Whole-body multicolor spectrally resolved fluorescence imaging for development of target-specific optical contrast agents using genetically engineered probes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kobayashi, Hisataka; Hama, Yukihiro; Koyama, Yoshinori; Barrett, Tristan; Urano, Yasuteru; Choyke, Peter L.

2007-02-01

Target-specific contrast agents are being developed for the molecular imaging of cancer. Optically detectable target-specific agents are promising for clinical applications because of their high sensitivity and specificity. Pre clinical testing is needed, however, to validate the actual sensitivity and specificity of these agents in animal models, and involves both conventional histology and immunohistochemistry, which requires large numbers of animals and samples with costly handling. However, a superior validation tool takes advantage of genetic engineering technology whereby cell lines are transfected with genes that induce the target cell to produce fluorescent proteins with characteristic emission spectra thus, identifying them as cancer cells. Multicolor fluorescence imaging of these genetically engineered probes can provide rapid validation of newly developed exogenous probes that fluoresce at different wavelengths. For example, the plasmid containing the gene encoding red fluorescent protein (RFP) was transfected into cell lines previously developed to either express or not-express specific cell surface receptors. Various antibody-based or receptor ligand-based optical contrast agents with either green or near infrared fluorophores were developed to concurrently target and validate cancer cells and their positive and negative controls, such as β-D-galactose receptor, HER1 and HER2 in a single animal/organ. Spectrally resolved fluorescence multicolor imaging was used to detect separate fluorescent emission spectra from the exogenous agents and RFP. Therefore, using this in vivo imaging technique, we were able to demonstrate the sensitivity and specificity of the target-specific optical contrast agents, thus reducing the number of animals needed to conduct these experiments.

Reduction of costs for anemia-management drugs associated with the use of ferric citrate

PubMed Central

Thomas, Anila; Peterson, Leif E

2014-01-01

Background Ferric citrate is a novel phosphate binder which has the potential to reduce usage of erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs) and intravenous (IV) iron used for anemia management during hemodialysis (HD) among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Currently, the potential health care cost savings on a national scale due to the use of ferric citrate in ESRD are undetermined. Methods Per-patient-per-year costs of ESAs (Epogen® and Aranesp® [Amgen Inc., CA, USA]) and IV iron (Venofer® [American Regent, Inc., NY, USA] and Ferrlecit® [Sanofi US, Bridgewater, NJ, USA]) were based on RED BOOK™ (Truven Health Analytics New York, NY, USA) costs combined with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) base rate and actual usage in 2011 for the four drugs. The annual number of outpatients undergoing HD in the US was based on frequencies reported by the USRDS (United States Renal Data System). Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis was performed to determine total annual costs and cost reduction based on ferric citrate usage. Results Total annual cost of ESAs and IV iron for anemia management in ESRD determined by Monte Carlo analysis assuming CMS base rate value was 5.127 (3.664–6.260) billion USD. For actual utilization in 2011, total annual cost of ESAs and IV iron was 3.981 (2.780–4.930) billion USD. If ferric citrate usage reduced ESA utilization by 20% and IV iron by 40%, then total cost would be reduced by 21.2% to 4.038 (2.868–4.914) billion USD for the CMS base rate, and by 21.8% to 3.111 (2.148–3.845) billion USD, based on 2011 actual utilization. Conclusion It is likely that US health care costs for anemia-management drugs associated with ESRD among HD patients can be reduced by using ferric citrate as a phosphate binder. PMID:24899820

Development and application of a real-time testbed for multiagent system interoperability: A case study on hierarchical microgrid control

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

Cintuglu, Mehmet Hazar; Youssef, Tarek; Mohammed, Osama A.

This article presents the development and application of a real-time testbed for multiagent system interoperability. As utility independent private microgrids are installed constantly, standardized interoperability frameworks are required to define behavioral models of the individual agents for expandability and plug-and-play operation. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive hybrid agent framework combining the foundation for intelligent physical agents (FIPA), IEC 61850, and data distribution service (DDS) standards. The IEC 61850 logical node concept is extended using FIPA based agent communication language (ACL) with application specific attributes and deliberative behavior modeling capability. The DDS middleware is adopted to enable a real-timemore » publisher-subscriber interoperability mechanism between platforms. The proposed multi-agent framework was validated in a laboratory based testbed involving developed intelligent electronic device (IED) prototypes and actual microgrid setups. Experimental results were demonstrated for both decentralized and distributed control approaches. Secondary and tertiary control levels of a microgrid were demonstrated for decentralized hierarchical control case study. A consensus-based economic dispatch case study was demonstrated as a distributed control example. Finally, it was shown that the developed agent platform is industrially applicable for actual smart grid field deployment.« less

Development and application of a real-time testbed for multiagent system interoperability: A case study on hierarchical microgrid control

DOE PAGES

Cintuglu, Mehmet Hazar; Youssef, Tarek; Mohammed, Osama A.

2016-08-10

This article presents the development and application of a real-time testbed for multiagent system interoperability. As utility independent private microgrids are installed constantly, standardized interoperability frameworks are required to define behavioral models of the individual agents for expandability and plug-and-play operation. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive hybrid agent framework combining the foundation for intelligent physical agents (FIPA), IEC 61850, and data distribution service (DDS) standards. The IEC 61850 logical node concept is extended using FIPA based agent communication language (ACL) with application specific attributes and deliberative behavior modeling capability. The DDS middleware is adopted to enable a real-timemore » publisher-subscriber interoperability mechanism between platforms. The proposed multi-agent framework was validated in a laboratory based testbed involving developed intelligent electronic device (IED) prototypes and actual microgrid setups. Experimental results were demonstrated for both decentralized and distributed control approaches. Secondary and tertiary control levels of a microgrid were demonstrated for decentralized hierarchical control case study. A consensus-based economic dispatch case study was demonstrated as a distributed control example. Finally, it was shown that the developed agent platform is industrially applicable for actual smart grid field deployment.« less

On the Effectiveness of Social Norms Intervention in College Drinking: The Roles of Identity Verification and Peer Influence.

PubMed

Fitzpatrick, Ben G; Martinez, Jason; Polidan, Elizabeth; Angelis, Ekaterini

2016-01-01

The application of social norms theory in the study of college drinking centers on the ideas that incorrect perceptions of drinking norms encourage problematic drinking behavior and that correcting misperceptions can mitigate problems. The design and execution of social norms interventions can be improved with a deeper understanding of causal mechanisms connecting misperception to drinking behavior. We develop an agent-based computational simulation that uses identity control theory and peer influence (PI) to model interactions that affect drinking. Using data from the College Alcohol Survey and Social Norms Marketing Research Project, we inform model parameters for agent drinking identities and perceptions. We simulate social norms campaigns that reach progressively larger fractions of the student population, and we consider the strength of the campaign in terms of changing student perception and resulting behavior. We observe a general reduction in heavy episodic drinking (HED) as students are affected by the intervention. As campaigns reached larger fractions of students, the reduction rate diminishes, in some cases actually making a slight reverse. The way in which students "take the message to heart" can have a significant impact as well: The psychological factors involved in identity control and PI have both positive and negative effects on HED rates. With whom agents associate at drinking events also impacts drinking behavior and intervention effectiveness. Simulations suggest that reducing misperception can reduce HED. When agents adhere strongly to identity verification and when misperceptions affect identity appraisals, social norms campaigns can bring about large reductions. PI, self-monitoring, and socializing with like-drinking peers appear to moderate the effect. Copyright © 2015 by the Research Society on Alcoholism.

ICTs and Indigenous Languages as Agents for the Actualization of Millennium Development Goals in Nigeria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olise, Festus Prosper

2013-01-01

This paper advocates for the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and indigenous languages for the actualization of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Nigeria because both tools are capable of transforming the rural and urban populace. It explores the MDGs so as to unravel the ways ICTs and indigenous languages can…

26 CFR 514.3 - Dividends received by addressee not actual owner.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... only 15 percent had been withheld at source therefrom. (b) Returns filed by French withholding agents... therewith such appropriate French form as may be prescribed by the Directeur General des Impots. The amounts... accompanied by such French form as may be required to be rendered by the withholding agent in France in...

26 CFR 514.3 - Dividends received by addressee not actual owner.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... only 15 percent had been withheld at source therefrom. (b) Returns filed by French withholding agents... therewith such appropriate French form as may be prescribed by the Directeur General des Impots. The amounts... accompanied by such French form as may be required to be rendered by the withholding agent in France in...

26 CFR 514.3 - Dividends received by addressee not actual owner.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... only 15 percent had been withheld at source therefrom. (b) Returns filed by French withholding agents... therewith such appropriate French form as may be prescribed by the Directeur General des Impots. The amounts... accompanied by such French form as may be required to be rendered by the withholding agent in France in...

26 CFR 514.3 - Dividends received by addressee not actual owner.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... only 15 percent had been withheld at source therefrom. (b) Returns filed by French withholding agents... therewith such appropriate French form as may be prescribed by the Directeur General des Impots. The amounts... accompanied by such French form as may be required to be rendered by the withholding agent in France in...

An Analysis of Discrimination by Real Estate Brokers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yinger, John

This paper focuses on designing policies to eliminate discrimination in the sale of single-family houses by analyzing the behavior of the agents who actually do most of the discriminating, namely real estate agents. Discriminatory practices are said to be supported by policies of house builders, lending institutions, and government, and by the…

[Applying dose banding to the production of antineoplastic drugs: a narrative review of the literature].

PubMed

Pérez Huertas, Pablo; Cueto Sola, Margarita; Escobar Cava, Paloma; Borrell García, Carmela; Albert Marí, Asunción; López Briz, Eduardo; Poveda Andrés, José Luis

2015-07-01

The dosage of antineoplastic drugs has historically been based on individualized prescription and preparation according to body surface area or patient´s weight. Lack of resources and increased assistance workload in the areas where chemotherapy is made, are leading to the development of new systems to optimize the processing without reducing safety. One of the strategies that has been proposed is the elaboration by dose banding. This new approach standardizes the antineoplastic agents doses by making ranges or bands accepting a percentage of maximum variation. It aims to reduce processing time with the consequent reduction in waiting time for patients; to reduce errors in the manufacturing process and to promote the rational drug use. In conclusion, dose banding is a suitable method for optimizing the development of anticancer drugs, obtaining reductions in oncologic patients waiting time but without actually causing a favorable impact on direct or indirect costs. Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.

The Power of Flexibility: Autonomous Agents That Conserve Energy in Commercial Buildings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kwak, Jun-young

Agent-based systems for energy conservation are now a growing area of research in multiagent systems, with applications ranging from energy management and control on the smart grid, to energy conservation in residential buildings, to energy generation and dynamic negotiations in distributed rural communities. Contributing to this area, my thesis presents new agent-based models and algorithms aiming to conserve energy in commercial buildings. More specifically, my thesis provides three sets of algorithmic contributions. First, I provide online predictive scheduling algorithms to handle massive numbers of meeting/event scheduling requests considering flexibility , which is a novel concept for capturing generic user constraints while optimizing the desired objective. Second, I present a novel BM-MDP ( Bounded-parameter Multi-objective Markov Decision Problem) model and robust algorithms for multi-objective optimization under uncertainty both at the planning and execution time. The BM-MDP model and its robust algorithms are useful in (re)scheduling events to achieve energy efficiency in the presence of uncertainty over user's preferences. Third, when multiple users contribute to energy savings, fair division of credit for such savings to incentivize users for their energy saving activities arises as an important question. I appeal to cooperative game theory and specifically to the concept of Shapley value for this fair division. Unfortunately, scaling up this Shapley value computation is a major hindrance in practice. Therefore, I present novel approximation algorithms to efficiently compute the Shapley value based on sampling and partitions and to speed up the characteristic function computation. These new models have not only advanced the state of the art in multiagent algorithms, but have actually been successfully integrated within agents dedicated to energy efficiency: SAVES, TESLA and THINC. SAVES focuses on the day-to-day energy consumption of individuals and groups in commercial buildings by reactively suggesting energy conserving alternatives. TESLA takes a long-range planning perspective and optimizes overall energy consumption of a large number of group events or meetings together. THINC provides an end-to-end integration within a single agent of energy efficient scheduling, rescheduling and credit allocation. While SAVES, TESLA and THINC thus differ in their scope and applicability, they demonstrate the utility of agent-based systems in actually reducing energy consumption in commercial buildings. I evaluate my algorithms and agents using extensive analysis on data from over 110,000 real meetings/events at multiple educational buildings including the main libraries at the University of Southern California. I also provide results on simulations and real-world experiments, clearly demonstrating the power of agent technology to assist human users in saving energy in commercial buildings.

Manipulating Scrip Systems: Sybils and Collusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kash, Ian A.; Friedman, Eric J.; Halpern, Joseph Y.

Game-theoretic analyses of distributed and peer-to-peer systems typically use the Nash equilibrium solution concept, but this explicitly excludes the possibility of strategic behavior involving more than one agent. We examine the effects of two types of strategic behavior involving more than one agent, sybils and collusion, in the context of scrip systems where agents provide each other with service in exchange for scrip. Sybils make an agent more likely to be chosen to provide service, which generally makes it harder for agents without sybils to earn money and decreases social welfare. Surprisingly, in certain circumstances it is possible for sybils to make all agents better off. While collusion is generally bad, in the context of scrip systems it actually tends to make all agents better off, not merely those who collude. These results also provide insight into the effects of allowing agents to advertise and loan money.

Econotherapeutics.

PubMed

Roark, M K; Reed, W E

1995-01-01

A program that represents the efforts of a hospital pharmacy management company to control drug costs is described. The program, Econotherapeutics, was developed in response to a changed health care reimbursement system that focused on the costs of products rather than the revenue generated by these products. For antimicrobial agents, a hospital-specific antibiogram is used to encourage cost-effective prescribing. A pharmacist intervention program, medical staff presentations, drug usage evaluation, management systems, and educational programs for pharmacists are all essential parts of the program. Centralized data gathering has allowed cost comparison of specific antimicrobial agents so that differences between variable cost estimates and costs based on actual use can be evaluated. Actual dose and dosage interval were used to calculate average cost per treatment day in a 121-hospital sample. Our cost data support the choice of cefotaxime over ceftriaxone.

Altered UV absorbance and cytotoxicity of chlorinated sunscreen agents.

PubMed

Sherwood, Vaughn F; Kennedy, Steven; Zhang, Hualin; Purser, Gordon H; Sheaff, Robert J

2012-12-01

Sunscreens are widely utilized due to the adverse effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on human health. The safety of their active ingredients as well as that of any modified versions generated during use is thus of concern. Chlorine is used as a chemical disinfectant in swimming pools. Its reactivity suggests sunscreen components might be chlorinated, altering their absorptive and/or cytotoxic properties. To test this hypothesis, the UV-filters oxybenzone, dioxybenzone, and sulisobenzone were reacted with chlorinating agents and their UV spectra analyzed. In all cases, a decrease in UV absorbance was observed. Given that chlorinated compounds can be cytotoxic, the effect of modified UV-filters on cell viability was examined. Chlorinated oxybenzone and dioxybenzone caused significantly more cell death than unchlorinated controls. In contrast, chlorination of sulisobenzone actually reduced cytotoxicity of the parent compound. Exposing a commercially available sunscreen product to chlorine also resulted in decreased UV absorbance, loss of UV protection, and enhanced cytotoxicity. These observations show chlorination of sunscreen active ingredients can dramatically decrease UV absorption and generate derivatives with altered biological properties.

Current applications and different approaches for microbial l-asparaginase production.

PubMed

Cachumba, Jorge Javier Muso; Antunes, Felipe Antonio Fernandes; Peres, Guilherme Fernando Dias; Brumano, Larissa Pereira; Santos, Júlio César Dos; Da Silva, Silvio Silvério

2016-12-01

l-asparaginase (EC 3.5.1.1) is an enzyme that catalysis mainly the asparagine hydrolysis in l-aspartic acid and ammonium. This enzyme is presented in different organisms, such as microorganisms, vegetal, and some animals, including certain rodent's serum, but not unveiled in humans. It can be used as important chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of a variety of lymphoproliferative disorders and lymphomas (particularly acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and Hodgkin's lymphoma), and has been a pivotal agent in chemotherapy protocols from around 30 years. Also, other important application is in food industry, by using the properties of this enzyme to reduce acrylamide levels in commercial fried foods, maintaining their characteristics (color, flavor, texture, security, etc.) Actually, l-asparaginase catalyzes the hydrolysis of l-asparagine, not allowing the reaction of reducing sugars with this aminoacid for the generation of acrylamide. Currently, production of l-asparaginase is mainly based in biotechnological production by using some bacteria. However, industrial production also needs research work aiming to obtain better production yields, as well as novel process by applying different microorganisms to increase the range of applications of the produced enzyme. Within this context, this mini-review presents l-asparaginase applications, production by different microorganisms and some limitations, current investigations, as well as some challenges to be achieved for profitable industrial production. Copyright © 2016 Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

Multi-Targeted Antithrombotic Therapy for Total Artificial Heart Device Patients.

PubMed

Ramirez, Angeleah; Riley, Jeffrey B; Joyce, Lyle D

2016-03-01

To prevent thrombotic or bleeding events in patients receiving a total artificial heart (TAH), agents have been used to avoid adverse events. The purpose of this article is to outline the adoption and results of a multi-targeted antithrombotic clinical procedure guideline (CPG) for TAH patients. Based on literature review of TAH anticoagulation and multiple case series, a CPG was designed to prescribe the use of multiple pharmacological agents. Total blood loss, Thromboelastograph(®) (TEG), and platelet light-transmission aggregometry (LTA) measurements were conducted on 13 TAH patients during the first 2 weeks of support in our institution. Target values and actual medians for postimplant days 1, 3, 7, and 14 were calculated for kaolinheparinase TEG, kaolin TEG, LTA, and estimated blood loss. Protocol guidelines were followed and anticoagulation management reduced bleeding and prevented thrombus formation as well as thromboembolic events in TAH patients postimplantation. The patients in this study were susceptible to a variety of possible complications such as mechanical device issues, thrombotic events, infection, and bleeding. Among them all it was clear that patients were at most risk for bleeding, particularly on postoperative days 1 through 3. However, bleeding was reduced into postoperative days 3 and 7, indicating that acceptable hemostasis was achieved with the anticoagulation protocol. The multidisciplinary, multi-targeted anticoagulation clinical procedure guideline was successful to maintain adequate antithrombotic therapy for TAH patients.

The good, the bad, and the timely: how temporal order and moral judgment influence causal selection

PubMed Central

Reuter, Kevin; Kirfel, Lara; van Riel, Raphael; Barlassina, Luca

2014-01-01

Causal selection is the cognitive process through which one or more elements in a complex causal structure are singled out as actual causes of a certain effect. In this paper, we report on an experiment in which we investigated the role of moral and temporal factors in causal selection. Our results are as follows. First, when presented with a temporal chain in which two human agents perform the same action one after the other, subjects tend to judge the later agent to be the actual cause. Second, the impact of temporal location on causal selection is almost canceled out if the later agent did not violate a norm while the former did. We argue that this is due to the impact that judgments of norm violation have on causal selection—even if the violated norm has nothing to do with the obtaining effect. Third, moral judgments about the effect influence causal selection even in the case in which agents could not have foreseen the effect and did not intend to bring it about. We discuss our findings in connection to recent theories of the role of moral judgment in causal reasoning, on the one hand, and to probabilistic models of temporal location, on the other. PMID:25477851

16 CFR 1116.9 - Confidentiality of reports.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... manufacturer or its authorized agent after payment of the actual or estimated cost of searching the records and... written request of the Chairman or Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and...

[Animal nutrition for veterinarians--actual cases: tulip bulbs with leaves (Tulipa gesneriana)--an unusual and high risk plant for ruminant feeding].

PubMed

Wolf, P; Blanke, H J; Wohlsein, P; Kamphues, J; Stöber, M

2003-07-01

14 cattle (mainly younger ones) of a total of 50 extensively kept Galloways died within 6 weeks in late winter 2001/02. According to the owner's report, grass growth had been rather poor; therefore, the herd was fed additionally hay as well as large amounts of tulip onions. In the microbiological examination a highly reduced hygienic quality of the roughage could be detected. In the rumen contents of two dissected young cattle parts of tulip onions were found. According to pertinent literature, tulip onions (in particular their external layers) contain variant-specific amounts of anti-nutritive substances; main active agents are tulipin (a glycoprotein), tuliposid A and B, and lectins. They may cause intensive mucosal irritation, accompanied by reduced feed digestion and body-weight gains, drooling, vomiting and diarrhea. This case report underlines risks caused by feeding of plants originally not destined as forage, if their active ingredients and effects are unknown or remain unconsidered.

Strategic reasoning and bargaining in catastrophic climate change games

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Verendel, Vilhelm; Johansson, Daniel J. A.; Lindgren, Kristian

2016-03-01

Two decades of international negotiations show that agreeing on emission levels for climate change mitigation is a hard challenge. However, if early warning signals were to show an upcoming tipping point with catastrophic damage, theory and experiments suggest this could simplify collective action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At the actual threshold, no country would have a free-ride incentive to increase emissions over the tipping point, but it remains for countries to negotiate their emission levels to reach these agreements. We model agents bargaining for emission levels using strategic reasoning to predict emission bids by others and ask how this affects the possibility of reaching agreements that avoid catastrophic damage. It is known that policy elites often use a higher degree of strategic reasoning, and in our model this increases the risk for climate catastrophe. Moreover, some forms of higher strategic reasoning make agreements to reduce greenhouse gases unstable. We use empirically informed levels of strategic reasoning when simulating the model.

Exploiting the behaviour of wild malaria vectors to achieve high infection with fungal biocontrol agents

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Control of mosquitoes that transmit malaria has been the mainstay in the fight against the disease, but alternative methods are required in view of emerging insecticide resistance. Entomopathogenic fungi are candidate alternatives, but to date, few trials have translated the use of these agents to field-based evaluations of their actual impact on mosquito survival and malaria risk. Mineral oil-formulations of the entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana were applied using five different techniques that each exploited the behaviour of malaria mosquitoes when entering, host-seeking or resting in experimental huts in a malaria endemic area of rural Tanzania. Results Survival of mosquitoes was reduced by 39-57% relative to controls after forcing upward house-entry of mosquitoes through fungus treated baffles attached to the eaves or after application of fungus-treated surfaces around an occupied bed net (bed net strip design). Moreover, 68 to 76% of the treatment mosquitoes showed fungal growth and thus had sufficient contact with fungus treated surfaces. A population dynamic model of malaria-mosquito interactions shows that these infection rates reduce malaria transmission by 75-80% due to the effect of fungal infection on adult mortality alone. The model also demonstrated that even if a high proportion of the mosquitoes exhibits outdoor biting behaviour, malaria transmission was still significantly reduced. Conclusions Entomopathogenic fungi strongly affect mosquito survival and have a high predicted impact on malaria transmission. These entomopathogens represent a viable alternative for malaria control, especially if they are used as part of an integrated vector management strategy. PMID:22449130

Enhancing E-Health Information Systems with Agent Technology

PubMed Central

Nguyen, Minh Tuan; Fuhrer, Patrik; Pasquier-Rocha, Jacques

2009-01-01

Agent Technology is an emerging and promising research area in software technology, which increasingly contributes to the development of value-added information systems for large healthcare organizations. Through the MediMAS prototype, resulting from a case study conducted at a local Swiss hospital, this paper aims at presenting the advantages of reinforcing such a complex E-health man-machine information organization with software agents. The latter will work on behalf of human agents, taking care of routine tasks, and thus increasing the speed, the systematic, and ultimately the reliability of the information exchanges. We further claim that the modeling of the software agent layer can be methodically derived from the actual “classical” laboratory organization and practices, as well as seamlessly integrated with the existing information system. PMID:19096509

Development of an Agent Based Model to Estimate and Reduce Time to Restoration of Storm Induced Power Outages

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walsh, T.; Layton, T.; Mellor, J. E.

2017-12-01

Storm damage to the electric grid impacts 23 million electric utility customers and costs US consumers $119 billion annually. Current restoration techniques rely on the past experiences of emergency managers. There are few analytical simulation and prediction tools available for utility managers to optimize storm recovery and decrease consumer cost, lost revenue and restoration time. We developed an agent based model (ABM) for storm recovery in Connecticut. An ABM is a computer modeling technique comprised of agents who are given certain behavioral rules and operate in a given environment. It allows the user to simulate complex systems by varying user-defined parameters to study emergent, unpredicted behavior. The ABM incorporates the road network and electric utility grid for the state, is validated using actual storm event recoveries and utilizes the Dijkstra routing algorithm to determine the best path for repair crews to travel between outages. The ABM has benefits for both researchers and utility managers. It can simulate complex system dynamics, rank variable importance, find tipping points that could significantly reduce restoration time or costs and test a broad range of scenarios. It is a modular, scalable and adaptable technique that can simulate scenarios in silico to inform emergency managers before and during storm events to optimize restoration strategies and better manage expectations of when power will be restored. Results indicate that total restoration time is strongly dependent on the number of crews. However, there is a threshold whereby more crews will not decrease the restoration time, which depends on the total number of outages. The addition of outside crews is more beneficial for storms with a higher number of outages. The time to restoration increases linearly with increasing repair time, while the travel speed has little overall effect on total restoration time. Crews traveling to the nearest outage reduces the total restoration time, while crews going to the outage with most customers affected increases the overall restoration time but more quickly decreases the customers remaining without power. This model can give utility company managers the ability to optimize their restoration strategies before or during a storm event to reduce restoration times and costs.

Caloric restriction in primates and relevance to humans.

PubMed

Roth, G S; Ingram, D K; Lane, M A

2001-04-01

Dietary caloric restriction (CR) is the only intervention conclusively and reproducibly shown to slow aging and maintain health and vitality in mammals. Although this paradigm has been known for over 60 years, its precise biological mechanisms and applicability to humans remain unknown. We began addressing the latter question in 1987 with the first controlled study of CR in primates (rhesus and squirrel monkeys, which are evolutionarily much closer to humans than the rodents most frequently employed in CR studies). To date, our results strongly suggest that the same beneficial "antiaging" and/or "antidisease" effects observed in CR rodents also occur in primates. These include lower plasma insulin levels and greater sensitivity; lower body temperatures; reduced cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, and arterial stiffness; elevated HDL; and slower age-related decline in circulating levels of DHEAS. Collectively, these biomarkers suggest that CR primates will be less likely to incur diabetes, cardiovascular problems, and other age-related diseases and may in fact be aging more slowly than fully fed counterparts. Despite these very encouraging results, it is unlikely that most humans would be willing to maintain a 30% reduced diet for the bulk of their adult life span, even if it meant more healthy years. For this reason, we have begun to explore CR mimetics, agents that might elicit the same beneficial effects as CR, without the necessity of dieting. Our initial studies have focused on 2-deoxyglucose (2DG), a sugar analogue with a limited metabolism that actually reduces glucose/energy flux without decreasing food intake in rats. In a six-month pilot study, 2DG lowered plasma insulin and body temperature in a manner analagous to that of CR. Thus, metabolic effects that mediate the CR mechanism can be attained pharmacologically. Doses were titrated to eliminate toxicity; a long-term longevity study is now under way. In addition, data from other laboratories suggest that at least some of the same physiological/metabolic end points that are associated with the beneficial effects of underfeeding may be obtained from other potential CR mimetic agents, some naturally occurring in food products. Much work remains to be done, but taken together, our successful results with CR in primates and 2DG administration to rats suggest that it may indeed be possible to obtain the health- and longevity-promoting effects of the former intervention without actually decreasing food intake.

Spies in the minority game

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, You-Yang; Xu, Chen; Gu, Guo-Qing; Hui, Pak Ming

2008-01-01

We study the effects of the existence of another type of agents, called spies, in the minority game (MG). Unlike the normal agents in the MG, the spies do not carry any strategy. Instead, they decide their action by scouting some normal agents and take the minority action of the spied group. For a few spies and when there is useful information in the normal agents’ actions, the spies can avoid the crowd effect of the normal agents and win more readily. When information becomes less useful and when more spies are present, the spies’ crowd effect hurts the success rate of the spies themselves, and the normal agents could have a higher success rate than the spies. More spies actually assist more normal agents to win, as the spies also provide more winning quotas. This leads to a nonmonotonic behavior in the total success rate of the population as a function of the fraction of spies.

Some single-machine scheduling problems with learning effects and two competing agents.

PubMed

Li, Hongjie; Li, Zeyuan; Yin, Yunqiang

2014-01-01

This study considers a scheduling environment in which there are two agents and a set of jobs, each of which belongs to one of the two agents and its actual processing time is defined as a decreasing linear function of its starting time. Each of the two agents competes to process its respective jobs on a single machine and has its own scheduling objective to optimize. The objective is to assign the jobs so that the resulting schedule performs well with respect to the objectives of both agents. The objective functions addressed in this study include the maximum cost, the total weighted completion time, and the discounted total weighted completion time. We investigate three problems arising from different combinations of the objectives of the two agents. The computational complexity of the problems is discussed and solution algorithms where possible are presented.

Conscious Action/Zombie Action

PubMed Central

Shepherd, Joshua

2015-01-01

Abstract I argue that the neural realizers of experiences of trying (that is, experiences of directing effort towards the satisfaction of an intention) are not distinct from the neural realizers of actual trying (that is, actual effort directed towards the satisfaction of an intention). I then ask how experiences of trying might relate to the perceptual experiences one has while acting. First, I assess recent zombie action arguments regarding conscious visual experience, and I argue that contrary to what some have claimed, conscious visual experience plays a causal role for action control in some circumstances. Second, I propose a multimodal account of the experience of acting. According to this account, the experience of acting is (at the very least) a temporally extended, co‐conscious collection of agentive and perceptual experiences, functionally integrated and structured both by multimodal perceptual processing as well as by what an agent is, at the time, trying to do. PMID:27667859

System and process for producing fuel with a methane thermochemical cycle

DOEpatents

Diver, Richard B.

2015-12-15

A thermochemical process and system for producing fuel are provided. The thermochemical process includes reducing an oxygenated-hydrocarbon to form an alkane and using the alkane in a reforming reaction as a reducing agent for water, a reducing agent for carbon dioxide, or a combination thereof. Another thermochemical process includes reducing a metal oxide to form a reduced metal oxide, reducing an oxygenated-hydrocarbon with the reduced metal oxide to form an alkane, and using the alkane in a reforming reaction as a reducing agent for water, a reducing agent for carbon dioxide, or a combination thereof. The system includes a reformer configured to perform a thermochemical process.

Short-memory traders and their impact on group learning in financial markets

PubMed Central

LeBaron, Blake

2002-01-01

This article highlights several issues from simulating agent-based financial markets. These all center around the issue of learning in a multiagent setting, and specifically the question of whether the trading behavior of short-memory agents could interfere with the learning process of the market as whole. It is shown in a simple example that short-memory traders persist in generating excess volatility and other features common to actual markets. Problems related to short-memory trader behavior can be eliminated by using several different methods. These are discussed along with their relevance to agent-based models in general. PMID:11997443

Simulating the behavior of patients who leave a public hospital emergency department without being seen by a physician: a cellular automaton and agent-based framework.

PubMed

Yousefi, Milad; Yousefi, Moslem; Fogliatto, F S; Ferreira, R P M; Kim, J H

2018-01-11

The objective of this study was to develop an agent based modeling (ABM) framework to simulate the behavior of patients who leave a public hospital emergency department (ED) without being seen (LWBS). In doing so, the study complements computer modeling and cellular automata (CA) techniques to simulate the behavior of patients in an ED. After verifying and validating the model by comparing it with data from a real case study, the significance of four preventive policies including increasing number of triage nurses, fast-track treatment, increasing the waiting room capacity and reducing treatment time were investigated by utilizing ordinary least squares regression. After applying the preventing policies in ED, an average of 42.14% reduction in the number of patients who leave without being seen and 6.05% reduction in the average length of stay (LOS) of patients was reported. This study is the first to apply CA in an ED simulation. Comparing the average LOS before and after applying CA with actual times from emergency department information system showed an 11% improvement. The simulation results indicated that the most effective approach to reduce the rate of LWBS is applying fast-track treatment. The ABM approach represents a flexible tool that can be constructed to reflect any given environment. It is also a support system for decision-makers to assess the relative impact of control strategies.

Simulating the behavior of patients who leave a public hospital emergency department without being seen by a physician: a cellular automaton and agent-based framework

PubMed Central

Yousefi, Milad; Yousefi, Moslem; Fogliatto, F.S.; Ferreira, R.P.M.; Kim, J.H.

2018-01-01

The objective of this study was to develop an agent based modeling (ABM) framework to simulate the behavior of patients who leave a public hospital emergency department (ED) without being seen (LWBS). In doing so, the study complements computer modeling and cellular automata (CA) techniques to simulate the behavior of patients in an ED. After verifying and validating the model by comparing it with data from a real case study, the significance of four preventive policies including increasing number of triage nurses, fast-track treatment, increasing the waiting room capacity and reducing treatment time were investigated by utilizing ordinary least squares regression. After applying the preventing policies in ED, an average of 42.14% reduction in the number of patients who leave without being seen and 6.05% reduction in the average length of stay (LOS) of patients was reported. This study is the first to apply CA in an ED simulation. Comparing the average LOS before and after applying CA with actual times from emergency department information system showed an 11% improvement. The simulation results indicated that the most effective approach to reduce the rate of LWBS is applying fast-track treatment. The ABM approach represents a flexible tool that can be constructed to reflect any given environment. It is also a support system for decision-makers to assess the relative impact of control strategies. PMID:29340526

A proposal to describe a phenomenon of expanding language

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Swietorzecka, Kordula

Changes of knowledge, convictions or beliefs are subjects of interest in frame of so called epistemic logic. There are various proposed descriptions of a process (or its results) in which so a called agent may invent certain changes in a set of sentences that he had already chosen as a point of his knowledge, convictions or beliefs (and this is also considered in case of many agents). In the presented paper we are interested in the changeability of an agent's language which is by its own independent from already mentioned changes. Modern epistemic formalizations assume that the agent uses a fixed (and so we could say: static) language in which he expresses his various opinions which may change. Our interest is to simulate a situation when a language is extended by adding to it new expressions which were not known by the agent so he couldn't even consider them as subjects of his opinions. Actually such a phenomenon happens both in natural and scientific languages. Let us mention a fact of expanding languages in process of learning or in result of getting of new data about some described domain. We propose a simple idealization of extending sentential language used by one agent. Actually the language is treated as a family of so called n-languages which get some epistemic interpretation. Proposed semantics enables us to distinguish between two different types of changes - these which occur because of changing agent's convictions about logical values of some n-sentences - we describe them using one place operator C to be read it changes that - and changes that consist in increasing the level of n-language by adding to it new expressions. However the second type of change - symbolized by variable G - may be also considered independently of the first one. The logical frame of our considerations comes from and it was originally used to describe Aristotelian theory of substantial changes. This time we apply the mentioned logic in epistemology.

α-Blockers, 5-α-Reductase Inhibitors, Acetylcholine, β3 Agonists, and Phosphodiesterase-5s in Medical Management of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms/Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: How Much Do the Different Formulations Actually Matter in the Classes?

PubMed

Chughtai, Bilal; Thomas, Dominique; Kaplan, Steven

2016-08-01

Many monotherapies are currently available to clinically treat and alleviate symptoms of lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia: α-blockers, 5ARIs, PDE5Is, β-3-andrenoceptor agonists, and anticholinergic agents. Current studies have evaluated the effective of these treatments in comparison to other groups or in combination therapies. The current review evaluates the effectiveness of class formulations. Based on the findings, α-blockers, specifically doxazosin and terazosin, were most effective in reducing IPSS scores and peak urinary flow rate, while being most cost-effective. However, further clinical investigations are required to evaluate the clinical implications of different formulations. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Bioenergetic Effects of Mitochondrial-Targeted Coenzyme Q Analogs in Endothelial Cells

PubMed Central

Fink, Brian D.; Herlein, Judith A.; Yorek, Mark A.; Fenner, Amanda M.; Kerns, Robert J.

2012-01-01

Mitochondrial-targeted analogs of coenzyme Q (CoQ) are under development to reduce oxidative damage induced by a variety of disease states. However, there is a need to understand the bioenergetic effects of these agents and whether or not these effects are related to redox properties, including their known pro-oxidant effects. We examined the bioenergetic effects of two mitochondrial-targeted CoQ analogs in their quinol forms, mitoquinol (MitoQ) and plastoquinonyl-decyl-triphenylphosphonium (SkQ1), in bovine aortic endothelial cells. We used an extracellular oxygen and proton flux analyzer to assess mitochondrial action at the intact-cell level. Both agents, in dose-dependent fashion, reduced the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) directed at ATP turnover (OCRATP) (IC50 values of 189 ± 13 nM for MitoQ and 181 ± 7 for SKQ1; difference not significant) while not affecting or mildly increasing basal oxygen consumption. Both compounds increased extracellular acidification in the basal state consistent with enhanced glycolysis. Both compounds enhanced mitochondrial superoxide production assessed by using mitochondrial-targeted dihydroethidium, and both increased H2O2 production from mitochondria of cells treated before isolation of the organelles. The manganese superoxide dismutase mimetic manganese(III) tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphyrin did not alter or actually enhanced the actions of the targeted CoQ analogs to reduce OCRATP. In contrast, N-acetylcysteine mitigated this effect of MitoQ and SkQ1. In summary, our data demonstrate the important bioenergetic effects of targeted CoQ analogs. Moreover, these effects are mediated, at least in part, through superoxide production but depend on conversion to H2O2. These bioenergetic and redox actions need to be considered as these compounds are developed for therapeutic purposes. PMID:22661629

Bioenergetic effects of mitochondrial-targeted coenzyme Q analogs in endothelial cells.

PubMed

Fink, Brian D; Herlein, Judith A; Yorek, Mark A; Fenner, Amanda M; Kerns, Robert J; Sivitz, William I

2012-09-01

Mitochondrial-targeted analogs of coenzyme Q (CoQ) are under development to reduce oxidative damage induced by a variety of disease states. However, there is a need to understand the bioenergetic effects of these agents and whether or not these effects are related to redox properties, including their known pro-oxidant effects. We examined the bioenergetic effects of two mitochondrial-targeted CoQ analogs in their quinol forms, mitoquinol (MitoQ) and plastoquinonyl-decyl-triphenylphosphonium (SkQ1), in bovine aortic endothelial cells. We used an extracellular oxygen and proton flux analyzer to assess mitochondrial action at the intact-cell level. Both agents, in dose-dependent fashion, reduced the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) directed at ATP turnover (OCR(ATP)) (IC₅₀ values of 189 ± 13 nM for MitoQ and 181 ± 7 for SKQ1; difference not significant) while not affecting or mildly increasing basal oxygen consumption. Both compounds increased extracellular acidification in the basal state consistent with enhanced glycolysis. Both compounds enhanced mitochondrial superoxide production assessed by using mitochondrial-targeted dihydroethidium, and both increased H₂O₂ production from mitochondria of cells treated before isolation of the organelles. The manganese superoxide dismutase mimetic manganese(III) tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphyrin did not alter or actually enhanced the actions of the targeted CoQ analogs to reduce OCR(ATP). In contrast, N-acetylcysteine mitigated this effect of MitoQ and SkQ1. In summary, our data demonstrate the important bioenergetic effects of targeted CoQ analogs. Moreover, these effects are mediated, at least in part, through superoxide production but depend on conversion to H₂O₂. These bioenergetic and redox actions need to be considered as these compounds are developed for therapeutic purposes.

Laboratory scale studies on removal of chromium from industrial wastes.

PubMed

Baig, M A; Mir, Mohsin; Murtaza, Shazad; Bhatti, Zafar I

2003-05-01

Chromium being one of the major toxic pollutants is discharged from electroplating and chrome tanning processes and is also found in the effluents of dyes, paint pigments, manufacturing units etc. Chromium exists in aqueous systems in both trivalent (Cr(3+)) and hexavalent (Cr(6+)) forms. The hexavalent form is carcinogenic and toxic to aquatic life, whereas Cr(3+) is however comparatively less toxic. This study was undertaken to investigate the total chromium removal from industrial effluents by chemical means in order to achieve the Pakistan NEQS level of 1 mg/L by the methods of reduction and precipitation. The study was conducted in four phases. In phase I, the optimum pH and cost effective reducing agent among the four popular commercial chemicals was selected. As a result, pH of 2 was found to be most suitable and sodium meta bisulfate was found to be the most cost effective reducing agent respectively. Phase II showed that lower dose of sodium meta bisulfate was sufficient to obtain 100% efficiency in reducing Cr(6+) to Cr(3+), and it was noted that reaction time had no significance in the whole process. A design curve for reduction process was established which can act as a tool for treatment of industrial effluents. Phase III studies indicated the best pH was 8.5 for precipitation of Cr(3+) to chromium hydroxide by using lime. An efficiency of 100% was achievable and a settling time of 30 minutes produced clear effluent. Finally in Phase IV actual waste samples from chrome tanning and electroplating industries, when precipitated at pH of 12 gave 100% efficiency at a settling time of 30 minutes and confined that chemical means of reduction and precipitation is a feasible and viable solution for treating chromium wastes from industries.

Induction of morphological transformation in mouse C3H/10T1/2 clone 8 cells and chromosomal damage in hamster A(T1)C1-3 cells by cancer chemotherapeutic agents.

PubMed

Benedict, W F; Banerjee, A; Gardner, A; Jones, P A

1977-07-01

Various cancer chemotherapeutic agents including alkylating agents, antimetabolites, and antibiotics or natural products were studied for their ability to produce morphological transformation in the C3H/10T1/2 clone 8 mouse cell line and chromosomal damage in the A(T1)C1-3 hamster cell line following a 24-hr exposure of each agent at different concentrations. Those drugs that were known to be carcinogenic in vivo also produced morphological transformation and chromosomal damage, whereas those agents that have not been shown to be carcinogenic in vivo produced neither transformation nor chromosomal lesions. The concentrations used for these studies were in general similar to those actually reached in the plasma of patients treated with these same drugs for malignant, as well as certain nonmalignant, conditions.

Biomass Pyrolysis Solids as Reducing Agents: Comparison with Commercial Reducing Agents.

PubMed

Adrados, Aitziber; De Marco, Isabel; López-Urionabarrenechea, Alexander; Solar, Jon; Caballero, Blanca M; Gastelu, Naia

2015-12-23

Biomass is one of the most suitable options to be used as renewable energy source due to its extensive availability and its contribution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass under appropriate conditions (slow heating rate and high temperatures) can produce a quality solid product, which could be applicable to several metallurgical processes as reducing agent (biocoke or bioreducer). Two woody biomass samples (olives and eucalyptus) were pyrolyzed to produce biocoke. These biocokes were characterized by means of proximate and ultimate analysis, real density, specific surface area, and porosity and were compared with three commercial reducing agents. Finally, reactivity tests were performed both with the biocokes and with the commercial reducing agents. Bioreducers have lower ash and sulfur contents than commercial reducers, higher surface area and porosity, and consequently, much higher reactivity. Bioreducers are not appropriate to be used as top burden in blast furnaces, but they can be used as fuel and reducing agent either tuyére injected at the lower part of the blast furnace or in non-ferrous metallurgical processes where no mechanical strength is needed as, for example, in rotary kilns.

Host-pathogen dynamics under sterilizing pathogens and fecundity-longevity trade-off in hosts.

PubMed

Janoušková, Eva; Berec, Luděk

2018-08-07

Infectious diseases are known to regulate population dynamics, an observation that underlies the use of pathogens as control agents of unwanted populations. Sterilizing rather than lethal pathogens are often suggested so as to avoid unnecessary suffering of the infected hosts. Until recently, models used to assess plausibility of pathogens as potential pest control agents have not included a possibility that reduced fecundity of the infected individuals may save their energy expenditure on reproduction and thus increase their longevity relative to the susceptible ones. Here, we develop a model of host-pathogen interaction that builds on this idea. We analyze the model for a variety of infection transmission functions, revealing that the indirect effect of sterilizing pathogens on mortality of the infected hosts, mediated by a fecundity-longevity trade-off, may cause hosts at endemic equilibria to attain densities higher than when there is no effect of pathogens on host mortality. On the other hand, an opposite outcome occurs when the fecundity-longevity trade-off is concave or when the degree of fecundity reduction by the pathogen is high enough. This points to a possibility that using sterilizing pathogens as agents of pest control may actually be less effective than previously thought, the more so since we also suggest that if sexual selection acts on the host species then the presence of sterilizing pathogens may even enhance host densities above the levels achieved without infection. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

New Agents, Emerging Late Effects, and the Development of Precision Survivorship.

PubMed

Chow, Eric J; Antal, Zoltan; Constine, Louis S; Gardner, Rebecca; Wallace, W Hamish; Weil, Brent R; Yeh, Jennifer M; Fox, Elizabeth

2018-06-06

Incremental improvements in the treatment of children and adolescents with cancer have led to 5-year survival rates reaching nearly 85%. In the past decade, impressive progress has been made in understanding the biology of many pediatric cancers. With that understanding, multiple new agents have become available that offer the promise of more-effective and less-toxic treatment. These include agents that target various cell surface antigens and engage the adaptive immune system, as well as those that interfere with key signaling pathways involved in tumor development and growth. For local control, surgery and radiation techniques also have evolved, becoming less invasive or featuring new techniques and particles that more precisely target the tumor and limit the dose to normal tissue. Nevertheless, targeted agents, like conventional chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, may have off-target effects and deserve long-term follow-up of their safety and efficacy. These include injury to the endocrine, cardiovascular, and immunologic systems. New radiation and surgical techniques that theoretically reduce morbidity and improve long-term quality of life must also be validated with actual patient outcomes. Finally, with advances in genomics, information on host susceptibility to late effects is beginning to emerge. Such knowledge, coupled with improved metrics that better describe the spectrum of potential late effects across the entire lifespan, can lead to the development of decision models that project the potential long-term health outcomes associated with various treatment and follow-up strategies. These developments will help extend the current focus on precision medicine to precision survivorship, where clinicians, patients, and families will have a better grasp of the potential risks, benefits, and tradeoffs associated with the growing number of cancer treatment options.

Reducing agent can be omitted in the incubation medium of the batch in vitro fermentation model of the pig intestines.

PubMed

Poelaert, C; Nollevaux, G; Boudry, C; Taminiau, B; Nezer, C; Daube, G; Schneider, Y-J; Portetelle, D; Théwis, A; Bindelle, J

2018-06-01

Over the past decade, in vitro methods have been developed to study intestinal fermentation in pigs and its influence on the digestive physiology and health. In these methods, ingredients are fermented by a bacterial inoculum diluted in a mineral buffer solution. Generally, a reducing agent such as Na2S or cysteine-HCl generates the required anaerobic environment by releasing metabolites similar to those produced when protein is fermented, possibly inducing a dysbiosis. An experiment was conducted to study the impact of two reducing agents on results yielded by such in vitro fermentation models. Protein (soybean proteins, casein) and carbohydrate (potato starch, cellulose) ingredients were fermented in vitro by bacteria isolated from fresh feces obtained from three sows in three carbonate-based incubation media differing in reducing agent: (i) Na2S, (ii) cysteine-HCl and (iii) control with a mere saturation with CO2 and devoid of reducing agent. The gas production during fermentation was recorded over 72 h. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) production after 24 and 72 h and microbial composition of the fermentation broth after 24 h were compared between ingredients and between reducing agents. The fermentation residues after 24 h were also evaluated in terms of cytotoxicity using Caco-2 cell monolayers. Results showed that the effect of the ingredient induced higher differences than the reducing agent. Among the latter, cysteine-HCl induced the strongest differences compared with the control, whereas Na2S was similar to the control for most parameters. For all ingredients, final gas produced per g of substrate was similar (P>0.10) for the three reducing agents whereas the maximum rate of gas production (R max) was reduced (P0.10) after 24 h of fermentation with Na2S and in the control without reducing agent. Molar ratios of branched chain-fatty acids were higher (P<0.05) for protein (36.5% and 9.7% for casein and soybean proteins, respectively) than for carbohydrate (<4%) ingredients. Only fermentation residues of casein showed a possible cytotoxic effect regardless of the reducing agent (P<0.05). Concerning the microbial composition of the fermentation broth, most significant differences in phyla and in genera ascribable to the reducing agent were found with potato starch and casein. In conclusion, saturating the incubation media with CO2 seems sufficient to generate a suitable anaerobic environment for intestinal microbes and the use of a reducing agent can be omitted.

Experimental study on the foundation of soft soil solidification formula based on the Design - Expert software search

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qian, Chaojun; Li, Dahua; Zhang, xian; Zhou, Dongqing; Zhang, Baoliang

2017-08-01

Xuan city + 1100 kv search for converter station in Anhui province, in the process of foundation treatment, there is a cloth with a large number of lacustrine soft soil can not reach the need of engineering construction, so we want to cure the soft soil. By combining ratio of blast furnace slag (GGBS), gypsum, exciting agent CaO as a main curing agent for combination of reinforcing soft soil, the indoor unconfined compressive strength test, the influence factors on blast furnace slag, exciting agent and dosage of gypsum as impact factors, response value is 7 d and 28 d unconfined compressive strength of solidified soil, the experimental method is the Box - Behnken. The results show that the 7 d gypsum and the interaction of the blast furnace slag is obvious; 28 d exciting agent and gypsum interaction is obvious. By the analysis plaster, CaO, GGBSIn 7 d optimal proportion is 3.71%, 3.62%, 12.18%, the actual strength of the solidified soil age 1479.33 kPa; 28 d optimal proportion was 4.08%, 4.50%, 11.6%, the actual strength of the solidified soil age 2936.78 kPa. In the soil and the water curing effect of GGBS solidified soil, thereby GGBS this is a kind of new solidification material that can be used as the engineering foundation treatment of soft soil stabilizer has a certain value.

Minority game with arbitrary cutoffs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, N. F.; Hui, P. M.; Zheng, Dafang; Tai, C. W.

1999-07-01

We study a model of a competing population of N adaptive agents, with similar capabilities, repeatedly deciding whether to attend a bar with an arbitrary cutoff L. Decisions are based upon past outcomes. The agents are only told whether the actual attendance is above or below L. For L∼ N/2, the game reproduces the main features of Challet and Zhang's minority game. As L is lowered, however, the mean attendances in different runs tend to divide into two groups. The corresponding standard deviations for these two groups are very different. This grouping effect results from the dynamical feedback governing the game's time-evolution, and is not reproduced if the agents are fed a random history.

Insight into effects of mature compost recycling on N2O emission and denitrification genes in sludge composting.

PubMed

Wang, Ke; Wu, Yiqi; Li, Weiguang; Wu, Chuandong; Chen, Zhiqiang

2018-03-01

Mature compost recycling is widely used to reduce the dosage of organic bulking agent in actual composting process. In this study, the effects of mature compost amendment on N 2 O emission and denitrification genes were investigated in 47 days composting of sewage sludge and rice husks. The results showed that mature compost amendment dramatically augmented N 2 O emission rate in mesophilic phase and CO 2 emission rate in thermophilic phase of composting, respectively. The cumulative amount of N 2 O emission increased by more than 23 times compared to the control. Mature compost amendment not only reduced moisture and pH, but also significantly increased NO 3 - -N and NO 2 - -N concentrations. The correlation matrices indicated that NO 3 - -N, narG and norB were the main factors influencing N 2 O emission rate in sludge composting with mature compost recycling, but the N 2 O emission rate was significantly correlated to NO 2 - -N, nirK and norB in the control. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

CONTROL OF CHELATOR-BASED UPSETS IN SURFACE FINISHING SHOP WASTE WATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS

EPA Science Inventory

Actual surface finishing shop examples are used to illustrate the use of process chemistry understanding and analyses to identify immediate, interim and permanent response options for industrial waste water treatment plant (IWTP) upset problems caused by chelating agents. There i...

Nonlinear stochastic exclusion financial dynamics modeling and time-dependent intrinsic detrended cross-correlation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Wei; Wang, Jun

2017-09-01

In attempt to reproduce price dynamics of financial markets, a stochastic agent-based financial price model is proposed and investigated by stochastic exclusion process. The exclusion process, one of interacting particle systems, is usually thought of as modeling particle motion (with the conserved number of particles) in a continuous time Markov process. In this work, the process is utilized to imitate the trading interactions among the investing agents, in order to explain some stylized facts found in financial time series dynamics. To better understand the correlation behaviors of the proposed model, a new time-dependent intrinsic detrended cross-correlation (TDI-DCC) is introduced and performed, also, the autocorrelation analyses are applied in the empirical research. Furthermore, to verify the rationality of the financial price model, the actual return series are also considered to be comparatively studied with the simulation ones. The comparison results of return behaviors reveal that this financial price dynamics model can reproduce some correlation features of actual stock markets.

Can Some Marine-Derived Fungal Metabolites Become Actual Anticancer Agents?

PubMed

Gomes, Nelson G M; Lefranc, Florence; Kijjoa, Anake; Kiss, Robert

2015-06-19

Marine fungi are known to produce structurally unique secondary metabolites, and more than 1000 marine fungal-derived metabolites have already been reported. Despite the absence of marine fungal-derived metabolites in the current clinical pipeline, dozens of them have been classified as potential chemotherapy candidates because of their anticancer activity. Over the last decade, several comprehensive reviews have covered the potential anticancer activity of marine fungal-derived metabolites. However, these reviews consider the term "cytotoxicity" to be synonymous with "anticancer agent", which is not actually true. Indeed, a cytotoxic compound is by definition a poisonous compound. To become a potential anticancer agent, a cytotoxic compound must at least display (i) selectivity between normal and cancer cells (ii) activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) cancer cells; and (iii) a preferentially non-apoptotic cell death mechanism, as it is now well known that a high proportion of cancer cells that resist chemotherapy are in fact apoptosis-resistant cancer cells against which pro-apoptotic drugs have more than limited efficacy. The present review thus focuses on the cytotoxic marine fungal-derived metabolites whose ability to kill cancer cells has been reported in the literature. Particular attention is paid to the compounds that kill cancer cells through non-apoptotic cell death mechanisms.

Biomass Pyrolysis Solids as Reducing Agents: Comparison with Commercial Reducing Agents

PubMed Central

Adrados, Aitziber; De Marco, Isabel; López-Urionabarrenechea, Alexander; Solar, Jon; Caballero, Blanca M.; Gastelu, Naia

2015-01-01

Biomass is one of the most suitable options to be used as renewable energy source due to its extensive availability and its contribution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass under appropriate conditions (slow heating rate and high temperatures) can produce a quality solid product, which could be applicable to several metallurgical processes as reducing agent (biocoke or bioreducer). Two woody biomass samples (olives and eucalyptus) were pyrolyzed to produce biocoke. These biocokes were characterized by means of proximate and ultimate analysis, real density, specific surface area, and porosity and were compared with three commercial reducing agents. Finally, reactivity tests were performed both with the biocokes and with the commercial reducing agents. Bioreducers have lower ash and sulfur contents than commercial reducers, higher surface area and porosity, and consequently, much higher reactivity. Bioreducers are not appropriate to be used as top burden in blast furnaces, but they can be used as fuel and reducing agent either tuyére injected at the lower part of the blast furnace or in non-ferrous metallurgical processes where no mechanical strength is needed as, for example, in rotary kilns. PMID:28787805

Viagra for home care patients.

PubMed

Catania, P N

1998-08-01

In March 1998 a totally new type of therapeutic agent, sildenafil citrate (Viagra), was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for marketing in the United States as an oral tablet for erectile dysfunction in men. Extensive media coverage may have overshadowed the actual value and potential limitations of this therapeutic agent. Because sildenafil is a prescription-only medication that may be used in ambulatory and home care patients, home caregivers need to understand its intended use, mechanism and dose, and potential problems that may occur in patients who receive it.

A pediatrician's view. Skin manifestations of bioterrorism.

PubMed

Cross, J T; Altemeier, W A

2000-01-01

The physician must be in contact with the local public health infrastructure as soon as a potential biological agent is perceived as possible. Most states are now setting up contingency plans and means to address these issues in a systematic way. This involves using local health departments, police departments, fire departments, National Guard units, and federal agencies such as the CDC and the FBI. The key component, however, is actually identifying a biological agent in the community and then moving quickly to isolate those who may be at risk of spreading the infection.

System and method for regeneration and recirculation of a reducing agent using highly exothermic reactions induced by mixed industrial slags

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

Nakano, Jinichiro; Bennett, James P.; Nakano, Anna

Embodiments relate to systems and methods for regenerating and recirculating a CO, H.sub.2 or combinations thereof utilized for metal oxide reduction in a reduction furnace. The reduction furnace receives the reducing agent, reduces the metal oxide, and generates an exhaust of the oxidized product. The oxidized product is transferred to a mixing vessel, where the oxidized product, a calcium oxide, and a vanadium oxide interact to regenerate the reducing agent from the oxidized product. The regenerated reducing agent is transferred back to the reduction furnace for continued metal oxide reductions.

46 CFR Sec. 2 - General Agent's requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... chest items required for the intended voyage. Purchase for the account of the NSA, from recognized bona... respective domestic ports, only such items and quantities reflecting past experience of actual requirements. (b) Arrange for delivery on board to the custody of the Master all slop chest items purchased...

PLATE: Powerful Learning and Teaching Environments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Housand, Angela

2009-01-01

The environment has a profound effect on the ability of students to regulate their behavior or disposition and effectively engage in the learning processes. Active engagement is important because it increases performance. Certain types of environmental structures actually increase students' ability to be agents of their own learning. These…

Metal enrichments in solid bitumens: A review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parnell, J.

1988-07-01

The association of oils and solid bitumens with ore deposits is widely recorded. The oils and bitumens may actually be enriched with metals. Unlike oils, metal enrichments within bitumens do not reflect the role of petroleum as a transporting agent for metals. By contrast, they may be a result of the reduction of metal ions on contact with bitumen, and may reach levels so high that ore mineral inclusions are precipitated. Metal determinations of British bitumens suggest that new metal anomalies can be detected by this approach, that some metal anomalies within bitumens may be related to ore mineralization, and that bitumens from different sources may be distinguished by their metal contents. The potential use of bitumen distribution and/or metal enrichment within bitumen for ore exploration is dependent on the metal concerned, and in particular whether the metal is transported by association with organic materials or reduced in the presence of organic materials.

Devolatilization Analysis in a Twin Screw Extruder by using the Flow Analysis Network (FAN) Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tomiyama, Hideki; Takamoto, Seiji; Shintani, Hiroaki; Inoue, Shigeki

We derived the theoretical formulas for three mechanisms of devolatilization in a twin screw extruder. These are flash, surface refreshment and forced expansion. The method for flash devolatilization is based on the equation of equilibrium concentration which shows that volatiles break off from polymer when they are relieved from high pressure condition. For surface refreshment devolatilization, we applied Latinen's model to allow estimation of polymer behavior in the unfilled screw conveying condition. Forced expansion devolatilization is based on the expansion theory in which foams are generated under reduced pressure and volatiles are diffused on the exposed surface layer after mixing with the injected devolatilization agent. Based on these models, we developed the simulation software of twin-screw extrusion by the FAN method and it allows us to quantitatively estimate volatile concentration and polymer temperature with a high accuracy in the actual multi-vent extrusion process for LDPE + n-hexane.

Growth stimulation of Porphyromonas endodontalis by hemoglobin and protoporphyrin IX.

PubMed

Zerr, M A; Cox, C D; Johnson, W T; Drake, D R

2000-12-01

Porphyromonas endodontalis, like other Porphyromonas species, has a complex set of nutritional requirements. In addition to being an obligate anaerobe, the bacterium must be grown in a complex medium consisting of amino acids, reducing agents and heme compounds. P. endodontalis accumulates high concentrations of heme pigments to the extent that colonies appear black on blood agar. This accumulation of heme and the need for these compounds has been characterized as iron requirements by these species. However, in our studies, P. endodontalis demonstrated growth dependence on hemoglobin or protoporphyrin IX but not on free iron. Iron added to other heme compounds actually decreased growth stimulation by porphyrin-containing compounds. P. endodontalis actively transported free iron, but this process did not appear to be critical for growth. The maximum stimulation of growth by protoporphyrin IX, under conditions of iron deprivation, suggests that P. endodontalis requires the porphyrin moiety as a growth factor.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Five Odor Reducing Agents for Sewer System Odors Using an On-Line Total Reduced Sulfur Analyzer

PubMed Central

Choi, Il; Lee, Hyunjoo; Shin, Joungdu; Kim, Hyunook

2012-01-01

Sewer odors have been a concern to citizens of the Metropolitan Seoul region, which has installed combined sewer systems (CSSs) in 86% of its area. Although a variety of odorants are released from sewers, volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) have been recognized as major ones. A number of technologies have been proposed to monitor or control odors from sewers. One of the most popular strategies adopted for the control of sewage odor is by applying a commercial odor-reducing agent into the sewer. In this study, the effectiveness of five different commercial odor-reducing agents (i.e., an odor masking agent, an alkaline solution, two microbial agents, and a chemical oxidant) was evaluated by continuously monitoring VSCs released from the sewer with an on-line total reduced sulfur (TRS) analyzer before and after each agent was sprayed into CSSs at five different locations of the city. In short, when the effectiveness of odor treatment was tested in the sewer system using five commercial odor reducing treatments, only the chemical oxidant was good enough to reduce the odor in terms of TRS levels measured before and after the application (p < 0.01). PMID:23223148

Clean process to destroy arsenic-containing organic compounds with recovery of arsenic

DOEpatents

Upadhye, R.S.; Wang, F.T.

1996-08-13

A reduction method is provided for the treatment of arsenic-containing organic compounds with simultaneous recovery of pure arsenic. Arsenic-containing organic compounds include pesticides, herbicides, and chemical warfare agents such as Lewisite. The arsenic-containing compound is decomposed using a reducing agent. Arsine gas may be formed directly by using a hydrogen-rich reducing agent, or a metal arsenide may be formed using a pure metal reducing agent. In the latter case, the arsenide is reacted with an acid to form arsine gas. In either case, the arsine gas is then reduced to elemental arsenic. 1 fig.

Clean process to destroy arsenic-containing organic compounds with recovery of arsenic

DOEpatents

Upadhye, Ravindra S.; Wang, Francis T.

1996-01-01

A reduction method is provided for the treatment of arsenic-containing organic compounds with simultaneous recovery of pure arsenic. Arsenic-containing organic compounds include pesticides, herbicides, and chemical warfare agents such as Lewisite. The arsenic-containing compound is decomposed using a reducing agent. Arsine gas may be formed directly by using a hydrogen-rich reducing agent, or a metal arsenide may be formed using a pure metal reducing agent. In the latter case, the arsenide is reacted with an acid to form arsine gas. In either case, the arsine gas is then reduced to elemental arsenic.

Implications of environmental externalities assessments for solar thermal powerplants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, A. D.; Baechler, M. C.

1991-03-01

Externalities are those impacts of one activity on other activities that are not priced in the marketplace. An externality is said to exist when two conditions hold: (1) the utility or operations of one economic agent, A, include nonmonetary variables whose values are chosen by another economic agent, B, without regard to the effects on A, and (2) B does not pay A compensation equal to the incremental costs inflicted on A. Electricity generation involves a wide range of potential and actual environmental impacts. Legislative, permitting, and regulatory requirements directly or indirectly control certain environmental impacts, implicitly causing them to become internalized in the cost of electricity generation. Electricity generation, however, often produces residual environmental impacts that meet the definition of an externality. Mechanisms have been developed by several states to include the costs associated with externalities in the cost-effectiveness analyses of new powerplants. This paper examines these costs for solar thermal plants and applies two states' scoring methodologies to estimate how including externalities would affect the levelized costs of power from a solar plant in the Pacific Northwest. It concludes that including externalities in the economics can reduce the difference between the levelized cost of a coal and solar plant by between 0.74 and 2.42 cents/kWh.

Quantitative Agent Based Model of User Behavior in an Internet Discussion Forum

PubMed Central

Sobkowicz, Pawel

2013-01-01

The paper presents an agent based simulation of opinion evolution, based on a nonlinear emotion/information/opinion (E/I/O) individual dynamics, to an actual Internet discussion forum. The goal is to reproduce the results of two-year long observations and analyses of the user communication behavior and of the expressed opinions and emotions, via simulations using an agent based model. The model allowed to derive various characteristics of the forum, including the distribution of user activity and popularity (outdegree and indegree), the distribution of length of dialogs between the participants, their political sympathies and the emotional content and purpose of the comments. The parameters used in the model have intuitive meanings, and can be translated into psychological observables. PMID:24324606

[The actual Russian legislation in sphere of turn-over of drug agents and psychotropic substances].

PubMed

Abramov, A Yu; Kosolapova, N V; Mikhaiylova, Yu V

2014-01-01

The drug abuse is a social occurrence. Hence, the social economic methods are the first of all means of combating this evil. At the same time, measures of especially juridical character possess significant value since they develop corresponding legal base for applying another measures. In the Russian Federation, during fifteen years the new policy of public regulation and normative legal base in the area of legal turn-over of drug agents, psychotropic substances and their precursors were developed factually from zero ground. However, the current national legislation is not deprived of some flaws and contradictions. Frequently a uniform practice of interpretation and application of legal rules regulating the controlled turn-over is lacking. On the one hand, this circumstance decreases effectiveness of action of such rules and on the other hand favors development of situations for outflow of pharmaceuticals from legal turn-over to illegal traffic. The becoming of the Russian legislation in the area of turn-over of drug agents, precursors and psychotropic substances relates to the period of late 1990s when the Federal Law No 3 FZ "On drug agents and psychotropic substances" of January 8 1998 was developed and passed by the State Duma of the Russian Federation. The given law completely conforms to principles of legal regulation of turn-over of drug agents and psychotropic substances determined by the Constitution of the Russian Federation (provisions 76, 90, 104, 105) and federal laws ("On the government of the Russian Federation" of December 17 1997, "On the ombudsman in the Russian Federation" of February 26 1997). The main characteristic of legal rules included into given group of sources of law is that they contain regulations of general disposition as basic ones for inferior sources of law. The analysis of basic Federal law No 3 FZ "On drug agents and psychotropic substances" of January 8 1998 makes it possible to conclude that in in Russia the international legal acts are in the foundation of actual legal regulation of turn-over of drug agents and psychotropic substances.

33 CFR 107.215 - Regulations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Regulations. 107.215 Section 107... Territorial Waters § 107.215 Regulations. (a) Each person or vessel to which this subpart applies may not get... board have received actual notice of these regulations. The failure of an owner, agent, master, officer...

33 CFR 107.215 - Regulations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Regulations. 107.215 Section 107... Territorial Waters § 107.215 Regulations. (a) Each person or vessel to which this subpart applies may not get... board have received actual notice of these regulations. The failure of an owner, agent, master, officer...

40 CFR 265.56 - Emergency procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... hazardous surface water run-offs from water or chemical agents used to control fire and heat-induced... injuries, if any; and (vi) The possible hazards to human health, or the environment, outside the facility... quantity of material(s) involved; (5) The extent of injuries, if any; (6) An assessment of actual or...

Environmental Assessment All-Terrain Vehicle Training Area at Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-03-17

during actual construction, and over the long-term due to reduced storm water quality caused by the increase of exposed soil. The short-term effects...actual construction, and over the long-term due to reduced storm water quality caused by the increase of exposed soil. The short-term effects come

Laser-induced copper deposition with weak reducing agents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kochemirovsky, V. A.; Fateev, S. A.; Logunov, L. S.; Tumkin, I. I.; Safonov, S. V.; Khairullina, E. M.

2013-11-01

The study showed that organic alcohols with 1,2,3,5,6 hydroxyl groups can be used as reducing agents for laser-induced copper deposition from solutions (LCLD).Multiatomic alcohols, sorbitol, xylitol, and glycerol, are shown to be effective reducing agents for performing LCLD at glass-ceramic surfaces. High-conductivity copper tracks with good topology were synthesized.

Chemical warfare and the Gulf War: a review of the impact on Gulf veterans' health.

PubMed

Riddle, James R; Brown, Mark; Smith, Tyler; Ritchie, Elspeth Cameron; Brix, Kelley Ann; Romano, James

2003-08-01

It is unlikely that Gulf War veterans are suffering chronic effects from illnesses caused by chemical warfare nerve agent exposure. Extensive investigation and review by several expert panels have determined that no evidence exists that chemical warfare nerve agents were used during the Gulf War. At no time before, during, or after the war was there confirmation of symptoms among anyone, military or civilian, caused by chemical warfare nerve agent exposure. However, studies of Gulf War veterans have found belief that chemical weapons were used, significantly associated with both severe and mild-moderate illnesses. The psychological impact of a chemical warfare attack, either actual or perceived, can result in immediate and long-term health consequences. The deployment or war-related health impact from life-threatening experiences of the Gulf War, including the perceived exposure to chemical warfare agents, should be considered as an important cause of morbidity among Gulf War veterans.

Noise and the statistical mechanics of distributed transport in a colony of interacting agents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Katifori, Eleni; Graewer, Johannes; Ronellenfitsch, Henrik; Mazza, Marco G.

Inspired by the process of liquid food distribution between individuals in an ant colony, in this work we consider the statistical mechanics of resource dissemination between interacting agents with finite carrying capacity. The agents move inside a confined space (nest), pick up the food at the entrance of the nest and share it with other agents that they encounter. We calculate analytically and via a series of simulations the global food intake rate for the whole colony as well as observables describing how uniformly the food is distributed within the nest. Our model and predictions provide a useful benchmark to assess which strategies can lead to efficient food distribution within the nest and also to what level the observed food uptake rates and efficiency in food distribution are due to stochastic fluctuations or specific food exchange strategies by an actual ant colony.

“A Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Medicine Go Down”: Bitter Masking by Sucrose Among Children and Adults

PubMed Central

Reed, Danielle R.; Mathew, Phoebe S.; Roberts, Kristi M.; Mansfield, Corrine J.

2015-01-01

Sweeteners are often added to liquid formulations of drugs but whether they merely make them better tasting or actually reduce the perception of bitterness remains unknown. In a group of children and adults, we determined whether adding sucrose to urea, caffeine, denatonium benzoate, propylthiouracil (PROP), and quinine would reduce their bitterness using a forced-choice method of paired comparisons. To better understand individual differences, adults also rated each solution using a more complex test (general Labeled Magnitude Scale [gLMS]) and were genotyped for the sweet taste receptor gene TAS1R3 and the bitter receptor TAS2R38. Sucrose suppressed the bitterness of each agent in children and adults. In adults, sucrose was effective in reducing the bitterness ratings from moderate to weak for all compounds tested, but those with the sensitive form of the sweet receptor reported greater reduction for caffeine and quinine. For PROP, sucrose was most effective for those who were genetically the most sensitive, although this did not attain statistical significance. Not only is the paired comparison method a valid tool to study how sucrose improves the taste of pediatric medicines among children but knowledge gleaned from basic research in bitter taste and how to alleviate it remains an important public health priority. PMID:25381313

Benzoin Radicals as Reducing Agent for Synthesizing Ultrathin Copper Nanowires.

PubMed

Cui, Fan; Dou, Letian; Yang, Qin; Yu, Yi; Niu, Zhiqiang; Sun, Yuchun; Liu, Hao; Dehestani, Ahmad; Schierle-Arndt, Kerstin; Yang, Peidong

2017-03-01

In this work, we report a new, general synthetic approach that uses heat driven benzoin radicals to grow ultrathin copper nanowires with tunable diameters. This is the first time carbon organic radicals have been used as a reducing agent in metal nanowire synthesis. In-situ temperature dependent electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic studies show that the active reducing agent is the free radicals produced by benzoins under elevated temperature. Furthermore, the reducing power of benzoin can be readily tuned by symmetrically decorating functional groups on the two benzene rings. When the aromatic rings are modified with electron donating (withdrawing) groups, the reducing power is promoted (suppressed). The controllable reactivity gives the carbon organic radical great potential as a versatile reducing agent that can be generalized in other metallic nanowire syntheses.

Using Cognitive Agents to Train Negotiation Skills

PubMed Central

Stevens, Christopher A.; Daamen, Jeroen; Gaudrain, Emma; Renkema, Tom; Top, Jakob Dirk; Cnossen, Fokie; Taatgen, Niels A.

2018-01-01

Training negotiation is difficult because it is a complex, dynamic activity that involves multiple parties. It is often not clear how to create situations in which students can practice negotiation or how to measure students' progress. Some have begun to address these issues by creating artificial software agents with which students can train. These agents have the advantage that they can be “reset,” and played against multiple times. This allows students to learn from their mistakes and try different strategies. However, these agents are often based on normative theories of how negotiators should conduct themselves, not necessarily how people actually behave in negotiations. Here, we take a step toward addressing this gap by developing an agent grounded in a cognitive architecture, ACT-R. This agent contains a model of theory-of-mind, the ability of humans to reason about the mental states of others. It uses this model to try to infer the strategy of the opponent and respond accordingly. In a series of experiments, we show that this agent replicates some aspects of human performance, is plausible to human negotiators, and can lead to learning gains in a small-scale negotiation task. PMID:29535654

Using Cognitive Agents to Train Negotiation Skills.

PubMed

Stevens, Christopher A; Daamen, Jeroen; Gaudrain, Emma; Renkema, Tom; Top, Jakob Dirk; Cnossen, Fokie; Taatgen, Niels A

2018-01-01

Training negotiation is difficult because it is a complex, dynamic activity that involves multiple parties. It is often not clear how to create situations in which students can practice negotiation or how to measure students' progress. Some have begun to address these issues by creating artificial software agents with which students can train. These agents have the advantage that they can be "reset," and played against multiple times. This allows students to learn from their mistakes and try different strategies. However, these agents are often based on normative theories of how negotiators should conduct themselves, not necessarily how people actually behave in negotiations. Here, we take a step toward addressing this gap by developing an agent grounded in a cognitive architecture, ACT-R. This agent contains a model of theory-of-mind, the ability of humans to reason about the mental states of others. It uses this model to try to infer the strategy of the opponent and respond accordingly. In a series of experiments, we show that this agent replicates some aspects of human performance, is plausible to human negotiators, and can lead to learning gains in a small-scale negotiation task.

[Mode of action of microbial anti-MRSA agents].

PubMed

Tomoda, Hiroshi

2012-01-01

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is known as a major nosocomial pathogen that has also developed resistance to many antibiotics. Moreover, MRSA resistance to a last-resort antibiotic, vancomycin, has been reported. Therefore, new anti-infectious agents to prevent and treat MRSA infection are needed. Based on this background, our group has focused on the discovery of new microbial agents active against MRSA infection. Viridicatumtoxin and spirohexaline, produced by Penicillium sp. FKI-3368, were isolated as inhibitors of undecaprenyl pyrophosphate (UPP) synthase of Staphylococcus aureus, which was involved in cell wall synthesis. Viridicatumtoxin and spirohexaline with a pentacyclic spiro skeleton inhibited UPP synthase activity with an IC(50) value of 4.0 and 9.0 µM, respectively. Actually, the growth of gram-positive bacteria including MRSA was strongly inhibited by the compounds. Our computational modeling experiments indicated that spirohexaline A was inserted into the substrate pocket of UPP synthase and interacted with Glu(88) via a carbamoyl group of the compound, with Ala(76), Met(54) and Asn(35) via three hydroxyl groups, and with certain hydrophobic amino acids via a spiro ring. Cyslabdan, produced by Streptomyces sp. K04-0144, was isolated as a potentiator of β-lactam imipenem activity against MRSA. The compound consisted of a labdan skeleton and an N-acetylcysteine. Cyslabdan potentiated imipenem activity by over 1000 fold, drastically reducing the MIC value of imipenem against MRSA from 16 to 0.03 µg/mL. The binding proteins of cyslabdan were investigated in the lysate of MRSA to identify FemA, which was involved in the formation of the pentaglycine interpeptide bridge in MRSA peptidoglycan.

A novel method of reducing agent contacting pattern for metal ceramic composite membrane fabrication

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agarwal, Amrita; Pujari, Murali; Uppaluri, Ramgopal; Verma, Anil

2014-11-01

Deliberating upon process modifications for surfactant induced electroless plating (SIEP), this article highlights the plating bath performance characteristics for two distinct reducing agent contacting modes (bulk and drop wise). Eventually, the effect of reducing agent concentration (50, 100, 200% excess) suitable for electroless plating bath for a nickel concentration of 0.08 mol/L was investigated. Finally, the compatibility of variation in nickel concentration (0.08-0.24 mol/L) with respect to variation in reducing agent concentration (50, 100, 200% excess) was investigated. LPSA, BET, FTIR, XRD, FESEM and nitrogen permeation experiments were used for surface and physical characterization. It was observed that for the bulk addition of reducing agent, the PPD values were 84.5% which increased to 89.3% for dropwise addition case. Thus the optimal combinations of SIEP process parameters were identified as 0.08 mol/L of nickel metal solution concentration with 100% excess drop-wise reducing agent. These conditions provided a plating rate of 5.5 × 10-5 mol/m2 s, PPD of 89.3% and a metal film thickness of 15.7 μm respectively after 12 h of sequential plating.

Environmental Assessment: Construct Mass/Mobility Parking Lot at Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-02-13

Water: Surface water quality could be degraded, both in the short-term, during actual construction, and over the long-term due to reduced storm water quality caused...term, during actual construction, and over the long-term due to reduced storm water quality caused by the increase of exposed soil. The short-term

Chemically engineered persistent luminescence nanoprobes for bioimaging

PubMed Central

Lécuyer, Thomas; Teston, Eliott; Ramirez-Garcia, Gonzalo; Maldiney, Thomas; Viana, Bruno; Seguin, Johanne; Mignet, Nathalie; Scherman, Daniel; Richard, Cyrille

2016-01-01

Imaging nanoprobes are a group of nanosized agents developed for providing improved contrast for bioimaging. Among various imaging probes, optical sensors capable of following biological events or progresses at the cellular and molecular levels are actually actively developed for early detection, accurate diagnosis, and monitoring of the treatment of diseases. The optical activities of nanoprobes can be tuned on demand by chemists by engineering their composition, size and surface nature. This review will focus on researches devoted to the conception of nanoprobes with particular optical properties, called persistent luminescence, and their use as new powerful bioimaging agents in preclinical assays. PMID:27877248

Effects of furosemide on the hearing loss induced by impulse noise.

PubMed

Adelman, Cahtia; Weinberger, Jeffrey M; Kriksunov, Leonid; Sohmer, Haim

2011-05-08

The permanent hearing loss following exposure to intense noise can be due either to mechanical structural damage (tearing) caused directly by the noise or to metabolic (biochemical) damage resulting from the elevated levels of free radicals released during transduction of the sound overstimulation. Drugs which depress active cochlear mechanics (e.g. furosemide and salicylic acid) or anti-oxidants (which counteract the free radicals) are effective in reducing the threshold shift (TS) following broadband continuous noise. This study was designed to determine whether furosemide can reduce the TS following exposure to impulse noise, similar to its action with continuous broadband noise. Shortly after furosemide injection, mice were exposed to simulated M16 rifle impulse noise produced by different loudspeakers and amplifiers in different exposure settings and, in other experiments, also to actual M16 rifle shots. Depending on the paradigm, the simulated noises either did not produce a TS, or the TS was reduced by furosemide. The drug was not effective in reducing TS resulting from actual impulse noise. Simulated M16 rifle impulse noise may not truly replicate the rapid rise time and very high intensity of actual rifle shots so that the TS following exposure to such noise can be reduced by these drugs. On the other hand, actual M16 impulse noise probably causes direct (frank) mechanical damage, which is not reduced by these drugs.

Effects of furosemide on the hearing loss induced by impulse noise

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background The permanent hearing loss following exposure to intense noise can be due either to mechanical structural damage (tearing) caused directly by the noise or to metabolic (biochemical) damage resulting from the elevated levels of free radicals released during transduction of the sound overstimulation. Drugs which depress active cochlear mechanics (e.g. furosemide and salicylic acid) or anti-oxidants (which counteract the free radicals) are effective in reducing the threshold shift (TS) following broadband continuous noise. This study was designed to determine whether furosemide can reduce the TS following exposure to impulse noise, similar to its action with continuous broadband noise. Methods Shortly after furosemide injection, mice were exposed to simulated M16 rifle impulse noise produced by different loudspeakers and amplifiers in different exposure settings and, in other experiments, also to actual M16 rifle shots. Results Depending on the paradigm, the simulated noises either did not produce a TS, or the TS was reduced by furosemide. The drug was not effective in reducing TS resulting from actual impulse noise. Conclusion Simulated M16 rifle impulse noise may not truly replicate the rapid rise time and very high intensity of actual rifle shots so that the TS following exposure to such noise can be reduced by these drugs. On the other hand, actual M16 impulse noise probably causes direct (frank) mechanical damage, which is not reduced by these drugs. PMID:21548982

Rural-urban migration including formal and informal workers in the urban sector: an agent-based numerical simulation study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Branco, Nilton; Oliveira, Tharnier; Silveira, Jaylson

2012-02-01

The goal of this work is to study rural-urban migration in the early stages of industrialization. We use an agent-based model and take into account the existence of informal and formal workers on the urban sector and possible migration movements, dependent on the agents' social and private utilities. Our agents are place on vertices of a square lattice, such that each vertex has only one agent. Rural, urban informal and urban formal workers are represented by different states of a three-state Ising model. At every step, a fraction a of the agents may change sectors or migrate. The total utility of a given agent is then calculated and compared to a random utility, in order to check if this agent turns into an actual migrant or changes sector. The dynamics is carried out until an equilibrium state is reached and equilibrium variables are then calculated and compared to available data. We find that a generalized Harris-Todaro condition is satisfied [1] on these equilibrium regimes, i.e, the ratio between expected wages between any pair of sectors reach a constant value. [4pt] [1] J. J. Silveira, A. L. Esp'indola and T. J. Penna, Physica A, 364, 445 (2006).

Viruses Causing Gastroenteritis: The Known, The New and Those Beyond.

PubMed

Oude Munnink, Bas B; van der Hoek, Lia

2016-02-08

The list of recently discovered gastrointestinal viruses is expanding rapidly. Whether these agents are actually involved in a disease such as diarrhea is the essential question, yet difficult to answer. In this review a summary of all viruses found in diarrhea is presented, together with the current knowledge about their connection to disease.

14 CFR 14.05 - Allowance fees and expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... which the attorney, agent, or witness ordinarily performs services; (3) The time actually spent in the representation of the applicant; (4) The time reasonably spent in light of the difficulty or complexity of the... private practice, his or her customary fee for similar services, or if an employee of the applicant, the...

50 CFR 21.45 - Depredation order for depredating purple gallinules in Louisiana.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... committing or about to commit serious depredations to growing rice crops on the premises owned or occupied by... shall permit at all reasonable times, including during actual operations, any Federal or State game or deputy game agent, warden, protector, or other game law enforcement officer free and unrestricted access...

50 CFR 21.45 - Depredation order for depredating purple gallinules in Louisiana.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... committing or about to commit serious depredations to growing rice crops on the premises owned or occupied by... shall permit at all reasonable times, including during actual operations, any Federal or State game or deputy game agent, warden, protector, or other game law enforcement officer free and unrestricted access...

50 CFR 21.45 - Depredation order for depredating purple gallinules in Louisiana.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... committing or about to commit serious depredations to growing rice crops on the premises owned or occupied by... shall permit at all reasonable times, including during actual operations, any Federal or State game or deputy game agent, warden, protector, or other game law enforcement officer free and unrestricted access...

50 CFR 21.45 - Depredation order for depredating purple gallinules in Louisiana.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... committing or about to commit serious depredations to growing rice crops on the premises owned or occupied by... shall permit at all reasonable times, including during actual operations, any Federal or State game or deputy game agent, warden, protector, or other game law enforcement officer free and unrestricted access...

77 FR 11618 - Additional Guidance on Airfare/Air Tour Price Advertisements

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-27

... advertising rule. It describes several airline and ticket agent practices that the Office of Aviation... pop-ups or links adjacent to an advertised price to take the consumer to a listing of such charges, or... carrier's actual paid enplanements and fuel expenditures. It has come to our attention that some carriers...

40 CFR 264.56 - Emergency procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... surface water run-off from water or chemical agents used to control fire and heat-induced explosions). (d...) Name and quantity of material(s) involved, to the extent known; (v) The extent of injuries, if any; and... quantity of material(s) involved; (5) The extent of injuries, if any; (6) An assessment of actual or...

Factors that influencing the usage of global distribution system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Budiasa, I. M.; Suparta, I. K.; Nadra, N. M.

2018-01-01

The advancement of Tourism is supported by Information and Communication Technology (ICT) innovation and changes. The use of GDS (Global Distribution System) i.e. Amadeus, Galileo, Sabre, and Worldspan in the tourism industry can increase the availability, frequency and speed of communication among the companies in providing services to potential tourists. This research is to investigate the factors that influence the actual use of GDS in the tourism industry especially travel agents, airlines and hotels in Bali. This research employed a mixed method of quantitative and qualitative approaches. Field surveys were conducted and 80 valid questionnaires were received and analyzed by using SPSS 17.0; descriptive, correlation, factor analysis and regression tests were conducted. The variables used are Perceived Ease of Use and Perceived Usefulness (Technology Acceptance Model); Awareness, Perceived Risk and Communication Channels are examined. This research revealed that Perceived Ease of Use, Perceived Usefulness, Awareness, and Communication Channels influence the Behavioural intention to use GDS, whereas Perceived Risk were found not significant influence the use of GDS. These findings enable travel agent, airline and hotel companies to make provision decision with respect to the actual use of GDS.

Enhanced Nitrobenzene reduction by zero valent iron pretreated with H2O2/HCl.

PubMed

Yang, Zhe; Ma, Xiaowen; Shan, Chao; Fang, Zhuoyao; Pan, Bingcai

2018-04-01

In this study a novel iron-based reducing agent of highly effective reduction toward nitrobenzene (NB) was obtained by pretreating zero valent iron (ZVI) with H 2 O 2 /HCl. During the H 2 O 2 /HCl pretreatment, ZVI undergoes an intensive corrosion process with formation of various reducing corrosion products (e.g., Fe 2+ , ferrous oxides/hydroxides, Fe 3 O 4 ), yielding a synergetic system (prtZVI) including liquid, suspensions and solid phase. The pretreatment process remarkably enhances the reductive performance of ZVI, where a rapid reduction of NB (200 mg L -1 ) in the prtZVI suspension was accomplished in a broad pH range (3-9) and at low dosage. Nitrosobenzene and phenylhydroxylamine are identified as the intermediates for NB reduction with the end-product of aniline. Compared with the virgin ZVI as well as another nanosized ZVI, the prtZVI system exhibits much higher electron efficiency for NB reduction as well as higher utilization ratio of Fe 0 . A rapid reduction of various nitroaromatics in an actual pharmaceutical wastewater further demonstrated the feasibility of the prtZVI system in real wastewater treatment. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The economics of soil C sequestration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alexander, P.; Paustian, K.; Smith, P.; Moran, D.

2014-12-01

Carbon is a critical component of soil vitality and of our ability to produce food. Carbon sequestered in soils also provides a further regulating ecosystem service, valued as the avoided damage from global climate change. We consider the demand and supply attributes that underpin and constrain the emergence of a market value for this vital global ecosystem service: markets being what economists regard as the most efficient institutions for allocating scarce resources to the supply and consumption of valuable goods. This paper considers how a potentially large global supply of soil carbon sequestration is reduced by economic and behavioural constraints that impinge on the emergence of markets, and alternative public policies that can efficiently transact demand for the service from private and public sector agents. In essence this is a case of significant market failure. In the design of alternative policy options we consider whether soil carbon mitigation is actually cost-effective relative to other measures in agriculture and elsewhere in the economy, and the nature of behavioural incentives that hinder policy options. We suggest that reducing cost and uncertainties of mitigation through soil-based measures is crucial for improving uptake. Monitoring and auditing processes will also be required to eventually facilitate wide-scale adoption of these measures.

CALM: Complex Adaptive System (CAS)-Based Decision Support for Enabling Organizational Change

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adler, Richard M.; Koehn, David J.

Guiding organizations through transformational changes such as restructuring or adopting new technologies is a daunting task. Such changes generate workforce uncertainty, fear, and resistance, reducing morale, focus and performance. Conventional project management techniques fail to mitigate these disruptive effects, because social and individual changes are non-mechanistic, organic phenomena. CALM (for Change, Adaptation, Learning Model) is an innovative decision support system for enabling change based on CAS principles. CALM provides a low risk method for validating and refining change strategies that combines scenario planning techniques with "what-if" behavioral simulation. In essence, CALM "test drives" change strategies before rolling them out, allowing organizations to practice and learn from virtual rather than actual mistakes. This paper describes the CALM modeling methodology, including our metrics for measuring organizational readiness to respond to change and other major CALM scenario elements: prospective change strategies; alternate futures; and key situational dynamics. We then describe CALM's simulation engine for projecting scenario outcomes and its associated analytics. CALM's simulator unifies diverse behavioral simulation paradigms including: adaptive agents; system dynamics; Monte Carlo; event- and process-based techniques. CALM's embodiment of CAS dynamics helps organizations reduce risk and improve confidence and consistency in critical strategies for enabling transformations.

Embodied Cognition is Not What you Think it is

PubMed Central

Wilson, Andrew D.; Golonka, Sabrina

2013-01-01

The most exciting hypothesis in cognitive science right now is the theory that cognition is embodied. Like all good ideas in cognitive science, however, embodiment immediately came to mean six different things. The most common definitions involve the straight-forward claim that “states of the body modify states of the mind.” However, the implications of embodiment are actually much more radical than this. If cognition can span the brain, body, and the environment, then the “states of mind” of disembodied cognitive science won’t exist to be modified. Cognition will instead be an extended system assembled from a broad array of resources. Taking embodiment seriously therefore requires both new methods and theory. Here we outline four key steps that research programs should follow in order to fully engage with the implications of embodiment. The first step is to conduct a task analysis, which characterizes from a first person perspective the specific task that a perceiving-acting cognitive agent is faced with. The second step is to identify the task-relevant resources the agent has access to in order to solve the task. These resources can span brain, body, and environment. The third step is to identify how the agent can assemble these resources into a system capable of solving the problem at hand. The last step is to test the agent’s performance to confirm that agent is actually using the solution identified in step 3. We explore these steps in more detail with reference to two useful examples (the outfielder problem and the A-not-B error), and introduce how to apply this analysis to the thorny question of language use. Embodied cognition is more than we think it is, and we have the tools we need to realize its full potential. PMID:23408669

Modeling the Uptake of Scientific Information by the Public and Opinion Flow in Society (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lewandowsky, S.; Brown, G. D.; Cook, J.

2013-12-01

Improved communication of scientific findings requires knowledge not only of how people process information, but also how such information spreads through society and how people's opinions are shaped by those of others. Recent advances in cognitive science have yielded mathematical modeling techniques that permit the detailed analysis of individuals' cognition as well as the behavior of communities in the aggregate. We present two case studies that highlight the insights that can be derived from mathematical models of cognition: We show how rational processing of information (i.e., Bayesian hypothesis revision) can nonetheless give rise to seemingly 'irrational' belief updating, as for example when acceptance of human-caused global warming decreases among conservatives in response to evidence for human-caused global warming. We also show in an agent-based simulation how social norms can lead to polarization of societies. The model assumes that agents located within a social network observe the behavior of neighbours and infer from their behavior the social distribution of particular attitudes (e.g. towards climate change). Agents are assumed to dislike behaviours that are extreme within their neighbourhood (social extremeness aversion), and hence have a tendency to conform. However, agents are also assumed to prefer choices that are consistent with their own true beliefs (authenticity preference). Expression of attitudes reflects a compromise between these opposing principles. The model sheds light on the role of perceived rather than actual social consensus on attitudes to climate change. This is particularly relevant given the widespread perception among those who reject climate science that the percentage of the public that is sharing their beliefs is much higher than it actually is.

Cytotoxicity and Antineoplastic Activities of Alkylamines and Their Borane Derivatives

PubMed Central

Tse, Elaine Y.; Muhammad, Rosallah A.

1996-01-01

The alkylamines and their related boron derivatives demonstrated potent cytotoxicity against the growth of murine and human tissue cultured cells. These agents did not necessarily require the boron atom to possess potent cytotoxic action in certain tumor lines. Their ability to suppress tumor cell growth was based on their inhibition of DNA and protein syntheses. DNA synthesis was reduced because purine synthesis was blocked at the enzyme site of IMP dehydrogenase by the agents. In addition ribonucleotide reductase and nucleoside kinase activities were reduced by the agents which would account for the reduced d[NTP] pools. The DNA template or molecule may be a target of the drugs with regard to binding of the drug to nucleoside bases or intercalaction of the drug between DNA base pairs. Only some Of the agents caused DNA fragmentation with reduced DNA viscosity. These effects would contribute to overall cell death afforded by the agents. PMID:18472803

Rational Constraints and the Evolution of Fairness in the Ultimatum Game.

PubMed

Tomlin, Damon

2015-01-01

Behavior in the Ultimatum Game has been well-studied experimentally, and provides a marked contrast between the theoretical model of a self-interested economic agent and that of an actual human concerned with social norms such as fairness. How did such norms evolve, when punishing unfair behavior can be costly to the punishing agent? The work described here simulated a series of Ultimatum Games, in which populations of agents earned resources based on their preferences for proposing and accepting (or rejecting) offers of various sizes. Two different systems governing the acceptance or rejection of offers were implemented. Under one system, the probability that an agent accepted an offer of a given size was independent of the probabilities of accepting the other possible offers. Under the other system, a simple, ordinal constraint was placed on the acceptance probabilities such that a given offer was at least as likely to be accepted as a smaller offer. For simulations under either system, agents' preferences and their corresponding behavior evolved over multiple generations. Populations without the ordinal constraint came to emulate maximizing economic agents, while populations with the constraint came to resemble the behavior of human players.

Development of RNAi technology for targeted therapy--a track of siRNA based agents to RNAi therapeutics.

PubMed

Zhou, Yinjian; Zhang, Chunling; Liang, Wei

2014-11-10

RNA interference (RNAi) was intensively studied in the past decades due to its potential in therapy of diseases. The target specificity and universal treatment spectrum endowed siRNA advantages over traditional small molecules and protein drugs. However, barriers exist in the blood circulation system and the diseased tissues blocked the actualization of RNAi effect, which raised function versatility requirements to siRNA therapeutic agents. Appropriate functionalization of siRNAs is necessary to break through these barriers and target diseased tissues in local or systemic targeted application. In this review, we summarized that barriers exist in the delivery process and popular functionalized technologies for siRNA such as chemical modification and physical encapsulation. Preclinical targeted siRNA delivery and the current status of siRNA based RNAi therapeutic agents in clinical trial were reviewed and finally the future of siRNA delivery was proposed. The valuable experience from the siRNA agent delivery study and the RNAi therapeutic agents in clinical trial paved ways for practical RNAi therapeutics to emerge early. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

No Time to Manage? the Trade-off between Relevant Tasks and Actual Priorities of School Leaders in Germany

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brauckmann, Stefan; Schwarz, Alexandra

2015-01-01

Purpose: School leadership is considered a central agent in the implementation of "New Governance" concepts which have been introduced in Germany by means of accountability measures, decentralization and a growth of autonomy and competition. With the adjustment of policies, rights and duties of school leaders have changed considerably.…

'The First Step Is the Two-Step': Hegemonic Masculinity and Dancing in a Country-Western Gay Bar

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Corey W.

2005-01-01

Gay men are often rendered feminized males according to masculine, heterosexual ideologies. This research demonstrates that gay men are actually more creative and active agents in their gender performance, simultaneously resisting and reinforcing dominant ideologies around gender and sexuality. One context where the creative agency of gay men is…

Teachers' Perceptions on the Changes in the Curriculum and Exit Examinations for Biology and Human Biology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kruger, Mirko; Won, Mihye; Treagust, David F.

2013-01-01

In the age of educational accountability, national and statewide measures are assumed to secure and improve the educational quality. However, educators often wonder how much a new accountability measure may improve the actual teaching and learning practices when the agents of change (teachers) are not active participants of such educational…

The Impacts of New Governance on Teaching at German Universities. Findings from a National Survey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilkesmann, Uwe; Schmid, Christian J.

2012-01-01

In this article we will present findings from a national survey questioning the actual impact of the new governance structures at German universities on academic teaching. To begin with, we give a theoretical underpinning to the economization of higher education institutions (HEIs) according to Principal-Agent Theory. This allows for the…

Hazards of chemical weapons release during war: new perspectives.

PubMed Central

Reutter, S

1999-01-01

The two major threat classes of chemical weapons are mustard gas and the nerve agents, and this has not changed in over 50 years. Both types are commonly called gases, but they are actually liquids that are not remarkably volatile. These agents were designed specifically to harm people by any route of exposure and to be effective at low doses. Mustard gas was used in World War I, and the nerve agents were developed shortly before, during, and after World War II. Our perception of the potency of chemical weapons has changed, as well as our concern over potential effects of prolonged exposures to low doses and potential target populations that include women and children. Many of the toxicologic studies and human toxicity estimates for both mustard and nerve agents were designed for the purpose of quickly developing maximal casualties in the least sensitive male soldier. The "toxicity" of the chemical weapons has not changed, but our perception of "toxicity" has. PMID:10585902

Zoonotic Agents in Small Ruminants Kept on City Farms in Southern Germany

PubMed Central

Schilling, Anna-Katarina; Hotzel, Helmut; Methner, Ulrich; Sprague, Lisa D.; Schmoock, Gernot; El-Adawy, Hosny; Ehricht, Ralf; Wöhr, Anna-Caroline; Erhard, Michael

2012-01-01

Sheep and goats are popular examples of livestock kept on city farms. In these settings, close contacts between humans and animals frequently occur. Although it is widely accepted that small ruminants can carry numerous zoonotic agents, it is unknown which of these agents actually occur in sheep and goats on city farms in Germany. We sampled feces and nasal liquid of 48 animals (28 goats, 20 sheep) distributed in 7 city farms and on one activity playground in southern Germany. We found that 100% of the sampled sheep and 89.3% of the goats carried Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). The presence of Staphylococcus spp. in 75% of both sheep and goats could be demonstrated. Campylobacter spp. were detected in 25% and 14.3% of the sheep and goats, respectively. Neither Salmonella spp. nor Coxiella burnetii was found. On the basis of these data, we propose a reasonable hygiene scheme to prevent transmission of zoonotic agents during city farm visits. PMID:22447607

[A Study on Quantitative Evaluation of Damage in Conservation of Ceramics from Huaguangjiao I Shipwreck with ICP-AES].

PubMed

Li, Wen-jing; Chen, Yue; Li, Nai-sheng; Li, Bin; Luo, Wu-gan

2015-03-01

ICP-AES was used to determine the elemental composition of solutions in different conservation steps for understanding the impact of cleaning agents on ceramics from Huaguangjiao I shipwreck. The results showed that high content in solution of Al, Fe, Mg ions, which can be indexes to reflect the damage in conservation of ceramics. According to these indexes, we discovered that agents of strong cleaning ability bring more damage to ceramic samples. Meanwhile, the state of preservation of the ceramics was closely related to the damage in conservation. Ceramics in an excellent state of preservation endure less damage than that in bad state. We also found that each cleaning agent cause certain degree of damage on porcelains, even neutral reagent, like deionized water. Moreover, moderate cleaning reagent, when using a long time, bring the same degree of damage as the strong acid. Therefore, in actual protection procedure, for conservation ceramics safe and effective, damage of each cleaning agents and cumulative damage should be considered.

A local approach for focussed Bayesian fusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sander, Jennifer; Heizmann, Michael; Goussev, Igor; Beyerer, Jürgen

2009-04-01

Local Bayesian fusion approaches aim to reduce high storage and computational costs of Bayesian fusion which is separated from fixed modeling assumptions. Using the small world formalism, we argue why this proceeding is conform with Bayesian theory. Then, we concentrate on the realization of local Bayesian fusion by focussing the fusion process solely on local regions that are task relevant with a high probability. The resulting local models correspond then to restricted versions of the original one. In a previous publication, we used bounds for the probability of misleading evidence to show the validity of the pre-evaluation of task specific knowledge and prior information which we perform to build local models. In this paper, we prove the validity of this proceeding using information theoretic arguments. For additional efficiency, local Bayesian fusion can be realized in a distributed manner. Here, several local Bayesian fusion tasks are evaluated and unified after the actual fusion process. For the practical realization of distributed local Bayesian fusion, software agents are predestinated. There is a natural analogy between the resulting agent based architecture and criminal investigations in real life. We show how this analogy can be used to improve the efficiency of distributed local Bayesian fusion additionally. Using a landscape model, we present an experimental study of distributed local Bayesian fusion in the field of reconnaissance, which highlights its high potential.

The mass media destabilizes the cultural homogenous regime in Axelrod's model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peres, Lucas R.; Fontanari, José F.

2010-02-01

An important feature of Axelrod's model for culture dissemination or social influence is the emergence of many multicultural absorbing states, despite the fact that the local rules that specify the agents interactions are explicitly designed to decrease the cultural differences between agents. Here we re-examine the problem of introducing an external, global interaction—the mass media—in the rules of Axelrod's model: in addition to their nearest neighbors, each agent has a certain probability p to interact with a virtual neighbor whose cultural features are fixed from the outset. Most surprisingly, this apparently homogenizing effect actually increases the cultural diversity of the population. We show that, contrary to previous claims in the literature, even a vanishingly small value of p is sufficient to destabilize the homogeneous regime for very large lattice sizes.

Modeling Radicalization Phenomena in Heterogeneous Populations.

PubMed

Galam, Serge; Javarone, Marco Alberto

2016-01-01

The phenomenon of radicalization is investigated within a mixed population composed of core and sensitive subpopulations. The latest includes first to third generation immigrants. Respective ways of life may be partially incompatible. In case of a conflict core agents behave as inflexible about the issue. In contrast, sensitive agents can decide either to live peacefully adjusting their way of life to the core one, or to oppose it with eventually joining violent activities. The interplay dynamics between peaceful and opponent sensitive agents is driven by pairwise interactions. These interactions occur both within the sensitive population and by mixing with core agents. The update process is monitored using a Lotka-Volterra-like Ordinary Differential Equation. Given an initial tiny minority of opponents that coexist with both inflexible and peaceful agents, we investigate implications on the emergence of radicalization. Opponents try to turn peaceful agents to opponents driving radicalization. However, inflexible core agents may step in to bring back opponents to a peaceful choice thus weakening the phenomenon. The required minimum individual core involvement to actually curb radicalization is calculated. It is found to be a function of both the majority or minority status of the sensitive subpopulation with respect to the core subpopulation and the degree of activeness of opponents. The results highlight the instrumental role core agents can have to hinder radicalization within the sensitive subpopulation. Some hints are outlined to favor novel public policies towards social integration.

Modeling Radicalization Phenomena in Heterogeneous Populations

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

The phenomenon of radicalization is investigated within a mixed population composed of core and sensitive subpopulations. The latest includes first to third generation immigrants. Respective ways of life may be partially incompatible. In case of a conflict core agents behave as inflexible about the issue. In contrast, sensitive agents can decide either to live peacefully adjusting their way of life to the core one, or to oppose it with eventually joining violent activities. The interplay dynamics between peaceful and opponent sensitive agents is driven by pairwise interactions. These interactions occur both within the sensitive population and by mixing with core agents. The update process is monitored using a Lotka-Volterra-like Ordinary Differential Equation. Given an initial tiny minority of opponents that coexist with both inflexible and peaceful agents, we investigate implications on the emergence of radicalization. Opponents try to turn peaceful agents to opponents driving radicalization. However, inflexible core agents may step in to bring back opponents to a peaceful choice thus weakening the phenomenon. The required minimum individual core involvement to actually curb radicalization is calculated. It is found to be a function of both the majority or minority status of the sensitive subpopulation with respect to the core subpopulation and the degree of activeness of opponents. The results highlight the instrumental role core agents can have to hinder radicalization within the sensitive subpopulation. Some hints are outlined to favor novel public policies towards social integration. PMID:27166677

Illusory versus genuine control in agent-based games

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Satinover, J. B.; Sornette, D.

2009-02-01

In the Minority, Majority and Dollar Games (MG, MAJG, G) agents compete for rewards, acting in accord with the previously best-performing of their strategies. Different aspects/kinds of real-world markets are modelled by these games. In the MG, agents compete for scarce resources; in the MAJG agents imitate the group to exploit a trend; in the G agents attempt to predict and benefit both from trends and changes in the direction of a market. It has been previously shown that in the MG for a reasonable number of preliminary time steps preceding equilibrium (Time Horizon MG, THMG), agents’ attempt to optimize their gains by active strategy selection is “illusory”: the hypothetical gains of their strategies is greater on average than agents’ actual average gains. Furthermore, if a small proportion of agents deliberately choose and act in accord with their seemingly worst performing strategy, these outperform all other agents on average, and even attain mean positive gain, otherwise rare for agents in the MG. This latter phenomenon raises the question as to how well the optimization procedure works in the THMAJG and THG. We demonstrate that the illusion of control is absent in THMAJG and THG. This provides further clarification of the kinds of situations subject to genuine control, and those not, in set-ups a priori defined to emphasize the importance of optimization.

Kit for providing a technetium medical radioimaging agent

DOEpatents

Wildung, Raymond E.; Garland, Thomas R.; Li, Shu-Mei W.

2000-01-01

The present invention is directed toward a kit for microbial reduction of a technetium compound to form other compounds of value in medical imaging. The technetium compound is combined in a mixture with non-growing microbial cells which contain a technetium-reducing enzyme system, a stabilizing agent and an electron donor in a saline solution under anaerobic conditions. The mixture is substantially free of an inorganic technetium reducing agent and its reduction products. The resulting product is Tc of lower oxidation states, the form of which can be partially controlled by the stabilizing agent. It has been discovered that the microorganisms Shewanella alga, strain Bry and Shewanella putrifacians, strain CN-32 contain the necessary enzyme systems for technetium reduction and can form both mono nuclear and polynuclear reduced Tc species depending on the stabilizing agent.

Opinion formation on social media: An empirical approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiong, Fei; Liu, Yun

2014-03-01

Opinion exchange models aim to describe the process of public opinion formation, seeking to uncover the intrinsic mechanism in social systems; however, the model results are seldom empirically justified using large-scale actual data. Online social media provide an abundance of data on opinion interaction, but the question of whether opinion models are suitable for characterizing opinion formation on social media still requires exploration. We collect a large amount of user interaction information from an actual social network, i.e., Twitter, and analyze the dynamic sentiments of users about different topics to investigate realistic opinion evolution. We find two nontrivial results from these data. First, public opinion often evolves to an ordered state in which one opinion predominates, but not to complete consensus. Second, agents are reluctant to change their opinions, and the distribution of the number of individual opinion changes follows a power law. Then, we suggest a model in which agents take external actions to express their internal opinions according to their activity. Conversely, individual actions can influence the activity and opinions of neighbors. The probability that an agent changes its opinion depends nonlinearly on the fraction of opponents who have taken an action. Simulation results show user action patterns and the evolution of public opinion in the model coincide with the empirical data. For different nonlinear parameters, the system may approach different regimes. A large decay in individual activity slows down the dynamics, but causes more ordering in the system.

External Validity of Contingent Valuation: Comparing Hypothetical and Actual Payments.

PubMed

Ryan, Mandy; Mentzakis, Emmanouil; Jareinpituk, Suthi; Cairns, John

2017-11-01

Whilst contingent valuation is increasingly used in economics to value benefits, questions remain concerning its external validity that is do hypothetical responses match actual responses? We present results from the first within sample field test. Whilst Hypothetical No is always an Actual No, Hypothetical Yes exceed Actual Yes responses. A constant rate of response reversals across bids/prices could suggest theoretically consistent option value responses. Certainty calibrations (verbal and numerical response scales) minimise hypothetical-actual discrepancies offering a useful solution. Helping respondents resolve uncertainty may reduce the discrepancy between hypothetical and actual payments and thus lead to more accurate policy recommendations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using reducing agents obtained from natural sources (Rumex hymenosepalus extracts)

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

We have synthesized silver nanoparticles from silver nitrate solutions using extracts of Rumex hymenosepalus, a plant widely found in a large region in North America, as reducing agent. This plant is known to be rich in antioxidant molecules which we use as reducing agents. Silver nanoparticles grow in a single-step method, at room temperature, and with no addition of external energy. The nanoparticles have been characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy, as a function of the ratio of silver ions to reducing agent molecules. The nanoparticle diameters are in the range of 2 to 40 nm. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and fast Fourier transform analysis show that two kinds of crystal structures are obtained: face-centered cubic and hexagonal. PMID:23841946

Microbial methods of reducing technetium

DOEpatents

Wildung, Raymond E [Richland, WA; Garland, Thomas R [Greybull, WY; Gorby, Yuri A [Richland, WA; Hess, Nancy J [Benton City, WA; Li, Shu-Mei W [Richland, WA; Plymale, Andrew E [Richland, WA

2001-01-01

The present invention is directed toward a method for microbial reduction of a technetium compound to form other compounds of value in medical imaging. The technetium compound is combined in a mixture with non-growing microbial cells which contain a technetium-reducing enzyme system, a stabilizing agent and an electron donor in a saline solution under anaerobic conditions. The mixture is substantially free of an inorganic technetium reducing agent and its reduction products. The resulting product is Tc of lower oxidation states, the form of which can be partially controlled by the stabilizing agent. It has been discovered that the microorganisms Shewanella alga, strain Bry and Shewanelia putrifacians, strain CN-32 contain the necessary enzyme systems for technetium reduction and can form both mono nuclear and polynuclear reduced Tc species depending on the stabilizing agent.

[Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas: new therapeutic considerations].

PubMed

Graf, Hans

2005-10-01

For most differentiated thyroid carcinomas, as papillary and follicular carcinomas, following total thyroidectomy and 131I therapy for thyroid remnant ablation, treatment with thyroid hormones to suppress TSH levels will reduce the growth of any remaining thyroid cancer cells, and thyroid cell-specific radiation therapy will either cure or control the disease. Thyroid carcinomas are considered poorly differentiated when they start to lose such functions as iodine uptake and thyrotropin-dependence for growth and production of thyroid proteins like NIS, thyroglobulin and desiodases. One of the greatest challenges in the management of patients with follicular cell-derived thyroid cancer is the treatment of tumors that progressed despite surgery, (131)I and T4 suppression of TSH. With the better knowledge of the abnormal molecular signaling in thyroid cancer cells, actually known targeted cancer therapies, directed against molecules involved in neoplastic transformation, are being used. As the critical molecular requirements for tumor initiation, maintenance and progression are identified, combination therapies with targeted agents acting on each of them will improve the treatment of poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Reductionism in the comments and autobiographical accounts of prominent psychologists.

PubMed

Martin, Jack; Dawda, Darek

2002-01-01

Many of the researchers in the field of psychological science use strategies and methods in which human actions and experiences are reduced to behavioral contingencies, statistical regularities, neurophysiological states and processes, and computational functions and models. However, many psychologists talk readily and easily about how their research might assist human agents to solve problems, cope, make decisions, self-regulate, and more generally "make a difference" and "take control." The authors considered informally selected comments by several eminent psychologists, and more formally, 73 autobiographical accounts of prominent psychologists to see what could be learned about the attitudes of these psychologists toward reductionism in their own work and in the field of psychology in general. In interpreting these comments and accounts, the authors posit a gap between many psychologists' contemplation of their work and their actual research practices. The authors also suggest that such a gap may be related to psychologists' educational experiences and their scholarly and professional socialization, as well as to their subdisciplinary attachments and contexts.

Editorial: Let's talk about sex - the gender binary revisited.

PubMed

Oldehinkel, Albertine J

2017-08-01

Sex refers to biological differences and gender to socioculturally delineated masculine and feminine roles. Sex or gender are included as a covariate or effect modifier in the majority of child psychology and psychiatry studies, and differences found between boys and girls have inspired many researchers to postulate underlying mechanisms. Empirical tests of whether including these proposed explanatory variables actually reduces the variance explained by gender are lagging behind somewhat. That is a pity, because a lot can be gained from a greater focus on the active agents of specific gender differences. As opposed to biological sex as such, some of the processes explaining why a specific outcome shows gender differences may be changeable and so possible prevention targets. Moreover, while the sex binary may be reasonable adequate as a classification variable, the gender binary is far from perfect. Gender is a multidimensional, partly context-dependent factor, and the dichotomy generally used in research does not do justice to the diversity existing within boys and girls. © 2017 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

Chemical diversity of microbial volatiles and their potential for plant growth and productivity

PubMed Central

Kanchiswamy, Chidananda Nagamangala; Malnoy, Mickael; Maffei, Massimo E.

2015-01-01

Microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) are produced by a wide array of microorganisms ranging from bacteria to fungi. A growing body of evidence indicates that MVOCs are ecofriendly and can be exploited as a cost-effective sustainable strategy for use in agricultural practice as agents that enhance plant growth, productivity, and disease resistance. As naturally occurring chemicals, MVOCs have potential as possible alternatives to harmful pesticides, fungicides, and bactericides as well as genetic modification. Recent studies performed under open field conditions demonstrate that efficiently adopting MVOCs may contribute to sustainable crop protection and production. We review here the chemical diversity of MVOCs by describing microbial–plants and microbial–microbial interactions. Furthermore, we discuss MVOCs role in inducing phenotypic plant responses and their potential physiological effects on crops. Finally, we analyze potential and actual limitations for MVOC use and deployment in field conditions as a sustainable strategy for improving productivity and reducing pesticide use. PMID:25821453

Production of an ion-exchange membrane-catalytic electrode bonded material for electrolytic cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Takenaka, H.; Torikai, E.

1986-01-01

A good bond is achieved by placing a metal salt in solution on one side of a membrane and a reducing agent on the other side so that the reducing agent penetrates the membrane and reduces the metal. Thus, a solution containing Pt, Rh, etc., is placed on one side of the membrane and a reducing agent such as NaBH, is placed on the other side. The bonded metal layer obtained is superior in catalytic activity and is suitable as an electrode in a cell such as for solid polymer electrolyte water electrolysis.

Dosimetry using silver salts

DOEpatents

Warner, Benjamin P.

2003-06-24

The present invention provides a method for detecting ionizing radiation. Exposure of silver salt AgX to ionizing radiation results in the partial reduction of the salt to a mixture of silver salt and silver metal. The mixture is further reduced by a reducing agent, which causes the production of acid (HX) and the oxidized form of the reducing agent (R). Detection of HX indicates that the silver salt has been exposed to ionizing radiation. The oxidized form of the reducing agent (R) may also be detected. The invention also includes dosimeters employing the above method for detecting ionizing radiation.

The in vivo relaxivity of MRI contrast agents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shuter, Borys

1999-11-01

Post-contrast clinical 1H Magnetic Resonance Images have to date been interpreted with little regard for possible variations in the in-vivo properties of injected magnetic pharmaceuticals (contrast agents), particularly in their relaxivity or ability to alter tissue relaxation rates, T2-1 and T 2-1, per unit concentration. The relaxivities of contrast agents have only rarely been measured in-vivo, measurements usually being performed on excised tissues and at magnetic field strengths lower than used in clinical practice. Some researchers have simply assumed that relaxivities determined in homogeneous tissue phantoms were applicable in-vivo. In this thesis, the relaxivities of two contrast agents, Gd-DTPA and Gd-EOB-DTPA, were measured in simple tissue phantoms and in the kidney and liver of intact, but sacrificed, Wistar rats using a clinical MR scanner with a magnetic field of 1.5 Tesla. T1 and T2 were determined from sets of images acquired using a standard clinical spin-echo pulse sequence. The contrast agent concentration in tissue was assessed by radioassay of 153Gd-DTPA or 153Gd-EOB-DTPA, mixed with the normal compound prior to injection. Relaxivity was taken as the slope of a linear regression fit of relaxation rate against Gd concentration. The relaxivities of Gd-EOB-DTPA were similarly determined in normal and biliary- obstructed guinea pigs. Relaxivities in tissue differed significantly from values obtained in simple phantoms. Kidney T1 relaxivity was reduced for both compounds in normal animals. Three days or more of biliary obstruction produced further reductions in kidney T1 relaxivity of Gd-EOB-DTPA, providing strong evidence that disease affects contrast agent relaxivity. Kidney T2 relaxivity was much greater than T1 relaxivity and was also depressed by biliary obstruction. Liver T1 and T 2 relaxivites were increased above phantom values, but were not affected by the biliary obstruction. Water compartmentalisation, macromolecular binding, proton diffusion in magnetic field gradients due to susceptibility differences and cross-relaxation were considered as possible explanations for the findings. From the relaxivity results it follows that unless actual tissue relaxivities are used, estimates of tissue magnetopharmaceutical concentration made from enhancement of MR signal will be significantly in error, as will derived estimates of clinically useful parameters such as tissue perfusion.

Reducing Interaction Costs for Self-interested Agents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yunqi; Larson, Kate

In many multiagent systems, agents are not able to freely interact with each other or with a centralized mechanism. They may be limited in their interactions by cost or by the inherent structure of the system. Using a combinatorial auction application as motivation, we study the impact of interaction costs and structure on the strategic behaviour of self-interested agents. We present a particular model of costly agent-interaction, and argue that self-interested agents may wish to coordinate their actions with their neighbours so as to reduce their individual costs. We highlight the issues that arise in such a setting, propose a cost-sharing mechanism that agents can use, and discuss group coordination procedures. Experimental work validates our model.

Silvicultural approaches for management of eastern white pine to minimize impacts of damaging agents

Treesearch

M.E. Ostry; G. Laflamme; S.A. Katovich

2010-01-01

Since the arrival to North America of Cronartium ribicola, management of eastern white pine has been driven by the need to avoid the actual or, in many areas, the perceived damage caused by white pine blister rust. Although white pine has lost much of its former dominance, it remains a valuable species for biotic diversity, aesthetics, wildlife...

SIR/CAR Analysis Technique for Voluntary School Sport or Amateur Athletic Organizations. A SIR/CAR Application.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moriarty, Dick; Zarebski, John

This paper delineates the exact methodology developed by the Sports Institute for Research/Change Agent Research (SIR/CAR) for applying a systems analysis technique to a voluntary mutual benefit organization, such as a school or amateur athletic group. The functions of the technique are to compare avowed and actual behavior, to utilize group…

Are Contemporary Media Images Which Seem to Display Women as Sexually Empowered Actually Harmful to Women?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Halliwell, Emma; Malson, Helen; Tischner, Irmgard

2011-01-01

There has been a shift in the depiction of women in advertising from objectifying representations of women as passive sex objects to agentic sexual representations where the women appear powerful and in control (Gill, 2007a, 2008), and there is substantial evidence that these representations have a negative impact on women's body image. However,…

Esophageal Cancer Prevention

MedlinePlus

... agents to try to reduce the risk of cancer. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) include aspirin and other drugs ... agents to try to reduce the risk of cancer. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) include aspirin and other drugs ...

Metal and alloy nanoparticles by amine-borane reduction of metal salts by solid-phase synthesis: atom economy and green process.

PubMed

Sanyal, Udishnu; Jagirdar, Balaji R

2012-12-03

A new solid state synthetic route has been developed toward metal and bimetallic alloy nanoparticles from metal salts employing amine-boranes as the reducing agent. During the reduction, amine-borane plays a dual role: acts as a reducing agent and reduces the metal salts to their elemental form and simultaneously generates a stabilizing agent in situ which controls the growth of the particles and stabilizes them in the nanosize regime. Employing different amine-boranes with differing reducing ability (ammonia borane (AB), dimethylamine borane (DMAB), and triethylamine borane (TMAB)) was found to have a profound effect on the particle size and the size distribution. Usage of AB as the reducing agent provided the smallest possible size with best size distribution. Employment of TMAB also afforded similar results; however, when DMAB was used as the reducing agent it resulted in larger sized nanoparticles that are polydisperse too. In the AB mediated reduction, BNH(x) polymer generated in situ acts as a capping agent whereas, the complexing amine of the other amine-boranes (DMAB and TMAB) play the same role. Employing the solid state route described herein, monometallic Au, Ag, Cu, Pd, and Ir and bimetallic CuAg and CuAu alloy nanoparticles of <10 nm were successfully prepared. Nucleation and growth processes that control the size and the size distribution of the resulting nanoparticles have been elucidated in these systems.

[Research on the marketing status of antimicrobial products and the use of antimicrobial agents indicated on product labels from 1991 through 2005].

PubMed

Nakashima, Harunobu; Miyano, Naoko; Matsunaga, Ichiro; Nakashima, Naomi; Kaniwa, Masa-aki

2007-05-01

To clarify the marketing status of antimicrobial products, descriptions on the labels of commercially available antimicrobial products were investigated from 1991 through 2005, and the results were analyzed using a database system on antimicrobial deodorant agents. A classification table of household antimicrobial products was prepared and revised, based on which target products were reviewed for any changes in the product type. The number of antimicrobial products markedly increased over 3 years starting from 1996, among which there were many products apparently not requiring antimicrobial processing. More recently, in the 2002 and 2004 surveys, while sales of kitchenware and daily necessities decreased, chemical products, baby articles, and articles for pets increased; this poses new problems. To clarify the use of antimicrobial agents in the target products, a 3-step (large, intermediate, small) classification table of antimicrobial agents was also prepared, based on which antimicrobial agents indicated on the product labels were checked. The rate of identifying the agents increased. However, this is because of the increase of chemical products and baby articles, both of which more frequently indicated the ingredient agents on the labels, and the decrease of kitchenware and daily necessities, which less frequently indicated them on the labels. Therefore there has been little change in the actual identification rate. The agents used are characterized by product types: quaternary ammonium salts, metal salts, and organic antimicrobials are commonly used in textiles, plastics, and chemical products, respectively. Since the use of natural organic agents has recently increased, the safety of these agents should be evaluated.

Control of oxidation-reduction potential during Cheddar cheese ripening and its effect on the production of volatile flavour compounds.

PubMed

Caldeo, Veronica; Hannon, John A; Hickey, Dara-Kate; Waldron, Dave; Wilkinson, Martin G; Beresford, Thomas P; McSweeney, Paul L H

2016-11-01

In cheese, a negative oxidation-reduction (redox) potential is required for the stability of aroma, especially that associated with volatile sulphur compounds. To control the redox potential during ripening, redox agents were added to the salted curd of Cheddar cheese before pressing. The control cheese contained only salt, while different oxidising or reducing agents were added with the NaCl to the experimental cheeses. KIO3 (at 0·05, 0·1 and 1%, w/w) was used as the oxidising agent while cysteine (at 2%, w/w) and Na2S2O4 (at 0·05 and 0·1%, w/w) were used as reducing agents. During ripening the redox potential of the cheeses made with the reducing agents did not differ significantly from the control cheese (E h ≈ -120 mV) while the cheeses made with 0·1 and 0·05% KIO3 had a significantly higher and positive redox potential in the first month of ripening. Cheese made with 1% KIO3 had positive values of redox potential throughout ripening but no starter lactic acid bacteria survived in this cheese; however, numbers of starter organisms in all other cheeses were similar. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the volatile compounds clearly separated the cheeses made with the reducing agents from cheeses made with the oxidising agents at 2 month of ripening. Cheeses with reducing agents were characterized by the presence of sulphur compounds whereas cheeses made with KIO3 were characterized mainly by aldehydes. At 6 month of ripening, separation by PCA was less evident. These findings support the hypothesis that redox potential could be controlled during ripening and that this parameter has an influence on the development of cheese flavour.

An assessment of PTV margin based on actual accumulated dose for prostate cancer radiotherapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wen, Ning; Kumarasiri, Akila; Nurushev, Teamour; Burmeister, Jay; Xing, Lei; Liu, Dezhi; Glide-Hurst, Carri; Kim, Jinkoo; Zhong, Hualiang; Movsas, Benjamin; Chetty, Indrin J.

2013-11-01

The purpose of this work is to present the results of a margin reduction study involving dosimetric and radiobiologic assessment of cumulative dose distributions, computed using an image guided adaptive radiotherapy based framework. Eight prostate cancer patients, treated with 7-9, 6 MV, intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) fields, were included in this study. The workflow consists of cone beam CT (CBCT) based localization, deformable image registration of the CBCT to simulation CT image datasets (SIM-CT), dose reconstruction and dose accumulation on the SIM-CT, and plan evaluation using radiobiological models. For each patient, three IMRT plans were generated with different margins applied to the CTV. The PTV margin for the original plan was 10 mm and 6 mm at the prostate/anterior rectal wall interface (10/6 mm) and was reduced to: (a) 5/3 mm, and (b) 3 mm uniformly. The average percent reductions in predicted tumor control probability (TCP) in the accumulated (actual) plans in comparison to the original plans over eight patients were 0.4%, 0.7% and 11.0% with 10/6 mm, 5/3 mm and 3 mm uniform margin respectively. The mean increase in predicted normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) for grades 2/3 rectal bleeding for the actual plans in comparison to the static plans with margins of 10/6, 5/3 and 3 mm uniformly was 3.5%, 2.8% and 2.4% respectively. For the actual dose distributions, predicted NTCP for late rectal bleeding was reduced by 3.6% on average when the margin was reduced from 10/6 mm to 5/3 mm, and further reduced by 1.0% on average when the margin was reduced to 3 mm. The average reduction in complication free tumor control probability (P+) in the actual plans in comparison to the original plans with margins of 10/6, 5/3 and 3 mm was 3.7%, 2.4% and 13.6% correspondingly. The significant reduction of TCP and P+ in the actual plan with 3 mm margin came from one outlier, where individualizing patient treatment plans through margin adaptation based on biological models, might yield higher quality treatments.

Fundamental Study on the Development of Structural Lightweight Concrete by Using Normal Coarse Aggregate and Foaming Agent

PubMed Central

Lee, Han-Seung; Ismail, Mohamed A.; Woo, Young-Je; Min, Tae-Beom; Choi, Hyun-Kook

2014-01-01

Structural lightweight concrete (SLWC) has superior properties that allow the optimization of super tall structure systems for the process of design. Because of the limited supply of lightweight aggregates in Korea, the development of structural lightweight concrete without lightweight aggregates is needed. The physical and mechanical properties of specimens that were cast using normal coarse aggregates and different mixing ratios of foaming agent to evaluate the possibility of creating structural lightweight concrete were investigated. The results show that the density of SLWC decreases as the dosage of foaming agent increases up to a dosage of 0.6%, as observed by SEM. It was also observed that the foaming agent induced well separated pores, and that the size of the pores ranged from 50 to 100 μm. Based on the porosity of concrete specimens with foaming agent, compressive strength values of structural lightweight foam concrete (SLWFC) were obtained. It was also found that the estimated values from proposed equations for compressive strength and modulus of elasticity of SLWFC, and values obtained by actual measurements were in good agreement. Thus, this study confirms that new structural lightweight concrete using normal coarse aggregates and foaming agent can be developed successfully. PMID:28788691

Chemical interaction: enhancement and inhibition of clastogenicity.

PubMed Central

Anwar, W A

1993-01-01

Most environmental exposures involve concurrent or sequential exposure to multiple chemicals in air, water, and food. Interactive effects in carcinogenesis have been described for certain combinations of agents. They are described in terms of enhancement or inhibition of carcinogenesis. Enhancement effects have been documented for cigarette smoking in combination with exposure to asbestos, radon, alcohol, or other exposures. A variety of inhibitors of carcinogenesis have also been described. They are classified into agents preventing formation of carcinogens; blocking agents; and suppressing agents. Assessment of risk from exposure to multiple agents can be derived either from epidemiological studies in relation to actual exposure or from laboratory studies after controlled exposure to different agents. Prediction of how toxic components of mixtures will interact should be based on an understanding of the mechanisms of such interactions. Compounds may interact chemically, yielding new toxic components or causing a change in the biological availability of the existing components or metabolites. In humans, great individual variability in response is to be expected because of genetic heterogeneity or acquired host susceptibility factors. Interaction is thus a key component in the risk assessment process. In this paper, the definition of interaction and the theoretical basis for different types of interaction in cancer causation are reviewed. Epidemiological and experimental studies showing interactive effects of two chemical carcinogens are also presented. PMID:8143617

Preventive treatment in migraine and the new US guidelines

PubMed Central

Estemalik, E; Tepper, S

2013-01-01

Migraine headaches are among the most common headache disorders seen in various practices. The prevalence of migraine headaches is 18% in women and 6% in men. While millions of Americans suffer from migraine headaches, roughly 3%–13% of identified migraine patients are on preventive therapy, while an estimated 38% actually need a preventive agent. The challenge among physicians is not only when to start a daily preventive agent but which preventive agent to choose. Circumstances warranting prevention have been described in the past, and in 2012, a new set of guidelines with an evidence review on preventive medications was published. A second set of guidelines provided evidence on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, herbs, minerals, and vitamins for prevention of episodic migraine. This article describes the updated US guidelines for the prevention of migraines and also outlines the major studies from which these guidelines were derived. PMID:23717045

Molecularly imprinted covalent organic polymers for the selective extraction of benzoxazole fluorescent whitening agents from food samples.

PubMed

Ding, Hui; Wang, Rongyu; Wang, Xiao; Ji, Wenhua

2018-06-21

Molecularly imprinted covalent organic polymers were constructed by an imine-linking reaction between 1,3,5-triformylphloroglucinol and 2,6-diaminopyridine and used for the selective solid-phase extraction of benzoxazole fluorescent whitening agents from food samples. Binding experiments showed that imprinting sites on molecularly imprinted polymers had higher selectivity for targets compared with those of the corresponding non-imprinted polymers. Parameters affecting the solid-phase extraction procedure were examined. Under optimal conditions, actual samples were treated and the eluent was analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection. The results showed that the established method owned the wide linearity, satisfactory detection limits and quantification limits, and acceptable recoveries. Thus, this developed method possesses the practical potential to the selectively determine benzoxazole fluorescent whitening agents in complex food samples. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Fashion, novelty and optimality: an application from Physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galam, Serge; Vignes, Annick

2005-06-01

We apply a physical-based model to describe the clothes fashion market. Every time a new outlet appears on the market, it can invade the market under certain specific conditions. Hence, the “old” outlet can be completely dominated and disappears. Each creator competes for a finite population of agents. Fashion phenomena are shown to result from a collective phenomenon produced by local individual imitation effects. We assume that, in each step of the imitation process, agents only interact with a subset rather than with the whole set of agents. People are actually more likely to influence (and be influenced by) their close “neighbors”. Accordingly, we discuss which strategy is best fitted for new producers when people are either simply organized into anonymous reference groups or when they are organized in social groups hierarchically ordered. While counterfeits are shown to reinforce the first strategy, creating social leaders can permit to avoid them.

The media effect in Axelrod's model explained

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peres, L. R.; Fontanari, J. F.

2011-11-01

We revisit the problem of introducing an external global field —the mass media— in Axelrod's model of social dynamics, where in addition to their nearest neighbors, the agents can interact with a virtual neighbor whose cultural features are fixed from the outset. The finding that this apparently homogenizing field actually increases the cultural diversity has been considered a puzzle since the phenomenon was first reported more than a decade ago. Here we offer a simple explanation for it, which is based on the pedestrian observation that Axelrod's model exhibits more cultural diversity, i.e., more distinct cultural domains, when the agents are allowed to interact solely with the media field than when they can interact with their neighbors as well. In this perspective, it is the local homogenizing interactions that work towards making the absorbing configurations less fragmented as compared with the extreme situation in which the agents interact with the media only.

Growth Inhibition of Tumour Implants by Associated Surface Active Agents

PubMed Central

Altman, R. F. A.; Spoladore, L. G.; Esch, E. L.

1970-01-01

Whereas dilute solutions of surface active agents modify the properties of cell membranes, particularly in relation to their electrical behaviour, moderate and strong solutions provoke more serious structural damage of the membrane, leading to an increase of its permeability and, finally, to cytolysis. These phenomena have inspired some authors to apply detergents as possible cancer chemotherapeuticals so far, however, with only poor results. The disintegrating effect of tumour emboli into single cells by certain detergents, and the ingenious discovery that the mutual adhesiveness between cancer cells is much less than between normal cells, have led the present authors to investigate the action of some biological surface active agents, alone as well as in some of their associations on the “take” of Yoshida sarcoma implants. Certain associations showed, in contradistinction to the separately applied components, surprisingly favourable activity. It could be established that a correlation actually exists between inhibitory effect and surface activity. PMID:4394469

Dissolving the Puzzle of Resultant Moral Luck.

PubMed

Levy, Neil

The puzzle of resultant moral luck arises when we are disposed to think that an agent who caused a harm deserves to be blamed more than an otherwise identical agent who did not. One popular (but controversial) perspective on resultant moral luck explains our dispositions to produce different judgments with regard to the agents who feature in these cases as a product not of what they genuinely deserve but of our epistemic situation. On this account, there is no genuine resultant moral luck; there is only luck in what evidence becomes available to observers. In this paper, I develop an evolutionary account of our inclination to take the results of actions as evidence for the mental states of agents, thereby explaining why the resulting intuitions are recalcitrant to correction. The account explains why the puzzle of resultant moral luck arises: because our disposition to take the harms agents cause as evidence of their mental states can produce intuitions which conflict with those that arise when we examine agents' mental states without reference to the results of their actions. The account also helps to solve the puzzle of resultant moral luck, by providing a strong reason to ignore the intuitions caused by our disposition to regard actual harms as evidence of mental states. Since these intuitions arise using an unreliable proxy for agents' mental states, they ought to be trumped by more reliable evidence.

Antibacterial activity of antibacterial cutting boards in household kitchens.

PubMed

Kounosu, Masayuki; Kaneko, Seiichi

2007-12-01

We examined antibacterial cutting boards with antibacterial activity values of either "2" or "4" in compliance with the JIS Z 2801 standard, and compared their findings with those of cutting boards with no antibacterial activity. These cutting boards were used in ten different households, and we measured changes in the viable cell counts of several types of bacteria with the drop plate method. We also identified the detected bacterial flora and measured the minimum antimicrobial concentrations of several commonly used antibacterial agents against the kinds of bacteria identified to determine the expected antibacterial activity of the respective agents. Cutting boards with activity values of both "2" and "4" proved to be antibacterial in actual use, although no correlation between the viable cell counts and the antibacterial activity values was observed. In the kitchen environment, large quantities of Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, Micrococcus, and Bacillus were detected, and it was confirmed that common antibacterial agents used in many antibacterial products are effective against these bacterial species. In addition, we measured the minimum antimicrobial concentrations of the agents against lactobacillus, a typical good bacterium, and discovered that this bacterium is less sensitive to these antibacterial agents compared to more common bacteria.

Global adaptation in networks of selfish components: emergent associative memory at the system scale.

PubMed

Watson, Richard A; Mills, Rob; Buckley, C L

2011-01-01

In some circumstances complex adaptive systems composed of numerous self-interested agents can self-organize into structures that enhance global adaptation, efficiency, or function. However, the general conditions for such an outcome are poorly understood and present a fundamental open question for domains as varied as ecology, sociology, economics, organismic biology, and technological infrastructure design. In contrast, sufficient conditions for artificial neural networks to form structures that perform collective computational processes such as associative memory/recall, classification, generalization, and optimization are well understood. Such global functions within a single agent or organism are not wholly surprising, since the mechanisms (e.g., Hebbian learning) that create these neural organizations may be selected for this purpose; but agents in a multi-agent system have no obvious reason to adhere to such a structuring protocol or produce such global behaviors when acting from individual self-interest. However, Hebbian learning is actually a very simple and fully distributed habituation or positive feedback principle. Here we show that when self-interested agents can modify how they are affected by other agents (e.g., when they can influence which other agents they interact with), then, in adapting these inter-agent relationships to maximize their own utility, they will necessarily alter them in a manner homologous with Hebbian learning. Multi-agent systems with adaptable relationships will thereby exhibit the same system-level behaviors as neural networks under Hebbian learning. For example, improved global efficiency in multi-agent systems can be explained by the inherent ability of associative memory to generalize by idealizing stored patterns and/or creating new combinations of subpatterns. Thus distributed multi-agent systems can spontaneously exhibit adaptive global behaviors in the same sense, and by the same mechanism, as with the organizational principles familiar in connectionist models of organismic learning.

Stylized facts from a threshold-based heterogeneous agent model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cross, R.; Grinfeld, M.; Lamba, H.; Seaman, T.

2007-05-01

A class of heterogeneous agent models is investigated where investors switch trading position whenever their motivation to do so exceeds some critical threshold. These motivations can be psychological in nature or reflect behaviour suggested by the efficient market hypothesis (EMH). By introducing different propensities into a baseline model that displays EMH behaviour, one can attempt to isolate their effects upon the market dynamics. The simulation results indicate that the introduction of a herding propensity results in excess kurtosis and power-law decay consistent with those observed in actual return distributions, but not in significant long-term volatility correlations. Possible alternatives for introducing such long-term volatility correlations are then identified and discussed.

Chemical agents for the control of plaque and plaque microflora: an overview.

PubMed

Gaffar, A; Afflitto, J; Nabi, N

1997-10-01

This presentation provides an overview of the technologies available for the chemical control of plaque. It is generally accepted that the formation of dental plaque at the interfaces of tooth/gingiva is one of the major causes of gingival inflammation and dental caries. Several therapeutic approaches have been used to control dental plaque and supragingival infections. These include fluoride preparations such as stannous fluoride, oxygenating agents, anti-attachment agents, and cationic and non-cationic antibacterial agents. Among the fluoride preparations, stable stannous fluoride pastes and gels have been shown to reduce supragingival plaque, gingivitis, hypersensitivity and caries. The effect of the oxygenating agents on the supragingival plaque has been equivocal, but recent data indicate that a stable agent which provides sustained active oxygen release is effective in controlling plaque. A polymer, PVPA, which reduced attachment of bacteria to teeth was shown to significantly reduce plaque formation in humans. A new generation of antibacterials includes non-ionics such as triclosan, which in combination with a special polymer delivery system, has been shown to reduce plaque, gingivitis, supragingival calculus and dental caries in long-term studies conducted around the world. Unlike the first generation of agents, the triclosan/copolymer/sodium fluoride system is effective in long-term clinicals and does not cause staining of teeth, increase in calculus, or disturbance in the oral microbial ecology.

Enhancement of the Musca domestica hytrosavirus infection with orally delivered reducing agents.

PubMed

Boucias, D; Baniszewski, J; Prompiboon, P; Lietze, V; Geden, C

2015-01-01

House flies (Musca domestica L.) throughout the world are infected with the salivary gland hypertrophy virus MdSGHV (Hytrosaviridae). Although the primary route of infection is thought to be via ingestion, flies that are old enough to feed normally are resistant to infection per os, suggesting that the peritrophic matrix (PM) is a barrier to virus transmission. Histological examination of the peritrophic matrix of healthy flies revealed a multilaminate structure produced by midgut cells located near the proventriculus. SEM revealed the PM to form a confluent sheet surrounding the food bolus with pores/openings less than 10nm in diameter. TEM revealed the PM to be multilayered, varying in width from 350 to 900 nm, and generally thinner in male than in female flies. When flies were fed on the reducing agents dithiothetriol (DTT) or tris (2-caboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride (TCEP) for 48 h before per os exposure to the virus, infection rates increased 10- to 20-fold compared with flies that did not receive the reducing agent treatments. PM's from flies treated with DTT and TCEP displayed varying degrees of disruption, particularly in the outer layer, and lacked the electron-dense inner layer facing the ectoperitrophic space. Both drugs were somewhat toxic to the flies, resulting in>40% mortality at doses greater than 10mM (DTT) or 5 mM (TCEP). DTT increased male fly susceptibility (55.1% infected) more than that of females (7.8%), whereas TCEP increased susceptibility of females (42.9%) more than that of males (26.2%). The cause for the sex differences in response to oral exposure the reducing agents is unclear. Exposing flies to food treated with virus and the reducing agents at the same time, rather than pretreating flies with the drugs, had no effect on susceptibility to the virus. Presumably, the reducing agent disrupted the enveloped virus and acted as a viricidal agent. In summary, it is proposed that the reducing agents influence integrity of the PM barrier and increase the susceptibility of flies to infection by MdSGHV. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Spatial Control of Cell Transfection Using Soluble or Solid-Phase Redox Agents and a Redox-Active Ferrocenyl Lipid

PubMed Central

Aytar, Burcu S.; Muller, John P. E.; Kondo, Yukishige; Abbott, Nicholas L.; Lynn, David M.

2013-01-01

We report principles for active, user-defined control over the locations and timing with which DNA is expressed in cells. Our approach exploits unique properties of a ferrocenyl cationic lipid that is inactive when oxidized, but active when chemically reduced. We show that methods that exert spatial control over the administration of reducing agents can lead to local activation of lipoplexes and spatial control over gene expression. The versatility of this approach is demonstrated using both soluble and solid-phase reducing agents. These methods provide control over cell transfection, including methods for remote activation and the patterning of expression using solid-phase redox agents, that are difficult to achieve using conventional lipoplexes. PMID:23965341

Spatial control of cell transfection using soluble or solid-phase redox agents and a redox-active ferrocenyl lipid.

PubMed

Aytar, Burcu S; Muller, John P E; Kondo, Yukishige; Abbott, Nicholas L; Lynn, David M

2013-09-11

We report principles for active, user-defined control over the locations and timing with which DNA is expressed in cells. Our approach exploits unique properties of a ferrocenyl cationic lipid that is inactive when oxidized, but active when chemically reduced. We show that methods that exert spatial control over the administration of reducing agents can lead to local activation of lipoplexes and spatial control over gene expression. The versatility of this approach is demonstrated using both soluble and solid-phase reducing agents. These methods provide control over cell transfection, including methods for remote activation and the patterning of expression using solid-phase redox agents, that are difficult to achieve using conventional lipoplexes.

Transcranial Doppler ultrasound study of the effects of nitrous oxide on cerebral autoregulation during neurosurgical anesthesia: a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Iacopino, Domenico G; Conti, Alfredo; Battaglia, Calogero; Siliotti, Clotilde; Lucanto, Tullio; Santamaria, Letterio B; Tomasello, Francesco

2003-07-01

Nitrous oxide has an adverse effect on cerebrovascular hemodynamics. Increased intracranial pressure, cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral metabolic rate of O2 (CMRO2), and reduced autoregulation indices have been reported, but their magnitudes are still being debated. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of N2O on CBF and autoregulatory indexes during N2O-sevoflurane anesthesia in a prospective randomized controlled series of patients. Two groups of 20 patients were studied on the basis of the use of N2O in the anesthetic gas mixture. The transient hyperemic response test, which relies on transcranial Doppler ultrasound techniques, was used to assess cerebral hemodynamics. The time-averaged mean flow velocity, considered to be an index of actual CBF, increased significantly (p < 0.001) after introduction of N2O. The hyperemic response, considered as the index of autoregulatory potential, decreased significantly after introduction of N2O into the gas mixture (p < 0.001). The increase in CBF and the reduction in autoregulatory indices suggest caution in using N2O during sevoflurane anesthesia, especially in patients with reduced autoregulatory reserve and during neurosurgical interventions. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography is an efficacious method to evaluate the effects of anesthetic agents on CBF.

The economics of soil C sequestration and agricultural emissions abatement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alexander, P.; Paustian, K.; Smith, P.; Moran, D.

2015-04-01

Carbon is a critical component of soil vitality and is crucial to our ability to produce food. Carbon sequestered in soils also provides a further regulating ecosystem service, valued as the avoided damage from global climate change. We consider the demand and supply attributes that underpin and constrain the emergence of a market value for this vital global ecosystem service: markets being what economists regard as the most efficient institutions for allocating scarce resources to the supply and consumption of valuable goods. This paper considers how a potentially large global supply of soil carbon sequestration is reduced by economic and behavioural constraints that impinge on the emergence of markets, and alternative public policies that can efficiently transact demand for the service from private and public sector agents. In essence, this is a case of significant market failure. In the design of alternative policy options, we consider whether soil carbon mitigation is actually cost-effective relative to other measures in agriculture and elsewhere in the economy, and the nature of behavioural incentives that hinder policy options. We suggest that reducing the cost and uncertainties of mitigation through soil-based measures is crucial for improving uptake. Monitoring and auditing processes will also be required to eventually facilitate wide-scale adoption of these measures.

Fungicidal PMMA-Undecylenic Acid Composites

PubMed Central

Petrović, Milica; Hofmann, Heinrich

2018-01-01

Undecylenic acid (UA), known as antifungal agent, still cannot be used to efficiently modify commercial dental materials in such a way that this affects Candida. Actually, issues with Candida infections and fungal resistance compromise the use of Poly(methyl-methacrylate) (PMMA) as dental material. The challenge remains to turn PMMA into an antifugal material, which can ideally affect both sessile (attached) and planktonic (free-floating) Candida cells. We aimed to tackle this challenge by designing PMMA-UA composites with different UA concentrations (3–12%). We studied their physico-chemical properties, the antifungal effect on Candida and the cytotoxicity toward human cells. We found that UA changes the PMMA surface into a more hydrophilic one. Mainly, as-preparation composites with ≥6% UA reduced sessile Candida for >90%. After six days, the composites were still efficiently reducing the sessile Candida cells (for ~70% for composites with ≥6% UA). Similar results were recorded for planktonic Candida. Moreover, the inhibition zone increased along with the UA concentration. The antifungal effect of UA was also examined at the surface of an UA-loaded agar and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC90) was below the lowest-studied 0.0125% UA. Furthermore, the embedded filamentation test after 24 h and 48 h showed complete inhibition of the Candida growth at 0.4% UA. PMID:29316713

Graded Representations in the Acquisition of English and German Transitive Constructions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abbot-Smith, Kirsten; Lieven, Elena; Tomasello, Michael

2008-01-01

English and German children aged 2 years 4 months and 4 years heard both novel and familiar verbs in sentences whose form was grammatical, but which mismatched the event they were watching (e.g., "The frog is pushing the lion", when the lion was actually the "agent" or "doer" of the pushing). These verbs were then elicited in new sentences. All…

Forecasting Effects of MISO Actions: An ABM Methodology

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-12-01

process of opinion change for polio vaccination in Ut- tar Pradesh, India. His analysis combines word-of-mouth and mass media broadcasting for agent...this abstraction is an appropriate comparison between treatments , rather than actual forecasting of specific levels of rebellion or anti-government...effect of breadth upon griev- ance. There is insufficient evidence to show that this effect differs between treatments . Breadth and campaign type

29 CFR 780.132 - Operations must be performed “by” a farmer.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 29 Labor 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Operations must be performed âbyâ a farmer. 780.132 Section...” a farmer. “Farmer” includes the employees of a farmer. It does not include an employer merely because he employs a farmer or appoints a farmer as his agent to do the actual work. Thus, the stripping...

Post-Fusion Membrane Reorganization.

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-01-27

diphosphoglycerate , and NEM (a crosslinking agent), and ethanol treatments all had reproducible and very specific effects on the kinetic phases and the fusion product...actually, at the ultrastructure level , a double membrane multiply perforated with fusion sites (or pores). Also, because the heat treatment was within...relationships. Moreover. 2.3- Diphosphoglycerate (2-3-DPG). a naturally occuring metabolite which is known to have a regulatory role in spectrin-cytoskeletal

Quantitative comparison of topical aluminum salt solution efficacy for management of sweating: a randomized, controlled trial.

PubMed

Swary, Jillian H; West, Dennis P; Kakar, Rohit; Ortiz, Sara; Schaeffer, Matthew R; Veledar, Emir; Alam, Murad

2015-12-01

There is a lack of studies objectively comparing the efficacy of topical antiperspirants in reducing sweat. To objectively and quantitatively compare the efficacy of two aluminum salt solutions for the reduction of induced sweating. A subject, rater, and statistician-blinded, randomized, controlled trial. Nineteen subjects were exposed to a standardized heat challenge for 3 h. Topical agent A (20% aluminum chloride hexahydrate) was randomized to either axilla, and topical agent B (1% aluminum acetate) assigned to the contralateral side. A sauna suit induced sweating during three 30-min heat intervals: (1) with no study agents (pre); (2) with both study agents, one on each side; and (3) after the agents were washed off (post). Sweat levels were measured by securing Whatman(®) filter paper to each axilla and measuring the paper weight after each heat interval. The difference in paper weight following each heat interval between Study Agent A and Study Agent B was measured by a gravimetric scale. Topical agent A had a significantly greater effect at reducing axillary sweating than B (P = 0.0002). In a sweating simulation, 20% aluminum chloride hexahydrate quantitatively and objectively appeared to reduce sweat more effectively than 1% aluminum acetate. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

[Study on expert system of infrared spectral characteristic of combustible smoke agent].

PubMed

Song, Dong-ming; Guan, Hua; Hou, Wei; Pan, Gong-pei

2009-05-01

The present paper studied the application of expert system in prediction of infrared spectral characteristic of combustible anti-infrared smoke agent. The construction of the expert system was founded, based on the theory of minimum free energy and infrared spectral addition. After the direction of smoke agent was input, the expert system could figure out the final combustion products. Then infrared spectrogram of smoke could also be simulated by adding the spectra of all of the combustion products. Meanwhile, the screening index of smoke was provided in the wave bands of 3-5 im and 8-14 microm. FTIR spectroscope was used to investigate the performance of one kind of HC smoke. The combustion products calculated by the expert system were coincident with the actual data, and the simulant infrared spectrum was also similar to the real one of the smoke. The screening index given by the system was consistent with the known facts. It was showed that a new approach was offered for the fast discrimination of varieties of directions of smoke agent.

Nanoparticles for Biomedical Imaging: Fundamentals of Clinical Translation

PubMed Central

Choi, Hak Soo; Frangioni, John V.

2010-01-01

Because of their large size compared to small molecules, and their multi-functionality, nanoparticles (NPs) hold promise as biomedical imaging, diagnostic, and theragnostic agents. However, the key to their success hinges on a detailed understanding of their behavior after administration into the body. NP biodistribution, target binding, and clearance are a complex function of their physicochemical properties in serum, which include hydrodynamic diameter, solubility, stability, shape and flexibility, surface charge, composition, and formulation. Moreover, many materials used to construct NPs have real or potential toxicity, or may interfere with other medical tests. In this review, we discuss the design considerations that mediate NP behavior in the body and the fundamental principles that govern clinical translation. By analyzing those nanomaterials that have already received regulatory approval, most of which are actually therapeutic agents, we attempt to predict which types of NPs hold potential as diagnostic agents for biomedical imaging. Finally, using quantum dots as an example, we provide a framework for deciding whether an NP-based agent is the best choice for a particular clinical application. PMID:21084027

Agent Communication for Dynamic Belief Update

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kobayashi, Mikito; Tojo, Satoshi

Thus far, various formalizations of rational / logical agent model have been proposed. In this paper, we include the notion of communication channel and belief modality into update logic, and introduce Belief Update Logic (BUL). First, we discuss that how we can reformalize the inform action of FIPA-ACL into communication channel, which represents a connection between agents. Thus, our agents can send a message only when they believe, and also there actually is, a channel between him / her and a receiver. Then, we present a static belief logic (BL) and show its soundness and completeness. Next, we develop the logic to BUL, which can update Kripke model by the inform action; in which we show that in the updated model the belief operator also satisfies K45. Thereafter, we show that every sentence in BUL can be translated into BL; thus, we can contend that BUL is also sound and complete. Furthermore, we discuss the features of CUL, including the case of inconsistent information, as well as channel transmission. Finally, we summarize our contribution and discuss some future issues.

Causal Responsibility and Counterfactuals

PubMed Central

Lagnado, David A; Gerstenberg, Tobias; Zultan, Ro'i

2013-01-01

How do people attribute responsibility in situations where the contributions of multiple agents combine to produce a joint outcome? The prevalence of over-determination in such cases makes this a difficult problem for counterfactual theories of causal responsibility. In this article, we explore a general framework for assigning responsibility in multiple agent contexts. We draw on the structural model account of actual causation (e.g., Halpern & Pearl, 2005) and its extension to responsibility judgments (Chockler & Halpern, 2004). We review the main theoretical and empirical issues that arise from this literature and propose a novel model of intuitive judgments of responsibility. This model is a function of both pivotality (whether an agent made a difference to the outcome) and criticality (how important the agent is perceived to be for the outcome, before any actions are taken). The model explains empirical results from previous studies and is supported by a new experiment that manipulates both pivotality and criticality. We also discuss possible extensions of this model to deal with a broader range of causal situations. Overall, our approach emphasizes the close interrelations between causality, counterfactuals, and responsibility attributions. PMID:23855451

Biotechnology Research Requirements for Aeronautical Systems through the Year 2000. Volume 1

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-07-30

signature. Reducing the aero contain radic.?z,:"ve fallout. vehicle’s detectibility by reducing the optical, electro, acoustic, and infrared 0 Pulsed...arsenal devoted to agent doses. At this time, basic biochemical and chemical agents, reported use of mycotoxins and pharmacological data are minimal and...mass spectroscopy , quartz chemical agents must be developed. This research microbalances, Industrial hygiene dosimetry, damp should quantify human

The Effect of a Mechanical Arm System on Portable Grinder Vibration Emissions.

PubMed

McDowell, Thomas W; Welcome, Daniel E; Warren, Christopher; Xu, Xueyan S; Dong, Ren G

2016-04-01

Mechanical arm systems are commonly used to support powered hand tools to alleviate ergonomic stressors related to the development of workplace musculoskeletal disorders. However, the use of these systems can increase exposure times to other potentially harmful agents such as hand-transmitted vibration. To examine how these tool support systems affect tool vibration, the primary objectives of this study were to characterize the vibration emissions of typical portable pneumatic grinders used for surface grinding with and without a mechanical arm support system at a workplace and to estimate the potential risk of the increased vibration exposure time afforded by the use of these mechanical arm systems. This study also developed a laboratory-based simulated grinding task based on the ISO 28927-1 (2009) standard for assessing grinder vibrations; the simulated grinding vibrations were compared with those measured during actual workplace grinder operations. The results of this study demonstrate that use of the mechanical arm may provide a health benefit by reducing the forces required to lift and maneuver the tools and by decreasing hand-transmitted vibration exposure. However, the arm does not substantially change the basic characteristics of grinder vibration spectra. The mechanical arm reduced the average frequency-weighted acceleration by about 24% in the workplace and by about 7% in the laboratory. Because use of the mechanical arm system can increase daily time-on-task by 50% or more, the use of such systems may actually increase daily time-weighted hand-transmitted vibration exposures in some cases. The laboratory acceleration measurements were substantially lower than the workplace measurements, and the laboratory tool rankings based on acceleration were considerably different than those from the workplace. Thus, it is doubtful that ISO 28927-1 is useful for estimating workplace grinder vibration exposures or for predicting workplace grinder acceleration rank orders. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society 2015.

The Effect of a Mechanical Arm System on Portable Grinder Vibration Emissions

PubMed Central

McDowell, Thomas W.; Welcome, Daniel E.; Warren, Christopher; Xu, Xueyan S.; Dong, Ren G.

2016-01-01

Mechanical arm systems are commonly used to support powered hand tools to alleviate ergonomic stressors related to the development of workplace musculoskeletal disorders. However, the use of these systems can increase exposure times to other potentially harmful agents such as hand-transmitted vibration. To examine how these tool support systems affect tool vibration, the primary objectives of this study were to characterize the vibration emissions of typical portable pneumatic grinders used for surface grinding with and without a mechanical arm support system at a workplace and to estimate the potential risk of the increased vibration exposure time afforded by the use of these mechanical arm systems. This study also developed a laboratory-based simulated grinding task based on the ISO 28927-1 (2009) standard for assessing grinder vibrations; the simulated grinding vibrations were compared with those measured during actual workplace grinder operations. The results of this study demonstrate that use of the mechanical arm may provide a health benefit by reducing the forces required to lift and maneuver the tools and by decreasing hand-transmitted vibration exposure. However, the arm does not substantially change the basic characteristics of grinder vibration spectra. The mechanical arm reduced the average frequency-weighted acceleration by about 24% in the workplace and by about 7% in the laboratory. Because use of the mechanical arm system can increase daily time-on-task by 50% or more, the use of such systems may actually increase daily time-weighted hand-transmitted vibration exposures in some cases. The laboratory acceleration measurements were substantially lower than the workplace measurements, and the laboratory tool rankings based on acceleration were considerably different than those from the workplace. Thus, it is doubtful that ISO 28927-1 is useful for estimating workplace grinder vibration exposures or for predicting workplace grinder acceleration rank orders. PMID:26628522

Impact of the morphology and reactivity of nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) on dechlorinating bacteria.

PubMed

Rónavári, Andrea; Balázs, Margit; Tolmacsov, Péter; Molnár, Csaba; Kiss, István; Kukovecz, Ákos; Kónya, Zoltán

2016-05-15

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) is increasingly used for reducing chlorinated organic contaminants in soil or groundwater. However, little is known about what impact the particles will have on the biochemical processes and the indigenous microbial communities. Nanoiron reactivity is affected by the structure and morphology of nanoparticles that complicates the applicability in bioremediation. In this study, the effect of precursors (ferrous sulfate and ferric chloride) and reducing agents (sodium dithionite and sodium borohydride) on the morphology and the reactivity of NZVIs was investigated. We also studied the impact of differently synthesized NZVIs on microbial community, which take part in reductive dechlorination. We demonstrated that both the applied iron precursor and the reducing agent had influence on the structure of the nanoparticles. Spherical nanoparticles with higher Fe(0) content (>90%) was observed by using sodium borohydride as reducing agent, while application of sodium dithionite as reducing agent resulted nanostructures with lower Fe(0) content (between 68,7 and 85,5%). To determine the influence of differently synthesized NZVIs on cell viability anaerobic enriched microcosm were used. NVZI was used in 0.1 g/L concentration in all batch experiments. Relative amount of Dehalococcoides, sulfate reducers (SRBs) and methanogens were measured by quantitative PCR. We found that the relative amount of Dehalococcoides slowly decreased in all experiments independently from the precursor and reducing agent, whereas the total amount of microbes increased. The only clear distinction was in relative amount of sulfate reducers which were higher in the presence of NZVIs synthesized from sodium dithionite. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Die Deformation Measurement System during Sheet Metal Forming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Funada, J.; Takahashi, S.; Fukiharu, H.

2011-08-01

In order to reduce affection to the earth environment, it is necessary to lighten the vehicles. For this purpose, high tensile steels are applied. Because of high strength, high forming force is required for producing automotive sheet metal parts. In this situation, since the dies are elastic, they are deformed during forming parts. For reducing die developing period, sheet metal forming simulation is widely applied. In the numerical simulation, rigid dies are usually used for shortening computing time. It means that the forming conditions in the actual forming and the simulation are different. It will make large errors in the results between actual forming and simulation. It can be said that if contact pressure between dies and a sheet metal in the simulation can be reproduced in the actual forming, the differences of forming results between them can also been reduced. The basic idea is to estimate die shape which can produce the same distribution as computed from simulation with rigid dies. In this study, die deformation analyses with Finite Element Method as basic technologies are evaluated. For example, simple shape and actual dies elastic contact problems were investigated. The contact width between simple shape dies was investigated. The computed solutions were in good agreement with experimental results. The one case of the actual dies in two cases was also investigated. Bending force was applied to the blank holder with a mechanical press machine. The methodology shown with applying inductive displacement sensor for measuring die deformation during applying force was also proposed.

Glucose supply and insulin demand dynamics of antidiabetic agents.

PubMed

Monte, Scott V; Schentag, Jerome J; Adelman, Martin H; Paladino, Joseph A

2010-03-01

For microvascular outcomes, there is compelling historical and contemporary evidence for intensive blood glucose reduction in patients with either type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). There is also strong evidence to support macrovascular benefit with intensive blood glucose reduction in T1DM. Similar evidence remains elusive for T2DM. Because cardiovascular outcome trials utilizing conventional algorithms to attain intensive blood glucose reduction have not demonstrated superiority to less aggressive blood glucose reduction (Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes; Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron Modified Release Controlled Evaluation; and Veterans Affairs Diabetes Trial), it should be considered that the means by which the blood glucose is reduced may be as important as the actual blood glucose. By identifying quantitative differences between antidiabetic agents on carbohydrate exposure (CE), hepatic glucose uptake (HGU), hepatic gluconeogenesis (GNG), insulin resistance (IR), peripheral glucose uptake (PGU), and peripheral insulin exposure (PIE), we created a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model to characterize the effect of the agents on the glucose supply and insulin demand dynamic. Glucose supply was defined as the cumulative percentage decrease in CE, increase in HGU, decrease in GNG, and decrease in IR, while insulin demand was defined as the cumulative percentage increase in PIE and PGU. With the glucose supply and insulin demand effects of each antidiabetic agent summated, the glucose supply (numerator) was divided by the insulin demand (denominator) to create a value representative of the glucose supply and insulin demand dynamic (SD ratio). Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (1.25), metformin (2.20), and thiazolidinediones (TZDs; 1.25-1.32) demonstrate a greater effect on glucose supply (SD ratio >1), while secretagogues (0.69-0.81), basal insulins (0.77-0.79), and bolus insulins (0.62-0.67) demonstrate a greater effect on insulin demand (SD ratio <1). Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, metformin, and TZDs demonstrate a greater effect on glucose supply, while secretagogues, basal insulin, and bolus insulin demonstrate a greater effect on insulin demand. Because T2DM cardiovascular outcome trials have not demonstrated macrovascular benefit with more aggressive blood glucose reduction when using conventional algorithms that predominantly focus on insulin demand, it would appear logical to consider a model that incorporates both the extent of blood glucose lowering (hemoglobin A1c) and the means by which the blood glucose was reduced (SD ratio) when considering macrovascular outcomes. (c) 2010 Diabetes Technology Society.

College Student Reporting Responses to Hypothetical and Actual Safety Concerns

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hollister, Brandon A.; Scalora, Mario J.; Hoff, Sarah M.; Hodges, Heath J.; Marquez, Allissa

2017-01-01

Campus violence prevention often includes proactively reducing crime through noticing and resolving concerning situations. Within these efforts, interventions aimed at enhancing reporting have been considered necessary. The current study explored several reporting influences on college students' responses to hypothetical and actual campus safety…

Direct radiolabeling of antibody against stage specific embryonic antigen for diagnostic imaging

DOEpatents

Rhodes, Buck A.

1994-01-01

Antibody against stage specific embryonic antigen-1 is radiolabeled by direct means with a radionuclide for use in detection of occult abscess and inflammation. Radiolabeling is accomplished by partial reduction of the disulfide bonds of the antibody using Sn(II), or using other reducing agents followed by the addition of Sn(II), removal of excess reducing agent and reduction by-products, and addition of a specified amount of radionuclide reducing agent, such as stannous tartrate. The resulting product may be store frozen or lyophilized, with radiolabeling accomplished by the addition of the radionuclide.

Direct radiolabeling of antibody against stage specific embryonic antigen for diagnostic imaging

DOEpatents

Rhodes, B.A.

1994-09-13

Antibodies against stage specific embryonic antigen-1 is radiolabeled by direct means with a radionuclide for use in detection of occult abscess and inflammation. Radiolabeling is accomplished by partial reduction of the disulfide bonds of the antibody using Sn(II), or using other reducing agents followed by the addition of Sn(II), removal of excess reducing agent and reduction by-products, and addition of a specified amount of radionuclide reducing agent, such as stannous tartrate. The resulting product may be stored frozen or lyophilized, with radiolabeling accomplished by the addition of the radionuclide. No Drawings

Chewing Stimulation Reduces Appetite Ratings and Attentional Bias toward Visual Food Stimuli in Healthy-Weight Individuals.

PubMed

Ikeda, Akitsu; Miyamoto, Jun J; Usui, Nobuo; Taira, Masato; Moriyama, Keiji

2018-01-01

Based on the theory of incentive sensitization, the exposure to food stimuli sensitizes the brain's reward circuits and enhances attentional bias toward food. Therefore, reducing attentional bias to food could possibly be beneficial in preventing impulsive eating. The importance of chewing has been increasingly implicated as one of the methods for reducing appetite, however, no studies to investigate the effect of chewing on attentional bias to food. In this study, we investigated whether chewing stimulation (i.e., chewing tasteless gum) reduces attentional bias to food as well as an actual feeding (i.e., ingesting a standardized meal) does. We measured reaction time, gaze direction and gaze duration to assess attentional bias toward food images in pairs of food and non-food images that were presented in a visual probe task (Experiment 1, n = 21) and/or eye-tracking task (Experiment 2, n = 20). We also measured appetite ratings using visual analog scale. In addition, we conducted a control study in which the same number of participants performed the identical tasks to Experiments 1 and 2, but the participants did not perform sham feeding with gum-chewing/actual feeding between tasks and they took a rest. Two-way ANOVA revealed that after actual feeding, subjective ratings of hunger, preoccupation with food, and desire to eat significantly decreased, whereas fullness significantly increased. Sham feeding showed the same trends, but to a lesser degree. Results of the visual probe task in Experiment 1 showed that both sham feeding and actual feeding reduced reaction time bias significantly. Eye-tracking data showed that both sham and actual feeding resulted in significant reduction in gaze direction bias, indexing initial attentional orientation. Gaze duration bias was unaffected. In both control experiments, one-way ANOVAs showed no significant differences between immediately before and after the resting state for any of the appetite ratings, reaction time bias, gaze direction bias, or gaze duration bias. In conclusion, chewing stimulation reduced subjective appetite and attentional bias to food, particularly initial attentional orientation to food. These findings suggest that chewing stimulation, even without taste, odor, or ingestion, may affect reward circuits and help prevent impulsive eating.

Chewing Stimulation Reduces Appetite Ratings and Attentional Bias toward Visual Food Stimuli in Healthy-Weight Individuals

PubMed Central

Ikeda, Akitsu; Miyamoto, Jun J.; Usui, Nobuo; Taira, Masato; Moriyama, Keiji

2018-01-01

Based on the theory of incentive sensitization, the exposure to food stimuli sensitizes the brain’s reward circuits and enhances attentional bias toward food. Therefore, reducing attentional bias to food could possibly be beneficial in preventing impulsive eating. The importance of chewing has been increasingly implicated as one of the methods for reducing appetite, however, no studies to investigate the effect of chewing on attentional bias to food. In this study, we investigated whether chewing stimulation (i.e., chewing tasteless gum) reduces attentional bias to food as well as an actual feeding (i.e., ingesting a standardized meal) does. We measured reaction time, gaze direction and gaze duration to assess attentional bias toward food images in pairs of food and non-food images that were presented in a visual probe task (Experiment 1, n = 21) and/or eye-tracking task (Experiment 2, n = 20). We also measured appetite ratings using visual analog scale. In addition, we conducted a control study in which the same number of participants performed the identical tasks to Experiments 1 and 2, but the participants did not perform sham feeding with gum-chewing/actual feeding between tasks and they took a rest. Two-way ANOVA revealed that after actual feeding, subjective ratings of hunger, preoccupation with food, and desire to eat significantly decreased, whereas fullness significantly increased. Sham feeding showed the same trends, but to a lesser degree. Results of the visual probe task in Experiment 1 showed that both sham feeding and actual feeding reduced reaction time bias significantly. Eye-tracking data showed that both sham and actual feeding resulted in significant reduction in gaze direction bias, indexing initial attentional orientation. Gaze duration bias was unaffected. In both control experiments, one-way ANOVAs showed no significant differences between immediately before and after the resting state for any of the appetite ratings, reaction time bias, gaze direction bias, or gaze duration bias. In conclusion, chewing stimulation reduced subjective appetite and attentional bias to food, particularly initial attentional orientation to food. These findings suggest that chewing stimulation, even without taste, odor, or ingestion, may affect reward circuits and help prevent impulsive eating. PMID:29472880

An agent-based stochastic Occupancy Simulator

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

Chen, Yixing; Hong, Tianzhen; Luo, Xuan

Occupancy has significant impacts on building performance. However, in current building performance simulation programs, occupancy inputs are static and lack diversity, contributing to discrepancies between the simulated and actual building performance. This work presents an Occupancy Simulator that simulates the stochastic behavior of occupant presence and movement in buildings, capturing the spatial and temporal occupancy diversity. Each occupant and each space in the building are explicitly simulated as an agent with their profiles of stochastic behaviors. The occupancy behaviors are represented with three types of models: (1) the status transition events (e.g., first arrival in office) simulated with probability distributionmore » model, (2) the random moving events (e.g., from one office to another) simulated with a homogeneous Markov chain model, and (3) the meeting events simulated with a new stochastic model. A hierarchical data model was developed for the Occupancy Simulator, which reduces the amount of data input by using the concepts of occupant types and space types. Finally, a case study of a small office building is presented to demonstrate the use of the Simulator to generate detailed annual sub-hourly occupant schedules for individual spaces and the whole building. The Simulator is a web application freely available to the public and capable of performing a detailed stochastic simulation of occupant presence and movement in buildings. Future work includes enhancements in the meeting event model, consideration of personal absent days, verification and validation of the simulated occupancy results, and expansion for use with residential buildings.« less

An agent-based stochastic Occupancy Simulator

DOE PAGES

Chen, Yixing; Hong, Tianzhen; Luo, Xuan

2017-06-01

Occupancy has significant impacts on building performance. However, in current building performance simulation programs, occupancy inputs are static and lack diversity, contributing to discrepancies between the simulated and actual building performance. This work presents an Occupancy Simulator that simulates the stochastic behavior of occupant presence and movement in buildings, capturing the spatial and temporal occupancy diversity. Each occupant and each space in the building are explicitly simulated as an agent with their profiles of stochastic behaviors. The occupancy behaviors are represented with three types of models: (1) the status transition events (e.g., first arrival in office) simulated with probability distributionmore » model, (2) the random moving events (e.g., from one office to another) simulated with a homogeneous Markov chain model, and (3) the meeting events simulated with a new stochastic model. A hierarchical data model was developed for the Occupancy Simulator, which reduces the amount of data input by using the concepts of occupant types and space types. Finally, a case study of a small office building is presented to demonstrate the use of the Simulator to generate detailed annual sub-hourly occupant schedules for individual spaces and the whole building. The Simulator is a web application freely available to the public and capable of performing a detailed stochastic simulation of occupant presence and movement in buildings. Future work includes enhancements in the meeting event model, consideration of personal absent days, verification and validation of the simulated occupancy results, and expansion for use with residential buildings.« less

Self-repairing composites for airplane components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dry, Carolyn

2008-03-01

Durability and damage tolerance criteria drives the design of most composite structures. Those criteria could be altered by developing structure that repairs itself from impact damage. This is a technology for increasing damage tolerance for impact damage. Repaired damage would enable continued function and prevent further degradation to catastrophic failure in the case of an aircraft application. Further, repaired damage would enable applications to be utilized without reduction in performance due to impacts. Self repairing structures are designed to incorporate hollow fibers, which will release a repairing agent when the structure is impacted, so that the repairing agent will fill delaminations, voids and cracks in les than one minute, thus healing matrix voids. The intent is to modify the durability and damage tolerance criteria by incorporation of self-healing technologies to reduce overall weight: The structure will actually remain lighter than current conventional design procedures allow. Research objective(s) were: Prove that damage can be repaired to within 80-90% of original flexural strength in less than one minute, in laminates that are processed at 300-350F typical for aircraft composites. These were successfully met. The main focus was on testing of elements in compression after impact and a larger component in shear at Natural Process Design, Inc. Based on these results the advantages purposes are assessed. The results show potential; with self repairing composites, compressive strength is maintained sufficiently so that less material can be used as per durability and damage tolerance, yielding a lighter structure.

The UK Government's global partnership programme - Its achievements over the past five years and challenges ahead

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

Heyes, Alan

2007-07-01

Through the Global Partnership the UK continues to make a significant contribution to improve national and global security. Over the past year the UK has continued to implement a wide range of projects across the breadth of its Global Partnership Programme. As well as ensuring the Programme is robust and capable of dealing with new challenges, the UK has cooperated with other donor countries to help them progress projects associated with submarine dismantling, scientist redirection, enhancing nuclear security and Chemical Weapons Destruction. The Global Partnership, although only five years old, has already achieved a great deal. Some 23 states, plusmore » the European Union, are now working closer together under the Global Partnership, and collectively have enhanced global regional and national security by reducing the availability of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) materials and expertise to both states of concern and terrorists. Considerable progress has already been made in, for example: - Improving the security of fissile materials, dangerous biological agents and chemical weapons stocks; - Reducing the number of sites containing radioactive materials; - Working towards closure of reactors still producing weapon-grade plutonium; - Improving nuclear safety to reduce the risks of further, Chernobyl style accidents; - Constructing facilities for destroying Chemical Weapons stocks, and starting actual destruction; - Providing sustainable employment for former WMD scientists to reduce the risk that their expertise will be misused by states or terrorists. By contributing to many of these activities, the UK has helped to make the world safer. This paper reports on the UK's practical and sustainable contribution to the Global Partnership and identifies a number of challenges that remain if it is to have a wider impact on reducing the threats from WMD material. (authors)« less

Metal inks

DOEpatents

Ginley, David S; Curtis, Calvin J; Miedaner, Alex; van Hest, Marinus Franciscus Antonius Maria; Kaydanova, Tatiana

2014-02-04

Self-reducing metal inks and systems and methods for producing and using the same are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a method may comprise selecting metal-organic (MO) precursor, selecting a reducing agent, and dissolving the MO precursor and the reducing agent in an organic solvent to produce a metal ink that remains in a liquid phase at room temperature. Metal inks, including self-reducing and fire-through metal inks, are also disclosed, as are various applications of the metal inks.

Drag reduction of nata de coco suspensions in circular pipe flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Warashina, J.; Ogata, S.

2015-04-01

Reducing pipe friction by adding a drag-reducing agent has attracted interest as a means to reduce energy consumption. In addition to reducing drag, these agents are required to have a low environmental load and conserve natural resources. However, no drag-reducing agent currently satisfies both these conditions. We focused on nata de coco and found that the nata de coco fiber reduced drag by up to 25%. With respect to the mechanism of drag reduction by nata de coco fiber, the relationship between drag-reduction phenomena and the fiber form of nata de coco was investigated by visualization. We also found that the drag-reduction effect appeared to be due to the formation of networks of tangled fibers of nata de coco. However, drag reduction did not occur in the case in which fibers of nata de coco did not form networks.

The efficacy of denaturing actinide elements as a means of decreasing materials attractiveness

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

Hase, K.R.; Bathke, C.G.; Ebbinghaus, B.B.

2013-07-01

This study considers the concept of denaturing as applied to the actinide elements present in spent fuel as a means to reduce materials attractiveness. Highly attractive materials generally have low values of bare critical mass, heat content, and dose. To denature an attractive element, its spent-fuel isotopic composition (isotopic vector) is intentionally modified by introducing sufficient quantities of a significantly less attractive isotope to dilute the concentration of a highly attractive isotope so that the overall attractiveness of the element is reduced. The authors used FOM (Figure of Merit) formula as the material attractiveness metric for their parametric determination ofmore » the attractiveness of the Pu and U. Materials attractiveness needs to be considered in three distinct phases in the process to construct a nuclear explosive device (NED): the acquisition phase, processing phase, and utilization phase. The results show that denaturing uranium with {sup 238}U is actually an effective means of reducing the attractiveness. For uranium with a large minority of {sup 235}U, a mixture of 80% {sup 238}U to 20% {sup 235}U is required to reduce the attractiveness to low. For uranium with a large concentration of {sup 233}U, a mixture of 88% {sup 238}U to 12% {sup 233}U is required to reduce the attractiveness to low. The results also show that denaturing plutonium with {sup 238}Pu is less effective than denaturing uranium with {sup 238}U. Using {sup 238}Pu as the denaturing agent would require 80% or more by mass in order to reduce the attractiveness to low. No amount of {sup 240}Pu is enough to reduce the plutonium attractiveness below medium. The combination of {sup 238}Pu and {sup 240}Pu would require approximately 70% {sup 238}Pu and 25% {sup 240}Pu by mass to reduce the plutonium attractiveness to low.« less

Tool use without a tool: kinematic characteristics of pantomiming as compared to actual use and the effect of brain damage.

PubMed

Hermsdörfer, Joachim; Li, Yong; Randerath, Jennifer; Goldenberg, Georg; Johannsen, Leif

2012-04-01

Movement goals and task mechanics differ substantially between actual tool use and corresponding pantomimes. In addition, apraxia seems to be more severe during pantomime than during actual tool use. Comparisons of these two modes of action execution using quantitative methods of movement analyses are rare. In the present study, repetitive scooping movements with a ladle from a bowl into a plate were recorded and movement kinematics was analyzed. Brain-damaged patients using their ipsilesional hand and healthy control subjects were tested in three conditions: pantomime, demonstration with the tool only, and actual use in the normal context. Analysis of the hand trajectories during the transport component revealed clear differences between the tasks, such as slower actual use and moderate deficits in patients with left brain damage (LBD). LBD patients were particularly impaired in the scooping component: LBD patients with apraxia exhibited reduced hand rotation at the bowl and the plate. The deficit was most obvious during pantomime but actual use was also affected, and reduced hand rotation was consistent across conditions as indicated by strong pair-wise correlations between task conditions. In healthy control subjects, correlations between movement parameters were most evident between the pantomime and demonstration conditions but weak in correlation pairs involving actual use. From these findings and published neuroimaging evidence, we conclude that for a specific tool-use action, common motor schemas are activated but are adjusted and modified according to the actual task constraints and demands. An apraxic LBD individual can show a deficit across all three action conditions, but the severity can differ substantially between conditions.

Reducing the Complexity of an Agent-Based Local Heroin Market Model

PubMed Central

Heard, Daniel; Bobashev, Georgiy V.; Morris, Robert J.

2014-01-01

This project explores techniques for reducing the complexity of an agent-based model (ABM). The analysis involved a model developed from the ethnographic research of Dr. Lee Hoffer in the Larimer area heroin market, which involved drug users, drug sellers, homeless individuals and police. The authors used statistical techniques to create a reduced version of the original model which maintained simulation fidelity while reducing computational complexity. This involved identifying key summary quantities of individual customer behavior as well as overall market activity and replacing some agents with probability distributions and regressions. The model was then extended to allow external market interventions in the form of police busts. Extensions of this research perspective, as well as its strengths and limitations, are discussed. PMID:25025132

Alternative Agents to Prevent Fogging in Head and Neck Endoscopy

PubMed Central

Piromchai, Patorn; Kasemsiri, Pornthep; Thanaviratananich, Sanguansak

2011-01-01

Background: The essential factor for diagnosis and treatment of diseases in head and neck endoscopy is the visibility of the image. An anti-fogging agent can reduce this problem by minimizing surface tension to prevent the condensation of water in the form of small droplets on a surface. There is no report on the use of hibiscrub® or baby shampoo to reduce fogging in the literature. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy between commercial anti-fogging agent, hibiscrub® and baby shampoo to reduce fogging for the use in head and neck endoscopy. Methods: The study was conducted at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University in August 2010. Commercial anti-fogging agent, baby shampoo and hibiscrub® were applied on rigid endoscope lens before putting them into a mist generator. The images were taken at baseline, 15 seconds, 30 seconds and 1 minute. The images’ identifiers were removed before they were sent to two evaluators. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to rate the image quality from 0 to 10. Results: The difference in mean VAS score between anti-fogging agent, baby shampoo and hibiscrub® versus no agent were 5.46, 4.45 and 2.1 respectively. The commercial anti-fogging agent and baby shampoo had most protective benefit and performed significantly better than no agent (P = 0.05). Conclusions: Baby shampoo is an effective agent to prevent fogging during head and neck endoscopy and compares favourably with commercial anti-fogging agent. PMID:24179399

Morphological, molecular and biological evidence reveal two cryptic species in Mecinus janthinus Germar (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), a successful biological control agent of Dalmatian toadflax, Linaria dalmatica (Lamiales, Plantaginaceae)

Treesearch

Ivo Tosevski; Roberto Caldara; Jelena Jovic; Gerardo Hernandez-Vera; Cosimo Baviera; Andre Gassmann; Brent C. Emerson

2011-01-01

A combined morphological, molecular and biological study shows that the weevil species presently named Mecinus janthinus is actually composed of two different cryptic species: M. janthinus Germar, 1821 and M. janthiniformis Tosevski & Caldara sp.n. These species are morphologically distinguishable from each other by a few very subtle morphological characters. On...

Can Some Marine-Derived Fungal Metabolites Become Actual Anticancer Agents?

PubMed Central

Gomes, Nelson G. M.; Lefranc, Florence; Kijjoa, Anake; Kiss, Robert

2015-01-01

Marine fungi are known to produce structurally unique secondary metabolites, and more than 1000 marine fungal-derived metabolites have already been reported. Despite the absence of marine fungal-derived metabolites in the current clinical pipeline, dozens of them have been classified as potential chemotherapy candidates because of their anticancer activity. Over the last decade, several comprehensive reviews have covered the potential anticancer activity of marine fungal-derived metabolites. However, these reviews consider the term “cytotoxicity” to be synonymous with “anticancer agent”, which is not actually true. Indeed, a cytotoxic compound is by definition a poisonous compound. To become a potential anticancer agent, a cytotoxic compound must at least display (i) selectivity between normal and cancer cells (ii) activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) cancer cells; and (iii) a preferentially non-apoptotic cell death mechanism, as it is now well known that a high proportion of cancer cells that resist chemotherapy are in fact apoptosis-resistant cancer cells against which pro-apoptotic drugs have more than limited efficacy. The present review thus focuses on the cytotoxic marine fungal-derived metabolites whose ability to kill cancer cells has been reported in the literature. Particular attention is paid to the compounds that kill cancer cells through non-apoptotic cell death mechanisms. PMID:26090846

Predator interference effects on biological control: The "paradox" of the generalist predator revisited

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parshad, Rana D.; Bhowmick, Suman; Quansah, Emmanuel; Basheer, Aladeen; Upadhyay, Ranjit Kumar

2016-10-01

An interesting conundrum in biological control questions the efficiency of generalist predators as biological control agents. Theory suggests, generalist predators are poor agents for biological control, primarily due to mutual interference. However field evidence shows they are actually quite effective in regulating pest densities. In this work we provide a plausible answer to this paradox. We analyze a three species model, where a generalist top predator is introduced into an ecosystem as a biological control, to check the population of a middle predator, that in turn is depredating on a prey species. We show that the inclusion of predator interference alone, can cause the solution of the top predator equation to blow-up in finite time, while there is global existence in the no interference case. This result shows that interference could actually cause a population explosion of the top predator, enabling it to control the target species, thus corroborating recent field evidence. Our results might also partially explain the population explosion of certain species, introduced originally for biological control purposes, such as the cane toad (Bufo marinus) in Australia, which now functions as a generalist top predator. We also show both Turing instability and spatio-temporal chaos in the model. Lastly we investigate time delay effects.

Information flow in a network of dispersed signalers-receivers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halupka, Konrad

2017-11-01

I consider a stochastic model of multi-agent communication in regular network. The model describes how dispersed animals exchange information. Each agent can initiate and transfer the signal to its nearest neighbors, who may pass it farther. For an external observer of busy networks, signaling activity may appear random, even though information flow actually thrives. Only when signal initiation and transfer are at low levels do spatiotemporal autocorrelations emerge as clumping signaling activity in space and pink noise time series. Under such conditions, the costs of signaling are moderate, but the signaler can reach a large audience. I propose that real-world networks of dispersed signalers-receivers may self-organize into this state and the flow of information maintains their integrity.

Evolutionary Paths to Corrupt Societies of Artificial Agents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nasrallah, Walid

Virtual corrupt societies can be defined as groups of interacting computer-generated agents who predominantly choose behavior that gives short term personal gain at the expense of a higher aggregate cost to others. This paper focuses on corrupt societies that, unlike published models in which cooperation must evolve in order for the society to continue to survive, do not naturally die out as the corrupt class siphons off the resources. For example, a very computationally simple strategy of avoiding confrontation can allow a majority of "unethical" individuals to survive off the efforts of an "ethical" but productive minority. Analogies are drawn to actual human societies in which similar conditions gave rise to behavior traditionally defined as economic or political corruption.

Development of a Persistent Chemical Agent Simulator System (PCASS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcginness, W. G.

1983-01-01

The development of a persistent chemical agent simulation system (PCASS) is described. This PCASS is to be used for the military training of troops to simulate actual chemical warfare. The purpose of this system is to facilitate in the determination of chemical contamination and effectiveness of decontamination for training purposes. The fluorescent tracer employed has no daylight activation, but yet is easily removed with a decontaminate solution or water and surfactants. Also employed is a time delayed color developing system. When an individual is subjected to the PCASS and does not decontaminate adequately, red blotches or red coloration will develop as a function of time and temperature. The intent of this is to simulate the delayed chemical reaction of mustard contaminates.

Treating exhaust gas from a pressurized fluidized bed reaction system

DOEpatents

Isaksson, J.; Koskinen, J.

1995-08-22

Hot gases from a pressurized fluidized bed reactor system are purified. Under super atmospheric pressure conditions hot exhaust gases are passed through a particle separator, forming a filtrate cake on the surface of the separator, and a reducing agent--such as an NO{sub x} reducing agent (like ammonia)--is introduced into the exhaust gases just prior to or just after particle separation. The retention time of the introduced reducing agent is enhanced by providing a low gas velocity (e.g. about 1--20 cm/s) during passage of the gas through the filtrate cake while at super atmospheric pressure. Separation takes place within a distinct pressure vessel, the interior of which is at a pressure of about 2--100 bar, and introduction of reducing agent can take place at multiple locations (one associated with each filter element in the pressure vessel), or at one or more locations just prior to passage of clean gas out of the pressure vessel (typically passed to a turbine). 8 figs.

Treating exhaust gas from a pressurized fluidized bed reaction system

DOEpatents

Isaksson, Juhani; Koskinen, Jari

1995-01-01

Hot gases from a pressurized fluidized bed reactor system are purified. Under superatmospheric pressure conditions hot exhaust gases are passed through a particle separator, forming a flitrate cake on the surface of the separator, and a reducing agent--such as an NO.sub.x reducing agent (like ammonia), is introduced into the exhaust gases just prior to or just after particle separation. The retention time of the introduced reducing agent is enhanced by providing a low gas velocity (e.g. about 1-20 cm/s) during passage of the gas through the filtrate cake while at superatmospheric pressure. Separation takes place within a distinct pressure vessel the interior of which is at a pressure of about 2-100 bar, and-introduction of reducing agent can take place at multiple locations (one associated with each filter element in the pressure vessel), or at one or more locations just prior to passage of clean gas out of the pressure vessel (typically passed to a turbine).

Beyond self-serving bias: diffusion of responsibility reduces sense of agency and outcome monitoring

PubMed Central

Sidarus, Nura; Bonicalzi, Sofia; Haggard, Patrick

2017-01-01

Abstract Diffusion of responsibility across agents has been proposed to underlie decreased helping and increased aggression in group behaviour. However, few studies have directly investigated effects of the presence of other people on how we experience the consequences of our actions. This EEG study investigated whether diffusion of responsibility simply reflects a post-hoc self-serving bias, or rather has direct effects on how we process the outcomes of our actions, and our experience of agency over them. Participants made voluntary actions whose outcomes were more or less negative. Presence of another potential agent reduced participants’ sense of agency over those outcomes, even though it was always obvious who caused each outcome. Further, presence of another agent reduced the amplitude of feedback-related negativity evoked by outcome stimuli, suggesting reduced outcome monitoring. The presence of other agents may lead to diffusion of responsibility by weakening the neural linkage between one’s actions and their outcomes. PMID:27803288

Beyond self-serving bias: diffusion of responsibility reduces sense of agency and outcome monitoring.

PubMed

Beyer, Frederike; Sidarus, Nura; Bonicalzi, Sofia; Haggard, Patrick

2017-01-01

Diffusion of responsibility across agents has been proposed to underlie decreased helping and increased aggression in group behaviour. However, few studies have directly investigated effects of the presence of other people on how we experience the consequences of our actions. This EEG study investigated whether diffusion of responsibility simply reflects a post-hoc self-serving bias, or rather has direct effects on how we process the outcomes of our actions, and our experience of agency over them. Participants made voluntary actions whose outcomes were more or less negative. Presence of another potential agent reduced participants' sense of agency over those outcomes, even though it was always obvious who caused each outcome. Further, presence of another agent reduced the amplitude of feedback-related negativity evoked by outcome stimuli, suggesting reduced outcome monitoring. The presence of other agents may lead to diffusion of responsibility by weakening the neural linkage between one's actions and their outcomes. © The Author (2016). Published by Oxford University Press.

Using Motivational Interviewing to reduce threats in conversations about environmental behavior.

PubMed

Klonek, Florian E; Güntner, Amelie V; Lehmann-Willenbrock, Nale; Kauffeld, Simone

2015-01-01

Human behavior contributes to a waste of environmental resources and our society is looking for ways to reduce this problem. However, humans may perceive feedback about their environmental behavior as threatening. According to self-determination theory (SDT), threats decrease intrinsic motivation for behavior change. According to self-affirmation theory (SAT), threats can harm individuals' self-integrity. Therefore, individuals should show self-defensive biases, e.g., in terms of presenting counter-arguments when presented with environmental behavior change. The current study examines how change recipients respond to threats from change agents in interactions about environmental behavior change. Moreover, we investigate how Motivational Interviewing (MI) - an intervention aimed at increasing intrinsic motivation - can reduce threats at both the social and cognitive level. We videotaped 68 dyadic interactions with change agents who either did or did not use MI (control group). We coded agents verbal threats and recipients' verbal expressions of motivation. Recipients also rated agents' level of confrontation and empathy (i.e., cognitive reactions). As hypothesized, threats were significantly lower when change agents used MI. Perceived confrontations converged with observable social behavior of change agents in both groups. Moreover, behavioral threats showed a negative association with change recipients' expressed motivation (i.e., reasons to change). Contrary to our expectations, we found no relation between change agents' verbal threats and change recipients' verbally expressed self-defenses (i.e., sustain talk). Our results imply that MI reduces the adverse impact of threats in conversations about environmental behavior change on both the social and cognitive level. We discuss theoretical implications of our study in the context of SAT and SDT and suggest practical implications for environmental change agents in organizations.

How Are Mate Preferences Linked with Actual Mate Selection? Tests of Mate Preference Integration Algorithms Using Computer Simulations and Actual Mating Couples

PubMed Central

Conroy-Beam, Daniel; Buss, David M.

2016-01-01

Prior mate preference research has focused on the content of mate preferences. Yet in real life, people must select mates among potentials who vary along myriad dimensions. How do people incorporate information on many different mate preferences in order to choose which partner to pursue? Here, in Study 1, we compare seven candidate algorithms for integrating multiple mate preferences in a competitive agent-based model of human mate choice evolution. This model shows that a Euclidean algorithm is the most evolvable solution to the problem of selecting fitness-beneficial mates. Next, across three studies of actual couples (Study 2: n = 214; Study 3: n = 259; Study 4: n = 294) we apply the Euclidean algorithm toward predicting mate preference fulfillment overall and preference fulfillment as a function of mate value. Consistent with the hypothesis that mate preferences are integrated according to a Euclidean algorithm, we find that actual mates lie close in multidimensional preference space to the preferences of their partners. Moreover, this Euclidean preference fulfillment is greater for people who are higher in mate value, highlighting theoretically-predictable individual differences in who gets what they want. These new Euclidean tools have important implications for understanding real-world dynamics of mate selection. PMID:27276030

How Are Mate Preferences Linked with Actual Mate Selection? Tests of Mate Preference Integration Algorithms Using Computer Simulations and Actual Mating Couples.

PubMed

Conroy-Beam, Daniel; Buss, David M

2016-01-01

Prior mate preference research has focused on the content of mate preferences. Yet in real life, people must select mates among potentials who vary along myriad dimensions. How do people incorporate information on many different mate preferences in order to choose which partner to pursue? Here, in Study 1, we compare seven candidate algorithms for integrating multiple mate preferences in a competitive agent-based model of human mate choice evolution. This model shows that a Euclidean algorithm is the most evolvable solution to the problem of selecting fitness-beneficial mates. Next, across three studies of actual couples (Study 2: n = 214; Study 3: n = 259; Study 4: n = 294) we apply the Euclidean algorithm toward predicting mate preference fulfillment overall and preference fulfillment as a function of mate value. Consistent with the hypothesis that mate preferences are integrated according to a Euclidean algorithm, we find that actual mates lie close in multidimensional preference space to the preferences of their partners. Moreover, this Euclidean preference fulfillment is greater for people who are higher in mate value, highlighting theoretically-predictable individual differences in who gets what they want. These new Euclidean tools have important implications for understanding real-world dynamics of mate selection.

Application of online measures to monitor and evaluate multiplatform fusion performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stubberud, Stephen C.; Kowalski, Charlene; Klamer, Dale M.

1999-07-01

A primary concern of multiplatform data fusion is assessing the quality and utility of data shared among platforms. Constraints such as platform and sensor capability and task load necessitate development of an on-line system that computes a metric to determine which other platform can provide the best data for processing. To determine data quality, we are implementing an approach based on entropy coupled with intelligent agents. To determine data quality, we are implementing an approach based on entropy coupled with intelligent agents. Entropy measures quality of processed information such as localization, classification, and ambiguity in measurement-to-track association. Lower entropy scores imply less uncertainty about a particular target. When new information is provided, we compuete the level of improvement a particular track obtains from one measurement to another. The measure permits us to evaluate the utility of the new information. We couple entropy with intelligent agents that provide two main data gathering functions: estimation of another platform's performance and evaluation of the new measurement data's quality. Both functions result from the entropy metric. The intelligent agent on a platform makes an estimate of another platform's measurement and provides it to its own fusion system, which can then incorporate it, for a particular target. A resulting entropy measure is then calculated and returned to its own agent. From this metric, the agent determines a perceived value of the offboard platform's measurement. If the value is satisfactory, the agent requests the measurement from the other platform, usually by interacting with the other platform's agent. Once the actual measurement is received, again entropy is computed and the agent assesses its estimation process and refines it accordingly.

Erasing fear for an imagined threat event.

PubMed

Soeter, Marieke; Kindt, Merel

2012-11-01

Although memory for emotionally arousing and stressful experiences is strong and resistant to change, recent years have witnessed rapidly emerging evidence for the plasticity of fear memories. Upon retrieval a memory may be rendered labile and vulnerable to the disruptive effects of amnestic agents. This process is referred to as "disrupting reconsolidation" and may point to a novel therapeutic strategy for the permanent reduction of fear in patients suffering from anxiety disorders. However, the fear-reducing effects are thus far only demonstrated for freezing reactions in rodents and autonomic fear responding in humans. If disrupting reconsolidation will be of value for clinical practice, it should also target the subjective feelings of anxiety. Using an instructed fear-learning paradigm in humans, we here tested whether disrupting reconsolidation would diminish the subjective feelings of anxiety for a noxious event that was anticipated but never actually experienced. Beta-adrenergic receptor blockade during reconsolidation strongly diminished the behavioral expression of the instructed fear memory (i.e., startle responding) as well as the subjective feelings of anxiety 24h later, yet without affecting both the physiological and cognitive component of the anticipation of threat (i.e., skin conductance responding, expectancy ratings). Together, the present findings suggest that the various memory traces of a learned fear association do not necessarily undergo reconsolidation in harmony. Considering that patients with anxiety disorders (1) often fear objects and situations that they have never actually experienced, and (2) primarily suffer from the subjective feelings of anxiety, the present findings may have important ramifications for psychotherapy. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Method to synthesize and produce thin films by spray pyrolysis

DOEpatents

Turcotte, Richard L.

1982-07-06

Forming a film by spraying onto a heated substrate an atomized solution containing the appropriate salt of a constituent element of the film and a reducing agent at a concentration greater than 1 M and greater than 10 times the stoichiometric amount of reducing agent.

Dye-sensitized solar cells

DOEpatents

Skotheim, T.A.

1980-03-04

A low-cost dye-sensitized Schottky barrier solar cell is comprised of a substrate of semiconductor with an ohmic contact on one face, a sensitizing dye adsorbed onto the opposite face of the semiconductor, a transparent thin-film layer of a reducing agent over the dye, and a thin-film layer of metal over the reducing agent. The ohmic contact and metal layer constitute electrodes for connection to an external circuit and one or the other or both are made transparent to permit light to penetrate to the dye and be absorbed therein for generating electric current. The semiconductor material chosen to be the substrate is one having a wide bandgap and which therefore is transparent; the dye selected is one having a ground state within the bandgap of the semiconductor to generate carriers in the semiconductor, and a first excited state above the conduction band edge of the semiconductor to readily conduct electrons from the dye to the semiconductor; the reducing agent selected is one having a ground state above the ground state of the sensitizer to provide a plentiful source of electrons to the dye during current generation and thereby enhance the generation; and the metal for the thin-film layer of metal is selected to have a Fermi level in the vicinity of or above the ground state of the reducing agent to thereby amply supply electrons to the reducing agent. 3 figs.

Dye-sensitized solar cells

DOEpatents

Skotheim, Terje A. [Berkeley, CA

1980-03-04

A low-cost dye-sensitized Schottky barrier solar cell comprised of a substrate of semiconductor with an ohmic contact on one face, a sensitizing dye adsorbed onto the opposite face of the semiconductor, a transparent thin-film layer of a reducing agent over the dye, and a thin-film layer of metal over the reducing agent. The ohmic contact and metal layer constitute electrodes for connection to an external circuit and one or the other or both are made transparent to permit light to penetrate to the dye and be absorbed therein for generating electric current. The semiconductor material chosen to be the substrate is one having a wide bandgap and which therefore is transparent; the dye selected is one having a ground state within the bandgap of the semiconductor to generate carriers in the semiconductor, and a first excited state above the conduction band edge of the semiconductor to readily conduct electrons from the dye to the semiconductor; the reducing agent selected is one having a ground state above the ground state of the sensitizer to provide a plentiful source of electrons to the dye during current generation and thereby enhance the generation; and the metal for the thin-film layer of metal is selected to have a Fermi level in the vicinity of or above the ground state of the reducing agent to thereby amply supply electrons to the reducing agent.

Dye-sensitized Schottky barrier solar cells

DOEpatents

Skotheim, Terje A.

1978-01-01

A low-cost dye-sensitized Schottky barrier solar cell comprised of a substrate of semiconductor with an ohmic contact on one face, a sensitizing dye adsorbed onto the opposite face of the semiconductor, a transparent thin-film layer of a reducing agent over the dye, and a thin-film layer of metal over the reducing agent. The ohmic contact and metal layer constitute electrodes for connection to an external circuit and one or the other or both are made transparent to permit light to penetrate to the dye and be absorbed therein for generating electric current. The semiconductor material chosen to be the substrate is one having a wide bandgap and which therefore is transparent; the dye selected is one having a ground state within the bandgap of the semiconductor to generate carriers in the semiconductor, and a first excited state above the conduction band edge of the semiconductor to readily conduct electrons from the dye to the semiconductor; the reducing agent selected is one having a ground state above the ground state of the sensitizer to provide a plentiful source of electrons to the dye during current generation and thereby enhance the generation; and the metal for the thin-film layer of metal is selected to have a Fermi level in the vicinity of or above the ground state of the reducing agent to thereby amply supply electrons to the reducing agent.

Thermomechanical treatment of alloys

DOEpatents

Bates, John F.; Brager, Howard R.; Paxton, Michael M.

1983-01-01

An article of an alloy of AISI 316 stainless steel is reduced in size to predetermined dimensions by cold working in repeated steps. Before the last reduction step the article is annealed by heating within a temperature range, specifically between 1010.degree. C. and 1038.degree. C. for a time interval between 90 and 60 seconds depending on the actual temperature. By this treatment the swelling under neutron bombardment by epithermal neutrons is reduced while substantial recrystallization does not occur in actual use for a time interval of at least of the order of 5000 hours.

Biological agents for controlling excessive scarring.

PubMed

Berman, Brian

2010-01-01

The potential of various biological agents to reduce or prevent excessive scar formation has now been evaluated in numerous in-vitro studies, experimental animal models and preliminary clinical trials, in some cases with particularly promising results. Perhaps prominent among this group of biological agents, and, to some degree, possibly representing marketed compounds already being used 'off label' to manage excessive scarring, are the tumor necrosis factor alpha antagonist etanercept, and immune-response modifiers such as IFNalpha2b and imiquimod. Additional assessment of these novel agents is now justified with a view to reducing or preventing hypertrophic scars, keloid scars and the recurrence of post-excision keloid lesions.

Effect and removal mechanisms of 6 different washing agents for building wastes containing chromium.

PubMed

Xing-run, Wang; Yan-xia, Zhang; Qi, Wang; Jian-min, Shu

2012-01-01

With the building wastes contaminated by chromium in Haibei Chemical Plan in China as objects, we studied the contents of total Cr and Cr (VI) of different sizes, analyzed the effect of 6 different washing agents, discussed the removal mechanisms of 6 different washing agents for Cr in various forms, and finally selected applicable washing agent. As per the results, particle size had little impact on the contents of total Cr and Cr (VI); after one washing with water, the removal rate of total Cr and Cr (VI) was 75% and 78%, respectively, and after the second washing with 6 agents, the removal rate of citric acid was the highest, above 90% for total Cr and above 99% for hexavalent chromium; the pH of building wastes were reduced by citric acid, and under acid condition, hexavalent chromium was reduced to trivalent chromium spontaneously by organic acid, which led to better removal rate of acid soluble Cr and reducible Cr; due to the complexing action, citric acid had best removal rate for oxidizable trivalent chromium. In conclusion, citric acid is the most applicable second washing agent for building wastes.

Efficacy of scalp hair decontamination following exposure to vapours of sulphur mustard simulants 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulphide and methyl salicylate.

PubMed

Spiandore, Marie; Piram, Anne; Lacoste, Alexandre; Prevost, Philippe; Maloni, Pascal; Torre, Franck; Asia, Laurence; Josse, Denis; Doumenq, Pierre

2017-04-01

Chemical warfare agents are an actual threat and victims' decontamination is a main concern when mass exposure occurs. Skin decontamination with current protocols has been widely documented, as well as surface decontamination. However, considering hair ability to trap chemicals in vapour phase, we investigated hair decontamination after exposure to sulphur mustard simulants methyl salicylate and 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulphide. Four decontamination protocols were tested on hair, combining showering and emergency decontamination (use of Fuller's earth or Reactive Skin Decontamination Lotion RSDL ® ). Both simulants were recovered from hair after treatment, but contents were significantly reduced (42-85% content allowance). Showering alone was the least efficient protocol. Concerning 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulphide, protocols did not display significant differences in decontamination efficacy. For MeS, use of emergency decontaminants significantly increased showering efficacy (10-20% rise), underlining their usefulness before thorough decontamination. Our results highlighted the need to extensively decontaminate hair after chemical exposure. Residual amounts after decontamination are challenging, as their release from hair could lead to health issues. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Dynamics of melanoma tumor therapy with vesicular stomatitis virus: explaining the variability in outcomes using mathematical modeling.

PubMed

Rommelfanger, D M; Offord, C P; Dev, J; Bajzer, Z; Vile, R G; Dingli, D

2012-05-01

Tumor selective, replication competent viruses are being tested for cancer gene therapy. This approach introduces a new therapeutic paradigm due to potential replication of the therapeutic agent and induction of a tumor-specific immune response. However, the experimental outcomes are quite variable, even when studies utilize highly inbred strains of mice and the same cell line and virus. Recognizing that virotherapy is an exercise in population dynamics, we utilize mathematical modeling to understand the variable outcomes observed when B16ova malignant melanoma tumors are treated with vesicular stomatitis virus in syngeneic, fully immunocompetent mice. We show how variability in the initial tumor size and the actual amount of virus delivered to the tumor have critical roles on the outcome of therapy. Virotherapy works best when tumors are small, and a robust innate immune response can lead to superior tumor control. Strategies that reduce tumor burden without suppressing the immune response and methods that maximize the amount of virus delivered to the tumor should optimize tumor control in this model system.

Anomalously Fast Diffusion of Targeted Carbon Nanotubes in Cellular Spheroids.

PubMed

Wang, Yichun; Bahng, Joong Hwan; Che, Quantong; Han, Jishu; Kotov, Nicholas A

2015-08-25

Understanding transport of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and other nanocarriers within tissues is essential for biomedical imaging and drug delivery using these carriers. Compared to traditional cell cultures in animal studies, three-dimensional tissue replicas approach the complexity of the actual organs and enable high temporal and spatial resolution of the carrier permeation. We investigated diffusional transport of CNTs in highly uniform spheroids of hepatocellular carcinoma and found that apparent diffusion coefficients of CNTs in these tissue replicas are anomalously high and comparable to diffusion rates of similarly charged molecules with molecular weights 10000× lower. Moreover, diffusivity of CNTs in tissues is enhanced after functionalization with transforming growth factor β1. This unexpected trend contradicts predictions of the Stokes-Einstein equation and previously obtained empirical dependences of diffusivity on molecular mass for permeants in gas, liquid, solid or gel. It is attributed to the planar diffusion (gliding) of CNTs along cellular membranes reducing effective dimensionality of diffusional space. These findings indicate that nanotubes and potentially similar nanostructures are capable of fast and deep permeation into the tissue, which is often difficult to realize with anticancer agents.

A cost-analysis model for anticoagulant treatment in the hospital setting.

PubMed

Mody, Samir H; Huynh, Lynn; Zhuo, Daisy Y; Tran, Kevin N; Lefebvre, Patrick; Bookhart, Brahim

2014-07-01

Rivaroxaban is the first oral factor Xa inhibitor approved in the US to reduce the risk of stroke and blood clots among people with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, treat deep vein thrombosis (DVT), treat pulmonary embolism (PE), reduce the risk of recurrence of DVT and PE, and prevent DVT and PE after knee or hip replacement surgery. The objective of this study was to evaluate the costs from a hospital perspective of treating patients with rivaroxaban vs other anticoagulant agents across these five populations. An economic model was developed using treatment regimens from the ROCKET-AF, EINSTEIN-DVT and PE, and RECORD1-3 randomized clinical trials. The distribution of hospital admissions used in the model across the different populations was derived from the 2010 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project database. The model compared total costs of anticoagulant treatment, monitoring, inpatient stay, and administration for patients receiving rivaroxaban vs other anticoagulant agents. The length of inpatient stay (LOS) was determined from the literature. Across all populations, rivaroxaban was associated with an overall mean cost savings of $1520 per patient. The largest cost savings associated with rivaroxaban was observed in patients with DVT or PE ($6205 and $2742 per patient, respectively). The main driver of the cost savings resulted from the reduction in LOS associated with rivaroxaban, contributing to ∼90% of the total savings. Furthermore, the overall mean anticoagulant treatment cost was lower for rivaroxaban vs the reference groups. The distribution of patients across indications used in the model may not be generalizable to all hospitals, where practice patterns may vary, and average LOS cost may not reflect the actual reimbursements that hospitals received. From a hospital perspective, the use of rivaroxaban may be associated with cost savings when compared to other anticoagulant treatments due to lower drug cost and shorter LOS associated with rivaroxaban.

Derivation of Markov processes that violate detailed balance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Julian

2018-03-01

Time-reversal symmetry of the microscopic laws dictates that the equilibrium distribution of a stochastic process must obey the condition of detailed balance. However, cyclic Markov processes that do not admit equilibrium distributions with detailed balance are often used to model systems driven out of equilibrium by external agents. I show that for a Markov model without detailed balance, an extended Markov model can be constructed, which explicitly includes the degrees of freedom for the driving agent and satisfies the detailed balance condition. The original cyclic Markov model for the driven system is then recovered as an approximation at early times by summing over the degrees of freedom for the driving agent. I also show that the widely accepted expression for the entropy production in a cyclic Markov model is actually a time derivative of an entropy component in the extended model. Further, I present an analytic expression for the entropy component that is hidden in the cyclic Markov model.

Process to Selectively Distinguish Viable from Non-Viable Bacterial Cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

LaDuc, Myron T.; Bernardini, Jame N.; Stam, Christina N.

2010-01-01

The combination of ethidium monoazide (EMA) and post-fragmentation, randomly primed DNA amplification technologies will enhance the analytical capability to discern viable from non-viable bacterial cells in spacecraft-related samples. Intercalating agents have been widely used since the inception of molecular biology to stain and visualize nucleic acids. Only recently, intercalating agents such as EMA have been exploited to selectively distinguish viable from dead bacterial cells. Intercalating dyes can only penetrate the membranes of dead cells. Once through the membrane and actually inside the cell, they intercalate DNA and, upon photolysis with visible light, produce stable DNA monoadducts. Once the DNA is crosslinked, it becomes insoluble and unable to be fragmented for post-fragmentation, randomly primed DNA library formation. Viable organisms DNA remains unaffected by the intercalating agents, allowing for amplification via post-fragmentation, randomly primed technologies. This results in the ability to carry out downstream nucleic acid-based analyses on viable microbes to the exclusion of all non-viable cells.

What Fraction of Active Galaxies Actually Show Outflows?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ganguly, Rajib; Brotherton, M. S.

2007-12-01

Outflows from active galactic nuclei (AGNs) seem to be common and are thought to be important from a variety of perspectives: as an agent of chemical enhancement of the interstellar and intergalactic media, as an agent of angular momentum removal from the accreting central engine, and as an agent limiting star formation in starbursting systems by blowing out gas and dust from the host galaxy. To understand these processes, we must determine what fraction of AGNs feature outflows and understand what forms they take. We examine recent surveys of outflows detected in ultraviolet absorption over the entire range of velocities and velocity widths (i.e., broad absorption lines, associated absorption lines, and high-velocity narrow absorption lines). While the fraction of specific forms of outflows depends on AGN properties, the overall fraction displaying outflows is fairly constant, approximately 60%, over many orders of magnitude in luminosity. We discuss implications of this result and ways to refine our understanding of outflows. We acknowledge support from the US National Science Foundation through grant AST 05-07781.

Dendritic growth model of multilevel marketing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pang, James Christopher S.; Monterola, Christopher P.

2017-02-01

Biologically inspired dendritic network growth is utilized to model the evolving connections of a multilevel marketing (MLM) enterprise. Starting from agents at random spatial locations, a network is formed by minimizing a distance cost function controlled by a parameter, termed the balancing factor bf, that weighs the wiring and the path length costs of connection. The paradigm is compared to an actual MLM membership data and is shown to be successful in statistically capturing the membership distribution, better than the previously reported agent based preferential attachment or analytic branching process models. Moreover, it recovers the known empirical statistics of previously studied MLM, specifically: (i) a membership distribution characterized by the existence of peak levels indicating limited growth, and (ii) an income distribution obeying the 80 - 20 Pareto principle. Extensive types of income distributions from uniform to Pareto to a "winner-take-all" kind are also modeled by varying bf. Finally, the robustness of our dendritic growth paradigm to random agent removals is explored and its implications to MLM income distributions are discussed.

An Evolvable Multi-Agent Approach to Space Operations Engineering

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mandutianu, Sanda; Stoica, Adrian

1999-01-01

A complex system of spacecraft and ground tracking stations, as well as a constellation of satellites or spacecraft, has to be able to reliably withstand sudden environment changes, resource fluctuations, dynamic resource configuration, limited communication bandwidth, etc., while maintaining the consistency of the system as a whole. It is not known in advance when a change in the environment might occur or when a particular exchange will happen. A higher degree of sophistication for the communication mechanisms between different parts of the system is required. The actual behavior has to be determined while the system is performing and the course of action can be decided at the individual level. Under such circumstances, the solution will highly benefit from increased on-board and on the ground adaptability and autonomy. An evolvable architecture based on intelligent agents that communicate and cooperate with each other can offer advantages in this direction. This paper presents an architecture of an evolvable agent-based system (software and software/hardware hybrids) as well as some plans for further implementation.

New robotics: design principles for intelligent systems.

PubMed

Pfeifer, Rolf; Iida, Fumiya; Bongard, Josh

2005-01-01

New robotics is an approach to robotics that, in contrast to traditional robotics, employs ideas and principles from biology. While in the traditional approach there are generally accepted methods (e. g., from control theory), designing agents in the new robotics approach is still largely considered an art. In recent years, we have been developing a set of heuristics, or design principles, that on the one hand capture theoretical insights about intelligent (adaptive) behavior, and on the other provide guidance in actually designing and building systems. In this article we provide an overview of all the principles but focus on the principles of ecological balance, which concerns the relation between environment, morphology, materials, and control, and sensory-motor coordination, which concerns self-generated sensory stimulation as the agent interacts with the environment and which is a key to the development of high-level intelligence. As we argue, artificial evolution together with morphogenesis is not only "nice to have" but is in fact a necessary tool for designing embodied agents.

Natural Ferrihydrite as an Agent for Reducing Turbidity Caused by Suspended Clays

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The turbidity of water can be reduced by the addition of positively charged compounds which coagulate negatively charged clay particles in suspension causing them to flocculate. This research was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the Fe oxide mineral ferrihydrite as a flocculating agent fo...

Sorbitol as an efficient reducing agent for laser-induced copper deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kochemirovsky, V. A.; Logunov, L. S.; Safonov, S. V.; Tumkin, I. I.; Tver'yanovich, Yu. S.; Menchikov, L. G.

2012-10-01

We have pioneered in revealing the fact that sorbitol may be used as an efficient reducing agent in the process of laser-induced copper deposition from solutions; in this case, it is possible to obtain copper lines much higher quality than by using conventional formalin.

Reductive amination of tertiary anilines and aldehydes.

PubMed

Lv, Yunhe; Zheng, Yiying; Li, Yan; Xiong, Tao; Zhang, Jingping; Liu, Qun; Zhang, Qian

2013-10-09

An unprecedented oxidant-mediated reductive amination of tertiary anilines and aldehydes without external reducing agents was developed via the nucleophilic attack of the oxygen atom of the carbonyl group to in situ generated iminium ions, in which tertiary anilines were used as both nitrogen source and reducing agent for the first time.

7 CFR 4290.1620 - Functions of agents, including Central Registration Agent, Selling Agent and Fiscal Agent.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Debentures and/or TCs. (iv) Arranging for the production of Offering Circulars, certificates, and such other... to determine those factors that will minimize or reduce the cost of funding Debentures. (iii) Monitor... the Secretary; (vii) Remain custodian of such other documentation as the Secretary shall direct by...

13 CFR 108.1620 - Functions of agents, including Central Registration Agent, Selling Agent and Fiscal Agent.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... periodic sales of Debentures and/or TCs. (iv) Arranging for the production of Offering Circulars... financial markets to determine those factors that will minimize or reduce the cost of funding Debentures... SBA; (vii) Remain custodian of such other documentation as SBA shall direct by written instructions...

13 CFR 107.1620 - Functions of agents, including Central Registration Agent, Selling Agent and Fiscal Agent.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Participating Securities and/or TCs. (iv) Arranging for the production of the Offering Circular, certificates... markets to determine those factors that will minimize or reduce the cost of funding Debentures or... instructions from SBA; (vii) Remain custodian of such other documentation as SBA shall direct by written...

Why Older Adults Spend Time Sedentary and Break Their Sedentary Behavior: A Mixed-Methods Approach Using Life-Logging Equipment.

PubMed

Dontje, Manon L; Leask, Calum F; Harvey, Juliet; Skelton, Dawn A; Chastin, Sebastien F M

2018-04-01

Older adults are recommended to reduce their sedentary time to promote healthy ageing. To develop effective interventions identifying when, why, and how older adults are able to change their sitting habits is important. The aim of this mixed-method study was to improve our understanding of reasons for (breaking) sedentary behavior in older adults. Thirty older adults (74.0 [±5.3] years old, 73% women) were asked about their believed reasons for (breaking) sedentary behavior, and about their actual reasons when looking at a personal storyboard with objective records of activPAL monitor data and time-lapse camera pictures showing all their periods of sedentary time in a day. The most often mentioned believed reason for remaining sedentary was television/radio (mentioned by 48.3%), while eating/drinking was most often mentioned as actual reason (96.6%). Only 17.2% believed that food/tea preparation was a reason to break up sitting, while this was an actual reason for 82.8% of the study sample. Results of this study show that there is a discrepancy between believed and actual reasons for (breaking) sedentary behavior. These findings suggest developing interventions utilizing the actual reasons for breaking sedentary behavior to reduce sedentary time in older adults.

Saturday Institute for Manhood, Brotherhood Actualization. Replication Manual [and] Blueprint Resource Manual.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wholistic Stress Control Inst., Atlanta, GA.

The Saturday Institute for Manhood, Brotherhood Actualization (SIMBA) is a collaborative effort of 12 community organizations that combine resources and ideas to reduce risk factors and increase resilience for young African American males. The program offers youth, aged 9 to 16, who reside at the Lorenzo Benn Youth Development Campus, training…

Actual and simulated injury of Creontiades signatus (Heteroptera: Miridae) feeding on cotton bolls

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The actual feeding injury of Creontiades signatus (Distant) was compared to a simulated technique for study years 2005, 2006 and 2008 by injecting varying dilutions of pectinase into cotton bolls at different boll sizes (ages) in an effort to determine if such a technique could be used to reduce the...

Why fibers are better turbulent drag reducing agents than polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boelens, Arnout; Muthukumar, Murugappan

2016-11-01

It is typically found in literature that fibers are not as effective as drag reducing agents as polymers. However, for low concentrations, when adding charged polymers to either distilled or salt water, it is found that polymers showing rod-like behavior are better drag reducing agents than polymers showing coil-like behavior. In this study, using hybrid Direct Numerical Simulation with Langevin dynamics, a comparison is performed between polymer and fiber stress tensors in turbulent flow. The stress tensors are found to be similar, suggesting a common drag reducing mechanism in the onset regime. Since fibers do not have an elastic backbone, this must be a viscous effect. Analysis of the viscosity tensor reveals that all terms are negligible, except the off-diagonal shear viscosity associated with rotation. Based on this analysis, we are able to explain why charged polymers showing rod-like behavior are better drag reducing agents than polymers showing coil-like behavior. Additionally, we identify the rotational orientation time as the unifying time scale setting a new time criterion for drag reduction by both flexible polymers and rigid fibers. This research was supported by NSF Grant No. DMR-1404940 and AFOSR Grant No. FA9550-14-1-0164.

Limonene and tetrahydrofurfurly alcohol cleaning agent

DOEpatents

Bohnert, George W.; Carter, Richard D.; Hand, Thomas E.; Powers, Michael T.

1997-10-21

The present invention is a tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol and limonene cleaning agent and method for formulating and/or using the cleaning agent. This cleaning agent effectively removes both polar and nonpolar contaminants from various electrical and mechanical parts and is readily used without surfactants, thereby reducing the need for additional cleaning operations. The cleaning agent is warm water rinsable without the use of surfactants. The cleaning agent can be azeotropic, enhancing ease of use in cleaning operations and ease of recycling.

Limonene and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol cleaning agent

DOEpatents

Bohnert, G.W.; Carter, R.D.; Hand, T.E.; Powers, M.T.

1997-10-21

The present invention is a tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol and limonene cleaning agent and method for formulating and/or using the cleaning agent. This cleaning agent effectively removes both polar and nonpolar contaminants from various electrical and mechanical parts and is readily used without surfactants, thereby reducing the need for additional cleaning operations. The cleaning agent is warm water rinsable without the use of surfactants. The cleaning agent can be azeotropic, enhancing ease of use in cleaning operations and ease of recycling.

JPRS Report, Soviet Union, Political Affairs.

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-10-13

to the realities , saying that Hitler would not commit a violation of the treaty. Stalin actually said that our intelligence agents could not be...in reality . Public trials elicited a certain feeling of fright—from the readi- ness to tell everything about oneself and to acknowledge everything...imagine the possibility of all this. But we knew how Stalin had walked behind the coffin of Kirov. We didn’t know what in reality had happened in

Synthesis of a new hardener agent for self-healing epoxy resins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raimondo, Marialuigia; Guadagno, Liberata; Naddeo, Carlo; Longo, Pasquale; Mariconda, Annaluisa; Agovino, Anna

2014-05-01

Actually, the development of smart composites capable of self-repair in aeronautical structures is still at the planning stage owing to complex issues to overcome. One of the critical points in the development of self-healing epoxy resin is related to the impossibility to employ primary amines as hardeners. In this paper, the synthesis of a new hardener for self-healing resins is shown together with applicability conditions/ranges.

Chemical Agent Detector Kits

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-04-28

camera, and document test events and recorder procedures Thermometer +20C Psychrometer +5% 4 April 1989 TOP 8-2-555 Rough handling test and As specifie...not covered in AMC Regulation 385-131 will be performed iAW p oposals made by the Chemical Laboratory Division and approved by the Safety ¶ffice. 4.3...the packaged detector kit to higher and lower temperatures than it is expected to experience in actual packaged storage. Coordination should be made

Understanding Why Terrorist Operations Succeed or Fail

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-01-01

well matched with current threats will cut those attackers’ chances of 48 For example, even canine detection of explosives—one of the central modes of...a canine explosive detection program in Department of Energy, Office of the Inspector General, 2007). Analogous points could be made about the...example, for vaccines to have a beneficial protective effect, they must match the agent that is actually used in a subsequent attack. 59 See, for example

Agent Collaborative Target Localization and Classification in Wireless Sensor Networks

PubMed Central

Wang, Xue; Bi, Dao-wei; Ding, Liang; Wang, Sheng

2007-01-01

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are autonomous networks that have been frequently deployed to collaboratively perform target localization and classification tasks. Their autonomous and collaborative features resemble the characteristics of agents. Such similarities inspire the development of heterogeneous agent architecture for WSN in this paper. The proposed agent architecture views WSN as multi-agent systems and mobile agents are employed to reduce in-network communication. According to the architecture, an energy based acoustic localization algorithm is proposed. In localization, estimate of target location is obtained by steepest descent search. The search algorithm adapts to measurement environments by dynamically adjusting its termination condition. With the agent architecture, target classification is accomplished by distributed support vector machine (SVM). Mobile agents are employed for feature extraction and distributed SVM learning to reduce communication load. Desirable learning performance is guaranteed by combining support vectors and convex hull vectors. Fusion algorithms are designed to merge SVM classification decisions made from various modalities. Real world experiments with MICAz sensor nodes are conducted for vehicle localization and classification. Experimental results show the proposed agent architecture remarkably facilitates WSN designs and algorithm implementation. The localization and classification algorithms also prove to be accurate and energy efficient.

Natural products and food components with anti-Helicobacter pylori activities.

PubMed

Takeuchi, Hiroaki; Trang, Vu Thu; Morimoto, Norihito; Nishida, Yoshie; Matsumura, Yoshihisa; Sugiura, Tetsuro

2014-07-21

The bacterial pathogen Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) colonizes in over half of the world's population. H. pylori that establishes life-long infection in the stomach is definitely associated with gastro-duodenal diseases and a wide variety of non-gastrointestinal tract conditions such as immune thrombocytopenia. Triple therapy which consists of a proton pump inhibitor and combinations of two antibiotics (amoxicillin, clarithromycin or amoxicillin, metronidazol) is commonly used for H. pylori eradication. Recently, the occurrence of drug-resistant H. pylori and the adverse effect of antibiotics have severely weakened eradication therapy. Generally antibiotics induce the disturbance of human gastrointestinal microflora. Furthermore, there are inappropriate cases of triple therapy such as allergy to antibiotics, severe complications (liver and/or kidney dysfunction), the aged and people who reject the triple therapy. These prompt us to seek alterative agents instead of antibiotics and to develop more effective and safe therapy with these agents. The combination of these agents actually may result in lower a dose of antibiotics. There are many reports world-wide that non-antibiotic substances from natural products potentially have an anti-H. pylori agent. We briefly review the constituents derived from nature that fight against H. pylori in the literature with our studies.

Cleaning carbon steel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maynard, V.

1976-01-01

Increased etch rate using 8% citric acid actually reduces total amount of material etched away by eliminating reprocessing that was frequently required. Time required in citrosolve solution is reduced and more protective passive coating is provided.

Effect of both protective and reducing agents in the synthesis of multicolor silver nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rivero, Pedro Jose; Goicoechea, Javier; Urrutia, Aitor; Arregui, Francisco Javier

2013-02-01

In this paper, the influence of variable molar ratios between reducing and loading agents (1:100, 1:50, 1:20, 1:10, 1:5, 1:2, 1:1, 2:1) and between protective and loading agents (0.3:1, 0.75:1, 1.5:1, 3:1, 7.5:1, 30:1, 75:1) in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles by chemical reduction has been evaluated to obtain multicolor nanoparticles with a high stability in time. The protective agent poly(acrylic acid, sodium salt) (PAA) and reducing agent dimethylaminoborane (DMAB) play a key role in the formation of the resultant color. Evolution of the optical absorption bands of the silver nanoparticles as a function of PAA and DMAB molar ratios made it possible to confirm the presence of silver nanoparticles or clusters with a specific shape. The results reveal that a wide range of colors (violet, blue, green, brown, yellow, red, orange), sizes (from nanometer to micrometer), and shapes (cubic, rod, triangle, hexagonal, spherical) can be perfectly tuned by means of a fine control of the PAA and DMAB molar concentrations.

Desensitizing Agent Reduces Dentin Hypersensitivity During Ultrasonic Scaling: A Pilot Study

PubMed Central

Suda, Tomonari; Akiyama, Toshiharu; Takano, Takuya; Gokyu, Misa; Sudo, Takeaki; Khemwong, Thatawee; Izumi, Yuichi

2015-01-01

Background Dentin hypersensitivity can interfere with optimal periodontal care by dentists and patients. The pain associated with dentin hypersensitivity during ultrasonic scaling is intolerable for patient and interferes with the procedure, particularly during supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) for patients with gingival recession. Aim This study proposed to evaluate the desensitizing effect of the oxalic acid agent on pain caused by dentin hypersensitivity during ultrasonic scaling. Materials and Methods This study involved 12 patients who were incorporated in SPT program and complained of dentin hypersensitivity during ultrasonic scaling. We examined the availability of the oxalic acid agent to compare the degree of pain during ultrasonic scaling with or without the application of the dentin hypersensitivity agent. Evaluation of effects on dentin hypersensitivity was determined by a questionnaire and visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores after ultrasonic scaling. The statistical analysis was performed using the paired Student t-test and Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Results The desensitizing agent reduced the mean VAS pain score from 69.33 ± 16.02 at baseline to 26.08 ± 27.99 after application. The questionnaire revealed that >80% patients were satisfied and requested the application of the desensitizing agent for future ultrasonic scaling sessions. Conclusion This study shows that the application of the oxalic acid agent considerably reduces pain associated with dentin hypersensitivity experienced during ultrasonic scaling. This pain control treatment may improve patient participation and treatment efficiency. PMID:26501012

Desensitizing Agent Reduces Dentin Hypersensitivity During Ultrasonic Scaling: A Pilot Study.

PubMed

Suda, Tomonari; Kobayashi, Hiroaki; Akiyama, Toshiharu; Takano, Takuya; Gokyu, Misa; Sudo, Takeaki; Khemwong, Thatawee; Izumi, Yuichi

2015-09-01

Dentin hypersensitivity can interfere with optimal periodontal care by dentists and patients. The pain associated with dentin hypersensitivity during ultrasonic scaling is intolerable for patient and interferes with the procedure, particularly during supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) for patients with gingival recession. This study proposed to evaluate the desensitizing effect of the oxalic acid agent on pain caused by dentin hypersensitivity during ultrasonic scaling. This study involved 12 patients who were incorporated in SPT program and complained of dentin hypersensitivity during ultrasonic scaling. We examined the availability of the oxalic acid agent to compare the degree of pain during ultrasonic scaling with or without the application of the dentin hypersensitivity agent. Evaluation of effects on dentin hypersensitivity was determined by a questionnaire and visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores after ultrasonic scaling. The statistical analysis was performed using the paired Student t-test and Spearman rank correlation coefficient. The desensitizing agent reduced the mean VAS pain score from 69.33 ± 16.02 at baseline to 26.08 ± 27.99 after application. The questionnaire revealed that >80% patients were satisfied and requested the application of the desensitizing agent for future ultrasonic scaling sessions. This study shows that the application of the oxalic acid agent considerably reduces pain associated with dentin hypersensitivity experienced during ultrasonic scaling. This pain control treatment may improve patient participation and treatment efficiency.

Use of caries-preventive agents in children: findings from the dental practice-based research network.

PubMed

Riley, J L; Richman, Joshua S; Rindal, D Brad; Fellows, Jeffrey L; Qvist, Vibeke; Gilbert, Gregg H; Gordan, Valeria V

2010-01-01

Scientific evidence supports the application of caries-preventive agents in children and adolescents, and this knowledge must be applied to the practice of dentistry. There are few multi-region data that allow for comparisons of practice patterns between types of dental practices and geographical regions. The objective of the present study was to characterise the use of specific caries-preventive agents for paediatric patients in a large multi-region sample of practising clinicians. The present study surveyed clinicians from the Dental Practice-based Research Network who perform restorative dentistry in their practices. The survey consisted of a questionnaire that presented a range of questions about caries risk assessment and the use of preventive techniques in children aged 6 to 18 years. Dental sealants (69%) or in-office fluoride (82%) were the most commonly used caries-preventive agents of the caries preventive regimens. The recommendation of at-home caries-preventive agents ranged from 36% to 7%,with the most commonly used agent being non-prescription fluoride rinse. Clinicians who practised in a large group practice model and clinicians who come from the Scandinavian region use caries risk assessment more frequently compared to clinicians who come from regions that had, predominantly, clinicians in private practice. Whether or not clinicians used caries risk assessment with their paediatric patients was poorly correlated with the likelihood of actually using caries-preventive treatments on patients. Although clinicians reported the use of some form of in-office caries-preventive agent, there was considerable variability across practices. These differences could represent a lack of consensus across practising clinicians about the benefits of caries-preventive agents, or a function of differing financial incentives, or patient pools with differing levels of overall caries risk.

Simple sol-gel synthesis and characterization of new CoTiO3/CoFe2O4 nanocomposite by using liquid glucose, maltose and starch as fuel, capping and reducing agents.

PubMed

Ansari, Fatemeh; Sobhani, Azam; Salavati-Niasari, Masoud

2018-03-15

The sol-gel auto-combustion technique is an effective method for the synthesis of the composites. In this research for the first time, CoTiO 3 /CoFe 2 O 4 nanocomposites are successfully synthesized via a new sol-gel auto-combustion technique. The glucose, maltose and starch are used as fuel, capping and reducing agents, also the optimal reducing agent is chosen. The effects of quantity of reducing agent, molar ratio of Ti:Co, calcination temperature and time on the morphology, particle size, magnetic property, purity and phase of the nanocomposites are investigated. XRD patterns show formation of CoTiO 3 /CoFe 2 O 4 spherical nanoparticles with nearly evenly distribution, when the molar ratio of Co/Ti is 1:1. EDS analysis confirm results of XRD. The magnetic behavior of the nanocomposites is studied by VSM. The nanocomposites exhibit a high coercivity at room temperature. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Increase of chromium yield by slag reduction during production of chromium steels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bažan, J.; Socha, L.; Kurka, V.; Jonšta, P.; Sušovský, M.

2017-02-01

The paper is focused on the evaluation of the course of Cr2O3 reduction from slag to alloyed steel under laboratory conditions. The experiments were aimed at the evaluation of increase in the chromium content in the melt together with the studying the behaviour of Cr2O3 and the mechanism of reduction by means of three reducing agents. Anthracite, ferrosilicon and mixtures of anthracite and ferrosilicon belong among the selected reducing agents. The experimental melts were focused on the proposal of a theoretical calculation of the consumption of selected reducing agents, study of reduction under laboratory conditions at application of alloyed steel with content of chromium of 12.16 wt. %, temperatures of 1600 °C and 1650 °C, together with the change of amount of reducing agents and reduction time. The results indicated in the paper constitute basic information on the possibilities of Cr2O3 reduction from slag; they will be used for verification of results in the pilot plant and operation experiments which will simulate operating conditions in the electric arc furnace.

Characteristics and production of tantalum powders for solid-electrolyte capacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoon, Jae Sik; Kim, Byung Il

The effects of using K 2TaF 7 as the raw material and sodium as the reducing agent on the characteristics of tantalum powder are investigated. Batch-type metallothermic reduction (BTMR) is used to charge the reactor with the raw material and the reducing agent, and external continuous supply metallothermic reduction (ESMR) is used to supply the raw material and the reducing agent at a constant rate at the temperature of the reduction reaction. In the case of ESMR, the yield increases by several tens of percent because of the uniform reaction between the raw material and the reducing agent. It is possible to obtain a powder of over 99.5% purity. The powder particles obtained with BTMR are relatively large (4-6 μm) and have a coarse lamellar shape, while those prepared via ESMR are of uniform 1-2 μm size with a coral-like shape. Measurements of the electric properties show that the leakage current and the dielectric dissipation are low with higher reliability in ESMR than in BTMR, and the capacitance is 26,000 and 8400 CV for ESMR and in BTMR, respectively.

Facile and green synthesis of highly stable L-cysteine functionalized copper nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Nikhil; Upadhyay, Lata Sheo Bachan

2016-11-01

A simple eco-friendly method for L-cysteine capped copper nanoparticles (CCNPs) synthesis in aqueous solution has been developed. Glucose and L-cysteine were used as reducing agent and capping/functionalizing agent, respectively. Different parameters such as capping agent concentration, pH, reaction temperature, and reducing agent concentration were optimized during the synthesis. The L-cysteine capped copper nanoparticle were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Particle size and zeta potential analyser, and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Spherical shaped cysteine functionalized/capped copper nanoparticles with an average size of 40 nm were found to be highly stable at room temperature (RT) for a period of 1 month

Multi-voxel pattern analysis reveals increased memory targeting and reduced use of retrieved details during single-agenda source monitoring

PubMed Central

McDuff, Susan G. R.; Frankel, Hillary C.; Norman, Kenneth A.

2009-01-01

We used multi-voxel pattern analysis (MVPA) of fMRI data to gain insight into how subjects’ retrieval agendas influence source memory judgments (was item X studied using source Y?). In Experiment 1, we used a single-agenda test where subjects judged whether items were studied with the targeted source or not. In Experiment 2, we used a multi-agenda test where subjects judged whether items were studied using the targeted source, studied using a different source, or nonstudied. To evaluate the differences between single- and multi-agenda source monitoring, we trained a classifier to detect source-specific fMRI activity at study, and then we applied the classifier to data from the test phase. We focused on trials where the targeted source and the actual source differed, so we could use MVPA to track neural activity associated with both the targeted source and the actual source. Our results indicate that single-agenda monitoring was associated with increased focus on the targeted source (as evidenced by increased targeted-source activity, relative to baseline) and reduced use of information relating to the actual, non-target source. In the multi-agenda experiment, high-levels of actual-source activity were associated with increased correct rejections, suggesting that subjects were using recollection of actual-source information to avoid source memory errors. In the single-agenda experiment, there were comparable levels of actual-source activity (suggesting that recollection was taking place), but the relationship between actual-source activity and behavior was absent (suggesting that subjects were failing to make proper use of this information). PMID:19144851

Limonene and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol cleaning agent

DOEpatents

Bohnert, George W.; Carter, Richard D.; Hand, Thomas E.; Powers, Michael T.

1996-05-07

The present invention is a tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol and limonene or terpineol cleaning agent and method for formulating and/or using the cleaning agent. This cleaning agent effectively removes both polar and nonpolar contaminants from various electrical and mechanical parts and is readily used without surfactants, thereby reducing the need for additional cleaning operations. The cleaning agent is warm water rinsable without the use of surfactants. The cleaning agent can be azeotropic, enhancing ease of use in cleaning operations and ease of recycling.

Neural Mechanisms of Updating under Reducible and Irreducible Uncertainty.

PubMed

Kobayashi, Kenji; Hsu, Ming

2017-07-19

Adaptive decision making depends on an agent's ability to use environmental signals to reduce uncertainty. However, because of multiple types of uncertainty, agents must take into account not only the extent to which signals violate prior expectations but also whether uncertainty can be reduced in the first place. Here we studied how human brains of both sexes respond to signals under conditions of reducible and irreducible uncertainty. We show behaviorally that subjects' value updating was sensitive to the reducibility of uncertainty, and could be quantitatively characterized by a Bayesian model where agents ignore expectancy violations that do not update beliefs or values. Using fMRI, we found that neural processes underlying belief and value updating were separable from responses to expectancy violation, and that reducibility of uncertainty in value modulated connections from belief-updating regions to value-updating regions. Together, these results provide insights into how agents use knowledge about uncertainty to make better decisions while ignoring mere expectancy violation. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT To make good decisions, a person must observe the environment carefully, and use these observations to reduce uncertainty about consequences of actions. Importantly, uncertainty should not be reduced purely based on how surprising the observations are, particularly because in some cases uncertainty is not reducible. Here we show that the human brain indeed reduces uncertainty adaptively by taking into account the nature of uncertainty and ignoring mere surprise. Behaviorally, we show that human subjects reduce uncertainty in a quasioptimal Bayesian manner. Using fMRI, we characterize brain regions that may be involved in uncertainty reduction, as well as the network they constitute, and dissociate them from brain regions that respond to mere surprise. Copyright © 2017 the authors 0270-6474/17/376972-11$15.00/0.

Neural Mechanisms of Updating under Reducible and Irreducible Uncertainty

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Adaptive decision making depends on an agent's ability to use environmental signals to reduce uncertainty. However, because of multiple types of uncertainty, agents must take into account not only the extent to which signals violate prior expectations but also whether uncertainty can be reduced in the first place. Here we studied how human brains of both sexes respond to signals under conditions of reducible and irreducible uncertainty. We show behaviorally that subjects' value updating was sensitive to the reducibility of uncertainty, and could be quantitatively characterized by a Bayesian model where agents ignore expectancy violations that do not update beliefs or values. Using fMRI, we found that neural processes underlying belief and value updating were separable from responses to expectancy violation, and that reducibility of uncertainty in value modulated connections from belief-updating regions to value-updating regions. Together, these results provide insights into how agents use knowledge about uncertainty to make better decisions while ignoring mere expectancy violation. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT To make good decisions, a person must observe the environment carefully, and use these observations to reduce uncertainty about consequences of actions. Importantly, uncertainty should not be reduced purely based on how surprising the observations are, particularly because in some cases uncertainty is not reducible. Here we show that the human brain indeed reduces uncertainty adaptively by taking into account the nature of uncertainty and ignoring mere surprise. Behaviorally, we show that human subjects reduce uncertainty in a quasioptimal Bayesian manner. Using fMRI, we characterize brain regions that may be involved in uncertainty reduction, as well as the network they constitute, and dissociate them from brain regions that respond to mere surprise. PMID:28626019

Modeling market mechanism with the minority game

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Challet, Damien; Marsili, Matteo; Zhang, Yi-Cheng

2000-01-01

Using the minority game model we study a broad spectrum of problems of market mechanism. We study the role of different types of agents: producers, speculators as well as noise traders. The central issue here is the information flow: producers feed in the information whereas speculators make it away. How well each agent fares in the common game depends on the market conditions, as well as their sophistication. Sometimes there is much to gain with little effort, sometimes great effort virtually brings no more incremental gain. Market impact is also shown to play an important role, a strategy should be judged when it is actually used in play for its quality. Though the minority game is an extremely simplified market model, it allows to ask, analyze and answer many questions which arise in real markets.

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

Durham, M.D.

The purpose of this research program is to identify and evaluate a variety of additives capable of increasing particle cohesion which could be used for improving collection efficiency in an ESP. A three-phase screening process will be used to provide the, evaluation of many additives in a logical and cost-effective manner. The three step approach involves the following experimental setups: 1. Provide a preliminary screening in the laboratory by measuring the effects of various conditioning agents on reentrainment of flyash particles in an electric field operating at simulated flue gas conditions. 2. Evaluate the successful additives using a 100 acfmmore » bench-scale ESP operating on actual flue gas. 3. Obtain the data required for scaling up the technology by testing the two or three most promising conditioning agents at the pilot scale.« less

Is smog innocuous? Air pollution and cardiovascular disease.

PubMed

Mishra, Sundeep

Air pollution is a significant environmental and health hazard. Earlier studies had examined the adverse health effects associated with short- and long-term exposure to particulate matter on respiratory disease. However, later studies demonstrated that was actually cardiovascular disease that accounted for majority of mortality. Furthermore, it was not gaseous pollutants like oxides of nitrate, sulfur, carbon mono-oxide or ozone but the particulate matter or PM, of fine or coarse size (PM 2.5 and PM 10 ) which was linearly associated with mortality; PM 2.5 with long term and PM 10 with short term. Several cardiovascular diseases are associated with pollution; acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, atherosclerosis and cardiac arrest. The ideal way to address this problem is by adhering to stringent environmental standards of pollutants but some individual steps like choosing to stay indoors (on high pollution days), reducing outdoor air permeation to inside, purifying indoor air using air filters, and also limiting outdoor physical activity near source of air pollution can help. Nutritional anti-oxidants like statins or Mediterranean diet, and aspirin have not been associated with reduced risk but specific nutritional agents like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower or brussels sprouts, fish oil supplement may help. Use of face-mask has been controversial but may be useful if particulate matter load is higher. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Recent advances in occupational dermatitis.

PubMed

Holness, Dorothy Linn

2013-04-01

This review examined recent advances in occupational contact dermatitis (OCD). Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to OCD. There is continuing growth in our understanding of the genetic factors, particularly related to filaggrin mutations. In spite of increased understanding of irritant exposures, the prevalence of hand eczema in workers with wet work exposures remains high at approximately 20%. Patch test database surveillance systems have documented reductions in the occurrence of sensitivity to some allergens such as chromium wherein regulatory efforts have reduced workplace exposures. These surveillance data have also documented increases in sensitivity to several allergens in particular trades, serving as an effective system to identify new exposure situations or new allergens. The impact of OCD on quality of life and mental health conditions, employment and financial aspects is increasingly documented. Progress in understanding the underreporting of OCD and the underlying reasons continues. Several groups have developed robust multidisciplinary secondary and tertiary prevention programmes and the evaluations demonstrate promise. Although several recent systematic reviews have documented the evidence for various prevention strategies, there is increasing understanding of the gaps in prevention practices in actual workplaces. Understanding of the underlying genetic and environmental agents contributing to OCD is increasing. In spite of progress with reducing exposure to some allergens, the prevalence of OCD continues to be high, particularly related to wet work. New prevention programmes are being developed and evaluated and hold promise for improved outcomes.

Gossip-based solutions for discrete rendezvous in populations of communicating agents.

PubMed

Hollander, Christopher D; Wu, Annie S

2014-01-01

The objective of the rendezvous problem is to construct a method that enables a population of agents to agree on a spatial (and possibly temporal) meeting location. We introduce the buffered gossip algorithm as a general solution to the rendezvous problem in a discrete domain with direct communication between decentralized agents. We compare the performance of the buffered gossip algorithm against the well known uniform gossip algorithm. We believe that a buffered solution is preferable to an unbuffered solution, such as the uniform gossip algorithm, because the use of a buffer allows an agent to use multiple information sources when determining its desired rendezvous point, and that access to multiple information sources may improve agent decision making by reinforcing or contradicting an initial choice. To show that the buffered gossip algorithm is an actual solution for the rendezvous problem, we construct a theoretical proof of convergence and derive the conditions under which the buffered gossip algorithm is guaranteed to produce a consensus on rendezvous location. We use these results to verify that the uniform gossip algorithm also solves the rendezvous problem. We then use a multi-agent simulation to conduct a series of simulation experiments to compare the performance between the buffered and uniform gossip algorithms. Our results suggest that the buffered gossip algorithm can solve the rendezvous problem faster than the uniform gossip algorithm; however, the relative performance between these two solutions depends on the specific constraints of the problem and the parameters of the buffered gossip algorithm.

Gossip-Based Solutions for Discrete Rendezvous in Populations of Communicating Agents

PubMed Central

Hollander, Christopher D.; Wu, Annie S.

2014-01-01

The objective of the rendezvous problem is to construct a method that enables a population of agents to agree on a spatial (and possibly temporal) meeting location. We introduce the buffered gossip algorithm as a general solution to the rendezvous problem in a discrete domain with direct communication between decentralized agents. We compare the performance of the buffered gossip algorithm against the well known uniform gossip algorithm. We believe that a buffered solution is preferable to an unbuffered solution, such as the uniform gossip algorithm, because the use of a buffer allows an agent to use multiple information sources when determining its desired rendezvous point, and that access to multiple information sources may improve agent decision making by reinforcing or contradicting an initial choice. To show that the buffered gossip algorithm is an actual solution for the rendezvous problem, we construct a theoretical proof of convergence and derive the conditions under which the buffered gossip algorithm is guaranteed to produce a consensus on rendezvous location. We use these results to verify that the uniform gossip algorithm also solves the rendezvous problem. We then use a multi-agent simulation to conduct a series of simulation experiments to compare the performance between the buffered and uniform gossip algorithms. Our results suggest that the buffered gossip algorithm can solve the rendezvous problem faster than the uniform gossip algorithm; however, the relative performance between these two solutions depends on the specific constraints of the problem and the parameters of the buffered gossip algorithm. PMID:25397882

Green chemistry approach for the synthesis of biocompatible graphene

PubMed Central

Gurunathan, Sangiliyandi; Han, Jae Woong; Kim, Jin-Hoi

2013-01-01

Background Graphene is a single-atom thick, two-dimensional sheet of hexagonally arranged carbon atoms isolated from its three-dimensional parent material, graphite. One of the most common methods for preparation of graphene is chemical exfoliation of graphite using powerful oxidizing agents. Generally, graphene is synthesized through deoxygenation of graphene oxide (GO) by using hydrazine, which is one of the most widespread and strongest reducing agents. Due to the high toxicity of hydrazine, it is not a promising reducing agent in large-scale production of graphene; therefore, this study focused on a green or sustainable synthesis of graphene and the biocompatibility of graphene in primary mouse embryonic fibroblast cells (PMEFs). Methods Here, we demonstrated a simple, rapid, and green chemistry approach for the synthesis of reduced GO (rGO) from GO using triethylamine (TEA) as a reducing agent and stabilizing agent. The obtained TEA reduced GO (TEA-rGO) was characterized by ultraviolet (UV)–visible absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), particle size dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Results The transition of graphene oxide to graphene was confirmed by UV–visible spectroscopy. XRD and SEM were used to investigate the crystallinity of graphene and the surface morphologies of prepared graphene respectively. The formation of defects further supports the functionalization of graphene as indicated in the Raman spectrum of TEA-rGO. Surface morphology and the thickness of the GO and TEA-rGO were analyzed using AFM. The presented results suggest that TEA-rGO shows significantly more biocompatibility with PMEFs cells than GO. Conclusion This is the first report about using TEA as a reducing as well as a stabilizing agent for the preparation of biocompatible graphene. The proposed safe and green method offers substitute routes for large-scale production of graphene for several biomedical applications. PMID:23940417

Non-dopaminergic treatments for motor control in Parkinson's disease.

PubMed

Fox, Susan H

2013-09-01

The pathological processes underlying Parkinson's disease (PD) involve more than dopamine cell loss within the midbrain. These non-dopaminergic neurotransmitters include noradrenergic, serotonergic, glutamatergic, and cholinergic systems within cortical, brainstem and basal ganglia regions. Several non-dopaminergic treatments are now in clinical use to treat motor symptoms of PD, or are being evaluated as potential therapies. Agents for symptomatic monotherapy and as adjunct to dopaminergic therapies for motor symptoms include adenosine A2A antagonists and the mixed monoamine-B inhibitor (MAO-BI) and glutamate release agent safinamide. The largest area of potential use for non-dopaminergic drugs is as add-on therapy for motor fluctuations. Thus adenosine A2A antagonists, safinamide, and the antiepileptic agent zonisamide can extend the duration of action of levodopa. To reduce levodopa-induced dyskinesia, drugs that target overactive glutamatergic neurotransmission can be used, and include the non-selective N-methyl D-aspartate antagonist amantadine. More recently, selective metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR₅) antagonists are being evaluated in phase II randomized controlled trials. Serotonergic agents acting as 5-HT2A/2C antagonists, such as the atypical antipsychotic clozapine, may also reduce dyskinesia. 5-HT1A agonists theoretically can reduce dyskinesia, but in practice, may also worsen PD motor symptoms, and so clinical applicability has not yet been shown. Noradrenergic α2A antagonism using fipamezole can potentially reduce dyskinesia. Several non-dopaminergic agents have also been investigated to reduce non-levodopa-responsive motor symptoms such as gait and tremor. Thus the cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil showed mild benefit in gait, while the predominantly noradrenergic re-uptake inhibitor methylphenidate had conflicting results in advanced PD subjects. Tremor in PD may respond to muscarinic M4 cholinergic antagonists (anticholinergics), but tolerability is often poor. Alternatives include β-adrenergic antagonists such as propranolol. Other options include 5-HT2A antagonists, and drugs that have mixed binding properties involving serotonin and acetylcholine, such as clozapine and the antidepressant mirtazapine, can be effective in reducing PD tremor. Many other non-dopaminergic agents are in preclinical and phase I/II early stages of study, and the reader is directed to recent reviews. While levodopa remains the most effective agent to treat motor symptoms in PD, the overall approach to using non-dopaminergic drugs in PD is to reduce reliance on levodopa and to target non-levodopa-responsive symptoms.

Women's perceptions, expectations and satisfaction with induced labour--a questionnaire-based study.

PubMed

Shetty, Ashalatha; Burt, Rhona; Rice, Pat; Templeton, Allan

2005-11-01

To evaluate the understanding and expectations of women undergoing labour induction, to assess their actual experience of the process and to compare their satisfaction with labour to those labouring spontaneously. Four hundred and fifty women at term undergoing induction of labour and cervical ripening with prostaglandinE2 vaginal tablets and 450 women labouring spontaneously were recruited into the study. The induction group were requested to complete a questionnaire prior to the start of their induction process and another questionnaire post-delivery. The post-delivery questionnaire contained two sections, one pertaining to issues to do with the induction and the second with the actual labour process. The spontaneously labouring group was requested to complete a questionnaire post-delivery, which only contained the section pertaining to the actual labour process. The main outcome measures were satisfaction with labour, perception of pain and length of labour between the induced and spontaneous labour groups, and issues that the women might wish changed about their induction. In the induction group, 34.7% were not satisfied with the information they received about the induction prior to the procedure and 27.2% expected to deliver within 12h of the administration of the inducing agent. Post-induction, 40% of the women felt the most important aspect they would like to change about their induction were they to have another one, would be the speed of the induction, 13.6% felt they might wish to take the inducing agent orally, 7% to have fewer vaginal examinations and 9% to have fewer complications. Among the women who returned questionnaires, 26.3% had a caesarean delivery in the induction group and 21.4% in the spontaneous labour group. Significantly more women were satisfied with their labour in the spontaneous labour group 79.5% versus 70.4%, RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.8-0.96, P=0.006). Labour that is artificially induced does result in lower satisfaction rates as compared to that following spontaneous onset. The longer time delay between the start of the induction and the delivery plays a significant part in this, with the mode of administration of the inducing agent, more vaginal examinations and the increase in caesarean deliveries being perceived as secondary issues. There is a need to improve the information provided to women undergoing labour induction, to counter unrealistic expectations and thereby improve satisfaction.

Using Digital Logs to Reduce Academic Misdemeanour by Students in Digital Forensic Assessments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lallie, Harjinder Singh; Lawson, Phillip; Day, David J.

2011-01-01

Identifying academic misdemeanours and actual applied effort in student assessments involving practical work can be problematic. For instance, it can be difficult to assess the actual effort that a student applied, the sequence and method applied, and whether there was any form of collusion or collaboration. In this paper we propose a system of…

Hypolipidemic, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, anti-osteoporotic, and anti-neoplastic properties of amine carboxyboranes.

PubMed Central

Hall, I H; Chen, S Y; Rajendran, K G; Sood, A; Spielvogel, B F; Shih, J

1994-01-01

The amine-carboxyborane derivatives were shown to be effective antineoplastic/cytotoxic agents with selective activity against single-cell and solid tumors derived from murine and human leukemias, lymphomas, sarcomas, and carcinomas. The agents inhibited DNA and RNA synthesis in preference to protein synthesis in L1210 lymphoid leukemia cells. Inosine-monophosphate dehydrogenase apparently is a target site of the compounds; similar effects on phosphoribosyl-pyrophosphate amido transferase, orotidine-monophosphate decarboxylase, and both nucleoside and nucleotide kinases were observed. Deoxyribonucleotide pool levels were reduced in the cells; DNA strand scission was observed with the agents. In rodents, the amine carboxyboranes were potent hypolipidemic agents, lowering both serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, in addition to lowering cholesterol content of very low-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and elevating high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations. De novo regulatory enzymes involved in lipid synthesis were also inhibited (e.g., hypocholesterolemic 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-Coenzyme A reductase, acyl-Coenzyme A cholesterol acyltransferase, and sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase). Concurrently, the agents modulated LDL and HDL receptor binding, internalization, and degradation, so that less cholesterol was delivered to the plaques and more broken down from esters and conducted to the liver for biliary excretion. Tissue lipids in the aorta wall of the rat were reduced and fewer atherosclerotic morphologic lesions were present in quail aortas after treatment with the agents. Cholesterol resorption from the rat intestine was reduced in the presence of drug. Genetic hyperlipidemic mice demonstrated the same types of reduction after treatment with the agents. The agents would effectively lower lipids in tissue based on the inhibition of regulatory enzymes in pigs. These findings should help improve domestic meat supplies from fowl and pigs. The amine-carboxyboranes were effective anti-inflammatory agents against septic shock, induced edema, pleurisy, and chronic arthritis at 2.5 to 8 mg/kg. Lysosomal and proteolytic enzyme activities were also inhibited. More significantly, the agents were dual inhibitors of prostaglandin cyclooxygenase and 5'-lipoxygenase activities. These compounds also affected cytokine release and white cell migration. Subsequent studies showed that the amine-carboxyboranes were potent anti-osteoporotic agents reducing calcium resorption as well as increasing calcium and proline incorporation into mouse pup calvaria and rat UMR-106 collagen. PMID:7889876

SGLT2-inhibitors: a novel class for the treatment of type 2 diabetes introduction of SGLT2-inhibitors in clinical practice.

PubMed

Cuypers, J; Mathieu, C; Benhalima, K

2013-01-01

Treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) continues to present challenges, with significant proportion of patients failing to achieve and maintain glycemic targets. Despite the availability of many oral antidiabetic agents, therapeutic efficacy is offset by side effects such as weight gain and hypoglycemia. Therefore, the search for novel therapeutic agents with an improved benefit-risk profile continues. Recent research has focused on the kidney as a potential therapeutic target, especially because maximal renal glucose reabsorption is increased in T2DM. Under normal physiological conditions, nearly all filtered glucose is reabsorbed in the proximal tubule of the nephron, principally via the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2). SGLT2-inhibitors are a new class of oral antidiabetics, which reduce hyperglycemia by increasing urinary glucose excretion independently of insulin secretion or action. Clinical results are promising with significant lowering of HbA1c without increased risk of hypoglycemia, reduction of body weight and reduction of systolic blood pressure. Dapagliflozin is the first highly selective SGLT2-inhibitor approved by the European Medecine Agency. Canagliflozin and empagliflozin are undergoing phase III trials. Actual safety issues are an increased risk for genital- and urinary tract infections and a possible increased risk for bladder and breast cancer. This led to refusal of dapagliflozin by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A large randomized control trial is therefore warranted by the FDA. This review provides an overview of the current evidence available so far on the therapeutic potential of the SGLT2-inhibitors for the treatment of T2DM.

[Weighing use and safety of therapeutic agents and feed additives (author's transl)].

PubMed

van der Wal, P

1982-02-01

(1) The pros and cons of using feed additives and therapeutic agents may be successfully weighed in the light of carefully considered consumer requirements. (2) The socio-economic interests of the producer and the welfare of the animal will also determine the response of the production apparatus to consumer requirements. (3) Consumption of the current amounts of products of animal origin and maintenance of price and quality will only be feasible in the event of rational large-scale production in which constituents used in nutrition, prophylaxis and therapeutics are highly important factors. (4) Using these ingredients should be preceded by accurate evaluation of their use and safety. Testing facilities, conduct of studies and reporting should be such as to make the results nationally and internationally acceptable to all those concerned. (5) In deciding whether feed constituents are acceptable in view of the established use and safety, compliance will have to be sought with those standards which are accepted in other fields of society. Measures which result in raising the price of food without actually helping to reduce the risks to the safety of man, animals and environment, are likely to be rejected by any well-informed consumer who is aware of the facts. (6) For accurate weighing of use and safety at a national level, possibilities are hardly adequate in Europe. Decisions reached within the framework of the European Community, also tuned to U.S.A.- conditions are rightly encouraged. A centrally managed professionally staffed and equipped test system in the European Community would appear to be indispensable.

Effects of the foliar-applied protein "Harpin(Ea)" (messenger) on tomatoes infected with Phytophthora infestans.

PubMed

Fontanilla, M; Montes, M; De Prado, R

2005-01-01

The active ingredient in Messenger, is Harpin(Ea), a naturally occurring protein derived from Erwinia amylovora, a causal agent of fire blight. When Messenger is applied to a plant, the protein Harpin(Ea) binds foliar receptors to it. The receptors recognize the presence of Harpin(Ea), sending a signal that a pathogen is present, actually "tricking" the plant into thinking that it is under attack. This binding process triggers a cascade of responses affecting a global change of gene expressions, stimulating several distinct biochemical pathways within the plant responsible for growth and disease and insect resistance. The objective of this work is to characterize the development of an induced resistance against Phytophthora infestans. No effective treatment is currently available against this pathogenic agent, which causes the loss of complete harvests of different crops. Tomato plants with and without Messenger applications were inoculated with Phytophthora infestans in the same way. In addition, some plants with and without Messenger applications were not inoculated. Inoculated plants were symptomatologically checked for local and systemic symptoms. Evaluations of the number of tomatoes produced, with or without damage, and their growth, were also carried out. Based on the data obtained from the assays, significant changes were observed in the parameters measured due to Messenger treatment. The severe damage of this disease was reduced in the plants which received Messenger applications. These results open up new pathways in the control of diseases like Phytophthora infestans, in which effective means to combat them still do not exist, or these means are harmful to the environment.

THE IMPORTANCE OF RISK COMMUNICATION

EPA Science Inventory

The goal of environmental and public health is to reduce the health risks associated with microbial and toxic agents in the environment, and also to agents of injury. There have generally been three approaches to managing these risks: first, control releases of the agent to the e...

Novel Autoantibody Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkesin Veterans with Gulf War Illness

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-10-01

that 25 years after the war, the health of veterans with GWI is not improving and may be getting worse. Such blood-based autoantibodies may prove...Approvals Planned Months Actual Months 1a. Obtain necessary IRB approvals or Exempt status 1-3 1-4 1b. Obtain DOD Human Research Protections...6d: Preparation of manuscripts • Diagnostic CNS Autoantibody Biomarkers of GWI • Biomarkers of OP pesticide and nerve agent exposures in GW

Novel Autoantibody Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in Veterans with Gulf War Illness

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-10-01

autoantibodies against neuronal and glial cells in these veterans and are in agreement with recent reports indicating that 25 years after the war, the health of...Planned Months Actual Months 1a. Obtain necessary IRB approvals or Exempt status 1-3 1-4 1b. Obtain DOD Human Research Protections Office...Gulf War patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and others with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), OP pesticide and nerve agent exposures in GW

Pleural effusion leading to right atrial collapse.

PubMed

Khouzam, Rami N; Yusuf, Jawwad

2014-01-01

Rapid accumulation of pericardial fluid can lead to tamponade, resulting in cardiac chambers' collapse, which can lead to hemodynamic and clinical instability, potentially needing emergent pericardiocentesis. Pleural effusion should also be considered as a potential, if rare, cause of cardiac chambers' collapse and possibly cardiac tamponade. This phenomenon has clinical implications because hemodynamically unstable patients with moderate to large pleural effusion may actually need thoracentesis instead of massive volume resuscitation, inotropic agents, or pericardiocentesis. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Mechanochemical processing for metals and metal alloys

DOEpatents

Froes, Francis H.; Eranezhuth, Baburaj G.; Prisbrey, Keith

2001-01-01

A set of processes for preparing metal powders, including metal alloy powders, by ambient temperature reduction of a reducible metal compound by a reactive metal or metal hydride through mechanochemical processing. The reduction process includes milling reactants to induce and complete the reduction reaction. The preferred reducing agents include magnesium and calcium hydride powders. A process of pre-milling magnesium as a reducing agent to increase the activity of the magnesium has been established as one part of the invention.

Mathematical model of the competition life cycle under limited resources conditions: Problem statement for business community

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shelomentsev, A. G.; Medvedev, M. A.; Berg, D. B.; Lapshina, S. N.; Taubayev, A. A.; Davletbaev, R. H.; Savina, D. V.

2017-12-01

Present study is devoted to the development of competition life cycle mathematical model in the closed business community with limited resources. Growth of each agent is determined by the balance of input and output resource flows: input (cash) flow W is covering the variable V and constant C costs and growth dA/dt of the agent's assets A. Value of V is proportional to assets A that allows us to write down a first order non-stationary differential equation of the agent growth. Model includes the number of such equations due to the number of agents. The amount of resources that is available for agents vary in time. The balances of their input and output flows are changing correspondingly to the different stages of the competition life cycle. According to the theory of systems, the most complete description of any object or process is the model of its life cycle. Such a model describes all stages of its development: from the appearance ("birth") through development ("growth") to extinction ("death"). The model of the evolution of an individual firm, not contradicting the economic meaning of events actually observed in the market, is the desired result from modern AVMs for applied use. With a correct description of the market, rules for participants' actions, restrictions, forecasts can be obtained, which modern mathematics and the economy can not give.

Modification of the mitochondrial sulfonylurea receptor by thiol reagents.

PubMed

Szewczyk, A; Wójcik, G; Lobanov, N A; Nalecz, M J

1999-08-19

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects exerted by thiol-modifying reagents on themitochondrial sulfonylurea receptor. The thiol-oxidizing agents (timerosal and 5, 5'-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid)) were found to produce a large inhibition (70% to 80%) of specific binding of [(3)H]glibenclamide to the beef heart mitochondrial membrane. Similar effects were observed with membrane permeable (N-ethylmaleimide) and non-permeable (mersalyl) thiol modifying agents. Glibenclamide binding was also decreased by oxidizing agents (hydrogen peroxide) but not by reducing agents (reduced gluthatione, dithiothreitol and the 2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-dithiolbutane). The results suggest that intact thiol groups, facing the mitochondrial matrix, are essential for glibenclamide binding to the mitochondrial sulfonylurea receptor. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

TANDEM: A Trust-Based Agent Framework for Networked Decision Making

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-09-10

selective (20–80 %), while the rest are good citizens, trust acts as a method to isolate misbehaving agents. If the majority of the agents have high...competence and low selectivity, then they can use trust to isolate route information around the misbehaving agents, improving Comm and Steps. The impact is...more dramatic when only 20–40 % of the agents are misbehaving . However, using trust results in reduced SA as the information available at the

Reduced DNA repair in mouse satellite DNA after treatment with methylmethanesulfonate, and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea.

PubMed Central

Bodell, W J; Banerjee, M R

1976-01-01

We have measured DNA repair in mouse satellite and main band DNA as resolved by Ag+-Cs2SO4 centrifugation in response to treatment with the alkylating agents, methyl methanesulfonate, and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea. We find that there is a statistically significant lower incorporation of 3H-Tdr into the satellite DNA as compared to the main band at varying periods after treatment with the alkylating agents. This suggests a reduced repair activity in the satellite DNA. We have measured the extent of binding of 14C-methyl methanesulfonate to the satellite, and main band DNA, and no difference in binding was observed, indicating that the reduced repair activity of satellite DNA is not due to a difference in binding of alkylating agents. We believe that the reduced incorporation of 3H-Tdr into satellite DNA may be due to its location in the condensed chromatin fraction. PMID:184436

7 CFR 3201.99 - Water clarifying agents.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 15 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Water clarifying agents. 3201.99 Section 3201.99... Designated Items § 3201.99 Water clarifying agents. (a) Definition. Products designed to clarify and improve the quality of water by reducing contaminants such as excess nitrites, nitrates, phosphates, ammonia...

7 CFR 3201.99 - Water clarifying agents.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 15 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Water clarifying agents. 3201.99 Section 3201.99... Designated Items § 3201.99 Water clarifying agents. (a) Definition. Products designed to clarify and improve the quality of water by reducing contaminants such as excess nitrites, nitrates, phosphates, ammonia...

Ink composition for making a conductive silver structure

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

Walker, Steven B.; Lewis, Jennifer A.

An ink composition for making a conductive silver structure comprises a silver salt and a complex of (a) a complexing agent and a short chain carboxylic acid or (b) a complexing agent and a salt of a short chain carboxylic acid, according to one embodiment. A method for making a silver structure entails combining a silver salt and a complexing agent, and then adding a short chain carboxylic acid or a salt of the short chain carboxylic acid to the combined silver salt and a complexing agent to form an ink composition. A concentration of the complexing agent in themore » ink composition is reduced to form a concentrated formulation, and the silver salt is reduced to form a conductive silver structure, where the concentrated formulation and the conductive silver structure are formed at a temperature of about 120.degree. C. or less.« less

Reducing the Burden of Price.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hansen, Janet S.

1984-01-01

Setting prices for undergraduate education and assessing their effects on consumers and institutions is complicated by widespread price discounting. Student aid programs, credit, subsidized employment, and tax policy can reduce the actual costs paid by students and their families. (MSE)

Investigational opioid antagonists for treating opioid-induced bowel dysfunction.

PubMed

Mozaffari, Shilan; Nikfar, Shekoufeh; Abdollahi, Mohammad

2018-03-01

Opioids have been highlighted for their role in pain relief among cancer and non-cancer patients. Novel agents have been investigated to reduce opioid-induced constipation (OIC) as the main adverse effect that may lead to treatment discontinuation. Development of peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonists (PAMORA) has resulted in a novel approach to preserve the efficacy of pain control along with less OIC. Areas covered: Clinical evidence for investigational PAMORAs was reviewed and clinical trials on investigational agents to reduce OIC were included. TD-1211 is currently being evaluated in Phase II clinical trial. Oxycodone-naltrexone and ADL-5945 went through Phase III clinical trials, but have been discontinued. Expert opinion: There is a substantial need to develop agents with specific pharmacokinetic properties to meet the needs of patients with underlying diseases. Holding the efficacy of a medicine with the highest selectivity on targeted receptors and the least adverse effects is the main approach in upcoming investigations to improve patients' quality of life (QoL). Novel agents to reduce opioid-induced bowel dysfunction (OIBD) that do not reverse peripherally mediated pain analgesia are of great interest. Direct comparison of available agents in this field is lacking in the literature.

Immunoconjugates: Magic Bullets for Cancer Therapy?

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Passeri, Daniel R.; Spiegel, Jack

1993-01-01

Conjugating cytotoxic agents to antibodies allows for site-specific delivery of the agent to tumor cells and should provide increased efficacy and reduced non-specific toxicity. These site-specific cytotoxic agents are known as immunoconjugates or 'magic bullets' and have demonstrated great promise as therapeutic agents for cancer and other diseases. The historical developments and future potential of this new approach to cancer therapy are reviewed.

Efficacy of reducing agent and surfactant contacting pattern on the performance characteristics of nickel electroless plating baths coupled with and without ultrasound.

PubMed

Agarwal, Amrita; Pujari, Murali; Uppaluri, Ramgopal; Verma, Anil

2014-07-01

This article addresses furthering the role of sonication for the optimal fabrication of nickel ceramic composite membranes using electroless plating. Deliberating upon process modifications for surfactant induced electroless plating (SIEP) and combined surfactant and sonication induced electroless plating (SSOEP), this article highlights a novel method of contacting of the reducing agent and surfactant to the conventional electroless nickel plating baths. Rigorous experimental investigations indicated that the combination of ultrasound (in degas mode), surfactant and reducing agent pattern had a profound influence in altering the combinatorial plating characteristics. For comparison purpose, purely surfactant induced nickel ELP baths have also been investigated. These novel insights consolidate newer research horizons for the role of ultrasound to achieve dense metal ceramic composite membranes in a shorter span of total plating time. Surface and physical characterizations were carried out using BET, FTIR, XRD, FESEM and nitrogen permeation experiments. It has been analyzed that the SSOEP baths provided maximum ratio of percent pore densification per unit metal film thickness (PPDδ) and hold the key for further fine tuning of the associated degrees of freedom. On the other hand SIEP baths provided lower (PPDδ) ratio but higher PPD. For SSOEP baths with dropwise reducing agent and bulk surfactant, the PPD and metal film thickness values were 73.4% and 8.4 μm which varied to 66.9% and 13.3 μm for dropwise reducing agent and drop surfactant case. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Antifibrinolytic agents and desmopressin as hemostatic agents in cardiac surgery.

PubMed

Erstad, B L

2001-09-01

To review the use of systemic hemostatic medications for reducing bleeding and transfusion requirements with cardiac surgery. Articles were obtained through computerized searches involving MEDLINE (from 1966 to September 2000). Additionally, several textbooks containing information on the diagnosis and management of bleeding associated with cardiac surgery were reviewed. The bibliographies of retrieved publications and textbooks were reviewed for additional references. Due to the large number of randomized investigations involving systemic hemostatic medications for reducing bleeding associated with cardiac surgery, the article selection process focused on recent randomized controlled trials, metaanalyses and pharmacoeconomic evaluations. The primary outcomes extracted from the literature were blood loss and associated transfusion requirements, although other outcome measures such as mortality were extracted when available. Although the majority of investigations for reducing cardiac bleeding and transfusion requirements have involved aprotinin, evidence from recent meta-analyses and randomized trials indicates that the synthetic antifibrinolytic agents, aminocaproic acid and tranexamic acid, have similar clinical efficacy. Additionally, aminocaproic acid (and to a lesser extent tranexamic acid) is much less costly. More comparative information of hemostatic agents is needed retative to other outcomes (eg., reoperation rates, myocardial infarction, stroke). There is insufficient evidence to recommend the use of desmopressin for reducing bleeding and transfusion requirements in cardiac surgery, although certain subsets of patients may benefit from its use. Of the medications that have been used to reduce bleeding and transfusion requirements with cardiac surgery, the antifibrinolytic agents have the best evidence supporting their use. Aminocaproic acid is the least costly therapy based on medication costs and transfusion requirements.

40 CFR Appendix O to Subpart G of... - Substitutes Listed in the September 27, 2006 Final Rule, Effective November 27, 2006

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... End-use Substitute Decision Conditions Further information Total flooding Gelled Halocarbon/Dry... ventilation should be in place to reduce airborne exposure to constituents of agent; —An eye wash fountain and... reduce airborne exposure to constituents of agent; —An eye wash fountain and quick drench facility should...

Complexation Effect on Redox Potential of Iron(III)-Iron(II) Couple: A Simple Potentiometric Experiment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rizvi, Masood Ahmad; Syed, Raashid Maqsood; Khan, Badruddin

2011-01-01

A titration curve with multiple inflection points results when a mixture of two or more reducing agents with sufficiently different reduction potentials are titrated. In this experiment iron(II) complexes are combined into a mixture of reducing agents and are oxidized to the corresponding iron(III) complexes. As all of the complexes involve the…

The Removal of Cu (II) from Aqueous Solution using Sodium Borohydride as a Reducing Agent

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sithole, N. T.; Ntuli, F.; Mashifana, T.

2018-03-01

The removal and recovery of metals from wastewater has been a subject of significant importance due the negative impact these toxic metals have on human health and the environment as a result of water and soil pollution. Increased use of the metals and chemicals in the process industries has resulted in generation of large quantity of effluents that contains high level of toxic metals and other pollutants. The objective of this work was to recover of Cu in its elemental form as metallic powder from aqueous solution using NaBH4 as a reducing agent. Reductive precipitation was achieved in a batch reactor at 65°C using Cu powder as a seeding material. This study also investigated the effect of concentration of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) as a reducing agent. The amount of NaBH4 was varied based on mole ratios which are 1:1, 1:0.25 and 1:0.1 to recover Cu from synthetic wastewater. The results obtained showed that sodium borohydride is an effective reducing agent to recover Cu from wastewater. The optimum concentration of NaBH4 that gives the best results the 1:1 molar ratio with over 99% Cu removal.

Role of Humic-Bound Iron as an Electron Transfer Agent in Dissimilatory Fe(III) Reduction

PubMed Central

Lovley, Derek R.; Blunt-Harris, Elizabeth L.

1999-01-01

The dissimilatory Fe(III) reducer Geobacter metallireducens reduced Fe(III) bound in humic substances, but the concentrations of Fe(III) in a wide range of highly purified humic substances were too low to account for a significant portion of the electron-accepting capacities of the humic substances. Furthermore, once reduced, the iron in humic substances could not transfer electrons to Fe(III) oxide. These results suggest that other electron-accepting moieties in humic substances, such as quinones, are the important electron-accepting and shuttling agents under Fe(III)-reducing conditions. PMID:10473447

Stability of subsystem solutions in agent-based models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perc, Matjaž

2018-01-01

The fact that relatively simple entities, such as particles or neurons, or even ants or bees or humans, give rise to fascinatingly complex behaviour when interacting in large numbers is the hallmark of complex systems science. Agent-based models are frequently employed for modelling and obtaining a predictive understanding of complex systems. Since the sheer number of equations that describe the behaviour of an entire agent-based model often makes it impossible to solve such models exactly, Monte Carlo simulation methods must be used for the analysis. However, unlike pairwise interactions among particles that typically govern solid-state physics systems, interactions among agents that describe systems in biology, sociology or the humanities often involve group interactions, and they also involve a larger number of possible states even for the most simplified description of reality. This begets the question: when can we be certain that an observed simulation outcome of an agent-based model is actually stable and valid in the large system-size limit? The latter is key for the correct determination of phase transitions between different stable solutions, and for the understanding of the underlying microscopic processes that led to these phase transitions. We show that a satisfactory answer can only be obtained by means of a complete stability analysis of subsystem solutions. A subsystem solution can be formed by any subset of all possible agent states. The winner between two subsystem solutions can be determined by the average moving direction of the invasion front that separates them, yet it is crucial that the competing subsystem solutions are characterised by a proper composition and spatiotemporal structure before the competition starts. We use the spatial public goods game with diverse tolerance as an example, but the approach has relevance for a wide variety of agent-based models.

From Abstract to Concrete Norms in Agent Institutions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grossi, Davide; Dignum, Frank

2004-01-01

Norms specifying constraints over institutions are stated in such a form that allows them to regulate a wide range of situations over time without need for modification. To guarantee this stability, the formulation of norms need to abstract from a variety of concrete aspects, which are instead relevant for the actual operationalization of institutions. If agent institutions are to be built, which comply with a set of abstract requirements, how can those requirements be translated in more concrete constraints the impact of which can be described directly in the institution? In this work we make use of logical methods in order to provide a formal characterization of the translation rules that operate the connection between abstract and concrete norms. On the basis of this characterization, a comprehensive formalization of the notion of institution is also provided.

Efficacy and safety of the third-generation chloroethylnitrosourea fotemustine for the treatment of chemorefractory T-cell lymphomas

PubMed Central

Corazzelli, Gaetano; Frigeri, Ferdinando; Arcamone, Manuela; Aloj, Luigi; Capobianco, Gaetana; Becchimanzi, Cristina; Morelli, Emanuela; Volzone, Francesco; Marcacci, Gianpaolo; Russo, Filippo; De Filippi, Rosaria; Lastoria, Secondo; Pinto, Antonio

2011-01-01

Patients with recurring T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (T-NHL) are incurable and candidate for investigational agents. Here, we report on five patients with T-NHL refractory to multiple chemotherapy lines, including in all cases alkylators and gemcitabine, who received the third-generation chloroethylnitrosourea fotemustine at a dose of 120 mg/m2 every 21 d, up to eight courses. Median actual dose intensity was 79%; toxicity was manageable and mainly hematological. One complete remission, one partial remission, two protracted disease stabilization, and one transient, minor response were achieved. Time to progression ranged from 48 to 240+ d. This is the first evidence ever reporting the activity of fotemustine in end-stage T-NHL. Formal studies with this agent are warranted in T-cell malignancies. PMID:21752099

Flue gas conditioning for improved particle collection in electrostatic precipitators

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

Durham, M.D.

1992-04-27

The purpose of this research program is to identify and evaluate a variety of additives capable of increasing particle cohesion which could be used for improving collection efficiency in an ESP. A three-phase screening process will be used to provide the, evaluation of many additives in a logical and cost-effective manner. The three step approach involves the following experimental setups: 1. Provide a preliminary screening in the laboratory by measuring the effects of various conditioning agents on reentrainment of flyash particles in an electric field operating at simulated flue gas conditions. 2. Evaluate the successful additives using a 100 acfmmore » bench-scale ESP operating on actual flue gas. 3. Obtain the data required for scaling up the technology by testing the two or three most promising conditioning agents at the pilot scale.« less

Curiosity driven reinforcement learning for motion planning on humanoids

PubMed Central

Frank, Mikhail; Leitner, Jürgen; Stollenga, Marijn; Förster, Alexander; Schmidhuber, Jürgen

2014-01-01

Most previous work on artificial curiosity (AC) and intrinsic motivation focuses on basic concepts and theory. Experimental results are generally limited to toy scenarios, such as navigation in a simulated maze, or control of a simple mechanical system with one or two degrees of freedom. To study AC in a more realistic setting, we embody a curious agent in the complex iCub humanoid robot. Our novel reinforcement learning (RL) framework consists of a state-of-the-art, low-level, reactive control layer, which controls the iCub while respecting constraints, and a high-level curious agent, which explores the iCub's state-action space through information gain maximization, learning a world model from experience, controlling the actual iCub hardware in real-time. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ever embodied, curious agent for real-time motion planning on a humanoid. We demonstrate that it can learn compact Markov models to represent large regions of the iCub's configuration space, and that the iCub explores intelligently, showing interest in its physical constraints as well as in objects it finds in its environment. PMID:24432001

Research on air sprays and unique foam application methods. Phase II report. Laboratory investigation of foam systems

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

Not Available

1982-06-01

The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of air sprays and foam systems for dust control on longwall double-drum shearer faces. Laboratory testing has been conducted using foam systems and promising results have been obtained. Upon Bureau approval, underground testing will be scheduled to assess the effectiveness of foam systems under actual operating conditions. Laboratory testing of air sprays is being conducted at present. This report presents the results of the laboratory testing of foam systems. Specifically, the results obtained on the evaluation of selected foaming agents are presented, the feasibility investigation of flushing foam through themore » shearer-drum are demonstrated, and conceptual layout of the foam system on the shearer is discussed. The laboratory investigation of the selected foaming agents reveal that the Onyx Microfoam, Onyx Maprosyl and DeTer Microfoam foaming agents have higher expansion ratios compared to the others tested. Flushing foam through the shearer drum is entirely feasible and could be a viable technique for dust suppression on longwall faces.« less

A Comparison of the Viscosities of Thickened Liquids for Pediatric Dysphagia.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wijesinghe, Ranjith; Clifton, Mekale; Tarlton, Morgan; Heinsohn, Erica; Ewing, Mary

It has been reported that Speech Language Pathologists in different facilities across the nation use a variety of thickening agents and recipes as therapeutic measures for infants and children diagnosed with dysphagia. Limited research has been completed in this area. Viscosity was tested to determine the thickness of each thickening agent mixed with infant formula. The values were then compared to the National Dysphagia Diet liquid levels to determine which thickening agent resulted in the desired viscosity levels. The thickeners were mixed with common infant formulas and soy formulas to determine if the type of formula impacted the viscosity. The main goal was to determine if the assumed thickness level (viscosity) of prescribed thickened liquids was actually being met. This topic is of high concern because of its impact on the safety and well-being of clients with dysphagia. A viscometer was used to collect the viscosity levels. Commercially available formulas selected for this study. The final results of our investigation will be presented during the APS meeting. This work is supported by a Ball State University Immersive Learning Grant.

A further analysis of the role of heterogeneity in coevolutionary spatial games

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cardinot, Marcos; Griffith, Josephine; O'Riordan, Colm

2018-03-01

Heterogeneity has been studied as one of the most common explanations of the puzzle of cooperation in social dilemmas. A large number of papers have been published discussing the effects of increasing heterogeneity in structured populations of agents, where it has been established that heterogeneity may favour cooperative behaviour if it supports agents to locally coordinate their strategies. In this paper, assuming an existing model of a heterogeneous weighted network, we aim to further this analysis by exploring the relationship (if any) between heterogeneity and cooperation. We adopt a weighted network which is fully populated by agents playing both the Prisoner's Dilemma or the Optional Prisoner's Dilemma games with coevolutionary rules, i.e., not only the strategies but also the link weights evolve over time. Surprisingly, results show that the heterogeneity of link weights (states) on their own does not always promote cooperation; rather cooperation is actually favoured by the increase in the number of overlapping states and not by the heterogeneity itself. We believe that these results can guide further research towards a more accurate analysis of the role of heterogeneity in social dilemmas.

Saw Palmetto Berry as a Treatment for BPH

PubMed Central

Fagelman, Elliot; Lowe, Franklin C

2001-01-01

Phytotherapeutic agents are often prescribed in Europe for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia with lower urinary tract symptoms and are commonly used in the United States in over-the-counter preparations. Saw palmetto berry is the most popular of these agents, and in vitro some studies suggest that liposterolic extract of the plant has antiandrogenic effects that inhibit the type 1 and type 2 isoenzymes of 5α-reductase; however there are no clinical studies that show any decrease in serum dihydrotestosterone or prostate-specific antigen. Its efficacy in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms has not been conclusively proven. Clinical efficacy was suggested by a meta-analysis of Permixon, a formulation of saw palmetto, but the meta-analysis was done on suboptimal studies. One trial supports the equivalency of Permixon to finasteride in treating moderate to severe symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, with less decrease in sexual function. However, without a control/placebo arm, the actual efficacy of the agents cannot be determined. Other than occasional gastrointestinal upset, no other side effects have been reported. PMID:16985705

Linear Epitopes of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Other Fungal Agents of Human Systemic Mycoses As Vaccine Candidates

PubMed Central

Travassos, Luiz R.; Taborda, Carlos P.

2017-01-01

Dimorphic fungi are agents of systemic mycoses associated with significant morbidity and frequent lethality in the Americas. Among the pathogenic species are Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Paracoccidioides lutzii, which predominate in South America; Histoplasma capsulatum, Coccidioides posadasii, and Coccidioides immitis, and the Sporothrix spp. complex are other important pathogens. Associated with dimorphic fungi other important infections are caused by yeast such as Candida spp. and Cryptococcus spp. or mold such as Aspergillus spp., which are also fungal agents of deadly infections. Nowadays, the actual tendency of therapy is the development of a pan-fungal vaccine. This is, however, not easy because of the complexity of eukaryotic cells and the particularities of different species and isolates. Albeit there are several experimental vaccines being studied, we will focus mainly on peptide vaccines or epitopes of T-cell receptors inducing protective fungal responses. These peptides can be carried by antibody inducing β-(1,3)-glucan oligo or polysaccharides, or be mixed with them for administration. The present review discusses the efficacy of linear peptide epitopes in the context of antifungal immunization and vaccine proposition. PMID:28344577

Modelling social interaction as perceptual crossing: an investigation into the dynamics of the interaction process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Froese, Tom; Di Paolo, Ezequiel A.

2010-03-01

This paper continues efforts to establish a mutually informative dialogue between psychology and evolutionary robotics in order to investigate the dynamics of social interaction. We replicate a recent simulation model of a minimalist experiment in perceptual crossing and confirm the results with significantly simpler artificial agents. A series of psycho-physical tests of their behaviour informs a hypothetical circuit model of their internal operation. However, a detailed study of the actual internal dynamics reveals this circuit model to be unfounded, thereby offering a tale of caution for those hypothesising about sub-personal processes in terms of behavioural observations. In particular, it is shown that the behaviour of the agents largely emerges out of the interaction process itself rather than being an individual achievement alone. We also extend the original simulation model in two novel directions in order to test further the extent to which perceptual crossing between agents can self-organise in a robust manner. These modelling results suggest new hypotheses that can become the basis for further psychological experiments.

Anthrax: A disease of biowarfare and public health importance

PubMed Central

Goel, Ajay Kumar

2015-01-01

Bioterrorism has received a lot of attention in the first decade of this century. Biological agents are considered attractive weapons for bioterrorism as these are easy to obtain, comparatively inexpensive to produce and exhibit widespread fear and panic than the actual potential of physical damage. Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis), the etiologic agent of anthrax is a Gram positive, spore forming, non-motile bacterium. This is supposed to be one of the most potent BW agents because its spores are extremely resistant to natural conditions and can survive for several decades in the environment. B. anthracis spores enter the body through skin lesion (cutaneous anthrax), lungs (pulmonary anthrax), or gastrointestinal route (gastrointestinal anthrax) and germinate, giving rise to the vegetative form. Anthrax is a concern of public health also in many countries where agriculture is the main source of income including India. Anthrax has been associated with human history for a very long time and regained its popularity after Sept 2001 incidence in United States. The present review article describes the history, biology, life cycle, pathogenicity, virulence, epidemiology and potential of B. anthracis as biological weapon. PMID:25610847

Balancing Human and Inter-Agent Influences for Shared Control of Bio-Inspired Collectives

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-10-01

the higher-level intelligence and ingenuity of a human operator as well as the collective intelligence and robustness of a bio-inspired collective...for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway...agents, or that receive information from, but are not directly controlled by, a human operator . Unlike, agents in the human-controlled partition, agents

Optically enhanced blood-brain-barrier crossing of plasmonic-active nanoparticles in preclinical brain tumor animal models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Hsiangkuo; Wilson, Christy M.; Li, Shuqin; Fales, Andrew M.; Liu, Yang; Grant, Gerald; Vo-Dinh, Tuan

2014-02-01

Nanotechnology provides tremendous biomedical opportunities for cancer diagnosis, imaging, and therapy. In contrast to conventional chemotherapeutic agents where their actual target delivery cannot be easily imaged, integrating imaging and therapeutic properties into one platform facilitates the understanding of pharmacokinetic profiles, and enables monitoring of the therapeutic process in each individual. Such a concept dubbed "theranostics" potentiates translational research and improves precision medicine. One particular challenging application of theranostics involves imaging and controlled delivery of nanoplatforms across blood-brain-barrier (BBB) into brain tissues. Typically, the BBB hinders paracellular flux of drug molecules into brain parenchyma. BBB disrupting agents (e.g. mannitol, focused ultrasound), however, suffer from poor spatial confinement. It has been a challenge to design a nanoplatform not only acts as a contrast agent but also improves the BBB permeation. In this study, we demonstrated the feasibility of plasmonic gold nanoparticles as both high-resolution optical contrast agent and focalized tumor BBB permeation-inducing agent. We specifically examined the microscopic distribution of nanoparticles in tumor brain animal models. We observed that most nanoparticles accumulated at the tumor periphery or perivascular spaces. Nanoparticles were present in both endothelial cells and interstitial matrices. This study also demonstrated a novel photothermal-induced BBB permeation. Fine-tuning the irradiating energy induced gentle disruption of the vascular integrity, causing short-term extravasation of nanomaterials but without hemorrhage. We conclude that our gold nanoparticles are a powerful biocompatible contrast agent capable of inducing focal BBB permeation, and therefore envision a strong potential of plasmonic gold nanoparticle in future brain tumor imaging and therapy.

Movement Forms: A Graph-Dynamic Perspective

PubMed Central

Saltzman, Elliot; Holt, Ken

2014-01-01

The focus of this paper is on characterizing the physical movement forms (e.g., walk, crawl, roll, etc.) that can be used to actualize abstract, functionally-specified behavioral goals (e.g., locomotion). Emphasis is placed on how such forms are distinguished from one another, in part, by the set of topological patterns of physical contact between agent and environment (i.e., the set of physical graphs associated with each form) and the transitions among these patterns displayed over the course of performance (i.e., the form’s physical graph dynamics). Crucial in this regard is the creation and dissolution of loops in these graphs, which can be related to the distinction between open and closed kinematic chains. Formal similarities are described within the theoretical framework of task-dynamics between physically-closed kinematic chains (physical loops) that are created during various movement forms and functionally-closed kinematic chains (functional loops) that are associated with task-space control of end-effectors; it is argued that both types of loop must be flexibly incorporated into the coordinative structures that govern skilled action. Final speculation is focused on the role of graphs and their dynamics, not only in processes of coordination and control for individual agents, but also in processes of inter-agent coordination and the coupling of agents with (non-sentient) environmental objects. PMID:24910507

Movement Forms: A Graph-Dynamic Perspective.

PubMed

Saltzman, Elliot; Holt, Ken

2014-01-01

The focus of this paper is on characterizing the physical movement forms (e.g., walk, crawl, roll, etc.) that can be used to actualize abstract, functionally-specified behavioral goals (e.g., locomotion). Emphasis is placed on how such forms are distinguished from one another, in part, by the set of topological patterns of physical contact between agent and environment (i.e., the set of physical graphs associated with each form) and the transitions among these patterns displayed over the course of performance (i.e., the form's physical graph dynamics ). Crucial in this regard is the creation and dissolution of loops in these graphs, which can be related to the distinction between open and closed kinematic chains. Formal similarities are described within the theoretical framework of task-dynamics between physically-closed kinematic chains (physical loops) that are created during various movement forms and functionally-closed kinematic chains (functional loops) that are associated with task-space control of end-effectors; it is argued that both types of loop must be flexibly incorporated into the coordinative structures that govern skilled action. Final speculation is focused on the role of graphs and their dynamics, not only in processes of coordination and control for individual agents, but also in processes of inter-agent coordination and the coupling of agents with (non-sentient) environmental objects.

Comparative advantage between traditional and smart navigation systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shin, Jeongkyu; Kim, Pan-Jun; Kim, Seunghwan

2013-03-01

The smart navigation system that refers to real-time traffic data is believed to be superior to traditional navigation systems. To verify this belief, we created an agent-based traffic model and examined the effect of changing market share of the traditional shortest-travel-time algorithm based navigation and the smart navigation system. We tested our model on the grid and actual metropolitan road network structures. The result reveals that the traditional navigation system have better performance than the smart one as the market share of the smart navigation system exceeds a critical value, which is contrary to conventional expectation. We suggest that the superiority inversion between agent groups is strongly related to the traffic weight function form, and is general. We also found that the relationship of market share, traffic flow density and travel time is determined by the combination of congestion avoidance behavior of the smartly navigated agents and the inefficiency of shortest-travel-time based navigated agents. Our results can be interpreted with the minority game and extended to the diverse topics of opinion dynamics. This work was supported by the Original Technology Research Program for Brain Science through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology(No. 2010-0018847).

Pharmacotherapy of bone metastases in breast cancer patients.

PubMed

Petrut, Bianca; Simmons, Christine; Broom, Reuben; Trinkaus, Mateya; Clemons, Mark

2008-04-01

A diagnosis of bone metastases is often a devastating occurrence in breast cancer patients. Bone metastases are associated with increased morbidity as reflected through pain, reduced quality of life and skeletal-related events. This paper reviews the role of different pharmacotherapeutic agents in the treatment of bone metastases from breast cancer. Randomised controlled trials of osteoclast-inhibiting agents, that is the bisphosphonates, have shown significant patient benefit. The aims of bisphosphonates are to prevent and delay skeletal-related events, reduce bone pain and improve quality of life. However, there are some limitations with bisphosphonate treatment. Biochemical markers of bone turnover seem to be a promising tool in guiding bisphosphonate treatment and future research directions. Hopefully, patient management will be further improved as new agents become available such as denosumab, osteoprotegerin analogues and anti-angiogenic agents.

Using Motivational Interviewing to reduce threats in conversations about environmental behavior

PubMed Central

Klonek, Florian E.; Güntner, Amelie V.; Lehmann-Willenbrock, Nale; Kauffeld, Simone

2015-01-01

Human behavior contributes to a waste of environmental resources and our society is looking for ways to reduce this problem. However, humans may perceive feedback about their environmental behavior as threatening. According to self-determination theory (SDT), threats decrease intrinsic motivation for behavior change. According to self-affirmation theory (SAT), threats can harm individuals’ self-integrity. Therefore, individuals should show self-defensive biases, e.g., in terms of presenting counter-arguments when presented with environmental behavior change. The current study examines how change recipients respond to threats from change agents in interactions about environmental behavior change. Moreover, we investigate how Motivational Interviewing (MI) — an intervention aimed at increasing intrinsic motivation — can reduce threats at both the social and cognitive level. We videotaped 68 dyadic interactions with change agents who either did or did not use MI (control group). We coded agents verbal threats and recipients’ verbal expressions of motivation. Recipients also rated agents’ level of confrontation and empathy (i.e., cognitive reactions). As hypothesized, threats were significantly lower when change agents used MI. Perceived confrontations converged with observable social behavior of change agents in both groups. Moreover, behavioral threats showed a negative association with change recipients’ expressed motivation (i.e., reasons to change). Contrary to our expectations, we found no relation between change agents’ verbal threats and change recipients’ verbally expressed self-defenses (i.e., sustain talk). Our results imply that MI reduces the adverse impact of threats in conversations about environmental behavior change on both the social and cognitive level. We discuss theoretical implications of our study in the context of SAT and SDT and suggest practical implications for environmental change agents in organizations. PMID:26257676

Pharmacoeconomics of inhaled anesthetic agents: considerations for the pharmacist.

PubMed

Chernin, Eric L

2004-10-15

Types of economic analyses used for inhaled anesthetic agents, factors to consider in calculating the cost of inhaled anesthetics, limitations of pharmacoeconomic studies of these agents, and strategies for controlling inhaled anesthetic costs are discussed. Inhaled anesthetic agents comprise a substantial component of drug budgets. Calculation of the cost of administering an inhaled anesthetic should take into consideration the cost per mL, potency, waste, concentration and duration of gas delivery, fresh gas flow rate, molecular weight, and density. The use of newer inhaled anesthetic agents with low solubility in blood and tissue provides a more rapid recovery from anesthesia than older, more soluble agents, and also provides the same level of control of depth of anesthesia at a lower fresh gas flow rate and possibly a lower cost than older agents at a higher fresh gas flow rate. A more rapid recovery may facilitate fast-track recovery and yield cost savings if it allows the completion of additional surgical cases or allows a reduction in personnel overtime expenses. Interpretation of pharmacoeconomic studies of inhaled anesthetics requires an appreciation of the limitations in methodology and ability to extrapolate results from one setting to another. Pharmacists' efforts to reduce anesthetic waste and collaborate with anesthesiologists to improve the use of these agents can help contain costs, but improving scheduling and efficiency in the operating room has a greater potential to reduce operating room costs. Much can be done to control costs of anesthetic agents without compromising availability of these agents and patient care.

Modeling Peer Assessment as Agent Negotiation in a Computer Supported Collaborative Learning Environment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lai, K. Robert; Lan, Chung Hsien

2006-01-01

This work presents a novel method for modeling collaborative learning as multi-issue agent negotiation using fuzzy constraints. Agent negotiation is an iterative process, through which, the proposed method aggregates student marks to reduce personal bias. In the framework, students define individual fuzzy membership functions based on their…

High char yield epoxy curing agents

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Delvigs, P.; Serafini, T. T.; Vanucci, R. D.

1981-01-01

Class of imide-amine curing agents preserves structural integrity, prevents fiber release, and is fully compatible with conventional epoxy resins; agents do not detract from composite properties while greatly reducing char yield. Materials utilizing curing are used in aerospace, automotive, and other structural components where deterioration must be minimized and fiber release avoided in event of fire.

Combination therapy in combating cancer

PubMed Central

Mokhtari, Reza Bayat; Homayouni, Tina S.; Baluch, Narges; Morgatskaya, Evgeniya; Kumar, Sushil; Das, Bikul; Yeger, Herman

2017-01-01

Combination therapy, a treatment modality that combines two or more therapeutic agents, is a cornerstone of cancer therapy. The amalgamation of anti-cancer drugs enhances efficacy compared to the mono-therapy approach because it targets key pathways in a characteristically synergistic or an additive manner. This approach potentially reduces drug resistance, while simultaneously providing therapeutic anti-cancer benefits, such as reducing tumour growth and metastatic potential, arresting mitotically active cells, reducing cancer stem cell populations, and inducing apoptosis. The 5-year survival rates for most metastatic cancers are still quite low, and the process of developing a new anti-cancer drug is costly and extremely time-consuming. Therefore, new strategies that target the survival pathways that provide efficient and effective results at an affordable cost are being considered. One such approach incorporates repurposing therapeutic agents initially used for the treatment of different diseases other than cancer. This approach is effective primarily when the FDA-approved agent targets similar pathways found in cancer. Because one of the drugs used in combination therapy is already FDA-approved, overall costs of combination therapy research are reduced. This increases cost efficiency of therapy, thereby benefiting the “medically underserved”. In addition, an approach that combines repurposed pharmaceutical agents with other therapeutics has shown promising results in mitigating tumour burden. In this systematic review, we discuss important pathways commonly targeted in cancer therapy. Furthermore, we also review important repurposed or primary anti-cancer agents that have gained popularity in clinical trials and research since 2012. PMID:28410237

Toughened uni-piece fibrous insulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leiser, Daniel B (Inventor); Smith, Marnell (Inventor); Churchward, Rex A. (Inventor); Katvala, Victor W. (Inventor)

1992-01-01

A porous body of fibrous, low density silica-based insulation material is at least in part impregnated with a reactive boron oxide containing borosilicate glass frit, a silicon tetraboride fluxing agent and a molybdenum silicide emittance agent. The glass frit, fluxing agent and emittance agent are separately milled to reduce their particle size, then mixed together to produce a slurry in ethanol. The slurry is then applied to the insulation material and sintered to produce the porous body.

Reinforcement Learning Multi-Agent Modeling of Decision-Making Agents for the Study of Transboundary Surface Water Conflicts with Application to the Syr Darya River Basin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riegels, N.; Siegfried, T.; Pereira Cardenal, S. J.; Jensen, R. A.; Bauer-Gottwein, P.

2008-12-01

In most economics--driven approaches to optimizing water use at the river basin scale, the system is modelled deterministically with the goal of maximizing overall benefits. However, actual operation and allocation decisions must be made under hydrologic and economic uncertainty. In addition, river basins often cross political boundaries, and different states may not be motivated to cooperate so as to maximize basin- scale benefits. Even within states, competing agents such as irrigation districts, municipal water agencies, and large industrial users may not have incentives to cooperate to realize efficiency gains identified in basin- level studies. More traditional simulation--optimization approaches assume pre-commitment by individual agents and stakeholders and unconditional compliance on each side. While this can help determine attainable gains and tradeoffs from efficient management, such hardwired policies do not account for dynamic feedback between agents themselves or between agents and their environments (e.g. due to climate change etc.). In reality however, we are dealing with an out-of-equilibrium multi-agent system, where there is neither global knowledge nor global control, but rather continuous strategic interaction between decision making agents. Based on the theory of stochastic games, we present a computational framework that allows for studying the dynamic feedback between decision--making agents themselves and an inherently uncertain environment in a spatially and temporally distributed manner. Agents with decision-making control over water allocation such as countries, irrigation districts, and municipalities are represented by reinforcement learning agents and coupled to a detailed hydrologic--economic model. This approach emphasizes learning by agents from their continuous interaction with other agents and the environment. It provides a convenient framework for the solution of the problem of dynamic decision-making in a mixed cooperative / non-cooperative environment with which different institutional setups and incentive systems can be studied so to identify reasonable ways to reach desirable, Pareto--optimal allocation outcomes. Preliminary results from an application to the Syr Darya river basin in Central Asia will be presented and discussed. The Syr Darya River is a classic example of a transboundary river basin in which basin-wide efficiency gains identified in optimization studies have not been sufficient to induce cooperative management of the river by the riparian states.

Heat shock proteins: the missing link between hormonal and reproductive factors and rheumatoid arthritis?

PubMed

da Silva, J A

1991-10-01

Epidemiologic data suggest a strong link between hormonal and reproductive factors and the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis. Of interest is a possible protective effect of oral contraceptives or estrogen replacement therapy against the development of rheumatoid arthritis. At least 1 pregnancy also appears to reduce the risk of this disease. It has been hypothesized that hormonal contraceptive use and pregnancy elicit the production of higher amounts of endogenous heat shock proteins, which, in turn, induce immunotolerance to subsequent exposure to the actual triggering agent of rheumatoid arthritis. A related possibility is that pregnant women are exposed to specific types of heat shock proteins produced by the fetus in high concentrations. Heat shock proteins are known to be the predominant antigens related to the induction of reactive arthritis. The production of some such proteins is dependent on sex hormones in a tissue-specific way and their concentrations are raised dramatically by stimulation with estrogen and progesterone. A possible mechanism for heat protein-induced immunotolerance would be the predominant stimulation of a suppressor T cell clone. More research on the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases and the activity of sex hormones could result in the development of a vaccine against rheumatoid arthritis.

Antifungal properties of essential oils for improvement of indoor air quality: a review.

PubMed

Whiley, Harriet; Gaskin, Sharyn; Schroder, Tiffany; Ross, Kirstin

2018-03-28

Concerns regarding indoor air quality, particularly the presence of fungi and moulds, are increasing. The potential for essential oils to reduce, control or remove fungi, is gaining interest as they are seen as a "natural" alternative to synthetic chemical fungicides. This review examines published research on essential oils as a method of fungal control in indoor environments. It was difficult to compare the relative performances of essential oils due to differences in research methods and reporting languages. In addition, there are limited studies that scale up laboratory results and assess the efficacy of essential oils within building environments. However, generally, there appears to be some evidence to support the essential oils clove oil, tea tree oil, oregano, thyme and lemon as potential antifungal agents. Essential oils from heartwood, marjoram, cinnamon, lemon basil, caraway, bay tree, fir, peppermint, pine, cedar leaf and manuka were identified in at least one study as having antifungal potential. Future studies should focus on comparing the effectiveness of these essential oils against a large number of fungal isolates from indoor environments. Studies will then need to focus on translating these results into realistic application methods, in actual buildings, and assess the potential for long-term antifungal persistence.

Occupational safety considerations with hydrazine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clewell, Harvey J., III; Mcdougal, James N.; George, Marilyn E.; Andersen, Melvin E.

1992-01-01

Hydrazine is a reducing agent that is most commonly used as a propellant and as an oxygen scavenger in boilers. Hydrazine is extremely irritating and has been demonstrated to produce both acute and chronic toxicity. As a result, the established permissible inhalation exposure limits are very low, and respiration protection is required whenever vapors are present. Liquid hydrazine penetrates the skin and produces a chemical burn; therefore, some protective measures must also be taken to protect the skin from liquid contact. Often, however, a cumbersome, whole-body protective suit is worn to protect against skin contact with vapor as well. To what extent it is actually necessary to protect skin from vapor penetration had not previously been demonstrated. In an attempt to answer this question, we conducted a study with rats to compare the dermal penetration of hydrazine vapor with inhalation. Pharmacokinetic modeling was used to compare body burdens resulting from these different routes of exposure. The analysis concluded that the vapor concentration during a skin-only exposure would have to be at least 200 times higher than that during inhalation to achieve the same body burden. This type of estimation illustrates the use of predictive toxicology in occupational exposures.

Effective gene silencing activity of prodrug-type 2'-O-methyldithiomethyl siRNA compared with non-prodrug-type 2'-O-methyl siRNA.

PubMed

Hayashi, Junsuke; Nishigaki, Misa; Ochi, Yosuke; Wada, Shun-Ichi; Wada, Fumito; Nakagawa, Osamu; Obika, Satoshi; Harada-Shiba, Mariko; Urata, Hidehito

2018-07-01

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are an active agent to induce gene silencing and they have been studied for becoming a biological and therapeutic tool. Various 2'-O-modified RNAs have been extensively studied to improve the nuclease resistance. However, the 2'-O-modified siRNA activities were often decreased by modification, since the bulky 2'-O-modifications inhibit to form a RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). We developed novel prodrug-type 2'-O-methyldithiomethyl (MDTM) siRNA, which is converted into natural siRNA in an intracellular reducing environment. Prodrug-type 2'-O-MDTM siRNAs modified at the 5'-end side including 5'-end nucleotide and the seed region of the antisense strand exhibited much stronger gene silencing effect than non-prodrug-type 2'-O-methyl (2'-O-Me) siRNAs. Furthermore, the resistances for nuclease digestion of siRNAs were actually enhanced by 2'-O-MDTM modifications. Our results indicate that 2'-O-MDTM modifications improve the stability of siRNA in serum and they are able to be introduced at any positions of siRNA. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Signalling and obfuscation for congestion control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mareček, Jakub; Shorten, Robert; Yu, Jia Yuan

2015-10-01

We aim to reduce the social cost of congestion in many smart city applications. In our model of congestion, agents interact over limited resources after receiving signals from a central agent that observes the state of congestion in real time. Under natural models of agent populations, we develop new signalling schemes and show that by introducing a non-trivial amount of uncertainty in the signals, we reduce the social cost of congestion, i.e., improve social welfare. The signalling schemes are efficient in terms of both communication and computation, and are consistent with past observations of the congestion. Moreover, the resulting population dynamics converge under reasonable assumptions.

Regeneration of anion exchange resins by catalyzed electrochemical reduction

DOEpatents

Gu, Baohua; Brown, Gilbert M.

2002-01-01

Anion exchange resins sorbed with perchlorate may be regenerated by a combination of chemical reduction of perchlorate to chloride using a reducing agent and an electrochemical reduction of the oxidized reducing agent. Transitional metals including Ti, Re, and V are preferred chemical reagents for the reduction of perchlorate to chloride. Complexing agents such as oxalate are used to prevent the precipitation of the oxidized Ti(IV) species, and ethyl alcohol may be added to accelerate the reduction kinetics of perchlorate. The regeneration may be performed by continuously recycling the regenerating solution through the resin bed and an electrochemical cell so that the secondary waste generation is minimized.

Impact of chemical leaching on permeability and cadmium removal from fine-grained soils.

PubMed

Lin, Zhongbing; Zhang, Renduo; Huang, Shuang; Wang, Kang

2017-08-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of chemical leaching on permeability and Cd removal from fine-grained polluted soils. Column leaching experiments were conducted using two types of soils (i.e., artificially Cd-polluted loam and historically polluted silty loam). Chemical agents of CaCl 2 , FeCl 3 , citric acid, EDTA, rhamnolipid, and deionized water were used to leach Cd from the soils. Results showed that organic agents reduced permeability of both soils, and FeCl 3 reduced permeability of loam soil, compared with inorganic agents and deionized water. Entrapment and deposition of colloids generated from the organic agents and FeCl 3 treatments reduced the soil permeability. The peak Cd effluence from the artificially polluted loam columns was retarded. For the artificially polluted soils treated with EDTA and the historically polluted soils with FeCl 3 , Cd precipitates were observed at the bottom after chemical leaching. When Cd was associated with large colloid particles, the reduction of soil permeability caused Cd accumulation in deeper soil. In addition, the slow process of disintegration of soil clay during chemical leaching might result in the retardation of peak Cd effluence. These results suggest the need for caution when using chemical-leaching agents for Cd removal in fine-grained soils.

Study of disulfide reduction and alkyl chloroformate derivatization of plasma sulfur amino acids using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Svagera, Zdeněk; Hanzlíková, Dagmar; Simek, Petr; Hušek, Petr

2012-03-01

Four disulfide-reducing agents, dithiothreitol (DTT), 2,3-dimercaptopropanesulfonate (DMPS), and the newly tested 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate (MESNA) and Tris(hydroxypropyl)phosphine (THP), were investigated in detail for release of sulfur amino acids in human plasma. After protein precipitation with trichloroacetic acid (TCA), the plasma supernatant was treated with methyl, ethyl, or propyl chloroformate via the well-proven derivatization-extraction technique and the products were subjected to gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis. All the tested agents proved to be rapid and effective reducing agents for the assay of plasma thiols. When compared with DTT, the novel reducing agents DMPS, MESNA, and THP provided much cleaner extracts and improved analytical performance. Quantification of homocysteine, cysteine, and methionine was performed using their deuterated analogues, whereas other analytes were quantified by means of 4-chlorophenylalanine. Precise and reliable assay of all examined analytes was achieved, irrespective of the chloroformate reagent used. Average relative standard deviations at each analyte level were ≤6%, quantification limits were 0.1-0.2 μmol L(-1), recoveries were 94-121%, and linearity was over three orders of magnitude (r(2) equal to 0.997-0.998). Validation performed with the THP agent and propyl chloroformate derivatization demonstrated the robustness and reliability of this simple sample-preparation methodology.

Liquefaction process

DOEpatents

Gorbaty, Martin L.; Stone, John B.; Poddar, Syamal K.

1982-01-01

Scale formation during the liquefaction of lower ranking coals and similar carbonaceous materials is significantly reduced and/or prevented by pretreatment with a combination of pretreating agents comprising SO.sub.2 and an oxidizing agent. The pretreatment is believed to convert at least a portion of the scale-forming components and particularly calcium, to the corresponding sulfate prior to liquefaction. The pretreatment may be accomplished with the combination of pretreating agents either simultaneously by using a mixture comprising SO.sub.2 and an oxidizing agent or sequentially by first treating with SO.sub.2 and then with an oxidizing agent.

Model reduction for agent-based social simulation: coarse-graining a civil violence model.

PubMed

Zou, Yu; Fonoberov, Vladimir A; Fonoberova, Maria; Mezic, Igor; Kevrekidis, Ioannis G

2012-06-01

Agent-based modeling (ABM) constitutes a powerful computational tool for the exploration of phenomena involving emergent dynamic behavior in the social sciences. This paper demonstrates a computer-assisted approach that bridges the significant gap between the single-agent microscopic level and the macroscopic (coarse-grained population) level, where fundamental questions must be rationally answered and policies guiding the emergent dynamics devised. Our approach will be illustrated through an agent-based model of civil violence. This spatiotemporally varying ABM incorporates interactions between a heterogeneous population of citizens [active (insurgent), inactive, or jailed] and a population of police officers. Detailed simulations exhibit an equilibrium punctuated by periods of social upheavals. We show how to effectively reduce the agent-based dynamics to a stochastic model with only two coarse-grained degrees of freedom: the number of jailed citizens and the number of active ones. The coarse-grained model captures the ABM dynamics while drastically reducing the computation time (by a factor of approximately 20).

Model reduction for agent-based social simulation: Coarse-graining a civil violence model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zou, Yu; Fonoberov, Vladimir A.; Fonoberova, Maria; Mezic, Igor; Kevrekidis, Ioannis G.

2012-06-01

Agent-based modeling (ABM) constitutes a powerful computational tool for the exploration of phenomena involving emergent dynamic behavior in the social sciences. This paper demonstrates a computer-assisted approach that bridges the significant gap between the single-agent microscopic level and the macroscopic (coarse-grained population) level, where fundamental questions must be rationally answered and policies guiding the emergent dynamics devised. Our approach will be illustrated through an agent-based model of civil violence. This spatiotemporally varying ABM incorporates interactions between a heterogeneous population of citizens [active (insurgent), inactive, or jailed] and a population of police officers. Detailed simulations exhibit an equilibrium punctuated by periods of social upheavals. We show how to effectively reduce the agent-based dynamics to a stochastic model with only two coarse-grained degrees of freedom: the number of jailed citizens and the number of active ones. The coarse-grained model captures the ABM dynamics while drastically reducing the computation time (by a factor of approximately 20).

Method for the decontamination of metallic surfaces

DOEpatents

Purohit, Ankur; Kaminski, Michael D.; Nunez, Luis

2003-01-01

A method of decontaminating a radioactively contaminated oxide on a surface. The radioactively contaminated oxide is contacted with a diphosphonic acid solution for a time sufficient to dissolve the oxide and subsequently produce a precipitate containing most of the radioactive values. Thereafter, the diphosphonic solution is separated from the precipitate. HEDPA is the preferred diphosphonic acid and oxidizing and reducing agents are used to initiate precipitation. SFS is the preferred reducing agent.

76 FR 3076 - Availability of an Environmental Assessment for a Biological Control Agent for Air Potato

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-19

...] Availability of an Environmental Assessment for a Biological Control Agent for Air Potato AGENCY: Animal and... environmental assessment (EA) relative to the control of air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera). The EA considers the... States for use as a biological control agent to reduce the severity of air potato infestations. We are...

Semantic Comprehension of the Action-Role Relationship in Early-Linguistic Infants.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fritz, Janet J.; Suci, George J.

This study attempted to determine: (1) whether lower-order units (agent or agent-action) within the agent-action-recipient relationship exist in any functional way in the 1-word infant's comprehension of speech; and (2) whether the use of repetition and/or reduced length (common modifications in adult-to-infant speech) used to focus on these…

Asset Prices and Trading Volume under Fixed Transactions Costs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lo, Andrew W.; Mamaysky, Harry; Wang, Jiang

2004-01-01

We propose a dynamic equilibrium model of asset prices and trading volume when agents face fixed transactions costs. We show that even small fixed costs can give rise to large "no-trade" regions for each agent's optimal trading policy. The inability to trade more frequently reduces the agents' asset demand and in equilibrium gives rise to a…

Anaesthetic modulation of nicotinic ion channel kinetics in bovine chromaffin cells.

PubMed Central

Charlesworth, P; Richards, C D

1995-01-01

1. We have investigated the action of the anaesthetics methoxyflurane, methohexitone and etomidate on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor channel of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells using the whole cell patch clamp technique. 2. Spectral analysis of macroscopic currents evoked by 25 microM carbachol revealed that each of the agents tested reduced the lifetime of the channel open state in a dose-dependent manner. The whole cell current was inhibited in a concentration-dependent fashion by each agent. 3. Channel gating parameters were calculated from single channel studies and the results used to test models explaining the modulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor channels by anaesthetics. 4. Each of the agents studied reduced the mean channel open time in a concentration-dependent manner. Anaesthetic concentrations reducing mean open time by 50% were: 370 microM methoxyflurane, 30 microM methohexitone or 23 microM etomidate. 5. Methohexitone and etomidate produced an increase in the number of brief closures within bursts, while no such increase was observed with methoxyflurane. Despite these inter-burst gaps, mean burst length was reduced by each of the agents tested. 6. It is concluded that a simple sequential blocking model fails to account for the action of these anaesthetics. An extended model, in which blocked channels can close, may be applicable. PMID:7773553

Collaborating to reduce costs in invasive cardiology: the Partners Healthcare experience. Partners Healthcare Invasive Cardiology Team.

PubMed

Lee, T H

1995-11-01

As part of the closely watched marriage between Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, the invasive cardiology team--cardiologists and other staff from the two organizations--began with monthly meetings; its mission is to reduce costs of cardiology services while maintaining or improving patient satisfaction and outcomes. Joint purchasing efforts have led to substantial price reductions for some supplies, such as pacemakers and balloon angioplasty. However, concern over quality drove cardiologists to choose newer, more expensive models of other supplies, such as implantible cardioverter-defibrillators. Also, the team is studying the actual costs savings that can be achieved by shifting patients undergoing cardiac catheterization to the outpatient setting. In addition, cardiologists recognized an opportunity to decrease length of stay and increase quality by removing the arterial sheath for uncomplicated percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty patients on the same day the procedure is performed. Each hospital is developing strategies for this change in procedure. In addition to these improvement efforts, the team is encouraging optimal use of contrast agents and increasing overall efficiency of laboratories. Team members are also sharing guidelines and critical pathways and developing strategies for evaluating new technologies. The team has had little difficulty in achieving a collegial atmosphere and consensus around clinical issues and products once clinicians are face-to-face. Announcing bimonthly meetings may overcome meeting scheduling difficulties. The other major stumbling block has been the lack of detailed cost information.

Multiagent distributed watershed management

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giuliani, M.; Castelletti, A.; Amigoni, F.; Cai, X.

2012-04-01

Deregulation and democratization of water along with increasing environmental awareness are challenging integrated water resources planning and management worldwide. The traditional centralized approach to water management, as described in much of water resources literature, is often unfeasible in most of the modern social and institutional contexts. Thus it should be reconsidered from a more realistic and distributed perspective, in order to account for the presence of multiple and often independent Decision Makers (DMs) and many conflicting stakeholders. Game theory based approaches are often used to study these situations of conflict (Madani, 2010), but they are limited to a descriptive perspective. Multiagent systems (see Wooldridge, 2009), instead, seem to be a more suitable paradigm because they naturally allow to represent a set of self-interested agents (DMs and/or stakeholders) acting in a distributed decision process at the agent level, resulting in a promising compromise alternative between the ideal centralized solution and the actual uncoordinated practices. Casting a water management problem in a multiagent framework allows to exploit the techniques and methods that are already available in this field for solving distributed optimization problems. In particular, in Distributed Constraint Satisfaction Problems (DCSP, see Yokoo et al., 2000), each agent controls some variables according to his own utility function but has to satisfy inter-agent constraints; while in Distributed Constraint Optimization Problems (DCOP, see Modi et al., 2005), the problem is generalized by introducing a global objective function to be optimized that requires a coordination mechanism between the agents. In this work, we apply a DCSP-DCOP based approach to model a steady state hypothetical watershed management problem (Yang et al., 2009), involving several active human agents (i.e. agents who make decisions) and reactive ecological agents (i.e. agents representing environmental interests). Different scenarios of distributed management are simulated, i.e. a situation where all the agents act independently, a situation in which a global coordination takes place and in-between solutions. The solutions are compared with the ones presented in Yang et al. (2009), aiming to present more general multiagent approaches to solve distributed management problems.

Design and analysis of a worm gear turntable off-axis assembly method in a three-grating monochromator.

PubMed

Chen, Jianjun; Cui, Jicheng; Yao, Xuefeng; Liu, Jianan; Sun, Ci

2018-04-01

To solve the problem where the actual grating aperture decreases with an increasing scanning angle during the scanning of a three-grating monochromator, we propose an off-axis assembly method for the worm gear turntable that makes it possible to suppress this aperture reduction. We simulated and compared the traditional assembly method with the off-axis assembly method in the three-grating monochromator. Results show that the actual grating aperture can be improved by the off-axis assembly method. In fact, for any one of the three gratings, when the monochromator outputs the longest wavelength in the corresponding wavelength band, the actual grating aperture increases by 45.93%. Over the entire monochromator output band, the actual grating aperture increased by an average of 32.56% and can thus improve the monochromator's output energy. Improvement of the actual grating aperture can also reduce the stray light intensity in the monochromator and improve its output signal-to-noise ratio.

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy for HER2+ breast cancers: A feasibility study evaluating BNCT for potential role in breast conservation therapies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jenkins, Peter Anthony

A novel Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) regimen for the treatment of HER2+ breast cancers has been proposed as an alternative to whole breast irradiation for breast conservation therapy patients. The proposed therapy regimen is based on the assumed production of boron delivery agents that would be synthesized from compounds of Trastuzumab (Herceptin ®) and oligomeric phosphate diesters (OPDs). The combination of the anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody and the high boron loading capability of OPDs has led to the assumption that boron could be delivered to the HER2+ cancer cells at Tumor to Healthy Tissue ratios (T:H) of up to 35:1 and boron concentrations above 50 μg/g. This significantly increased boron delivery efficiency has opened new BNCT possibilities. This proof of concept study examined treatment parameters derived as the results in previous efforts in the context of patient-specific geometry and compared calculated dose results to those observed during actual patient therapy. These results were based on dose calculations performed with a set of calculated Kerma coefficients derived from tissues specific to the regions of interest for breast cancer. A comparison was made of the dose to the tumor region, the patient's skin, and the peripheral organs. The results of this study demonstrated that, given the performance of the proposed boron delivery agent, the BNCT treatment regimen is feasible. The feasibility is based on the findings that the equivalent dose could be delivered to the treatment volume with less dose to the skin and peripheral organs. This is anticipated to improve the treatment outcomes by maintaining local control of tumor cells while reducing dose to healthy tissues.

Health survey of former workers in a Norwegian coke plant: Part. 1. Estimation of historical exposures

PubMed Central

Romundstad, P. R.; Ronneberg, A.; Leira, H. L.; Bye, T.

1998-01-01

OBJECTIVE: To estimate historical exposure levels at a coke plant for all agents considered to be of importance for epidemiological studies of mortality and cancer incidence. METHODS: Time weighted average exposure (8 h TWA) was estimated based on personal measurements for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and carbonaceous particulates. Exposure to quartz was estimated relative to the concentration of carbonaceous particulates. These estimates were adjusted for the use of airstream helmets. Exposure to other agents were estimated qualitatively (asbestos, benzene, and arsenic) or semi-quantitatively (carbon monoxide (CO) and heat) based on measurements and other indicators of exposure. RESULTS: Exposure to PAHs was highest for those who worked at the top of the ovens (300 micrograms/m3) in the period from 1970-6. The estimated PAH exposure was reduced to an average of 65 micrograms/m3 after the introduction of exposure control measures in 1976. The estimates for carbonaceous particulates ranged from 1 to 16 mg/m3, with the highest exposure for workers at the top of the ovens and at the coke screening station. CONCLUSIONS: The exposure of greatest concern in this study is to PAHs, but exposures to carbonaceous particulates and CO may also be of importance. The major limitations of this study are the lack of personal measurements before 1975 and the total lack of measurements for some of the exposed categories of workers. Despite these limitations, we think that this assessment reflects the actual exposures for most of the former employees. The assessment thus provides a reasonable tool for the subsequent epidemiological study and for future epidemiological follow up studies at the coke plant.   PMID:9861184

Biodefense research: can secrecy and safety coexist?

PubMed

Kahn, Laura H

2004-01-01

Over the next 10 years, the United States will spend 6 billion US dollars to develop countermeasures against biological and chemical weapons. Much of this research on highly virulent pathogens will be done in academic settings around the country. This article explores the challenges in ensuring secrecy to protect national security while accommodating the right of local communities to have access to safety information regarding select agents and laboratory-acquired infections. Secrecy has been defended as being vital for protecting national security. Problems with secrecy can include the misinterpretation of intentions, particularly in laboratories located in nuclear weapons design facilities, and the restricted access to information relevant to public health and safety. While federal select agent legislation requires laboratories to have emergency plans in place with first responders, these plans do not necessarily include public health professionals, who will be responsible for any future public health action, such as quarantine, surveillance, or mass vaccinations, in the unlikely event that a laboratory-acquired infection spreads into a community. Laboratory-acquired infections do occur, even with the best safety mechanisms in place; however, the epidemiology of the incidence and severity of these infections are not known since there is no national surveillance reporting system. Evidence suggests that many of these infections occur in the absence of an actual laboratory accident. The best emergency plans and surveillance systems are only as good as the participation and vigilance of the laboratory workers themselves. Thus, laboratory workers have a responsibility to themselves and others to report all laboratory accidents and spills, regardless how minor. In addition, they should have a lower threshold than normal in seeking medical attention when feeling ill, and their physicians should be aware of what pathogens they work with to reduce the risk of a delay in diagnosis.

Rationale and design of the multicenter randomized trial investigating the effects of levosimendan pretreatment in patients with low ejection fraction (≤40 %) undergoing CABG with cardiopulmonary bypass (LICORN study).

PubMed

Caruba, Thibaut; Hourton, Delphine; Sabatier, Brigitte; Rousseau, Dominique; Tibi, Annick; Hoffart-Jourdain, Cécile; Souag, Akim; Freitas, Nelly; Yjjou, Mounia; Almeida, Carla; Gomes, Nathalie; Aucouturier, Pascaline; Djadi-Prat, Juliette; Menasché, Philippe; Chatellier, Gilles; Cholley, Bernard

2016-08-05

Patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of less than 40 % are at high risk of developing postoperative low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS). Despite actual treatments (inotropic agents and/or mechanical assist devices), the mortality rate of such patients remains very high (13 to 24 %). The LICORN trial aims at assessing the efficacy of a preoperative infusion of levosimendan in reducing postoperative LCOS in patients with poor LVEF undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). LICORN study is a multicenter, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in parallel groups. 340 patients with LVEF ≤40 %, undergoing CABG will be recruited from 13 French hospitals. The study drug will be started after anaesthesia induction and infused over 24 h (0.1 μg/kg/min). The primary outcome (postoperative LCOS) is evaluated using a composite criterion composed of: 1) need for inotropic agents beyond 24 h following discontinuation of the study drug; 2) need for post-operative mechanical assist devices or failure to wean from these techniques when inserted pre-operatively; 3) need for renal replacement therapy. Secondary outcomes include: 1) mortality at Day 28 and Day 180; 2) each item of the composite criterion of the primary outcome; 3) the number of "ventilator-free" days and "out of intensive care unit" days at Day 28. The usefulness of levosimendan in the perioperative period has not yet been documented with a high level of evidence. The LICORN study is the first randomized controlled trial evaluating the clinical value of preoperative levosimendan in high risk cardiac surgical patients undergoing CABG. NCT02184819 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Distinct pathways for repairing mutagenic lesions induced by methylating and ethylating agents

PubMed Central

Negishi, Tomoe

2013-01-01

DNA alkylation damage can be repaired by nucleotide excision repair (NER), base excision repair (BER) or by direct removal of alkyl groups from modified bases by O 6-alkylguanine DNA alkyltransferase (AGT; E.C. 2.1.1.63). DNA mismatch repair (MMR) is also likely involved in this repair. We have investigated alkylation-induced mutagenesis in a series of NER- or AGT-deficient Escherichia coli strains, alone or in combination with defects in the MutS, MutL or MutH components of MMR. All strains used contained the Fʹprolac from strain CC102 (FʹCC102) episome capable of detecting specifically lac GC to AT reverse mutations resulting from O 6-alkylguanine. The results showed the repair of O 6-methylguanine to be performed by AGT ≫ MMR > NER in order of importance, whereas the repair of O 6-ethylguanine followed the order NER > AGT > MMR. Studies with double mutants showed that in the absence of AGT or NER repair pathways, the lack of MutS protein generally increased mutant frequencies for both methylating and ethylating agents, suggesting a repair or mutation avoidance role for this protein. However, lack of MutL or MutH protein did not increase alkylation-induced mutagenesis under these conditions and, in fact, reduced mutagenesis by the N-alkyl-N-nitrosoureas MNU and ENU. The combined results suggest that little or no alkylation damage is actually corrected by the mutHLS MMR system; instead, an as yet unspecified interaction of MutS protein with alkylated DNA may promote the involvement of a repair system other than MMR to avoid a mutagenic outcome. Furthermore, both mutagenic and antimutagenic effects of MMR were detected, revealing a dual function of the MMR system in alkylation-exposed cells. PMID:23446177

Counterconditioning reduces cue-induced craving and actual cue-elicited consumption.

PubMed

Van Gucht, Dinska; Baeyens, Frank; Vansteenwegen, Debora; Hermans, Dirk; Beckers, Tom

2010-10-01

Cue-induced craving is not easily reduced by an extinction or exposure procedure and may constitute an important route toward relapse in addictive behavior after treatment. In the present study, we investigated the effectiveness of counterconditioning as an alternative procedure to reduce cue-induced craving, in a nonclinical population. We found that a cue, initially paired with chocolate consumption, did not cease to elicit craving for chocolate after extinction (repeated presentation of the cue without chocolate consumption), but did so after counterconditioning (repeated pairing of the cue with consumption of a highly disliked liquid, Polysorbate 20). This effect persisted after 1 week. Counterconditioning moreover was more effective than extinction in disrupting reported expectancy to get to eat chocolate, and also appeared to be more effective in reducing actual cue-elicited chocolate consumption. These results suggest that counterconditioning may be more promising than cue exposure for the prevention of relapse in addictive behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).

Agent-specific learning signals for self–other distinction during mentalising

PubMed Central

Dolan, Raymond J.; Kurth-Nelson, Zeb

2018-01-01

Humans have a remarkable ability to simulate the minds of others. How the brain distinguishes between mental states attributed to self and mental states attributed to someone else is unknown. Here, we investigated how fundamental neural learning signals are selectively attributed to different agents. Specifically, we asked whether learning signals are encoded in agent-specific neural patterns or whether a self–other distinction depends on encoding agent identity separately from this learning signal. To examine this, we tasked subjects to learn continuously 2 models of the same environment, such that one was selectively attributed to self and the other was selectively attributed to another agent. Combining computational modelling with magnetoencephalography (MEG) enabled us to track neural representations of prediction errors (PEs) and beliefs attributed to self, and of simulated PEs and beliefs attributed to another agent. We found that the representational pattern of a PE reliably predicts the identity of the agent to whom the signal is attributed, consistent with a neural self–other distinction implemented via agent-specific learning signals. Strikingly, subjects exhibiting a weaker neural self–other distinction also had a reduced behavioural capacity for self–other distinction and displayed more marked subclinical psychopathological traits. The neural self–other distinction was also modulated by social context, evidenced in a significantly reduced decoding of agent identity in a nonsocial control task. Thus, we show that self–other distinction is realised through an encoding of agent identity intrinsic to fundamental learning signals. The observation that the fidelity of this encoding predicts psychopathological traits is of interest as a potential neurocomputational psychiatric biomarker. PMID:29689053

Inhibition of Inflammation Mediated Through the Tumor Necrosis Factor α Biochemical Pathway Can Lead to Favorable Outcomes in Alzheimer Disease

PubMed Central

Shamim, Daniah; Laskowski, Michael

2017-01-01

Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) inhibitors have long been used as disease-modifying agents in immune disorders. Recently, research has shown a role of chronic neuroinflammation in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease, and interest has been generated in the use of anti-TNF agents and TNF-modulating agents for prevention and treatment. This article extensively reviewed literature on animal studies testing these agents. The results showed a role for direct and indirect TNF-α inhibition through agents such as thalidomide, 3,6-dithiothalidomide, etanercept, infliximab, exendin-4, sodium hydrosulfide, minocycline, imipramine, and atorvastatin. Studies were performed on mice, rats, and monkeys, with induction of neurodegenerative physiology either through the use of chemical agents or through the use of transgenic animals. Most of these agents showed an improvement in cognitive function as tested with the Morris water maze, and immunohistochemical and histopathological staining studies consistently showed better outcomes with these agents. Brains of treated animals showed significant reduction in pro-inflammatory TNF-α and reduced the burden of neurofibrillary tangles, amyloid precursor protein, and β-amyloid plaques. Also, recruitment of microglial cells in the central nervous system was significantly reduced through these drugs. These studies provide a clearer mechanistic understanding of the role of TNF-α modulation in Alzheimer disease. All studies in this review explored the use of these drugs as prophylactic agents to prevent Alzheimer disease through immune modulation of the TNF inflammatory pathway, and their success highlights the need for further research of these drugs as therapeutic agents. PMID:28811745

Inhibition of Inflammation Mediated Through the Tumor Necrosis Factor α Biochemical Pathway Can Lead to Favorable Outcomes in Alzheimer Disease.

PubMed

Shamim, Daniah; Laskowski, Michael

2017-01-01

Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) inhibitors have long been used as disease-modifying agents in immune disorders. Recently, research has shown a role of chronic neuroinflammation in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease, and interest has been generated in the use of anti-TNF agents and TNF-modulating agents for prevention and treatment. This article extensively reviewed literature on animal studies testing these agents. The results showed a role for direct and indirect TNF-α inhibition through agents such as thalidomide, 3,6-dithiothalidomide, etanercept, infliximab, exendin-4, sodium hydrosulfide, minocycline, imipramine, and atorvastatin. Studies were performed on mice, rats, and monkeys, with induction of neurodegenerative physiology either through the use of chemical agents or through the use of transgenic animals. Most of these agents showed an improvement in cognitive function as tested with the Morris water maze, and immunohistochemical and histopathological staining studies consistently showed better outcomes with these agents. Brains of treated animals showed significant reduction in pro-inflammatory TNF-α and reduced the burden of neurofibrillary tangles, amyloid precursor protein, and β-amyloid plaques. Also, recruitment of microglial cells in the central nervous system was significantly reduced through these drugs. These studies provide a clearer mechanistic understanding of the role of TNF-α modulation in Alzheimer disease. All studies in this review explored the use of these drugs as prophylactic agents to prevent Alzheimer disease through immune modulation of the TNF inflammatory pathway, and their success highlights the need for further research of these drugs as therapeutic agents.

Agent-specific learning signals for self-other distinction during mentalising.

PubMed

Ereira, Sam; Dolan, Raymond J; Kurth-Nelson, Zeb

2018-04-01

Humans have a remarkable ability to simulate the minds of others. How the brain distinguishes between mental states attributed to self and mental states attributed to someone else is unknown. Here, we investigated how fundamental neural learning signals are selectively attributed to different agents. Specifically, we asked whether learning signals are encoded in agent-specific neural patterns or whether a self-other distinction depends on encoding agent identity separately from this learning signal. To examine this, we tasked subjects to learn continuously 2 models of the same environment, such that one was selectively attributed to self and the other was selectively attributed to another agent. Combining computational modelling with magnetoencephalography (MEG) enabled us to track neural representations of prediction errors (PEs) and beliefs attributed to self, and of simulated PEs and beliefs attributed to another agent. We found that the representational pattern of a PE reliably predicts the identity of the agent to whom the signal is attributed, consistent with a neural self-other distinction implemented via agent-specific learning signals. Strikingly, subjects exhibiting a weaker neural self-other distinction also had a reduced behavioural capacity for self-other distinction and displayed more marked subclinical psychopathological traits. The neural self-other distinction was also modulated by social context, evidenced in a significantly reduced decoding of agent identity in a nonsocial control task. Thus, we show that self-other distinction is realised through an encoding of agent identity intrinsic to fundamental learning signals. The observation that the fidelity of this encoding predicts psychopathological traits is of interest as a potential neurocomputational psychiatric biomarker.

[Neoliberalism, pesticide consumption and food sovereignty crisis in Brazil].

PubMed

de Miranda, Ary Carvalho; Moreira, Josino Costa; de Carvalho, René; Peres, Frederico

2007-01-01

The adoption of neo-liberal economic models in Latin American countries between the late 1980's and early 1990's has led to, among other impacts, a significant change in the rural production model, with a clear incentive to exportation-oriented agribusiness, especially that based on extensive monoculture (soy-bean, corn, cotton etc.). This change, primarily focused on rural production increment, was supported by the implementation of new production technologies, especially the use of chemical agents for crop protection and pest control. The impacts of the indiscriminate and extensive use of these chemical agents for actual and future generations of rural workers are indeterminate. Furthermore, it is hard to estimate the dimension of correlated environmental damages. In the present article, the role of pesticides use in rural production is discussed, contextualizing the local and regional rural production panorama and the impacts - economic, social, environmental and sanitary - of neo-liberal rural production policies.

Protection of autonomous microgrids using agent-based distributed communication

DOE PAGES

Cintuglu, Mehmet H.; Ma, Tan; Mohammed, Osama A.

2016-04-06

This study presents a real-time implementation of autonomous microgrid protection using agent-based distributed communication. Protection of an autonomous microgrid requires special considerations compared to large scale distribution net-works due to the presence of power converters and relatively low inertia. In this work, we introduce a practical overcurrent and a frequency selectivity method to overcome conventional limitations. The proposed overcurrent scheme defines a selectivity mechanism considering the remedial action scheme (RAS) of the microgrid after a fault instant based on feeder characteristics and the location of the intelligent electronic devices (IEDs). A synchrophasor-based online frequency selectivity approach is proposed to avoidmore » pulse loading effects in low inertia microgrids. Experimental results are presented for verification of the pro-posed schemes using a laboratory based microgrid. The setup was composed of actual generation units and IEDs using IEC 61850 protocol. The experimental results were in excellent agreement with the proposed protection scheme.« less

Decentralized Observer with a Consensus Filter for Distributed Discrete-Time Linear Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Acikmese, Behcet; Mandic, Milan

2011-01-01

This paper presents a decentralized observer with a consensus filter for the state observation of a discrete-time linear distributed systems. In this setup, each agent in the distributed system has an observer with a model of the plant that utilizes the set of locally available measurements, which may not make the full plant state detectable. This lack of detectability is overcome by utilizing a consensus filter that blends the state estimate of each agent with its neighbors' estimates. We assume that the communication graph is connected for all times as well as the sensing graph. It is proven that the state estimates of the proposed observer asymptotically converge to the actual plant states under arbitrarily changing, but connected, communication and sensing topologies. As a byproduct of this research, we also obtained a result on the location of eigenvalues, the spectrum, of the Laplacian for a family of graphs with self-loops.

New Frontiers in the Treatment of Diabetic Dyslipidemia

PubMed Central

Wang, Shu-Yi; Hsieh, Ming-Chia; Tu, Shih-Te; Chuang, Chieh-Sen

2013-01-01

Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular complications in people with diabetes. Lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels is effective in the primary and secondary prevention of diabetic vascular complications. However, LDL-C levels do not reflect all aspects of diabetic dyslipidemia, which is characterized by hypertriglyceridemia and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Statins, nicotinic acid, and fibrates play a role in treating diabetic dyslipidemia. Atherosclerosis is a major disorder of the blood vessel wall in patients with diabetes. A number of antihyperlipidemic agents may be beneficial and exhibit effects at the actual site of vascular disease and not only on plasma lipoprotein concentrations. Several novel therapeutic compounds are currently being developed. These include additional therapeutics for LDL-C, triglycerides, HDL-C, and modulators of inflammation that can be used as possible synergic agents for the treatment of atherosclerosis and irregularities in plasma lipoprotein concentrations. PMID:24380093

Protection of autonomous microgrids using agent-based distributed communication

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

Cintuglu, Mehmet H.; Ma, Tan; Mohammed, Osama A.

This study presents a real-time implementation of autonomous microgrid protection using agent-based distributed communication. Protection of an autonomous microgrid requires special considerations compared to large scale distribution net-works due to the presence of power converters and relatively low inertia. In this work, we introduce a practical overcurrent and a frequency selectivity method to overcome conventional limitations. The proposed overcurrent scheme defines a selectivity mechanism considering the remedial action scheme (RAS) of the microgrid after a fault instant based on feeder characteristics and the location of the intelligent electronic devices (IEDs). A synchrophasor-based online frequency selectivity approach is proposed to avoidmore » pulse loading effects in low inertia microgrids. Experimental results are presented for verification of the pro-posed schemes using a laboratory based microgrid. The setup was composed of actual generation units and IEDs using IEC 61850 protocol. The experimental results were in excellent agreement with the proposed protection scheme.« less

RoboCup-Rescue: an international cooperative research project of robotics and AI for the disaster mitigation problem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tadokoro, Satoshi; Kitano, Hiroaki; Takahashi, Tomoichi; Noda, Itsuki; Matsubara, Hitoshi; Shinjoh, Atsushi; Koto, Tetsuo; Takeuchi, Ikuo; Takahashi, Hironao; Matsuno, Fumitoshi; Hatayama, Mitsunori; Nobe, Jun; Shimada, Susumu

2000-07-01

This paper introduces the RoboCup-Rescue Simulation Project, a contribution to the disaster mitigation, search and rescue problem. A comprehensive urban disaster simulator is constructed on distributed computers. Heterogeneous intelligent agents such as fire fighters, victims and volunteers conduct search and rescue activities in this virtual disaster world. A real world interface integrates various sensor systems and controllers of infrastructures in the real cities with the real world. Real-time simulation is synchronized with actual disasters, computing complex relationship between various damage factors and agent behaviors. A mission-critical man-machine interface provides portability and robustness of disaster mitigation centers, and augmented-reality interfaces for rescue in real disasters. It also provides a virtual- reality training function for the public. This diverse spectrum of RoboCup-Rescue contributes to the creation of the safer social system.

Multiple stresses from a single agent: Diverse responses to the experimental acidification of Little Rock Lake, Wisconsin

USGS Publications Warehouse

Frost, T.M.; Montz, P.K.; Kratz, T.K.; Badillo, T.; Brezonik, P.L.; Gonzalez, M.J.; Rada, R.G.; Watras, C.J.; Webster, K.E.; Wiener, J.G.; Williamson, C.E.; Morris, D.P.

1999-01-01

A single stress, acidification with sulfuric acid, was applied to Little Rack Lake in a whole-ecosystem manipulation. We documented a wide range of responses to the acidification, including increases in the concentrations of various chemicals, shifts in microbial processes and a major increase in water clarity to UV-B radiation. Each of these changes could in itself be considered as a separate ecosystem stress that is distinct from the intended manipulation. Acidification in Little Rock Lake was accompanied by a number of substantial changes in the occurrence of organisms. A series of detailed investigations indicates that the mechanisms underlying these organismal changes are varied but cannot usually be tied to the direct effects of acidification. Overall, our results demonstrate how multiple stresses can arise from a single agent operating on an ecosystem and suggest that singly operating stresses may actually be quite rare.

Surrogate measures: A proposed alternative in human factors assessment of operational measures of performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kennedy, Robert S.; Lane, Norman E.; Kuntz, Lois A.

1987-01-01

Surrogate measures are proposed as an alternative to direct assessment of operational performance for purposes of screening agents who may have to work under unusual stresses or in exotic environments. Such measures are particularly proposed when the surrogate can be empirically validated against the operational criterion. The focus is on cognitive (or throughput) performances in humans as opposed to sensory (input) or motor (output) measures, but the methods should be applicable for development of batteries which will tap input/output functions. A menu of performance tasks is under development for implementation on a battery-operated portable microcomputer, with 21 tests currently available. The tasks are reliable and become stable in minimum amounts of time; appear sensitive to some agents; comprise constructs related to actual job tasks; and are easily administered in most environments. Implications for human factors engineering studies in environmental stress are discussed.

Efficacy and safety of the third-generation chloroethylnitrosourea fotemustine for the treatment of chemorefractory T-cell lymphomas.

PubMed

Corazzelli, Gaetano; Frigeri, Ferdinando; Arcamone, Manuela; Aloj, Luigi; Capobianco, Gaetana; Becchimanzi, Cristina; Morelli, Emanuela; Volzone, Francesco; Marcacci, Gianpaolo; Russo, Filippo; De Filippi, Rosaria; Lastoria, Secondo; Pinto, Antonio

2011-12-01

Patients with recurring T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (T-NHL) are incurable and candidate for investigational agents. Here, we report on five patients with T-NHL refractory to multiple chemotherapy lines, including in all cases alkylators and gemcitabine, who received the third-generation chloroethylnitrosourea fotemustine at a dose of 120 mg/m(2) every 21 d, up to eight courses. Median actual dose intensity was 79%; toxicity was manageable and mainly hematological. One complete remission, one partial remission, two protracted disease stabilization, and one transient, minor response were achieved. Time to progression ranged from 48 to 240+ d. This is the first evidence ever reporting the activity of fotemustine in end-stage T-NHL. Formal studies with this agent are warranted in T-cell malignancies. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Elucidation of the Key Role of [Ru(bpy)3 ](2+) in Photocatalyzed RAFT Polymerization.

PubMed

Christmann, Julien; Ibrahim, Ahmad; Charlot, Vincent; Croutxé-Barghorn, Céline; Ley, Christian; Allonas, Xavier

2016-08-04

Photocatalysis reactions using [Ru(II) (bpy)3 ](2+) were studied on the example of visible-light-sensitized reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Although both photoinduced electron- and energy-transfer mechanisms are able to describe this interaction, no definitive experimental proof has been presented so far. This paper investigates the actual mechanism governing this reaction. A set of RAFT agents was selected, their redox potentials measured by cyclic voltammetry, and relaxed triplet energies calculated by quantum mechanics. Gibbs free-energy values were calculated for both electron- and energy-transfer mechanisms. Quenching rate constants were determined by laser flash photolysis. The results undoubtedly evidence the involvement of a photoinduced energy-transfer reaction. Controlled photopolymerization experiments are discussed in the light of the primary photochemical process and photodissociation ability of RAFT agent triplet states. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The evolution of social behavior in the prehistoric American southwest.

PubMed

Gumerman, George J; Swedlund, Alan C; Dean, Jeffrey S; Epstein, Joshua M

2003-01-01

Long House Valley, located in the Black Mesa area of northeastern Arizona (USA), was inhabited by the Kayenta Anasazi from circa 1800 B.C. to circa A.D. 1300. These people were prehistoric precursors of the modern Pueblo cultures of the Colorado Plateau. A rich paleoenvironmental record, based on alluvial geomorphology, palynology, and dendroclimatology, permits the accurate quantitative reconstruction of annual fluctuations in potential agricultural production (kg maize/hectare). The archaeological record of Anasazi farming groups from A.D. 200 to 1300 provides information on a millennium of sociocultural stasis, variability, change, and adaptation. We report on a multi-agent computational model of this society that closely reproduces the main features of its actual history, including population ebb and flow, changing spatial settlement patterns, and eventual rapid decline. The agents in the model are monoagriculturalists, who decide both where to situate their fields and where to locate their settlements.

Effects of Nurses' Perceptions of Actual and Demanded Competence on Turnover Intentions.

PubMed

Takase, Miyuki; Yamamoto, Masako; Sato, Yoko; Imai, Takiko; Kawamoto, Mitsuko

2017-10-01

With the growing focus on continuous professional development, demands placed on nurses to uphold nursing competence have been increasing. This study examined how nurses with different lengths of clinical experience perceived the relationship between their actual competence and the competence they felt was demanded of them, and how this relationship was related to their turnover intentions. Survey questionnaires were distributed to 1,377 nurses, of whom 765 returned usable completed forms. The results showed that across all the groups of clinical experience, nurses perceived the demanded competence levels to be higher than their actual competence levels. However, turnover intentions were not related to nurses' perceptions of demanded competence and were negatively related to perceptions of actual competence. The levels of competence demanded should not be considered as threats for nurses. Improving nurses' competence may reduce their turnover intentions.

Effect of spent mushroom substrate as a bulking agent on gaseous emissions and compost quality during pig manure composting.

PubMed

Li, Shuyan; Li, Danyang; Li, Jijin; Li, Yangyang; Li, Guoxue; Zang, Bing; Li, Yun

2018-05-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the gaseous emissions (CH 4 , N 2 O, and NH 3 ) and compost quality during the pig manure composting by adding spent mushroom substrate (SMS) as a bulking agent. The control treatment was also studied using corn stalk (CS) as a bulking agent. The experiment was conducted in a pilot scale composting reactor under aerobic condition with the initial C/N ratio of 20. Results showed that bulking agents significantly affected gaseous emissions and compost quality. Using SMS as a bulking agent improved composting efficiency by shortening the time for maturity. SMS increased germination index and humic acid of the final compost (by 13.44 and 41.94%, respectively) compared with CS. Furthermore, composting with SMS as a bulking agent could reduce nitrogen loss, NH 3 , and N 2 O emissions (by 13.57, 35.56, and 46.48%, respectively) compared with the control. SMS slightly increased CH 4 emission about 1.1 times of the CS. However, a 33.95% decrease in the global warming potential of CH 4 and N 2 O was obtained by adding SMS treatment. These results indicate that SMS is a favorable bulking agent for reducing gaseous emissions and increasing compost quality.

Effects of dual antibacterial agents MDPB and nano-silver in primer on microcosm biofilm, cytotoxicity and dentin bond properties

PubMed Central

Zhang, Ke; Cheng, Lei; Imazato, Satoshi; Antonucci, Joseph M.; Lin, Nancy J.; Lin-Gibson, Sheng; Bai, Yuxing; Xu, Hockin H. K.

2013-01-01

Objectives The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dentin primer containing dual antibacterial agents, namely, 12-methacryloyloxydodecylpyridinium bromide (MDPB) and nanoparticles of silver (NAg), on dentin bond strength, dental plaque microcosm biofilm response, and fibroblast cytotoxicity for the first time. Methods Scotchbond Multi-Purpose (SBMP) was used as the parent bonding agent. Four primers were tested: SBMP primer control (referred to as “P”), P+5%MDPB, P+0.05%NAg, and P+5%MDPB+0.05%NAg. Dentin shear bond strengths were measured using extracted human teeth. Biofilms from the mixed saliva of 10 donors were cultured to investigate metabolic activity, colony-forming units (CFU), and lactic acid production. Human fibroblast cytotoxicity of the four primers was tested in vitro. Results Incorporating MDPB and NAg into primer did not reduce dentin bond strength compared to control (p>0.1). SEM revealed well-bonded adhesive-dentin interfaces with numerous resin tags. MDPB or NAg each greatly reduced biofilm viability and acid production, compared to control. Dual agents MDPB+NAg had a much stronger effect than either agent alone (p<0.05), increasing inhibition zone size and reducing metabolic activity, CFU and lactic acid by an order of magnitude, compared to control. There was no difference in cytotoxicity between commercial control and antibacterial primers (p>0.1). Conclusions The method of using dual agents MDPB+NAg in the primer yielded potent antibacterial properties. Hence, this method may be promising to combat residual bacteria in tooth cavity and invading bacteria at the margins. The dual agents MDPB+NAg may have wide applicability to other adhesives, composites, sealants and cements to inhibit biofilms and caries. PMID:23402889

Triggered pore-forming agents

DOEpatents

Bayley, Hagan; Walker, Barbara J.; Chang, Chung-yu; Niblack, Brett; Panchal, Rekha

1998-01-01

An inactive pore-forming agent which is activated to lytic function by a condition such as pH, light, heat, reducing potential, or metal ion concentration, or substance such as a protease, at the surface of a cell.

Learning other agents` preferences in multiagent negotiation

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

Bui, H.H.; Kieronska, D.; Venkatesh, S.

In multiagent systems, an agent does not usually have complete information about the preferences and decision making processes of other agents. This might prevent the agents from making coordinated choices, purely due to their ignorance of what others want. This paper describes the integration of a learning module into a communication-intensive negotiating agent architecture. The learning module gives the agents the ability to learn about other agents` preferences via past interactions. Over time, the agents can incrementally update their models of other agents` preferences and use them to make better coordinated decisions. Combining both communication and learning, as two complementmore » knowledge acquisition methods, helps to reduce the amount of communication needed on average, and is justified in situations where communication is computationally costly or simply not desirable (e.g. to preserve the individual privacy).« less

Study on antibacterial alginate-stabilized copper nanoparticles by FT-IR and 2D-IR correlation spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Díaz-Visurraga, Judith; Daza, Carla; Pozo, Claudio; Becerra, Abraham; von Plessing, Carlos; García, Apolinaria

2012-01-01

Background The objective of this study was to clarify the intermolecular interaction between antibacterial copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) and sodium alginate (NaAlg) by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and to process the spectra applying two-dimensional infrared (2D-IR) correlation analysis. To our knowledge, the addition of NaAlg as a stabilizer of copper nanoparticles has not been previously reported. It is expected that the obtained results will provide valuable additional information on: (1) the influence of reducing agent ratio on the formation of copper nanoparticles in order to design functional nanomaterials with increased antibacterial activity, and (2) structural changes related to the incorporation of Cu NPs into the polymer matrix. Methods Cu NPs were prepared by microwave heating using ascorbic acid as reducing agent and NaAlg as stabilizing agent. The characterization of synthesized Cu NPs by ultraviolet visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron diffraction analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and semiquantitative analysis of the weight percentage composition indicated that the average particle sizes of Cu NPs are about 3–10 nm, they are spherical in shape, and consist of zerovalent Cu and Cu2O. Also, crystallite size and relative particle size of stabilized Cu NPs were calculated by XRD using Scherrer’s formula and FT from the X-ray diffraction data. Thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), FT-IR, second-derivative spectra, and 2D-IR correlation analysis were applied to studying the stabilization mechanism of Cu NPs by NaAlg molecules. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of stabilized Cu NPs against five bacterial strains (Staphylococccus aureus ATCC 6538P, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and O157: H7, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium ATCC 13311 and 14028) were evaluated with macrodilution, agar dilution plate count, and well-diffusion methods. Results On the basis of the semiquantitative analysis, there was a direct correlation between the reducing agent ratio and the percentage of zerovalent Cu. This was confirmed with the statistical analysis of population of Cu NPs from TEM micrographs. At lower reducing agent ratios, two phases coexist (Cu2O and zerovalent Cu) due to incomplete reduction of copper ions by the reducing agent; however, at higher reducing agent ratios, the Cu NPs consist mainly of zerovalent Cu. Crystallite size and relative particle size of stabilized Cu NPs showed considerable differences in results and tendencies in respect to TEM analysis. However, the relative particle size values obtained from FT of XRD data agreed well with the histograms from the TEM observations. From FT results, the relative particle size and reducing agent ratio of stabilized Cu NPs showed an inverse correlation. The incomplete reduction of copper ions at lower reducing agent ratios was also confirmed by DSC studies. FT-IR and 2D-IR correlation spectra analysis suggested the first event involved in the stabilization of Cu NPs is their electrostatic interaction with –C=O of carboxylate groups of NaAlg, followed by the interaction with the available O–C–O−, and finally with the –OH groups. Bacterial susceptibility to stabilized nanoparticles was found to vary depending on the bacterial strains. The lowest MIC and MBC of stabilized Cu NPs ranged between 2 mg/L and 8 mg/L for all studied strains. Disk-diffusion studies with both E. coli strains revealed greater effectiveness of the stabilized Cu NPs compared to the positive controls (cloxacillin, amoxicillin, and nitrofurantoin). S. aureus showed the highest sensitivity to stabilized Cu NPs compared to the other studied strains. Conclusion Cu NPs were successfully synthesized via chemical reduction assisted with microwave heating. Average particle size, polydispersity, and phase composition of Cu NPs depended mainly on the reducing agent ratio. Likewise, thermal stability and antibacterial activity of stabilized Cu NPs were affected by their phase composition. Because of the carboxylate groups in polymer chains, the structural changes of stabilized Cu NPs are different from those of NaAlg. NaAlg acted as a size controller and stabilizing agent of Cu NPs, due to their ability to bind strongly to the metal surface. Our study on the stabilizing agent–dependent structural changes of stabilized NPs is helpful for wide application of NaAlg as an important biopolymer. PMID:22848180

Design Insights for MapReduce from Diverse Production Workloads

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-25

different industries [5]. Consequently, there is a need to develop systematic knowledge of MapRe- duce behavior at both established users within technol...relevant to MapReduce-like systems that combine data movements and computation. 5.2 Task granularity Many MapReduce workload management mechanisms make...ex- ecutes the jobs given, versus what the jobs actually are. MapReduce workload managers currently optimize exe- cution scheduling and placement

Effect of Reduction of Redox Modifications of Cys-Residues in the Na,K-ATPase α1-Subunit on Its Activity

PubMed Central

Dergousova, Elena A.; Petrushanko, Irina Yu.; Klimanova, Elizaveta A.; Mitkevich, Vladimir A.; Ziganshin, Rustam H.; Lopina, Olga D.; Makarov, Alexander A.

2017-01-01

Sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na,K-ATPase) creates a gradient of sodium and potassium ions necessary for the viability of animal cells, and it is extremely sensitive to intracellular redox status. Earlier we found that regulatory glutathionylation determines Na,K-ATPase redox sensitivity but the role of basal glutathionylation and other redox modifications of cysteine residues is not clear. The purpose of this study was to detect oxidized, nitrosylated, or glutathionylated cysteine residues in Na,K-ATPase, evaluate the possibility of removing these modifications and assess their influence on the enzyme activity. To this aim, we have detected such modifications in the Na,K-ATPase α1-subunit purified from duck salt glands and tried to eliminate them by chemical reducing agents and the glutaredoxin1/glutathione reductase enzyme system. Detection of cysteine modifications was performed using mass spectrometry and Western blot analysis. We have found that purified Na,K-ATPase α1-subunit contains glutathionylated, nitrosylated, and oxidized cysteines. Chemical reducing agents partially eliminate these modifications that leads to the slight increase of the enzyme activity. Enzyme system glutaredoxin/glutathione reductase, unlike chemical reducing agents, produces significant increase of the enzyme activity. At the same time, the enzyme system deglutathionylates native Na,K-ATPase to a lesser degree than chemical reducing agents. This suggests that the enzymatic reducing system glutaredoxin/glutathione reductase specifically affects glutathionylation of the regulatory cysteine residues of Na,K-ATPase α1-subunit. PMID:28230807

Perception Modelling of Visitors in Vargas Museum Using Agent-Based Simulation and Visibility Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carcellar, B. G., III

2017-10-01

Museum exhibit management is one of the usual undertakings of museum facilitators. Art works must be strategically placed to achieve maximum viewing from the visitors. The positioning of the artworks also highly influences the quality of experience of the visitors. One solution in such problems is to utilize GIS and Agent-Based Modelling (ABM). In ABM, persistent interacting objects are modelled as agents. These agents are given attributes and behaviors that describe their properties as well as their motion. In this study, ABM approach that incorporates GIS is utilized to perform analyticcal assessment on the placement of the artworks in the Vargas Museum. GIS serves as the backbone for the spatial aspect of the simulation such as the placement of the artwork exhibits, as well as possible obstructions to perception such as the columns, walls, and panel boards. Visibility Analysis is also done to the model in GIS to assess the overall visibility of the artworks. The ABM is done using the initial GIS outputs and GAMA, an open source ABM software. Visitors are modelled as agents, moving inside the museum following a specific decision tree. The simulation is done in three use cases: the 10 %, 20 %, and 30 % chance of having a visitor in the next minute. For the case of the said museum, the 10 % chance is determined to be the closest simulation case to the actual and the recommended minimum time to achieve a maximum artwork perception is 1 hour and 40 minutes. Initial assessment of the results shows that even after 3 hours of simulation, small parts of the exhibit show lack of viewers, due to its distance from the entrance. A more detailed decision tree for the visitor agents can be incorporated to have a more realistic simulation.

Theoretical analysis of the effects of light intensity on the photocorrosion of semiconductor electrodes

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

Benito, R.M.; Nozik, A.J.

1985-07-18

A kinetic model was developed to describe the effects of light intensity on the photocorrosion of n-type semiconductor electrodes. The model is an extension of previous work by Gomes and co-workers that includes the possibility of multiple steps for the oxidation reaction of the reducing agent in the electrolyte. Six cases are considered where the semiconductor decomposition reaction is multistep (each step involves a hole); the oxidation reaction of the reducing agent is multistep (each step after the first involves a hole or a chemical intermediate), and the first steps of the competing oxidation reactions are reversible or irreversible. Itmore » was found, contrary to previous results, that the photostability of semiconductor electrodes could increase with increased light intensity if the desired oxidation reaction of the reducing agent in the electrolyte was multistep with the first step being reversible. 14 references, 5 figures, 1 table.« less

High energy chemical laser system

DOEpatents

Gregg, D.W.; Pearson, R.K.

1975-12-23

A high energy chemical laser system is described wherein explosive gaseous mixtures of a reducing agent providing hydrogen isotopes and interhalogen compounds are uniformly ignited by means of an electrical discharge, flash- photolysis or an electron beam. The resulting chemical explosion pumps a lasing chemical species, hydrogen fluoride or deuterium fluoride which is formed in the chemical reaction. The generated lasing pulse has light frequencies in the 3- micron range. Suitable interhalogen compounds include bromine trifluoride (BrF$sub 3$), bromine pentafluoride (BrF$sub 5$), chlorine monofluoride (ClF), chlorine trifluoride (ClF$sub 3$), chlorine pentafluoride (ClF$sub 5$), iodine pentafluoride (IF$sub 5$), and iodine heptafluoride (IF$sub 7$); and suitable reducing agents include hydrogen (H$sub 2$), hydrocarbons such as methane (CH$sub 4$), deuterium (D$sub 2$), and diborane (B$sub 2$H$sub 6$), as well as combinations of the gaseous compound and/or molecular mixtures of the reducing agent.

Preparation of gold nanoparticles by surfactant-promoted reductive reaction without extra reducing agent.

PubMed

Tang, Junqi; Huang, Jiamin; Man, Shi-Qing

2013-02-15

Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) has been extensively applied in the solution-phase synthesis of many types of colloidal nanoparticles. However, the uses of CTAB were mainly considered as template or capping agents to form controllable shape and protect the product from agglomeration. Here it was discovered that CATB could serve as a very mild reductant to reduce gold salt precursors preparing gold nanoparticles (GNPs) at base environment. CTAB acted as the reducing agent suffering a partial degradation and forming CTA macro radicals. FTIR proved the formation of CCl and/or CBr bond after CTAB degraded. The characterization of synthesized GNPs was examined by UV-Vis spectra, TEM and XRD. Several factors affecting the process of reaction, such as the amount of NaOH, the molar ratio of CTAB and HAuCl(4), the reaction temperature, the effect of light and oxygen, and stirring were discussed. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Reducing agent-free synthesis of curcumin-loaded albumin nanoparticles by self-assembly at room temperature.

PubMed

Safavi, Maryam Sadat; Shojaosadati, Seyed Abbas; Yang, Hye Gyeong; Kim, Yejin; Park, Eun Ji; Lee, Kang Choon; Na, Dong Hee

2017-08-30

The purpose of this study was to prepare curcumin-loaded bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (CCM-BSA-NPs) by reducing agent-free self-assembly at room temperature. A 2 4 factorial design approach was used to investigate the CCM-BSA-NP preparation process at different pH values, temperatures, dithiothreitol amounts, and CCM/BSA mass ratios. Increasing the ionic strength enabled preparation of CCM-BSA-NPs at 25°C without reducing agent. CCM-BSA-NPs prepared under the optimized conditions at 25°C showed a particle size of 110±6nm, yield of 88.5%, and drug loading of 7.1%. The CCM-BSA-NPs showed strong antioxidant activity and neuroprotective effects in glutamate-induced mouse hippocampal neuronal HT22 cells. This study suggests that ionic strength can be a key parameter affecting the preparation of albumin-based NPs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A comparison of midazolam with remifentanil for the prevention of myoclonic movements following etomidate injection.

PubMed

Hwang, J-Y; Kim, J-H; Oh, A-Y; Do, S-H; Jeon, Y-T; Han, S-H

2008-01-01

Etomidate is a popular anaesthetic induction agent, but it frequently causes myoclonic movements. Although both benzodiazepines and opioids reduce myoclonus, there has been no comparative study between these agents. Thus, we conducted a prospective, randomized study to compare midazolam and remifentanil as pre-treatment agents for reducing etomidate-induced myoclonus in 90 adults undergoing surgery. Patients were pre-treated before the etomidate injection, either with saline (Group C), midazolam 0.5 mg/kg (Group M) or remifentanil 1 microg/kg (Group R). Both Groups M and R showed a significantly lower incidence of myoclonus compared with Group C (17%, 17% and 77%, respectively). The incidence of myoclonus was not significantly different between Groups M and R, but 10% (n = 10) of the patients in Group R experienced remifentanil-related side-effects. We conclude that midazolam is probably a better choice than remifentanil for reducing etomidate-induced myoclonus during anaesthesia induction.

18-Methoxycoronaridine, a potential anti-obesity agent, does not produce a conditioned taste aversion in rats

PubMed Central

Taraschenko, Olga D.; Maisonneuve, Isabelle M.; Glick, Stanley D.

2015-01-01

18-Methoxycoronaridine (18-MC), a selective antagonist of α3β4 nicotinic receptors, has been shown to reduce the self-administration of several drugs of abuse. Recently, this agent has also been shown to attenuate sucrose reward, decrease sucrose intake and prevent the development of sucrose-induced obesity in rats. The present experiments were designed to determine whether the latter effect was due to an 18-MC-induced conditioned taste aversion to sucrose. Both 18-MC (20 mg/ kg, i.p.) and control agent, lithium chloride (100 mg/kg, i.p.), reduced sucrose intake 24 h after association with sucrose; however, only lithium chloride reduced sucrose intake 72h later. Consistent with previous data, 18-MC appears to have proactive effect for 24h and it does not induce a conditioned taste aversion. PMID:20457177

Kinetically Controlled Lifetimes in Redox-Responsive Transient Supramolecular Hydrogels.

PubMed

Wojciechowski, Jonathan P; Martin, Adam D; Thordarson, Pall

2018-02-28

It remains challenging to program soft materials to show dynamic, tunable time-dependent properties. In this work, we report a strategy to design transient supramolecular hydrogels based on kinetic control of competing reactions. Specifically, the pH-triggered self-assembly of a redox-active supramolecular gelator, N,N'-dibenzoyl-l-cystine (DBC) in the presence of a reducing agent, which acts to disassemble the system. The lifetimes of the transient hydrogels can be tuned simply by pH or reducing agent concentration. We find through kinetic analysis that gel formation hinders the ability of the reducing agent and enables longer transient hydrogel lifetimes than would be predicted. The transient hydrogels undergo clean cycles, with no kinetically trapped aggregates observed. As a result, multiple transient hydrogel cycles are demonstrated and can be predicted. This work contributes to our understanding of designing transient assemblies with tunable temporal control.

Reducing the spatial resolution range of neutron radiographs cast by thick objects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Almeida, G. L.; Silvani, M. I.; Souza, E. S.; Lopes, R. T.

2017-11-01

The quality of a neutron radiograph is strongly dependent upon the features of the acquisition system. Most of them, such as detector resolution, electronic noise and statistical fluctuation can hardly be improved. Yet, a main parameter ruling the image spatial resolution, namely the L/D ratio of the system can be increased simply by lengthening the source-detector clearance. Such an option eventually may not be feasible due to neutron flux decreasing or engineering constraints. Under this circumstance, a radiograph improvement is only possible by some kind of after-acquisition procedure capable to retrieve, at least partially, the information concealed by the degradation process. Since the spoiling agent tied to the L/D has a systematic character, its impact can be reduced by an unfolding procedure such as Richardson-Lucy algorithm. However, that agent should be fully characterized and furnished to the algorithm as a Point Spread Function - PSF unfolding function. A main drawback of unfolding algorithms like Richardson-Lucy is that the PSF should be fixed, i.e., it assumes a certain constant image spatial resolution, rather than a variable one as actually occurs for thick objects. This work presents a methodology to minimize this difficulty by making all planes of the inspected object to cast a resolution within the shorter gap comprised between the object central plane and the detector. The image can then be unfolded with a lower resolution within a tighter range, yielding a better quality. The process is performed with two radiographs, where one of them is acquired with the object turned by 180° on its vertical axis with regard to the other. After a mirroring of one of them about its vertical axis, the images are added. As the resolution increases linearly with the object-detector gap, it would remain always lower than that of the central one. Therefore, the overall resolution of the composite radiograph is enhanced. A further improvement can then be achieved through an efficient unfolding since the object has been virtually shrunk along the neutron path.

Redox mediation and hydrogen-generation with bipyridinium reagents

DOEpatents

Wrighton, Mark S.; Bookbinder, Dana C.; Bruce, James A.; Dominey, Raymond N.; Lewis, Nathan S.

1984-03-27

A variety of redox mediating agents employing bipyridinium reagents and such reagents in conjunction with dispersed noble metals, such as platinium, are disclosed as coatings for substrates and electrodes. The agents may be charged by an applied voltage or by photoelectric effects or may be equilibrated with hydrogen. The agents are useful in reducing biological materials and electrolytic hydrogen production.

Topical non-barrier agents for postoperative adhesion prevention in animal models.

PubMed

Imai, Atsushi; Suzuki, Noriko

2010-04-01

Pelvic adhesion can form as a result of inflammation, endometriosis or surgical trauma. Most surgical procedures performed by obstetrician-gynecologists are associated with pelvic adhesions that may cause subsequent serious sequelae, including small bowel obstruction, infertility, chronic pelvic pain, and difficulty in postoperative treatment, including complexity during subsequent surgical procedures. An increasing number of adhesion reduction agents, in the form of site-specific and broad-coverage barriers and solutions, are becoming available to surgical teams. The most widely studied strategies include placing synthetic barrier agents between the pelvic structures. Most of the adhesions in the barrier-treated patients develop in uncovered areas in the abdomen. This fact suggests that the application of liquid or gel anti-adhesive agents to cover all potential peritoneal lesions, together with the use of barrier agents, may reduce the formation of postoperative adhesions. This article introduces the topical choices available for adhesion prevention mentioned in preliminary clinical applications and animal models. To date there is no substantial evidence that their use reduces the incidence of postoperative adhesions. In combination with good surgical techniques, these non-barrier agents may play an important role in adhesion reduction. Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Social effects of an anthropomorphic help agent: humans versus computers.

PubMed

David, Prabu; Lu, Tingting; Kline, Susan; Cai, Li

2007-06-01

The purpose of this study was to examine perceptions of fairness of a computer-administered quiz as a function of the anthropomorphic features of the help agent offered within the quiz environment. The addition of simple anthropomorphic cues to a computer help agent reduced the perceived friendliness of the agent, perceived intelligence of the agent, and the perceived fairness of the quiz. These differences were observed only for male anthropomorphic cues, but not for female anthropomorphic cues. The results were not explained by the social attraction of the anthropomorphic agents used in the quiz or by gender identification with the agents. Priming of visual cues provides the best account of the data. Practical implications of the study are discussed.

Agents for replacement of NAD+/NADH system in enzymatic reactions

DOEpatents

Fish, Richard H.; Kerr, John B.; Lo, Christine H.

2004-04-06

Novel agents acting as co-factors for replacement of NAD(P).sup.+ /NAD(P)H co-enzyme systems in enzymatic oxido-reductive reactions. Agents mimicking the action of NAD(P).sup.+ /NAD(P)H system in enzymatic oxidation/reduction of substrates into reduced or oxidized products. A method for selection and preparation of the mimicking agents for replacement of NAD(P).sup.+ /NAD(P)H system and a device comprising co-factors for replacement of NAD(P).sup.+ /NAD(P)H system.

SEPARATION OF PLUTONIUM HYDROXIDE FROM BISMUTH HYDROXIDE

DOEpatents

Watt, G.W.

1958-08-19

An tmproved method is described for separating plutonium hydroxide from bismuth hydroxide. The end product of the bismuth phosphate processes for the separation amd concentration of plutonium is a inixture of bismuth hydroxide amd plutonium hydroxide. It has been found that these compounds can be advantageously separated by treatment with a reducing agent having a potential sufficient to reduce bismuth hydroxide to metalltc bisinuth but not sufficient to reduce the plutonium present. The resulting mixture of metallic bismuth and plutonium hydroxide can then be separated by treatment with a material which will dissolve plutonium hydroxide but not metallic bismuth. Sodiunn stannite is mentioned as a preferred reducing agent, and dilute nitric acid may be used as the separatory solvent.

High temperature cooling system and method

DOEpatents

Loewen, Eric P.

2006-12-12

A method for cooling a heat source, a method for preventing chemical interaction between a vessel and a cooling composition therein, and a cooling system. The method for cooling employs a containment vessel with an oxidizable interior wall. The interior wall is oxidized to form an oxide barrier layer thereon, the cooling composition is monitored for excess oxidizing agent, and a reducing agent is provided to eliminate excess oxidation. The method for preventing chemical interaction between a vessel and a cooling composition involves introducing a sufficient quantity of a reactant which is reactive with the vessel in order to produce a barrier layer therein that is non-reactive with the cooling composition. The cooling system includes a containment vessel with oxidizing agent and reducing agent delivery conveyances and a monitor of oxidation and reduction states so that proper maintenance of a vessel wall oxidation layer occurs.

Redox and Lewis acid-base activities through an electronegativity-hardness landscape diagram.

PubMed

Das, Ranjita; Vigneresse, Jean-Louis; Chattaraj, Pratim Kumar

2013-11-01

Chemistry is the science of bond making and bond breaking which requires redistribution of electron density among the reactant partners. Accordingly acid-base and redox reactions form cardinal components in all branches of chemistry, e.g., inorganic, organic, physical or biochemistry. That is the reason it forms an integral part of the undergraduate curriculum all throughout the globe. In an electronegativity (χ)- hardness (η) landscape diagram the diagonal χ = η line separates reducing agents from oxidizing agents as well as Lewis acids from Lewis bases. While electronegativity is related to the degree of electron transfer between two reactants, hardness is related to the resistance to that process. Accordingly the electronegativities of oxidizing agents/Lewis acids are generally greater than the corresponding hardness values and the reverse is true for reducing agents/Lewis bases. Electrophiles and nucleophiles are also expected to follow similar trends.

Rapid Determination of the Chemical Oxygen Demand of Water Using a Thermal Biosensor

PubMed Central

Yao, Na; Wang, Jinqi; Zhou, Yikai

2014-01-01

In this paper we describe a thermal biosensor with a flow injection analysis system for the determination of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of water samples. Glucose solutions of different concentrations and actual water samples were tested, and their COD values were determined by measuring the heat generated when the samples passed through a column containing periodic acid. The biosensor exhibited a large linear range (5 to 3000 mg/L) and a low detection limit (1.84 mg/L). It could tolerate the presence of chloride ions in concentrations of 0.015 M without requiring a masking agent. The sensor was successfully used for detecting the COD values of actual samples. The COD values of water samples from various sources were correlated with those obtained by the standard dichromate method; the linear regression coefficient was found to be 0.996. The sensor is environmentally friendly, economical, and highly stable, and exhibits good reproducibility and accuracy. In addition, its response time is short, and there is no danger of hazardous emissions or external contamination. Finally, the samples to be tested do not have to be pretreated. These results suggest that the biosensor is suitable for the continuous monitoring of the COD values of actual wastewater samples. PMID:24915178

Orthotopic Patient-Derived Glioblastoma Xenografts in Mice.

PubMed

Xu, Zhongye; Kader, Michael; Sen, Rajeev; Placantonakis, Dimitris G

2018-01-01

Patient-derived xenografts (PDX) provide in vivo glioblastoma (GBM) models that recapitulate actual tumors. Orthotopic tumor xenografts within the mouse brain are obtained by injection of GBM stem-like cells derived from fresh surgical specimens. These xenografts reproduce GBM's histologic complexity and hallmark biological behaviors, such as brain invasion, angiogenesis, and resistance to therapy. This method has become essential for analyzing mechanisms of tumorigenesis and testing the therapeutic effect of candidate agents in the preclinical setting. Here, we describe a protocol for establishing orthotopic tumor xenografts in the mouse brain with human GBM cells.

Actual sexual risk and perceived risk of HIV acquisition among HIV-negative men who have sex with men in Toronto, Canada.

PubMed

Kesler, Maya A; Kaul, Rupert; Liu, Juan; Loutfy, Mona; Gesink, Dionne; Myers, Ted; Remis, Robert S

2016-03-11

Theory suggests that perceived human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk and actual HIV risk behaviour are cyclical whereby engaging in high risk behaviour can increase perceived risk, which initiates precautionary behaviour that reduces actual risk, and with time reduces perceived risk. While current perceived risk may impact future actual risk, it is less clear how previous actual risk shapes current perceived risk. If individuals do not base their current perceived risk on past behaviour, they lose the protective effect of perceived risk motivating precautionary behaviour. Our goal was to determine the impact of actual risk on perceived risk. Sexually active men who have sex with men (MSM) were recruited at the Maple Leaf Medical Clinic in downtown Toronto from September 2010 to June 2012. Participants completed a socio-behavioural questionnaire using an Audio Computer Assisted Self-Interview (ACASI). Actual HIV risk (primary predictor) was constructed by applying principal component analysis (PCA) to eight sexual risk survey questions and comprised three components which reflected sex with casual partners, sex with HIV-positive regular partners and sex with HIV unknown status regular partners. Perceived HIV risk (outcome) was measured by asking participants what the chances were that they would ever get HIV. Multivariable logistic regression was used to measure the association between actual and perceived HIV risk. One hundred and fifty HIV-negative MSM were recruited (median age 44.5 years [IQR 37-50 years]). Twenty percent of MSM perceived their HIV risk to be high. The odds of having a high perceived risk was significantly higher in those with high actual HIV risk indicated by low condom use with an HIV-positive regular partner compared to those with low actual HIV risk indicated by high condom use with an HIV-positive regular partner (Odds Ratio (OR) 18.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.65-203.45). Older age was associated with lower perceived risk but only age 40-49 compared to less than 30 was statistically significant (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.016-0.86). The odds of having high perceived risk was significantly associated with men who used poppers in the previous 6 months compared to those who did not use poppers (OR 5.64, 95% CI 1.20-26.48). Perceived HIV risk increased significantly as condom use with an HIV-positive regular partner decreased. However, perceived HIV risk was not associated with condom use with casual partners or HIV unknown status regular partners, even though these behaviours could be considered risky. The relationship between perceived and actual risk in HIV studies is complex and has implications on how health care workers address the issue of risky sexual behaviour and perceived risk.

Economics and econophysics in the era of Big Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheong, Siew Ann

2016-12-01

There is an undeniable disconnect between theory-heavy economics and the real world, and some cross polination of ideas with econophysics, which is more balanced between data and models, might help economics along the way to become a truly scientific enterprise. With the coming of the era of Big Data, this transformation of economics into a data-driven science is becoming more urgent. In this article, I use the story of Kepler's discovery of his three laws of planetary motion to enlarge the framework of the scientific approach, from one that focuses on experimental sciences, to one that accommodates observational sciences, and further to one that embraces data mining and machine learning. I distinguish between the ontological values of Kepler's Laws vis-a-vis Newton's Laws, and argue that the latter is more fundamental because it is able to explain the former. I then argue that the fundamental laws of economics lie not in mathematical equations, but in models of adaptive economic agents. With this shift in mind set, it becomes possible to think about how interactions between agents can lead to the emergence of multiple stable states and critical transitions, and complex adaptive policies and regulations that might actually work in the real world. Finally, I discuss how Big Data, exploratory agent-based modeling, and predictive agent-based modeling can come together in a unified framework to make economics a true science.

The long-run effects of economic, demographic, and political indices on actual and potential CO2 emissions.

PubMed

Adom, Philip Kofi; Kwakwa, Paul Adjei; Amankwaa, Afua

2018-07-15

This study examines the long-run drivers of potential and actual CO 2 emissions in Ghana, a sub-Saharan Africa country. The use of the former helps address the reverse causality problem and capture the true long-run effects. The Stock-Watson dynamic OLS is used with data from 1970 to 2014. The result shows that potential CO 2 emissions improve model efficiency. Income (except in "other sector") and financial development (except in manufacturing and construction sector) have compelling positive and negative effects on actual and potential CO 2 emissions, respectively. A higher price (oil and electricity) reduces actual and potential CO 2 emissions, but electricity price is more vital in residential, buildings and commercial and public services sector, while oil price is crucial in the transport sector. Democracy lowers actual and potential CO 2 emissions in the aggregate (insignificant) and transport sectors but raises it in the manufacturing and construction sector. The effect is, however, inconsistent for the remaining sectors. Urbanization raises aggregate actual and potential CO 2 emissions, but the effect is inconsistent for the transport sector. The findings have important implications for policy formulation. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pharmacological management of osteogenesis

PubMed Central

Nardone, Valeria; D'Asta, Federica; Brandi, Maria Luisa

2014-01-01

Osteogenesis and bone remodeling are complex biological processes that are essential for the formation of new bone tissue and its correct functioning. When the balance between bone resorption and formation is disrupted, bone diseases and disorders such as Paget's disease, fibrous dysplasia, osteoporosis and fragility fractures may result. Recent advances in bone cell biology have revealed new specific targets for the treatment of bone loss that are based on the inhibition of bone resorption by osteoclasts or the stimulation of bone formation by osteoblasts. Bisphosphonates, antiresorptive agents that reduce bone resorption, are usually recommended as first-line therapy in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Numerous studies have shown that bisphosphonates are able to significantly reduce the risk of femoral and vertebral fractures. Other antiresorptive agents indicated for the treatment of osteoporosis include selective estrogen receptor modulators, such as raloxifene. Denosumab, a human monoclonal antibody, is another antiresorptive agent that has been approved in Europe and the USA. This agent blocks the RANK/RANKL/OPG system, which is responsible for osteoclastic activation, thus reducing bone resorption. Other approved agents include bone anabolic agents, such as teriparatide, a recombinant parathyroid hormone that improves bone microarchitecture and strength, and strontium ranelate, considered to be a dual-action drug that acts by both osteoclastic inhibition and osteoblastic stimulation. Currently, anti-catabolic drugs that act through the Wnt-β catenin signaling pathway, serving as Dickkopf-related protein 1 inhibitors and sclerostin antagonists, are also in development. This concise review provides an overview of the drugs most commonly used for the control of osteogenesis in bone diseases. PMID:24964310

75 FR 39262 - Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-08

... related risk factors. The efficacy of green building design features in reducing allergens and toxic... the extent to which green-built, low-income housing actually reduces exposures to these compounds when... specific green building practices (e.g., use of low chemical-emitting paints and carpets) may influence...

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace. Unanticipated Consequences of Modern Social Control in Organizations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mueller, Charles W.; De Coster, Stacy; Estes, Sarah Beth

2001-01-01

Modern organizational changes purportedly intended to increase job satisfaction and reduce turnover are actually forms of social control. Analysis of data from 6,000 employees found that an unintended yet beneficial consequence of these changes is reduced sexual harassment. (Contains 60 references.) (SK)

Mechanisms and Effectivity of Sulfate Reducing Bioreactors Using a Chitinous Substrate in Treating Mining Influenced Water

EPA Science Inventory

Mining-influenced water (MIW) is the main environmental challenge associated with the mining industry. Passive MIW remediation can be achieved through microbial activity in sulfate-reducing bioreactors (SRBRs), but their actual removal rates depend on different factors, one of wh...

Triggered pore-forming agents

DOEpatents

Bayley, H.; Walker, B.J.; Chang, C.Y.; Niblack, B.; Panchal, R.

1998-07-07

An inactive pore-forming agent is revealed which is activated to lytic function by a condition such as pH, light, heat, reducing potential, or metal ion concentration, or substance such as a protease, at the surface of a cell. 30 figs.

Design and Analysis of a Data Fusion Scheme in Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks Based on Multi-Protocol Mobile Agents

PubMed Central

Wu, Chunxue; Wu, Wenliang; Wan, Caihua

2017-01-01

Sensors are increasingly used in mobile environments with wireless network connections. Multiple sensor types measure distinct aspects of the same event. Their measurements are then combined to produce integrated, reliable results. As the number of sensors in networks increases, low energy requirements and changing network connections complicate event detection and measurement. We present a data fusion scheme for use in mobile wireless sensor networks with high energy efficiency and low network delays, that still produces reliable results. In the first phase, we used a network simulation where mobile agents dynamically select the next hop migration node based on the stability parameter of the link, and perform the data fusion at the migration node. Agents use the fusion results to decide if it should return the fusion results to the processing center or continue to collect more data. In the second phase. The feasibility of data fusion at the node level is confirmed by an experimental design where fused data from color sensors show near-identical results to actual physical temperatures. These results are potentially important for new large-scale sensor network applications. PMID:29099793

A Simple Secondary Amine Synthesis: Reductive Amination Using Sodium Triacetoxyborohydride

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carlson, Merle W.; Ciszewski, James T.; Bhatti, Micah M.; Swanson, Wesley F.; Wilson, Anne M.

2000-02-01

We present a reductive amination experiment for a second-semester organic chemistry class. It utilizes an imine intermediate and sodium triacetoxyborohydride, a mild reducing agent. The progress of the reaction is followed by TLC as the starting materials (the aldehyde and primary amine), the imine intermediate, and the secondary amine product are visible under ultraviolet light. This experiment provides an introduction to the observation of intermediates, the synthesis of amines, and the concept of mild reducing agents.

Perceived and actual noise levels in critical care units.

PubMed

White, Brittany Lynn; Zomorodi, Meg

2017-02-01

To compare the noise levels perceived by critical care nurses in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to actual noise levels in the ICU. Following a pilot study (n=18) and revision of the survey tool, a random sample of nurses were surveyed twice in a 3-day period (n=108). Nurses perception of noise was compared to the actual sound pressure level using descriptive statistics. Nurses perceived the ICUs to be noisier than the actual values. The ICU was louder than the recommended noise level for resotrative sleep. This finding raises the question of how we can assist nurses to reduce what they perceive to be a loud environment. Future work is needed to develop interventions specifically for nurses to raise awareness of noise in the ICU and to provide them with skills to assist in noise reduction. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Environmentally Safer, Less Toxic Fire-Extinguishing Agents

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parrish, Clyde F.

2003-01-01

Fire-extinguishing agents comprising microscopic drops of water microencapsulated in flame-retardant polymers have been proposed as effective, less toxic, non-ozone-depleting, non-globalwarming alternatives to prior fire-extinguishing agents. Among the prior fire-extinguishing agents are halons (various halocarbon fluids), which are toxic and contribute both to depletion of upperatmospheric ozone and to global warming. Other prior fire-extinguishing agents are less toxic and less environmentally harmful but, in comparison with halons, are significantly less effective in extinguishing fires. The proposal to formulate new waterbased agents is based on recent success in the use of water mist as a fire-suppression agent. Water suppresses a flame by reducing the flame temperature and the concentration of oxygen available for the combustion process. The temperature is reduced because the water droplets in the mist absorb latent heat of vaporization as they evaporate. The concentration of oxygen is reduced because the newly generated water vapor displaces air. Unfortunately, water mists are difficult to produce in confined spaces and can evaporate before they reach the bases of flames. The proposal addresses both of these issues: The proposed fire-extinguishing agents would be manufactured in microencapsulated form in advance, eliminating the problem of generating mists in confined spaces. Because of the microencapsulation, the droplets would not evaporate until exposed directly to the heat of flames. In addition, the proposal calls for the introduction of free radicals that would inhibit the propagation of the chemical reactions of the combustion reactions. Manufacturing of a fire-extinguishing agent according to the proposal would begin with the formulation of a suitable polymer (e.g., a polybromostyrene) that would contribute free radicals to the combustion process. The polymer would be dissolved in a suitable hydrocarbon liquid (e.g., toluene). Water would be dispersed in the polymer/toluene solution, then another hydrocarbon liquid (e.g., hexane) that is not a solvent for the polymer would be added to the mixture to make the dissolved polymer precipitate onto the water droplets. The resulting polymer-coated droplets would be removed from the coating mixture by filtration, dried, and stored for use.

Reduction of plastic carrier bag use: An analysis of alternatives in Israel.

PubMed

Ayalon, Ofira; Goldrath, Tal; Rosenthal, Gad; Grossman, Michal

2009-07-01

Plastic carrier bags have been drawing the attention of the public and politicians. Different policy measures to reduce the environmental burden of these bags have been implemented and more are planned. The research analyzed the actual environmental aspects of consumption and use of plastic carrier bags and assessed the effectiveness of the proposed regulation in Israel. Since plastic bags are provided free of charge, people have a tendency to use these bags excessively, therefore a rigorous educational program should address this trend. However, the environmental load imposed by the bags is more a politically correct issue than an actual environmental hazard, and therefore the means for reducing their use should not include a high levy or total elimination of these bags.

Incorporation of perception-based information in robot learning using fuzzy reinforcement learning agents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Changjiu; Meng, Qingchun; Guo, Zhongwen; Qu, Wiefen; Yin, Bo

2002-04-01

Robot learning in unstructured environments has been proved to be an extremely challenging problem, mainly because of many uncertainties always present in the real world. Human beings, on the other hand, seem to cope very well with uncertain and unpredictable environments, often relying on perception-based information. Furthermore, humans beings can also utilize perceptions to guide their learning on those parts of the perception-action space that are actually relevant to the task. Therefore, we conduct a research aimed at improving robot learning through the incorporation of both perception-based and measurement-based information. For this reason, a fuzzy reinforcement learning (FRL) agent is proposed in this paper. Based on a neural-fuzzy architecture, different kinds of information can be incorporated into the FRL agent to initialise its action network, critic network and evaluation feedback module so as to accelerate its learning. By making use of the global optimisation capability of GAs (genetic algorithms), a GA-based FRL (GAFRL) agent is presented to solve the local minima problem in traditional actor-critic reinforcement learning. On the other hand, with the prediction capability of the critic network, GAs can perform a more effective global search. Different GAFRL agents are constructed and verified by using the simulation model of a physical biped robot. The simulation analysis shows that the biped learning rate for dynamic balance can be improved by incorporating perception-based information on biped balancing and walking evaluation. The biped robot can find its application in ocean exploration, detection or sea rescue activity, as well as military maritime activity.

Management of refractory pityriasis rubra pilaris: challenges and solutions

PubMed Central

Moretta, Gaia; De Luca, Erika V; Di Stefani, Alessandro

2017-01-01

Pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) is a rare chronic inflammatory papulosquamous skin disease. Its clinical presentation and evolution is very variable. The most frequent clinical features are follicular papules, progressing to yellow-orange erythroderma with round small areas of normal skin and the well-demarcated palmoplantar keratoderma. Actually, six different types of PRP have been described based on clinical characteristics, age of onset, and prognosis. The pathogenesis is still unknown, and treatment can be challenging. Available treatments are mainly based on case reports or case series of clinical experience because no controlled randomized trials have never been performed because of the rarity of the condition. Traditional systemic treatment consists in retinoids, which are actually considered as first-line therapy, but refractory cases that do not respond or relapse after drug interruption do exist. In recent years, numerous reports have demonstrated the efficacy of new agents such as biological drugs. This article is an overview on available therapeutic options, in particular for refractory forms of PRP. PMID:29184428

Possible causes of variation in acrylamide concentration in French fries prepared in food service establishments: an observational study.

PubMed

Sanny, M; Jinap, S; Bakker, E J; van Boekel, M A J S; Luning, P A

2012-05-01

Acrylamide is a probable human carcinogen, and its presence in a range of fried and oven-cooked foods has raised considerable health concern world-wide. Dietary intake studies observed significant variations in acrylamide concentrations, which complicate risk assessment and the establishment of effective control measures. The objective of this study was to obtain an insight into the actual variation in acrylamide concentrations in French fries prepared under typical conditions in a food service establishment (FSE). Besides acrylamide, frying time, frying temperature, and reducing sugars were measured and the actual practices at receiving, thawing and frying during French fries preparation were observed and recorded. The variation in the actual frying temperature contributed most to the variation in acrylamide concentrations, followed by the variation in actual frying time; no obvious effect of reducing sugars was found. The lack of standardised control of frying temperature and frying time (due to inadequate frying equipment) and the variable practices of food handlers seem to contribute most to the large variation and high acrylamide concentrations in French fries prepared in a restaurant type of FSE as compared to chain fast-food services, and institutional caterers. The obtained insights in this study can be used to develop dedicated control measures in FSE, which may contribute to a sustainable reduction in the acrylamide intake. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Basic emotions and adaptation. A computational and evolutionary model.

PubMed

Pacella, Daniela; Ponticorvo, Michela; Gigliotta, Onofrio; Miglino, Orazio

2017-01-01

The core principles of the evolutionary theories of emotions declare that affective states represent crucial drives for action selection in the environment and regulated the behavior and adaptation of natural agents in ancestrally recurrent situations. While many different studies used autonomous artificial agents to simulate emotional responses and the way these patterns can affect decision-making, few are the approaches that tried to analyze the evolutionary emergence of affective behaviors directly from the specific adaptive problems posed by the ancestral environment. A model of the evolution of affective behaviors is presented using simulated artificial agents equipped with neural networks and physically inspired on the architecture of the iCub humanoid robot. We use genetic algorithms to train populations of virtual robots across generations, and investigate the spontaneous emergence of basic emotional behaviors in different experimental conditions. In particular, we focus on studying the emotion of fear, therefore the environment explored by the artificial agents can contain stimuli that are safe or dangerous to pick. The simulated task is based on classical conditioning and the agents are asked to learn a strategy to recognize whether the environment is safe or represents a threat to their lives and select the correct action to perform in absence of any visual cues. The simulated agents have special input units in their neural structure whose activation keep track of their actual "sensations" based on the outcome of past behavior. We train five different neural network architectures and then test the best ranked individuals comparing their performances and analyzing the unit activations in each individual's life cycle. We show that the agents, regardless of the presence of recurrent connections, spontaneously evolved the ability to cope with potentially dangerous environment by collecting information about the environment and then switching their behavior to a genetically selected pattern in order to maximize the possible reward. We also prove the determinant presence of an internal time perception unit for the robots to achieve the highest performance and survivability across all conditions.

Alkylating agents for Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia.

PubMed

Yang, Kun; Tan, Jianlong; Wu, Taixiang

2009-01-21

Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia (WM) is an uncommon B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by bone marrow infiltration and production of monoclonal immunoglobulin. Uncertainty remains if alkylating agents, such as chlorambucil, melphalan or cyclophosphamide, are an effective form of management. To assess the effects and safety of the alkylating agents on Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia (WM). We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Issue 1, 2008), MEDLINE (1966 to 2008), EMBASE (1980 to 2008), the Chinese Biomedical Base (1982 to 2008) and reference lists of articles.We also handsearched relevant conference proceedings from 1990 to 2008. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing alkylating agents given concomitantly with radiotherapy, splenectomy, plasmapheresis, stem-cell transplantation in patients with a confirmed diagnosis of WM. Two authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. We contacted study authors for additional information. We collected adverse effects information from the trials. One trial involving 92 participants with pretreated/relapsed WM compared the effect of fludarabine versus the combination of cyclophosphamide (the alkylating agent), doxorubicin and prednisone (CAP). Compared to CAP, the Hazard ratio (HR) for deaths of treatment with fludarabine was estimated to be 1.04, with a standard error of 0.30 (95% CI 0.58 to 1.48) and it indicated that the mean difference of median survival time was -4.00 months, and 16.00 months for response duration. The relative risks (RR) of response rate was 2.80 (95% CI 1.10 to 7.12). There were no statistically difference in overall survival rate and median survival months, while on the basis of response rate and response duration, fludarabine seemed to be superior to CAP for pretreated/relapsed patients with macroglobulinaemia. Although alkylating agents have been used for decades they have never actually been tested in a proper randomised trial. This review demonstrated that there is currently no evidence to suggest that alkylating agents are effective in treating Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia.

Anatomy of a Joint: Comparing Self-Reported and Actual Dose of Cannabis and Tobacco in a Joint, and How These Are Influenced by Controlled Acute Administration.

PubMed

Hindocha, Chandni; Freeman, Tom P; Curran, H Valerie

2017-01-01

Introduction: Major gaps exist in the measurement of cannabis exposure. The accuracy of self-reported cannabis and tobacco dose per joint is poorly characterized and has never been investigated following acute cannabis/tobacco exposure. Using an innovative "Roll a Joint" paradigm, this study aims to (1) compare estimated and actual dose of cannabis and tobacco per joint at baseline and (2) examine the acute effects of cannabis and/or tobacco on estimated and actual dose. Materials and Methods: We investigated this by using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover 2 (active cannabis, placebo cannabis)×2 (active tobacco, placebo tobacco) design in a laboratory setting. Participants were 24 recreational cousers of cannabis and tobacco. At baseline, they were asked to measure out the amount of cannabis and tobacco they would put in an average joint for themselves (dose per joint). Then, on each of four drug administration sessions, participants were again asked to do this for a joint they would want to smoke "right now." Self-reported and actual amount was recorded (g). Results: At baseline, the estimated amount of cannabis per joint (0.28±0.23 g) was double the actual amount (0.14±0.12 g) ( p =0.003, d =0.723). No difference emerged between estimated (0.43±0.25 g) and actual (0.35±0.15 g) ( p =0.125) amount of tobacco per joint. Compared to placebo, active cannabis reduced the actual dose of both cannabis ( p =0.035) and tobacco ( p <0.001) they put in a joint. Participants accurately estimated this reduction for tobacco ( p =0.014), but not for cannabis ( p =0.680). Conclusions: Self-reported dose per joint is accurate for tobacco but dramatically overestimates cannabis exposure and therefore should be viewed with caution. Cannabis administration reduced the amount of cannabis and tobacco added to joints, suggesting a reduction in dose during a smoking session. The "Roll A Joint" paradigm should be implemented for better accuracy in assessing dose per joint.

Anatomy of a Joint: Comparing Self-Reported and Actual Dose of Cannabis and Tobacco in a Joint, and How These Are Influenced by Controlled Acute Administration

PubMed Central

Hindocha, Chandni; Freeman, Tom P.; Curran, H. Valerie

2017-01-01

Abstract Introduction: Major gaps exist in the measurement of cannabis exposure. The accuracy of self-reported cannabis and tobacco dose per joint is poorly characterized and has never been investigated following acute cannabis/tobacco exposure. Using an innovative “Roll a Joint” paradigm, this study aims to (1) compare estimated and actual dose of cannabis and tobacco per joint at baseline and (2) examine the acute effects of cannabis and/or tobacco on estimated and actual dose. Materials and Methods: We investigated this by using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover 2 (active cannabis, placebo cannabis)×2 (active tobacco, placebo tobacco) design in a laboratory setting. Participants were 24 recreational cousers of cannabis and tobacco. At baseline, they were asked to measure out the amount of cannabis and tobacco they would put in an average joint for themselves (dose per joint). Then, on each of four drug administration sessions, participants were again asked to do this for a joint they would want to smoke “right now.” Self-reported and actual amount was recorded (g). Results: At baseline, the estimated amount of cannabis per joint (0.28±0.23 g) was double the actual amount (0.14±0.12 g) (p=0.003, d=0.723). No difference emerged between estimated (0.43±0.25 g) and actual (0.35±0.15 g) (p=0.125) amount of tobacco per joint. Compared to placebo, active cannabis reduced the actual dose of both cannabis (p=0.035) and tobacco (p<0.001) they put in a joint. Participants accurately estimated this reduction for tobacco (p=0.014), but not for cannabis (p=0.680). Conclusions: Self-reported dose per joint is accurate for tobacco but dramatically overestimates cannabis exposure and therefore should be viewed with caution. Cannabis administration reduced the amount of cannabis and tobacco added to joints, suggesting a reduction in dose during a smoking session. The “Roll A Joint” paradigm should be implemented for better accuracy in assessing dose per joint. PMID:29082319

Synthesis of functional materials in combustion reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhuravlev, V. D.; Bamburov, V. G.; Ermakova, L. V.; Lobachevskaya, N. I.

2015-12-01

The conditions for obtaining oxide compounds in combustion reactions of nitrates of metals with organic chelating-reducing agents such as amino acids, urea, and polyvinyl alcohol are reviewed. Changing the nature of internal fuels and the reducing agent-to-oxidizing agent ratio makes possible to modify the thermal regime of the process, fractal dimensionality, morphology, and dispersion of synthesized functional materials. This method can be used to synthesize simple and complex oxides, composites, and metal powders, as well as ceramics and coatings. The possibilities of synthesis in combustion reactions are illustrated by examples of αand γ-Al2O3, YSZ composites, uranium oxides, nickel powder, NiO and NiO: YSZ composite, TiO2, and manganites, cobaltites, and aluminates of rare earth elements.

Facile hydrothermal preparation of titanium dioxide decorated reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite

PubMed Central

Chang, Betty Yea Sze; Huang, Nay Ming; An’amt, Mohd Nor; Marlinda, Abdul Rahman; Norazriena, Yusoff; Muhamad, Muhamad Rasat; Harrison, Ian; Lim, Hong Ngee; Chia, Chin Hua

2012-01-01

A simple single-stage approach, based on the hydrothermal technique, has been introduced to synthesize reduced graphene oxide/titanium dioxide nanocomposites. The titanium dioxide nanoparticles are formed at the same time as the graphene oxide is reduced to graphene. The triethanolamine used in the process has two roles. It acts as a reducing agent for the graphene oxide as well as a capping agent, allowing the formation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution (~20 nm). Transmission electron micrographs show that the nanoparticles are uniformly distributed on the reduced graphene oxide nanosheet. Thermogravimetric analysis shows the nanocomposites have an enhanced thermal stability over the original components. The potential applications for this technology were demonstrated by the use of a reduced graphene oxide/titanium dioxide nanocomposite-modified glassy carbon electrode, which enhanced the electrochemical performance compared to a conventional glassy carbon electrode when interacting with mercury(II) ions in potassium chloride electrolyte. PMID:22848166

The efficacy of targeted Health Agents education to reduce the duration of untreated psychosis in a rural population

PubMed Central

Padilla, Eduardo; Molina, Juan; Kamis, Danielle; Calvo, Maria; Stratton, Lee; Strejilevich, Sergio; Aleman, Gabriela Gonzalez; Guerrero, Gonzalo; Bourdieu, Mercedes; Conesa, Horacio A.; Escobar, Javier I.; de Erausquin, Gabriel A.

2014-01-01

The duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is a key determinant in the severity of symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. DUP is a modifiable factor that if reduced can improve patient outcome and treatment response. We sought to decrease DUP in rural Argentina by instituting annual training of local health agents to better identify signs of mental illness and offer earlier intervention. DUP was estimated using Schedules of Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN). Ongoing training was correlated with a reduction in DUP. Reducing DUP through better screening can decrease the psychosocial burden of disease and improve the trajectory of psychosis. PMID:25439394

Method for selectively reducing plutonium values by a photochemical process

DOEpatents

Friedman, Horace A.; Toth, Louis M.; Bell, Jimmy T.

1978-01-01

The rate of reduction of Pu(IV) to Pu(III) in nitric acid solution containing a reducing agent is enhanced by exposing the solution to 200-500 nm electromagnetic radiation. Pu values are recovered from an organic extractant solution containing Pu(IV) values and U(VI) values by the method of contacting the extractant solution with an aqueous nitric acid solution in the presence of a reducing agent and exposing the aqueous solution to electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of 200-500 nm. Under these conditions, Pu values preferentially distribute to the aqueous phase and U values preferentially distribute to the organic phase.

Final Environmental Assessment for Fireworks Display and Cleanup for the Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, Fourth of July Celebrations

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-04-21

perchlorates; reducing agents can be sulfur and charcoal; metals can be added to regulate the speed of reaction; starch is typically used as a binder; and...textured soil, or desert pavements consisting of gravel or rock. Plants are drought- resistant with hardened leaves and shortened distances between...reducing agents can be sulfur and charcoal; metals can be added to regulate the speed of reaction; starch is typically used as a binder; and metals

Thermal Inactivation of Viruses

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-10-01

thermal inactivation . 12 Bibliography 20 Table 3. Thermal inactivation of viruses in foods 25 Bibliography 31 Table 4, Agents modifying...the presence of protective agents that reduce the lethal effect of heat on the viruses at temperatures below 60 C In addition, whtn solid foods...systems but were observed j when animal inoculation was utilized. It is possible that free virus nucl’lc < acid may have been the causative agent in

Balloon-assisted embolization of skull base meningioma with liquid embolic agent.

PubMed

Abdel Kerim, Amr; Bonneville, Fabrice; Jean, Betty; Cornu, Philippe; LeJean, Lise; Chiras, Jacques

2010-01-01

The authors report a novel technique of balloon-assisted embolization of a skull base meningioma supplied by a branch of the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery using liquid embolic agent. A temporarily inflated balloon distal to the meningioma's feeding vessel may improve the access to this small branch and may reduce the chances of unintended reflux during delivery of the liquid embolic agent.

Decreasing Skin Graft Contraction through Topical Wound Bed Preparation with Anti-Inflammatory Agents

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-10-01

AWARD NUMBER: W81XWH-14-2-0153 TITLE: Decreasing Skin Graft Contraction through Topical Wound Bed Preparation with Anti - Inflammatory Agents...Sep 2015 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Decreasing Skin Graft Contraction Through Topical Wound Bed Preparation with Anti - Inflammatory Agents 5a. CONTRACT...applied anti - inflammatory drugs that will reduce recipient site inflammation and skin graft contraction. 15. SUBJECT TERMS Graft contraction, anti

Area and percent of forest affected by biotic agents beyond reference conditions

Treesearch

Jeffrey A. Mai

2012-01-01

Criterion 3, Indicator 15, of the Montréal Process identifies the impact that biotic processes and agents have on forests (Montréal Process Working Group 2007). Where change due to these agents and processes occurs beyond a critical threshold, forest ecosystem health and vitality may be significantly altered and a forest’s ability to recover could be reduced or lost....

Combination cisplatin and sulforaphane treatment reduces proliferation, invasion, and tumor formation in epidermal squamous cell carcinoma.

PubMed

Kerr, Candace; Adhikary, Gautam; Grun, Daniel; George, Nicholas; Eckert, Richard L

2018-01-01

Epidermal squamous cell carcinoma is an extremely common type of cancer. Early tumors can be successfully treated by surgery, but recurrent disease is aggressive and resistant to therapy. Cisplatin is often used as a treatment, but the outcome is rarely satisfactory. For this reason new strategies are required. Sulforaphane is a diet-derived cancer prevention agent that is effective in suppressing tumor growth in animal models of skin cancer. We monitored the efficacy of sulforaphane and cisplatin as a combined therapy for squamous cell carcinoma. Both agents suppress cell proliferation, growth of cancer stem cell spheroids, matrigel invasion and migration of SCC-13 and HaCaT cells, and combination treatment is more efficient. In addition, SCC-13 cell derived cancer stem cells are more responsive to these agents than non-stem cancer cells. Both agents suppress tumor formation, but enhanced suppression is observed with combined treatment. Moreover, both agents reduce the number of tumor-resident cancer stem cells. SFN treatment of cultured cells or tumors increases apoptosis and p21 Cip1 level, and both agents increase tumor apoptosis. We suggest that combined therapy with sulforaphane and cisplatin is efficient in suppressing tumor formation and may be a treatment option for advanced epidermal squamous cell carcinoma. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Research Recommendations for Selected IARC-Classified Agents

EPA Science Inventory

History of the NORA process and framework for the meeting. This is a concerted effort to identify means of reducing the insufficiency of available data for classifying particular agents in the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) system by identifying information n...

The Role of Penal Quarantine in Reducing Violent Crime

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Perry M.

1978-01-01

An examination of the limits of quarantine's potential effect under actual and ideal circumstances leads to the conclusion that current proposals for increasing the use of quarantine would reduce serious violent crime by no more than 10 percent at a staggering cost for prison construction and operation. Two alternative proposals are presented.…

A Strategic Plan for the Crusader Howitzer

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-12-01

of the system was its “volume under armor ,” which describes the actual size of the vehicle and hence its weight (DoD, December 2000, pg. 13). By...reducing the Crusader’s volume under armor , the designers would be able to dramatically reduce the system’s overall weight. This became one of the

Fast detection of vascular plaque in optical coherence tomography images using a reduced feature set

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prakash, Ammu; Ocana Macias, Mariano; Hewko, Mark; Sowa, Michael; Sherif, Sherif

2018-03-01

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) images are capable of detecting vascular plaque by using the full set of 26 Haralick textural features and a standard K-means clustering algorithm. However, the use of the full set of 26 textural features is computationally expensive and may not be feasible for real time implementation. In this work, we identified a reduced set of 3 textural feature which characterizes vascular plaque and used a generalized Fuzzy C-means clustering algorithm. Our work involves three steps: 1) the reduction of a full set 26 textural feature to a reduced set of 3 textural features by using genetic algorithm (GA) optimization method 2) the implementation of an unsupervised generalized clustering algorithm (Fuzzy C-means) on the reduced feature space, and 3) the validation of our results using histology and actual photographic images of vascular plaque. Our results show an excellent match with histology and actual photographic images of vascular tissue. Therefore, our results could provide an efficient pre-clinical tool for the detection of vascular plaque in real time OCT imaging.

ESMO International Consortium Study on the availability, out-of-pocket costs and accessibility of antineoplastic medicines in countries outside of Europe.

PubMed

Cherny, N I; Sullivan, R; Torode, J; Saar, M; Eniu, A

2017-11-01

The availability and affordability of safe, effective, high-quality, affordable anticancer therapies are a core requirement for effective national cancer control plans. Online survey based on a previously validated approach. The aims of the study were to evaluate (i) the availability on national formulary of licensed antineoplastic medicines across the globe, (ii) patient out-of-pocket costs for the medications, (iii) the actual availability of the medication for a patient with a valid prescription, (iv) information relating to possible factors adversely impacting the availability of antineoplastic agents and (v) the impact of the country's level of economic development on these parameters. A total of 304 field reporters from 97 countries were invited to participate. The preliminary set of data was posted on the ESMO website for open peer review and amendments have been incorporated into the final report. Surveys were submitted by 135 reporters from 63 countries and additional peer-review data were submitted by 54 reporters from 19 countries. There are substantial differences in the formulary availability, out-of-pocket costs and actual availability for many anticancer medicines. The most substantial issues are in lower-middle- and low-income countries. Even among medications on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (EML) the discrepancies are profound and these relate to high out-of-pocket costs (in low-middle-income countries 32.0% of EML medicines are available only at full cost and 5.2% are not available at all, and for low-income countries, the corresponding figures are even worse at 57.7% and 8.3%, respectively). There is wide global variation in formulary availability, out-of-pocket expenditures and actual availability for most licensed anticancer medicines. Low- and low-middle-income countries have significant lack of availability and high out-of-pocket expenditures for cancer medicines on the WHO EML, with much less availability of new, more expensive targeted agents compared with high-income countries. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society for Medical Oncology.

ESMO International Consortium Study on the availability, out-of-pocket costs and accessibility of antineoplastic medicines in countries outside of Europe

PubMed Central

Cherny, N I; Sullivan, R; Torode, J; Saar, M; Eniu, A

2017-01-01

Abstract Background The availability and affordability of safe, effective, high-quality, affordable anticancer therapies are a core requirement for effective national cancer control plans. Method Online survey based on a previously validated approach. The aims of the study were to evaluate (i) the availability on national formulary of licensed antineoplastic medicines across the globe, (ii) patient out-of-pocket costs for the medications, (iii) the actual availability of the medication for a patient with a valid prescription, (iv) information relating to possible factors adversely impacting the availability of antineoplastic agents and (v) the impact of the country’s level of economic development on these parameters. A total of 304 field reporters from 97 countries were invited to participate. The preliminary set of data was posted on the ESMO website for open peer review and amendments have been incorporated into the final report. Results Surveys were submitted by 135 reporters from 63 countries and additional peer-review data were submitted by 54 reporters from 19 countries. There are substantial differences in the formulary availability, out-of-pocket costs and actual availability for many anticancer medicines. The most substantial issues are in lower-middle- and low-income countries. Even among medications on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (EML) the discrepancies are profound and these relate to high out-of-pocket costs (in low-middle-income countries 32.0% of EML medicines are available only at full cost and 5.2% are not available at all, and for low-income countries, the corresponding figures are even worse at 57.7% and 8.3%, respectively). Conclusions There is wide global variation in formulary availability, out-of-pocket expenditures and actual availability for most licensed anticancer medicines. Low- and low-middle-income countries have significant lack of availability and high out-of-pocket expenditures for cancer medicines on the WHO EML, with much less availability of new, more expensive targeted agents compared with high-income countries. PMID:28950323

Carbohydrate-directed synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles: effect of the structure of carbohydrates and reducing agents on the size and morphology of the composites.

PubMed

Shervani, Zameer; Yamamoto, Yasushi

2011-04-01

A monosaccharide (β-D-glucose) and polysaccharide (soluble starch) were used as structure directing and subsequently stabilizing agents for the synthesis of spherical nanoparticles (NPs) and nanowires of silver and gold. Homogeneous monodispersed Ag(0) nanoparticles (Ag NPs) of 15 nm diameter were obtained when 10(-4)M AgNO(3) precursor salt was reduced in starch (1 wt%)-water gel by 1 wt% β-D-glucose. For a second preparation the effect of reducing agents on the synthesis of Au(0) metallic nanoparticles (Au NPs) of 2 × 10(-4)M concentration prepared in a β-D-glucose (0.03 M)-water dispersion was studied first in detail. Different equivalent amounts of NaBH(4) and a number of pH values were evaluated for the reduction of the Au salt HAuCl(4)·3H(2)O to obtain Au NPs. The type and the amount of reducing agent, as well as the pH of the solution was shown to affect the size and morphology of the NPs. NaBH(4) (4 equiv) produced the smallest (5.3 nm (σ 0.7)) metallic particles compared to larger particles (10.0 nm (σ 1.4)) when the salt was reduced by 1 equiv of NaBH(4). Addition of excess NaBH(4) caused the NPs to settle out as a precipitate forming a mesh or wire structure rather than monodispersed particles. Low pH (pH 6) resulted in incomplete reduction, while at pH 8 the salt was completely reduced. When the salt was reduced by NaOH at pH 8, the particles were larger (14.2 nm) and less homogeneous (σ 2.8) compared to those from NaBH(4) reduction. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of reducing agents on low-temperature synthesis of nanostructured LiFePO4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kulka, Andrzej; Walczak, Katarzyna; Zając, Wojciech; Molenda, Janina

2017-09-01

Simple co-precipitation synthesis procedure yielding nanometric LiFePO4 with enhanced electrochemical properties without any post-synthesis heat treatment is presented. XRD, SEM and TEM analysis of the obtained powders revealed platelet crystallites and well crystalized bulk structure. Effective way of decreasing amount of Fe3+ containing phases by addition of reducing agents (KI, (NH4)2S2O3, glucose and the atmosphere of 5%H2-95%Ar) during low-temperature (107 °C) synthesis is described. The traditional analytical chemistry methods or the Mӧssbauer spectroscopy methods revealed that utilization of selected reducing agents diminished Fe3+ concentration from 25 to 12 at%. The constructed cells with optimized LiFePO4 as a cathode material showed superior electrochemical performances, including high reversible capacity up to 162 mAh/g at C/10 current discharge rate, flat voltage plateau with a value close to 3.45 V vs. Li0/+.

Liposomal Doxorubicin in the Treatment of Breast Cancer Patients: A Review

PubMed Central

Lao, Juan; Madani, Julia; Puértolas, Teresa; Álvarez, María; Hernández, Alba; Pazo-Cid, Roberto; Artal, Ángel; Antón Torres, Antonio

2013-01-01

Drug delivery systems can provide enhanced efficacy and/or reduced toxicity for anticancer agents. Liposome drug delivery systems are able to modify the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of cytostatic agents, increasing the concentration of the drug released to neoplastic tissue and reducing the exposure of normal tissue. Anthracyclines are a key drug in the treatment of both metastatic and early breast cancer, but one of their major limitations is cardiotoxicity. One of the strategies designed to minimize this side effect is liposome encapsulation. Liposomal anthracyclines have achieved highly efficient drug encapsulation and they have proven to be effective and with reduced cardiotoxicity, as a single agent or in combination with other drugs for the treatment of either anthracyclines-treated or naïve metastatic breast cancer patients. Of particular interest is the use of the combination of liposomal anthracyclines and trastuzumab in patients with HER2-overexpressing breast cancer. In this paper, we discuss the different studies on liposomal doxorubicin in metastatic and early breast cancer therapy. PMID:23634302

Block copolymer micelles with a dual-stimuli-responsive core for fast or slow degradation.

PubMed

Han, Dehui; Tong, Xia; Zhao, Yue

2012-02-07

We report the design and demonstration of a dual-stimuli-responsive block copolymer (BCP) micelle with increased complexity and control. We have synthesized and studied a new amphiphilic ABA-type triblock copolymer whose hydrophobic middle block contains two types of stimuli-sensitive functionalities regularly and repeatedly positioned in the main chain. Using a two-step click chemistry approach, disulfide and o-nitrobenzyle methyl ester groups are inserted into the main chain, which react to reducing agents and light, respectively. With the end blocks being poly(ethylene oxide), micelles formed by this BCP possess a core that can be disintegrated either rapidly via photocleavage of o-nitrobenzyl methyl esters or slowly through cleavage of disulfide groups by a reducing agent in the micellar solution. This feature makes possible either burst release of an encapsulated hydrophobic species from disintegrated micelles by UV light, or slow release by the action of a reducing agent, or release with combined fast-slow rate profiles using the two stimuli.

Washing away your sins in the brain: physical cleaning and priming of cleaning recruit different brain networks after moral threat

PubMed Central

Tang, Honghong; Lu, Xiaping; Su, Rui; Liang, Zilu; Mai, Xiaoqin

2017-01-01

Abstract The association between moral purity and physical cleanliness has been widely discussed recently. Studies found that moral threat initiates the need of physical cleanliness, but actual physical cleaning and priming of cleaning have inconsistent effects on subsequent attitudes and behaviors. Here, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to explore the underlying neural mechanism of actual physical cleaning and priming of cleaning. After recalling moral transgression with strong feelings of guilt and shame, participants either actually cleaned their faces with a wipe or were primed with cleanliness through viewing its pictures. Results showed that actual physical cleaning reduced the spontaneous brain activities in the right insula and MPFC, regions that involved in embodied moral emotion processing, while priming of cleaning decreased activities in the right superior frontal gyrus and middle frontal gyrus, regions that participated in executive control processing. Additionally, actual physical cleaning also changed functional connectivity between insula/MPFC and emotion related regions, whereas priming of cleaning modified connectivity within both moral and sensorimotor areas. These findings revealed that actual physical cleaning and priming of cleaning led to changes in different brain regions and networks, providing neural evidence for the inconsistent effects of cleanliness on subsequent attitudes and behaviors. PMID:28338887

Washing away your sins in the brain: physical cleaning and priming of cleaning recruit different brain networks after moral threat.

PubMed

Tang, Honghong; Lu, Xiaping; Su, Rui; Liang, Zilu; Mai, Xiaoqin; Liu, Chao

2017-07-01

The association between moral purity and physical cleanliness has been widely discussed recently. Studies found that moral threat initiates the need of physical cleanliness, but actual physical cleaning and priming of cleaning have inconsistent effects on subsequent attitudes and behaviors. Here, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to explore the underlying neural mechanism of actual physical cleaning and priming of cleaning. After recalling moral transgression with strong feelings of guilt and shame, participants either actually cleaned their faces with a wipe or were primed with cleanliness through viewing its pictures. Results showed that actual physical cleaning reduced the spontaneous brain activities in the right insula and MPFC, regions that involved in embodied moral emotion processing, while priming of cleaning decreased activities in the right superior frontal gyrus and middle frontal gyrus, regions that participated in executive control processing. Additionally, actual physical cleaning also changed functional connectivity between insula/MPFC and emotion related regions, whereas priming of cleaning modified connectivity within both moral and sensorimotor areas. These findings revealed that actual physical cleaning and priming of cleaning led to changes in different brain regions and networks, providing neural evidence for the inconsistent effects of cleanliness on subsequent attitudes and behaviors. © The Author (2017). Published by Oxford University Press.

A one-pot parallel reductive amination of aldehydes with heteroaromatic amines.

PubMed

Bogolubsky, Andrey V; Moroz, Yurii S; Mykhailiuk, Pavel K; Panov, Dmitriy M; Pipko, Sergey E; Konovets, Anzhelika I; Tolmachev, Andrey

2014-08-11

A parallel reductive amination of heteroaromatic amines has been performed using a combination of ZnCl2-TMSOAc (activating agents) and NaBH(OAc)3 (reducing agent). A library of diverse secondary amines was easily prepared on a 50-300 mg scale.

Revising the American dream: how Asian immigrants adjust after an HIV diagnosis.

PubMed

Chen, Wei-Ti; Guthrie, Barbara; Shiu, Cheng-Shi; Wang, Lixuan; Weng, Zhongqi; Li, Chiang-Shan; Lee, Tony Szu-Hsien; Kamitani, Emiko; Fukuda, Yumiko; Luu, Binh Vinh

2015-08-01

We explored how acculturation and self-actualization affect depression in the HIV-positive Asians and Pacific Islanders immigrant population. Asians and Pacific Islanders are among the fastest growing minority groups in the USA. Asians and Pacific Islanders are the only racial/ethnic group to show a significant increase in HIV diagnosis rate. A mixed-methods study was conducted. Thirty in-depth interviews were conducted with HIV-positive Asians and Pacific Islanders in San Francisco and New York. Additionally, cross-sectional audio computer-assisted self-interviews were conducted with a sample of 50 HIV-positive Asians and Pacific Islanders. Content analysis was used to analyse the in-depth interviews. Also, descriptive, bivariate statistics and multivariable regression analysis was used to estimate the associations among depression, acculturation and self-actualization. The study took place from January-June 2013. Major themes were extracted from the interview data, including self-actualization, acculturation and depression. The participants were then divided into three acculturation levels correlating to their varying levels of self-actualization. For those with low acculturation, there was a large discrepancy in the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale scores between those who had totally lost their self-actualization and those who believed they could still achieve their 'American dreams'. Among those who were less acculturated, there was a significant difference in depression scores between those who felt they had totally lost their ability to self-actualize and those who still believed they could 'make their dreams come true.' Acculturation levels influence depression and self-actualization in the HIV-positive Asians and Pacific Islanders population. Lower acculturated Asian Americans achieved a lower degree of self-actualization and suffered from depression. Future interventions should focus on enhancing acculturation and reducing depression to achieve self-actualization. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Application of insoluble fibers in the fining of wine phenolics.

PubMed

Guerrero, Raúl F; Smith, Paul; Bindon, Keren A

2013-05-08

The application of animal-derived proteins as wine fining agents has been subject to increased regulation in recent years. As an alternative to protein-based fining agents, insoluble plant-derived fibers have the capacity to adsorb red wine tannins. Changes in red wine tannin were analyzed following application of fibers derived from apple and grape and protein-based fining agents. Other changes in wine composition, namely, color, monomeric phenolics, metals, and turbidity, were also determined. Wine tannin was maximally reduced by application of an apple pomace fiber and a grape pomace fiber (G4), removing 42 and 38%, respectively. Potassium caseinate maximally removed 19% of wine tannin, although applied at a lower dose. Fibers reduced anthocyanins, total phenolics, and wine color density, but changes in wine hue were minor. Proteins and apple fiber selectively removed high molecular mass phenolics, whereas grape fibers removed those of both high and low molecular mass. The results show that insoluble fibers may be considered as alternative fining agents for red wines.

Combination of different antifungal agents in oil-in-water emulsions to control strawberry jam spoilage.

PubMed

Ribes, Susana; Fuentes, Ana; Talens, Pau; Barat, Jose Manuel

2018-01-15

The combination of antifungal agents (cinnamon bark oil, zinc gluconate and trans-ferulic acid) in oil-in-water emulsions to control the fungal spoilage of strawberry jams, minimising essential oil's sensory impact, was evaluated in this work. The in vitro assays of free antifungal agents were performed against five fungal strains; meanwhile, the emulsions assays were conducted against Aspergillus niger given its strong resistance and its relevance in strawberry products. The emulsion formulated with 0.08mg/g of essential oil was able to inhibit mould growth after the incubation period. The incorporation of zinc gluconate or trans-ferulic acid, independently of the concentration used, allowed to reduce a 25% the amount of essential oil needed to inhibit the microbial growth. The combination of antifungal agents in the emulsions has demonstrated to be an effective alternative to reduce the amount of essential oil employed, maintaining the hygienic quality and sensory profile of the strawberry jam. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate, a prototypic chemopreventative agent for protection against cisplatin-based ototoxicity

PubMed Central

Borse, Vikrant; Al Aameri, Raheem F H; Sheehan, Kelly; Sheth, Sandeep; Kaur, Tejbeer; Mukherjea, Debashree; Tupal, Srinivasan; Lowy, Michelle; Ghosh, Sumana; Dhukhwa, Asmita; Bhatta, Puspanjali; Rybak, Leonard P; Ramkumar, Vickram

2017-01-01

Cisplatin-induced ototoxicity is one of the major factors limiting cisplatin chemotherapy. Ototoxicity results from damage to outer hair cells (OHCs) and other regions of the cochlea. At the cellular level, cisplatin increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to cochlear inflammation and apoptosis. Thus, ideal otoprotective drugs should target oxidative stress and inflammatory mechanisms without interfering with cisplatin's chemotherapeutic efficacy. In this study, we show that epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a prototypic agent exhibiting these properties of an effect otoprotective agent. Rats administered oral EGCG demonstrate reduced cisplatin-induced hearing loss, reduced loss of OHCs in the basal region of the cochlea and reduced oxidative stress and apoptotic markers. EGCG also protected against the loss of ribbon synapses associated with inner hair cells and Na+/K+ ATPase α1 in the stria vascularis and spiral ligament. In vitro studies showed that EGCG reduced cisplatin-induced ROS generation and ERK1/2 and signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 (STAT1) activity, but preserved the activity of STAT3 and Bcl-xL. The increase in STAT3/STAT1 ratio appears critical for mediating its otoprotection. EGCG did not alter cisplatin-induced apoptosis of human-derived cancer cells or cisplatin antitumor efficacy in a xenograft tumor model in mice because of its inability to rescue the downregulation of STAT3 in these cells. These data suggest that EGCG is an ideal otoprotective agent for treating cisplatin-induced hearing loss without compromising its antitumor efficacy. PMID:28703809

Effect of dissolved oxygen concentration on iron efficiency: Removal of three chloroacetic acids.

PubMed

Tang, Shun; Wang, Xiao-mao; Mao, Yu-qin; Zhao, Yu; Yang, Hong-wei; Xie, Yuefeng F

2015-04-15

The monochloroacetic, dichloroacetic and trichloroacetic acid (MCAA, DCAA and TCAA) removed by metallic iron under controlled dissolved oxygen conditions (0, 0.75, 1.52, 2.59, 3.47 or 7.09 mg/L DO) was investigated in well-mixed batch systems. The removal of CAAs increased first and then decreased with increasing DO concentration. Compared with anoxic condition, the reduction of MCAA and DCAA was substantially enhanced in the presence of O2, while TCAA reduction was significantly inhibited above 2.59 mg/L. The 1.52 mg/L DO was optimum for the formation of final product, acetic acid. Chlorine mass balances were 69-102%, and carbon mass balances were 92-105%. With sufficient mass transfer from bulk to the particle surface, the degradation of CAAs was limited by their reduction or migration rate within iron particles, which were dependent on the change of reducing agents and corrosion coatings. Under anoxic conditions, the reduction of CAAs was mainly inhibited by the available reducing agents in the conductive layer. Under low oxic conditions, the increasing reducing agents and thin lepidocrocite layer were favorable for CAA dechlorination. Under high oxic conditions, the redundant oxygen competing for reducing agents and significant lepidocrocite growth became the major restricting factors. Various CAA removal mechanisms could be potentially applied to explaining the effect of DO concentration on iron efficiency for contaminant reduction in water and wastewater treatment. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nanotechnology inspired advanced engineering fundamentals for optimizing drug delivery.

PubMed

Kassem, Ahmed Alaa

2018-02-06

Drug toxicity and inefficacy are commonly experienced problems with drug therapy failure. To face these problems, extensive research work took place aiming to design new dosage forms for drug delivery especially nanoparticulate systems. These systems are designed to increase the quantity of the therapeutic molecule delivered to the desired site concurrently with reduced side effects. In order to achieve this objective, nanocarriers must principally display suitable drug vehiculization abilities and a controlled biological destiny of drug molecules. Only the intelligent design of the nanomedicine will accomplish these fundamentals. The present review article is dedicated to the discussion of the important fundamentals to be considered in the fabrication of nanomedicines. These include the therapeutic agent, the nanocarrier and the functionalization moieties. Special consideration is devoted to the explanation and compilation of highly potential fabrication approaches assisting how to control the in vivo destiny of the nanomedicine. Finally, some nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems, for the development of nanomedicine, are also discussed. The nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems showed remarkable outcomes based on passive and active targeting as well as improvement of the drug pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profiles. Multifunctional nanocarrier concept affords a revolutionary drug delivery approach for maximizing the efficacy, safety and monitoring the biological fate of the therapeutic molecule. Nanomedicines may enhance the efficacy of therapeutic molecules and reduce their toxic effects. Meanwhile, further research works are required to rightly optimize (and define) the effectiveness, nanotoxicity, in vivo destiny and feasibility of these nanomedicines which, from a preclinical standpoint, are actually promising. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Adenosine 5'-monophosphate ameliorates D-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide-induced liver injury through an adenosine receptor-independent mechanism in mice.

PubMed

Zhan, Y; Wang, Z; Yang, P; Wang, T; Xia, L; Zhou, M; Wang, Y; Wang, S; Hua, Z; Zhang, J

2014-01-09

D-galactosamine (GalN)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lethality and acute liver failure is dependent on endogenously produced inflammatory cytokines. Adenosine has been proven to be a central role in the regulation of inflammatory response. It is not entirely clear that which adenosine action is actually crucial to limiting inflammatory tissue destruction. Here we showed that GalN/LPS challenge elevated hepatic adenosine and induced lethality in adenosine receptor-deficient mice with equal efficiency as wild-type mice. In GalN/LPS-treated mice, pretreatment with adenosine 5'-monophosphate (5'-AMP) significantly elevated hepatic adenosine level and reduced mortality through decreasing cytokine and chemokine production. In RAW264.7 cells, 5'-AMP treatment inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokines, which is not mediated through adenosine receptors. 5'-AMP failed to attenuate LPS-induced nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 nuclear translocation, but reduced LPS-induced recruitment of NF-κB p65 to inflammatory gene promoters and decreased LPS-induced enrichment of H3K4 dimethylation at the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) promoter, which was involved in 5'-AMP-induced elevation of cellular adenosine and a decline of methylation potential. In vitro biochemical analysis revealed that adenosine directly attenuated recruitment of NF-κB to the TNF-α and interleukin-6 promoters. Our findings demonstrate that 5'-AMP-inhibiting inflammatory response is not mediated by adenosine receptors and it may represent a potential protective agent for amelioration of LPS-induced liver injury.

Adenosine 5′-monophosphate ameliorates D-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide-induced liver injury through an adenosine receptor-independent mechanism in mice

PubMed Central

Zhan, Y; Wang, Z; Yang, P; Wang, T; Xia, L; Zhou, M; Wang, Y; Wang, S; Hua, Z; Zhang, J

2014-01-01

D-galactosamine (GalN)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lethality and acute liver failure is dependent on endogenously produced inflammatory cytokines. Adenosine has been proven to be a central role in the regulation of inflammatory response. It is not entirely clear that which adenosine action is actually crucial to limiting inflammatory tissue destruction. Here we showed that GalN/LPS challenge elevated hepatic adenosine and induced lethality in adenosine receptor-deficient mice with equal efficiency as wild-type mice. In GalN/LPS-treated mice, pretreatment with adenosine 5′-monophosphate (5′-AMP) significantly elevated hepatic adenosine level and reduced mortality through decreasing cytokine and chemokine production. In RAW264.7 cells, 5′-AMP treatment inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokines, which is not mediated through adenosine receptors. 5′-AMP failed to attenuate LPS-induced nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 nuclear translocation, but reduced LPS-induced recruitment of NF-κB p65 to inflammatory gene promoters and decreased LPS-induced enrichment of H3K4 dimethylation at the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) promoter, which was involved in 5′-AMP-induced elevation of cellular adenosine and a decline of methylation potential. In vitro biochemical analysis revealed that adenosine directly attenuated recruitment of NF-κB to the TNF-α and interleukin-6 promoters. Our findings demonstrate that 5′-AMP-inhibiting inflammatory response is not mediated by adenosine receptors and it may represent a potential protective agent for amelioration of LPS-induced liver injury. PMID:24407238

Reduced-Gliadin Wheat Bread: An Alternative to the Gluten-Free Diet for Consumers Suffering Gluten-Related Pathologies

PubMed Central

Gil-Humanes, Javier; Pistón, Fernando; Altamirano-Fortoul, Rossana; Real, Ana; Comino, Isabel; Sousa, Carolina; Rosell, Cristina M.; Barro, Francisco

2014-01-01

Wheat flour cannot be tolerated by those who suffer allergies to gluten. Human pathologies associated with grain proteins have increased worldwide in recent years, and the only effective treatment available is a lifelong gluten-free diet, which is complicated to follow and detrimental to gut health. This manuscript describes the development of wheat bread potentially suitable for celiac patients and other gluten-intolerant individuals. We have made bread using wheat flour with very low content of the specific gluten proteins (near gliadin-free) that are the causal agents for pathologies such as celiac disease. Loaves were compared with normal wheat breads and rice bread. Organoleptic, nutritional, and immunotoxic properties were studied. The reduced-gliadin breads showed baking and sensory properties, and overall acceptance, similar to those of normal flour, but with up to 97% lower gliadin content. Moreover, the low-gliadin flour has improved nutritional properties since its lysine content is significantly higher than that of normal flour. Conservative estimates indicate that celiac patients could safely consume 67 grams of bread per day that is made with low-gliadin flour. However, additional studies, such as feeding trials with gluten-intolerant patients, are still needed in order to determine whether or not the product can be consumed by the general celiac population, as well as the actual tolerated amount that can be safely ingested. The results presented here offer a major opportunity to improve the quality of life for millions of sufferers of gluten intolerance throughout the world. PMID:24621595

The Role of Lattice Matching Techniques in the Characterization of Polymorphic Forms.

PubMed

Mighell, Alan D

2011-01-01

An inspection of the recent literature reveals that polymorphism is a frequently encountered phenomenon. The recognition of polymorphic forms plays a vital role in the materials sciences because such structures are characterized by different crystal packing and accordingly have different physical properties. In the pharmaceutical industry, recognition of polymorphic forms can be critical for, in certain cases, a polymorphic form of a drug may be an ineffective therapeutic agent due to its unfavorable physical properties. A check of the recent literature has revealed that in some cases new polymorphic forms are not recognized. In other instances, a supposedly new polymeric form is actually the result of an incorrect structure determination. Fortunately, lattice-matching techniques, which have proved invaluable in the identification and characterization of crystal structures, represent a powerful tool for analyzing polymorphic forms. These lattice-matching methods are based on either of two strategies: (a) the reduced cell strategy-the matching of reduced cells of the respective lattices or (b) the matrix strategy-the determination of a matrix or matrices relating the two lattices coupled with an analysis of the matrix elements. Herein, these techniques are applied to three typical cases-(a) the identification of a new polymorphic form, (b) the demonstration that a substance may not be a new polymorphic form due to missed symmetry, and (c) the evaluation of pseudo polymorphism because of a missed lattice. To identify new polymorphic forms and to prevent errors, it is recommended that these lattice matching techniques become an integral part of the editorial review process of crystallography journals.

Advanced UV Source for Biological Agent Destruction

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-01-01

protection against chemical agents. The AUVS can be inserted into HVAC air ducts to eliminate BW agents, used to purify water, and / or used to reduce...operating costs are very low. The technology has been shown to be very effective for destroying Bacillus pumilus endospores that are significantly more...resistant to UV than anthrax spores . Up to7 orders of magnitude (7 logs) kill of B. pumilus spores have been demonstrated with the AUVS technology

Economic considerations in the use of inhaled anesthetic agents.

PubMed

Golembiewski, Julie

2010-04-15

To describe the components of and factors contributing to the costs of inhaled anesthesia, basis for quantifying and comparing these costs, and practical strategies for performing pharmacoeconomic analyses and reducing the costs of inhaled anesthetic agents. Inhaled anesthesia can be costly, and some of the variable costs, including fresh gas flow rates and vaporizer settings, are potential targets for cost savings. The use of a low fresh gas flow rate maximizes rebreathing of exhaled anesthetic gas and is less costly than a high flow rate, but it provides less control of the level of anesthesia. The minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) hour is a measure that can be used to compare the cost of inhaled anesthetic agents at various fresh gas flow rates. Anesthesia records provide a sense of patterns of inhaled anesthetic agent use, but the amount of detail can be limited. Cost savings have resulted from efforts to reduce the direct costs of inhaled anesthetic agents, but reductions in indirect costs through shortened times to patient recovery and discharge following the judicious use of these agents are more difficult to demonstrate. The patient case mix, fresh gas flow rates typically used during inhaled anesthesia, availability and location of vaporizers, and anesthesia care provider preferences and practices should be taken into consideration in pharmacoeconomic evaluations and recommendations for controlling the costs of inhaled anesthesia. Understanding factors that contribute to the costs of inhaled anesthesia and considering those factors in pharmacoeconomic analyses and recommendations for use of these agents can result in cost savings.

Use of an Anaerobic Chamber Environment for the Assay of Endogenous Cellular Protein-Tyrosine Phosphatase Activities

PubMed Central

Zhu, Li

2002-01-01

Protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) have a catalytic cysteine residue whose reduced state is integral to the reaction mechanism. Since exposure to air can artifactually oxidize this highly reactive thiol, PTPase assays have typically used potent reducing agents to reactivate the enzymes present; however, this approach does not allow for the measurement of the endogenous PTPase activity directly isolated from the in vivo cellular environment. Here we provide a method for using an anaerobic chamber to preserve the activity of the total PTPase complement in a tissue lysate or of an immunoprecipitated PTPase homolog to characterize their endogenous activation state. Comparison with a sample treated with biochemical reducing agents allows the determination of the activatable (reducible) fraction of the endogenous PTPase pool. PMID:12734574

Method for producing chemically bonded phosphate ceramics and for stabilizing contaminants encapsulated therein utilizing reducing agents

DOEpatents

Singh, Dileep; Wagh, Arun S.; Jeong, Seung-Young

2000-01-01

Known phosphate ceramic formulations are improved and the ability to produce iron-based phosphate ceramic systems is enabled by the addition of an oxidizing or reducing step during the acid-base reactions that form the phosphate ceramic products. The additives allow control of the rate of the acid-base reactions and concomitant heat generation. In an alternate embodiment, waste containing metal anions are stabilized in phosphate ceramic products by the addition of a reducing agent to the phosphate ceramic mixture. The reduced metal ions are more stable and/or reactive with the phosphate ions, resulting in the formation of insoluble metal species within the phosphate ceramic matrix, such that the resulting chemically bonded phosphate ceramic product has greater leach resistance.

A facile and green preparation of reduced graphene oxide using Eucalyptus leaf extract

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Chengyang; Zhuang, Zechao; Jin, Xiaoying; Chen, Zuliang

2017-11-01

In this paper, a green and facile synthesis of reduced graphene oxide (GO) by Eucalyptus leaf extract (EL-RGO) was investigated, which was characterized with ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Thermal gravimetric analysis (TG). Eucalyptus leaf extract also play both reducing and capping stabilizing agents prepared EL-RGO as shown a good stability and electrochemical properties. This approach could provide an alternative method to prepare EL-RGO in large-scale production. Moreover, the good electrochemical property and biocompatibility can be used in various applications. In addition, the merit of this study is that both the oxidized products and the reducing agents are environmental friendly by green reduction.

Accidental death and the rule of joint and several liability

PubMed Central

Carvell, Daniel; Currie, Janet; MacLeod, W. Bentley

2013-01-01

Most U.S. states have enacted JSL reform, the move from a regime of joint and several liability (JSL) that allows plaintiffs to claim full recovery from any one of multiple defendants to one where defendants are held liable only for the harm they cause. Contrary to previous theoretical work, we show that JSL reform can increase precaution by judgment proof agent by giving “deep pockets” an incentive to reduce their own liability by bringing judgment-proof agents into court. This result can help explain our empirical findings showing that JSL reform reduces death rates (and hence increase precaution) for many types of accidents. Together, these results highlight the role that litigation costs and judgment-proof agents play in the functioning of the American tort system. PMID:25076808

Synthesis of functional materials in combustion reactions

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

Zhuravlev, V. D., E-mail: zhvd@ihim.uran.ru; Bamburov, V. G.; Ermakova, L. V.

2015-12-15

The conditions for obtaining oxide compounds in combustion reactions of nitrates of metals with organic chelating–reducing agents such as amino acids, urea, and polyvinyl alcohol are reviewed. Changing the nature of internal fuels and the reducing agent-to-oxidizing agent ratio makes possible to modify the thermal regime of the process, fractal dimensionality, morphology, and dispersion of synthesized functional materials. This method can be used to synthesize simple and complex oxides, composites, and metal powders, as well as ceramics and coatings. The possibilities of synthesis in combustion reactions are illustrated by examples of αand γ-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, YSZ composites, uranium oxides, nickelmore » powder, NiO and NiO: YSZ composite, TiO{sub 2}, and manganites, cobaltites, and aluminates of rare earth elements.« less

Performance of waste-paper/PETG wood–plastic composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Lijie; An, Shuxiang; Li, Chunying; Huang, Chongxing; Wang, Shuangfei; Zhang, Xiaoxiao; Xu, Mingzi; Chen, Jie; Zhou, Lei

2018-05-01

Wood-plastic composites were prepared from polyethylene terephthalate- 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol ester (PETG) and waste-paper fiber that was unmodified, modified with alkyl-ketene-dimer (AKD), and modified with a silane-coupling agent. The mechanical properties, water absorption properties, surface structure, and thermal properties of the three prepared materials were compared. The results showed that the optimum amount of waste-paper powder is 10 wt%, while that of the waste-paper particles is 60-80 mesh. The use of AKD and coupling agent KH550 can reduce the water absorption of the composite; however, the reductive effect of the coupling agent is better, in that it is reduced by 0.3%. Modification using a 1-wt% KH550 coupling agent can effectively increase the tensile strength of a composite from 31.36 to 41.67 MPa (increase of 32.8%), while the bending strength increased from 86.47 to 98.31 MPa (increase of 13.7%). This also enhances the thermal stability of the composites. With the addition of the coupling agent, the composite material maintains good mechanical properties even after being immersed in water; this can enable the safe use of these composite materials in outdoor environments.

Management of menopause-associated vasomotor symptoms: Current treatment options, challenges and future directions

PubMed Central

Pachman, Deirdre R; Jones, Jason M; Loprinzi, Charles L

2010-01-01

Hot flashes are one of the most common and distressing symptoms associated with menopause, occurring in more than 75% of postmenopausal women. They are especially problematic in breast cancer patients since some breast cancer therapies can induce hot flashes. For mild hot flashes, it is proposed that behavioral modifications are the first step in management. Hormonal therapies, including estrogens and progestogens, are the most well known effective agents in relieving hot flashes; however, the safety of these agents is controversial. There is an increasing amount of literature on nonhormonal agents for the treatment of hot flashes. The most promising data regard newer antidepressant agents such as venlafaxine, which reduces hot flashes by about 60%. Gabapentin is another nonhormonal agent that is effective in reducing hot flashes. While many complimentary therapies, including phytoestrogens, black cohosh, and dehydroepiandrosterone, have been explored for the treatment of hot flashes; none can be recommended at this time. Furthermore, there is a lack of strong evidence to support exercise, yoga, or relaxation for the treatment of hot flashes. Paced respirations and hypnosis appear to be promising enough to warrant further investigation. Another promising nonpharmacological therapy, currently under investigation, involves a stellate ganglion block. PMID:21072305

Suicide inactivation of catechol 2,3-dioxygenase from Pseudomonas putida mt-2 by 3-halocatechols

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

Bartels, I.; Knackmuss, H.J.; Reineke, W.

The inactivation of catechol 2,3-dioxygenase from Pseudomonas putida mt-2 by 3-chloro- and 3-fluorocatechol and the iron-chelating agent Tiron (catechol-3,5-disulfonate) was studied. Whereas inactivation by Tiron is an oxygen-independent and mostly reversible process, inactivation by the 3-halocatechols was only observed in the presence of oxygen and was largely irreversible. The rate constants for inactivation (K/sub 2/) were 1.62 x 10/sup -3/ sec/sup -1/ for 3-chlorocatechol and 2.38 x 10/sup -3/ sec/sup -1/ for 3-fluorocatechol. The inhibitor constants (K/sub i/) were 23 ..mu..M for 3-chlorocatechol and 17 ..mu..M for 3-fluorocatechol. The kinetic data for 3-fluorocatechol could only be obtained in the presencemore » of 2-mercaptoethanol. Besides inactivated enzyme, some 2-hydroxyhexa-2,4-dienoic acid as the actual suicide product of meta-cleavage. A side product of 3-fluorocatechol cleavage is a yellow compound with the spectral characteristics of a 2-hydroxy-6-oxohexa-2,4-dienoci acid indicating 1,6-cleavage. Rates of inactivation by 3-fluorocatechol were reduced in the presence of superoxide dismutase, catalase, formate, and mannitol, which implies that superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radical exhibit additional inactivation. 64 references.« less

Alternatives to neonicotinoid insecticides for pest control: case studies in agriculture and forestry.

PubMed

Furlan, Lorenzo; Kreutzweiser, David

2015-01-01

Neonicotinoid insecticides are widely used for control of insect pests around the world and are especially pervasive in agricultural pest management. There is a growing body of evidence indicating that the broad-scale and prophylactic uses of neonicotinoids pose serious risks of harm to beneficial organisms and their ecological function. This provides the impetus for exploring alternatives to neonicotinoid insecticides for controlling insect pests. We draw from examples of alternative pest control options in Italian maize production and Canadian forestry to illustrate the principles of applying alternatives to neonicotinoids under an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy. An IPM approach considers all relevant and available information to make informed management decisions, providing pest control options based on actual need. We explore the benefits and challenges of several options for management of three insect pests in maize crops and an invasive insect pest in forests, including diversifying crop rotations, altering the timing of planting, tillage and irrigation, using less sensitive crops in infested areas, applying biological control agents, and turning to alternative reduced risk insecticides. Continued research into alternatives is warranted, but equally pressing is the need for information transfer and training for farmers and pest managers and the need for policies and regulations to encourage the adoption of IPM strategies and their alternative pest control options.

Agency on the move: revisioning the route to social change.

PubMed

Frazier, Kathryn E

2013-09-01

Throughout the course of everyday life individuals enter into interactions in which an intricate relationship between agency and subordination can be observed: they sometimes act agentively and at other times-via discursive and/or interpersonal processes-their agency is reduced to objectness. Thus, theoretically we can think of constant dynamics of transfer of agency. It is argued that the transfer of agency between persons (or groups) is a fundamental quality of the societal discourses in which all persons are constituted. This transfer of agency occurs constantly throughout social interaction and at different levels of social functioning as individuals live and make meaning of their experiences. In light of this perspective, it is suggested that social change movements that aim to interrupt the transfer of agency and instead fix agency with one person (or one group of people) are inadequate. Rather, these movements can actually subvert their own agenda by producing problematic tensions in discourse and subjectivity. The self-defense movement, a component of the movement to end violence against women, is presented as a case study. The problematic and tension-filled positions and meanings the movement (re)produces for women are explored as an effect of denying any transfer of agency between women and men around issues of violence and gender oppression.

An investigation of the effects of a speech-restructuring treatment for stuttering on the distribution of intervals of phonation.

PubMed

Brown, Lisa; Wilson, Linda; Packman, Ann; Halaki, Mark; Onslow, Mark; Menzies, Ross

2016-12-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether stuttering reductions following the instatement phase of a speech-restructuring treatment for adults were accompanied by reductions in the frequency of short intervals of phonation (PIs). The study was prompted by the possibility that reductions in the frequency of short PIs is the mechanism underlying such reductions in stuttering. The distribution of PIs was determined for seven adults who stutter, before and immediately after the intensive phase of a speech-restructuring treatment program. Audiovisual recordings of conversational speech were made on both assessment occasions, with PIs recorded with an accelerometer. All seven participants had much lower levels of stuttering after treatment but these were associated with reductions in the frequency of short PIs for only four of them. For the other three participants, two showed no change in frequency of short PIs, while for the other participant the frequency of short PIs actually increased. Stuttering reduction with speech-restructuring treatment can co-occur with reduction in the frequency of short PIs. However, the latter does not appear necessary for this reduction in stuttering to occur. Thus, speech-restructuring treatment must have other, or additional, treatment agents for stuttering to reduce. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of mineral viscosity-enhancing admixtures on the solidification of evaporator concentrates.

PubMed

Lin, Chung-Yung; Huang, Wan-Ting

2015-11-15

It is known that partial replacement of cement by viscosity-enhancing admixtures, also known as anti-washout admixtures, affects the quality of the waste form or concrete. To reduce the bleeding rate of the paste, the characteristics of various mineral viscosity-enhancing admixtures dispersed in saline solutions were investigated, including sedimentation and viscosity. The admixture candidates included fly ash, silica fume, bentonite, and palygorskite. The effect of these admixtures blended with a cement-based matrix on the bleeding rate of the solidification of evaporator concentrates was also examined in this paper. The experimental results show the palygorskite Type 400 is the best choice to improve the quality of waste form, due to its excellent suspension property in the saline solution. The bleeding rate of paste decreased as the dispersion volume of the admixture suspension increased. For consideration of the quality of waste forms and the concentrate loading, the optimization of the palygorskite/concentrate ratio of 15-17 wt% and solidification agent/concentrate ratio of 1.0-1.2 were adopted. With this recipe, the quality of waste forms resulting from the solidification of simulated and actual evaporator concentrates mainly containing chloride met the regulations' requirements. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Promise of Neuroprotective Agents in Parkinson’s Disease

PubMed Central

Seidl, Stacey E.; Potashkin, Judith A.

2011-01-01

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra of the brain. Since there are limited treatment options for PD, neuroprotective agents are currently being tested as a means to slow disease progression. Agents targeting oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation are prime candidates for neuroprotection. This review identifies Rasagiline, Minocycline, and creatine, as the most promising neuroprotective agents for PD, and they are all currently in phase III trials. Other agents possessing protective characteristics in delaying PD include stimulants, vitamins, supplements, and other drugs. Additionally, combination therapies also show benefits in slowing PD progression. The identification of neuroprotective agents for PD provides us with therapeutic opportunities for modifying the course of disease progression and, perhaps, reducing the risk of onset when preclinical biomarkers become available. PMID:22125548

Study of Dimple Effect on the Friction Characteristics of a Journal Bearing using Taguchi Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murthy, A. Amar; Raghunandana, Dr.

2018-02-01

The effect of producing dimples using chemically etched techniques or by machining process on the surface of a journal bearing bushing to reduce the friction using Taguchi method is investigated. The data used in the present analysis is based on the results obtained by the series of experiments conducted to study the dimples effect on the Stribeck curve. It is statistically proved that producing dimples on the bushing surface of a journal bearing has significant effect on the friction coefficient when used with light oils. Also it is seen that there is an interaction effect between speeds-load and load-dimples. Hence the interaction effect, which are usually neglected should be considered during actual experiments that significantly contributes in reducing the friction in mixed lubrication regime. The experiments, if were conducted after Taguchi method, then the number of experiments would have been reduced to half of the actual set of experiments that were essentially conducted.

Global alcohol policy and the alcohol industry.

PubMed

Anderson, Peter

2009-05-01

The WHO is preparing its global strategy on alcohol, and, in so doing, has been asked to consult with the alcohol industry on ways it could contribute in reducing the harm done by alcohol. This review asks which is more effective in reducing harm: the regulatory approaches that the industry does not favour; or the educational approaches that it does favour. The current literature overwhelmingly finds that regulatory approaches (including those that manage the price, availability, and marketing of alcohol) reduce the risk of and the experience of alcohol-related harm, whereas educational approaches (including school-based education and public education campaigns) do not, with industry-funded education actually increasing the risk of harm. The alcohol industry should not be involved in making alcohol policy. Its involvement in implementing policy should be restricted to its role as a producer, distributor, and marketer of alcohol. In particular, the alcohol industry should not be involved in educational programmes, as such involvement could actually lead to an increase in harm.

Inhibitory activity of chelating agent against bacteria associated with poultry processing

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and ethylenediamine-N, N’-disuccinic acid (EDDS) are chelating agents that can bind minerals that produce water hardness. By sequestering minerals in hard water, chelators reduce water hardness and increase the ability of cleansers to remove dirt and debris dur...

QUESP and QUEST revisited - fast and accurate quantitative CEST experiments.

PubMed

Zaiss, Moritz; Angelovski, Goran; Demetriou, Eleni; McMahon, Michael T; Golay, Xavier; Scheffler, Klaus

2018-03-01

Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) NMR or MRI experiments allow detection of low concentrated molecules with enhanced sensitivity via their proton exchange with the abundant water pool. Be it endogenous metabolites or exogenous contrast agents, an exact quantification of the actual exchange rate is required to design optimal pulse sequences and/or specific sensitive agents. Refined analytical expressions allow deeper insight and improvement of accuracy for common quantification techniques. The accuracy of standard quantification methodologies, such as quantification of exchange rate using varying saturation power or varying saturation time, is improved especially for the case of nonequilibrium initial conditions and weak labeling conditions, meaning the saturation amplitude is smaller than the exchange rate (γB 1  < k). The improved analytical 'quantification of exchange rate using varying saturation power/time' (QUESP/QUEST) equations allow for more accurate exchange rate determination, and provide clear insights on the general principles to execute the experiments and to perform numerical evaluation. The proposed methodology was evaluated on the large-shift regime of paramagnetic chemical-exchange-saturation-transfer agents using simulated data and data of the paramagnetic Eu(III) complex of DOTA-tetraglycineamide. The refined formulas yield improved exchange rate estimation. General convergence intervals of the methods that would apply for smaller shift agents are also discussed. Magn Reson Med 79:1708-1721, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Pharmacokinetics and absorption of the anticancer agents dasatinib and GDC-0941 under various gastric conditions in dogs--reversing the effect of elevated gastric pH with betaine HCl.

PubMed

Pang, Jodie; Dalziel, Gena; Dean, Brian; Ware, Joseph A; Salphati, Laurent

2013-11-04

Changes in gastric pH can impact the dissolution and absorption of compounds presenting pH-dependent solubility. We assessed, in dogs, the effects of gastric pH-modifying agents on the oral absorption of two weakly basic anticancer drugs, dasatinib and GDC-0941. We also tested whether drug-induced hypochlorhydria could be temporarily mitigated using betaine HCl. Pretreatments with pentagastrin, famotidine, betaine HCl, or combinations of famotidine and betaine HCl were administered orally to dogs prior to drug dosing. The gastric pH was measured under each condition for up to 7 h, and the exposure of the compounds tested was calculated. The average gastric pH in fasted dogs ranged from 1.45 to 3.03. Pentagastrin or betaine HCl treatments lowered the pH and reduced its variability between dogs compared to control animals. In contrast, famotidine treatment maintained gastric pH at values close to 7 for up to 5 h, while betaine HCl transiently reduced the pH to approximately 2 in the famotidine-treated dogs. Famotidine pretreatment lowered GDC-0941 exposure by 5-fold, and decreased dasatinib measurable concentrations 30-fold, compared to the pentagastrin-treated dogs. Betaine HCl restored GDC-0941 AUC in famotidine-treated dogs to levels achieved in control animals, and increased dasatinib AUC to 1.5-fold that measured in control dogs. The results confirmed the negative impact of acid-reducing agents on the absorption of weakly basic drugs. They also suggested that betaine HCl coadministration may be a viable strategy in humans treated with acid-reducing agents in order to temporarily reduce gastric pH and restore drug exposure.

The use of smoke acid as an alternative coagulating agent for natural rubber sheets' production.

PubMed

Ferreira, Vanda S; Rêgo, Ione N C; Pastore, Floriano; Mandai, Mariana M; Mendes, Leonardo S; Santos, Karin A M; Rubim, Joel C; Suarez, Paulo A Z

2005-03-01

A comparative study of rubber sheets obtained using formic, acetic, and smoke acid as coagulants is shown for latex obtained from native Amazonian trees and also from commercial cultivated trees. The evaluation of both processes of coagulation was carried out by spectroscopic and physical-chemical analysis, showing no differences in the rubber sheets obtained. This new method of rubber sheet preparation was introduced into Amazonian rainforest rubber tapper communities, which are actually producing in large scale. The physical-mechanical properties were similar among a large sheets made by different rubber tapper communities using this new method.

Ziziphus spinosa seeds for insomnia: A review of chemistry and psychopharmacology.

PubMed

Shergis, Johannah Linda; Ni, Xiaojia; Sarris, Jerome; Zhang, Anthony Lin; Guo, Xinfeng; Xue, Charlie C; Lu, Chuanjian; Hugel, Helmut

2017-10-15

In Chinese medicine, Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H. F. Chou is widely used for the treatment of insomnia. This paper summarises the chemistry, psychopharmacology, and compares the pharmaceutical effects of the seeds of Ziziphus jujuba plant, Ziziphus spinosa (ZS) seeds, with benzodiazepines. Whole extracts and constituent compounds have been evaluated in preclinical and clinical studies. ZS secondary metabolites modulate GABAergic activity and the serotonergic system. The actual therapeutic agents require further confirmation/identification so that new insomnia phytomedicines can be discovered. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

The CLER model: thinking through change. Configurations of social relationships. Linkages to carry communications. Environment(s) inside and around systems. Resources for enabling implementation for incorporating change.

PubMed

Bhola, H S

1994-05-01

The CLER model is presented to nursing professionals as a model for planning and implementing change in interpersonal, institutional and cultural settings. It is useful for generating other models by modeling reality as actually encountered by change agents and adopters. The CLER model is related philosophically to systems thinking (that there is interdependence among social entities), dialectical thinking (that there is mutual shaping among social processes) and constructivist thinking (that human beings take part in creating their own reality).

The menu-setting problem and subsidized prices: drug formulary illustration.

PubMed

Olmstead, T; Zeckhauser, R

1999-10-01

The menu-setting problem (MSP) determines the goods and services an institution offers and the prices charged. It appears widely in health care, from choosing the services an insurance arrangement offers, to selecting the health plans an employer proffers. The challenge arises because purchases are subsidized, and consumers (or their physician agents) may make cost-ineffective choices. The intuitively comprehensible MSP model--readily solved by computer using actual data--helps structure thinking and support decision making about such problems. The analysis uses drug formularies--lists of approved drugs in a plan or institution--to illustrate the framework.

Identification of ω-N-Methyl-4-hydroxytryptamine (Norpsilocin) as a Psilocybe Natural Product.

PubMed

Lenz, Claudius; Wick, Jonas; Hoffmeister, Dirk

2017-10-27

We report the identification of ω-N-methyl-4-hydroxytryptamine (norpsilocin, 1) from the carpophores of the hallucinogenic mushroom Psilocybe cubensis. The structure was elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Norpsilocin has not previously been reported as a natural product. It likely represents the actual psychotropic agent liberated from its 4-phosphate ester derivative, the known natural product baeocystin. We further present a simple and artifact-free extraction method that prevents dephosphorylation and therefore helps reflect the naturally occurring metabolic profile of Psilocybe mushrooms in subsequent analyses.

Management of postmenopausal osteoporosis and the prevention of fractures.

PubMed

Gambacciani, M; Levancini, M

2014-06-01

Postmenopausal osteoporosis affects millions of women, being estrogen deficiency the key factor in the pathogenesis of involutional osteoporosis. Fracture prevention is one of the public health priorities worldwide. Different treatments for osteoporosis are available. The various options are aimed to maintain bone health and decrease the risk of fractures. The majority of these drugs are antiresorptive agents, i.e., drugs that lower bone turnover, inhibiting osteoclastic bone resorption. Dietary sources of calcium intake and vitamin D are ideal, while pharmachological supplements should be used if diet alone cannot provide the recommended daily intake. Bisphosphonates are first-line therapy for patients with established osteoporosis at high risk of fracture. Some serious, but rare, adverse events have been associated with their long-term administration. The monoclonal antibody to RANKL, named denosumab, administered as a 60-mg subcutaneous injection every 6 months, is a valuable option for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis in women at increased or high risk of fractures, who are unable to take other osteoporosis treatments. Teriparatide (PTH 1-34) is the only available osteoanabolic drugs for osteoporosis treatment at present. Its use is limited to severe osteoporosis because of the high cost of the treatment. In climacteric women, in different stages of menopausal transition, and beyond, hormone replacement therapy at different doses (HRT) rapidly normalizes turnover, preventing and/or treating osteoporosis. HRT is able to preserve and even increase BMD at all skeletal sites, leading to a significant reduction in vertebral and non-vertebral fractures. Selective estrogen modulators (SERMs) as raloxifene and bazedoxifene reduce bone turnover and maintains or increases vertebral and femoral BMDs in comparison to placebo and reduces the risk of vertebral and new vertebral fractures, in high risk women. The combination of a SERM with an estrogen has been defined as tissue selective estrogen complex (TSEC). The bazedoxifene with conjugated estrogen is able to reduce climacteric symptoms, reducing bone turnover and preserving BMD. Studies investigating the actions of phytoestrogens on BMD or bone turnover are largely contradictory, making them inconclusive. At the present time, phytoestrogens cannot be recommended for postmenopausal osteoporosis. In conclusion, the use of HRT for osteoporosis prevention is based on biology, epidemiology, animal and preclinical data, observational studies and randomized, clinical trials. Osteoporosis prevention can actually be considered as a major additional effect in climacteric women who use HRT for treatment of climacteric symptoms. Bone protection is one of the major benefits of HRT. The possibility that low dose HRT or TSEC causes a decrease in fracture risk is not demonstrated but the scientific evidence is compelling. Conversely, established osteoporosis, often occurring in elderly women, can better be treated with specific treatments, such as bisphosphonates or, in more severe and selected cases, anabolic agents (teriparatide).

Emotional recognition from the speech signal for a virtual education agent

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tickle, A.; Raghu, S.; Elshaw, M.

2013-06-01

This paper explores the extraction of features from the speech wave to perform intelligent emotion recognition. A feature extract tool (openSmile) was used to obtain a baseline set of 998 acoustic features from a set of emotional speech recordings from a microphone. The initial features were reduced to the most important ones so recognition of emotions using a supervised neural network could be performed. Given that the future use of virtual education agents lies with making the agents more interactive, developing agents with the capability to recognise and adapt to the emotional state of humans is an important step.

Effect of clavulanic acid on minimal inhibitory concentrations of 16 antimicrobial agents tested against Legionella pneumophila.

PubMed Central

Pohlod, D J; Saravolatz, L D; Quinn, E L; Somerville, M M

1980-01-01

A total of 15 Legionella pneumophilia isolated were tested against 16 antimicrobial agents used singly and in combination with clavulanic acid. When combined with clavulanic acid, 4 of the 16 antimicrobial agents produced no enhanced effect. However, the minimal inhibitory concentrations of 12 of the antimicrobial agents were reduced by one-half to one-third when in combination with clavulanic acid. These reductions reflected only a one-dilution decrease, however, in the original minimal inhibitory concentrations. Thus, clavulanic acid combinations appear to be only nominally effective beta-lactamase inhibitors against L. pneumophilia. PMID:6969575

The efficacy of targeted health agents education to reduce the duration of untreated psychosis in a rural population.

PubMed

Padilla, Eduardo; Molina, Juan; Kamis, Danielle; Calvo, Maria; Stratton, Lee; Strejilevich, Sergio; Aleman, Gabriela Gonzalez; Guerrero, Gonzalo; Bourdieu, Mercedes; Conesa, Horacio A; Escobar, Javier I; de Erausquin, Gabriel A

2015-02-01

The duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is a key determinant in the severity of symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. DUP is a modifiable factor that if reduced can improve patient outcome and treatment response. We sought to decrease DUP in rural Argentina by instituting annual training of local health agents to better identify signs of mental illness and offer earlier intervention. DUP was estimated using Schedules of Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN). Ongoing training was correlated with a reduction in DUP. Reducing DUP through better screening can decrease the psychosocial burden of disease and improve the trajectory of psychosis. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Green reduction of graphene oxide via Lycium barbarum extract

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hou, Dandan; Liu, Qinfu; Cheng, Hongfei; Zhang, Hao; Wang, Sen

2017-02-01

The synthesis of graphene from graphene oxide (GO) usually involves toxic reducing agents that are harmful to human health and the environment. Here, we report a facile approach for effective reduction of GO, for the first time, using Lycium barbarum extract as a green and natural reducing agent. The morphology and de-oxidation efficiency of the reduced graphene were characterized and results showed that Lycium barbarum extract can effectively reduce GO into few layered graphene with a high carbon to oxygen ratio (6.5), comparable to that of GO reduced by hydrazine hydrate (6.6). The possible reduction mechanism of GO may be due to the active components existing in Lycium barbarum fruits, which have high binding affinity to the oxygen containing groups to form their corresponding oxides and other by-products. This method avoided the use of any nocuous chemicals, thus facilitating the mass production of graphene and graphene-based bio-materials.

Effects of an ozone-generating air purifier on indoor secondary particles in three residential dwellings.

PubMed

Hubbard, H F; Coleman, B K; Sarwar, G; Corsi, R L

2005-12-01

The use of indoor ozone generators as air purifiers has steadily increased over the past decade. Many ozone generators are marketed to consumers for their ability to eliminate odors and microbial agents and to improve health. In addition to the harmful effects of ozone, recent studies have shown that heterogeneous and homogeneous reactions between ozone and some unsaturated hydrocarbons can be an important source of indoor secondary pollutants, including free radicals, carbonyls, carboxylic acids, and fine particles. Experiments were conducted in one apartment and two detached single-family dwellings in Austin, TX, to assess the effects of an ozone generator on indoor secondary organic aerosol concentrations in actual residential settings. Ozone was generated using a commercial ozone generator marketed as an air purifier, and particle measurements were recorded before, during, and after the release of terpenes from a pine oil-based cleaning product. Particle number concentration, ozone concentration, and air exchange rate were measured during each experiment. Particle number and mass concentrations increased when both terpenes and ozone were present at elevated levels. Experimental results indicate that ozone generators in the presence of terpene sources facilitate the growth of indoor fine particles in residential indoor atmospheres. Human exposure to secondary organic particles can be reduced by minimizing the intentional release of ozone, particularly in the presence of terpene sources. Past studies have shown that ozone-initiated indoor chemistry can lead to elevated concentrations of fine particulate matter, but have generally been completed in controlled laboratory environments and office buildings. We explored the effects of an explicit ozone generator marketed as an air purifier on the formation of secondary organic aerosol mass in actual residential indoor settings. Results indicate significant increases in number and mass concentrations for particles <0.7 microns in diameter, particularly when an ozone generator is used in the presence of a terpene source such as a pine oil-based cleaner. These results add evidence to the potentially harmful effects of ozone generation in residential environments.

Technology, energy and the environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitchell, Glenn Terry

This dissertation consists of three distinct papers concerned with technology, energy and the environment. The first paper is an empirical analysis of production under uncertainty, using agricultural production data from the central United States. Unlike previous work, this analysis identifies the effect of actual realizations of weather as well as farmers' expectations about weather. The results indicate that both of these are significant factors explaining short run profits in agriculture. Expectations about weather, called climate, affect production choices, and actual weather affects realized output. These results provide better understanding of the effect of climate change in agriculture. The second paper examines how emissions taxes induce innovation that reduces pollution. A polluting firm chooses technical improvement to minimize cost over an infinite horizon, given an emission tax set by a planner. This leads to a solution path for technical change. Changes in the tax rate affect the path for innovation. Setting the tax at equal to the marginal damage (which is optimal in a static setting with no technical change) is not optimal in the presence of technical change. When abatement is also available as an alternative to technical change, changes in the tax can have mixed effects, due to substitution effects. The third paper extends the theoretical framework for exploring the diffusion of new technologies. Information about new technologies spreads through the economy by means of a network. The pattern of diffusion will depend on the structure of this network. Observed networks are the result of an evolutionary process. This paper identifies how these evolutionary outcomes compare with optimal solutions. The conditions guaranteeing convergence to an optimal outcome are quite stringent. It is useful to determine the set of initial population states that do converge to an optimal outcome. The distribution of costs and benefits among the agents within an information processing structure plays a critical role in defining this set. These distributional arrangements represent alternative institutional regimes. Institutional changes can improve outcomes, free the flow of information, and encourage the diffusion of profitable new technologies.

A Counter-Intuitive Strategy: Reduce Student Stress by Teaching Current Events

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Passe, Jeff

2008-01-01

Should elementary school students be introduced to disturbing current events topics? A common response would be to protect the innocence of young children, allowing them to live their lives relatively free of the troubles that beset the world. But closer examination reveals that the study of current events actually helps to reduce fear and worry.…

Environmental Assessment: Extend Parking Lot Building 807 at Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-07-17

Surface water quality could be degraded, both in the short-term, during actual construction, and over the long-term due to reduced storm water quality caused...over the long-term due to reduced storm water quality caused by the increase of paved area. The short-term effects come from possible erosion

41 CFR 301-71.105 - Must we issue a written or electronic travel authorization in advance of travel?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...; (c) Use of reduced fares for group or charter arrangements; (d) Use of cash to pay for common carrier... Government aircraft; (i) Payment of a reduced rate per diem; (j) Payment of actual expenses; (k) Travel expenses related to emergency travel; (l) Transportation expenses related to threatened law enforcement...

New antiobesity agents: lorcaserin (Belviq) and phentermine/topiramate ER (Qsymia).

PubMed

Shyh, Grace; Cheng-Lai, Angela

2014-01-01

Obesity is a risk factor for a wide range of conditions, including cardiovascular disease. Although lifestyle modifications remain the cornerstone for the management of obesity, pharmacologic agents may be a helpful addition to patients who have comorbidities and do not respond adequately to diet and exercise. Lorcaserin and phentermine/topiramate ER are 2 long-awaited agents, approved in 2012 for obesity management, 13 years since orlistat received US Food and Drug Administration approval in 1999. Lorcaserin is a serotonin agonist, whereas phentermine/topiramate is a combination of a sympathomimetic agent and an antiepileptic drug; both these agents have been shown to reduce weight significantly and improve cardiovascular and metabolic parameters, such as blood pressure, lipids, and HbA1C. This article reviews the pharmacology and clinical efficacy and safety of each of these agents. The differences among the three available agents for long-term management of obesity will also be examined.

Hibiscus sabdariffa L extract drying with different carrier agent: Drying rate evaluation and color analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Djaeni, M.; Utari, F. D.; Kumoro, A. C.

2017-03-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different carrier agents on roselle or Hibiscus sabdariffa L.extract drying. Carrier agent was used for reducing stickiness of material and avoiding agglomeration as well as improving stability. The method consisted of two steps involving roselle extraction and drying process. The liquid roselle extract was mixed with carrier agent (maltodextrin-arabic gum) in various composition. The mixture was then dried at different air temperature ranging 40 - 80°C. As a response, moisture content in the extract was observed by gravimetry every 10 minutes during90 minutes. The procedurewas repeated for the drying without carrieragent. The result showed that constant rate of drying with carrier agent was higher up to l.7 times than that of without carrier agent. Based on the color analysis,roselle extract drying with carrier agent also showed reasonable quality.

The Use of Categorized Time-Trend Reporting of Radiation Oncology Incidents: A Proactive Analytical Approach to Improving Quality and Safety Over Time

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

Arnold, Anthony, E-mail: anthony.arnold@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.a; Delaney, Geoff P.; Cassapi, Lynette

Purpose: Radiotherapy is a common treatment for cancer patients. Although incidence of error is low, errors can be severe or affect significant numbers of patients. In addition, errors will often not manifest until long periods after treatment. This study describes the development of an incident reporting tool that allows categorical analysis and time trend reporting, covering first 3 years of use. Methods and Materials: A radiotherapy-specific incident analysis system was established. Staff members were encouraged to report actual errors and near-miss events detected at prescription, simulation, planning, or treatment phases of radiotherapy delivery. Trend reporting was reviewed monthly. Results: Reportsmore » were analyzed for the first 3 years of operation (May 2004-2007). A total of 688 reports was received during the study period. The actual error rate was 0.2% per treatment episode. During the study period, the actual error rates reduced significantly from 1% per year to 0.3% per year (p < 0.001), as did the total event report rates (p < 0.0001). There were 3.5 times as many near misses reported compared with actual errors. Conclusions: This system has allowed real-time analysis of events within a radiation oncology department to a reduced error rate through focus on learning and prevention from the near-miss reports. Plans are underway to develop this reporting tool for Australia and New Zealand.« less

Effect of Inhibitor Agents Addition on Corrosion Resistance Performance of Titania Sol-Gel Coatings Applied on 304 Stainless Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shanaghi, Ali; Chu, Paul K.; Moradi, Hadi

Hybrid organic-inorganic coatings are deposited on 304 stainless steel substrates by the sol-gel technique to improve the corrosion resistance. A titania-based nanostructured hybrid sol-gel coating is impregnated with three different microencapsulated healing agents (inhibitors) including cerium, Benzotriazole (BTA), and 8-Hydroxyquinoline (8H). Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are performed to investigate the barrier performance properties. The optimum conditions to achieve corrosion protective coatings for 304 stainless steel were determined. The Nyquist plots demonstrate that the activation time of the coating containing 8H as an organic healing agent shows improved behavior when compared to other coatings including cerium and BTA. Cerium as an inorganic healing agent is second and BTA is third and minimum. An increase in the impedance parameters such as resistance and capacitance as a function of immersion time is achieved in a 3.5wt.% NaCl solution by using healing agents such as BTA. Actually, over the course of immersion, the barrier performance behavior of the coatings changes and reduction of the impedance observed from the coatings containing Ce and 8H discloses deterioration of the protection system after immersion for 96h of immersion in the 3.5% NaCl solution. However, after 96h of immersion time, the concentration of chloride ions is high and causes increase in defects, micro cracks, hole on the surface of hybrid titania nanostructured coating containing Ce and 8H by destruction of coating, and also hybrid titania nanostructured coating containing BTA; BTA is released from coating to improve the resistance of passive film, which is created on the surface.

A quarantine protocol for analysis of returned extraterrestrial samples

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bagby, J. R.; Sweet, H. C.; Devincenzi, D. L.

1983-01-01

A protocol is presented for the analysis at an earth-orbiting quarantine facility of return samples of extraterrestrial material that might contain (nonterrestrial) life forms. The protocol consists of a series of tests designed to determine whether the sample, conceptualized as a 1-kg sample of Martian soil, is free from nonterrestrial biologically active agents and so may safely be sent to a terrestrial containment facility, or it exhibits biological activity requiring further (second-order) testing outside the biosphere. The first-order testing procedure seeks to detect the presence of any replicating organisms or toxic substances through a series of experiments including gas sampling, analysis of radioactivity, stereomicroscopic inspection, chemical analysis, microscopic examination, the search for metabolic products under growth conditions, microbiologicl assays, and the challenge of cultured cells with any agents found or with the extraterrestrial material as is. Detailed plans for the second-order testing would be developed in response to the actual data received from primary testing.

Alkyne-substituted diminazene as G-quadruplex binders with anticancer activities.

PubMed

Wang, Changhao; Carter-Cooper, Brandon; Du, Yixuan; Zhou, Jie; Saeed, Musabbir A; Liu, Jinbing; Guo, Min; Roembke, Benjamin; Mikek, Clinton; Lewis, Edwin A; Lapidus, Rena G; Sintim, Herman O

2016-08-08

G-quadruplex ligands have been touted as potential anticancer agents, however, none of the reported G-quadruplex-interactive small molecules have gone past phase II clinical trials. Recently it was revealed that diminazene (berenil, DMZ) actually binds to G-quadruplexes 1000 times better than DNA duplexes, with dissociation constants approaching 1 nM. DMZ however does not have strong anticancer activities. In this paper, using a panel of biophysical tools, including NMR, FRET melting assay and FRET competition assay, we discovered that monoamidine analogues of DMZ bearing alkyne substitutes selectively bind to G-quadruplexes. The lead DMZ analogues were shown to be able to target c-MYC G-quadruplex both in vitro and in vivo. Alkyne DMZ analogues display respectable anticancer activities (single digit micromolar GI50) against ovarian (OVCAR-3), prostate (PC-3) and triple negative breast (MDA-MB-231) cancer cell lines and represent interesting new leads to develop anticancer agents. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Analysis of confiscated black market drugs using chromatographic and mass spectrometric approaches.

PubMed

Thevis, Mario; Schrader, Yvonne; Thomas, Andreas; Sigmund, Gerd; Geyer, Hans; Schänzer, Wilhelm

2008-04-01

In the context of house searches in Germany, numerous drugs were confiscated and subjected to chemical analysis, including anabolic agents such as various anabolic-androgenic steroids (stanozolol, testosterone derivatives, trenbolone esters, etc.) and clenbuterol, as well as agents with anti-estrogenic activity (tamoxifen, clomiphene), drugs stimulating virility (sildenafil, tadalafil), and unlabeled plastic bags. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with nitrogen-phosphorus specific detection, gel electrophoresis, and immunological tests were employed to test for the effective content of 70 products. In 18 cases (25.7%), the declared ingredients differed from the actual content, in particular concerning anabolic-androgenic steroids. Nandrolone and trenbolone esters, for instance, were frequently substituted or complemented by various testosterone derivatives, and several testosterone depot formulations originally composed of four different esters were found to contain fewer or wrong components. Except for those drugs supposedly originating from so-called underground labs, fake packings were hardly or not distinguishable from original boxes by visual inspection.

Case studies, cross-site comparisons, and the challenge of generalization: comparing agent-based models of land-use change in frontier regions

PubMed Central

Parker, Dawn C.; Entwisle, Barbara; Rindfuss, Ronald R.; Vanwey, Leah K.; Manson, Steven M.; Moran, Emilio; An, Li; Deadman, Peter; Evans, Tom P.; Linderman, Marc; Rizi, S. Mohammad Mussavi; Malanson, George

2009-01-01

Cross-site comparisons of case studies have been identified as an important priority by the land-use science community. From an empirical perspective, such comparisons potentially allow generalizations that may contribute to production of global-scale land-use and land-cover change projections. From a theoretical perspective, such comparisons can inform development of a theory of land-use science by identifying potential hypotheses and supporting or refuting evidence. This paper undertakes a structured comparison of four case studies of land-use change in frontier regions that follow an agent-based modeling approach. Our hypothesis is that each case study represents a particular manifestation of a common process. Given differences in initial conditions among sites and the time at which the process is observed, actual mechanisms and outcomes are anticipated to differ substantially between sites. Our goal is to reveal both commonalities and differences among research sites, model implementations, and ultimately, conclusions derived from the modeling process. PMID:19960107

Towards a high yield recovery of polyphenols from olive mill wastewater on activated carbon coated with milk proteins: Experimental design and antioxidant activity.

PubMed

Yangui, Asma; Abderrabba, Manef

2018-10-01

Activated carbon coated with milk proteins was used for the removal and recovery of phenolic compounds from actual olive mill wastewater (OMW). The extraction of polyphenols using the new adsorbent based on natural coating agent has significant potential compared with traditional extraction methods, as it significantly increases the extraction yield (80%) and overall efficiencies of the process for total phenols (75.4%) and hydroxytyrosol (90.6%) which is the most valuable compound. Complete discussions on the adsorption isotherms, kinetic and thermodynamic were performed and the optimum adsorption variables were investigated using the response surface methodology and the central composite experimental design. The extracted polyphenols exhibited a high antioxidant activity and a fast scavenging effect on DPPH free radical. The strategy devised in this work for polyphenol extraction using modified activated carbon with biological coating agent is of simple design, very effective and ensure the recovery of highly antioxidant extract. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Case studies, cross-site comparisons, and the challenge of generalization: comparing agent-based models of land-use change in frontier regions.

PubMed

Parker, Dawn C; Entwisle, Barbara; Rindfuss, Ronald R; Vanwey, Leah K; Manson, Steven M; Moran, Emilio; An, Li; Deadman, Peter; Evans, Tom P; Linderman, Marc; Rizi, S Mohammad Mussavi; Malanson, George

2008-01-01

Cross-site comparisons of case studies have been identified as an important priority by the land-use science community. From an empirical perspective, such comparisons potentially allow generalizations that may contribute to production of global-scale land-use and land-cover change projections. From a theoretical perspective, such comparisons can inform development of a theory of land-use science by identifying potential hypotheses and supporting or refuting evidence. This paper undertakes a structured comparison of four case studies of land-use change in frontier regions that follow an agent-based modeling approach. Our hypothesis is that each case study represents a particular manifestation of a common process. Given differences in initial conditions among sites and the time at which the process is observed, actual mechanisms and outcomes are anticipated to differ substantially between sites. Our goal is to reveal both commonalities and differences among research sites, model implementations, and ultimately, conclusions derived from the modeling process.

Do the right thing: the assumption of optimality in lay decision theory and causal judgment.

PubMed

Johnson, Samuel G B; Rips, Lance J

2015-03-01

Human decision-making is often characterized as irrational and suboptimal. Here we ask whether people nonetheless assume optimal choices from other decision-makers: Are people intuitive classical economists? In seven experiments, we show that an agent's perceived optimality in choice affects attributions of responsibility and causation for the outcomes of their actions. We use this paradigm to examine several issues in lay decision theory, including how responsibility judgments depend on the efficacy of the agent's actual and counterfactual choices (Experiments 1-3), individual differences in responsibility assignment strategies (Experiment 4), and how people conceptualize decisions involving trade-offs among multiple goals (Experiments 5-6). We also find similar results using everyday decision problems (Experiment 7). Taken together, these experiments show that attributions of responsibility depend not only on what decision-makers do, but also on the quality of the options they choose not to take. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Prioritizing therapeutic targets using patient-derived xenograft models

PubMed Central

Lodhia, K.A; Hadley, A; Haluska, P; Scott, C.L

2015-01-01

Effective systemic treatment of cancer relies on the delivery of agents with optimal therapeutic potential. The molecular age of medicine has provided genomic tools that can identify a large number of potential therapeutic targets in individual patients, heralding the promise of personalized treatment. However, determining which potential targets actually drive tumor growth and should be prioritized for therapy is challenging. Indeed, reliable molecular matches of target and therapeutic agent have been stringently validated in the clinic for only a small number of targets. Patient-derived xenografts (PDX) are tumor models developed in immunocompromised mice using tumor procured directly from the patient. As patient surrogates, PDX models represent a powerful tool for addressing individualized therapy. Challenges include humanizing the immune system of PDX models and ensuring high quality molecular annotation, in order to maximise insights for the clinic. Importantly, PDX can be sampled repeatedly and in parallel, to reveal clonal evolution, which may predict mechanisms of drug resistance and inform therapeutic strategy design. PMID:25783201

Effect of porous structure of catalyst layer on effective oxygen diffusion coefficient in polymer electrolyte fuel cell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inoue, Gen; Kawase, Motoaki

2016-09-01

It is important to reduce the oxygen diffusion resistance through PEFC porous electrode, because it is the key to reduce the PEFC cost. However, the gas diffusion coefficient of CL is lower than MPL in spite of framework consisted of same carbon blacks. In this study, in order to understand the reasons of the lower gas diffusion performance of CL, the relationship between a carbon black agglomerate structure and ionomer adhesion condition is evaluated by a numerical analysis with an actual reconstructed structure and a simulated structure. As a result, the gas diffusion property of CL strongly depends on the ionomer adhesion shape. In the case of adhesion shape with the same curvature of ionomer interface, each pore can not be connected enough. So the pore tortuosity increases. Moreover, in the case of existence of inefficient large pores formed by carbon black agglomerate and ununiformly coated ionomer, the gas diffusion performance decrease rapidly. As the measurement values in actual CL are almost equal to that with model structure with inefficient large pores. These characteristics can be confirmed by actual cross-section image obtained by FIB-SEM.

Evaluating the Impacts of Real-Time Pricing on the Cost and Value of Wind Generation

DOE PAGES

Siohansi, Ramteen

2010-05-01

One of the costs associated with integrating wind generation into a power system is the cost of redispatching the system in real-time due to day-ahead wind resource forecast errors. One possible way of reducing these redispatch costs is to introduce demand response in the form of real-time pricing (RTP), which could allow electricity demand to respond to actual real-time wind resource availability using price signals. A day-ahead unit commitment model with day-ahead wind forecasts and a real-time dispatch model with actual wind resource availability is used to estimate system operations in a high wind penetration scenario. System operations are comparedmore » to a perfect foresight benchmark, in which actual wind resource availability is known day-ahead. The results show that wind integration costs with fixed demands can be high, both due to real-time redispatch costs and lost load. It is demonstrated that introducing RTP can reduce redispatch costs and eliminate loss of load events. Finally, social surplus with wind generation and RTP is compared to a system with neither and the results demonstrate that introducing wind and RTP into a market can result in superadditive surplus gains.« less

Abciximab (Reopro): a clinically effective glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blocker.

PubMed

de Belder, M A; Sutton, A G

1998-10-01

Acute coronary syndromes are responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of patients every year. Rupture of coronary atheromatous plaques with resultant luminal thrombosis is the cause in most cases. Although great steps forward have been taken in the management of acute myocardial infarction (MI) and unstable angina (UA), new therapeutic strategies are required to reduce further the incidence and risk of these events. At present, aspirin, nitrates and heparin are the conventional treatments for unstable angina. Aspirin, in combination with a thrombolytic agent or with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), has been shown to be effective in reducing mortality in acute MI. Heparin is conventionally used in all PTCA procedures, whereas its efficacy in enhancing the therapeutic role of thrombolytic agents remains uncertain and may depend on the thrombolytic agent used. PTCA, which is also an effective therapy for stable angina, can be complicated by intimal dissection and thrombosis in a minority of cases, with vessel restenosis leading to recurrent symptoms in approximately 30% of cases. A number of new agents are being evaluated in both acute coronary syndromes and PTCA. These can be classified as adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor antagonists, Factor Xa inhibitors (low-molecular weight heparin [LMWH], direct thrombin inhibitors, new thrombolytic agents and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blockers. Of the latter, the most studied is abciximab, the Fab fragment of the chimeric monoclonal antibody, 7E3. This is a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation. Four major clinical studies of PTCA in high-risk patients have demonstrated clear efficacy of abciximab in reducing acute ischaemic complications, mainly by reducing the frequency of MI and the need for repeat revascularisation. Unlike other glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blockers, both short- and long-term efficacy have been demonstrated. Its impact on the rate of restenosis after PTCA is unclear. Abciximab's role in an era of intracoronary stent implantation is undergoing further study (with encouraging early results). Its role in other situations, such as the early (non-angioplasty) management of unstable angina and its ability to enhance the efficacy of thrombolytic agents, is under active investigation.

Experimenting with Different Bulking Agents in an Aerobic Food Waste Composter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chann, S.

2016-12-01

With one third of Hong Kong's solid wastage being food scraps, reducing food waste has become crucial. The ISF Academy, a Hong Kong private school, had an A900 Rocket Food Composter installed in 2013, hoping to reduce its carbon footprint. The 27 metric tons of food wastage produced annually by the school is put through an aerobic process and the wastage is converted into humus. The composter has a capacity of 1750 litres of food and it produces humus every 14 days. The base of the humus consists of a bulking agent and food waste (2:1). A bulking agent is a carbon based material used to absorb moisture and odors, add structure and air and eliminate bugs from humus. This study contains comparative data on a few of the listed bulking agents: Hemp, Kenaf, rapeseed oil straw, miscanthus and shredded cardboard. The aim of this study is to determine an alternative reliable, affordable and suitable bulking agent to wood shavings: the current agent used. The humus produced must pass regulations for "general agricultural use" as it is used for experiential learning and gardening with primary school students. Over 500 children are participating in the school's plantation project, producing legumes for the school cafeteria. ISF pioneers and sets an example for other Hong Kong schools, showing that a composting and plantation scheme, not only proves to have environmental benefits but also educational uses.

Effect of organic complexing agents on the interactions of Cs(+), Sr(2+) and UO(2)(2+) with silica and natural sand.

PubMed

Reinoso-Maset, Estela; Worsfold, Paul J; Keith-Roach, Miranda J

2013-05-01

Sorption processes play a key role in controlling radionuclide migration through subsurface environments and can be affected by the presence of anthropogenic organic complexing agents found at contaminated sites. The effect of these complexing agents on radionuclide-solid phase interactions is not well known. Therefore the aim of this study was to examine the processes by which EDTA, NTA and picolinate affect the sorption kinetics and equilibria of Cs(+), Sr(2+) and UO2(2+) onto natural sand. The caesium sorption rate and equilibrium were unaffected by the complexing agents. Strontium however showed greater interaction with EDTA and NTA in the presence of desorbed matrix cations than geochemical modelling predicted, with SrNTA(-) enhancing sorption and SrEDTA(2-) showing lower sorption than Sr(2+). Complexing agents reduced UO2(2+) sorption to silica and enhanced the sorption rate in the natural sand system. Elevated concentrations of picolinate reduced the sorption of Sr(2+) and increased the sorption rate of UO2(2+), demonstrating the potential importance of this complexing agent. These experiments provide a direct comparison of the sorption behaviour of Cs(+), Sr(2+) and UO2(2+)onto natural sand and an assessment of the relative effects of EDTA, NTA and picolinate on the selected elements. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Performance of Traditional and Molecular Methods for Detecting Biological Agents in Drinking Water

EPA Science Inventory

USGS Report - To reduce the impact from a possible bioterrorist attack on drinking-water supplies, analytical methods are needed to rapidly detect the presence of biological agents in water. To this end, 13 drinking-water samples were collected at 9 water-treatment plants in Ohio...

Increasing Fire Safety of Epoxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kourtides, D. A.; Mikroyannidis, J. A.

1985-01-01

Epoxy with increased resistance to fire made by reacting any of three commercial epoxide monomers with curing agent consisting of mixture of isomers called "DCEPD". Curing agent incorporates phosphorus and chlorine directly into crosslinking part of polymer. DCEPD produced by nitrating precursor phosphonylmethyl benzene, then reducing resulting isomeric mixture of dinitro compounds.

Teacher Unionization in School Governance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jacoby, Dan

2011-01-01

The role of unions in school governance is reviewed to note that labor operates in a larger context of principal-agent relationships. As agents for teachers, unions articulate the concerns that must be addressed if teachers are to be successfully enlisted in the struggle to reduce achievement gaps among at-risk students. Transcending industrial…

Dynamic Simulation of Crime Perpetration and Reporting to Examine Community Intervention Strategies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yonas, Michael A.; Burke, Jessica G.; Brown, Shawn T.; Borrebach, Jeffrey D.; Garland, Richard; Burke, Donald S.; Grefenstette, John J.

2013-01-01

Objective: To develop a conceptual computational agent-based model (ABM) to explore community-wide versus spatially focused crime reporting interventions to reduce community crime perpetrated by youth. Method: Agents within the model represent individual residents and interact on a two-dimensional grid representing an abstract nonempirically…

Leveraging culture collections for the discovery and development of microbial biological control agents

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The incorporation of living microbial biological control agents into integrated pest management programs is highly desirable because it reduces the use of chemical insecticides harmful to livestock, humans and the environment. In addition, it provides an alternative means to combat resistance to che...

Monochloramine inactivation of bacterial select agents.

PubMed

Rose, Laura J; Rice, Eugene W; Hodges, Lisa; Peterson, Alicia; Arduino, Matthew J

2007-05-01

Seven species of bacterial select agents were tested for susceptibility to monochloramine. Under test conditions, the monochloramine routinely maintained in potable water would reduce six of the species by 2 orders of magnitude within 4.2 h. Bacillus anthracis spores would require up to 3.5 days for the same inactivation with monochloramine.