caused by antibodies to an antigen composed of platelet factor 4 (PF4) and heparin or cellular glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). In solution, PF4 exists as an equilibrium among monomers, dimers and tetramers. Structural studies of these interacting components helped delineate a multi-step process involved in the pathogenesis of HIT. First, heparin binds to the 'closed' end of the PF4 tetramer and stabilizes its conformation; exposing the 'open' end. Second, PF4 arrays along heparin/GAG chains, which approximate tetramers, form large antigenic complexes that enhance antibody avidity. Third, pathogenic HIT antibodies bind to the 'open' end of stabilized PF4 tetramers to form an IgG/PF4/heparin ternary immune complex and also to propagate the formation of 'ultralarge immune complexes' (ULCs) that contain multiple IgG antibodies. Fourth, ULCs signal through FcγRIIA receptors, activating platelets and monocytes directly and generating thrombin, which transactivates hematopoietic and endothelial cells. A non-pathogenic anti-PF4 antibody prevents tetramer formation, binding of pathogenic antibody, platelet activation and thrombosis, providing a new approach to manage HIT. An improved understanding of the pathogenesis of HIT may lead to novel diagnostics and therapeutics for this autoimmune disease. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

HIT'nDRIVE: patient-specific multidriver gene prioritization for precision oncology

PubMed Central

Hodzic, Ermin; Sauerwald, Thomas; Dao, Phuong; Wang, Kendric; Yeung, Jake; Anderson, Shawn; Vandin, Fabio; Haffari, Gholamreza; Collins, Colin C.; Sahinalp, S. Cenk

2017-01-01

Prioritizing molecular alterations that act as drivers of cancer remains a crucial bottleneck in therapeutic development. Here we introduce HIT'nDRIVE, a computational method that integrates genomic and transcriptomic data to identify a set of patient-specific, sequence-altered genes, with sufficient collective influence over dysregulated transcripts. HIT'nDRIVE aims to solve the “random walk facility location” (RWFL) problem in a gene (or protein) interaction network, which differs from the standard facility location problem by its use of an alternative distance measure: “multihitting time,” the expected length of the shortest random walk from any one of the set of sequence-altered genes to an expression-altered target gene. When applied to 2200 tumors from four major cancer types, HIT'nDRIVE revealed many potentially clinically actionable driver genes. We also demonstrated that it is possible to perform accurate phenotype prediction for tumor samples by only using HIT'nDRIVE-seeded driver gene modules from gene interaction networks. In addition, we identified a number of breast cancer subtype-specific driver modules that are associated with patients’ survival outcome. Furthermore, HIT'nDRIVE, when applied to a large panel of pan-cancer cell lines, accurately predicted drug efficacy using the driver genes and their seeded gene modules. Overall, HIT'nDRIVE may help clinicians contextualize massive multiomics data in therapeutic decision making, enabling widespread implementation of precision oncology. PMID:28768687

Teachers' Perspectives on Hitting Back in School: Between Inexcusable Violence and Self-Defense

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fleischmann, Amos

2015-01-01

Israeli schools expressly forbid a student to hit back after being attacked. In semistructured interviews, 71 Israeli educators were asked for their views on the hitting-back tactic. The interviews compared their attitude toward hitting back as teachers with their take on the matter as parents. The results, analyzed using grounded theory, show…

Development of a simple, low cost, indirect ion beam fluence measurement system for ion implanters, accelerators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suresh, K.; Balaji, S.; Saravanan, K.; Navas, J.; David, C.; Panigrahi, B. K.

2018-02-01

We developed a simple, low cost user-friendly automated indirect ion beam fluence measurement system for ion irradiation and analysis experiments requiring indirect beam fluence measurements unperturbed by sample conditions like low temperature, high temperature, sample biasing as well as in regular ion implantation experiments in the ion implanters and electrostatic accelerators with continuous beam. The system, which uses simple, low cost, off-the-shelf components/systems and two distinct layers of in-house built softwarenot only eliminates the need for costly data acquisition systems but also overcomes difficulties in using properietry software. The hardware of the system is centered around a personal computer, a PIC16F887 based embedded system, a Faraday cup drive cum monitor circuit, a pair of Faraday Cups and a beam current integrator and the in-house developed software include C based microcontroller firmware and LABVIEW based virtual instrument automation software. The automatic fluence measurement involves two important phases, a current sampling phase lasting over 20-30 seconds during which the ion beam current is continuously measured by intercepting the ion beam and the averaged beam current value is computed. A subsequent charge computation phase lasting 700-900 seconds is executed making the ion beam to irradiate the samples and the incremental fluence received by the sampleis estimated usingthe latest averaged beam current value from the ion beam current sampling phase. The cycle of current sampling-charge computation is repeated till the required fluence is reached. Besides simplicity and cost-effectiveness, other important advantages of the developed system include easy reconfiguration of the system to suit customisation of experiments, scalability, easy debug and maintenance of the hardware/software, ability to work as a standalone system. The system was tested with different set of samples and ion fluences and the results were verified using

Nedley Depression Hit Hypothesis: Identifying Depression and Its Causes.

PubMed

Nedley, Neil; Ramirez, Francisco E

2016-11-01

Depression is often diagnosed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria. We propose how certain lifestyle choices and non-modifiable factors can predict the development of depression. We identified 10 cause categories (hits or "blows" to the brain) and theorize that four or more active hits could trigger a depression episode. Methods. A sample of 4271 participants from our community-based program (70% female; ages 17-94 years) was assessed at baseline and at the eighth week of the program using a custom test. Ten cause categories were examined as predictors of depression are (1) Genetic, (2)Developmental, (3)Lifestyle, (4)Circadian Rhythm, (5)Addiction, (6)Nutrition, (7)Toxic, (8)Social/Complicated Grief, (9)Medical Condition, and (10)Frontal Lobe. Results. The relationship between the DSM-5 score and a person having four hits categories in the first program week showed a sensitivity of 89.98 % (95% CI: 89.20 % - 90.73%), specificity 48.84% (CI 45.94-51.75) and Matthew Correlation Coefficient (MCC) .41 . For the eight-week test, the results showed a sensitivity 83.6% (CI 81.9-85.5), specificity 53.7% (CI 51.7-55.6) and MCC .38. Overall, the hits that improved the most from baseline after the eighth week were: Nutrition (47%), Frontal lobe (36%), Addiction (24%), Circadian rhythm (24%), Lifestyle (20%), Social (12%) and Medical (10%). Conclusions. The Nedley four-hit hypothesis seems to predict a depressive episode and correlates well with the DSM-5 criteria with good sensitivity and MCC but less specificity. Identifying these factors and applying lifestyle therapies could play an important role in the treatment of depressed individuals.

Near-optimal alternative generation using modified hit-and-run sampling for non-linear, non-convex problems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosenberg, D. E.; Alafifi, A.

2016-12-01

Water resources systems analysis often focuses on finding optimal solutions. Yet an optimal solution is optimal only for the modelled issues and managers often seek near-optimal alternatives that address un-modelled objectives, preferences, limits, uncertainties, and other issues. Early on, Modelling to Generate Alternatives (MGA) formalized near-optimal as the region comprising the original problem constraints plus a new constraint that allowed performance within a specified tolerance of the optimal objective function value. MGA identified a few maximally-different alternatives from the near-optimal region. Subsequent work applied Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling to generate a larger number of alternatives that span the near-optimal region of linear problems or select portions for non-linear problems. We extend the MCMC Hit-And-Run method to generate alternatives that span the full extent of the near-optimal region for non-linear, non-convex problems. First, start at a feasible hit point within the near-optimal region, then run a random distance in a random direction to a new hit point. Next, repeat until generating the desired number of alternatives. The key step at each iterate is to run a random distance along the line in the specified direction to a new hit point. If linear equity constraints exist, we construct an orthogonal basis and use a null space transformation to confine hits and runs to a lower-dimensional space. Linear inequity constraints define the convex bounds on the line that runs through the current hit point in the specified direction. We then use slice sampling to identify a new hit point along the line within bounds defined by the non-linear inequity constraints. This technique is computationally efficient compared to prior near-optimal alternative generation techniques such MGA, MCMC Metropolis-Hastings, evolutionary, or firefly algorithms because search at each iteration is confined to the hit line, the algorithm can move in one

HiPEP Ion Optics System Evaluation Using Gridlets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Willliams, John D.; Farnell, Cody C.; Laufer, D. Mark; Martinez, Rafael A.

2004-01-01

Experimental measurements are presented for sub-scale ion optics systems comprised of 7 and 19 aperture pairs with geometrical features that are similar to the HiPEP ion optics system. Effects of hole diameter and grid-to-grid spacing are presented as functions of applied voltage and beamlet current. Recommendations are made for the beamlet current range where the ion optics system can be safely operated without experiencing direct impingement of high energy ions on the accelerator grid surface. Measurements are also presented of the accelerator grid voltage where beam plasma electrons backstream through the ion optics system. Results of numerical simulations obtained with the ffx code are compared to both the impingement limit and backstreaming measurements. An emphasis is placed on identifying differences between measurements and simulation predictions to highlight areas where more research is needed. Relatively large effects are observed in simulations when the discharge chamber plasma properties and ion optics geometry are varied. Parameters investigated using simulations include the applied voltages, grid spacing, hole-to-hole spacing, doubles-to-singles ratio, plasma potential, and electron temperature; and estimates are provided for the sensitivity of impingement limits on these parameters.

Maskless micro-ion-beam reduction lithography system

DOEpatents

Leung, Ka-Ngo; Barletta, William A.; Patterson, David O.; Gough, Richard A.

2005-05-03

A maskless micro-ion-beam reduction lithography system is a system for projecting patterns onto a resist layer on a wafer with feature size down to below 100 nm. The MMRL system operates without a stencil mask. The patterns are generated by switching beamlets on and off from a two electrode blanking system or pattern generator. The pattern generator controllably extracts the beamlet pattern from an ion source and is followed by a beam reduction and acceleration column.

77 FR 65691 - HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-30

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting AGENCY: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, HHS. ACTION: Notice of... of Committee: HIT Policy Committee. General Function of the Committee: To provide recommendations to...

77 FR 2727 - HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-19

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting AGENCY: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, HHS. ACTION: Notice of... of Committee: HIT Policy Committee. General Function of the Committee: To provide recommendations to...

77 FR 15760 - HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-16

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting AGENCY: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, HHS. ACTION: Notice of... of Committee: HIT Policy Committee. General Function of the Committee: To provide recommendations to...

77 FR 73660 - HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meetings; Notice of Meetings

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-11

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meetings; Notice of Meetings AGENCY: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, HHS. ACTION: Notice of... of Committee: HIT Policy Committee. General Function of the Committee: To provide recommendations to...

77 FR 57567 - HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-18

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting AGENCY: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, HHS. ACTION: Notice of... of Committee: HIT Policy Committee. General Function of the Committee: To provide recommendations to...

77 FR 50690 - HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-22

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting AGENCY: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, HHS. ACTION: Notice of... of Committee: HIT Policy Committee. General Function of the Committee: To provide recommendations to...

77 FR 28881 - HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-16

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting AGENCY: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, HHS. ACTION: Notice of... of Committee: HIT Policy Committee. General Function of the Committee: to provide recommendations to...

76 FR 79684 - HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-22

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting AGENCY: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, HHS. ACTION: Notice of... of Committee: HIT Policy Committee. General Function of the Committee: To provide recommendations to...

76 FR 70455 - HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-14

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting AGENCY: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, HHS. ACTION: Notice of... of Committee: HIT Policy Committee. General Function of the Committee: to provide recommendations to...

77 FR 41788 - HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-16

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting AGENCY: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, HHS. ACTION: Notice of... of Committee: HIT Policy Committee. General Function of the Committee: To provide recommendations to...

77 FR 27459 - HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-10

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting AGENCY: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, HHS. ACTION: Notice of... of Committee: HIT Policy Committee. General Function of the Committee: to provide recommendations to...

77 FR 37407 - HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-21

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting AGENCY: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, HHS. ACTION: Notice of... of Committee: HIT Policy Committee. General Function of the Committee: To provide recommendations to...

Phase Space Generation for Proton and Carbon Ion Beams for External Users' Applications at the Heidelberg Ion Therapy Center.

PubMed

Tessonnier, Thomas; Marcelos, Tiago; Mairani, Andrea; Brons, Stephan; Parodi, Katia

2015-01-01

In the field of radiation therapy, accurate and robust dose calculation is required. For this purpose, precise modeling of the irradiation system and reliable computational platforms are needed. At the Heidelberg Ion Therapy Center (HIT), the beamline has been already modeled in the FLUKA Monte Carlo (MC) code. However, this model was kept confidential for disclosure reasons and was not available for any external team. The main goal of this study was to create efficiently phase space (PS) files for proton and carbon ion beams, for all energies and foci available at HIT. PSs are representing the characteristics of each particle recorded (charge, mass, energy, coordinates, direction cosines, generation) at a certain position along the beam path. In order to achieve this goal, keeping a reasonable data size but maintaining the requested accuracy for the calculation, we developed a new approach of beam PS generation with the MC code FLUKA. The generated PSs were obtained using an infinitely narrow beam and recording the desired quantities after the last element of the beamline, with a discrimination of primaries or secondaries. In this way, a unique PS can be used for each energy to accommodate the different foci by combining the narrow-beam scenario with a random sampling of its theoretical Gaussian beam in vacuum. PS can also reproduce the different patterns from the delivery system, when properly combined with the beam scanning information. MC simulations using PS have been compared to simulations, including the full beamline geometry and have been found in very good agreement for several cases (depth dose distributions, lateral dose profiles), with relative dose differences below 0.5%. This approach has also been compared with measured data of ion beams with different energies and foci, resulting in a very satisfactory agreement. Hence, the proposed approach was able to fulfill the different requirements and has demonstrated its capability for application to

HITS-CLIP yields genome-wide insights into brain alternative RNA processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Licatalosi, Donny D.; Mele, Aldo; Fak, John J.; Ule, Jernej; Kayikci, Melis; Chi, Sung Wook; Clark, Tyson A.; Schweitzer, Anthony C.; Blume, John E.; Wang, Xuning; Darnell, Jennifer C.; Darnell, Robert B.

2008-11-01

Protein-RNA interactions have critical roles in all aspects of gene expression. However, applying biochemical methods to understand such interactions in living tissues has been challenging. Here we develop a genome-wide means of mapping protein-RNA binding sites in vivo, by high-throughput sequencing of RNA isolated by crosslinking immunoprecipitation (HITS-CLIP). HITS-CLIP analysis of the neuron-specific splicing factor Nova revealed extremely reproducible RNA-binding maps in multiple mouse brains. These maps provide genome-wide in vivo biochemical footprints confirming the previous prediction that the position of Nova binding determines the outcome of alternative splicing; moreover, they are sufficiently powerful to predict Nova action de novo. HITS-CLIP revealed a large number of Nova-RNA interactions in 3' untranslated regions, leading to the discovery that Nova regulates alternative polyadenylation in the brain. HITS-CLIP, therefore, provides a robust, unbiased means to identify functional protein-RNA interactions in vivo.

RFI-Based Ion Linac Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Swenson, Donald A.

A new company, Ion Linac Systems, Inc., has been formed to promote the development, manufacture, and marketing of intense, RFI-based, Ion Linac Systems. The Rf Focused Interdigital (RFI) linac structure was invented by the author while at Linac Systems, LLC. The first step, for the new company, will be to correct a flaw in an existing RFI-based linac system and to demonstrate "good transmission" through the system. The existing system, aimed at the BNCT medical application, is designed to produce a beam of 2.5 MeV protons with an average beam current of 20 mA. In conjunction with a lithium target, it will produce an intense beam of epithermal neutrons. This system is very efficient, requiring only 180 kW of rf power to produce a 50 kW proton beam. In addition to the BNCT medical application, the RFI-based systems should represent a powerful neutron generator for homeland security, defence applications, cargo container inspection, and contraband detection. The timescale to the demonstration of "good transmission" is early fall of this year. Our website is www.ionlinacs.com.

Mutation induction in yeast by very heavy ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kiefer, J.

1994-10-01

Resistance to canavanine was studied in haploid yeast after exposure to heavy ions (argon to uranium) of energies between 1 and 10 MeV/u covering a LET-range up to about 10000 keV/μm. Mutations were found in all instances but the induction cross sections increased with ion energy. This is taken to mean that the contribution of penumbra electrons plays an important role. The probability to recover surviving mutants is highest if the cell is not directly hit by the particle. The experiments demonstrate that the geometrical dimensions of the target cell nucleus as well as its sensitivity in terms of survival have a critical influence on mutation induction with very heavy ions.

42 CFR 495.340 - As-needed HIT PAPD update and as-needed HIT IAPD update requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... HEALTH RECORD TECHNOLOGY INCENTIVE PROGRAM Requirements Specific to the Medicaid Program § 495.340 As... document or the HIT implementation advance planning document. (d) A change in implementation concept or a change to the scope of the project. (e) A change to the approved cost allocation methodology. ...

42 CFR 495.340 - As-needed HIT PAPD update and as-needed HIT IAPD update requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... HEALTH RECORD TECHNOLOGY INCENTIVE PROGRAM Requirements Specific to the Medicaid Program § 495.340 As... document or the HIT implementation advance planning document. (d) A change in implementation concept or a change to the scope of the project. (e) A change to the approved cost allocation methodology. ...

Car Hits Boy on Bicycle

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ruiz, Michael J.

2005-01-01

In this article we present the fascinating reconstruction of an accident where a car hit a boy riding his bicycle. The boy dramatically flew several metres through the air after the collision and was injured, but made a swift and complete recovery from the accident with no long-term after-effects. Students are challenged to determine the speed of…

"Hits" emerge through self-organized coordination in collective response of free agents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chakrabarti, Anindya S.; Sinha, Sitabhra

2016-10-01

Individuals in free societies frequently exhibit striking coordination when making independent decisions en masse. Examples include the regular appearance of hit products or memes with substantially higher popularity compared to their otherwise equivalent competitors or extreme polarization in public opinion. Such segregation of events manifests as bimodality in the distribution of collective choices. Here we quantify how apparently independent choices made by individuals result in a significantly polarized but stable distribution of success in the context of the box-office performance of movies and show that it is an emergent feature of a system of noninteracting agents who respond to sequentially arriving signals. The aggregate response exhibits extreme variability amplifying much smaller differences in individual cost of adoption. Due to self-organization of the competitive landscape, most events elicit only a muted response but a few stimulate widespread adoption, emerging as "hits".

"Hits" emerge through self-organized coordination in collective response of free agents.

PubMed

Chakrabarti, Anindya S; Sinha, Sitabhra

2016-10-01

Individuals in free societies frequently exhibit striking coordination when making independent decisions en masse. Examples include the regular appearance of hit products or memes with substantially higher popularity compared to their otherwise equivalent competitors or extreme polarization in public opinion. Such segregation of events manifests as bimodality in the distribution of collective choices. Here we quantify how apparently independent choices made by individuals result in a significantly polarized but stable distribution of success in the context of the box-office performance of movies and show that it is an emergent feature of a system of noninteracting agents who respond to sequentially arriving signals. The aggregate response exhibits extreme variability amplifying much smaller differences in individual cost of adoption. Due to self-organization of the competitive landscape, most events elicit only a muted response but a few stimulate widespread adoption, emerging as "hits".

Fragment-based hit identification: thinking in 3D.

PubMed

Morley, Andrew D; Pugliese, Angelo; Birchall, Kristian; Bower, Justin; Brennan, Paul; Brown, Nathan; Chapman, Tim; Drysdale, Martin; Gilbert, Ian H; Hoelder, Swen; Jordan, Allan; Ley, Steven V; Merritt, Andy; Miller, David; Swarbrick, Martin E; Wyatt, Paul G

2013-12-01

The identification of high-quality hits during the early phases of drug discovery is essential if projects are to have a realistic chance of progressing into clinical development and delivering marketed drugs. As the pharmaceutical industry goes through unprecedented change, there are increasing opportunities to collaborate via pre-competitive networks to marshal multifunctional resources and knowledge to drive impactful, innovative science. The 3D Fragment Consortium is developing fragment-screening libraries with enhanced 3D characteristics and evaluating their effect on the quality of fragment-based hit identification (FBHI) projects. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Electron energy recovery system for negative ion sources

DOEpatents

Dagenhart, W.K.; Stirling, W.L.

1979-10-25

An electron energy recovery system for negative ion sources is provided. The system, employing crossed electric and magnetic fields, separates the electrons from the ions as they are extracted from the ion source plasma generator and before the ions are accelerated to their full energy. With the electric and magnetic fields oriented 90/sup 0/ to each other, the electrons remain at approximately the electrical potential at which they were generated. The electromagnetic forces cause the ions to be accelerated to the full accelerating supply voltage energy while being deflected through an angle of less than 90/sup 0/. The electrons precess out of the accelerating field region into an electron recovery region where they are collected at a small fraction of the full accelerating supply energy. It is possible, by this method, to collect > 90% of the electrons extracted along with the negative ions from a negative ion source beam at < 4% of full energy.

Challenges in ethics, safety, best practices, and oversight regarding HIT vendors, their customers, and patients: a report of an AMIA special task force.

PubMed

Goodman, Kenneth W; Berner, Eta S; Dente, Mark A; Kaplan, Bonnie; Koppel, Ross; Rucker, Donald; Sands, Daniel Z; Winkelstein, Peter

2011-01-01

The current commercial health information technology (HIT) arena encompasses a number of competing firms that provide electronic health applications to hospitals, clinical practices, and other healthcare-related entities. Such applications collect, store, and analyze patient information. Some vendors incorporate contract language whereby purchasers of HIT systems, such as hospitals and clinics, must indemnify vendors for malpractice or personal injury claims, even if those events are not caused or fostered by the purchasers. Some vendors require contract clauses that force HIT system purchasers to adopt vendor-defined policies that prevent the disclosure of errors, bugs, design flaws, and other HIT-software-related hazards. To address this issue, the AMIA Board of Directors appointed a Task Force to provide an analysis and insights. Task Force findings and recommendations include: patient safety should trump all other values; corporate concerns about liability and intellectual property ownership may be valid but should not over-ride all other considerations; transparency and a commitment to patient safety should govern vendor contracts; institutions are duty-bound to provide ethics education to purchasers and users, and should commit publicly to standards of corporate conduct; and vendors, system purchasers, and users should encourage and assist in each others' efforts to adopt best practices. Finally, the HIT community should re-examine whether and how regulation of electronic health applications could foster improved care, public health, and patient safety.

Challenges in ethics, safety, best practices, and oversight regarding HIT vendors, their customers, and patients: a report of an AMIA special task force

PubMed Central

Berner, Eta S; Dente, Mark A; Kaplan, Bonnie; Koppel, Ross; Rucker, Donald; Sands, Daniel Z; Winkelstein, Peter

2010-01-01

The current commercial health information technology (HIT) arena encompasses a number of competing firms that provide electronic health applications to hospitals, clinical practices, and other healthcare-related entities. Such applications collect, store, and analyze patient information. Some vendors incorporate contract language whereby purchasers of HIT systems, such as hospitals and clinics, must indemnify vendors for malpractice or personal injury claims, even if those events are not caused or fostered by the purchasers. Some vendors require contract clauses that force HIT system purchasers to adopt vendor-defined policies that prevent the disclosure of errors, bugs, design flaws, and other HIT-software-related hazards. To address this issue, the AMIA Board of Directors appointed a Task Force to provide an analysis and insights. Task Force findings and recommendations include: patient safety should trump all other values; corporate concerns about liability and intellectual property ownership may be valid but should not over-ride all other considerations; transparency and a commitment to patient safety should govern vendor contracts; institutions are duty-bound to provide ethics education to purchasers and users, and should commit publicly to standards of corporate conduct; and vendors, system purchasers, and users should encourage and assist in each others' efforts to adopt best practices. Finally, the HIT community should re-examine whether and how regulation of electronic health applications could foster improved care, public health, and patient safety. PMID:21075789

NEXT Ion Propulsion System Development Status and Capabilities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Patterson, Michael J.; Benson, Scott W.

2008-01-01

NASA s Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) project is developing next generation ion propulsion technologies to provide future NASA science missions with enhanced mission performance benefit at a low total development cost. The objective of the NEXT project is to advance next generation ion propulsion technology by producing engineering model system components, validating these through qualification-level and integrated system testing, and ensuring preparedness for transitioning to flight system development. As NASA s Evolutionary Xenon Thruster technology program completes advanced development activities, it is advantageous to review the existing technology capabilities of the system under development. This paper describes the NEXT ion propulsion system development status, characteristics and performance. A review of mission analyses results conducted to date using the NEXT system is also provided.

NASA's Evolutionary Xenon Thruster: The NEXT Ion Propulsion System for Solar System Exploration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pencil, Eric J.; Benson, Scott W.

2008-01-01

This viewgraph presentation reviews NASA s Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) Ion Propulsion system. The NEXT project is developing a solar electric ion propulsion system. The NEXT project is advancing the capability of ion propulsion to meet NASA robotic science mission needs. The NEXT system is planned to significantly improve performance over the state of the art electric propulsion systems, such as NASA Solar Electric Propulsion Technology Application Readiness (NSTAR). The status of NEXT development is reviewed, including information on the NEXT Thruster, the power processing unit, the propellant management system (PMS), the digital control interface unit, and the gimbal. Block diagrams NEXT system are presented. Also a review of the lessons learned from the Dawn and NSTAR systems is provided. In summary the NEXT project activities through 2007 have brought next-generation ion propulsion technology to a sufficient maturity level.

Validation of the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6™) across episodic and chronic migraine

PubMed Central

Yang, Min; Rendas-Baum, Regina; Varon, Sepideh F; Kosinski, Mark

2011-01-01

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess psychometric properties of the six-item Headache Impact Text (HIT-6™) across episodic and chronic migraine. Methods: Using a migraine screener and number of headache days per month (HDPM), participants from the National Survey of Headache Impact (NSHI) study and the HIT-6 validation study (HIT6-V) were selected for this study. Eligible participants were categorized into three groups: chronic migraine (CM: ≥ 15 HDPM); episodic migraine (EM: < 15 HDPM); non-migraine headaches. Reliability and validity of the HIT-6 were evaluated. Results: A total of 2,049 survey participants met the inclusion/exclusion criteria for this study. Participants were identified as 6.4% CM; 42.1% EM; 51.5% non-migraine, with respective mean HIT-6 scores: 62.5 ± 7.8; 60.2 ± 6.8; and 49.1 ± 8.7. High reliability was demonstrated with internal consistency (time1/time2) of 0.83/0.87 in NSHI, and 0.82/0.92 in HIT6-V. Intra-class correlation for test-retest reliability was very good at 0.77. HIT-6 scores correlated significantly (p < .0001) with total Migraine Disability Assessment Scale scores (r = 0.56), headache pain severity (r = 0.46), and HDPM (r = 0.29). Discriminant validity analysis showed significantly different HIT-6 scores (F = 488.02, p < .0001) across the groups. Conclusion: Results from these analyses confirm that the HIT-6 is a reliable and valid tool for discriminating headache impact across episodic and chronic migraine. PMID:20819842

NMR characterization of weak interactions between RhoGDI2 and fragment screening hits.

PubMed

Liu, Jiuyang; Gao, Jia; Li, Fudong; Ma, Rongsheng; Wei, Qingtao; Wang, Aidong; Wu, Jihui; Ruan, Ke

2017-01-01

The delineation of intrinsically weak interactions between novel targets and fragment screening hits has long limited the pace of hit-to-lead evolution. Rho guanine-nucleotide dissociation inhibitor 2 (RhoGDI2) is a novel target that lacks any chemical probes for the treatment of tumor metastasis. Protein-observed and ligand-observed NMR spectroscopy was used to characterize the weak interactions between RhoGDI2 and fragment screening hits. We identified three hits of RhoGDI2 using streamlined NMR fragment-based screening. The binding site residues were assigned using non-uniformly sampled C α - and H α -based three dimensional NMR spectra. The molecular docking to the proposed geranylgeranyl binding pocket of RhoGDI2 was guided by NMR restraints of chemical shift perturbations and ligand-observed transferred paramagnetic relaxation enhancement. We further validated the weak RhoGDI2-hit interactions using mutagenesis and structure-affinity analysis. Weak interactions between RhoGDI2 and fragment screening hits were delineated using an integrated NMR approach. Binders to RhoGDI2 as a potential anti-cancer target have been first reported, and their weak interactions were depicted using NMR spectroscopy. Our work highlights the powerfulness and the versatility of the integrative NMR techniques to provide valuable structural insight into the intrinsically weak interactions between RhoGDI2 and the fragment screening hits, which could hardly be conceived using other biochemical techniques. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development and psychometric evaluation of the Impact of Health Information Technology (I-HIT) scale.

PubMed

Dykes, Patricia C; Hurley, Ann; Cashen, Margaret; Bakken, Suzanne; Duffy, Mary E

2007-01-01

The use of health information technology (HIT) for the support of communication processes and data and information access in acute care settings is a relatively new phenomenon. A means of evaluating the impact of HIT in hospital settings is needed. The purpose of this research was to design and psychometrically evaluate the Impact of Health Information Technology scale (I-HIT). I-HIT was designed to measure the perception of nurses regarding the ways in which HIT influences interdisciplinary communication and workflow patterns and nurses' satisfaction with HIT applications and tools. Content for a 43-item tool was derived from the literature, and supported theoretically by the Coiera model and by nurse informaticists. Internal consistency reliability analysis using Cronbach's alpha was conducted on the 43-item scale to initiate the item reduction process. Items with an item total correlation of less than 0.35 were removed, leaving a total of 29 items. Item analysis, exploratory principal component analysis and internal consistency reliability using Cronbach's alpha were used to confirm the 29-item scale. Principal components analysis with Varimax rotation produced a four-factor solution that explained 58.5% of total variance (general advantages, information tools to support information needs, information tools to support communication needs, and workflow implications). Internal consistency of the total scale was 0.95 and ranged from 0.80-0.89 for four subscales. I-HIT demonstrated psychometric adequacy and is recommended to measure the impact of HIT on nursing practice in acute care settings.

Transfer, loss and physical processing of water in hit-and-run collisions of planetary embryos

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burger, C.; Maindl, T. I.; Schäfer, C. M.

2018-01-01

Collisions between large, similar-sized bodies are believed to shape the final characteristics and composition of terrestrial planets. Their inventories of volatiles such as water are either delivered or at least significantly modified by such events. Besides the transition from accretion to erosion with increasing impact velocity, similar-sized collisions can also result in hit-and-run outcomes for sufficiently oblique impact angles and large enough projectile-to-target mass ratios. We study volatile transfer and loss focusing on hit-and-run encounters by means of smooth particle hydrodynamics simulations, including all main parameters: impact velocity, impact angle, mass ratio and also the total colliding mass. We find a broad range of overall water losses, up to 75% in the most energetic hit-and-run events, and confirm the much more severe consequences for the smaller body also for stripping of volatile layers. Transfer of water between projectile and target inventories is found to be mostly rather inefficient, and final water contents are dominated by pre-collision inventories reduced by impact losses, for similar pre-collision water mass fractions. Comparison with our numerical results shows that current collision outcome models are not accurate enough to reliably predict these composition changes in hit-and-run events. To also account for non-mechanical losses, we estimate the amount of collisionally vaporized water over a broad range of masses and find that these contributions are particularly important in collisions of ˜ Mars-sized bodies, with sufficiently high impact energies, but still relatively low gravity. Our results clearly indicate that the cumulative effect of several (hit-and-run) collisions can efficiently strip protoplanets of their volatile layers, especially the smaller body, as it might be common, e.g., for Earth-mass planets in systems with Super-Earths. An accurate model for stripping of volatiles that can be included in future planet

Validation of the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) in patients with chronic migraine.

PubMed

Rendas-Baum, Regina; Yang, Min; Varon, Sepideh F; Bloudek, Lisa M; DeGryse, Ronald E; Kosinski, Mark

2014-08-01

The Headache Impact Test (HIT)-6 was developed and has been validated in patients with various types of headache. The objective of this study was to report the psychometric properties of the HIT-6 among patients with chronic migraine. Data came from two international, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials of chronic migraine patients (N = 1,384) undergoing prophylaxis therapy. Confirmatory factor analysis and differential item functioning (DIF) analysis were used to test the latent structure and cross-cultural comparability of the HIT-6. Reliability, construct validity, and responsiveness were assessed. Two sets of criterion groups were used: (1) 28-day headache frequency: <10, 10-14, and ≥15 days; (2) sample quartiles of the total cumulative hours of headache: <140, 140 to <280, 280 to <420, and ≥420 hours. Two sets of responsiveness categories were defined as reduction of <30%, 30% to <50%, or ≥50% in (1) number of headache days and (2) cumulative hours of headache. Measurement invariance tests supported the stability of the HIT-6 latent structure across studies. DIF analysis supported cross-cultural comparability. Good reliability was observed across studies (Cronbach's α: 0.75-0.92; intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.76-0.80). HIT-6 scores correlated strongly (-0.86 to -0.59) with scores of the Migraine-Specific Quality-of-Life Questionnaire. Analysis of variance indicated that HIT-6 scores discriminated across both types of criterion groups (P<0.001), across studies and time points. HIT-6 change scores were significantly higher in magnitude in groups experiencing greater improvement (P<0.001). All measurement properties were consistently verified across the two studies, supporting the validity of the HIT-6 among chronic migraine patients. NCT00156910 and NCT00168428 on www.ClinicalTrials.gov.

Synergistic stress exacerbation in hippocampal neurons: Evidence favoring the dual-hit hypothesis of neurodegeneration.

PubMed

Heinemann, Scott D; Posimo, Jessica M; Mason, Daniel M; Hutchison, Daniel F; Leak, Rehana K

2016-08-01

The dual-hit hypothesis of neurodegeneration states that severe stress sensitizes vulnerable cells to subsequent challenges so that the two hits are synergistic in their toxic effects. Although the hippocampus is vulnerable to a number of neurodegenerative disorders, there are no models of synergistic cell death in hippocampal neurons in response to combined proteotoxic and oxidative stressors, the two major characteristics of these diseases. Therefore, a relatively high-throughput dual-hit model of stress synergy was developed in primary hippocampal neurons. In order to increase the rigor of the study and strengthen the interpretations, three independent, unbiased viability assays were employed at multiple timepoints. Stress synergy was elicited when hippocampal neurons were treated with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 followed by exposure to the oxidative toxicant paraquat, but only after 48 h. MG132 and paraquat only elicited additive effects 24 h after the final hit and even loss of heat shock protein 70 activity and glutathione did not promote stress synergy at this early timepoint. Dual hits of MG132 elicited modest glutathione loss and slightly synergistic toxic effects 48 h after the second hit, but only at some concentrations and only according to two viability assays (metabolic fitness and cytoskeletal integrity). The thiol N-acetyl cysteine protected hippocampal neurons against dual MG132/MG132 hits but not dual MG132/paraquat hits. These findings support the view that proteotoxic and oxidative stress propel and propagate each other in hippocampal neurons, leading to synergistically toxic effects, but not as the default response and only after a delay. The neuronal stress synergy observed here lies in contrast to astrocytic responses to dual hits, because astrocytes that survive severe proteotoxic stress resist additional cell loss following second hits. In conclusion, a new model of hippocampal vulnerability was developed for the testing of therapies

Synergistic stress exacerbation in hippocampal neurons: Evidence favoring the dual hit hypothesis of neurodegeneration

PubMed Central

Heinemann, Scott D.; Posimo, Jessica M.; Mason, Daniel M.; Hutchison, Daniel F.; Leak, Rehana K.

2016-01-01

The dual hit hypothesis of neurodegeneration states that severe stress sensitizes vulnerable cells to subsequent challenges so that the two hits are synergistic in their toxic effects. Although the hippocampus is vulnerable to a number of neurodegenerative disorders, there are no models of synergistic cell death in hippocampal neurons in response to combined proteotoxic and oxidative stressors, the two major characteristics of these diseases. Therefore, we developed a relatively high-throughput dual hit model of stress synergy in primary hippocampal neurons. In order to increase the rigor of our study and strengthen our interpretations, we employed three independent, unbiased viability assays at multiple timepoints. Stress synergy was elicited when hippocampal neurons were treated with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 followed by exposure to the oxidative toxicant paraquat, but only after 48h. MG132 and paraquat only elicited additive effects 24h after the final hit and even loss of heat shock protein 70 activity and glutathione did not promote stress synergy at this early timepoint. Dual hits of MG132 elicited modest glutathione loss and slightly synergistic toxic effects 48h after the second hit, but only at some concentrations and only according to two viability assays (metabolic fitness and cytoskeletal integrity). The thiol N-acetyl cysteine protected hippocampal neurons against dual MG132/MG132 hits but not dual MG132/paraquat hits. Our findings support the view that proteotoxic and oxidative stress propel and propagate each other in hippocampal neurons, leading to synergistically toxic effects, but not as the default response and only after a delay. The neuronal stress synergy observed here lies in contrast to astrocytic responses to dual hits, because astrocytes that survive severe proteotoxic stress resist additional cell loss following second hits. In conclusion, we present a new model of hippocampal vulnerability in which to test therapies, because

Reliability and Validity of the Persian HIT-6 Questionnaire in Migraine and Tension-type Headache.

PubMed

Zandifar, Alireza; Banihashemi, Mahboobeh; Haghdoost, Faraidoon; Masjedi, Samaneh S; Manouchehri, Navid; Asgari, Fatemeh; Najafi, Mohammad R; Ghorbani, Abbas; Zandifar, Samaneh; Saadatnia, Mohammad; White, Michelle K

2014-09-01

Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) measures the impact headaches in a 1-month period. We validated the Persian translation of HIT-6, compared the HIT-6 psychometric analysis between migraine and tension-type headache (TTH) patients, and evaluated the capability of HIT-6 to differentiate between TTH, chronic migraine, and episodic migraine. Qualified participants, including 274 patients diagnosed with migraine or TTH, were required to complete HIT-6, SF-36v2, and a symptoms questionnaire on their first visit. At 3 and 8 weeks from first visit, participants completed HIT-6. Internal consistency (Cronbach's α) and test-retest reproducibility (Pearson's correlation coefficient) were used to assess reliability. Convergent validity was also assessed. Tension-type headache, episodic, and chronic migraines included 24.5%, 61.9%, and 13.6% of the participants, respectively. Internal consistency among all patients, TTH, and migraine in the first visit were 0.74, 0.77, and 0.73, respectively. Test-retest reliability for HIT-6 between visit 1 and 2 showed a moderate level of correlation (r = 0.50). Convergent validity and also item total correlation were acceptable. There was no significant difference in HIT-6 total score between TTH and migraine. Persian HIT-6 is a valid and reliable questionnaire for the evaluation of headache. However, it cannot differentiate between chronic migraine, episodic migraine, and TTH in Iranian population. © 2013 World Institute of Pain.

Advance in multi-hit detection and quantization in atom probe tomography.

PubMed

Da Costa, G; Wang, H; Duguay, S; Bostel, A; Blavette, D; Deconihout, B

2012-12-01

The preferential retention of high evaporation field chemical species at the sample surface in atom-probe tomography (e.g., boron in silicon or in metallic alloys) leads to correlated field evaporation and pronounced pile-up effects on the detector. The latter severely affects the reliability of concentration measurements of current 3D atom probes leading to an under-estimation of the concentrations of the high-field species. The multi-hit capabilities of the position-sensitive time-resolved detector is shown to play a key role. An innovative method based on Fourier space signal processing of signals supplied by an advance delay-line position-sensitive detector is shown to drastically improve the time resolving power of the detector and consequently its capability to detect multiple events. Results show that up to 30 ions on the same evaporation pulse can be detected and properly positioned. The major impact of this new method on the quantization of chemical composition in materials, particularly in highly-doped Si(B) samples is highlighted.

Plasma exchange to remove HIT antibodies: dissociation between enzyme-immunoassay and platelet activation test reactivities.

PubMed

Warkentin, Theodore E; Sheppard, Jo-Ann I; Chu, F Victor; Kapoor, Anil; Crowther, Mark A; Gangji, Azim

2015-01-01

Repeated therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) has been advocated to remove heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) IgG antibodies before cardiac/vascular surgery in patients who have serologically-confirmed acute or subacute HIT; for this situation, a negative platelet activation assay (eg, platelet serotonin-release assay [SRA]) has been recommended as the target serological end point to permit safe surgery. We compared reactivities in the SRA and an anti-PF4/heparin IgG-specific enzyme immunoassay (EIA), testing serial serum samples in a patient with recent (subacute) HIT who underwent serial TPE precardiac surgery, as well as for 15 other serially-diluted HIT sera. We observed that post-TPE/diluted HIT sera-when first testing SRA-negative-continue to test strongly positive by EIA-IgG. This dissociation between the platelet activation assay and a PF4-dependent immunoassay for HIT antibodies indicates that patients with subacute HIT undergoing repeated TPE before heparin reexposure should be tested by serial platelet activation assays even when their EIAs remain strongly positive. © 2015 by The American Society of Hematology.

Heavy ion action on yeast cells: Inhibition of ribosomal-RNA synthesis, loss of colony forming ability and induction of mutants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kiefer, J.; Rase, S.; Schöpfer, F.; Schneider, E.; Weber, K.; Kraft, G.

The action of heavy ions (Ar to U) accelerated to specific energies up to about 10 MeV/u (u=atomic mass unit) on different functions of yeast cells was studied. Ribosomal-RNA synthesis is inhibited according to a single-hit mechanism. Inactivation cross-sections were linearly related to the ratio of the squares of the effective charge Z* and the velocity of the ions. It is concluded from the analysis that the range of the most energetic δ-electrons is larger than previously assumed. There is no such dependence for survival and induction of mutants. In both cases cross-sections increase with the ion's specific-energy indicating an important contribution of long-range δ-electrons. The analysis shows that diploid yeast is not killed by a single-hit mechanism even by very heavy ions if the track width is too small. The relative importance of the penumbral region is even more pronounced with the more sensitive strains.

Molecular ion battery: a rechargeable system without using any elemental ions as a charge carrier

PubMed Central

Yao, Masaru; Sano, Hikaru; Ando, Hisanori; Kiyobayashi, Tetsu

2015-01-01

Is it possible to exceed the lithium redox potential in electrochemical systems? It seems impossible to exceed the lithium potential because the redox potential of the elemental lithium is the lowest among all the elements, which contributes to the high voltage characteristics of the widely used lithium ion battery. However, it should be possible when we use a molecule-based ion which is not reduced even at the lithium potential in principle. Here we propose a new model system using a molecular electrolyte salt with polymer-based active materials in order to verify whether a molecular ion species serves as a charge carrier. Although the potential of the negative-electrode is not yet lower than that of lithium at present, this study reveals that a molecular ion can work as a charge carrier in a battery and the system is certainly a molecular ion-based “rocking chair” type battery. PMID:26043147

Video observation in HIT development: lessons learned on benefits and challenges.

PubMed

Høstgaard, Anna Marie; Bertelsen, Pernille

2012-08-22

Experience shows that the precondition for the development of successful health information technologies is a thorough insight into clinical work practice. In contemporary clinical work practice, clinical work and health information technology are integrated, and part of the practice is tacit. When work practice becomes routine, it slips to the background of the conscious awareness and becomes difficult to recognize without the context to support recall. This means that it is difficult to capture with traditional ethnographic research methods or in usability laboratories or clinical set ups. Observation by the use of the video technique within healthcare settings has proven to be capable of providing a thorough insight into the complex clinical work practice and its context - including parts of the tacit practice. The objective of this paper is 1) to argue for the video observation technique to inform and improve health-information-technology development and 2) to share insights and lessons learned on benefits and challenges when using the video observation technique within healthcare settings. A multiple case study including nine case studies conducted by DaCHI researchers 2004-2011 using audio-visual, non-participant video observation for data collection within different healthcare settings. In HIT development, video observation is beneficial for 1) informing and improving system design 2) studying changes in work practice 3) identifying new potentials and 4) documenting current work practices. The video observation technique used within healthcare settings is superior to other ethnographic research methods when it comes to disclosing the complexity in clinical work practice. The insights gained are far more realistic compared to traditional ethnographic studies or usability studies and studies in clinical set ups. Besides, the data generated through video recordings provide a solid basis for dialog between the health care professionals involved. The most

Eight-cm mercury ion thruster system technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1974-01-01

The technology status of 8 cm diameter electron bombardment ion thrusters is presented. Much of the technology resulting from the 5 cm diameter thruster has been adapted and improved upon to increase the reliability, durability, and efficiency of the 8 cm thruster. Technology discussed includes: dependence of neutralizer tip erosion upon neutralizer flow rate; impregnated and rolled-foil insert cathode performance and life testing; neutralizer position studies; thruster ion beam profile measurements; high voltage pulse ignition; high utilization ion machined accelerator grids; deposition internal and external to the thruster; thruster vectoring systems; thruster cycling life testing and thruster system weights for typical mission applications.

[Survivability and morphologic anomalies in higher plants wolffia arrhiza following exposure to heavy ions of the galactic space radiation].

PubMed

Nevzgodina, L V; Kaminskaia, E V; Maksimova, E N; Fatsius, R; Sherrer, K; Shtraukh, V

2000-01-01

Experimental data on the effects of spaceflight factors, space radiation in particular, on higher plant Wolffia arrhiza firstly exposed in the "Bioblock" assembly and measurements made by physical track detectors of heavy ions (HI) are presented. Death of individual Wolffia plants and morphologic anomalies were the basic evaluation criteria. The peculiar feature of this biological object consists in the possibility to reveal delayed effects after 1-2 months since space flight as Wolffia has a high rate of vegetative reproduction. German investigators through microscopic examination of track detectors performed identification of individual plants affected by HI. With specially developed software and a coordinate system of supposition of biolayers and track detectors with the accuracy of 1 micron, tracks and even separate sections of individual HI tracks were determined in biological objects. Thereafter each Wolffia plant hit by HI was examined and data were compared with other variants. As a result, correlation between Wolffia death rate and morphologic anomalies were determined at different times post flight and topography of HI tracks was found. It is hypothesized that morphological anomalies in Walffia were caused by direct hits of plant germs by heavy ions or close passage of particles.

Platelet count recovery and seroreversion in immune HIT despite continuation of heparin: further observations and literature review.

PubMed

Shih, Andrew W; Sheppard, Jo-Ann I; Warkentin, Theodore E

2017-10-05

One of the standard distinctions between type 1 (non-immune) and type 2 (immune-mediated) heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is the transience of thrombocytopenia: type 1 HIT is viewed as early-onset and transient thrombocytopenia, with platelet count recovery despite continuing heparin administration. In contrast, type 2 HIT is viewed as later-onset (i. e., 5 days or later) thrombocytopenia in which it is generally believed that platelet count recovery will not occur unless heparin is discontinued. However, older reports of type 2 HIT sometimes did include the unexpected observation that platelet counts could recover despite continued heparin administration, although without information provided regarding changes in HIT antibody levels in association with platelet count recovery. In recent years, some reports of type 2 HIT have confirmed the observation that platelet count recovery can occur despite continuing heparin administration, with serological evidence of waning levels of HIT antibodies ("seroreversion"). We now report two additional patient cases of type 2 HIT with platelet count recovery despite ongoing therapeutic-dose (1 case) or prophylactic-dose (1 case) heparin administration, in which we demonstrate concomitant waning of HIT antibody levels. We further review the literature describing this phenomenon of HIT antibody seroreversion and platelet count recovery despite continuing heparin administration. Our observations add to the concept that HIT represents a remarkably transient immune response, including sometimes even when heparin is continued.

A segmented ion engine design for solar electric propulsion systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brophy, John R.

1992-01-01

A new ion engine design, called a segmented ion engine, is described which is capable of reducing the required ion source life time for small body rendezvous missions from 18,000 h to about 8,000 h. The use of SAND ion optics for the engine accelerator system makes it possible to substantially reduce the cost of demonstrating the required engine endurance. It is concluded that a flight test of a 5-kW xenon ion propulsion system on the ELITE spacecraft would enormously reduce the cost and risk of using ion propulsion on a planetary vehicle by addressing systems level issues associated with flying a spacecraft radically different from conventional planetary vehicles.

75 FR 62399 - Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology; HIT Standards Committee...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-08

..., implementation, and privacy and security. HIT Standards Committee Schedule for the Assessment of HIT Policy... recommendations received from the HIT Policy Committee regarding health information technology standards...), section 3003. Erin Poetter, Office of Policy and Planning, Office of the National Coordinator for Health...

The immune imbalance in the second hit of pancreatitis is independent of IL-17A.

PubMed

Thomson, John-Edwin; Brand, Martin; Fonteh, Pascaline

2018-04-01

Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is characterised by two distinct clinical phases. Organ dysfunction and death is initially as a result of a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Systemic sepsis from infected pancreatic necrosis characterises the second phase, the so called 'second hit' of acute pancreatitis (AP). An immune imbalance during the second hit is postulated to contribute to the formation of the septic complications that occur in these patients. The pro-inflammatory T-helper (Th) 17 pathway has been shown to be an initiator of early SIRS in AP, however to date its role has not been established in the second hit in AP. Thirty-six patients with mild (n = 16), moderate (n = 10) and severe (n = 10) acute pancreatitis were enrolled. Peripheral blood samples were drawn on days 7, 9, 11 and 13 of illness for analysis of routine clinical markers as well as cytokine analysis. Flow cytometry and a IL-17A ELISA was performed to determine cytokine concentrations. There were no significant differences between days 7, 9, 11 and 13 for either the mild/moderate or SAP groups for IL-17A (CBA assay or ELISA), IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2 or IL-4. For each of the study days, the mean IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations were significantly higher in the SAP group compared to the mild/moderate group. WCC, CRP and PCT were all significantly higher in severe acute pancreatitis over the study days. An immune imbalance exists in patients with SAP, however secreted IL-17A is not responsible for the second hit in AP. Copyright © 2018 IAP and EPC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

B-Raf kinase inhibitors: hit enrichment through scaffold hopping.

PubMed

Gopalsamy, Ariamala; Shi, Mengxiao; Hu, Yongbo; Lee, Frederick; Feldberg, Larry; Frommer, Eileen; Kim, Steven; Collins, Karen; Wojciechowicz, Donald; Mallon, Robert

2010-04-15

In continuation of our efforts toward hit identification and optimization for a B-Raf kinase project, we have employed a scaffold hopping strategy. The original HTS hit scaffold pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine was replaced with different thienopyrimidine and thienopyridine scaffolds to append the optimal pharmacophore moieties in order to generate novel B-raf kinase inhibitors with desirable potency and properties. This strategy led to the identification of additional lead compound 11b which had good enzyme and cell potency, while maintaining selectivity over a number of kinases. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Lithium ion rechargeable systems studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Levy, Samuel C.; Lasasse, Robert R.; Cygan, Randall T.; Voigt, James A.

Lithium ion systems, although relatively new, have attracted much interest worldwide. Their high energy density, long cycle life and relative safety, compared with metallic lithium rechargeable systems, make them prime candidates for powering portable electronic equipment. Although lithium ion cells are presently used in a few consumer devices, e.g., portable phones, camcorders, and laptop computers, there is room for considerable improvement in their performance. Specific areas that need to be addressed include: (1) carbon anode-increase reversible capacity, and minimize passivation; (2) cathode-extend cycle life, improve rate capability, and increase capacity. There are several programs ongoing at Sandia National Laboratories which are investigating means of achieving the stated objectives in these specific areas. This paper will review these programs.

Enhancement of magnetoresistance by hydrogen ion treatment for current-perpendicular-to-plane giant magnetoresistive films with a current-confined-path nano-oxide layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuasa, H.; Hara, M.; Murakami, S.; Fuji, Y.; Fukuzawa, H.; Zhang, K.; Li, M.; Schreck, E.; Wang, P.; Chen, M.

2010-09-01

We have enhanced magnetoresistance (MR) for current-perpendicular-to-plane giant-magnetoresistive (CPP-GMR) films with a current-confined-path nano-oxide layer (CCP-NOL). In order to realize higher purity in Cu for CCPs, hydrogen ion treatment (HIT) was applied as the CuOx reduction process. By applying the HIT process, an MR ratio was increased to 27.4% even in the case of using conventional FeCo magnetic layer, from 13.0% for a reference without the HIT process. Atom probe tomography data confirmed oxygen reduction by the HIT process in the CCP-NOL. The relationship between oxygen counts and MR ratio indicates that further oxygen reduction would realize an MR ratio greater than 50%.

Laboratory tests for identification or exclusion of heparin induced thrombocytopenia: HIT or miss?

PubMed

Favaloro, Emmanuel J

2018-02-01

Heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a potentially fatal condition that arises subsequent to formation of antibodies against complexes containing heparin, usually platelet-factor 4-heparin ("anti-PF4-heparin"). Assessment for HIT involves both clinical evaluation and, if indicated, laboratory testing for confirmation or exclusion, typically using an initial immunological assay ("screening"), and only if positive, a secondary functional assay for confirmation. Many different immunological and functional assays have been developed. The most common contemporary immunological assays comprise enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA], chemiluminescence, lateral flow, and particle gel techniques. The most common functional assays measure platelet aggregation or platelet activation events (e.g., serotonin release assay; heparin-induced platelet activation (HIPA); flow cytometry). All assays have some sensitivity and specificity to HIT antibodies, but differ in terms of relative sensitivity and specificity for pathological HIT, as well as false negative and false positive error rate. This brief article overviews the different available laboratory methods, as well as providing a suggested approach to diagnosis or exclusion of HIT. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Use of HIT for adverse event reporting in nursing homes: barriers and facilitators.

PubMed

Wagner, Laura M; Castle, Nicholas G; Handler, Steven M

2013-01-01

Approximately 8 million adverse events occur annually in nursing homes (NHs). The focus of this research is to determine barriers and health information technology (HIT)-related facilitators to adverse event reporting among U.S. NHs. Surveys were returned by 399 nursing home administrators using a mailed survey approach. Respondents were asked to report on their adverse event reporting processes focusing on barriers and role of HIT facilitators. About 15% of NHs had computerized entry by the nurse on the unit and almost 18% used no computer technology to track, monitor, or maintain adverse event data. One-third of nursing directors conducted data analysis "by-hand." NHs without HIT were more likely to not be accredited (p = 0.04) and not part of a chain/corporation (p = 0.03). Two of the top three barriers focused on fears of reporting as a barrier. This study found numerous barriers and few HIT-related facilitators to assist with adverse event reporting. Improvements in facilitating adverse event reporting through the use of HIT approaches may be warranted. Copyright © 2013 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Capture orbits around asteroids by hitting zero-velocity curves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Wei; Yang, Hongwei; Zhang, Wei; Ma, Guangfu

2017-12-01

The problem of capturing a spacecraft from a heliocentric orbit into a high parking orbit around binary asteroids is investigated in the current study. To reduce the braking Δ V, a new capture strategy takes advantage of the three-body gravity of the binary asteroid to lower the inertial energy before applying the Δ V. The framework of the circular restricted three-body problem (CR3BP) is employed for the binary asteroid system. The proposed capture strategy is based on the mechanism by which inertial energy can be decreased sharply near zero-velocity curves (ZVCs). The strategy has two steps, namely, hitting the target ZVC and raising the periapsis by a small Δ V at the apoapsis. By hitting the target ZVC, the positive inertial energy decreases and becomes negative. Using a small Δ V, the spacecraft inserts into a bounded orbit around the asteroid. In addition, a rotating mass dipole model is employed for elongated asteroids, which leads to dynamics similar to that of the CR3BP. With this approach, the proposed capture strategy can be applied to elongated asteroids. Numerical simulations validate that the proposed capture strategy is applicable for the binary asteroid 90 Antiope and the elongated asteroid 216 Kleopatra.

MIDAS and HIT-6 French translation: reliability and correlation between tests.

PubMed

Magnoux, E; Freeman, M A; Zlotnik, G

2008-01-01

The aim was to evaluate the test-retest reliability of the French translation of the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) and Headache Impact Test (HIT)-6 questionnaires as applied to episodic and chronic headaches and to assess the correlation between these two questionnaires. The MIDAS and HIT-6 questionnaires, which assess the degree of migraine-related functional disability, are widely used in headache treatment clinics. The French translation has not been checked for test-retest reliability. MIDAS involves recall, over the previous 3 months, of the number of days with functional disability with regard to work and to home and social life. HIT-6 involves a more subjective and general assessment of headache-related disability over the previous 4 weeks. We expect that there may be greater impact recall bias for chronic headaches than for episodic headaches and considered it important to be able to determine if the reliability of these questionnaires is equally good for these two patient populations. Given that both questionnaires have the same objective, that of assessing headache impact, it was thought useful to determine if their results might show a correlation and if they could thus be used interchangeably. The study was approved by an external ethics committee. The subjects were patients who regularly visit the Clinique de la Migraine de Montréal, which specializes in the treatment of headaches. The MIDAS and HIT-6 questionnaires were completed by the patients during their regular visit. Twelve days later, the same questionnaires were mailed with a prepaid return envelope. Sixty-five patients were required in both the episodic and chronic headache groups, assuming an 80% questionnaire return rate. One hundred and eighty-five patients were enrolled, and 143 completed the study, 75 with episodic headaches and 68 with chronic headaches. The questionnaire return rate was 78.9%. On average, questionnaires were completed a second time 21 days after the first

HIT or miss? A comprehensive contemporary investigation of laboratory tests for heparin induced thrombocytopenia.

PubMed

Favaloro, Emmanuel J; McCaughan, Georgia; Mohammed, Soma; Lau, Kun Kan Edwin; Gemmell, Rosalie; Cavanaugh, Lauren; Donikian, Dea; Kondo, Mayuko; Brighton, Timothy; Pasalic, Leonardo

2018-04-17

Heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a rare but potentially fatal complication of heparin therapy, which in a proportion of patients causes platelet activation and thrombosis. Initial clinical assessment of the likelihood of HIT is facilitated by laboratory testing to confirm or exclude HIT. This prospective investigation was performed over an 18-month period, and has involved testing of over 300 test samples from over 100 consecutive patients. Clinical assessment by 4T score was supplemented by laboratory tests that comprised both immunological [lateral flow ('STiC'), chemiluminescence (AcuStar; HIT-IgG (PF4-H) ), ELISA (Asserachrom HPIA IgG)] and functional assays [SRA, platelet aggregation using whole blood ('Multiplate') and platelet rich plasma ('LTA')]. We observed both false positive and false negative test findings with most assays. Overall, the whole blood aggregation method provided a reasonable alternative to SRA for identifying functional HIT. STiC, AcuStar and ELISA procedures were fairly comparable in terms of screening for HIT, although STiC and AcuStar both yielded false negatives, albeit also resulting in fewer false positives than ELISA. The 4T score had less utility in our patient cohort than we were expecting, although there was an association with the likelihood of HIT. Nevertheless, we accept that our observations are based on limited test numbers. In conclusion, no single approach (clinical or laboratory) was associated with optimal sensitivity or specificity of HIT exclusion or identification, and thus, a combination of clinical evaluation and laboratory testing will best ensure the accuracy of diagnosis. Crown Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effective progression of nuclear magnetic resonance-detected fragment hits.

PubMed

Eaton, Hugh L; Wyss, Daniel F

2011-01-01

Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) has become increasingly popular over the last decade as an alternate lead generation tool to HTS approaches. Several compounds have now progressed into the clinic which originated from a fragment-based approach, demonstrating the utility of this emerging field. While fragment hit identification has become much more routine and may involve different screening approaches, the efficient progression of fragment hits into quality lead series may still present a major bottleneck for the broadly successful application of FBDD. In our laboratory, we have extensive experience in fragment-based NMR screening (SbN) and the subsequent iterative progression of fragment hits using structure-assisted chemistry. To maximize impact, we have applied this approach strategically to early- and high-priority targets, and those struggling for leads. Its application has yielded a clinical candidate for BACE1 and lead series in about one third of the SbN/FBDD projects. In this chapter, we will give an overview of our strategy and focus our discussion on NMR-based FBDD approaches. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Transient current induced in thin film diamonds by swift heavy ions

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

Sato, Shin-ichiro; Makino, Takahiro; Ohshima, Takeshi

Single crystal diamond is a suitable material for the next generation particle detectors because of the superior electrical properties and the high radiation tolerance. In order to investigate charge transport properties of diamond particle detectors, transient currents generated in diamonds by single swift heavy ions (26 MeV O 5 + and 45 MeV Si 7 +) are investigated. We also measured two dimensional maps of transient currents by single ion hits. In the case of 50 μm-thick diamond, both the signal height and the collected charge are reduced by the subsequent ion hits and the charge collection time is extended.more » Our results are thought to be attributable to the polarization effect in diamond and it appears only when the transient current is dominated by hole current. In the case of 6 μm-thick diamond membrane, an “island” structure is found in the 2D map of transient currents. Signals in the islands shows different applied bias dependence from signals in other regions, indicating different crystal and/or metal contact quality. Simulation study of transient currents based on the Shockley-Ramo theorem clarifies that accumulation of space charges changes distribution of electric field in diamond and causes the polarization effect.« less

Transient current induced in thin film diamonds by swift heavy ions

DOE PAGES

Sato, Shin-ichiro; Makino, Takahiro; Ohshima, Takeshi; ...

2017-04-05

Single crystal diamond is a suitable material for the next generation particle detectors because of the superior electrical properties and the high radiation tolerance. In order to investigate charge transport properties of diamond particle detectors, transient currents generated in diamonds by single swift heavy ions (26 MeV O 5 + and 45 MeV Si 7 +) are investigated. We also measured two dimensional maps of transient currents by single ion hits. In the case of 50 μm-thick diamond, both the signal height and the collected charge are reduced by the subsequent ion hits and the charge collection time is extended.more » Our results are thought to be attributable to the polarization effect in diamond and it appears only when the transient current is dominated by hole current. In the case of 6 μm-thick diamond membrane, an “island” structure is found in the 2D map of transient currents. Signals in the islands shows different applied bias dependence from signals in other regions, indicating different crystal and/or metal contact quality. Simulation study of transient currents based on the Shockley-Ramo theorem clarifies that accumulation of space charges changes distribution of electric field in diamond and causes the polarization effect.« less

COPD: A stepwise or a hit hard approach?

PubMed

Ferreira, A J; Reis, A; Marçal, N; Pinto, P; Bárbara, C

2016-01-01

Current guidelines differ slightly on the recommendations for treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients, and although there are some undisputed recommendations, there is still debate regarding the management of COPD. One of the hindrances to deciding which therapeutic approach to choose is late diagnosis or misdiagnosis of COPD. After a proper diagnosis is achieved and severity assessed, the choice between a stepwise or "hit hard" approach has to be made. For GOLD A patients the stepwise approach is recommended, whilst for B, C and D patients this remains debatable. Moreover, in patients for whom inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are recommended, a step-up or "hit hard" approach with triple therapy will depend on the patient's characteristics and, for patients who are being over-treated with ICS, ICS withdrawal should be performed, in order to optimize therapy and reduce excessive medications. This paper discusses and proposes stepwise, "hit hard", step-up and ICS withdrawal therapeutic approaches for COPD patients based on their GOLD group. We conclude that all approaches have benefits, and only a careful patient selection will determine which approach is better, and which patients will benefit the most from each approach. Copyright © 2016 Sociedade Portuguesa de Pneumologia. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Experimental system design for the integration of trapped-ion and superconducting qubit systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Motte, D.; Grounds, A. R.; Rehák, M.; Rodriguez Blanco, A.; Lekitsch, B.; Giri, G. S.; Neilinger, P.; Oelsner, G.; Il'ichev, E.; Grajcar, M.; Hensinger, W. K.

2016-12-01

We present a design for the experimental integration of ion trapping and superconducting qubit systems as a step towards the realization of a quantum hybrid system. The scheme addresses two key difficulties in realizing such a system: a combined microfabricated ion trap and superconducting qubit architecture, and the experimental infrastructure to facilitate both technologies. Developing upon work by Kielpinski et al. (Phys Rev Lett 108(13):130504, 2012. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.130504), we describe the design, simulation and fabrication process for a microfabricated ion trap capable of coupling an ion to a superconducting microwave LC circuit with a coupling strength in the tens of kHz. We also describe existing difficulties in combining the experimental infrastructure of an ion trapping set-up into a dilution refrigerator with superconducting qubits and present solutions that can be immediately implemented using current technology.

Evaluation of a new nanoparticle-based lateral-flow immunoassay for the exclusion of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).

PubMed

Sachs, Ulrich J; von Hesberg, Jakob; Santoso, Sentot; Bein, Gregor; Bakchoul, Tamam

2011-12-01

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an adverse complication of heparin caused by HIT antibodies (abs) that recognise platelet factor 4-heparin (PF4/hep) complexes. Several laboratory tests are available for the confirmation and/or refutation of HIT. A reliable and rapid single-sample test is still pending. It was the objective of this study to evaluate a new lateral-flow immunoassay based on nanoparticle technology. A cohort of 452 surgical and medical patients suspected of having HIT was evaluated. All samples were tested in two IgG-specific ELISAs, in a particle gel immunoassay (PaGIA) and in a newly developed lateral-flow immunoassay (LFI-HIT) as well as in a functional test (HIPA). Clinical pre-test probability was determined using 4T's score. Platelet-activating antibodies were present in 34/452 patients, all of whom had intermediate to high clinical probability. PF4/hep abs were detected in 79, 87, 86, and 63 sera using the four different immunoassays. The negative predictive values (NPV) were 100% for both ELISA tests and LFI-HIT but only 99.2% for PaGIA. There were less false positives (n=29) in the LFI-HIT compared to any other test. Additionally, significantly less time was required to perform LFI-HIT than to perform the other immunoassays. In conclusion, a newly developed lateral-flow assay, LFI-HIT, was capable of identifying all HIT patients in a cohort in a short period of time. Beside an NPV of 100%, the rate of false-positive signals is significantly lower with LFI-HIT than with other immunoassay(s). These performance characteristics suggest a high potency in reducing the risk and costs in patients suspected of having HIT.

Computers and the design of ion beam optical systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

White, Nicholas R.

Advances in microcomputers have made it possible to maintain a library of advanced ion optical programs which can be used on inexpensive computer hardware, which are suitable for the design of a variety of ion beam systems including ion implanters, giving excellent results. This paper describes in outline the steps typically involved in designing a complete ion beam system for materials modification applications. Two computer programs are described which, although based largely on algorithms which have been in use for many years, make possible detailed beam optical calculations using microcomputers, specifically the IBM PC. OPTICIAN is an interactive first-order program for tracing beam envelopes through complex optical systems. SORCERY is a versatile program for solving Laplace's and Poisson's equations by finite difference methods using successive over-relaxation. Ion and electron trajectories can be traced through these potential fields, and plots of beam emittance obtained.

Donation, Not Disease! A Multiple-Hit Hypothesis on Development of Post-Donation Kidney Disease.

PubMed

Cheng, Xingxing S; Glassock, Richard J; Lentine, Krista L; Chertow, Glenn M; Tan, Jane C

2017-01-01

The risks following living kidney donation has been the subject of rigorous investigation in the past several decades. How to utilize the burgeoning new knowledge base to better the risk assessment, education, and health maintenance of donors is unclear. We review the physiologic and epidemiologic evidences on the post-donation state and submit a multiple-hit hypothesis to reconcile the finite elevation in risk of kidney disease after donation with the benign course of most kidney donors. The risk of end-stage kidney disease is higher in kidney donors compared to similarly healthy non-kidney donors. Nonetheless, post-donation kidney disease is uncommon and arises mostly in the setting of other "hits"-either a "first hit" present at birth or a "second hit" acquired later in life. The transplant community's focus should be directed toward (1) personalized risk assessment to inform consent before donation and (2) preventing and treating development of "second hits" following kidney donation.

The Missing Mantle Paradox, and the Statistical Argument for Repeated Hit and Run Collisions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asphaug, E.; Reufer, A.

2015-10-01

Mercury's formation can be explained by a giant impact. However, a direct hit blasting off the mantle [1] leaves debris stranded in orbitabout the Sun,to be re-accumulated back onto Mercury. A hit and run collision [2] provides a cleaner solution, and in most cases,much lower levels of shock and potentially greater retention of volatiles. However, hit and run is usually followed by subsequent re-collision, and ultimate accretion; an embryo's survival after being a hit and run projectile is unlikely in any single instance. Most of the original planetary embryoshave been accreted by Earth and Venus; unaccreted planets are lucky. Here we show that the surviving terrestrial planet population is likely to have about as many hit and run survivors, as it is to have untouched survivors. That is, the differences between Mercury and Mars can be explained in a statistical manner as a consequence of accretionary attrition. We consider applications to asteroids, meteorites and exoplanets.

Biophysics: for HTS hit validation, chemical lead optimization, and beyond.

PubMed

Genick, Christine C; Wright, S Kirk

2017-09-01

There are many challenges to the drug discovery process, including the complexity of the target, its interactions, and how these factors play a role in causing the disease. Traditionally, biophysics has been used for hit validation and chemical lead optimization. With its increased throughput and sensitivity, biophysics is now being applied earlier in this process to empower target characterization and hit finding. Areas covered: In this article, the authors provide an overview of how biophysics can be utilized to assess the quality of the reagents used in screening assays, to validate potential tool compounds, to test the integrity of screening assays, and to create follow-up strategies for compound characterization. They also briefly discuss the utilization of different biophysical methods in hit validation to help avoid the resource consuming pitfalls caused by the lack of hit overlap between biophysical methods. Expert opinion: The use of biophysics early on in the drug discovery process has proven crucial to identifying and characterizing targets of complex nature. It also has enabled the identification and classification of small molecules which interact in an allosteric or covalent manner with the target. By applying biophysics in this manner and at the early stages of this process, the chances of finding chemical leads with novel mechanisms of action are increased. In the future, focused screens with biophysics as a primary readout will become increasingly common.

Modeling the ion transfer and polarization of ion exchange membranes in bioelectrochemical systems.

PubMed

Harnisch, Falk; Warmbier, Robert; Schneider, Ralf; Schröder, Uwe

2009-06-01

An explicit numerical model for the charge balancing ion transfer across monopolar ion exchange membranes under conditions of bioelectrochemical systems is presented. Diffusion and migration equations have been solved according to the Nernst-Planck Equation and the resulting ion concentrations, pH values and the resistance values of the membrane for different conditions were computed. The modeling results underline the principle limitations of the application of ion exchange membranes in biological fuel cells and electrolyzers, caused by the inherent occurrence of a pH-gradient between anode and cathode compartment, and an increased ohmic membrane resistance at decreasing electrolyte concentrations. Finally, the physical and numerical limitations of the model are discussed.

SU-F-T-200: Dosimetric Variation of Organs at Risk for Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (rNPC) Patients Treated by Carbon Ion Beams

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

Wang, W; Sheng, Y; Shahnazi, K

2016-06-15

Purpose: Investigate the factors which affect the doses of organs at risk (OARs) for head and neck carbon ion therapy. Methods: Ten locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma cases with similar prescriptions were selected. All patients’ organs at risk (OARs) as well as CTVs were contoured by an experienced physician. Carbon ion treatment plans were created using a Syngo treatment planning system (Siemens, Germany). The CTVs were expanded to make optimized target volumes (OTVs) by considering treatment uncertainties and OAR protections. All plans were reviewed by this physician to be clinically acceptable. The OTV was expanded an additional 3mm to define themore » volume where beam spots could be put. A volume was also drawn 6 mm around the OTV to approximate the 50 % dose volume. The volumes where the OARs overlapped the OTV + 3 mm and OTV + 6 mm volumes, termed residual volumes, were then calculated. Results: The residual volumes within OTV + 3 mm were directly related to the OAR maximum dose. The percentage of the residual volume within the OTV + 6 mm with respect to the OAR volume was strongly related to the OAR mean doses. OAR mean doses also were affected by the beam setups. For example, if the OARs were in the beam entrance, the superior beams would sharply decrease the mean doses of the OARs hit by the lateral beams while increasing the mean doses of the OARs hit by the superior beam; the mean dose of the OARs which were hit by higher weight beams would be higher than the OARs hit by lower weight beams. Conclusion: Physicians should be cautious when contouring OARs, especially those close to CTVs and sensitive to large doses. Planners should set the OTV and beam parameters properly in order to save the OARs.« less

ESIS ions injection, holding and extraction control system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Donets, E. D.; Donets, E. E.; Donets, D. E.; Lyuosev, D. A.; Ponkin, D. O.; Ramsdorf, A. Yu.; Boytsov, A. Yu.; Salnikov, V. V.; Shirikov, I. V.

2018-04-01

Electron string ion source (ESIS) KRION-6T is one of the main parts of the NICA injection complex [1]. During the work on creation of a new ion source for the NICA/MPD project the new ion motion control system was developed, produced and successfully put into operation. Modules development process and operation results are described.

Physical requirements and milestones for the HIT-PoP Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jarboe, Thomas

2011-10-01

Recent success with HIT-SI demonstrates the viability of steady inductive helicity injection (SIHI) as a spheromak formation and sustainment method. Results include the sustainment of toroidal current of over 50 kA, up to 40 kA of plasma current that is separate from the injectors, toroidal flux up to 6 times the peak injected flux, and j/n > 1014Am. All were achieved with 10MW or less applied power. This paper explores the requirements for a confinement test of the concept using a larger proof of principle experiment. The confinement experiment must not exceed the beta limit, the drift parameter limit, or the wall loading limit, where the drift parameter is (drift of electrons relative to ions to produce current)/(ion thermal speed). It must also exceed a minimum j/n, a minimum n a, and a minimum electron temperature, where a is the minor radius. The drift parameter limit and beta limit appear to play defining roles in spheromak performance leading to a very favorable scaling of wall loading with size. The milestones sequence suggested is the following: 1. Startup at drift parameter and beta limit minimum density. 2. Raise current until j/n exceeds 10-14Am. 3. Raise the current and temperature until T ~ 50 eV for good ionization. 4. Raise the current and density until n a > 2x1019 m-2 for neutral screening. 5. Raise current and temperature until T > 200eV so magnetic confinement can be studied.

Computer-Controlled System for Plasma Ion Energy Auto-Analyzer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Xian-qiu; Chen, Jun-fang; Jiang, Zhen-mei; Zhong, Qing-hua; Xiong, Yu-ying; Wu, Kai-hua

2003-02-01

A computer-controlled system for plasma ion energy auto-analyzer was technically studied for rapid and online measurement of plasma ion energy distribution. The system intelligently controls all the equipments via a RS-232 port, a printer port and a home-built circuit. The software designed by Lab VIEW G language automatically fulfils all of the tasks such as system initializing, adjustment of scanning-voltage, measurement of weak-current, data processing, graphic export, etc. By using the system, a few minutes are taken to acquire the whole ion energy distribution, which rapidly provides important parameters of plasma process techniques based on semiconductor devices and microelectronics.

Ion beam lithography system

DOEpatents

Leung, Ka-Ngo

2005-08-02

A maskless plasma-formed ion beam lithography tool provides for patterning of sub-50 nm features on large area flat or curved substrate surfaces. The system is very compact and does not require an accelerator column and electrostatic beam scanning components. The patterns are formed by switching beamlets on or off from a two electrode blanking system with the substrate being scanned mechanically in one dimension. This arrangement can provide a maskless nano-beam lithography tool for economic and high throughput processing.

Electron energy recovery system for negative ion sources

DOEpatents

Dagenhart, William K.; Stirling, William L.

1982-01-01

An electron energy recovery system for negative ion sources is provided. The system, employs crossed electric and magnetic fields to separate the electrons from ions as they are extracted from a negative ion source plasma generator and before the ions are accelerated to their full kinetic energy. With the electric and magnetic fields oriented 90.degree. to each other, the electrons are separated from the plasma and remain at approximately the electrical potential of the generator in which they were generated. The electrons migrate from the ion beam path in a precessing motion out of the ion accelerating field region into an electron recovery region provided by a specially designed electron collector electrode. The electron collector electrode is uniformly spaced from a surface of the ion generator which is transverse to the direction of migration of the electrons and the two surfaces are contoured in a matching relationship which departs from a planar configuration to provide an electric field component in the recovery region which is parallel to the magnetic field thereby forcing the electrons to be directed into and collected by the electron collector electrode. The collector electrode is maintained at a potential slightly positive with respect to the ion generator so that the electrons are collected at a small fraction of the full accelerating supply voltage energy.

Silver ion bactericide system. [for Space Shuttle Orbiter potable water

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jasionowski, W. J.; Allen, E. T.

1974-01-01

Description of a preliminary flight prototype system which uses silver ions as the bactericide to preserve sterility of the water used for human consumption and hygiene in the Space Shuttle Orbiter. The performance of silver halide columns for passively dosing fuel cell water with silver ions is evaluated. Tests under simulated Orbiter mission conditions show that silver ion doses of 0.05 ppm are bactericidal for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Type IIIa, the two bacteria found in Apollo potable water systems. The design of the Advance Prototype Silver Ion Water Bactericide System now under development is discussed.

Incidence and diagnosis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) in patients with traumatic injuries treated with unfractioned or low-molecular-weight heparin: a literature review.

PubMed

Bloemen, A; Testroote, M J G; Janssen-Heijnen, M L G; Janzing, H M J

2012-05-01

low. The incidence of HIT in trauma patients who receive LMWH thromboprophylaxis appears to be low (0.36%). Incidence of HIT in patients with isolated lower leg injuries receiving LMWH seems very low. Monitoring of platelet count could be considered in hospitalised patients with a high risk for development of HIT. A pre-test scoring system may identify these patients. Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

A parallel finite element simulator for ion transport through three-dimensional ion channel systems.

PubMed

Tu, Bin; Chen, Minxin; Xie, Yan; Zhang, Linbo; Eisenberg, Bob; Lu, Benzhuo

2013-09-15

A parallel finite element simulator, ichannel, is developed for ion transport through three-dimensional ion channel systems that consist of protein and membrane. The coordinates of heavy atoms of the protein are taken from the Protein Data Bank and the membrane is represented as a slab. The simulator contains two components: a parallel adaptive finite element solver for a set of Poisson-Nernst-Planck (PNP) equations that describe the electrodiffusion process of ion transport, and a mesh generation tool chain for ion channel systems, which is an essential component for the finite element computations. The finite element method has advantages in modeling irregular geometries and complex boundary conditions. We have built a tool chain to get the surface and volume mesh for ion channel systems, which consists of a set of mesh generation tools. The adaptive finite element solver in our simulator is implemented using the parallel adaptive finite element package Parallel Hierarchical Grid (PHG) developed by one of the authors, which provides the capability of doing large scale parallel computations with high parallel efficiency and the flexibility of choosing high order elements to achieve high order accuracy. The simulator is applied to a real transmembrane protein, the gramicidin A (gA) channel protein, to calculate the electrostatic potential, ion concentrations and I - V curve, with which both primitive and transformed PNP equations are studied and their numerical performances are compared. To further validate the method, we also apply the simulator to two other ion channel systems, the voltage dependent anion channel (VDAC) and α-Hemolysin (α-HL). The simulation results agree well with Brownian dynamics (BD) simulation results and experimental results. Moreover, because ionic finite size effects can be included in PNP model now, we also perform simulations using a size-modified PNP (SMPNP) model on VDAC and α-HL. It is shown that the size effects in SMPNP can

LncRNA-HIT Functions as an Epigenetic Regulator of Chondrogenesis through Its Recruitment of p100/CBP Complexes.

PubMed

Carlson, Hanqian L; Quinn, Jeffrey J; Yang, Yul W; Thornburg, Chelsea K; Chang, Howard Y; Stadler, H Scott

2015-12-01

Gene expression profiling in E 11 mouse embryos identified high expression of the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), LNCRNA-HIT in the undifferentiated limb mesenchyme, gut, and developing genital tubercle. In the limb mesenchyme, LncRNA-HIT was found to be retained in the nucleus, forming a complex with p100 and CBP. Analysis of the genome-wide distribution of LncRNA-HIT-p100/CBP complexes by ChIRP-seq revealed LncRNA-HIT associated peaks at multiple loci in the murine genome. Ontological analysis of the genes contacted by LncRNA-HIT-p100/CBP complexes indicate a primary role for these loci in chondrogenic differentiation. Functional analysis using siRNA-mediated reductions in LncRNA-HIT or p100 transcripts revealed a significant decrease in expression of many of the LncRNA-HIT-associated loci. LncRNA-HIT siRNA treatments also impacted the ability of the limb mesenchyme to form cartilage, reducing mesenchymal cell condensation and the formation of cartilage nodules. Mechanistically the LncRNA-HIT siRNA treatments impacted pro-chondrogenic gene expression by reducing H3K27ac or p100 activity, confirming that LncRNA-HIT is essential for chondrogenic differentiation in the limb mesenchyme. Taken together, these findings reveal a fundamental epigenetic mechanism functioning during early limb development, using LncRNA-HIT and its associated proteins to promote the expression of multiple genes whose products are necessary for the formation of cartilage.

LncRNA-HIT Functions as an Epigenetic Regulator of Chondrogenesis through Its Recruitment of p100/CBP Complexes

PubMed Central

Carlson, Hanqian L.; Quinn, Jeffrey J.; Yang, Yul W.; Thornburg, Chelsea K.; Chang, Howard Y.; Stadler, H. Scott

2015-01-01

Gene expression profiling in E 11 mouse embryos identified high expression of the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), LNCRNA-HIT in the undifferentiated limb mesenchyme, gut, and developing genital tubercle. In the limb mesenchyme, LncRNA-HIT was found to be retained in the nucleus, forming a complex with p100 and CBP. Analysis of the genome-wide distribution of LncRNA-HIT-p100/CBP complexes by ChIRP-seq revealed LncRNA-HIT associated peaks at multiple loci in the murine genome. Ontological analysis of the genes contacted by LncRNA-HIT-p100/CBP complexes indicate a primary role for these loci in chondrogenic differentiation. Functional analysis using siRNA-mediated reductions in LncRNA-HIT or p100 transcripts revealed a significant decrease in expression of many of the LncRNA-HIT-associated loci. LncRNA-HIT siRNA treatments also impacted the ability of the limb mesenchyme to form cartilage, reducing mesenchymal cell condensation and the formation of cartilage nodules. Mechanistically the LncRNA-HIT siRNA treatments impacted pro-chondrogenic gene expression by reducing H3K27ac or p100 activity, confirming that LncRNA-HIT is essential for chondrogenic differentiation in the limb mesenchyme. Taken together, these findings reveal a fundamental epigenetic mechanism functioning during early limb development, using LncRNA-HIT and its associated proteins to promote the expression of multiple genes whose products are necessary for the formation of cartilage. PMID:26633036

"King hit" fatalities in Australia, 2000-2012: the role of alcohol and other drugs.

PubMed

Pilgrim, Jennifer Lucinda; Gerostamoulos, Dimitri; Drummer, Olaf Heino

2014-02-01

"King hits" are when a single blow to the head causes a victim to fall to the ground unconscious, either from the punch itself or the impact between the head and the ground. This can result in fatal skull fractures and subdural hematomas. This study aimed to establish the prevalence of king hit deaths in Australia and determine the involvement of drugs in these violent fatalities. The National Coronial Information System was used to retrieve all cases involving a king hit within Australia between 2000 and 2012. 90 cases were identified with a median age of 33 years (range 15-78). There were 4 females. Most cases occurred in the state of New South Wales (n=28), followed by Victoria and Queensland (24 cases each), at a hotel or pub before 3a.m. Toxicology reports were available in 68 cases. Of these, 53 cases involved the use of alcohol or other drugs (other than those used in hospital treatment). Forty-nine cases (73%) involved the use of alcohol, with a median alcohol concentration of 0.144g/100mL and 0.191g/100mL in ante-mortem and post-mortem specimens, respectively. Illicit drugs were detected in 10 cases of which most involved cannabis. Other pharmaceutical drugs were detected in 3 cases. Assaults are an ongoing problem in Australia and king hits form a large group of these substance-related and often unprovoked attacks. Importantly, this study indicated that alcohol intoxication increases the risk of victimization, not just aggressive offending. This reiterates the serious consequences of alcohol-fueled violence in Australia. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) in pediatric cardiac surgery: an emerging cause of morbidity and mortality.

PubMed

Alsoufi, Bahaaldin; Boshkov, Lynn K; Kirby, Aileen; Ibsen, Laura; Dower, Nancy; Shen, Irving; Ungerleider, Ross

2004-01-01

Unfractionated heparin (UFH) is immunogenic, and heparin-dependent antibodies can be demonstrated 5 to 10 days postoperatively in 25% to 50% of adult postcardiac surgery patients. In a minority of these cases (1% to 3% if UFH is continued longer than 1 week) these antibodies strongly activate platelets, causing thrombocytopenia and massive thrombin generation (HIT syndrome). HIT is an intensely procoagulant disorder, and in adult cardiac surgery patients carries both significant thrombotic morbidity (38% to 81%) and mortality (28%). Despite the ubiquitous use of UFH in pediatric intensive care units, and the repeated and sustained exposures to UFH in neonates and young children with congenital heart disease, HIT has been infrequently recognized and reported in this patient population. However, emerging experience at our institution and elsewhere suggests that HIT is significantly under-recognized in pediatric congenital heart disease patients, and may in fact have an incidence and associated thrombotic morbidity and mortality in this patient group comparable to that seen in adult cardiac surgery patients. This article will review HIT in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease and emphasize the special challenges posed in clinical recognition, laboratory diagnosis, and treatment of HIT in this patient group. We will also outline our experience with the off-label use of the direct thrombin inhibitor, argatroban, in pediatric patients with HIT.

Positive and negative ion beam merging system for neutral beam production

DOEpatents

Leung, Ka-Ngo; Reijonen, Jani

2005-12-13

The positive and negative ion beam merging system extracts positive and negative ions of the same species and of the same energy from two separate ion sources. The positive and negative ions from both sources pass through a bending magnetic field region between the pole faces of an electromagnet. Since the positive and negative ions come from mirror image positions on opposite sides of a beam axis, and the positive and negative ions are identical, the trajectories will be symmetrical and the positive and negative ion beams will merge into a single neutral beam as they leave the pole face of the electromagnet. The ion sources are preferably multicusp plasma ion sources. The ion sources may include a multi-aperture extraction system for increasing ion current from the sources.

System integration of RF based negative ion experimental facility at IPR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bansal, G.; Bandyopadhyay, M.; Singh, M. J.; Gahlaut, A.; Soni, J.; Pandya, K.; Parmar, K. G.; Sonara, J.; Chakraborty, A.

2010-02-01

The setting up of RF based negative ion experimental facility shall witness the beginning of experiments on the negative ion source fusion applications in India. A 1 MHz RF generator shall launch 100 kW RF power into a single driver on the plasma source to produce a plasma of density ~5 × 1012 cm-3. The source can deliver a negative ion beam of ~10 A with a current density of ~30 mA/cm2 and accelerated to 35 kV through an electrostatic ion accelerator. The experimental system is similar to a RF based negative ion source, BATMAN, presently operating at IPP. The subsystems for source operation are designed and procured principally from indigenous resources, keeping the IPP configuration as a base line. The operation of negative ion source is supported by many subsystems e.g. vacuum pumping system with gate valves, cooling water system, gas feed system, cesium delivery system, RF generator, high voltage power supplies, data acquisition and control system, and different diagnostics. The first experiments of negative ion source are expected to start at IPR from the middle of 2009.

HIT-SI Injector Voltage Measurements Using Injector Langmuir Probes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aboul Hosn, Rabih; Smith, Roger; Jarboe, Thomas

2006-10-01

A pair of Langmuir probe arrays have been designed and built to measure floating potentials of the plasma at the injector mouth of the HIT-SI device. The Helicity Injected Torus using Steady Inductive Helicity Injection (HIT-SI) [1,2] is a ``bow tie'' spheromak using an electrodeless formation and sustainment concept. HIT-SI is powered by two inductive helicity injectors operated in quadrature to maintain a constant helicity injection rate. The electric probes consist of an array of four floating potential Langmuir probes measuring the voltage distribution in each injector from the shell to midpoint of the injector mouth. The probe measurements combine to determine the part of the injector loop voltage driving the n = 0 spheromak equilibrium region. Preliminary data suggest the spheromak voltage is the loop voltage minus the nearly constant injector voltage of 150-180 volts. These probe data will be used to calculate the helicity decay time of the spheromak. [1] T. R. Jarboe. Steady inductive helicity injection and its application to a high-beta spheromak. Fusion Technology, 36(1):85--91, July 1999. [2] P.E.Sieck et al., ``Demonstration of Steady Inductive Helicity Injection'', Nuc. Fusion, in press (2006).

Hitting and missing targets by ambulance services for emergency calls: effects of different systems of performance measurement within the UK

PubMed Central

Bevan, Gwyn; Hamblin, Richard

2009-01-01

Following devolution, differences developed between UK countries in systems of measuring performance against a common target that ambulance services ought to respond to 75% of calls for what may be immediately life threatening emergencies (category A calls) within 8 minutes. Only in England was this target integral to a ranking system of ‘star rating’, which inflicted reputational damage on services that failed to hit targets, and only in England has this target been met. In other countries, the target has been missed by such large margins that services would have been publicly reported as failing, if they had been covered by the English system of star ratings. The paper argues that this case-study adds to evidence from comparisons of different systems of hospital performance measurement that, to have an effect, these systems need to be designed to inflict reputational damage on those that have performed poorly; and it explores implications of this hypothesis. The paper also asks questions about the adequacy of systems of performance measurement of ambulance services in UK countries. PMID:19381327

Simulation of a Real-Time Brain Computer Interface for Detecting a Self-Paced Hitting Task.

PubMed

Hammad, Sofyan H; Kamavuako, Ernest N; Farina, Dario; Jensen, Winnie

2016-12-01

An invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) is a promising neurorehabilitation device for severely disabled patients. Although some systems have been shown to work well in restricted laboratory settings, their utility must be tested in less controlled, real-time environments. Our objective was to investigate whether a specific motor task could be reliably detected from multiunit intracortical signals from freely moving animals in a simulated, real-time setting. Intracortical signals were first obtained from electrodes placed in the primary motor cortex of four rats that were trained to hit a retractable paddle (defined as a "Hit"). In the simulated real-time setting, the signal-to-noise-ratio was first increased by wavelet denoising. Action potentials were detected, and features were extracted (spike count, mean absolute values, entropy, and combination of these features) within pre-defined time windows (200 ms, 300 ms, and 400 ms) to classify the occurrence of a "Hit." We found higher detection accuracy of a "Hit" (73.1%, 73.4%, and 67.9% for the three window sizes, respectively) when the decision was made based on a combination of features rather than on a single feature. However, the duration of the window length was not statistically significant (p = 0.5). Our results showed the feasibility of detecting a motor task in real time in a less restricted environment compared to environments commonly applied within invasive BCI research, and they showed the feasibility of using information extracted from multiunit recordings, thereby avoiding the time-consuming and complex task of extracting and sorting single units. © 2016 International Neuromodulation Society.

EASY-HIT: HIV full-replication technology for broad discovery of multiple classes of HIV inhibitors.

PubMed

Kremb, Stephan; Helfer, Markus; Heller, Werner; Hoffmann, Dieter; Wolff, Horst; Kleinschmidt, Andrea; Cepok, Sabine; Hemmer, Bernhard; Durner, Jörg; Brack-Werner, Ruth

2010-12-01

HIV replication assays are important tools for HIV drug discovery efforts. Here, we present a full HIV replication system (EASY-HIT) for the identification and analysis of HIV inhibitors. This technology is based on adherently growing HIV-susceptible cells, with a stable fluorescent reporter gene activated by HIV Tat and Rev. A fluorescence-based assay was designed that measures HIV infection by two parameters relating to the early and the late phases of HIV replication, respectively. Validation of the assay with a panel of nine reference inhibitors yielded effective inhibitory concentrations consistent with published data and allowed discrimination between inhibitors of early and late phases of HIV replication. Finer resolution of the effects of reference drugs on different steps of HIV replication was achieved in secondary time-of-addition assays. The EASY-HIT assay yielded high Z' scores (>0.9) and signal stabilities, confirming its robustness. Screening of the LOPAC(1280) library identified 10 compounds (0.8%), of which eight were known to inhibit HIV, validating the suitability of this assay for screening applications. Studies evaluating anti-HIV activities of natural products with the EASY-HIT technology led to the identification of three novel inhibitory compounds that apparently act at different steps of HIV-1 replication. Furthermore, we demonstrate successful evaluation of plant extracts for HIV-inhibitory activities, suggesting application of this technology for the surveillance of biological extracts with anti-HIV activities. We conclude that the EASY-HIT technology is a versatile tool for the discovery and characterization of HIV inhibitors.

TJC: HCOs need to be on alert for HIT problems related to sociotechnical factors, take steps to improve safety culture, process, and leadership.

PubMed

2015-06-01

Noting that too many errors related to health information technology (HIT) are resulting in adverse consequences, The Joint Commission (TJC) has issued a Sentinel Event Alert, urging health care providers to take steps to improve their safety culture, approach to process improvement, and leadership in this area. In this latest alert, the accrediting agency is taking particular aim at risks posed by sociotechnical factors--or the ways in which HIT is implemented and used. Experts say that many of these risks are, in fact, exemplified at a higher level in the emergency setting, where providers are under constant pressure to see more patients and move them though the system faster. In an analysis of 3,375 sentinel events that resulted in permanent patient harm or death between January 1, 2010, and June 20, 2013, The Joint Commission (TJC) found that 120 events included HIT-related contributing factors. Many of the problems cited by TJC relate to orders or medicines being prescribed for the wrong patients. These can result from toggling errors or pop-up screens where providers are asked to click on the appropriate patient or medicine, and they mistakenly click on the wrong selection. In the ED, experts recommend the creation of a multidisciplinary performance improvement group to continuously monitor the ED information system (EDIS), recognize problems, and work with the vendor to resolve them. Also important is a quick and easy way for providers to report HIT-related problems. Experts add that emergency providers need to be fully engaged in the process of selecting HIT that they will be using, and that health care organizations should arrange for usability assessments before purchasing HIT.

Visual Illusions and the Control of Ball Placement in Goal-Directed Hitting

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Caljouw, Simone R.; Van der Kamp, John; Savelsbergh, Geert J. P.

2010-01-01

When hitting, kicking, or throwing balls at targets, online control in the target area is impossible. We assumed this lack of late corrections in the target area would induce an effect of a single-winged Muller-Lyer illusion on ball placement. After extensive practice in hitting balls to different landing locations, participants (N = 9) had to hit…

Staff Responses When Parents Hit Children in a Hospital Setting.

PubMed

Font, Sarah A; Gershoff, Elizabeth T; Taylor, Catherine A; Terreros, Amy; Nielsen-Parker, Monica; Spector, Lisa; Foster, Rebecca H; Budzak Garza, Ann; Olson-Dorff, Denyse

Physical punishment of children is a prevalent practice that is condemned by most medical professionals given its link with increased risk of child physical abuse and other adverse child outcomes. This study examined the prevalence of parent-to-child hitting in medical settings and the intervention behaviors of staff who witness it. Staff at a children's medical center and a general medical center completed a voluntary, anonymous survey. We used descriptive statistics to examine differences in the experiences of physicians, nurses, and other medical staff. We used logistic regression to predict intervention behaviors among staff who witnessed parent-to-child hitting. Of the hospital staff who completed the survey (N = 2863), we found that 50% of physicians, 24% of nurses, 27% of other direct care staff, and 17% of nondirect care staff witnessed parent-to-child hitting at their medical center in the past year. A majority of physicians, nurses, and other direct care staff reported intervening sometimes or always. Nondirect care staff rarely intervened. Believing staff have the responsibility to intervene, and having comfortable strategies with which to intervene were strongly predictive of intervention behavior. Staff who did not intervene commonly reported that they did not know how to respond. Many medical center staff witness parent-to-child hitting. Although some of the staff reported that they intervened when they witnessed this behavior, the findings indicate that staff may need training to identify when and how they should respond.

The impact of the heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) computerized alert on provider behaviors and patient outcomes.

PubMed

Austrian, Jonathan S; Adelman, Jason S; Reissman, Stan H; Cohen, Hillel W; Billett, Henny H

2011-01-01

The aim of this study was to measure the effect of an electronic heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) alert on provider ordering behaviors and on patient outcomes. A pop-up alert was created for providers when an individual's platelet values had decreased by 50% or to <100,000/mm(3) in the setting of recent heparin exposure. The authors retrospectively compared inpatients admitted between January 24, 2008 and August 24, 2008 to a control group admitted 1 year prior to the HIT alert. The primary outcome was a change in HIT antibody testing. Secondary outcomes included an assessment of incidence of HIT antibody positivity, percentage of patients started on a direct thrombin inhibitor (DTI), length of stay and overall mortality. There were 1006 and 1081 patients in the control and intervention groups, respectively. There was a 33% relative increase in HIT antibody test orders (p=0.01), and 33% more of these tests were ordered the first day after the criteria were met when a pop-up alert was given (p=0.03). Heparin was discontinued in 25% more patients in the alerted group (p=0.01), and more direct thrombin inhibitors were ordered for them (p=0.03). The number who tested HIT antibody-positive did not differ, however, between the two groups (p=0.99). The length of stay and mortality were similar in both groups. The HIT alert significantly impacted provider behaviors. However, the alert did not result in more cases of HIT being detected or an improvement in overall mortality. Our findings do not support implementation of a computerized HIT alert.

Preliminary flight prototype silver ion monitoring system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brady, J.

1974-01-01

The design, fabrication, and testing of a preliminary flight prototype silver ion monitoring system based on potentiometric principles and utilizing a solid-state silver sulfide electrode paired with a pressurized double-junction reference electrode housing a replaceable electrolyte reservoir is described. The design provides automatic electronic calibration utilizing saturated silver bromide solution as a silver ion standard. The problem of loss of silver ion from recirculating fluid, its cause, and corrective procedures are reported. The instability of the silver sulfide electrode is discussed as well as difficulties met in implementing the autocalibration procedure.

Aggressive B cell Lymphoma: Optimal Therapy for MYC-positive, Double-Hit, and Triple-Hit DLBCL.

PubMed

Dunleavy, Kieron

2015-12-01

Approximately 10% of cases of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) harbor a MYC rearrangement and this has been associated with an inferior outcome following standard therapy across many different studies. Double-hit and triple-hit lymphomas harbor concurrent rearrangements of MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 and are also associated with a very aggressive course and poor clinical outcome. It is unclear and there is lack of consensus on how these diseases should be approached therapeutically. They are characterized typically by high tumor proliferation and likely require Burkitt lymphoma-type strategies and several retrospective studies suggest that more intensive approaches than rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) may be beneficial. One challenge in this respect is that most patients with these diseases are older than 60 years and generally have poor tolerability of regimens typically used in Burkitt lymphoma. Dose-adjusted EPOCH-R is an alternative effective immunochemotherapy platform for DLBCL and is effective in Burkitt lymphoma, and retrospective studies suggest that it is effective and feasible in patients with DLBCL that harbors a MYC rearrangement with or without a BCL-2 translocation (double-hit). A multicenter study of this approach in MYC-rearranged DLBCL is ongoing and preliminary results are very encouraging. There is a lack of consensus on the role of consolidation stem cell transplantation in patients who achieve a good response to initial therapy but at this point in time, no (retrospective) studies have demonstrated any benefit. These diseases are also associated with a high rate of CNS involvement and progression and checking for cerebrospinal fluid by cytology and flow cytometry at initial diagnosis should be considered. In summary, based on retrospective data and preliminary prospective data (as more mature data is awaited), while Burkitt-type regimens may be feasible in young patients, DA-EPOCH-R is a

Simulation optimizing of n-type HIT solar cells with AFORS-HET

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Yao; Xiao, Shaoqing; Zhang, Xiumei; Gu, Xiaofeng

2017-07-01

This paper presents a study of heterojunction with intrinsic thin layer (HIT) solar cells based on n-type silicon substrates by a simulation software AFORS-HET. We have studied the influence of thickness, band gap of intrinsic layer and defect densities of every interface. Details in mechanisms are elaborated as well. The results show that the optimized efficiency reaches more than 23% which may give proper suggestions to practical preparation for HIT solar cells industry.

Acute hormonal responses before and after 2 weeks of HIT in well trained junior triathletes.

PubMed

Zinner, C; Wahl, P; Achtzehn, S; Reed, J L; Mester, J

2014-04-01

The aim was to compare the acute hormonal response to a single HIT session at the beginning and end of a HIT shock microcycle. 13 male junior triathletes (15.8±1.8 yrs.) performed 16 HIT sessions within a 2 week period. Venous blood samples were collected before and after the first and last HIT session. Significant increases in cortisol (first session +89.7%; last session +70.3%) and hGH (first session +435.1%; last session +314.6%) concentrations were observed after both training sessions (P<0.05). The acute responses of cortisol, hGH, T3, and fT3 were not different between the first and last HIT sessions (P=1.00). Although no acute changes in testosterone were detected after the training sessions, testosterone concentrations were significantly higher at all time points (62.6-80.1%) during the last compared to first training session (P≤0.001). Findings from the present study reveal that 16 sessions of HIT led to significant increases in baseline concentrations of serum testosterone. This might indicate a heightened anabolic state even in junior triathletes. Based on the hormonal data, we conclude that at the end of this 2 week microcycle no familiarization effect was evident and that the training stimulus produced by HIT was still great enough to "stress" the athletes and induce positive training adaptations. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Assessment of the performances of AcuStar HIT and the combination with heparin-induced multiple electrode aggregometry: a retrospective study.

PubMed

Minet, V; Bailly, N; Douxfils, J; Osselaer, J C; Laloy, J; Chatelain, C; Elalamy, I; Chatelain, B; Dogné, J M; Mullier, F

2013-09-01

Early diagnosis of immune heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is challenging. HemosIL® AcuStar HIT and heparin-induced multiple electrode aggregometry (HIMEA) were recently proposed as rapid diagnostic methods. We conducted a study to assess performances of AcuStar HIT-IgG (PF4-H) and AcuStar HIT-Ab (PF4-H). The secondary objective was to compare the performances of the combination of Acustar HIT and HIMEA with standardised clinical diagnosis. Sera of 104 suspected HIT patients were retrospectively tested with AcuStar HIT. HIMEA was performed on available sera (n=81). The clinical diagnosis was established by analysing in a standardized manner the patient's medical records. These tests were also compared with PF4-Enhanced®, LTA, and SRA in subsets of patients. Thresholds were determined using ROC curve analysis with clinical outcome as reference. Using the recommended thresholds (1.00AU), the negative predictive value (NPV) of HIT-IgG and HIT-Ab were 100.0% (95% CI: 95.9%-100.0% and 95.7%-100.0%). The positive predictive value (PPV) were 64.3% (95% CI: 35.1%-87.2.2%) and 45.0% (95% CI: 23.2%-68.6%), respectively. Using our thresholds (HIT-IgG: 2.89AU, HIT-Ab: 9.41AU), NPV of HIT-IgG and HIT-Ab were 100.0% (95% CI: 96.0%-100.0% and 96.1%-100.0%). PPV were 75.0% (95% CI: 42.7%-94.5%) and 81.8% (95% CI: 48.3%-97.7%), respectively. Of the 79 patients with a medium-high pretest probability score, 67 were negative using HIT-IgG (PF4-H) test at our thresholds. HIMEA was performed on HIT-IgG positive patients. Using this combination, only one patient on 79 was incorrectly diagnosed. Acustar HIT showed good performances to exclude the diagnosis of HIT. Combination with HIMEA improves PPV. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Negative ion source with low temperature transverse divergence optical system

DOEpatents

Whealton, John H.; Stirling, William L.

1986-01-01

A negative ion source is provided which has extremely low transverse divergence as a result of a unique ion focusing system in which the focal line of an ion beam emanating from an elongated, concave converter surface is outside of the ion exit slit of the source and the path of the exiting ions. The beam source operates with a minimum ion temperature which makes possible a sharply focused (extremely low transverse divergence) ribbon like negative ion beam.

Negative ion source with low temperature transverse divergence optical system

DOEpatents

Whealton, J.H.; Stirling, W.L.

1985-03-04

A negative ion source is provided which has extremely low transverse divergence as a result of a unique ion focusing system in which the focal line of an ion beam emanating from an elongated, concave converter surface is outside of the ion exit slit of the source and the path of the exiting ions. The beam source operates with a minimum ion temperature which makes possible a sharply focused (extremely low transverse divergence) ribbon like negative ion beam.

Hit rates and radiation doses to nuclei of bone lining cells from alpha-particle-emitting radionuclides

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Polig, E.; Jee, W. S.; Kruglikov, I. L.

1992-01-01

Factors relating the local concentration of a bone-seeking alpha-particle emitter to the mean hit rate have been determined for nuclei of bone lining cells using a Monte Carlo procedure. Cell nuclei were approximated by oblate spheroids with dimensions and location taken from a previous histomorphometric study. The Monte Carlo simulation is applicable for planar and diffuse labels at plane or cylindrical bone surfaces. Additionally, the mean nuclear dose per hit, the dose mean per hit, the mean track segment length and its second moment, the percentage of stoppers, and the frequency distribution of the dose have been determined. Some basic features of the hit statistics for bone lining cells have been outlined, and the consequences of existing standards of radiation protection with regard to the hit frequency to cell nuclei are discussed.

Detection of HIT antibody dependent platelet aggregation using novel surface imprinting approach.

PubMed

Hussain, Munawar; Northoff, Hinnak; Gehring, Frank K

2016-01-15

We present a fast, robust and straightforward spin force assisted surface imprinting approach for activated platelets and demonstrate that Heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) platelet aggregation can be measured by this approach. A critical and challenging step in functional assays for HIT is platelet separation from the healthy donor's platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Our approach using surface imprinted polymer (MIP) for measurements on a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) enables monitoring of platelet aggregation directly in PRP thus eliminating the challenge of platelet separation. This is the first report of platelet imprinting. We also provide proof of principle that QCM-D technology can be applied for functional measurements of HIT antibodies. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Performance limits of ion extraction systems with non-circular apertures

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

Shagayda, A., E-mail: shagayda@gmail.com; Madeev, S.

A three-dimensional computer simulation is used to determine the perveance limitations of ion extraction systems with non-circular apertures. The objective of the study is to analyze the possibilities to improve mechanical strength of the ion optics made of carbon-carbon composite materials. Non-circular grid apertures are better suited to the physical structure of carbon-carbon composite materials, than conventionally used circular holes in a hexagonal pattern, because they allow a fewer number of cut fibers. However, the slit-type accelerating systems, usually regarded as the main alternative to the conventional ion optics, have an intolerably narrow range of operating perveance values at whichmore » there is no direct ion impingement on the acceleration grid. This paper presents results of comparative analysis of a number of different ion optical systems with non-circular apertures and conventional ion optical systems with circular apertures. It has been revealed that a relatively wide perveance range without direct ion impingement may be obtained with apertures shaped as a square with rounded corners. Numerical simulations show that this geometry may have equivalent perveance range as the traditional geometry with circular apertures while being more mechanically robust. In addition, such important characteristics, as the effective transparency for both the ions and the neutral atoms, the height of the potential barrier reflecting the downstream plasma electrons and the angular divergence of the beamlet also can be very close to these parameters for the optics with circular apertures.« less

Performance limits of ion extraction systems with non-circular apertures.

PubMed

Shagayda, A; Madeev, S

2016-04-01

A three-dimensional computer simulation is used to determine the perveance limitations of ion extraction systems with non-circular apertures. The objective of the study is to analyze the possibilities to improve mechanical strength of the ion optics made of carbon-carbon composite materials. Non-circular grid apertures are better suited to the physical structure of carbon-carbon composite materials, than conventionally used circular holes in a hexagonal pattern, because they allow a fewer number of cut fibers. However, the slit-type accelerating systems, usually regarded as the main alternative to the conventional ion optics, have an intolerably narrow range of operating perveance values at which there is no direct ion impingement on the acceleration grid. This paper presents results of comparative analysis of a number of different ion optical systems with non-circular apertures and conventional ion optical systems with circular apertures. It has been revealed that a relatively wide perveance range without direct ion impingement may be obtained with apertures shaped as a square with rounded corners. Numerical simulations show that this geometry may have equivalent perveance range as the traditional geometry with circular apertures while being more mechanically robust. In addition, such important characteristics, as the effective transparency for both the ions and the neutral atoms, the height of the potential barrier reflecting the downstream plasma electrons and the angular divergence of the beamlet also can be very close to these parameters for the optics with circular apertures.

Performance Results for a Universal Lithium Ion Battery Management System

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-08-01

MODELING & SIMULATION, TESTING AND VALIDATION (MSTV) MINI-SYMPOSIUM AUGUST 14-16, MICHIGAN PERFORMANCE RESULTS FOR A UNIVERSAL LITHIUM ION BATTERY MANAGEMENT...Article 3. DATES COVERED 12-08-2012 to 12-08-2012 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE PERFORMANCE RESULTS FOR A UNIVERSAL LITHIUM ION BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM...Engineering and Technology Symposium (GVSETS) Performance Results for a Universal Lithium Ion Battery Management System UNCLASSIFIED – Page 2 of 11

Investigation of helicon ion source extraction systems.

PubMed

Mordyk, S; Miroshnichenko, V; Shulha, D; Storizhko, V

2008-02-01

Various versions of an extraction system for a helicon ion source have been investigated in high plasma density (>10(12) cm(-3)) modes. The measurements of the plasma density were carried out with a microwave interferometer. Experiments were performed with hydrogen and helium gases. The preliminary results indicate that specially designed extractors are very promising for improving ion beam paraxial brightness.

Imaging and characterization of primary and secondary radiation in ion beam therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Granja, Carlos; Martisikova, Maria; Jakubek, Jan; Opalka, Lukas; Gwosch, Klaus

2016-07-01

Imaging in ion beam therapy is an essential and increasingly significant tool for treatment planning and radiation and dose deposition verification. Efforts aim at providing precise radiation field characterization and online monitoring of radiation dose distribution. A review is given of the research and methodology of quantum-imaging, composition, spectral and directional characterization of the mixed-radiation fields in proton and light ion beam therapy developed by the IEAP CTU Prague and HIT Heidelberg group. Results include non-invasive imaging of dose deposition and primary beam online monitoring.

Informing the Selection of Screening Hit Series with in Silico Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity Profiles.

PubMed

Sanders, John M; Beshore, Douglas C; Culberson, J Christopher; Fells, James I; Imbriglio, Jason E; Gunaydin, Hakan; Haidle, Andrew M; Labroli, Marc; Mattioni, Brian E; Sciammetta, Nunzio; Shipe, William D; Sheridan, Robert P; Suen, Linda M; Verras, Andreas; Walji, Abbas; Joshi, Elizabeth M; Bueters, Tjerk

2017-08-24

High-throughput screening (HTS) has enabled millions of compounds to be assessed for biological activity, but challenges remain in the prioritization of hit series. While biological, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET), purity, and structural data are routinely used to select chemical matter for further follow-up, the scarcity of historical ADMET data for screening hits limits our understanding of early hit compounds. Herein, we describe a process that utilizes a battery of in-house quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models to generate in silico ADMET profiles for hit series to enable more complete characterizations of HTS chemical matter. These profiles allow teams to quickly assess hit series for desirable ADMET properties or suspected liabilities that may require significant optimization. Accordingly, these in silico data can direct ADMET experimentation and profoundly impact the progression of hit series. Several prospective examples are presented to substantiate the value of this approach.

Fragment-Based Whole Cell Screen Delivers Hits against M. tuberculosis and Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria.

PubMed

Moreira, Wilfried; Lim, Jia Jie; Yeo, Si Ying; Ramanujulu, Pondy M; Dymock, Brian W; Dick, Thomas

2016-01-01

Reactive multi-target 'fragment drugs' represent critical components of current tuberculosis regimens. These compounds, such as pyrazinamide, are old synthetic antimycobacterials that are activated inside Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli and are smaller than the usual drug-like, single-target molecules. Based on the success of small 'dirty' drugs in the chemotherapy of tuberculosis, we suggested previously that fragment-based whole cell screens should be introduced in our current antimycobacterial drug discovery efforts. Here, we carried out such a screen and characterized bactericidal activity, selectivity and spectrum of hits we obtained. A library of 1725 fragments was tested at a single concentration for growth inhibitory activity against M. bovis BCG as screening strain and 38 of 116 primary hits were confirmed in dose response analyses to be active against virulent M. tuberculosis. Bacterial kill experiments showed that most hits displayed bactericidal activity at their minimal inhibitory concentration. Cytotoxicity assays established that a large proportion of hits displayed a favorable selectivity index for mammalian cells. Importantly, one third of M. tuberculosis active fragments were also active against M. abscessus and M. avium, two emerging non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pathogens, opening the opportunity to develop broad spectrum antimycobacterials. Activity determination against Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria, as well as fungi (Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans) showed only a small overlap indicating a generally narrow spectrum of these novel antimicrobial hits for mycobacteria. In conclusion, we carried out the first fragment-based whole cell screen against bacteria and identified a substantial number of hits with excellent physicochemical properties and dual activity against M. tuberculosis and NTM pathogens

HIT or miss: the application of health care information technology to managing uncertainty in clinical decision making.

PubMed

Kazandjian, Vahé A; Lipitz-Snyderman, Allison

2011-12-01

To discuss the usefulness of health care information technology (HIT) in assisting care providers minimize uncertainty while simultaneously increasing efficiency of the care provided. An ongoing study of HIT, performance measurement (clinical and production efficiency) and their implications to the payment for care represents the design of this study. Since 2006, all Maryland hospitals have embarked on a multi-faceted study of performance measures and HIT adoption surveys, which will shape the health care payment model in Maryland, the last of the all-payor states, in 2011. This paper focuses on the HIT component of the Maryland care payment initiative. While the payment model is still under review and discussion, 'appropriateness' of care has been discussed as an important dimension of measurement. Within this dimension, the 'uncertainty' concept has been identified as associated with variation in care practices. Hence, the methods of this paper define how HIT can assist care providers in addressing the concept of uncertainty, and then provides findings from the first HIT survey in Maryland to infer the readiness of Maryland hospital in addressing uncertainty of care in part through the use of HIT. Maryland hospitals show noteworthy variation in their adoption and use of HIT. While computerized, electronic patient records are not commonly used among and across Maryland hospitals, many of the uses of HIT internally in each hospital could significantly assist in better communication about better practices to minimize uncertainty of care and enhance the efficiency of its production. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Hit Dexter: A Machine-Learning Model for the Prediction of Frequent Hitters.

PubMed

Stork, Conrad; Wagner, Johannes; Friedrich, Nils-Ole; de Bruyn Kops, Christina; Šícho, Martin; Kirchmair, Johannes

2018-03-20

False-positive assay readouts caused by badly behaving compounds-frequent hitters, pan-assay interference compounds (PAINS), aggregators, and others-continue to pose a major challenge to experimental screening. There are only a few in silico methods that allow the prediction of such problematic compounds. We report the development of Hit Dexter, two extremely randomized trees classifiers for the prediction of compounds likely to trigger positive assay readouts either by true promiscuity or by assay interference. The models were trained on a well-prepared dataset extracted from the PubChem Bioassay database, consisting of approximately 311 000 compounds tested for activity on at least 50 proteins. Hit Dexter reached MCC and AUC values of up to 0.67 and 0.96 on an independent test set, respectively. The models are expected to be of high value, in particular to medicinal chemists and biochemists who can use Hit Dexter to identify compounds for which extra caution should be exercised with positive assay readouts. Hit Dexter is available as a free web service at http://hitdexter.zbh. uni-hamburg.de. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Video Head Impulse Testing (vHIT) and the Assessment of Horizontal Semicircular Canal Function.

PubMed

Riska, Kristal M; Murnane, Owen; Akin, Faith W; Hall, Courtney

2015-05-01

Vestibular function (specifically, horizontal semicircular canal function) can be assessed across a broad frequency range using several different techniques. The head impulse test is a qualitative test of horizontal semicircular canal function that can be completed at bedside. Recently, a new instrument (video head impulse test [vHIT]) has been developed to provide an objective assessment to the clinical test. Questions persist regarding how this test may be used in the overall vestibular test battery. The purpose of this case report is to describe vestibular test results (vHIT, rotational testing, vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, and balance and gait performance) in an individual with a 100% unilateral caloric weakness who was asymptomatic for dizziness, vertigo or imbalance. Comprehensive assessment was completed to evaluate vestibular function. Caloric irrigations, rotary chair testing, vHIT, and vestibular evoked myogenic potentials were completed. A 100% left-sided unilateral caloric weakness was observed in an asymptomatic individual. vHIT produced normal gain with covert saccades. This case demonstrates the clinical usefulness of vHIT as a diagnostic tool and indicator of vestibular compensation and functional status. American Academy of Audiology.

System OptimizatIon of the Glow Discharge Optical Spectroscopy Technique Used for Impurity Profiling of ION Implanted Gallium Arsenide.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-12-01

AFIT/GEO/EE/80D-1 I -’ SYSTEM OPTIMIZATION OF THE GLOW DISCHARGE OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPY TECHNIQUE USED FOR IMPURITY PROFILING OF ION IMPLANTED GALLIUM ...EE/80D-1 (\\) SYSTEM OPTIMIZATION OF THE GLOW DISCHARGE OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPY TECHNIQUE USED FOR IMPURITY PROFILING OF ION IMPLANTED GALLIUM ARSENIDE...semiconductors, specifically annealed and unan- nealed ion implanted gallium arsenide (GaAs). Methods to improve the sensitivity of the GDOS system have

Staff Responses When Parents Hit Children in a Hospital Setting

PubMed Central

Font, Sarah A.; Gershoff, Elizabeth T.; Taylor, Catherine A.; Terreros, Amy; Nielsen-Parker, Monica; Spector, Lisa; Foster, Rebecca H.; Budzak Garza, Ann; Olson-Dorff, Denyse

2016-01-01

Objective Physical punishment of children is a prevalent practice that is condemned by most medical professionals given its link with increased risk of child physical abuse and other adverse child outcomes. This study examined the prevalence of parent-to-child hitting in medical settings and the intervention behaviors of staff who witness it. Method Staff at a children's medical center and a general medical center completed a voluntary, anonymous survey. We used descriptive statistics to examine differences in the experiences of physicians, nurses, and other medical staff. We used logistic regression to predict intervention behaviors among staff who witnessed parent-to-child hitting. Results Of the hospital staff who completed the survey (N=2,863), we found that 50% of physicians, 24% of nurses, 27% of other direct care staff, and 17% of non-direct care staff witnessed parent-to-child hitting at their medical center in the past year. A majority of physicians, nurses and other direct care staff reported intervening sometimes or always. Non-direct care staff rarely intervened. Believing staff have the responsibility to intervene and having comfortable strategies with which to intervene were strongly predictive of intervention behavior. Staff who did not intervene commonly reported that they did not know how to respond. Conclusion Many medical center staff witness parent-to-child hitting. Although some of the staff reported that they intervened when they witnessed this behavior, the findings indicate that staff may need training to identify when and how they should respond. PMID:27802257

Biomarkers for IgA nephropathy on the basis of multi-hit pathogenesis.

PubMed

Suzuki, Hitoshi

2018-05-08

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most prevalent glomerular disease worldwide and is associated with a poor prognosis. Development of curative treatment strategies and approaches for early diagnosis is necessary. Renal biopsy is the gold standard for the diagnosis and assessment of disease activity. However, reliable biomarkers are needed for the noninvasive diagnosis of this disease and to more fully delineate the risk of progression. With regard to the pathogenesis of IgAN, the multi-hit hypothesis, including production of galactose-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1; Hit 1), IgG or IgA autoantibodies that recognize Gd-IgA1 (Hit 2), and their subsequent immune complexes formation (Hit 3) and glomerular deposition (Hit 4), has been widely supported by many studies. Although the prognostic values of several biomarkers have been discussed, we recently developed a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic method by measuring serum levels of Gd-IgA1 and Gd-IgA1-containing immune complexes. In addition, urinary Gd-IgA1 may represent a disease-specific biomarker for IgAN. We also confirmed that there is a significant correlation between serum levels of these effector molecules and disease activity, suggesting that each can be considered a practical surrogate marker of therapeutic response. Thus, these disease-oriented specific serum and urine biomarkers may be useful for screening of potential IgAN with isolated hematuria, earlier diagnosis, disease activity, and eventually, response to treatment. In this review, we discuss these concepts, with a focus on potential clinical applications of these biomarkers.

Gorlin syndrome with an ovarian leiomyoma associated with a PTCH1 second hit.

PubMed

Akizawa, Yoshika; Miyashita, Toshiyuki; Sasaki, Ryo; Nagata, Reiko; Aoki, Ryoko; Ishitani, Ken; Nagashima, Yoji; Matsui, Hideo; Saito, Kayoko

2016-04-01

We describe a Gorlin syndrome (GS) case with two different second hit mutations of PTCH1, one in a keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT) and the other in an ovarian leiomyoma. GS is a rare genetic condition manifesting as multiple basal cell nevi associated with other features such as medulloblastomas, skeletal abnormalities, and ovarian fibromas. A 21-year-old Japanese woman with a history of two KCOTs was diagnosed with GS according to clinical criteria. A PTCH1 mutation, c.1427del T, was detected in peripheral blood. A novel PTCH1 mutation, c.264_265insAATA, had been found in the maxillary KCOT as a second hit mutation. More recently, the ovarian tumor was detected during a gynecological examination. Laparoscopic adnexectomy was performed, and the pathological diagnosis of the ovarian tumor was leiomyoma. Interestingly, another novel mutation, loss of heterozygosity spanning from 9q22.32 to 9q31.2, including PTCH1 and 89 other genes, was detected in this ovarian tumor, providing evidence of a second hit mutation. This is the first report describing a GS-associated ovarian tumor carrying a second hit in the PTCH1 region. We anticipate that accumulation of more cases will clarify the importance of second hit mutations in ovarian tumor formation in GS. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Hybrid Ion-Detector/Data-Acquisition System for a TOF-MS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burton, William D., Jr.; Schultz, J. Albert; Vaughn, Valentine; McCully, Michael; Ulrich, Steven; Egan, Thomas F.

2006-01-01

A modified ion-detector/data-acquisition system has been devised to increase the dynamic range of a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) that, previously, included a microchannel-plate detector and a data-acquisition system based on counting pulses and time-tagging them by use of a time-to-digital converter (TDC). The dynamic range of the TOF-MS was limited by saturation of the microchannel plate detector, which can handle no more than a few million counts per second. The modified system includes (1) a combined microchannel plate/discrete ion multiplier and (2) a hybrid data-acquisition system that simultaneously performs analog current or voltage measurements and multianode single-ion-pulse-counting time-of-flight measurements to extend the dynamic range of a TDC into the regime in which a mass peak comprises multiple ions arriving simultaneously at the detector. The multianode data are used to determine, in real time, whether the detector is saturated. When saturation is detected, the data-acquisition system selectively enables circuitry that simultaneously determines the ion-peak intensity by measuring the time profile of the analog current or voltage detector-output signal.

Liquid Argon TPC Signal Formation, Signal Processing and Hit Reconstruction

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

Baller, Bruce

2017-03-11

This document describes the early stage of the reconstruction chain that was developed for the ArgoNeuT and MicroBooNE experiments at Fermilab. These experiments study accelerator neutrino interactions that occur in a Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber. Reconstructing the properties of particles produced in these interactions requires knowledge of the micro-physics processes that affect the creation and transport of ionization electrons to the readout system. A wire signal deconvolution technique was developed to convert wire signals to a standard form for hit reconstruction, to remove artifacts in the electronics chain and to remove coherent noise.

Low pressure electrospray ionization system and process for effective transmission of ions

DOEpatents

Tang, Keqi [Richland, WA; Page, Jason S [Kennewick, WA; Kelly, Ryan T [Wet Richland, WA; Smith, Richard D [Richland, WA

2010-03-02

A system and method are disclosed that provide up to complete transmission of ions between coupled stages with low effective ion losses. A novel "interfaceless" electrospray ionization system is further described that operates the electrospray at a reduced pressure such that standard electrospray sample solutions can be directly sprayed into an electrodynamic ion funnel which provides ion focusing and transmission of ions into a mass analyzer.

Mission Benefits of Gridded Ion and Hall Thruster Hybrid Propulsion Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dankanich, John W.; Polsgrove, Tara

2006-01-01

The NASA In-Space Propulsion Technology (ISPT) Project Office has been developing the NEXT gridded ion thruster system and is planning to procure a low power Hall system. The new ion propulsion systems will join NSTAR as NASA's primary electric propulsion system options. Studies have been performed to show mission benefits of each of the stand alone systems. A hybrid ion propulsion system (IPS) can have the advantage of reduced cost, decreased flight time and greater science payload delivery over comparable homogeneous systems. This paper explores possible advantages of combining various thruster options for a single mission.

Contribution of Visual Information about Ball Trajectory to Baseball Hitting Accuracy.

PubMed

Higuchi, Takatoshi; Nagami, Tomoyuki; Nakata, Hiroki; Watanabe, Masakazu; Isaka, Tadao; Kanosue, Kazuyuki

2016-01-01

The contribution of visual information about a pitched ball to the accuracy of baseball-bat contact may vary depending on the part of trajectory seen. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between hitting accuracy and the segment of the trajectory of the flying ball that can be seen by the batter. Ten college baseball field players participated in the study. The systematic error and standardized variability of ball-bat contact on the bat coordinate system and pitcher-to-catcher direction when hitting a ball launched from a pitching machine were measured with or without visual occlusion and analyzed using analysis of variance. The visual occlusion timing included occlusion from 150 milliseconds (ms) after the ball release (R+150), occlusion from 150 ms before the expected arrival of the launched ball at the home plate (A-150), and a condition with no occlusion (NO). Twelve trials in each condition were performed using two ball speeds (31.9 m·s-1 and 40.3 m·s-1). Visual occlusion did not affect the mean location of ball-bat contact in the bat's long axis, short axis, and pitcher-to-catcher directions. Although the magnitude of standardized variability was significantly smaller in the bat's short axis direction than in the bat's long axis and pitcher-to-catcher directions (p < 0.001), additional visible time from the R+150 condition to the A-150 and NO conditions resulted in a further decrease in standardized variability only in the bat's short axis direction (p < 0.05). The results suggested that there is directional specificity in the magnitude of standardized variability with different visible time. The present study also confirmed the limitation to visual information is the later part of the ball trajectory for improving hitting accuracy, which is likely due to visuo-motor delay.

A study of the feasibility of Internet administration of a computerized health survey: the headache impact test (HIT).

PubMed

Bayliss, M S; Dewey, J E; Dunlap, I; Batenhorst, A S; Cady, R; Diamond, M L; Sheftell, F

2003-12-01

Headache impact test (HIT) is a precise, practical tool that quantifies the impact of headache on respondents' lives. It is the first widely-available dynamic health assessment (DynHA). Applications of this brief, precise survey include population based screening for disabling headaches, tracking of individual patient scores over time, disease management programs and others. We use data from Internet HIT assessments during the fall of 2000 to (1) evaluate characteristics of respondents and assessments, (2) assess the utility of joint administration of HIT and the SF-8 Health Survey (SF-8) to screen for migraine and depression, and (3) explore associations between HIT scores and subsequent healthcare-related attitudes and behaviors. We analyzed Internet HIT surveys completed between 9/1 and 11/30/2000 (n = 19,195). Subsamples include respondents who also completed (1) a 12-item Internet survey assessing severity, frequency, cause and management of headaches; (2) an e-mail survey measuring healthcare-related behaviors; (3) the SF-8; or (4) the website registration process, providing age and gender data. We used analysis of variance (ANOVA) to evaluate HIT score differences associated with age, gender, headache severity or frequency, and healthcare-related behaviors and attitudes and chi2 tests to assess the prevalence and comorbidity of migraine and depression. Three-quarters of respondents achieved a precise HIT score in < or = 5 items. Most had moderate/severe headaches; 65% had headaches at least monthly. HIT scores were directly related to headache severity and frequency. Most respondents were females, with significantly higher HIT scores than males. Most HIT respondents were between ages 25 and 54 (HIT scores were higher for younger respondents). Sixty four percent screened positive for migraine; 20% for depression. Both conditions were more prevalent among females than males. Comorbid migraine and depression was 50% more prevalent among females and increased

How do biological systems discriminate among physically similar ions?

PubMed

Diamond, J M

1975-10-01

This paper reviews the history of understanding how biological systems can discriminate so strikingly among physically similar ions, especially alkali cations. Appreciation of qualitative regularities ("permitted sequences") and quantitative regularities ("selectivity isotherms") in ion selectivity grew first from studies of ion exchangers and glass electrodes, then of biological systems such as enzymes and cell membranes, and most recently of lipid bilayers doped with model pores and carriers. Discrimination of ions depends on both electrostatic and steric forces. "Black-box" studies on intact biological membranes have in some cases yielded molecular clues to the structure of the actual biological pores and carriers. Major current problems involve the extraction of these molecules; how to do it, what to do when it is achieved, and how (and if) it is relevant to the central problems of membrane function. Further advances are expected soon from studies of rate barriers within membranes, of voltage-dependent ("excitable") conducting channels, and of increasingly complex model systems and biological membranes.

Low pressure electrospray ionization system and process for effective transmission of ions

DOEpatents

Tang, Keqi [Richland, WA; Page, Jason S [Kennewick, WA; Kelly, Ryan T [West Richland, WA; Smith, Richard D [Richland, WA

2012-05-08

Systems and methods that provide up to complete transmission of ions between coupled stages with low effective ion losses. An "interfaceless" electrospray ionization system is further described that operates an electrospray at a reduced pressure such that standard electrospray sample solutions can be directly sprayed into an electrodynamic ion funnel which provides ion focusing and transmission of ions into a mass analyzer. Furthermore, chambers maintained at different pressures can allow for more optimal operating conditions for an electrospray emitter and an ion guide.

Stochastic dynamics and the predictability of big hits in online videos.

PubMed

Miotto, José M; Kantz, Holger; Altmann, Eduardo G

2017-03-01

The competition for the attention of users is a central element of the Internet. Crucial issues are the origin and predictability of big hits, the few items that capture a big portion of the total attention. We address these issues analyzing 10^{6} time series of videos' views from YouTube. We find that the average gain of views is linearly proportional to the number of views a video already has, in agreement with usual rich-get-richer mechanisms and Gibrat's law, but this fails to explain the prevalence of big hits. The reason is that the fluctuations around the average views are themselves heavy tailed. Based on these empirical observations, we propose a stochastic differential equation with Lévy noise as a model of the dynamics of videos. We show how this model is substantially better in estimating the probability of an ordinary item becoming a big hit, which is considerably underestimated in the traditional proportional-growth models.

Stochastic dynamics and the predictability of big hits in online videos

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miotto, José M.; Kantz, Holger; Altmann, Eduardo G.

2017-03-01

The competition for the attention of users is a central element of the Internet. Crucial issues are the origin and predictability of big hits, the few items that capture a big portion of the total attention. We address these issues analyzing 106 time series of videos' views from YouTube. We find that the average gain of views is linearly proportional to the number of views a video already has, in agreement with usual rich-get-richer mechanisms and Gibrat's law, but this fails to explain the prevalence of big hits. The reason is that the fluctuations around the average views are themselves heavy tailed. Based on these empirical observations, we propose a stochastic differential equation with Lévy noise as a model of the dynamics of videos. We show how this model is substantially better in estimating the probability of an ordinary item becoming a big hit, which is considerably underestimated in the traditional proportional-growth models.

Double-hit lymphomas constitute a highly aggressive subgroup in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas in the era of rituximab.

PubMed

Kobayashi, Tsutomu; Tsutsumi, Yasuhiko; Sakamoto, Natsumi; Nagoshi, Hisao; Yamamoto-Sugitani, Mio; Shimura, Yuji; Mizutani, Shinsuke; Matsumoto, Yosuke; Nishida, Kazuhiro; Horiike, Shigeo; Asano, Naoko; Nakamura, Shigeo; Kuroda, Junya; Taniwaki, Masafumi

2012-11-01

The incorporation of rituximab in immunochemotherapy has improved treatment outcomes for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, but the prognosis for some diffuse large B-cell lymphomas remains dismal. Identification of adverse prognostic subgroups is essential for the choice of appropriate therapeutic strategy. We retrospectively investigated the impact of so-called 'double-hit' cytogenetic abnormalities, i.e. cytogenetic abnormalities involving c-MYC co-existing with other poor prognostic cytogenetic abnormalities involving BCL2, BCL6 or BACH2, on treatment outcomes for 93 consecutive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients. According to the revised international prognostic index, no patients were cytogenetically diagnosed with double-hit lymphomas in the 'very good' risk group or in the 'good' risk group, while 5 of 33 patients had double-hit lymphomas in the 'poor' risk group. All the double-hit lymphoma patients possessed both nodal and extranodal involvement. The overall complete response rate was 89.3%, overall survival 87.1% and progression-free survival 75.8% over 2 years (median observation period: 644 days). The complete response rates were 93.2% for the non-double-hit lymphoma patients and 40.0% for the double-hit lymphoma patients. Significantly longer progression-free survival and overall survival were observed for the 'very good' and the 'good' risk patients than for the 'poor' risk patients. Moreover, the progression-free survival of double-hit lymphoma was significantly shorter than that of the non-double-hit lymphoma 'poor' risk patients (P = 0.016). In addition, the overall survival of the double-hit lymphoma patients also tended to be shorter than that of the non-double-hit lymphoma 'poor' risk group. The diagnosis of double-hit lymphoma can help discriminate a subgroup of highly aggressive diffuse large B-cell lymphomas and indicate the need for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for double-hit lymphoma.

PF4-HIT antibody (KKO) complexes activate broad innate immune and inflammatory responses.

PubMed

Haile, Lydia A; Rao, Roshni; Polumuri, Swamy K; Arepally, Gowthami M; Keire, David A; Verthelyi, Daniela; Sommers, Cynthia D

2017-11-01

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an immune-mediated complication of heparin anticoagulation therapy resulting in thrombocytopenia frequently accompanied by thrombosis. Current evidence suggests that HIT is associated with antibodies developed in response to multi-molecular complexes formed by platelet factor 4 (PF4) bound to heparin or cell surface glycosaminoglycans. These antibody complexes activate platelets and monocytes typically through FcγRIIA receptors increasing the production of PF4, inflammatory mediators, tissue factor and thrombin. The influence of underlying events in HIT including complex-induced pro-inflammatory cell activation and structural determinants leading to local inflammatory responses are not fully understood. The stoichiometry and complex component requirements were determined by incubating fresh peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with different concentrations of unfractionated heparin (H), low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), PF4- and anti-PF4-H complex antibodies (KKO). Cytokine mRNA or protein were measured by qRT-PCR or Meso Scale Discovery technology, respectively. Gene expression profile analysis for 594 genes was performed using Nanostring technology and analyzed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software. The data show that antibodies magnify immune responses induced in PBMCs by PF4 alone or in complex with heparin or LMWH. We propose that following induction of HIT antibodies by heparin-PF4 complexes, binding of the antibodies to PF4 is sufficient to induce a local pro-inflammatory response which may play a role in the progression of HIT. In vitro assays using PBMCs may be useful in characterizing local inflammatory and innate immune responses induced by HIT antibodies in the presence of PF4 and different sources of heparins. The findings and conclusions in this article are solely the responsibility of the authors and are not being formally disseminated by the Food and Drug Administration. Thus, they should not be

Structure-based analysis of catalysis and substrate definition in the HIT protein family.

PubMed

Lima, C D; Klein, M G; Hendrickson, W A

1997-10-10

The histidine triad (HIT) protein family is among the most ubiquitous and highly conserved in nature, but a biological activity has not yet been identified for any member of the HIT family. Fragile histidine triad protein (FHIT) and protein kinase C interacting protein (PKCI) were used in a structure-based approach to elucidate characteristics of in vivo ligands and reactions. Crystallographic structures of apo, substrate analog, pentacovalent transition-state analog, and product states of both enzymes reveal a catalytic mechanism and define substrate characteristics required for catalysis, thus unifying the HIT family as nucleotidyl hydrolases, transferases, or both. The approach described here may be useful in identifying structure-function relations between protein families identified through genomics.

Lessons learnt from the Wenchuan earthquake: performance evaluation of treatment of critical injuries in hardest-hit areas.

PubMed

Jiang, Jie; Li, Youping; Huang, Xiaolin; Li, Bing; Su, Lin; Zhong, Dake; Shi, Chenghu; Li, Mingxu; Shan, Juan; Chen, Yin

2012-08-01

Critical injury treatment in the hardest-hit areas after a great earthquake was retrospectively analyzed to determine how best to reduce mortality and disability and increase the rehabilitation rate through postquake medical relief. Retrospective analysis, primary sources, and secondary sources were comprehensively retrieved and analyzed. According to incomplete data, 30,620 injured were rescued by themselves among the hardest-hit areas in the 72 hours immediately following the earthquake. Critically injured patients accounted for 22% of total inpatients. Mortality rates declined with greater distance from the epicenter: rates were 12.21% for municipal healthcare centers in the hardest-hit areas, 4.50% for municipal medical units in peripheral quake-hit areas, 2.50% for provincial medical units in peripheral quake-hit areas, and 2.17% for Ministry of Health-affiliated hospitals in peripheral quake-hit areas. The number of injured with fractures on body, limbs or unknown-parts, severe conditions as well as other kinds of non-traumatic diseases received in second-line hospitals was much more than those treated in first-line hospitals with more severe injuries. Among 10,373 injured in stable condition transferred to third-line hospitals, 99.07% were discharged from hospitals within four months, while the mortality rate was 0.017%. The medical relief model of "supervising body helping subordinate unit, severely stricken areas assisting hardest-hit areas, least-hit areas supporting both hardest-hit and severely stricken areas, and self help and mutual assistance applied between hardest-hit areas" was roughly established for injured from severely stricken areas after the Wenchuan Earthquake. The "four-centralization" treatment principle, which referred to concentrating patients, experts, resources and treatment for those injured in critical condition effectively reduced the mortality from 15.06% to 2.9%. Timely, scientific, and standard on-site triage and postmedical

Ion transport membrane module and vessel system

DOEpatents

Stein, VanEric Edward; Carolan, Michael Francis; Chen, Christopher M.; Armstrong, Phillip Andrew; Wahle, Harold W.; Ohrn, Theodore R.; Kneidel, Kurt E.; Rackers, Keith Gerard; Blake, James Erik; Nataraj, Shankar; van Doorn, Rene Hendrik Elias; Wilson, Merrill Anderson

2007-02-20

An ion transport membrane system comprising (a) a pressure vessel having an interior, an exterior, an inlet, and an outlet; (b) a plurality of planar ion transport membrane modules disposed in the interior of the pressure vessel and arranged in series, each membrane module comprising mixed metal oxide ceramic material and having an interior region and an exterior region, wherein any inlet and any outlet of the pressure vessel are in flow communication with exterior regions of the membrane modules; and (c) one or more gas manifolds in flow communication with interior regions of the membrane modules and with the exterior of the pressure vessel. The ion transport membrane system may be utilized in a gas separation device to recover oxygen from an oxygen-containing gas or as an oxidation reactor to oxidize compounds in a feed gas stream by oxygen permeated through the mixed metal oxide ceramic material of the membrane modules.

Ion transport membrane module and vessel system

DOEpatents

Stein, VanEric Edward [Allentown, PA; Carolan, Michael Francis [Allentown, PA; Chen, Christopher M [Allentown, PA; Armstrong, Phillip Andrew [Orefield, PA; Wahle, Harold W [North Canton, OH; Ohrn, Theodore R [Alliance, OH; Kneidel, Kurt E [Alliance, OH; Rackers, Keith Gerard [Louisville, OH; Blake, James Erik [Uniontown, OH; Nataraj, Shankar [Allentown, PA; Van Doorn, Rene Hendrik Elias; Wilson, Merrill Anderson [West Jordan, UT

2012-02-14

An ion transport membrane system comprising (a) a pressure vessel having an interior, an exterior, an inlet, and an outlet; (b) a plurality of planar ion transport membrane modules disposed in the interior of the pressure vessel and arranged in series, each membrane module comprising mixed metal oxide ceramic material and having an interior region and an exterior region, wherein any inlet and any outlet of the pressure vessel are in flow communication with exterior regions of the membrane modules; and (c) one or more gas manifolds in flow communication with interior regions of the membrane modules and with the exterior of the pressure vessel. The ion transport membrane system may be utilized in a gas separation device to recover oxygen from an oxygen-containing gas or as an oxidation reactor to oxidize compounds in a feed gas stream by oxygen permeated through the mixed metal oxide ceramic material of the membrane modules.

Ion transport membrane module and vessel system

DOEpatents

Stein, VanEric Edward [Allentown, PA; Carolan, Michael Francis [Allentown, PA; Chen, Christopher M [Allentown, PA; Armstrong, Phillip Andrew [Orefield, PA; Wahle, Harold W [North Canton, OH; Ohrn, Theodore R [Alliance, OH; Kneidel, Kurt E [Alliance, OH; Rackers, Keith Gerard [Louisville, OH; Blake, James Erik [Uniontown, OH; Nataraj, Shankar [Allentown, PA; van Doorn, Rene Hendrik Elias; Wilson, Merrill Anderson [West Jordan, UT

2008-02-26

An ion transport membrane system comprising (a) a pressure vessel having an interior, an exterior, an inlet, and an outlet; (b) a plurality of planar ion transport membrane modules disposed in the interior of the pressure vessel and arranged in series, each membrane module comprising mixed metal oxide ceramic material and having an interior region and an exterior region, wherein any inlet and any outlet of the pressure vessel are in flow communication with exterior regions of the membrane modules; and (c) one or more gas manifolds in flow communication with interior regions of the membrane modules and with the exterior of the pressure vessel.The ion transport membrane system may be utilized in a gas separation device to recover oxygen from an oxygen-containing gas or as an oxidation reactor to oxidize compounds in a feed gas stream by oxygen permeated through the mixed metal oxide ceramic material of the membrane modules.

Non-linear relationship of cell hit and transformation probabilities in a low dose of inhaled radon progenies.

PubMed

Balásházy, Imre; Farkas, Arpád; Madas, Balázs Gergely; Hofmann, Werner

2009-06-01

Cellular hit probabilities of alpha particles emitted by inhaled radon progenies in sensitive bronchial epithelial cell nuclei were simulated at low exposure levels to obtain useful data for the rejection or support of the linear-non-threshold (LNT) hypothesis. In this study, local distributions of deposited inhaled radon progenies in airway bifurcation models were computed at exposure conditions characteristic of homes and uranium mines. Then, maximum local deposition enhancement factors at bronchial airway bifurcations, expressed as the ratio of local to average deposition densities, were determined to characterise the inhomogeneity of deposition and to elucidate their effect on resulting hit probabilities. The results obtained suggest that in the vicinity of the carinal regions of the central airways the probability of multiple hits can be quite high, even at low average doses. Assuming a uniform distribution of activity there are practically no multiple hits and the hit probability as a function of dose exhibits a linear shape in the low dose range. The results are quite the opposite in the case of hot spots revealed by realistic deposition calculations, where practically all cells receive multiple hits and the hit probability as a function of dose is non-linear in the average dose range of 10-100 mGy.

Ion Trap Array-Based Systems And Methods For Chemical Analysis

DOEpatents

Whitten, William B [Oak Ridge, TN; Ramsey, J Michael [Knoxville, TN

2005-08-23

An ion trap-based system for chemical analysis includes an ion trap array. The ion trap array includes a plurality of ion traps arranged in a 2-dimensional array for initially confining ions. Each of the ion traps comprise a central electrode having an aperture, a first and second insulator each having an aperture sandwiching the central electrode, and first and second end cap electrodes each having an aperture sandwiching the first and second insulator. A structure for simultaneously directing a plurality of different species of ions out from the ion traps is provided. A spectrometer including a detector receives and identifies the ions. The trap array can be used with spectrometers including time-of-flight mass spectrometers and ion mobility spectrometers.

Anticipating mismatches of HIT investments: Developing a viability-fit model for e-health services.

PubMed

Mettler, Tobias

2016-01-01

Albeit massive investments in the recent years, the impact of health information technology (HIT) has been controversial and strongly disputed by both research and practice. While many studies are concerned with the development of new or the refinement of existing measurement models for assessing the impact of HIT adoption (ex post), this study presents an initial attempt to better understand the factors affecting viability and fit of HIT and thereby underscores the importance of also having instruments for managing expectations (ex ante). We extend prior research by undertaking a more granular investigation into the theoretical assumptions of viability and fit constructs. In doing so, we use a mixed-methods approach, conducting qualitative focus group discussions and a quantitative field study to improve and validate a viability-fit measurement instrument. Our findings suggest two issues for research and practice. First, the results indicate that different stakeholders perceive HIT viability and fit of the same e-health services very unequally. Second, the analysis also demonstrates that there can be a great discrepancy between the organizational viability and individual fit of a particular e-health service. The findings of this study have a number of important implications such as for health policy making, HIT portfolios, and stakeholder communication. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

A north-south stationkeeping ion thruster system for ATS-F.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Worlock, R.; James, E.; Ramsey, W.; Trump, G.; Gant, G.; Jan, L.; Bartlett, R.

1972-01-01

An ion thruster system is being developed for the ATS-F satellite to demonstrate the application of ion thruster technology to the synchronous satellite north-south stationkeeping mission. The cesium bombardment ion thruster develops one millipound thrust at 2600 seconds specific impulse and provides thrust vectoring by accelerator electrode displacement. The propellant system is sized for two years operation at 25 percent duty cycle. Power conditioning circuitry is based on transistor inverters switching at 10 kHz. Thirteen command channels allow flexibility in operation; 12 telemetry channels provide information on system performance. Input power is less than 150 watts.

Production of silver ions from colloidal silver by nanoparticle iontophoresis system.

PubMed

Tseng, Kuo-Hsiung; Liao, Chih-Yu

2011-03-01

Metal ions, especially the silver ion, were used to treat infection before the initiation of antibiotic therapy. Unfortunately, there is a lack of research on the metallic nanoparticle suspension as a reservoir for metal ion release application. For medical purposes, conversion of colloidal silver into an ionic form is necessary, but not using silver salts (e.g., AgNO3, Ag2SO4), due to the fact that the counter-ion of silver salts may cause problems to the body as the silver ion (Ag+) is consumed. The goal of this research is to develop a silver nanoparticle iontophoresis system (NIS) which can provide a relatively safe bactericidal silver ion solution with a controllable electric field. In this study, ion-selective electrodes were used to identify and observe details of the system's activity. Both qualitative and quantitative data analyses were performed. The experimental results show that the ion releasing peak time (R(PT)) has an inversely proportional relationship with the applied current and voltage. The ion releasing maximum level (R(ML)) and dosage (R(D)) are proportional to the current density and inversely proportional to the voltage, respectively. These results reveal that the nanoparticle iontophoresis system (NIS) is an alternative method for the controlled release of a metal ion and the ion's concentration profile, by controlling the magnitude of current density (1 microA/cm2 equal to 1 ppm/hour) and applied voltage.

The Probability of Hitting a Polygonal Target

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-04-01

required for the use of this method for coalputing the probability of hitting d polygonal target. These functions are 1. PHIT (called by user’s main progran...2. FIJ (called by PHIT ) 3. FUN (called by FIJ) The user must include all three of these in his main program, but needs only to call PHIT . The

Estimated Radiation on Mars, Hits per Cell Nucleus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

This global map of Mars shows estimates for amounts of high-energy-particle cosmic radiation reaching the surface, a serious health concern for any future human exploration of the planet.

The estimates are based on cosmic-radiation measurements made on the way to Mars by the Mars radiation environment experiment, an instrument on NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft, plus information about Mars' surface elevations from the laser altimeter instrument on NASA's Mars Global Surveyor. The areas of Mars expected to have least radiation are where elevation is lowest, because those areas have more atmosphere above them to block out some of the radiation. Earth's thick atmosphere shields us from most cosmic radiation, but Mars has a much thinner atmosphere than Earth does.

Colors in the map refer to the estimated average number of times per year each cell nucleus in a human there would be hit by a high-energy cosmic ray particle. The range is generally from two hits (color-coded green), a moderate risk level, to eight hits (coded red), a high risk level.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. manages the 2001 Mars Odyssey and Mars Global Surveyor missions for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington D.C. The Mars radiation environment experiment was developed by NASA's Johnson Space Center. Lockheed Martin Astronautics, Denver, is the prime contractor for Odyssey, and developed and built the orbiter. Mission operations are conducted jointly from Lockheed Martin and from JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

The prognosis of MYC translocation positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma depends on the second hit.

PubMed

Clipson, Alexandra; Barrans, Sharon; Zeng, Naiyan; Crouch, Simon; Grigoropoulos, Nicholas F; Liu, Hongxiang; Kocialkowski, Sylvia; Wang, Ming; Huang, Yuanxue; Worrillow, Lisa; Goodlad, John; Buxton, Jenny; Neat, Michael; Fields, Paul; Wilkins, Bridget; Grant, John W; Wright, Penny; Ei-Daly, Hesham; Follows, George A; Roman, Eve; Watkins, A James; Johnson, Peter W M; Jack, Andrew; Du, Ming-Qing

2015-07-01

A proportion of MYC translocation positive diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL) harbour a BCL2 and/or BCL6 translocation, known as double-hit DLBCL, and are clinically aggressive. It is unknown whether there are other genetic abnormalities that cooperate with MYC translocation and form double-hit DLBCL, and whether there is a difference in clinical outcome between the double-hit DLBCL and those with an isolated MYC translocation. We investigated TP53 gene mutations along with BCL2 and BCL6 translocations in a total of 234 cases of DLBCL, including 81 with MYC translocation. TP53 mutations were investigated by PCR and sequencing, while BCL2 and BCL6 translocation was studied by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization. The majority of MYC translocation positive DLBCLs (60/81 = 74%) had at least one additional genetic hit. In MYC translocation positive DLBCL treated by R-CHOP ( n  = 67), TP53 mutation and BCL2, but not BCL6 translocation had an adverse effect on patient overall survival. In comparison with DLBCL with an isolated MYC translocation, cases with MYC/TP53 double-hits had the worst overall survival, followed by those with MYC/BCL2 double-hits. In MYC translocation negative DLBCL treated by R-CHOP ( n  = 101), TP53 mutation, BCL2 and BCL6 translocation had no impact on patient survival. The prognosis of MYC translocation positive DLBCL critically depends on the second hit, with TP53 mutations and BCL2 translocation contributing to an adverse prognosis. It is pivotal to investigate both TP53 mutations and BCL2 translocations in MYC translocation positive DLBCL, and to distinguish double-hit DLBCLs from those with an isolated MYC translocation.

Hit Generation in TB Drug Discovery: From Genome to Granuloma

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

Current tuberculosis (TB) drug development efforts are not sufficient to end the global TB epidemic. Recent efforts have focused on the development of whole-cell screening assays because biochemical, target-based inhibitor screens during the last two decades have not delivered new TB drugs. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of TB, encounters diverse microenvironments and can be found in a variety of metabolic states in the human host. Due to the complexity and heterogeneity of Mtb infection, no single model can fully recapitulate the in vivo conditions in which Mtb is found in TB patients, and there is no single “standard” screening condition to generate hit compounds for TB drug development. However, current screening assays have become more sophisticated as researchers attempt to mirror the complexity of TB disease in the laboratory. In this review, we describe efforts using surrogates and engineered strains of Mtb to focus screens on specific targets. We explain model culture systems ranging from carbon starvation to hypoxia, and combinations thereof, designed to represent the microenvironment which Mtb encounters in the human body. We outline ongoing efforts to model Mtb infection in the lung granuloma. We assess these different models, their ability to generate hit compounds, and needs for further TB drug development, to provide direction for future TB drug discovery. PMID:29384369

Plasma response to sustainment with imposed-dynamo current drive in HIT-SI and HIT-SI3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hossack, A. C.; Jarboe, T. R.; Chandra, R. N.; Morgan, K. D.; Sutherland, D. A.; Penna, J. M.; Everson, C. J.; Nelson, B. A.

2017-07-01

The helicity injected torus—steady inductive (HIT-SI) program studies efficient, steady-state current drive for magnetic confinement plasmas using a novel experimental method. Stable, high-beta spheromaks have been sustained using steady, inductive current drive. Externally induced loop voltage and magnetic flux are oscillated together so that helicity and power injection are always positive, sustaining the edge plasma current indefinitely. Imposed-dynamo current drive (IDCD) theory further shows that the entire plasma current is sustained. The method is ideal for low aspect ratio, toroidal geometries with closed flux surfaces. Experimental studies of spheromak plasmas sustained with IDCD have shown stable magnetic profiles with evidence of pressure confinement. New measurements show coherent motion of a stable spheromak in response to the imposed perturbations. On the original device two helicity injectors were mounted on either side of the spheromak and the injected mode spectrum was predominantly n  =  1. Coherent, rigid motion indicates that the spheromak is stable and a lack of plasma-generated n  =  1 energy indicates that the maximum q is maintained below 1 during sustainment. Results from the HIT-SI3 device are also presented. Three inductive helicity injectors are mounted on one side of the spheromak flux conserver. Varying the relative injector phasing changes the injected mode spectrum which includes n  =  2, 3, and higher modes.

Violent aggression predicted by multiple pre-adult environmental hits.

PubMed

Mitjans, Marina; Seidel, Jan; Begemann, Martin; Bockhop, Fabian; Moya-Higueras, Jorge; Bansal, Vikas; Wesolowski, Janina; Seelbach, Anna; Ibáñez, Manuel Ignacio; Kovacevic, Fatka; Duvar, Oguzhan; Fañanás, Lourdes; Wolf, Hannah-Ulrike; Ortet, Generós; Zwanzger, Peter; Klein, Verena; Lange, Ina; Tänzer, Andreas; Dudeck, Manuela; Penke, Lars; van Elst, Ludger Tebartz; Bittner, Robert A; Schmidmeier, Richard; Freese, Roland; Müller-Isberner, Rüdiger; Wiltfang, Jens; Bliesener, Thomas; Bonn, Stefan; Poustka, Luise; Müller, Jürgen L; Arias, Bárbara; Ehrenreich, Hannelore

2018-05-24

Early exposure to negative environmental impact shapes individual behavior and potentially contributes to any mental disease. We reported previously that accumulated environmental risk markedly decreases age at schizophrenia onset. Follow-up of matched extreme group individuals (≤1 vs. ≥3 risks) unexpectedly revealed that high-risk subjects had >5 times greater probability of forensic hospitalization. In line with longstanding sociological theories, we hypothesized that risk accumulation before adulthood induces violent aggression and criminal conduct, independent of mental illness. We determined in 6 independent cohorts (4 schizophrenia and 2 general population samples) pre-adult risk exposure, comprising urbanicity, migration, physical and sexual abuse as primary, and cannabis or alcohol as secondary hits. All single hits by themselves were marginally associated with higher violent aggression. Most strikingly, however, their accumulation strongly predicted violent aggression (odds ratio 10.5). An epigenome-wide association scan to detect differential methylation of blood-derived DNA of selected extreme group individuals yielded overall negative results. Conversely, determination in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of histone-deacetylase1 mRNA as 'umbrella mediator' of epigenetic processes revealed an increase in the high-risk group, suggesting lasting epigenetic alterations. Together, we provide sound evidence of a disease-independent unfortunate relationship between well-defined pre-adult environmental hits and violent aggression, calling for more efficient prevention.

Determination of γ-hydroxybutyrate in human urine samples by ion exclusion and ion exchange two-dimensional chromatography system.

PubMed

Liu, Junwei; Deng, Zhifen; Zhu, Zuoyi; Wang, Yong; Wang, Guoqing; Sun, Yu-An; Zhu, Yan

2017-12-15

A two-dimensional ion chromatography system was developed for the determination of γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in human urine samples. Ion exclusion chromatography was used in the first dimensional separation for elimination of urine matrices and detection of GHB above 10mgL -1 , ion exchange chromatography was used in the second dimensional separation via column-switching technique for detection of GHB above 0.08mgL -1 . Under the optimized chromatographic conditions, the ion exclusion and ion exchange chromatography separation system exhibited satisfactory repeatability (RSD<3.1%, n=6) and good linearity in the range of 50-1000mgL -1 and 0.5-100mgL -1 , respectively. By this method, concentrations of GHB in the selected human urine samples were detected in the range of 0-1.57mgL -1 . The urine sample containing 0.89mgL -1 GHB was selected to evaluate the accuracy; the spiked recoveries of GHB were 95.9-102.8%. The results showed that the two-dimensional ion chromatography system was convenient and practical for the determination of GHB in human urine samples. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

New high-efficiency ion-trap mobility detection system for narcotics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McGann, William J.

1997-02-01

A new patented Ion Trap Mobility Spectrometer design is presented. Conventional IMS designs typically operate below 0.1 percent efficiency. This is due primarily to electric field driven, sample ion discharge on a shutter grid. Since 99.9 percent of the sample ions generated in the reaction region are lost int his discharge process, the sensitivity of conventional systems is limited. The new design provides greater detection efficiency than conventional designs through the use of an 'ion trap' concept. The paper describes the plasma and sample ion dynamics in the reaction region of the new detector and discusses the advantages of utilizing a 'field-free' space to generate sample ions with high efficiency. Fast electronic switching is described which is used to perturb the field-free space and pulse the sample ions into the drift region for separation and subsequent detection using pseudo real-time software for analysis and display of the data. One application for this new detector is now being developed, a portable, hand-held system with switching capability for the detection of drugs and explosives. Preliminary ion spectra and sensitivity data are presented for cocaine and heroin using a hand sniffer configuration.

Time-resolved ion imaging at free-electron lasers using TimepixCam.

PubMed

Fisher-Levine, Merlin; Boll, Rebecca; Ziaee, Farzaneh; Bomme, Cédric; Erk, Benjamin; Rompotis, Dimitrios; Marchenko, Tatiana; Nomerotski, Andrei; Rolles, Daniel

2018-03-01

The application of a novel fast optical-imaging camera, TimepixCam, to molecular photoionization experiments using the velocity-map imaging technique at a free-electron laser is described. TimepixCam is a 256 × 256 pixel CMOS camera that is able to detect and time-stamp ion hits with 20 ns timing resolution, thus making it possible to record ion momentum images for all fragment ions simultaneously and avoiding the need to gate the detector on a single fragment. This allows the recording of significantly more data within a given amount of beam time and is particularly useful for pump-probe experiments, where drifts, for example, in the timing and pulse energy of the free-electron laser, severely limit the comparability of pump-probe scans for different fragments taken consecutively. In principle, this also allows ion-ion covariance or coincidence techniques to be applied to determine angular correlations between fragments.

Anomalous annealing of floating gate errors due to heavy ion irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yin, Yanan; Liu, Jie; Sun, Youmei; Hou, Mingdong; Liu, Tianqi; Ye, Bing; Ji, Qinggang; Luo, Jie; Zhao, Peixiong

2018-03-01

Using the heavy ions provided by the Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou (HIRFL), the annealing of heavy-ion induced floating gate (FG) errors in 34 nm and 25 nm NAND Flash memories has been studied. The single event upset (SEU) cross section of FG and the evolution of the errors after irradiation depending on the ion linear energy transfer (LET) values, data pattern and feature size of the device are presented. Different rates of annealing for different ion LET and different pattern are observed in 34 nm and 25 nm memories. The variation of the percentage of different error patterns in 34 nm and 25 nm memories with annealing time shows that the annealing of FG errors induced by heavy-ion in memories will mainly take place in the cells directly hit under low LET ion exposure and other cells affected by heavy ions when the ion LET is higher. The influence of Multiple Cell Upsets (MCUs) on the annealing of FG errors is analyzed. MCUs with high error multiplicity which account for the majority of the errors can induce a large percentage of annealed errors.

ION ACCELERATION SYSTEM

DOEpatents

Luce, J.S.; Martin, J.A.

1960-02-23

Well focused, intense ion beams are obtained by providing a multi- apertured source grid in front of an ion source chamber and an accelerating multi- apertured grid closely spaced from and in alignment with the source grid. The longest dimensions of the elongated apertures in the grids are normal to the direction of the magnetic field used with the device. Large ion currents may be withdrawn from the source, since they do not pass through any small focal region between the grids.

Monitoring Hitting Load in Tennis Using Inertial Sensors and Machine Learning.

PubMed

Whiteside, David; Cant, Olivia; Connolly, Molly; Reid, Machar

2017-10-01

Quantifying external workload is fundamental to training prescription in sport. In tennis, global positioning data are imprecise and fail to capture hitting loads. The current gold standard (manual notation) is time intensive and often not possible given players' heavy travel schedules. To develop an automated stroke-classification system to help quantify hitting load in tennis. Nineteen athletes wore an inertial measurement unit (IMU) on their wrist during 66 video-recorded training sessions. Video footage was manually notated such that known shot type (serve, rally forehand, slice forehand, forehand volley, rally backhand, slice backhand, backhand volley, smash, or false positive) was associated with the corresponding IMU data for 28,582 shots. Six types of machine-learning models were then constructed to classify true shot type from the IMU signals. Across 10-fold cross-validation, a cubic-kernel support vector machine classified binned shots (overhead, forehand, or backhand) with an accuracy of 97.4%. A second cubic-kernel support vector machine achieved 93.2% accuracy when classifying all 9 shot types. With a view to monitoring external load, the combination of miniature inertial sensors and machine learning offers a practical and automated method of quantifying shot counts and discriminating shot types in elite tennis players.

QMRA for Drinking Water: 1. Revisiting the Mathematical Structure of Single-Hit Dose-Response Models.

PubMed

Nilsen, Vegard; Wyller, John

2016-01-01

Dose-response models are essential to quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA), providing a link between levels of human exposure to pathogens and the probability of negative health outcomes. In drinking water studies, the class of semi-mechanistic models known as single-hit models, such as the exponential and the exact beta-Poisson, has seen widespread use. In this work, an attempt is made to carefully develop the general mathematical single-hit framework while explicitly accounting for variation in (1) host susceptibility and (2) pathogen infectivity. This allows a precise interpretation of the so-called single-hit probability and precise identification of a set of statistical independence assumptions that are sufficient to arrive at single-hit models. Further analysis of the model framework is facilitated by formulating the single-hit models compactly using probability generating and moment generating functions. Among the more practically relevant conclusions drawn are: (1) for any dose distribution, variation in host susceptibility always reduces the single-hit risk compared to a constant host susceptibility (assuming equal mean susceptibilities), (2) the model-consistent representation of complete host immunity is formally demonstrated to be a simple scaling of the response, (3) the model-consistent expression for the total risk from repeated exposures deviates (gives lower risk) from the conventional expression used in applications, and (4) a model-consistent expression for the mean per-exposure dose that produces the correct total risk from repeated exposures is developed. © 2016 Society for Risk Analysis.

Methods to identify, study and understand end-user participation in HIT development.

PubMed

Høstgaard, Anna Marie; Bertelsen, Pernille; Nøhr, Christian

2011-09-28

Experience has shown that for new health-information-technology (HIT) to be suc-cessful clinicians must obtain positive clinical benefits as a result of its implementation and joint-ownership of the decisions made during the development process. A prerequisite for achieving both success criteria is real end-user-participation. Experience has also shown that further research into developing improved methods to collect more detailed information on social groups participating in HIT development is needed in order to support, facilitate and improve real end-user participation. A case study of an EHR planning-process in a Danish county from October 2003 until April 2006 was conducted using process-analysis. Three social groups (physicians, IT-professionals and administrators) were identified and studied in the local, present perspective. In order to understand the interactions between the three groups, the national, historic perspective was included through a literature-study. Data were collected through observations, interviews, insight gathered from documents and relevant literature. In the local, present perspective, the administrator's strategy for the EHR planning process meant that there was no clinical workload-reduction. This was seen as one of the main barriers to the physicians to achieving real influence. In the national, historic perspective, physicians and administrators have had/have different perceptions of the purpose of the patient record and they have both struggled to influence this definition. To date, the administrators have won the battle. This explains the conditions made available for the physicians' participation in this case, which led to their role being reduced to that of clinical consultants--rather than real participants. In HIT-development the interests of and the balance of power between the different social groups involved are decisive in determining whether or not the end-users become real participants in the development process. Real

Ion-Specific Nutrient Management in Closed Systems: The Necessity for Ion-Selective Sensors in Terrestrial and Space-Based Agriculture and Water Management Systems

PubMed Central

Bamsey, Matthew; Graham, Thomas; Thompson, Cody; Berinstain, Alain; Scott, Alan; Dixon, Michael

2012-01-01

The ability to monitor and control plant nutrient ions in fertigation solutions, on an ion-specific basis, is critical to the future of controlled environment agriculture crop production, be it in traditional terrestrial settings (e.g., greenhouse crop production) or as a component of bioregenerative life support systems for long duration space exploration. Several technologies are currently available that can provide the required measurement of ion-specific activities in solution. The greenhouse sector has invested in research examining the potential of a number of these technologies to meet the industry's demanding requirements, and although no ideal solution yet exists for on-line measurement, growers do utilize technologies such as high-performance liquid chromatography to provide off-line measurements. An analogous situation exists on the International Space Station where, technological solutions are sought, but currently on-orbit water quality monitoring is considerably restricted. This paper examines the specific advantages that on-line ion-selective sensors could provide to plant production systems both terrestrially and when utilized in space-based biological life support systems and how similar technologies could be applied to nominal on-orbit water quality monitoring. A historical development and technical review of the various ion-selective monitoring technologies is provided. PMID:23201999

Ion-specific nutrient management in closed systems: the necessity for ion-selective sensors in terrestrial and space-based agriculture and water management systems.

PubMed

Bamsey, Matthew; Graham, Thomas; Thompson, Cody; Berinstain, Alain; Scott, Alan; Dixon, Michael

2012-10-01

The ability to monitor and control plant nutrient ions in fertigation solutions, on an ion-specific basis, is critical to the future of controlled environment agriculture crop production, be it in traditional terrestrial settings (e.g., greenhouse crop production) or as a component of bioregenerative life support systems for long duration space exploration. Several technologies are currently available that can provide the required measurement of ion-specific activities in solution. The greenhouse sector has invested in research examining the potential of a number of these technologies to meet the industry's demanding requirements, and although no ideal solution yet exists for on-line measurement, growers do utilize technologies such as high-performance liquid chromatography to provide off-line measurements. An analogous situation exists on the International Space Station where, technological solutions are sought, but currently on-orbit water quality monitoring is considerably restricted. This paper examines the specific advantages that on-line ion-selective sensors could provide to plant production systems both terrestrially and when utilized in space-based biological life support systems and how similar technologies could be applied to nominal on-orbit water quality monitoring. A historical development and technical review of the various ion-selective monitoring technologies is provided.

STING versus HIT technique of endoscopic treatment for vesicoureteral reflux: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Yap, Te-Lu; Chen, Yong; Nah, Shireen A; Ong, Caroline Choo Phaik; Jacobsen, Anette; Low, Yee

2016-12-01

Our study aimed to compare the efficacy of two endoscopic techniques used for the correction of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR): subureteral transurethral injection (STING) and hydrodistension implantation technique (HIT). A systematic review was conducted using MEDLINE, Google scholar, and Cochrane databases from 1984 to 2015. Meta-analysis of the selected studies was performed to compare the extent of reflux resolution following both techniques. Six observational studies met the inclusion criteria for content. These comprised 632 ureters treated by STING and 895 ureters treated by HIT procedure. All included studies utilized dextranomer/hyaluronic acid (Deflux) as the bulking agent. The overall resolution of VUR was significantly higher in HIT (82.5%) compared to STING (71.4%) [pooled odds ratio (OR)=0.54; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.42-0.69; P<0.0001; I 2 =8%]. A subgroup analysis showed that HIT had better outcomes than STING for both lower grade (I-III) [OR=0.43; 95% CI 0.23-0.82; P=0.01; I 2 =0%] and high-grade VUR (IV-V) [OR=0.43; 95% CI 0.20-0.91; P=0.03; I 2 =0%]. However, there was no statistical difference in the requirement of additional injections between STING and HIT groups. HIT is superior to STING technique for resolution of VUR after Deflux injection. However, more randomized trials with longer follow-up are necessary to demonstrate the benefit of HIT compared to STING procedure. Retrospective comparative studies - level III. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Being selective at the plate: processing dependence between perceptual variables relates to hitting goals and performance.

PubMed

Gray, Rob

2013-08-01

Performance of a skill that involves acting on a goal object (e.g., a ball to be hit) can influence one's judgment of the size and speed of that object. The present study examined how these action-specific effects are affected when the goal of the actor is varied and they are free to choose between alternative actions. In Experiment 1, expert baseball players were asked to perform three different directional hitting tasks in a batting simulation and make interleaved perceptual judgments about three ball parameters (speed, plate crossing location, and size). Perceived ball size was largest (and perceived speed was slowest) when the ball crossing location was optimal for the particular hitting task the batter was performing (e.g., an "outside" pitch for opposite-field hitting). The magnitude of processing dependency between variables (speed vs. location and size vs. location) was positively correlated with batting performance. In Experiment 2, the action-specific effects observed in Experiment 1 were mimicked by systematically changing the ball diameter in the simulation as a function of plate crossing location. The number of swing initiations was greater when ball size was larger, and batters were more successful in the hitting task for which the larger pitches were optimal (e.g., greater number of pull hits than opposite-field hits when "inside" pitches were larger). These findings suggest attentional accentuation of goal-relevant targets underlies action-related changes in perception and are consistent with an action selection role for these effects. 2013 APA, all rights reserved

Three-grid accelerator system for an ion propulsion engine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brophy, John R. (Inventor)

1994-01-01

An apparatus is presented for an ion engine comprising a three-grid accelerator system with the decelerator grid biased negative of the beam plasma. This arrangement substantially reduces the charge-exchange ion current reaching the accelerator grid at high tank pressures, which minimizes erosion of the accelerator grid due to charge exchange ion sputtering, known to be the major accelerator grid wear mechanism. An improved method for life testing ion engines is also provided using the disclosed apparatus. In addition, the invention can also be applied in materials processing.

75 FR 6398 - Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology; HIT Policy Committee's...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-09

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology; HIT Policy Committee's Adoption/Certification Workgroup Meeting; Notice of Meeting AGENCY: Office... of Committee: HIT Policy Committee's Adoption/Certification Workgroup. General Function of the...

42 CFR 495.342 - Annual HIT IAPD requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... (CONTINUED) STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION STANDARDS FOR THE ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD TECHNOLOGY INCENTIVE... delays in meeting target dates in the approved HIT technology PAPD/IAPD and approved changes to it. (c) A... products. (d) A project activity schedule for the remainder of the project. (e) A project expenditure...

42 CFR 495.342 - Annual HIT IAPD requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... (CONTINUED) STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION STANDARDS FOR THE ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD TECHNOLOGY INCENTIVE... delays in meeting target dates in the approved HIT technology PAPD/IAPD and approved changes to it. (c) A... products. (d) A project activity schedule for the remainder of the project. (e) A project expenditure...

Liners for ion transport membrane systems

DOEpatents

Carolan, Michael Francis; Miller, Christopher Francis

2010-08-10

Ion transport membrane system comprising (a) a pressure vessel comprising an interior, an exterior, an inlet, an inlet conduit, an outlet, and an outlet conduit; (b) a plurality of planar ion transport membrane modules disposed in the interior of the pressure vessel and arranged in series, each membrane module comprising mixed metal oxide ceramic material and having an interior region and an exterior region, wherein the inlet and the outlet of the pressure vessel are in flow communication with exterior regions of the membrane modules; (c) a gas manifold having an interior surface wherein the gas manifold is in flow communication with the interior region of each of the planar ion transport membrane modules and with the exterior of the pressure vessel; and (d) a liner disposed within any of the inlet conduit, the outlet conduit, and the interior surface of the gas manifold.

Acute intraoperative heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and thrombosis during coronary artery bypass grafting: Two case reports providing evidence for the role of preoperative LMWH in triggering sensitization.

PubMed

Khoury, M; Pitsis, A; Poumpouridou-Kioura, H; Soufla, G; Kanthou, C; Matoula, N; Angelidis, A; Melissari, E

2016-10-01

Systemic anticoagulation is necessary during cardiac surgery. To date, the only well established anticoagulation protocol involves the use of heparin. However, heparin can cause heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) a potentially life threatening immune-mediated thromboembolic syndrome. Until now, devastating consequences of HIT syndrome in patients undergoing heart surgery have been described, but only postoperatively. Here we report the development of HIT syndrome during cardiac revascularization by intra-operative heparin administration in two patients previously exposed to LMWH. We report on two patients who developed rapid and profound intravascular coagulation with severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count decreased from ≥250×10 9 /L to 50×10 9 /L) due to HIT development caused by heparin administration during coronary artery bypass graft surgery. In addition we report that fondaparinux, given intra-operatively in association with antithrombin, may be a suitable alternative anticoagulant for successfully preventing the devastating consequences of intra-operative HIT development. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the development of acute intra-operative HIT, secondary to high-dose UFH administered for coronary revascularization, in which the unexpected presence of platelet-activating anti-PF4/heparin antibodies at surgery was explained by preoperative administration of a one-week course of LMWH but without any preoperative evidence for HIT. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

On the Relationship between Molecular Hit Rates in High-Throughput Screening and Molecular Descriptors.

PubMed

Hansson, Mari; Pemberton, John; Engkvist, Ola; Feierberg, Isabella; Brive, Lars; Jarvis, Philip; Zander-Balderud, Linda; Chen, Hongming

2014-06-01

High-throughput screening (HTS) is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry to identify novel chemical starting points for drug discovery projects. The current study focuses on the relationship between molecular hit rate in recent in-house HTS and four common molecular descriptors: lipophilicity (ClogP), size (heavy atom count, HEV), fraction of sp(3)-hybridized carbons (Fsp3), and fraction of molecular framework (f(MF)). The molecular hit rate is defined as the fraction of times the molecule has been assigned as active in the HTS campaigns where it has been screened. Beta-binomial statistical models were built to model the molecular hit rate as a function of these descriptors. The advantage of the beta-binomial statistical models is that the correlation between the descriptors is taken into account. Higher degree polynomial terms of the descriptors were also added into the beta-binomial statistic model to improve the model quality. The relative influence of different molecular descriptors on molecular hit rate has been estimated, taking into account that the descriptors are correlated to each other through applying beta-binomial statistical modeling. The results show that ClogP has the largest influence on the molecular hit rate, followed by Fsp3 and HEV. f(MF) has only a minor influence besides its correlation with the other molecular descriptors. © 2013 Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening.

The multiple-hit pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

PubMed

Buzzetti, Elena; Pinzani, Massimo; Tsochatzis, Emmanuel A

2016-08-01

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly prevalent and represents a growing challenge in terms of prevention and treatment. Despite its high prevalence, only a small minority of affected patients develops inflammation and subsequently fibrosis and chronic liver disease, while most of them only exhibit simple steatosis. In this context, the full understanding of the mechanisms underlying the development of NAFLD and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is of extreme importance; despite advances in this field, knowledge on the pathogenesis of NAFLD is still incomplete. The 'two-hit' hypothesis is now obsolete, as it is inadequate to explain the several molecular and metabolic changes that take place in NAFLD. The "multiple hit" hypothesis considers multiple insults acting together on genetically predisposed subjects to induce NAFLD and provides a more accurate explanation of NAFLD pathogenesis. Such hits include insulin resistance, hormones secreted from the adipose tissue, nutritional factors, gut microbiota and genetic and epigenetic factors. In this article, we review the factors that form this hypothesis. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Combining Computational Methods for Hit to Lead Optimization in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Drug Discovery

PubMed Central

Ekins, Sean; Freundlich, Joel S.; Hobrath, Judith V.; White, E. Lucile; Reynolds, Robert C

2013-01-01

Purpose Tuberculosis treatments need to be shorter and overcome drug resistance. Our previous large scale phenotypic high-throughput screening against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) has identified 737 active compounds and thousands that are inactive. We have used this data for building computational models as an approach to minimize the number of compounds tested. Methods A cheminformatics clustering approach followed by Bayesian machine learning models (based on publicly available Mtb screening data) was used to illustrate that application of these models for screening set selections can enrich the hit rate. Results In order to explore chemical diversity around active cluster scaffolds of the dose-response hits obtained from our previous Mtb screens a set of 1924 commercially available molecules have been selected and evaluated for antitubercular activity and cytotoxicity using Vero, THP-1 and HepG2 cell lines with 4.3%, 4.2% and 2.7% hit rates, respectively. We demonstrate that models incorporating antitubercular and cytotoxicity data in Vero cells can significantly enrich the selection of non-toxic actives compared to random selection. Across all cell lines, the Molecular Libraries Small Molecule Repository (MLSMR) and cytotoxicity model identified ~10% of the hits in the top 1% screened (>10 fold enrichment). We also showed that seven out of nine Mtb active compounds from different academic published studies and eight out of eleven Mtb active compounds from a pharmaceutical screen (GSK) would have been identified by these Bayesian models. Conclusion Combining clustering and Bayesian models represents a useful strategy for compound prioritization and hit-to lead optimization of antitubercular agents. PMID:24132686

Analyzing system safety in lithium-ion grid energy storage

DOE PAGES

Rosewater, David; Williams, Adam

2015-10-08

As grid energy storage systems become more complex, it grows more di cult to design them for safe operation. This paper first reviews the properties of lithium-ion batteries that can produce hazards in grid scale systems. Then the conventional safety engineering technique Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) is reviewed to identify its limitations in complex systems. To address this gap, new research is presented on the application of Systems-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) to a lithium-ion battery based grid energy storage system. STPA is anticipated to ll the gaps recognized in PRA for designing complex systems and hence be more e ectivemore » or less costly to use during safety engineering. It was observed that STPA is able to capture causal scenarios for accidents not identified using PRA. Additionally, STPA enabled a more rational assessment of uncertainty (all that is not known) thereby promoting a healthy skepticism of design assumptions. Lastly, we conclude that STPA may indeed be more cost effective than PRA for safety engineering in lithium-ion battery systems. However, further research is needed to determine if this approach actually reduces safety engineering costs in development, or improves industry safety standards.« less

Analyzing system safety in lithium-ion grid energy storage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosewater, David; Williams, Adam

2015-12-01

As grid energy storage systems become more complex, it grows more difficult to design them for safe operation. This paper first reviews the properties of lithium-ion batteries that can produce hazards in grid scale systems. Then the conventional safety engineering technique Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) is reviewed to identify its limitations in complex systems. To address this gap, new research is presented on the application of Systems-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) to a lithium-ion battery based grid energy storage system. STPA is anticipated to fill the gaps recognized in PRA for designing complex systems and hence be more effective or less costly to use during safety engineering. It was observed that STPA is able to capture causal scenarios for accidents not identified using PRA. Additionally, STPA enabled a more rational assessment of uncertainty (all that is not known) thereby promoting a healthy skepticism of design assumptions. We conclude that STPA may indeed be more cost effective than PRA for safety engineering in lithium-ion battery systems. However, further research is needed to determine if this approach actually reduces safety engineering costs in development, or improves industry safety standards.

Note: Ion source design for ion trap systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noriega, J. R.; Quevedo, M.; Gnade, B.; Vasselli, J.

2013-06-01

A small plasma (glow discharge) based ion source and circuit are described in this work. The ion source works by producing a high voltage pulsed discharge between two electrodes in a pressure range of 50-100 mTorr. A third mesh electrode is used for ion extraction. The electrodes are small stainless steel screws mounted in a MACOR ionization chamber in a linear arrangement. The electrode arrangement is driven by a circuit, design for low power operation. This design is a proof of concept intended for applications on small cylindrical ion traps.

UN study reports Asian economic crisis has hit women's health.

PubMed

Ciment, J

1999-02-13

A UN Population Fund report, "Southeast Asian Populations in Crisis," revealed that the economic crisis in Southeastern Asia has had a disproportionately adverse effect on the health of women and girls. This has occurred because the industries employing women have been hardest hit and because governments have reduced spending on health care and female education. Thailand, for example, has reduced its AIDS budget by 25% even as increasing numbers of women are pushed into the sex trade by economic necessity. Reproductive health services for adolescents have been hit just as shrinking family budgets are forcing adolescents to drop out of school. The report's authors are calling for a more detailed look at the situation.

75 FR 33811 - Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology; HIT Policy Committee's...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-15

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology; HIT Policy Committee's Privacy & Security Tiger Team Meeting; Notice of Meeting AGENCY: Office of... of Committee: HIT Policy Committee's Privacy & Security Tiger Team. General Function of the Committee...

Statistical analysis of the distribution of chromosome aberrations in human lymphocytes induced by low and high energy heavy ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deperas-Standylo, Joanna; Lee, Ryonfa; Nasonova, Elena; Ritter, Sylvia; Gudowska-Nowak, Ewa; Kac, M.; Smoluchowski, M.

Differences in the track structure of high LET (Linear Energy Transfer) particles are clearly visible on chromosomal level, in particular in the number of lesions produced by an ion traversal through a cell nucleus and in the distribution of aberrations among the cells. In the present study we focus on the effects of low energy C-and Cr-ions (<10 MeV/u) in comparison with high energy C-ions (90 MeV/u). For the experiments human lymphocytes were exposed to 9.5 MeV/u C-ions, 4.1 MeV/u Cr-ions or 90 MeV/u C-ions with LET values of 175 keV/µm, 3160 keV/µm and 29 keV/µm, respectively. Chromosome aberrations were measured at several post-irradiation sampling times (48, 60, 72 and 84h) in first cycle metaphases following Giemsa-staining. For 90 MeV/u C-ions, where the track radius is larger than the cell nucleus, the distribution of aberrations did not change significantly with sampling time and has been well described by Poisson statistics. In contrast, for low energy C-ions, where the track radius is smaller than the cell nucleus, distribution of aberration strongly deviates from uni-modal and displays two peaks representative for subpopulations of non-hit and hit cells, respectively. Following this pattern, also damage-dependent cell cycle delay was observed. At 48 h after irradiation a high number of undamaged and probably unhit cells was found to reach mitosis. This number of undamaged cells decreased further with sampling time, while the frequencies of cells carrying aberrations (1-11 per cell) were increasing. All distributions were found to conform a compound Poisson (Neyman-type A) statistics which allows estimating the average number of particle traversals through a cell nucleus and the average number of aberrations induced by one particle traversal. Similar response has also been observed at 48h after Cr-ion exposure. In this case, however, non-aberrant cells have been found to dominate in the population even at later sampling times and a low number of

Metastatic medulloblastoma in adults: outcome of patients treated according to the HIT2000 protocol.

PubMed

von Bueren, André O; Friedrich, Carsten; von Hoff, Katja; Kwiecien, Robert; Müller, Klaus; Pietsch, Torsten; Warmuth-Metz, Monika; Hau, Peter; Benesch, Martin; Kuehl, Joachim; Kortmann, Rolf D; Rutkowski, Stefan

2015-11-01

Due to the rarity of metastatic medulloblastoma in adults, knowledge about the efficacy and toxicity of intensified chemotherapy and radiotherapy is limited. Adults with disseminated medulloblastoma registered in the HIT2000 trial as observational patients and treated according to one of two different treatment regimens were analysed. The sandwich strategy MET-HIT2000AB4 consists of postoperative chemotherapy, hyperfractionated craniospinal radiotherapy, and maintenance chemotherapy; while the HIT'91 maintenance strategy consists of postoperative craniospinal radiotherapy, and maintenance chemotherapy. Twenty-three patients (median age: 30.7years), diagnosed from November 2001 to July 2009, and treated in 18 institutions in Germany and Austria, were eligible. The median follow-up of surviving patients was 3.99years. The 4-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS)±standard error (SE) were 52%±12% and 91%±6%, respectively. The survival was similar in both treatment groups (HIT'91 maintenance strategy, n=9; MET-HIT2000AB4 sandwich strategy, n=14). Patients with large cell/anaplastic medulloblastoma relapsed and died (n=2; 4-year EFS/OS: 0%) and OS differed compared to patients with classic (n=11; 4-year EFS/OS: 71%/91%) and desmoplastic medulloblastoma (n=10; 4-year EFS/OS: 48%/100%), respectively (p=0.161 for EFS and p=0.033 for OS). Treatment-induced toxicities consisted mainly of neurotoxicity (50% of patients, ⩾ °II), followed by haematotoxicity and nephrotoxicity/ototoxicity. The professional outcome appeared to be negatively affected in the majority of evaluable patients (9/10). Treatment of adults with metastatic medulloblastoma according to the intensified paediatric HIT2000 protocol was feasible with acceptable toxicities. EFS rates achieved by both chemotherapeutic protocols were favourable and appear to be inferior to those obtained in older children/adolescents with metastatic disease. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights

The Rock that Hit New York

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

Meade, Roger Allen; Keksis, August Lawrence

On January 12, 1975, a rock seemed to fall from the sky over New York State’s Schoharie County hitting the tractor of a local farmer, who was “preparing his fields for spring planting.” As the farmer later described the event to a reporter from the UFO INVESTIGATOR, the object glanced off the tractor, fell to the ground, and melted its way through a patch of ice that was two and one half inches thick. The farmer, Leonard Tillapaugh, called the county sheriff, Harvey Stoddard, who recovered the rock, noting that it “was still warm.” Why and how a sample ofmore » the rock came to Los Alamos is not known. However, it captivated a wide Laboratory audience, was subjected to rigorous testing and evaluation. Los Alamos used the scientific method in the manner promoted by Hynek. Did Los Alamos solve the mystery of the rock’s origin? Not definitively. Although the exact origin could not be determined, it was shown conclusively that the rock was not from outer space. With that said, the saga of Rock that hit New York came to an end. Nothing more was said or written about it. The principals involved have long since passed from the scene. The NICAP ceased operations in 1980. And, the rock, itself, has disappeared.« less

Reviewing Hit Discovery Literature for Difficult Targets: Glutathione Transferase Omega-1 as an Example.

PubMed

Xie, Yiyue; Dahlin, Jayme L; Oakley, Aaron J; Casarotto, Marco G; Board, Philip G; Baell, Jonathan B

2018-05-10

Early stage drug discovery reporting on relatively new or difficult targets is often associated with insufficient hit triage. Literature reviews of such targets seldom delve into the detail required to critically analyze the associated screening hits reported. Here we take the enzyme glutathione transferase omega-1 (GSTO1-1) as an example of a relatively difficult target and review the associated literature involving small-molecule inhibitors. As part of this process we deliberately pay closer-than-usual attention to assay interference and hit quality aspects. We believe this Perspective will be a useful guide for future development of GSTO1-1 inhibitors, as well serving as a template for future review formats of new or difficult targets.

Sepsis Patients with First and Second-Hit Infections Show Different Outcomes Depending on the Causative Organism

PubMed Central

Morgan, Matt P.; Szakmany, Tamas; Power, Sarah G.; Olaniyi, Patrick; Hall, Judith E.; Rowan, Kathy; Eberl, Matthias

2016-01-01

Objective: With improving rates of initial survival in severe sepsis, second-hit infections that occur following resolution of the primary insult carry an increasing burden of morbidity. However, despite the clinical relevance of these infections, no data are available on differential outcomes in patients with first and second-hit infections depending on the nature of the causative organism. This study aims to explore any differences in these subgroups. Design: In a retrospective, observational cohort study, the United Kingdom Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre (ICNARC) database was used to explore the outcomes of patient with first-hit infections leading to sepsis, and sepsis patients with second-hit infections grouped according to the Gram status of the causative organism. Setting: General critical care units in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland participating in the ICNARC programme between 1 January, 2007 and 30 June, 2012. Patients: Patient groups analyzed included 2119 patients with and 1319 patients without sepsis who developed an intensive care unit acquired infection in blood. Subgroups included patients with trauma, emergency neurosurgery, elective surgery, and cardiogenic shock. Measurements and main results: Gram-negative organisms were associated with poorer outcomes in first-hit infections. The 90-day mortality of patients who developed a Gram-negative infection was 43.6% following elective surgery and 27.9% following trauma. This compared with a mortality of 25.6 and 20.6%, respectively, in Gram-positive infections. Unexpectedly, an inverse relationship between Gram status and mortality was observed in second-hit infections. Patients with an initial diagnosis of sepsis who developed secondary infections caused by Gram-negative organisms had a 90-day mortality of 40.4%, compared with 43.6% in Gram-positive infections. Conclusions: Our study identifies a fundamental difference in patient outcomes between first-hit and second-hit

Sepsis Patients with First and Second-Hit Infections Show Different Outcomes Depending on the Causative Organism.

PubMed

Morgan, Matt P; Szakmany, Tamas; Power, Sarah G; Olaniyi, Patrick; Hall, Judith E; Rowan, Kathy; Eberl, Matthias

2016-01-01

With improving rates of initial survival in severe sepsis, second-hit infections that occur following resolution of the primary insult carry an increasing burden of morbidity. However, despite the clinical relevance of these infections, no data are available on differential outcomes in patients with first and second-hit infections depending on the nature of the causative organism. This study aims to explore any differences in these subgroups. In a retrospective, observational cohort study, the United Kingdom Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre (ICNARC) database was used to explore the outcomes of patient with first-hit infections leading to sepsis, and sepsis patients with second-hit infections grouped according to the Gram status of the causative organism. General critical care units in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland participating in the ICNARC programme between 1 January, 2007 and 30 June, 2012. Patient groups analyzed included 2119 patients with and 1319 patients without sepsis who developed an intensive care unit acquired infection in blood. Subgroups included patients with trauma, emergency neurosurgery, elective surgery, and cardiogenic shock. Gram-negative organisms were associated with poorer outcomes in first-hit infections. The 90-day mortality of patients who developed a Gram-negative infection was 43.6% following elective surgery and 27.9% following trauma. This compared with a mortality of 25.6 and 20.6%, respectively, in Gram-positive infections. Unexpectedly, an inverse relationship between Gram status and mortality was observed in second-hit infections. PATIENTS with an initial diagnosis of sepsis who developed secondary infections caused by Gram-negative organisms had a 90-day mortality of 40.4%, compared with 43.6% in Gram-positive infections. Our study identifies a fundamental difference in patient outcomes between first-hit and second-hit bacterial infections, which may be due to genetic, microbiological, immunological, and

Flexible ion conduit for use under rarefied atmospheric conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hars, Gyorgy; Meuzelaar, Henk LC.

1997-09-01

A tubular ion conduit has been constructed, which transports ions by convection by means of a carrier gas. Typical inlet pressures are in the 10-100 Torr range, with outlet pressures as low as 10-3 Torr. The 20-30 cm, 1-2-mm-i.d., capillary tube, made of an electrically insulating material, is surrounded by a specifically configured pair of helical electrodes ("helical dipole"), which are supplied with symmetrical voltages in the tens of volt amplitude and in 1 MHz frequency range. The vibrational average force field generated reduces the tendency of ions to hit the inner wall of the tube. This way ions can be transported with minimal loss. Previously, known ion guides are operated under molecular flow (high vacuum) conditions only, as opposed to the method described here, where the carrier gas enters under viscous flow conditions and exits as molecular flow. In addition, existing ion guides are stiff in contrast to the flexible construction described here, which can be easily and inexpensively manufactured. The ion conduit is expected to have important applications in connecting ambient or near-ambient pressure electrospray ionization or atmospheric pressure ionization type ion sources to mass spectrometers, while reducing pumping requirements, e.g., field portable equipment. Furthermore, the device may provide a means for connecting electron multiplier detectors to near ambient pressure analyzers such as ion mobility spectrometers.

Power processing systems for ion thrusters.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Herron, B. G.; Garth, D. R.; Finke, R. C.; Shumaker, H. A.

1972-01-01

The proposed use of ion thrusters to fulfill various communication satellite propulsion functions such as east-west and north-south stationkeeping, attitude control, station relocation and orbit raising, naturally leads to the requirement for lightweight, efficient and reliable thruster power processing systems. Collectively, the propulsion requirements dictate a wide range of thruster power levels and operational lifetimes, which must be matched by the power processing. This paper will discuss the status of such power processing systems, present system design alternatives and project expected near future power system performance.

Comparison of Video Head Impulse Test (vHIT) Gains Between Two Commercially Available Devices and by Different Gain Analytical Methods.

PubMed

Lee, Sang Hun; Yoo, Myung Hoon; Park, Jun Woo; Kang, Byung Chul; Yang, Chan Joo; Kang, Woo Suk; Ahn, Joong Ho; Chung, Jong Woo; Park, Hong Ju

2018-06-01

To evaluate whether video head impulse test (vHIT) gains are dependent on the measuring device and method of analysis. Prospective study. vHIT was performed in 25 healthy subjects using two devices simultaneously. vHIT gains were compared between these instruments and using five different methods of comparing position and velocity gains during head movement intervals. The two devices produced different vHIT gain results with the same method of analysis. There were also significant differences in the vHIT gains measured using different analytical methods. The gain analytic method that compares the areas under the velocity curve (AUC) of the head and eye movements during head movements showed lower vHIT gains than a method that compared the peak velocities of the head and eye movements. The former method produced the vHIT gain with the smallest standard deviation among the five procedures tested in this study. vHIT gains differ in normal subjects depending on the device and method of analysis used, suggesting that it is advisable for each device to have its own normal values. Gain calculations that compare the AUC of the head and eye movements during the head movements show the smallest variance.

First Results From A Multi-Ion Beam Lithography And Processing System At The University Of Florida

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

Gila, Brent; Appleton, Bill R.; Fridmann, Joel

2011-06-01

The University of Florida (UF) have collaborated with Raith to develop a version of the Raith ionLiNE IBL system that has the capability to deliver multi-ion species in addition to the Ga ions normally available. The UF system is currently equipped with a AuSi liquid metal alloy ion source (LMAIS) and ExB filter making it capable of delivering Au and Si ions and ion clusters for ion beam processing. Other LMAIS systems could be developed in the future to deliver other ion species. This system is capable of high performance ion beam lithography, sputter profiling, maskless ion implantation, ion beammore » mixing, and spatial and temporal ion beam assisted writing and processing over large areas (100 mm2)--all with selected ion species at voltages from 15-40 kV and nanometer precision. We discuss the performance of the system with the AuSi LMAIS source and ExB mass separator. We report on initial results from the basic system characterization, ion beam lithography, as well as for basic ion-solid interactions.« less

Theory of ion transport with fast acid-base equilibrations in bioelectrochemical systems.

PubMed

Dykstra, J E; Biesheuvel, P M; Bruning, H; Ter Heijne, A

2014-07-01

Bioelectrochemical systems recover valuable components and energy in the form of hydrogen or electricity from aqueous organic streams. We derive a one-dimensional steady-state model for ion transport in a bioelectrochemical system, with the ions subject to diffusional and electrical forces. Since most of the ionic species can undergo acid-base reactions, ion transport is combined in our model with infinitely fast ion acid-base equilibrations. The model describes the current-induced ammonia evaporation and recovery at the cathode side of a bioelectrochemical system that runs on an organic stream containing ammonium ions. We identify that the rate of ammonia evaporation depends not only on the current but also on the flow rate of gas in the cathode chamber, the diffusion of ammonia from the cathode back into the anode chamber, through the ion exchange membrane placed in between, and the membrane charge density.

Ion specific effects: decoupling ion-ion and ion-water interactions

PubMed Central

Song, Jinsuk; Kang, Tae Hui; Kim, Mahn Won; Han, Songi

2015-01-01

Ion-specific effects in aqueous solution, known as the Hofmeister effect is prevalent in diverse systems ranging from pure ionic to complex protein solutions. The objective of this paper is to explicitly demonstrate how complex ion-ion and ion-water interactions manifest themselves in the Hofmeister effects, based on a series of recent experimental observation. These effects are not considered in the classical description of ion effects, such as the Deryaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory that, likely for that reason, fail to describe the origin of the phenomenological Hofmeister effect. However, given that models considering the basic forces of electrostatic and van der Waals interactions can offer rationalization for the core experimental observations, a universal interaction model stands a chance to be developed. In this perspective, we separately derive the contribution from ion-ion electrostatic interaction and ion-water interaction from second harmonic generation (SHG) data at the air-ion solution interface, which yields an estimate of ion-water interactions in solution. Hofmeister ion effects observed on biological solutes in solution should be similarly influenced by contributions from ion-ion and ion-water interactions, where the same ion-water interaction parameters derived from SHG data at the air-ion solution interface could be applicable. A key experimental data set available from solution systems to probe ion-water interaction is the modulation of water diffusion dynamics near ions in bulk ion solution, as well as near biological liposome surfaces. It is obtained from Overhauser dynamic nuclear polarization (ODNP), a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry technique. The surface water diffusivity is influenced by the contribution from ion-water interactions, both from localized surface charges and adsorbed ions, although the relative contribution of the former is larger on liposome surfaces. In this perspective, ion-water interaction

Contribution of Visual Information about Ball Trajectory to Baseball Hitting Accuracy

PubMed Central

Higuchi, Takatoshi; Nagami, Tomoyuki; Nakata, Hiroki; Watanabe, Masakazu; Isaka, Tadao; Kanosue, Kazuyuki

2016-01-01

The contribution of visual information about a pitched ball to the accuracy of baseball-bat contact may vary depending on the part of trajectory seen. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between hitting accuracy and the segment of the trajectory of the flying ball that can be seen by the batter. Ten college baseball field players participated in the study. The systematic error and standardized variability of ball-bat contact on the bat coordinate system and pitcher-to-catcher direction when hitting a ball launched from a pitching machine were measured with or without visual occlusion and analyzed using analysis of variance. The visual occlusion timing included occlusion from 150 milliseconds (ms) after the ball release (R+150), occlusion from 150 ms before the expected arrival of the launched ball at the home plate (A-150), and a condition with no occlusion (NO). Twelve trials in each condition were performed using two ball speeds (31.9 m·s-1 and 40.3 m·s-1). Visual occlusion did not affect the mean location of ball-bat contact in the bat’s long axis, short axis, and pitcher-to-catcher directions. Although the magnitude of standardized variability was significantly smaller in the bat’s short axis direction than in the bat’s long axis and pitcher-to-catcher directions (p < 0.001), additional visible time from the R+150 condition to the A-150 and NO conditions resulted in a further decrease in standardized variability only in the bat’s short axis direction (p < 0.05). The results suggested that there is directional specificity in the magnitude of standardized variability with different visible time. The present study also confirmed the limitation to visual information is the later part of the ball trajectory for improving hitting accuracy, which is likely due to visuo-motor delay. PMID:26848742

Massively Parallel Sequencing of Forensic STRs Using the Ion Chef™ and the Ion S5™ XL Systems.

PubMed

Wang, Le; Chen, Man; Wu, Bo; Liu, Yi-Cheng; Zhang, Guang-Feng; Jiang, Li; Xu, Xiu-Lan; Zhao, Xing-Chun; Ji, An-Quan; Ye, Jian

2018-03-01

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been used to genotype forensic short tandem repeat (STR) markers for individual identification and kinship analysis. STR data from several NGS platforms have been published, but forensic application trials using the Ion S5™ XL system have not been reported. In this work, we report sensitivity, reproducibility, mixture, simulated degradation, and casework sample data on the Ion Chef™ and S5™ XL systems using an early access 25-plex panel. Sensitivity experiments showed that over 97% of the alleles were detectable with down to 62 pg input of genomic DNA. In mixture studies, alleles from minor contributors were correctly assigned at 1:9 and 9:1 ratios. NGS successfully gave 12 full genotype results from 13 challenging casework samples, compared with five full results using the CE platform. In conclusion, the Ion Chef™ and the Ion S5™ XL systems provided an alternative and promising approach for forensic STR genotyping. © 2018 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Role of Health Information Technology (HIT) in disability determinations: when medical records become medical evidence.

PubMed

Tulu, Bengisu; Daniels, Susan; Feldman, Sue; Horan, Thomas A

2008-11-06

This exploratory study investigated the impact of incomplete medical evidence on the SSA disability determination process and the role of HIT as a solution. We collected qualitative data from nineteen expert-interviews. Findings indicate that HIT can lead to innovative solutions that can significantly improve the determination process.

Theoretical modeling of the MILES hit profiles in military weapon low-data rate simulators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andrews, L. C.; Phillips, R. L.; Smith, C. A.; Belichki, S. B.; Crabbs, R.; Cofarro, J. T.; Fountain, W.; Tucker, F. M.; Parrish, B. J.

2016-09-01

Math modeling of a low-data-rate optical communication system is presented and compared with recent testing results over ranges up to 100 m in an indoor tunnel at Kennedy Space Center. Additional modeling of outdoor testing results at longer ranges in the open atmosphere is also presented. The system modeled is the Army's Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) that has been used as a tactical training system since the early 1980s. The objective of the current modeling and testing is to obtain target hit zone profiles for the M16A2/M4 rifles and establish a data baseline for MILES that will aid in its upgrade using more recently developed lasers and detectors.

Monte-Carlo Simulations of Heavy Ions Track Structures and Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Plante, Ianik; Cucinotta, Francia A.

2013-01-01

In space, astronauts are exposed to protons, high ]energy heavy (HZE) ions that have a high charge (Z) and energy (E), and secondary radiation, including neutrons and recoil nuclei produced by nuclear reactions in spacecraft walls or in tissue. The astronauts can only be partly shielded from these particles. Therefore, on travelling to Mars, it is estimated that every cell nucleus in an astronaut fs body would be hit by a proton or secondary electron (e.g., electrons of the target atoms ionized by the HZE ion) every few days and by an HZE ion about once a month. The risks related to these heavy ions are not well known and of concern for long duration space exploration missions. Medical ion therapy is another situation where human beings can be irradiated by heavy ions, usually to treat cancer. Heavy ions have a peculiar track structure characterized by high levels of energy ]deposition clustering, especially in near the track ends in the so ]called eBragg peak f region. In radiotherapy, these features of heavy ions can provide an improved dose conformation with respect to photons, also considering that the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of therapeutic ions in the plateau region before the peak is sufficiently low. Therefore, several proton and carbon ion therapy facilities are under construction at this moment

Power supply system for negative ion source at IPR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gahlaut, Agrajit; Sonara, Jashwant; Parmar, K. G.; Soni, Jignesh; Bandyopadhyay, M.; Singh, Mahendrajit; Bansal, Gourab; Pandya, Kaushal; Chakraborty, Arun

2010-02-01

The first step in the Indian program on negative ion beams is the setting up of Negative ion Experimental Assembly - RF based, where 100 kW of RF power shall be coupled to a plasma source producing plasma of density ~5 × 1012 cm-3, from which ~ 10 A of negative ion beam shall be produced and accelerated to 35 kV, through an electrostatic ion accelerator. The experimental system is modelled similar to the RF based negative ion source, BATMAN presently operating at IPP, Garching, Germany. The mechanical system for Negative Ion Source Assembly is close to the IPP source, remaining systems are designed and procured principally from indigenous sources, keeping the IPP configuration as a base line. High voltage (HV) and low voltage (LV) power supplies are two key constituents of the experimental setup. The HV power supplies for extraction and acceleration are rated for high voltage (~15 to 35kV), and high current (~ 15 to 35A). Other attributes are, fast rate of voltage rise (< 5ms), good regulation (< ±1%), low ripple (< ±2%), isolation (~50kV), low energy content (< 10J) and fast cut-off (< 100μs). The low voltage (LV) supplies required for biasing and providing heating power to the Cesium oven and the plasma grids; have attributes of low ripple, high stability, fast and precise regulation, programmability and remote operation. These power supplies are also equipped with over-voltage, over-current and current limit (CC Mode) protections. Fault diagnostics, to distinguish abnormal rise in currents (breakdown faults) with over-currents is enabled using fast response breakdown and over-current protection scheme. To restrict the fault energy deposited on the ion source, specially designed snubbers are implemented in each (extraction and acceleration) high voltage path to swap the surge energy. Moreover, the monitoring status and control signals from these power supplies are required to be electrically (~ 50kV) isolated from the system. The paper shall present the

A pixel detector system for laser-accelerated ion detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reinhardt, S.; Draxinger, W.; Schreiber, J.; Assmann, W.

2013-03-01

Laser ion acceleration is an unique acceleration process that creates ultra-short ion pulses of high intensity ( > 107 ions/cm2/ns), which makes online detection an ambitious task. Non-electronic detectors such as radio-chromic films (RCF), imaging plates (IP) or nuclear track detectors (e.g. CR39) are broadly used at present. Only offline information on ion pulse intensity and position are available by these detectors, as minutes to hours of processing time are required after their exposure. With increasing pulse repetition rate of the laser system, there is a growing need for detection of laser accelerated ions in real-time. Therefore, we have investigated a commercial pixel detector system for online detection of laser-accelerated proton pulses. The CMOS imager RadEye1 was chosen, which is based on a photodiode array, 512 × 1024 pixels with 48 μm pixel pitch, thus offering a large sensitive area of approximately 25 × 50 mm2. First detection tests were accomplished at the conventional electrostatic 14 MV Tandem accelerator in Munich as well as Atlas laser accelerator. Detector response measurements at the conventional accelerator have been accomplished in a proton beam in dc (15 MeV) and pulsed (20 MeV) irradiation mode, the latter providing comparable particle flux as under laser acceleration conditions. Radiation hardness of the device was studied using protons (20 MeV) and C-ions (77 MeV), additionally. The detector system shows a linear response up to a maximum pulse flux of about 107 protons/cm2/ns. Single particle detection is possible in a low flux beam (104 protons/cm2/s) for all investigated energies. The radiation hardness has shown to give reasonable lifetime for an application at the laser accelerator. The results from the irradiation at a conventional accelerator are confirmed by a cross-calibration with CR39 in a laser-accelerated proton beam at the MPQ Atlas Laser in Garching, showing no problems of detector operation in presence of electro

Upregulation of LncRNA-HIT promotes migration and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer cells by association with ZEB1.

PubMed

Jia, Xiaojing; Wang, Zhicheng; Qiu, Ling; Yang, Yanming; Wang, Yunlong; Chen, Zhishen; Liu, Zhongshan; Yu, Lei

2016-12-01

Lung cancer is the most common solid tumor and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 80% of all lung cancer cases. The main reason of lung cancer-related deaths is due to tumor metastasis. But, the mechanisms of NSCLC metastasis remains poorly understood. LncRNAs play pivotal roles in multiple biological processes. LncRNA-HIT (HOXA transcript induced by TGFβ) was recently identified. LncRNA-HIT promotes cell migration, invasion, tumor growth, and metastasis. However, the detailed role of lncRNA-HIT in NSCLC remains unknown. In this study, for the first time, we revealed a novel role of lncRNA-HIT in the migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. The expression of lncRNA-HIT was significantly upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines, and the expression level of lncRNA-HIT correlates with advanced disease stage and predicts unfavorable prognosis of NSCLC patients. Functional assays demonstrated that lncRNA-HIT markedly increased the ability of NSCLC cells to migrate and invade. Furthermore, the molecular mechanism by which lncRNA-HIT affects NSCLC cells was associated with regulation of ZEB1 stability. LncRNA-HIT functions as a prometastasis oncogene by directly associating with ZEB1 to regulate NSCLC. The interaction of lncRNA-HIT and ZEB1 may be a potential target for NSCLC therapy. © 2016 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Initial clinical evaluation of PET-based ion beam therapy monitoring under consideration of organ motion

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

Kurz, Christopher, E-mail: christopher.kurz@physik.uni-muenchen.de; Bauer, Julia; Unholtz, Daniel

2016-02-15

Purpose: Intrafractional organ motion imposes considerable challenges to scanned ion beam therapy and demands for a thorough verification of the applied treatment. At the Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT), the scanned ion beam delivery is verified by means of postirradiation positron-emission-tomography (PET) imaging. This work presents a first clinical evaluation of PET-based treatment monitoring in ion beam therapy under consideration of target motion. Methods: Three patients with mobile liver lesions underwent scanned carbon ion irradiation at HIT and postirradiation PET/CT (x-ray-computed-tomography) imaging with a commercial scanner. Respiratory motion was recorded during irradiation and subsequent image acquisition. This enabled a time-resolvedmore » (4D) calculation of the expected irradiation-induced activity pattern and, for one patient where an additional 4D CT was acquired at the PET/CT scanner after treatment, a motion-compensated PET image reconstruction. For the other patients, PET data were reconstructed statically. To verify the treatment, calculated prediction and reconstructed measurement were compared with a focus on the ion beam range. Results: Results in the current three patients suggest that for motion amplitudes in the order of 2 mm there is no benefit from incorporating respiratory motion information into PET-based treatment monitoring. For a target motion in the order of 10 mm, motion-related effects become more severe and a time-resolved modeling of the expected activity distribution can lead to an improved data interpretation if a sufficient number of true coincidences is detected. Benefits from motion-compensated PET image reconstruction could not be shown conclusively at the current stage. Conclusions: The feasibility of clinical PET-based treatment verification under consideration of organ motion has been shown for the first time. Improvements in noise-robust 4D PET image reconstruction are deemed necessary to enhance the

Time-resolved ion imaging at free-electron lasers using TimepixCam

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

Fisher-Levine, Merlin; Boll, Rebecca; Ziaee, Farzaneh

In this paper, the application of a novel fast optical-imaging camera, TimepixCam, to molecular photoionization experiments using the velocity-map imaging technique at a free-electron laser is described. TimepixCam is a 256 × 256 pixel CMOS camera that is able to detect and time-stamp ion hits with 20 ns timing resolution, thus making it possible to record ion momentum images for all fragment ions simultaneously and avoiding the need to gate the detector on a single fragment. This allows the recording of significantly more data within a given amount of beam time and is particularly useful for pump–probe experiments, where drifts,more » for example, in the timing and pulse energy of the free-electron laser, severely limit the comparability of pump–probe scans for different fragments taken consecutively. Finally, in principle, this also allows ion–ion covariance or coincidence techniques to be applied to determine angular correlations between fragments.« less

Time-resolved ion imaging at free-electron lasers using TimepixCam

DOE PAGES

Fisher-Levine, Merlin; Boll, Rebecca; Ziaee, Farzaneh; ...

2018-02-20

In this paper, the application of a novel fast optical-imaging camera, TimepixCam, to molecular photoionization experiments using the velocity-map imaging technique at a free-electron laser is described. TimepixCam is a 256 × 256 pixel CMOS camera that is able to detect and time-stamp ion hits with 20 ns timing resolution, thus making it possible to record ion momentum images for all fragment ions simultaneously and avoiding the need to gate the detector on a single fragment. This allows the recording of significantly more data within a given amount of beam time and is particularly useful for pump–probe experiments, where drifts,more » for example, in the timing and pulse energy of the free-electron laser, severely limit the comparability of pump–probe scans for different fragments taken consecutively. Finally, in principle, this also allows ion–ion covariance or coincidence techniques to be applied to determine angular correlations between fragments.« less

Integrated System Technologies for Modular Trapped Ion Quantum Information Processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crain, Stephen G.

Although trapped ion technology is well-suited for quantum information science, scalability of the system remains one of the main challenges. One of the challenges associated with scaling the ion trap quantum computer is the ability to individually manipulate the increasing number of qubits. Using micro-mirrors fabricated with micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology, laser beams are focused on individual ions in a linear chain and steer the focal point in two dimensions. Multiple single qubit gates are demonstrated on trapped 171Yb+ qubits and the gate performance is characterized using quantum state tomography. The system features negligible crosstalk to neighboring ions (< 3e-4), and switching speeds comparable to typical single qubit gate times (< 2 mus). In a separate experiment, photons scattered from the 171Yb+ ion are coupled into an optical fiber with 63% efficiency using a high numerical aperture lens (0.6 NA). The coupled photons are directed to superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPD), which provide a higher detector efficiency (69%) compared to traditional photomultiplier tubes (35%). The total system photon collection efficiency is increased from 2.2% to 3.4%, which allows for fast state detection of the qubit. For a detection beam intensity of 11 mW/cm 2, the average detection time is 23.7 mus with 99.885(7)% detection fidelity. The technologies demonstrated in this thesis can be integrated to form a single quantum register with all of the necessary resources to perform local gates as well as high fidelity readout and provide a photon link to other systems.

Discovery of HIV Type 1 Aspartic Protease Hit Compounds through Combined Computational Approaches.

PubMed

Xanthopoulos, Dimitrios; Kritsi, Eftichia; Supuran, Claudiu T; Papadopoulos, Manthos G; Leonis, Georgios; Zoumpoulakis, Panagiotis

2016-08-05

A combination of computational techniques and inhibition assay experiments was employed to identify hit compounds from commercial libraries with enhanced inhibitory potency against HIV type 1 aspartic protease (HIV PR). Extensive virtual screening with the aid of reliable pharmacophore models yielded five candidate protease inhibitors. Subsequent molecular dynamics and molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area free-energy calculations for the five ligand-HIV PR complexes suggested a high stability of the systems through hydrogen-bond interactions between the ligands and the protease's flaps (Ile50/50'), as well as interactions with residues of the active site (Asp25/25'/29/29'/30/30'). Binding-energy calculations for the three most promising compounds yielded values between -5 and -10 kcal mol(-1) and suggested that van der Waals interactions contribute most favorably to the total energy. The predicted binding-energy values were verified by in vitro inhibition assays, which showed promising results in the high nanomolar range. These results provide structural considerations that may guide further hit-to-lead optimization toward improved anti-HIV drugs. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

α-lipoic acid inhibits high glucose-induced apoptosis in HIT-T15 cells.

PubMed

Yang, Yi; Wang, Weiping; Liu, Yinan; Guo, Ting; Chen, Ping; Ma, Kangtao; Zhou, Chunyan

2012-06-01

High blood glucose plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetes. α-lipoic acid (LA) has been used to prevent and treat diabetes, and is thought to act by increasing insulin sensitivity in many tissues. However, whether LA also has a cytoprotective effect on pancreatic islet beta cells remains unclear. In this study, we assessed whether LA could inhibit apoptosis in beta cells exposed to high glucose concentrations. HIT-T15 pancreatic beta cells were treated with 30 mmol/L glucose in the presence or absence of 0.5 mmol/L LA for 8 days. LA significantly reduced the numbers of apoptotic HIT-T15 cells and inhibited the cell overgrowth normally induced by high glucose treatment. Additionally, LA inhibited insulin expression and secretion in HIT-T15 cells induced by high glucose. Further study demonstrated that LA upregulated Pdx1 and Bcl2 gene expression, reduced Bax gene expression, and promoted phosphorylation of Akt in HIT-T15 cells treated with high glucose. Intriguingly, knockdown of Pdx1 expression partially offset the anti-apoptotic effect of LA. However, inhibition of Akt by PI3K/AKT antagonist LY294002 only slightly reversed the anti-apoptosis effect of LA and mildly decreased the gene expression level of Pdx1 (P > 0.05). Moreover, LA only slightly attenuated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and augmented mitochondrial membrane potential. Therefore, our data suggest that α-lipoic acid can effectively attenuate high glucose-induced HIT-T15 cell apoptosis probably by increasing Pdx1 expression. These findings provide a new interpretation on the role of LA in the treatment of diabetes. © 2012 The Authors Development, Growth & Differentiation © 2012 Japanese Society of Developmental Biologists.

Multi-Node Thermal System Model for Lithium-Ion Battery Packs: Preprint

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

Shi, Ying; Smith, Kandler; Wood, Eric

Temperature is one of the main factors that controls the degradation in lithium ion batteries. Accurate knowledge and control of cell temperatures in a pack helps the battery management system (BMS) to maximize cell utilization and ensure pack safety and service life. In a pack with arrays of cells, a cells temperature is not only affected by its own thermal characteristics but also by its neighbors, the cooling system and pack configuration, which increase the noise level and the complexity of cell temperatures prediction. This work proposes to model lithium ion packs thermal behavior using a multi-node thermal network model,more » which predicts the cell temperatures by zones. The model was parametrized and validated using commercial lithium-ion battery packs. neighbors, the cooling system and pack configuration, which increase the noise level and the complexity of cell temperatures prediction. This work proposes to model lithium ion packs thermal behavior using a multi-node thermal network model, which predicts the cell temperatures by zones. The model was parametrized and validated using commercial lithium-ion battery packs.« less

[Partitioning of taxifolin-iron ions complexes in octanol-water system].

PubMed

Shatalin, Iu V; Shubina, V S

2014-01-01

The composition of taxifolin-iron ions complexes in an octanol-water biphasic system was studied using the method of absorption spectrophotometry. It was found that at pH 5.0 in an aqueous biphasic system the complex of [Tf2 x Fe x (OH)k(H2O)8-k] is present, but at pH 7.0 and 9.0 the complexes of [Tf2 x Fe x (OH)k(H2O)2-k] and [Tf x Fe x OH)k(H2O)4-k] are predominantly observed. The formation of a stable [Tf3 x Fe] complex occurred in octanol phase. The charged iron ion of this complex is surrounded by taxifolin molecules, which shield the iron ion from lipophilic solvent. During transition from water to octanol phase the changes of the composition of complexes are accompanied by reciprocal changes in portion of taxifolin and iron ions in these phases. It was shown that the portion of taxifolin in aqueous solution in the presence of iron ions is increased at high pH values, and the portion of iron ions is minimal at pH 7.0. In addition, the parameters of solubility limits of taxifolin-iron ions complexes in an aqueous solution were determined. The data obtained gain a better understanding of the role of complexation of polyphenol with metal of variable valency in passive transport of flavonoids and metal ions across lipid membranes.

#MaybeHeDoesntHitYou: Social Media Underscore the Realities of Intimate Partner Violence.

PubMed

McCauley, Heather L; Bonomi, Amy E; Maas, Megan K; Bogen, Katherine W; O'Malley, Teagen L

2018-03-22

Public intimate partner violence (IPV) discourse emphasizes physical violence. In May 2016, the Twitter hashtag #MaybeHeDoesntHitYou generated a public conversation about abuse beyond physical IPV. Because of the often-disconnect between IPV research and what survivors struggle to name as abuse in their daily lives, we sought to understand how IPV discourse was unfolding as a result of the #MaybeHeDoesntHitYou hashtag. NCapture was used to collect publically available Twitter data containing the hashtag "#MaybeHeDoesntHitYou" from May 10, 2016 to May 17, 2016. Using the Duluth Power and Control Wheel (a range of tactics used by abusers to control and harm their partners) and the Women's Experience with Battering (WEB) framework (emotional and behavioral responses to being abused), we analyzed 1,229 original content tweets using qualitative content analysis. All dimensions of the Power and Control Wheel and five of six dimensions of the WEB framework were expressed via #MaybeHeDoesntHitYou; users did not express yearning for intimacy with their abusive partners. Users described one form of IPV not currently represented within the Power and Control Wheel-reproductive coercion (e.g., "#MaybeHeDoesntHitYou but he refuses to use condoms and forces you not to use contraception so you try to do it behind his back"). Two additional themes emerged; users challenged the gender pronoun of the hashtag, highlighting that abuse may happen with partners of all genders, and users provided social support for others (e.g., "#MaybeHeDoesntHitYou is real. Bruises and scars aren't the only measure of abuse! If this is you, help is there…"). Results from our study underscore the potential for social media platforms to be powerful agents for engaging public dialogue about the realities of IPV, as well as a space for seeking and providing social support about this critical women's health issue.

Confined Li ion migration in the silicon-graphene complex system: An ab initio investigation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Guoqing; Xu, Bo; Shi, Jing; Lei, Xueling; Ouyang, Chuying

2018-04-01

Silicon-Carbon complex systems play an important role in enhancing the performance of Si-based anode materials for Li ion batteries. In this work, the Li migration property of the Silicon-Graphene (Si-Gr) complex systems are investigated by using first-principles calculations. Especially, the effects of graphene coating on the migration of Li ions are discussed in detail. The distance between Si surface and graphene in the Si-Gr system significantly affects the lateral migration of Li ions. With the decrease of the distance from 4.715 to 3.844 Å, the energy barrier of Li ion migration also decreases from 0.115 to 0.067 eV, which are all lower than that of the case without graphene d(0.135 eV). However, smaller distance (3.586 Å) brings the high energy barrier (0.237 eV). Through AIMD calculations, it is found that the graphene coating in the Si-Gr complex system would result in the larger intercalation depths, more uniform distributions, and higher migration coefficients of Li ions. Further calculations of migration coefficients of Li ions at different temperature are used to obtained the activation energy for Li ions migration in the Si-Gr system, which is as low as 0.028 eV. This low activation energy shows that it is easy for Li ions migrating in the Si-Gr system. Our study provided the basically information to understand the migration mechanism of Li ions in Si-C system.

Modeling distortion of HIT by an Actuator Disk in a periodic domain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghate, Aditya; Ghaisas, Niranjan; Lele, Sanjiva

2017-11-01

We study the distortion of incompressible, homogeneous isotropic turbulence (HIT) by a dragging actuator disk with a fixed thrust coefficient (under the large Reynolds number limit), using Large Eddy Simulation (LES). The HIT inflow is tailored to ensure that the largest length scales in the flow are smaller than the actuator disk diameter in order to minimize the meandering of the turbulent wake and isolate the length scales that undergo distortion. The numerical scheme (Fourier collocation with dealiasing) and the SGS closure (anisotropic minimum dissipation model) are carefully selected to minimize numerical artifacts expected due to the inviscid assumption. The LES is used to characterize the following 3 properties of the flow a) distortion of HIT due to the expanding streamtube resulting in strong anisotropy, b) turbulent pressure modulation across the actuator disk, and the c) turbulent wake state. Finally, we attempt to model the initial distortion and the pressure modulation using a WKB variant of RDT solved numerically using a set of discrete Gabor modes. Funding provided by Precourt Institute for Energy at Stanford University.

Influence of the environment and phototoxicity of the live cell imaging system at IMP microbeam facility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Wenjing; Du, Guanghua; Guo, Jinlong; Wu, Ruqun; Wei, Junzhe; Chen, Hao; Li, Yaning; Zhao, Jing; Li, Xiaoyue

2017-08-01

To investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of DNA damage and repair after the ion irradiation, an online live cell imaging system has been established based on the microbeam facility at Institute of Modern Physics (IMP). The system could provide a sterile and physiological environment by making use of heating plate and live cell imaging solution. The phototoxicity was investigated through the evaluation of DNA repair protein XRCC1 foci formed in HT1080-RFP cells during the imaging exposure. The intensity of the foci induced by phototoxicity was much lower compared with that of the foci induced by heavy ion hits. The results showed that although spontaneous foci were formed due to RFP exposure during live cell imaging, they had little impact on the analysis of the recruitment kinetics of XRCC1 in the foci induced by the ion irradiation.

The three-hit concept of vulnerability and resilience: towards understanding adaptation to early-life adversity outcome

PubMed Central

Daskalakis, Nikolaos P.; Bagot, Rosemary C.; Parker, Karen J.; Vinkers, Christiaan H.; de Kloet, E. R.

2013-01-01

Stressful experiences during early-life can modulate the genetic programming of specific brain circuits underlying emotional and cognitive aspects of behavioral adaptation to stressful experiences later in life. Although this programming effect exerted by experience-related factors is an important determinant of mental health, its outcome depends on cognitive inputs and hence the valence an individual assigns to a given environmental context. From this perspective we will highlight, with studies in rodents, non-human primates and humans, the three-hit concept of vulnerability and resilience to stress-related mental disorders, which is based on gene-environment interactions during critical phases of perinatal and juvenile brain development. The three-hit (i.e., hit-1: genetic predisposition, hit-2: early-life environment, and hit-3: later-life environment) concept accommodates the cumulative stress hypothesis stating that in a given context vulnerability is enhanced when failure to cope with adversity accumulates. Alternatively, the concept also points to the individual’s predictive adaptive capacity, which underlies the stress inoculation and match/mismatch hypotheses. The latter hypotheses propose that the experience of relatively mild early-life adversity prepares for the future and promotes resilience to similar challenges in later-life; when a mismatch occurs between early and later-life experience, coping is compromised and vulnerability is enhanced. The three-hit concept is fundamental for understanding how individuals can either be prepared for coping with life to come and remain resilient or are unable to do so and succumb to a stress-related mental disorder, under seemingly identical circumstances. PMID:23838101