Seed development and viviparous germination in one accession of a tomato rin mutant

PubMed Central

Wang, Xu; Zhang, Lili; Xu, Xiaochun; Qu, Wei; Li, Jingfu; Xu, Xiangyang; Wang, Aoxue

2016-01-01

In an experimental field, seed vivipary occurred in one accession of tomato rin mutant fruit at approximately 45–50 days after pollination (DAP). In this study, the possible contributory factors to this viviparous germination were investigated. Firstly, developing seeds were freshly excised from the fruit tissue every 5 days from 25–60 DAP. Germination occurred when isolated seeds were incubated on water, but was inhibited when they remained ex situ in fruit mucilage gel. The effect of abscisic acid (ABA) and osmoticum, separate and together, on germination of developing seeds was investigated. Additionally, ABA content in the seed and mucilage gel, as well as fruit osmolality were measured. The results showed that ABA concentrations in seeds were low during early development and increased later, peaking at about 50 DAP. ABA concentrations in rin accession were similar to those of the control cultivar and thus are not directly associated with the occurrence of vivipary. Developing seeds of rin accession are more sensitive than control seeds to all inhibitory compounds. However, osmolality in rin fruit at later developmental stages becomes less negative that is required to permit germination of developing seeds. Hence, hypo-osmolality in rin fruit may be an important factor in permitting limited viviparous germination. PMID:27436947

Extending OPeNDAP's Data-Access Protocol to Include Enhanced Pre-Retrieval Operations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fulker, D. W.

2013-12-01

We describe plans to extend OPeNDAP's Web-services protocol as a Building Block for NSF's EarthCube initiative. Though some data-access services have offered forms of subset-selection for decades, other pre-retrieval operations have been unavailable, in part because their benefits (over equivalent post-retrieval actions) are only now becoming fully evident. This is due in part to rapid growth in the volumes of data that are pertinent to the geosciences, exacerbated by limitations such as Internet speeds and latencies as well as pressures toward data usage on ever-smaller devices. In this context, as recipients of a "Building Blocks" award from the most recent round of EarthCube funding, we are launching the specification and prototype implementation of a new Open Data Services Invocation Protocol (ODSIP), by which clients may invoke a newly rich set of data-acquisition services, ranging from statistical summarization and criteria-driven subsetting to re-gridding/resampling. ODSIP will be an extension to DAP4, the latest version of OPeNDAP's widely used data access protocol, which underpins a number of open-source, multilingual, client-server systems (offering data access as a Web service), including THREDDS, PyDAP, GrADS, ERDAP and FERRET, as well as OPeNDAP's own Hyrax servers. We are motivated by the idea that key parts of EarthCube can be built effectively around clients and servers that employ a common and conceptually rich protocol for data acquisition. This concept extends 'data provision' to include pre-retrieval operations that, even when invoked by remote clients, exhibit efficiencies of data-proximate computation. Our aim for ODSIP is to embed a largely domain-neutral algebra of server functions that, despite being deliberately compact, can fulfill a broad range of user needs for pre-retrieval operations. To that end, our approach builds upon languages and tools that have proven effective in multi-domain contexts, and we will employ a user-centered design process built around three science scenarios: 1) accelerated visualization/analysis of model outputs on non-rectangular meshes (over coastal North Carolina); 2) dynamic downscaling of climate predictions for regional utility (over Hawaii); and 3) feature-oriented retrievals of satellite imagery (focusing on satellite-derived sea-surface-temperature fronts). These scenarios will test important aspects of the server-function algebra: * The Hawaii climate study requires coping with issues of scale on rectangular grids, placing strong emphasis on statistical functions. * The east-coast storm-surge study requires irregular grids, thus exploring mathematical challenges that have been addressed in many domains via the GridFields library, which we will employ. We think important classes of geoscience problems in multiple domains--where dealing with discontinuities, for example--are essentially intractable without polygonal meshes. * The sea-surface fronts study integrates vector-style features with array-style coverages, thus touching on the kinds of mathematics that arise when mixing Eulerian and Lagrangian frameworks. Our presentation will sketch the context for ODSIP, our process for a user-centered design, and our hopes for how ODSIP, as an emerging cyberinfrastructure concept for the Geosciences, may serve as a fundamental building block for EarthCube.

Rehabilitation in Madagascar: Challenges in implementing the World Health Organization Disability Action Plan.

PubMed

Khan, Fary; Amatya, Bhasker; Mannan, Hasheem; Burkle, Frederick M; Galea, Mary P

2015-09-01

To provide an update on rehabilitation in Madagascar by using local knowledge to outline the potential barriers and facilitators for implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Disability Action Plan (DAP). A 14-day extensive workshop programme (September-October 2014) was held at the University Hospital Antananarivo and Antsirabe, with the Department of Health Madagascar, by rehabilitation staff from Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia. Attendees were rehabilitation professionals (n=29) from 3 main rehabilitation facilities in Madagascar, who identified various challenges faced in service provision, education and attitudes/approaches to people with disabilities. Their responses and suggested barriers/facilitators were recorded following consensus agreement, using objectives listed in the DAP. The barriers and facilitators outlined by participants in implementing the DAP objectives include: engagement of health professionals and institutions using a multi-sectoral approach, new partnerships, strategic collaboration, provision of technical assistance, future policy directions, and research and development. Other challenges for many basic policies included: access to rehabilitation services, geographical coverage, shortage of skilled work-force, limited info-technology systems; lack of care-models and facility/staff accreditation standards; limited health services infrastructure and "disconnect" between acute and community-based rehabilitation. The DAP summary actions were useful planning tools to improve access, strengthen rehabilitation services and community-based rehabilitation, and collate data for outcome research.

Radiation Awareness for Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair in the Hybrid Operating Room. An Instant Patient Risk Chart for Daily Practice.

PubMed

de Ruiter, Quirina M; Gijsberts, Crystel M; Hazenberg, Constantijn E; Moll, Frans L; van Herwaarden, Joost A

2017-06-01

To determine which patient and C-arm characteristics are the strongest predictors of intraoperative patient radiation dose rates (DRs) during endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) procedures and create a patient risk chart. A retrospective analysis was performed of 74 EVAR procedures, including 16,889 X-ray runs using fixed C-arm imaging equipment. Four multivariate log-linear mixed models (with patient as a random effect) were constructed. Mean air kerma DR (DR AK , mGy/s) and the mean dose area product DR (DR DAP , mGycm 2 /s) were the outcome variables utilized for fluoroscopy as differentiated from digital subtraction angiography (DSA). These models were used to predict the maximum radiation duration allowed before a 2-Gy skin threshold (for DR AK ) or a 500-Gycm 2 threshold (for DR DAP ) was reached. The strongest predictor of DR AK and DR DAP for fluoroscopy imaging was the radiation protocol, with an increase of 200% when changing from "low" to "medium" and 410% from "low" to "normal." The strongest predictors of DR AK and DR DAP for DSA were C-arm angulation, with an increase of 47% per 30° of angulation, and body mass index (BMI), with an increase of 58% for every 5-point increase in BMI. Based on these models, a patient with a BMI of 30 kg/m 2 , combined with 45° of rotation and a field size of 800 cm 2 in the medium fluoroscopy protocol has a predicted DR AK of 0.39 mGy/s (or 85.5 minutes until the 2-Gy skin threshold is reached). While using comparable settings but switching the acquisition to a DSA with a "2 frames per second" protocol, the predicted DR AK will be 6.6 mGy/s (or 5.0 minutes until the 2-Gy threshold is reached). X-ray radiation DRs are constantly fluctuating during and between patients based on BMI, the protocols, C-arm position, and the image acquisitions that are used. An instant patient risk chart visualizes these radiation dose fluctuations and provides an overview of the expected duration of X-ray radiation, which can be used to predict when follow-up dose thresholds are reached during abdominal endovascular procedures.

Flow-oriented dynamic assembly algorithm in TCP over OBS networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Shuping; Li, Zhengbin; He, Yongqi; Xu, Anshi

2008-11-01

OBS is envisioned as a promising infrastructure for the next generation optical network, and TCP is likely to be the dominant transport protocol in the next generation network. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the performance of TCP over OBS networks. The assembly at the ingress edge nodes will impact the network performance. There have been several Fixed Assembly Period (FAP) algorithms proposed. However, the assembly period in FAP is fixed, and it can not be adjusted according to the network condition. Moreover, in FAP, the packets from different TCP sources are assembled into one burst. In that case, if such a burst is dropped, the TCP windows of the corresponding sources will shrink and the throughput will be reduced. In this paper, we introduced a flow-oriented Dynamic Assembly Period (DAP) algorithm for TCP over OBS networks. Through comparing the previous and current burst lengths, DAP can track the variation of TCP window, and update the assembly period dynamically for the next assembly. The performance of DAP is evaluated over a single TCP connection and multiple connections, respectively. The simulation results show that DAP performs better than FAP at almost the whole range of burst dropping probability.

A Standardized Based Approach to Managing Atmosphere Studies For Wind Energy Research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stephan, E.; Sivaraman, C.

2015-12-01

Atmosphere to Electrons (A2e) is a multi-year U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) research initiative targeting significant reductions in the cost of wind energy through an improved understanding of the complex physics governing wind flow into and through wind farms. Better insight into the flow physics has the potential to reduce wind farm energy losses by up to 20%, to reduce annual operational costs by hundreds of millions of dollars, and to improve project financing terms to more closely resemble traditional capital projects. The Data Archive and Portal (DAP) is a key capability of the A2e initiative. The DAP is a cloud-based distributed system known as the 'Wind Cloud' that functions as a repository for all A2e data. This data includes numerous historic and on-going field studies involving in situ and remote sensing instruments, simulations, and scientific analysis. Significantly it is the integration and sharing of these diverse data sets through the DAP that is key to meeting the goals of A2e. This cloud will be accessible via an open and easy-to navigate user interface that facilitates community data access, interaction, and collaboration. DAP management is working with the community, industry, and international standards bodies to develop standards for wind data and to capture important characteristics of all data in the Wind Cloud. Security will be provided to facilitate storage of proprietary data alongside publicly accessible data in the Wind Cloud, and the capability to generate anonymized data will be provided to facilitate using private data by non-privileged users (when appropriate). Finally, limited computing capabilities will be provided to facilitate co-located data analysis, validation, and generation of derived products in support of A2e science.

N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors, learning and memory: chronic intraventricular infusion of the NMDA receptor antagonist d-AP5 interacts directly with the neural mechanisms of spatial learning.

PubMed

Morris, R G M; Steele, R J; Bell, J E; Martin, S J

2013-03-01

Three experiments were conducted to contrast the hypothesis that hippocampal N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors participate directly in the mechanisms of hippocampus-dependent learning with an alternative view that apparent impairments of learning induced by NMDA receptor antagonists arise because of drug-induced neuropathological and/or sensorimotor disturbances. In experiment 1, rats given a chronic i.c.v. infusion of d-AP5 (30 mm) at 0.5 μL/h were selectively impaired, relative to aCSF-infused animals, in place but not cued navigation learning when they were trained during the 14-day drug infusion period, but were unimpaired on both tasks if trained 11 days after the minipumps were exhausted. d-AP5 caused sensorimotor disturbances in the spatial task, but these gradually worsened as the animals failed to learn. Histological assessment of potential neuropathological changes revealed no abnormalities in d-AP5-treated rats whether killed during or after chronic drug infusion. In experiment 2, a deficit in spatial learning was also apparent in d-AP5-treated rats trained on a spatial reference memory task involving two identical but visible platforms, a task chosen and shown to minimise sensorimotor disturbances. HPLC was used to identify the presence of d-AP5 in selected brain areas. In Experiment 3, rats treated with d-AP5 showed a delay-dependent deficit in spatial memory in the delayed matching-to-place protocol for the water maze. These data are discussed with respect to the learning mechanism and sensorimotor accounts of the impact of NMDA receptor antagonists on brain function. We argue that NMDA receptor mechanisms participate directly in spatial learning. © 2013 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Radiation Exposure and Vascular Access in Acute Coronary Syndromes: The RAD-Matrix Trial.

PubMed

Sciahbasi, Alessandro; Frigoli, Enrico; Sarandrea, Alessandro; Rothenbühler, Martina; Calabrò, Paolo; Lupi, Alessandro; Tomassini, Francesco; Cortese, Bernardo; Rigattieri, Stefano; Cerrato, Enrico; Zavalloni, Dennis; Zingarelli, Antonio; Calabria, Paolo; Rubartelli, Paolo; Sardella, Gennaro; Tebaldi, Matteo; Windecker, Stephan; Jüni, Peter; Heg, Dik; Valgimigli, Marco

2017-05-23

It remains unclear whether radial access increases the risk of operator or patient radiation exposure compared to transfemoral access when performed by expert operators. This study sought to determine whether radial access increases radiation exposure. A total of 8,404 patients, with or without ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome, were randomly assigned to radial or femoral access for coronary angiography and percutaneous intervention, and collected fluoroscopy time and dose-area product (DAP). RAD-MATRIX is a radiation sub-study of the MATRIX (Minimizing Adverse Haemorrhagic Events by Transradial Access Site and Systemic Implementation of AngioX) trial. We anticipated that 13 or more operators, each wearing a thorax (primary endpoint), wrist, and head (secondary endpoints) lithium fluoride thermoluminescent dosimeter, and randomizing at least 13 patients per access site, were needed to establish noninferiority of radial versus femoral access. Among 18 operators, performing 777 procedures in 767 patients, the noninferiority primary endpoint was not achieved (p value for noninferiority = 0.843). Operator equivalent dose at the thorax (77 μSv) was significantly higher with radial than femoral access (41 μSv; p = 0.02). After normalization of operator radiation dose by fluoroscopy time or DAP, the difference remained significant. Radiation dose at wrist or head did not differ between radial and femoral access. Thorax operator dose did not differ for right radial (84 μSv) compared to left radial access (52 μSv; p = 0.15). In the overall MATRIX population, fluoroscopy time and DAP were higher with radial compared to femoral access: 10 min versus 9 min (p < 0.0001) and 65 Gy·cm 2 versus 59 Gy·cm 2 (p = 0.0001), respectively. Compared to femoral access, radial access is associated with greater operator and patient radiation exposure when performed by expert operators in current practice. Radial operators and institutions should be sensitized towards radiation risks and adopt adjunctive radioprotective measures. (Minimizing Adverse Haemorrhagic Events by Transradial Access Site and Systemic Implementation of AngioX; NCT101433627). Copyright © 2017 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Accuracy and calibration of integrated radiation output indicators in diagnostic radiology: A report of the AAPM Imaging Physics Committee Task Group 190

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

Lin, Pei-Jan P., E-mail: Pei-Jan.Lin@vcuhealth.org; Schueler, Beth A.; Balter, Stephen

2015-12-15

Due to the proliferation of disciplines employing fluoroscopy as their primary imaging tool and the prolonged extensive use of fluoroscopy in interventional and cardiovascular angiography procedures, “dose-area-product” (DAP) meters were installed to monitor and record the radiation dose delivered to patients. In some cases, the radiation dose or the output value is calculated, rather than measured, using the pertinent radiological parameters and geometrical information. The AAPM Task Group 190 (TG-190) was established to evaluate the accuracy of the DAP meter in 2008. Since then, the term “DAP-meter” has been revised to air kerma-area product (KAP) meter. The charge of TGmore » 190 (Accuracy and Calibration of Integrated Radiation Output Indicators in Diagnostic Radiology) has also been realigned to investigate the “Accuracy and Calibration of Integrated Radiation Output Indicators” which is reflected in the title of the task group, to include situations where the KAP may be acquired with or without the presence of a physical “meter.” To accomplish this goal, validation test protocols were developed to compare the displayed radiation output value to an external measurement. These test protocols were applied to a number of clinical systems to collect information on the accuracy of dose display values in the field.« less

Structural Evidence of a Major Conformational Change Triggered by Substrate Binding in DapE Enzymes: Impact on the Catalytic Mechanism

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

Nocek, Boguslaw; Reidl, Cory; Starus, Anna

In this paper, the X-ray crystal structure of the dapE-encoded N-succinyl-l,l-diaminopimelic acid desuccinylase from Haemophilus influenzae (HiDapE) bound by the products of hydrolysis, succinic acid and l,l-DAP, was determined at 1.95 Å. Surprisingly, the structure bound to the products revealed that HiDapE undergoes a significant conformational change in which the catalytic domain rotates ~50° and shifts ~10.1 Å (as measured at the position of the Zn atoms) relative to the dimerization domain. This heretofore unobserved closed conformation revealed significant movements within the catalytic domain compared to that of wild-type HiDapE, which results in effectively closing off access to the dinuclearmore » Zn(II) active site with the succinate carboxylate moiety bridging the dinculear Zn(II) cluster in a μ-1,3 fashion forming a bis(μ-carboxylato)dizinc(II) core with a Zn–Zn distance of 3.8 Å. Surprisingly, His194.B, which is located on the dimerization domain of the opposing chain ~10.1 Å from the dinuclear Zn(II) active site, forms a hydrogen bond (2.9 Å) with the oxygen atom of succinic acid bound to Zn2, forming an oxyanion hole. As the closed structure forms upon substrate binding, the movement of His194.B by more than ~10 Å is critical, based on site-directed mutagenesis data, for activation of the scissile carbonyl carbon of the substrate for nucleophilic attack by a hydroxide nucleophile. Employing the HiDapE product-bound structure as the starting point, a reverse engineering approach called product-based transition-state modeling provided structural models for each major catalytic step. Finally, these data provide insight into the catalytic reaction mechanism and also the future design of new, potent inhibitors of DapE enzymes.« less

Structural Evidence of a Major Conformational Change Triggered by Substrate Binding in DapE Enzymes: Impact on the Catalytic Mechanism

DOE PAGES

Nocek, Boguslaw; Reidl, Cory; Starus, Anna; ...

2017-12-22

In this paper, the X-ray crystal structure of the dapE-encoded N-succinyl-l,l-diaminopimelic acid desuccinylase from Haemophilus influenzae (HiDapE) bound by the products of hydrolysis, succinic acid and l,l-DAP, was determined at 1.95 Å. Surprisingly, the structure bound to the products revealed that HiDapE undergoes a significant conformational change in which the catalytic domain rotates ~50° and shifts ~10.1 Å (as measured at the position of the Zn atoms) relative to the dimerization domain. This heretofore unobserved closed conformation revealed significant movements within the catalytic domain compared to that of wild-type HiDapE, which results in effectively closing off access to the dinuclearmore » Zn(II) active site with the succinate carboxylate moiety bridging the dinculear Zn(II) cluster in a μ-1,3 fashion forming a bis(μ-carboxylato)dizinc(II) core with a Zn–Zn distance of 3.8 Å. Surprisingly, His194.B, which is located on the dimerization domain of the opposing chain ~10.1 Å from the dinuclear Zn(II) active site, forms a hydrogen bond (2.9 Å) with the oxygen atom of succinic acid bound to Zn2, forming an oxyanion hole. As the closed structure forms upon substrate binding, the movement of His194.B by more than ~10 Å is critical, based on site-directed mutagenesis data, for activation of the scissile carbonyl carbon of the substrate for nucleophilic attack by a hydroxide nucleophile. Employing the HiDapE product-bound structure as the starting point, a reverse engineering approach called product-based transition-state modeling provided structural models for each major catalytic step. Finally, these data provide insight into the catalytic reaction mechanism and also the future design of new, potent inhibitors of DapE enzymes.« less

Structural Evidence of a Major Conformational Change Triggered by Substrate Binding in DapE Enzymes: Impact on the Catalytic Mechanism.

PubMed

Nocek, Boguslaw; Reidl, Cory; Starus, Anna; Heath, Tahirah; Bienvenue, David; Osipiuk, Jerzy; Jedrzejczak, Robert; Joachimiak, Andrzej; Becker, Daniel P; Holz, Richard C

2018-02-06

The X-ray crystal structure of the dapE-encoded N-succinyl-l,l-diaminopimelic acid desuccinylase from Haemophilus influenzae (HiDapE) bound by the products of hydrolysis, succinic acid and l,l-DAP, was determined at 1.95 Å. Surprisingly, the structure bound to the products revealed that HiDapE undergoes a significant conformational change in which the catalytic domain rotates ∼50° and shifts ∼10.1 Å (as measured at the position of the Zn atoms) relative to the dimerization domain. This heretofore unobserved closed conformation revealed significant movements within the catalytic domain compared to that of wild-type HiDapE, which results in effectively closing off access to the dinuclear Zn(II) active site with the succinate carboxylate moiety bridging the dinculear Zn(II) cluster in a μ-1,3 fashion forming a bis(μ-carboxylato)dizinc(II) core with a Zn-Zn distance of 3.8 Å. Surprisingly, His194.B, which is located on the dimerization domain of the opposing chain ∼10.1 Å from the dinuclear Zn(II) active site, forms a hydrogen bond (2.9 Å) with the oxygen atom of succinic acid bound to Zn2, forming an oxyanion hole. As the closed structure forms upon substrate binding, the movement of His194.B by more than ∼10 Å is critical, based on site-directed mutagenesis data, for activation of the scissile carbonyl carbon of the substrate for nucleophilic attack by a hydroxide nucleophile. Employing the HiDapE product-bound structure as the starting point, a reverse engineering approach called product-based transition-state modeling provided structural models for each major catalytic step. These data provide insight into the catalytic reaction mechanism and also the future design of new, potent inhibitors of DapE enzymes.

Interoperable Data Access Services for NOAA IOOS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de La Beaujardiere, J.

2008-12-01

The Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) is intended to enhance our ability to collect, deliver, and use ocean information. The goal is to support research and decision-making by providing data on our open oceans, coastal waters, and Great Lakes in the formats, rates, and scales required by scientists, managers, businesses, governments, and the public. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the lead agency for IOOS. NOAA's IOOS office supports the development of regional coastal observing capability and promotes data management efforts to increase data accessibility. Geospatial web services have been established at NOAA data providers including the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC), the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS), and CoastWatch, and at regional data provider sites. Services established include Open-source Project for a Network Data Access Protocol (OpenDAP), Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Sensor Observation Service (SOS), and OGC Web Coverage Service (WCS). These services provide integrated access to data holdings that have been aggregated at each center from multiple sources. We wish to collaborate with other groups to improve our service offerings to maximize interoperability and enhance cross-provider data integration, and to share common service components such as registries, catalogs, data conversion, and gateways. This paper will discuss the current status of NOAA's IOOS efforts and possible next steps.

Role of parietal regions in episodic memory retrieval: the dual attentional processes hypothesis.

PubMed

Cabeza, Roberto

2008-01-01

Although parietal cortex is frequently activated during episodic memory retrieval, damage to this region does not markedly impair episodic memory. To account for these and other findings, a new dual attentional processes (DAP) hypothesis is proposed. According to this hypothesis, dorsal parietal cortex (DPC) contributes top-down attentional processes guided by retrieval goals, whereas ventral parietal cortex (VPC) contributes bottom-up attentional processes captured by the retrieval output. Consistent with this hypothesis, DPC activity increases with retrieval effort whereas VPC activity increases with confidence in old and new responses. The DAP hypothesis can also account for the overlap of parietal activations across different cognitive domains and for opposing effects of parietal activity on encoding vs. retrieval. Finally, the DAP hypothesis explains why VPC lesions yield a memory neglect syndrome: a deficit in spontaneously reporting relevant memory details but not in accessing the same details when guided by specific questions.

HDF-EOS Web Server

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ullman, Richard; Bane, Bob; Yang, Jingli

2008-01-01

A shell script has been written as a means of automatically making HDF-EOS-formatted data sets available via the World Wide Web. ("HDF-EOS" and variants thereof are defined in the first of the two immediately preceding articles.) The shell script chains together some software tools developed by the Data Usability Group at Goddard Space Flight Center to perform the following actions: Extract metadata in Object Definition Language (ODL) from an HDF-EOS file, Convert the metadata from ODL to Extensible Markup Language (XML), Reformat the XML metadata into human-readable Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Publish the HTML metadata and the original HDF-EOS file to a Web server and an Open-source Project for a Network Data Access Protocol (OPeN-DAP) server computer, and Reformat the XML metadata and submit the resulting file to the EOS Clearinghouse, which is a Web-based metadata clearinghouse that facilitates searching for, and exchange of, Earth-Science data.

Effect of lignin content on changes occurring in poplar cellulose ultrastructure during dilute acid pretreatment

DOE PAGES

Sun, Qining; Foston, Marcus; Meng, Xianzhi; ...

2014-10-14

Obtaining a better understanding of the complex mechanisms occurring during lignocellulosic deconstruction is critical to the continued growth of renewable biofuel production. A key step in bioethanol production is thermochemical pretreatment to reduce plant cell wall recalcitrance for downstream processes. Previous studies of dilute acid pretreatment (DAP) have shown significant changes in cellulose ultrastructure that occur during pretreatment, but there is still a substantial knowledge gap with respect to the influence of lignin on these cellulose ultrastructural changes. This study was designed to assess how the presence of lignin influences DAP-induced changes in cellulose ultrastructure, which might ultimately have largemore » implications with respect to enzymatic deconstruction efforts. Native, untreated hybrid poplar (Populus trichocarpa x Populus deltoids) samples and a partially delignified poplar sample (facilitated by acidic sodium chlorite pulping) were separately pretreated with dilute sulfuric acid (0.10 M) at 160°C for 15 minutes and 35 minutes, respectively . Following extensive characterization, the partially delignified biomass displayed more significant changes in cellulose ultrastructure following DAP than the native untreated biomass. With respect to the native untreated poplar, delignified poplar after DAP (in which approximately 40% lignin removal occurred) experienced: increased cellulose accessibility indicated by increased Simons’ stain (orange dye) adsorption from 21.8 to 72.5 mg/g, decreased cellulose weight-average degree of polymerization (DP w) from 3087 to 294 units, and increased cellulose crystallite size from 2.9 to 4.2 nm. These changes following DAP ultimately increased enzymatic sugar yield from 10 to 80%. We conclude that, overall, the results indicate a strong influence of lignin content on cellulose ultrastructural changes occurring during DAP. With the reduction of lignin content during DAP, the enlargement of cellulose microfibril dimensions and crystallite size becomes more apparent. Further, this enlargement of cellulose microfibril dimensions is attributed to specific processes, including the co-crystallization of crystalline cellulose driven by irreversible inter-chain hydrogen bonding (similar to hornification) and/or cellulose annealing that converts amorphous cellulose to paracrystalline and crystalline cellulose. Essentially, lignin acts as a barrier to prevent cellulose crystallinity increase and cellulose fibril coalescence during DAP.« less

KETAMINE-MEDETOMIDINE AND KETAMINE-MEDETOMIDINE-MIDAZOLAM ANESTHESIA IN CAPTIVE CHEETAHS (ACINONYX JUBATUS)-COMPARISON OF BLOOD PRESSURE AND KIDNEY BLOOD FLOW.

PubMed

Stagegaard, Julia; Hørlyck, Arne; Hydeskov, Helle B; Bertelsen, Mads F

2017-06-01

Six clinically healthy captive cheetahs ( Acinonyx jubatus ) were anesthetized twice using two different drug combinations to investigate if blood pressure and kidney blood flow are affected by medetomidine dosage. Protocol KM (2.0 mg/kg ketamine and 0.05 mg/kg medetomidine) was compared with protocol KMM (2.0 mg/kg ketamine, 0.02 mg/kg medetomidine, and 0.1 mg/kg midazolam). Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), body temperature, end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure (ETCO 2 ), and anesthetic depth were monitored every 10 min. Noninvasive mean (MAP), systolic (SAP), and diastolic (DAP) arterial blood pressure were measured, and Duplex Doppler ultrasonography was performed on the kidneys. The mean arterial resistive index (RI) was determined and the pulse pressure index (PPI) was calculated, as indicators for kidney blood flow. There were no significant differences in induction and recovery times. MAP was significantly higher with KM than KMM at 35 min, and in both protocols decreased significantly after atipamezole administration. DAP was significantly higher at 25 and 35 min in animals anesthetized with KM; it also decreased significantly with both protocols after atipamezole administration. The PPI was significantly lower throughout the procedure with KM, and with both protocols increased significantly after atipamezole administration. Both the higher blood pressure and the reduced PPI with KM were likely a direct effect of the higher medetomidine dosage, and these findings indicate that lower medetomidine dosages might reduce hypertension and lead to a better PPI in cheetah immobilization.

Radiation exposure and contrast agent use related to radial versus femoral arterial access during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-Results of the FERARI study.

PubMed

Becher, Tobias; Behnes, Michael; Ünsal, Melike; Baumann, Stefan; El-Battrawy, Ibrahim; Fastner, Christian; Kuschyk, Jürgen; Papavassiliu, Theano; Hoffmann, Ursula; Mashayekhi, Kambis; Borggrefe, Martin; Akin, Ibrahim

2016-12-01

Data regarding radiation exposure related to radial versus femoral arterial access in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remain controversial. This study aims to evaluate patients enrolled in the FERARI study regarding radiation exposure, fluoroscopy time and contrast agent use. The Femoral Closure versus Radial Compression Devices Related to Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (FERARI) study evaluated prospectively 400 patients between February 2014 and May 2015 undergoing PCI either using the radial or femoral access. In these 400 patients, baseline characteristics, procedural data such as procedural duration, fluoroscopy time, dose-area product (DAP) as well as the amount of contrast agent used were documented and analyzed. Median fluoroscopy time was not significantly different in patients undergoing radial versus femoral access (12.2 vs. 9.8min, p=0.507). Furthermore, median DAP (54.5 vs. 52.0 Gycm2, p=0.826), procedural duration (46.0 vs. 45.0min, p=0.363) and contrast agent use (185.5 vs. 199.5ml, p=0.742) were also similar in radial and femoral PCI. There was no difference regarding median fluoroscopy time, procedural duration, radiation dose or contrast agent use between radial versus femoral arterial access in PCI. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The effect of anesthetic drug choice on accuracy of high-definition oscillometry in laterally recumbent horses.

PubMed

Duke-Novakovski, Tanya; Ambros, Barbara; Feng, Cindy; Carr, Anthony P

2017-05-01

To determine the accuracy of high-definition oscillometry (HDO) for arterial pressure measurement during injectable or inhalation anesthesia in horses. Prospective, clinical study. Twenty-four horses anesthetized for procedures requiring lateral recumbency. Horses were premedicated with xylazine, and anesthesia induced with diazepam-ketamine. Anesthesia was maintained with xylazine-ketamine-guaifenesin combination [TripleDrip (TD; n = 12) or isoflurane (ISO; n = 12)]. HDO was used to obtain systolic (SAP), mean (MAP) and diastolic (DAP) arterial pressures, and heart rate (HR) using an 8-cm-wide cuff around the proximal tail. Invasive blood pressure (IBP), SAP, MAP, DAP and HR were recorded during HDO cycling. Bland-Altman analysis for repeated measures was used to compare HDO and IBP for all measurements. The generalized additive model was used to determine if means in the differences between HDO and IBP were similar between anesthetic protocols for all measurements. There were >110 paired samples for each variable. There was no effect of anesthetic choice on HDO performance, but more variability was present in TD compared with ISO. Skewed data required log-transformation for statistical comparison. Using raw data and standard Bland-Altman analysis, HDO overestimated SAP (TD, 3.8 ± 28.3 mmHg; ISO, 3.5 ± 13.6 mmHg), MAP (TD, 4.0 ± 23.3 mmHg; ISO, 6.3 ± 10.0 mmHg) and DAP (TD, 4.0 ± 21.2 mmHg; ISO, 7.8 ± 13.6 mmHg). In TD, 26-40% HDO measurements were within 10 mmHg of IBP, compared with 60-74% in ISO. Differences between HDO and IBP for all measurements were similar between anesthetic protocols. The numerical difference between IBP and HDO measurements for SAP, MAP and DAP significantly decreased as cuff width:tail girth ratio increased toward 40%. More variability in HDO occurred during TD. The cuff width:tail girth ratio is important for accuracy of HDO. Copyright © 2017 Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists and American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dose, image quality and spine modeling assessment of biplanar EOS micro-dose radiographs for the follow-up of in-brace adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients.

PubMed

Morel, Baptiste; Moueddeb, Sonia; Blondiaux, Eleonore; Richard, Stephen; Bachy, Manon; Vialle, Raphael; Ducou Le Pointe, Hubert

2018-05-01

The aim of this study was to compare the radiation dose, image quality and 3D spine parameter measurements of EOS low-dose and micro-dose protocols for in-brace adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients. We prospectively included 25 consecutive patients (20 females, 5 males) followed for AIS and undergoing brace treatment. The mean age was 12 years (SD 2 years, range 8-15 years). For each patient, in-brace biplanar EOS radiographs were acquired in a standing position using both the conventional low-dose and micro-dose protocols. Dose area product (DAP) was systematically recorded. Diagnostic image quality was qualitatively assessed by two radiologists for visibility of anatomical structures. The reliability of 3D spine modeling between two operators was quantitatively evaluated for the most clinically relevant 3D radiological parameters using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The mean DAP for the posteroanterior and lateral acquisitions was 300 ± 134 and 433 ± 181 mGy cm 2 for the low-dose radiographs, and 41 ± 19 and 81 ± 39 mGy cm 2 for micro-dose radiographs. Image quality was lower with the micro-dose protocol. The agreement was "good" to "very good" for all measured clinical parameters when comparing the low-dose and micro-dose protocols (ICC > 0.73). The micro-dose protocol substantially reduced the delivered dose (by a factor of 5-7 compared to the low-dose protocol) in braced children with AIS. Although image quality was reduced, the micro-dose protocol proved to be adapted to radiological follow-up, with adequate image quality and reliable clinical measurements. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

ERDDAP: Reducing Data Friction with an Open Source Data Platform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Brien, K.

2017-12-01

Data friction is not just an issue facing interdisciplinary research. Often times, even within disciplines, significant data friction can exist. Issues of differing formats, limited metadata and non-existent machine-to-machine data access are all issues that exist within disciplines and make it that much harder for successful interdisciplinary cooperation. Therefore, reducing data friction within disciplines is crucial first step in providing better overall collaboration. ERDDAP, an open source data platform developed at NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Center, is well poised to improve data useability and understanding and reduce data friction, both in single and multi-disciplinary research. By virtue of its ability to integrate data of varying formats and provide RESTful-based user access to data and metadata, use of ERDDAP has grown substantially throughout the ocean data community. ERDDAP also supports standards such as the DAP data protocol, the Climate and Forecast (CF) metadata conventions and the Bagit document standard for data archival. In this presentation, we will discuss the advantages of using ERDDAP as a data platform. We will also show specific use cases where utilizing ERDDAP has reduced friction within a single discipline (physical oceanography) and improved interdisciplinary collaboration as well.

DOD Information Technology Standard Guidance (ITSG) Version 3.1

DTIC Science & Technology

1997-04-07

from NGSBs later (e.g., OSFs Motif specification became the basis for IEEE 1295 . 1). Most consortia specifications are available now, do not overlap...Illumination) CIM Center for Information Management (DISA) CINC Conumnder in Chief CIS CASE Integration Services CJCS Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of...Compound Text Encoding CUA Common User Access DAC Discretionary Access Controls DAD Draft Addendum (ISO) DAM Draft Amendment (ISO) DAP Document

Differential response of orthologous L,L-diaminopimelate aminotransferases (DapL) to enzyme inhibitory antibiotic lead compounds.

PubMed

McKinnie, Shaun M K; Rodriguez-Lopez, Eva M; Vederas, John C; Crowther, Jennifer M; Suzuki, Hironori; Dobson, Renwick C J; Leustek, Thomas; Triassi, Alexander J; Wheatley, Matthew S; Hudson, André O

2014-01-01

L,L-Diaminopimelate aminotransferase (DapL) is an enzyme required for the biosynthesis of meso-diaminopimelate (m-DAP) and L-lysine (Lys) in some bacteria and photosynthetic organisms. m-DAP and Lys are both involved in the synthesis of peptidoglycan (PG) and protein synthesis. DapL is found in specific eubacterial and archaeal lineages, in particular in several groups of pathogenic bacteria such as Leptospira interrogans (LiDapL), the soil/water bacterium Verrucomicrobium spinosum (VsDapL) and the alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (CrDapL). Here we present the first comprehensive inhibition study comparing the kinetic activity of DapL orthologs using previously active small molecule inhibitors formerly identified in a screen with the DapL of Arabidopsis thaliana (AtDapL), a flowering plant. Each inhibitor is derived from one of four classes with different central structural moieties: a hydrazide, a rhodanine, a barbiturate, or a thiobarbituate functionality. The results show that all five compounds tested were effective at inhibiting the DapL orthologs. LiDapL and AtDapL showed similar patterns of inhibition across the inhibitor series, whereas the VsDapL and CrDapL inhibition patterns were different from that of LiDapL and AtDapL. CrDapL was found to be insensitive to the hydrazide (IC₅₀ >200 μM). VsDapL was found to be the most sensitive to the barbiturate and thiobarbiturate containing inhibitors (IC₅₀ ∼5 μM). Taken together, the data shows that the homologs have differing sensitivities to the inhibitors with IC₅₀ values ranging from 4.7 to 250 μM. In an attempt to understand the basis for these differences the four enzymes were modeled based on the known structure of AtDapL. Overall, it was found that the enzyme active sites were conserved, although the second shell of residues close to the active site were not. We conclude from this that the altered binding patterns seen in the inhibition studies may be a consequence of the inhibitors forming additional interactions with residues proximal to the active site, or that the inhibitors may not act by binding to the active site. Compounds that are specific for DapL could be potential biocides (antibiotic, herbicide or algaecide) that are nontoxic to animals since animals do not contain the enzymes necessary for PG or Lys synthesis. This study provides important information to expand our current understanding of the structure/activity relationship of DapL and putative inhibitors that are potentially useful for the design and or discovery of novel biocides. Copyright © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

New indices from microneurography to investigate the arterial baroreflex.

PubMed

Laurin, Alexandre; Lloyd, Matthew G; Hachiya, Tesshin; Saito, Mitsuru; Claydon, Victoria E; Blaber, Andrew

2017-06-01

Baroreflex-mediated changes in heart rate and vascular resistance in response to variations in blood pressure are critical to maintain homeostasis. We aimed to develop time domain analysis methods to complement existing cross-spectral techniques in the investigation of the vascular resistance baroreflex response to orthostatic stress. A secondary goal was to apply these methods to distinguish between levels of orthostatic tolerance using baseline data. Eleven healthy, normotensive males participated in a graded lower body negative pressure protocol. Within individual neurogenic baroreflex cycles, the amount of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), the diastolic pressure stimulus and response amplitudes, diastolic pressure to MSNA burst stimulus and response times, as well as the stimulus and response slopes between diastolic pressure and MSNA were computed. Coherence, gain, and frequency of highest coherence between systolic/diastolic arterial pressure (SAP/DAP) and RR-interval time series were also computed. The number of MSNA bursts per low-frequency cycle increased from 2.55 ± 0.68 at baseline to 5.44 ± 1.56 at -40 mmHg of LBNP Stimulus time decreased (3.21 ± 1.48-1.46 ± 0.43 sec), as did response time (3.47 ± 0.86-2.37 ± 0.27 sec). At baseline, DAP-RR coherence, DAP-RR gain, and the time delay between decreases in DAP and MSNA bursts were higher in participants who experienced symptoms of presyncope. Results clarified the role of different branches of the baroreflex loop, and suggested functional adaptation of neuronal pathways to orthostatic stress. © 2017 The Authors. Physiological Reports published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Physiological Society and the American Physiological Society.

Integrating Data Distribution and Data Assimilation Between the OOI CI and the NOAA DIF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meisinger, M.; Arrott, M.; Clemesha, A.; Farcas, C.; Farcas, E.; Im, T.; Schofield, O.; Krueger, I.; Klacansky, I.; Orcutt, J.; Peach, C.; Chave, A.; Raymer, D.; Vernon, F.

2008-12-01

The Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) is an NSF funded program to establish the ocean observing infrastructure of the 21st century benefiting research and education. It is currently approaching final design and promises to deliver cyber and physical observatory infrastructure components as well as substantial core instrumentation to study environmental processes of the ocean at various scales, from coastal shelf-slope exchange processes to the deep ocean. The OOI's data distribution network lies at the heart of its cyber- infrastructure, which enables a multitude of science and education applications, ranging from data analysis, to processing, visualization and ontology supported query and mediation. In addition, it fundamentally supports a class of applications exploiting the knowledge gained from analyzing observational data for objective-driven ocean observing applications, such as automatically triggered response to episodic environmental events and interactive instrument tasking and control. The U.S. Department of Commerce through NOAA operates the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) providing continuous data in various formats, rates and scales on open oceans and coastal waters to scientists, managers, businesses, governments, and the public to support research and inform decision-making. The NOAA IOOS program initiated development of the Data Integration Framework (DIF) to improve management and delivery of an initial subset of ocean observations with the expectation of achieving improvements in a select set of NOAA's decision-support tools. Both OOI and NOAA through DIF collaborate on an effort to integrate the data distribution, access and analysis needs of both programs. We present details and early findings from this collaboration; one part of it is the development of a demonstrator combining web-based user access to oceanographic data through ERDDAP, efficient science data distribution, and scalable, self-healing deployment in a cloud computing environment. ERDDAP is a web-based front-end application integrating oceanographic data sources of various formats, for instance CDF data files as aggregated through NcML or presented using a THREDDS server. The OOI-designed data distribution network provides global traffic management and computational load balancing for observatory resources; it makes use of the OpenDAP Data Access Protocol (DAP) for efficient canonical science data distribution over the network. A cloud computing strategy is the basis for scalable, self-healing organization of an observatory's computing and storage resources, independent of the physical location and technical implementation of these resources.

Ly49H signaling through DAP10 is essential for optimal natural killer cell responses to mouse cytomegalovirus infection

PubMed Central

Orr, Mark T.; Sun, Joseph C.; Hesslein, David G.T.; Arase, Hisashi; Phillips, Joseph H.; Takai, Toshiyuki

2009-01-01

The activating natural killer (NK) cell receptor Ly49H recognizes the mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) m157 glycoprotein expressed on the surface of infected cells and is required for protection against MCMV. Although Ly49H has previously been shown to signal via DAP12, we now show that Ly49H must also associate with and signal via DAP10 for optimal function. In the absence of DAP12, DAP10 enables Ly49H-mediated killing of m157-bearing target cells, proliferation in response to MCMV infection, and partial protection against MCMV. DAP10-deficient Ly49H+ NK cells, expressing only Ly49H–DAP12 receptor complexes, are partially impaired in their ability to proliferate during MCMV infection, display diminished ERK1/2 activation, produce less IFN-γ upon Ly49H engagement, and demonstrate reduced control of MCMV infection. Deletion of both DAP10 and DAP12 completely abrogates Ly49H surface expression and control of MCMV infection. Thus, optimal NK cell–mediated immunity to MCMV depends on Ly49H signaling through both DAP10 and DAP12. PMID:19332875

Reconstruction of diaminopimelic acid biosynthesis allows characterisation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis N-succinyl-L,L-diaminopimelic acid desuccinylase

PubMed Central

Usha, Veeraraghavan; Lloyd, Adrian J.; Roper, David I.; Dowson, Christopher G.; Kozlov, Guennadi; Gehring, Kalle; Chauhan, Smita; Imam, Hasan T.; Blindauer, Claudia A.; Besra, Gurdyal S.

2016-01-01

With the increased incidence of tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis there is an urgent need for new and better anti-tubercular drugs. N-succinyl-L,L-diaminopimelic acid desuccinylase (DapE) is a key enzyme in the succinylase pathway for the biosynthesis of meso-diaminopimelic acid (meso-DAP) and L-lysine. DapE is a zinc containing metallohydrolase which hydrolyses N-succinyl L,L diaminopimelic acid (L,L-NSDAP) to L,L-diaminopimelic acid (L,L-DAP) and succinate. M. tuberculosis DapE (MtDapE) was cloned, over-expressed and purified as an N-terminal hexahistidine ((His)6) tagged fusion containing one zinc ion per DapE monomer. We redesigned the DAP synthetic pathway to generate L,L-NSDAP and other L,L-NSDAP derivatives and have characterised MtDapE with these substrates. In contrast to its other Gram negative homologues, the MtDapE was insensitive to inhibition by L-captopril which we show is consistent with novel mycobacterial alterations in the binding site of this drug. PMID:26976706

Reconstruction of diaminopimelic acid biosynthesis allows characterisation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis N-succinyl-L,L-diaminopimelic acid desuccinylase.

PubMed

Usha, Veeraraghavan; Lloyd, Adrian J; Roper, David I; Dowson, Christopher G; Kozlov, Guennadi; Gehring, Kalle; Chauhan, Smita; Imam, Hasan T; Blindauer, Claudia A; Besra, Gurdyal S

2016-03-15

With the increased incidence of tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis there is an urgent need for new and better anti-tubercular drugs. N-succinyl-L,L-diaminopimelic acid desuccinylase (DapE) is a key enzyme in the succinylase pathway for the biosynthesis of meso-diaminopimelic acid (meso-DAP) and L-lysine. DapE is a zinc containing metallohydrolase which hydrolyses N-succinyl L,L diaminopimelic acid (L,L-NSDAP) to L,L-diaminopimelic acid (L,L-DAP) and succinate. M. tuberculosis DapE (MtDapE) was cloned, over-expressed and purified as an N-terminal hexahistidine ((His)6) tagged fusion containing one zinc ion per DapE monomer. We redesigned the DAP synthetic pathway to generate L,L-NSDAP and other L,L-NSDAP derivatives and have characterised MtDapE with these substrates. In contrast to its other Gram negative homologues, the MtDapE was insensitive to inhibition by L-captopril which we show is consistent with novel mycobacterial alterations in the binding site of this drug.

Aggregating Queries Against Large Inventories of Remotely Accessible Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gallagher, J. H. R.; Fulker, D. W.

2016-12-01

Those seeking to discover data for a specific purpose often encounter search results that are so large as to be useless without computing assistance. This situation arises, with increasing frequency, in part because repositories contain ever greater numbers of granules, and their granularities may well be poorly aligned or even orthogonal to the data-selection needs of the user. This presentation describes a recently developed service for simultaneously querying large lists of OPeNDAP-accessible granules to extract specified data. The specifications include a richly expressive set of data-selection criteria—applicable to content as well as metadata—and the service has been tested successfully against lists naming hundreds of thousands of granules. Querying such numbers of local files (i.e., granules) on a desktop or laptop computer is practical (by using a scripting language, e.g.), but this practicality is diminished when the data are remote and thus best accessed through a Web-services interface. In these cases, which are increasingly common, scripted queries can take many hours because of inherent network latencies. Furthermore, communication dropouts can add fragility to such scripts, yielding gaps in the acquired results. In contrast, OPeNDAP's new aggregated-query services enable data discovery in the context of very large inventory sizes. These capabilities have been developed for use with OPeNDAP's Hyrax server, which is an open-source realization of DAP (for "Data Access Protocol," a specification widely used in NASA, NOAA and other data-intensive contexts). These aggregated-query services exhibit good response times (on the order of seconds, not hours) even for inventories that list hundreds of thousands of source granules.

Phenotypic and genotypic correlates of daptomycin-resistant methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates.

PubMed

Kang, Kyoung-Mi; Mishra, Nagendra N; Park, Kun Taek; Lee, Gi-Yong; Park, Yong Ho; Bayer, Arnold S; Yang, Soo-Jin

2017-02-01

Daptomycin (DAP) has potent activity in vitro and in vivo against both methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains. DAP-resistance (DAP-R) in S. aureus has been mainly observed in MRSA strains, and has been linked to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the mprF gene leading to altered cell membrane (CM) phospholipid (PL) profiles, enhanced positive surface charge, and changes in CM fluidity. The current study was designed to delineate whether these same genotypic and phenotypic perturbations are demonstrated in clinically-derived DAP-R MSSA strains. We used three isogenic DAP-susceptible (DAP-S)/DAP-R strainpairs and compared: (i) presence of mprF SNPs, (ii) temporal expression profiles of the two key determinants (mprF and dltABCD) of net positive surface charge, (iii) increased production of mprF-dependent lysinylated-phosphatidylglycerol (L-PG), (iv) positive surface charge assays, and (v) susceptibility to cationic host defense peptides (HDPs) of neutrophil and platelet origins. Similar to prior data in MRSA, DAP-R (vs DAP-S) MSSA strains exhibited hallmark hot-spot SNPs in mprF, enhanced and dysregulated expression of both mprF and dltA, L-PG overproduction, HDP resistance and enhanced positive surface charge profiles. However, in contrast to most DAP-R MRSA strains, there were no changes in CM fluidity seen. Thus, charge repulsion via mprF-and dlt-mediated enhancement of positive surface charge may be the main mechanism to explain DAP-R in MSSA strains.

GENESIS SciFlo: Choreographing Interoperable Web Services on the Grid using a Semantically-Enabled Dataflow Execution Environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilson, B. D.; Manipon, G.; Xing, Z.

2007-12-01

The General Earth Science Investigation Suite (GENESIS) project is a NASA-sponsored partnership between the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, academia, and NASA data centers to develop a new suite of Web Services tools to facilitate multi-sensor investigations in Earth System Science. The goal of GENESIS is to enable large-scale, multi-instrument atmospheric science using combined datasets from the AIRS, MODIS, MISR, and GPS sensors. Investigations include cross-comparison of spaceborne climate sensors, cloud spectral analysis, study of upper troposphere-stratosphere water transport, study of the aerosol indirect cloud effect, and global climate model validation. The challenges are to bring together very large datasets, reformat and understand the individual instrument retrievals, co-register or re-grid the retrieved physical parameters, perform computationally-intensive data fusion and data mining operations, and accumulate complex statistics over months to years of data. To meet these challenges, we have developed a Grid computing and dataflow framework, named SciFlo, in which we are deploying a set of versatile and reusable operators for data access, subsetting, registration, mining, fusion, compression, and advanced statistical analysis. SciFlo leverages remote Web Services, called via Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) or REST (one-line) URLs, and the Grid Computing standards (WS-* & Globus Alliance toolkits), and enables scientists to do multi- instrument Earth Science by assembling reusable Web Services and native executables into a distributed computing flow (tree of operators). The SciFlo client & server engines optimize the execution of such distributed data flows and allow the user to transparently find and use datasets and operators without worrying about the actual location of the Grid resources. In particular, SciFlo exploits the wealth of datasets accessible by OpenGIS Consortium (OGC) Web Mapping Servers & Web Coverage Servers (WMS/WCS), and by Open Data Access Protocol (OpenDAP) servers. SciFlo also publishes its own SOAP services for space/time query and subsetting of Earth Science datasets, and automated access to large datasets via lists of (FTP, HTTP, or DAP) URLs which point to on-line HDF or netCDF files. Typical distributed workflows obtain datasets by calling standard WMS/WCS servers or discovering and fetching data granules from ftp sites; invoke remote analysis operators available as SOAP services (interface described by a WSDL document); and merge results into binary containers (netCDF or HDF files) for further analysis using local executable operators. Naming conventions (HDFEOS and CF-1.0 for netCDF) are exploited to automatically understand and read on-line datasets. More interoperable conventions, and broader adoption of existing converntions, are vital if we are to "scale up" automated choreography of Web Services beyond toy applications. Recently, the ESIP Federation sponsored a collaborative activity in which several ESIP members developed some collaborative science scenarios for atmospheric and aerosol science, and then choreographed services from multiple groups into demonstration workflows using the SciFlo engine and a Business Process Execution Language (BPEL) workflow engine. We will discuss the lessons learned from this activity, the need for standardized interfaces (like WMS/WCS), the difficulty in agreeing on even simple XML formats and interfaces, the benefits of doing collaborative science analysis at the "touch of a button" once services are connected, and further collaborations that are being pursued.

Efficacy of Daptomycin Monotherapy and In Combination with β-lactams for Daptomycin-Susceptible Enterococcus faecium Harboring LiaSR Substitutions: Influence of The Inoculum Effect.

PubMed

Kebriaei, Razieh; Rice, Seth A; Singh, Kavindra V; Stamper, Kyle C; Dinh, An Q; Rios, Rafael; Diaz, Lorena; Murray, Barbara E; Munita, Jose M; Tran, Truc T; Arias, Cesar A; Rybak, Michael J

2018-05-14

Enterococcus faecium that harbor LiaFSR substitutions but are phenotypically susceptible to daptomycin (DAP) by current breakpoints are problematic since predisposition to resistance may lead to therapeutic failure. Using a simulated endocardial vegetation (SEV) PK/PD model, we investigated DAP regimens (6, 8 and 10 mg/kg/day) as monotherapy and in combination with ampicillin (AMP), ceftaroline (CPT) or ertapenem (ERT) against E. faecium HOU503, a DAP-susceptible strain that harbors common LiaS and LiaR substitutions found in clinical isolates (T120S and W73C, respectively). Of interest, the efficacy of DAP monotherapy, at any dose regimen, was dependent on the size of the inoculum. At an inoculum of ∼10 9 CFU/g, DAP doses of 6-8 mg/kg/d were not effective and led to significant regrowth with emergence of resistant derivatives. In contrast, at an inoculum of ∼10 7 , marked reductions in bacterial counts were observed with DAP 6 mg/kg/d with no resistance. The inoculum effect was confirmed in a rat model using humanized DAP exposures. Combinations of DAP with AMP, CPT or ERT demonstrated enhanced eradication and reduced potential for resistance allowing for de-escalation of the DAP dose. Persistence of the LiaRS substitutions were identified in DAP-resistant isolates recovered from the SEV model and in DAP-resistant derivatives of an initially DAP-susceptible clinical isolate of E. faecium (HOU668) harboring LiaSR substitutions and recovered from a patient with a recurrent bloodstream infection. Our results provide novel data for the use of DAP monotherapy and combinations for recalcitrant E. faecium infections and paves the way for testing these approaches in humans. Copyright © 2018 American Society for Microbiology.

Dipeptidyl(amino)peptidase IV and aminopeptidase M metabolize circulating substance P in vivo.

PubMed

Ahmad, S; Wang, L; Ward, P E

1992-03-01

Recent studies have demonstrated that Fischer-344 rats from Japanese Charles River Inc. specifically lack dipeptidyl(amino)peptidase IV (DAP IV-negative; EC 3.4.14.5), whereas Fischer-344 rats from sources within the United States (DAP IV-positive) possess normal DAP IV activity. In the present study, plasma from DAP IV-positive rats metabolized substance P (SP) (5.37 +/- 0.25 nmol/min/ml) via the actions of angiotensin-converting enzyme (EC 3.4.15.1) (1.86 +/- 0.50 nmol/min/ml) and DAP IV (2.56 +/- 0.42 nmol/min/ml). DAP IV sequentially converted SP to SP[3-11] and SP[5-11]. The SP[5-11] metabolite was then rapidly hydrolyzed by plasma aminopeptidase M (AmM; EC 3.4.11.2) (36.2 +/- 4.2 nmol/min/ml). In contrast, SP metabolism by plasma from DAP IV-negative rats was less than half that of control animals (2.14 +/- 0.06 nmol/min/ml), due to a complete lack of DAP IV hydrolysis. The absence of DAP IV was not associated with any differences in angiotensin-converting enzyme-mediated hydrolysis of SP (1.45 +/- 0.11 nmol/min/ml) or AmM-mediated hydrolysis of SP[5-11] (37.1 +/- 0.9 nmol/min/ml). Consistent with this deficiency in SP metabolism, SP was more potent in vivo in stimulating salivary secretion in DAP IV-negative rats compared to DAP IV-positive animals. Potentiation was specific in that SP[5-11], an SP fragment resistant to DAP IV, was equipotent in DAP IV-negative and positive animals. SP[5-11]-induced salivary secretion was potentiated in both strains when AmM-mediated hydrolysis was inhibited by amastatin (20 nmol/min, i.v.). These data provide direct evidence for a significant role for DAP IV and AmM in the in vivo processing of SP and active SP metabolites.

Physiological changes and sHSPs genes relative transcription in relation to the acquisition of seed germination during maturation of hybrid rice seed.

PubMed

Zhu, Li-Wei; Cao, Dong-Dong; Hu, Qi-Juan; Guan, Ya-Jing; Hu, Wei-Min; Nawaz, Aamir; Hu, Jin

2016-03-30

During the production of early hybrid rice seed, the seeds dehydrated slowly and retained high moisture levels when rainy weather lasted for a couple of days, and the rice seeds easily occurred pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) along with high temperature. Therefore it is necessary to harvest the seeds before the PHS occurred. The seeds of hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L. subsp. indica) cv. Qianyou No1 that harvests from 19 to 28 days after pollination (DAP) all had high seed vigour. The seed moisture content at 10 DAP was 36.1%, and declined to 28.6% at 19 DAP; the contents of soluble sugar and total starch increased significantly with the development of seeds. The soluble protein content, the level of abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellin (GA3 ), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity continued to decrease from 10 DAP to 19 DAP. The seeds at 19 DAP had the highest peroxidase (POD) activity and lowest catalase (CAT) activity while the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity had no significant difference among the different developing periods. The relative expressions of genes 64S Hsp18.0 and Os03g0267200 transcripts increased significantly from 10 to 19 DAP, and then decreased. However, no significant change was recorded in soluble protein, sugar and GA3 after 16 DAP, and they all significantly correlated with seed viability and vigour during the process of seed maturity. The seeds of hybrid rice Qianyou No1 had a higher viability and vigour when harvested from 19 DAP to 28 DAP, the transcription levels of 64S Hsp18.0 and Os03g0267200 increased significantly from 10 DAP to 19 DAP and the highest value was recorded at 19 DAP. The seeds could be harvested as early as 19 DAP without negative influence on seed vigour and viability. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

DAP12 impacts trafficking and surface stability of killer immunoglobulin-like receptors on natural killer cells

PubMed Central

Mulrooney, Tiernan J.; Posch, Phillip E.; Hurley, Carolyn Katovich

2013-01-01

KIR aid in the regulation of NK cell activity. In this study, the effect of the interaction between the KIR2DS and their adapter, DAP12, was investigated beyond the previously defined signaling function. Flow cytometry analysis showed enhanced KIR2DS surface expression on NKL cells when cotransfected with DAP12. Conversely, KIR2DS4 surface expression on primary cells was decreased when the cells were treated with DAP12-specific siRNA. Treatment of the KIR2DS and DAP12-transfected cells with CHX or BFA repressed KIR2DS surface expression, revealing a role for DAP12 in trafficking newly synthesized KIR to the cell surface. Immunoprecipitation of DAP12 revealed an interaction of DAP12 with an immature isoform of KIR2DS, indicating that the interaction likely initiates within the ER. An internalization assay demonstrated a significant impact of DAP12 on KIR2DS surface stability. Confocal microscopy showed that internalized KIR2DS molecules are recruited to lysosomal compartments independent of DAP12 expression. Our results suggest that in vivo conditions that adversely affect DAP12 expression will indirectly reduce surface expression and stability of KIR2DS. These effects could significantly impact ligand recognition and strength of signaling through KIR2DS molecules. PMID:23715743

Restoration of Immune Surveillance in Lung Cancer by Natural Killer Cells

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-10-01

and had no dramatic effects on NK cell, unlike TGFb, although this product had been effective in the past. However, the pathway that Nicotine and... effects of nicotine on NK function in vivo in smokers and have proceeded to conduct the clinical protocol in Aim 2. Aim 2. To verify that use of...molecule, DAP12, that controls tumoricidal function in human Natural Killer (NK) Cells and to understand how nicotine , contained in tobacco smoke

Framework for Deploying a Virtualized Computing Environment for Collaborative and Secure Data Analytics

PubMed Central

Meyer, Adrian; Green, Laura; Faulk, Ciearro; Galla, Stephen; Meyer, Anne-Marie

2016-01-01

Introduction: Large amounts of health data generated by a wide range of health care applications across a variety of systems have the potential to offer valuable insight into populations and health care systems, but robust and secure computing and analytic systems are required to leverage this information. Framework: We discuss our experiences deploying a Secure Data Analysis Platform (SeDAP), and provide a framework to plan, build and deploy a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) to enable innovation, collaboration and operate within academic funding structures. It outlines 6 core components: Security, Ease of Access, Performance, Cost, Tools, and Training. Conclusion: A platform like SeDAP is not simply successful through technical excellence and performance. It’s adoption is dependent on a collaborative environment where researchers and users plan and evaluate the requirements of all aspects. PMID:27683665

DAP1 high expression increases risk of lymph node metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.

PubMed

Santos, M; Maia, L L; Silva, C V M; Peterle, G T; Mercante, A M C; Nunes, F D; Carvalho, M B; Tajara, E H; Louro, I D; Silva-Conforti, A M A

2015-09-08

Death-associated protein 1 (DAP1) is a member of the DAP family. Its expression is associated with cell growth and normal death of the neoplastic cells, regulated by the mammalian target of the rapamycin protein. Activated DAP1 negatively regulates autophagy, which has been associated with the development and progression of several diseases, such as cancer, and with prognosis and survival of diverse tumor types. Therefore, in this study we analyzed DAP1 expression in 54 oral squamous cell carcinoma tumor samples and in 20 non-tumoral margins by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that DAP1 is more frequently expressed in tumor tissues compared with marginal non-tumoral cells. Additionally, high DAP1 expression is associated with a 4-fold increase in the risk of lymph node metastases. Our results suggest that the DAP1 protein can be used as a potential marker of lymph node metastases predisposition, helping define the best therapy for each patient to minimize risk of developing metastases.

Crystal Structure of Ll-Diaminopimelate Aminotransferase From 'Arabidopsis Thaliana': a Recently-Discovered Enzyme in the Biosynthesis of L-Lysine By Plants And 'Chlamydia'

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

Watanabe, N.; Cherney, M.M.; van Belkum, M.J.

2007-07-13

The essential biosynthetic pathway to l-Lysine in bacteria and plants is an attractive target for the development of new antibiotics or herbicides because it is absent in humans, who must acquire this amino acid in their diet. Plants use a shortcut of a bacterial pathway to l-Lysine in which the pyridoxal-5-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme ll-diaminopimelate aminotransferase (LL-DAP-AT) transforms l-tetrahydrodipicolinic acid (L-THDP) directly to LL-DAP. In addition, LL-DAP-AT was recently found in Chlamydia sp., suggesting that inhibitors of this enzyme may also be effective against such organisms. In order to understand the mechanism of this enzyme and to assist in the designmore » of inhibitors, the three-dimensional crystal structure of LL-DAP-AT was determined at 1.95 Angstroms resolution. The cDNA sequence of LL-DAP-AT from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtDAP-AT) was optimized for expression in bacteria and cloned in Escherichia coli without its leader sequence but with a C-terminal hexahistidine affinity tag to aid protein purification. The structure of AtDAP-AT was determined using the multiple-wavelength anomalous dispersion (MAD) method with a seleno-methionine derivative. AtDAP-AT is active as a homodimer with each subunit having PLP in the active site. It belongs to the family of type I fold PLP-dependent enzymes. Comparison of the active site residues of AtDAP-AT and aspartate aminotransferases revealed that the PLP binding residues in AtDAP-AT are well conserved in both enzymes. However, Glu97* and Asn309* in the active site of AtDAP-AT are not found at similar positions in aspartate aminotransferases, suggesting that specific substrate recognition may require these residues from the other monomer. A malate-bound structure of AtDAP-AT allowed LL-DAP and L-glutamate to be modeled into the active site. These initial three-dimensional structures of LL-DAP-AT provide insight into its substrate specificity and catalytic mechanism.« less

Adapting a Navier-Stokes code to the ICL-DAP

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grosch, C. E.

1985-01-01

The results of an experiment are reported, i.c., to adapt a Navier-Stokes code, originally developed on a serial computer, to concurrent processing on the CL Distributed Array Processor (DAP). The algorithm used in solving the Navier-Stokes equations is briefly described. The architecture of the DAP and DAP FORTRAN are also described. The modifications of the algorithm so as to fit the DAP are given and discussed. Finally, performance results are given and conclusions are drawn.

Contrasting roles of DAP10 and KARAP/DAP12 signaling adaptors in activation of the RBL-2H3 leukemic mast cell line.

PubMed

Anfossi, Nicolas; Lucas, Mathias; Diefenbach, Andreas; Bühring, Hans-Jörg; Raulet, David; Tomasello, Elena; Vivier, Eric

2003-12-01

A common feature of hematopoietic activating immunoreceptors resides in their association at the cell surface with transmembrane signaling adaptors. Several adaptors, such as the CD3 molecules, FcRgamma and KARAP/DAP12, harbor intracytoplasmic immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAM) that activate Syk-family protein tyrosine kinases. In contrast, another transmembrane adaptor, DAP10, bears a YxxM motif that delivers signals by activation of lipid kinase pathways. We show here that the human signal-regulatory protein SIRPbeta1 can associate with both DAP10 and KARAP/DAP12 in a model of RBL-2H3 cell transfectants. In association with KARAP/DAP12, SIRPbeta1 complexes are capable of inducing serotonin release and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) secretion. By contrast,in the absence of KARAP/DAP12, engagement of SIRPbeta1:DAP10 complexes does not lead to detectable serotonin release or TNF secretion by RBL-2H3 transfectants. However, triggering of SIRPbeta1:DAP10 complexes co-stimulates RBL-2H3 effector function induced by sub-optimal stimulation of the endogenous FcepsilonRI complex. Therefore, we report here a cellular model in which the association of a cell surface receptor with various signaling adaptors dictates the co-stimulatory or the direct stimulatory properties of the complex.

Chasing the long tail of environmental data: PEcAn is nuts about Brown Dog

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dietze, M.; Cowdery, E.; Desai, A. R.; Gardella, A.; Kelly, R.; Kooper, R.; LeBauer, D.; Mantooth, J.; McHenry, K.; Serbin, S.; Shiklomanov, A. N.; Simkins, J.; Viskari, T.; Raiho, A.

2015-12-01

The Predictive Ecosystem Analyzer (PEcAn) is a ecological modeling informatics system that manages the flows of information in and out of terrestrial biosphere models, provenance tracking, visualization, analysis, and model-data fusion. We are in the process of scaling the PEcAn system from one that currently supports a handful of models and system nodes to one that aims to provide bottom-up connectivity across much of the model-data integration done by the terrestrial biogeochemistry community. This talk reports on the current state of PEcAn, it's data processing workflows, and the near- and long-term challenges faced. Particular emphasis will be given to the tools being developed by the Brown Dog project to make unstructured, un-curated data more accessible: the Data Access Proxy (DAP) and the Data Tilling Service (DTS). The use of the DAP to process meteorological data and the DTS to read vegetation data will be demonstrated and other Brown Dog environmental case studies will be briefly touched on. Beyond data processing, facilitating data discovery and import into PEcAn and distributing analyses across the PEcAn network (i.e. bringing models to data) are key challenges moving forward.

In vivo performance of an acellular disc-like angle ply structure (DAPS) for total disc replacement in a small animal model.

PubMed

Martin, John T; Kim, Dong Hwa; Milby, Andrew H; Pfeifer, Christian G; Smith, Lachlan J; Elliott, Dawn M; Smith, Harvey E; Mauck, Robert L

2017-01-01

Total intervertebral disc replacement with a biologic engineered disc may be an alternative to spinal fusion for treating end-stage disc disease. In previous work, we developed disc-like angle ply structures (DAPS) that replicate the structure and function of the native disc and a rat tail model to evaluate DAPS in vivo. Here, we evaluated a strategy in which, after in vivo implantation, endogenous cells could colonize the acellular DAPS and form an extracellular matrix organized by the DAPS topographical template. To do so, acellular DAPS were implanted into the caudal spines of rats and evaluated over 12 weeks by mechanical testing, histology, and microcomputed tomography. An external fixation device was used to stabilize the implant site and various control groups were included to evaluate the effect of immobilization. There was robust tissue formation within the DAPS after implantation and compressive mechanical properties of the implant matched that of the native motion segment. Immobilization provided a stable site for fibrous tissue formation after either a discectomy or a DAPS implantation, but bony fusion eventually resulted, with segments showing intervertebral bridging after long-term implantation, a process that was accelerated by the implanted DAPS. Thus, while compressive mechanical properties were replicated after DAPS implantation, methods to actively prevent fusion must be developed. Future work will focus on limiting fusion by remobilizing the motion segment after a period of integration, delivering pro-chondrogenic factors, and pre-seeding DAPS with cells prior to implantation. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:23-31, 2017. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Decreasing urinary organophosphate pesticide metabolites among pregnant women and their offspring in Jerusalem: Impact of regulatory restrictions on agricultural organophosphate pesticides use?

PubMed

Ein-Mor, Eliana; Ergaz-Shaltiel, Zivanit; Berman, Tamar; Göen, Thomas; Natsheh, Juma; Ben-Chetrit, Avraham; Haimov-Kochman, Ronit; Calderon-Margalit, Ronit

2018-06-01

Maternal urinary levels of dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolites of organophosphate pesticides (OP) during pregnancy are associated with adverse outcomes in the offspring. Between 2012 and 2014, eighteen active OP ingredients were restricted or banned in Israel for agricultural use. We aimed to study trends of urinary DAP metabolites among pregnant women and their offspring in the era of the new regulations. Pregnant women were recruited at 11-18 weeks of gestation and provided spot urine samples (n = 273). Soon after birth, neonatal urine samples were collected (n = 107). All urine specimens analyzed for DAP metabolites. Trends in DAP metabolites were tested using Mann-Kendall trend statistic (M-K S) and linear regression models were constructed to estimate the association between calendar period and DAP levels between September 2012 and March 2016. Over the study period, median maternal ∑DAP levels decreased from 248 nmol/L to 148 nmol/L. Time of recruitment was associated with a statistically significant decrease in DAP metabolites, which remained significant after multivariate adjustment. Overall, the results for the analysis of before and after June 2014 showed a significant decrease in ∑DAP of -0.198 log10 nmol/L (95%CI: -0.311,-0.084) which corresponds with a decrease of 36.6% in ∑DAP. A similar trend was found for DAP metabolites in neonatal urine. Compared to other studies, pregnant women in Jerusalem had higher ∑DAP levels, even at the end of the study period. We observed significant reductions in maternal and neonatal DAP urinary levels during the period of 2012-2016. Regulations restricting agricultural use of OP seem to be effective in reducing population exposure to OP, in an era when residential use of OP is banned. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis dihydrodipicolinate synthase by alpha-ketopimelic acid and its other structural analogues

PubMed Central

Shrivastava, Priyanka; Navratna, Vikas; Silla, Yumnam; Dewangan, Rikeshwer P.; Pramanik, Atreyi; Chaudhary, Sarika; Rayasam, GeethaVani; Kumar, Anuradha; Gopal, Balasubramanian; Ramachandran, Srinivasan

2016-01-01

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis dihydrodipicolinate synthase (Mtb-dapA) is an essential gene. Mtb-DapA catalyzes the aldol condensation between pyruvate and L-aspartate-beta-semialdehyde (ASA) to yield dihydrodipicolinate. In this work we tested the inhibitory effects of structural analogues of pyruvate on recombinant Mtb-DapA (Mtb-rDapA) using a coupled assay with recombinant dihydrodipicolinate reductase (Mtb-rDapB). Alpha-ketopimelic acid (α-KPA) showed maximum inhibition of 88% and IC50 of 21 μM in the presence of pyruvate (500 μM) and ASA (400 μM). Competition experiments with pyruvate and ASA revealed competition of α-KPA with pyruvate. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) data with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) showed that the relative abundance peak of final product, 2,3,4,5-tetrahydrodipicolinate, was decreased by 50%. Thermal shift assays showed 1 °C Tm shift of Mtb-rDapA upon binding α-KPA. The 2.4 Å crystal structure of Mtb-rDapA-α-KPA complex showed the interaction of critical residues at the active site with α-KPA. Molecular dynamics simulations over 500 ns of pyruvate docked to Mtb-DapA and of α-KPA-bound Mtb-rDapA revealed formation of hydrogen bonds with pyruvate throughout in contrast to α-KPA. Molecular descriptors analysis showed that ligands with polar surface area of 91.7 Å2 are likely inhibitors. In summary, α-hydroxypimelic acid and other analogues could be explored further as inhibitors of Mtb-DapA. PMID:27501775

An Unusual Mutation Results in the Replacement of Diaminopimelate with Lanthionine in the Peptidoglycan of a Mutant Strain of Mycobacterium smegmatis†

PubMed Central

Consaul, Sandra A.; Wright, Lori F.; Mahapatra, Sebabrata; Crick, Dean C.; Pavelka, Martin S.

2005-01-01

Mycobacterial peptidoglycan contains l-alanyl-d-iso-glutaminyl-meso-diaminopimelyl-d-alanyl-d-alanine peptides, with the exception of the peptidoglycan of Mycobacterium leprae, in which glycine replaces the l-alanyl residue. The third-position amino acid of the peptides is where peptidoglycan cross-linking occurs, either between the meso-diaminopimelate (DAP) moiety of one peptide and the penultimate d-alanine of another peptide or between two DAP residues. We previously described a collection of spontaneous mutants of DAP-auxotrophic strains of Mycobacterium smegmatis that can grow in the absence of DAP. The mutants are grouped into seven classes, depending on how well they grow without DAP and whether they are sensitive to DAP, temperature, or detergent. Furthermore, the mutants are hypersusceptible to β-lactam antibiotics when grown in the absence of DAP, suggesting that these mutants assemble an abnormal peptidoglycan. In this study, we show that one of these mutants, M. smegmatis strain PM440, utilizes lanthionine, an unusual bacterial metabolite, in place of DAP. We also demonstrate that the abilities of PM440 to grow without DAP and use lanthionine for peptidoglycan biosynthesis result from an unusual mutation in the putative ribosome binding site of the cbs gene, encoding cystathionine β-synthase, an enzyme that is a part of the cysteine biosynthetic pathway. PMID:15716431

Exploring the binding mechanisms of diaminopimelic acid analogs to meso-diaminopimelate dehydrogenase by molecular modeling.

PubMed

Wang, Huiqun; Kellogg, Glen E; Xu, Ping; Zhang, Yan

2018-06-02

Meso-Diaminopimelic acid (meso-2,6-diamino-heptanedioic acid, DAP) is an important component of the cell wall of many bacteria. Meso-diaminopimelate dehydrogenase (m-Ddh) is a critical enzyme in the process of converting tetrahydrodipicolinate to DAP. Here, we are proposing that DAP analogs targeting m-Ddh may be considered as potential antibiotics. Four DAP analogs without significant structural change from DAP have been obtained and their inhibitory potencies against m-Ddh from the P. gingivalis strain W83 show significant differences from that of DAP. However, their inhibitory mechanisms as for how simple structural change influences the inhibitory potency remain unknown. Therefore, we employed molecular modeling methods to obtain insight into the inhibitory mechanisms of DAP and analogs with m-Ddh. The predicted binding mode of DAP was highly consistent with the experimental structural data and disclosed the important roles played by the binding pocket residues. According to our predictions, the isoxazoline ring of compounds 1 and 2 and the double bonds in compounds 3 and 4 had distinct influences on these compounds' binding to m-Ddh. This enriched understanding of the inhibitory mechanisms of DAP and these four analogs to m-Ddh has provided new and relevant information for future rational development of potent inhibitors targeting m-Ddh. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Antioxidant and cyto/DNA protective properties of apple pomace enriched bakery products.

PubMed

Sudha, M L; Dharmesh, Shylaja M; Pynam, Hasitha; Bhimangouder, Shivaleela V; Eipson, Sushma W; Somasundaram, Rajarathnam; Nanjarajurs, Shashirekha M

2016-04-01

Apple pomace (AP), the residue that remains after the extraction of juice from apple accounts for ~25 % of total apple weight. Current study is aimed at identification of phytochemicals and utilization of Dehydrated apple pomace (DAP) in the preparation of bakery products with potential health benefits. DAP was prepared by drying the pomace obtained by crushing peeled apple fruits. DAP was incorporated into bakery products such as bun, muffin and cookies for value addition. Bioactivity such as free radical scavenging, cyto/DNA protectivity was evaluated in these products. DAP contained 17 g/100 g starch, 49.86 g/100 g fructose and 37 g/100 g dietary fibre. The phenolics and flavonoids content was 1.5 mg/g and 3.92 mg/g, respectively. Increase in DAP resulted in decreased volume and enhanced firmness of buns and muffins. DAP at 15 % in buns, 30 % in muffins and 20 % in cookies were found to be acceptable. DAP blended products exhibited better free radical scavenging as well as cyto/DNA protective properties suggesting the retention of bioactivity after baking. Addition of DAP potentially enhanced the bioactivity of the products evaluated.

Anticholinergic Drugs and Their Effects on Delirium and Mortality in the Elderly

PubMed Central

Luukkanen, M.J.; Uusvaara, J.; Laurila, J.V.; Strandberg, T.E; Raivio, M.M.; Tilvis, R.S.; Pitkälä, K.H.

2011-01-01

Aim To investigate the use of drugs with anticholinergic properties (DAPs) and their associations with delirium and mortality among elderly patients with comorbidities. Methods 425 patients (≥70 years of age) in geriatric wards and nursing homes were assessed. The use of DAPs was retrieved from their medical records. Delirium was diagnosed according to the DSM-IV criteria. Results Of the 341 patients (80.2%) treated with multiple DAPs (≥2), 92 patients (27.0%) suffered from delirium, whereas 14 of 84 patients (16.7%) without DAP treatment had delirium (p = 0.050). In a logistic regression analysis with age, gender, and Charlson Comorbidity Index as covariates, DAP treatment did not predict delirium (odds ratio 1.67, 95% confidence interval 0.87–3.21). The 2-year mortality was 49.3% (n = 168) in DAP users and 35.7% (n = 30) in non-users, respectively (p = 0.026). In the Cox proportional hazard model adjusted for age, gender, and comorbidity, DAPs did not predict mortality (hazard ratio 1.12, 95% confidence interval 0.75–1.68). Conclusion The use of DAPs is very frequent among frail inpatients with comorbidities, but their use has no independent prognostic significance. PMID:22163232

Islam and Economic Growth in Malaysia

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-12-01

Islam and selling out the Malays. The Chinese opposition, particularly the Democratic Action Party ( DAP ), argued that MCA as an accomplice in the...The most influential exponent was the leader of the Islamic Youth Organization (ABIM), Anwar Ibrahim , who later joined Mahathir’s cabinet. Anwar...Research dot com. http://www.asiamarketresearch.com/malaysia. Accessed 6 June 2003. 46 dismissal of his deputy, Anwar Ibrahim , from the government

A Role for the Surrounding Fruit Tissues in Preventing the Germination of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) Seeds 1

PubMed Central

Berry, Tannis; Bewley, J. Derek

1992-01-01

During tomato seed development the endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) concentration peaks at about 50 d after pollination (DAP) and then declines at later stages (60-70 DAP) of maturation. The ABA concentration in the sheath tissue immediately surrounding the seed increases with time of development, whereas that of the locule declines. The water contents of the seed and fruit tissues are similar during early development (20-30 DAP), but decline in the seed tissues between 30 and 40 DAP. The water potential and the osmotic potential of the embryo are lower than that of the locular tissue after 35 DAP also. Seeds removed from the fruit at 30, 35, and 60 DAP and placed ex situ on 35 and 60 DAP sheath and locular tissue are prevented from germinating. Development of 30 DAP seeds is maintained or promoted by the ex situ fruit tissue with which they are in contact. Their germination is inhibited until subsequent transfer to water, and germination is normal, i.e. by radicle protrusion, and viable seedlings are produced, compared with 30 DAP seeds transferred directly to water; more of these seeds germinate, but by hypocotyl extension, and seedling viability is very poor. Isolated seeds at 35 and 60 DAP re-placed in contact with fruit tissues only germinate when transferred to water after 7 d. At 30 DAP, isolated seeds are insensitive to ABA at physiological concentrations in that they germinate as if on water, albeit by hypocotyl extension. At higher concentrations germination occurs by radicle protrusion. Osmoticum prevents germination, but there is some recovery upon subsequent transfer to water. Seeds at 35 DAP are very sensitive to ABA and exhibit little or no germination, even upon transfer to water. The response of the isolated seeds to osmoticum more closely approximates that to incubation on the ex situ fruit tissues than does their response to ABA. This is also the case for isolated 60 DAP seeds, whose germination is not prevented by ABA, but only by the osmoticum; these seeds are inhibited when in contact with ex situ fruit tissues also. It is proposed that the osmotic environment within the tissues of the tomato fruit plays a greater role than endogenous ABA in preventing precocious germination of the developing seeds. PMID:16653081

Mechanism of Substrate Recognition And PLP-Induced Conformational Changes in II-Diaminopimelate Aminotransferase From Arabidopsis Thaliana

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

Watanabe, N.; Clay, M.D.; Belkum, M.J.van

2009-05-26

LL-Diaminopimelate aminotransferase (LL-DAP-AT), a pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme in the lysine biosynthetic pathways of plants and Chlamydia, is a potential target for the development of herbicides or antibiotics. This homodimeric enzyme converts L-tetrahydrodipicolinic acid (THDP) directly to LL-DAP using L-glutamate as the source of the amino group. Earlier, we described the 3D structures of native and malate-bound LL-DAP-AT from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtDAP-AT). Seven additional crystal structures of AtDAP-AT and its variants are reported here as part of an investigation into the mechanism of substrate recognition and catalysis. Two structures are of AtDAP-AT with reduced external aldimine analogues: N-(5'-phosphopyridoxyl)-L-glutamate (PLP-Glu) andmore » N-(5'-phosphopyridoxyl)- LL-Diaminopimelate (PLP-DAP) bound in the active site. Surprisingly, they reveal that both L-glutamate and LL-DAP are recognized in a very similar fashion by the same sets of amino acid residues; both molecules adopt twisted V-shaped conformations. With both substrates, the {alpha}-carboxylates are bound in a salt bridge with Arg404, whereas the distal carboxylates are recognized via hydrogen bonds to the well-conserved side chains of Tyr37, Tyr125 and Lys129. The distal C{sup {var_epsilon}} amino group of LL-DAP is specifically recognized by several non-covalent interactions with residues from the other subunit (Asn309*, Tyr94*, Gly95*, and Glu97* (Amino acid designators followed by an asterisk (*) indicate that the residues originate in the other subunit of the dimer)) and by three bound water molecules. Two catalytically inactive variants of AtDAP-AT were created via site-directed mutagenesis of the active site lysine (K270N and K270Q). The structures of these variants permitted the observation of the unreduced external aldimines of PLP with L-glutamate and with LL-DAP in the active site, and revealed differences in the torsion angle about the PLP-substrate bond. Lastly, an apo-AtDAP-AT structure missing PLP revealed details of conformational changes induced by PLP binding and substrate entry into the active site.« less

Synthesis, crystal structure and DFT studies of a Zinc(II) complex of 1,3-diaminopropane (Dap), [Zn(Dap)(NCS)2][Zn(Dap)(NCS)2]n. The additional stabilizing role of S⋯π chalcogen bond

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alotaibi, Mshari A.; Alharthi, Abdulrahman I.; Zierkiewicz, Wiktor; Akhtar, Muhammad; Tahir, Muhammad Nawaz; Mazhar, Muhammad; Isab, Anvarhusein A.; Ahmad, Saeed

2017-04-01

A zinc(II) complex of 1,3-diaminopropane (Dap), [Zn(Dap)(NCS)2][Zn(Dap)(NCS)2]n (1) has been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H &13C NMR spectroscopy, and its crystal structure was determined by X-ray crystallography. The crystal structure of 1 consists of two types of molecules, a discrete monomer and a polymeric one. In the monomeric unit, the zinc atom is bound to one terminal Dap molecule and to two N-bound thiocyanate ions, while in the polymeric unit, Dap acts as a bridging ligand forming a linear chain. The Zn(II) ions in both assume a slightly distorted tetrahedral geometry. The structures of two systems: the [Zn(Dap)(NCS)2][Zn(Dap)(NCS)2]3 complex as a model of 1 and [Zn(Dap)(NCS)2]4 as a simple polymeric structure were optimized with the B3LYP-D3 method. The DFT results support that the experimentally determined structure (1) is more stable in comparison to a simple polymeric structure, [Zn(Dap)(NCS)2]n (2). The interaction energies (ΔE) for NCS anions obtained by B3LYP-D3 method are about -145 kcal mol-1, while the calculated ΔE values for neutral organic ligands are about twice smaller. The X-ray structure of 1 shows that the complex is stabilized mainly by hydrogen bonds. We also found that weak chalcogen bonds play an additional role in stabilization of compound 1. Some of the intermolecular S⋯N distances are smaller than the sum of the van der Waals radii of the corresponding atoms. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that shows the structure where the trivalent sulfur is involved in formation of a S⋯π chalcogen bond. The NBO and NCI analyses confirm the existence of this kind of interactions.

Organophosphate Pesticide Exposure and Neurodevelopment in Young Mexican-American Children

PubMed Central

Eskenazi, Brenda; Marks, Amy R.; Bradman, Asa; Harley, Kim; Barr, Dana B.; Johnson, Caroline; Morga, Norma; Jewell, Nicholas P.

2007-01-01

Background Organophosphate (OP) pesticides are widely used in agriculture and homes. Animal studies suggest that even moderate doses are neurodevelopmental toxicants, but there are few studies in humans. Objectives We investigated the relationship of prenatal and child OP urinary metabolite levels with children’s neurodevelopment. Methods Participating children were from a longitudinal birth cohort of primarily Latino farm-worker families in California. We measured six nonspecific dialkylphosphate (DAP) metabolites in maternal and child urine as well as metabolites specific to malathion (MDA) and chlorpyrifos (TCPy) in maternal urine. We examined their association with children’s performance at 6 (n = 396), 12 (n = 395), and 24 (n = 372) months of age on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development [Mental Development (MDI) and Psychomotor Development (PDI) Indices] and mother’s report on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) (n = 356). Results Generally, pregnancy DAP levels were negatively associated with MDI, but child measures were positively associated. At 24 months of age, these associations reached statistical significance [per 10-fold increase in prenatal DAPs: β = −3.5 points; 95% confidence interval (CI), −6.6 to −0.5; child DAPs: β = 2.4 points; 95% CI, 0.5 to 4.2]. Neither prenatal nor child DAPs were associated with PDI or CBCL attention problems, but both prenatal and postnatal DAPs were associated with risk of pervasive developmental disorder [per 10-fold increase in prenatal DAPs: odds ratio (OR) = 2.3, p = 0.05; child DAPs OR = 1.7, p = 0.04]. MDA and TCPy were not associated with any outcome. Conclusions We report adverse associations of prenatal DAPs with mental development and pervasive developmental problems at 24 months of age. Results should be interpreted with caution given the observed positive relationship with postnatal DAPs. PMID:17520070

Unsaturated Mn complex decorated hybrid thioarsenates: Syntheses, crystal structures and physical properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yue, Cheng-Yang; Lei, Xiao-Wu; Tian, Ya-Wei; Xu, Jing; Bai, Yi-Qun; Wang, Fei; Zhou, Peng-Fei; Liu, Xiao-Fan; Yi, Fei-Yan

2016-03-01

The incorporation of unsaturated [Mn(1,2-dap)]2+, [Mn(1,2-dap)2]2+, [Mn(2,2-bipy)]2+ (1,2-dap=1,2-diaminopropane) complex cations with thioarsenate anions of [AsIIIS3]3- and [AsVS4]3- led to three new hybrid manganese thioarsenates, namely, [Mn(1,2-dap)]2MnAs2S6 (1), [Mn(1,2-dap)2]{[Mn(1,2-dap)]2As2S8} (2) and (NH4)[Mn(2,2-bipy)2]AsS4 (3). In compound 1, the unsaturated [Mn(1,2-dap)]2+ complexes, [MnS4]6- tetrahedra and [AsIIIS3]3- trigonal-pyramids are condensed to form the 1D [Mn(1,2-dap)]2MnAs2S6 chain, whereas compound 2 features 2D layer composed of [Mn(1,2-dap)]2+ and [Mn(1,2-dap)2]2+ complexes as well as [AsVS4]3- tetrahedral units. For compound 3, two [AsVS4]3- anions bridge two [Mn(2,2-bipy)]2+ complex cations into a butterfly like {[Mn(2,2-bipy)]2As2S8}2- anionic unit. Magnetic measurements indicate the ferrimagnetic behavior for compound 1 and antiferromagnetic (AF) behaviors for compounds 2-3. The UV-vis diffuse-reflectance measurements and electronic structural calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) revealed the title compounds belong to semiconductors with band gaps of 2.63, 2.21, and 1.97 eV, respectively. The narrow band-gap of compound 3 led to the efficient and stable photocatalytic degradation activity over organic pollutant than N-doped P25 under visible light irradiation.

How do organisational characteristics influence teamwork and service delivery in lung cancer diagnostic assessment programmes? A mixed-methods study

PubMed Central

Honein-AbouHaidar, Gladys N; Stuart-McEwan, Terri; Waddell, Tom; Salvarrey, Alexandra; Smylie, Jennifer; Dobrow, Mark J; Brouwers, Melissa C; Gagliardi, Anna R

2017-01-01

Objectives Diagnostic assessment programmes (DAPs) can reduce wait times for cancer diagnosis, but optimal DAP design is unknown. This study explored how organisational characteristics influenced multidisciplinary teamwork and diagnostic service delivery in lung cancer DAPs. Design A mixed-methods approach integrated data from descriptive qualitative interviews and medical record abstraction at 4 lung cancer DAPs. Findings were analysed with the Integrated Team Effectiveness Model. Setting 4 DAPs at 2 teaching and 2 community hospitals in Canada. Participants 22 staff were interviewed about organisational characteristics, target service benchmarks, and teamwork processes, determinants and outcomes; 314 medical records were reviewed for actual service benchmarks. Results Formal, informal and asynchronous team processes enabled service delivery and yielded many perceived benefits at the patient, staff and service levels. However, several DAP characteristics challenged teamwork and service delivery: referral volume/workload, time since launch, days per week of operation, rural–remote population, number and type of full-time/part-time human resources, staff colocation, information systems. As a result, all sites failed to meet target benchmarks (from referral to consultation median 4.0 visits, median wait time 35.0 days). Recommendations included improved information systems, more staff in all specialties, staff colocation and expanded roles for patient navigators. Findings were captured in a conceptual framework of lung cancer DAP teamwork determinants and outcomes. Conclusions This study identified several DAP characteristics that could be improved to facilitate teamwork and enhance service delivery, thereby contributing to knowledge of organisational determinants of teamwork and associated outcomes. Findings can be used to update existing DAP guidelines, and by managers to plan or evaluate lung cancer DAPs. Ongoing research is needed to identify ideal roles for navigators, and staffing models tailored to case volumes. PMID:28235969

Diversity of Innate Immune Recognition Mechanism for Bacterial Polymeric meso-Diaminopimelic Acid-type Peptidoglycan in Insects

PubMed Central

Yu, Yang; Park, Ji-Won; Kwon, Hyun-Mi; Hwang, Hyun-Ok; Jang, In-Hwan; Masuda, Akiko; Kurokawa, Kenji; Nakayama, Hiroshi; Lee, Won-Jae; Dohmae, Naoshi; Zhang, Jinghai; Lee, Bok Luel

2010-01-01

In Drosophila, the synthesis of antimicrobial peptides in response to microbial infections is under the control of the Toll and immune deficiency (Imd) signaling pathway. The Toll signaling pathway responds mainly to the lysine-type peptidoglycan of Gram-positive bacteria and fungal β-1,3-glucan, whereas the Imd pathway responds to the meso-diaminopimelic acid (DAP)-type peptidoglycan of Gram-negative bacteria and certain Gram-positive bacilli. Recently we determined the activation mechanism of a Toll signaling pathway biochemically using a large beetle, Tenebrio molitor. However, DAP-type peptidoglycan recognition mechanism and its signaling pathway are still unclear in the fly and beetle. Here, we show that polymeric DAP-type peptidoglycan, but not its monomeric form, formed a complex with Tenebrio peptidoglycan recognition protein-SA, and this complex activated the three-step proteolytic cascade to produce processed Spätzle, a Toll receptor ligand, and induced Drosophila defensin-like antimicrobial peptide in Tenebrio larvae similarly to polymeric lysine-type peptidoglycan. Monomeric DAP-type peptidoglycan induced Drosophila diptericin-like antimicrobial peptide in Tenebrio hemocytes. In addition, both polymeric and monomeric DAP-type peptidoglycans induced expression of Tenebrio peptidoglycan recognition protein-SC2, which is DAP-type peptidoglycan-selective N-acetylmuramyl-l-alanine amidase that functions as a DAP-type peptidoglycan scavenger, appearing to function as a negative regulator of the DAP-type peptidoglycan signaling by cleaving DAP-type peptidoglycan in Tenebrio larvae. Taken together, these results demonstrate that molecular recognition mechanism for polymeric DAP-type peptidoglycan is different between Tenebrio larvae and Drosophila adults, providing biochemical evidences of biological diversity of innate immune responses in insects. PMID:20702416

The dimerization domain in DapE enzymes is required for catalysis.

PubMed

Nocek, Boguslaw; Starus, Anna; Makowska-Grzyska, Magdalena; Gutierrez, Blanca; Sanchez, Stephen; Jedrzejczak, Robert; Mack, Jamey C; Olsen, Kenneth W; Joachimiak, Andrzej; Holz, Richard C

2014-01-01

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains underscores the importance of identifying new drug targets and developing new antimicrobial compounds. Lysine and meso-diaminopimelic acid are essential for protein production and bacterial peptidoglycan cell wall remodeling and are synthesized in bacteria by enzymes encoded within dap operon. Therefore dap enzymes may serve as excellent targets for developing a new class of antimicrobial agents. The dapE-encoded N-succinyl-L,L-diaminopimelic acid desuccinylase (DapE) converts N-succinyl-L,L-diaminopimelic acid to L,L-diaminopimelic acid and succinate. The enzyme is composed of catalytic and dimerization domains, and belongs to the M20 peptidase family. To understand the specific role of each domain of the enzyme we engineered dimerization domain deletion mutants of DapEs from Haemophilus influenzae and Vibrio cholerae, and characterized these proteins structurally and biochemically. No activity was observed for all deletion mutants. Structural comparisons of wild-type, inactive monomeric DapE enzymes with other M20 peptidases suggest that the dimerization domain is essential for DapE enzymatic activity. Structural analysis and molecular dynamics simulations indicate that removal of the dimerization domain increased the flexibility of a conserved active site loop that may provide critical interactions with the substrate.

2,3-diaminopyridine functionalized reduced graphene oxide-supported palladium nanoparticles with high activity for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yasmin, Sabina; Joo, Yuri; Jeon, Seungwon

2017-06-01

The electrochemical deposition of Pd nanoparticles (Pd NPs) on 2,3 diamino pyridine functionalized reduced graphene oxide (2,3 DAP-rGO/Pd) has been investigated for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline media. First, 2,3 diaminopyridine functionalized graphene oxide (2,3 DAP-rGO) has been synthesized via simple hydrothermal method. Then, palladium is directly incorporated into the 2,3 DAP-rGO by electrochemical deposition method to generate 2,3 DAP-rGO/Pd composites. The as-prepared material 2,3 DAP-rGO/Pd has been characterized by various instrumental methods. The morphological analysis shows the cluster-like Pd nanoparticles are dispersed onto the 2,3 diamino pyridine functionalized reduced graphene oxide (2,3 DAP-rGO). The electrocatalytic activities have been verified using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and hydrodynamic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques in 0.1 M KOH electrolyte. The as-synthesized 2,3 DAP-rGO/Pd shows higher catalytic activity toward ORR with more positive onset potential and cathodic current density, superior methanol/ethanol tolerance and excellent stability in alkaline medium. It is also noteworthy that the 2,3 DAP-rGO/Pd exhibits a four-electron transfer pathway for ORR with lower H2O2 yield.

Antithrombotic Therapy in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome in the Intermountain Heart Collaborative Study

PubMed Central

Klaskala, Winslow; Woller, Scott C.; Horne, Benjamin D.; Bunch, T. Jared; Le, Viet T.; Mills, Roger M.; Muhlestein, Joseph B.

2015-01-01

Objective. To determine factors associated with single antiplatelet (SAP) or dual antiplatelet (DAP) therapy and anticoagulants (AC) use in hospital and after discharge among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods. We evaluated 5,294 ACS patients in the Intermountain Heart Collaborative Study from 2004 to 2009. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to determine predictors of AC or AP use. Results. In hospital, 99% received an AC, 79% DAP, and 19% SAP; 78% had DAP + AC. Coronary stents were the strongest predictors of DAP use in hospital compared to SAP (P < 0.001). After discharge, 77% received DAP, 20% SAP, and 9% AC; 5% had DAP + AC. DAP compared to SAP was less likely for patients on AC (odds ratio [OR] = 0.30, P < 0.0001) after discharge. Placement of a stent increased the likelihood of DAP (bare metal: OR = 54.8, P < 0.0001; drug eluting: OR = 59.4, P < 0.0001). 923 had atrial fibrillation and 337 had a history of venous thromboembolism; these patients had increased use of AC (29% and 40%, resp.). Conclusion. While in-hospital use of AC was nearly universal, postdischarge AC use was rare. Concern for providing the best antithrombotic therapy, while maintaining an acceptable bleeding risk, may explain the selection decisions. PMID:25632367

In vivo metabolism of 2,2 prime -diaminopimelic acid from gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial cells by ruminal microorganisms and ruminants and its use as a marker of bacterial biomass

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

Masson, H.A.; Denholm, A.M.; Ling, J.R.

1991-06-01

Cells of Bacillus megaterium GW1 and Escherichia coli W7-M5 were specifically radiolabeled with 2,2{prime}-diamino (G-{sup 3}H) pimelic acid (({sup 3}H)DAP) as models of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, respectively. Two experiments were conducted to study the in vivo metabolism of 2,2{prime}-diaminopimelic acid (DAP) in sheep. In experiment 1, cells of ({sup 3}H)DAP-labeled B. megaterium GW1 were infused into the rumen of one sheep and the radiolabel was traced within microbial samples, digesta, and the whole animal. Bacterially bound ({sup 3}H)DAP was extensively metabolized, primarily (up to 70% after 8 h) via decarboxylation to ({sup 3}H)lysine by both ruminal protozoa and ruminalmore » bacteria. Recovery of infused radiolabel in urine and feces was low (42% after 96 h) and perhaps indicative of further metabolism by the host animal. In experiment 2, ({sup 3}H)DAP-labeled B. megaterium GW1 was infused into the rumens of three sheep and ({sup 3}H)DAP-labeled E. coli W7-W5 was infused into the rumen of another sheep. The radioactivity contents of these mutant bacteria were insufficient to use as tracers, but the metabolism of DAP was monitored in the total, free, and peptidyl forms. Free DAP, as a proportion of total DPA in duodenal digesta, varied from 0 to 9.5%, whereas peptidyl DAP accounted for 8.3 to 99.2%.« less

Distributed data discovery, access and visualization services to Improve Data Interoperability across different data holdings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Palanisamy, G.; Krassovski, M.; Devarakonda, R.; Santhana Vannan, S.

2012-12-01

The current climate debate is highlighting the importance of free, open, and authoritative sources of high quality climate data that are available for peer review and for collaborative purposes. It is increasingly important to allow various organizations around the world to share climate data in an open manner, and to enable them to perform dynamic processing of climate data. This advanced access to data can be enabled via Web-based services, using common "community agreed" standards without having to change their internal structure used to describe the data. The modern scientific community has become diverse and increasingly complex in nature. To meet the demands of such diverse user community, the modern data supplier has to provide data and other related information through searchable, data and process oriented tool. This can be accomplished by setting up on-line, Web-based system with a relational database as a back end. The following common features of the web data access/search systems will be outlined in the proposed presentation: - A flexible data discovery - Data in commonly used format (e.g., CSV, NetCDF) - Preparing metadata in standard formats (FGDC, ISO19115, EML, DIF etc.) - Data subseting capabilities and ability to narrow down to individual data elements - Standards based data access protocols and mechanisms (SOAP, REST, OpenDAP, OGC etc.) - Integration of services across different data systems (discovery to access, visualizations and subseting) This presentation will also include specific examples of integration of various data systems that are developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory's - Climate Change Science Institute, their ability to communicate between each other to enable better data interoperability and data integration. References: [1] Devarakonda, Ranjeet, and Harold Shanafield. "Drupal: Collaborative framework for science research." Collaboration Technologies and Systems (CTS), 2011 International Conference on. IEEE, 2011. [2]Devarakonda, R., Shrestha, B., Palanisamy, G., Hook, L. A., Killeffer, T. S., Boden, T. A., ... & Lazer, K. (2014). THE NEW ONLINE METADATA EDITOR FOR GENERATING STRUCTURED METADATA. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

The possibility of obtaining marketing authorization of orphan pharmaceutical compounding preparations: 3,4-DAP for Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome.

PubMed

de Wilde, Sofieke; de Jong, Maria G H; Lipka, Alexander F; Guchelaar, Henk-Jan; Schimmel, Kirsten J M

2018-03-01

Pharmaceutical compounding preparations, produced by (hospital) pharmacies, usually do not have marketing authorization. As a consequence, some of these pharmaceutical compounding preparations can be picked-up by a pharmaceutical company to obtain marketing authorization, often leading to price increases. An example is the 3,4-diaminopyridine slow release (3,4-DAP SR) tablets for Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS). In 2009 marketing authorization was given for the commercial immediate release phosphate salt of the drug, including a fifty-fold price increase compared to the pharmaceutical compounding preparation. Obtaining marketing authorization for 3,4-DAP SR by academia might have been a solution to prevent this price increase. To determine whether the available data of a pharmaceutical compounding preparation with long-term experience in regular care are adequate to obtain marketing authorization, 3,4-DAP SR is used as a case study. A retrospective qualitative case-study was performed. Initially, document analysis was executed by collecting the required data for marketing authorization in general and whether data of Firdapse® and 3,4-DAP SR met these requirements. Secondly, the (non-) available data of the two formulations were compared with each other to determine the differences in availability. At the time of approval, almost all data were available for both Firdapse® and 3,4-DAP SR. Conversely, much of the data used for the approval of Firdapse® originated from the 3,4-DAP immediate release (3,4-DAP IR) formulation. Only two bioequivalence studies and one pharmacology safety study was performed with Firdapse® before marketing authorization application. In conclusion, at time Firdapse® obtained approval, the data available did not differ substantially from 3,4-DAP SR, indicating that approval with 3,4-DAP SR would have been possible. We make a plea for approval of orphan medicinal products developed and manufactured by academic institutions as to keep utilization of these products affordable. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

How do organisational characteristics influence teamwork and service delivery in lung cancer diagnostic assessment programmes? A mixed-methods study.

PubMed

Honein-AbouHaidar, Gladys N; Stuart-McEwan, Terri; Waddell, Tom; Salvarrey, Alexandra; Smylie, Jennifer; Dobrow, Mark J; Brouwers, Melissa C; Gagliardi, Anna R

2017-02-23

Diagnostic assessment programmes (DAPs) can reduce wait times for cancer diagnosis, but optimal DAP design is unknown. This study explored how organisational characteristics influenced multidisciplinary teamwork and diagnostic service delivery in lung cancer DAPs. A mixed-methods approach integrated data from descriptive qualitative interviews and medical record abstraction at 4 lung cancer DAPs. Findings were analysed with the Integrated Team Effectiveness Model. 4 DAPs at 2 teaching and 2 community hospitals in Canada. 22 staff were interviewed about organisational characteristics, target service benchmarks, and teamwork processes, determinants and outcomes; 314 medical records were reviewed for actual service benchmarks. Formal, informal and asynchronous team processes enabled service delivery and yielded many perceived benefits at the patient, staff and service levels. However, several DAP characteristics challenged teamwork and service delivery: referral volume/workload, time since launch, days per week of operation, rural-remote population, number and type of full-time/part-time human resources, staff colocation, information systems. As a result, all sites failed to meet target benchmarks (from referral to consultation median 4.0 visits, median wait time 35.0 days). Recommendations included improved information systems, more staff in all specialties, staff colocation and expanded roles for patient navigators. Findings were captured in a conceptual framework of lung cancer DAP teamwork determinants and outcomes. This study identified several DAP characteristics that could be improved to facilitate teamwork and enhance service delivery, thereby contributing to knowledge of organisational determinants of teamwork and associated outcomes. Findings can be used to update existing DAP guidelines, and by managers to plan or evaluate lung cancer DAPs. Ongoing research is needed to identify ideal roles for navigators, and staffing models tailored to case volumes. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Osteopetrosis and thalamic hypomyelinosis with synaptic degeneration in DAP12-deficient mice

PubMed Central

Kaifu, Tomonori; Nakahara, Jin; Inui, Masanori; Mishima, Kenichi; Momiyama, Toshihiko; Kaji, Mitsuji; Sugahara, Akiko; Koito, Hisami; Ujike-Asai, Azusa; Nakamura, Akira; Kanazawa, Kiyoshi; Tan-Takeuchi, Kyoko; Iwasaki, Katsunori; Yokoyama, Wayne M.; Kudo, Akira; Fujiwara, Michihiro; Asou, Hiroaki; Takai, Toshiyuki

2003-01-01

Deletions in the DAP12 gene in humans result in Nasu-Hakola disease, characterized by a combination of bone fractures and psychotic symptoms similar to schizophrenia, rapidly progressing to presenile dementia. However, it is not known why these disorders develop upon deficiency in DAP12, an immunoreceptor signal activator protein initially identified in the immune system. Here we show that DAP12-deficient (DAP12–/–) mice develop an increased bone mass (osteopetrosis) and a reduction of myelin (hypomyelinosis) accentuated in the thalamus. In vitro osteoclast induction from DAP12–/– bone marrow cells yielded immature cells with attenuated bone resorption activity. Moreover, immature oligodendrocytes were arrested in the vicinity of the thalamus, suggesting that the primary defects in DAP12–/– mice are the developmental arrest of osteoclasts and oligodendrocytes. In addition, the mutant mice also showed synaptic degeneration, impaired prepulse inhibition, which is commonly observed in several neuropsychiatric diseases in humans including schizophrenia, and aberrant electrophysiological profiles in the thalami. These results provide a molecular basis for a unique combination of skeletal and psychotic characteristics of Nasu-Hakola disease as well as for schizophrenia and presenile dementia. PMID:12569157

ERDDAP - An Easier Way for Diverse Clients to Access Scientific Data From Diverse Sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mendelssohn, R.; Simons, R. A.

2008-12-01

ERDDAP is a new open-source, web-based service that aggregates data from other web services: OPeNDAP grid servers (THREDDS), OPeNDAP sequence servers (Dapper), NOS SOAP service, SOS (IOOS, OOStethys), microWFS, DiGIR (OBIS, BMDE). Regardless of the data source, ERDDAP makes all datasets available to clients via standard (and enhanced) DAP requests and makes some datasets accessible via WMS. A client's request also specifies the desired format for the results, e.g., .asc, .csv, .das, .dds, .dods, htmlTable, XHTML, .mat, netCDF, .kml, .png, or .pdf (formats more directly useful to clients). ERDDAP interprets a client request, requests the data from the data source (in the appropriate way), reformats the data source's response, and sends the result to the client. Thus ERDDAP makes data from diverse sources available to diverse clients via standardized interfaces. Clients don't have to install libraries to get data from ERDDAP because ERDDAP is RESTful and resource-oriented: a URL completely defines a data request and the URL can be used in any application that can send a URL and receive a file. This also makes it easy to use ERDDAP in mashups with other web services. ERDDAP could be extended to support other protocols. ERDDAP's hub and spoke architecture simplifies adding support for new types of data sources and new types of clients. ERDDAP includes metadata management support, catalog services, and services to make graphs and maps.

OOI CyberInfrastructure - Next Generation Oceanographic Research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farcas, C.; Fox, P.; Arrott, M.; Farcas, E.; Klacansky, I.; Krueger, I.; Meisinger, M.; Orcutt, J.

2008-12-01

Software has become a key enabling technology for scientific discovery, observation, modeling, and exploitation of natural phenomena. New value emerges from the integration of individual subsystems into networked federations of capabilities exposed to the scientific community. Such data-intensive interoperability networks are crucial for future scientific collaborative research, as they open up new ways of fusing data from different sources and across various domains, and analysis on wide geographic areas. The recently established NSF OOI program, through its CyberInfrastructure component addresses this challenge by providing broad access from sensor networks for data acquisition up to computational grids for massive computations and binding infrastructure facilitating policy management and governance of the emerging system-of-scientific-systems. We provide insight into the integration core of this effort, namely, a hierarchic service-oriented architecture for a robust, performant, and maintainable implementation. We first discuss the relationship between data management and CI crosscutting concerns such as identity management, policy and governance, which define the organizational contexts for data access and usage. Next, we detail critical services including data ingestion, transformation, preservation, inventory, and presentation. To address interoperability issues between data represented in various formats we employ a semantic framework derived from the Earth System Grid technology, a canonical representation for scientific data based on DAP/OPeNDAP, and related data publishers such as ERDDAP. Finally, we briefly present the underlying transport based on a messaging infrastructure over the AMQP protocol, and the preservation based on a distributed file system through SDSC iRODS.

Phosphorus release capacity of soluble P fertilizers and insoluble rock phosphate in response to phosphate solubilizing bacteria and poultry manure and their effect on plant growth promotion and P utilization efficiency of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abbasi, M. K.; Musa, N.; Manzoor, M.

2015-01-01

The ability of soil microorganisms and organic manures to convert insoluble phosphorus (P) to an accessible form offers a biological rescue system for improving P solubilization and utilization in soil-plant systems. Our objective was to examine the P supplying capacity of soluble P fertilizers (SPF) i.e. single super phosphate (SSP) and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and insoluble rock phosphate (RP) after adding phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and poultry manure (PM) and their subsequent effect on the growth, yield and P-utilization efficiency (PUE) of chill (Capsicum annuum L.). An incubation study was carried-out on a sandy loam neutral soil with twelve treatments including T0: control; T1: RP; T2: SSP; T3: DAP; T4: PM; T5: 1/2 RP + 1/2 SSP; T6: 1/2 RP + 1/2 DAP; T7: 1/2 RP + 1/2 PM; T8: RP + PSB; T9: 1/2 RP + 1/2 SSP + PSB; T10: 1/2 RP + 1/2 DAP + PSB; T11: 1/2 RP + 1/2 PM + PSB. Phosphorus release capacity of added amendments was measured by analyzing extractable P from the amended soil incubated under controlled condition at 25 °C for 0, 5, 15, 25, 35, 60 days period. To complement the incubation study, a greenhouse experiment was conducted in pots with chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) used as a test crop. Growth, yield, P-uptake and PUE of the chilli was determined during the study. Results indicated that P release capacity of soil amended with RP varied between 6.0 and 11.5 mg kg-1 while the soluble P fertilizers i.e. SSP and DAP displayed a maximum of 73 and 68 mg P kg-1 at the start of the experiment (day 0). However, the P released tendency from SSP and DAP declined during incubation and at the end 82 and 79% of P initially present had been lost from the mineral pool. Integrated use of PSB and PM with RP in 1/2 RP + 1/2 PM + PSB treatment stimulated P mineralization by releasing a maximum of 25 mg P kg-1 that was maintained at high levels without any loss. Application of PSB tended to decrease pH showing an acidifying effect on soil. In the greenhouse experiment, RP alone or RP + PSB was not able to generate any significant impact on plant while DAP displayed the superiority over the remaining treatments. Combined use of RP, PM and PSB in 1/2 RP + 1/2 PM + PSB resulted in the growth, yield and P-uptake of chilli comparative/equivalent to that recorded under DAP. The PUE of applied P varied between 4-29% and higher in the treatments supplemented with PSB compared to those without PSB. These results suggest that use of PSB and PM with insoluble RP or with soluble P fertilizers could be a promising management strategy and viable technology to utilize both low-grade RP and SPF or PM efficiently for crop production and nutrient improvement in our cropping systems.

Implementing school nursing strategies to reduce LGBTQ adolescent suicide: a randomized cluster trial study protocol.

PubMed

Willging, Cathleen E; Green, Amy E; Ramos, Mary M

2016-10-22

Reducing youth suicide in the United States (U.S.) is a national public health priority, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) youth are at elevated risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorses six evidence-based (EB) strategies that center on meeting the needs of LGBTQ youth in schools; however, fewer than 6 % of U.S. schools implement all of them. The proposed intervention model, "RLAS" (Implementing School Nursing Strategies to Reduce LGBTQ Adolescent Suicide), builds on the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment (EPIS) conceptual framework and the Dynamic Adaptation Process (DAP) to implement EB strategies in U.S. high schools. The DAP accounts for the multilevel context of school settings and uses Implementation Resource Teams (IRTs) to facilitate appropriate expertise, advise on acceptable adaptations, and provide data feedback to make schools implementation ready and prepared to sustain changes. Mixed methods will be used to examine individual, school, and community factors influencing both implementation process and youth outcomes. A cluster randomized controlled trial will assess whether LGBTQ students and their peers in RLAS intervention schools (n = 20) report reductions in suicidality, depression, substance use, bullying, and truancy related to safety concerns compared to those in usual care schools (n = 20). Implementation progress and fidelity for each EB strategy in RLAS intervention schools will be examined using a modified version of the Stages of Implementation Completion checklist. During the implementation and sustainment phases, annual focus groups will be conducted with the 20 IRTs to document their experiences identifying and advancing adaptation supports to facilitate use of EB strategies and their perceptions of the DAP. The DAP represents a data-informed, collaborative, multiple stakeholder approach to progress from exploration to sustainment and obtain fidelity during the implementation of EB strategies in school settings. This study is designed to address the real-world implications of enabling the use of EB strategies by school nurses with the goal of decreasing suicide and youth risk behaviors among LGBTQ youth. Through its participatory processes to refine and sustain EB strategies in high schools, the RLAS represents a novel contribution to implementation science. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02875535.

Effective dose estimation for pediatric upper gastrointestinal examinations using an anthropomorphic phantom set and metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) technology.

PubMed

Emigh, Brent; Gordon, Christopher L; Connolly, Bairbre L; Falkiner, Michelle; Thomas, Karen E

2013-09-01

There is a need for updated radiation dose estimates in pediatric fluoroscopy given the routine use of new dose-saving technologies and increased radiation safety awareness in pediatric imaging. To estimate effective doses for standardized pediatric upper gastrointestinal (UGI) examinations at our institute using direct dose measurement, as well as provide dose-area product (DAP) to effective dose conversion factors to be used for the estimation of UGI effective doses for boys and girls up to 10 years of age at other centers. Metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) dosimeters were placed within four anthropomorphic phantoms representing children ≤10 years of age and exposed to mock UGI examinations using exposures much greater than used clinically to minimize measurement error. Measured effective dose was calculated using ICRP 103 weights and scaled to our institution's standardized clinical UGI (3.6-min fluoroscopy, four spot exposures and four examination beam projections) as determined from patient logs. Results were compared to Monte Carlo simulations and related to fluoroscope-displayed DAP. Measured effective doses for standardized pediatric UGI examinations in our institute ranged from 0.35 to 0.79 mSv in girls and were 3-8% lower for boys. Simulation-derived and measured effective doses were in agreement (percentage differences <19%, T > 0.18). DAP-to-effective dose conversion factors ranged from 6.5 ×10(-4) mSv per Gy-cm(2) to 4.3 × 10(-3) mSv per Gy-cm(2) for girls and were similarly lower for boys. Using modern fluoroscopy equipment, the effective dose associated with the UGI examination in children ≤10 years at our institute is < 1 mSv. Estimations of effective dose associated with pediatric UGI examinations can be made for children up to the age of 10 using the DAP-normalized conversion factors provided in this study. These estimates can be further refined to reflect individual hospital examination protocols through the use of direct organ dose measurement using MOSFETs, which were shown to agree with Monte Carlo simulated doses.

Preliminary results of an attempt to predict over apron occupational exposure of cardiologists from cardiac fluoroscopy procedures based on DAP (dose area product) values.

PubMed

Toossi, Mohammad Taghi Bahreyni; Mehrpouyan, Mohammad; Nademi, Hossein; Fardid, Reza

2015-03-01

This study is an effort to propose a mathematical relation between the occupational exposure measured by a dosimeter worn on a lead apron in the chest region of a cardiologist and the dose area product (DAP) recorded by a meter attached to the X-ray tube. We aimed to determine factors by which DAP values attributed to patient exposure could be converted to the over-apron entrance surface air kerma incurred by cardiologists during an angiographic procedure. A Rando phantom representing a patient was exposed by an X-ray tube from 77 pre-defined directions. DAP value for each exposure angle was recorded. Cardiologist exposure was measured by a Radcal ionization chamber 10X5-180 positioned on a second phantom representing the physician. The exposure conversion factor was determined as the quotient of over apron exposure by DAP value. To verify the validity of this method, the over-apron exposure of a cardiologist was measured using the ionization chamber while performing coronary angiography procedures on 45 patients weighing on average 75 ± 5 kg. DAP values for the corresponding procedures were also obtained. Conversion factors obtained from phantom exposure were applied to the patient DAP values to calculate physician exposure. Mathematical analysis of our results leads us to conclude that a linear relationship exists between two sets of data: (a) cardiologist exposure measured directly by Radcal & DAP values recorded by the X-ray machine system (R (2) = 0.88), (b) specialist measured and estimated exposure derived from DAP values (R (2) = 0.91). The results demonstrate that cardiologist occupational exposure can be derived from patient data accurately.

Rat and mouse CD94 associate directly with the activating transmembrane adaptor proteins DAP12 and DAP10 and activate NK cell cytotoxicity.

PubMed

Saether, Per C; Hoelsbrekken, Sigurd E; Fossum, Sigbjørn; Dissen, Erik

2011-12-15

Signaling by the CD94/NKG2 heterodimeric NK cell receptor family has been well characterized in the human but has remained unclear in the mouse and rat. In the human, the activating receptor CD94/NKG2C associates with DAP12 by an ionic bond between oppositely charged residues within the transmembrane regions of NKG2C and DAP12. The lysine residue responsible for DAP12 association is absent in rat and mouse NKG2C and -E, raising questions about signaling mechanisms in these species. As a possible substitute, rat and mouse NKG2C and -E contain an arginine residue in the transition between the transmembrane and stalk regions. In this article, we demonstrate that, similar to their human orthologs, NKG2A inhibits, whereas NKG2C activates, rat NK cells. Redirected lysis assays using NK cells transfected with a mutated NKG2C construct indicated that the activating function of CD94/NKG2C did not depend on the transmembrane/stalk region arginine residue. Flow cytometry and biochemical analysis demonstrated that both DAP12 and DAP10 can associate with rat CD94/NKG2C. Surprisingly, DAP12 and DAP10 did not associate with NKG2C but instead with CD94. These associations depended on a transmembrane lysine residue in CD94 that is unique to rodents. Thus, in the mouse and rat, the ability to bind activating adaptor proteins has been transferred from NKG2C/E to the CD94 chain as a result of mutation events in both chains. Remarkable from a phylogenetic perspective, this sheds new light on the evolution and function of the CD94/NKG2 receptor family.

Digital Astronaut Project Biomechanical Models: Biomechanical Modeling of Squat, Single-Leg Squat and Heel Raise Exercises on the Hybrid Ultimate Lifting Kit (HULK)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thompson, William K.; Gallo, Christopher A.; Crentsil, Lawton; Lewandowski, Beth E.; Humphreys, Brad T.; DeWitt, John K.; Fincke, Renita S.; Mulugeta, Lealem

2015-01-01

The NASA Digital Astronaut Project (DAP) implements well-vetted computational models to predict and assess spaceflight health and performance risks, and to enhance countermeasure development. The DAP Musculoskeletal Modeling effort is developing computational models to inform exercise countermeasure development and to predict physical performance capabilities after a length of time in space. For example, integrated exercise device-biomechanical models can determine localized loading, which will be used as input to muscle and bone adaptation models to estimate the effectiveness of the exercise countermeasure. In addition, simulations of mission tasks can be used to estimate the astronaut's ability to perform the task after exposure to microgravity and after using various exercise countermeasures. The software package OpenSim (Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA) (Ref. 1) is being used to create the DAP biomechanical models and its built-in muscle model is the starting point for the DAP muscle model. During Exploration missions, such as those to asteroids and Mars, astronauts will be exposed to reduced gravity for extended periods. Therefore, the crew must have access to exercise countermeasures that can maintain their musculoskeletal and aerobic health. Exploration vehicles may have very limited volume and power available to accommodate such capabilities, even more so than the International Space Station (ISS). The exercise devices flown on Exploration missions must be designed to provide sufficient load during the performance of various resistance and aerobic/anaerobic exercises while meeting potential additional requirements of limited mass, volume and power. Given that it is not practical to manufacture and test (ground, analog and/or flight) all candidate devices, nor is it always possible to obtain data such as localized muscle and bone loading empirically, computational modeling can estimate the localized loading during various exercise modalities performed on a given device to help formulate exercise prescriptions and other operational considerations. With this in mind, NASA's Digital Astronaut Project (DAP) is supporting the Advanced Exercise Concepts (AEC) Project, Exercise Physiology and Countermeasures (ExPC) laboratory and NSBRI-funded researchers by developing and implementing well-validated computational models of exercises with advanced exercise device concepts. This report focuses specifically on lower-body resistance exercises performed with the Hybrid Ultimate Lifting Kit (HULK) device as a deliverable to the AEC Project.

A Free and Open Source Web-based Data Catalog Evaluation Tool

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Brien, K.; Schweitzer, R.; Burger, E. F.

2015-12-01

For many years, the Unified Access Framework (UAF) project has worked to provide improved access to scientific data by leveraging widely used data standards and conventions. These standards include the Climate and Forecast (CF) metadata conventions, the Data Access Protocol (DAP) and various Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standards such as WMS and WCS. The UAF has also worked to create a unified access point for scientific data access through THREDDS and ERDDAP catalogs. A significant effort was made by the UAF project to build a catalog-crawling tool that was designed to crawl remote catalogs, analyze their content and then build a clean catalog that 1) represented only CF compliant data; 2) provided a uniform set of access services and 3) where possible, aggregated data in time. That catalog is available at http://ferret.pmel.noaa.gov/geoide/geoIDECleanCatalog.html.Although this tool has proved immensely valuable in allowing the UAF project to create a high quality data catalog, the need for a catalog evaluation service or tool to operate on a more local level also exists. Many programs that generate data of interest to the public are recognizing the utility and power of using the THREDDS data server (TDS) to serve that data. However, for some groups that lack the resources to maintain dedicated IT personnel, it can be difficult to set up a properly configured TDS. The TDS catalog evaluating service that is under development and will be discussed in this presentation is an effort, through the UAF project, to bridge that gap. Based upon the power of the original UAF catalog cleaner, the web evaluator will have the ability to scan and crawl a local TDS catalog, evaluate the contents for compliance with CF standards, analyze the services offered, and identify datasets where possible temporal aggregation would benefit data access. The results of the catalog evaluator will guide the configuration of the dataset in TDS to ensure that it meets the standards as promoted by the UAF framework.

Close Early Learning Gaps with Rigorous DAP

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Christopher P.; Mowry, Brian

2015-01-01

Rigorous DAP (developmentally appropriate practices) is a set of 11 principles of instruction intended to help close early childhood learning gaps. Academically rigorous learning environments create the conditions for children to learn at high levels. While academic rigor focuses on one dimension of education--academic--DAP considers the whole…

Mechanisms of Drug Resistance: Daptomycin Resistance

PubMed Central

Tran, Truc T.; Munita, Jose M.; Arias, Cesar A.

2016-01-01

Daptomycin (DAP) is a cyclic lipopeptide with in vitro activity against a variety of Gram-positive pathogens, including multidrug-resistant organisms. Since its introduction in clinical practice in 2003, DAP has become an important key front-line antibiotic for severe or deep-seated infections caused by Gram-positive organisms. Unfortunately, DAP-resistance (R) has been extensively documented in clinically important organisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus spp, and Streptococcus spp. Studies on the mechanisms of DAP-R in Bacillus subtilis and other Gram-positive bacteria indicate that the genetic pathways of DAP resistance are diverse and complex. However, a common phenomenon emerging from these mechanistic studies is that DAP-R is associated with important adaptive changes in cell wall and cell membrane homeostasis with critical changes in cell physiology. Findings related to these adaptive changes have offered novel insights into the genetics and molecular mechanisms of bacterial cell envelope stress response and the manner in which Gram-positive bacteria cope with the antimicrobial peptide attack and protect vital structures of the cell envelope such as the cell membrane. In this review, we will examine the most recent findings related to the molecular mechanisms of resistance to DAP in relevant Gram-positive pathogens and discuss the clinical implications for therapy against these important bacteria. PMID:26495887

Dibasic Ammonium Phosphate Application Enhances Aromatic Compound Concentration in Bog Bilberry Syrup Wine.

PubMed

Wang, Shao-Yang; Li, Yi-Qing; Li, Teng; Yang, Hang-Yu; Ren, Jie; Zhang, Bo-Lin; Zhu, Bao-Qing

2016-12-29

A nitrogen deficiency always causes bog bilberry syrup wine to have a poor sensory feature. This study investigated the effect of nitrogen source addition on volatile compounds during bog bilberry syrup wine fermentation. The syrup was supplemented with 60, 90, 120 or 150 mg/L dibasic ammonium phosphate (DAP) before fermentation. Results showed that an increase of DAP amounts accelerated fermentation rate, increased alcohol content, and decreased sugar level. Total phenol and total flavonoid content were also enhanced with the increase of DAP amounts. A total of 91 volatile compounds were detected in the wine and their concentrations were significantly enhanced with the increase of DAP. Ethyl acetate, isoamyl acetate, phenethyl acetate, ethyl butanoate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl octanoate, ethyl decanoate, isobutanol, isoamyl alcohol, levo -2,3-butanediol, 2-phenylethanol, meso -2,3-butanediol, isobutyric acid, hexanoic acid, and octanoic acid exhibited a significant increase of their odor activity value (OAV) with the increase of DAP amounts. Bog bilberry syrup wine possessed fruity, fatty, and caramel flavors as its major aroma, whereas a balsamic note was the least present. The increase of DAP amounts significantly improved the global aroma attributes, thereby indicating that DAP supplementation could promote wine fermentation performance and enhance the sensory quality of bog bilberry syrup wine.

Embryo development in association with asymbiotic seed germination in vitro of Paphiopedilum armeniacum S. C. Chen et F. Y. Liu

PubMed Central

Zhang, Yan-Yan; Wu, Kun-Lin; Zhang, Jian-Xia; Deng, Ru-Fang; Duan, Jun; Teixeira da Silva, Jaime A.; Huang, Wei-Chang; Zeng, Song-Jun

2015-01-01

This paper documents the key anatomical features during the development of P. armeniacum zygotic embryos and their ability to germinate asymbiotically in vitro. This study also examines the effect of media and seed pretreatments on seed germination and subsequent seedling growth. Seeds collected from pods 45 days after pollination (DAP) did not germinate while 95 DAP seeds displayed the highest seed germination percentage (96.2%). Most seedlings (50%) developed to stage 5 from 110 DAP seeds whose compact testa had not yet fully formed. Suspensor cells were vacuolated, which enabled the functional uptake of nutrients. The optimum basal medium for seed germination and subsequent protocorm development was eighth-strength Murashige and Skoog (1/8MS) for 95 DAP seeds and ¼MS for 110 DAP seeds. Poor germination was displayed by 140 DAP seeds with a compact testa. Pretreatment of dry mature seeds (180 DAP) with 1.0% sodium hypochlorite solution for 90 min or 40 kHz of ultrasound for 8 min improved germination percentage from 0 to 29.2% or to 19.7%, respectively. Plantlets that were at least 5 cm in height were transplanted to a Zhijing stone substrate for orchids, and 85.3% of plantlets survived 180 days after transplanting. PMID:26559888

NOTE: Dose area product evaluations with Gafchromic® XR-R films and a flat-bed scanner

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rampado, O.; Garelli, E.; Deagostini, S.; Ropolo, R.

2006-12-01

Gafchromic® XR-R films are a useful tool to evaluate entrance skin dose in interventional radiology. Another dosimetric quantity of interest in diagnostic and interventional radiology is the dose area product (DAP). In this study, a method to evaluate DAP using Gafchromic® XR-R films and a flat-bed scanner was developed and tested. Film samples were exposed to an x-ray beam of 80 kVp over a dose range of 0 10 Gy. DAP measurements with films were obtained from the digitalization of a film sample positioned over the x-ray beam window during the exposure. DAP values obtained with this method were compared for 23 cardiological interventional procedures with DAP values displayed by the equipment. The overall one-sigma dose measurement uncertainty depended on the absorbed dose, with values below 6% for doses above 1 Gy. A maximum discrepancy of 16% was found, which is of the order of the differences in the DAP measurements that may occur with different calibration procedures. Based on the results presented, after an accurate calibration procedure and a thorough inspection of the relationship between the actual dose and the direct measured quantity (net optical density or net pixel value variation), Gafchromic® XR-R films can be used to assess the DAP.

Quantitative measurement for the microstructural parameters of nano-precipitates in Al-Mg-Si-Cu alloys

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

Li, Kai

Size, number density and volume fraction of nano-precipitates are important microstructural parameters controlling the strengthening of materials. In this work a widely accessible, convenient, moderately time efficient method with acceptable accuracy and precision has been provided for measurement of volume fraction of nano-precipitates in crystalline materials. The method is based on the traditional but highly accurate technique of measuring foil thickness via convergent beam electron diffraction. A new equation is proposed and verified with the aid of 3-dimensional atom probe (3DAP) analysis, to compensate for the additional error resulted from the hardly distinguishable contrast of too short incomplete precipitates cutmore » by the foil surface. The method can be performed on a regular foil specimen with a modern LaB{sub 6} or field-emission-gun transmission electron microscope. Precisions around ± 16% have been obtained for precipitate volume fractions of needle-like β″/C and Q precipitates in an aged Al-Mg-Si-Cu alloy. The measured number density is close to that directly obtained using 3DAP analysis by a misfit of 4.5%, and the estimated precision for number density measurement is about ± 11%. The limitations of the method are also discussed. - Highlights: •A facile method for measuring volume fraction of nano-precipitates based on CBED •An equation to compensate for small invisible precipitates, with 3DAP verification •Precisions around ± 16% for volume fraction and ± 11% for number density.« less

Unsaturated Mn complex decorated hybrid thioarsenates: Syntheses, crystal structures and physical properties

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

Yue, Cheng-Yang; State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou 350002; Lei, Xiao-Wu, E-mail: xwlei_jnu@163.com

2016-03-15

The incorporation of unsaturated [Mn(1,2-dap)]{sup 2+}, [Mn(1,2-dap){sub 2}]{sup 2+}, [Mn(2,2-bipy)]{sup 2+} (1,2-dap=1,2-diaminopropane) complex cations with thioarsenate anions of [As{sup III}S{sub 3}]{sup 3−} and [As{sup V}S{sub 4}]{sup 3−} led to three new hybrid manganese thioarsenates, namely, [Mn(1,2-dap)]{sub 2}MnAs{sub 2}S{sub 6} (1), [Mn(1,2-dap){sub 2}]{[Mn(1,2-dap)]_2As_2S_8} (2) and (NH{sub 4})[Mn(2,2-bipy){sub 2}]AsS{sub 4} (3). In compound 1, the unsaturated [Mn(1,2-dap)]{sup 2+} complexes, [MnS{sub 4}]{sup 6−} tetrahedra and [As{sup III}S{sub 3}]{sup 3−} trigonal-pyramids are condensed to form the 1D [Mn(1,2-dap)]{sub 2}MnAs{sub 2}S{sub 6} chain, whereas compound 2 features 2D layer composed of [Mn(1,2-dap)]{sup 2+} and [Mn(1,2-dap){sub 2}]{sup 2+} complexes as well as [As{sup V}S{sub 4}]{sup 3−}more » tetrahedral units. For compound 3, two [As{sup V}S{sub 4}]{sup 3−} anions bridge two [Mn(2,2-bipy)]{sup 2+} complex cations into a butterfly like {[Mn(2,2-bipy)]_2As_2S_8}{sup 2−} anionic unit. Magnetic measurements indicate the ferrimagnetic behavior for compound 1 and antiferromagnetic (AF) behaviors for compounds 2–3. The UV–vis diffuse-reflectance measurements and electronic structural calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) revealed the title compounds belong to semiconductors with band gaps of 2.63, 2.21, and 1.97 eV, respectively. The narrow band-gap of compound 3 led to the efficient and stable photocatalytic degradation activity over organic pollutant than N-doped P25 under visible light irradiation. - Highlights: Three new hybrid manganese thioarsenates have been prepared and structurally characterized. These hybrid phases feature interesting magnetic and visible light responding photocatalytic properties.« less

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of 28DAP010, a novel diamidine for treatment of second-stage African sleeping sickness.

PubMed

Wenzler, Tanja; Yang, Sihyung; Patrick, Donald A; Braissant, Olivier; Ismail, Mohamed A; Tidwell, Richard R; Boykin, David W; Wang, Michael Zhuo; Brun, Reto

2014-08-01

African sleeping sickness is a neglected tropical disease transmitted by tsetse flies. New and better drugs are still needed especially for its second stage, which is fatal if untreated. 28DAP010, a dipyridylbenzene analogue of DB829, is the second simple diamidine found to cure mice with central nervous system infections by a parenteral route of administration. 28DAP010 showed efficacy similar to that of DB829 in dose-response studies in mouse models of first- and second-stage African sleeping sickness. The in vitro time to kill, determined by microcalorimetry, and the parasite clearance time in mice were shorter for 28DAP010 than for DB829. No cross-resistance was observed between 28DAP010 and pentamidine on the tested Trypanosoma brucei gambiense isolates from melarsoprol-refractory patients. 28DAP010 is the second promising preclinical candidate among the diamidines for the treatment of second-stage African sleeping sickness. Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

In Vitro Maturation and In Vivo Integration and Function of an Engineered Cell-Seeded Disc-like Angle Ply Structure (DAPS) for Total Disc Arthroplasty.

PubMed

Martin, J T; Gullbrand, S E; Kim, D H; Ikuta, K; Pfeifer, C G; Ashinsky, B G; Smith, L J; Elliott, D M; Smith, H E; Mauck, R L

2017-11-17

Total disc replacement with an engineered substitute is a promising avenue for treating advanced intervertebral disc disease. Toward this goal, we developed cell-seeded disc-like angle ply structures (DAPS) and showed through in vitro studies that these constructs mature to match native disc composition, structure, and function with long-term culture. We then evaluated DAPS performance in an in vivo rat model of total disc replacement; over 5 weeks in vivo, DAPS maintained their structure, prevented intervertebral bony fusion, and matched native disc mechanical function at physiologic loads in situ. However, DAPS rapidly lost proteoglycan post-implantation and did not integrate into adjacent vertebrae. To address this, we modified the design to include polymer endplates to interface the DAPS with adjacent vertebrae, and showed that this modification mitigated in vivo proteoglycan loss while maintaining mechanical function and promoting integration. Together, these data demonstrate that cell-seeded engineered discs can replicate many characteristics of the native disc and are a viable option for total disc arthroplasty.

Preparation and structural characterization of zwitterionic surfactant intercalated into NiZn-layered hydroxide salts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Jiexiang; Wang, Jianlong; Zhang, Xiaoguang; Fang, Binbin; Hu, Pan; Zhao, Xuyang

2015-10-01

Three zwitterionic surfactants, dodecyl dimethyl carboxylbetaine (DCB), dodecyl dimethyl sulfobetaine (DSB) and N-dodecyl-β-aminoprpionate (DAP), intercalated into NiZn-layered hydroxide salts (NZL-DCB, NZL-DSB and NZL-DAP) were synthesized by the coprecipitation method. The effect of surfactant content, pH, temperature and time of hydrothermal treatment on preparation was investigated and discussed. The NZL-DCB, NZL-DSB and NZL-DAP were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetry analysis and differential thermal analysis (TGA/DTA). The results showed that basal spacings of NZL-DCB, NZL-DSB and NZL-DAP were around 3.45, 3.68 and 3.94 nm, respectively. DCB, DSB and DAP probably form an overlapped bilayer in the gallery. TGA/DTA data indicated that NZL-DCB, NZL-DSB and NZL-DAP displayed three loss weight stages: loss of adsorbed and structural water, dehydroxylation of matrix and decomposition of nitrate ions, decomposition and combustion of surfactants. Furthermore, chemical analysis data, BET surface area and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) were also measured and analyzed.

Laboratory and Field Age of Aqueous Grape Juice Bait and Capture of Zaprionus indianus (Diptera: Drosophilidae).

PubMed

Epsky, Nancy D; Gill, Micah A

2017-06-01

Volatile chemicals produced by actively fermenting aqueous grape juice bait have been found to be highly attractive to the African fig fly, Zaprionus indianus Gupta. This is a highly dynamic system and time period of fermentation is an important factor in bait efficacy. A series of field tests were conducted that evaluated effects of laboratory versus field fermentation and sampling period (days after placement [DAP]) on bait effectiveness as the first step in identifying the chemicals responsible for attraction. Tests of traps with bait that had been aged in the laboratory for 0, 3, 6, and 9 d and then sampled 3 DAP found higher capture in traps with 0- and 3-d-old baits than in traps with 6- or 9-d-old baits. To further define the time period that produced the most attractive baits, a subsequent test evaluated baits aged for 0, 2, 4, and 6 d in the laboratory and sampled after 1-4 DAP, with traps sampled and bait discarded at the end of each DAP period. The highest capture was in traps with 4-d-old bait sampled 1 DAP, with the second best capture in traps with 0-d-old bait sampled 3 DAP. However, there tended to be fewer flies as DAP increased, indicating potential loss of identifiable flies owing to decomposition in the actively fermenting solutions. When traps were sampled and bait recycled daily, the highest capture was in 2- and 4-d-old baits sampled 1 DAP and in 0-d-old baits sampled 2-4 DAP. Similar patterns were observed for capture of nontarget drosophilids. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America 2017. This work is written by US Government employees and is in the public domain in the US.

The ubiquitin-homology protein, DAP-1, associates with tumor necrosis factor receptor (p60) death domain and induces apoptosis.

PubMed

Liou, M L; Liou, H C

1999-04-09

The tumor necrosis factor receptor, p60 (TNF-R1), transduces death signals via the association of its cytoplasmic domain with several intracellular proteins. By screening a mammalian cDNA library using the yeast two-hybrid cloning technique, we isolated a ubiquitin-homology protein, DAP-1, which specifically interacts with the cytoplasmic death domain of TNF-R1. Sequence analysis reveals that DAP-1 shares striking sequence homology with the yeast SMT3 protein that is essential for the maintenance of chromosome integrity during mitosis (Meluh, P. B., and Koshland, D. (1995) Mol. Biol. Cell 6, 793-807). DAP-1 is nearly identical to PIC1, a protein that interacts with the PML tumor suppressor implicated in acute promyelocytic leukemia (Boddy, M. N., Howe, K., Etkin, L. D., Solomon, E., and Freemont, P. S. (1996) Oncogene 13, 971-982), and the sentrin protein, which associates with the Fas death receptor (Okura, T., Gong, L., Kamitani, T., Wada, T., Okura, I., Wei, C. F., Chang, H. M., and Yeh, E. T. (1996) J. Immunol. 157, 4277-4281). The in vivo interaction between DAP-1 and TNF-R1 was further confirmed in mammalian cells. In transient transfection assays, overexpression of DAP-1 suppresses NF-kappaB/Rel activity in 293T cells, a human kidney embryonic carcinoma cell line. Overexpression of either DAP-1 or sentrin causes apoptosis of TNF-sensitive L929 fibroblast cell line, as well as TNF-resistant osteosarcoma cell line, U2OS. Furthermore, the dominant negative Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD) protein blocks the cell death induced by either DAP-1 or FADD. Collectively, these observations highly suggest a role for DAP-1 in mediating TNF-induced cell death signaling pathways, presumably through the recruitment of FADD death effector.

CYTOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE ANTIMETABOLITE ACTION OF 2,6-DIAMINOPURINE IN VICIA FABA ROOTS

PubMed Central

Setterfield, George; Duncan, Robert E.

1955-01-01

At a concentration of 9.6 x 10–5 M, 2,6-diaminopurine (DAP) completely inhibited cell enlargement, cell division, and DNA synthesis (determined by microphotometric measurement of Feulgen dye) in Vicia faba roots. Inhibition of cell enlargement was partially reversed by adenine, guanine, xanthine, adenosine, and desoxyadenosine. Guanine and the nucleosides gave the greatest reversal, suggesting that one point of DAP action upon cell enlargement is a disruption of nucleoside or nucleotide metabolism, possibly during pentosenucleic acid synthesis. DAP inhibited cell division by preventing onset of prophase. At the concentrations used it had no significant effect on the rate or appearance of mitoses in progress. Inhibition of entrance into prophase was not directly due to inhibition of DNA synthesis since approximately half of the inhibited nuclei had the doubled (4C) amount of DNA. Adenine competitively reversed DAP inhibition of cell division, giving an inhibition index of about 0.5. Guanine gave a slight reversal while xanthine, hypoxanthine, adenosine, and desoxyadenosine were inactive. A basic need for free adenine for the onset of mitosis was suggested by this reversal pattern. Meristems treated with DAP contained almost no nuclei with intermediate amounts of DNA, indicating that DAP prevented the onset of DNA synthesis while allowing that underway to reach completion. The inhibition of DNA synthesis was reversed by adenine, adenosine, and desoxyadenosine although synthesis appeared to proceed at a slower rate in reversals than in controls. Inhibition of DNA synthesis by DAP is probably through nucleoside or nucleotide metabolism. A small general depression of DNA content of nuclei in the reversal treatments was observed. This deviation from DNA "constancy" cannot be adequately explained at present although it may be a result of direct incorporation of DAP into DNA. The possible purine precursor, 4-amino-5-imidazolecarboxamide gave no reversal of DAP inhibition of cell elongation and cell division and only a slight possible reversal of inhibition of DNA synthesis. PMID:13263329

48 CFR 52.211-2 - Availability of Specifications, Standards, and Data Item Descriptions Listed in the Acquisition...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... ASSIST websites: (1) ASSIST (http://assist.daps.dla.mil); (2) Quick Search (http://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch); (3) ASSISTdocs.com (http://assistdocs.com). (b) Documents not available from ASSIST may be... Wizard (http://assist.daps.dla.mil/wizard); (2) Phoning the DoDSSP Customer Service Desk (215) 697-2179...

Promoting Mathematics Teachers' Discourse-Based Assessment Practice in Junior High Schools: An Exploratory Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen, Chang-Hua

2012-01-01

This study implements a teacher professional development program with an aim toward developing mathematics teachers' discourse-based assessment practice (DAP) and exploring its possible impact on teacher discourse in sessions and in DAP in the classroom. DAP is a type of formative assessment practice which consists of questioning and feedback.…

48 CFR 52.211-2 - Availability of Specifications, Standards, and Data Item Descriptions Listed in the Acquisition...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... ASSIST websites: (1) ASSIST (http://assist.daps.dla.mil); (2) Quick Search (http://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch); (3) ASSISTdocs.com (http://assistdocs.com). (b) Documents not available from ASSIST may be... Wizard (http://assist.daps.dla.mil/wizard); (2) Phoning the DoDSSP Customer Service Desk (215) 697-2179...

48 CFR 52.211-2 - Availability of Specifications, Standards, and Data Item Descriptions Listed in the Acquisition...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... ASSIST websites: (1) ASSIST (http://assist.daps.dla.mil); (2) Quick Search (http://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch); (3) ASSISTdocs.com (http://assistdocs.com). (b) Documents not available from ASSIST may be... Wizard (http://assist.daps.dla.mil/wizard); (2) Phoning the DoDSSP Customer Service Desk (215) 697-2179...

48 CFR 52.211-2 - Availability of Specifications, Standards, and Data Item Descriptions Listed in the Acquisition...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... ASSIST websites: (1) ASSIST (http://assist.daps.dla.mil); (2) Quick Search (http://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch); (3) ASSISTdocs.com (http://assistdocs.com). (b) Documents not available from ASSIST may be... Wizard (http://assist.daps.dla.mil/wizard); (2) Phoning the DoDSSP Customer Service Desk (215) 697-2179...

Dynamics of N-NH4 +, N-NO3 -, and total soil nitrogen in paddy field with azolla and biochar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dewi, W. S.; Wahyuningsih, G. I.; Syamsiyah, J.; Mujiyo

2018-03-01

Nitrogen (N) is one of macronutrients which is dynamic in the soil and becomes constraint factor for rice crops. The addition of nitrogen fertilizers and its absorption in paddy field causes the dynamics of nitrogen, thus declines of N absorption efficiency. The aim of this research is to know influence Azolla, biochar and different varieties application on N-NH4 +, N-NO3 -, and total soil N in paddy field. This research was conducted in a screen house located in Jumantono Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) with altitude 170 m asl from April to June 2016. Treatment factors that were examined consisted of azolla (0 and 10 tons/ha), biochar (0 and 2 tons/ha), and rice varieties (Cisadane, Memberamo, Ciherang, IR64). The results of this research showed that there was no interaction between azolla, biochar and varieties. Nevertheless, azolla treatment with dose of 10 tons/ha increased soil NH4 + content (41 days after planting, DAP) by 13.4% but tend to decrease at 70 and 90 DAP. Biochar treatment with dose of 2 ton/ha increases NO3 - soil content (70 DAP) by 1.7% but decreases total N soil by 5.8% (41 DAP) and 4.7% (90 DAP). Different rice varieties generated different soil NH4 + content (41 DAP) and rice root volume. Cisadane variety can increase soil NH4 + content (41 DAP) by 52.08% and root volume by 51.80% (90 DAP) compared with Ciherang variety. Organic rice field management with azolla and biochar affects the availability of N in the soil and increase N absorption efficiency through its role in increasing rice root volume.

Synthesis and activity of histidine-containing catalytic peptide dendrimers.

PubMed

Delort, Estelle; Nguyen-Trung, Nhat-Quang; Darbre, Tamis; Reymond, Jean-Louis

2006-06-09

Peptide dendrimers built by iteration of the diamino acid dendron Dap-His-Ser (His = histidine, Ser = Serine, Dap = diamino propionic acid) display a strong positive dendritic effect for the catalytic hydrolysis of 8-acyloxypyrene 1,3,6-trisulfonates, which proceeds with enzyme-like kinetics in aqueous medium (Delort, E.; Darbre, T.; Reymond, J.-L. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 15642-3). Thirty-two mutants of the original third generation dendrimer A3 ((Ac-His-Ser)8(Dap-His-Ser)4(Dap-His-Ser)2Dap-His-Ser-NH2) were prepared by manual synthesis or by automated synthesis with use of a Chemspeed PSW1100 peptide synthesizer. Dendrimer catalysis was specific for 8-acyloxypyrene 1,3,6-trisulfonates, and there was no activity with other types of esters. While dendrimers with hydrophobic residues at the core and histidine residues at the surface only showed weak activity, exchanging serine residues in dendrimer A3 against alanine (A3A), beta-alanine (A3B), or threonine (A3C) improved catalytic efficiency. Substrate binding was correlated with the total number of histidines per dendrimer, with an average of three histidines per substrate binding site. The catalytic rate constant kcat depended on the placement of histidines within the dendrimers and the nature of the other amino acid residues. The fastest catalyst was the threonine mutant A3C ((Ac-His-Thr)8(Dap-His-Thr)4(Dap-His-Thr)2Dap-His-Thr-NH2), with kcat = 1.3 min(-1), kcat/k(uncat) = 90'000, KM = 160 microM for 8-bytyryloxypyrene 1,3,6-trisulfonate, corresponding to a rate acceleration of 18'000 per catalytic site and a 5-fold improvement over the original sequence A3.

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

Schernthaner, Ruediger Egbert; Lin, MingDe; Duran, Rafael

PurposeTo evaluate the detectability of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) on dual-phase cone-beam CT (DPCBCT) during conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) compared to that of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) with respect to pre-procedure contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) of the liver.MethodsThis retrospective study included 17 consecutive patients (10 male, mean age 64) with ICC who underwent pre-procedure CE-MRI of the liver, and DSA and DPCBCT (early-arterial phase (EAP) and delayed-arterial phase (DAP)) just before cTACE. The visibility of each ICC lesion was graded by two radiologists on a three-rank scale (complete, partial, and none) on DPCBCT and DSA images, and then compared tomore » pre-procedure CE-MRI.ResultsOf 61 ICC lesions, only 45.9 % were depicted by DSA, whereas EAP- and DAP-CBCT yielded a significantly higher detectability rate of 73.8 % and 93.4 %, respectively (p < 0.01). Out of the 33 lesions missed on DSA, 18 (54.5 %) and 30 (90.9 %) were revealed on EAP- and DAP-CBCT images, respectively. DSA depicted only one lesion that was missed by DPCBCT due to streak artifacts caused by a prosthetic mitral valve. DAP-CBCT identified significantly more lesions than EAP-CBCT (p < 0.01). Conversely, EAP-CBCT did not detect lesions missed by DAP-CBCT. For complete lesion visibility, DAP-CBCT yielded significantly higher detectability (78.7 %) compared to EAP (31.1 %) and DSA (21.3 %) (p < 0.01).ConclusionDPCBCT, and especially the DAP-CBCT, significantly improved the detectability of ICC lesions during cTACE compared to DSA. We recommend the routine use of DAP-CBCT in patients with ICC for per-procedure detectability and treatment planning in the setting of TACE.« less

Latest-generation catheterization systems enable invasive submillisievert coronary angiography.

PubMed

Kuon, E; Weitmann, K; Hummel, A; Dörr, M; Reffelmann, T; Riad, A; Busch, M C; Felix, S B; Hoffmann, W; Empen, K

2015-05-01

The radiation risk of patients undergoing invasive cardiology remains considerable and includes skin injuries and cancer. To date, submillisievert coronary angiography has not been considered feasible. In 2011, we compared results from 100 consecutive patients undergoing elective coronary angiography using the latest-generation flat-panel angiography system (FPS) with results from examinations by the same operator using 106 historic controls with a conventional image-intensifier system (IIS) that was new in 2002. The median patient exposure parameters were measured as follows: dose-area product (DAP) associated with radiographic cine acquisitions (DAP(R)) and fluoroscopy (DAP(F)) scenes, radiographic frames and runs, and cumulative exposure times for radiography and fluoroscopy. On the FPS as compared to the traditional IIS, radiographic detector entrance dose levels were reduced from 164 to 80 nGy/frame and pulse rates were lowered from 12.5/s to 7.5/s during radiography and from 25/s to 4/s during fluoroscopy. The cardiologist's performance patterns remained comparable over the years: fluoroscopy time was constant and radiography time even slightly increased. Overall patient DAP decreased from 7.0 to 2.4 Gy × cm(2); DAP(R), from 4.2 to 1.7 Gy × cm(2); and DAP(F), from 2.8 to 0.6 Gy × cm(2). Time-adjusted DAP(R)/s decreased from 436 to 130 mGy × cm(2) and DAP(F)/s, from 21.6 to 4.4 mGy × cm(2). Cumulative patient skin dose with the FPS amounted to 67 mGy, and the median (interquartile range) of effective dose was 0.5 (0.3 … 0.7) mSv. Consistent application of radiation-reducing techniques with the latest-generation flat-panel systems enables submillisievert coronary angiography in invasive cardiology.

Novel genetic tools for diaminopimelic acid selection in virulence studies of Yersinia pestis.

PubMed

Bland, David M; Eisele, Nicholas A; Keleher, Lauren L; Anderson, Paul E; Anderson, Deborah M

2011-03-02

Molecular studies of bacterial virulence are enhanced by expression of recombinant DNA during infection to allow complementation of mutants and expression of reporter proteins in vivo. For highly pathogenic bacteria, such as Yersinia pestis, these studies are currently limited because deliberate introduction of antibiotic resistance is restricted to those few which are not human treatment options. In this work, we report the development of alternatives to antibiotics as tools for host-pathogen research during Yersinia pestis infections focusing on the diaminopimelic acid (DAP) pathway, a requirement for cell wall synthesis in eubacteria. We generated a mutation in the dapA-nlpB(dapX) operon of Yersinia pestis KIM D27 and CO92 which eliminated the expression of both genes. The resulting strains were auxotrophic for diaminopimelic acid and this phenotype was complemented in trans by expressing dapA in single and multi-copy. In vivo, we found that plasmids derived from the p15a replicon were cured without selection, while selection for DAP enhanced stability without detectable loss of any of the three resident virulence plasmids. The dapAX mutation rendered Y. pestis avirulent in mouse models of bubonic and septicemic plague which could be complemented when dapAX was inserted in single or multi-copy, restoring development of disease that was indistinguishable from the wild type parent strain. We further identified a high level, constitutive promoter in Y. pestis that could be used to drive expression of fluorescent reporters in dapAX strains that had minimal impact to virulence in mouse models while enabling sensitive detection of bacteria during infection. Thus, diaminopimelic acid selection for single or multi-copy genetic systems in Yersinia pestis offers an improved alternative to antibiotics for in vivo studies that causes minimal disruption to virulence.

Citation and Recognition of contributions using Semantic Provenance Knowledge Captured in the OPeNDAP Software Framework

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

West, P.; Michaelis, J.; Lebot, T.; McGuinness, D. L.; Fox, P. A.

2014-12-01

Providing proper citation and attribution for published data, derived data products, and the software tools used to generate them, has always been an important aspect of scientific research. However, It is often the case that this type of detailed citation and attribution is lacking. This is in part because it often requires manual markup since dynamic generation of this type of provenance information is not typically done by the tools used to access, manipulate, transform, and visualize data. In addition, the tools themselves lack the information needed to be properly cited themselves. The OPeNDAP Hyrax Software Framework is a tool that provides access to and the ability to constrain, manipulate, and transform, different types of data from different data formats, into a common format, the DAP (Data Access Protocol), in order to derive new data products. A user, or another software client, specifies an HTTP URL in order to access a particular piece of data, and appropriately transform it to suit a specific purpose of use. The resulting data products, however, do not contain any information about what data was used to create it, or the software process used to generate it, let alone information that would allow the proper citing and attribution to down stream researchers and tool developers. We will present our approach to provenance capture in Hyrax including a mechanism that can be used to report back to the hosting site any derived products, such as publications and reports, using the W3C PROV recommendation pingback service. We will demonstrate our utilization of Semantic Web and Web standards, the development of an information model that extends the PROV model for provenance capture, and the development of the pingback service. We will present our findings, as well as our practices for providing provenance information, visualization of the provenance information, and the development of pingback services, to better enable scientists and tool developers to be recognized and properly cited for their contributions.

Essential Role of DAP12 Signaling in Macrophage Programming into a Fusion-Competent State

PubMed Central

Helming, Laura; Tomasello, Elena; Kyriakides, Themis R.; Martinez, Fernando O.; Takai, Toshiyuki; Gordon, Siamon; Vivier, Eric

2009-01-01

Multinucleated giant cells, formed by fusion of macrophages, are a hallmark of granulomatous inflammation. With a genetic approach, we show that signaling through the adaptor protein DAP12 (DNAX activating protein of 12 kD), its associated receptor triggering receptor expressed by myeloid cells 2 (TREM-2), and the downstream protein tyrosine kinase Syk is required for the cytokine-induced formation of giant cells and that overexpression of DAP12 potentiates macrophage fusion. We also present evidence that DAP12 is a general macrophage fusion regulator and is involved in modulating the expression of several macrophage-associated genes, including those encoding known mediators of macrophage fusion, such as DC-STAMP and Cadherin 1. Thus, DAP12 is involved in programming of macrophages through the regulation of gene and protein expression to induce a fusion-competent state. PMID:18957693

Dynamics of cortical dendritic membrane potential and spikes in freely behaving rats.

PubMed

Moore, Jason J; Ravassard, Pascal M; Ho, David; Acharya, Lavanya; Kees, Ashley L; Vuong, Cliff; Mehta, Mayank R

2017-03-24

Neural activity in vivo is primarily measured using extracellular somatic spikes, which provide limited information about neural computation. Hence, it is necessary to record from neuronal dendrites, which can generate dendritic action potentials (DAPs) in vitro, which can profoundly influence neural computation and plasticity. We measured neocortical sub- and suprathreshold dendritic membrane potential (DMP) from putative distal-most dendrites using tetrodes in freely behaving rats over multiple days with a high degree of stability and submillisecond temporal resolution. DAP firing rates were several-fold larger than somatic rates. DAP rates were also modulated by subthreshold DMP fluctuations, which were far larger than DAP amplitude, indicating hybrid, analog-digital coding in the dendrites. Parietal DAP and DMP exhibited egocentric spatial maps comparable to pyramidal neurons. These results have important implications for neural coding and plasticity. Copyright © 2017, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Micro-CT analyses of apical enlargement and molar root canal complexity.

PubMed

Markvart, M; Darvann, T A; Larsen, P; Dalstra, M; Kreiborg, S; Bjørndal, L

2012-03-01

To compare the effectiveness of two rotary hybrid instrumentation techniques with focus on apical enlargement in molar teeth and to quantify and visualize spatial details of instrumentation efficacy in root canals of different complexity. Maxillary and mandibular molar teeth were scanned using X-ray microcomputed tomography. Root canals were prepared using either a GT/Profile protocol or a RaCe/NiTi protocol. Variables used for evaluation were the following: distance between root canal surfaces before and after preparation (distance after preparation, DAP), percentage of root canal area remaining unprepared and increase in canal volume after preparation. Root canals were classified according to size and complexity, and consequences of unprepared portions of narrow root canals and intraradicular connections/isthmuses were included in the analyses. One- and two-way anova were used in the statistical analyses. No difference was found between the two techniques: DAP(apical-third) (P = 0.590), area unprepared(apical-third) (P = 0.126) and volume increase(apical-third) (P = 0.821). Unprepared root canal area became larger in relation to root canal size and complexity, irrespective of the technique used. Percentage of root canal area remaining unprepared was significantly lower in small root canals and complex systems compared to large root canals. The isthmus area per se contributed with a mean of 17.6%, and with a mean of 25.7%, when a narrow root canal remained unprepared. The addition of isthmuses did not significantly alter the ratio of instrumented to unprepared areas at total root canal level. Distal and palatal root canals had the highest level of unprepared area irrespective of the two instrumentation techniques examined. © 2011 International Endodontic Journal.

75 FR 13777 - Disaster Assistance Fact Sheet DAP9580.107, Child Care Services

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-23

...] Disaster Assistance Fact Sheet DAP9580.107, Child Care Services AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency... (FEMA) is providing notice of the availability of the final Disaster Assistance Fact Sheet DAP9580.107...'s Web site at http://www.fema.gov . You may also view a hard copy of the fact sheet at the Office of...

Responses to Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid of Rat Visual Cortical Neurons in Tissue Slices

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-04-01

depolarizing afterpotentials ( DAPs ; Figure 3). The afterhyperpolarization (AHP) was defined as the hyperpolarization that follow one or more orthodromic...action potentials or action potentials elicited during a depolarizing current pulse (Figure 3). DAPs and AHPs were measured from the RMP. The term...inhibitory postsynaptic potential, DAP = depolarizing afterpotential, AHP= afterhyperpolarization. Dashed lines indicate the RMP. Asterisks indicate

Traditional matriculation vs an early assurance program: Effect on elected student leadership positions and academic performance.

PubMed

McLaughlin, Milena M; Masic, Dalila; Giometti, Paula L; Mazan, Jennifer L; Wieczorkiewicz, Jeffrey T; Felczak, Margaret; Chapman, Robert L

2018-02-01

The objective of this study was to compare leadership and academic performance among students admitted by traditional pathways vs. a dual acceptance program (DAP). A list of students admitted to the Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy (MWUCCP) DAP was cross-checked with students elected to serve in leadership positions and students on the MWUCCP Dean's List for their first professional year from 2010 to 2015. The proportion of students serving in leadership positions and those on the Dean's List were compared to students that matriculated via the traditional route. In total, 1069 students were analyzed (n = 937 traditional; n = 132 DAP). DAP students were more likely to have an elected leadership role (n = 61, 46.2% vs. n = 314, 33.5%, p < 0.01) and achieve Dean's List for their first professional year (n = 64, 48.5% vs. n = 292, 31.2%, p < 0.01) compared to traditional students. DAP students were more likely to hold an elected leadership position than traditional students. Further study of DAP student motivation is needed to potentially assist in the success of other students. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Utilization of 2,6-diaminopurine by Salmonella typhimurium.

PubMed Central

Garber, B B; Gots, J S

1980-01-01

The pathway for the utilization of 2,6-diaminopurine (DAP) as an exogenous purine source in Salmonella typhimurium was examined. In strains able to use DAP as a purine source, mutant derivatives lacking either purine nucleoside phosphorylase or adenosine deaminase activity lost the ability to do so. The implied pathway of DAP utilization was via its conversion to DAP ribonucleoside by purine nucleoside phosphorylase, followed by deamination to guanosine by adenosine deaminase. Guanosine can then enter the established purine salvage pathways. In the course of defining this pathway, purine auxotrophs able to utilize DAP as sole purine source were isolated and partially characterized. These mutants fell into several classes, including (i) strains that only required an exogenous source of guanine nucleotides (e.g., guaA and guaB strains); (ii) strains that had a purF genetic lesion (i.e., were defective in alpha-5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate amidotransferase activity); and (iii) strains that had constitutive levels of purine nucleoside phosphorylase. Selection among purine auxotrophs blocked in the de novo synthesis of inosine 5'-monophosphate, for efficient growth on DAP as sole source of purine nucleotides, readily yielded mutants which were defective in the regulation of their deoxyribonucleoside-catabolizing enzymes (e.g., deoR mutants). PMID:6782081

The effect of 3,4-diaminopyridine on the patients with hereditary pure cerebellar ataxia.

PubMed

Tsunemi, Taiji; Ishikawa, Kinya; Tsukui, Kei; Sumi, Takuro; Kitamura, Ken; Mizusawa, Hidehiro

2010-05-15

Downbeat nystagmus (DBN) is often seen in patients with pure cerebellar type of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) like spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6). DBN frequently presents with other cerebellar symptoms such as postural imbalance or ataxia. A potassium channel blocker 3,4-diaminopyridine (3,4-DAP) has been reported to reduce DBN by increasing the excitability of Purkinje cells. The objective of this study is to determine whether 3,4-DAP has a beneficial effect on DBN along with postural imbalance and ataxic symptoms in 10 patients with SCA6 and five patients with chromosome 16q22.1-linked autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia (16q-ADCA). The patients took 20mg of 3,4-DAP twice a day for a week. DBN was observed in seven patients with SCA6 and two with 16q-ADCA. Although 3,4-DAP significantly reduced DBN (P<0.05), other ataxic symptoms did not improved. However, 3,4-DAP showed benefit in two patients with oscillopsia. 3,4-DAP may be effective on DBN and oscillopsia, although it was not proved to be effective on other symptoms of ataxia in SCA patients. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Antioxidant activity and optimization of extraction of polysaccharide from the roots of Dipsacus asperoides.

PubMed

Tan, Li-Hong; Zhang, Dan; Yu, Bao; Zhao, Sheng-Ping; Wang, Jian-Wei; Yao, Ling; Cao, Wei-Guo

2015-11-01

Polysaccharide extraction from Dipsacus asperoides roots (DAP) was proved to possess strong antioxidant activities, including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-Azobis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activities, inhibiting β-carotene bleaching and strong reducing power. Cell assay demonstrated that the crude DAP possessed antioxidant activity and were effective against H2O2-induced L02 cells injury. Then, response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to optimize the ultrasonic extraction of DAP. The optimum variables given by central composite design (CCD) were as follows: ratio of water to raw material, 38.61mL/g; ultrasonic power, 308.68W; extraction time, 38.61min; and extraction temperature, 89°C. Under these conditions, the maximum yield of DAP obtained was 7.12±0.45%. Moreover, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis suggested that the monosaccharide compositions of DAP contained primarily mannose, ribose, glucose, galactose, xylose and arabinose, with a molar ratio of 0.22:0.48:2.29:0.34:1.39:1.41. The results of the present study showed that DAP could be considered as potential sources of natural antioxidants. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Structural and kinetic insights into stimulation of RppH-dependent RNA degradation by the metabolic enzyme DapF.

PubMed

Gao, Ang; Vasilyev, Nikita; Luciano, Daniel J; Levenson-Palmer, Rose; Richards, Jamie; Marsiglia, William M; Traaseth, Nathaniel J; Belasco, Joel G; Serganov, Alexander

2018-05-04

Vitally important for controlling gene expression in eukaryotes and prokaryotes, the deprotection of mRNA 5' termini is governed by enzymes whose activity is modulated by interactions with ancillary factors. In Escherichia coli, 5'-end-dependent mRNA degradation begins with the generation of monophosphorylated 5' termini by the RNA pyrophosphohydrolase RppH, which can be stimulated by DapF, a diaminopimelate epimerase involved in amino acid and cell wall biosynthesis. We have determined crystal structures of RppH-DapF complexes and measured rates of RNA deprotection. These studies show that DapF potentiates RppH activity in two ways, depending on the nature of the substrate. Its stimulatory effect on the reactivity of diphosphorylated RNAs, the predominant natural substrates of RppH, requires a substrate long enough to reach DapF in the complex, while the enhanced reactivity of triphosphorylated RNAs appears to involve DapF-induced changes in RppH itself and likewise increases with substrate length. This study provides a basis for understanding the intricate relationship between cellular metabolism and mRNA decay and reveals striking parallels with the stimulation of decapping activity in eukaryotes.

eeDAP: An Evaluation Environment for Digital and Analog Pathology.

PubMed

Gallas, Brandon D; Cheng, Wei-Chung; Gavrielides, Marios A; Ivansky, Adam; Keay, Tyler; Wunderlich, Adam; Hipp, Jason; Hewitt, Stephen M

2014-01-01

The purpose of this work is to present a platform for designing and executing studies that compare pathologists interpreting histopathology of whole slide images (WSI) on a computer display to pathologists interpreting glass slides on an optical microscope. Here we present eeDAP, an evaluation environment for digital and analog pathology. The key element in eeDAP is the registration of the WSI to the glass slide. Registration is accomplished through computer control of the microscope stage and a camera mounted on the microscope that acquires images of the real time microscope view. Registration allows for the evaluation of the same regions of interest (ROIs) in both domains. This can reduce or eliminate disagreements that arise from pathologists interpreting different areas and focuses the comparison on image quality. We reduced the pathologist interpretation area from an entire glass slide (≈10-30 mm) 2 to small ROIs <(50 um) 2 . We also made possible the evaluation of individual cells. We summarize eeDAP's software and hardware and provide calculations and corresponding images of the microscope field of view and the ROIs extracted from the WSIs. These calculations help provide a sense of eeDAP's functionality and operating principles, while the images provide a sense of the look and feel of studies that can be conducted in the digital and analog domains. The eeDAP software can be downloaded from code.google.com (project: eeDAP) as Matlab source or as a precompiled stand-alone license-free application.

Southeast Asia Report.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-10-05

Outlines New National Economic Policy (SIN CHEW JIT POH MALAYSIA, 17 Jul 84) .,. 32 DAP Prepares To Stage Comeback (KIN KWOK DAILY NEWS, 17 Jul 84...51 Cars Import Banned 51 Joint Exercise With Indonesia 51 Neo on MCA Rift 51 DAP Election Preparations 52 PHILIPPINES Health, Social Workers...Lim Kit Siang, secretary general of the Democratic Action Party [ DAP ], today urged the Malaysian government to change its so-called "Chinese

Exploration of the binding modes of buffalo PGRP1 receptor complexed with meso-diaminopimelic acid and lysine-type peptidoglycans by molecular dynamics simulation and free energy calculation.

PubMed

Sahoo, Bikash Ranjan; Dubey, Praveen Kumar; Goyal, Shubham; Bhoi, Gopal Krushna; Lenka, Santosh Kumar; Maharana, Jitendra; Pradhan, Sukanta Kumar; Kataria, Ranjit Singh

2014-09-05

The peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) are the key components of innate-immunity, and are highly specific for the recognition of bacterial peptidoglycans (PGN). Among different mammalian PGRPs, the PGRP1 binds to murein PGN of Gram-positive bacteria (lysine-type) and also have bactericidal activity towards Gram-negative bacteria (diaminopimelic acid or Dap-type). Buffaloes are the major sources of milk and meat in Asian sub-continents and are highly exposed to bacterial infections. The PGRP activates the innate-immune signaling, but their studies has been confined to limited species due to lack of structural and functional information. So, to understand the structural constituents, 3D model of buffalo PGRP1 (bfPGRP1) was constructed and conformational and dynamics properties of bfPGRP1 was studied. The bfPGRP1 model highly resembled human and camel PGRP structure, and shared a highly flexible N-terminus and centrally placed L-shaped cleft. Docking simulation of muramyl-tripeptide, tetrapeptide, pentapeptide-Dap-(MTP-Dap, MTrP-Dap and MPP-Dap) and lysine-type (MTP-Lys, MTrP-Lys and MPP-Lys) in AutoDock 4.2 and ArgusLab 4.0.1 anticipated β1, α2, α4, β4, and loops connecting β1-α2, α2-β2, β3-β4 and α4-α5 as the key interacting domains. The bfPGRP1-ligand complex molecular dynamics simulation followed by free binding energy (BE) computation conceded BE values of -18.30, -35.53, -41.80, -25.03, -24.62 and -22.30 kJ mol(-1) for MTP-Dap, MTrP-Dap, MPP-Dap, MTP-Lys, MTrP-Lys and MPP-Lys, respectively. The groove-surface and key binding residues involved in PGN-Dap and Lys-type interaction intended by the molecular docking, and were also accompanied by significant BE values directed their importance in pharmacogenomics, and warrants further in vivo studies for drug targeting and immune signaling pathways exploration. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

S46 Peptidases are the First Exopeptidases to be Members of Clan PA

PubMed Central

Sakamoto, Yasumitsu; Suzuki, Yoshiyuki; Iizuka, Ippei; Tateoka, Chika; Roppongi, Saori; Fujimoto, Mayu; Inaka, Koji; Tanaka, Hiroaki; Masaki, Mika; Ohta, Kazunori; Okada, Hirofumi; Nonaka, Takamasa; Morikawa, Yasushi; Nakamura, Kazuo T.; Ogasawara, Wataru; Tanaka, Nobutada

2014-01-01

The dipeptidyl aminopeptidase BII (DAP BII) belongs to a serine peptidase family, S46. The amino acid sequence of the catalytic unit of DAP BII exhibits significant similarity to those of clan PA endopeptidases, such as chymotrypsin. However, the molecular mechanism of the exopeptidase activity of family S46 peptidase is unknown. Here, we report crystal structures of DAP BII. DAP BII contains a peptidase domain including a typical double β-barrel fold and previously unreported α-helical domain. The structures of peptide complexes revealed that the α-helical domain covers the active-site cleft and the side chain of Asn330 in the domain forms hydrogen bonds with the N-terminus of the bound peptide. These observations indicate that the α-helical domain regulates the exopeptidase activity of DAP BII. Because S46 peptidases are not found in mammals, we expect that our study will be useful for the design of specific inhibitors of S46 peptidases from pathogens. PMID:24827749

Southeast Asia Report

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-04-03

his recent meeting with Encik Anwar Ibrahim , head of the United Malay National Organization (UMNO) Youth Movement, at a forum in the United States...said taht the opposition party will be formed before the Chinese New Year and that other parties, such as the Democratic Action Party ( DAP ) and...in last August’s election. Meanwhile, in Kuala Lumpur the deputy secretary general of the DAP , Encik Lee Tham Thye, said that the DAP is not

Sequential compression device with thigh-high sleeves supports mean arterial pressure during Caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia.

PubMed

Adsumelli, R S N; Steinberg, E S; Schabel, J E; Saunders, T A; Poppers, P J

2003-11-01

This study investigated the use of a Sequential Compression Device (SCD) with thigh-high sleeves and a preset pressure of 50 mm Hg that recruits blood from the lower limbs intermittently, as a method to prevent spinal hypotension during elective Caesarean section. Possible association of arterial pressure changes with maternal, fetal, haemodynamic, and anaesthetic factors were studied. Fifty healthy parturients undergoing elective Caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia were randomly assigned to either SCD (n=25) or control (n=25) groups. A standardized protocol for pre-hydration and anaesthetic technique was followed. Hypotension was defined as a decrease in any mean arterial pressure (MAP) measurement by more than 20% of the baseline MAP. Systolic (SAP), MAP and diastolic (DAP) arterial pressure, pulse pressure (PP), and heart rate (HR) were noted at baseline and every minute after the spinal block until delivery. A greater than 20% decrease in MAP occurred in 52% of patients in the SCD group vs 92% in the control group (P=0.004, odds ratio 0.094, 95% CI 0.018-0.488). There were no significant differences in SAP, DAP, HR, and PP between the groups. SCD use in conjunction with vasopressor significantly reduced the incidence of a 20% reduction of MAP.

Interactions of viruses in Cowpea: effects on growth and yield parameters

PubMed Central

Kareem, KT; Taiwo, MA

2007-01-01

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of inoculating three cowpea cultivars: "OLO II", "OLOYIN" and IT86D-719 with three unrelated viruses: Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV), genus Potyvirus, Cowpea mottle virus (CMeV), genus Carmovirus and Southern bean mosaic virus (SBMV), genus Sobemovirus singly and in mixture on growth and yield of cultivars at 10 and 30 days after planting (DAP). Generally, the growth and yield of the buffer inoculated control plants were significantly higher than those of the virus inoculated plants. Inoculation of plants at an early age of 10 DAP resulted in more severe effect than inoculations at a later stage of 30 DAP. The average values of plant height and number of leaves produced by plants inoculated 30 DAP were higher than those produced by plants inoculated 10 DAP. Most of the plants inoculated 10 DAP died and did not produce seeds. However, " OLOYIN" cultivar was most tolerant and produced reasonable yields when infected 30 DAP. The effect of single viruses on growth and yield of cultivars showed that CABMV caused more severe effects in IT86D-719, SBMV had the greatest effect on "OLO II" while CMeV induced the greatest effect on "OLOYIN". Yield was greatly reduced in double infections involving CABMV in combination with either CMeV or SBMV in "OLOYIN" and "OLO II", however, there was complete loss in yield of IT86D-719. Triple infection led to complete yield loss in all the three cultivars. PMID:17286870

Pivotal Role of KARAP/DAP12 Adaptor Molecule in the Natural Killer Cell–mediated Resistance to Murine Cytomegalovirus Infection

PubMed Central

Sjölin, Hanna; Tomasello, Elena; Mousavi-Jazi, Mehrdad; Bartolazzi, Armando; Kärre, Klas; Vivier, Eric; Cerboni, Cristina

2002-01-01

Natural killer (NK) cells are major contributors to early defense against infections. Their effector functions are controlled by a balance between activating and inhibiting signals. To date, however, the involvement of NK cell activating receptors and signaling pathways in the defense against pathogens has not been extensively investigated. In mice, several NK cell activating receptors are coexpressed with and function through the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM)-bearing molecule KARAP/DAP12. Here, we have analyzed the role of KARAP/DAP12 in the early antiviral response to murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV). In KARAP/DAP12 mutant mice bearing a nonfunctional ITAM, we found a considerable increase in viral titers in the spleen (30–40-fold) and in the liver (2–5-fold). These effects were attributed to NK cells. The formation of hepatic inflammatory foci appeared similar in wild-type and mutant mice, but the latter more frequently developed severe hepatitis with large areas of focal necrosis. Moreover, the percentage of hepatic NK cells producing interferon γ was reduced by 56 ± 22% in the absence of a functional KARAP/DAP12. This is the first study that shows a crucial role for a particular activating signaling pathway, in this case the one induced through KARAP/DAP12, in the NK cell–mediated resistance to an infection. Our results are discussed in relation to recent reports demonstrating that innate resistance to MCMV requires the presence of NK cells expressing the KARAP/DAP12-associated receptor Ly49H. PMID:11927627

Determination of trace metal concentration in compost, DAP, and TSP fertilizers by neutron activation analysis (NAA) and insights from density functional theory calculations.

PubMed

Rahman, Md Sajjadur; Hossain, Syed Mohammod; Rahman, Mir Tamzid; Halim, Mohammad A; Ishtiak, Mohammad Niaz; Kabir, Mahbub

2017-11-08

Leaching of toxic metals from fertilizers is a growing concern in an agricultural country like Bangladesh due to the serious consequences in health and food chain. Fertilizers used in farming fields and nurseries (plant sales outlet) in the mid-southern part of Bangladesh were collected for the determination of toxic metals. This study employed the neutron activation method and a relative standardization approach. Three standard/certified reference materials, namely NIST coal fly ash 1633b, IAEA-Soil-7, and IAEA-SL-1 (lake sediment), were considered for elemental quantification. Concentration of As (2.63-16.73 mg/kg), Cr (40.93-261.77 mg/kg), Sb (0.47-63.58 mg/kg), Th (1.44-19.16 mg/kg), and U (1.90-209.41 mg/kg) were determined in fertilizers. High concentrations of Cr, Sb, and U were detected in some compost and phosphate fertilizers (TSP and diammonium phosphate (DAP)) in comparison with the IAEA/European market standard and other studies. Quantum mechanical calculations were performed to understand the molecular level interaction of CrO 3 , Sb 2 O 3 , and AsO 3 , with DAP by employing density functional theory with the B3LYP/SDD level of theory. Our results indicated that CrO 3 and Sb 2 O 3 have strong binding affinity with DAP compared to AsO 3 , which supports the experimental results. These compounds attached to the phosphate group through covalent-like bonding with oxygen. The frontier molecular orbital calculation indicated that HOMO-LUMO gap of the AsO 3 -DAP (5.46 eV) and Sb 2 O 3 -DAP (6.48 eV) complexes are relatively lower than the CrO 3 -DAP, which indicates that As and Sb oxides are chemically more prone to attach with the phosphate group of DAP fertilizer.

Varying plant density and harvest time to optimize cowpea leaf yield and nutrient content

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ohler, T. A.; Nielsen, S. S.; Mitchell, C. A.

1996-01-01

Plant density and harvest time were manipulated to optimize vegetative (foliar) productivity of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] canopies for future dietary use in controlled ecological life-support systems as vegetables or salad greens. Productivity was measured as total shoot and edible dry weights (DW), edible yield rate [(EYR) grams DW per square meter per day], shoot harvest index [(SHI) grams DW per edible gram DW total shoot], and yield-efficiency rate [(YER) grams DW edible per square meter per day per grams DW nonedible]. Cowpeas were grown in a greenhouse for leaf-only harvest at 14, 28, 42, 56, 84, or 99 plants/m2 and were harvested 20, 30, 40, or 50 days after planting (DAP). Shoot and edible dry weights increased as plant density and time to harvest increased. A maximum of 1189 g shoot DW/m2 and 594 g edible DW/m2 were achieved at an estimated plant density of 85 plants/m2 and harvest 50 DAP. EYR also increased as plant density and time to harvest increased. An EYR of 11 g m-2 day-1 was predicted to occur at 86 plants/m2 and harvest 50 DAP. SHI and YER were not affected by plant density. However, the highest values of SHI (64%) and YER (1.3 g m-2 day-1 g-1) were attained when cowpeas were harvested 20 DAP. The average fat and ash contents [dry-weight basis (dwb)] of harvested leaves remained constant regardless of harvest time. Average protein content increased from 25% DW at 30 DAP to 45% DW at 50 DAP. Carbohydrate content declined from 50% DW at 30 DAP to 45% DW at 50 DAP. Total dietary fiber content (dwb) of the leaves increased from 19% to 26% as time to harvest increased from 20 to 50 days.

Southeast Asia Report

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-10-10

Irrational"] [Text] Kuala Lumpur, Tuesday [6 August]—The DAP [Democratic Action Party] leadership has been asked to dissolve the party because it is...had come for DAP leaders to give up their futile strug- gle because that party has proved that it no longer is able to retain the con- fidence of the...people. Commenting on the DAP complaint that action be taken against Prime Minister Da- tuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad because he drove the Proton

Southeast Asia Report.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-04-23

11 DAP Ready To Talk With MCA, Gerakan (SIN CHEW JIT POH MALAYSIA, 17 Feb 87) 13 - a - Rahman, Taib Rivalry Examined (Shah A. Dadameah; THE STAR...bank, MCA Deputy President Datuk Lee Kim Sai disclosed that this problem has been resolved. 9300/12232 CSO: 4205/12 12 MALAYSIA DAP READY TO... DAP ], today stressed that in the common interests of ethnic Chinese citizens, his party is ever-ready to hold a dialogue with the Malaysian Chinese

Design Development of a Combined Deployment and Pointing System for the International Space Station Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer Telescope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Budinoff, Jason; Gendreau, Keith; Arzoumanian, Zaven; Baker, Charles; Berning, Robert; Colangelo, Todd; Holzinger, John; Lewis, Jesse; Liu, Alice; Mitchell, Alissa;

Design Development of a Combined Deployment and Pointing System for the International Space Station Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer Telescope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Budinoff, Jason; Gendreau, Keith; Arzoumanian, Zaven; Baker, Charles; Berning, Robert; Colangelo, TOdd; Holzinger, John; Lewis, Jesse; Liu, Alice; Mitchell, Alissa;

Current therapy for Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome: development of 3,4-diaminopyridine phosphate salt as first-line symptomatic treatment.

PubMed

Quartel, A; Turbeville, S; Lounsbury, D

2010-06-01

Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) is a rare pre-synaptic auto-immune disorder of neuromuscular transmission that is characterised by proximal muscle weakness, depressed tendon reflexes and autonomic dysfunction. This review summarises the clinical symptoms, aetiology, diagnosis and treatment options for LEMS. Focus is placed on symptomatic treatment with the potassium channel blocker 3,4-diaminopyridine (3,4-DAP). English-language publications were searched in MEDLINE and EMBASE to retrieve relevant literature on LEMS. The data submitted to obtain regulatory approval of 3,4-DAP phosphate by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) were also used. LEMS is a rare disease with few treatment options which are generally categorised as anti-tumour, immunomodulating or immunosuppressing, and symptomatic treatments. Anti-tumour treatment is recommended for patients with the paraneoplastic form of LEMS. While several immunomodulating or immunosuppressing treatments have been identified, these treatments should be initiated when symptomatic treatments are inadequate. As expected, due to the rarity of the disease, few reports of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) exist. Seven RCTs have been conducted to evaluate treatment of patients with LEMS. One RCT evaluated immunomodulating treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (ivIg), while six evaluated symptomatic treatment with the potassium channel blocker 3,4-DAP. Improvements in LEMS symptoms after ivIg treatment were observed, leading to the recommendation for treatment in patients when symptomatic treatment does not provide satisfactory improvement. Potassium channel blockers evaluated for the treatment of LEMS include guanidine, 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) and 3,4-DAP. However, only 3,4-DAP has been evaluated in RCTs. Results of these RCTs demonstrated that treatment with 3,4-DAP is efficacious in treatment of LEMS and has an acceptable tolerability profile. Hence, 3,4-DAP has been recommended as first-line symptomatic treatment for LEMS by the European Federation of Neurological Societies. While 3,4-DAP base has only been available via named-patient programmes, requiring ad hoc preparations in compounding pharmacies, tablets containing 3,4-DAP phosphate salt, equivalent to 10 mg base, have become available. This formulation has obtained the orphan medicinal product status both in the European Union and in the United States of America, and has received marketing authorisation in Europe as Firdapse*. These tablets have been shown to be essentially bioequivalent with the base preparation. The results of this review show that anti-tumour treatment is recommended for patients with the paraneoplastic form of LEMS and that one RCT has shown that immunomodulating treatments should be initiated when symptomatic treatments do not provide satisfactory results. A number of RCTs have shown that 3,4-DAP is effective in symptomatic treatment of patients with LEMS and has been recommended as first-line symptomatic treatment of patients with LEMS. The 3,4-DAP phosphate salt formulation was shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of LEMS with a positive benefit:risk ratio.

Prenatal Exposure to Organophosphate Pesticides and IQ in 7-Year-Old Children

PubMed Central

Bouchard, Maryse F.; Chevrier, Jonathan; Harley, Kim G.; Kogut, Katherine; Vedar, Michelle; Calderon, Norma; Trujillo, Celina; Johnson, Caroline; Bradman, Asa; Barr, Dana Boyd

2011-01-01

Context: Organophosphate (OP) pesticides are neurotoxic at high doses. Few studies have examined whether chronic exposure at lower levels could adversely affect children’s cognitive development. Objective: We examined associations between prenatal and postnatal exposure to OP pesticides and cognitive abilities in school-age children. Methods: We conducted a birth cohort study (Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas study) among predominantly Latino farmworker families from an agricultural community in California. We assessed exposure to OP pesticides by measuring dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolites in urine collected during pregnancy and from children at 6 months and 1, 2, 3.5, and 5 years of age. We administered the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 4th edition, to 329 children 7 years of age. Analyses were adjusted for maternal education and intelligence, Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment score, and language of cognitive assessment. Results: Urinary DAP concentrations measured during the first and second half of pregnancy had similar relations to cognitive scores, so we used the average of concentrations measured during pregnancy in further analyses. Averaged maternal DAP concentrations were associated with poorer scores for Working Memory, Processing Speed, Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, and Full-Scale intelligence quotient (IQ). Children in the highest quintile of maternal DAP concentrations had an average deficit of 7.0 IQ points compared with those in the lowest quintile. However, children’s urinary DAP concentrations were not consistently associated with cognitive scores. Conclusions: Prenatal but not postnatal urinary DAP concentrations were associated with poorer intellectual development in 7-year-old children. Maternal urinary DAP concentrations in the present study were higher but nonetheless within the range of levels measured in the general U.S. population. PMID:21507776

Variability of Organophosphorous Pesticide Metabolite Levels in Spot and 24-hr Urine Samples Collected from Young Children during 1 Week

PubMed Central

Kogut, Katherine; Eisen, Ellen A.; Jewell, Nicholas P.; Quirós-Alcalá, Lesliam; Castorina, Rosemary; Chevrier, Jonathan; Holland, Nina T.; Barr, Dana Boyd; Kavanagh-Baird, Geri; Eskenazi, Brenda

2012-01-01

Background: Dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolites in spot urine samples are frequently used to characterize children’s exposures to organophosphorous (OP) pesticides. However, variable exposure and short biological half-lives of OP pesticides could result in highly variable measurements, leading to exposure misclassification. Objective: We examined within- and between-child variability in DAP metabolites in urine samples collected during 1 week. Methods: We collected spot urine samples over 7 consecutive days from 25 children (3–6 years of age). On two of the days, we collected 24-hr voids. We assessed the reproducibility of urinary DAP metabolite concentrations and evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of spot urine samples as predictors of high (top 20%) or elevated (top 40%) weekly average DAP metabolite concentrations. Results: Within-child variance exceeded between-child variance by a factor of two to eight, depending on metabolite grouping. Although total DAP concentrations in single spot urine samples were moderately to strongly associated with concentrations in same-day 24-hr samples (r ≈ 0.6–0.8, p < 0.01), concentrations in spot samples collected > 1 day apart and in 24-hr samples collected 3 days apart were weakly correlated (r ≈ –0.21 to 0.38). Single spot samples predicted high (top 20%) and elevated (top 40%) full-week average total DAP excretion with only moderate sensitivity (≈ 0.52 and ≈ 0.67, respectively) but relatively high specificity (≈ 0.88 and ≈ 0.78, respectively). Conclusions: The high variability we observed in children’s DAP metabolite concentrations suggests that single-day urine samples provide only a brief snapshot of exposure. Sensitivity analyses suggest that classification of cumulative OP exposure based on spot samples is prone to type 2 classification errors. PMID:23052012

Analysis and Manipulation of Aspartate Pathway Genes for l-Lysine Overproduction from Methanol by Bacillus methanolicus▿

PubMed Central

Nærdal, Ingemar; Netzer, Roman; Ellingsen, Trond E.; Brautaset, Trygve

2011-01-01

We investigated the regulation and roles of six aspartate pathway genes in l-lysine overproduction in Bacillus methanolicus: dapG, encoding aspartokinase I (AKI); lysC, encoding AKII; yclM, encoding AKIII; asd, encoding aspartate semialdehyde dehydrogenase; dapA, encoding dihydrodipicolinate synthase; and lysA, encoding meso-diaminopimelate decarboxylase. Analysis of the wild-type strain revealed that in vivo lysC transcription was repressed 5-fold by l-lysine and induced 2-fold by dl-methionine added to the growth medium. Surprisingly, yclM transcription was repressed 5-fold by dl-methionine, while the dapG, asd, dapA, and lysA genes were not significantly repressed by any of the aspartate pathway amino acids. We show that the l-lysine-overproducing classical B. methanolicus mutant NOA2#13A52-8A66 has—in addition to a hom-1 mutation—chromosomal mutations in the dapG coding region and in the lysA promoter region. No mutations were found in its dapA, lysC, asd, and yclM genes. The mutant dapG gene product had abolished feedback inhibition by meso-diaminopimelate in vitro, and the lysA mutation was accompanied by an elevated (6-fold) lysA transcription level in vivo. Moreover, yclM transcription was increased 16-fold in mutant strain NOA2#13A52-8A66 compared to the wild-type strain. Overexpression of wild-type and mutant aspartate pathway genes demonstrated that all six genes are important for l-lysine overproduction as tested in shake flasks, and the effects were dependent on the genetic background tested. Coupled overexpression of up to three genes resulted in additive (above 80-fold) increased l-lysine production levels. PMID:21724876

Analysis and manipulation of aspartate pathway genes for L-lysine overproduction from methanol by Bacillus methanolicus.

PubMed

Nærdal, Ingemar; Netzer, Roman; Ellingsen, Trond E; Brautaset, Trygve

2011-09-01

We investigated the regulation and roles of six aspartate pathway genes in L-lysine overproduction in Bacillus methanolicus: dapG, encoding aspartokinase I (AKI); lysC, encoding AKII; yclM, encoding AKIII; asd, encoding aspartate semialdehyde dehydrogenase; dapA, encoding dihydrodipicolinate synthase; and lysA, encoding meso-diaminopimelate decarboxylase. Analysis of the wild-type strain revealed that in vivo lysC transcription was repressed 5-fold by L-lysine and induced 2-fold by dl-methionine added to the growth medium. Surprisingly, yclM transcription was repressed 5-fold by dl-methionine, while the dapG, asd, dapA, and lysA genes were not significantly repressed by any of the aspartate pathway amino acids. We show that the L-lysine-overproducing classical B. methanolicus mutant NOA2#13A52-8A66 has-in addition to a hom-1 mutation-chromosomal mutations in the dapG coding region and in the lysA promoter region. No mutations were found in its dapA, lysC, asd, and yclM genes. The mutant dapG gene product had abolished feedback inhibition by meso-diaminopimelate in vitro, and the lysA mutation was accompanied by an elevated (6-fold) lysA transcription level in vivo. Moreover, yclM transcription was increased 16-fold in mutant strain NOA2#13A52-8A66 compared to the wild-type strain. Overexpression of wild-type and mutant aspartate pathway genes demonstrated that all six genes are important for L-lysine overproduction as tested in shake flasks, and the effects were dependent on the genetic background tested. Coupled overexpression of up to three genes resulted in additive (above 80-fold) increased L-lysine production levels.

Studies on optimum harvest time for hybrid rice seed.

PubMed

Fu, Hong; Cao, Dong-Dong; Hu, Wei-Min; Guan, Ya-Jing; Fu, Yu-Ying; Fang, Yong-Feng; Hu, Jin

2017-03-01

Timely harvest is critical for hybrid rice to achieve maximum seed viability, vigor and yield. However, how to predict the optimum harvest time has been rarely reported so far. The seed vigor of Zhuliangyou 06 (ZLY06) increased and reached the highest level at 20 days after pollination (DAP), when seed moisture content had a lower value, which was maintained until final seed maturation. For Chunyou 84 (CY84), seed vigor, fresh and dry weight had relatively high values at 25 DAP, when seed moisture content reached the lowest value and changed slightly from 25 to 55 DAP. In both hybrid rice varieties, seed glume chlorophyll content declined rapidly from 10 to 30 DAP and remained at a very low level after 35 DAP. Starch content exhibited an increasing trend during seed maturation, while both soluble sugar content and amylase activity decreased significantly at the early stages of seed development. Moreover, correlation analyses showed that seed dry weight, starch content and superoxide dismutase activity were significantly positively correlated with seed vigor. In contrast, chlorophyll content, moisture content, soluble sugar, soluble protein, abscisic acid, gibberellin content, electrical conductivity, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activities were significantly negatively correlated with seed vigor. Physiological and biochemical parameters were obviously more closely related with seed vigor than with seed germinability during seed development. Seed vigor could be better used as a comprehensive factor to predict the optimum seed harvest time. It is suggested that for ZLY06 seeds could be harvested as early as 20 DAP, whereas for CY84 the earliest optimum harvest time was 25 DAP. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Development and Translation of a Tissue-Engineered Disc in a Preclinical Rodent Model

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-10-01

DAPS AF constructs, fabricated complete DAPS comprised of a PCL nanofiber AF and a hyaluronic acid hydrogel NP, and designed and commencement of...of a PCL nanofiber AF and a hyaluronic acid hydrogel NP, and design and commencement of construction of a novel multi-axis bioreactor that will be... nanofiber AF and a hyaluronic acid hydrogel NP We have commenced fabrication and in vitro pre-culture of composite DAPS constructs. An AF region

Synergistic effect between D-AP5 and muscimol in the nucleus accumbens shell on memory consolidation deficit in adult male Wistar rats: An isobologram analysis.

PubMed

Nasehi, Mohammad; Ostadi, Elaheh; Khakpai, Fatemeh; Ebrahimi-Ghiri, Mohaddeseh; Zarrindast, Mohammad-Reza

2017-05-01

The nucleus accumbens (NAc) glutamatergic and GABAergic systems are involved in memory processes. This study was investigated the involvement of NAc shell GABAergic system on D-AP5 induced memory consolidation deficit. The elevated plus-maze (EPM) test-retest paradigm was employed to assess memory in adult male Wistar rats. The results indicated that post-training intra-NAc shell injection of bicuculline (GABA A receptor antagonist) did not alter emotional memory consolidation. However, post-training intra-NAc shell microinjection of muscimol (GABA A receptor agonist, 0.1μg/rat) and D-AP5 (a competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, 4μg/rat) decreased emotional memory consolidation, suggesting the drugs induced amnesia. Moreover, a sub-threshold dose of muscimol (0.05μg/rat) potentiated the D-AP5 (2μg/rat) response on memory consolidation impairment. On the other hand, the middle dose of bicuculline (0.25μg/rat) reversed memory impairment induced by D-AP5 at the higher dose. Interestingly, there is a synergistic effect between D-AP5 and muscimol on impairment of emotional memory consolidation. None of the above doses changed the locomotor activity. Our results suggest that the glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons of the NAc shell interact with each other for modulation of emotional memory consolidation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Enhanced brain motor activity in patients with MS after a single dose of 3,4-diaminopyridine.

PubMed

Mainero, C; Inghilleri, M; Pantano, P; Conte, A; Lenzi, D; Frasca, V; Bozzao, L; Pozzilli, C

2004-06-08

3,4-diaminopyridine (3,4-DAP), a potassium (K+) channel blocker, improves fatigue and motor function in multiple sclerosis (MS). Although it was thought to do so by restoring conduction to demyelinated axons, recent experimental data show that aminopyridines administered at clinical doses potentiate synaptic transmission. To investigate motor cerebral activity with fMRI and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) after a single oral dose of 3,4-DAP in patients with MS. Twelve right-handed women (mean +/- SD age 40.9 +/- 9.3 years) underwent fMRI on two separate occasions (under 3,4-DAP and under placebo) during a simple motor task with the right hand. FMRI data were analyzed with SPM99. After fMRI, patients underwent single-pulse TMS to test motor threshold, amplitude, and latency of motor evoked potentials, central conduction time, and the cortical silent period; paired-pulse TMS to investigate intracortical inhibition (ICI) and intracortical facilitation (ICF); and quantitative electromyography during maximal voluntary contraction. FMRI motor-evoked brain activation was greater under 3,4-DAP than under placebo in the ipsilateral sensorimotor cortex and supplementary motor area (p < 0.05). 3,4-DAP decreased ICI and increased ICF; central motor conduction time and muscular fatigability did not change. 3,4-DAP may modulate brain motor activity in patients with MS, probably by enhancing excitatory synaptic transmission.

Polyamine binding to proteins in oat and Petunia protoplasts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mizrahi, Y.; Applewhite, P. B.; Galston, A. W.

1989-01-01

Previous work (A Apelbaum et al. [1988] Plant Physiol 88: 996-998) has demonstrated binding of labeled spermidine (Spd) to a developmentally regulated 18 kilodalton protein in tobacco tissue cultures derived from thin surface layer explants. To assess the general importance of such Spd-protein complexes, we attempted bulk isolation from protoplasts of Petunia and oat (Avena sativa). In Petunia, as in tobacco, fed radioactive Spd is bound to protein, but in oat, Spd is first converted to 1,3,-diaminopropane (DAP), probably by polyamine oxidase action. In oat, binding of DAP to protein depends on age of donor leaf and conditions of illumination and temperature, and the extraction of the DAP-protein complex depends upon buffer and pH. The yield of the DAP-protein complex was maximized by extraction of frozen-thawed protoplasts with a pH 8.8 carbonate buffer containing SDS. Its molecular size, based on Sephacryl column fractionation of ammonium sulfate precipitated material, exceeded 45 kilodaltons. Bound Spd or DAP can be released from their complexes by the action of Pronase, but not DNAse, RNAse, or strong salt solutions, indicating covalent attachment to protein.

What Does the DAP:IQ Measure?: Drawing Comparisons between Drawing Performance and Developmental Assessments.

PubMed

Rehrig, Gwendolyn; Stromswold, Karin

2018-01-01

Human figure drawing tasks such as the Draw-a-Person test have long been used to assess intelligence (F. Goodenough, 1926). The authors investigate the skills tapped by drawing and the risk factors associated with poor drawing. Self-portraits of 345 preschool children were scored by raters trained in using the Draw-a-Person Intellectual Ability test (DAP:IQ) rubric (C. R. Reynolds & J. A. Hickman, 2004). Analyses of children's fine motor, gross motor, social, cognitive, and language skills revealed that only fine motor skill was an independent predictor of DAP:IQ scores. Being a boy and having a low birth weight were associated with lower DAP:IQ scores. These findings suggest that although the DAP:IQ may not be a valid measure of cognitive ability, it may be a useful screening tool for fine motor disturbances in at-risk children, such as boys who were born at low birth weights. Furthermore, researchers who use human figure drawing tasks to measure intelligence should measure fine motor skill in addition to intelligence.

Polyamine binding to proteins in oat and Petunia protoplasts.

PubMed

Mizrahi, Y; Applewhite, P B; Galston, A W

1989-01-01

Previous work (A Apelbaum et al. [1988] Plant Physiol 88: 996-998) has demonstrated binding of labeled spermidine (Spd) to a developmentally regulated 18 kilodalton protein in tobacco tissue cultures derived from thin surface layer explants. To assess the general importance of such Spd-protein complexes, we attempted bulk isolation from protoplasts of Petunia and oat (Avena sativa). In Petunia, as in tobacco, fed radioactive Spd is bound to protein, but in oat, Spd is first converted to 1,3,-diaminopropane (DAP), probably by polyamine oxidase action. In oat, binding of DAP to protein depends on age of donor leaf and conditions of illumination and temperature, and the extraction of the DAP-protein complex depends upon buffer and pH. The yield of the DAP-protein complex was maximized by extraction of frozen-thawed protoplasts with a pH 8.8 carbonate buffer containing SDS. Its molecular size, based on Sephacryl column fractionation of ammonium sulfate precipitated material, exceeded 45 kilodaltons. Bound Spd or DAP can be released from their complexes by the action of Pronase, but not DNAse, RNAse, or strong salt solutions, indicating covalent attachment to protein.

Rigid palm oil-based polyurethane foam reinforced with diamine-modified montmorillonite nanoclay

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haziq Dzulkifli, Mohd; Yazid Yahya, Mohd; Majid, Rohah A.

2017-05-01

This paper presents work on organically-modified montmorillonite (MMT) nanoclay embedded in rigid palm oil-based polyurethane (PU) foam. MMT was modified with organic surfactant diamino propane (DAP). PU foam was fabricated in closed mold, and the amount of DAP-MMT was varied in each foam formulation. The obtained foam was tested for its microstructure and morphology. Appearance of peaks from infra-red spectra corresponding to N-H, C=O, and C-N confirms the formation of PU networks. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed fine, closed-cellular structure at low clay loading; increasing DAP-MMT content induced larger cell sizes with blowholes. X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicates fully-exfoliated clays at 1 wt. % and partial-exfoliation at 3 wt. % clay loading, suggesting clumping of clays as DAP-MMT content increased.

The Relationship Between Developmental Assets and Food Security In Adolescents From A Low-Income Community

PubMed Central

Shtasel-Gottlieb, Zoë; Palakshappa, Deepak; Yang, Fanyu; Goodman, Elizabeth

2014-01-01

Purpose To explore the association between developmental assets (characteristics, experiences, and relationships that shape healthy development) and food insecurity among adolescents from a low-income, urban community. Methods This mixed methods study occurred in two phases. In Phase 1, using a census approach, 2350 6-12th graders from the public school district completed an anonymous survey that included the Development Assets Profile (DAP), youth self-report form of the Core Food Security Module, and demographic questions. Logistic and multinomial regression analyses determined independent associations between developmental assets and food security adjusting for demographics. In Phase 2, 20 adult key informant interviews and four semi-structured student focus groups were performed to explain findings from Phase 1. Results On average, DAP scores were consistent with national norms. Food insecurity was prevalent; 14.9% reported low food security and 8.6% very low food security (VLFS). Logistic regression revealed that higher DAP was associated with lower odds of food insecurity (OR=.96, 95% CI=.95-.97); family assets drove this association(OR=.93, 95% CI=.91-.95). In multinomial regression modeling, these associations persisted and, paradoxically, higher community assets were also associated with VLFS (ORVLFS=1.08, 95% CI=1.04-1.13). Qualitative analyses suggested that greater need among VLFS youth led to increased connections to community resources despite barriers to access such as stigma, home instability, and cultural differences. Conclusion Food insecurity is a pervasive problem among adolescents from low-income communities and is associated with lower developmental assets, particularly family assets. That community assets were higher among VLFS youth underscores the importance of community-level resources in struggling areas. PMID:25620305

The relationship between developmental assets and food security in adolescents from a low-income community.

PubMed

Shtasel-Gottlieb, Zoë; Palakshappa, Deepak; Yang, Fanyu; Goodman, Elizabeth

2015-02-01

To explore the association between developmental assets (characteristics, experiences, and relationships that shape healthy development) and food insecurity among adolescents from a low-income urban community. This mixed-methods study occurred in two phases. In phase 1, using a census approach, 2,350 6th to 12th graders from the public school district completed an anonymous survey that included the developmental assets profile (DAP), the youth self-report form of the Core Food Security Module, and demographic questions. Logistic and multinomial regression analyses determined independent associations between developmental assets and food security adjusting for demographics. In phase 2, 20 adult key informant interviews and four semistructured student focus groups were performed to explain findings from phase 1. On average, DAP scores were consistent with national norms. Food insecurity was prevalent; 14.9% reported low food security and 8.6% very low food security (VLFS). Logistic regression revealed that higher DAP was associated with lower odds of food insecurity (odds ratio [OR], .96; 95% confidence interval [CI], .95-.97); family assets drove this association (OR, .93; 95% CI, .91-.95). In multinomial regression modeling, these associations persisted, and paradoxically, higher community assets were also associated with VLFS (ORVLFS, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.04-1.13). Qualitative analyses suggested that greater need among VLFS youth led to increased connections to community resources despite barriers to access such as stigma, home instability, and cultural differences. Food insecurity is a pervasive problem among adolescents from low-income communities and is associated with lower developmental assets, particularly family assets. The fact that community assets were higher among VLFS youth underscores the importance of community-level resources in struggling areas. Copyright © 2015 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

CSM digital autopilot testing in support of ASTP experiments control requirements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rue, D. L.

1975-01-01

Results are presented of CSM digital autopilot (DAP) testing. The testing was performed to demonstrate and evaluate control modes which are currently planned or could be considered for use in support of experiments on the ASTP mission. The testing was performed on the Lockheed Guidance, Navigation, and Control System Functional Simulator (GNCFS). This simulator, which was designed to test the Apollo and Skylab DAP control system, has been used extensively and is a proven tool for CSM DAP analysis.

Randomized clinical trial studying effects of a personalized supervised lifestyle intervention program on cardiovascular status in physically inactive healthy volunteers

PubMed Central

Westergren, Helena U; Gan, Li-Ming; Månsson, Marianne; Svedlund, Sara

2018-01-01

Background The impact of personalized exercise training and a healthy dietary lifestyle in healthy volunteers on coronary flow reserve and cardiovascular function remains to be investigated in a controlled study setting. Purpose To examine the effects of a Mediterranean-inspired diet combined with regular physical exercise (standard) and a personalized supervised exercise program (DAPS) on coronary flow reserve and cardiovascular function. Results The number of males were 10 (59%) and 9 (47%) and mean age was 54 ± 12 and 55 ± 5 years in standard versus DAPS group, respectively. Primary outcomes were in addition to improved body composition and aerobic capacity, increased TDE-CFR (5.0%, CI:1.62,8.64, p = 0.005) and left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) during hyperemia (10.2%, CI:1.62,19.4, p = 0.022) in DAPS adjusted for the control period. Also, plasma fibrinogen decreased (−12.1%, CI:-22.0,–0.92, p = 0.035) in the DAPS group. Secondary outcomes, after adjusting DAPS intervention effects for the standard-training period, TDE-CFR and hyperemic LVEF remained significantly improved. Materials and Methods This randomized, controlled clinical trial (URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT02713724) included 36 healthy volunteers who underwent exercise ECG before randomization to standard or DAPS groups. Standard-group was given gym-membership with limited instructions and general dietary advice. DAPS-group received personalized supervised exercise programs and more detailed dietary advice with regular contact with a personal trainer. Effects were evaluated after 3 months. All participants underwent coronary flow reserve by transthoracic ultrasound (TDE-CFR), blood marker analysis and examinations of vascular function. Standard-group was evaluated pre-control, post-control (=pre-intervention) and post-intervention. DAPS-group was examined at pre-intervention and post-intervention. Conclusions A personalized supervised training- and diet program improves cardiovascular status in healthy subjects with a physically inactive lifestyle and may be a promising approach for cardiovascular prevention in the general population. PMID:29507706

Drawing a Close to the Use of Human Figure Drawings as a Projective Measure of Intelligence

PubMed Central

Imuta, Kana; Scarf, Damian; Pharo, Henry; Hayne, Harlene

2013-01-01

The practice of using children's human figure drawings (HFDs) to assess their intellectual ability is pervasive among psychologists and therapists in many countries. Since the first systematic scoring system for HFDs was published in 1926, their continued popularity has led to the development of several revised versions of the test. Most recently, the Draw-A-Person Intellectual Ability Test for children, adolescents, and adults (DAP:IQ) was published. It is the most up-to-date form of HFD test designed to assess intellectual functioning across a wide age range. In the present study, we assessed the validity of the DAP:IQ as a screening measure of intelligence in both children and adults. In Experiment 1, 100 4- to 5-year-old children completed the DAP:IQ and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Third Edition. In Experiment 2, 100 adults completed the DAP:IQ and the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence. In both experiments, we found only weak to modest correlations between scores on the DAP:IQ and the Wechsler tests. Furthermore, when we compared individual's scores on the two tests, the DAP:IQ yielded high false positive and false negative rates when screening for borderline and superior intellectual functioning. Based on these findings, and based on the lack of validity of previous HFD tests, we conclude that practitioners should not rely on HFD tests as a projective measure of intelligence. PMID:23516590

Drawing a close to the use of human figure drawings as a projective measure of intelligence.

PubMed

Imuta, Kana; Scarf, Damian; Pharo, Henry; Hayne, Harlene

2013-01-01

The practice of using children's human figure drawings (HFDs) to assess their intellectual ability is pervasive among psychologists and therapists in many countries. Since the first systematic scoring system for HFDs was published in 1926, their continued popularity has led to the development of several revised versions of the test. Most recently, the Draw-A-Person Intellectual Ability Test for children, adolescents, and adults (DAP:IQ) was published. It is the most up-to-date form of HFD test designed to assess intellectual functioning across a wide age range. In the present study, we assessed the validity of the DAP:IQ as a screening measure of intelligence in both children and adults. In Experiment 1, 100 4- to 5-year-old children completed the DAP:IQ and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Third Edition. In Experiment 2, 100 adults completed the DAP:IQ and the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence. In both experiments, we found only weak to modest correlations between scores on the DAP:IQ and the Wechsler tests. Furthermore, when we compared individual's scores on the two tests, the DAP:IQ yielded high false positive and false negative rates when screening for borderline and superior intellectual functioning. Based on these findings, and based on the lack of validity of previous HFD tests, we conclude that practitioners should not rely on HFD tests as a projective measure of intelligence.

Duration of active psychosis and first-episode psychosis negative symptoms.

PubMed

Lyne, John; Joober, Ridha; Schmitz, Norbert; Lepage, Martin; Malla, Ashok

2017-02-01

Duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) has been associated with negative symptoms in several studies; however, longitudinal findings have been inconsistent. No previous study has accounted for active psychosis after presentation, although this could impact on outcomes in a manner similar to DUP. We measured Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms at frequent intervals during the 12 months after initial presentation to determine the active psychosis duration for 230 individuals with first-episode psychosis. This duration was added to DUP prior to presentation to create a new variable, duration of active psychosis (DAP). Negative symptoms were divided into expressivity and motivation/pleasure domains as measured by Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS). The relationship of DUP and DAP with negative symptoms at 24-month follow up was determined and confounders controlled for using regression analysis. When DUP and DAP were compared as binary variables with long and short groups, 25.2% of individuals had differing category membership. DAP had a significant uncorrected association with both expressivity domain and motivation/pleasure domains at 24 months; however, relationship with DUP was not significant. DAP remained a significant predictor of 24-month expressivity domain after controlling for potential confounders. Active psychosis after presentation is substantial, which is a limitation of DUP studies if active psychosis is considered as the key factor within DUP. DAP is a better predictor of negative symptoms than DUP at 2-year follow up, which suggests this concept requires further research. © 2015 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Mineralization of soluble P fertilizers and insoluble rock phosphate in response to phosphate-solubilizing bacteria and poultry manure and their effect on the growth and P utilization efficiency of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abbasi, M. K.; Musa, N.; Manzoor, M.

2015-08-01

The ability of soil microorganisms and organic manure to convert insoluble phosphorus (P) to an accessible form offers a biological rescue system for improving P utilization efficiency in soil-plant systems. Our objective was to examine the P mineralization potential of two soluble P fertilizers (SPF), i.e., single superphosphate (SSP) and diammonium phosphate (DAP), and of insoluble rock phosphate (RP) with and without phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and poultry manure (PM) and their subsequent effect on the growth, yield and P utilization efficiency (PUE) of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.). An incubation study was carried out on a loam (slightly alkaline) soil with 12 treatments: T0 - control; T1 - RP; T2 - SSP; T3 - DAP; T4 - PM; T5 - 1/2 RP+1/2 SSP; T6 - 1/2 RP+1/2 DAP; T7 - 1/2 RP+1/2 PM; T8 - RP+PSB; T9 - 1/2 RP+1/2 SSP+PSB; T10 - 1/2 RP+1/2 DAP+PSB; and T11 - 1/2 RP+1/2 PM+PSB. Phosphorus mineralization was measured by analyzing extractable P from the amended soil incubated under controlled conditions at 25 °C for periods of 0, 5, 15, 25, 35 and 60 days. A complementary greenhouse experiment was conducted in pots with chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) as a test crop. Growth, yield, P uptake and PUE of the chilli was determined during the study. Results indicated that P mineralization in soil amended with RP was 6.0-11.5 mg kg-1, while both soluble P fertilizers resulted in 68-73 mg P kg-1 at day 0, which decreased by 79-82 % at the end of incubation. The integrated use of PSB and PM with RP in T11 stimulated P mineralization by releasing a maximum of 25 mg P kg-1 that was maintained at high levels without any loss. Use of PSB decreased soil pH. In the greenhouse experiment, RP alone or RP+PSB did not have a significant impact on plant growth. However, the combined use of RP, PM and PSB in T11 resulted in similar growth, yield and P uptake of chilli as DAP. The PUE of applied P varied from 4 to 29 % and was higher in the treatments that included PSB. We conclude that the use of PSB and PM with insoluble RP or with soluble P fertilizers could be a promising approach to enhance P availability from both low-grade RP and SPF for crop production in intensive cropping systems.

Aeroservoelastic DAP missile fin development. [directionally attached piezoelectric actuator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barrett, Ron

1993-01-01

The development of an active aeroservoelastic missile fin using directionally attached piezoelectric (DAP) actuator elements is detailed. Several different types of actuator elements are examined, including piezoelectric polymers, piezoelectric fiber composites, and conventionally attached piezoelectric (CAP) and DAP elements. These actuator elements are bonded to the substrate of a torque plate. The root of the torque plate is attached to a fuselage hard point or folding pivot. The tip of the plate is bonded to an aerodynamic shell which undergoes a pitch change as the plate twists. The design procedures used on the plate are discussed. A comparison of the various actuator element shows that DAP elements provide the highest deflections with the highest torsional stiffness. A torque plate was constructed from 0.2032 mm thick DAP elements bonded to a 0.127 mm thick AISI 1010 steel substrate. The torque plate produced static twist deflections in excess of +/- 3 deg. An aerodynamic shell with a modified NACA 0012 profile was added to the torque plate. This fin was tested in a wind tunnel at speeds up to 50 ms/sec. The static deflection of the fin was predicted to within 6 percent of the experimental data.

DapF stabilizes the substrate-favoring conformation of RppH to stimulate its RNA-pyrophosphohydrolase activity in Escherichia coli.

PubMed

Wang, Qiang; Zhang, Delin; Guan, Zeyuan; Li, Dongqin; Pei, Kai; Liu, Jian; Zou, Tingting; Yin, Ping

2018-06-21

mRNA decay is an important strategy by which bacteria can rapidly adapt to their ever-changing surroundings. The 5'-terminus state of mRNA determines the velocity of decay of many types of RNA. In Escherichia coli, RNA pyrophosphohydrolase (RppH) is responsible for the removal of the 5'-terminal triphosphate from hundreds of mRNAs and triggers its rapid degradation by ribonucleases. A diaminopimelate epimerase, DapF, can directly interact with RppH and stimulate its hydrolysis activity in vivo and in vitro. However, the molecular mechanism remains to be elucidated. Here, we determined the complex structure of DapF-RppH as a heterotetramer in a 2:2 molar ratio. DapF-bound RppH exhibits an RNA-favorable conformation similar to the RNA-bound state, suggesting that association with DapF promotes and stabilizes RppH in a conformation that facilitates substrate RNA binding and thus stimulates the activity of RppH. To our knowledge, this is the first published structure of an RNA-pyrophosphohydrolysis complex in bacteria. Our study provides a framework for further investigation of the potential regulators involved in the RNA-pyrophosphohydrolysis process in prokaryotes.

Evaluation of dose‐area product of common radiographic examinations towards establishing a preliminary diagnostic reference levels (PDRLs) in Southwestern Nigeria

PubMed Central

Jibiri, Nnamdi N.

2016-01-01

In Nigeria, a large number of radiographic examinations are conducted yearly for various diagnostic purposes. However, most examinations carried out do not have records of doses received by the patients, and the employed exposure parameters used are not documented; therefore, adequate radiation dose management is hindered. The aim of the present study was to estimate the dose‐area product (DAP) of patients examined in Nigeria, and to propose regional reference dose levels for nine common examinations (chest PA, abdomen AP, pelvis AP, lumbar AP, skull AP, leg AP, knee AP, hand AP, and thigh AP) undertaken in Nigeria. Measurement of entrance surface dose (ESD) was carried out using thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD). Measured ESDS were converted into DAP using the beam area of patients in 12 purposely selected hospitals. Results of the study show that the maximum/minimum ratio ranged from 3 for thigh AP to 57 in abdomen AP. The range of determined mean and 75th percentile DAPs were 0.18–17.16, and 0.25–28.59 Gy cm2, respectively. Data available for comparison show that 75th percentile DAPs in this study (in chest PA, abdomen AP, pelvis AP, lumbar AP) are higher than NRPB‐HPE reference values. The DAP in this study is higher by factor of 31.4 (chest PA), 9.9 (abdomen AP), 2.2 (pelvis AP), and 2.1 (lumbar AP) than NRPB‐HPE values. The relative higher dose found in this study shows nonoptimization of practice in Nigeria. It is expected that regular dose auditing and dose optimization implementation in Nigeria would lead to lower DAP value, especially in abdomen AP. The 75th percentile DAP distribution reported in this study could be taken as regional diagnostic reference level in the Southwestern Nigeria; however, a more extensive nationwide dose survey is required to establish national reference dose. PACS number(s): 87.53.Bn, 87.59.B PMID:27929511

Frequency and Distribution of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms within mprF in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Clinical Isolates and Their Role in Cross-Resistance to Daptomycin and Host Defense Antimicrobial Peptides.

PubMed

Bayer, Arnold S; Mishra, Nagendra N; Chen, Liang; Kreiswirth, Barry N; Rubio, Aileen; Yang, Soo-Jin

2015-08-01

MprF is responsible for the lysinylation of phosphatidylglycerol (PG) to synthesize the positively charged phospholipid (PL) species, lysyl-PG (L-PG). It has been proposed that the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the mprF open reading frame (ORF) are associated with a gain-in-function phenotype in terms of daptomycin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. (Note that although the official term is daptomycin nonsusceptibility, we use the term daptomycin resistance in this paper for ease of presentation.) Using 22 daptomycin-susceptible (DAP(s))/daptomycin-resistant (DAP(r)) clinical methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strain pairs, we assessed (i) the frequencies and distribution of putative mprF gain-in-function SNPs, (ii) the relationships of the SNPs to both daptomycin resistance and cross-resistance to the prototypical endovascular host defense peptide (HDP) thrombin-induced platelet microbicidal protein (tPMP), and (iii) the impact of mprF SNPs on positive surface charge phenotype and modifications of membrane PL profiles. Most of the mprF SNPs identified in our DAP(r) strains were clustered within the two MprF loci, (i) the central bifunctional domain and (ii) the C-terminal synthase domain. Moreover, we were able to correlate the presence and location of mprF SNPs in DAP(r) strains with HDP cross-resistance, positive surface charge, and L-PG profiles. Although DAP(r) strains with mprF SNPs in the bifunctional domain showed higher resistance to tPMPs than DAP(r) strains with SNPs in the synthase domain, this relationship was not observed in positive surface charge assays. These results demonstrated that both charge-mediated and -unrelated mechanisms are involved in DAP resistance and HDP cross-resistance in S. aureus. Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Rational modification of Corynebacterium glutamicum dihydrodipicolinate reductase to switch the nucleotide-cofactor specificity for increasing l-lysine production.

PubMed

Xu, Jian-Zhong; Yang, Han-Kun; Liu, Li-Ming; Wang, Ying-Yu; Zhang, Wei-Guo

2018-03-25

l-lysine is an important amino acid in animals and humans and NADPH is a vital cofactor for maximizing the efficiency of l-lysine fermentation. Dihydrodipicolinate reductase (DHDPR), an NAD(P)H-dependent enzyme, shows a variance in nucleotide-cofactor affinity in bacteria. In this study, we rationally engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum DHDPR (CgDHDPR) to switch its nucleotide-cofactor specificity resulting in an increase in final titer (from 82.6 to 117.3 g L -1 ), carbon yield (from 0.35 to 0.44 g [g glucose] -1 ) and productivity (from 2.07 to 2.93 g L -1  hr -1 ) of l-lysine in JL-6 ΔdapB::Ec-dapB C115G,G116C in fed-batch fermentation. To do this, we comparatively analyzed the characteristics of CgDHDPR and Escherichia coli DHDPR (EcDHDPR), indicating that hetero-expression of NADH-dependent EcDHDPR increased l-lysine production. Subsequently, we rationally modified the conserved structure of cofactor-binding motif, and results indicated that introducing the mutation K11A or R13A in CgDHDPR and introducing the mutation R16A or R39A in EcDHDPR modifies the nucleotide-cofactor affinity of DHDPR. Lastly, the effects of these mutated DHDPRs on l-lysine production were investigated. The highest increase (26.2%) in l-lysine production was observed for JL-6 ΔdapB::Ec-dapB C115G,G116C , followed by JL-6 Cg-dapB C37G,G38C (21.4%) and JL-6 ΔdapB::Ec-dapB C46G,G47C (15.2%). This is the first report of a rational modification of DHDPR that enhances the l-lysine production and yield through the modulation of nucleotide-cofactor specificity. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Adoptive transfer of murine T cells expressing a chimeric-PD1-Dap10 receptor as an immunotherapy for lymphoma.

PubMed

Lynch, Adam; Hawk, William; Nylen, Emily; Ober, Sean; Autin, Pierre; Barber, Amorette

2017-11-01

Adoptive transfer of T cells is a promising cancer therapy and expression of chimeric antigen receptors can enhance tumour recognition and T-cell effector functions. The programmed death protein 1 (PD1) receptor is a prospective target for a chimeric antigen receptor because PD1 ligands are expressed on many cancer types, including lymphoma. Therefore, we developed a murine chimeric PD1 receptor (chPD1) consisting of the PD1 extracellular domain fused to the cytoplasmic domain of CD3ζ. Additionally, chimeric antigen receptor therapies use various co-stimulatory domains to enhance efficacy. Hence, the inclusion of a Dap10 or CD28 co-stimulatory domain in the chPD1 receptor was compared to determine which domain induced optimal anti-tumour immunity in a mouse model of lymphoma. The chPD1 T cells secreted pro-inflammatory cytokines and lysed RMA lymphoma cells. Adoptive transfer of chPD1 T cells significantly reduced established tumours and led to tumour-free survival in lymphoma-bearing mice. When comparing chPD1 receptors containing a Dap10 or CD28 domain, both receptors induced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines; however, chPD1-CD28 T cells also secreted anti-inflammatory cytokines whereas chPD1-Dap10 T cells did not. Additionally, chPD1-Dap10 induced a central memory T-cell phenotype compared with chPD1-CD28, which induced an effector memory phenotype. The chPD1-Dap10 T cells also had enhanced in vivo persistence and anti-tumour efficacy compared with chPD1-CD28 T cells. Therefore, adoptive transfer of chPD1 T cells could be a novel therapy for lymphoma and inclusion of the Dap10 co-stimulatory domain in chimeric antigen receptors may induce a preferential cytokine profile and T-cell differentiation phenotype for anti-tumour therapies. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Evaluation of dose-area product of common radiographic examinations towards establishing a preliminary diagnostic reference levels (PDRLs) in Southwestern Nigeria.

PubMed

Jibiri, Nnamdi N; Olowookere, Christopher J

2016-11-08

In Nigeria, a large number of radiographic examinations are conducted yearly for various diagnostic purposes. However, most examinations carried out do not have records of doses received by the patients, and the employed exposure parameters used are not documented; therefore, adequate radiation dose management is hin-dered. The aim of the present study was to estimate the dose-area product (DAP) of patients examined in Nigeria, and to propose regional reference dose levels for nine common examinations (chest PA, abdomen AP, pelvis AP, lumbar AP, skull AP, leg AP, knee AP, hand AP, and thigh AP) undertaken in Nigeria. Measurement of entrance surface dose (ESD) was carried out using thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD). Measured ESDS were converted into DAP using the beam area of patients in 12 purposely selected hospitals. Results of the study show that the maximum/ minimum ratio ranged from 3 for thigh AP to 57 in abdomen AP. The range of determined mean and 75th percentile DAPs were 0.18-17.16, and 0.25-28.59 Gy cm2, respectively. Data available for comparison show that 75th percentile DAPs in this study (in chest PA, abdomen AP, pelvis AP, lumbar AP) are higher than NRPB-HPE reference values. The DAP in this study is higher by factor of 31.4 (chest PA), 9.9 (abdomen AP), 2.2 (pelvis AP), and 2.1 (lumbar AP) than NRPB-HPE values. The relative higher dose found in this study shows nonoptimization of practice in Nigeria. It is expected that regular dose auditing and dose optimization implementation in Nigeria would lead to lower DAP value, especially in abdomen AP. The 75th percentile DAP distribution reported in this study could be taken as regional diagnostic reference level in the Southwestern Nigeria; however, a more extensive nationwide dose survey is required to establish national reference dose. © 2016 The Authors.

Utilization of simultaneous saccharification and fermentation residues as feedstock for lipid accumulation in Rhodococcus opacus.

PubMed

Le, Rosemary K; Das, Parthapratim; Mahan, Kristina M; Anderson, Seth A; Wells, Tyrone; Yuan, Joshua S; Ragauskas, Arthur J

2017-09-29

Use of oleaginous microorganisms as "micro-factories" for accumulation of single cell oils for biofuel production has increased significantly to mitigate growing energy demands, resulting in efforts to upgrade industrial waste, such as second-generation lignocellulosic residues, into potential feedstocks. Dilute-acid pretreatment (DAP) is commonly used to alter the physicochemical properties of lignocellulosic materials and is typically coupled with simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) for conversion of sugars into ethanol. The resulting DAP residues are usually processed as a waste stream, e.g. burned for power, but this provides minimal value. Alternatively, these wastes can be utilized as feedstock to generate lipids, which can be converted to biofuel. DAP-SSF residues were generated from pine, poplar, and switchgrass. High performance liquid chromatography revealed less than 0.13% monomeric sugars in the dry residue. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was indicative of the presence of lignin and polysaccharides. Gel permeation chromatography suggested the bacterial strains preferred molecules with molecular weight ~ 400-500 g/mol. DAP-SSF residues were used as the sole carbon source for lipid production by Rhodococcus opacus DSM 1069 and PD630 in batch fermentations. Depending on the strain of Rhodococcus employed, 9-11 lipids for PD630 and DSM 1069 were observed, at a final concentration of ~ 15 mg/L fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) detected. Though the DAP-SSF substrate resulted in low FAME titers, novel analysis of solid-state fermentations was investigated, which determined that DAP-SSF residues could be a viable feedstock for lipid generation.

Impact of High-Level Daptomycin Resistance in the Streptococcus mitis Group on Virulence and Survivability during Daptomycin Treatment in Experimental Infective Endocarditis

PubMed Central

Garcia-de-la-Maria, C.; Xiong, Y. Q.; Pericas, J. M.; Armero, Y.; Moreno, A.; Mishra, N. N.; Rybak, M. J.; Tran, T. T.; Arias, C. A.; Sullam, P. M.; Bayer, A. S.

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT Among the viridans group streptococci, the Streptococcus mitis group is the most common cause of infective endocarditis. These bacteria have a propensity to be β-lactam resistant, as well as to rapidly develop high-level and durable resistance to daptomycin (DAP). We compared a parental, daptomycin-susceptible (DAPs) S. mitis/S. oralis strain and its daptomycin-resistant (DAPr) variant in a model of experimental endocarditis in terms of (i) their relative fitness in multiple target organs in this model (vegetations, kidneys, spleen) when animals were challenged individually and in a coinfection strategy and (ii) their survivability during therapy with daptomycin-gentamicin (an in vitro combination synergistic against the parental strain). The DAPr variant was initially isolated from the cardiac vegetations of animals with experimental endocarditis caused by the parental DAPs strain following treatment with daptomycin. The parental strain and the DAPr variant were comparably virulent when animals were individually challenged. In contrast, in the coinfection model without daptomycin therapy, at both the 106- and 107-CFU/ml challenge inocula, the parental strain outcompeted the DAPr variant in all target organs, especially the kidneys and spleen. When the animals in the coinfection model of endocarditis were treated with DAP-gentamicin, the DAPs strain was completely eliminated, while the DAPr variant persisted in all target tissues. These data underscore that the acquisition of DAPr in S. mitis/S. oralis does come at an intrinsic fitness cost, although this resistance phenotype is completely protective against therapy with a potentially synergistic DAP regimen. PMID:28264848

Residual antibiofilm effects of various concentrations of double antibiotic paste used during regenerative endodontics after different application times.

PubMed

Jenks, Daniel B; Ehrlich, Ygal; Spolnik, Kenneth; Gregory, Richard L; Yassen, Ghaeth H

2016-10-01

We investigated the residual antibiofilm effects of different concentrations of double antibiotic paste (DAP) applied on radicular dentin for 1 or 4 weeks. Dentin samples were prepared (n=120), sterilized and pretreated for 1 or 4 weeks with the clinically used concentration of DAP (500mg/mL), low concentrations of DAP (1, 5 or 50mg/mL) loaded into a methylcellulose system, calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH) 2 ), or placebo paste. After the assigned treatment time, treatment pastes were rinsed off and the samples were kept independently in phosphate buffered saline for 3 weeks. Pretreated dentin samples were then inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis and bacterial biofilms were allowed to grow for an additional 3 weeks. Biofilms were then retrieved from dentin using biofilm disruption assays, diluted, spiral plated, and quantified. Fisher's Exact and Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used for statistical comparisons (α=0.05). Dentin pretreatment for 4 weeks with 5, 50 or 500mg/mL of DAP demonstrated significantly higher residual antibiofilm effects and complete eradication of E. faecalis biofilms in comparison to a 1 week pretreatment with similar concentrations. However, dentin pretreated with 1mg/mL of DAP or Ca(OH) 2 did not provide a substantial residual antibiofilm effect regardless of the application time. Dentin pretreatment with 5mg/mL of DAP or higher for 4 weeks induced significantly higher residual antibiofilm effects in comparison to a 1 week pretreatment with the same concentrations. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Estimating pesticide exposure from dietary intake and organic food choices: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

PubMed

Curl, Cynthia L; Beresford, Shirley A A; Fenske, Richard A; Fitzpatrick, Annette L; Lu, Chensheng; Nettleton, Jennifer A; Kaufman, Joel D

2015-05-01

Organophosphate pesticide (OP) exposure to the U.S. population is dominated by dietary intake. The magnitude of exposure from diet depends partly on personal decisions such as which foods to eat and whether to choose organic food. Most studies of OP exposure rely on urinary biomarkers, which are limited by short half-lives and often lack specificity to parent compounds. A reliable means of estimating long-term dietary exposure to individual OPs is needed to assess the potential relationship with adverse health effects. We assessed long-term dietary exposure to 14 OPs among 4,466 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, and examined the influence of organic produce consumption on this exposure. Individual-level exposure was estimated by combining information on typical intake of specific food items with average OP residue levels on those items. In an analysis restricted to a subset of participants who reported rarely or never eating organic produce ("conventional consumers"), we assessed urinary dialkylphosphate (DAP) levels across tertiles of estimated exposure (n = 480). In a second analysis, we compared DAP levels across subgroups with differing self-reported organic produce consumption habits (n = 240). Among conventional consumers, increasing tertile of estimated dietary OP exposure was associated with higher DAP concentrations (p < 0.05). DAP concentrations were also significantly lower in groups reporting more frequent consumption of organic produce (p < 0.02). Long-term dietary exposure to OPs was estimated from dietary intake data, and estimates were consistent with DAP measurements. More frequent consumption of organic produce was associated with lower DAPs.

Behaviour and dynamics of di-ammonium phosphate in bauxite processing residue sand in Western Australia--II. Phosphorus fractions and availability.

PubMed

Chen, C R; Phillips, I R; Wei, L L; Xu, Z H

2010-06-01

The production of alumina involves its extraction from bauxite ore using sodium hydroxide under high temperature and pressure. This process yields a large amount of residue wastes, which are difficult to revegetate due to their inherent hostile properties--high alkalinity and sodicity, poor water retention and low nutrient availability. Although phosphorus (P) is a key element limiting successful ecosystem restoration, little information is available on the availability and dynamics of P in rehabilitated bauxite-processing residue sand (BRS). The major aim of this experiment was to quantify P availability and behaviour as affected by pH, source of BRS and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) application rate. This incubation experiment was undertaken using three sources of BRS, three DAP application rates (low, without addition of DAP; medium, 15.07 mg P and 13.63 mg N of DAP per jar, 100 g BRS; and high, 30.15 mg P and 27.26 mg N per jar, 100 g BRS), and four BRS pH treatments (4, 7, 9 and 11 (original)). The moisture content was adjusted to 55% water holding capacity and each BRS sample was incubated at 25 degrees C for a period of 119 days. After this period, Colwell P and 0.1 M H(2)SO(4) extractable P in BRS were determined. In addition, P sequential fractionation was carried out and the concentration of P in each pool was measured. A significant proportion (37% recovered in Colwell P and 48% in 0.1 M H(2)SO(4) extraction) of P added as DAP in BRS are available for plant use. The pH did not significantly affect 0.1 M H(2)SO(4) extractable P, while concentrations of Colwell P in the higher initial pH treatments (pH 7, 9 and 11) were greater than in the pH 4 treatments. The labile fractions (sum of NH(4)Cl (AP), bicarbonate and first sodium hydroxide extractable P (N(I)P)) consisted of 58-64% and 70-72% of total P in the medium and high DAP rate treatments, respectively. This indicates that most P added as DAP remained labile or moderately labile in BRS, either in solution, or in adsorbed forms on the surface of more crystalline P compounds, sesquioxides and carbonate, or associated with amorphous and some crystalline Al and Fe hydrous oxides. In addition, differences in the hydrochloric acid extractable P and the residual-P fractions among the treatments with and without DAP addition were relative small comparing with other P pools (e.g., NaOH extractable P pools), further indicating the limited capacity of BRS for fixing P added in Ca-P and other most recalcitrant forms. P availability in the original BRS without addition of DAP was very low, mostly in recalcitrant form. It has been clearly demonstrated that significant proportions of P added as DAP could remain labile or moderately labile for plant use during the rehabilitation of bauxite-processing residue disposal areas. There was limited capacity of BRS for fixing P in more recalcitrant forms (e.g., Ca-P and residual-P). Concentrations of most P pools in BRS increased with the DAP application rate. The impact of the pH treatment on P availability varied with the type of P pools and the DAP rate. It is recommended that the development of appropriate techniques for more accurate estimation of P availability in BRS and the quantification of the potential leaching loss of P in BRS are needed for the accurate understanding of P availability and dynamics in BRS. In addition, application of organic matters (e.g., biosolids and biochar, etc.) to BRS may be considered for improving P availability and buffering capacity.

Exploitation of Existing Voice Over Internet Protocol Technology for Department of the Navy Application

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-09-01

Protocol LAN Local Area Network LDAP Lightweight Directory Access Protocol LLQ Low Latency Queuing MAC Media Access Control MarCorSysCom Marine...Description Protocol SIP Session Initiation Protocol SMTP Simple Mail Transfer Protocol SPAWAR Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center SS7 ...PSTN infrastructure previously required to carry the conversation. The cost of accessing the PSTN is thereby eliminated. In cases where Internet

Ineffectiveness of 3,4-diaminopyridine as a therapy for type C botulism.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Siegel, L.S.; Price, J.I.

1987-01-01

Clostridium botulinum neurotoxins inhibit acetylcholine release at neuromuscular junctions. Agents stimulating neurotransmitter efflux, such as 3,4-diaminopyridine (3,4-DAP), could be useful for botulism therapy. Treatment with 3,4-DAP (8 mg/kg hourly, beginning 3 hr after toxin injection) failed to increase the survival times of mice receiving 10, 20 or 40 LD50 type C, but did prolong the survival of those receiving 20 LD50 type A. This difference in 3,4-DAP efficacy may reflect variations in the molecular mechanism of action of types A and C botulinum neurotoxins.

Reliability of concentrations of organophosphate pesticide metabolites in serial urine specimens from pregnancy in the Generation R Study.

PubMed

Spaan, Suzanne; Pronk, Anjoeka; Koch, Holger M; Jusko, Todd A; Jaddoe, Vincent W V; Shaw, Pamela A; Tiemeier, Henning M; Hofman, Albert; Pierik, Frank H; Longnecker, Matthew P

2015-05-01

The widespread use of organophosphate (OP) pesticides has resulted in ubiquitous exposure in humans, primarily through their diet. Exposure to OP pesticides may have adverse health effects, including neurobehavioral deficits in children. The optimal design of new studies requires data on the reliability of urinary measures of exposure. In the present study, urinary concentrations of six dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolites, the main urinary metabolites of OP pesticides, were determined in 120 pregnant women participating in the Generation R Study in Rotterdam. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) across serial urine specimens taken at <18, 18-25, and >25 weeks of pregnancy were determined to assess reliability. Geometric mean total DAP metabolite concentrations were 229 (GSD 2.2), 240 (GSD 2.1), and 224 (GSD 2.2) nmol/g creatinine across the three periods of gestation. Metabolite concentrations from the serial urine specimens in general correlated moderately. The ICCs for the six DAP metabolites ranged from 0.14 to 0.38 (0.30 for total DAPs), indicating weak to moderate reliability. Although the DAP metabolite levels observed in this study are slightly higher and slightly more correlated than in previous studies, the low to moderate reliability indicates a high degree of within-person variability, which presents challenges for designing well-powered epidemiological studies.

Viscoelastic and fractal characteristics of a supramolecular hydrogel hybridized with clay nanoparticles.

PubMed

Song, Fei; Zhang, Li-Ming; Shi, Jun-Feng; Li, Nan-Nan

2010-12-01

The supramolecular hydrogels derived from low-molecular-mass gelators represent a unique class of soft matters and have important potential applications in biomedical fields, separation technology and cosmetic science. However, they suffer usually from weak mechanical and viscoelastic properties. In this work, we carry out the in situ hybridization of clay nanoparticles (Laponite RD) into the supramolecular hydrogel formed from a low-molecular-mass hydrogelator, 2,6-di[N-(carboxyethyl carbonyl)amino]pyridine (DAP), and investigate the viscoelastic and structural characteristics of resultant hybrid hydrogel. It was found that a small concentration of Laponite RD could lead to a significant increase in the storage modulus, loss modulus or complex viscosity. Compared with neat DAP hydrogel, the hybrid hydrogel has a greater hydrogel strength and a lower relaxation exponent. In particular, the enhancement of the clay nanoparticles to the viscoelastic properties of the DAP hydrogel is more effective in the case of higher DAP concentration. By relating its macroscopic elastic properties to a scaling fractal model, such a hybrid hydrogel was confirmed to be in the strong-link regime and to have a more complex network structure with a higher fractal dimension when compared with neat DAP hydrogel. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Computational Modeling of Space Physiology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lewandowski, Beth E.; Griffin, Devon W.

2016-01-01

The Digital Astronaut Project (DAP), within NASAs Human Research Program, develops and implements computational modeling for use in the mitigation of human health and performance risks associated with long duration spaceflight. Over the past decade, DAP developed models to provide insights into space flight related changes to the central nervous system, cardiovascular system and the musculoskeletal system. Examples of the models and their applications include biomechanical models applied to advanced exercise device development, bone fracture risk quantification for mission planning, accident investigation, bone health standards development, and occupant protection. The International Space Station (ISS), in its role as a testing ground for long duration spaceflight, has been an important platform for obtaining human spaceflight data. DAP has used preflight, in-flight and post-flight data from short and long duration astronauts for computational model development and validation. Examples include preflight and post-flight bone mineral density data, muscle cross-sectional area, and muscle strength measurements. Results from computational modeling supplement space physiology research by informing experimental design. Using these computational models, DAP personnel can easily identify both important factors associated with a phenomenon and areas where data are lacking. This presentation will provide examples of DAP computational models, the data used in model development and validation, and applications of the model.

Dog-appeasing pheromone collars reduce sound-induced fear and anxiety in beagle dogs: a placebo-controlled study.

PubMed

Landsberg, G M; Beck, A; Lopez, A; Deniaud, M; Araujo, J A; Milgram, N W

2015-09-12

The objective of the study was to assess the effects of a dog-appeasing pheromone (DAP) collar in reducing sound-induced fear and anxiety in a laboratory model of thunderstorm simulation. Twenty-four beagle dogs naïve to the current test were divided into two treatment groups (DAP and placebo) balanced on their fear score in response to a thunderstorm recording. Each group was then exposed to two additional thunderstorm simulation tests on consecutive days. Dogs were video-assessed by a trained observer on a 6-point scale for active, passive and global fear and anxiety (combined). Both global and active fear and anxiety scores were significantly improved during and following thunder compared with placebo on both test days. DAP significantly decreased global fear and anxiety across 'during' and 'post' thunder times when compared with baseline. There was no significant improvement in the placebo group from baseline on the test days. In addition, the DAP group showed significantly greater use of the hide box at any time with increased exposure compared with the placebo group. The DAP collar reduced the scores of fear and anxiety, and increased hide use in response to a thunder recording, possibly by counteracting noise-related increased reactivity. British Veterinary Association.

Evaluation environment for digital and analog pathology: a platform for validation studies.

PubMed

Gallas, Brandon D; Gavrielides, Marios A; Conway, Catherine M; Ivansky, Adam; Keay, Tyler C; Cheng, Wei-Chung; Hipp, Jason; Hewitt, Stephen M

2014-10-01

We present a platform for designing and executing studies that compare pathologists interpreting histopathology of whole slide images (WSIs) on a computer display to pathologists interpreting glass slides on an optical microscope. eeDAP is an evaluation environment for digital and analog pathology. The key element in eeDAP is the registration of the WSI to the glass slide. Registration is accomplished through computer control of the microscope stage and a camera mounted on the microscope that acquires real-time images of the microscope field of view (FOV). Registration allows for the evaluation of the same regions of interest (ROIs) in both domains. This can reduce or eliminate disagreements that arise from pathologists interpreting different areas and focuses on the comparison of image quality. We reduced the pathologist interpretation area from an entire glass slide (10 to [Formula: see text]) to small ROIs ([Formula: see text]). We also made possible the evaluation of individual cells. We summarize eeDAP's software and hardware and provide calculations and corresponding images of the microscope FOV and the ROIs extracted from the WSIs. The eeDAP software can be downloaded from the Google code website (project: eeDAP) as a MATLAB source or as a precompiled stand-alone license-free application.

Dog-appeasing pheromone collars reduce sound-induced fear and anxiety in beagle dogs: a placebo-controlled study

PubMed Central

Landsberg, G. M.; Beck, A.; Lopez, A.; Deniaud, M.; Araujo, J. A.; Milgram, N. W.

2015-01-01

The objective of the study was to assess the effects of a dog-appeasing pheromone (DAP) collar in reducing sound-induced fear and anxiety in a laboratory model of thunderstorm simulation. Twenty-four beagle dogs naïve to the current test were divided into two treatment groups (DAP and placebo) balanced on their fear score in response to a thunderstorm recording. Each group was then exposed to two additional thunderstorm simulation tests on consecutive days. Dogs were video-assessed by a trained observer on a 6-point scale for active, passive and global fear and anxiety (combined). Both global and active fear and anxiety scores were significantly improved during and following thunder compared with placebo on both test days. DAP significantly decreased global fear and anxiety across ‘during’ and ‘post’ thunder times when compared with baseline. There was no significant improvement in the placebo group from baseline on the test days. In addition, the DAP group showed significantly greater use of the hide box at any time with increased exposure compared with the placebo group. The DAP collar reduced the scores of fear and anxiety, and increased hide use in response to a thunder recording, possibly by counteracting noise-related increased reactivity. PMID:26311736

Protecting intellectual property associated with Canadian academic clinical trials--approaches and impact.

PubMed

Ross, Sue; Magee, Laura; Walker, Mark; Wood, Stephen

2012-12-27

Intellectual property is associated with the creative work needed to design clinical trials. Two approaches have developed to protect the intellectual property associated with multicentre trial protocols prior to site initiation. The 'open access' approach involves publishing the protocol, permitting easy access to the complete protocol. The main advantages of the open access approach are that the protocol is freely available to all stakeholders, permitting them to discuss the protocol widely with colleagues, assess the quality and rigour of the protocol, determine the feasibility of conducting the trial at their centre, and after trial completion, to evaluate the reported findings based on a full understanding of the protocol. The main potential disadvantage of this approach is the potential for plagiarism; however if that occurred, it should be easy to identify because of the open access to the original trial protocol, as well as ensure that appropriate sanctions are used to deal with plagiarism. The 'restricted access' approach involves the use of non-disclosure agreements, legal documents that must be signed between the trial lead centre and collaborative sites. Potential sites must guarantee they will not disclose any details of the study before they are permitted to access the protocol. The main advantages of the restricted access approach are for the lead institution and nominated principal investigator, who protect their intellectual property associated with the trial. The main disadvantages are that ownership of the protocol and intellectual property is assigned to the lead institution; defining who 'needs to know' about the study protocol is difficult; and the use of non-disclosure agreements involves review by lawyers and institutional representatives at each site before access is permitted to the protocol, significantly delaying study implementation and adding substantial indirect costs to research institutes. This extra step may discourage sites from joining a trial. It is possible that the restricted access approach may contribute to the failure of well-designed trials without any significant benefit in protecting intellectual property. Funding agencies should formalize rules around open versus restricted access to the study protocol just as they have around open access to results.

Access and accounting schemes of wireless broadband

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Jian; Huang, Benxiong; Wang, Yan; Yu, Xing

2004-04-01

In this paper, two wireless broadband access and accounting schemes were introduced. There are some differences in the client and the access router module between them. In one scheme, Secure Shell (SSH) protocol is used in the access system. The SSH server makes the authentication based on private key cryptography. The advantage of this scheme is the security of the user's information, and we have sophisticated access control. In the other scheme, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol is used the access system. It uses the technology of public privacy key. Nowadays, web browser generally combines HTTP and SSL protocol and we use the SSL protocol to implement the encryption of the data between the clients and the access route. The schemes are same in the radius sever part. Remote Authentication Dial in User Service (RADIUS), as a security protocol in the form of Client/Sever, is becoming an authentication/accounting protocol for standard access to the Internet. It will be explained in a flow chart. In our scheme, the access router serves as the client to the radius server.

Evaluation of take-home organophosphorus pesticide exposure among agricultural workers and their children.

PubMed Central

Curl, Cynthia L; Fenske, Richard A; Kissel, John C; Shirai, Jeffry H; Moate, Thomas F; Griffith, William; Coronado, Gloria; Thompson, Beti

2002-01-01

We analyzed organophosphorus pesticide exposure in 218 farm worker households in agricultural communities in Washington State to investigate the take-home pathway of pesticide exposure and to establish baseline exposure levels for a community intervention project. House dust samples (n = 156) were collected from within the homes, and vehicle dust samples (n = 190) were collected from the vehicles used by the farm workers to commute to and from work. Urine samples were obtained from a farm worker (n = 213) and a young child (n = 211) in each household. Dust samples were analyzed for six pesticides, and urine samples were analyzed for five dialkylphosphate (DAP) metabolites. Azinphosmethyl was detected in higher concentrations (p < 0.0001) than the other pesticides: geometric mean concentrations of azinphosmethyl were 0.53 micro g/g in house dust and 0.75 micro g/g in vehicle dust. Dimethyl DAP metabolite concentrations were higher than diethyl DAP metabolite concentrations in both child and adult urine (p < 0.0001). Geometric mean dimethyl DAP concentrations were 0.13 micro mol/L in adult urine and 0.09 micro mol/L in child urine. Creatinine-adjusted geometric mean dimethyl DAP concentrations were 0.09 micro mol/g in adult urine and 0.14 micro mol/g in child urine. Azinphosmethyl concentrations in house dust and vehicle dust from the same household were significantly associated (r2 = 0.41, p < 0.0001). Dimethyl DAP levels in child and adult urine from the same household were also significantly associated (r2 = 0.18, p < 0.0001), and this association remained when the values were creatinine adjusted. The results of this work support the hypothesis that the take-home exposure pathway contributes to residential pesticide contamination in agricultural homes where young children are present. PMID:12460819

Eosinophilic pneumonia caused by daptomycin: Six cases from two institutions and a review of the literature.

PubMed

Hirai, Jun; Hagihara, Mao; Haranaga, Shusaku; Kinjo, Takeshi; Hashioka, Hiroe; Kato, Hideo; Sakanashi, Daisuke; Yamagishi, Yuka; Mikamo, Hiroshige; Fujita, Jiro

2017-04-01

Here we report six cases of daptomycin (DAP)-induced eosinophilic pneumonia (DIEP) encountered at two medical centers and present a review of 43 DIEP patients from 26 studies to compare the clinical characteristics and radiographic findings of acute and chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP; CEP). Four of the six patients did not exhibit respiratory symptoms, and one patient with only fever was misdiagnosed with DAP-induced fever. According to our literature review and the present findings, male sex and old age were dominant risk factors for DIEP. Fever and fine crackles were the most common clinical manifestations. The DAP dose and duration of administration were not significant risk factors for DIEP, and we also could not find any association between allergic predisposition and DIEP. Among the reviewed patients, 51.8% did not show more than 25% eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage, which is a criterion for the diagnosis of drug-induced eosinophilic pneumonia. Chest images of all patients showed CEP patterns such as multiple reticulonodular infiltrates in the subpleural region and diffuse bilateral pulmonary infiltrates with ground-glass opacities. However, 66.7% of patients also exhibited pleural effusion, a feature specific to AEP. All patients showed prompt recovery after DAP withdrawal. Our results suggest that clinicians should consider DIEP as a differential diagnosis when patients receiving DAP therapy, particularly men and elderly patients, present with fever, even in the absence of respiratory symptoms. Furthermore, they should be aware that the occurrence of DIEP is independent of the DAP dose and administration duration, and allergic reaction. Copyright © 2016 Japanese Society of Chemotherapy and The Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Optimizing the Use of Storage Systems Provided by Cloud Computing Environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gallagher, J. H.; Potter, N.; Byrne, D. A.; Ogata, J.; Relph, J.

2013-12-01

Cloud computing systems present a set of features that include familiar computing resources (albeit augmented to support dynamic scaling of processing power) bundled with a mix of conventional and unconventional storage systems. The linux base on which many Cloud environments (e.g., Amazon) are based make it tempting to assume that any Unix software will run efficiently in this environment efficiently without change. OPeNDAP and NODC collaborated on a short project to explore how the S3 and Glacier storage systems provided by the Amazon Cloud Computing infrastructure could be used with a data server developed primarily to access data stored in a traditional Unix file system. Our work used the Amazon cloud system, but we strived for designs that could be adapted easily to other systems like OpenStack. Lastly, we evaluated different architectures from a computer security perspective. We found that there are considerable issues associated with treating S3 as if it is a traditional file system, even though doing so is conceptually simple. These issues include performance penalties because using a software tool that emulates a traditional file system to store data in S3 performs poorly when compared to a storing data directly in S3. We also found there are important benefits beyond performance to ensuring that data written to S3 can directly accessed without relying on a specific software tool. To provide a hierarchical organization to the data stored in S3, we wrote 'catalog' files, using XML. These catalog files map discrete files to S3 access keys. Like a traditional file system's directories, the catalogs can also contain references to other catalogs, providing a simple but effective hierarchy overlaid on top of S3's flat storage space. An added benefit to these catalogs is that they can be viewed in a web browser; our storage scheme provides both efficient access for the data server and access via a web browser. We also looked at the Glacier storage system and found that the system's response characteristics are very different from a traditional file system or database; it behaves like a near-line storage system. To be used by a traditional data server, the underlying access protocol must support asynchronous accesses. This is because the Glacier system takes a minimum of four hours to deliver any data object, so systems built with the expectation of instant access (i.e., most web systems) must be fundamentally changed to use Glacier. Part of a related project has been to develop an asynchronous access mode for OPeNDAP, and we have developed a design using that new addition to the DAP protocol with Glacier as a near-line mass store. In summary, we found that both S3 and Glacier require special treatment to be effectively used by a data server. It is important to add (new) interfaces to data servers that enable them to use these storage devices through their native interfaces. We also found that our designs could easily map to a cloud environment based on OpenStack. Lastly, we noted that while these designs invited more liberal use of remote references for data objects, that can expose software to new security risks.

The Draw-A-Person Test: an indicator of children's cognitive and socioemotional adaptation?

PubMed

ter Laak, J; de Goede, M; Aleva, A; van Rijswijk, P

2005-03-01

The authors examined aspects of reliability and validity of the Goodenough-Harris Draw-A-Person Test (DAP; D. B. Harris, 1963). The participants were 115 seven- to nine-year-old students attending regular or special education schools. Three judges, with a modest degree of training similar to that found among practicing clinicians, rated the students' human figure drawings on developmental and personality variables. The authors found that counting details and determining developmental level in the DAP test could be carried out reliably by judges with limited experience. However, the reliability of judgments of children's social and emotional development and personality was insufficient. Older students and students attending regular schools received significantly higher scores than did younger students or students attending special education schools. The authors found that the success of the DAP test as an indicator of cognitive level, socioemotional development, and personality is limited when global judgments are used. The authors concluded that more specific, reliable, valid, and useful scoring systems are needed for the DAP test.

Effects of Meloidogyne incognita on Growth and Storage-Root Formation of Cassava (Manihot esculenta)

PubMed Central

Makumbi-Kidza, N. N.; Speijer, P. R.; Sikora, R. A.

2000-01-01

Two-node cuttings of cassava cultivar SS4 were inoculated with 1,000 infective juveniles of Meloidogyne incognita at 1, 14, 40, 70, 88, and 127 days after planting (DAP). Plant growth and root damage were assessed at 150 DAP. Meloidogyne incognita significantly reduced the number of storageroots formed in plants inoculated at 14, 40, 70, and 88 DAP and the total weight of storage-roots in plants inoculated at 1, 14, 40, 70, and 88 DAP, compared to uninoculated plants. Individual storage-root weight and plant height were not affected by M. incognita. Storage-root formation in cassava is initiated when plants are 1 to 2 months old. The results of this experiment indicate that, at this time, young cassava plants are most prone to root-knot nematode damage in terms of storage-root formation. The production loss caused by M. incognita to young SS4 plants was due to a reduction of storage-root number rather than a reduction in individual storage-root weight. PMID:19270997

Drawings of very preterm-born children at 5 years of age: a first impression of cognitive and motor development?

PubMed

Schepers, Sasja; Deković, Maja; Feltzer, Max; de Kleine, Martin; van Baar, Anneloes

2012-01-01

The aim of this study was to examine differences in drawing skills between very preterm and term children, and to determine whether very preterm children's cognitive and motor development is reflected in the draw-a-person test (DAP) at age 5. Seventy-two very preterm children (birth weight <1,500 g and/or gestational age <32 weeks) and 60 term children at 5 years of age were compared on the DAP. Cognitive and motor skills of the very preterm children had been assessed four times, at 1/2, 1, 2, and 5 years of age. Very preterm children showed a developmental delay in drawing ability. Structural equation modeling revealed a positive relation between both cognitive as well as motor development and the DAP. The DAP could be a crude parameter for evaluating cognitive and motor deficits of very preterm children. A worrisome result should be followed by more standardized tests measuring cognitive and motor skills.

Development of a novel carbon-coating strategy for producing core-shell structured carbon coated LiFePO4 for an improved Li-ion battery performance.

PubMed

Pratheeksha, Parakandy Muzhikara; Mohan, Erabhoina Hari; Sarada, Bulusu Venkata; Ramakrishna, Mantripragada; Hembram, Kalyan; Srinivas, Pulakhandam Veera Venkata; Daniel, Paul Joseph; Rao, Tata Narasinga; Anandan, Srinivasan

2016-12-21

In the present study, LiFePO 4 (LFP) has been synthesized using a flame spray pyrolysis unit followed by carbon coating on LFP using a novel strategy of dehydration assisted polymerization process (DAP) in order to improve its electronic conductivity. Characterization studies revealed the presence of a pure LFP structure and the formation of a thin, uniform and graphitic carbon layer with a thickness of 6-8 nm on the surface of the LFP. A carbon coated LFP with 3 wt% of carbon, using a DAP process, delivered a specific capacity of 167 mA h g -1 at a 0.1C rate, whereas LFP carbon coated by a carbothermal process (CLFP-C) delivered a capacity of 145 mA h g -1 at 0.1C. Further carbon coated LFP by the DAP exhibited a good rate capability and cyclic stability. The enhanced electrochemical performance of C-LFP by DAP is attributed to the presence of a uniform, thin and ordered graphitic carbon layer with a core-shell structure, which greatly increased the electronic conductivity of LFP and thereby showed an improved electro-chemical performance. Interestingly, the developed carbon coating process has been extended to synthesize a bulk quantity (0.5 kg) of carbon coated LFP under optimized experimental conditions as a part of up-scaling and the resulting material electro-chemical performance has been evaluated and compared with commercial electrode materials. Bulk C-LFP showed a capacity of 131 mA h g -1 and 87 mA h g -1 at a rate of 1C and at 10C, respectively, illustrating that the developed DAP process greatly improved the electrochemical performance of LFP in terms of rate capability and cyclic stability, not only during the lab scale synthesis but also during the large scale synthesis. Benchmark studies concluded that the electro-chemical performance of C-LFP by DAP is comparable with that of TODA LFP and better than that of UNTPL LFP. The DAP process developed in the present study can be extended to other electrode materials as well.

Developmentally Appropriate Practice: What Does Research Tell Us?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dunn, Loraine; Kontos, Susan

1998-01-01

Examines recent research on developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) and social-emotional and cognitive development and what has been learned about DAP in early childhood classrooms. Finds that, in general, child-initiated environments are associated with higher levels of cognitive functioning, which, coupled with findings on stress and…

Proteomic and comparative genomic analysis reveals adaptability of Brassica napus to phosphorus-deficient stress.

PubMed

Chen, Shuisen; Ding, Guangda; Wang, Zhenhua; Cai, Hongmei; Xu, Fangsen

2015-03-18

Given low solubility and immobility in many soils of the world, phosphorus (P) may be the most widely studied macronutrient for plants. In an attempt to gain an insight into the adaptability of Brassica napus to P deficiency, proteome alterations of roots and leaves in two B. napus contrasting genotypes, P-efficient 'Eyou Changjia' and P-inefficient 'B104-2', under long-term low P stress and short-term P-free starvation conditions were investigated, and proteomic combined with comparative genomic analyses were conducted to interpret the interrelation of differential abundance protein species (DAPs) responding to P deficiency with quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for P deficiency tolerance. P-efficient 'Eyou Changjia' had higher dry weight and P content, and showed high tolerance to low P stress compared with P-inefficient 'B104-2'. A total of 146 DAPs were successfully identified by MALDI TOF/TOF MS, which were categorized into several groups including defense and stress response, carbohydrate and energy metabolism, signaling and regulation, amino acid and fatty acid metabolism, protein process, biogenesis and cellular component, and function unknown. 94 of 146 DAPs were mapped to a linkage map constructed by a B. napus population derived from a cross between the two genotypes, and 72 DAPs were located in the confidence intervals of QTLs for P efficiency related traits. We conclude that the identification of these DAPs and the co-location of DAPs with QTLs in the B. napus linkage genetic map provide us novel information in understanding the adaptability of B. napus to P deficiency, and helpful to isolate P-efficient genes in B. napus. Low P seriously limits the production and quality of B. napus. Proteomics and genetic linkage map were widely used to study the adaptive strategies of B. napus response to P deficiency, proteomic combined with comparative genetic analysis to investigate the correlations between DAPs and QTLs are scarce. Thus, we herein investigated proteome alteration of the roots and leaves in two B. napus genotypes, with different P-deficient tolerances, in response to long-term low P stress and short-term P-free starvation by 2-DE. And comparative genomic was conducted to map the DAPs to the linkage map of B. napus by sequence alignment. The present study offers new insights into adaptability mechanism of B. napus to P deficiency and provides novel information in map-based cloning to isolate the genes in B. napus and scientific improvement of P-efficient in practice. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Reliability of concentrations of organophosphate pesticide metabolites in serial urine specimens from pregnancy in the Generation R study

PubMed Central

Spaan, Suzanne; Pronk, Anjoeka; Koch, Holger M.; Jusko, Todd A.; Jaddoe, Vincent W.V.; Shaw, Pamela A.; Tiemeier, Henning M.; Hofman, Albert; Pierik, Frank H.; Longnecker, Matthew P.

2014-01-01

The widespread use of organophosphate (OP) pesticides has resulted in ubiquitous exposure in humans, primarily through their diet. Exposure to OP pesticides may have adverse health effects, including neurobehavioral deficits in children. The optimal design of new studies requires data on the reliability of urinary measures of exposure. In the present study, urinary concentrations of six dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolites, the main urinary metabolites of OP pesticides, were determined in 120 pregnant women participating in the Generation R Study in Rotterdam. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) across serial urine specimens taken at <18, 18–25, and >25 weeks of pregnancy were determined to assess reliability. Geometric mean total DAP metabolite concentrations were 229 (GSD 2.2), 240 (GSD 2.1), and 224 (GSD 2.2) nmol/g creatinine across the three periods of gestation. Metabolite concentrations from the serial urine specimens in general correlated moderately. The ICCs for the six DAP metabolites ranged from 0.14 to 0.38 (0.30 for total DAPs), indicating weak to moderate reliability. Although the DAP metabolite levels observed in this study are slightly higher and slightly more correlated than in previous studies, the low to moderate reliability indicates a high degree of within-person variability, which presents challenges for designing well-powered epidemiologic studies. PMID:25515376

Identification of differentially accumulated proteins involved in regulating independent and combined osmosis and cadmium stress response in Brachypodium seedling roots.

PubMed

Chen, Ziyan; Zhu, Dong; Wu, Jisu; Cheng, Zhiwei; Yan, Xing; Deng, Xiong; Yan, Yueming

2018-05-17

In this study, we aimed to identify differentially accumulated proteins (DAPs) involved in PEG mock osmotic stress, cadmium (Cd 2+ ) stress, and their combined stress responses in Brachypodium distachyon seedling roots. The results showed that combined PEG and Cd 2+ stresses had more significant effects on Brachypodium seedling root growth, physiological traits, and ultrastructures when compared with each individual stress. Totally, 106 DAPs were identified that are responsive to individual and combined stresses in roots. These DAPs were mainly involved in energy metabolism, detoxification and stress defense and protein metabolism. Principal component analysis revealed that DAPs from Cd 2+ and combined stress treatments were grouped closer than those from osmotic stress treatment, indicating that Cd 2+ and combined stresses had more severe influences on the root proteome than osmotic stress alone. Protein-protein interaction analyses highlighted a 14-3-3 centered sub-network that synergistically responded to osmotic and Cd 2+ stresses and their combined stresses. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis of 14 key DAP genes revealed that most genes showed consistency between transcriptional and translational expression patterns. A putative pathway of proteome metabolic changes in Brachypodium seedling roots under different stresses was proposed, which revealed a complicated synergetic responsive network of plant roots to adverse environments.

Translation of an Engineered Nanofibrous Disc-like Angle Ply Structure for Intervertebral Disc Replacement in a Small Animal Model

PubMed Central

Martin, John T.; Milby, Andrew H.; Chiaro, Joseph A.; Kim, Dong Hwa; Hebela, Nader M.; Smith, Lachlan J.; Elliott, Dawn M.; Mauck, Robert L.

2015-01-01

Intervertebral disc degeneration has been implicated in the etiology of low back pain; however the current surgical strategies for treating symptomatic disc disease are limited. A variety of materials have been developed to replace disc components, including the nucleus pulposus (NP), the annulus fibrosus (AF), and their combination into disc-like engineered constructs. We have previously shown that layers of electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) scaffold, mimicking the hierarchical organization of the native AF, have functional parity with native tissue. Likewise, we have combined these structures with cell-seeded hydrogels (as an NP replacement) to form disc-like angle ply structures (DAPS). The objective of this study was to develop a model for the evaluation of DAPS in vivo. Through a series of studies, we developed a surgical approach to replace the rat caudal disc with an acellular DAPS and then stabilize the motion segment by external fixation. We then optimized cell infiltration into DAPS by including sacrificial poly(ethylene oxide) layers interspersed throughout the angle-ply structure. Our findings illustrate that DAPS are stable in the caudal spine, are infiltrated by cells from the peri-implant space, and that infiltration is expedited by providing additional routes for cell migration. These findings establish a new in vivo platform in which to evaluate and optimize the design of functional disc replacements. PMID:24560621

Transcriptome Dynamics during Maize Endosperm Development

PubMed Central

Feng, Jiaojiao; Xu, Shutu; Wang, Lei; Li, Feifei; Li, Yibo; Zhang, Renhe; Zhang, Xinghua; Xue, Jiquan; Guo, Dongwei

2016-01-01

The endosperm is a major organ of the seed that plays vital roles in determining seed weight and quality. However, genome-wide transcriptome patterns throughout maize endosperm development have not been comprehensively investigated to date. Accordingly, we performed a high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of the maize endosperm transcriptome at 5, 10, 15 and 20 days after pollination (DAP). We found that more than 11,000 protein-coding genes underwent alternative splicing (AS) events during the four developmental stages studied. These genes were mainly involved in intracellular protein transport, signal transmission, cellular carbohydrate metabolism, cellular lipid metabolism, lipid biosynthesis, protein modification, histone modification, cellular amino acid metabolism, and DNA repair. Additionally, 7,633 genes, including 473 transcription factors (TFs), were differentially expressed among the four developmental stages. The differentially expressed TFs were from 50 families, including the bZIP, WRKY, GeBP and ARF families. Further analysis of the stage-specific TFs showed that binding, nucleus and ligand-dependent nuclear receptor activities might be important at 5 DAP, that immune responses, signalling, binding and lumen development are involved at 10 DAP, that protein metabolic processes and the cytoplasm might be important at 15 DAP, and that the responses to various stimuli are different at 20 DAP compared with the other developmental stages. This RNA-seq analysis provides novel, comprehensive insights into the transcriptome dynamics during early endosperm development in maize. PMID:27695101

Modification of the 137Cs, 90Sr, and 60Co transfer to wheat plantlets by NH4+ fertilizers.

PubMed

Guillén, J; Muñoz-Muñoz, G; Baeza, A; Salas, A; Mocanu, N

2017-03-01

Inorganic fertilizers are used as agricultural countermeasures intended to inhibit the soil to plant transfer of radionuclides after a radioactive fallout. Two NH 4 + fertilizers, diammonium phosphate (DAP) and NPK, were applied to soil contaminated with a mixture of radionuclides to analyze whether they modify the transfer of 137 Cs, 90 Sr, and 60 Co and stable elements (K, Na, Ca, and Mg) to wheat plantlets grown under controlled laboratory conditions. DAP introduced NH 4 + in the soil, which can increase 137 Cs transfer, while NPK also introduced K + , which can decrease it. The application of DAP increased the accumulation of 137 Cs in wheat plantlets with increasing application rate, so did the 137 Cs/K in plantlets. Regarding the NPK application, the 137 Cs increased in all treatments, but at maximum rate, the available K introduced by the fertilizer was probably able to partially satisfy the nutritional requirements of the wheat plantlet and the 137 Cs decreased relative to the recommended rate. The 137 Cs/K ratio in plantlet decreased with increasing NPK rates. The transfer of 90 Sr increased with increasing DAP rate and only at the maximum NPK rate. The 60 Co transfer only increased at the maximum application rates for DAP and NPK. These modifications should be considered when using these fertilizers as agricultural countermeasures.

Radiation Exposure During Uterine Artery Embolization: Effective Measures to Minimize Dose to the Patient

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

Scheurig-Muenkler, Christian, E-mail: christian.scheurig@charite.de; Powerski, Maciej J., E-mail: maciej.powerski@med.ovgu.de; Mueller, Johann-Christoph, E-mail: johann-christoph.mueller@charite.de

PurposeEvaluation of patient radiation exposure during uterine artery embolization (UAE) and literature review to identify techniques minimizing required dose.MethodsA total of 224 of all included 286 (78 %) women underwent UAE according to a standard UAE-protocol (bilateral UAE from unilateral approach using a Rösch inferior mesenteric and a microcatheter, no aortography, no ovarian artery catheterization or embolization) and were analyzed for radiation exposure. Treatment was performed on three different generations of angiography systems: (I) new generation flat-panel detector (N = 108/151); (II) classical image amplifier and pulsed fluoroscopy (N = 79/98); (III) classical image amplifier and continuous fluoroscopy (N = 37/37). Fluoroscopy time (FT) and dose-area productmore » (DAP) were documented. Whenever possible, the following dose-saving measures were applied: optimized source-object, source-image, and object-image distances, pulsed fluoroscopy, angiographic runs in posterior-anterior direction with 0.5 frames per second, no magnification, tight collimation, no additional aortography.ResultsIn a standard bilateral UAE, the use of the new generation flat-panel detector in group I led to a significantly lower DAP of 3,156 cGy × cm{sup 2} (544–45,980) compared with 4,000 cGy × cm{sup 2} (1,400–13,000) in group II (P = 0.033). Both doses were significantly lower than those of group III with 8,547 cGy × cm{sup 2} (3,324–35,729; P < 0.001). Other reasons for dose escalation were longer FT due to difficult anatomy or a large leiomyoma load, additional angiographic runs, supplementary ovarian artery embolization, and obesity.ConclusionsThe use of modern angiographic units with flat panel detectors and strict application of methods of radiation reduction lead to a significantly lower radiation exposure. Target DAP for UAE should be kept below 5,000 cGy × cm{sup 2}.« less

Combinational chromosomal aneuploidies and HPV status for prediction of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma prognosis in biopsies and cytological preparations.

PubMed

Wemmert, Silke; Linxweiler, Maximilian; Lerner, Cornelia; Bochen, Florian; Kulas, Philipp; Linxweiler, Johannes; Smola, Sigrun; Urbschat, Steffi; Wagenpfeil, Stefan; Schick, Bernhard

2018-06-01

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common human cancer types with a very poor prognosis despite improvements in therapeutic modalities. The major known risk factors are tobacco use and alcohol consumption or infection with high-risk human papilloma viruses (HPV), especially in oropharyngeal tumors. The current management based on the assessment of a variety of clinical and pathological parameters does not sufficiently predict outcome. Chromosomal alterations detected in HNSCCs were characterized by metaphase comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and correlated with clinical parameters as well as survival time. Candidate regions were validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, fluorescence-in situ-hybridization (FISH) on dapped tumor tissue and liquid-based cytological smear preparations. In addition, HPV status was determined by polymerase chain reaction and simultaneous immunocytochemical p16 INK4a -Ki67 staining. The most frequent DNA copy number gains were observed on chromosome arms 3q, 8q, 5p, 7q, 12p, and 12q. DNA copy number decreases occurred most frequently at 3p, 17p, 4q, and 5q. FISH analysis verified in part the observed alterations by CGH on dapped tissues and was especially able to detect the most frequent DNA copy changes in cytological specimens. The combination of HPV status and prognostic copy number alteration detected by FISH in biopsies or cytological specimens may be an applicable protocol for screening head and neck cancer patients prior to therapy.

Southwest Watershed Research Center Data Access Project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nichols, M. H.; Anson, E.

2008-05-01

Hydrologic data, including rainfall and runoff data, have been collected on experimental watersheds operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) in southern Arizona since the 1950s. These data are of national and international importance and make up one of the most comprehensive semiarid watershed data sets in the world. The USDA-ARS Southwest Watershed Research Center has recently developed an electronic data processing system that includes an online interface (http://tucson.ars.ag.gov/dap) to provide public access to the data. The goal of the system is to promote analyses and interpretations of historic and current data by improving data access. Data are collected from sensors in the field and are transmitted to computers in the office. The data are then processed, quality checked, and made available to users via the Internet. The publicly accessible part of the system consists of an interactive Web site, which provides an interface to the data, and a relational database, which is used to process, store, and manage data. The system was released to the public in October 2003, and since that time the online data access Web site has received more than 4500 visitors.

Protecting intellectual property associated with Canadian academic clinical trials - approaches and impact

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Intellectual property is associated with the creative work needed to design clinical trials. Two approaches have developed to protect the intellectual property associated with multicentre trial protocols prior to site initiation. The ‘open access’ approach involves publishing the protocol, permitting easy access to the complete protocol. The main advantages of the open access approach are that the protocol is freely available to all stakeholders, permitting them to discuss the protocol widely with colleagues, assess the quality and rigour of the protocol, determine the feasibility of conducting the trial at their centre, and after trial completion, to evaluate the reported findings based on a full understanding of the protocol. The main potential disadvantage of this approach is the potential for plagiarism; however if that occurred, it should be easy to identify because of the open access to the original trial protocol, as well as ensure that appropriate sanctions are used to deal with plagiarism. The ‘restricted access’ approach involves the use of non-disclosure agreements, legal documents that must be signed between the trial lead centre and collaborative sites. Potential sites must guarantee they will not disclose any details of the study before they are permitted to access the protocol. The main advantages of the restricted access approach are for the lead institution and nominated principal investigator, who protect their intellectual property associated with the trial. The main disadvantages are that ownership of the protocol and intellectual property is assigned to the lead institution; defining who ‘needs to know’ about the study protocol is difficult; and the use of non-disclosure agreements involves review by lawyers and institutional representatives at each site before access is permitted to the protocol, significantly delaying study implementation and adding substantial indirect costs to research institutes. This extra step may discourage sites from joining a trial. It is possible that the restricted access approach may contribute to the failure of well-designed trials without any significant benefit in protecting intellectual property. Funding agencies should formalize rules around open versus restricted access to the study protocol just as they have around open access to results. PMID:23270486

Medium Access Control Protocols for Cognitive Radio Ad Hoc Networks: A Survey

PubMed Central

Islam, A. K. M. Muzahidul; Baharun, Sabariah; Mansoor, Nafees

2017-01-01

New wireless network paradigms will demand higher spectrum use and availability to cope with emerging data-hungry devices. Traditional static spectrum allocation policies cause spectrum scarcity, and new paradigms such as Cognitive Radio (CR) and new protocols and techniques need to be developed in order to have efficient spectrum usage. Medium Access Control (MAC) protocols are accountable for recognizing free spectrum, scheduling available resources and coordinating the coexistence of heterogeneous systems and users. This paper provides an ample review of the state-of-the-art MAC protocols, which mainly focuses on Cognitive Radio Ad Hoc Networks (CRAHN). First, a description of the cognitive radio fundamental functions is presented. Next, MAC protocols are divided into three groups, which are based on their channel access mechanism, namely time-slotted protocol, random access protocol and hybrid protocol. In each group, a detailed and comprehensive explanation of the latest MAC protocols is presented, as well as the pros and cons of each protocol. A discussion on future challenges for CRAHN MAC protocols is included with a comparison of the protocols from a functional perspective. PMID:28926952

A simple, effective media access protocol system for integrated, high data rate networks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Foudriat, E. C.; Maly, K.; Overstreet, C. M.; Khanna, S.; Zhang, L.

1992-01-01

The operation and performance of a dual media access protocol for integrated, gigabit networks are described. Unlike other dual protocols, each protocol supports a different class of traffic. The Carrier Sensed Multiple Access-Ring Network (CSMA/RN) protocol and the Circulating Reservation Packet (CRP) protocol support asynchronous and synchronous traffic, respectively. The two protocols operate with minimal impact upon each other. Performance information demonstrates that they support a complete range of integrated traffic loads, do not require call setup/termination or a special node for synchronous traffic control, and provide effective pre-use and recovery. The CRP also provides guaranteed access and fairness control for the asynchronous system. The paper demonstrates that the CSMA-CRP system fulfills many of the requirements for gigabit LAN-MAN networks most effectively and simply. To accomplish this, CSMA-CRP features are compared against similar ring and bus systems, such as Cambridge Fast Ring, Metaring, Cyclic Reservation Multiple Access, and Distributed Dual Queue Data Bus (DQDB).

Synthesizing Existing CSMA and TDMA Based MAC Protocols for VANETs

PubMed Central

Huang, Jiawei; Li, Qi; Zhong, Shaohua; Liu, Lianhai; Zhong, Ping; Wang, Jianxin; Ye, Jin

2017-01-01

Many Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA) and Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) based medium access control (MAC) protocols for vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) have been proposed recently. Contrary to the common perception that they are competitors, we argue that the underlying strategies used in these MAC protocols are complementary. Based on this insight, we design CTMAC, a MAC protocol that synthesizes existing strategies; namely, random accessing channel (used in CSMA-style protocols) and arbitral reserving channel (used in TDMA-based protocols). CTMAC swiftly changes its strategy according to the vehicle density, and its performance is better than the state-of-the-art protocols. We evaluate CTMAC using at-scale simulations. Our results show that CTMAC reduces the channel completion time and increases the network goodput by 45% for a wide range of application workloads and network settings. PMID:28208590

Resistance to "Developmentally Appropriate Practice": Teachers, Graduate Students, and Parents Speak Out.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Brien, Leigh M.

Although developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) has gained widespread acceptance within early childhood education, it is not accepted by all. This study examined resistance to the DAP concept among: (1) Head Start and other early childhood teachers; (2) child caregivers; (3) African-American mothers; and (4) masters students in early childhood…

Head Start Teachers across a Decade: Beliefs, Characteristics, and Time Spent on Academics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walter, Melissa Clucas; Lippard, Christine N.

2017-01-01

We examined changes in teachers' beliefs regarding developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) in 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2009 using data from the Head Start Family and Child Experience Survey. In addition, we examined how teacher education, credentials, and professional experience relate to beliefs about DAP and explored how these relationships…

Music Teaching for Young Children at a Developmentally Appropriate Practice Classroom in Taiwan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Pyng-Na; Lin, Sheng-Hsi

2013-01-01

This study attempts to enhance the understanding of a music curriculum that represents holistic and meaningful learning for young children at a developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) classroom in Taiwan. The study participant implementing DAP was selected through purposive sampling by the Classroom Practice Inventory and pilot study. A…

Teaching and Learning in a Post-DAP World

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Graue, Elizabeth

2008-01-01

Recently a school district colleague recounted a conversation with a young kindergarten teacher that had shaken her to her core. The kindergarten teacher (let's call her Ms. Post) said that nobody talks about developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) anymore--everyone is way past that. The author and her colleague, two mature early childhood…

Operational tests of two viscous DAP fire retardants

Treesearch

James B. Davis;  Clinton B. Phillips;  Dean L. Dibble;  Leo V. Steck

1963-01-01

Operational tests conducted from air tanker bases in California in 1962 confirmed earlier laboratory and field studies and showed that viscous solutions of diammonium phosphate (DAP) are more effective than any other presently known fire retardant. These tests also indicated that corrosion is not a serious problem if inhibitors are used and equipment is...

Development, features and application of DIET ASSESS & PLAN (DAP) software in supporting public health nutrition research in Central Eastern European Countries (CEEC).

PubMed

Gurinović, Mirjana; Milešević, Jelena; Kadvan, Agnes; Nikolić, Marina; Zeković, Milica; Djekić-Ivanković, Marija; Dupouy, Eleonora; Finglas, Paul; Glibetić, Maria

2018-01-01

In order to meet growing public health nutrition challenges in Central Eastern European Countries (CEEC) and Balkan countries, development of a Research Infrastructure (RI) and availability of an effective nutrition surveillance system are a prerequisite. The building block of this RI is an innovative tool called DIET ASSESS & PLAN (DAP), which is a platform for standardized and harmonized food consumption collection, comprehensive dietary intake assessment and nutrition planning. Its unique structure enables application of national food composition databases (FCDBs) from the European food composition exchange platform (28 national FCDBs) developed by EuroFIR (http://www.eurofir.org/) and in addition allows communication with other tools. DAP is used for daily menu and/or long-term diet planning in diverse public sector settings, foods design/reformulation, food labelling, nutrient intake assessment and calculation of the dietary diversity indicator, Minimum Dietary Diversity-Women (MDD-W). As a validated tool in different national and international projects, DAP represents an important RI in public health nutrition epidemiology in the CEEC region. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Role of Polymeric Coating on the Phosphate Availability as a Fertilizer: Insight from Phosphate Release by Castor Polyurethane Coatings.

PubMed

da Cruz, Diego Fernandes; Bortoletto-Santos, Ricardo; Guimarães, Gelton Geraldo Fernandes; Polito, Wagner Luiz; Ribeiro, Caue

2017-07-26

The coating of fertilizers with polymers is an acknowledged strategy for controlling the release of nutrients and their availability in soil. However, its effectiveness in the case of soluble phosphate fertilizers is still uncertain, and information is lacking concerning the chemical properties and structures of such coatings. Here, an oil-based hydrophobic polymer system (polyurethane) is proposed for the control of the release of phosphorus from diammonium phosphate (DAP) granules. This material was systematically characterized, with evaluation of the delivery mechanism and the availability of phosphate in an acid soil. The results indicated that thicker coatings can change the maximum nutrient availability toward longer periods, such as 4.5-7.5 wt % DAP coated, that presented the highest concentrations at 336 h, as compared to 168 h for uncoated DAP. In contrast, DAP treated with 9.0 wt % began to increase the concentration after 168 h until it results in maximum release at 672 h. These effects could be attributed to the homogeneity of the polymer and the porosity. The strategy successfully provided long-term availability of a phosphate source.

Chemical modification of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and immobilization of the selected enzymes on the modified film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Irena, Gancarz; Jolanta, Bryjak; Karolina, Zynek

2009-07-01

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film was modified by reaction with hydrazine (HD), ethylenediamine (EDA), 1,2-diaminopropane (1,2-DAP) and 1,3-diaminopropane (1,3-DAP). The maximal amount of amine functionalities introduced in the chosen conditions on the surface was found as 0.07, 3.35, 0.76 and 1.99 nmol cm -2 for HD, EDA, 1,2-DAP and 1,3-DAP respectively. During the modification process etching of the sample and an increase of stiffness takes place. FTIR-ATR spectra prove that the surface chemistry after modification in amine solution is very complex. The lack of clear correlation between the surface tension and surface concentration of amine functionalities seems to confirm that. For immobilization purpose invertase, laccase and tyrosinase were used. The amount of covalently attached proteins at first increases with the increase of surface concentration of amine groups but after reaching a certain level of amine groups, decrease of the immobilization level was observed. All enzymes tested showed highest activity for a moderate level of aminolysis and this activity had the highest values for EDA-modified PET.

Linking 1D Transition-Metal Coordination Polymers and Different Inorganic Boron Oxides To Construct a Series of 3D Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Borates.

PubMed

Zhi, Shao-Chen; Wang, Yue-Lin; Sun, Li; Cheng, Jian-Wen; Yang, Guo-Yu

2018-02-05

Three inorganic-organic hybrid borates, M(1,4-dab)[B 5 O 7 (OH) 3 ] [M = Zn (1), Cd (2), 1,4-dab = 1,4-diaminobutane)] and Co(1,3-dap)[B 4 O 7 ] (3, 1,3-dap = 1,3-diaminopropane), which integrated characteristics of 1D coordination polymers and 1D/3D inorganic boron oxides have been obtained under solvothermal conditions. Compounds 1 and 2 are isostructural and crystallize in a centrosymmetric space group P2 1 /c; the 3D achiral structures of 1 and 2 consist of the nonhelical Zn/Cd-1,4-dap coordination polymers and 1D B-O chains. Compound 3 crystallizes in a chiral space group P4 3 2 1 2; the helical Co-1,3-dap coordination polymer chains are entrained within a 3D B-O network and finally form the chiral framework. Compounds 1-3 represent good examples of using coordination polymers to construct mixed-motif inorganic-organic hybrid borates. Compounds 1 and 2 display blue luminescence when excited with UV light.

Children's human figure drawings do not measure intellectual ability.

PubMed

Willcock, Emma; Imuta, Kana; Hayne, Harlene

2011-11-01

Children typically follow a well-defined series of stages as they learn to draw, but the rate at which they progress through these stages varies from child to child. Some experts have argued that these individual differences in drawing development reflect individual differences in intelligence. Here we assessed the validity of a drawing test that is commonly used to assess children's intellectual abilities. In a single study, 125 5- and 6-year-olds completed the Draw-A-Person: A Quantitative Scoring System (DAP:QSS) and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Revised (WPPSI-R) or the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI). Although there was a statistically significant correlation between scores on the DAP:QSS and scores on the Wechsler tests, when the scores of individual children were examined, the DAP:QSS yielded a high number of false positives and false negatives for low intellectual functioning. We conclude that the DAP:QSS is not a valid measure of intellectual ability and should not be used as a screening tool. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Brain and Bone Damage in KARAP/DAP12 Loss-of-Function Mice Correlate with Alterations in Microglia and Osteoclast Lineages

PubMed Central

Nataf, Serge; Anginot, Adrienne; Vuaillat, Carine; Malaval, Luc; Fodil, Nassima; Chereul¶, Emmanuel; Langlois¶, Jean-Baptiste; Dumontel, Christiane; Cavillon, Gaelle; Confavreux, Christian; Mazzorana, Marlène; Vico, Laurence; Belin, Marie-Franaçoise; Vivier, Eric; Tomasello, Elena; Jurdic, Pierre

2005-01-01

Human polycystic lipomembraneous osteodysplasia with sclerosing leukoencephalopathy, also known as Nasu-Hakola disease, has been described to be associated with mutations affecting the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif-bearing KARAP/DAP12 immunoreceptor gene. Patients present bone fragilities and severe neurological alterations leading to presenile dementia. Here we investigated whether the absence of KARAP/DAP12-mediated signals in loss-of-function (KΔ75) mice also leads to bone and central nervous system pathological features. Histological analysis of adult KΔ75 mice brains revealed a diffuse hypomyelination predominating in anterior brain regions. As this was not accompanied by oligodendrocyte degeneration or microglial cell activation it suggests a developmental defect of myelin formation. Interestingly, in postnatal KΔ75 mice, we observed a dramatic reduction in microglial cell numbers similar to in vitro microglial cell differentiation impairment. Our results raise the intriguing possibility that defective microglial cell differentiation might be responsible for abnormal myelin development. Histomorphometry revealed that bone remodeling is also altered, because of a resorption defect, associated with a severe block of in vitro osteoclast differentiation. In addition, we show that, among monocytic lineages, KARAP/DAP12 specifically controls microglial and osteoclast differentiation. Our results confirm that KARAP/DAP12-mediated signals play an important role in the regulation of both brain and bone homeostasis. Yet, important differences exist between the symptoms observed in Nasu-Hakola patients and KΔ75 mice. PMID:15632019

Copper(II) ion catalytic oxidation of o-phenylenediamine and characterization, X-ray crystal structure and solution studies of the final product [DAPH][H3O][Cu(dipic)2]·3H2O

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghasemi, Khaled; Rezvani, Ali Reza; Shokrollahi, Ardeshir; Abdul Razak, Ibrahim; Refahi, Masoud; Moghimi, Abolghasem; Rosli, Mohd Mustaqim

2015-09-01

The complex [DAPH][H3O][Cu(dipic)2]·3H2O, (1) (dipicH2 = 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid and DAP = 2,3-diaminophenazine) was prepared from the reaction of Cu(NO3)2·2H2O with mixture of o-phenylenediamine (OPD) and 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid in water. The complex was characterized by FTIR, elemental analysis, UV-Vis and the single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal system is monoclinic with the space group P21/c. This complex is stabilized in the solid state by an extensive network of hydrogen bonds between crystallized water, anionic and cationic fragments, which form a three-dimensional network. Furthermore, hydrogen bonds, π⋯π and Csbnd O⋯π stacking interactions seem to be effective in stabilizing the crystal structures. The protonation constants of dipic (L) and DAP (Q), the equilibrium constants for the dipic-DAP proton transfer system and the stoichiometry and stability constants of binary complexes including each of ligands (dipic, DAP) in presence Cu2+ ion, ternary complexes including, both of ligands (dipic-DAP) in presence of metal ion were calculated in aqueous solutions by potentiometric pH titration method using the Hyperquad2008 program. The stoichiometry of the most complexes species in solution was found to be very similar to the solid-state of cited metal ion complex.

Comparative Proteome Analysis of Wheat Flag Leaves and Developing Grains Under Water Deficit

PubMed Central

Deng, Xiong; Liu, Yue; Xu, Xuexin; Liu, Dongmiao; Zhu, Genrui; Yan, Xing; Wang, Zhimin; Yan, Yueming

2018-01-01

In this study, we performed the first comparative proteomic analysis of wheat flag leaves and developing grains in response to drought stress. Drought stress caused a significant decrease in several important physiological and biochemical parameters and grain yield traits, particularly those related to photosynthesis and starch biosynthesis. In contrast, some key indicators related to drought stress were significantly increased, including malondialdehyde, soluble sugar, proline, glycine betaine, abscisic acid content, and peroxidase activity. Two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) identified 87 and 132 differentially accumulated protein (DAP) spots representing 66 and 105 unique proteins following exposure to drought stress in flag leaves and developing grains, respectively. The proteomes of the two organs varied markedly, and most DAPS were related to the oxidative stress response, photosynthesis and energy metabolism, and starch biosynthesis. In particular, DAPs in flag leaves mainly participated in photosynthesis while those in developing grains were primarily involved in carbon metabolism and the drought stress response. Western blotting and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) further validated some key DAPs such as rubisco large subunit (RBSCL), ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase), chaperonin 60 subunit alpha (CPN-60 alpha) and oxalate oxidase 2 (OxO 2). The potential functions of the identified DAPs revealed that a complex network synergistically regulates drought resistance during grain development. Our results from proteome perspective provide new insight into the molecular regulatory mechanisms used by different wheat organs to respond to drought stress. PMID:29692790

Translation of an engineered nanofibrous disc-like angle-ply structure for intervertebral disc replacement in a small animal model.

PubMed

Martin, John T; Milby, Andrew H; Chiaro, Joseph A; Kim, Dong Hwa; Hebela, Nader M; Smith, Lachlan J; Elliott, Dawn M; Mauck, Robert L

2014-06-01

Intervertebral disc degeneration has been implicated in the etiology of low back pain; however, the current surgical strategies for treating symptomatic disc disease are limited. A variety of materials have been developed to replace disc components, including the nucleus pulposus (NP), the annulus fibrosus (AF) and their combination into disc-like engineered constructs. We have previously shown that layers of electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) scaffold, mimicking the hierarchical organization of the native AF, can achieve functional parity with native tissue. Likewise, we have combined these structures with cell-seeded hydrogels (as an NP replacement) to form disc-like angle-ply structures (DAPS). The objective of this study was to develop a model for the evaluation of DAPS in vivo. Through a series of studies, we developed a surgical approach to replace the rat caudal disc with an acellular DAPS and then stabilized the motion segment via external fixation. We then optimized cell infiltration into DAPS by including sacrificial poly(ethylene oxide) layers interspersed throughout the angle-ply structure. Our findings illustrate that DAPS are stable in the caudal spine, are infiltrated by cells from the peri-implant space and that infiltration is expedited by providing additional routes for cell migration. These findings establish a new in vivo platform in which to evaluate and optimize the design of functional disc replacements. Copyright © 2014 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Vitamin E improves the in vivo efficacy of tigecycline and daptomycin in an animal model of wounds infected with meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

PubMed

Provinciali, Mauro; Cirioni, Oscar; Orlando, Fiorenza; Pierpaoli, Elisa; Barucca, Alessandra; Silvestri, Carmela; Ghiselli, Roberto; Scalise, Alessandro; Brescini, Lucia; Guerrieri, Mario; Giacometti, Andrea

2011-12-01

A relevant bacterial load in cutaneous wounds significantly interferes with the normal process of healing. Vitamin E (VE) is a known immunomodulator and immune enhancer. Here, it was shown that administration of VE before infection was effective at increasing the antimicrobial activity of daptomycin (DAP) or tigecycline (TIG) in a mouse model of wound infection caused by meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). A wound was established through the panniculus carnosus of mice and inoculated with MRSA. Mice were assigned to six groups: a VE pre-treated group with no antibiotics given after MRSA challenge; two VE pre-treated groups with DAP or TIG given after MRSA challenge; two groups treated with DAP or TIG only after MRSA challenge; and a control group that did not receive any treatment. Mice receiving each antibiotic alone showed a 3 log decrease in the number of c.f.u. recovered compared with the control group, mice treated with VE plus TIG had a 4 log decrease, whilst mice treated with VE plus DAP had the largest decrease in c.f.u. recovered (5 logs). The increased antimicrobial effect seen from treatment with VE plus antibiotics was associated with increased levels of natural killer cell cytotoxicity, with a more pronounced increase in leukocyte populations in mice treated with VE plus DAP. These data suggest that treatment with VE prior to infection and subsequent antibiotic treatment act in synergy. © 2011 SGM

Differential proteomics analysis to identify proteins and pathways associated with male sterility of soybean using iTRAQ-based strategy.

PubMed

Li, Jiajia; Ding, Xianlong; Han, Shaohuai; He, Tingting; Zhang, Hao; Yang, Longshu; Yang, Shouping; Gai, Junyi

2016-04-14

To further elucidate the molecular mechanism of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in soybean, a differential proteomic analysis was completed between the CMS line NJCMS1A and its maintainer NJCMS1B using iTRAQ-based strategy. As a result, 180 differential abundance proteins (DAPs) were identified, of which, 60 were down-regulated and 120 were up-regulated in NJCMS1A compared with NJCMS1B. Bioinformatic analysis showed that 167 DAPs were annotated in 41 Gene Ontology functional groups, 106 DAPs were classified into 20 clusters of orthologous groups of protein categories, and 128 DAPs were enrichment in 53 KEGG pathways. Fifteen differential level proteins/genes with the same expression pattern were identified in the further conjoint analysis of DAPs and the previously reported differential expression genes. Moreover, multiple reaction monitoring test, qRT-PCR analysis and enzyme activity assay validated that the iTRAQ results were reliable. Based on functional analysis of DAPs, we concluded that male sterility in NJCMS1A might be related to insufficiencies in energy supply, unbalance of protein synthesis and degradation, disruption of flavonoid synthesis, programmed cell death, abnormalities of substance metabolism, etc. These results might facilitate our understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind CMS in soybean. Soybean is an important global crop that provides protein and oil. Heterosis is a significantly potential approach to increase the yield of soybean. Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) plays a vital role in the production of hybrid seeds. However, the genetic and molecular mechanisms of male sterility in soybean still need to be further elucidated. In the present paper, a differential proteomic analysis was carried out and the results showed that several key proteins involved in key pathways were associated with male sterility in soybean. This work provides a new insight to understand the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying CMS in soybean. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In Schizophrenia, Depression, Anxiety, and Physiosomatic Symptoms Are Strongly Related to Psychotic Symptoms and Excitation, Impairments in Episodic Memory, and Increased Production of Neurotoxic Tryptophan Catabolites: a Multivariate and Machine Learning Study.

PubMed

Kanchanatawan, Buranee; Thika, Supaksorn; Sirivichayakul, Sunee; Carvalho, André F; Geffard, Michel; Maes, Michael

2018-04-01

The depression, anxiety and physiosomatic symptoms (DAPS) of schizophrenia are associated with negative symptoms and changes in tryptophan catabolite (TRYCAT) patterning. The aim of this study is to delineate the associations between DAPS and psychosis, hostility, excitation, and mannerism (PHEM) symptoms, cognitive tests as measured using the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) and IgA/IgM responses to TRYCATs. We included 40 healthy controls and 80 participants with schizophrenia. Depression and anxiety symptoms were measured with The Hamilton Depression (HAM-D) and Anxiety (HAM-A) Rating Scales, respectively. Physiosomatic symptoms were assessed with the Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Rating Scale (FF). Negative symptoms as well as CERAD tests, including Verbal Fluency Test (VFT), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Word List Memory (WLM), and WL Delayed Recall were measured, while ratios of IgA responses to noxious/protective TRYCATs (IgA NOX_PRO) were computed. Schizophrenia symptoms consisted of two dimensions, a first comprising PHEM and negative symptoms, and a second DAPS symptoms. A large part of the variance in DAPS was explained by psychotic symptoms and WLM. Of the variance in HAM-D, 58.9% was explained by the regression on excitement, IgA NOX_PRO ratio, WLM, and VFT; 29.9% of the variance in HAM-A by psychotic symptoms and IgA NOX/PRO; and 45.5% of the variance in FF score by psychotic symptoms, IgA NOX/PRO, and WLM. Neural network modeling shows that PHEM, IgA NOX_PRO, WLM, and MMSE are the dominant variables predicting DAPS. DAPS appear to be driven by PHEM and negative symptoms coupled with impairments in episodic memory, especially false memory creation, while all symptom dimension and cognitive impairments may be driven by an increased production of noxious TRYCATs, including picolinic, quinolinic, and xanthurenic acid.

Estimating Pesticide Exposure from Dietary Intake and Organic Food Choices: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

PubMed Central

Beresford, Shirley A.A.; Fenske, Richard A.; Fitzpatrick, Annette L.; Lu, Chensheng; Nettleton, Jennifer A.; Kaufman, Joel D.

2015-01-01

Background Organophosphate pesticide (OP) exposure to the U.S. population is dominated by dietary intake. The magnitude of exposure from diet depends partly on personal decisions such as which foods to eat and whether to choose organic food. Most studies of OP exposure rely on urinary biomarkers, which are limited by short half-lives and often lack specificity to parent compounds. A reliable means of estimating long-term dietary exposure to individual OPs is needed to assess the potential relationship with adverse health effects. Objectives We assessed long-term dietary exposure to 14 OPs among 4,466 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, and examined the influence of organic produce consumption on this exposure. Methods Individual-level exposure was estimated by combining information on typical intake of specific food items with average OP residue levels on those items. In an analysis restricted to a subset of participants who reported rarely or never eating organic produce (“conventional consumers”), we assessed urinary dialkylphosphate (DAP) levels across tertiles of estimated exposure (n = 480). In a second analysis, we compared DAP levels across subgroups with differing self-reported organic produce consumption habits (n = 240). Results Among conventional consumers, increasing tertile of estimated dietary OP exposure was associated with higher DAP concentrations (p < 0.05). DAP concentrations were also significantly lower in groups reporting more frequent consumption of organic produce (p < 0.02). Conclusions Long-term dietary exposure to OPs was estimated from dietary intake data, and estimates were consistent with DAP measurements. More frequent consumption of organic produce was associated with lower DAPs. Citation Curl CL, Beresford SA, Fenske RA, Fitzpatrick AL, Lu C, Nettleton JA, Kaufman JD. 2015. Estimating pesticide exposure from dietary intake and organic food choices: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Environ Health Perspect 123:475–483; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408197 PMID:25650532

A series of new manganese thioarsenates(v) based on different unsaturated [Mn(amine)x](2+) complexes.

PubMed

Zhou, Jian; Tan, Xiao-Feng; Liu, Xing; Qing, Miao; Zhao, Rong-Qing; Tang, Qiuling

2015-10-07

A series of new manganese thioarsenates(V) [Mn(en)2Cu(AsVS4)]n (1, en = ethylenediamine), [Mn(dien)2][Mn(dien)(AsVS4)]2 (2, dien = diethylenetriamine), [Mn(teta)(AsVS4)]n (3, teta = triethylenetetramine), and {[Mn(dap)2][Mn(dap)(AsVS4)]2}n (4, dap = 1,2-diaminopropane) have been solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. 1 displays a neutral heterometallic [Mn(en)2Cu(AsVS4)]n chain built up from the linkages of [Mn(en)2]2+ complexes and infinite heterometallic [Cu(AsVS4)2−]n chains, and represents the only example of incorporation of an unsaturated [Mn(en)2]2+ complex into the 1-D [Cu(AsVS4)2−]n framework. 2 consists of a discrete {[Mn(dien)]2(AsVS4)2}2− cluster and a charge compensating complex cation [Mn(dien)2]2+. 3 shows a 1-D neutral [Mn(teta)(AsVS4)]n chain constructed by the combination of both complex [Mn(teta)]2+ ions and tetrahedral [AsVS4]3− anions. 4 exhibits a rare 2-D {[Mn(dap)2][Mn(dap)(AsVS4)]2}n layer based on the linkages of [AsVS4]3− anions and [Mn(dap)x]2+ (x = 1, 2) groups. These results show that different unsaturated [Mn(amine)x]2+ complexes are directly bonded to [AsVS4]3− anions to give different manganese thioarsenates(V), which have a significant structure directing effect on the structures of manganese thioarsenates(V) under similar solvothermal conditions. The present compounds exhibit wide-band-gap semiconducting properties with absorption band edges between 2.00 and 2.58 eV, and density functional theory calculations for compounds 1, 3 and 4 have also been performed.

SU-F-P-44: A Direct Estimate of Peak Skin Dose for Interventional Fluoroscopy Procedures

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

Weir, V; Zhang, J

Purpose: There is an increasing demand for medical physicist to calculate peak skin dose (PSD) for interventional fluoroscopy procedures. The dose information (Dose-Area-Product and Air Kerma) displayed in the console cannot directly be used for this purpose. Our clinical experience shows that the use of the existing methods may overestimate or underestimate PSD. This study attempts to develop a direct estimate of PSD from the displayed dose metrics. Methods: An anthropomorphic torso phantom was used for dose measurements for a common fluoroscopic procedure. Entrance skin doses were measured with a Piranha solid state point detector placed on the table surfacemore » below the torso phantom. An initial “reference dose rate” (RE) measurement was conducted by comparing the displayed dose rate (mGy/min) to the dose rate measured. The distance from table top to focal spot was taken as the reference distance (RD at the RE. Table height was then adjusted. The displayed air kerma and DAP were recorded and sent to three physicists to estimate PSD. An inverse square correction was applied to correct displayed air kerma at various table heights. The PSD estimated by physicists and the PSD by the proposed method were then compared with the measurements. The estimated DAPs were compared to displayed DAP readings (mGycm2). Results: The difference between estimated PSD by the proposed method and direct measurements was less than 5%. For the same set of data, the estimated PSD by each of three physicists is different from measurements by ±52%. The DAP calculated by the proposed method and displayed DAP readings in the console is less than 20% at various table heights. Conclusion: PSD may be simply estimated from displayed air kerma or DAP if the distance between table top and tube focal spot or if x-ray beam area on table top is available.« less

Thermal Assessment of Swift BAT Instrument Thermal Control System in Flight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Choi, Michael K.

2005-01-01

THE BAT is the primary instrument on the Swift spacecraft. The Swift mission is part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Medium-Size Explorer (MIDEX) Program, and is managed by Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). It is designed to detect gamma ray burst over a broad region of the sky in a low Earth orbit of 600-km altitude and quickly align the telescopes on the spacecraft to the gamma ray source. It was successfully launched into orbit on November 20, 2004. The Swift mission is a first of its kind of multi-wavelength transient observatory for gamma ray burst astronomy. Its mission life is 2 years. The inclination is 22 deg maximum. The spacecraft bus voltage to the instruments is in the 24 V to 35 V range. The instruments will be turned off when the voltage is below 27 V. The BAT is mounted to the optical bench through five titanium flexures. The BAT has been developed at GSFC. Its telescope assembly consists of 256 Detector Modules (DMs) in the Detector Array. There are 16 Detector Array Blocks. Each Block holds 16 DMs, 3 Block Voltage Regulator (BVR) units and 3 Block Command & Data Handling (BCDH) units. The power dissipation of each Block has been measured to be 13 W. Therefore the total power dissipation of the 16 Blocks is 208 W. The DAP is 1.3 m (4.3 ft) x 1 m (3.3 ft), accommodates all the 16 Blocks. It also provides the mounting surface and the positional stability for the Blocks. The DMs are located at the top (+X side) of the DAP and is enclosed by graded-Z shields on the sides and a coded mask at the top. The BVRs and BCDHs are located at the bottom (-X side) of the DAP. Eight Blocks are located at the front (-Z side or radiator side) of the DAP, and eight are located at the rear (+Z side) of the DAP. The DMs and top of DAP are insulated with a 7-layer multi-layer insulation (MLI). There is a 5.08 cm (2 in) x 5.08 cm (2 in) MLI cutout over each Block heater controller so that heat radiates from the heater controller to the mask. The exterior of the mask, graded-Z shields and bottom of DAP is insulated with a 15-layer MLI.

In Vitro and In Vivo Trypanosomicidal Action of Novel Arylimidamides against Trypanosoma cruzi

PubMed Central

Guedes-da-Silva, F. H.; Batista, D. G. J.; Meuser, M. B.; Demarque, K. C.; Fulco, T. O.; Araújo, J. S.; Da Silva, P. B.; Da Silva, C. F.; Patrick, D. A.; Bakunova, S. M.; Bakunov, S. A.; Tidwell, R. R.; Oliveira, G. M.; Britto, C.; Moreira, O. C.; Soeiro, M. N. C.

2016-01-01

Arylimidamides (AIAs) have been shown to have considerable biological activity against intracellular pathogens, including Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas disease. In the present study, the activities of 12 novel bis-AIAs and 2 mono-AIAs against different strains of T. cruzi in vitro and in vivo were analyzed. The most active was m-terphenyl bis-AIA (35DAP073), which had a 50% effective concentration (EC50) of 0.5 μM for trypomastigotes (Y strain), which made it 26-fold more effective than benznidazole (Bz; 13 μM). It was also active against the Colombiana strain (EC50 = 3.8 μM). Analysis of the activity against intracellular forms of the Tulahuen strain showed that this bis-AIA (EC50 = 0.04 μM) was about 100-fold more active than Bz (2 μM). The trypanocidal effect was dissociated from the ability to trigger intracellular lipid bodies within host cells, detected by oil red labeling. Both an active compound (35DAP073) and an inactive compound (26SMB060) displayed similar activation profiles. Due to their high selectivity indexes, two AIAs (35DAP073 and 35DAP081) were moved to in vivo studies, but because of the results of acute toxicity assays, 35DAP081 was excluded from the subsequent tests. The findings obtained with 35DAP073 treatment of infections caused by the Y strain revealed that 2 days of therapy induced a dose-dependent action, leading to 96 to 46% reductions in the level of parasitemia. However, the administration of 10 daily doses in animals infected with the Colombiana strain resulted in toxicity, preventing longer periods of treatment. The activity of the combination of 0.5 mg/kg of body weight/day 35DAP073 with 100 mg/kg/day Bz for 10 consecutive days was then assayed. Treatment with the combination resulted in the suppression of parasitemia, the elimination of neurological toxic effects, and survival of 100% of the animals. Quantitative PCR showed a considerable reduction in the parasite load (60%) compared to that achieved with Bz or the amidine alone. Our results support further investigations of this class with the aim of developing novel alternatives for the treatment of Chagas disease. PMID:26856830

Teaching the Standards Is Developmentally Appropriate Practice: Strategies for Incorporating the Sociopolitical Dimension of DAP in Early Childhood Teaching

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goldstein, Lisa S.

2008-01-01

Many early childhood practitioners in the U.S. are experiencing tension between their desire to offer students developmentally appropriate learning experiences and their obligation to teach the academic knowledge and skills mandated by their states. However, careful examination of the DAP guidelines' definition of culturally appropriate practice…

The Score Reliability of Draw-a-Person Intellectual Ability Test (DAP: IQ) for Rural Malawi Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Khasu, Denis S.; Williams, Thomas O., Jr.

2016-01-01

In this brief article, the reliability of scores for the Draw-A-Person Intellectual Ability Test for Children, Adolescents, and Adults (DAP: IQ; Reynolds & Hickman, 2004) was examined through several analyses with a sample of 147 children from rural Malawi, Africa using a Chichewa translation of instructions. Cronbach alpha coefficients for…

Institute for Science and Engineering Simulation (ISES)

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-12-18

performance and other functionalities such as electrical , magnetic, optical, thermal, biological, chemical, and so forth. Structural integrity...transmission electron microscopy (HRSTEM) and three-dimensional atom probe (3DAP) tomography , the true atomic scale structure and change in chemical...atom probe tomography (3DAP) techniques, has permitted characterizing and quantifying the multimodal size distribution of different generations of γ

Molecular and metabolic changes of cherelle wilt of cacao and its effect on Moniliophthora roreri

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The seeds of Theobroma cacao L. pods are processed into cocoa products. Cherelle wilt is physiological thinning of young pods that result in loss of potential pods. Cherelle wilt first occurs 50 days after pollination (DAP) and a second thinning occurs around 70 DAP. Cherelles are also highly sus...

Comparative cardiovascular effects of four fishery anesthetics in spinally transected rainbow trout, oncorhynchus mykiss

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fredricks, K.T.; Gingerich, W.H.; Fater, D.C.

1993-01-01

1. We compared the effects of four anesthetics on heart rate, dorsal and ventral aortic blood pressure, and electrocardiograms of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).2. Exposure to the local anesthetics tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) and benzocaine hydrochloride (BZH) produced minimal cardiovascular alterations. Mean dorsal aortic pressure (DAP) decreased during exposure to MS-222, and mean DAP and mean ventral aortic pressure (VAP) increased 15% during recovery from BZH.3. Exposure to the general anesthetic 2-phenoxyethanol (2-PE) or the hypnotic agent etomidate (ET) dramatically decreased heart rate and blood pressures and altered EKG patterns.4. During recovery, VAP and DAP increased above baseline for an extended period. Heart rate and EKG patterns rapidly returned to normal.

75 FR 69502 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-12

... Connection testing [using current Nasdaq access protocols] during the normal operating hours of the NTF; No Charge--For Idle Connection testing [using current Nasdaq access protocols]; $333/hour--For Active Connection testing [using current Nasdaq access protocols] at all times other than the normal operating hours...

Effects of orally administered enalapril on blood pressure and hemodynamic response to vasopressors during isoflurane anesthesia in healthy dogs.

PubMed

Coleman, Amanda E; Shepard, Molly K; Schmiedt, Chad W; Hofmeister, Erik H; Brown, Scott A

2016-09-01

To examine whether preanesthetic administration of enalapril, compared with placebo, results in a greater decline in blood pressure (BP) or decreased responsiveness of BP to isotonic fluids or vasopressors in healthy dogs during isoflurane anesthesia. Randomized, experimental, placebo-controlled, blinded, crossover study. Twelve healthy, female, purpose-bred beagles. Dogs underwent the following week-long treatment protocols, each preceded by a 1 week washout period: oral placebo twice daily (PLA); oral enalapril, 0.5 mg kg(-1) twice daily, with the 15th dose withheld on the day of anesthesia (ENA-W), and oral enalapril, 0.5 mg kg(-1) twice daily, with the 15th dose administered 90 minutes prior to anesthetic induction (ENA). On day 8 of each treatment period, dogs were anesthetized in random order utilizing a standard protocol. Following stabilization at an end-tidal isoflurane concentration (Fe'Iso) of 1.3%, invasively measured systolic (SAP), diastolic (DAP) and mean (MAP) arterial blood pressure were continuously recorded via telemetry. Hypotension (SAP < 85 mmHg) was treated with the following sequential interventions: lactated Ringer's solution (LRS) bolus (10 mL kg(-1) ); repeated LRS bolus; dopamine (7 μg kg(-1)  min(-1) ); and dopamine (10 μg kg(-1)  min(-1) ) first without and then with vasopressin (1 mU kg(-1)  hour(-1) ). Compared with the PLA but not the ENA-W group, the ENA group had significantly lower average SAP, DAP and MAP at an Fe'Iso of 1.3%, spent more minutes in hypotension, and required a greater number of interventions to correct moderate-to-severe mean arterial hypotension. In healthy dogs, enalapril administered 90 minutes prior to isoflurane anesthesia increases the degree of intra-anesthetic hypotension and the number of interventions required to correct moderate-to-severe hypotension. Dogs receiving angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors on the day of anesthesia may exhibit clinically significant intra-anesthetic hypotension. © 2016 Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists and the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia.

FD/DAMA Scheme For Mobile/Satellite Communications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yan, Tsun-Yee; Wang, Charles C.; Cheng, Unjeng; Rafferty, William; Dessouky, Khaled I.

1992-01-01

Integrated-Adaptive Mobile Access Protocol (I-AMAP) proposed to allocate communication channels to subscribers in first-generation MSAT-X mobile/satellite communication network. Based on concept of frequency-division/demand-assigned multiple access (FD/DAMA) where partition of available spectrum adapted to subscribers' demands for service. Requests processed, and competing requests resolved according to channel-access protocol, or free-access tree algorithm described in "Connection Protocol for Mobile/Satellite Communications" (NPO-17735). Assigned spectrum utilized efficiently.

Safe and targeted anticancer therapy for ovarian cancer using a novel class of curcumin analogs

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

A diagnosis of advanced ovarian cancer is the beginning of a long and arduous journey for a patient. Worldwide, approximately half of the individuals undergoing therapy for advanced cancer will succumb to the disease, or consequences of treatment. Well-known and widely-used chemotherapeutic agents such as cisplatin, paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil, and doxorubicin are toxic to both cancer and non-cancerous cells, and have debilitating side effects Therefore, development of new targeted anticancer therapies that can selectively kill cancer cells while sparing the surrounding healthy tissues is essential to develop more effective therapies. We have developed a new class of synthetic curcumin analogs, diarylidenyl-piperidones (DAPs), which have higher anticancer activity and enhanced bio-absorption than curcumin. The DAP backbone structure exhibits cytotoxic (anticancer) activity, whereas the N-hydroxypyrroline (-NOH) moiety found on some variants functions as a cellular- or tissue-specific modulator (antioxidant) of cytotoxicity. The anticancer activity of the DAPs has been evaluated using a number of ovarian cancer cell lines, and the safety has been evaluated in a number of non-cancerous cell lines. Both variations of the DAP compounds showed similar levels of cell death in ovarian cancer cells, however the compounds with the -NOH modification were less toxic to non-cancerous cells. The selective cytotoxicity of the DAP–NOH compounds suggests that they will be useful as safe and effective anticancer agents. This article reviews some of the key findings of our work with the DAP compounds, and compares this to some of the targeted therapies currently used in ovarian cancer therapy. PMID:23663277

Organophosphate Urinary Metabolite Levels during Pregnancy, Delivery and Postpartum in Women Living in Agricultural Areas in Thailand

PubMed Central

Kongtip, Pornpimol; Nankongnab, Noppanun; Woskie, Susan; Phamonphon, Akkarat; Tharnpoophasiam, Prapin; Wilaiwan, Kitsiluck; Srasom, Punnee

2018-01-01

Organophosphate Urinary Metabolite Levels during Pregnancy, Delivery and Postpartum in Women Living in Agricultural Areas in Thailand: Pornpimol Kongtip, et al. Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Thailand Objective Prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides can lead to developmental neurotoxicity. A longitudinal birth cohort was established to investigate pesticide exposures from different agricultural activities. Maternal urinary organophosphate metabolites were measured at 28 weeks of pregnancy (n=86), delivery (n=67) and 2 months postpartum (n=51). Method Subjects were interviewed with questionnaires about work, home and behavioral factors potentially associated with pesticide exposures, and spot urine samples were also collected. The urine samples were analyzed for dimethyl phosphate (DMP), diethyl phosphate (DEP), diethyl thiophosphate (DETP) and diethyl dithiophosphate (DEDTP), using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results The urinary DMP and dialkyl phosphate (DAP) concentrations at 28 weeks of pregnancy and delivery were not significantly different, but the DMP and DAP concentrations at 28 weeks of pregnancy and DAP concentrations at delivery were significantly different (p<0.05) from those at 2 months postpartum. The factors influencing the urinary DAP concentrations at 28 weeks of pregnancy included insecticide used in the home, living close to agricultural farmland, frequency of agricultural field visits during the first and second trimesters of pregnancies, occupation of subjects, pesticide used and other agricultural activities. Conclusions The urinary organophosphate metabolites, DMP, DEP, DETP, DEDTP, total DEP and DAPs, at 28 weeks of pregnancy, delivery and 2 months postpartum fluctuated depending on their pesticide exposures both at home and in agricultural fields. PMID:23892639

Cloning, Expression, and Purification of Histidine-Tagged Escherichia coli Dihydrodipicolinate Reductase.

PubMed

Trigoso, Yvonne D; Evans, Russell C; Karsten, William E; Chooback, Lilian

2016-01-01

The enzyme dihydrodipicolinate reductase (DHDPR) is a component of the lysine biosynthetic pathway in bacteria and higher plants. DHDPR catalyzes the NAD(P)H dependent reduction of 2,3-dihydrodipicolinate to the cyclic imine L-2,3,4,5,-tetrahydropicolinic acid. The dapB gene that encodes dihydrodipicolinate reductase has previously been cloned, but the expression of the enzyme is low and the purification is time consuming. Therefore the E. coli dapB gene was cloned into the pET16b vector to improve the protein expression and simplify the purification. The dapB gene sequence was utilized to design forward and reverse oligonucleotide primers that were used to PCR the gene from Escherichia coli genomic DNA. The primers were designed with NdeI or BamHI restriction sites on the 5'and 3' terminus respectively. The PCR product was sequenced to confirm the identity of dapB. The gene was cloned into the expression vector pET16b through NdeI and BamHI restriction endonuclease sites. The resulting plasmid containing dapB was transformed into the bacterial strain BL21 (DE3). The transformed cells were utilized to grow and express the histidine-tagged reductase and the protein was purified using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. SDS/PAGE gel analysis has shown that the protein was 95% pure and has approximate subunit molecular weight of 28 kDa. The protein purification is completed in one day and 3 liters of culture produced approximately 40-50 mgs of protein, an improvement on the previous protein expression and multistep purification.

Cloning, Expression, and Purification of Histidine-Tagged Escherichia coli Dihydrodipicolinate Reductase

PubMed Central

Trigoso, Yvonne D.; Evans, Russell C.; Karsten, William E.; Chooback, Lilian

2016-01-01

The enzyme dihydrodipicolinate reductase (DHDPR) is a component of the lysine biosynthetic pathway in bacteria and higher plants. DHDPR catalyzes the NAD(P)H dependent reduction of 2,3-dihydrodipicolinate to the cyclic imine L-2,3,4,5,-tetrahydropicolinic acid. The dapB gene that encodes dihydrodipicolinate reductase has previously been cloned, but the expression of the enzyme is low and the purification is time consuming. Therefore the E. coli dapB gene was cloned into the pET16b vector to improve the protein expression and simplify the purification. The dapB gene sequence was utilized to design forward and reverse oligonucleotide primers that were used to PCR the gene from Escherichia coli genomic DNA. The primers were designed with NdeI or BamHI restriction sites on the 5’and 3’ terminus respectively. The PCR product was sequenced to confirm the identity of dapB. The gene was cloned into the expression vector pET16b through NdeI and BamHI restriction endonuclease sites. The resulting plasmid containing dapB was transformed into the bacterial strain BL21 (DE3). The transformed cells were utilized to grow and express the histidine-tagged reductase and the protein was purified using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. SDS/PAGE gel analysis has shown that the protein was 95% pure and has approximate subunit molecular weight of 28 kDa. The protein purification is completed in one day and 3 liters of culture produced approximately 40–50 mgs of protein, an improvement on the previous protein expression and multistep purification. PMID:26815040

Rate and topography of peptidoglycan synthesis during cell division in Escherichia coli: Concept of a leading edge

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

Wientjes, F.B.; Nanninga, N.

1989-06-01

The rate at which the peptidoglycan of Escherichia coli is synthesized during the division cycle was studied with two methods. One method involved synchronization of E. coli MC4100 lysA cultures by centrifugal elutriation and subsequent pulse-labeling of the synchronously growing cultures with (meso-{sup 3}H)diaminopimelic acid (({sup 3}H)Dap). The second method was autoradiography of cells pulse-labeled with ({sup 3}H)Dap. It was found that the peptidoglycan is synthesized at a more or less exponentially increasing rate during the division cycle with a slight acceleration in this rate as the cells start to constrict. Apparently, polar cap formation requires synthesis of extra surfacemore » components, presumably to accommodate for a change in the surface-to-volume ratio. Furthermore, it was found that the pool size of Dap was constant during the division cycle. Close analysis of the topography of ({sup 3}H)Dap incorporation at the constriction site revealed that constriction proceeded by synthesis of peptidoglycan at the leading edge of the invaginating cell envelope. During constriction, no reallocation of incorporation occurred, i.e., the incorporation at the leading edge remained high throughout the process of constriction. Impairment of penicillin-binding protein 3 by mutation or by the specific {beta}-lactam antibiotic furazlocillin did not affect ({sup 3}H)Dap incorporation during initiation of constriction. However, the incorporation at the constriction site was inhibited in later stages of the constriction process. It is concluded that during division at least two peptidoglycan-synthesizing systems are operating sequentially.« less

Structural comparison of chromosomal and exogenous dihydrofolate reductase from Staphylococcus aureus in complex with the potent inhibitor trimethoprim

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

Heaslet, Holly; Harris, Melissa; Fahnoe, Kelly

2010-09-02

Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is the enzyme responsible for the NADPH-dependent reduction of 5,6-dihydrofolate to 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate, an essential cofactor in the synthesis of purines, thymidylate, methionine, and other key metabolites. Because of its importance in multiple cellular functions, DHFR has been the subject of much research targeting the enzyme with anticancer, antibacterial, and antimicrobial agents. Clinically used compounds targeting DHFR include methotrexate for the treatment of cancer and diaminopyrimidines (DAPs) such as trimethoprim (TMP) for the treatment of bacterial infections. DAP inhibitors of DHFR have been used clinically for >30 years and resistance to these agents has become widespread. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcusmore » aureus (MRSA), the causative agent of many serious nosocomial and community acquired infections, and other gram-positive organisms can show resistance to DAPs through mutation of the chromosomal gene or acquisition of an alternative DHFR termed 'S1 DHFR.' To develop new therapies for health threats such as MRSA, it is important to understand the molecular basis of DAP resistance. Here, we report the crystal structure of the wild-type chromosomal DHFR from S. aureus in complex with NADPH and TMP. We have also solved the structure of the exogenous, TMP resistant S1 DHFR, apo and in complex with TMP. The structural and thermodynamic data point to important molecular differences between the two enzymes that lead to dramatically reduced affinity of DAPs to S1 DHFR. These differences in enzyme binding affinity translate into reduced antibacterial activity against strains of S. aureus that express S1 DHFR.« less

Influence of the observer's level of experience on systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure measurements using Doppler ultrasonography in healthy conscious cats.

PubMed

Gouni, Vassiliki; Tissier, Renaud; Misbach, Charlotte; Balouka, David; Bueno, Hanna; Pouchelon, Jean-Louis; Lefebvre, Hervé P; Chetboul, Valérie

2015-02-01

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of the observer's level of experience on within- and between-day variability, and the percentage of successful systolic (SAP) and diastolic arterial blood pressure (DAP) measurements obtained by Doppler ultrasonography (DU) in awake cats. For this purpose, six healthy conscious cats were used and four observers with different levels of training performed 144 SAP and DAP measurements on 4 days using DU. Measurements were recorded five consecutive times, and mean values were used for statistical analysis. Only the two most skilled observers - a PhD student in cardiology and a Dipl ECVIM-CA (cardiology) - had within- and between-day coefficients of variation (CVs) for SAP ⩽16% (13-16%). Conversely, the two less experienced observers - a fifth-year student and an assistant - had high between-day CVs (61% and 73%). For DAP, only the most experienced observer (Dipl ECVIM-CA) succeeded in 100% of the attempts, with within- and between-day CVs of 11% and 4%, respectively. Conversely, DAP could not be measured by the other three observers in 8%, 19% and 56% of attempts (from the highest to the lowest level of experience); therefore, the corresponding CV values could not be calculated. In conclusion, SAP may be assessed using DU in healthy awake cats with good repeatability and reproducibility by a well-trained observer. Measurement of DAP is more difficult than of SAP, and needs a longer training period, which represents one of the limitations of DU in cats. © ISFM and AAFP 2014.

eeDAP: An Evaluation Environment for Digital and Analog Pathology

PubMed Central

Gallas, Brandon D.; Cheng, Wei-Chung; Gavrielides, Marios A.; Ivansky, Adam; Keay, Tyler; Wunderlich, Adam; Hipp, Jason; Hewitt, Stephen M.

2017-01-01

Purpose The purpose of this work is to present a platform for designing and executing studies that compare pathologists interpreting histopathology of whole slide images (WSI) on a computer display to pathologists interpreting glass slides on an optical microscope. Methods Here we present eeDAP, an evaluation environment for digital and analog pathology. The key element in eeDAP is the registration of the WSI to the glass slide. Registration is accomplished through computer control of the microscope stage and a camera mounted on the microscope that acquires images of the real time microscope view. Registration allows for the evaluation of the same regions of interest (ROIs) in both domains. This can reduce or eliminate disagreements that arise from pathologists interpreting different areas and focuses the comparison on image quality. Results We reduced the pathologist interpretation area from an entire glass slide (≈10–30 mm)2 to small ROIs <(50 um)2. We also made possible the evaluation of individual cells. Conclusions We summarize eeDAP’s software and hardware and provide calculations and corresponding images of the microscope field of view and the ROIs extracted from the WSIs. These calculations help provide a sense of eeDAP’s functionality and operating principles, while the images provide a sense of the look and feel of studies that can be conducted in the digital and analog domains. The eeDAP software can be downloaded from code.google.com (project: eeDAP) as Matlab source or as a precompiled stand-alone license-free application. PMID:28845079

The Dynamics of Transcript Abundance during Cellularization of Developing Barley Endosperm1[OPEN

PubMed Central

Zhang, Runxuan; Burton, Rachel A; Shirley, Neil J.; Little, Alan; Morris, Jenny; Milne, Linda

2016-01-01

Within the cereal grain, the endosperm and its nutrient reserves are critical for successful germination and in the context of grain utilization. The identification of molecular determinants of early endosperm development, particularly regulators of cell division and cell wall deposition, would help predict end-use properties such as yield, quality, and nutritional value. Custom microarray data have been generated using RNA isolated from developing barley grain endosperm 3 d to 8 d after pollination (DAP). Comparisons of transcript abundance over time revealed 47 gene expression modules that can be clustered into 10 broad groups. Superimposing these modules upon cytological data allowed patterns of transcript abundance to be linked with key stages of early grain development. Here, attention was focused on how the datasets could be mined to explore and define the processes of cell wall biosynthesis, remodeling, and degradation. Using a combination of spatial molecular network and gene ontology enrichment analyses, it is shown that genes involved in cell wall metabolism are found in multiple modules, but cluster into two main groups that exhibit peak expression at 3 DAP to 4 DAP and 5 DAP to 8 DAP. The presence of transcription factor genes in these modules allowed candidate genes for the control of wall metabolism during early barley grain development to be identified. The data are publicly available through a dedicated web interface (https://ics.hutton.ac.uk/barseed/), where they can be used to interrogate co- and differential expression for any other genes, groups of genes, or transcription factors expressed during early endosperm development. PMID:26754666

Psychological Operations: Fighting the War of Ideas

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-05-18

is the success of the Joint Interagency Task Force on the Former Regime Elements (JIATF- FRE) operation to capture Fadhil Ibrahim Habib al-Mashadani... DAPS ), Fly Away Broadcast System (FABS), and Target Audience Analysis Detachment (TAAD). This provides the Brigade a radio development and broadcast...level. Production and dissemination assets must include a Modular Print System (MPS), Deployable Audio Production Suite ( DAPS ), and Special

50 CFR 648.22 - Closure of the fishery.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... specified for a period of up to 3 years; (2) ACL; ACT including RSA, DAH, DAP; bycatch level of the TALFF... review, may be specified for a period of up to 3 years; (3) ACL; commercial ACT, including RSA, DAH, DAP... less than or equal to the OFL. (ii) ACL. The ACL or Domestic ABC is calculated using the formula ACL...

Occupational dose constraints in interventional cardiology procedures: the DIMOND approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsapaki, Virginia; Kottou, Sophia; Vano, Eliseo; Komppa, Tuomo; Padovani, Renato; Dowling, Annita; Molfetas, Michael; Neofotistou, Vassiliki

2004-03-01

Radiation fields involved in angiographic suites are most uneven with intensity and gradient varying widely with projection geometry. The European Commission DIMOND III project addressed among others, the issues regarding optimization of staff doses with an attempt to propose preliminary occupational dose constraints. Two thermoluminescent dosemeters (TLD) were used to assess operators' extremity doses (left shoulder and left foot) during 20 coronary angiographies (CAs) and 20 percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasties (PTCAs) in five European centres. X-ray equipment, radiation protection measures used and the dose delivered to the patient in terms of dose-area product (DAP) were recorded so as to subsequently associate them with operator's dose. The range of staff doses noted for the same TLD position, centre and procedure type emphasizes the importance of protective measures and technical characteristics of x-ray equipment. Correlation of patient's DAP with staff shoulder dose is moderate whereas correlation of patient's DAP with staff foot dose is poor in both CA and PTCA. Therefore, it is difficult to predict operator's dose from patient's DAP mainly due to the different use of protective measures. A preliminary occupational dose constraint value was defined by calculating cardiologists' annual effective dose and found to be 0.6 mSv.

Dermatoglyphic asymmetries and fronto-striatal dysfunction in young-adults reporting non-clinical psychosis

PubMed Central

Mittal, Vijay A.; Dean, Derek J.; Pelletier, Andrea

2012-01-01

Objective Growing evidence indicates that non-clinical psychotic-like experiences occur in otherwise healthy individuals, suggesting that psychosis may occur on a continuum. However, little is know about how the diathesis for formal psychosis maps on to individuals at the non-clinical side of this continuum. Our current understanding of the pathophysiology of schizophrenia implicates certain key factors such as early developmental abnormalities and fronto-striatal dysfunction. To date, no studies have examined these core factors in the context of non-clinical psychosis. Method A total of 221 young adults were assessed for distressing attenuated positive symptoms (DAPS), dermatoglyphic asymmetries (a marker of early developmental insult), and procedural memory (a proxy for fronto-striatal function). Results Participants reporting DAPS (n=16; 7.2%) and no-DAPS (n=205; 92.7%) were split into two groups. The DAPS group showed significantly elevated depression, elevated dermatoglyphic asymmetries, and a pattern of procedural learning consistent with other studies with formally psychotic patients. Conclusion The results indicate that the non-clinical side of the psychosis continuum also shares key vulnerability factors implicated in schizophrenia, suggesting that both early developmental disruption and abnormalities in fronto-striatal function are core aspects underlying the disorder. PMID:22519833

Effect of 3,4-diaminopyridine on the postural control in patients with downbeat nystagmus.

PubMed

Sprenger, Andreas; Zils, Elisabeth; Rambold, Holger; Sander, Thurid; Helmchen, Christoph

2005-04-01

Downbeat nystagmus (DBN) is a common, usually persistent ocular motor sign in vestibulocerebellar midline lesions. Postural imbalance in DBN may increase on lateral gaze when downbeat nystagmus increases. 3,4-Diaminopyridine (3,4-DAP) has been shown to suppress the slow-phase velocity component of downbeat nystagmus and its gravity-dependent component with concomitant improvement of oscillopsia. Because the pharmacological effect is thought to be caused by improvement of the vestibulocerebellar Purkinje cell activity, the effect of 3,4-DAP on the postural control of patients with downbeat nystagmus syndrome was examined. Eye movements were recorded with the video-based Eyelink II system. Postural sway and pathway were assessed by posturography in lateral gaze in the light and on eye closure. Two out of four patients showed an improvement of the area of postural sway by 57% of control (baseline) on eye closure. In contrast, downbeat nystagmus in gaze straight ahead and on lateral gaze did not benefit in these two patients, implying a specific influence of 3,4-DAP on the vestibulocerebellar control of posture. It was concluded that 3,4-DAP may particularly influence the postural performance in patients with downbeat nystagmus.

Structural analysis of the DAP5 MIF4G domain and its interaction with eIF4A

PubMed Central

Virgili, Geneviève; Frank, Filipp; Feoktistova, Kateryna; Sawicki, Maxime; Sonenberg, Nahum; Fraser, Christopher S.; Nagar, Bhushan

2013-01-01

Summary Death-associated protein 5 (DAP5/p97) is a homolog of the eukaryotic initiation factor 4G (eIF4G) that promotes the IRES-driven translation of multiple cellular mRNAs. Central to its function is the middle domain (MIF4G), which recruits the RNA helicase eIF4A. The middle domain of eIF4G consists of tandem HEAT repeats that coalesce to form a solenoid-type structure. Here, we report the crystal structure of the DAP5 MIF4G domain. Its overall fold is very similar to that of eIF4G, however, significant conformational variations impart distinct surface properties that could explain the observed differences in IRES binding between the two proteins. Interestingly, quantitative analysis of the DAP5-eIF4A interaction using isothermal titration calorimetry reveals a 10-fold lower affinity than with the eIF4G-eIF4A interaction that appears to affect their ability to stimulate eIF4A RNA unwinding activity in vitro. This difference in stability of the complex may have functional implications in selecting the mode of translation initiation. PMID:23478064

Synthesis, characterization, magnetic and electrochemical properties of a new 3D hexa-copper-substituted germanotungstate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yanzhou; Luo, Jie; Zhang, Yanting; Zhao, Junwei; Chen, Lijuan; Ma, Pengtao; Niu, Jingyang

2013-09-01

An inorganic-organic hybrid hexa-copper-substituted germanotungstate Na2[Cu(dap)2]2[Cu(dap)2] {[Cu6(H2O)2(dap)2][B-α-GeW9O34]2}·4H2O (1) (dap=1,2-diaminopropane) has been hydrothermally prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) analyses, IR spectra, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. 1 displays the six-connected 3D network with the long topological (O'Keefe) vertex symbol is 4·4·64·4·4·4·4·64·4·4·4·64·4·4·4 and the short vertex (Schläfli) symbol of 41263. Magnetic measurements indicate that there are the overall ferromagnetic exchange interactions in the belt-like hexa-CuII cluster in 1. Furthermore, the electrochemical behavior and electrocatalysis of 1 modified carbon paste electrode (1-CPE) have been studied. The reductions of nitrite, bromate and hydrogen peroxide are principally mediated by the WVI-based wave.

Tramadol does not enhance sedation induced by acepromazine in dogs

PubMed Central

Monteiro, Eduardo R.; Lobo, Renan B.; Nunes, Juarez S.; Rangel, Julia P.P.; Bitti, Flavia S.

2016-01-01

The sedative effect of acepromazine combined with 2 doses of tramadol [3 and 5 mg/kg body weight (BW)] was compared with the sedative effect of acepromazine alone in dogs and the effects of each sedative protocol on cardiorespiratory variables were examined. This was a prospective, randomized, blinded, crossover study. Each of 6 dogs received 3 treatments at 1-week intervals. During all anesthetic episodes, dogs received 0.05 mg/kg BW acepromazine. Approximately 25 min later, dogs were given physiological saline (control) or tramadol [3 mg/kg BW (TR3) or 5 mg/kg BW (TR5)]. All drugs were administered intravenously. Variables evaluated included heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), systolic, mean, and diastolic blood pressures (SAP, MAP, and DAP), and sedation [by use of a simple descriptive scale (SDS, range: 0 to 3) and a numeric rating scale (NRS, range: 0 to 10)]. Variables were recorded 25 min after acepromazine and for 80 min after saline or tramadol. Acepromazine administration resulted in mild sedation in most dogs and decreased RR, SAP, MAP, and DAP in all treatments. Tramadol administration did not significantly increase SDS or NRS scores compared to acepromazine alone. The only exception to this rule was observed at 20 min after TR3, when NRS was higher in this group than in the control treatment. Administration of tramadol (TR3 and TR5) decreased HR. Under the conditions of this study, sedation induced by acepromazine with tramadol was similar to that of acepromazine alone. The main adverse effects of the combination were a decrease in blood pressure and HR, without clinical significance. PMID:27733788

Tramadol does not enhance sedation induced by acepromazine in dogs.

PubMed

Monteiro, Eduardo R; Lobo, Renan B; Nunes, Juarez S; Rangel, Julia P P; Bitti, Flavia S

2016-10-01

The sedative effect of acepromazine combined with 2 doses of tramadol [3 and 5 mg/kg body weight (BW)] was compared with the sedative effect of acepromazine alone in dogs and the effects of each sedative protocol on cardiorespiratory variables were examined. This was a prospective, randomized, blinded, crossover study. Each of 6 dogs received 3 treatments at 1-week intervals. During all anesthetic episodes, dogs received 0.05 mg/kg BW acepromazine. Approximately 25 min later, dogs were given physiological saline (control) or tramadol [3 mg/kg BW (TR3) or 5 mg/kg BW (TR5)]. All drugs were administered intravenously. Variables evaluated included heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), systolic, mean, and diastolic blood pressures (SAP, MAP, and DAP), and sedation [by use of a simple descriptive scale (SDS, range: 0 to 3) and a numeric rating scale (NRS, range: 0 to 10)]. Variables were recorded 25 min after acepromazine and for 80 min after saline or tramadol. Acepromazine administration resulted in mild sedation in most dogs and decreased RR, SAP, MAP, and DAP in all treatments. Tramadol administration did not significantly increase SDS or NRS scores compared to acepromazine alone. The only exception to this rule was observed at 20 min after TR3, when NRS was higher in this group than in the control treatment. Administration of tramadol (TR3 and TR5) decreased HR. Under the conditions of this study, sedation induced by acepromazine with tramadol was similar to that of acepromazine alone. The main adverse effects of the combination were a decrease in blood pressure and HR, without clinical significance.

Using Python Packages in 6D (Py)Ferret: EOF Analysis, OPeNDAP Sequence Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, K. M.; Manke, A.; Hankin, S. C.

2012-12-01

PyFerret was designed to provide the easy methods of access, analysis, and display of data found in the Ferret under the simple yet powerful Python scripting/programming language. This has enabled PyFerret to take advantage of a large and expanding collection of third-party scientific Python modules. Furthermore, ensemble and forecast axes have been added to Ferret and PyFerret for creating and working with collections of related data in Ferret's delayed-evaluation and minimal-data-access mode of operation. These axes simplify processing and visualization of these collections of related data. As one example, an empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis Python module was developed, taking advantage of the linear algebra module and other standard functionality in NumPy for efficient numerical array processing. This EOF analysis module is used in a Ferret function to provide an ensemble of levels of data explained by each EOF and Time Amplitude Function (TAF) product. Another example makes use of the PyDAP Python module to provide OPeNDAP sequence data for use in Ferret with minimal data access characteristic of Ferret.

Collaborative Science Using Web Services and the SciFlo Grid Dataflow Engine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilson, B. D.; Manipon, G.; Xing, Z.; Yunck, T.

2006-12-01

The General Earth Science Investigation Suite (GENESIS) project is a NASA-sponsored partnership between the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, academia, and NASA data centers to develop a new suite of Web Services tools to facilitate multi-sensor investigations in Earth System Science. The goal of GENESIS is to enable large-scale, multi-instrument atmospheric science using combined datasets from the AIRS, MODIS, MISR, and GPS sensors. Investigations include cross-comparison of spaceborne climate sensors, cloud spectral analysis, study of upper troposphere-stratosphere water transport, study of the aerosol indirect cloud effect, and global climate model validation. The challenges are to bring together very large datasets, reformat and understand the individual instrument retrievals, co-register or re-grid the retrieved physical parameters, perform computationally-intensive data fusion and data mining operations, and accumulate complex statistics over months to years of data. To meet these challenges, we have developed a Grid computing and dataflow framework, named SciFlo, in which we are deploying a set of versatile and reusable operators for data access, subsetting, registration, mining, fusion, compression, and advanced statistical analysis. SciFlo leverages remote Web Services, called via Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) or REST (one-line) URLs, and the Grid Computing standards (WS-* &Globus Alliance toolkits), and enables scientists to do multi-instrument Earth Science by assembling reusable Web Services and native executables into a distributed computing flow (tree of operators). The SciFlo client &server engines optimize the execution of such distributed data flows and allow the user to transparently find and use datasets and operators without worrying about the actual location of the Grid resources. In particular, SciFlo exploits the wealth of datasets accessible by OpenGIS Consortium (OGC) Web Mapping Servers & Web Coverage Servers (WMS/WCS), and by Open Data Access Protocol (OpenDAP) servers. The scientist injects a distributed computation into the Grid by simply filling out an HTML form or directly authoring the underlying XML dataflow document, and results are returned directly to the scientist's desktop. Once an analysis has been specified for a chunk or day of data, it can be easily repeated with different control parameters or over months of data. Recently, the Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) Federation sponsored a collaborative activity in which several ESIP members advertised their respective WMS/WCS and SOAP services, developed some collaborative science scenarios for atmospheric and aerosol science, and then choreographed services from multiple groups into demonstration workflows using the SciFlo engine and a Business Process Execution Language (BPEL) workflow engine. For several scenarios, the same collaborative workflow was executed in three ways: using hand-coded scripts, by executing a SciFlo document, and by executing a BPEL workflow document. We will discuss the lessons learned from this activity, the need for standardized interfaces (like WMS/WCS), the difficulty in agreeing on even simple XML formats and interfaces, and further collaborations that are being pursued.

Individual and simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of dapsone and metoclopramide HCl in pharmaceutical dosage forms and synthetic binary mixtures.

PubMed

Omran, Ahmed Ahmed

2005-11-01

A rapid, sensitive and selective spectrophotometric method has been developed for the quantitative determination of dapsone (DAP) and metoclopramide hydrochloride (MCP) in both pure and dosage forms. Individual and simultaneous methods are based on the diazo coupling reaction of these drugs with benzoylacetone (BAC) in alkaline medium. The resulting azo dyes exhibit maximum absorption at 437 and 411 nm with a molar absorptivity of 4.14x10(4) and 2.97x10(4) l mol-1 cm-1 for DAP and MCP, respectively. Simultaneous determination of DAP and MCP was developed utilizing first-order digital derivative spectrophotometry. All variables have been optimized. No interferences were observed from drug excipients and the validity of the methods was tested against reference methods.

On Ramps: Options and Issues in Accessing the Internet.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bocher, Bob

1995-01-01

Outlines the basic options that schools and libraries have for accessing the Internet, focusing on four models: direct connection; dial access using SLIP/PPP (Serial Line Internet Protocol/Point-to-Point Protocol); dial-up using terminal emulation mode; and dial access through commercial online services. Discusses access option issues such as…

Validity of Assessments of Youth Access to Tobacco: The Familiarity Effect

PubMed Central

Landrine, Hope; Klonoff, Elizabeth A.

2003-01-01

Objectives. We examined the standard compliance protocol and its validity as a measure of youth access to tobacco. Methods. In Study 1, youth smokers reported buying cigarettes in stores where they are regular customers. In Study 2, youths attempted to purchase cigarettes by using the Standard Protocol, in which they appeared at stores once for cigarettes, and by using the Familiarity Protocol, in which they were rendered regular customers by purchasing nontobacco items 4 times and then requested cigarettes during their fifth visit. Results. Sales to youths aged 17 years in the Familiarity Protocol were significantly higher than sales to the same age group in the Standard Protocols (62.5% vs. 6%, respectively). Conclusions. The Standard Protocol does not match how youths obtain cigarettes. Access is low for stranger youths within compliance studies, but access is high for familiar youths outside of compliance studies. PMID:14600057

A slotted access control protocol for metropolitan WDM ring networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baziana, P. A.; Pountourakis, I. E.

2009-03-01

In this study we focus on the serious scalability problems that many access protocols for WDM ring networks introduce due to the use of a dedicated wavelength per access node for either transmission or reception. We propose an efficient slotted MAC protocol suitable for WDM ring metropolitan area networks. The proposed network architecture employs a separate wavelength for control information exchange prior to the data packet transmission. Each access node is equipped with a pair of tunable transceivers for data communication and a pair of fixed tuned transceivers for control information exchange. Also, each access node includes a set of fixed delay lines for synchronization reasons; to keep the data packets, while the control information is processed. An efficient access algorithm is applied to avoid both the data wavelengths and the receiver collisions. In our protocol, each access node is capable of transmitting and receiving over any of the data wavelengths, facing the scalability issues. Two different slot reuse schemes are assumed: the source and the destination stripping schemes. For both schemes, performance measures evaluation is provided via an analytic model. The analytical results are validated by a discrete event simulation model that uses Poisson traffic sources. Simulation results show that the proposed protocol manages efficient bandwidth utilization, especially under high load. Also, comparative simulation results prove that our protocol achieves significant performance improvement as compared with other WDMA protocols which restrict transmission over a dedicated data wavelength. Finally, performance measures evaluation is explored for diverse numbers of buffer size, access nodes and data wavelengths.

"Unplugged," a European School-Based Program for Substance Use Prevention among Adolescents: Overview of Results from the EU-Dap Trial

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vigna-Taglianti, Federica D.; Galanti, Maria Rosaria; Burkhart, Gregor; Caria, Maria Paola; Vadrucci, Serena; Faggiano, Fabrizio

2014-01-01

The EU-Dap study aimed to develop and evaluate a school-based curriculum for the prevention of substance use among young people. The school curriculum, "Unplugged," is based on social influence approach and addresses social and personal skills, knowledge, and normative beliefs. It consists of 12 one-hour interactive sessions delivered by…

JPRS Report, East Asia Southeast Asia

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-06-14

14 PAS Willing To Face Elections Alone [BERITA HARIAN 13 May] 14 DAP , Spirit of󈧲 Meet [UTUSANMALAYSIA 3 May] 15 Government To Hold...Uncertain [UTUSANMALAYSIA 1 May] 16 Secret PAS- DAP Meeting in Jakarta Canceled [UTUSANMALAYSIA 3 May] 16 Sabah Elections Expected Year Early...signed by dozens of leading figures and religious scholars such as Hasan Basri, Prodjokusumo, and Ibrahim Hosein (Indonesian Council of Religious

Spacelab system analysis: The modified free access protocol: An access protocol for communication systems with periodic and Poisson traffic

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ingels, Frank; Owens, John; Daniel, Steven

1989-01-01

The protocol definition and terminal hardware for the modified free access protocol, a communications protocol similar to Ethernet, are developed. A MFA protocol simulator and a CSMA/CD math model are also developed. The protocol is tailored to communication systems where the total traffic may be divided into scheduled traffic and Poisson traffic. The scheduled traffic should occur on a periodic basis but may occur after a given event such as a request for data from a large number of stations. The Poisson traffic will include alarms and other random traffic. The purpose of the protocol is to guarantee that scheduled packets will be delivered without collision. This is required in many control and data collection systems. The protocol uses standard Ethernet hardware and software requiring minimum modifications to an existing system. The modification to the protocol only affects the Ethernet transmission privileges and does not effect the Ethernet receiver.

A Flexible Component based Access Control Architecture for OPeNDAP Services

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kershaw, Philip; Ananthakrishnan, Rachana; Cinquini, Luca; Lawrence, Bryan; Pascoe, Stephen; Siebenlist, Frank

2010-05-01

Network data access services such as OPeNDAP enable widespread access to data across user communities. However, without ready means to restrict access to data for such services, data providers and data owners are constrained from making their data more widely available. Even with such capability, the range of different security technologies available can make interoperability between services and user client tools a challenge. OPeNDAP is a key data access service in the infrastructure under development to support the CMIP5 (Couple Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5). The work is being carried out as part of an international collaboration including the US Earth System Grid and Curator projects and the EU funded IS-ENES and Metafor projects. This infrastructure will bring together Petabytes of climate model data and associated metadata from over twenty modelling centres around the world in a federation with a core archive mirrored at three data centres. A security system is needed to meet the requirements of organisations responsible for model data including the ability to restrict data access to registered users, keep them up to date with changes to data and services, audit access and protect finite computing resources. Individual organisations have existing tools and services such as OPeNDAP with which users in the climate research community are already familiar. The security system should overlay access control in a way which maintains the usability and ease of access to these services. The BADC (British Atmospheric Data Centre) has been working in collaboration with the Earth System Grid development team and partner organisations to develop the security architecture. OpenID and MyProxy were selected at an early stage in the ESG project to provide single sign-on capability across the federation of participating organisations. Building on the existing OPeNDAP specification an architecture based on pluggable server side components has been developed at the BADC. These components filter requests to the service they protect and apply the required authentication and authorisation schemes. Filters have been developed for OpenID and SSL client based authentication. The latter enabling access with MyProxy issued credentials. By preserving a clear separation between the security and application functionality, multiple authentication technologies may be supported without the need for modification to the underlying OPeNDAP application. The software has been developed in the Python programming language securing the Python based OPeNDAP implementation, PyDAP. This utilises the Python WSGI (Web Server Gateway Interface) specification to create distinct security filter components. Work is also currently underway to develop a parallel Java based filter implementation to secure the THREDDS Data Server. Whilst the ability to apply this flexible approach to the server side security layer is important, the development of compatible client software is vital to the take up of these services across a wide user base. To date PyDAP and wget based clients have been tested and work is planned to integrate the required security interface into the netCDF API. This forms part of ongoing collaboration with the OPeNDAP user and development community to ensure interoperability.

Scalable Lunar Surface Networks and Adaptive Orbit Access

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Xudong

2015-01-01

Teranovi Technologies, Inc., has developed innovative network architecture, protocols, and algorithms for both lunar surface and orbit access networks. A key component of the overall architecture is a medium access control (MAC) protocol that includes a novel mechanism of overlaying time division multiple access (TDMA) and carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA), ensuring scalable throughput and quality of service. The new MAC protocol is compatible with legacy Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 networks. Advanced features include efficiency power management, adaptive channel width adjustment, and error control capability. A hybrid routing protocol combines the advantages of ad hoc on-demand distance vector (AODV) routing and disruption/delay-tolerant network (DTN) routing. Performance is significantly better than AODV or DTN and will be particularly effective for wireless networks with intermittent links, such as lunar and planetary surface networks and orbit access networks.

Interoperability in the Planetary Science Archive (PSA)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rios Diaz, C.

2017-09-01

The protocols and standards currently being supported by the recently released new version of the Planetary Science Archive at this time are the Planetary Data Access Protocol (PDAP), the EuroPlanet- Table Access Protocol (EPN-TAP) and Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standards. We explore these protocols in more detail providing scientifically useful examples of their usage within the PSA.

Nucleotide-oligomerizing domain-1 (NOD1) receptor activation induces pro-inflammatory responses and autophagy in human alveolar macrophages.

PubMed

Juárez, Esmeralda; Carranza, Claudia; Hernández-Sánchez, Fernando; Loyola, Elva; Escobedo, Dante; León-Contreras, Juan Carlos; Hernández-Pando, Rogelio; Torres, Martha; Sada, Eduardo

2014-09-25

Nucleotide-binding oligomerizing domain-1 (NOD1) is a cytoplasmic receptor involved in recognizing bacterial peptidoglycan fragments that localize to the cytosol. NOD1 activation triggers inflammation, antimicrobial mechanisms and autophagy in both epithelial cells and murine macrophages. NOD1 mediates intracellular pathogen clearance in the lungs of mice; however, little is known about NOD1's role in human alveolar macrophages (AMs) or its involvement in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. AMs, monocytes (MNs), and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) from healthy subjects were assayed for NOD1 expression. Cells were stimulated with the NOD1 ligand Tri-DAP and cytokine production and autophagy were assessed. Cells were infected with Mtb and treated with Tri-DAP post-infection. CFUs counting determined growth control, and autophagy protein recruitment to pathogen localization sites was analyzed by immunoelectron microscopy. NOD1 was expressed in AMs, MDMs and to a lesser extent MNs. Tri-DAP stimulation induced NOD1 up-regulation and a significant production of IL1β, IL6, IL8, and TNFα in AMs and MDMs; however, the level of NOD1-dependent response in MNs was limited. Autophagy activity determined by expression of proteins Atg9, LC3, IRGM and p62 degradation was induced in a NOD1-dependent manner in AMs and MDMs but not in MNs. Infected AMs could be activated by stimulation with Tri-DAP to control the intracellular growth of Mtb. In addition, recruitment of NOD1 and the autophagy proteins IRGM and LC3 to the Mtb localization site was observed in infected AMs after treatment with Tri-DAP. NOD1 is involved in AM and MDM innate responses, which include proinflammatory cytokines and autophagy, with potential implications in the killing of Mtb in humans.

Developmental changes in the germinability, desiccation tolerance, hardseededness, and longevity of individual seeds of Trifolium ambiguum

PubMed Central

Hay, F. R.; Smith, R. D.; Ellis, R. H.; Butler, L. H.

2010-01-01

Background and Aims Using two parental clones of outcrossing Trifolium ambiguum as a potential model system, we examined how during seed development the maternal parent, number of seeds per pod, seed position within the pod, and pod position within the inflorescence influenced individual seed fresh weight, dry weight, water content, germinability, desiccation tolerance, hardseededness, and subsequent longevity of individual seeds. Methods Near simultaneous, manual reciprocal crosses were carried out between clonal lines for two experiments. Infructescences were harvested at intervals during seed development. Each individual seed was weighed and then used to determine dry weight or one of the physiological behaviour traits. Key Results Whilst population mass maturity was reached at 33–36 days after pollination (DAP), seed-to-seed variation in maximum seed dry weight, when it was achieved, and when maturation drying commenced, was considerable. Individual seeds acquired germinability between 14 and 44 DAP, desiccation tolerance between 30 and 40 DAP, and the capability to become hardseeded between 30 and 47 DAP. The time for viability to fall to 50 % (p50) at 60 % relative humidity and 45 °C increased between 36 and 56 DAP, when the seed coats of most individuals had become dark orange, but declined thereafter. Individual seed f. wt at harvest did not correlate with air-dry storage survival period. Analysing survival data for cohorts of seeds reduced the standard deviation of the normal distribution of seed deaths in time, but no sub-population showed complete uniformity of survival period. Conclusions Variation in individual seed behaviours within a developing population is inherent and inevitable. In this outbreeder, there is significant variation in seed longevity which appears dependent on embryo genotype with little effect of maternal genotype or architectural factors. PMID:20228084

Urinary DAP metabolite levels in Thai farmers and their families and exposure to pesticides from agricultural pesticide spraying.

PubMed

Hanchenlaksh, Chalalai; Povey, Andrew; O'Brien, Sarah; de Vocht, Frank

2011-08-01

We conducted a biomarker study to characterise exposure to pesticides among farmers and their families in Thailand to assess the relative importance of the dermal exposure route and to identify important factors that determine exposure levels within farmers' families. Sixteen farmers' families (eight vegetable and eight fruit farmers) participated in the study. Three morning spot urine samples were collected during a pesticide spraying week. Spot samples were grouped by individual and analysed for dialkylphosphate (DAP) metabolites and creatinine. Additional information on exposure and lifestyle was collected by means of questionnaires. Dermal exposure was assessed using a semi-quantitative observational method (DREAM). Urinary DAP levels varied 20-fold between farmers, with average (geometric mean) levels of 51.1 μg/g for vegetable and 122.2 μg/g for fruit farmers. A moderate correlation (r(s)∼0.45) was found between log(e)-transformed DREAM scores and DAP levels. Farmers' urinary metabolite levels were not correlated with those of their spouses (r(s)∼-0.30) or children (r(s)∼-0.00) collected on the same days. Detectable spouses' DAP levels were on average (geometric mean) 13.0 μg/g and those of children 7.6 μg/g. Farmers in Thailand as well as their families are exposed to pesticides in the spraying season and dermal exposure is an important route. The main route of exposure for farmers' families seems to be through transfer from the farmer to family members or contamination of the home environment, rather than family members helping or playing on the farm. Showering or washing immediately after pesticide spraying greatly reduces the potential exposure of family members to pesticide residues.

Chlamydia trachomatis dapF Encodes a Bifunctional Enzyme Capable of Both d-Glutamate Racemase and Diaminopimelate Epimerase Activities

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

ABSTRACT Peptidoglycan is a sugar/amino acid polymer unique to bacteria and essential for division and cell shape maintenance. The d-amino acids that make up its cross-linked stem peptides are not abundant in nature and must be synthesized by bacteria de novo. d-Glutamate is present at the second position of the pentapeptide stem and is strictly conserved in all bacterial species. In Gram-negative bacteria, d-glutamate is generated via the racemization of l-glutamate by glutamate racemase (MurI). Chlamydia trachomatis is the leading cause of infectious blindness and sexually transmitted bacterial infections worldwide. While its genome encodes a majority of the enzymes involved in peptidoglycan synthesis, no murI homologue has ever been annotated. Recent studies have revealed the presence of peptidoglycan in C. trachomatis and confirmed that its pentapeptide includes d-glutamate. In this study, we show that C. trachomatis synthesizes d-glutamate by utilizing a novel, bifunctional homologue of diaminopimelate epimerase (DapF). DapF catalyzes the final step in the synthesis of meso-diaminopimelate, another amino acid unique to peptidoglycan. Genetic complementation of an Escherichia coli murI mutant demonstrated that Chlamydia DapF can generate d-glutamate. Biochemical analysis showed robust activity, but unlike canonical glutamate racemases, activity was dependent on the cofactor pyridoxal phosphate. Genetic complementation, enzymatic characterization, and bioinformatic analyses indicate that chlamydial DapF shares characteristics with other promiscuous/primordial enzymes, presenting a potential mechanism for d-glutamate synthesis not only in Chlamydia but also numerous other genera within the Planctomycetes-Verrucomicrobiae-Chlamydiae superphylum that lack recognized glutamate racemases. PMID:29615498

PON1 and Neurodevelopment in Children from the CHAMACOS Study Exposed to Organophosphate Pesticides in Utero

PubMed Central

Eskenazi, Brenda; Huen, Karen; Marks, Amy; Harley, Kim G.; Bradman, Asa; Barr, Dana Boyd; Holland, Nina

2010-01-01

Background Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) detoxifies oxon derivatives of some organophosphate (OP) pesticides, and its genetic polymorphisms influence enzyme activity and quantity. We previously reported that maternal urinary concentrations of dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolites, a marker of OP pesticide exposure, were related to poorer mental development and maternally reported symptoms consistent with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) in 2-year-olds participating in the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS) study. Objective We determined whether PON1 genotypes and enzyme measurements were associated with child neurobehavioral development and whether PON1 modified the association of in utero exposure to OPs (as assessed by maternal DAPs) and neurobehavior. Methods We measured DAP concentrations in maternal urine during pregnancy, PON1192 and PON1−108 genotypes in mothers and children, and arylesterase (ARYase) and paraoxonase (POase) in maternal, cord, and 2-year-olds’ blood. We assessed 353 2-year-olds on the Mental Development Index (MDI) and Psychomotor Development Index (PDI) of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development and queried their mothers on the Child Behavior Checklist to obtain a score for PDD. Results Children with the PON1−108T allele had poorer MDI scores and somewhat poorer PDI scores. Children were less likely to display PDD when they or their mothers had higher ARYase activity and when their mothers had higher POase activity. The association between DAPs and MDI scores was strongest in children with PON1−108T allele, but this and other interactions between DAPs and PON1 polymorphisms or enzymes were not significant. Conclusion PON1 was associated with child neurobehavioral development, but additional research is needed to confirm whether it modifies the relation with in utero OP exposure. PMID:21126941

Temporal association of children's pesticide exposure and agricultural spraying: report of a longitudinal biological monitoring study.

PubMed Central

Koch, Denise; Lu, Chensheng; Fisker-Andersen, Jennifer; Jolley, Lance; Fenske, Richard A

2002-01-01

We measured organophosphorus (OP) pesticide exposures of young children living in an agricultural community over an entire year and evaluated the impact of agricultural spraying on exposure. We also examined the roles of age, sex, parental occupation, and residential proximity to fields. We recruited 44 children (2-5 years old) through a Women, Infants, and Children clinic. We collected urine samples on a biweekly basis over a 21-month period. Each child provided at least 16 urine samples, and most provided 26. We analyzed samples for the dialkylphosphate (DAP) metabolites common to the OP pesticides. DAP concentrations were elevated in months when OP pesticides were sprayed in the region's orchards. The geometric means of dimethyl and diethyl DAPs during spray months were higher than those during nonspray months (p = 0.009 for dimethyl; p = 0.018 for diethyl). Dimethyl DAP geometric means were 0.1 and 0.07 micro mol/L for spray months and nonspray months, respectively (57% difference); diethyl DAP geometric means were 0.49 and 0.35, respectively (40% difference). We also observed differences for sex of the child, with male levels higher than female levels (p = 0.005 for dimethyl; p = 0.046 for diethyl). We observed no differences due to age, parental occupation, or residential proximity to fields. This study reports for the first time the temporal pattern of pesticide exposures over the course of a full year and indicates that pesticide spraying in an agricultural region can increase children's exposure in the absence of parental work contact with pesticides or residential proximity to pesticide-treated farmland. PMID:12153767

Exposure to organophosphate pesticides and male hormone profile in floriculturist of the state of Morelos, Mexico.

PubMed

Blanco-Muñoz, Julia; Morales, Magally Mayanin; Lacasaña, Marina; Aguilar-Garduño, Clemente; Bassol, Susana; Cebrián, Mariano E

2010-07-01

Studies on experimental animals have found that organophosphate (OP) pesticides may act as endocrine disruptors; however, their effects on the human hormonal profile have not yet been adequately characterized. We evaluate the association between exposure to OP pesticides, measured through dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolites urinary levels, and the male hormone profile. A cross-sectional study was performed in 104 floriculturists of Morelos, Mexico. A structured questionnaire was applied to get information on sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometry, clinical history, alcohol and tobacco consumption, and work history. DAP metabolites [dimethylphosphate (DMP), dimethylthiophosphate, dimethyldithiophosphate, diethylphosphate (DEP), diethylthiophosphate (DETP) and diethyldithiophosphate] were determined using gas-liquid chromatography. Serum levels of FSH, LH, prolactin, testosterone, inhibin B and estradiol were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Multiple linear regression was used to study the association between DAP metabolite levels and male hormonal profile. Data were adjusted by p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethene serum levels and other potential confounders. There was a negative association between inhibin B and urinary levels of DMP, DEP, DETP and total DAP metabolites. DEP levels were negatively associated with serum FSH concentrations, but marginally and positively associated with those of testosterone. DETP was marginally associated with lower LH serum levels. There were no other significant associations among OP metabolites and serum hormone levels. Inhibin B and FSH vary according to levels of DAP metabolites in men occupationally exposed to OP pesticides. These results suggest that OP pesticides could act as endocrine disruptors in humans; however, most hormonal values fell within the wide normal range and associations were small. There is, therefore, a need for further investigation to elucidate their biological and clinical relevance.

Bacterial impregnation of mineral fertilizers improves yield and nutrient use efficiency of wheat.

PubMed

Ahmad, Shakeel; Imran, Muhammad; Hussain, Sabir; Mahmood, Sajid; Hussain, Azhar; Hasnain, Muhammad

2017-08-01

The fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) of agricultural crops is generally low, which results in poor crop yields and low economic benefits to farmers. Among the various approaches used to enhance FUE, impregnation of mineral fertilizers with plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) is attracting worldwide attention. The present study was aimed to improve growth, yield and nutrient use efficiency of wheat by bacterially impregnated mineral fertilizers. Results of the pot study revealed that impregnation of diammonium phosphate (DAP) and urea with PGPB was helpful in enhancing the growth, yield, photosynthetic rate, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) of wheat. However, the plants treated with F8 type DAP and urea, prepared by coating a slurry of PGPB (Bacillus sp. strain KAP6) and compost on DAP and urea granules at the rate of 2.0 g 100 g -1 fertilizer, produced better results than other fertilizer treatments. In this treatment, growth parameters including plant height, root length, straw yield and root biomass significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased from 58.8 to 70.0 cm, 41.2 to 50.0 cm, 19.6 to 24.2 g per pot and 1.8 to 2.2 g per pot, respectively. The same treatment improved grain yield of wheat by 20% compared to unimpregnated DAP and urea (F0). Likewise, the maximum increase in photosynthetic rate, grain NP content, grain NP uptake, NUE and PUE of wheat were also recorded with F8 treatment. The results suggest that the application of bacterially impregnated DAP and urea is highly effective for improving growth, yield and FUE of wheat. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

The role of an intergovernmental regional organization in combating drug trafficking: a perspective of the Colombo Plan Bureau.

PubMed

Abarro, P A

1987-01-01

The Colombo Plan was established in 1950 as a regional intergovernmental organization for co-operative economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific comprising 26 member States. The permanent secretariat is the Colombo Plan Bureau to which is attached the Drug Advisory Programme (DAP) headed by a drug adviser, who consults with Governments and helps develop co-operative programmes for drug abuse prevention and control. DAP functions in close liaison and co-operation with organizations of the United Nations system and other regional and international organizations in pursuing activities in line with the international strategy and policies for drug control of the United Nations. DAP assists member States in creating public awareness of the dangers of drug abuse and drug trafficking through the use of mass media, seminars, workshops and conferences and study exchange programmes. It assists Governments in updating their drug laws and in establishing special drug units and national co-ordinating bodies on drug abuse control. DAP encourages and supports the utilization of community resources and the activities of non-governmental organizations and voluntary bodies for the prevention and reduction of drug abuse, as well as the use of mass media for more co-ordinated efforts in this area. It assists member States in developing human resources and technical expertise of personnel in the various disciplines of law enforcement, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, through training, seminars, study exchange fellowship programmes and research. DAP also assists in promoting co-operation at the regional and interregional levels, and is involved in developing and strengthening co-operation between agencies of member States that deal with drug problems.

Antiviral activities of 2,6-diaminopurine-based acyclic nucleoside phosphonates against herpesviruses: In vitro study results with pseudorabies virus (PrV, SuHV-1).

PubMed

Zouharova, Darina; Lipenska, Ivana; Fojtikova, Martina; Kulich, Pavel; Neca, Jiri; Slany, Michal; Kovarcik, Kamil; Turanek-Knotigova, Pavlina; Hubatka, Frantisek; Celechovska, Hana; Masek, Josef; Koudelka, Stepan; Prochazka, Lubomir; Eyer, Ludek; Plockova, Jana; Bartheldyova, Eliska; Miller, Andrew D; Ruzek, Daniel; Raska, Milan; Janeba, Zlatko; Turanek, Jaroslav

2016-02-29

Pseudorabies virus (PrV), a causative agent of Aujeszky's disease, is deadly to most mammals with the exception of higher primates and men. This disease causes serious economic loses among farm animals, especially pigs, yet many European countries are today claimed to be Aujeszky's disease free because of the discovery of an efficient vaccination for pigs. In reality, the virus is still present in wild boar. Current vaccines are neither suitable for dogs nor are there anti-PrV drugs approved for veterinary use. Therefore, the disease still represents a high threat, particularly for expensive hunting dogs that can come into close contact with infected boars. Here we report on the anti-PrV activities of a series of synthetic diaminopurine-based acyclic nucleoside phosphonate (DAP-ANP) analogues. Initially, all synthetic DAP-ANPs under investigation are shown to exhibit minimal cytotoxicity by MTT and XTT tests (1-100μM range). Thereafter in vitro infection models are established using PrV virus SuHV-1, optimized on PK-15 and RK-13 cell lines. Out of the six DAP-ANP analogues tested, analogue VI functionalized with a cyclopropyl group on the 6-amino position of the purine ring proves the most effective antiviral DAP-ANP analogue against PrV infection, aided by sufficient hydrophobic character to enhance bioavailability to its cellular target viral DNA-polymerase. Four other DAP-ANP analogues with functional groups introduced to the C2'position are shown ineffective against PrV infection, even with favourable hydrophobic properties. Cidofovir(®), a drug approved against various herpesvirus infections, is found to exert only low activity against PrV in these same in vitro models. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Degrees of Antioxidant Protection: A 2-Year Study of the Bioactive Properties of Organic Milk in Poland.

PubMed

Puppel, Kamila; Sakowski, Tomasz; Kuczyńska, Beata; Grodkowski, Grzegorz; Gołębiewski, Marcin; Barszczewski, Jerzy; Wróbel, Barbara; Budziński, Arkadiusz; Kapusta, Aleksandra; Balcerak, Marek

2017-02-01

The aim of this study was to determine the nutritional value of organic milk in Poland, investigate the influence of diet on antioxidant capacity and degree of antioxidant protection (DAP), and to examine the effect of season on the bioactive properties of milk from organic farms. From 2014 to 2015, 820 milk samples were collected from 6 organic farms during indoor feeding season (IDS) and pasture feeding season (PS). Pasture feeding season + corn grain (PSCG) cows' daily ration during pasture feeding season was enriched with 4 kg a day of corn to improve dietary energy balance. Milk obtained during PS was found to have a higher fat content, slight but significantly lower protein content compared with milk from IDS. The study showed that the content of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) in milk fat was strongly linked to the concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and, to a lesser extent, on the supply of MUFA. The IDS data (concentration of vitamin E, A, and β-carotene) showed the lowest values compared with the PS and PSCG groups. Total antioxidant status (TAS) and DAP showed an increasing trend in organic milk. PSCG was associated with highest level of DAP (9% higher than PS and 79% higher than IDS) and TAS (37% higher than PS and 79% higher than IDS). The results obtained show that supplementation of the basic ration with corn grain improved both TAS and DAP. The higher DAP and TAS value is responsible for product stability, considering the risk factor related to levels of cholesterol-oxide intake in humans. © 2017 Institute of Food Technologists®.

Implantable defibrillators configured for hybrid therapy of persistent and permanent atrial fibrillation: initial clinical experience with a novel lead system.

PubMed

Rao, Hygriv B; Saksena, Sanjeev

2005-08-01

Hybrid therapy strategies have combined antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD) with pacemakers, atrio-ventricular defibrillators (AV ICD) or atrial ablation individually. The feasibility combining AAD with dual site RA pacing (DAP) in an AV ICD has not been examined. We used an AV ICD with a novel lead configuration permitting DAP, antitachycardia pacing (ATP) or atrial shocks (ADF) in patients (pts) with refractory persistent or permanent AF. Hybrid therapy included linear RA ablation and/or focal ablation. Continuous DAP and automatic ATP with patient or physician activated ADF. 24 pts, mean age 66 +/- 10 yrs, with cardiac disease (22 pts), underwent insertion of an AVICD with dual RA leads. 20 patients had concomitant ablative procedures (RA only = 19, RA + LA = 1) and all pts continued previously ineffective AAD. During a follow-up of 2-36 months (mean 17 +/- 8 mos), rhythm control was restored in all pts & maintained long-term in 19 (83%) pts. 8 pts used AF termination therapies successfully. Device datalogs showed no episodes of AF in 6 pts, asymptomatic brief arrhythmias in 4 pts, infrequent paroxysmal AF in 9 pts & persistent AF recurred in 5 pts. AV ICD detection algorithms reliably detected AF or AT in the DAP mode in all pts. Intermittent brief P wave double counting occurred during AT in selected pts. No pt received inappropriate ADF therapy. 1. DAP can be safely incorporated in an AVICD devices for use in an hybrid therapy strategy for AF pts. 2. These devices can be effective for both AF prevention & termination. 3. Long term rhythm control can be achieved and documented by device datalogs in persistent and permanent AF.

Experiences with http/WebDAV protocols for data access in high throughput computing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bernabeu, Gerard; Martinez, Francisco; Acción, Esther; Bria, Arnau; Caubet, Marc; Delfino, Manuel; Espinal, Xavier

2011-12-01

In the past, access to remote storage was considered to be at least one order of magnitude slower than local disk access. Improvement on network technologies provide the alternative of using remote disk. For those accesses one can today reach levels of throughput similar or exceeding those of local disks. Common choices as access protocols in the WLCG collaboration are RFIO, [GSI]DCAP, GRIDFTP, XROOTD and NFS. HTTP protocol shows a promising alternative as it is a simple, lightweight protocol. It also enables the use of standard technologies such as http caching or load balancing which can be used to improve service resilience and scalability or to boost performance for some use cases seen in HEP such as the "hot files". WebDAV extensions allow writing data, giving it enough functionality to work as a remote access protocol. This paper will show our experiences with the WebDAV door for dCache, in terms of functionality and performance, applied to some of the HEP work flows in the LHC Tier1 at PIC.

Effect of Left Versus Right Radial Artery Approach for Coronary Angiography on Radiation Parameters in Patients with Predictors of Transradial Access Failure

PubMed Central

Shah, Binita; Burdowski, Joseph; Guo, Yu; de Villa, Bryan Velez; Huynh, Andrew; Farid, Meena; Maini, Mansi; Serrano-Gomez, Claudia; Staniloae, Cezar; Feit, Frederick; Attubato, Michael J.; Slater, James; Coppola, John

2016-01-01

Left transradial approach (TRA) for coronary angiography is associated with lower radiation parameters than right TRA in an all-comers population. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of left versus right TRA on radiation parameters in patients with predictors of TRA failure. Patients with predictors of TRA failure (≥3 of 4 following criteria: age ≥70 years, female sex, height ≤64 inches, hypertension) referred to TRA operators were randomized to either right (n=50) or left (n=50) TRA, while those referred to transfemoral approach (TFA) operators were enrolled in a prospective registry (n=50). The primary endpoint was the radiation measure of dose area product (DAP). In an intention-to-treat analysis, DAP (34.1 Gy*cm2 [24.9–45.6] vs 41.9 Gy*cm2 [27.3–58.0], p=0.08), fluoroscopy time (3.7 min [2.4–6.3] vs 5.6 min [3.1–8.7], p=0.07), and operator radiation exposure (516 uR [275–967] vs. 730 uR [503–1165], p=0.06) were not significantly different between left and right TRA, but total dose (411 mGy [310–592] vs 537 mGy [368–780], p=0.03) was significantly lower with left versus right TRA. Radiation parameters were lowest in the TFA cohort (DAP 24.5 Gy*cm2 [15.7–33.2], p<0.001; fluoroscopy time 2.3 min [1.5–3.7], p<0.001; operator radiation exposure 387 uR [264–557]; total dose 345 mGy [250–468], p=0.001). Results were similar after adjustment for differences in baseline characteristics. In conclusion, median measures of radiation were overall not significantly different between left versus right TRA in this select population of patients with predictors of TRA failure. All measures of radiation were lowest in the TFA group. PMID:27328954

JPRS Report, East Asia, Southeast Asia.

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-09-06

Helicopters 10 Mahathir Urges ’Entire Malay Community’ To Defend UMNO 10 Sabah DAP Urges Immediate Action Against Illegal Foreign Workers 11 DAP Official...Cooperation"] [Text] Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew yester- day arrived at Kuala Lumpur to meet with Prime Min- ister Datuk Sri Dr Mahathir . This...visitations of government officials, dialogues and mutual understanding. The mutual friendly visits of Prime Min- ister Datuk Sri Dr Mahathir and

[Body build and radiation exposure in static roentgen studies (I): A contribution for determining a national reference dose value. Promoted by the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (St.Sch 4163)].

PubMed

Golder, W; Weiner, G

2001-06-01

To contribute data on radiation exposure in static x-ray procedures and to compare them with anthropometric parameters. 121 chest x-rays and 100 lumbar spine examinations were carried out and the dose-area product (DAP) measured for each of the projections. Additionally, body height, body weight and the sagittal and transversal diameters of the examined regions were recorded. Dose measurements were statistically evaluated and the following data determined: Frequency distribution, median, 25%- and 75%-percentiles as well as correlations with sex, body weight and diameters. Median DAP was 13 (men: 16; women: 11) resp. 50 (62; 37) cGycm2 with pa resp lateral chest x-ray. Values were closely correlated with body weight (r = 0.704/0.659) and diameter of the chest (r = 0.657/0.579). Median DAP was 175 (239; 126) resp 531 (670; 361) cGycm2 with ap resp lateral lumbar spine examinations. Values were closely correlated with body weight (r = 0.678/0.666) and diameter of the abdomen (r = 0.664/0.658). DAP of chest x-rays and lumbar spine examinations is strongly influenced by the constitution of the patients. Men are nearly twice as largely exposed to radiation as women.

Interactions between organic amendments and phosphate fertilizers modify phosphate sorption processes in an acid soil

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

Sckefe, C.R.; Patti, A.F.; Clune, T.S.

2008-07-15

To determine how organic amendments and phosphate fertilizers interact to modify P sorption processes, three phosphate fertilizers were applied to lignite- and compost-amended acid soil and incubated for either 3 or 26 days. The fertilizers applied were potassium dihydrogen phosphate, triple superphosphate, and diammonium phosphate (DAP). After 3 days of incubation, sorption of all three P sources was decreased in the lignite-amended treatments, whereas P sorption was increased in the compost-amended treatments. Increased incubation time (26 days) resulted in significantly decreased P sorption when DAP was added to lignite-amended treatments. Addition of triple superphosphate increased P sorption in lignite- andmore » compost-amended treatments and decreased solution pH compared with DAP application. In addition to the effect of P source, differences in P sorption between the lignite- and compost-amended treatments were driven by differences in solution chemistry, predominantly solution pH and cation dynamics. Soil amendment and fertilizer addition also increased microbial activity in the incubation systems, as measured by carbon dioxide respiration. It is proposed that the combination of lignite and DAP may contribute to decreased P sorption in acid soils, with the positive effects likely caused by both chemical and biological processes, including the formation of soluble organic-metal complexes.« less

Credibility Assessment of Deterministic Computational Models and Simulations for Space Biomedical Research and Operations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mulugeta, Lealem; Walton, Marlei; Nelson, Emily; Myers, Jerry

2015-01-01

Human missions beyond low earth orbit to destinations, such as to Mars and asteroids will expose astronauts to novel operational conditions that may pose health risks that are currently not well understood and perhaps unanticipated. In addition, there are limited clinical and research data to inform development and implementation of health risk countermeasures for these missions. Consequently, NASA's Digital Astronaut Project (DAP) is working to develop and implement computational models and simulations (M&S) to help predict and assess spaceflight health and performance risks, and enhance countermeasure development. In order to effectively accomplish these goals, the DAP evaluates its models and simulations via a rigorous verification, validation and credibility assessment process to ensure that the computational tools are sufficiently reliable to both inform research intended to mitigate potential risk as well as guide countermeasure development. In doing so, DAP works closely with end-users, such as space life science researchers, to establish appropriate M&S credibility thresholds. We will present and demonstrate the process the DAP uses to vet computational M&S for space biomedical analysis using real M&S examples. We will also provide recommendations on how the larger space biomedical community can employ these concepts to enhance the credibility of their M&S codes.

Effects of high temperature after pollination on physicochemical properties of waxy maize flour during grain development.

PubMed

Lu, Dalei; Cai, Xuemei; Yan, Fabao; Sun, Xuli; Wang, Xin; Lu, Weiping

2014-05-01

Waxy maize is grown in South China, where high temperatures frequently prevail. The effect of high-temperature stress on grain development of waxy maize is not known. High temperature decreased the grain fresh weight and volume, and lowered the grain dry weight and water content after 22 days after pollination (DAP). Plants exposed to high temperature had low starch content, and high protein and soluble sugar contents at maturity. Starch iodine binding capacity and granule size were increased by heat stress at all grain-filling stages. The former parameter decreased, while the latter parameter increased gradually with grain development. High temperature increased the peak and breakdown viscosity before 30 DAP, but the value decreased at maturity. Pasting and gelatinization temperatures at different stages were increased by heat stress and gradually decreased with grain development under both high-temperature and control conditions. Gelatinization enthalpy increased initially but decreased after peaking at 22 DAP under both control and heat stress conditions. High temperature decreased gelatinization enthalpy after 10 DAP. Retrogradation percentage value increased with high temperature throughout grain development. High temperature after pollination changes the dynamics of grain filling of waxy maize, which may underlie the observed changes in its pasting and thermal properties. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry.

Substance P and neurokinin A metabolism by cultured human skeletal muscle myocytes and fibroblasts.

PubMed

Russell, J S; Chi, H; Lantry, L E; Stephens, R E; Ward, P E

1996-01-01

A recent study determined that cultured human skeletal muscle adult myoblasts, myotubes, and fibroblasts degraded angiotensins and kinins via neutral endopeptidase-24.11 (NEP-24.11: EC 3.4.24.11) and aminopeptidase N (APN: EC 3.4.11.2). Due to the possible importance of other peptides to skeletal muscle blood flow and function, the present study looked specifically at the metabolism of the neurokinins substance P (SP) and neurokinin A (NKA) by skeletal muscle peptidases. The results show that SP is degraded not only by NEP-24.11, but also sequentially by dipeptidyl(amino)peptidase IV (DAP IV: EC 3.4.14.5)/APN. NKA is unaffected by DAP IV but is metabolized by NEP-24.11 and APN. NEP-24.11 was inhibited by phosphoramidon (IC50 = 80 nM), thiorphan and ZINCOV, DAP IV by diprotin A (IC50 = 8 microM), and APN by amastatin (IC50 = 50 nM) and bestatin (IC50 = 100 microM). Skeletal muscle myocyte and fibroblast metabolism of SP and NKA may regulate local skeletal muscle vascular and extravascular functions including SP- and NKA-mediated nerve-induced vasodilation. Inhibition of both NEP-24.11 and DAP IV/APN may increase skeletal muscle blood flow and decrease peripheral vascular resistance via potentiation of local neurokinin levels.

Non-vascular interventional procedures: effective dose to patient and equivalent dose to abdominal organs by means of DICOM images and Monte Carlo simulation.

PubMed

Longo, Mariaconcetta; Marchioni, Chiara; Insero, Teresa; Donnarumma, Raffaella; D'Adamo, Alessandro; Lucatelli, Pierleone; Fanelli, Fabrizio; Salvatori, Filippo Maria; Cannavale, Alessandro; Di Castro, Elisabetta

2016-03-01

This study evaluates X-ray exposure in patient undergoing abdominal extra-vascular interventional procedures by means of Digital Imaging and COmmunications in Medicine (DICOM) image headers and Monte Carlo simulation. The main aim was to assess the effective and equivalent doses, under the hypothesis of their correlation with the dose area product (DAP) measured during each examination. This allows to collect dosimetric information about each patient and to evaluate associated risks without resorting to in vivo dosimetry. The dose calculation was performed in 79 procedures through the Monte Carlo simulator PCXMC (A PC-based Monte Carlo program for calculating patient doses in medical X-ray examinations), by using the real geometrical and dosimetric irradiation conditions, automatically extracted from DICOM headers. The DAP measurements were also validated by using thermoluminescent dosemeters on an anthropomorphic phantom. The expected linear correlation between effective doses and DAP was confirmed with an R(2) of 0.974. Moreover, in order to easily calculate patient doses, conversion coefficients that relate equivalent doses to measurable quantities, such as DAP, were obtained. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Evaluation environment for digital and analog pathology: a platform for validation studies

PubMed Central

Gallas, Brandon D.; Gavrielides, Marios A.; Conway, Catherine M.; Ivansky, Adam; Keay, Tyler C.; Cheng, Wei-Chung; Hipp, Jason; Hewitt, Stephen M.

2014-01-01

Abstract. We present a platform for designing and executing studies that compare pathologists interpreting histopathology of whole slide images (WSIs) on a computer display to pathologists interpreting glass slides on an optical microscope. eeDAP is an evaluation environment for digital and analog pathology. The key element in eeDAP is the registration of the WSI to the glass slide. Registration is accomplished through computer control of the microscope stage and a camera mounted on the microscope that acquires real-time images of the microscope field of view (FOV). Registration allows for the evaluation of the same regions of interest (ROIs) in both domains. This can reduce or eliminate disagreements that arise from pathologists interpreting different areas and focuses on the comparison of image quality. We reduced the pathologist interpretation area from an entire glass slide (10 to 30  mm2) to small ROIs (<50  μm2). We also made possible the evaluation of individual cells. We summarize eeDAP’s software and hardware and provide calculations and corresponding images of the microscope FOV and the ROIs extracted from the WSIs. The eeDAP software can be downloaded from the Google code website (project: eeDAP) as a MATLAB source or as a precompiled stand-alone license-free application. PMID:26158076

Optimizing Available Phosphorus in Calcareous Soils Fertilized with Diammonium Phosphate and Phosphoric Acid Using Freundlich Adsorption Isotherm

PubMed Central

Akhtar, Muhammad

2013-01-01

In calcareous soils, phosphorus (P) retention and immobilization take place due to precipitation and adsorption. Since soil pH is considered a major soil variable affecting the P sorption, an acidic P fertilizer could result in low P adsorption compared to alkaline one. Therefore, P adsorption from DAP and phosphoric acid (PA) required to produce desired soil solution P concentration was estimated using Freundlich sorption isotherms. Two soils from Faisalabad and T. T. Singh districts were spiked with 0, 10, and 20 % CaCO3 for 15 days. Freundlich adsorption isotherms (P = aC b/a) were constructed, and theoretical doses of PA and DAP to develop a desired soil solution P level (i.e., 0.20 mg L−1) were calculated. It was observed that P adsorption in soil increased with CaCO3. Moreover, at all the levels of CaCO3, P adsorption from PA was lower compared to that from DAP in both the soils. Consequently, lesser quantity of PA was required to produce desired solution P, 0.2 mg L−1, compared to DAP. However, extrapolating the developed relationship between soil CaCO3 contents and quantity of fertilizer to other similar textured soils needs confirmation. PMID:24307878

Cloning and sequence analysis of the meso-diaminopimelate decarboxylase gene from Bacillus methanolicus MGA3 and comparison to other decarboxylase genes.

PubMed Central

Mills, D A; Flickinger, M C

1993-01-01

The lysA gene of Bacillus methanolicus MGA3 was cloned by complementation of an auxotrophic Escherichia coli lysA22 mutant with a genomic library of B. methanolicus MGA3 chromosomal DNA. Subcloning localized the B. methanolicus MGA3 lysA gene into a 2.3-kb SmaI-SstI fragment. Sequence analysis of the 2.3-kb fragment indicated an open reading frame encoding a protein of 48,223 Da, which was similar to the meso-diaminopimelate (DAP) decarboxylase amino acid sequences of Bacillus subtilis (62%) and Corynebacterium glutamicum (40%). Amino acid sequence analysis indicated several regions of conservation among bacterial DAP decarboxylases, eukaryotic ornithine decarboxylases, and arginine decarboxylases, suggesting a common structural arrangement for positioning of substrate and the cofactor pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. The B. methanolicus MGA3 DAP decarboxylase was shown to be a dimer (M(r) 86,000) with a subunit molecular mass of approximately 50,000 Da. This decarboxylase is inhibited by lysine (Ki = 0.93 mM) with a Km of 0.8 mM for DAP. The inhibition pattern suggests that the activity of this enzyme in lysine-overproducing strains of B. methanolicus MGA3 may limit lysine synthesis. Images PMID:8215365

Cloning and sequence analysis of the meso-diaminopimelate decarboxylase gene from Bacillus methanolicus MGA3 and comparison to other decarboxylase genes.

PubMed

Mills, D A; Flickinger, M C

1993-09-01

The lysA gene of Bacillus methanolicus MGA3 was cloned by complementation of an auxotrophic Escherichia coli lysA22 mutant with a genomic library of B. methanolicus MGA3 chromosomal DNA. Subcloning localized the B. methanolicus MGA3 lysA gene into a 2.3-kb SmaI-SstI fragment. Sequence analysis of the 2.3-kb fragment indicated an open reading frame encoding a protein of 48,223 Da, which was similar to the meso-diaminopimelate (DAP) decarboxylase amino acid sequences of Bacillus subtilis (62%) and Corynebacterium glutamicum (40%). Amino acid sequence analysis indicated several regions of conservation among bacterial DAP decarboxylases, eukaryotic ornithine decarboxylases, and arginine decarboxylases, suggesting a common structural arrangement for positioning of substrate and the cofactor pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. The B. methanolicus MGA3 DAP decarboxylase was shown to be a dimer (M(r) 86,000) with a subunit molecular mass of approximately 50,000 Da. This decarboxylase is inhibited by lysine (Ki = 0.93 mM) with a Km of 0.8 mM for DAP. The inhibition pattern suggests that the activity of this enzyme in lysine-overproducing strains of B. methanolicus MGA3 may limit lysine synthesis.

Neuronal Cell Fate Specification by the Convergence of Different Spatiotemporal Cues on a Common Terminal Selector Cascade

PubMed Central

Rubio-Ferrera, Irene; Millán-Crespo, Irene; Contero-García, Patricia; Bahrampour, Shahrzad

2016-01-01

Specification of the myriad of unique neuronal subtypes found in the nervous system depends upon spatiotemporal cues and terminal selector gene cascades, often acting in sequential combinatorial codes to determine final cell fate. However, a specific neuronal cell subtype can often be generated in different parts of the nervous system and at different stages, indicating that different spatiotemporal cues can converge on the same terminal selectors to thereby generate a similar cell fate. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying such convergence are poorly understood. The Nplp1 neuropeptide neurons in the Drosophila ventral nerve cord can be subdivided into the thoracic-ventral Tv1 neurons and the dorsal-medial dAp neurons. The activation of Nplp1 in Tv1 and dAp neurons depends upon the same terminal selector cascade: col>ap/eya>dimm>Nplp1. However, Tv1 and dAp neurons are generated by different neural progenitors (neuroblasts) with different spatiotemporal appearance. Here, we find that the same terminal selector cascade is triggered by Kr/pdm>grn in dAp neurons, but by Antp/hth/exd/lbe/cas in Tv1 neurons. Hence, two different spatiotemporal combinations can funnel into a common downstream terminal selector cascade to determine a highly related cell fate. PMID:27148744

The Digital Astronaut Project Computational Bone Remodeling Model (Beta Version) Bone Summit Summary Report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pennline, James; Mulugeta, Lealem

2013-01-01

Under the conditions of microgravity, astronauts lose bone mass at a rate of 1% to 2% a month, particularly in the lower extremities such as the proximal femur [1-3]. The most commonly used countermeasure against bone loss in microgravity has been prescribed exercise [4]. However, data has shown that existing exercise countermeasures are not as effective as desired for preventing bone loss in long duration, 4 to 6 months, spaceflight [1,3,5,6]. This spaceflight related bone loss may cause early onset of osteoporosis to place the astronauts at greater risk of fracture later in their lives. Consequently, NASA seeks to have improved understanding of the mechanisms of bone demineralization in microgravity in order to appropriately quantify this risk, and to establish appropriate countermeasures [7]. In this light, NASA's Digital Astronaut Project (DAP) is working with the NASA Bone Discipline Lead to implement well-validated computational models to help predict and assess bone loss during spaceflight, and enhance exercise countermeasure development. More specifically, computational modeling is proposed as a way to augment bone research and exercise countermeasure development to target weight-bearing skeletal sites that are most susceptible to bone loss in microgravity, and thus at higher risk for fracture. Given that hip fractures can be debilitating, the initial model development focused on the femoral neck. Future efforts will focus on including other key load bearing bone sites such as the greater trochanter, lower lumbar, proximal femur and calcaneus. The DAP has currently established an initial model (Beta Version) of bone loss due to skeletal unloading in femoral neck region. The model calculates changes in mineralized volume fraction of bone in this segment and relates it to changes in bone mineral density (vBMD) measured by Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT). The model is governed by equations describing changes in bone volume fraction (BVF), and rates of changes in bone cell populations that remove and replace bone in packets within the bone region. The DAP bone model is unique in several respects. In particular in takes former models of volume fraction changes one step higher in fidelity and separates BVF into separate equations for mineralized and osteoid volume fractions governed by a mineralization rate. This more closely follows the physiology of the remodeling unit cycles where bone is first resorbed and then followed by the action of osteoblasts to lay down collagen matrix which eventually becomes mineralized. In another respect, the modules allow the functional description of the time rate of change of other parameters and variables in the model during a computational simulation. More detailed description of the model, preliminary validation results, current limitation and caveats, and planned advancements are provided in sections 2 through 5. The DAP bone model is being developed primarily as a research tool, and not as a clinical tool like QCT. Even if it transitions to a clinical tool, it is not intended to replace QCT or any other clinical tool. Moreover, the DAP bone model does not predict bone fracture. Its purpose is to provide valuable additional data via "forward prediction" simulations for during and after spaceflight missions to gain insight on, (1) mechanisms of bone demineralization in microgravity, and (2) the volumetric changes at the various bone sites in response to in-flight and post-flight exercise countermeasures. This data can then be used as input to the Keyak [8] (or equivalent) FE analysis method to gain insight on how bone strength may change during and after flight. This information can also be useful to help optimize exercise countermeasure protocols to minimize changes in bone strength during flight, and improve regain of bone strength post-flight. To achieve this goal, the bone model will be integrated with DAP's exercise countermeasure models to simulate the effect of exercise prescriptions on preserving bone. More specifically, the model will accept loading history due to muscle and joint force on bone and produce quantified remodeling within the bone region under influence of the applied stress. Furthermore, because they tend to respond differently, the bone remodeling model includes both trabecular bone and cortical bone.

Distributed reservation control protocols for random access broadcasting channels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greene, E. P.; Ephremides, A.

1981-01-01

Attention is given to a communication network consisting of an arbitrary number of nodes which can communicate with each other via a time-division multiple access (TDMA) broadcast channel. The reported investigation is concerned with the development of efficient distributed multiple access protocols for traffic consisting primarily of single packet messages in a datagram mode of operation. The motivation for the design of the protocols came from the consideration of efficient multiple access utilization of moderate to high bandwidth (4-40 Mbit/s capacity) communication satellite channels used for the transmission of short (1000-10,000 bits) fixed length packets. Under these circumstances, the ratio of roundtrip propagation time to packet transmission time is between 100 to 10,000. It is shown how a TDMA channel can be adaptively shared by datagram traffic and constant bandwidth users such as in digital voice applications. The distributed reservation control protocols described are a hybrid between contention and reservation protocols.

A hybrid MAC protocol design for energy-efficient very-high-throughput millimeter wave, wireless sensor communication networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jian, Wei; Estevez, Claudio; Chowdhury, Arshad; Jia, Zhensheng; Wang, Jianxin; Yu, Jianguo; Chang, Gee-Kung

2010-12-01

This paper presents an energy-efficient Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol for very-high-throughput millimeter-wave (mm-wave) wireless sensor communication networks (VHT-MSCNs) based on hybrid multiple access techniques of frequency division multiplexing access (FDMA) and time division multiplexing access (TDMA). An energy-efficient Superframe for wireless sensor communication network employing directional mm-wave wireless access technologies is proposed for systems that require very high throughput, such as high definition video signals, for sensing, processing, transmitting, and actuating functions. Energy consumption modeling for each network element and comparisons among various multi-access technologies in term of power and MAC layer operations are investigated for evaluating the energy-efficient improvement of proposed MAC protocol.

Design and Analysis of Orthotrophic Ring-Stiffened Cylindrical Shells Subjected to External Hydrostatic Pressure

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-03-28

in plane bending stiffness. Figure 4. Non-Symmetric General Buckling In accordance with equations (4) through (11), the...the DAPS3 version of the code documented in reference 1, the DAPS4 code computes the stresses and deflections, interbay buckling pressure, general ... plane and out- of- plane bending , eliminating the simple support assumption at the bay ends. b. Stresses and deflections at all points between the

Urinary dialkylphosphate metabolites and health symptoms among farmers in Thailand.

PubMed

Sapbamrer, Ratana; Hongsibsong, Surat; Kerdnoi, Tanyaporn

2017-05-04

Using a cross-sectional study, we investigated urinary DAPs levels and health symptoms related to the type of crop cultivation and farm tasks among 84 farmers in Phayao Province of northern Thailand. The results showed that the average of ∑DAPs levels was 10.93 ± 19.64 μg/g creatinine (range 1.48-163.90 μg/g creatinine). The compound found the most was DEP, followed by DETP, DEDTP, DMP, DMTP, and DMDTP, respectively. The type of crop cultivation may be associated with an increasing prevalence of respiratory tract, muscle system, and skin irritation. Farm tasks were associated with an increasing prevalence of muscle system and skin irritation. It was difficult to assess adverse health symptoms associated with urinary DAPs in low levels of exposure; therefore, further investigation is needed using more sensitive biomarkers and more sensitive health symptom measurement.

Effect of aluminum stress in early-stage growth of soybean

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sagala, D.; Suzanna, E.; Prihanani; Ghulamahdi, M.; Lubis, I.; Trikoesoemaningtyas

2018-04-01

The sensitivity of soybean to aluminum stress is well known. One of the abiotic stresses in tidal swamps is the aluminum toxicity. Therefore, it is necessary to find the appropriate management and cropping pattern to obtain a high yield of soybean in the tidal land. We supposed that it would be related to the development stage of soybean. This study was aimed to find the most sensitive of soybean vegetative growth stage to aluminum. Three cultivars of soybean (tanggamus, Karasumame, and M652) and four aluminum treatments (control, 10 days after planting/DAP, 20 DAP, 30 DAP) were arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. Measurements have been made on root length, root/shoot ratio, biomass dry weight, leaves Aluminum content, leaves the area, and sensitivity index. Overall, observation results indicate that the earlier soybean experience aluminum stress, the more its vegetative growth is disturbed.

Donor-acceptor-pair emission in fluorescent 4H-SiC grown by PVT method

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

Liu, Xi, E-mail: liuxi@mail.sic.ac.cn; Zhuo, Shi-Yi; Gao, Pan

Fluorescent SiC, which contains donor and acceptor impurities with optimum concentrations, can work as a phosphor for visible light emission by donor-acceptor-pair (DAP) recombination. In this work, 3 inch N-B-Al co-doped fluorescent 4H-SiC crystals are prepared by PVT method. The p-type fluorescent 4H-SiC with low aluminum doping concentration can show intensive yellow-green fluorescence at room temperature. N-B DAP peak wavelength shifts from 578nm to 525nm and weak N-Al DAP emission occurred 403/420 nm quenches, when the temperature increases from 4K to 298K. The aluminum doping induces higher defect concentration in the fluorescent crystal and decreases optical transmissivity of the crystalmore » in the visible light range. It triggers more non-radiative recombination and light absorption losses in the crystal.« less

Job Demands & Pesticide Exposure among Immigrant Latino Farmworkers

PubMed Central

Grzywacz, Joseph G.; Quandt, Sara A.; Vallejos, Quirina M.; Whalley, Lara E.; Chen, Haiying; Isom, Scott; Barr, Dana B.; Arcury, Thomas A.

2010-01-01

The goal of this study was to understand the potential threat of job stressors to farmworker health. To accomplish this goal we studied pesticide exposure, an issue with immediate and long-term health consequences, and predictions from the demands-control model of occupational stress. Longitudinal, self-report data and urine samples were collected at monthly intervals from a cohort of Latino farmworkers (N=287) during the 2007 agricultural season. The primary hypothesis was that greater exposure to psychological demands, physical exertion, and hazardous work conditions are associated with greater odds of detecting DAP urinary pesticide metabolites, biomarkers indicating exposure to pesticides. Contrary to this hypothesis, results indicated that none of the elements of the Demands-Control model were independently associated with detection of DAP urinary pesticide metabolites. However, analyses produced several interaction effects, including evidence that high levels of control may buffer the effects of physical job demands on detection of DAP urinary pesticide metabolites. PMID:20604632

Fluorometric In Situ Monitoring of an Escherichia coli Cell Factory with Cytosolic Expression of Human Glycosyltransferase GalNAcT2: Prospects and Limitations

PubMed Central

Schwab, Karen; Lauber, Jennifer; Hesse, Friedemann

2016-01-01

The glycosyltransferase HisDapGalNAcT2 is the key protein of the Escherichia coli (E. coli) SHuffle® T7 cell factory which was genetically engineered to allow glycosylation of a protein substrate in vivo. The specific activity of the glycosyltransferase requires time-intensive analytics, but is a critical process parameter. Therefore, it has to be monitored closely. This study evaluates fluorometric in situ monitoring as option to access this critical process parameter during complex E. coli fermentations. Partial least square regression (PLS) models were built based on the fluorometric data recorded during the EnPresso® B fermentations. Capable models for the prediction of glucose and acetate concentrations were built for these fermentations with rout mean squared errors for prediction (RMSEP) of 0.19 g·L−1 and 0.08 g·L−1, as well as for the prediction of the optical density (RMSEP 0.24). In situ monitoring of soluble enzyme to cell dry weight ratios (RMSEP 5.5 × 10−4 µg w/w) and specific activity of the glycosyltransferase (RMSEP 33.5 pmol·min−1·µg−1) proved to be challenging, since HisDapGalNAcT2 had to be extracted from the cells and purified. However, fluorescence spectroscopy, in combination with PLS modeling, proved to be feasible for in situ monitoring of complex expression systems. PMID:28952595

Guidewire navigation in coronary artery stenoses using a novel magnetic navigation system: first clinical experience.

PubMed

Tsuchida, Keiichi; García-García, Héctor M; van der Giessen, Willem J; McFadden, Eugène P; van der Ent, Martin; Sianos, Georgios; Meulenbrug, Hans; Ong, Andrew T L; Serruys, Patrick W

2006-03-01

The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of guidewire navigation across coronary artery stenoses using magnetic navigation system (MNS) versus conventional navigation. The MNS is a novel option to facilitate access to target lesions, particularly in tortuous vessels. In an experimental study using a challenging vessel phantom, magnetic-navigated guidewire passage has been reported to reduce fluoroscopy and procedure time significantly. Both magnetic and manual guidewire navigation were attempted in 21 consecutive diseased coronary arteries. The study endpoint was defined as an intraluminal wire position distal to the stenosis. Procedural success was defined as successful guidewire passage without procedural events. Procedure time, amount of contrast, fluoroscopy time, and radiation dose/area product (DAP) were evaluated. There were no procedural events related to either guidewire. Although the lesions attempted had relatively simple and straightforward characteristics, significantly shorter procedure and fluoroscopy time were observed for manual guidewire navigation compared to MNS (median, 40 vs. 120 sec, P=0.001; 38 vs. 105 sec, P=0.001, respectively). Contrast amount and DAP were higher in MNS than in conventional method (median, 13 vs. 9 ml, P=0.018; 215 vs. 73 Gym2, P=0.002, respectively). The magnetic wire did not cross in two vessels. Guidewire navigation using MNS presented a novel, safe, and feasible approach to address coronary artery lesions. Clinical studies are needed to evaluate the potential benefit of the MNS in more complex coronary lesions and tortuous anatomy. Copyright (c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

HYDRA Hyperspectral Data Research Application Tom Rink and Tom Whittaker

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rink, T.; Whittaker, T.

2005-12-01

HYDRA is a freely available, easy to install tool for visualization and analysis of large local or remote hyper/multi-spectral datasets. HYDRA is implemented on top of the open source VisAD Java library via Jython - the Java implementation of the user friendly Python programming language. VisAD provides data integration, through its generalized data model, user-display interaction and display rendering. Jython has an easy to read, concise, scripting-like, syntax which eases software development. HYDRA allows data sharing of large datasets through its support of the OpenDAP and OpenADDE server-client protocols. The users can explore and interrogate data, and subset in physical and/or spectral space to isolate key areas of interest for further analysis without having to download an entire dataset. It also has an extensible data input architecture to recognize new instruments and understand different local file formats, currently NetCDF and HDF4 are supported.

J-Plus Web Portal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Civera Lorenzo, Tamara

2017-10-01

Brief presentation about the J-PLUS EDR data access web portal (http://archive.cefca.es/catalogues/jplus-edr) where the different services available to retrieve images and catalogues data have been presented.J-PLUS Early Data Release (EDR) archive includes two types of data: images and dual and single catalogue data which include parameters measured from images. J-PLUS web portal offers catalogue data and images through several different online data access tools or services each suited to a particular need. The different services offered are: Coverage map Sky navigator Object visualization Image search Cone search Object list search Virtual observatory services: Simple Cone Search Simple Image Access Protocol Simple Spectral Access Protocol Table Access Protocol

JPRS Report East Asia Southeast Asia

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-06-29

Split UMNO Charged (NEW STRAITS TIMES, 7, 11 May 87) 44 ’Frustrated Millionaires’ Accused 44 Junid Sees No Security Threat 44 MCA Appeal to DAP ...SIN CHEW JIT POH MALAYSIA, 30 Apr 87) 50 Editorial on MCA- DAP Talks (NANYANG SIANG PAO, 30 Apr 87) 52 PBDS Chief on Remaining in Barisan... Ibrahim Hasan as factors "which must be taken into account." The "deflation" of the United Development Party also had its effect. Indonesianization

Southeast Asia Report

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-08-28

5 Jul 85) 77 DAP To Launch Campaign Against Injustice of NEP (KIN KWOK DAILY NEWS, 7 Jun 85) 79 Gerakan on Possible Withdrawal of Michael Chen...also elected on the occasion were K. H. Tarmudji, H. M. Soedjono, Prof. K. H. Ibrahim Hosen, K. H. Abdul Rachman Wachid, H. Abdul Qadir Basalamah, Dr...JPRS-SEA-85-131 28 August 1985 MALAYSIA DAP TO LAUNCH CAMPAIGN AGAINST INJUSTICE OF NEP Selangor KIN KWOK DAILY NEWS in Chinese 7 Jun 85 p 3 [Text

Near East/South Asia Report, No. 2702

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-02-03

8217--disagreement centered on that word--representative of the Palestinian people. Dr Ibrahim pointed out a number of other occasions during the fall when...much in demand on the world market: the substance in ques- tion is DAP (diammonium phosphate). And though the new ICM 3 plant will make it possible...Fertilizers" plant, by the construction of a new production unit for DAP and NPK [expansion unknown], made from the acid produced on site, imported ammonia

Comprehensive assessment of patient image quality and radiation dose in latest generation cardiac x-ray equipment for percutaneous coronary interventions

PubMed Central

Gislason-Lee, Amber J.; Keeble, Claire; Egleston, Daniel; Bexon, Josephine; Kengyelics, Stephen M.; Davies, Andrew G.

2017-01-01

Abstract. This study aimed to determine whether a reduction in radiation dose was found for percutaneous coronary interventional (PCI) patients using a cardiac interventional x-ray system with state-of-the-art image enhancement and x-ray optimization, compared to the current generation x-ray system, and to determine the corresponding impact on clinical image quality. Patient procedure dose area product (DAP) and fluoroscopy duration of 131 PCI patient cases from each x-ray system were compared using a Wilcoxon test on median values. Significant reductions in patient dose (p≪0.001) were found for the new system with no significant change in fluoroscopy duration (p=0.2); procedure DAP reduced by 64%, fluoroscopy DAP by 51%, and “cine” acquisition DAP by 76%. The image quality of 15 patient angiograms from each x-ray system (30 total) was scored by 75 clinical professionals on a continuous scale for the ability to determine the presence and severity of stenotic lesions; image quality scores were analyzed using a two-sample t-test. Image quality was reduced by 9% (p≪0.01) for the new x-ray system. This demonstrates a substantial reduction in patient dose, from acquisition more than fluoroscopy imaging, with slightly reduced image quality, for the new x-ray system compared to the current generation system. PMID:28491907

Predictors of exposure to organophosphate pesticides in schoolchildren in the Province of Talca, Chile.

PubMed

Muñoz-Quezada, María Teresa; Iglesias, Verónica; Lucero, Boris; Steenland, Kyle; Barr, Dana Boyd; Levy, Karen; Ryan, P Barry; Alvarado, Sergio; Concha, Carlos

2012-10-15

Few data exist in Latin America concerning the association between organophosphate (OP) urinary metabolites and the consumption of fruits and vegetables and other exposure risk variables in schoolchildren. We collected samples of urine from 190 Chilean children aged 6-12 years, fruits and vegetables, water and soil from schools and homes, and sociodemographic data through a questionnaire. We measured urinary dialkylphosphate (DAP) OP metabolites and OP pesticide residues in food consumed by these 190 children during two seasons: December 2010 (summer) and May 2011 (fall). We analyzed the relationship between urinary DAP concentrations and pesticide residues in food, home pesticide use, and residential location. Diethylalkylphosphates (DEAP) and dimethylalkylphosphates (DMAP) were detected in urine in 76% and 27% of the samples, respectively. Factors associated with urinary DEAP included chlorpyrifos in consumed fruits (p<0.0001), urinary creatinine (p<0.0001), rural residence (p=0.02) and age less than 9 years (p=0.004). Factors associated with urinary DMAP included the presence of phosmet residues in fruits (p<0.0001), close proximity to a farm (p=0.002), home fenitrothion use (p=0.009), and season (p<0.0001). Urinary DAP levels in Chilean school children were high compared to previously reported studies. The presence of chlorpyrifos and phosmet residues in fruits was the major factor predicting urinary DAP metabolite concentrations in children. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Health care access for rural youth on equal terms? A mixed methods study protocol in northern Sweden.

PubMed

Goicolea, Isabel; Carson, Dean; San Sebastian, Miguel; Christianson, Monica; Wiklund, Maria; Hurtig, Anna-Karin

2018-01-11

The purpose of this paper is to propose a protocol for researching the impact of rural youth health service strategies on health care access. There has been no published comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of youth health strategies in rural areas, and there is no clearly articulated model of how such assessments might be conducted. The protocol described here aims to gather information to; i) Assess rural youth access to health care according to their needs, ii) Identify and understand the strategies developed in rural areas to promote youth access to health care, and iii) Propose actions for further improvement. The protocol is described with particular reference to research being undertaken in the four northernmost counties of Sweden, which contain a widely dispersed and diverse youth population. The protocol proposes qualitative and quantitative methodologies sequentially in four phases. First, to map youth access to health care according to their health care needs, including assessing horizontal equity (equal use of health care for equivalent health needs,) and vertical equity (people with greater health needs should receive more health care than those with lesser needs). Second, a multiple case study design investigates strategies developed across the region (youth clinics, internet applications, public health programs) to improve youth access to health care. Third, qualitative comparative analysis of the 24 rural municipalities in the region identifies the best combination of conditions leading to high youth access to health care. Fourth, a concept mapping study involving rural stakeholders, care providers and youth provides recommended actions to improve rural youth access to health care. The implementation of this research protocol will contribute to 1) generating knowledge that could contribute to strengthening rural youth access to health care, as well as to 2) advancing the application of mixed methods to explore access to health care.

Microglia and Aging: The Role of the TREM2–DAP12 and CX3CL1-CX3CR1 Axes

PubMed Central

Mecca, Carmen; Giambanco, Ileana; Donato, Rosario; Arcuri, Cataldo

2018-01-01

Depending on the species, microglial cells represent 5–20% of glial cells in the adult brain. As the innate immune effector of the brain, microglia are involved in several functions: regulation of inflammation, synaptic connectivity, programmed cell death, wiring and circuitry formation, phagocytosis of cell debris, and synaptic pruning and sculpting of postnatal neural circuits. Moreover, microglia contribute to some neurodevelopmental disorders such as Nasu-Hakola disease (NHD), and to aged-associated neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and others. There is evidence that human and rodent microglia may become senescent. This event determines alterations in the microglia activation status, associated with a chronic inflammation phenotype and with the loss of neuroprotective functions that lead to a greater susceptibility to the neurodegenerative diseases of aging. In the central nervous system (CNS), Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells 2-DNAX activation protein 12 (TREM2-DAP12) is a signaling complex expressed exclusively in microglia. As a microglial surface receptor, TREM2 interacts with DAP12 to initiate signal transduction pathways that promote microglial cell activation, phagocytosis, and microglial cell survival. Defective TREM2-DAP12 functions play a central role in the pathogenesis of several diseases. The CX3CL1 (fractalkine)-CX3CR1 signaling represents the most important communication channel between neurons and microglia. The expression of CX3CL1 in neurons and of its receptor CX3CR1 in microglia determines a specific interaction, playing fundamental roles in the regulation of the maturation and function of these cells. Here, we review the role of the TREM2-DAP12 and CX3CL1-CX3CR1 axes in aged microglia and the involvement of these pathways in physiological CNS aging and in age-associated neurodegenerative diseases. PMID:29361745

Gene expression profiling via LongSAGE in a non-model plant species: a case study in seeds of Brassica napus

PubMed Central

Obermeier, Christian; Hosseini, Bashir; Friedt, Wolfgang; Snowdon, Rod

2009-01-01

Background Serial analysis of gene expression (LongSAGE) was applied for gene expression profiling in seeds of oilseed rape (Brassica napus ssp. napus). The usefulness of this technique for detailed expression profiling in a non-model organism was demonstrated for the highly complex, neither fully sequenced nor annotated genome of B. napus by applying a tag-to-gene matching strategy based on Brassica ESTs and the annotated proteome of the closely related model crucifer A. thaliana. Results Transcripts from 3,094 genes were detected at two time-points of seed development, 23 days and 35 days after pollination (DAP). Differential expression showed a shift from gene expression involved in diverse developmental processes including cell proliferation and seed coat formation at 23 DAP to more focussed metabolic processes including storage protein accumulation and lipid deposition at 35 DAP. The most abundant transcripts at 23 DAP were coding for diverse protease inhibitor proteins and proteases, including cysteine proteases involved in seed coat formation and a number of lipid transfer proteins involved in embryo pattern formation. At 35 DAP, transcripts encoding napin, cruciferin and oleosin storage proteins were most abundant. Over both time-points, 18.6% of the detected genes were matched by Brassica ESTs identified by LongSAGE tags in antisense orientation. This suggests a strong involvement of antisense transcript expression in regulatory processes during B. napus seed development. Conclusion This study underlines the potential of transcript tagging approaches for gene expression profiling in Brassica crop species via EST matching to annotated A. thaliana genes. Limits of tag detection for low-abundance transcripts can today be overcome by ultra-high throughput sequencing approaches, so that tag-based gene expression profiling may soon become the method of choice for global expression profiling in non-model species. PMID:19575793

Antimicrobial Activity of Endodontic Medicaments and Vehicles using Agar Well Diffusion Method on Facultative and Obligate Anaerobes

PubMed Central

Bhat, Kishore G; Sogi, Suma

2016-01-01

Aims The aim of this study was to determine the relative antimicrobial effectiveness of these endodontic medicaments and various vehicles using an agar well diffusion assay. Materials and methods Double Antibiotic Paste(DAP), modified DAP, 2% Chlorhexidine gluconate and their combination with four vehicles namely Polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG), Propylene glycol (PG), combinations of PG with PEG and lastly Glycerine were tested using agar well diffusion assay. The minimum bactericidal concentration was noted against four standard strains of organisms ie Streptococcus mutans ATCC( American Type Culture Collection) 25175, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 12598, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 35550 and Eschericia coli ATCC 25922. Successful endodontic therapy depends upon thorough disinfection of root canals. In some refractory cases, routine endodontic therapy is not sufficient, so intracanal medicaments are used for proper disinfection of canals. Issues of resistance, limited spectrum of activity and lack of antifungal properties, the hunt for the ideal intracanal medicament continues. In this regard, the vehicles used to form the pastes play a supportive role by forming the appropriate consistency for placement and may dramatically influence their chemical characteristics like their solubility and diffusion. Thus, inorder to use safer and equally effective intracanal medicaments, Chlorhexidine gluconate is being unveiled in this study. Results The difference between the four vehicles when combined with the same endodontic medicament studied above is nonsignificant (NS) except against Porphyromonas gingivalis. Propylene glycol is significantly effective than Glycerine when used with DAP ie C+M medicament combination. (p = 0.029) Conclusion 2% chlorhexidine gluconate and modified DAP can definitely replace DAP and triple antibiotic paste as end-odontic medicaments with chlorhexidine having an added advantage of bactericidal action, substantivity, biocompatibility, low toxicity, and lesser chances of developing resistance. How to cite this article Nalawade TM, Bhat KG, Sogi S. Antimicrobial Activity of Endodontic Medicaments and Vehicles using Agar Well Diffusion Method on Facultative and Obligate Anaerobes. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2016;9(4):335-341. PMID:28127166

Structural barriers in access to medical marijuana in the USA-a systematic review protocol.

PubMed

Valencia, Celina I; Asaolu, Ibitola O; Ehiri, John E; Rosales, Cecilia

2017-08-07

There are 43 state medical marijuana programs in the USA, yet limited evidence is available on the demographic characteristics of the patient population accessing these programs. Moreover, insights into the social and structural barriers that inform patients' success in accessing medical marijuana are limited. A current gap in the scientific literature exists regarding generalizable data on the social, cultural, and structural mechanisms that hinder access to medical marijuana among qualifying patients. The goal of this systematic review, therefore, is to identify the aforementioned mechanisms that inform disparities in access to medical marijuana in the USA. This scoping review protocol outlines the proposed study design for the systematic review and evaluation of peer-reviewed scientific literature on structural barriers to medical marijuana access. The protocol follows the guidelines set forth by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) checklist. The overarching goal of this study is to rigorously evaluate the existing peer-reviewed data on access to medical marijuana in the USA. Income, ethnic background, stigma, and physician preferences have been posited as the primary structural barriers influencing medical marijuana patient population demographics in the USA. Identification of structural barriers to accessing medical marijuana provides a framework for future policies and programs. Evidence-based policies and programs for increasing medical marijuana access help minimize the disparity of access among qualifying patients.

Advanced teleprocessing systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kleinrock, L.; Gerla, M.

1982-09-01

This Annual Technical Report covers research covering the period from October 1, 1981 to September 30, 1982. This contract has three primary designated research areas: packet radio systems, resource sharing and allocation, and distributed processing and control. This report contains abstracts of publications which summarize research results in these areas followed by the main body of the report which is devoted to a study of channel access protocols that are executed by the nodes of a network to schedule their transmissions on multi-access broadcast channel. In particular the main body consists of a Ph.D. dissertation, Channel Access Protocols for Multi-Hop Broadcast Packet Radio Networks. This work discusses some new channel access protocols useful for mobile radio networks. Included is an analysis of slotted ALOHA and some tight bounds on the performance of all possible protocols in a mobile environment.

75 FR 69492 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-12

... month.[the following charges: $285/hour--For Active Connection testing using current Exchange access... using current Exchange access protocols; $333/hour--For Active Connection testing using current Exchange... a fee of $285 per hour for active connection testing using current BX access protocols during the...

A Brief Survey of Media Access Control, Data Link Layer, and Protocol Technologies for Lunar Surface Communications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wallett, Thomas M.

2009-01-01

This paper surveys and describes some of the existing media access control and data link layer technologies for possible application in lunar surface communications and the advanced wideband Direct Sequence Code Division Multiple Access (DSCDMA) conceptual systems utilizing phased-array technology that will evolve in the next decade. Time Domain Multiple Access (TDMA) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) are standard Media Access Control (MAC) techniques that can be incorporated into lunar surface communications architectures. Another novel hybrid technique that is recently being developed for use with smart antenna technology combines the advantages of CDMA with those of TDMA. The relatively new and sundry wireless LAN data link layer protocols that are continually under development offer distinct advantages for lunar surface applications over the legacy protocols which are not wireless. Also several communication transport and routing protocols can be chosen with characteristics commensurate with smart antenna systems to provide spacecraft communications for links exhibiting high capacity on the surface of the Moon. The proper choices depend on the specific communication requirements.

Malaysia’s 2004 Elections: Mahathir’s Successor Succeeds. Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. Volume 3, Number 5, April 2004

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-04-01

Chinese-dominated Democratic Action Party ( DAP ). The BA was a marriage of convenience—a strategic pact—to avoid splitting votes in Malaysia’s plurality... Ibrahim , whom Mahathir had fired as deputy prime minister on charges of corruption and sexual misdemeanors, leading to a seri- ous political showdown...long-standing opposition parties, the Islamist PAS and the Chinese-dominated DAP , had formed an electoral understanding in the 1980s to challenge the

Malaysia, a Modern Miracle: Is It About to Become a NIC (Newly Industrializing Country)?

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-01-13

parties to consistantly challenge the National Front are two extremist, racially oriented parties. The Democratic Action Party ( DAP ) a Chinese...socialist party with ties to Singaporian Prime Minister Lee’s party. DAP has been strong in Urban areas {i where there are large groups of Chinese. The other...Poverty in Southeast Asia: Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines." Pacific Affairs, 52 no. 1. (Spring 1979): 5-41. Ibrahim , Zawabi. "Righ Man, Poor

Experience in highly parallel processing using DAP

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parkinson, D.

1987-01-01

Distributed Array Processors (DAP) have been in day to day use for ten years and a large amount of user experience has been gained. The profile of user applications is similar to that of the Massively Parallel Processor (MPP) working group. Experience has shown that contrary to expectations, highly parallel systems provide excellent performance on so-called dirty problems such as the physics part of meteorological codes. The reasons for this observation are discussed. The arguments against replacing bit processors with floating point processors are also discussed.

The Water SWITCH-ON Spatial Information Platform (SIP)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sala Calero, J., Sr.; Boot, G., Sr.; Dihé, P., Sr.; Arheimer, B.

2017-12-01

The amount of hydrological open data is continually growing and providing opportunities to the scientific community. Although the existing data portals (GEOSS Portal, INSPIRE community geoportal and others) enable access to open data, many users still find browsing through them difficult. Moreover, the time spent on gathering and preparing data usually is more significant than the time spent on the experiment itself. Thus, any improvement on searching, understanding, accessing or using open data is greatly beneficial. The Spatial Information Platform (SIP) has been developed to tackle these issues within the SWITCH-ON European Commission funded FP7 project. The SIP has been designed as a set of tools based on open standards that provide to the user all the necessary functionalities as described in the Publish-Find-Bind (PFB) pattern. In other words, this means that the SIP helps users to locate relevant and suitable data for their experiments analysis, to access and transform it (filtering, extraction, selection, conversion, aggregation). Moreover, the SIP can be used to provide descriptive information about the data and to publish it so others can find and use it. The SIP is based on existing open data protocols such as the OGC/CSW, OGC/WMS, OpenDAP and open-source components like PostgreSQL/PostGIS, GeoServer and pyCSW. The SIP is divided in three main user interfaces: the BYOD (Browse your open dataset) web interface, the Expert GUI tool and the Upload Data and Metadata web interface. The BYOD HTML5 client is the main entry point for users that want to browse through open data in the SIP. The BYOD has a map interface based on Leaflet JavaScript libraries so that the users can search more efficiently. The web-based Open Data Registration Tool is a user-friendly upload and metadata description interface (geographical extent, license, DOI generation). The Expert GUI is a desktop application that provides full metadata editing capabilities for the metadata moderators of the project. In conclusion, the Spatial Information Platform (SIP) provides to its community a set of tools for better understanding and ease of use of hydrological open-data. Moreover, the SIP has been based on well-known OGC standards that will allow the connection and data harvesting from popular open data portals such as the GEOSS system of systems.

Research on a Queue Scheduling Algorithm in Wireless Communications Network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Wenchuan; Hu, Yuanmei; Zhou, Qiancai

This paper proposes a protocol QS-CT, Queue Scheduling Mechanism based on Multiple Access in Ad hoc net work, which adds queue scheduling mechanism to RTS-CTS-DATA using multiple access protocol. By endowing different queues different scheduling mechanisms, it makes networks access to the channel much more fairly and effectively, and greatly enhances the performance. In order to observe the final performance of the network with QS-CT protocol, we simulate it and compare it with MACA/C-T without QS-CT protocol. Contrast to MACA/C-T, the simulation result shows that QS-CT has greatly improved the throughput, delay, rate of packets' loss and other key indicators.

A New Cellular Architecture for Information Retrieval from Sensor Networks through Embedded Service and Security Protocols

PubMed Central

Shahzad, Aamir; Landry, René; Lee, Malrey; Xiong, Naixue; Lee, Jongho; Lee, Changhoon

2016-01-01

Substantial changes have occurred in the Information Technology (IT) sectors and with these changes, the demand for remote access to field sensor information has increased. This allows visualization, monitoring, and control through various electronic devices, such as laptops, tablets, i-Pads, PCs, and cellular phones. The smart phone is considered as a more reliable, faster and efficient device to access and monitor industrial systems and their corresponding information interfaces anywhere and anytime. This study describes the deployment of a protocol whereby industrial system information can be securely accessed by cellular phones via a Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) server. To achieve the study goals, proprietary protocol interconnectivity with non-proprietary protocols and the usage of interconnectivity services are considered in detail. They support the visualization of the SCADA system information, and the related operations through smart phones. The intelligent sensors are configured and designated to process real information via cellular phones by employing information exchange services between the proprietary protocol and non-proprietary protocols. SCADA cellular access raises the issue of security flaws. For these challenges, a cryptography-based security method is considered and deployed, and it could be considered as a part of a proprietary protocol. Subsequently, transmission flows from the smart phones through a cellular network. PMID:27314351

A New Cellular Architecture for Information Retrieval from Sensor Networks through Embedded Service and Security Protocols.

PubMed

Shahzad, Aamir; Landry, René; Lee, Malrey; Xiong, Naixue; Lee, Jongho; Lee, Changhoon

2016-06-14

Substantial changes have occurred in the Information Technology (IT) sectors and with these changes, the demand for remote access to field sensor information has increased. This allows visualization, monitoring, and control through various electronic devices, such as laptops, tablets, i-Pads, PCs, and cellular phones. The smart phone is considered as a more reliable, faster and efficient device to access and monitor industrial systems and their corresponding information interfaces anywhere and anytime. This study describes the deployment of a protocol whereby industrial system information can be securely accessed by cellular phones via a Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) server. To achieve the study goals, proprietary protocol interconnectivity with non-proprietary protocols and the usage of interconnectivity services are considered in detail. They support the visualization of the SCADA system information, and the related operations through smart phones. The intelligent sensors are configured and designated to process real information via cellular phones by employing information exchange services between the proprietary protocol and non-proprietary protocols. SCADA cellular access raises the issue of security flaws. For these challenges, a cryptography-based security method is considered and deployed, and it could be considered as a part of a proprietary protocol. Subsequently, transmission flows from the smart phones through a cellular network.

Verification test results of Apollo stabilization and control systems during undocked operations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Copeland, E. L.; Haken, R. L.

1974-01-01

The results are presented of analysis and simulation testing of both the Skylark 1 reaction control system digital autopilot (RCS DAP) and the thrust vector control (TVC) autopilot for use during the undocked portions of the Apollo/Soyuz Test Project Mission. The RCS DAP testing was performed using the Skylab Functional Simulator (SLFS), a digital computer program capable of simulating the Apollo and Skylab autopilots along with vehicle dynamics including bending and sloshing. The model is used to simulate three-axis automatic maneuvers along with pilot controlled manual maneuvers using the RCS DAP. The TVC autopilot was tested in two parts. A classical stability analysis was performed on the vehicle considering the effects of structural bending and sloshing when under control of the TVC autopilot. The time response of the TVC autopilot was tested using the SLFS. Results indicate that adequate performance stability margins can be expected for the CSM/DM configuration when under the control of the Apollo control systems tested.

Utilization of hydrolysate from lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment to generate electricity by enzymatic fuel cell system.

PubMed

Kim, Sung Bong; Kim, Dong Sup; Yang, Ji Hyun; Lee, Junyoung; Kim, Seung Wook

2016-04-01

The waste hydrolysate after dilute acid pretreatment (DAP) of lignocellulosic biomass was utilized to generate electricity using an enzymatic fuel cell (EFC) system. During DAP, the components of biomass containing hemicellulose and other compounds are hydrolyzed, and glucose is solubilized into the dilute acid solution, called as the hydrolysate liquid. Glucose oxidase (GOD) and laccase (Lac) were assembled on the electrode of the anode and cathode, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were measured, and the maximum power density was found to be 1.254×10(3) μW/cm(2). The results indicate that the hydrolysate from DAP is a reliable electrolyte containing the fuel of EFC. Moreover, the impurities in the hydrolysate such as phenols and furans slightly affected the charge transfer on the surface of the electrode, but did not affect the power generation of the EFC system in principal. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

National Board Certification and Developmentally Appropriate Practices: Perceptions of Impact.

PubMed

McKenzie, Ellen Nancy

2013-04-01

The study investigated a relationship between National Board certification and perceived use of developmentally appropriate practices (DAP). A self-developed survey, the Early-childhood Teacher Inventory of Practices, was e-mailed to participants. Participants included 246 non-National Board-certified (non-NBCT) and 135 National Board-certified (NBCT) early childhood teachers. Descriptives were reported for age, years of teaching experience, grade level currently teaching, ethnicity, degree type, certification type, and degree level. Inferential statistics were used to understand the differences between perceived use of DAP. NBCTs scored significantly higher than non-NBCTs in three of the four target areas and on the total of the scale. Pearson product-moment corelations were used to determine a relationship between years of experience or level of education and NBCTs' perceived use of DAP. Years of experience were significantly related, but level of education was not. The findings indicate that NBCT teachers perceive they incorporate more developmentally appropriate practices into their teaching than do non-NBCT teachers.

National Board Certification and Developmentally Appropriate Practices: Perceptions of Impact

PubMed Central

McKenzie, Ellen Nancy

2013-01-01

The study investigated a relationship between National Board certification and perceived use of developmentally appropriate practices (DAP). A self-developed survey, the Early-childhood Teacher Inventory of Practices, was e-mailed to participants. Participants included 246 non-National Board-certified (non-NBCT) and 135 National Board-certified (NBCT) early childhood teachers. Descriptives were reported for age, years of teaching experience, grade level currently teaching, ethnicity, degree type, certification type, and degree level. Inferential statistics were used to understand the differences between perceived use of DAP. NBCTs scored significantly higher than non-NBCTs in three of the four target areas and on the total of the scale. Pearson product-moment corelations were used to determine a relationship between years of experience or level of education and NBCTs’ perceived use of DAP. Years of experience were significantly related, but level of education was not. The findings indicate that NBCT teachers perceive they incorporate more developmentally appropriate practices into their teaching than do non-NBCT teachers. PMID:23626399

CD300b regulates the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells via phosphatidylserine recognition

PubMed Central

Murakami, Y; Tian, L; Voss, O H; Margulies, D H; Krzewski, K; Coligan, J E

2014-01-01

The CD300 receptor family members are a group of molecules that modulate a variety of immune cell processes. We show that mouse CD300b (CLM7/LMIR5), expressed on myeloid cells, recognizes outer membrane-exposed phosphatidylserine (PS) and does not, as previously reported, directly recognize TIM1 or TIM4. CD300b accumulates in phagocytic cups along with F-actin at apoptotic cell contacts, thereby facilitating their engulfment. The CD300b-mediated activation signal is conveyed through CD300b association with the adaptor molecule DAP12, and requires a functional DAP12 ITAM motif. Binding of apoptotic cells promotes the activation of the PI3K-Akt kinase pathway in macrophages, while silencing of CD300b expression diminishes PI3K-Akt kinase activation and impairs efferocytosis. Collectively, our data show that CD300b recognizes PS as a ligand, and regulates the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells via the DAP12 signaling pathway. PMID:25034781

The use of CTAB as an addition of DAP for improvement resisting acid rain on limestone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Feigao; Li, Dan

2017-11-01

The effect of hydroxyapatite (HA) formed by reacting limestone with mixture of diammonium hydrogen phosphate (DAP) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in the consolidation and protection of carbonate stones was investigated. Different concentration of CTAB was used in the experiments with mild condition in order to study how the CTAB affect the structure of HA. Moreover, the strengthening effect was evaluated with artificially limestone samples. The result of BET and XRD both showed that the structure of HA remained almost unchanged except its crystallinity was affected and specific surface area was decreased as the consequence of the addition of CTAB. A double application (as both coupling agent and consolidant) was also investigated, in which the samples were coated with DAP then followed by self-made product. The Scotch Tape test and hardness test both proved the cohesion between consolidant and limestone powder as well as its ability against acid rain were increased, which were ascribed to HA and CTAB.

Oil body proteins sequentially accumulate throughout seed development in Brassica napus.

PubMed

Jolivet, Pascale; Boulard, Céline; Bellamy, Annick; Valot, Benoît; d'Andréa, Sabine; Zivy, Michel; Nesi, Nathalie; Chardot, Thierry

2011-11-15

Despite the importance of seed oil bodies (OBs) as enclosed compartments for oil storage, little is known about lipid and protein accumulation in OBs during seed formation. OBs from rapeseed (Brassica napus) consist of a triacylglycerol (TAG) core surrounded by a phospholipid monolayer embedded with integral proteins which confer high stability to OBs in the mature dry seed. In the present study, we investigated lipid and protein accumulation patterns throughout seed development (from 5 to 65 days after pollination [DAP]) both in the whole seed and in purified OBs. Deposition of the major proteins (oleosins, caleosins and steroleosins) into OBs was assessed through (i) gene expression pattern, (ii) proteomics analysis, and (iii) protein immunodetection. For the first time, a sequential deposition of integral OB proteins was established. Accumulation of oleosins and caleosins was observed starting from early stages of seed development (12-17 DAP), while steroleosins accumulated later (~25 DAP) onwards. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

An improved ATAC-seq protocol reduces background and enables interrogation of frozen tissues.

PubMed

Corces, M Ryan; Trevino, Alexandro E; Hamilton, Emily G; Greenside, Peyton G; Sinnott-Armstrong, Nicholas A; Vesuna, Sam; Satpathy, Ansuman T; Rubin, Adam J; Montine, Kathleen S; Wu, Beijing; Kathiria, Arwa; Cho, Seung Woo; Mumbach, Maxwell R; Carter, Ava C; Kasowski, Maya; Orloff, Lisa A; Risca, Viviana I; Kundaje, Anshul; Khavari, Paul A; Montine, Thomas J; Greenleaf, William J; Chang, Howard Y

2017-10-01

We present Omni-ATAC, an improved ATAC-seq protocol for chromatin accessibility profiling that works across multiple applications with substantial improvement of signal-to-background ratio and information content. The Omni-ATAC protocol generates chromatin accessibility profiles from archival frozen tissue samples and 50-μm sections, revealing the activities of disease-associated DNA elements in distinct human brain structures. The Omni-ATAC protocol enables the interrogation of personal regulomes in tissue context and translational studies.

Abbreviated MRI Protocols: Wave of the Future for Breast Cancer Screening.

PubMed

Chhor, Chloe M; Mercado, Cecilia L

2017-02-01

The purpose of this article is to describe the use of abbreviated breast MRI protocols for improving access to screening for women at intermediate risk. Breast MRI is not a cost-effective modality for screening women at intermediate risk, including those with dense breast tissue as the only risk. Abbreviated breast MRI protocols have been proposed as a way of achieving efficiency and rapid throughput. Use of these abbreviated protocols may increase availability and provide women with greater access to breast MRI.

Xrootd in dCache - design and experiences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Behrmann, Gerd; Ozerov, Dmitry; Zangerl, Thomas

2011-12-01

dCache is a well established distributed storage solution used in both high energy physics computing and other disciplines. An overview of the implementation of the xrootd data access protocol within dCache is presented. The performance of various access mechanisms is studied and compared and it is concluded that our implementation is as perfomant as other protocols. This makes dCache a compelling alternative to the Scalla software suite implementation of xrootd, with added value from broad protocol support, including the IETF approved NFS 4.1 protocol.

Design of the frame structure for a multiservice interactive system using ATM-PON

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nam, Jae-Hyun; Jang, Jongwook; Lee, Jung-Tae

1998-10-01

The MAC (Medium Access Control) protocol controls B-NT1s' (Optical Network Unit) access to the shared capacity on the PON, this protocol is very important if TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) multiplexing is used on the upstream. To control the upstream traffic some kind of access protocol has to be implemented. There are roughly two different approaches to use request cells: in a collision free way or such that collisions in a request slot are allowed. It is the objective of this paper to describe a MAC-protocol structure that supports both approaches and hybrids of it. In our paper we grantee the QoS (Quality of Service) of each B-NT1 through LOC, LOV, LOA field that are the length field of the transmitted cell at each B-NT1. Each B-NT1 transmits its status of request on request cell.

Identification and expression analysis of starch branching enzymes involved in starch synthesis during the development of chestnut (Castanea mollissima Blume) cotyledons

PubMed Central

Li, Zhi; Zhao, Yanyan; Jiang, Yichen; Zhang, Qing; Cao, Qingqin; Fang, Kefeng; Xing, Yu; Qin, Ling

2017-01-01

Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima Blume) is native to China and distributes widely in arid and semi-arid mountain area with barren soil. As a perennial crop, chestnut is an alternative food source and acts as an important commercial nut tree in China. Starch is the major metabolite in nuts, accounting for 46 ~ 64% of the chestnut dry weight. The accumulation of total starch and amylopectin showed a similar increasing trend during the development of nut. Amylopectin contributed up to 76% of the total starch content at 80 days after pollination (DAP). The increase of total starch mainly results from amylopectin synthesis. Among genes associated with starch biosynthesis, CmSBEs (starch branching enzyme) showed significant increase during nut development. Two starch branching enzyme isoforms, CmSBE I and CmSBE II, were identified from chestnut cotyledon using zymogram analysis. CmSBE I and CmSBE II showed similar patterns of expression during nut development. The accumulations of CmSBE transcripts and proteins in developing cotyledons were characterized. The expressions of two CmSBE genes increased from 64 DAP and reached the highest levels at 77 DAP, and SBE activity reached its peak at 74 DAP. These results suggested that the CmSBE enzymes mainly contributed to amylopectin synthesis and influenced the amylopectin content in the developing cotyledon, which would be beneficial to chestnut germplasm selection and breeding. PMID:28542293

Association of health symptoms with low-level exposure to organophosphates, DNA damage, AChE activity, and occupational knowledge and practice among rice, corn, and double-crop farmers.

PubMed

Hongsibsong, Surat; Sittitoon, Nalin; Sapbamrer, Ratana

2017-03-28

This study aims to determine (1) total dialkylphosphate (ΣDAP) levels, occupational knowledge and practice, DNA damage, AChE activity, and health symptoms in rice, corn, and double-crop farmers; (2) the association of health symptoms with ΣDAP levels, occupational knowledge and practice, DNA damage, and AChE activity in farmers; and (3) the prevalence of health symptoms between farmers and non-farmers. A cross-sectional study was conducted by interviewing as well as analyzing urine and blood samples during July to August 2014. There were no differences in ΣDAP levels, AChE activity, and occupational knowledge and practice scores among all farmer groups. In terms of health symptoms related to ΣDAP, AChE activity, DNA damage, and occupational knowledge and practice, pesticide-related symptoms were determined, including breathlessness, chest pain, dry throat, numbness, muscle weakness, cramp, headache, dizziness, eye irritation, white/red rash, and white/red pimple, which were classified as respiratory, muscle, nervous, and epithelial symptoms. A remarkable finding was that farmers had a significantly higher prevalence of muscle weakness (odds ratio (OR)=3.79) and numbness (OR=3.45) as compared with non-farmers. Our findings, therefore, suggest that a long-term low-level exposure to organophosphates (OPs) may be associated with an increasing prevalence of muscle symptoms. However, a further cohort study incorporating sensitive health outcomes and measurement of multiple pesticides monitoring on a larger scale is warranted.

In Vitro Resistance Profile of the Candidate HIV-1 Microbicide Drug Dapivirine

PubMed Central

Schader, Susan M.; Oliveira, Maureen; Ibanescu, Ruxandra-Ilinca; Moisi, Daniela; Colby-Germinario, Susan P.

2012-01-01

Antiretroviral-based microbicides may offer a means to reduce the sexual transmission of HIV-1. Suboptimal use of a microbicide may, however, lead to the development of drug resistance in users that are already, or become, infected with HIV-1. In such cases, the efficacy of treatments may be compromised since the same (or similar) antiretrovirals used in treatments are being developed as microbicides. To help predict which drug resistance mutations may develop in the context of suboptimal use, HIV-1 primary isolates of different subtypes and different baseline resistance profiles were used to infect primary cells in vitro in the presence of increasing suboptimal concentrations of the two candidate microbicide antiretrovirals dapivirine (DAP) and tenofovir (TFV) alone or in combination. Infections were ongoing for 25 weeks, after which reverse transcriptase genotypes were determined and scrutinized for the presence of any clinically recognized reverse transcriptase drug resistance mutations. Results indicated that suboptimal concentrations of DAP alone facilitated the emergence of common nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor resistance mutations, while suboptimal concentrations of DAP plus TFV gave rise to fewer mutations. Suboptimal concentrations of TFV alone did not frequently result in the development of resistance mutations. Sensitivity evaluations for stavudine (d4T), nevirapine (NVP), and lamivudine (3TC) revealed that the selection of resistance as a consequence of suboptimal concentrations of DAP may compromise the potential for NVP to be used in treatment, a finding of potential relevance in developing countries. PMID:22123692

In vitro resistance profile of the candidate HIV-1 microbicide drug dapivirine.

PubMed

Schader, Susan M; Oliveira, Maureen; Ibanescu, Ruxandra-Ilinca; Moisi, Daniela; Colby-Germinario, Susan P; Wainberg, Mark A

2012-02-01

Antiretroviral-based microbicides may offer a means to reduce the sexual transmission of HIV-1. Suboptimal use of a microbicide may, however, lead to the development of drug resistance in users that are already, or become, infected with HIV-1. In such cases, the efficacy of treatments may be compromised since the same (or similar) antiretrovirals used in treatments are being developed as microbicides. To help predict which drug resistance mutations may develop in the context of suboptimal use, HIV-1 primary isolates of different subtypes and different baseline resistance profiles were used to infect primary cells in vitro in the presence of increasing suboptimal concentrations of the two candidate microbicide antiretrovirals dapivirine (DAP) and tenofovir (TFV) alone or in combination. Infections were ongoing for 25 weeks, after which reverse transcriptase genotypes were determined and scrutinized for the presence of any clinically recognized reverse transcriptase drug resistance mutations. Results indicated that suboptimal concentrations of DAP alone facilitated the emergence of common nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor resistance mutations, while suboptimal concentrations of DAP plus TFV gave rise to fewer mutations. Suboptimal concentrations of TFV alone did not frequently result in the development of resistance mutations. Sensitivity evaluations for stavudine (d4T), nevirapine (NVP), and lamivudine (3TC) revealed that the selection of resistance as a consequence of suboptimal concentrations of DAP may compromise the potential for NVP to be used in treatment, a finding of potential relevance in developing countries.

Efficiently Serving HDF5 Products via OPeNDAP

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yang, Kent

2017-01-01

Hyrax OPeNDAP services are widely used by the Earth Science data centers in NASA, NOAA and other organizations to serve end users. In this talk, we will present some key features added in the HDF5 Hyrax OPeNDAP handler that can help data centers to better serve the HDF5netCDF-4 data products. Among these new features, we will focus on the following:1.The DAP4 support 2.The memory cache and the disk cache support that can reduce the service access time 3.The enhancement that makes the swath-like HDF5 products visualized by CF-client tools. We will also discuss the role of the HDF5 handler in-depth in the recent study of the Hyrax service in the cloud environment.

Local patient dose diagnostic reference levels in pediatric interventional cardiology in Chile using age bands and patient weight values

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

Ubeda, Carlos, E-mail: cubeda@uta.cl; Miranda, Patricia; Vano, Eliseo

Purpose: To present the results of a patient dose evaluation program in pediatric cardiology and propose local diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for different types of procedure and age range, in addition to suggesting approaches to correlate patient dose values with patient weight. This study was the first conducted in Latin America for pediatric interventional cardiology under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Methods: Over three years, the following data regarding demographic and patient dose values were collected: age, gender, weight, height, number of cine series, total number of cine frames, fluoroscopy time (FT), and two dosimetric quantities, dose-areamore » product (DAP) and cumulative dose (CD), at the patient entrance reference point. The third quartile values for FT, DAP, CD, number of cine series, and the DAP/body weight ratio were proposed as the set of quantities to use as local DRLs. Results: Five hundred and seventeen patients were divided into four age groups. Sample sizes by age group were 120 for <1 yr; 213 for 1 to <5 yr; 82 for 5 to <10 yr; and 102 for 10 to <16 yr. The third quartile values obtained for DAP by diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and age range were 1.17 and 1.11 Gy cm{sup 2} for <1 yr; 1.74 and 1.90 Gy cm{sup 2} for 1 to <5 yr; 2.83 and 3.22 Gy cm{sup 2} for 5 to <10 yr; and 7.34 and 8.68 Gy cm{sup 2} for 10 to <16 yr, respectively. The third quartile value obtained for the DAP/body weight ratio for the full sample of procedures was 0.17 (Gy cm{sup 2}/kg) for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Conclusions: The data presented in this paper are an initial attempt at establishing local DRLs in pediatric interventional cardiology, from a large sample of procedures for the standard age bands used in Europe, complemented with the values of the ratio between DAP and patient weight. This permits a rough estimate of DRLs for different patient weights and the refining of these values for the age bands when there may be large differences in child size. These DRLs were obtained at the largest pediatric hospital in Chile, with an active optimization program, and could be used by other hospitals in the Latin America region to compare their current patient dose values and determine whether corrective action is appropriate.« less

Local patient dose diagnostic reference levels in pediatric interventional cardiology in Chile using age bands and patient weight values.

PubMed

Ubeda, Carlos; Miranda, Patricia; Vano, Eliseo

2015-02-01

To present the results of a patient dose evaluation program in pediatric cardiology and propose local diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for different types of procedure and age range, in addition to suggesting approaches to correlate patient dose values with patient weight. This study was the first conducted in Latin America for pediatric interventional cardiology under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Over three years, the following data regarding demographic and patient dose values were collected: age, gender, weight, height, number of cine series, total number of cine frames, fluoroscopy time (FT), and two dosimetric quantities, dose-area product (DAP) and cumulative dose (CD), at the patient entrance reference point. The third quartile values for FT, DAP, CD, number of cine series, and the DAP/body weight ratio were proposed as the set of quantities to use as local DRLs. Five hundred and seventeen patients were divided into four age groups. Sample sizes by age group were 120 for <1 yr; 213 for 1 to <5 yr; 82 for 5 to <10 yr; and 102 for 10 to <16 yr. The third quartile values obtained for DAP by diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and age range were 1.17 and 1.11 Gy cm 2 for <1 yr; 1.74 and 1.90 Gy cm 2 for 1 to <5 yr; 2.83 and 3.22 Gy cm 2 for 5 to <10 yr; and 7.34 and 8.68 Gy cm 2 for 10 to <16 yr, respectively. The third quartile value obtained for the DAP/body weight ratio for the full sample of procedures was 0.17 (Gy cm 2 /kg) for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The data presented in this paper are an initial attempt at establishing local DRLs in pediatric interventional cardiology, from a large sample of procedures for the standard age bands used in Europe, complemented with the values of the ratio between DAP and patient weight. This permits a rough estimate of DRLs for different patient weights and the refining of these values for the age bands when there may be large differences in child size. These DRLs were obtained at the largest pediatric hospital in Chile, with an active optimization program, and could be used by other hospitals in the Latin America region to compare their current patient dose values and determine whether corrective action is appropriate. © 2015 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

PEM public key certificate cache server

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheung, T.

1993-12-01

Privacy Enhanced Mail (PEM) provides privacy enhancement services to users of Internet electronic mail. Confidentiality, authentication, message integrity, and non-repudiation of origin are provided by applying cryptographic measures to messages transferred between end systems by the Message Transfer System. PEM supports both symmetric and asymmetric key distribution. However, the prevalent implementation uses a public key certificate-based strategy, modeled after the X.509 directory authentication framework. This scheme provides an infrastructure compatible with X.509. According to RFC 1422, public key certificates can be stored in directory servers, transmitted via non-secure message exchanges, or distributed via other means. Directory services provide a specialized distributed database for OSI applications. The directory contains information about objects and then provides structured mechanisms for accessing that information. Since directory services are not widely available now, a good approach is to manage certificates in a centralized certificate server. This document describes the detailed design of a centralized certificate cache serve. This server manages a cache of certificates and a cache of Certificate Revocation Lists (CRL's) for PEM applications. PEMapplications contact the server to obtain/store certificates and CRL's. The server software is programmed in C and ELROS. To use this server, ISODE has to be configured and installed properly. The ISODE library 'libisode.a' has to be linked together with this library because ELROS uses the transport layer functions provided by 'libisode.a.' The X.500 DAP library that is included with the ELROS distribution has to be linked in also, since the server uses the DAP library functions to communicate with directory servers.

Web-accessible molecular modeling with Rosetta: The Rosetta Online Server that Includes Everyone (ROSIE).

PubMed

Moretti, Rocco; Lyskov, Sergey; Das, Rhiju; Meiler, Jens; Gray, Jeffrey J

2018-01-01

The Rosetta molecular modeling software package provides a large number of experimentally validated tools for modeling and designing proteins, nucleic acids, and other biopolymers, with new protocols being added continually. While freely available to academic users, external usage is limited by the need for expertise in the Unix command line environment. To make Rosetta protocols available to a wider audience, we previously created a web server called Rosetta Online Server that Includes Everyone (ROSIE), which provides a common environment for hosting web-accessible Rosetta protocols. Here we describe a simplification of the ROSIE protocol specification format, one that permits easier implementation of Rosetta protocols. Whereas the previous format required creating multiple separate files in different locations, the new format allows specification of the protocol in a single file. This new, simplified protocol specification has more than doubled the number of Rosetta protocols available under ROSIE. These new applications include pK a determination, lipid accessibility calculation, ribonucleic acid redesign, protein-protein docking, protein-small molecule docking, symmetric docking, antibody docking, cyclic toxin docking, critical binding peptide determination, and mapping small molecule binding sites. ROSIE is freely available to academic users at http://rosie.rosettacommons.org. © 2017 The Protein Society.

Integrating ArcGIS Online with GEOSS Data Access Broker

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lucchi, Roberto; Hogeweg, Marten

2014-05-01

The Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) seeks to address 9 societal benefit areas for Earth observations to address: disasters, health, energy, climate, agriculture, ecosystems, biodiversity, water, and weather. As governments and their partners continue to monitor the face of the Earth, the collection, storage, analysis, and sharing of these observations remain fragmented, incomplete, or redundant. Major observational gaps also remain (particularly as we seek to look beneath the surface of the land and the water). As such, GEO's credo is that "decision makers need a global, coordinated, comprehensive, and sustained system of observing systems." Not surprisingly, one of the largest block of issues facing GEOSS is in the area of data: the access to data (including the building services to make the data more accessible), inadequate data integration and interoperability, error and uncertainty of observations, spatial and temporal gaps in observations, and the related issues of user involvement and capacity building. This is especially for people who stand to gain the most benefit from the datasets, but don't have the resources or knowledge to use them. Esri has millions of GIS and imagery users in hundreds of thousands of organizations around the world that work in the aforementioned 9 GEO societal benefit areas. Esri is therefore proud to have entered into a partnership with GEOSS, more specifically by way of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Esri and the Earth and Space Science Informatics (ESSI) Laboratory of Prof. Stefano Nativi at the CNR (National Research Council of Italy) Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research. Esri is working with the ESSI Lab to integrate ArcGIS Online by way of the ArcGIS Online API into the GEOSS Data Access Broker (DAB), resulting in the discoverability of all public content from ArcGIS Online through many of the search portals that participate in this network (e.g., DataOne, CEOS, CUAHSI, OneGeology, IOOS). The synergistic efforts will include: 1) Providing the GEOSS community with access to Esri GIS community content, expertise and technology through the GEOSS DAB, as well as to collaboration tools via the ArcGIS platform. 2) Encouraging the Esri GIS community to participate as contributors and users of GEOSS. 3) Supporting the extension of GEOSS to include ArcGIS Online publicly-available data. 4) Collaboration on outreach to both the GIS and GEO communities on effective use of GEOSS, particularly for environmental decision-making. 5) Collaboration on the evolution of GEOSS as an open and interoperable platform in conjunction with the GEOSS community. Protocols such as OPenDAP and formats such as netCDF will play a critical role. This talk will present the initial results of the collaboration which includes the integration of ArcGIS Online in the GEOSS DAB.

Redactions in protocols for drug trials: what industry sponsors concealed.

PubMed

Marquardsen, Mikkel; Ogden, Michelle; Gøtzsche, Peter C

2018-04-01

Objective To describe the redactions in contemporary protocols for industry-sponsored randomised drug trials with patient relevant outcomes and to evaluate whether there was a legitimate rationale for the redactions. Design Cohort study. Under the Freedom of Information Act, we requested access to trial protocols approved by a research ethics committee in Denmark from October 2012 to March 2013. We received 17 consecutive protocols, which had been redacted before we got them, and nine protocols without redactions. In five additional cases, the companies refused to let the committees give us access, and in three other cases, documents were missing. Participants Not applicable. Setting Not applicable. Main outcome measure Amount and nature of redactions in 22 predefined key protocol variables. Results The redactions were most widespread in those sections of the protocol where there is empirical evidence of substantial problems with the trustworthiness of published drug trials: data analysis, handling of missing data, detection and analysis of adverse events, definition of the outcomes, interim analyses and premature termination of the study, sponsor's access to incoming data while the study is running, ownership to the data and investigators' publication rights. The parts of the text that were redacted differed widely, both between companies and within the same company. Conclusions We could not identify any legitimate rationale for the redactions. The current mistrust in industry-sponsored drug trials can only change if the industry offers unconditional access to its trial protocols and other relevant documents and data.

A Lightweight Remote Parallel Visualization Platform for Interactive Massive Time-varying Climate Data Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, J.; Zhang, T.; Huang, Q.; Liu, Q.

2014-12-01

Today's climate datasets are featured with large volume, high degree of spatiotemporal complexity and evolving fast overtime. As visualizing large volume distributed climate datasets is computationally intensive, traditional desktop based visualization applications fail to handle the computational intensity. Recently, scientists have developed remote visualization techniques to address the computational issue. Remote visualization techniques usually leverage server-side parallel computing capabilities to perform visualization tasks and deliver visualization results to clients through network. In this research, we aim to build a remote parallel visualization platform for visualizing and analyzing massive climate data. Our visualization platform was built based on Paraview, which is one of the most popular open source remote visualization and analysis applications. To further enhance the scalability and stability of the platform, we have employed cloud computing techniques to support the deployment of the platform. In this platform, all climate datasets are regular grid data which are stored in NetCDF format. Three types of data access methods are supported in the platform: accessing remote datasets provided by OpenDAP servers, accessing datasets hosted on the web visualization server and accessing local datasets. Despite different data access methods, all visualization tasks are completed at the server side to reduce the workload of clients. As a proof of concept, we have implemented a set of scientific visualization methods to show the feasibility of the platform. Preliminary results indicate that the framework can address the computation limitation of desktop based visualization applications.

Binding of Daptomycin to Anionic Lipid Vesicles Is Reduced in the Presence of Lysyl-Phosphatidylglycerol

PubMed Central

Khatib, Tala O.; Stevenson, Heather; Yeaman, Michael R.; Bayer, Arnold S.

2016-01-01

The cytoplasmic membrane of Staphylococcus aureus contains ∼20 mol% of the net cationic lipid lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol (LPG). Elevated fractions of LPG are associated with increased resistance to cationic antibiotics, including the lipopeptide daptomycin (DAP). Although the surface charge of the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane is altered by LPG, surface binding of DAP was found to be only moderately affected in anionic vesicles containing 20 mol% LPG. These results suggest that charge repulsion cannot fully explain LPG-mediated resistance to cationic peptides. PMID:27216066

Thyroid Dose During Neurointerventional Procedures: Does Lead Shielding Reduce the Dose?

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

Shortt, C. P.; Fanning, N. F.; Malone, L.

2007-09-15

Purpose. To assess radiation dose to the thyroid in patients undergoing neurointerventional procedures and to evaluate dose reduction to the thyroid by lead shielding. Methods and Materials. A randomized patient study was undertaken to evaluate the dose reduction by thyroid lead shields and assess their practicality in a clinical setting. Sixty-five patients attending for endovascular treatment of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and aneurysms were randomized into one of 2 groups a) No Thyroid Shield and b) Thyroid Lead Shield. Two thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) were placed over the thyroid gland (1 on each side) at constant positions on each patient in bothmore » groups. A thyroid lead shield (Pb eq. 0.5 mm) was placed around the neck of patients in the thyroid lead shield group after the neurointerventional radiologist had obtained satisfactory working access above the neck. The total dose-area-product (DAP) value, number and type of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) runs and fluoroscopy time were recorded for all patients. Results. Of the 72 patients who initially attended for neurointerventional procedures, 7 were excluded due to failure to consent or because of procedures involving access to the external carotid circulation. Of the remaining 65 who were randomized, a further 9 were excluded due to; procedureabandonment, unfeasible shield placement or shield interference with the procedure. Patient demographics included mean age of 47.9 yrs (15-74), F:M=1.4:1. Mean fluoroscopy time was 25.9 min. Mean DAP value was 13,134.8 cGy.cm{sup 2} and mean number of DSA runs was 13.4. The mean relative thyroid doses were significantly different (p< 0.001) between the unshielded (7.23 mSv/cGy2 x 105) and shielded groups (3.77 mSv/cGy2 x 105). A mean thyroid dose reduction of 48% was seen in the shielded group versus the unshielded group. Conclusion. Considerable doses to the thyroid are incurred during neurointerventional procedures, highlighting the need for increased awareness of patient radiation protection. Thyroid lead shielding yields significant radiation protection, is inexpensive and when not obscuring the field of view, should be used routinely.« less

Role of Experience, Leadership and Individual Protection in the Cath Lab--A Multicenter Questionnaire and Workshop on Radiation Safety.

PubMed

Kuon, E; Weitmann, K; Hoffmann, W; Dörr, M; Hummel, A; Busch, M C; Felix, S B; Empen, K

2015-10-01

Radiation exposure in invasive cardiology remains considerable. We evaluated the acceptance of radiation protective devices and the role of operator experience, team leadership, and technical equipment in radiation safety efforts in the clinical routine. Cardiologists (115 from 27 centers) answered a questionnaire and documented radiation parameters for 10 coronary angiographies (CA), before and 3.1 months after a 90-min. mini-course in radiation-reducing techniques. Mini-course participants achieved significant median decreases in patient dose area products (DAP: from 26.6 to 13.0 Gy × cm(2)), number of radiographic frames (-29%) and runs (-8%), radiographic DAP/frame (-2%), fluoroscopic DAP/s (-39%), and fluoroscopy time (-16%). Multilevel analysis revealed lower DAPs with decreasing body mass index (-1.4 Gy × cm(2) per kg/m(2)), age (-1.2 Gy × cm(2)/decade), female sex (-5.9 Gy × cm(2)), participation of the team leader (-9.4 Gy × cm(2)), the mini-course itself (-16.1 Gy × cm(2)), experience (-0.7 Gy × cm(2)/1000 CAs throughout the interventionalist's professional life), and use of older catheterization systems (-6.6 Gy × cm(2)). Lead protection included apron (100%), glass sheet (95%), lengthwise (94%) and crosswise (69%) undercouch sheet, collar (89%), glasses (28%), cover around the patients' thighs (19%), foot switch shield (7%), gloves (3%), and cap (1%). Radiation-protection devices are employed less than optimally in the clinical routine. Cardiologists with a great variety of interventional experience profited from our radiation safety workshop - to an even greater extent if the interventional team leader also participated. Radiation protection devices are employed less than optimally in invasive cardiology. The presented radiation-safety mini-course was highly efficient. Cardiologists at all levels of experience profited from the mini-course - considerably more so if the team leader also took part. Interventional experience was less relevant for radiation reduction. Consequently both fellows and trainers should be encouraged to practice autonomy in radiation safety. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Extraction, Structural Characterization, and Potential Antioxidant Activity of the Polysaccharides from Four Seaweeds

PubMed Central

He, Jinzhe; Xu, Yaoyang; Chen, Hongbo; Sun, Peilong

2016-01-01

Four seaweed polysaccharides were extracted from Sarcodia ceylonensis, Ulva lactuca L., Gracilaria lemaneiformis, and Durvillaea antarctica, respectively, by microwave-assisted extraction. The effect of three significant variables (extraction time, extraction temperature, and the ratio of water to raw material) on the process for extracting polysaccharides was investigated, along with the optimization of the extraction using the response surface method (RSM) with a Box–Behnken design. The polysaccharide structure, monosaccharide composition, degree of sulfation, and molecular weight (MW) distribution were analyzed by infrared (IR) spectrometry, gas chromatography (GC), and high-performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC). IR spectrometry showed that Sarcodia ceylonensis polysaccharide (SCP), Ulva lactuca L. polysaccharide (ULLP), and Durvillaea antarctica polysaccharide (DAP) were all sulfated polysaccharides and, except Gracilaria lemaneiformis polysaccharide (GLP), all belong to β-pyranosidic polysaccharides. The average molecular weight (MW) of SCP, ULLP, GLP, and DAP was 466, 404, 591, and 482 kDa, respectively. The quantitative and comparative results with external standards indicated that the main monosaccharide in SCP and ULLP was mannose; and GLP and DAP were mainly composed of galactose and glucose, respectively. Then the in vitro antioxidant activity of all of the polysaccharides was evaluated using different assays—2,2–azino –bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6- sulfonate) (ABTS), hydroxyl radical, nitrite scavenging capacity, and reducing power—and the relationship between their antioxidant activity and chemical characteristics were also examined. ULLP presented the highest ABTS radical scavenging activity; ULLP, SCP and DAP also showed a strong effect on the ABTS radical scavenging activity. SCP and ULLP exhibited excellent hydroxyl radical scavenging activities, about 83.33% ± 2.31% and 80.07% ± 2.17%, respectively, at 4 mg/mL. The reducing power of DAP was relatively more pronounced than that of the three other polysaccharides. However, the nitrite scavenging activities of the four seaweed polysaccharides were weaker than other antioxidant activity (ABTS), hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity, and reducing power. In addition, GLP exhibited lower activities than the other three samples in all of the tests for the antioxidant activity. PMID:27916796

Extraction, Structural Characterization, and Potential Antioxidant Activity of the Polysaccharides from Four Seaweeds.

PubMed

He, Jinzhe; Xu, Yaoyang; Chen, Hongbo; Sun, Peilong

2016-11-28

Four seaweed polysaccharides were extracted from Sarcodia ceylonensis , Ulva lactuca L., Gracilaria lemaneiformis , and Durvillaea antarctica , respectively, by microwave-assisted extraction. The effect of three significant variables (extraction time, extraction temperature, and the ratio of water to raw material) on the process for extracting polysaccharides was investigated, along with the optimization of the extraction using the response surface method (RSM) with a Box-Behnken design. The polysaccharide structure, monosaccharide composition, degree of sulfation, and molecular weight ( M W ) distribution were analyzed by infrared (IR) spectrometry, gas chromatography (GC), and high-performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC). IR spectrometry showed that Sarcodia ceylonensis polysaccharide (SCP), Ulva lactuca L. polysaccharide (ULLP), and Durvillaea antarctica polysaccharide (DAP) were all sulfated polysaccharides and, except Gracilaria lemaneiformis polysaccharide (GLP), all belong to β-pyranosidic polysaccharides. The average molecular weight ( M W ) of SCP, ULLP, GLP, and DAP was 466, 404, 591, and 482 kDa, respectively. The quantitative and comparative results with external standards indicated that the main monosaccharide in SCP and ULLP was mannose; and GLP and DAP were mainly composed of galactose and glucose, respectively. Then the in vitro antioxidant activity of all of the polysaccharides was evaluated using different assays-2,2-azino -bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6- sulfonate) (ABTS), hydroxyl radical, nitrite scavenging capacity, and reducing power-and the relationship between their antioxidant activity and chemical characteristics were also examined. ULLP presented the highest ABTS radical scavenging activity; ULLP, SCP and DAP also showed a strong effect on the ABTS radical scavenging activity. SCP and ULLP exhibited excellent hydroxyl radical scavenging activities, about 83.33% ± 2.31% and 80.07% ± 2.17%, respectively, at 4 mg/mL. The reducing power of DAP was relatively more pronounced than that of the three other polysaccharides. However, the nitrite scavenging activities of the four seaweed polysaccharides were weaker than other antioxidant activity (ABTS), hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity, and reducing power. In addition, GLP exhibited lower activities than the other three samples in all of the tests for the antioxidant activity.

Prenatal Exposure to Organophosphorous Pesticides and Fetal Growth: Pooled Results from Four Longitudinal Birth Cohort Studies.

PubMed

Harley, Kim G; Engel, Stephanie M; Vedar, Michelle G; Eskenazi, Brenda; Whyatt, Robin M; Lanphear, Bruce P; Bradman, Asa; Rauh, Virginia A; Yolton, Kimberly; Hornung, Richard W; Wetmur, James G; Chen, Jia; Holland, Nina T; Barr, Dana Boyd; Perera, Frederica P; Wolff, Mary S

2016-07-01

Organophosphorous (OP) pesticides are associated with reduced fetal growth in animals, but human studies are inconsistent. We pooled data from four cohorts to examine associations of prenatal OP exposure with birth weight (n = 1,169), length (n = 1,152), and head circumference (n = 1,143). Data were from the CHAMACOS, HOME, Columbia, and Mount Sinai birth cohorts. Concentrations of three diethyl phosphate (ΣDEP) and three dimethyl phosphate (ΣDMP) metabolites of OP pesticides [summed to six dialkyl phosphates (ΣDAPs)] were measured in maternal urine. Linear regression and mixed-effects models were used to examine associations with birth outcomes. We found no significant associations of ΣDEP, ΣDMP, or ΣDAPs with birth weight, length, or head circumference overall. However, among non-Hispanic black women, increasing urinary ΣDAP and ΣDMP concentrations were associated with decreased birth length (β = -0.4 cm; 95% CI: -0.9, 0.0 and β = -0.4 cm; 95% CI: -0.8, 0.0, respectively, for each 10-fold increase in metabolite concentration). Among infants with the PON1192RR genotype, ΣDAP and ΣDMP were negatively associated with length (β = -0.4 cm; 95% CI: -0.9, 0.0 and β = -0.5 cm; 95% CI: -0.9, -0.1). This study confirms previously reported associations of prenatal OP exposure among black women with decreased infant size at birth, but finds no evidence of smaller birth weight, length, or head circumference among whites or Hispanics. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found stronger inverse associations of DAPs and birth outcome in infants with the less susceptible PON1192RR genotype. The large pooled data set facilitated exploration of interactions by race/ethnicity and PON1 genotype, but was limited by differences in study populations. Harley KG, Engel SM, Vedar MG, Eskenazi B, Whyatt RM, Lanphear BP, Bradman A, Rauh VA, Yolton K, Hornung RW, Wetmur JG, Chen J, Holland NT, Barr DB, Perera FP, Wolff MS. 2016. Prenatal exposure to organophosphorous pesticides and fetal growth: pooled results from four longitudinal birth cohort studies. Environ Health Perspect 124:1084-1092; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1409362.

A real-time regional adaptive exposure method for saving dose-area product in x-ray fluoroscopy

PubMed Central

Burion, Steve; Speidel, Michael A.; Funk, Tobias

2013-01-01

Purpose: Reduction of radiation dose in x-ray imaging has been recognized as a high priority in the medical community. Here the authors show that a regional adaptive exposure method can reduce dose-area product (DAP) in x-ray fluoroscopy. The authors' method is particularly geared toward providing dose savings for the pediatric population. Methods: The scanning beam digital x-ray system uses a large-area x-ray source with 8000 focal spots in combination with a small photon-counting detector. An imaging frame is obtained by acquiring and reconstructing up to 8000 detector images, each viewing only a small portion of the patient. Regional adaptive exposure was implemented by varying the exposure of the detector images depending on the local opacity of the object. A family of phantoms ranging in size from infant to obese adult was imaged in anteroposterior view with and without adaptive exposure. The DAP delivered to each phantom was measured in each case, and noise performance was compared by generating noise arrays to represent regional noise in the images. These noise arrays were generated by dividing the image into regions of about 6 mm2, calculating the relative noise in each region, and placing the relative noise value of each region in a one-dimensional array (noise array) sorted from highest to lowest. Dose-area product savings were calculated as the difference between the ratio of DAP with adaptive exposure to DAP without adaptive exposure. The authors modified this value by a correction factor that matches the noise arrays where relative noise is the highest to report a final dose-area product savings. Results: The average dose-area product saving across the phantom family was (42 ± 8)% with the highest dose-area product saving in the child-sized phantom (50%) and the lowest in the phantom mimicking an obese adult (23%). Conclusions: Phantom measurements indicate that a regional adaptive exposure method can produce large DAP savings without compromising the noise performance in the image regions with highest noise. PMID:23635281

Associations of maternal organophosphate pesticide exposure and PON1 activity with birth outcomes in SAWASDEE birth cohort, Thailand

PubMed Central

Naksen, Warangkana; Prapamontol, Tippawan; Mangklabruks, Ampica; Chantara, Somporn; Thavornyutikarn, Prasak; Srinual, Niphan; Panuwet, Parinya; Ryan, P. Barry; Riederer, Anne M.; Barr, Dana Boyd

2015-01-01

Prenatal organophosphate (OP) pesticide exposure has been reported to be associated with adverse birth outcomes and neurodevelopment. However, the mechanisms of toxicity of OP pesticides on human fetal development have not yet been elucidated. Our pilot study birth cohort, the Study of Asian Women and Offspring’s Development and Environmental Exposures (SAWASDEE cohort) aimed to evaluate environmental chemical exposures and their relation to birth outcomes and infant neurodevelopment in 52 pregnant farmworkers in Fang district, Chiang Mai province, Thailand. A large array of data was collected multiple times during pregnancy including approximately monthly urine samples for evaluation of pesticide exposure, three blood samples for pesticide-related enzyme measurements and questionnaire data. This study investigated the changes in maternal acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activities and their relation to urinary diakylphosphates (DAPs), class-related metabolites of OP pesticides, during pregnancy. Maternal AChE, butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and PON1 activities were measured three times during pregnancy and urinary DAP concentrations were measured, on average, 8 times from enrollment during pregnancy until delivery. Among the individuals in the group with low maternal PON1 activity (n = 23), newborn head circumference was negatively correlated with log10 maternal ΣDEAP and ΣDAP at enrollment (gestational age=12±3 weeks; β = −1.0 cm, p = 0.03 and β = −1.8 cm, p <0.01, respectively) and at 32 weeks pregnancy (β = −1.1 cm, p = 0.04 and β = −2.6 cm, p = 0.01, respectively). Furthermore, among these mothers, newborn birthweight was also negatively associated with log10 maternal ΣDEAP and ΣDAP at enrollment (β = −219.7 g, p = 0.05 and β = −371.3 g, p = 0.02, respectively). Associations between maternal DAP levels and newborn outcomes were not observed in the group of participants with high maternal PON1 activity. Our results support previous findings from US birth cohort studies. This is the first study to report the associations between prenatal OP pesticide exposure and birth outcomes in Thailand. PMID:26186137

Associations of maternal organophosphate pesticide exposure and PON1 activity with birth outcomes in SAWASDEE birth cohort, Thailand.

PubMed

Naksen, Warangkana; Prapamontol, Tippawan; Mangklabruks, Ampica; Chantara, Somporn; Thavornyutikarn, Prasak; Srinual, Niphan; Panuwet, Parinya; Ryan, P Barry; Riederer, Anne M; Barr, Dana Boyd

2015-10-01

Prenatal organophosphate (OP) pesticide exposure has been reported to be associated with adverse birth outcomes and neurodevelopment. However, the mechanisms of toxicity of OP pesticides on human fetal development have not yet been elucidated. Our pilot study birth cohort, the Study of Asian Women and Offspring's Development and Environmental Exposures (SAWASDEE cohort) aimed to evaluate environmental chemical exposures and their relation to birth outcomes and infant neurodevelopment in 52 pregnant farmworkers in Fang district, Chiang Mai province, Thailand. A large array of data was collected multiple times during pregnancy including approximately monthly urine samples for evaluation of pesticide exposure, three blood samples for pesticide-related enzyme measurements and questionnaire data. This study investigated the changes in maternal acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activities and their relation to urinary diakylphosphates (DAPs), class-related metabolites of OP pesticides, during pregnancy. Maternal AChE, butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and PON1 activities were measured three times during pregnancy and urinary DAP concentrations were measured, on average, 8 times from enrollment during pregnancy until delivery. Among the individuals in the group with low maternal PON1 activity (n=23), newborn head circumference was negatively correlated with log10 maternal ∑DEAP and ∑DAP at enrollment (gestational age=12±3 weeks; β=-1.0 cm, p=0.03 and β=-1.8 cm, p<0.01, respectively) and at 32 weeks pregnancy (β=-1.1cm, p=0.04 and β=-2.6 cm, p=0.01, respectively). Furthermore, among these mothers, newborn birthweight was also negatively associated with log10 maternal ∑DEAP and ∑DAP at enrollment (β=-219.7 g, p=0.05 and β=-371.3g, p=0.02, respectively). Associations between maternal DAP levels and newborn outcomes were not observed in the group of participants with high maternal PON1 activity. Our results support previous findings from US birth cohort studies. This is the first study to report the associations between prenatal OP pesticide exposure and birth outcomes in Thailand. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Reliability of high-strain ionomeric polymer transducers fabricated using the novel direct assembly process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akle, Barbar; Nawshin, Saila; Leo, Donald

2006-03-01

Ionomeric polymer transducers have received considerable attention in the past several years. These actuators, sometimes referred to as artificial muscles, have the ability to generate large bending strain and moderate stress at low applied voltages. Typically, ionic polymer actuators are composed of Nafion-117 membranes with platinum electrodes and are saturated with water diluents. Recently the authors have developed a novel fabrication technique named the Direct Assembly Process (DAP), which allowed good control on electrode morphology and composition. The DAP consists of spraying two high surface area metal-ionomer electrodes on a Nafion membrane. A single- walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) and ruthenium dioxide (RuO II) hybrid electrode was sprayed on a Formamide hydrated Nafion-117 membrane using the DAP method. This transducer was shown to generate 9.4% peak-peak strain under the application of +/-2V at a strain rate of 1%/sec. Furthermore using the DAP one is capable of incorporating several types of diluents in ionomeric polymer transducers. Transducers with ionic liquid diluents are demonstrated to operate in air for long periods of time. In this work we will present a reliability study of transducers fabricated using the DAP. Each transducer is tested under a frequency range of 0.2Hz to 1Hz, and a potential of +/-1V to +/-3V. Water hydrated transducers dehydrates and stop moving within 5 minutes while operating in air under +/-2V. Transducers with Formamide diluents operate for 20,000 cycles under +/-1.5V and 0.5Hz (around 11hrs), while they degrade in less than 3000 cycles under +/-2V and 0.5Hz. Ionic liquid based transducers are demonstrated to operate in air for over 400,000 with little loss in performance, and over 1 million cycle with a loss of only 43%. Actuators with several electrode compositions are fabricated and a correlation between the reliability of ionic liquid-ionic polymer transducers and maximum strain will be presented. This correlation will be used to assess the adhesion between the high surface area electrodes and the Nafion membrane. SEM images of tested transducers will be presented.

Cowpea viruses: Effect of single and mixed infections on symptomatology and virus concentration

PubMed Central

Taiwo, Moni A; Kareem, Kehinde T; Nsa, Imade Y; D'A Hughes, Jackies

2007-01-01

Natural multiple viral infections of cultivated cowpeas have been reported in Nigeria. In this study, three Nigerian commercial cowpea cultivars ("Olo 11", "Oloyin" and "White") and two lines from the IITA (IT86D- 719 and TVU 76) were mechanically inoculated with Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV), Bean southern mosaic virus (SBMV) and Cowpea mottle virus (CMeV) singly, as well as in all possible combinations at 10, 20 and 30 days after planting (DAP). Samples of leaves or stems were collected at 10, 20 and 30 days after inoculation (DAI) and analyzed for relative virus concentration by Enzyme-Linked Immunosrbent Assay. All the cultivars and lines {CVS/L} were susceptible to the viruses but the commercial CVS showed more severe symptoms and had relatively higher viral concentration. In single virus infections, CABMV which induced the most severe symptoms had absorbance values (at 405 nm) of 0.11 to 0.46 while SBMV and CMeV which induced moderate symptoms had virus titre of 0.74 to 1.99 and 0.11 to 0.90 respectively. Plants inoculated 10 DAP had significantly higher virus concentration than those inoculated 30 DAP. In mixed infections involving CABMV (10 DAP) apical necrosis and death were observed in commercial cultivars "Olo 11" and "White". Enhancement of CMeV titers were observed in plants infected with CMeV + CABMV. Multiple viral infections of cowpeas may result in complete yield loss, hence, the availability of seeds of cultivars with a high level of multiple virus resistance is recommended as a means of control. PMID:17900355

Association of health symptoms with low-level exposure to organophosphates, DNA damage, AChE activity, and occupational knowledge and practice among rice, corn, and double-crop farmers

PubMed Central

Hongsibsong, Surat; Sittitoon, Nalin; Sapbamrer, Ratana

2017-01-01

Objectives: This study aims to determine (1) total dialkylphosphate (ΣDAP) levels, occupational knowledge and practice, DNA damage, AChE activity, and health symptoms in rice, corn, and double-crop farmers; (2) the association of health symptoms with ΣDAP levels, occupational knowledge and practice, DNA damage, and AChE activity in farmers; and (3) the prevalence of health symptoms between farmers and non-farmers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by interviewing as well as analyzing urine and blood samples during July to August 2014. Results: There were no differences in ΣDAP levels, AChE activity, and occupational knowledge and practice scores among all farmer groups. In terms of health symptoms related to ΣDAP, AChE activity, DNA damage, and occupational knowledge and practice, pesticide-related symptoms were determined, including breathlessness, chest pain, dry throat, numbness, muscle weakness, cramp, headache, dizziness, eye irritation, white/red rash, and white/red pimple, which were classified as respiratory, muscle, nervous, and epithelial symptoms. A remarkable finding was that farmers had a significantly higher prevalence of muscle weakness (odds ratio (OR)=3.79) and numbness (OR=3.45) as compared with non-farmers. Conclusion: Our findings, therefore, suggest that a long-term low-level exposure to organophosphates (OPs) may be associated with an increasing prevalence of muscle symptoms. However, a further cohort study incorporating sensitive health outcomes and measurement of multiple pesticides monitoring on a larger scale is warranted. PMID:28077823

Multi-matrix quantification and risk assessment of pesticides in the longest river of the Iberian peninsula.

PubMed

Cruzeiro, Catarina; Pardal, Miguel Ângelo; Rodrigues-Oliveira, Nádia; Castro, L Filipe C; Rocha, Eduardo; Rocha, Maria João

2016-12-01

The distribution of pesticides in dissolved aqueous phase (DAP), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and Scrobicularia plana soft tissues from the Tagus River estuary was determined to evaluate the chemicals pollution status and their hazard potential in this area. Samples were collected in 6 campaigns (December 2012-October 2013), from 3 strategical sites, and analysed via different extraction procedures followed by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) determination. The contamination profile among matrices (DAP, SPM, and soft tissue from bivalves (STB)) was marked by average concentrations of 345ng/L, 0.51mg/kg, and 0.02mg/kg, respectively, with several samples above the 2013/39/EU Directive of environmental quality standards (EQS); no differences were observed between sex. A wider range of pesticides was present in STB (n=53) than in SPM (n=36) and DAP (n=19) matrices. Sediment-water partition coefficient, bioaccumulation factor in both DAP and SPM fraction were estimated ranging between 2.5 and 4.4 and 0.008-2799, respectively. The spatial distribution of most pesticides and physicochemical parameters were consistent, indicating a pollution pattern primarily near the Trancão River mouth. Due to the presence of the target compounds, calculated risk quotients pointed out potential hazards for aquatic organisms, mainly to invertebrates. The estimated average daily intake, theoretical maximum daily intake, and hazard quotient of the studied pesticides-via bivalve ingestion-indicated no risk for human health, although it is important to note possible biomagnification processes that may happen along the estuarine food-chain. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electronic influences of bridging and chelating diimine ligand coordination in formamidinate-bridged Rh 2 (II,II) dimers

DOE PAGES

White, Travis A.; Dunbar, Kim R.; Thummel, Randolph P.; ...

2015-10-22

We report two new formamidinate-bridged Rh 2 II,II complexes, cis-[Rh 2 II,II(μ-DTolF) 2(μ-np) 2] 2+ (3; DTolF = N,N'-di-p-tolylformamidinate; np = 1,8-naphthyridine) and cis-[Rh 2 II,II(μ-DTolF) 2(κ 2-dap) 2] 2+ (4; dap = 1,12-diazaperylene), were synthesized from cis-[Rh 2 II,II(μ-DTolF) 2(CH 3CN) 6](BF 4) 2 (1), and their properties were compared to those of cis-[Rh 2 II,II(μ-DTolF) 2(phen) 2](BF 4) 2 (2). Density functional theory (DFT) and electrochemical analyses support the description of the highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMOs) of 3 and 4 as possessing contributions from the metals and formamidinate bridging ligands, with Rh 2/form character, and lowest unoccupiedmore » molecular orbitals (LUMOs) localized on the respective diimine ligand np and dap π* orbitals. Both 3 and 4 display strong, low energy Rh 2/form → diimine(π*) metal/ligand-to-ligand charger transfer ( 1ML–LCT) transitions with maxima at 566 nm (ε = 3600 M -1 cm -1) for 3 and at 630 nm (ε = 2900 M -1 cm -1) for 4 in CH 3CN. Time dependent-DFT (TD-DFT) calculations support these assignments. Finally, the ability of both the bridging np and chelating dap diimine ligands to produce strong absorption of these Rh 2 II,II complexes throughout the visible region is potentially useful for the development of new photocatalysts for H 2 production and photochemotherapeutics.« less

The C-Type Lectin OCILRP2 Costimulates EL4 T Cell Activation via the DAP12-Raf-MAP Kinase Pathway

PubMed Central

Lou, Qiang; Zhang, Wei; Liu, Guangchao; Ma, Yuanfang

2014-01-01

OCILRP2 is a typical Type-II transmembrane protein that is selectively expressed in activated T lymphocytes, dendritic cells, and B cells and functions as a novel co-stimulator of T cell activation. However, the signaling pathways underlying OCILRP2 in T cell activation are still not completely understood. In this study, we found that the knockdown of OCILRP2 expression with shRNA or the blockage of its activity by an anti-OCILRP2 antagonist antibody reduced CD3/CD28-costimulated EL4 T cell viability and IL-2 production, inhibit Raf1, MAPK3, and MAPK8 activation, and impair NFAT and NF-κB transcriptional activities. Furthermore, immunoprecipitation results indicated that OCILRP2 could interact with the DAP12 protein, an adaptor containing an intracellular ITAM motif that can transduce signals to induce MAP kinase activation for T cell activation. Our data reveal that after binding with DAP12, OCILRP2 activates the Raf-MAP kinase pathways, resulting in T cell activation. PMID:25411776

The C-type lectin OCILRP2 costimulates EL4 T cell activation via the DAP12-Raf-MAP kinase pathway.

PubMed

Lou, Qiang; Zhang, Wei; Liu, Guangchao; Ma, Yuanfang

2014-01-01

OCILRP2 is a typical Type-II transmembrane protein that is selectively expressed in activated T lymphocytes, dendritic cells, and B cells and functions as a novel co-stimulator of T cell activation. However, the signaling pathways underlying OCILRP2 in T cell activation are still not completely understood. In this study, we found that the knockdown of OCILRP2 expression with shRNA or the blockage of its activity by an anti-OCILRP2 antagonist antibody reduced CD3/CD28-costimulated EL4 T cell viability and IL-2 production, inhibit Raf1, MAPK3, and MAPK8 activation, and impair NFAT and NF-κB transcriptional activities. Furthermore, immunoprecipitation results indicated that OCILRP2 could interact with the DAP12 protein, an adaptor containing an intracellular ITAM motif that can transduce signals to induce MAP kinase activation for T cell activation. Our data reveal that after binding with DAP12, OCILRP2 activates the Raf-MAP kinase pathways, resulting in T cell activation.

Differential processing of substance P and neurokinin A by plasma dipeptidyl(amino)peptidase IV, aminopeptidase M and angiotensin converting enzyme.

PubMed

Wang, L H; Ahmad, S; Benter, I F; Chow, A; Mizutani, S; Ward, P E

1991-01-01

In addition to plasma metabolism of substance P (SP) by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE; EC 3.4.15.1) (less than 1.0 nmol/min/ml), the majority of SP hydrolysis by rat and human plasma was due to dipeptidyl(amino)peptidase IV (DAP IV; EC 3.4.14.5) (3.15-5.91 nmol/min/ml), which sequentially converted SP to SP(3-11) and SP(5-11). In turn, the SP(5-11) metabolite was rapidly hydrolyzed by rat and human plasma aminopeptidase M (AmM; EC 3.4.11.2) (24.2-25.5 nmol/min/ml). The Km values of SP for DAP IV and of SP(5-11) for AmM ranged from 32.7 to 123 microM. In contrast, neurokinin A (NKA) was resistant to both ACE and DAP IV but was subject to N-terminal hydrolysis by AmM (3.76-10.8 nmol/min/ml; Km = 90.7 microM). These data demonstrate differential processing of SP and NKA by specific peptidases in rat and human plasma.

Exposure to organophosphorus pesticides in Norwegian mothers and their children: Diurnal variability in concentrations of their biomarkers and associations with food consumption.

PubMed

Cequier, Enrique; Sakhi, Amrit Kaur; Haug, Line Småstuen; Thomsen, Cathrine

2017-07-15

Several studies have suggested that exposure to organophosphorus (OP) pesticides is detrimental for health, and in particular for children where moderate doses may have a negative impact on the neurodevelopment. This study surveys levels of the 6 non-specific urinary metabolites (dialkyl phosphates (DAPs)) of OP pesticides in Norwegian mothers (n=48) and their children (n=54), and examines the diurnal variation in concentrations as well as associations with consumption of specific food products. The highest median concentration measured in urine was found for dimethyl thiophosphate (5.3 and 5.5ng/mL SG ; specific gravity corrected) for both children and mothers, respectively, followed by diethyl phosphate (3.8 and 5.3ng/mL SG , respectively). The intra-class correlation coefficients of DAPs among mothers were moderate (0.49-0.68), and consumption of fruit explained between 8% and 55% of the variations in the mothers' and their children's urinary DAP concentrations. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A universal data access and protocol integration mechanism for smart home

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shao, Pengfei; Yang, Qi; Zhang, Xuan

2013-03-01

With the lack of standardized or completely missing communication interfaces in home electronics, there is no perfect solution to address every aspect in smart homes based on existing protocols and technologies. In addition, the central control unit (CCU) of smart home system working point-to-point between the multiple application interfaces and the underlying hardware interfaces leads to its complicated architecture and unpleasant performance. A flexible data access and protocol integration mechanism is required. The current paper offers a universal, comprehensive data access and protocol integration mechanism for a smart home. The universal mechanism works as a middleware adapter with unified agreements of the communication interfaces and protocols, offers an abstraction of the application level from the hardware specific and decoupling the hardware interface modules from the application level. Further abstraction for the application interfaces and the underlying hardware interfaces are executed based on adaption layer to provide unified interfaces for more flexible user applications and hardware protocol integration. This new universal mechanism fundamentally changes the architecture of the smart home and in some way meets the practical requirement of smart homes more flexible and desirable.

Pace: Privacy-Protection for Access Control Enforcement in P2P Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sánchez-Artigas, Marc; García-López, Pedro

In open environments such as peer-to-peer (P2P) systems, the decision to collaborate with multiple users — e.g., by granting access to a resource — is hard to achieve in practice due to extreme decentralization and the lack of trusted third parties. The literature contains a plethora of applications in which a scalable solution for distributed access control is crucial. This fact motivates us to propose a protocol to enforce access control, applicable to networks consisting entirely of untrusted nodes. The main feature of our protocol is that it protects both sensitive permissions and sensitive policies, and does not rely on any centralized authority. We analyze the efficiency (computational effort and communication overhead) as well as the security of our protocol.

Research of Ad Hoc Networks Access Algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiang, Ma

With the continuous development of mobile communication technology, Ad Hoc access network has become a hot research, Ad Hoc access network nodes can be used to expand capacity of multi-hop communication range of mobile communication system, even business adjacent to the community, improve edge data rates. When the ad hoc network is the access network of the internet, the gateway discovery protocol is very important to choose the most appropriate gateway to guarantee the connectivity between ad hoc network and IP based fixed networks. The paper proposes a QoS gateway discovery protocol which uses the time delay and stable route to the gateway selection conditions. And according to the gateway discovery protocol, it also proposes a fast handover scheme which can decrease the handover time and improve the handover efficiency.

Optimizing Libraries’ Content Findability Using Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) With Multi-Tier Architecture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lahinta, A.; Haris, I.; Abdillah, T.

2017-03-01

The aim of this paper is to describe a developed application of Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) as a model for improving libraries’ digital content findability on the library web. The study applies XML text-based protocol tools in the collection of data about libraries’ visibility performance in the search results of the book. Model from the integrated Web Service Document Language (WSDL) and Universal Description, Discovery and Integration (UDDI) are applied to analyse SOAP as element within the system. The results showed that the developed application of SOAP with multi-tier architecture can help people simply access the website in the library server Gorontalo Province and support access to digital collections, subscription databases, and library catalogs in each library in Regency or City in Gorontalo Province.

Browsing for the Best Internet Access Provider?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weil, Marty

1996-01-01

Highlights points to consider when choosing an Internet Service Provider. Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) and Point to Point Protocol (PPP) are compared regarding price, performance, bandwidth, speed, and technical support. Obtaining access via local, national, consumer online, and telephone-company providers is discussed. A pricing chart and…

Connecting long-tail scientists with big data centers using SaaS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Percivall, G. S.; Bermudez, L. E.

2012-12-01

Big data centers and long tail scientists represent two extremes in the geoscience research community. Interoperability and inter-use based on software-as-a-service (SaaS) increases access to big data holdings by this underserved community of scientists. Large, institutional data centers have long been recognized as vital resources in the geoscience community. Permanent data archiving and dissemination centers provide "access to the data and (are) a critical source of people who have experience in the use of the data and can provide advice and counsel for new applications." [NRC] The "long-tail of science" is the geoscience researchers that work separate from institutional data centers [Heidorn]. Long-tail scientists need to be efficient consumers of data from large, institutional data centers. Discussions in NSF EarthCube capture the challenges: "Like the vast majority of NSF-funded researchers, Alice (a long-tail scientist) works with limited resources. In the absence of suitable expertise and infrastructure, the apparently simple task that she assigns to her graduate student becomes an information discovery and management nightmare. Downloading and transforming datasets takes weeks." [Foster, et.al.] The long-tail metaphor points to methods to bridge the gap, i.e., the Web. A decade ago, OGC began building a geospatial information space using open, web standards for geoprocessing [ORM]. Recently, [Foster, et.al.] accurately observed that "by adopting, adapting, and applying semantic web and SaaS technologies, we can make the use of geoscience data as easy and convenient as consumption of online media." SaaS places web services into Cloud Computing. SaaS for geospatial is emerging rapidly building on the first-generation geospatial web, e.g., OGC Web Coverage Service [WCS] and the Data Access Protocol [DAP]. Several recent examples show progress in applying SaaS to geosciences: - NASA's Earth Data Coherent Web has a goal to improve science user experience using Web Services (e.g. W*S, SOAP, RESTful) to reduce barriers to using EOSDIS data [ECW]. - NASA's LANCE provides direct access to vast amounts of satellite data using the OGC Web Map Tile Service (WMTS). - NOAA's Unified Access Framework for Gridded Data (UAF Grid) is a web service based capability for direct access to a variety of datasets using netCDF, OPeNDAP, THREDDS, WMS and WCS. [UAF] Tools to access SaaS's are many and varied: some proprietary, others open source; some run in browsers, others are stand-alone applications. What's required is interoperability using web interfaces offered by the data centers. NOAA's UAF service stack supports Matlab, ArcGIS, Ferret, GrADS, Google Earth, IDV, LAS. Any SaaS that offers OGC Web Services (WMS, WFS, WCS) can be accessed by scores of clients [OGC]. While there has been much progress in the recent year toward offering web services for the long-tail of scientists, more needs to be done. Web services offer data access but more than access is needed for inter-use of data, e.g. defining data schemas that allow for data fusion, addressing coordinate systems, spatial geometry, and semantics for observations. Connecting long-tail scientists with large, data centers using SaaS and, in the future, semantic web, will address this large and currently underserved user community.

Direct data access protocols benchmarking on DPM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furano, Fabrizio; Devresse, Adrien; Keeble, Oliver; Mancinelli, Valentina

2015-12-01

The Disk Pool Manager is an example of a multi-protocol, multi-VO system for data access on the Grid that went though a considerable technical evolution in the last years. Among other features, its architecture offers the opportunity of testing its different data access frontends under exactly the same conditions, including hardware and backend software. This characteristic inspired the idea of collecting monitoring information from various testbeds in order to benchmark the behaviour of the HTTP and Xrootd protocols for the use case of data analysis, batch or interactive. A source of information is the set of continuous tests that are run towards the worldwide endpoints belonging to the DPM Collaboration, which accumulated relevant statistics in its first year of activity. On top of that, the DPM releases are based on multiple levels of automated testing that include performance benchmarks of various kinds, executed regularly every day. At the same time, the recent releases of DPM can report monitoring information about any data access protocol to the same monitoring infrastructure that is used to monitor the Xrootd deployments. Our goal is to evaluate under which circumstances the HTTP-based protocols can be good enough for batch or interactive data access. In this contribution we show and discuss the results that our test systems have collected under the circumstances that include ROOT analyses using TTreeCache and stress tests on the metadata performance.

Development of the NASA Digital Astronaut Project Muscle Model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lewandowski, Beth E.; Pennline, James A.; Thompson, W. K.; Humphreys, B. T.; Ryder, J. W.; Ploutz-Snyder, L. L.; Mulugeta, L.

2015-01-01

This abstract describes development work performed on the NASA Digital Astronaut Project Muscle Model. Muscle atrophy is a known physiological response to exposure to a low gravity environment. The DAP muscle model computationally predicts the change in muscle structure and function vs. time in a reduced gravity environment. The spaceflight muscle model can then be used in biomechanical models of exercise countermeasures and spaceflight tasks to: 1) develop site specific bone loading input to the DAP bone adaptation model over the course of a mission; 2) predict astronaut performance of spaceflight tasks; 3) inform effectiveness of new exercise countermeasures concepts.

Kodak EDR2 film for patient skin dose assessment in cardiac catheterization procedures.

PubMed

Morrell, R E; Rogers, A T

2006-07-01

Patient skin doses were measured using Kodak EDR2 film for 20 coronary angiography (CA) and 32 percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) procedures. For CA, all skin doses were well below 1 Gy. However, 23% of PTCA patients received skin doses of 1 Gy or more. Dose-area product (DAP) was also recorded and was found to be an inadequate indicator of maximum skin dose. Practical compliance with ICRP recommendations requires a robust method for skin dosimetry that is more accurate than DAP and is applicable over a wider dose range than EDR2 film.

Effects of arm elevation on radial artery pressure: a new method to distinguish hypovolemic shock and septic shock from hypotension.

PubMed

Xie, Zhiyi; Zhang, Zhenyu; Xu, Yuan; Zhou, Hua; Wu, Sheng; Wang, Zhong

2018-06-01

In this prospective observational study, we investigated the variability in radial artery invasive blood pressure associated with arm elevation in patients with different hemodynamic types. We carried out a prospective observational study using data from 73 general anesthesia hepatobiliary postoperative adult patients admitted to an ICU over a 1-year period. A standard procedure was used for the arm elevation test. The value of invasive radial arterial pressure was recorded at baseline, and 30 and 60 s after the arm had been raised from 0° to 90°. We compared the blood pressure before versus after arm elevation, and between hemodynamically stable, hypovolemic shock, and septic shock patient groups. In all 73 patients, systolic arterial pressure (SAP) decreased, diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) increased, and pulse pressure (PP) decreased at 30 and 60 s after arm elevation (P<0.01), but the mean arterial pressure (MAP) was unchanged (P>0.05). On comparing 30 and 60 s, there was no significant difference in SAP, DAP, PP, or MAP (P>0.05). In 40 hemodynamically stable patients, SAP and PP decreased, and DAP and MAP increased significantly at 30 and 60 s after arm elevation compared with baseline (P<0.01). In 16 hypovolemic patients, SAP, DAP, and MAP increased significantly compared with baseline at 30 and 60 s (P<0.01), but PP was unchanged (P>0.05). In 17 patients with septic shock, SAP, PP, and MAP decreased significantly versus baseline at 30 and 60 s (P<0.01), but DAP was unchanged (P>0.05). Comparison of the absolute value of pressure change of septic shock patients at 30 s after raising the arm showed that SAP, DAP, and MAP changes were significantly lower compared with those in hypovolemic shock and hemodynamically stable patients (P<0.01). The areas under the receiver operator characteristic curve for predicting septic shock was 0.930 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.867-0.992, P< 0.001] for change value at 30 s after arm elevation of SAP. The best cut-off point for the SAP change value was -5 mmHg or less, with a sensitivity of 94.12%, a specificity of 80.36%, a positive likelihood ratio of 4.79 (95% CI: 2.8-8.2), and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.073 (95% CI: 0.01-0.5). Our study shows that hypovolemic shock and septic shock patients have significantly different radial artery invasive blood pressure changes in an arm elevation test, which could be applied as a new method to distinguish hypovolemic shock and septic shock from hypotension.

Performance comparison of token ring protocols for hard-real-time communication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kamat, Sanjay; Zhao, Wei

1992-01-01

The ability to guarantee the deadlines of synchronous messages while maintaining a good aggregate throughput is an important consideration in the design of distributed real-time systems. In this paper, we study two token ring protocols, the priority driven protocol and the timed token protocol, for their suitability for hard real-time systems. Both these protocols use a token to control access to the transmission medium. In a priority driven protocol, messages are assigned priorities and the protocol ensures that messages are transmitted in the order of their priorities. Timed token protocols do not provide for priority arbitration but ensure that the maximum access delay for a station is bounded. For both protocols, we first derive the schedulability conditions under which the transmission deadlines of a given set of synchronous messages can be guaranteed. Subsequently, we use these schedulability conditions to quantitatively compare the average case behavior of the protocols. This comparison demonstrates that each of the protocols has its domain of superior performance and neither dominates the other for the entire range of operating conditions.

76 FR 24862 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Protocol for Access to Tissue Specimen Samples...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-03

... Collection; Comment Request; Protocol for Access to Tissue Specimen Samples From the National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice... National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank (NMMTB) was established by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS...

Securing TCP/IP and Dial-up Access to Administrative Data.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Conrad, L. Dean

1992-01-01

This article describes Arizona State University's solution to security risk inherent in general access systems such as TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/INTERNET Protocol). Advantages and disadvantages of various options are compared, and the process of selecting a log-on authentication approach involving generation of a different password at…

Value of Image Fusion in Coronary Angiography for the Detection of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts.

PubMed

Plessis, Julien; Warin Fresse, Karine; Cahouch, Zachary; Manigold, Thibaut; Letocart, Vincent; Le Gloan, Laurianne; Guyomarch, Béatrice; Guerin, Patrice

2016-06-10

Coronary angiography is more complex in patients with coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG). Image fusion is a new technology that allows the overlay of a computed tomography (CT) three-dimension (3D) model with fluoroscopic images in real time. This single-center prospective study included 66 previous CABG patients undergoing coronary and bypass graft angiography. Image fusion coronary angiographies (fusion group, 20 patients) were compared to conventional coronary angiographies (control group, 46 patients). The fusion group included patients for whom a previous chest CT scan with contrast was available. For patients in this group, aorta and CABG were reconstructed in 3D from CT acquisitions and merged in real time with fluoroscopic images. The following parameters were compared: time needed to localize the CABG; procedure duration; air kerma (AK); dose area product (DAP); and volume of contrast media injected. Results are expressed as median. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in patient demographics and procedure characteristics (access site, number of bypass to be found, and interventional cardiologist's experience). The time to localize CABG was significantly shorter in the fusion group (7.3 versus 12.4 minutes; P=0.002), as well as the procedure duration (20.6 versus 25.6 minutes; P=0.002), AK (610 versus 814 mGy; P=0.02), DAP (4390 versus 5922.5 cGy·cm(2); P=0.02), and volume of iodinated contrast media (85 versus 116 cc; P=0.002). 3D image fusion improves the CABG detection in coronary angiography and reduces the time necessary to localize CABG, total procedure time duration, radiation exposure, and volume of contrast media. © 2016 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley Blackwell.

Use and Misuse of Opioids in Maine: Results From Pharmacists, the Prescription Monitoring, and the Diversion Alert Programs

PubMed Central

Piper, Brian J.; Desrosiers, Clare E.; Lipovsky, John W.; Rodney, Matthew A.; Baker, Robert P.; McCall, Kenneth L.; Nichols, Stephanie D.; Martin, Sarah L.

2016-01-01

Objective: Although opioids have substantial efficacy for acute pain management, escalation to opioid misuse and abuse is a persistent concern. This report assesses the current status of the opioid epidemic in Maine using three complementary data sets. Method: A representative sample of pharmacists (N = 275) completed an online survey regarding the extent that opioids affected their practice. A county-level analysis of opioid prescriptions (N = 1.22 million) reported to the Maine Prescription Monitoring Program (M-PMP) in 2014 and the agents implicated in arrests as reported to the Maine Diversion Alert Program (DAP, N = 2,700) in 2014/15 also was completed. Results: A significantly greater number of pharmacists agreed that opioid misuse (85.9%), rather than diversion (76.8%) or access (54.2%), was a concern. Only half (56.2%) reported use of the M-PMP. Opioids were dispensed to 22.4% of residents (37.7% of women in their 80s). This was enough to supply everyone in Maine with a 16.1-day supply. Buprenorphine accounted for almost half of opioid prescriptions to young adults (46.3% women, 49.3% men). Arrests increased by 13.3% from 2014 to 2015, and the proportion of arrests that involved prescription opioids decreased while those involving stimulants and heroin were elevated. Conclusions: Pharmacists are very aware of the potential for opioid misuse, but many do not consistently use the M-PMP. There continues to be substantial legitimate use, as well as criminal activity, involving oxycodone and other prescription opioids. Continued vigilance and use of tools like the PMP and DAP are necessary to minimize nonmedical use of opioids in Maine. PMID:27340958

Comparison between publicly accessible publications, registries, and protocols of phase III trials indicated persistence of selective outcome reporting.

PubMed

Zhang, Sheng; Liang, Fei; Li, Wenfeng

2017-11-01

The decision to make protocols of phase III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) publicly accessible by leading journals was a landmark event in clinical trial reporting. Here, we compared primary outcomes defined in protocols with those in publications describing the trials and in trial registration. We identified phase III RCTs published between January 1, 2012, and June 30, 2015, in The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, The Journal of the American Medical Association, and The BMJ with available protocols. Consistency in primary outcomes between protocols and registries (articles) was evaluated. We identified 299 phase III RCTs with available protocols in this analysis. Out of them, 25 trials (8.4%) had some discrepancy for primary outcomes between publications and protocols. Types of discrepancies included protocol-defined primary outcome reported as nonprimary outcome in publication (11 trials, 3.7%), protocol-defined primary outcome omitted in publication (10 trials, 3.3%), new primary outcome introduced in publication (8 trials, 2.7%), protocol-defined nonprimary outcome reported as primary outcome in publication (4 trials, 1.3%), and different timing of assessment of primary outcome (4 trials, 1.3%). Out of trials with discrepancies in primary outcome, 15 trials (60.0%) had discrepancies that favored statistically significant results. Registration could be seen as a valid surrogate of protocol in 237 of 299 trials (79.3%) with regard to primary outcome. Despite unrestricted public access to protocols, selective outcome reporting persists in a small fraction of phase III RCTs. Only studies from four leading journals were included, which may cause selection bias and limit the generalizability of this finding. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Romifidine, medetomidine or xylazine before propofol-halothane-N2O anesthesia in dogs.

PubMed Central

Redondo, J I; Gómez-Villamandos, R J; Santisteban, J M; Domínguez, J M; Ruiz, I; Avila, I

1999-01-01

The objective of this paper was to evaluate romifidine as a premedicant in dogs prior to propofol-halothane-N2O anesthesia, and to compare it with the other alpha2-agonists (medetomidine and xylazine). For this, ten healthy dogs were anesthetized. Each dog received 3 preanesthetic protocols: atropine (10 microg/kg BW, IM), and as a sedative, romifidine (ROM; 40 microg/kg BW, IM), xylazine (XYL; 1 microg/kg, IM), or medetomidine (MED; 20 microg/kg BW, IM). Induction of anesthesia was delivered with propofol 15 min later and maintained with halothane and N2O for one hour in all cases. The following variables were registered before preanesthesia, 10 min after the administration of preanesthesia, and at 5-minute intervals during maintenance: PR, RR, rectal temperature (RT), MAP, SAP, and DAP. During maintenance, arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2), end-tidal CO2 (EtCO2) and percentage of halothane necessary for maintaining anesthesia (%HAL) were also recorded. Induction dose of propofol (DOSE), time to extubation (TE), time to sternal recumbency (TSR) and time to standing (TS) were also registered. The statistical analysis was carried out during the anesthetic period. ANOVA for repeat measures revealed no differences between the 3 groups for PR and RR; however, MAP, SAP and DAP were higher in the MED group; SpO2 was lower in MED and EtCO2 was lower in ROM; %HAL was higher in XYL. No statistical differences were observed in DOSE, TE, TSR or TS. Percentage of halothane was lower in romifidine and medetomidine than in xylazine premedicated dogs also anesthetized with propofol. All the cardiorespiratory variables measured were within normal limits. The studied combination of romifidine, atropine, propofol, halothane and N2O appears to be a safe and effective drug combination for inducing and maintaining general anesthesia in healthy dogs. PMID:9918331

Differential proteomic analysis reveals sequential heat stress-responsive regulatory network in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) taproot.

PubMed

Wang, Ronghua; Mei, Yi; Xu, Liang; Zhu, Xianwen; Wang, Yan; Guo, Jun; Liu, Liwang

2018-05-01

Differential abundance protein species (DAPS) involved in reducing damage and enhancing thermotolerance in radish were firstly identified. Proteomic analysis and omics association analysis revealed a HS-responsive regulatory network in radish. Heat stress (HS) is a major destructive factor influencing radish production and supply in summer, for radish is a cool season vegetable crop being susceptible to high temperature. In this study, the proteome changes of radish taproots under 40 °C treatment at 0 h (Control), 12 h (Heat12) and 24 h (Heat24) were analyzed using iTRAQ (Isobaric Tag for Relative and Absolute Quantification) approach. In total, 2258 DAPS representing 1542 differentially accumulated uniprotein species which respond to HS were identified. A total of 604, 910 and 744 DAPS was detected in comparison of Control vs. Heat12, Control vs. Heat24, and Heat12 vs. Heat24, respectively. Gene ontology and pathway analysis showed that annexin, ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, ATP synthase, heat shock protein (HSP) and other stress-related proteins were predominately enriched in signal transduction, stress and defense pathways, photosynthesis and energy metabolic pathways, working cooperatively to reduce stress-induced damage in radish. Based on iTRAQ combined with the transcriptomics analysis, a schematic model of a sequential HS-responsive regulatory network was proposed. The initial sensing of HS occurred at the plasma membrane, and then key components of stress signal transduction triggered heat-responsive genes in the plant protective metabolism to re-establish homeostasis and enhance thermotolerance. These results provide new insights into characteristics of HS-responsive DAPS and facilitate dissecting the molecular mechanisms underlying heat tolerance in radish and other root crops.

Bioinoculants: A sustainable approach to maximize the yield of Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata L.) under low input of chemical fertilizers.

PubMed

Nosheen, Asia; Bano, Asghari; Ullah, Faizan

2016-02-01

This study aimed to find out the effect of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR; Azospirillum brasilense and Azotobacter vinelandii) either alone or in combination with different doses of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers on growth, seed yield, and oil quality of Brassica carinata (L.) cv. Peela Raya. PGPR were applied as seed inoculation at 10(6) cells/mL(-1) so that the number of bacterial cells per seed was 2.6 × 10(5) cells/seed. The chemical fertilizers, namely, urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP) were applied in different doses (full dose (urea 160 kg ha(-1) + DAP 180 kg ha(-1)), half dose (urea 80 kg ha(-1) + DAP 90 kg ha(-1)), and quarter dose (urea 40 kg ha(-1) + DAP 45 kg ha(-1)). The chemical fertilizers at full and half dose significantly increased the chlorophyll, carotenoids, and protein content of leaves and the seed yield (in kilogram per hectare) but had no effect on the oil content of seed. The erucic acid (C22:1) content present in the seed was increased. Azospirillum performed better than Azotobacter and its effect was at par with full dose of chemical fertilizers (CFF) for pigments and protein content of leaves when inoculated in the presence of half dose of chemical fertilizers (SPH). The seed yield and seed size were greater. Supplementing Azospirillum with SPH assisted Azospirillum to augment the growth and yield, reduced the erucic acid (C22:1) and glucosinolates contents, and increased the unsaturation in seed oil. It is inferred that A. brasilense could be applied as an efficient bioinoculant for enhancing the growth, seed yield, and oil quality of Ethiopian mustard at low fertilizer costs and sustainable ways. © The Author(s) 2013.

Main clinical, therapeutic and technical factors related to patient's maximum skin dose in interventional cardiology procedures

PubMed Central

Journy, N; Sinno-Tellier, S; Maccia, C; Le Tertre, A; Pirard, P; Pagès, P; Eilstein, D; Donadieu, J; Bar, O

2012-01-01

Objective The study aimed to characterise the factors related to the X-ray dose delivered to the patient's skin during interventional cardiology procedures. Methods We studied 177 coronary angiographies (CAs) and/or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasties (PTCAs) carried out in a French clinic on the same radiography table. The clinical and therapeutic characteristics, and the technical parameters of the procedures, were collected. The dose area product (DAP) and the maximum skin dose (MSD) were measured by an ionisation chamber (Diamentor; Philips, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) and radiosensitive film (Gafchromic; International Specialty Products Advanced Materials Group, Wayne, NJ). Multivariate analyses were used to assess the effects of the factors of interest on dose. Results The mean MSD and DAP were respectively 389 mGy and 65 Gy cm−2 for CAs, and 916 mGy and 69 Gy cm−2 for PTCAs. For 8% of the procedures, the MSD exceeded 2 Gy. Although a linear relationship between the MSD and the DAP was observed for CAs (r=0.93), a simple extrapolation of such a model to PTCAs would lead to an inadequate assessment of the risk, especially for the highest dose values. For PTCAs, the body mass index, the therapeutic complexity, the fluoroscopy time and the number of cine frames were independent explanatory factors of the MSD, whoever the practitioner was. Moreover, the effect of technical factors such as collimation, cinematography settings and X-ray tube orientations on the DAP was shown. Conclusion Optimising the technical options for interventional procedures and training staff on radiation protection might notably reduce the dose and ultimately avoid patient skin lesions. PMID:22457404

Development of a model forecasting Dermanyssus gallinae's population dynamics for advancing Integrated Pest Management in laying hen facilities.

PubMed

Mul, Monique F; van Riel, Johan W; Roy, Lise; Zoons, Johan; André, Geert; George, David R; Meerburg, Bastiaan G; Dicke, Marcel; van Mourik, Simon; Groot Koerkamp, Peter W G

2017-10-15

The poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, is the most significant pest of egg laying hens in many parts of the world. Control of D. gallinae could be greatly improved with advanced Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for D. gallinae in laying hen facilities. The development of a model forecasting the pests' population dynamics in laying hen facilities without and post-treatment will contribute to this advanced IPM and could consequently improve implementation of IPM by farmers. The current work describes the development and demonstration of a model which can follow and forecast the population dynamics of D. gallinae in laying hen facilities given the variation of the population growth of D. gallinae within and between flocks. This high variation could partly be explained by house temperature, flock age, treatment, and hen house. The total population growth variation within and between flocks, however, was in part explained by temporal variation. For a substantial part this variation was unexplained. A dynamic adaptive model (DAP) was consequently developed, as models of this type are able to handle such temporal variations. The developed DAP model can forecast the population dynamics of D. gallinae, requiring only current flock population monitoring data, temperature data and information of the dates of any D. gallinae treatment. Importantly, the DAP model forecasted treatment effects, while compensating for location and time specific interactions, handling the variability of these parameters. The characteristics of this DAP model, and its compatibility with different mite monitoring methods, represent progression from existing approaches for forecasting D. gallinae that could contribute to advancing improved Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for D. gallinae in laying hen facilities. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Radiation exposure, and procedure and fluoroscopy times in endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms: a methodological comparison.

PubMed

Cheung, Nicholas K; Boutchard, Michelle; Carr, Michael W; Froelich, Jens J

2018-01-09

Limited data are available for radiation exposure, and procedure and fluoroscopy times in neuroendovascular treatment (NET) strategies. This study establishes and compares related parameters between coil embolization (COIL), balloon assisted coil embolization (BAC), stent assisted coil embolization (SAC), and flow diverting technology (FDT) in NET of intracranial aneurysms. Between 2010 and 2017, 249 consecutive intracranial aneurysms underwent NET at a single center, all performed by the same operator. Dose area products (DAP), and procedure and fluoroscopy times were recorded and compared between COIL, BAC, SAC, and FDT techniques. Differences in parameters between cohorts were analyzed for significance using the Mann-Whitney U test, unpaired t test and χ 2 test. Additional subgroup analysis was performed for emergency and elective cases. 83 aneurysms were treated with COIL (33%), 72 with BAC (29%), 61 with SAC (25%), and 33 with FDT (13%). Baseline characteristics were largely similar within these groups (P>0.05). Among COIL, BAC, and FDT cohorts, no significant difference was found for mean DAP, or procedure and fluoroscopy times (P>0.05). However, compared with all other cohorts, SAC was associated with a significantly higher DAP and longer procedure and fluoroscopy times (P<0.005). No significant difference was recorded for emergency and elective case subgroups. Compared with other NET strategies, SAC was associated with a significantly higher DAP, and longer procedure and fluoroscopy times. This study provides an initial dataset regarding radiation exposure, and procedure and fluoroscopy times for common NET, and may assist ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principles to reduce radiation risks. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Salt stress reduces kernel number of corn by inhibiting plasma membrane H+-ATPase activity.

PubMed

Jung, Stephan; Hütsch, Birgit W; Schubert, Sven

2017-04-01

Salt stress affects yield formation of corn (Zea mays L.) at various physiological levels resulting in an overall grain yield decrease. In this study we investigated how salt stress affects kernel development of two corn cultivars (cvs. Pioneer 3906 and Fabregas) at and shortly after pollination. In an earlier study, we found an accumulation of hexoses in the kernel tissue. Therefore, it was hypothesized that hexose uptake into developing endosperm and embryo might be inhibited. Hexoses are transported into the developing endosperm by carriers localized in the plasma membrane (PM). The transport is driven by the pH gradient which is built up by the PM H + -ATPase. It was investigated whether the PM H + -ATPase activity in developing corn kernels was inhibited by salt stress, which would cause a lower pH gradient resulting in impaired hexose import and finally in kernel abortion. Corn grown under control and salt stress conditions was harvested 0 and 2 days after pollination (DAP). Under salt stress sucrose and hexose concentrations in kernel tissue were higher 0 and 2 DAP. Kernel PM H + -ATPase activity was not affected at 0 DAP, but it was reduced at 2 DAP. This is in agreement with the finding, that kernel growth and thus kernel setting was not affected in the salt stress treatment at pollination, but it was reduced 2 days later. It is concluded that inhibition of PM H + -ATPase under salt stress impaired the energization of hexose transporters into the cells, resulting in lower kernel growth and finally in kernel abortion. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Real-Time Patient and Staff Radiation Dose Monitoring in IR Practice

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

Sailer, Anna M., E-mail: karmanna@stanford.edu; Paulis, Leonie, E-mail: leonie.paulis@mumc.nl; Vergoossen, Laura

PurposeKnowledge of medical radiation exposure permits application of radiation protection principles. In our center, the first dedicated real-time, automated patient and staff dose monitoring system (DoseWise Portal, Philips Healthcare) was installed. Aim of this study was to obtain insight in the procedural and occupational doses.Materials and MethodsAll interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons, and technicians wore personal dose meters (PDMs, DoseAware, Philips Healthcare). The dose monitoring system simultaneously registered for each procedure dose-related data as the dose area product (DAP) and effective staff dose (E) from PDMs. Use and type of shielding were recorded separately. All procedures were analyzed according to proceduremore » type; these included among others cerebral interventions (n = 112), iliac and/or caval venous recanalization procedures (n = 68), endovascular aortic repair procedures (n = 63), biliary duct interventions (n = 58), and percutaneous gastrostomy procedure (n = 28).ResultsMedian (±IQR) DAP doses ranged from 2.0 (0.8–3.1) (percutaneous gastrostomy) to 84 (53–147) Gy cm{sup 2} (aortic repair procedures). Median (±IQR) first operator doses ranged from 1.6 (1.1–5.0) μSv to 33.4 (12.1–125.0) for these procedures, respectively. The relative exposure, determined as first operator dose normalized to procedural DAP, ranged from 1.9 in biliary interventions to 0.1 μSv/Gy cm{sup 2} in cerebral interventions, indicating large variation in staff dose per unit DAP among the procedure types.ConclusionReal-time dose monitoring was able to identify the types of interventions with either an absolute or relatively high staff dose, and may allow for specific optimization of radiation protection.« less

Improving phosphorus uptake and wheat productivity by phosphoric acid application in alkaline calcareous soils.

PubMed

Akhtar, Muhammad; Yaqub, Muhammad; Naeem, Asif; Ashraf, Muhammad; Hernandez, Vicente Espinosa

2016-08-01

Low phosphorus (P) efficiency from existing granular fertilisers necessitates searching for efficient alternatives to improve wheat productivity in calcareous soil. Multi-location trials have shown that phosphoric acid (PA) produced 16% higher wheat grain over commercial P fertilisers, i.e. diammonium phosphate (DAP) and triple superphosphate (TSP). Methods of P application significantly influenced grain yield and the efficiency of methods was observed in the order: PA placement below seed > PA, DAP or TSP fertigation > DAP or TSP broadcast. The sub-surface application of PA produced highest grain yields (mean of all rates), i.e. 4669, 4158 and 3910 kg ha(-1) in Bagh, Bhalwal and Shahpur soil series, respectively. Phosphoric acid at 66 kg P2 O5 ha(-1) was found more effective in increasing gain yield over that of control. Trend in grain P uptake was found similar to that observed for grain yield. Maximum P uptake by grain was recorded at the highest P rate and the lowest at zero P. The significant increase in P uptake with P rates was generally related to the increase in yield rather than its concentration in grain. Phosphorus agronomic efficiency (PAE) and phosphorus recovery efficiency (PRE) were found higher at lower P rate (44 kg P2 O5 ha(-1) ) and decreased with P application. However, PA applied by the either method resulted in higher PAE and PRE compared to DAP and TSP. Phosphoric acid is suggested as an efficient alternative to commercial granular P fertilisers for wheat production in alkaline calcareous soils. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Unmanned aerial systems-based remote sensing for monitoring sorghum growth and development

PubMed Central

Shafian, Sanaz; Schnell, Ronnie; Bagavathiannan, Muthukumar; Valasek, John; Shi, Yeyin; Olsenholler, Jeff

2018-01-01

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Systems (UAV or UAS) have become increasingly popular in recent years for agricultural research applications. UAS are capable of acquiring images with high spatial and temporal resolutions that are ideal for applications in agriculture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of a UAS-based remote sensing system for quantification of crop growth parameters of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) including leaf area index (LAI), fractional vegetation cover (fc) and yield. The study was conducted at the Texas A&M Research Farm near College Station, Texas, United States. A fixed-wing UAS equipped with a multispectral sensor was used to collect image data during the 2016 growing season (April–October). Flight missions were successfully carried out at 50 days after planting (DAP; 25 May), 66 DAP (10 June) and 74 DAP (18 June). These flight missions provided image data covering the middle growth period of sorghum with a spatial resolution of approximately 6.5 cm. Field measurements of LAI and fc were also collected. Four vegetation indices were calculated using the UAS images. Among those indices, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) showed the highest correlation with LAI, fc and yield with R2 values of 0.91, 0.89 and 0.58 respectively. Empirical relationships between NDVI and LAI and between NDVI and fc were validated and proved to be accurate for estimating LAI and fc from UAS-derived NDVI values. NDVI determined from UAS imagery acquired during the flowering stage (74 DAP) was found to be the most highly correlated with final grain yield. The observed high correlations between UAS-derived NDVI and the crop growth parameters (fc, LAI and grain yield) suggests the applicability of UAS for within-season data collection of agricultural crops such as sorghum. PMID:29715311

Channel Access in Erlang

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

Nicklaus, Dennis J.

2013-10-13

We have developed an Erlang language implementation of the Channel Access protocol. Included are low-level functions for encoding and decoding Channel Access protocol network packets as well as higher level functions for monitoring or setting EPICS process variables. This provides access to EPICS process variables for the Fermilab Acnet control system via our Erlang-based front-end architecture without having to interface to C/C++ programs and libraries. Erlang is a functional programming language originally developed for real-time telecommunications applications. Its network programming features and list management functions make it particularly well-suited for the task of managing multiple Channel Access circuits and PVmore » monitors.« less

The Intersystem - Internetworking for space systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Landauer, C.

This paper is a description of the Intersystem, which is a mechanism for internetworking among existing and planned military satellite communication systems. The communication systems interconnected with this mechanism are called member systems, and the interconnected set of communication systems is called the Intersystem. The Intersystem is implemented with higher layer protocols that impose a common organization on the different signaling conventions, so that end users of different systems can communicate with each other. The Intersystem provides its coordination of member system access and resource requests with Intersystem Resource Controllers (IRCs), which are processors that implement the Intersystem protocols and have interfaces to the member systems' own access and resource control mechanisms. The IRCs are connected to each other to form the IRC Subnetwork. Terminals request services from the IRC Subnetwork using the Intersystem Access Control Protocols, and the IRC Subnetwork responses to the requests are coordinated using the RCRC (Resource Controller to Resource Controller) Protocols.

On the designing of a tamper resistant prescription RFID access control system.

PubMed

Safkhani, Masoumeh; Bagheri, Nasour; Naderi, Majid

2012-12-01

Recently, Chen et al. have proposed a novel tamper resistant prescription RFID access control system, published in the Journal of Medical Systems. In this paper we consider the security of the proposed protocol and identify some existing weaknesses. The main attack is a reader impersonation attack which allows an active adversary to impersonate a legitimate doctor, e.g. the patient's doctor, to access the patient's tag and change the patient prescription. The presented attack is quite efficient. To impersonate a doctor, the adversary should eavesdrop one session between the doctor and the patient's tag and then she can impersonate the doctor with the success probability of '1'. In addition, we present efficient reader-tag to back-end database impersonation, de-synchronization and traceability attacks against the protocol. Finally, we propose an improved version of protocol which is more efficient compared to the original protocol while provides the desired security against the presented attacks.

A Fair Contention Access Scheme for Low-Priority Traffic in Wireless Body Area Networks

PubMed Central

Sajeel, Muhammad; Bashir, Faisal; Asfand-e-yar, Muhammad; Tauqir, Muhammad

2017-01-01

Recently, wireless body area networks (WBANs) have attracted significant consideration in ubiquitous healthcare. A number of medium access control (MAC) protocols, primarily derived from the superframe structure of the IEEE 802.15.4, have been proposed in literature. These MAC protocols aim to provide quality of service (QoS) by prioritizing different traffic types in WBANs. A contention access period (CAP)with high contention in priority-based MAC protocols can result in higher number of collisions and retransmissions. During CAP, traffic classes with higher priority are dominant over low-priority traffic; this has led to starvation of low-priority traffic, thus adversely affecting WBAN throughput, delay, and energy consumption. Hence, this paper proposes a traffic-adaptive priority-based superframe structure that is able to reduce contention in the CAP period, and provides a fair chance for low-priority traffic. Simulation results in ns-3 demonstrate that the proposed MAC protocol, called traffic- adaptive priority-based MAC (TAP-MAC), achieves low energy consumption, high throughput, and low latency compared to the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, and the most recent priority-based MAC protocol, called priority-based MAC protocol (PA-MAC). PMID:28832495

An Adaptive OFDMA-Based MAC Protocol for Underwater Acoustic Wireless Sensor Networks

PubMed Central

Khalil, Issa M.; Gadallah, Yasser; Hayajneh, Mohammad; Khreishah, Abdallah

2012-01-01

Underwater acoustic wireless sensor networks (UAWSNs) have many applications across various civilian and military domains. However, they suffer from the limited available bandwidth of acoustic signals and harsh underwater conditions. In this work, we present an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA)-based Media Access Control (MAC) protocol that is configurable to suit the operating requirements of the underwater sensor network. The protocol has three modes of operation, namely random, equal opportunity and energy-conscious modes of operation. Our MAC design approach exploits the multi-path characteristics of a fading acoustic channel to convert it into parallel independent acoustic sub-channels that undergo flat fading. Communication between node pairs within the network is done using subsets of these sub-channels, depending on the configurations of the active mode of operation. Thus, the available limited bandwidth gets fully utilized while completely avoiding interference. We derive the mathematical model for optimal power loading and subcarrier selection, which is used as basis for all modes of operation of the protocol. We also conduct many simulation experiments to evaluate and compare our protocol with other Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)-based MAC protocols. PMID:23012517

An adaptive OFDMA-based MAC protocol for underwater acoustic wireless sensor networks.

PubMed

Khalil, Issa M; Gadallah, Yasser; Hayajneh, Mohammad; Khreishah, Abdallah

2012-01-01

Underwater acoustic wireless sensor networks (UAWSNs) have many applications across various civilian and military domains. However, they suffer from the limited available bandwidth of acoustic signals and harsh underwater conditions. In this work, we present an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA)-based Media Access Control (MAC) protocol that is configurable to suit the operating requirements of the underwater sensor network. The protocol has three modes of operation, namely random, equal opportunity and energy-conscious modes of operation. Our MAC design approach exploits the multi-path characteristics of a fading acoustic channel to convert it into parallel independent acoustic sub-channels that undergo flat fading. Communication between node pairs within the network is done using subsets of these sub-channels, depending on the configurations of the active mode of operation. Thus, the available limited bandwidth gets fully utilized while completely avoiding interference. We derive the mathematical model for optimal power loading and subcarrier selection, which is used as basis for all modes of operation of the protocol. We also conduct many simulation experiments to evaluate and compare our protocol with other Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)-based MAC protocols.

Radiation dosage during pediatric diagnostic or interventional cardiac catheterizations using the “air gap technique” and an aggressive “as low as reasonably achievable” radiation reduction protocol in patients weighing <20 kg

PubMed Central

Osei, Frank A; Hayman, Joshua; Sutton, Nicole J; Pass, Robert H

2016-01-01

Background: Cardiac catheterizations expose both the patient and staff to the risks of ionizing radiation. Studies using the “air gap” technique (AGT) in various radiological procedures indicate that its use leads to reduction in radiation exposure but there are no data on its use for pediatric cardiac catheterization. The aim of this study was to retrospectively review the radiation exposure data for children weighing <20 kg during cardiac catheterizations using AGT and an “as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA)” radiation reduction protocol. Patients and Methods: All patients weighing <20 kg who underwent cardiac catheterization at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM), New York, the United States from 05/2011 to 10/2013 were included. Transplant patients who underwent routine endomyocardial biopsy and those who had surgical procedures at the time of the catheterizations were excluded. The ALARA protocol was used in concert with AGT with the flat panel detector positioned 110 cm from the patient. Demographics, procedural data, and patient radiation exposure levels were collected and analyzed. Results: One-hundred and twenty-seven patients underwent 151 procedures within the study period. The median age was 1.2 years (range: 1 day to 7.9 years) and median weight was 8.8 kg (range: 1.9-19.7). Eighty-nine (59%) of the procedures were interventional. The median total fluoro time was 13 min [interquartile range (IQR) 7.3-21.8]. The median total air Kerma (K) product was 55.6 mGy (IQR 17.6-94.2) and dose area product (DAP) was 189 Gym2 (IQR 62.6-425.5). Conclusion: Use of a novel ALARA and AGT protocol for cardiac catheterizations in children markedly reduced radiation exposure to levels far below recently reported values. Abbreviations: AGT: Air gap technique, ALARA: As low as reasonably achievable. PMID:27011686

The ChArMEx database

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferré, Helene; Belmahfoud, Nizar; Boichard, Jean-Luc; Brissebrat, Guillaume; Descloitres, Jacques; Fleury, Laurence; Focsa, Loredana; Henriot, Nicolas; Mastrorillo, Laurence; Mière, Arnaud; Vermeulen, Anne

2014-05-01

The Chemistry-Aerosol Mediterranean Experiment (ChArMEx, http://charmex.lsce.ipsl.fr/) aims at a scientific assessment of the present and future state of the atmospheric environment in the Mediterranean Basin, and of its impacts on the regional climate, air quality, and marine biogeochemistry. The project includes long term monitoring of environmental parameters, intensive field campaigns, use of satellite data and modelling studies. Therefore ChARMEx scientists produce and need to access a wide diversity of data. In this context, the objective of the database task is to organize data management, distribution system and services, such as facilitating the exchange of information and stimulating the collaboration between researchers within the ChArMEx community, and beyond. The database relies on a strong collaboration between OMP and ICARE data centres and has been set up in the framework of the Mediterranean Integrated Studies at Regional And Locals Scales (MISTRALS) program data portal. All the data produced by or of interest for the ChArMEx community will be documented in the data catalogue and accessible through the database website: http://mistrals.sedoo.fr/ChArMEx. At present, the ChArMEx database contains about 75 datasets, including 50 in situ datasets (2012 and 2013 campaigns, Ersa background monitoring station), 25 model outputs (dust model intercomparison, MEDCORDEX scenarios), and a high resolution emission inventory over the Mediterranean. Many in situ datasets have been inserted in a relational database, in order to enable more accurate data selection and download of different datasets in a shared format. The database website offers different tools: - A registration procedure which enables any scientist to accept the data policy and apply for a user database account. - A data catalogue that complies with metadata international standards (ISO 19115-19139; INSPIRE European Directive; Global Change Master Directory Thesaurus). - Metadata forms to document observations or products that will be provided to the database. - A search tool to browse the catalogue using thematic, geographic and/or temporal criteria. - A shopping-cart web interface to order in situ data files. - A web interface to select and access to homogenized datasets. Interoperability between the two data centres is being set up using the OPEnDAP protocol. The data portal will soon propose a user-friendly access to satellite products managed by the ICARE data centre (SEVIRI, TRIMM, PARASOL...). In order to meet the operational needs of the airborne and ground based observational teams during the ChArMEx 2012 and 2013 campaigns, a day-to-day chart and report display website has been developed too: http://choc.sedoo.org. It offers a convenient way to browse weather conditions and chemical composition during the campaign periods.

Verification, Validation and Credibility Assessment of a Computational Model of the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Werner, C. R.; Humphreys, B. T.; Mulugeta, L.

2014-01-01

The Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) is the resistive exercise device used by astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) to mitigate bone loss and muscle atrophy due to extended exposure to microgravity (micro g). The Digital Astronaut Project (DAP) has developed a multi-body dynamics model of biomechanics models for use in spaceflight exercise physiology research and operations. In an effort to advance model maturity and credibility of the ARED model, the DAP performed verification, validation and credibility (VV and C) assessment of the analyses of the model in accordance to NASA-STD-7009 'Standards for Models and Simulations'.

Condensed, solution and gas phase behaviour of mono- and dinuclear 2,6-diacetylpyridine (dap) hydrazone copper complexes probed by X-ray, mass spectrometry and theoretical calculations.

PubMed

Neto, Brenno A D; Viana, Barbara F L; Rodrigues, Thyago S; Lalli, Priscila M; Eberlin, Marcos N; da Silva, Wender A; de Oliveira, Heibbe C B; Gatto, Claudia C

2013-08-28

We describe the synthesis of novel mononuclear and dinuclear copper complexes and an investigation of their behaviour in solution using mass spectrometry (ESI-MS and ESI-MS/MS) and in the solid state using X-ray crystallography. The complexes were synthesized from two widely used diacetylpryridine (dap) ligands, i.e. 2,6-diacetylpyridinebis(benzoic acid hydrazone) and 2,6-diacetylpyridinebis(2-aminobenzoic acid hydrazone). Theoretical calculations (DFT) were used to predict the complex geometries of these new structures, their equilibrium in solution and energies associated with the transformations.

A genome-wide interactome of DNA-associated proteins in the human liver.

PubMed

Ramaker, Ryne C; Savic, Daniel; Hardigan, Andrew A; Newberry, Kimberly; Cooper, Gregory M; Myers, Richard M; Cooper, Sara J

2017-11-01

Large-scale efforts like the ENCODE Project have made tremendous progress in cataloging the genomic binding patterns of DNA-associated proteins (DAPs), such as transcription factors (TFs). However, most chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq) analyses have focused on a few immortalized cell lines whose activities and physiology differ in important ways from endogenous cells and tissues. Consequently, binding data from primary human tissue are essential to improving our understanding of in vivo gene regulation. Here, we identify and analyze more than 440,000 binding sites using ChIP-seq data for 20 DAPs in two human liver tissue samples. We integrated binding data with transcriptome and phased WGS data to investigate allelic DAP interactions and the impact of heterozygous sequence variation on the expression of neighboring genes. Our tissue-based data set exhibits binding patterns more consistent with liver biology than cell lines, and we describe uses of these data to better prioritize impactful noncoding variation. Collectively, our rich data set offers novel insights into genome function in human liver tissue and provides a valuable resource for assessing disease-related disruptions. © 2017 Ramaker et al.; Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

A Comparison of Patients Absorption Doses with Bone Deformity Due to the EOS Imaging and Digital Radiology

PubMed Central

Abrisham, Seyed Mohammad J.; Bouzarjomehri, Fathollah; Nafisi-Moghadam, Reza; Sobhan, Mohammad R.; Gadimi, Mahdie; Omidvar, Fereshte

2017-01-01

Background: This study has aimed to measure the patient dose in entire spine radiography by EOS system in comparison with the digital radiography. Methods: EOS stereo-radiography was used for frontal and lateral view spine imaging in 41 patients in a prospective analytical study. A calibrated dose area product (DAP) meter was used for calibration of the DAP in EOS system. The accuracy and precision of the system was confirmed according to the acceptance testing. The same procedure was used for 18 patients referred for lumbar spine digital radiology (overall 36 images). Results: Although radiation fields in the EOS were almost twice of that in digital radiology, and the average peak tube voltage (kVp), current supply to the tube (mA), and the average size and age of the patients referred for EOS imaging were greater than digital radiology, however, the average DAP in EOS was 1/5 of that in digital radiology system. Also, the average dose in the EOS was about 1/20 of that in digital radiology. Conclusion: The patient dose in EOS imaging system was lower in comparison with digital radiology (1/20). PMID:28656161

Isolation of Erwinia chrysanthemi kduD mutants altered in pectin degradation.

PubMed Central

Condemine, G; Hugouvieux-Cotte-Pattat, N; Robert-Baudouy, J

1986-01-01

Mutants of Erwinia chrysanthemi impaired in pectin degradation were isolated by chemical and Mu d(Ap lac) insertion mutagenesis. A mutation in the kduD gene coding for 2-keto-3-deoxygluconate oxidoreductase prevented the growth of the bacteria on polygalacturonate as the sole carbon source. Analysis of the kduD::Mu d(Ap lac) insertions indicated that kduD is either an isolated gene or the last gene of a polycistronic operon. Some of the Mu d(Ap lac) insertions were kduD-lac fusions in which beta-galactosidase synthesis reflected kduD gene expression. In all these fusions, beta-galactosidase activity was shown to be sensitive to catabolite repression by glucose and to be inducible by polygalacturonate, galacturonate, and other intermediates of polygalacturonate catabolism. Galacturonate-mediated induction was prevented by a mutation which blocked its metabolism to 2-keto-3-deoxygluconate. 2-Keto-3-deoxygluconate appeared to be the true inducer of kduD expression resulting from galacturonate degradation. 5-Keto-4-deoxyuronate or 2,5-diketo-3-deoxygluconate were the true inducers, originating from polygalacturonate cleavage. These three intermediates also appeared to induce pectate lyases, oligogalacturonate lyase, and 5-keto-4-deoxyuronate isomerase synthesis. PMID:3949717

Structural Transformation of Isolated Poplar and Switchgrass Lignins from Dilute Acid Pretreatment

DOE PAGES

Sun, Qining; Pu, Yunqiao; Meng, Xianzhi; ...

2015-08-27

A key step in conversion of cellulosic biomass into sustainable fuels and chemicals is thermochemical pretreatment to reduce plant cell wall recalcitrance. Obtaining an improved understanding of the fundamental chemistry of lignin, the most recalcitrant component of biomass, during pretreatment is critical to the continued development of renewable biofuel production. To examine the intrinsic chemistry of lignin during dilute acid pretreatment (DAP), lignin was isolated from poplar and switchgrass using a cellulolytic enzyme system and then treated under DAP conditions. These results highlight that lignin is subjected to depolymerization reactions within the first 2 min of dilute acid pretreatment andmore » these changes are accompanied by increased generation of aliphatic and phenolic hydroxyl groups of lignin. This is followed by a competing set of depolymerization and repolymerization reactions that lead to a decrease in the content of guaiacyl lignin units and an increase in condensed lignin units as the reaction residence time is extended beyond 5 min. Finally, we showed that a detailed comparison of changes in functional groups and molecular weights of cellulolytic enzyme lignins with different structural parameters, related to the recalcitrant properties of lignin, could be successfully altered during DAP conditions.« less

A Comparison of Patients Absorption Doses with Bone Deformity Due to the EOS Imaging and Digital Radiology.

PubMed

Abrisham, Seyed Mohammad J; Bouzarjomehri, Fathollah; Nafisi-Moghadam, Reza; Sobhan, Mohammad R; Gadimi, Mahdie; Omidvar, Fereshte

2017-05-01

This study has aimed to measure the patient dose in entire spine radiography by EOS system in comparison with the digital radiography. EOS stereo-radiography was used for frontal and lateral view spine imaging in 41 patients in a prospective analytical study. A calibrated dose area product (DAP) meter was used for calibration of the DAP in EOS system. The accuracy and precision of the system was confirmed according to the acceptance testing. The same procedure was used for 18 patients referred for lumbar spine digital radiology (overall 36 images). Although radiation fields in the EOS were almost twice of that in digital radiology, and the average peak tube voltage (kV p ), current supply to the tube (mA), and the average size and age of the patients referred for EOS imaging were greater than digital radiology, however, the average DAP in EOS was 1/5 of that in digital radiology system. Also, the average dose in the EOS was about 1/20 of that in digital radiology. The patient dose in EOS imaging system was lower in comparison with digital radiology (1/20).

Room-Temperature Synthesis of Thiostannates from {[Ni(tren)]2[Sn2S6]}n.

PubMed

Hilbert, Jessica; Näther, Christian; Weihrich, Richard; Bensch, Wolfgang

2016-08-15

The compound {[Ni(tren)]2[Sn2S6]}n (1) (tren = tris(2-aminoethyl)amine, C6H18N4) was successfully applied as source for the room-temperature synthesis of the new thiostannates [Ni(tren)(ma)(H2O)]2[Sn2S6]·4H2O (2) (ma = methylamine, CH5N) and [Ni(tren)(1,2-dap)]2[Sn2S6]·2H2O (3) (1,2-dap = 1,2-diaminopropane, C3H10N2). The Ni-S bonds in the Ni2S2N8 bioctahedron in the structure of 1 are analyzed with density functional theory calculations demonstrating significantly differing Ni-S bond strengths. Because of this asymmetry they are easily broken in the presence of an excess of ma or 1,2-dap immediately followed by Ni-N bond formation to N donor atoms of the amine ligands thus generating [Ni(tren)(amine)](2+) complexes. The chemical reactions are fast, and compounds 2 and 3 are formed within 1 h. The synthesis concept presented here opens hitherto unknown possibilities for preparation of new thiostannates.

Entrance radiation doses during paediatric cardiac catheterisations performed for diagnosis or the treatment of congenital heart disease.

PubMed

Papadopoulou, D; Yakoumakis, Em; Sandilos, P; Thanopoulos, V; Makri, Tr; Gialousis, G; Houndas, D; Yakoumakis, N; Georgiou, Ev

2005-01-01

The purpose of this study was to estimate the radiation exposure of children, during cardiac catheterisations for the diagnosis or treatment of congenital heart disease. Radiation doses were estimated for 45 children aged from 1 d to 13 y old. Thermoluminescent dosemeters (TLDs) were used to estimate the posterior entrance dose (DP), the lateral entrance dose (DLAT), the thyroid dose and the gonads dose. A dose-area product (DAP) meter was also attached externally to the tube of the angiographic system and gave a direct value in mGy cm2 for each procedure. Posterior and lateral entrance dose values during cardiac catheterisations ranged from 1 to 197 mGy and from 1.1 to 250.3 mGy, respectively. Radiation exposure to the thyroid and the gonads ranged from 0.3 to 8.4 mGy to 0.1 and 0.7 mGy, respectively. Finally, the DAP meter values ranged between 360 and 33,200 mGy cm2. Radiation doses measured in this study are comparable with those reported to previous studies. Moreover, strong correlation was found between the DAP values and the entrance radiation dose measured with TLDs.

Design, synthesis, and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitory activity for a novel series of 2,4,8,22-tetraazatetracyclo[14.3.1.1³,⁷.1⁹,¹³]docosa-1(20),3(22),4,6,9(21),10,12,16,18-nonaene macrocycles.

PubMed

Breslin, Henry J; Lane, Brandon M; Ott, Gregory R; Ghose, Arup K; Angeles, Thelma S; Albom, Mark S; Cheng, Mangeng; Wan, Weihua; Haltiwanger, R Curtis; Wells-Knecht, Kevin J; Dorsey, Bruce D

2012-01-12

A novel set of 2,4,8,22-tetraazatetracyclo[14.3.1.1(3,7).1(9,13)]docosa-1(20),3(22),4,6,9(21),10,12,16,18-nonaene macrocycles were prepared as potential anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitors, designed to rigidly lock an energy-minimized bioactive conformation of the diaminopyrimidine (DAP) scaffold, a well-documented kinase platform. From 13 analogues prepared, macrocycle 2m showed the most promising in vitro ALK enzymatic (IC(50) = 0.5 nM) and cellular (IC(50) = 10 nM) activities. In addition, macrocycle 2m exhibited a favorable kinase selectivity preference for inhibition of ALK relative to the highly homologous insulin receptor (IR) kinase (IR/ALK ratio of 173). The inclusive in vitro biological results for this set of macrocycles validate this scaffold as a viable kinase template and further corroborate recent DAP/ALK solid state studies indicating that the inverted "U" shaped conformation of the acyclic DAPs is a preferred bioactive conformation.

Radiation exposure to eye lens and operator hands during endovascular procedures in hybrid operating rooms.

PubMed

Attigah, Nicolas; Oikonomou, Kyriakos; Hinz, Ulf; Knoch, Thomas; Demirel, Serdar; Verhoeven, Eric; Böckler, Dittmar

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiation exposure of vascular surgeons' eye lens and fingers during complex endovascular procedures in modern hybrid operating rooms. Prospective, nonrandomized multicenter study design. One hundred seventy-one consecutive patients (138 male; median age, 72.5 years [interquartile range, 65-77 years]) underwent an endovascular procedure in a hybrid operating room between March 2012 and July 2013 in two vascular centers. The dose-area product (DAP), fluoroscopy time, operating time, and amount of contrast dye were registered prospectively. For radiation dose recordings, single-use dosimeters were attached at eye level and to the ring finger of the hand next to the radiation field of the operator for each endovascular procedure. Dose recordings were evaluated by an independent institution. Before the study, precursory investigations were obtained to simulate the radiation dose to eye lens and fingers with an Alderson phantome (RSD, Long Beach, Calif). Interventions were classified into six treatment categories: endovascular repair of infrarenal abdominal aneurysm (n = 65), thoracic endovascular aortic repair (n = 32), branched endovascular aortic repair for thoracoabdominal aneurysms (n = 17), fenestrated endovascular aortic repair for complex abdominal aortic aneurysm, (n = 25), iliac branched device (n = 8), and peripheral interventions (n = 24). There was a significant correlation in DAP between both lens (P < .01; r = 0.55) and finger (P < .01; r = 0.56) doses. The estimated fluoroscopy time to reach a radiation threshold of 20 mSv/y was 1404.10 minutes (90% confidence limit, 1160, 1650 minutes). According to correlation of the lens dose with the DAP an estimated cumulative DAP of 932,000 mGy/m(2) (90% confidence limit, 822,000, 1,039,000) would be critical for a threshold of 20 mSv/y for the eyes. Radiation protection is a serious issue for vascular surgeons because most complex endovascular procedures are delivering measurable radiation to the eyes. With the correlation of the DAP obtained in standard endovascular procedures a critical threshold of 20 mSv/y to the eyes can be predicted and thus an estimate of a potential harmful exposure to the eyes can be obtained. Copyright © 2016 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Channel MAC Protocol for Opportunistic Communication in Ad Hoc Wireless Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ashraf, Manzur; Jayasuriya, Aruna; Perreau, Sylvie

2008-12-01

Despite significant research effort, the performance of distributed medium access control methods has failed to meet theoretical expectations. This paper proposes a protocol named "Channel MAC" performing a fully distributed medium access control based on opportunistic communication principles. In this protocol, nodes access the channel when the channel quality increases beyond a threshold, while neighbouring nodes are deemed to be silent. Once a node starts transmitting, it will keep transmitting until the channel becomes "bad." We derive an analytical throughput limit for Channel MAC in a shared multiple access environment. Furthermore, three performance metrics of Channel MAC—throughput, fairness, and delay—are analysed in single hop and multihop scenarios using NS2 simulations. The simulation results show throughput performance improvement of up to 130% with Channel MAC over IEEE 802.11. We also show that the severe resource starvation problem (unfairness) of IEEE 802.11 in some network scenarios is reduced by the Channel MAC mechanism.

Traffic Adaptive Energy Efficient and Low Latency Medium Access Control for Wireless Sensor Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yadav, Rajesh; Varma, Shirshu; Malaviya, N.

2008-05-01

Medium access control for wireless sensor networks has been a very active research area in the recent years. The traditional wireless medium access control protocol such as IEEE 802.11 is not suitable for the sensor network application because these are battery powered. The recharging of these sensor nodes is expensive and also not possible. The most of the literature in the medium access for the sensor network focuses on the energy efficiency. The proposed MAC protocol solves the energy inefficiency caused by idle listening, control packet overhead and overhearing taking nodes latency into consideration based on the network traffic. Simulation experiments have been performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The validation of the simulation results of the proposed MAC has been done by comparing it with the analytical model. This protocol has been simulated in Network Simulator ns-2.

Simple Spectral Lines Data Model Version 1.0

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osuna, Pedro; Salgado, Jesus; Guainazzi, Matteo; Dubernet, Marie-Lise; Roueff, Evelyne; Osuna, Pedro; Salgado, Jesus

2010-12-01

This document presents a Data Model to describe Spectral Line Transitions in the context of the Simple Line Access Protocol defined by the IVOA (c.f. Ref[13] IVOA Simple Line Access protocol) The main objective of the model is to integrate with and support the Simple Line Access Protocol, with which it forms a compact unit. This integration allows seamless access to Spectral Line Transitions available worldwide in the VO context. This model does not provide a complete description of Atomic and Molecular Physics, which scope is outside of this document. In the astrophysical sense, a line is considered as the result of a transition between two energy levels. Under the basis of this assumption, a whole set of objects and attributes have been derived to define properly the necessary information to describe lines appearing in astrophysical contexts. The document has been written taking into account available information from many different Line data providers (see acknowledgments section).

Optimizing the NASA Technical Report Server

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nelson, Michael L.; Maa, Ming-Hokng

1996-01-01

The NASA Technical Report Server (NTRS), a World Wide Web report distribution NASA technical publications service, is modified for performance enhancement, greater protocol support, and human interface optimization. Results include: Parallel database queries, significantly decreasing user access times by an average factor of 2.3; access from clients behind firewalls and/ or proxies which truncate excessively long Uniform Resource Locators (URLs); access to non-Wide Area Information Server (WAIS) databases and compatibility with the 239-50.3 protocol; and a streamlined user interface.

The US Culture Collection Network responding to the requirements of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The US Culture Collection Network held a meeting to share information about how collections are responding to the requirements of the recently enacted Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Bio...

Pretreatment methods for bioethanol production.

PubMed

Xu, Zhaoyang; Huang, Fang

2014-09-01

Lignocellulosic biomass, such as wood, grass, agricultural, and forest residues, are potential resources for the production of bioethanol. The current biochemical process of converting biomass to bioethanol typically consists of three main steps: pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation. For this process, pretreatment is probably the most crucial step since it has a large impact on the efficiency of the overall bioconversion. The aim of pretreatment is to disrupt recalcitrant structures of cellulosic biomass to make cellulose more accessible to the enzymes that convert carbohydrate polymers into fermentable sugars. This paper reviews several leading acidic, neutral, and alkaline pretreatments technologies. Different pretreatment methods, including dilute acid pretreatment (DAP), steam explosion pretreatment (SEP), organosolv, liquid hot water (LHW), ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX), soaking in aqueous ammonia (SAA), sodium hydroxide/lime pretreatments, and ozonolysis are intensively introduced and discussed. In this minireview, the key points are focused on the structural changes primarily in cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin during the above leading pretreatment technologies.

Numerical simulation of the optimal two-mode attacks for two-way continuous-variable quantum cryptography in reverse reconciliation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yichen; Li, Zhengyu; Zhao, Yijia; Yu, Song; Guo, Hong

2017-02-01

We analyze the security of the two-way continuous-variable quantum key distribution protocol in reverse reconciliation against general two-mode attacks, which represent all accessible attacks at fixed channel parameters. Rather than against one specific attack model, the expression of secret key rates of the two-way protocol are derived against all accessible attack models. It is found that there is an optimal two-mode attack to minimize the performance of the protocol in terms of both secret key rates and maximal transmission distances. We identify the optimal two-mode attack, give the specific attack model of the optimal two-mode attack and show the performance of the two-way protocol against the optimal two-mode attack. Even under the optimal two-mode attack, the performances of two-way protocol are still better than the corresponding one-way protocol, which shows the advantage of making double use of the quantum channel and the potential of long-distance secure communication using a two-way protocol.

Data aggregation in wireless sensor networks using the SOAP protocol

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al-Yasiri, A.; Sunley, A.

2007-07-01

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) offer an increasingly attractive method of data gathering in distributed system architectures and dynamic access via wireless connectivity. Wireless sensor networks have physical and resource limitations, this leads to increased complexity for application developers and often results in applications that are closely coupled with network protocols. In this paper, a data aggregation framework using SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) on wireless sensor networks is presented. The framework works as a middleware for aggregating data measured by a number of nodes within a network. The aim of the study is to assess the suitability of the protocol in such environments where resources are limited compared to traditional networks.

Wireless access to a pharmaceutical database: a demonstrator for data driven Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) applications in medical information processing.

PubMed

Schacht Hansen, M; Dørup, J

2001-01-01

The Wireless Application Protocol technology implemented in newer mobile phones has built-in facilities for handling much of the information processing needed in clinical work. To test a practical approach we ported a relational database of the Danish pharmaceutical catalogue to Wireless Application Protocol using open source freeware at all steps. We used Apache 1.3 web software on a Linux server. Data containing the Danish pharmaceutical catalogue were imported from an ASCII file into a MySQL 3.22.32 database using a Practical Extraction and Report Language script for easy update of the database. Data were distributed in 35 interrelated tables. Each pharmaceutical brand name was given its own card with links to general information about the drug, active substances, contraindications etc. Access was available through 1) browsing therapeutic groups and 2) searching for a brand name. The database interface was programmed in the server-side scripting language PHP3. A free, open source Wireless Application Protocol gateway to a pharmaceutical catalogue was established to allow dial-in access independent of commercial Wireless Application Protocol service providers. The application was tested on the Nokia 7110 and Ericsson R320s cellular phones. We have demonstrated that Wireless Application Protocol-based access to a dynamic clinical database can be established using open source freeware. The project opens perspectives for a further integration of Wireless Application Protocol phone functions in clinical information processing: Global System for Mobile communication telephony for bilateral communication, asynchronous unilateral communication via e-mail and Short Message Service, built-in calculator, calendar, personal organizer, phone number catalogue and Dictaphone function via answering machine technology. An independent Wireless Application Protocol gateway may be placed within hospital firewalls, which may be an advantage with respect to security. However, if Wireless Application Protocol phones are to become effective tools for physicians, special attention must be paid to the limitations of the devices. Input tools of Wireless Application Protocol phones should be improved, for instance by increased use of speech control.

Wireless access to a pharmaceutical database: A demonstrator for data driven Wireless Application Protocol applications in medical information processing

PubMed Central

Hansen, Michael Schacht

2001-01-01

Background The Wireless Application Protocol technology implemented in newer mobile phones has built-in facilities for handling much of the information processing needed in clinical work. Objectives To test a practical approach we ported a relational database of the Danish pharmaceutical catalogue to Wireless Application Protocol using open source freeware at all steps. Methods We used Apache 1.3 web software on a Linux server. Data containing the Danish pharmaceutical catalogue were imported from an ASCII file into a MySQL 3.22.32 database using a Practical Extraction and Report Language script for easy update of the database. Data were distributed in 35 interrelated tables. Each pharmaceutical brand name was given its own card with links to general information about the drug, active substances, contraindications etc. Access was available through 1) browsing therapeutic groups and 2) searching for a brand name. The database interface was programmed in the server-side scripting language PHP3. Results A free, open source Wireless Application Protocol gateway to a pharmaceutical catalogue was established to allow dial-in access independent of commercial Wireless Application Protocol service providers. The application was tested on the Nokia 7110 and Ericsson R320s cellular phones. Conclusions We have demonstrated that Wireless Application Protocol-based access to a dynamic clinical database can be established using open source freeware. The project opens perspectives for a further integration of Wireless Application Protocol phone functions in clinical information processing: Global System for Mobile communication telephony for bilateral communication, asynchronous unilateral communication via e-mail and Short Message Service, built-in calculator, calendar, personal organizer, phone number catalogue and Dictaphone function via answering machine technology. An independent Wireless Application Protocol gateway may be placed within hospital firewalls, which may be an advantage with respect to security. However, if Wireless Application Protocol phones are to become effective tools for physicians, special attention must be paid to the limitations of the devices. Input tools of Wireless Application Protocol phones should be improved, for instance by increased use of speech control. PMID:11720946

Wireless Distribution Systems To Support Medical Response to Disasters

PubMed Central

Arisoylu, Mustafa; Mishra, Rajesh; Rao, Ramesh; Lenert, Leslie A.

2005-01-01

We discuss the design of multi-hop access networks with multiple gateways that supports medical response to disasters. We examine and implement protocols to ensure high bandwidth, robust, self-healing and secure wireless multi-hop access networks for extreme conditions. Address management, path setup, gateway discovery and selection protocols are described. Future directions and plans are also considered. PMID:16779171

The U.S. Culture Collection Network Responding to the Requirements of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing

Treesearch

Kevin McCluskey; Katharine B. Barker; Hazel A. Barton; Kyria Boundy-Mills; Daniel R. Brown; Jonathan A. Coddington; Kevin Cook; Philippe Desmeth; David Geiser; Jessie A. Glaeser; Stephanie Greene; Seogchan Kang; Michael W. Lomas; Ulrich Melcher; Scott E. Miller; David R. Nobles; Kristina J. Owens; Jerome H. Reichman; Manuela da Silva; John Wertz; Cale Whitworth; David Smith; Steven E. Lindow

2017-01-01

The U.S. Culture Collection Network held a meeting to share information about how culture collections are responding to the requirements of the recently enacted Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The meeting included representatives...

Development and validation of a remote home safety protocol.

PubMed

Romero, Sergio; Lee, Mi Jung; Simic, Ivana; Levy, Charles; Sanford, Jon

2018-02-01

Environmental assessments and subsequent modifications conducted by healthcare professionals can enhance home safety and promote independent living. However, travel time, expense and the availability of qualified professionals can limit the broad application of this intervention. Remote technology has the potential to increase access to home safety evaluations. This study describes the development and validation of a remote home safety protocol that can be used by a caregiver of an elderly person to video-record their home environment for later viewing and evaluation by a trained professional. The protocol was developed based on literature reviews and evaluations from clinical and content experts. Cognitive interviews were conducted with a group of six caregivers to validate the protocol. The final protocol included step-by-step directions to record indoor and outdoor areas of the home. The validation process resulted in modifications related to safety, clarity of the protocol, readability, visual appearance, technical descriptions and usability. Our final protocol includes detailed instructions that a caregiver should be able to follow to record a home environment for subsequent evaluation by a home safety professional. Implications for Rehabilitation The results of this study have several implications for rehabilitation practice The remote home safety evaluation protocol can potentially improve access to rehabilitation services for clients in remote areas and prevent unnecessary delays for needed care. Using our protocol, a patient's caregiver can partner with therapists to quickly and efficiently evaluate a patient's home before they are released from the hospital. Caregiver narration, which reflects a caregiver's own perspective, is critical to evaluating home safety. In-home safety evaluations, currently not available to all who need them due to access barriers, can enhance a patient's independence and provide a safer home environment.

Microwave-assisted one-step synthesis of white light-emitting carbon dot suspensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vanessa, Hinterberger; Wenshuo, Wang; Cornelia, Damm; Simon, Wawra; Martin, Thoma; Wolfgang, Peukert

2018-06-01

In this contribution, we demonstrate that an aqueous solution with adjustable fluorescent color, including white light emission, can be achieved by a rapid one-step microwave synthesis method resulting in a mixture of blue-emitting carbon dots (CDs) and the yellow-emitting 2,3-diaminophenazine (DAP). Aqueous mixtures of o-phenylene-diamine (oPD) and citric acid (CA) are used as precursors. The resulting product structures are analyzed by FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy and the size of the resulting CDs is determined by atomic force microscopy to be 1.1 ± 0.3 nm. The synthesized solution exhibits two fluorescence emission peaks at 430 and 560 nm, which were found to originate from the CDs and DAP, respectively. The intensity ratio of both fluorescence peaks depends on pH, which is driven by the protonation state of DAP. In consequence, the fluorescence emission color of the CD solution can be tuned precisely and reproducibly from blue to white to yellow by careful control of the pH. Finally, at a pH level of 5.4, at which there is equal blue and yellow emission intensity, a white light emitting solution can be successfully produced in a very fast and simple synthesis procedure.

Radiation exposure in interventional radiology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pinto, N. G. V.; Braz, D.; Vallim, M. A.; Filho, L. G. P.; Azevedo, F. S.; Barroso, R. C.; Lopes, R. T.

2007-09-01

The aim of this study is to evaluate dose values in patients and staff involved in some interventional radiology procedures. Doses have been measured using thermoluminescent dosemeters for single procedures (such as renal and cerebral arteriography, transjungular intrahepatic portasystemic shunt (TIPS) and chemoembolization). The magnitude of doses through the hands of interventional radiologists has been studied. Dose levels were evaluated in three points for patients (eye, thyroid and gonads). The dose-area product (DAP) was also investigated using a Diamentor (PTW-M2). The dose in extremities was estimated for a professional who generally performed one TIPS, two chemoembolizations, two cerebral arteriographies and two renal arteriographies in a week. The estimated annual radiation dose was converted to effective dose as suggested by the 453-MS/Brazil norm The annual dose values were 137.25 mSv for doctors, 40.27 mSv for nurses and 51.95 mSv for auxiliary doctors, and all these annual dose values are below the limit established. The maximum values of the dose obtained for patients were 6.91, 10.92 and 15.34 mGy close to eye, thyroid and gonads, respectively. The DAP values were evaluated for patients in the same interventional radiology procedures. The dose and DAP values obtained are in agreement with values encountered in the literature.

A Macrocyclic Agouti-Related Protein/[Nle4,DPhe7]α-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone Chimeric Scaffold Produces Subnanomolar Melanocortin Receptor Ligands.

PubMed

Ericson, Mark D; Freeman, Katie T; Schnell, Sathya M; Haskell-Luevano, Carrie

2017-01-26

The melanocortin system consists of five receptor subtypes, endogenous agonists, and naturally occurring antagonists. These receptors and ligands have been implicated in numerous biological pathways including processes linked to obesity and food intake. Herein, a truncation structure-activity relationship study of chimeric agouti-related protein (AGRP)/[Nle4,DPhe7]α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (NDP-MSH) ligands is reported. The tetrapeptide His-DPhe-Arg-Trp or tripeptide DPhe-Arg-Trp replaced the Arg-Phe-Phe sequence in the AGRP active loop derivative c[Pro-Arg-Phe-Phe-Xxx-Ala-Phe-DPro], where Xxx was the native Asn of AGRP or a diaminopropionic (Dap) acid residue previously shown to increase antagonist potency at the mMC4R. The Phe, Ala, and Dap/Asn residues were successively removed to generate a 14-member library that was assayed for agonist activity at the mouse MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, and MC5R. Two compounds possessed nanomolar agonist potency at the mMC4R, c[Pro-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-Asn-Ala-Phe-DPro] and c[Pro-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-Dap-Ala-DPro], and may be further developed to generate novel melanocortin probes and ligands for understanding and treating obesity.

Phytoremediation of arsenic contaminated soil by Pteris vittata L. I. Influence of phosphatic fertilizers and repeated harvests.

PubMed

Mandal, Asit; Purakayastha, T J; Patra, A K; Sanyal, S K

2012-12-01

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of diammonium phosphate (DAP), single superphosphate (SSP) and two growing cycles on arsenic removal by Chinese Brake Fern (Pteris vittata L.) from an arsenic contaminated Typic Haplustept of the Indian state of West Bengal. After harvest of Pteris vittata the total, Olsen's extractable and other five soil arsenic fractions were determined. The total biomass yield of P. vittata ranged from 10.7 to 16.2 g pot(-1) in first growing cycle and from 7.53 to 11.57 g pot(-1) in second growing cycle. The frond arsenic concentrations ranged from 990 to 1374 mg kg(-1) in first growing cycle and from 875 to 1371 mg kg(-1) in second growing cycle. DAP was most efficient in enhancing biomass yield, frond and root arsenic concentrations and total arsenic removal from soil. After first growing cycle, P. vittata reduced soil arsenic by 10 to 20%, while after two growing cycles Pteris reduced it by 18 to 34%. Among the different arsenic fractions, Fe-bound arsenic dominated over other fractions. Two successive harvests with DAP as the phosphate fertilizer emerged as the promising management strategy for amelioration of arsenic contaminated soil of West Bengal through phyotoextraction by P. vittata.

Photosynthetic leaf area modulates tiller bud outgrowth in sorghum: Bud outgrowth is sensitive to leaf area

DOE PAGES

Kebrom, Tesfamichael H.; Mullet, John E.

2014-12-12

Shoot branches or tillers develop from axillary buds. The dormancy versus outgrowth fates of buds depends on genetic, environmental and hormonal signals. Defoliation inhibits bud outgrowth indicating the role of leaf-derived metabolic factors such as sucrose in bud outgrowth. In this study, the sensitivity of bud outgrowth to selective defoliation was investigated. At 6 d after planting (6 DAP), the first two leaves of sorghum were fully expanded and the third was partially emerged. Therefore, the leaves were selectively defoliated at 6 DAP and the length of the bud in the first leaf axil was measured at 8 DAP. Budmore » outgrowth was inhibited by defoliation of only 2 cm from the tip of the second leaf blade. The expression of dormancy and sucrose-starvation marker genes was up-regulated and cell cycle and sucrose-inducible genes was down-regulated during the first 24 h postdefoliation of the second leaf.At 48 h, the expression of these genes was similar to controls as the defoliated plant recovers. Our results demonstrate that small changes in photosynthetic leaf area affect the propensity of tiller buds for outgrowth. Therefore, variation in leaf area and photosynthetic activity should be included when integrating sucrose into models of shoot branching.« less

Human NKG2E is expressed and forms an intracytoplasmic complex with CD94 and DAP121

PubMed Central

Orbelyan, Gerasim A.; Tang, Fangming; Sally, Benjamin; Solus, Jason; Meresse, Bertrand; Ciszewski, Cezary; Grenier, Jean-Christophe; Barreiro, Luis B.; Lanier, Lewis L.; Jabri, Bana

2014-01-01

The NKG2 family of NK receptors includes activating and inhibitory members. With the exception of the homodimer-forming NKG2D, NKG2 receptors recognize the nonclassical MHC class I molecule HLA-E, and can be subdivided into two groups: those that associate with and signal through DAP12 to activate cells and those that contain an ITIM motif to promote inhibition. The function of NKG2 family member NKG2E is unclear in humans and its surface expression has never been conclusively established, largely because there is no antibody that binds specifically to NKG2E. Seeking to determine a role for this molecule, we chose to investigate its expression and ability to form complexes with intracellular signaling molecules. We found that NKG2E was capable of associating with CD94 and DAP12 but that the complex was retained intracellularly at the ER instead of being expressed on cell surfaces, and that this localization was dependent on a sequence of hydrophobic amino acids in the extracellular domain of NKG2E. As this particular sequence has emerged and been conserved selectively among higher order primates evolutionarily, this observation raises the intriguing possibility that NKG2E may function as an intracellular protein. PMID:24935923

Generation of Potent T-cell Immunotherapy for Cancer using DAP12-based, Multichain, Chimeric Immunoreceptors

PubMed Central

Wang, Enxiu; Wang, Liang-Chuan; Tsai, Ching-Yi; Bhoj, Vijay; Gershenson, Zack; Moon, Edmund; Newick, Kheng; Sun, Jing; Lo, Albert; Baradet, Timothy; Feldman, Michael D.; Barrett, David; Puré, Ellen; Albelda, Steven; Milone, Michael C.

2015-01-01

Chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) bearing an antigen-binding domain linked in cis to the cytoplasmic domains of CD3ζ and costimulatory receptors have provided a potent method for engineering T-cell cytotoxicity towards B-cell leukemia and lymphoma. However, resistance to immunotherapy due to loss of T-cell effector function remains a significant barrier, especially in solid malignancies. We describe an alternative chimeric immunoreceptor design in which we have fused a single-chain variable fragment for antigen recognition to the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of KIR2DS2, a stimulatory killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR). We show that this simple, KIR-based CAR (KIR-CAR) triggers robust antigen-specific proliferation and effector function in vitro when introduced into human T cells with DAP12, an immunotyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAM)-containing adaptor. T cells modified to express a KIR-CAR and DAP12 exhibit superior antitumor activity compared to standard first and second generation CD3ζ-based CARs in a xenograft model of mesothelioma highly resistant to immunotherapy. The enhanced antitumor activity is associated with improved retention of chimeric immunoreceptor expression and improved effector function of isolated tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. These results support the exploration of KIR-CARs for adoptive T-cell immunotherapy, particularly in immunotherapy-resistant solid tumors. PMID:25941351

Analyzing the effect of routing protocols on media access control protocols in radio networks

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

Barrett, C. L.; Drozda, M.; Marathe, A.

2002-01-01

We study the effect of routing protocols on the performance of media access control (MAC) protocols in wireless radio networks. Three well known MAC protocols: 802.11, CSMA, and MACA are considered. Similarly three recently proposed routing protocols: AODV, DSR and LAR scheme 1 are considered. The experimental analysis was carried out using GloMoSim: a tool for simulating wireless networks. The main focus of our experiments was to study how the routing protocols affect the performance of the MAC protocols when the underlying network and traffic parameters are varied. The performance of the protocols was measured w.r.t. five important parameters: (i)more » number of received packets, (ii) average latency of each packet, (iii) throughput (iv) long term fairness and (v) number of control packets at the MAC layer level. Our results show that combinations of routing and MAC protocols yield varying performance under varying network topology and traffic situations. The result has an important implication; no combination of routing protocol and MAC protocol is the best over all situations. Also, the performance analysis of protocols at a given level in the protocol stack needs to be studied not locally in isolation but as a part of the complete protocol stack. A novel aspect of our work is the use of statistical technique, ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) to characterize the effect of routing protocols on MAC protocols. This technique is of independent interest and can be utilized in several other simulation and empirical studies.« less

Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of microRNAs in Developing Grains of Zea mays L.

PubMed Central

Gao, Lei; Wang, Lifang; Gao, Meijuan; Jiao, Zhujin; Qiao, Huili; Yang, Jianwei; Chen, Min; Yao, Lunguang; Liu, Renyi; Kan, Yunchao

2016-01-01

The development and maturation of maize kernel involves meticulous and fine gene regulation at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, and miRNAs play important roles during this process. Although a number of miRNAs have been identified in maize seed, the ones involved in the early development of grains and in different lines of maize have not been well studied. Here, we profiled four small RNA libraries, each constructed from groups of immature grains of Zea mays inbred line Chang 7–2 collected 4–6, 7–9, 12–14, and 18–23 days after pollination (DAP). A total of 40 known (containing 111 unique miRNAs) and 162 novel (containing 196 unique miRNA candidates) miRNA families were identified. For conserved and novel miRNAs with over 100 total reads, 44% had higher accumulation before the 9th DAP, especially miR166 family members. 42% of miRNAs had highest accumulation during 12–14 DAP (which is the transition stage from embryogenesis to nutrient storage). Only 14% of miRNAs had higher expression 18–23 DAP. Prediction of potential targets of all miRNAs showed that 165 miRNA families had 377 target genes. For miR164 and miR166, we showed that the transcriptional levels of their target genes were significantly decreased when co-expressed with their cognate miRNA precursors in vivo. Further analysis shows miR159, miR164, miR166, miR171, miR390, miR399, and miR529 families have putative roles in the embryogenesis of maize grain development by participating in transcriptional regulation and morphogenesis, while miR167 and miR528 families participate in metabolism process and stress response during nutrient storage. Our study is the first to present an integrated dynamic expression pattern of miRNAs during maize kernel formation and maturation. PMID:27082634

Additive interactions of unrelated viruses in mixed infections of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp)

PubMed Central

Nsa, Imade Y.; Kareem, Kehinde T.

2015-01-01

This study was carried out to determine the effects of single infections and co-infections of three unrelated viruses on three cowpea cultivars (one commercial cowpea cultivar “White” and 2 IITA lines; IT81D-985 and TVu 76). The plants were inoculated with Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV), genus Potyvirus, Cowpea mottle virus (CMeV), genus Carmovirus and Southern bean mosaic virus (SBMV), genus Sobemovirus singly and in mixture (double and triple) at 10, 20, and 30 days after planting (DAP). The treated plants were assessed for susceptibility to the viruses, growth, and yield. In all cases of infection, early inoculation resulted in higher disease severity compared with late infection. The virus treated cowpea plants were relatively shorter than buffer inoculated control plants except the IT81D-985 plants that were taller and produced more foliage. Single infections by CABMV, CMeV, and SBMV led to a complete loss of seeds in the three cowpea cultivars at 10 DAP; only cultivar White produced some seeds at 30 DAP. Double and triple virus infections led to a total loss of seeds in all three cowpea cultivars. None of the virus infected IITA lines produced any seeds except IT81D-985 plants co-infected with CABMV and SBMV at 30 DAP with a reduction of 80%. Overall, the commercial cultivar “White” was the least susceptible to the virus treatments and produced the most yield (flowers, pods, and seeds). CABMV was the most aggressive of these viruses and early single inoculations with this virus resulted in the premature death of some of the seedlings. The presence of the Potyvirus, CABMV in the double virus infections did not appear to increase disease severity or yield loss. There was no strong evidence for synergistic interactions between the viruses in the double virus mixtures. PMID:26483824

Additive interactions of unrelated viruses in mixed infections of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp).

PubMed

Nsa, Imade Y; Kareem, Kehinde T

2015-01-01

This study was carried out to determine the effects of single infections and co-infections of three unrelated viruses on three cowpea cultivars (one commercial cowpea cultivar "White" and 2 IITA lines; IT81D-985 and TVu 76). The plants were inoculated with Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV), genus Potyvirus, Cowpea mottle virus (CMeV), genus Carmovirus and Southern bean mosaic virus (SBMV), genus Sobemovirus singly and in mixture (double and triple) at 10, 20, and 30 days after planting (DAP). The treated plants were assessed for susceptibility to the viruses, growth, and yield. In all cases of infection, early inoculation resulted in higher disease severity compared with late infection. The virus treated cowpea plants were relatively shorter than buffer inoculated control plants except the IT81D-985 plants that were taller and produced more foliage. Single infections by CABMV, CMeV, and SBMV led to a complete loss of seeds in the three cowpea cultivars at 10 DAP; only cultivar White produced some seeds at 30 DAP. Double and triple virus infections led to a total loss of seeds in all three cowpea cultivars. None of the virus infected IITA lines produced any seeds except IT81D-985 plants co-infected with CABMV and SBMV at 30 DAP with a reduction of 80%. Overall, the commercial cultivar "White" was the least susceptible to the virus treatments and produced the most yield (flowers, pods, and seeds). CABMV was the most aggressive of these viruses and early single inoculations with this virus resulted in the premature death of some of the seedlings. The presence of the Potyvirus, CABMV in the double virus infections did not appear to increase disease severity or yield loss. There was no strong evidence for synergistic interactions between the viruses in the double virus mixtures.

Feasibility Study of Needle Placement in Percutaneous Vertebroplasty: Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Guidance Versus Conventional Fluoroscopy

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

Braak, Sicco J., E-mail: sjbraak@gmail.com; Zuurmond, Kirsten, E-mail: kirsten.zuurmond@philips.com; Aerts, Hans C. J., E-mail: hans.cj.aerts@philips.com

2013-08-01

ObjectiveTo investigate the accuracy, procedure time, fluoroscopy time, and dose area product (DAP) of needle placement during percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) guidance versus fluoroscopy.Materials and MethodsOn 4 spine phantoms with 11 vertebrae (Th7-L5), 4 interventional radiologists (2 experienced with CBCT guidance and two inexperienced) punctured all vertebrae in a bipedicular fashion. Each side was randomization to either CBCT guidance or fluoroscopy. CBCT guidance is a sophisticated needle guidance technique using CBCT, navigation software, and real-time fluoroscopy. The placement of the needle had to be to a specific target point. After the procedure, CBCT was performed tomore » determine the accuracy, procedure time, fluoroscopy time, and DAP. Analysis of the difference between methods and experience level was performed.ResultsMean accuracy using CBCT guidance (2.61 mm) was significantly better compared with fluoroscopy (5.86 mm) (p < 0.0001). Procedure time was in favor of fluoroscopy (7.39 vs. 10.13 min; p = 0.001). Fluoroscopy time during CBCT guidance was lower, but this difference is not significant (71.3 vs. 95.8 s; p = 0.056). DAP values for CBCT guidance and fluoroscopy were 514 and 174 mGy cm{sup 2}, respectively (p < 0.0001). There was a significant difference in favor of experienced CBCT guidance users regarding accuracy for both methods, procedure time of CBCT guidance, and added DAP values for fluoroscopy.ConclusionCBCT guidance allows users to perform PVP more accurately at the cost of higher patient dose and longer procedure time. Because procedural complications (e.g., cement leakage) are related to the accuracy of the needle placement, improvements in accuracy are clinically relevant. Training in CBCT guidance is essential to achieve greater accuracy and decrease procedure time/dose values.« less

Association of Organophosphate Pesticide Exposure and Paraoxonase with Birth Outcome in Mexican-American Women

PubMed Central

Harley, Kim G.; Huen, Karen; Aguilar Schall, Raul; Holland, Nina T.; Bradman, Asa; Barr, Dana Boyd; Eskenazi, Brenda

2011-01-01

Background Epidemiologic studies suggest that maternal organophosphorus (OP) pesticide exposure is associated with poorer fetal growth, but findings are inconsistent. We explored whether paraoxonase (PON1), a key enzyme involved in detoxification of OPs, could be an effect modifier in this association. Methods The study population included 470 pregnant women enrolled in the CHAMACOS Study, a longitudinal cohort study of mothers and children living in an agricultural region of California. We analyzed urine samples collected from mothers twice during pregnancy for dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolites of OP pesticides. We analyzed maternal and fetal (cord) blood samples for PON1 genotype (PON1192 and PON1−108) and enzyme activity (paraoxonase and arylesterase). Infant birth weight, head circumference, and gestational age were obtained from medical records. Results Infants' PON1 genotype and activity were associated with birth outcome, but mothers' were not. Infants with the susceptible PON1−108TT genotype had shorter gestational age (β = −0.5 weeks, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): −0.9, 0.0) and smaller head circumference (β = −0.4 cm, 95% CI: −0.7, 0.0) than those with the PON1−108CC genotype. Infants' arylesterase and paraoxonase activity were positively associated with gestational age. There was some evidence of effect modification with DAPs: maternal DAP concentrations were associated with shorter gestational age only among infants of the susceptible PON1−108TT genotype (p-valueinteraction = 0.09). However, maternal DAP concentrations were associated with larger birth weight (p-valueinteraction = 0.06) and head circumference (p-valueinteraction<0.01) in infants with non-susceptible genotypes. Conclusions Infants whose PON1 genotype and enzyme activity levels suggested that they might be more susceptible to the effects of OP pesticide exposure had decreased fetal growth and length of gestation. PON1 may be another factor contributing to preterm or low birth weight birth. PMID:21904599

Isolation and characterization of neural stem cells from dystrophic mdx mouse

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

Annese, Tiziana; Corsi, Patrizia; Ruggieri, Simona

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is altered in mdx mouse, an animal model to study Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Our previous work demonstrated that perivascular glial endfeet control the selective exchanges between blood and neuropil as well as the BBB development and integrity; the alterations of dystrophin and dystrophin-associated protein complex (DAPs) in the glial cells of mdx mouse, parallel damages of the BBB and increase in vascular permeability. The aim of this study was to improve our knowledge about brain cellular components in the mdx mouse through the isolation, for the first time, of the adult neural stem cells (ANSCs).more » We characterized them by FACS, electron microscopy, confocal immunofluorescence microscopy, Real Time-PCR and western blotting, and we studied the expression of the DAPs aquaporin-4 (AQP4), potassium channel Kir4.1, α- and β-dystroglycan (αDG, βDG), α-syntrophin (αSyn), and short dystrophin isoform Dp71 proteins. The results showed that the mdx ANSCs expressed CD133 and Nestin receptor as the control ones, but showed a reduction in Notch receptor and altered cell proliferation with an increment in the apoptotic nuclei. Ultrastructurally, they appeared 50% size reduced compared to control ones, with a few cytoplasmic organelles. Moreover, the mdx ANSCs are devoid in full length dystrophin 427, and they expressed post-transcriptional reduction in the Dp71 in parallel with the ubiquitin proteasome activation, and decrement of DAPs proteins which appeared diffused in the cytoplasm and not polarized on the stem cells plasmamembrane, as prevalently observed in the controls. Overall, these results indicate that structural and molecular alterations affect the neural stem cells in the dystrophic brain, whose increased apoptosis and reduced Dp71 and DAPs proteins expression, together with loss in Dp427 dystrophin, could be responsible of the altered mdx glial maintenance and differentiation and consequent failure in the vessels barrier control occurring in the adult dystrophic brain.« less

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

Schernthaner, Ruediger E., E-mail: ruediger.schernthaner@meduniwien.ac.at; Haroun, Reham R., E-mail: rehamharoun1989@gmail.com; Duran, Rafael, E-mail: rafaelduran.md@gmail.com

PurposeTo compare the visibility of liver metastases on dual-phase cone-beam CT (DP-CBCT) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA), with reference to preinterventional contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) of the liver.MethodsThis IRB-approved, retrospective study included 28 patients with neuroendocrine (NELM), colorectal (CRCLM), or sarcoma (SLM) liver metastases who underwent DP-CBCT during intra-arterial therapy (IAT) between 01/2010 and 10/2014. DP-CBCT was acquired after a single contrast agent injection in the tumor-feeding arteries at early and delayed arterial phases (EAP and DAP). The visibility of each lesion was graded by two radiologists in consensus on a three-rank scale (complete, partial, none) on DP-CBCT andmore » DSA images using CE-MRI as reference.Results47 NELM, 43 CRCLM, and 16 SLM were included. On DSA 85.1, 44.1, and 37.5 % of NELM, CRCLM, and SLM, were at least partially depicted, respectively. EAP-CBCT yielded significantly higher sensitivities of 88.3 and 87.5 % for CRCLM and SLM, respectively (p < 0.01), but not for NELM (89.4 %; p = 1.0). On DAP-CBCT all NELM, CRCLM, and SLM were visible (p < 0.001). Complete depiction was achieved on DSA for 59.6, 16.3, and 18.8 % of NELM, CRCLM, and SLM, respectively. The complete depiction rate on EAP-CBCT was significantly higher for CRCLM (46.5 %; p < 0.001), lower for NELM (40.4 %; p = 0.592), and similar for SLM (25 %, p = 0.399). On DAP-CBCT however, the highest rates of complete depiction were found—NELM (97.8 %; p = 0.008), CRCLM (95.3 %; p = 0.008), and SLM (100 %; p < 0.001).ConclusionDAP-CBCT substantially improved the visibility of liver metastases during IAT. Future studies need to evaluate the clinical impact.« less

Triple vs Dual Antithrombotic Therapy in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Coronary Artery Disease.

PubMed

Lopes, Renato D; Rao, Meena; Simon, DaJuanicia N; Thomas, Laine; Ansell, Jack; Fonarow, Gregg C; Gersh, Bernard J; Go, Alan S; Hylek, Elaine M; Kowey, Peter; Piccini, Jonathan P; Singer, Daniel E; Chang, Paul; Peterson, Eric D; Mahaffey, Kenneth W

2016-06-01

The role of triple antithrombotic therapy vs dual antithrombotic therapy in patients with both atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease remains unclear. This study explores the differences in treatment practices and outcomes between triple antithrombotic therapy and dual antithrombotic therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease. Using the Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (n = 10,135), we analyzed outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease (n = 1827) according to treatment with triple antithrombotic therapy (defined as concurrent therapy with an oral anticoagulant, a thienopyridine, and aspirin) or dual antithrombotic therapy (comprising either an oral anticoagulant and one antiplatelet agent [OAC plus AA] or 2 antiplatelet drugs and no anticoagulant [DAP]). The use of triple antithrombotic therapy, OAC plus AA, and DAP at baseline was 8.5% (n = 155), 80.4% (n = 1468), and 11.2% (n = 204), respectively. Among patients treated with OAC plus AA, aspirin was the most common antiplatelet agent used (90%), followed by clopidogrel (10%) and prasugrel (0.1%). The use of triple antithrombotic therapy was not affected by patient risk of either stroke or bleeding. Patients treated with triple antithrombotic therapy at baseline were hospitalized for all causes (including cardiovascular) more often than patients on OAC plus AA (adjusted hazard ratio 1.75; 95% confidence interval, 1.35-2.26; P <.0001) or DAP (hazard ratio 1.82; 95% confidence interval, 1.25-2.65; P = .0018). Rates of major bleeding or a combined cardiovascular outcome were not significantly different by treatment group. Choice of antithrombotic therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease was not affected by patient stroke or bleeding risks. Triple antithrombotic therapy-treated patients were more likely to be hospitalized for all causes than those on OAC plus AA or on DAP. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Biomonitoring of organophosphate exposure of pesticide sprayers and comparison of exposure levels with other population groups in Thessaly (Greece).

PubMed

Koureas, Michalis; Tsakalof, Andreas; Tzatzarakis, Manolis; Vakonaki, Elena; Tsatsakis, Aristidis; Hadjichristodoulou, Christos

2014-02-01

To evaluate the exposure of different population groups in Thessaly (Greece) to organophosphate pesticides (OPs) and investigate the dependence of exposure levels on pesticide application practices, personal protective and hygienic measures taken. For the exposure assessment, four dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolites of organophosphate pesticides were quantified in spot urine samples of 77 pesticide sprayers, 75 residents of the studied agricultural area non-involved in agricultural activities and 112 urban residents who served as a control group. Structured questionnaires were used to record demographic characteristics, pesticide application parameters and protective measures taken. Univariate and multivariate analysis of the obtained cross-sectional data was performed to identify potential risk factors associated with biomarker levels. It was found that total DAP median level in the sprayers' group was 24.9 μg/g creatinine (IQR: 13.0-42.1), while the rural and urban residents had significantly lower (p<0.001) levels of 11.3 μg/g creatinine (IQR: 5.3-18.7) and 11.9 μg/g creatinine (IQR: 6.3-20.3), respectively. In sprayers who had recently applied an OP pesticide (n=28), the median levels of DAP metabolites were 31.8 μg/g creatinine (IQR: 22.3-117.2). Logistic regression analysis showed that the use of full body coveralls while handling and spraying pesticides was significantly associated with lower DAP levels (OR 4.05, 95% CI 1.22 to 13.46). Also, changing clothes immediately after accidental contamination of clothing with pesticide amounts was found to be significantly associated with lower exposure levels (OR 4.04, CI 1.05 to 15.57). Our study findings confirm the increased exposure to OPs in pesticide sprayers and underline the importance of protective measures especially those that focus on dermal exposure mitigation.

Biomass accumulation in hydroponically grown sweetpotato in a controlled environment: a preliminary study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hill, J.; Douglas, D.; David, P.; Mortley, D.; Trotman, A.; Bonsi, C.

1996-01-01

In the development of a plant growth model, the assumptions made and the general equations representing an understanding of plant growth are gradually refined as more information is acquired through experimentation. One such experiment that contributed to sweetpotato model development consisted of measuring biomass accumulation of sweetpotato grown in hydroponic culture in a plant growth chamber. Plants were started from fifteen centimeter long 'TU-82-155' sweetpotato vine cuttings spaced 25 cm apart in each of 18 rectangular growing channels (0.15 by 0.15 by 1.2m) in a system designed to use the nutrient film technique (NFT). Each channel contained four plants. The 3.5m by 5.2m plant growth chamber environmental parameters included an 18h photoperiod, 500 micromoles m-2 s-1 of photosynthetic photon flux (PPF), and a diurnal light/dark temperature of 28 degrees C/22 degrees C. The relative humidity was 80 +/- 5% and the CO2 partial pressure was ambient (350 ppm). The nutrient solution contained in 30L reservoirs was a modified half Hoagland's solution with a 1:2.4 N:K ratio and a pH of 6.2. Solution replenishment occurred when the electrical conductivity (EC) level dropped below 1050. Plants were harvested at 15 days after planting (DAP) and weekly thereafter until day 134. By 57 DAP, stems and fibrous roots had acquired 90% of their total dry biomass, while leaves had reached 84% of their maximum dry biomass. Beginning at 64 DAP dry biomass accumulation in the storage roots dominated the increase in dry biomass for the plants. Dry weight of storage roots at 120 DAP was 165 g/plant or 1.1 kg/m2. Resulting growth curves were consistent with the physiological processes occurring in the plant. Results from this study will be incorporated in a plant growth model for use in conjunction with controlled life support systems for long-term manned space missions.

Transition of NOAA's GPS-Met Data Acquisition and Processing System to the Commercial Sector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jackson, M. E.; Holub, K.; Callahan, W.; Blatt, S.

2014-12-01

In April of 2014, NOAA/OAR/ESRL Global Systems Division (GSD) and Trimble, in collaboration with Earth Networks, Inc. (ENI) signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to transfer the existing NOAA GPS-Met Data Acquisition and Processing System (GPS-Met DAPS) technology to a commercial Trimble/ENI partnership. NOAA's GPS-Met DAPS is currently operated in a pseudo-operational mode but has proven highly reliable and running at over 95% uptime. The DAPS uses the GAMIT software to ingest dual frequency carrier phase GPS/GNSS observations and ancillary information such as real-time satellite orbits to estimate the zenith-scaled tropospheric (ZTD) signal delays and, where surface MET data are available, retrieve integrated precipitable water vapor (PWV). The NOAA data and products are made available to end users in near real-time. The Trimble/ENI partnership will use the Trimble Pivot™ software with the Atmosphere App to calculate zenith tropospheric (ZTD), tropospheric slant delay, and integrated precipitable water vapor (PWV). Evaluation of the Trimble software is underway starting with a comparison of ZTD and PWV values determined from GPS stations located near NOAA Radiosonde Observation (Upper-Air Observation) launch sites. A success metric was established that requires Trimble's PWV estimates to match ESRL/GSD's to within 1.5 mm 95% of the time, which corresponds to a ZTD uncertainty of less than 10 mm 95% of the time. Initial results indicate that Trimble/ENI data meet and exceed the ZTD metric, but for some stations PWV estimates are out of specification. These discrepancies are primarily due to how offsets between MET and GPS stations are handled and are easily resolved. Additional test networks are proposed that include low terrain/high moisture variability stations, high terrain/low moisture variability stations, as well as high terrain/high moisture variability stations. We will present results from further testing along with a timeline for the transition of the GPS-Met DAPS to an operational commercial service.

Overexpression of Wild-Type Aspartokinase Increases l-Lysine Production in the Thermotolerant Methylotrophic Bacterium Bacillus methanolicus▿

PubMed Central

Jakobsen, Øyvind M.; Brautaset, Trygve; Degnes, Kristin F.; Heggeset, Tonje M. B.; Balzer, Simone; Flickinger, Michael C.; Valla, Svein; Ellingsen, Trond E.

2009-01-01

Aspartokinase (AK) controls the carbon flow into the aspartate pathway for the biosynthesis of the amino acids l-methionine, l-threonine, l-isoleucine, and l-lysine. We report here the cloning of four genes (asd, encoding aspartate semialdehyde dehydrogenase; dapA, encoding dihydrodipicolinate synthase; dapG, encoding AKI; and yclM, encoding AKIII) of the aspartate pathway in Bacillus methanolicus MGA3. Together with the known AKII gene lysC, dapG and yclM form a set of three AK genes in this organism. Overexpression of dapG, lysC, and yclM increased l-lysine production in wild-type B. methanolicus strain MGA3 2-, 10-, and 60-fold (corresponding to 11 g/liter), respectively, without negatively affecting the specific growth rate. The production levels of l-methionine (less than 0.5 g/liter) and l-threonine (less than 0.1 g/liter) were low in all recombinant strains. The AK proteins were purified, and biochemical analyses demonstrated that they have similar Vmax values (between 47 and 58 μmol/min/mg protein) and Km values for l-aspartate (between 1.9 and 5.0 mM). AKI and AKII were allosterically inhibited by meso-diaminopimelate (50% inhibitory concentration [IC50], 0.1 mM) and by l-lysine (IC50, 0.3 mM), respectively. AKIII was inhibited by l-threonine (IC50, 4 mM) and by l-lysine (IC50, 5 mM), and this enzyme was synergistically inhibited in the presence of both of these amino acids at low concentrations. The correlation between the impact on l-lysine production in vivo and the biochemical properties in vitro of the individual AK proteins is discussed. This is the first example of improving l-lysine production by metabolic engineering of B. methanolicus and also the first documentation of considerably increasing l-lysine production by overexpression of a wild-type AK. PMID:19060158

Overexpression of wild-type aspartokinase increases L-lysine production in the thermotolerant methylotrophic bacterium Bacillus methanolicus.

PubMed

Jakobsen, Oyvind M; Brautaset, Trygve; Degnes, Kristin F; Heggeset, Tonje M B; Balzer, Simone; Flickinger, Michael C; Valla, Svein; Ellingsen, Trond E

2009-02-01

Aspartokinase (AK) controls the carbon flow into the aspartate pathway for the biosynthesis of the amino acids l-methionine, l-threonine, l-isoleucine, and l-lysine. We report here the cloning of four genes (asd, encoding aspartate semialdehyde dehydrogenase; dapA, encoding dihydrodipicolinate synthase; dapG, encoding AKI; and yclM, encoding AKIII) of the aspartate pathway in Bacillus methanolicus MGA3. Together with the known AKII gene lysC, dapG and yclM form a set of three AK genes in this organism. Overexpression of dapG, lysC, and yclM increased l-lysine production in wild-type B. methanolicus strain MGA3 2-, 10-, and 60-fold (corresponding to 11 g/liter), respectively, without negatively affecting the specific growth rate. The production levels of l-methionine (less than 0.5 g/liter) and l-threonine (less than 0.1 g/liter) were low in all recombinant strains. The AK proteins were purified, and biochemical analyses demonstrated that they have similar V(max) values (between 47 and 58 micromol/min/mg protein) and K(m) values for l-aspartate (between 1.9 and 5.0 mM). AKI and AKII were allosterically inhibited by meso-diaminopimelate (50% inhibitory concentration [IC(50)], 0.1 mM) and by l-lysine (IC(50), 0.3 mM), respectively. AKIII was inhibited by l-threonine (IC(50), 4 mM) and by l-lysine (IC(50), 5 mM), and this enzyme was synergistically inhibited in the presence of both of these amino acids at low concentrations. The correlation between the impact on l-lysine production in vivo and the biochemical properties in vitro of the individual AK proteins is discussed. This is the first example of improving l-lysine production by metabolic engineering of B. methanolicus and also the first documentation of considerably increasing l-lysine production by overexpression of a wild-type AK.

Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of microRNAs in Developing Grains of Zea mays L.

PubMed

Li, Dandan; Liu, Zongcai; Gao, Lei; Wang, Lifang; Gao, Meijuan; Jiao, Zhujin; Qiao, Huili; Yang, Jianwei; Chen, Min; Yao, Lunguang; Liu, Renyi; Kan, Yunchao

2016-01-01

The development and maturation of maize kernel involves meticulous and fine gene regulation at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, and miRNAs play important roles during this process. Although a number of miRNAs have been identified in maize seed, the ones involved in the early development of grains and in different lines of maize have not been well studied. Here, we profiled four small RNA libraries, each constructed from groups of immature grains of Zea mays inbred line Chang 7-2 collected 4-6, 7-9, 12-14, and 18-23 days after pollination (DAP). A total of 40 known (containing 111 unique miRNAs) and 162 novel (containing 196 unique miRNA candidates) miRNA families were identified. For conserved and novel miRNAs with over 100 total reads, 44% had higher accumulation before the 9th DAP, especially miR166 family members. 42% of miRNAs had highest accumulation during 12-14 DAP (which is the transition stage from embryogenesis to nutrient storage). Only 14% of miRNAs had higher expression 18-23 DAP. Prediction of potential targets of all miRNAs showed that 165 miRNA families had 377 target genes. For miR164 and miR166, we showed that the transcriptional levels of their target genes were significantly decreased when co-expressed with their cognate miRNA precursors in vivo. Further analysis shows miR159, miR164, miR166, miR171, miR390, miR399, and miR529 families have putative roles in the embryogenesis of maize grain development by participating in transcriptional regulation and morphogenesis, while miR167 and miR528 families participate in metabolism process and stress response during nutrient storage. Our study is the first to present an integrated dynamic expression pattern of miRNAs during maize kernel formation and maturation.

The U.S. Culture Collection Network Responding to the Requirements of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing

PubMed Central

Barker, Katharine B.; Barton, Hazel A.; Boundy-Mills, Kyria; Brown, Daniel R.; Coddington, Jonathan A.; Cook, Kevin; Desmeth, Philippe; Geiser, David; Glaeser, Jessie A.; Greene, Stephanie; Kang, Seogchan; Lomas, Michael W.; Melcher, Ulrich; Miller, Scott E.; Nobles, David R.; Owens, Kristina J.; Reichman, Jerome H.; da Silva, Manuela; Wertz, John; Whitworth, Cale; Smith, David

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT The U.S. Culture Collection Network held a meeting to share information about how culture collections are responding to the requirements of the recently enacted Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The meeting included representatives of many culture collections and other biological collections, the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Secretariat of the CBD, interested scientific societies, and collection groups, including Scientific Collections International and the Global Genome Biodiversity Network. The participants learned about the policies of the United States and other countries regarding access to genetic resources, the definition of genetic resources, and the status of historical materials and genetic sequence information. Key topics included what constitutes access and how the CBD Access and Benefit-Sharing Clearing-House can help guide researchers through the process of obtaining Prior Informed Consent on Mutually Agreed Terms. U.S. scientists and their international collaborators are required to follow the regulations of other countries when working with microbes originally isolated outside the United States, and the local regulations required by the Nagoya Protocol vary by the country of origin of the genetic resource. Managers of diverse living collections in the United States described their holdings and their efforts to provide access to genetic resources. This meeting laid the foundation for cooperation in establishing a set of standard operating procedures for U.S. and international culture collections in response to the Nagoya Protocol. PMID:28811341

The U.S. Culture Collection Network Responding to the Requirements of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing.

PubMed

McCluskey, Kevin; Barker, Katharine B; Barton, Hazel A; Boundy-Mills, Kyria; Brown, Daniel R; Coddington, Jonathan A; Cook, Kevin; Desmeth, Philippe; Geiser, David; Glaeser, Jessie A; Greene, Stephanie; Kang, Seogchan; Lomas, Michael W; Melcher, Ulrich; Miller, Scott E; Nobles, David R; Owens, Kristina J; Reichman, Jerome H; da Silva, Manuela; Wertz, John; Whitworth, Cale; Smith, David

2017-08-15

The U.S. Culture Collection Network held a meeting to share information about how culture collections are responding to the requirements of the recently enacted Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The meeting included representatives of many culture collections and other biological collections, the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Secretariat of the CBD, interested scientific societies, and collection groups, including Scientific Collections International and the Global Genome Biodiversity Network. The participants learned about the policies of the United States and other countries regarding access to genetic resources, the definition of genetic resources, and the status of historical materials and genetic sequence information. Key topics included what constitutes access and how the CBD Access and Benefit-Sharing Clearing-House can help guide researchers through the process of obtaining Prior Informed Consent on Mutually Agreed Terms. U.S. scientists and their international collaborators are required to follow the regulations of other countries when working with microbes originally isolated outside the United States, and the local regulations required by the Nagoya Protocol vary by the country of origin of the genetic resource. Managers of diverse living collections in the United States described their holdings and their efforts to provide access to genetic resources. This meeting laid the foundation for cooperation in establishing a set of standard operating procedures for U.S. and international culture collections in response to the Nagoya Protocol.

A Mobile Satellite Experiment (MSAT-X) network definition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Charles C.; Yan, Tsun-Yee

1990-01-01

The network architecture development of the Mobile Satellite Experiment (MSAT-X) project for the past few years is described. The results and findings of the network research activities carried out under the MSAT-X project are summarized. A framework is presented upon which the Mobile Satellite Systems (MSSs) operator can design a commercial network. A sample network configuration and its capability are also included under the projected scenario. The Communication Interconnection aspect of the MSAT-X network is discussed. In the MSAT-X network structure two basic protocols are presented: the channel access protocol, and the link connection protocol. The error-control techniques used in the MSAT-X project and the packet structure are also discussed. A description of two testbeds developed for experimentally simulating the channel access protocol and link control protocol, respectively, is presented. A sample network configuration and some future network activities of the MSAT-X project are also presented.

Distributed reservation-based code division multiple access

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wieselthier, J. E.; Ephremides, A.

1984-11-01

The use of spread spectrum signaling, motivated primarily by its antijamming capabilities in military applications, leads naturally to the use of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) techniques that permit the successful simultaneous transmission by a number of users over a wideband channel. In this paper we address some of the major issues that are associated with the design of multiple access protocols for spread spectrum networks. We then propose, analyze, and evaluate a distributed reservation-based multiple access protocol that does in fact exploit CDMA properties. Especially significant is the fact that no acknowledgment or feedback information from the destination is required (thus facilitating communication with a radio-silent mode), nor is any form of coordination among the users necessary.

CSMA/RN: A universal protocol for gigabit networks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Foudriat, E. C.; Maly, Kurt J.; Overstreet, C. Michael; Khanna, S.; Paterra, Frank

1990-01-01

Networks must provide intelligent access for nodes to share the communications resources. In the range of 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps, the demand access class of protocols were studied extensively. Many use some form of slot or reservation system and many the concept of attempt and defer to determine the presence or absence of incoming information. The random access class of protocols like shared channel systems (Ethernet), also use the concept of attempt and defer in the form of carrier sensing to alleviate the damaging effects of collisions. In CSMA/CD, the sensing of interference is on a global basis. All systems discussed above have one aspect in common, they examine activity on the network either locally or globally and react in an attempt and whatever mechanism. Of the attempt + mechanisms discussed, one is obviously missing; that is attempt and truncate. Attempt and truncate was studied in a ring configuration called the Carrier Sensed Multiple Access Ring Network (CSMA/RN). The system features of CSMA/RN are described including a discussion of the node operations for inserting and removing messages and for handling integrated traffic. The performance and operational features based on analytical and simulation studies which indicate that CSMA/RN is a useful and adaptable protocol over a wide range of network conditions are discussed. Finally, the research and development activities necessary to demonstrate and realize the potential of CSMA/RN as a universal, gigabit network protocol is outlined.

Tag Content Access Control with Identity-based Key Exchange

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Liang; Rong, Chunming

2010-09-01

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology that used to identify objects and users has been applied to many applications such retail and supply chain recently. How to prevent tag content from unauthorized readout is a core problem of RFID privacy issues. Hash-lock access control protocol can make tag to release its content only to reader who knows the secret key shared between them. However, in order to get this shared secret key required by this protocol, reader needs to communicate with a back end database. In this paper, we propose to use identity-based secret key exchange approach to generate the secret key required for hash-lock access control protocol. With this approach, not only back end database connection is not needed anymore, but also tag cloning problem can be eliminated at the same time.

A new use of hydroxyapatite-based consolidant: cleaning and consolidation of stones in one step by reaction with gypsum crust

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molina Piernas, Eduardo; Rueda Quero, Lucia; Cultrone, Giuseppe; Ruiz Agudo, Encarnación

2015-04-01

The reaction between diammonium hydrogen phosphate (DAP) and calcite in the stone to form hydroxyapatite (HAP) had provided a new product to consolidate limestone or Ca-rich stones, for example sandstones with carbonatic cement. However, what does it happen with the stones without Ca-bearing compounds? Obviously, HAP cannot form. In the other hand, recent research about consolidation with DAP show a good interaction between carbonatic stones and HAP, improving their mechanical properties. For these reasons, we propose a new method for the consolidation of building stone capable of cleaning the gypsum crust and consolidating stones at the same time, based in the Ferroni-Dini method [1] and using DAP. Based on this method, we aim at obtaining a consolidating component reacting DAP (instead of ammonium carbonate) and the gypsum contained in the crust of weathered stones in polluted environments. As an advantage, we do not need to use barium hydroxide (the second step required in the Ferroni-Dini method), thereby reducing the time necessary to carry out the consolidation. Here, we report different tests to evaluate this new procedure. In a first set of experiments, a DAP solution was poured on a gypsum (dihydrate calcium sulphate) saturated solution and by monitoring the free calcium content of the solution using an ion-selective electrode we have evaluated the fluctuations in the content in calcium of the solution and the speed of the reaction. Once the reaction finished, we analyzed the solids formed to verify the formation of hydroxyapatite by FTIR and microRAMAN. The second test consisted in the alteration of limestone blocks with sulfuric acid to obtain a crust of gypsum and, after that, the samples were consolidated by means of cellulose compress soaked in DAP 3M during different reaction times (30 minutes, 1 hour and 4 hours, at controlled temperature -20 °C- and relative humidity -40% HR-). The samples were then analyzed by XRD, FTIR, microRAMAN and SEM-EDX to verify the formation of hydroxyapatite and the elimination of gypsum by transformation into ammonium sulphate (highly soluble). Our preliminary results show that the reaction occurs at room temperature in a short period of time. The amount of gypsum decreases with reaction time, while the amount of HAP significantly increases, with the gypsum being almost completely removed after 4 hours of reaction. We can conclude that this procedure is an optimal solution to remove the gypsum contained in the crust of the weathered stones and to consolidate them, independently of the mineralogical composition of the stone. Acknowledgements: This study was financially supported by Research Group RNM179 of the Junta de Andalucía and by the Research Project MAT2012-34473. [1] M. Matteini, "In review: An assessment of Florentine Methods of Wall Painting Conservation Based on the Use of Mineral Treatments", in "The Conservation of Wall Paintings: Proceedings of a Symposium organized by the Courtauld Institute of Art and the Getty Conservation Institute", London, 1987, pp. 137-146.

Securing the AliEn File Catalogue - Enforcing authorization with accountable file operations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schreiner, Steffen; Bagnasco, Stefano; Sankar Banerjee, Subho; Betev, Latchezar; Carminati, Federico; Vladimirovna Datskova, Olga; Furano, Fabrizio; Grigoras, Alina; Grigoras, Costin; Mendez Lorenzo, Patricia; Peters, Andreas Joachim; Saiz, Pablo; Zhu, Jianlin

2011-12-01

The AliEn Grid Services, as operated by the ALICE Collaboration in its global physics analysis grid framework, is based on a central File Catalogue together with a distributed set of storage systems and the possibility to register links to external data resources. This paper describes several identified vulnerabilities in the AliEn File Catalogue access protocol regarding fraud and unauthorized file alteration and presents a more secure and revised design: a new mechanism, called LFN Booking Table, is introduced in order to keep track of access authorization in the transient state of files entering or leaving the File Catalogue. Due to a simplification of the original Access Envelope mechanism for xrootd-protocol-based storage systems, fundamental computational improvements of the mechanism were achieved as well as an up to 50% reduction of the credential's size. By extending the access protocol with signed status messages from the underlying storage system, the File Catalogue receives trusted information about a file's size and checksum and the protocol is no longer dependent on client trust. Altogether, the revised design complies with atomic and consistent transactions and allows for accountable, authentic, and traceable file operations. This paper describes these changes as part and beyond the development of AliEn version 2.19.

Accessing Multi-Dimensional Images and Data Cubes in the Virtual Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tody, Douglas; Plante, R. L.; Berriman, G. B.; Cresitello-Dittmar, M.; Good, J.; Graham, M.; Greene, G.; Hanisch, R. J.; Jenness, T.; Lazio, J.; Norris, P.; Pevunova, O.; Rots, A. H.

2014-01-01

Telescopes across the spectrum are routinely producing multi-dimensional images and datasets, such as Doppler velocity cubes, polarization datasets, and time-resolved “movies.” Examples of current telescopes producing such multi-dimensional images include the JVLA, ALMA, and the IFU instruments on large optical and near-infrared wavelength telescopes. In the near future, both the LSST and JWST will also produce such multi-dimensional images routinely. High-energy instruments such as Chandra produce event datasets that are also a form of multi-dimensional data, in effect being a very sparse multi-dimensional image. Ensuring that the data sets produced by these telescopes can be both discovered and accessed by the community is essential and is part of the mission of the Virtual Observatory (VO). The Virtual Astronomical Observatory (VAO, http://www.usvao.org/), in conjunction with its international partners in the International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA), has developed a protocol and an initial demonstration service designed for the publication, discovery, and access of arbitrarily large multi-dimensional images. The protocol describing multi-dimensional images is the Simple Image Access Protocol, version 2, which provides the minimal set of metadata required to characterize a multi-dimensional image for its discovery and access. A companion Image Data Model formally defines the semantics and structure of multi-dimensional images independently of how they are serialized, while providing capabilities such as support for sparse data that are essential to deal effectively with large cubes. A prototype data access service has been deployed and tested, using a suite of multi-dimensional images from a variety of telescopes. The prototype has demonstrated the capability to discover and remotely access multi-dimensional data via standard VO protocols. The prototype informs the specification of a protocol that will be submitted to the IVOA for approval, with an operational data cube service to be delivered in mid-2014. An associated user-installable VO data service framework will provide the capabilities required to publish VO-compatible multi-dimensional images or data cubes.

An Ultra-low-power Medium Access Control Protocol for Body Sensor Network.

PubMed

Li, Huaming; Tan, Jindong

2005-01-01

In this paper, a medium access control (MAC) protocol designed for Body Sensor Network (BSN-MAC) is proposed. BSN-MAC is an adaptive, feedback-based and IEEE 802.15.4-compatible MAC protocol. Due to the traffic coupling and sensor diversity characteristics of BSNs, common MAC protocols can not satisfy the unique requirements of the biomedical sensors in BSN. BSN-MAC exploits the feedback information from the deployed sensors to form a closed-loop control of the MAC parameters. A control algorithm is proposed to enable the BSN coordinator to adjust parameters of the IEEE 802.15.4 superframe to achieve both energy efficiency and low latency on energy critical nodes. We evaluate the performance of BSN-MAC using energy efficiency as the primary metric.

Space Network IP Services (SNIS): An Architecture for Supporting Low Earth Orbiting IP Satellite Missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Israel, David J.

2005-01-01

The NASA Space Network (SN) supports a variety of missions using the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS), which includes ground stations in White Sands, New Mexico and Guam. A Space Network IP Services (SNIS) architecture is being developed to support future users with requirements for end-to-end Internet Protocol (IP) communications. This architecture will support all IP protocols, including Mobile IP, over TDRSS Single Access, Multiple Access, and Demand Access Radio Frequency (RF) links. This paper will describe this architecture and how it can enable Low Earth Orbiting IP satellite missions.

Space Operations Center, Shuttle Interaction Study. Volume 2: Appendices, Book 1 of 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1981-01-01

The feasibility of shuttle orbiter docking to the Space Operations Center (SOC) is studied. The in-orbit relative motion of the free flying orbiter and SOC was simulated, accounting for the Orbiter RCS and digital autopilot (DAP) systems, orbital mechanics, center of gravity offset of the orbiter docking port, aero and gravity gradient effects, and other pertinent natural and man-made phenomena. Since there is no specified flight path and procedure for docking, terminal closure sensitivities were investigated. Orbiter approach direction, Orbiter approach attitude out of plane, DAP thruster compensation mode, final ballistic docking distance and time to dock, rate and excursion attitude deadbands, and selection of various thruster combinations (differing from nominal) for translational pulses are considered.

Induced parthenogenesis by gamma-irradiated pollen in loquat for haploid production.

PubMed

Blasco, Manuel; Badenes, María Luisa; Del Mar Naval, María

2016-09-01

Successful haploid induction in loquat ( Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.) through in situ-induced parthenogenesis with gamma-ray irradiated pollen has been achieved. Female flowers of cultivar 'Algerie' were pollinated using pollen of cultivars 'Changhong-3', 'Cox' and 'Saval Brasil' irradiated with two doses of gamma rays, 150 and 300 Gy. The fruits were harvested 90, 105 and 120 days after pollination (dap). Four haploid plants were obtained from 'Algerie' pollinated with 300-Gy-treated pollen of 'Saval Brasil' from fruits harvested 105 dap. Haploidy was confirmed by flow cytometry and chromosome count. The haploids showed a very weak development compared to the diploid plants. This result suggests that irradiated pollen can be used to obtain parthenogenetic haploids.

Optical properties of ZnO powder prepared by using a proteic sol-gel process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kwon, Bong-Joon; Woo, Hyun-Joo; Park, Ji-Yeon; Jang, Kiwan; Lim, Seung-Hyuk; Cho, Yong-Hoon

2013-03-01

We have studied the optical properties of ZnO powder synthesized by using a proteic sol-gel process with coconut water as the precursor. The energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer and X-ray diffraction results show high purity of the synthesized ZnO powder. From the low-temperature (12 K) and power-dependent PL spectra, the donor-bound exciton, the acceptor-bound exciton, the donor-to-acceptor pair (DAP), and the phonon-replica of the DAP transition have been observed at 3.38, 3.34, 3.26, and 3.19 eV, respectively. The free exciton emission (˜3.3 eV) is also observed at 300 K in the temperature-dependent PL spectra.

Correlative multi-scale characterization of a fine grained Nd-Fe-B sintered magnet.

PubMed

Sasaki, T T; Ohkubo, T; Hono, K; Une, Y; Sagawa, M

2013-09-01

The Nd-rich phases in pressless processed fine grained Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and three dimensional atom probe tomography (3DAP). The combination of the backscattered electron (BSE) and in-lens secondary electron (IL-SE) images in SEM led to an unambiguous identification of four types of Nd-rich phases, NdOx, Ia3 type phase, which is isostructural to Nd₂O₃, dhcp-Nd and Nd₁Fe₄B₄. In addition, the 3DAP analysis of thin Nd-rich grain boundary layer indicate that the coercivity has a close correlation with the chemistry of the grain boundary phase. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An access technology delivery protocol for children with severe and multiple disabilities: a case demonstration.

PubMed

Mumford, Leslie; Lam, Rachel; Wright, Virginia; Chau, Tom

2014-08-01

This study applied response efficiency theory to create the Access Technology Delivery Protocol (ATDP), a child and family-centred collaborative approach to the implementation of access technologies. We conducted a descriptive, mixed methods case study to demonstrate the ATDP method with a 12-year-old boy with no reliable means of access to an external device. Evaluations of response efficiency, satisfaction, goal attainment, technology use and participation were made after 8 and 16 weeks of training with a custom smile-based access technology. At the 16 week mark, the new access technology offered better response quality; teacher satisfaction was high; average technology usage was 3-4 times per week for up to 1 h each time; switch sensitivity and specificity reached 78% and 64%, respectively, and participation scores increased by 38%. This case supports further development and testing of the ATDP with additional children with multiple or severe disabilities.

Application of an access technology delivery protocol to two children with cerebral palsy.

PubMed

Mumford, Leslie; Chau, Tom

2015-07-14

This study further delineates the merits and limitations of the Access Technology Delivery Protocol (ATDP) through its application to two children with severe disabilities. We conducted mixed methods case studies to demonstrate the ATDP with two children with no reliable means of access to an external device. Evaluations of response efficiency, satisfaction, goal attainment, technology use and participation were made after 8 and 16 weeks of training with custom access technologies. After 16 weeks, one child's switch offered improved response efficiency, high teacher satisfaction and increased participation. The other child's switch resulted in improved satisfaction and switch effectiveness but lower overall efficiency. The latter child was no longer using his switch by the end of the study. These contrasting findings indicate that changes to any contextual factors that may impact the user's switch performance should mandate a reassessment of the access pathway. Secondly, it is important to ensure that individuals who will be responsible for switch training be identified at the outset and engaged throughout the ATDP. Finally, the ATDP should continue to be tested with individuals with severe disabilities to build an evidence base for the delivery of response efficient access solutions. Implications for Rehabilitation A data-driven, comprehensive access technology delivery protocol for children with complex communication needs could help to mitigate technology abandonment. Successful adoption of an access technology requires personalized design, training of the technology user, the teaching staff, the caregivers and other communication partners, and integration with functional activities.

Honest broker protocol streamlines research access to data while safeguarding patient privacy.

PubMed

Silvey, Scott A; Silvey, Scott Andrew; Schulte, Janet; Smaltz, Detlev H; Smaltz, Detlev Herb; Kamal, Jyoti

2008-11-06

At Ohio State University Medical Center, The Honest Broker Protocol provides a streamlined mechanism whereby investigators can obtain de-identified clinical data for non-FDA research without having to invest the significant time and effort necessary to craft a formalized protocol for IRB approval.

28 CFR 115.221 - Evidence protocol and forensic medical examinations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

.... Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women publication, “A National Protocol for Sexual Assault... for investigating allegations of sexual abuse, the agency shall follow a uniform evidence protocol... developed after 2011. (c) The agency shall offer all victims of sexual abuse access to forensic medical...

28 CFR 115.21 - Evidence protocol and forensic medical examinations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Office on Violence Against Women publication, “A National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic... allegations of sexual abuse, the agency shall follow a uniform evidence protocol that maximizes the potential.... (c) The agency shall offer all victims of sexual abuse access to forensic medical examinations...

28 CFR 115.221 - Evidence protocol and forensic medical examinations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

.... Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women publication, “A National Protocol for Sexual Assault... for investigating allegations of sexual abuse, the agency shall follow a uniform evidence protocol... developed after 2011. (c) The agency shall offer all victims of sexual abuse access to forensic medical...

28 CFR 115.221 - Evidence protocol and forensic medical examinations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

.... Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women publication, “A National Protocol for Sexual Assault... for investigating allegations of sexual abuse, the agency shall follow a uniform evidence protocol... developed after 2011. (c) The agency shall offer all victims of sexual abuse access to forensic medical...

28 CFR 115.21 - Evidence protocol and forensic medical examinations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Office on Violence Against Women publication, “A National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic... allegations of sexual abuse, the agency shall follow a uniform evidence protocol that maximizes the potential.... (c) The agency shall offer all victims of sexual abuse access to forensic medical examinations...

28 CFR 115.21 - Evidence protocol and forensic medical examinations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Office on Violence Against Women publication, “A National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic... allegations of sexual abuse, the agency shall follow a uniform evidence protocol that maximizes the potential.... (c) The agency shall offer all victims of sexual abuse access to forensic medical examinations...

MAC Protocol for Ad Hoc Networks Using a Genetic Algorithm

PubMed Central

Elizarraras, Omar; Panduro, Marco; Méndez, Aldo L.

2014-01-01

The problem of obtaining the transmission rate in an ad hoc network consists in adjusting the power of each node to ensure the signal to interference ratio (SIR) and the energy required to transmit from one node to another is obtained at the same time. Therefore, an optimal transmission rate for each node in a medium access control (MAC) protocol based on CSMA-CDMA (carrier sense multiple access-code division multiple access) for ad hoc networks can be obtained using evolutionary optimization. This work proposes a genetic algorithm for the transmission rate election considering a perfect power control, and our proposition achieves improvement of 10% compared with the scheme that handles the handshaking phase to adjust the transmission rate. Furthermore, this paper proposes a genetic algorithm that solves the problem of power combining, interference, data rate, and energy ensuring the signal to interference ratio in an ad hoc network. The result of the proposed genetic algorithm has a better performance (15%) compared to the CSMA-CDMA protocol without optimizing. Therefore, we show by simulation the effectiveness of the proposed protocol in terms of the throughput. PMID:25140339

Security Analysis and Improvements of Authentication and Access Control in the Internet of Things

PubMed Central

Ndibanje, Bruce; Lee, Hoon-Jae; Lee, Sang-Gon

2014-01-01

Internet of Things is a ubiquitous concept where physical objects are connected over the internet and are provided with unique identifiers to enable their self-identification to other devices and the ability to continuously generate data and transmit it over a network. Hence, the security of the network, data and sensor devices is a paramount concern in the IoT network as it grows very fast in terms of exchanged data and interconnected sensor nodes. This paper analyses the authentication and access control method using in the Internet of Things presented by Jing et al (Authentication and Access Control in the Internet of Things. In Proceedings of the 2012 32nd International Conference on Distributed Computing Systems Workshops, Macau, China, 18–21 June 2012, pp. 588–592). According to our analysis, Jing et al.'s protocol is costly in the message exchange and the security assessment is not strong enough for such a protocol. Therefore, we propose improvements to the protocol to fill the discovered weakness gaps. The protocol enhancements facilitate many services to the users such as user anonymity, mutual authentication, and secure session key establishment. Finally, the performance and security analysis show that the improved protocol possesses many advantages against popular attacks, and achieves better efficiency at low communication cost. PMID:25123464

Security analysis and improvements of authentication and access control in the Internet of Things.

PubMed

Ndibanje, Bruce; Lee, Hoon-Jae; Lee, Sang-Gon

2014-08-13

Internet of Things is a ubiquitous concept where physical objects are connected over the internet and are provided with unique identifiers to enable their self-identification to other devices and the ability to continuously generate data and transmit it over a network. Hence, the security of the network, data and sensor devices is a paramount concern in the IoT network as it grows very fast in terms of exchanged data and interconnected sensor nodes. This paper analyses the authentication and access control method using in the Internet of Things presented by Jing et al. (Authentication and Access Control in the Internet of Things. In Proceedings of the 2012 32nd International Conference on Distributed Computing Systems Workshops, Macau, China, 18-21 June 2012, pp. 588-592). According to our analysis, Jing et al.'s protocol is costly in the message exchange and the security assessment is not strong enough for such a protocol. Therefore, we propose improvements to the protocol to fill the discovered weakness gaps. The protocol enhancements facilitate many services to the users such as user anonymity, mutual authentication, and secure session key establishment. Finally, the performance and security analysis show that the improved protocol possesses many advantages against popular attacks, and achieves better efficiency at low communication cost.

47 CFR 79.109 - Activating accessibility features.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... ACCESSIBILITY OF VIDEO PROGRAMMING Apparatus § 79.109 Activating accessibility features. (a) Requirements... video programming transmitted in digital format simultaneously with sound, including apparatus designed to receive or display video programming transmitted in digital format using Internet protocol, with...

VoIP Accessibility: A Usability Study of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Systems and A Survey of VoIP Users with Vision Loss

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Packer, Jaclyn; Reuschel, William

2018-01-01

Introduction: Accessibility of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems was tested with a hands-on usability study and an online survey of VoIP users who are visually impaired. The survey examined the importance of common VoIP features, and both methods assessed difficulty in using those features. Methods: The usability test included four paid…

Comparison of two MAC protocols based on LEO satellite networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guan, Mingxiang; Wang, Ruichun

2009-12-01

With the development of LEO satellite communication, it is the basic requirement that various kinds of services will be provided. Considering that weak channel collision detection ability, long propagation delay and heavy load in LEO satellite communication system, a valid adaptive access control protocol APRMA is proposed. Different access probability functions for different services are obtained and appropriate access probabilities for voice and data users are updated slot by slot based on the estimation of the voice traffic and the channel status. Finally simulation results demonstrate that the performance of system is improved by the APRMA compared with the conventional PRMA, with an acceptable trade-off between QoS of voice and delay of data. Also the APRMA protocol will be suitable for HAPS (high altitude platform station) with the characters of weak channel collision detection ability, long propagation delay and heavy load.

Peer Review and Publication of Research Protocols and Proposals: A Role for Open Access Journals

PubMed Central

2004-01-01

Peer-review and publication of research protocols offer several advantages to all parties involved. Among these are the following opportunities for authors: external expert opinion on the methods, demonstration to funding agencies of prior expert review of the protocol, proof of priority of ideas and methods, and solicitation of potential collaborators. We think that review and publication of protocols is an important role for Open Access journals. Because of their electronic form, openness for readers, and author-pays business model, they are better suited than traditional journals to ensure the sustainability and quality of protocol reviews and publications. In this editorial, we describe the workflow for investigators in eHealth research, from protocol submission to a funding agency, to protocol review and (optionally) publication at JMIR, to registration of trials at the International eHealth Study Registry (IESR), and to publication of the report. One innovation at JMIR is that protocol peer reviewers will be paid a honorarium, which will be drawn partly from a new submission fee for protocol reviews. Separating the article processing fee into a submission and a publishing fee will allow authors to opt for “peer-review only” (without subsequent publication) at reduced costs, if they wish to await a funding decision or for other reasons decide not to make the protocol public. PMID:15471763

Peer-review and publication of research protocols and proposals: a role for open access journals.

PubMed

Eysenbach, Gunther

2004-09-30

Peer-review and publication of research protocols offer several advantages to all parties involved. Among these are the following opportunities for authors: external expert opinion on the methods, demonstration to funding agencies of prior expert review of the protocol, proof of priority of ideas and methods, and solicitation of potential collaborators. We think that review and publication of protocols is an important role for Open Access journals. Because of their electronic form, openness for readers, and author-pays business model, they are better suited than traditional journals to ensure the sustainability and quality of protocol reviews and publications. In this editorial, we describe the workflow for investigators in eHealth research, from protocol submission to a funding agency, to protocol review and (optionally) publication at JMIR, to registration of trials at the International eHealth Study Registry (IESR), and to publication of the report. One innovation at JMIR is that protocol peer reviewers will be paid a honorarium, which will be drawn partly from a new submission fee for protocol reviews. Separating the article processing fee into a submission and a publishing fee will allow authors to opt for "peer-review only" (without subsequent publication) at reduced costs, if they wish to await a funding decision or for other reasons decide not to make the protocol public.

Data You May Like: A Recommender System for Research Data Discovery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Devaraju, A.; Davy, R.; Hogan, D.

2016-12-01

Various data portals been developed to facilitate access to research datasets from different sources. For example, the Data Publisher for Earth & Environmental Science (PANGAEA), the Registry of Research Data Repositories (re3data.org), and the National Geoscience Data Centre (NGDC). Due to data quantity and heterogeneity, finding relevant datasets on these portals may be difficult and tedious. Keyword searches based on specific metadata elements or multi-key indexes may return irrelevant results. Faceted searches may be unsatisfactory and time consuming, especially when facet values are exhaustive. We need a much more intelligent way to complement existing searching mechanisms in order to enhance user experiences of the data portals. We developed a recommender system that helps users to find the most relevant research datasets on the CSIRO's Data Access Portal (DAP). The system is based on content-based filtering. We computed the similarity of datasets based on data attributes (e.g., descriptions, fields of research, location, contributors, and provenance) and inference from transaction logs (e.g., the relations among datasets and between queries and datasets). We improved the recommendation quality by assigning weights to data similarities. The weight values are drawn from a survey involving data users. The recommender results for a given dataset are accessible programmatically via a web service. Taking both data attributes and user actions into account, the recommender system will make it easier for researchers to find and reuse data offered through the data portal.

A carrier sensed multiple access protocol for high data base rate ring networks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Foudriat, E. C.; Maly, Kurt J.; Overstreet, C. Michael; Khanna, S.; Paterra, Frank

1990-01-01

The results of the study of a simple but effective media access protocol for high data rate networks are presented. The protocol is based on the fact that at high data rates networks can contain multiple messages simultaneously over their span, and that in a ring, nodes used to detect the presence of a message arriving from the immediate upstream neighbor. When an incoming signal is detected, the node must either abort or truncate a message it is presently sending. Thus, the protocol with local carrier sensing and multiple access is designated CSMA/RN. The performance of CSMA/RN with TTattempt and truncate is studied using analytic and simulation models. Three performance factors, wait or access time, service time and response or end-to-end travel time are presented. The service time is basically a function of the network rate, it changes by a factor of 1 between no load and full load. Wait time, which is zero for no load, remains small for load factors up to 70 percent of full load. Response time, which adds travel time while on the network to wait and service time, is mainly a function of network length, especially for longer distance networks. Simulation results are shown for CSMA/RN where messages are removed at the destination. A wide range of local and metropolitan area network parameters including variations in message size, network length, and node count are studied. Finally, a scaling factor based upon the ratio of message to network length demonstrates that the results, and hence, the CSMA/RN protocol, are applicable to wide area networks.

Evaluation of Phosphate Fertilizers for the Immobilization of Cd in Contaminated Soils

PubMed Central

Yan, Yin; Zhou, Yi Qun; Liang, Cheng Hua

2015-01-01

A laboratory investigation was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of four phosphate fertilizers, including diammonium phosphate (DAP), potassium phosphate monobasic (MPP), calcium superphosphateon (SSP), and calcium phosphate tribasic (TCP), in terms of the toxicity and bioavailability of Cd in contaminated soils. The efficiency of immobilization was evaluated on the basis of two criteria: (a) the reduction of extractable Cd concentration below the TCLP regulatory level and (b) the Cd changes associated with specific operational soil fractions on the basis of sequential extraction data. Results showed that after 50 d immobilization, the extractable concentrations of Cd in DAP, MPP, SSP, and TCP treated soils decreased from 42.64 mg/kg (in the control) to 23.86, 21.86, 33.89, and 35.59 mg/kg, respectively, with immobilization efficiency in the order of MPP > DAP > SSP > TCP. Results from the assessment of Cd speciation via the sequential extraction procedure revealed that the soluble exchangeable fraction of Cd in soils treated with phosphate fertilizers, especially TCP, was considerably reduced. In addition, the reduction was correspondingly related to the increase in the more stable forms of Cd, that is, the metal bound to manganese oxides and the metal bound to crystalline iron oxides. Treatment efficiency increased as the phosphate dose (according to the molar ratio of PO4/Cd) increased. Immobilization was the most effective under the molar ratio of PO4/Cd at 4:1. PMID:25915051

Tibial Acceleration and Spatiotemporal Mechanics in Distance Runners During Reduced-Body-Weight Conditions.

PubMed

Moran, Matthew F; Rickert, Brendan J; Greer, Beau K

2017-05-01

Treadmills that unload runners via a differential air-pressure (DAP) bladder (eg, AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill) are commonly used to reduce effective body weight (BW) in a clinical setting. However, the relationship between the level of unloading and tibial stress is currently unknown. To determine the relationship between tibial impact acceleration and level of BW unloading during running. Cross-sectional. University motion-analysis laboratory. 15 distance runners (9 male, 6 female; 20.4 ± 2.4 y, 60.1 ± 12.6 kg). Peak tibial acceleration and peak-to-peak tibial acceleration were measured via a uniaxial accelerometer attached to the tibia during a 37-min continuous treadmill run that simulated reduced-BW conditions via a DAP bladder. The trial began with a 10-min run at 100% BW followed by nine 3-min stages where BW was systematically reduced from 95% to 60% in 5% increments. There was no significant relationship between level of BW and either peak tibial acceleration or peak-to-peak tibial acceleration (P > .05). Both heart rate and step rate were significantly reduced with each 5% reduction in BW level (P < .01). Although ground-reaction forces are reduced when running in reduced-BW conditions on a DAP treadmill, tibial shock magnitudes are unchanged as an alteration in spatiotemporal running mechanics (eg, reduced step rate) and may nullify the unloading effect.

Preparation and bioactive properties of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite thin films obtained by conversion of atomic layer deposited calcium carbonate.

PubMed

Holopainen, Jani; Kauppinen, Kyösti; Mizohata, Kenichiro; Santala, Eero; Mikkola, Esa; Heikkilä, Mikko; Kokkonen, Hanna; Leskelä, Markku; Lehenkari, Petri; Tuukkanen, Juha; Ritala, Mikko

2014-09-01

Nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite thin films were fabricated on silicon and titanium by atomic layer deposition (ALD) of CaCO3 and its subsequent conversion to hydroxyapatite by diammonium hydrogen phosphate (DAP) solution. The effects of conversion process parameters to crystallinity and morphology of the films were examined. DAP concentration was found to be critical in controlling the crystal size and homogeneity of the films. The hydroxyapatite phase was identified by XRD. ToF-elastic recoil detection analysis studies revealed that the films are calcium deficient in relation to hydroxyapatite with a Ca/P ratio of 1.39 for films converted with 0.2 M DAP at 95 °C. The coatings prepared on titanium conformally follow the rough surface topography of the substrate, verifying that the good step coverage of the ALD method was maintained in the conversion process. The dissolution tests revealed that the coating was nondissolvable in the cell culture medium. Annealing the coated sample at 700 °C for 1 h seemed to enhance its bonding properties to the substrate. Also, the biocompatibility of the coatings was confirmed by human bone marrow derived cells in vitro. The developed method provides a new possibility to produce thin film coatings on titanium implants with bone-type hydroxyapatite that is biocompatible with human osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

Retinal Screening Acceptance, Laser Treatment Uptake and Follow-up Response in Diabetics Requiring Laser Therapy in an Urban Diabetes Care Centre.

PubMed

Memon, Salah; Ahsan, Shahid; Alvi, Rashid; Fawwad, Asher; Basit, Abdul; Shera, Samad; Sheikh, Sikander Ali; Fahim, Muhammad Faisal

2015-10-01

To determine the acceptance of retinal screening, Laser uptake and subsequent follow-up in diabetic patients attending the Diabetes Centre of Diabetic Association of Pakistan (DAP), Karachi. Observational case series. Diabetic Centre of Diabetic Association of Pakistan (DAP), Karachi, from January 2011 to December 2012. All the diabetic patients were screened for Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) with non-Mydriatic Fundus Camera (NMFC). Patients with DR were examined by the ophthalmologist using fundus lens and slit lamp. DR was graded for severity on the basis of modified Airlie House Classification. Patients with Sight Threatening Diabetic Retinopathy (STDR) were advised Laser treatment. Each patient was followed-up for at least 6 months. The records of patients recommended Laser were retrieved, and called for re-examination. Retinal screening was accepted by all of the 8368 registered diabetics attending DAP Centre. On fundus photography, 21.2% (1777) individuals were found to have DR. Seven hundred and five (39.5%) patients were found to have STDR. Laser was advised to 96.4% (680) of STDR patients; amongst whom 70.5% (480) accepted Laser treatment. Out of 480 patients who had Laser treatment, 21.2% (107) turned out for follow-up after 6 months. Acceptance of retinal screening and Laser application was good; but follow-up was suboptional.

Effects of a Diet High in Salt, Fat, and Sugar on Telemetric Blood Pressure Measurements in Conscious, Unrestrained Adult Yucatan Miniature Swine (Sus scrofa)

PubMed Central

Myrie, Semone B; McKnight, Leslie L; King, J Christopher; McGuire, John J; Vliet, Bruce N Van; Bertolo, Robert F

2012-01-01

Radiotelemetry was used to evaluate diet-related elevation of blood pressure in adult Yucatan miniature swine. Systolic arterial blood pressure (SAP), diastolic atrial blood pressure (DAP), heart rate, and locomotor activity were assessed in 9- or 11-mo-old Yucatan miniature pigs fed a standard diet or a North American-type diet high in salt, fat, and sugar (HSFS). Compared with pigs fed standard diet, pigs fed HSFS diet showed markedly elevated SAP (132 ± 3 compared with 156 ± 6 mm Hg), whereas DAP was unchanged (92 ± 2 compared with 99 ± 5 mm Hg). In addition, all pigs were modestly sensitive to short-term changes in dietary salt, as indicated by a 6% to 7% response in blood pressure parameters. According to these data, the increase in SAP for pigs on the HSFS diet was too large to be explained by the NaCl content of the diet alone. We found no evidence of endothelial dysfunction, and the relaxation responses of isolated coronary arteries actually were enhanced in the HSFS group. In conclusion, in a Yucatan miniature pigs model chronically fed a HSFS diet, DAP did not increase, but SAP and pulse pressure appeared to be affected by high dietary levels of fat or sugar (or both). PMID:23043781

Female gonadal shielding with automatic exposure control increases radiation risks.

PubMed

Kaplan, Summer L; Magill, Dennise; Felice, Marc A; Xiao, Rui; Ali, Sayed; Zhu, Xiaowei

2018-02-01

Gonadal shielding remains common, but current estimates of gonadal radiation risk are lower than estimated risks to colon and stomach. A female gonadal shield may attenuate active automatic exposure control (AEC) sensors, resulting in increased dose to colon and stomach as well as to ovaries outside the shielded area. We assess changes in dose-area product (DAP) and absorbed organ dose when female gonadal shielding is used with AEC for pelvis radiography. We imaged adult and 5-year-old equivalent dosimetry phantoms using pelvis radiograph technique with AEC in the presence and absence of a female gonadal shield. We recorded DAP and mAs and measured organ absorbed dose at six internal sites using film dosimetry. Female gonadal shielding with AEC increased DAP 63% for the 5-year-old phantom and 147% for the adult phantom. Absorbed organ dose at unshielded locations of colon, stomach and ovaries increased 21-51% in the 5-year-old phantom and 17-100% in the adult phantom. Absorbed organ dose sampled under the shield decreased 67% in the 5-year-old phantom and 16% in the adult phantom. Female gonadal shielding combined with AEC during pelvic radiography increases absorbed dose to organs with greater radiation sensitivity and to unshielded ovaries. Difficulty in proper use of gonadal shields has been well described, and use of female gonadal shielding may be inadvisable given the risks of increasing radiation.

Human NKG2E is expressed and forms an intracytoplasmic complex with CD94 and DAP12.

PubMed

Orbelyan, Gerasim A; Tang, Fangming; Sally, Benjamin; Solus, Jason; Meresse, Bertrand; Ciszewski, Cezary; Grenier, Jean-Christophe; Barreiro, Luis B; Lanier, Lewis L; Jabri, Bana

2014-07-15

The NKG2 family of NK receptors includes activating and inhibitory members. With the exception of the homodimer-forming NKG2D, NKG2 receptors recognize the nonclassical MHC class I molecule HLA-E, and they can be subdivided into two groups: those that associate with and signal through DAP12 to activate cells, and those that contain an ITIM motif to promote inhibition. The function of NKG2 family member NKG2E is unclear in humans, and its surface expression has never been conclusively established, largely because there is no Ab that binds specifically to NKG2E. Seeking to determine a role for this molecule, we chose to investigate its expression and ability to form complexes with intracellular signaling molecules. We found that NKG2E was capable of associating with CD94 and DAP12 but that the complex was retained intracellularly at the endoplasmic reticulum instead of being expressed on cell surfaces, and that this localization was dependent on a sequence of hydrophobic amino acids in the extracellular domain of NKG2E. Because this particular sequence has emerged and been conserved selectively among higher order primates evolutionarily, this observation raises the intriguing possibility that NKG2E may function as an intracellular protein. Copyright © 2014 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.

Light-emitting Ga-oxide nanocrystals in glass: a new paradigm for low-cost and robust UV-to-visible solar-blind converters and UV emitters.

PubMed

Sigaev, Vladimir N; Golubev, Nikita V; Ignat'eva, Elena S; Paleari, Alberto; Lorenzi, Roberto

2014-01-01

Wide-bandgap nanocrystals are an inexhaustible source of tuneable functions potentially addressing most of the demand for new light emitting systems. However, the implementation of nanocrystal properties in real devices is not straightforward if a robust and stable optical component is required as a final result. The achievement of efficient light emission from dense dispersions of Ga-oxide nanocrystals in UV-grade glass can be a breakthrough in this regard. Such a result would permit the fabrication of low cost UV-to-visible converters for monitoring UV-emitting events on a large-scale - from invisible hydrogen flames to corona dispersions. From this perspective, γ-Ga₂O₃ nanocrystals are developed by phase separation in Ga-alkali-germanosilicate glasses, obtaining optical materials based on a UV transparent matrix. Band-to-band UV-excitation of light emission from donor-acceptor pair (DAP) recombination is investigated for the first time in embedded γ-Ga₂O₃. The analysis of the decay kinetics gives unprecedented evidence that nanosized confinement of DAP recombination can force a nanophase to the efficient response of exactly balanced DAPs. The results, including a proof of concept of UV-to-visible viewer, definitely demonstrate the feasibility of workable glass-based fully inorganic nanostructured materials with emission properties borrowed from Ga₂O₃ single-crystals and tailored by the nanocrystal size.

Effects of Pressure on Optically Active Deep Levels in Phosphorus Doped ZnSe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weinstein, B. A.; Iota, V.

1998-03-01

We report high pressure photoluminescence (PL) and PL-excitation (PLE) studies at 8K of the 'midgap' emission in P-doped ZnSe using a diamond-cell with He medium. The dominant emission at low pressure is due to donor-acceptor-pair (DAP) transitions between shallow donors and deep trigonally relaxed P_Se acceptors.(J. Davies, et al., J. Luminescence 18/19, 322 (1979)) Its PL and PLE peaks shift by 8.2meV/kbar and 5.9meV/kbar, respectively -- Stokes shift decreasing with pressure. At 35kbar a new PL band, shifting to lower energy (-5.4meV/kbar), emerges from above the absorption edge, and concurrently the original DAP PL quenches. This shows that a resonant level, a deep donor or possibly a P_Se antibonding state,(R. Watts, et al., Phys. Rev. B3), 404 (1971) crosses the conduction edge into the gap. A third PL band is seen only with internse UV excitation. It occurs initially as a high energy shoulder of the original DAP peak, but shifts more rapidly upward (9.4meV/kbar) until it crosses the edge and quenches at 40kbar. We discuss candidates for this band, including donor-P_Se complexes, and we compare our results to similar work on the Zn vacancy in ZnSe. (figures)

Transcriptome profiling analysis reveals the role of silique in controlling seed oil content in Brassica napus.

PubMed

Huang, Ke-Lin; Zhang, Mei-Li; Ma, Guang-Jing; Wu, Huan; Wu, Xiao-Ming; Ren, Feng; Li, Xue-Bao

2017-01-01

Seed oil content is an important agronomic trait in oilseed rape. However, the molecular mechanism of oil accumulation in rapeseeds is unclear so far. In this report, RNA sequencing technique (RNA-Seq) was performed to explore differentially expressed genes in siliques of two Brassica napus lines (HFA and LFA which contain high and low oil contents in seeds, respectively) at 15 and 25 days after pollination (DAP). The RNA-Seq results showed that 65746 and 66033 genes were detected in siliques of low oil content line at 15 and 25 DAP, and 65236 and 65211 genes were detected in siliques of high oil content line at 15 and 25 DAP, respectively. By comparative analysis, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in siliques of these lines. The DEGs were involved in multiple pathways, including metabolic pathways, biosynthesis of secondary metabolic, photosynthesis, pyruvate metabolism, fatty metabolism, glycophospholipid metabolism, and DNA binding. Also, DEGs were related to photosynthesis, starch and sugar metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, and lipid metabolism at different developmental stage, resulting in the differential oil accumulation in seeds. Furthermore, RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR data revealed that some transcription factors positively regulate seed oil content. Thus, our data provide the valuable information for further exploring the molecular mechanism of lipid biosynthesis and oil accumulation in B. nupus.

Transcriptome profiling analysis reveals the role of silique in controlling seed oil content in Brassica napus

PubMed Central

Huang, Ke-Lin; Zhang, Mei-Li; Ma, Guang-Jing; Wu, Huan; Wu, Xiao-Ming; Ren, Feng

2017-01-01

Seed oil content is an important agronomic trait in oilseed rape. However, the molecular mechanism of oil accumulation in rapeseeds is unclear so far. In this report, RNA sequencing technique (RNA-Seq) was performed to explore differentially expressed genes in siliques of two Brassica napus lines (HFA and LFA which contain high and low oil contents in seeds, respectively) at 15 and 25 days after pollination (DAP). The RNA-Seq results showed that 65746 and 66033 genes were detected in siliques of low oil content line at 15 and 25 DAP, and 65236 and 65211 genes were detected in siliques of high oil content line at 15 and 25 DAP, respectively. By comparative analysis, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in siliques of these lines. The DEGs were involved in multiple pathways, including metabolic pathways, biosynthesis of secondary metabolic, photosynthesis, pyruvate metabolism, fatty metabolism, glycophospholipid metabolism, and DNA binding. Also, DEGs were related to photosynthesis, starch and sugar metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, and lipid metabolism at different developmental stage, resulting in the differential oil accumulation in seeds. Furthermore, RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR data revealed that some transcription factors positively regulate seed oil content. Thus, our data provide the valuable information for further exploring the molecular mechanism of lipid biosynthesis and oil accumulation in B. nupus. PMID:28594951

Review and publication of protocol submissions to Trials - what have we learned in 10 years?

PubMed

Li, Tianjing; Boutron, Isabelle; Al-Shahi Salman, Rustam; Cobo, Erik; Flemyng, Ella; Grimshaw, Jeremy M; Altman, Douglas G

2016-12-16

Trials has 10 years of experience in providing open access publication of protocols for randomised controlled trials. In this editorial, the senior editors and editors-in-chief of Trials discuss editorial issues regarding managing trial protocol submissions, including the content and format of the protocol, timing of submission, approaches to tracking protocol amendments, and the purpose of peer reviewing a protocol submission. With the clarification and guidance provided, we hope we can make the process of publishing trial protocols more efficient and useful to trial investigators and readers.

O How Wondrous Is E-Mail!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Buchanan, Larry

1998-01-01

Addresses the use of e-mail for communication and collaborative projects in schools. Discusses the effectiveness of an e-mail system based on a UNIX host; problems with POP (post office protocol) client programs; and the new Internet Mail Access Protocol (IMAP) which addresses most of the shortcomings of the POP protocol while keeping advantages…

Energy Efficient Medium Access Control Protocol for Clustered Wireless Sensor Networks with Adaptive Cross-Layer Scheduling.

PubMed

Sefuba, Maria; Walingo, Tom; Takawira, Fambirai

2015-09-18

This paper presents an Energy Efficient Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol for clustered wireless sensor networks that aims to improve energy efficiency and delay performance. The proposed protocol employs an adaptive cross-layer intra-cluster scheduling and an inter-cluster relay selection diversity. The scheduling is based on available data packets and remaining energy level of the source node (SN). This helps to minimize idle listening on nodes without data to transmit as well as reducing control packet overhead. The relay selection diversity is carried out between clusters, by the cluster head (CH), and the base station (BS). The diversity helps to improve network reliability and prolong the network lifetime. Relay selection is determined based on the communication distance, the remaining energy and the channel quality indicator (CQI) for the relay cluster head (RCH). An analytical framework for energy consumption and transmission delay for the proposed MAC protocol is presented in this work. The performance of the proposed MAC protocol is evaluated based on transmission delay, energy consumption, and network lifetime. The results obtained indicate that the proposed MAC protocol provides improved performance than traditional cluster based MAC protocols.

Energy Efficient Medium Access Control Protocol for Clustered Wireless Sensor Networks with Adaptive Cross-Layer Scheduling

PubMed Central

Sefuba, Maria; Walingo, Tom; Takawira, Fambirai

2015-01-01

This paper presents an Energy Efficient Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol for clustered wireless sensor networks that aims to improve energy efficiency and delay performance. The proposed protocol employs an adaptive cross-layer intra-cluster scheduling and an inter-cluster relay selection diversity. The scheduling is based on available data packets and remaining energy level of the source node (SN). This helps to minimize idle listening on nodes without data to transmit as well as reducing control packet overhead. The relay selection diversity is carried out between clusters, by the cluster head (CH), and the base station (BS). The diversity helps to improve network reliability and prolong the network lifetime. Relay selection is determined based on the communication distance, the remaining energy and the channel quality indicator (CQI) for the relay cluster head (RCH). An analytical framework for energy consumption and transmission delay for the proposed MAC protocol is presented in this work. The performance of the proposed MAC protocol is evaluated based on transmission delay, energy consumption, and network lifetime. The results obtained indicate that the proposed MAC protocol provides improved performance than traditional cluster based MAC protocols. PMID:26393608

Zero-Copy Objects System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burleigh, Scott C.

2011-01-01

Zero-Copy Objects System software enables application data to be encapsulated in layers of communication protocol without being copied. Indirect referencing enables application source data, either in memory or in a file, to be encapsulated in place within an unlimited number of protocol headers and/or trailers. Zero-copy objects (ZCOs) are abstract data access representations designed to minimize I/O (input/output) in the encapsulation of application source data within one or more layers of communication protocol structure. They are constructed within the heap space of a Simple Data Recorder (SDR) data store to which all participating layers of the stack must have access. Each ZCO contains general information enabling access to the core source data object (an item of application data), together with (a) a linked list of zero or more specific extents that reference portions of this source data object, and (b) linked lists of protocol header and trailer capsules. The concatenation of the headers (in ascending stack sequence), the source data object extents, and the trailers (in descending stack sequence) constitute the transmitted data object constructed from the ZCO. This scheme enables a source data object to be encapsulated in a succession of protocol layers without ever having to be copied from a buffer at one layer of the protocol stack to an encapsulating buffer at a lower layer of the stack. For large source data objects, the savings in copy time and reduction in memory consumption may be considerable.

Changes in cardiovascular performance, biochemistry, gastric motility and muscle temperature induced by acute exercise on a treadmill in healthy military dogs.

PubMed

Queiroz, R W; Silva, V L; Rocha, D R; Costa, D S; Turco, S H N; Silva, M T B; Santos, A A; Oliveira, M B L; Pereira, A S R; Palheta-Junior, R C

2018-02-01

Changes in physiological parameters that are induced by acute exercise on a treadmill in healthy military dogs have not been thoroughly investigated, especially with regard to age. This study investigated the effects of acute exercise on a treadmill on cardiovascular function, biochemical parameters and gastric antral motility in military dogs. Thermography was used to assess variations in superficial hindlimb muscle temperature. Nine healthy dogs were distributed into three groups according to their age (Group I: 25 ± 7 months; Group II: 51 ± 12 months; Group III: 95 ± 10 months) and sequentially subjected to running exercise on a treadmill for 12 min (3.2 km/h at 0° incline for 4 min, 6.4 km/h at 0° incline for 4 min and 6.4 km/h at 10° incline for 4 min). Heart rate, systolic and diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), gastric motility, haematocrit and biochemical analyses were performed at rest and after each session of treadmill exercise. Infrared thermographic images of muscles in the pelvic member were taken. Exercise decreased DAP in Group I, increased systolic arterial pressure in Groups II and III and increased mean arterial pressure in Group III (all p < 0.05). After the exercise protocol, plasma creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase levels increased only in Group I (p < 0.05). Exercise increased heart rate and decreased the gastric motility of a solid meal at 180 min in all groups (all p < 0.05). Exercise also elevated temperature in the femoral biceps muscles in Group I compared with the older dogs. The results indicate that acute exercise decreased gastric motility in dogs, regardless of age, and caused more pronounced cardiovascular changes in older dogs than in younger dogs. Acute exercise also altered biochemical parameters and superficial hindlimb muscle temperature in younger military dogs. © 2016 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Quantum Tomography Protocols with Positivity are Compressed Sensing Protocols (Open Access)

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-12-08

ARTICLE OPEN Quantum tomography protocols with positivity are compressed sensing protocols Amir Kalev1, Robert L Kosut2 and Ivan H Deutsch1...Characterising complex quantum systems is a vital task in quantum information science. Quantum tomography, the standard tool used for this purpose, uses a well...designed measurement record to reconstruct quantum states and processes. It is, however, notoriously inefficient. Recently, the classical signal

47 CFR 9.7 - Access to 911 and E911 service capabilities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 1 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Access to 911 and E911 service capabilities. 9.7 Section 9.7 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION GENERAL INTERCONNECTED VOICE OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL SERVICES § 9.7 Access to 911 and E911 service capabilities. (a) Access. Subject to the...

47 CFR 9.7 - Access to 911 and E911 service capabilities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 1 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Access to 911 and E911 service capabilities. 9.7 Section 9.7 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION GENERAL INTERCONNECTED VOICE OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL SERVICES § 9.7 Access to 911 and E911 service capabilities. (a) Access. Subject to the...

47 CFR 9.7 - Access to 911 and E911 service capabilities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 1 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Access to 911 and E911 service capabilities. 9.7 Section 9.7 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION GENERAL INTERCONNECTED VOICE OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL SERVICES § 9.7 Access to 911 and E911 service capabilities. (a) Access. Subject to the...