Analysis of interface crack branching

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ballarini, R.; Mukai, D. J.; Miller, G. R.

1989-01-01

A solution is presented for the problem of a finite length crack branching off the interface between two bonded dissimilar isotropic materials. Results are presented in terms of the ratio of the energy release rate of a branched interface crack to the energy release rate of a straight interface crack with the same total length. It is found that this ratio reaches a maximum when the interface crack branches into the softer material. Longer branches tend to have smaller maximum energy release rate ratio angles indicating that all else being equal, a branch crack will tend to turn back parallel to the interface as it grows.

Methyl-sulfonyl-methane (MSM)-induced acute angle closure.

PubMed

Hwang, Jeremy C; Khine, Kay T; Lee, Jennifer C; Boyer, David S; Francis, Brian A

2015-01-01

To report the first case of presumed bilateral acute angle closure (AAC) secondary to ingestion of the dietary supplement, methyl-sulfonyl-methane (MSM). A 35-year-old woman presented with bilateral AAC 1 week after starting multiple dietary supplements, one of which contained MSM. Ultrasound biomicroscopy demonstrated bilateral anterior rotation of the iris-lens diaphragm, ciliary body edema, and choroidal effusion. Four days after discontinuation of the supplements, her angle closure and uveal effusion resolved, and her best-corrected vision recovered to 20/20 bilaterally. Sulfa-based drugs have been reported to cause AAC, choroidal effusion, and ciliary body edema. In our patient, the coincidence of bilateral AAC with choroidal and ciliary body effusion that began 1 week after starting dietary supplements was suspicious for drug-induced AAC. The dietary supplement Basic Detox Nutrients contains MSM, the only constituent in the patient's medication list with a sulfonyl moiety. Given the similarities in chemical structure and clinical presentation, we postulate that MSM induces AAC in a manner similar to mechanisms previously described for other sulfa-based drugs. As MSM continues to be used and studied for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties, investigators and marketers will need to be cognizant of its potential to cause AAC and provide proper warning to consumers.

Regional myocardial extraction of a radioiodinated branched chain fatty acid during right ventricular pressure overload due to acute pulmonary hypertension

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

Hurford, W.; Lowenstein, E.; Zapol, W.

1985-05-01

To determine whether branched chain fatty acid extraction is reduced during right ventricular (RV) dysfunction due to acute pulmonary artery hypertension, studies were done in 6 anesthetized dogs. Regional branched chain fatty acid extraction was measured by comparing the myocardial uptake of I-125 labeled 15-(p-(iodophenyl))-3-methylpentadecanoic acid (I-PDA) to myocardial blood flow. Acute pulmonary hypertension was induced by incremental intravenous injection of 100 micron diameter glass beads into six pentobarbital anesthetized, mechanically ventilated dogs. Myocardial blood flow was measured by radiolabeled microspheres both under baseline conditions and during pulmonary hypertension. Mean RV pressure rose from 12 +- 2 (mean +- SEM)more » to 30 +-3mmHg resulting in a 225 +- 16% increase in RV stroke work. RV ejection fraction, as assessed by gated blood pool scans fell from 39 +- 2 to 18 +- 2%. Left ventricular (LV) pressures, stroke work and ejection fraction were unchanged. Myocardial blood flow increased 132 + 59% in the RV free wall and 67 +- 22% in the RV septum. LV blood flow was unchanged. Despite increased RV work and myocardial blood flow, no differences were noted in the branched chain fatty acid extraction ratios among LV or RV free walls or septum. The authors conclude that early RV dysfunction associated with pulmonary artery hypertension is not due to inadequate myocardial blood flow or branched chain fatty acid extraction.« less

Simulation of LV pacemaker lead in marginal vein: potential risk factors for acute dislodgement.

PubMed

Zhao, Xuefeng; Burger, Mike; Liu, Yi; Das, Mithilesh K; Combs, William; Wenk, Jonathan F; Guccione, Julius M; Kassab, Ghassan S

2011-03-01

Although left ventricular (LV) coronary sinus lead dislodgement remains a problem, the risk factors for dislodgement have not been clearly defined. In order to identify potential risk factors for acute lead dislodgement, we conducted dynamic finite element simulations of pacemaker lead dislodgement in marginal LV vein. We considered factors such as mismatch in lead and vein diameters, velocity of myocardial motion, branch angle between the insertion vein and the coronary sinus, degree of slack, and depth of insertion. The results show that large lead-to-vein diameter mismatch, rapid myocardial motion, and superficial insertion are potential risk factors for lead dislodgement. In addition, the degree of slack presents either a positive or negative effect on dislodgement risk depending on the branch angle. The prevention of acute lead dislodgment can be enforced by inducing as much static friction force as possible at the lead-vein interface, while reducing the external force. If the latter exceeds the former, dislodgement will occur. The present findings underscore the major risk factors for lead dislodgment, which may improve implantation criterion and future lead design.

Acute Improvement of Vertical Jump Performance After Isometric Squats Depends on Knee Angle and Vertical Jumping Ability.

PubMed

Tsoukos, Athanasios; Bogdanis, Gregory C; Terzis, Gerasimos; Veligekas, Panagiotis

2016-08-01

Tsoukos, A, Bogdanis, GC, Terzis, G, and Veligekas, P. Acute improvement of vertical jump performance after isometric squats depends on knee angle and vertical jumping ability. J Strength Cond Res 30(8): 2250-2257, 2016-This study examined the acute effects of maximum isometric squats at 2 different knee angles (90 or 140°) on countermovement jump (CMJ) performance in power athletes. Fourteen national-level male track and field power athletes completed 3 main trials (2 experimental and 1 control) in a randomized and counterbalanced order 1 week apart. Countermovement jump performance was evaluated using a force-plate before and 15 seconds, 3, 6, 9, and 12 minutes after 3 sets of 3 seconds maximum isometric contractions with 1-minute rest in between, from a squat position with knee angle set at 90 or 140°. Countermovement jump performance was improved compared with baseline only in the 140° condition by 3.8 ± 1.2% on the 12th minute of recovery (p = 0.027), whereas there was no change in CMJ height in the 90° condition. In the control condition, there was a decrease in CMJ performance over time, reaching -3.6 ± 1.2% (p = 0.049) after 12 minutes of recovery. To determine the possible effects of baseline jump performance on subsequent CMJ performance, subjects were divided into 2 groups ("high jumpers" and "low jumpers"). The baseline CMJ values of "high jumpers" and "low jumpers" differed significantly (CMJ: 45.1 ± 2.2 vs. 37.1 ± 3.9 cm, respectively, p = 0.001). Countermovement jump was increased only in the "high jumpers" group by 5.4 ± 1.4% (p = 0.001) and 7.4 ± 1.2% (p = 0.001) at the knee angles of 90 and 140°, respectively. This improvement was larger at the 140° angle (p = 0.049). Knee angle during isometric squats and vertical jumping ability are important determinants of the acute CMJ performance increase observed after a conditioning activity.

A Missing Puzzle Piece in Murray's Law: the Optimal Angle of Junctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Ruo-Qian; Taylor, Katherine; Winter, Amos G.; Global Engineering; Research Lab Team

2014-11-01

Branching flows are common in biological systems, such as the circulatory and respiratory systems of animals. The optimal radii of parent and daughter branches can be explained with Murray's law, which dictates that the sum of metabolic and pumping costs is minimized. Murray's Law can be used to determine the diameter of cascading channels but misses an important parameter: the angles of the branches. Past hydraulic studies have investigated the angle effect, but have not focused on whether this geometry follows Murray's Law; while a simple network optimization is able to show that at low Reynolds numbers a branch with a parent channel connecting to n equally distant channels obeying Murray's Law has a minimum total head loss with a branching angle θ, such that cos θ =n-2/3 , but it's not valid for high Reynolds number flows, which may experience separation and turbulence at the branches. The present study is focused on determining the optimal branch angle that complies with Murray's Law for moderate Reynolds numbers. Computational studies using Open FOAM and experiments using 3D printed branched channels will be presented. These results will be used to quantify the effect of Reynolds number on optimal branch geometry.

Morphometry of medial gaps of human brain artery branches.

PubMed

Canham, Peter B; Finlay, Helen M

2004-05-01

The bifurcation regions of the major human cerebral arteries are vulnerable to the formation of saccular aneurysms. A consistent feature of these bifurcations is a discontinuity of the tunica media at the apex of the flow divider. The objective was to measure the 3-dimensional geometry of these medial gaps or "medial defects." Nineteen bifurcations and 2 junctions of human cerebral arteries branches (from 4 male and 2 female subjects) were formalin-fixed at physiological pressure and processed for longitudinal serial sectioning. The apex and adjacent regions were examined and measurements were made from high-magnification photomicrographs, or projection microscope images, of the gap dimensions at multiple levels through the bifurcation. Plots were made of the width of the media as a function of distance from the apex. The media at each edge of the medial gap widened over a short distance, reaching the full width of the media of the contiguous daughter vessel. Medial gap dimensions were compared with the planar angle of the bifurcation, and a strong negative correlation was found, ie, the acute angled branches have the more prominent medial gaps. A discontinuity of the media at the apex was seen in all the bifurcations examined and was also found in the junction regions of brain arteries. We determined that the gap width is continuous with well-defined dimensions throughout its length and average length-to-width ratio of 6.9. The gaps were generally centered on the prominence of the apical ridge.

Bilateral simultaneous acute angle closure glaucoma precipitated by non-prescription cold and flu medication.

PubMed

Rudkin, Adam K; Gray, Tim L; Awadalla, Mona; Craig, Jamie E

2010-10-01

We present a case of a 63-year-old woman who presented to an ED with bifrontal headache, nausea and vomiting and reduced visual acuity. Examination revealed bilateral elevated intraocular pressures, corneal haze, shallow anterior chambers and poorly reactive, mid-dilated pupils. Diagnosis was made of simultaneous bilateral acute angle closure glaucoma. A complete drug history revealed that she had been using an over-the-counter cold and flu remedy whose active ingredients included atropa belladonna, an herb with anticholinergic properties. It is likely that drug-induced dilatation of the individual's pupils precipitated this angle closure emergency. In the report we discuss the risk factors for angle closure glaucoma, and review the local and systemic drugs known to trigger this sight-threatening emergency. © 2010 The Authors. Emergency Medicine Australasia © 2010 Australasian College for Emergency Medicine and Australasian Society for Emergency Medicine.

Tree Branching: Leonardo da Vinci's Rule versus Biomechanical Models

PubMed Central

Minamino, Ryoko; Tateno, Masaki

2014-01-01

This study examined Leonardo da Vinci's rule (i.e., the sum of the cross-sectional area of all tree branches above a branching point at any height is equal to the cross-sectional area of the trunk or the branch immediately below the branching point) using simulations based on two biomechanical models: the uniform stress and elastic similarity models. Model calculations of the daughter/mother ratio (i.e., the ratio of the total cross-sectional area of the daughter branches to the cross-sectional area of the mother branch at the branching point) showed that both biomechanical models agreed with da Vinci's rule when the branching angles of daughter branches and the weights of lateral daughter branches were small; however, the models deviated from da Vinci's rule as the weights and/or the branching angles of lateral daughter branches increased. The calculated values of the two models were largely similar but differed in some ways. Field measurements of Fagus crenata and Abies homolepis also fit this trend, wherein models deviated from da Vinci's rule with increasing relative weights of lateral daughter branches. However, this deviation was small for a branching pattern in nature, where empirical measurements were taken under realistic measurement conditions; thus, da Vinci's rule did not critically contradict the biomechanical models in the case of real branching patterns, though the model calculations described the contradiction between da Vinci's rule and the biomechanical models. The field data for Fagus crenata fit the uniform stress model best, indicating that stress uniformity is the key constraint of branch morphology in Fagus crenata rather than elastic similarity or da Vinci's rule. On the other hand, mechanical constraints are not necessarily significant in the morphology of Abies homolepis branches, depending on the number of daughter branches. Rather, these branches were often in agreement with da Vinci's rule. PMID:24714065

Tree branching: Leonardo da Vinci's rule versus biomechanical models.

PubMed

Minamino, Ryoko; Tateno, Masaki

2014-01-01

This study examined Leonardo da Vinci's rule (i.e., the sum of the cross-sectional area of all tree branches above a branching point at any height is equal to the cross-sectional area of the trunk or the branch immediately below the branching point) using simulations based on two biomechanical models: the uniform stress and elastic similarity models. Model calculations of the daughter/mother ratio (i.e., the ratio of the total cross-sectional area of the daughter branches to the cross-sectional area of the mother branch at the branching point) showed that both biomechanical models agreed with da Vinci's rule when the branching angles of daughter branches and the weights of lateral daughter branches were small; however, the models deviated from da Vinci's rule as the weights and/or the branching angles of lateral daughter branches increased. The calculated values of the two models were largely similar but differed in some ways. Field measurements of Fagus crenata and Abies homolepis also fit this trend, wherein models deviated from da Vinci's rule with increasing relative weights of lateral daughter branches. However, this deviation was small for a branching pattern in nature, where empirical measurements were taken under realistic measurement conditions; thus, da Vinci's rule did not critically contradict the biomechanical models in the case of real branching patterns, though the model calculations described the contradiction between da Vinci's rule and the biomechanical models. The field data for Fagus crenata fit the uniform stress model best, indicating that stress uniformity is the key constraint of branch morphology in Fagus crenata rather than elastic similarity or da Vinci's rule. On the other hand, mechanical constraints are not necessarily significant in the morphology of Abies homolepis branches, depending on the number of daughter branches. Rather, these branches were often in agreement with da Vinci's rule.

Corneal indentation in the early management of acute angle closure.

PubMed

Masselos, Katherine; Bank, Allan; Francis, Ian C; Stapleton, Fiona

2009-01-01

To describe in detail corneal indentation (CI) in the management of a series of patients treated for acute angle closure (AAC). Retrospective, consecutive, noncomparative case series. Seven consecutive patients (8 eyes) referred to the authors with the diagnosis of AAC. Patients presented to the Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, or to the private practices of the authors. Seven patients (8 eyes) underwent CI as part of their early management for AAC. Reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP), symptoms of AAC and pain relief. Of the 7 patients, complete data were available for 6. The IOP was significantly reduced (P<0.05) and 3 of 4 patients with severe acute pain reported early resolution of pain after CI. The average reduction in IOP was 20.9 mmHg (range +1 to -45). All patients subsequently underwent definitive management with laser peripheral iridotomies or lensectomy using phacoemulsification. Three patients treated acutely with CI without any medical agents had a mean IOP reduction of 21 mmHg (range, 20-23) after indentation. Corneal indentation is a rapid, portable, and effective method of reducing elevated IOP in the setting of AAC. It can be performed with instrumentation that is readily at hand and allows for rapid pain relief. This reduction in IOP improves corneal clarity and permits further definitive management of the patient with AAC. The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Crack branching in cross-ply composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

La Saponara, Valeria

2001-10-01

The purpose of this research work is to examine the behavior of an interface crack in a cross-ply laminate which is subject to static and fatigue loading. The failure mechanism analyzed here is crack branching (or crack kinking or intra-layer crack): the delamination located between two different plies starts growing as an interface crack and then may branch into the less tough ply. The specimens were manufactured from different types of Glass/Epoxy and Graphite/Epoxy, by hand lay-up, vacuum bagging and cure in autoclave. Each specimen had a delamination starter. Static mixed mode tests and compressive fatigue tests were performed. Experiments showed the scale of the problem, one ply thickness, and some significant features, like contact in the branched crack. The amount of scatter in the experiments required use of statistics. Exploratory Data Analysis and a factorial design of experiments based on a 8 x 8 Hadamard matrix were used. Experiments and statistics show that there is a critical branching angle above which crack growth is greatly accelerated. This angle seems: (1) not to be affected by the specimens' life; (2) not to depend on the specimen geometry and loading conditions; (3) to strongly depend on the amount of contact in the branched crack. Numerical analysis was conducted to predict crack propagation based on the actual displacement/load curves for static tests. This method allows us to predict the total crack propagation in 2D conditions, while neglecting branching. Finally, the existence of a solution based on analytic continuation is discussed.

Apoptotic signaling pathways induced by acute administration of branched-chain amino acids in an animal model of maple syrup urine disease.

PubMed

Vilela, Thais C; Scaini, Giselli; Furlanetto, Camila B; Pasquali, Matheus A B; Santos, João Paulo A; Gelain, Daniel P; Moreira, José Cláudio F; Schuck, Patrícia F; Ferreira, Gustavo C; Streck, Emilio L

2017-02-01

Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) is an inborn error of metabolism caused by a deficiency of the branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase complex activity. This blockage leads to accumulation of the branched-chain amino acids leucine, isoleucine and valine, as well as their corresponding α-keto acids and α-hydroxy acids. The affected patients present severe neurological symptoms, such as coma and seizures, as well as edema and cerebral atrophy. Considering that the mechanisms of the neurological symptoms presented by MSUD patients are still poorly understood, in this study, protein levels of apoptotic factors are measured, such as Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bax, caspase-3 and -8 in hippocampus and cerebral cortex of rats submitted to acute administration of branched-chain amino acids during their development. The results in this study demonstrated that BCAA acute exposure during the early postnatal period did not significantly change Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bax and caspase-8 protein levels. However, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and procaspase-3 protein levels were decreased in hippocampus. On the other hand, acute administration of BCAA in 30-day-old rats increase in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio followed by an increased caspase-3 activity in cerebral cortex, whereas BCAA induces apoptosis in hippocampus through activation and cleavage of caspase-3 and -8 without changing the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. In conclusion, the results suggest that apoptosis could be of pivotal importance in the developmental neurotoxic effects of BCAA. In addition, the current studies also suggest that multiple mechanisms may be involved in BCAA-induced apoptosis in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus.

Improving the efficiency of configurational-bias Monte Carlo: A density-guided method for generating bending angle trials for linear and branched molecules

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

Sepehri, Aliasghar; Loeffler, Troy D.; Chen, Bin, E-mail: binchen@lsu.edu

2014-08-21

A new method has been developed to generate bending angle trials to improve the acceptance rate and the speed of configurational-bias Monte Carlo. Whereas traditionally the trial geometries are generated from a uniform distribution, in this method we attempt to use the exact probability density function so that each geometry generated is likely to be accepted. In actual practice, due to the complexity of this probability density function, a numerical representation of this distribution function would be required. This numerical table can be generated a priori from the distribution function. This method has been tested on a united-atom model ofmore » alkanes including propane, 2-methylpropane, and 2,2-dimethylpropane, that are good representatives of both linear and branched molecules. It has been shown from these test cases that reasonable approximations can be made especially for the highly branched molecules to reduce drastically the dimensionality and correspondingly the amount of the tabulated data that is needed to be stored. Despite these approximations, the dependencies between the various geometrical variables can be still well considered, as evident from a nearly perfect acceptance rate achieved. For all cases, the bending angles were shown to be sampled correctly by this method with an acceptance rate of at least 96% for 2,2-dimethylpropane to more than 99% for propane. Since only one trial is required to be generated for each bending angle (instead of thousands of trials required by the conventional algorithm), this method can dramatically reduce the simulation time. The profiling results of our Monte Carlo simulation code show that trial generation, which used to be the most time consuming process, is no longer the time dominating component of the simulation.« less

Directed branch growth in aligned nanowire arrays.

PubMed

Beaudry, Allan L; LaForge, Joshua M; Tucker, Ryan T; Sorge, Jason B; Adamski, Nicholas L; Li, Peng; Taschuk, Michael T; Brett, Michael J

2014-01-01

Branch growth is directed along two, three, or four in-plane directions in vertically aligned nanowire arrays using vapor-liquid-solid glancing angle deposition (VLS-GLAD) flux engineering. In this work, a dynamically controlled collimated vapor flux guides branch placement during the self-catalyzed epitaxial growth of branched indium tin oxide nanowire arrays. The flux is positioned to grow branches on select nanowire facets, enabling fabrication of aligned nanotree arrays with L-, T-, or X-branching. In addition, a flux motion algorithm is designed to selectively elongate branches along one in-plane axis. Nanotrees are found to be aligned across large areas by X-ray diffraction pole figure analysis and through branch length and orientation measurements collected over 140 μm(2) from scanning electron microscopy images for each array. The pathway to guided assembly of nanowire architectures with controlled interconnectivity in three-dimensions using VLS-GLAD is discussed.

Branching pattern in natural drainage network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hooshyar, M.; Singh, A.; Wang, D.

2017-12-01

The formation and growth of river channels and their network evolution are governed by the erosional and depositional processes operating on the landscape due to movement of water. The branching structure of drainage network is an important feature related to the network topology and contain valuable information about the forming mechanisms of the landscape. We studied the branching patterns in natural drainage networks, extracted from 1 m Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) of 120 catchments with minimal human impacts across the United States. We showed that the junction angles have two distinct modes an the observed modes are physically explained as the optimal angles that result in minimum energy dissipation and are linked to the exponent characterizing slope-area curve. Our findings suggest that the flow regimes, debris-flow dominated or fluvial, have distinct characteristic angles which are functions of the scaling exponent of the slope-area curve. These findings enable us to understand the geomorphological signature of hydrological processes on drainage networks and develop more refined landscape evolution models.

The morphology of blends of linear and branched polyethylenes in solid state by small-angle scattering

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

Wignall, G.D.; Londono, J.D.; Alamo, R.G.

1995-12-01

We have used small-angle neutron and x-ray scattering (SANS And SAXS) to investigate the solid state morphology of blends of high-density and low-density polyethylenes (HDPE and LDPE). The blends are homogenous in the melt as demonstrated by SANS using the contrast obtained by deuterating the linear polymer, though they phase segregate on slow cooling (0.75{degree}C/min). For high concentrations ({theta} {ge} 0.5) of linear polymer, there are separate stacks of HDPE and LDPE lamellae, as indicated by 2-peak SAXS curves. For predominantly branched blends, the phase separation is less complete, and the components are separated within the same lamellar stack, withmore » alternating HDPE and LDPE lamellae. Moreover, the phases no longer consist of the pure components and the HDPE lamellae contain up to 15% LDPE. Rapid quenching into dry-ice/acetone (-78{degree}C) produces only one lamellar stack over the whole concentration range. The blends show extensive cocrystallization with a tendency for the branched material to be preferentially located in the amorphous regions. For high concentrations ({theta} {ge} 0.5) of HDPE-D the overall scattering length density is high and the excess concentration of LDPE between the lamellae enhances the contrast between the crystalline and amorphous phases. Thus, the interlamellar spacing (long period) is clearly visible in the SANS pattern. The blend morphology is a strong function of the quench rate and samples quenched less rapidly (e.g., into water at 23{degree}C) show a similar morphology to slowly cooled samples.« less

Right bundle branch block and anterior wall ST elevation myocardial infarction.

PubMed

Trofin, Monica; Israel, Carsten W; Barold, S Serge

2017-09-01

We report the case of an acute anterior wall ST elevation myocardial infarction with new left anterior fascicular block and pre-existing right bundle branch block. Due to a wide right bundle branch block, no ST segment elevation was visible in lead V1. The left anterior fascicular block was caused by proximal occlusion of the left artery descending and disappeared after acute revascularization. However, also the R' of the right bundle branch block became significantly shorter after revascularization, dismanteling a minor ST segment elevation. The ST elevation in lead V1 in anterior wall infarction and right bundle branch block may merge with the R' and cause a further QRS widening as an "equivalent" to the ST elevation.

Universal High Energy Anomaly in the Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectra of High Temperature Superconductors: Possible Evidence of Spinon and Holon Branches

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Graf, J.; Gweon, G.-H.; McElroy, K.; Zhou, S. Y.; Jozwiak, C.; Rotenberg, E.; Bill, A.; Sasagawa, T.; Eisaki, H.; Uchida, S.; Takagi, H.; Lee, D.-H.; Lanzara, A.

2007-02-01

A universal high energy anomaly in the single particle spectral function is reported in three different families of high temperature superconductors by using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. As we follow the dispersing peak of the spectral function from the Fermi energy to the valence band complex, we find dispersion anomalies marked by two distinctive high energy scales, E1≈0.38eV and E2≈0.8eV. E1 marks the energy above which the dispersion splits into two branches. One is a continuation of the near parabolic dispersion, albeit with reduced spectral weight, and reaches the bottom of the band at the Γ point at ≈0.5eV. The other is given by a peak in the momentum space, nearly independent of energy between E1 and E2. Above E2, a bandlike dispersion reemerges. We conjecture that these two energies mark the disintegration of the low-energy quasiparticles into a spinon and holon branch in the high Tc cuprates.

[Primary branch size of Pinus koraiensis plantation: a prediction based on linear mixed effect model].

PubMed

Dong, Ling-Bo; Liu, Zhao-Gang; Li, Feng-Ri; Jiang, Li-Chun

2013-09-01

By using the branch analysis data of 955 standard branches from 60 sampled trees in 12 sampling plots of Pinus koraiensis plantation in Mengjiagang Forest Farm in Heilongjiang Province of Northeast China, and based on the linear mixed-effect model theory and methods, the models for predicting branch variables, including primary branch diameter, length, and angle, were developed. Considering tree effect, the MIXED module of SAS software was used to fit the prediction models. The results indicated that the fitting precision of the models could be improved by choosing appropriate random-effect parameters and variance-covariance structure. Then, the correlation structures including complex symmetry structure (CS), first-order autoregressive structure [AR(1)], and first-order autoregressive and moving average structure [ARMA(1,1)] were added to the optimal branch size mixed-effect model. The AR(1) improved the fitting precision of branch diameter and length mixed-effect model significantly, but all the three structures didn't improve the precision of branch angle mixed-effect model. In order to describe the heteroscedasticity during building mixed-effect model, the CF1 and CF2 functions were added to the branch mixed-effect model. CF1 function improved the fitting effect of branch angle mixed model significantly, whereas CF2 function improved the fitting effect of branch diameter and length mixed model significantly. Model validation confirmed that the mixed-effect model could improve the precision of prediction, as compare to the traditional regression model for the branch size prediction of Pinus koraiensis plantation.

The Seasonality of Acute Attack of Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma in Beijing, China.

PubMed

Zhu, Jingyuan; Xu, Yang; Wang, Hongyuan; Liu, Dongjing; Zhu, Jingbo; Wu, Huijuan

2018-03-05

In this study, the seasonality of acute attack of primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) was analysed. This retrospective case series included 283 patients (200 women, 83 men; mean age, 68.2 ± 10.3 years; range, 37-96 years) with acute attack of PACG from a university-based clinic over 4 years. Patients' age and sex, and the date and season of onset of PACG attack, were analysed. Descriptive analysis and von Mises distribution were used for statistical analysis. The highest incidence of acute attack of PACG was observed in those aged 60-69 years (34.6%). Descriptive analysis showed that the incidence was greater in June and July for men, November for women, and November for the entire sample. An angular plot (using von Mises distribution) of the individual dates of onset revealed the estimated peak onset on September 11, November 8, and October 28 for men, women, and both, respectively. Integration of the results from the two analyses revealed the incidence to be higher in the summer and winter for men, and in the winter for women and for the entire sample. More females than males were affected. Monthly and seasonal variations in onset were observed, which might be related to weather changes.

Uveal effusion following acute primary angle-closure: a retrospective case series

PubMed Central

Yang, Jian-Gang; Li, Jian-Jun; Tian, Hua; Li, Yan-Hong; Gong, Yu-Jing; Su, An-Le; He, Na

2017-01-01

AIM To evaluate the morphological changes in anterior segment in Chinese patients with uveal effusion (UE) after the attack of acute primary angle-closure (APAC) using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM), and to assess the clinical course and prognosis of the disease. METHODS In a retrospective case series, 26 eyes in 26 consecutive patients diagnosed with UE after the treatment of intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering medication for the attack of APAC were enrolled. The unaffected fellow eyes served as controls. The morphological changes were observed by ultrasonography, slit lamp microscopy and gonioscopy. UBM was used to assess the degree and extent of effusion based on the analysis of parameters associated with UE. RESULTS The mean IOP was 9.2 (SD 2.1) mm Hg at the diagnosis of UE after IOP-lowering medication, while 14.1 (SD, 2.6) mm Hg in the fellow eyes (P=0.000). The anterior chamber depth (ACD) (P=0.000), angle opening distance at 500 µm (AOD500) (P<0.01) and anterior chamber angle (ACA) (P<0.05) were decreased significantly, while ciliary body thickness (CBT) (P<0.05) increased significantly in UE eyes. UE grade analysis showed 7 eyes in grade 1, 9 eyes in grade 2, and 10 eyes in grade 3. Quadrant scores were performed of 4 eyes in 1 quadrant, 3 eyes in 3 quadrants, and 19 eyes in 4 quadrants. There was the positive correlation between grade and quadrant score (r=0.644, P=0.000). The effusion on all eyes were recovered after medication, which mean IOP was 13.9 (SD, 2.8) mm Hg. CONCLUSION UE is a frequent complication in Chinese patients after the attack of APAC, partially associated with hypotony. The severity of UE is correlation with height of effusion, extent of detachment, and shallower ACD. PMID:28393032

Avoiding Steric Congestion in Dendrimer Growth through Proportionate Branching. A Twist on da Vinci's Rule of Tree Branching

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

Yue, Xuyi; Taraban, Marc B.; Hyland, Laura L.

2012-10-05

In making defect-free macromolecules, the challenge occurs during chemical synthesis. This challenge is especially pronounced in dendrimer synthesis where exponential growth quickly leads to steric congestion. To overcome this difficulty, proportionate branching in dendrimer growth is proposed. In proportionate branching, both the number and the length of branches increase exponentially but in opposite directions to mimic tree growth. The effectiveness of this strategy is demonstrated through the synthesis of a fluorocarbon dendron containing 243 chemically identical fluorine atoms with a MW of 9082 Da. Monodispersity is confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and small-angle X-ray scattering. Moreover, growingmore » different parts proportionately, as nature does, could be a general strategy to achieve defect-free synthesis of macromolecules.« less

A case of recurrence of congenital ocular toxoplasmosis with frosted branch angiitis (ocular toxoplasmosis with frosted branch angiitis).

PubMed

Suzuki, Takahiro; Onouchi, Hiromi; Nakagawa, Yoshihiro; Oohashi, Hideki; Kaiken, Han; Kawai, Kenji

2010-12-20

To describe a case of recurrence of congenital ocular toxoplasmosis with frosted branch angiitis. A 24-year-old woman presented with hyperemia in her right eye. Medical history included epilepsy at age 14 and mild mental retardation. Iridocyclitis and vitreous opacity were observed in the right eye, and furthermore widespread retinal vessel sheathing due to frosted branch angiitis was seen. Acyclovir was initiated for acute retinal necrosis with frosted branch angiitis. One week later, serologic tests showed elevated toxoplasma antibody level and toxoplasma antibody IgG level, and a white retinal exudative lesion with unclear margins was noted. Therefore, acetylspiramycin and prednisolone were initiated for a recurrence of congenital ocular toxoplasmosis. After treatment, inflammation subsided, the exudative lesion shrank, and the frosted branch angiitis improved. We encountered a case of ocular toxoplasmosis due to recurrence of congenital toxoplasmosis with frosted branch angiitis. The clinical symptoms of ocular toxoplasmosis can be varied and the diagnosis should be kept in mind.

An uncommon case of intermittent Pourfour du Petit Syndrome associated with acute angle-closure glaucoma successfully treated by laser iridotomy.

PubMed

Farci, Roberta; Napoli, Pietro Emanuele; Fossarello, Maurizio

2017-07-03

To describe a case of acute angle-closure glaucoma secondary to intermittent mydriasis related to Pourfour du Petit Syndrome caused by tracheal deviation. A 70-year-old Caucasian woman visited the Emergency Room of the University Eye Clinic complaining of blurring of vision and difficulty to move superior eyelid in her right eye. Examination revealed reactive mydriasis, and upper lid retraction on the right side. The rest of the ophthalmological examination was normal, and a cranial computed tomography (CT) did not identify any abnormalities. A cervical CT showed the presence of an accentuated lateral right convex deviation of the trachea, attributable to a fibrothorax. A right Pourfour du Petit syndrome was suspected. Although the mydriasis had in the meantime vanished, the patient was admitted to the Neurological Clinic. Five days later she suffered acute pain in her right eye. Ophthalmological examination of the right eye revealed conjunctival hyperemia, marked corneal edema, reduced depth of anterior chamber, permanent mydriasis. As assessed by Goldmann applanation tonometry, intraocular pressure (IOP) was 48 mm Hg. Fundus examination was normal in both eyes. Gonioscopy revealed angle closure in all quadrants. Slit lamp examination of the contralateral eye was normal; IOP was 10 mm Hg. After hypotensive medical therapy, iridotomy with YAG laser was performed. Thereafter, IOP stabilized at 12 mm Hg. This is the first report in the literature of a case of acute angle-closure glaucoma secondary to mydriasis related to Pourfour du Petit Syndrome caused by tracheal deviation.

Crown development in a pioneer tree, Rhus trichocarpa, in relation to the structure and growth of individual branches.

PubMed

Osada, Noriyuki

2006-01-01

Based on an allometric reconstruction, the structure and biomass-allocation patterns of branches and current-year shoots were investigated in branches of various heights in the pioneer tree Rhus trichocarpa, to evaluate how crown development is achieved and limited in association with height. Path analysis was conducted to explore the effects of light availability, basal height and size of individual branches on branch structure and growth. Branch angle was affected by basal height, whereas branch mass was influenced primarily by light availability. This result suggests that branch structure is strongly constrained by basal height, and that trees mediate such constraints under different light environments. Previous-year leaf area and light availability showed positive effects on current-year stem mass. In contrast, branch basal height and mass negatively affected current-year stem mass. Moreover, the length of stems of a given diameter decreased with increasing branch height. Therefore the cost of biomass investment for a unit growth in length is greater for branches of larger size and at upper positions. Vertical growth rate in length decreased with increasing height. Height-dependent changes in stem allometry and angle influenced the reduction in vertical growth rate to a similar degree.

{l_angle}110{r_angle} dendrite growth in aluminum feathery grains

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

Henry, S.; Rappaz, M.; Jarry, P.

1998-11-01

Automatic indexing of electron backscattered diffraction patterns, scanning electron microscopy, and optical microscopy observations have been carried out on aluminum-magnesium-silicon, aluminum-copper, and aluminum-silicon alloys directionally solidified or semicontinuously cast using the direct chill casting process. From these combined observations, it is shown that the feathery grains are made of {l_angle}110{r_angle} primary dendrite trunks (e.g., [011{bar 1}]) split in their centers by a coherent (111) twin plane. The average spacing of the dendrite trunks in the twin plane (about 10 to 20 {micro}m) is typically one order of magnitude smaller than that separating successive rows of trunks (or twin planes). Themore » [011{bar 1}] orientation of these trunks is close to the thermal gradient direction (typically within 15 deg)--a feature probably resulting from a growth competition mechanism similar to that occurring during normal <100> columnar dendrite growth. On both sides of these trunks, secondary dendrite arms also grow along {l_angle}110{r_angle} directions. Their impingement creates wavy noncoherent twin boundaries between the coherent twin planes. In the twin plane, evidence is shown that {l_angle}110{r_angle} branching mechanisms lead to the propagation of the twinned regions, to the regular arrangement of the primary dendrite trunks along a [{bar 2}11] direction, and to coherent planar twin boundaries. From these observations, it is concluded that the feathery grains are probably the result of a change from a normal <100> to a {l_angle}110{r_angle} surface tension/attachment kinetics anisotropy growth mode. Finally, the proposed mechanisms of leathery grain growth are further supported by the observation of {l_angle}110{r_angle} dendrite growth morphologies in thin aluminum-zinc coatings.« less

Neurovascular structures of the mandibular angle and condyle: a comprehensive anatomical review.

PubMed

Yang, Hun-Mu; Won, Sung-Yoon; Kim, Hee-Jin; Hu, Kyung-Seok

2015-11-01

Various surgical interventions including esthetic surgery, salivary gland excision, and open reduction of fracture have been performed in the area around the mandibular angle and condyle. This study aimed to comprehensively review the anatomy of the neurovascular structures on the angle and condyle with recent anatomic and clinical research. We provide detailed information about the branching and distributing patterns of the neurovascular structures at the mandibular angle and condyle, with reported data of measurements and proportions from previous anatomical and clinical research. Our report should serve to help practitioners gain a better understanding of the area in order or reduce potential complications during local procedures. Reckless manipulation during mandibular angle reduction could mutilate arterial branches, not only from the facial artery, but also from the external carotid artery. The transverse facial artery and superficial temporal artery could be damaged during approach and incision in the condylar area. The marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve can be easily damaged during submandibular gland excision or facial rejuvenation treatment. The main trunk of the facial nerve and its upper and lower distinct divisions have been damaged during parotidectomy, rhytidectomy, and open reductions of condylar fractures. By revisiting the information in the present study, surgeons will be able to more accurately prevent procedure-related complications, such as iatrogenic vascular accidents on the mandibular angle and condyle, complete and partial facial palsy, gustatory sweating (Frey syndrome), and traumatic neuroma after parotidectomy.

Fixman compensating potential for general branched molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jain, Abhinandan; Kandel, Saugat; Wagner, Jeffrey; Larsen, Adrien; Vaidehi, Nagarajan

2013-12-01

The technique of constraining high frequency modes of molecular motion is an effective way to increase simulation time scale and improve conformational sampling in molecular dynamics simulations. However, it has been shown that constraints on higher frequency modes such as bond lengths and bond angles stiffen the molecular model, thereby introducing systematic biases in the statistical behavior of the simulations. Fixman proposed a compensating potential to remove such biases in the thermodynamic and kinetic properties calculated from dynamics simulations. Previous implementations of the Fixman potential have been limited to only short serial chain systems. In this paper, we present a spatial operator algebra based algorithm to calculate the Fixman potential and its gradient within constrained dynamics simulations for branched topology molecules of any size. Our numerical studies on molecules of increasing complexity validate our algorithm by demonstrating recovery of the dihedral angle probability distribution function for systems that range in complexity from serial chains to protein molecules. We observe that the Fixman compensating potential recovers the free energy surface of a serial chain polymer, thus annulling the biases caused by constraining the bond lengths and bond angles. The inclusion of Fixman potential entails only a modest increase in the computational cost in these simulations. We believe that this work represents the first instance where the Fixman potential has been used for general branched systems, and establishes the viability for its use in constrained dynamics simulations of proteins and other macromolecules.

Sgarbossa criteria and acute myocardial infarction.

PubMed

Alang, Neha; Bathina, Jaya; Kranis, Mark; Angelis, Dimitrios

2010-01-01

Diagnosis of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction in the presence of left bundle branch block is difficult. present a case of acute myocardial infarction with LBBB diagnosed and treated using the Sgarbossa criteria.

Spatial Arrangement of Branches in Relation to Slope and Neighbourhood Competition

PubMed Central

SUMIDA, AKIHIRO; TERAZAWA, IKUE; TOGASHI, ASAKO; KOMIYAMA, AKIRA

2002-01-01

To gain a better understanding of the effects of spatial structure on patterns of neighbourhood competition among hardwood trees, the three‐dimensional extension of primary branches was surveyed for ten community‐grown Castanea crenata (Fagaceae) trees with respect to the positioning of neighbouring branches and the slope of the forest floor. There were significantly more branches extending towards the lower side of the slope than towards the upper side, but structural properties such as branch length and vertical angle were not affected by slope. When horizontal extension of a branch towards its neighbour was compared for a C. crenata branch and a neighbouring heterospecific, the former was significantly narrower than the latter when the inter‐branch distance (horizontal distance between the base positions of two neighbouring branches) was short (< approx. 5 m). Castanea crenata branches tended to extend in a direction avoiding neighbouring branches of heterospecifics when the inter‐branch distance was short. Furthermore, for an inter‐branch distance <3 m, the horizontal extension of a C. crenata branch was less when it was neighbouring a heterospecific branch than when neighbouring a conspecific branch. These results suggest that horizontal extension of C. crenata branches is more prone to spatial invasion by nearby neighbouring branches of heterospecifics, and that the invasion can be lessened when C. crenata trees are spatially aggregated. The reason why such an arrangement occurs is discussed in relation to the later leaf‐flush of C. crenata compared with that of other species in the forest. PMID:12096742

Monsoon and primary acute angle closure in malaysia.

PubMed

Ch'ng, T W; Mosavi, S A A; Noor Azimah, A A; Azlan, N Z; Azhany, Y; Liza-Sharmini, A T

2013-10-01

Acute angle closure (AAC) without prompt treatment may lead to optic neuropathy. Environmental factor such as climate change may precipitate pupillary block, the possible mechanism of AAC. To determine the association of northeast monsoon and incidence of AAC in Malaysia. A retrospective study was conducted on AAC patients admitted to two main tertiary hospitals in Kelantan, Malaysia between January 2001 and December 2011. The cumulative number of rainy day, amount of rain, mean cloud cover and 24 hours mean humidity at the estimated day of attack were obtained from the Department of Meteorology, Malaysia. A total 73 cases of AAC were admitted with mean duration of 4.1SD 2.0 days. More than half have previous history of possibility of AAC. There was higher incidence of AAC during the northeast monsoon (October to March). There was also significant correlation of number of rainy day (r=0.718, p<0.001), amount of rain (r=0.587, p<0.001), cloud cover (r=0.637, p<0.001), mean daily global radiation (r=- 0.596, P<0.001), 24 hours mean temperature (r=-0.298, p=0.015) and 24 hours mean humidity (r=0.508, p<0.001) with cumulative number of admission for AAC for 12 calendar months. Higher incidence of AAC during northeast monsoon suggested the effect of climate as the potential risk factor. Prompt treatment to arrest pupillary block and reduction of the intraocular pressure is important to prevent potential glaucomatous damage. Public awareness of AAC and accessibility to treatment should be part of preparation to face the effect of northeast monsoon.

Bisecting GlcNAc restricts conformations of branches in model N-glycans with GlcNAc termini.

PubMed

Hanashima, Shinya; Suga, Akitsugu; Yamaguchi, Yoshiki

2018-02-01

Bisected N-glycans play significant roles in tumor migration and Alzheimer's disease through modulating the action and localization of their carrier proteins. Such biological functions are often discussed in terms of the conformation of the attached N-glycans with or without bisecting GlcNAc. To obtain insights into the effects of bisecting GlcNAc on glycan conformation, a systematic NMR structural analysis was performed on two pairs of synthetic N-glycans, with and without bisecting GlcNAc. The analysis reveals that terminal GlcNAcs and bisecting GlcNAc cooperate to restrict the conformations of both the α1-3 and α1-6 branches of N-glycans. 1 H and 13 C chemical shift comparisons suggest that bisecting GlcNAc directly modulates local conformation. Unique NOE correlations between core-mannose and the α1-3 branch mannose as well as the 3 J C-H constant of the glycoside linkage indicate that bisecting GlcNAc restricts the conformation of the 1-3 branch. The angles of the glycosidic bonds between core-mannose and α1-6 branch mannose derived from 3 J C-H and 3 J H-H coupling constants show that terminal GlcNAcs restrict the distribution of the ψ angle to 180° and the bisecting GlcNAc increases the distribution of the ω angle +60° in the presence of terminal GlcNAcs. It is feasible that restriction of branch conformations by bisecting GlcNAc has important consequences for protein-glycan interplay and following biological events. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Characteristics of Ultrasonic Linear Motor that Incorporates Two Transducers at an Acute Angle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suzuki, Atsuyuki; Tsunoji, Masaki; Tsujino, Jiromaru

2013-07-01

In this study, we have developed an ultrasonic linear motor that incorporates two transducers at an acute angle. The two transducers are used to generate the vertical and horizontal vibration components. The complex vibration is excited using two electrical sources with a phase shift. Ultrasonic motors have unique characteristics such as silent motion and absence of magnetic noise. These characteristics are suitable for use in hospitals and so on. Therefore, we focus on developing actuators for use in a medical bed, specifically a bedsore prevention bed. A study of the vibration characteristics of the motor showed that the resonant frequencies of the transducers were appropriate, although the vibration amplitude of one transducer was less than that of the other. A study of the load characteristics showed that a no-load speed of 267 mm/s and a maximum thrust of 40 N were obtained.

Leonardo's branching rule in trees: How self-similar structures resist wind

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eloy, Christophe

2011-11-01

In his notebooks, Leonardo da Vinci observed that ``all the branches of a tree at every stage of its height when put together are equal in thickness to the trunk,'' which means that the total cross-sectional area of branches is conserved across branching nodes. The usual explanation for this rule involves vascular transport of sap, but this argument is questionable because the portion of wood devoted to transport varies across species and can be as low as 5%. It is proposed here that Leonardo's rule is a consequence of the tree skeleton having a self-similar structure and the branch diameters being adjusted to resist wind-induced loads. To address this problem, a continuous model is first considered by neglecting the geometrical details of branching and wind incident angles. The robustness of this analytical model is then assessed with numerical simulations on tree skeletons generated with a simple branching rule producing self-similar structures. This study was supported by the European Union through the fellowship PIOF-GA-2009-252542.

Sex differences in the branching position of the nerve to the abductor digiti minimi muscle: an anatomical study of cadavers.

PubMed

Mizuno, Daisuke; Naito, Munekazu; Hayashi, Shogo; Ohmichi, Yusuke; Ohmichi, Mika; Nakano, Takashi

2015-01-01

The nerve to the abductor digiti minimi muscle (ADMM nerve) is the first branch of the lateral plantar nerve or originates directly from the posterior tibial nerve. Damage to the ADMM nerve is a cause of heel pain and eventually results in ADMM atrophy. It is known that ADMM atrophy occurs more often in females than in males, and the reason remains unclear. This study aimed to explore sex differences in the branching pattern, position, and angle of the ADMM nerve. Forty-two cadavers (20 males, 22 females) were dissected at Aichi Medical University between 2011 and 2015. Cases of foot deformity or atrophy were excluded and 67 ft (30 male, 37 female) were examined to assess the branching pattern, position, and angle of the ADMM nerve. The branching positions of the ADMM nerve were superior to the malleolar-calcaneal axis (MCA) in 37 ft (55 %), on the MCA in 10 ft (15 %), and inferior to the MCA in 20 ft (30 %). There was no case among male feet in which the ADMM nerve branched inferior to the MCA, whereas this pattern was observed in 19 of 37 female feet (51 %). The branching position of the ADMM nerve was significantly closer to the MCA in female feet than in male feet. There were no significant sex differences in the branching pattern and angle of the ADMM nerve. The ADMM nerve sometimes branches off inferior to the MCA in females, but not in males. This difference may be the reason for the more frequent occurrence of ADMM atrophy in females than in males.

Abnormal Q waves in right sided chest leads provoked by onset of right bundle-branch block in patients with anteroseptal infarction.

PubMed Central

Rosenbaum, M B; Girotti, L A; Lázzari, J O; Halpern, M S; Elizari, M V

1982-01-01

In five cases of anteroseptal myocardial infarction complicated by intermittent right bundle-branch block, the onset of right bundle-branch block provoked the appearance of abnormal Q waves in leads V1 and V2, whereas a small initial R wave was present in the same leads during normal conduction. The intermittency of the conduction disturbance indicated that the Q waves were "right bundle-branch block dependent". It was also apparent that right bundle-branch block shifted the electrical location of the infarct towards the right, and made it look much larger. Right bundle-branch block dependent Q waves may arise during the acute stage of an anterior infarct suggesting, fallaciously, that an acute extension has occurred, or during the chronic stage, leading to the erroneous supposition that a new infarct had developed. The abnormal Q waves anteroseptal infarction complicated by fixed right bundle-branch block, though obviously related to the infarct, may be dependent on the right bundle-branch block. PMID:7059400

PpeTAC1 promotes the horizontal growth of branches in peach trees and is a member of a functionally conserved gene family found in diverse plants species.

PubMed

Dardick, Chris; Callahan, Ann; Horn, Renate; Ruiz, Karina B; Zhebentyayeva, Tetyana; Hollender, Courtney; Whitaker, Michael; Abbott, Albert; Scorza, Ralph

2013-08-01

Trees are capable of tremendous architectural plasticity, allowing them to maximize their light exposure under highly competitive environments. One key component of tree architecture is the branch angle, yet little is known about the molecular basis for the spatial patterning of branches in trees. Here, we report the identification of a candidate gene for the br mutation in Prunus persica (peach) associated with vertically oriented growth of branches, referred to as 'pillar' or 'broomy'. Ppa010082, annotated as hypothetical protein in the peach genome sequence, was identified as a candidate gene for br using a next generation sequence-based mapping approach. Sequence similarity searches identified rice TAC1 (tiller angle control 1) as a putative ortholog, and we thus named it PpeTAC1. In monocots, TAC1 is known to lead to less compact growth by increasing the tiller angle. In Arabidopsis, an attac1 mutant showed more vertical branch growth angles, suggesting that the gene functions universally to promote the horizontal growth of branches. TAC1 genes belong to a gene family (here named IGT for a shared conserved motif) found in all plant genomes, consisting of two clades: one containing TAC1-like genes; the other containing LAZY1, which contains an EAR motif, and promotes vertical shoot growth in Oryza sativa (rice) and Arabidopsis through influencing polar auxin transport. The data suggest that IGT genes are ancient, and play conserved roles in determining shoot growth angles in plants. Understanding how IGT genes modulate branch angles will provide insights into how different architectural growth habits evolved in terrestrial plants. © 2013 The Authors The Plant Journal © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Biometric Factors Associated With Acute Primary Angle Closure: Comparison of the Affected and Fellow Eye.

PubMed

Atalay, Eray; Nongpiur, Monisha E; Baskaran, Mani; Sharma, Sourabh; Perera, Shamira A; Aung, Tin

2016-10-01

To compare ocular biometric and anterior segment parameters between the affected and fellow eye in subjects with acute primary angle closure (APAC). We evaluated 76 subjects with unilateral APAC who had undergone bilateral laser peripheral iridotomy before enrollment. Imaging was done using anterior segment optical coherence tomography and a customized software was used to measure the following: angle opening distance (AOD750); trabecular-iris space area (TISA750); iris thickness (IT750); iris curvature (ICURV); iris area (IAREA); anterior chamber depth; area and volume (ACD; ACA and ACV); anterior chamber width (ACW); anterior vault (ACD+LV); lens vault (LV); and pupil diameter (PD). We used A-scan ultrasonography to measure axial length (AL) and lens thickness (LT). Mean differences in ocular biometric and anterior segment parameters were assessed using linear mixed model adjusting for PD. A total of 53 subjects (36 females, 67.9%) with a mean age of 62.7 ± 8.1 years were analyzed after excluding 17 unanalyzable images in at least one eye. Affected eyes had shallower ACD, smaller ACA, ACV, anterior vault, TISA750, AOD750, and ICURV (all P < 0.05). Axial length, ACW, LV, LT, IAREA, and IT750 did not differ between the eyes. In the affected eyes, IT750 was significantly associated AOD750 (P < 0.05); whereas in the fellow eyes, IT750 and AL was predictive of AOD750 (all P < 0.05). Eyes with previous APAC had smaller anterior segment dimensions when compared with their fellow eyes. Iris thickness was the strongest predictor of angle width in both affected and fellow eyes.

Fish allergy causing angioedema and secondary angle-closure glaucoma.

PubMed

Calder, Donovan; Calder, Jennifer

2013-03-06

A 56-year-old woman with a history of primary angle-closure glaucoma presented with acute generalised swelling, and facial angioedema following a fish meal. She complained of nausea, vomiting, headache, pain in both eyes and acute loss of vision. Her visual acuity was reduced and intraocular pressures (IOP) were elevated. Gonioscopy revealed complete angle closure in the left eye and complete to partial closure in the right eye. Through existing peripheral iridotomies the anterior capsules were seen pressed up against the iris of both eyes. A diagnosis of angle-closure glaucoma was made, medications were started to reduce the elevated intraocular pressure and systemic antihistamine to counter the allergic reaction. She was hospitalised for further management. A follow-up at 2 years revealed her visual acuities and IOP had remained normal.

Cooperativity and redundancy in the mechanics of compositely crosslinked branched anisotropic cytoskeletal networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schwarz, J. M.; Zhang, Tao; Das, Moumita

2013-03-01

At the leading edge of a crawling cell, the actin cytoskeleton extends itself in a particular direction via a branched crosslinked network of actin filaments with some overall alignment. This network is known as the lamellipodium. Branching via the complex Arp2/3 occurs at a reasonably well-defined angle of 70 degrees from the plus end of the mother filament such that Arp2/3 can be modeled as an angle-constraining crosslinker. Freely-rotating crosslinkers, such as alpha-actinin, are also present in lamellipodia. Therefore, we study the interplay between these two types of crosslinkers, angle-constraining and free-rotating, both analytically and numerically, to begin to quantify the mechanics of lamellipodia. We also investigate how the orientational ordering of the filaments affects this interplay. Finally, while role of Arp2/3 as a nucleator for filaments along the leading edge of a crawling cell has been studied intensely, much less is known about its mechanical contribution. Our work seeks to fill in this important gap in modeling the mechanics of lamellipodia.

Crack stability and branching at interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thomson, Robb

1995-11-01

The various events that occur at a crack on an interface are explored, and described in terms of a simple graphical construction called the crack stability diagram. For simple Griffith cleavage in a homogeneous material, the stability diagram is a sector of a circle in the space of stress intensity factors, KI/KII. The Griffith circle is limited in both positive and negative KII directions by nonblunting dislocation emission on the cleavage plane. For a branching plane inclined at an angle to the original cleavage plane, both cleavage and emission (which blunts the crack) can be described as a balance between an elastic driving force and a lattice resistance for the event. We use an analytic expression obtained by Cotterell and Rice for cleavage, and show that it is an excellent approximation, but show that the lattice resistance includes a cornering resistance, in addition to the standard surface energy in the final cleavage criterion. Our discussion of the lattaice resistance is derived from simulations in two-dimensional hexagonal lattices with UBER force laws with a variety of shapes. Both branching cleavage and blunting emission can be described in terms of a stability diagram in the space of the remote stress intensity factors, and the competition between events on the initial cleavage plane and those on the branching plane can be described by overlays of the two appropriate stability diagrams. The popular criterion that kII=0 on the branching plane is explored for lattices and found to fail significantly, because the lattice stabilizes cleavage by the anisotropy of the surface energy. Also, in the lattice, dislocation emission must must always be considered as an alternative competing event to branching.

A tree branch instead of a ligature: an unusual accidental hanging.

PubMed

Vadysinghe, Amal Nishantha; Sivasubramanium, Murugupillai; Jayasooriya, Rankothge Pemasiri

2017-12-01

A unique case of accidental hanging due to compression of the neck of an adult by the branches of a coffee tree is reported. The decedent was a 42-year-old male who was found dead in a semi prone position on a slope. His neck was lodged in a wedge formed by two branches of a coffee tree, with his legs angled downwards on the slope. Autopsy revealed two friction abrasions located horizontally on either side of the front of the neck, just above the larynx. The findings were compatible with compression of the neck by the branches of the tree, with the body weight of the decedent contributing to compression. Subsequent complete autopsy examination confirmed the cause of death as hanging. Following an inquest the death was ruled to be accidental.

Body composition and phase angle in Russian children in remission from acute lymphoblastic leukemia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tseytlin, G. Ja; Khomyakova, I. A.; Nikolaev, D. V.; Konovalova, M. V.; Vashura, A. Yu; Tretyak, A. V.; Godina, E. Z.; Rudnev, S. G.

2010-04-01

Elevated degree of body fatness and changes in other body composition parameters are known to be common effects of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children. In order to study peculiarities of somatic growth and development in ALL survivors, we describe the results of BIA body composition analysis of 112 boys and 108 girls aged 5-18 years in remission from ALL (remission time range 1-13 years) compared to data from the same number of age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n=220). Detrimental effect on height in ALL boys was observed, whereas girls experienced additional weight gain compared to healthy subjects. In ALL patients, resistance, body fat, and percent body fat were significantly increased. The reactance, phase angle, absolute and relative values of skeletal muscle and body cell mass were significantly decreased. Principal component analysis revealed an early prevalence of adiposity traits in the somatic growth and development of ALL girls compared to healthy controls.

Systematic review of outcomes following fixed angle intramedullary fixation of distal radius fractures.

PubMed

Hardman, John; Al-Hadithy, Nawfal; Hester, Thomas; Anakwe, Raymond

2015-12-01

There remains little consensus regarding the optimal management of distal radius fractures. Fixed angle volar devices have gained recent popularity, but have also been associated with soft tissue complications. Intramedullary (IM) devices offer fixed angle stabilisation with minimally invasive surgical technique and low, IM profile. No formal review of outcomes could be identified. We conducted a systematic review of clinical studies regarding the use of fixed angle IM devices in acute extra-articular or simple intra-articular distal radius fractures. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) guidance was followed. Numerical data regarding functional scores, ranges of movement, radiological outcomes and complications were pooled to produce aggregate means and standard deviation. A total of 310 titles and abstracts were identified. Fourteen papers remained for analysis. Total patient number was 357, mean age 63.72 years and mean follow-up 12.77 months. Mean functional scores were all rated as 'excellent'. Aggregate means: flexion 53.62°, extension 56.38°, pronation 69.10°, supination 70.29°, ulnar deviation 28.35°, radial deviation 18.12°, radial height 8.98 mm, radial inclination 16.51°, volar tilt 5.35°, ulnar variance 0.66 mm and grip strength 90.37 %. Overall complication rate was 19.6 %. Tendon rupture was unreported. Tendon irritation was 0.88 %. Radial nerve paraesthesia was 11.44 %. Fixed angle IM devices facilitate excellent functional outcomes, with radiological and clinical parameters at least equivalent to volar plate devices. Low rates of tendon irritation and absence of tendon rupture are advantageous. Significant limitations include a lack of application for complex articular injuries and the propensity to cause a transient neuritis of the superficial branch of the radial nerve.

Branch classification: A new mechanism for improving branch predictor performance

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

Chang, P.Y.; Hao, E.; Patt, Y.

There is wide agreement that one of the most significant impediments to the performance of current and future pipelined superscalar processors is the presence of conditional branches in the instruction stream. Speculative execution is one solution to the branch problem, but speculative work is discarded if a branch is mispredicted. For it to be effective, speculative work is discarded if a branch is mispredicted. For it to be effective, speculative execution requires a very accurate branch predictor; 95% accuracy is not good enough. This paper proposes branch classification, a methodology for building more accurate branch predictors. Branch classification allows anmore » individual branch instruction to be associated with the branch predictor best suited to predict its direction. Using this approach, a hybrid branch predictor can be constructed such that each component branch predictor predicts those branches for which it is best suited. To demonstrate the usefulness of branch classification, an example classification scheme is given and a new hybrid predictor is built based on this scheme which achieves a higher prediction accuracy than any branch predictor previously reported in the literature.« less

Branched chain and aromatic amino acids change acutely following two medical therapies for type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PubMed

Walford, Geoffrey A; Davis, Jaclyn; Warner, A Sofia; Ackerman, Rachel J; Billings, Liana K; Chamarthi, Bindu; Fanelli, Rebecca R; Hernandez, Alicia M; Huang, Chunmei; Khan, Sabina Q; Littleton, Katherine R; Lo, Janet; McCarthy, Rita M; Rhee, Eugene P; Deik, Amy; Stolerman, Elliot; Taylor, Andrew; Hudson, Margo S; Wang, Thomas J; Altshuler, David; Grant, Richard W; Clish, Clary B; Gerszten, Robert E; Florez, Jose C

2013-12-01

Elevated circulating levels of branched chain and aromatic amino acids (BCAA/AAAs) are associated with insulin resistance and incident type 2 diabetes (T2D). BCAA/AAAs decrease acutely during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), a diagnostic test for T2D. It is unknown whether changes in BCAA/AAAs also signal an early response to commonly used medical therapies for T2D. A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry approach was used to measure BCAA/AAAs in 30 insulin sensitive (IS) and 30 insulin resistant (IR) subjects before and after: (1) one dose of a sulfonylurea medication, glipizide, 5 mg orally; (2) two days of twice daily metformin 500 mg orally; and (3) a 75-g OGTT. Percent change in BCAA/AAAs was determined after each intervention. Following glipizide, which increased insulin and decreased glucose in both subject groups, BCAA/AAAs decreased in the IS subjects only (all P<0.05). Following metformin, which decreased glucose and insulin in only the IR subjects, 4 BCAA/AAAs increased in the IR subjects at or below P=0.05, and none changed in the IS subjects. Following OGTT, which increased glucose and insulin in all subjects, BCAA/AAAs decreased in all subjects (P<0.05). BCAA/AAAs changed acutely during glipizide and metformin administration, and the magnitude and direction of change differed by the insulin resistance status of the individual and the intervention. These results indicate that BCAA/AAAs may be useful biomarkers for monitoring the early response to therapeutic interventions for T2D. © 2013.

Branched chain and aromatic amino acids change acutely following two medical therapies for type 2 diabetes mellitus

PubMed Central

Walford, Geoffrey A.; Davis, Jaclyn; Warner, A. Sofia; Ackerman, Rachel J.; Billings, Liana K.; Chamarthi, Bindu; Fanelli, Rebecca R.; Hernandez, Alicia M.; Huang, Chunmei; Khan, Sabina Q.; Littleton, Katherine R.; Lo, Janet; McCarthy, Rita M.; Rhee, Eugene P.; Deik, Amy; Stolerman, Elliot; Taylor, Andrew; Hudson, Margo S.; Wang, Thomas J.; Altshuler, David; Grant, Richard W.; Clish, Clary B.; Gerszten, Robert E.; Florez, Jose C.

2013-01-01

Objective Elevated circulating levels of branched chain and aromatic amino acids (BCAA/AAAs) are associated with insulin resistance and incident type 2 diabetes (T2D). BCAA/AAAs decrease acutely during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), a diagnostic test for T2D. It is unknown whether changes in BCAA/AAAs also signal an early response to commonly used medical therapies for T2D. Materials and Methods A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry approach was used to measure BCAA/AAAs in 30 insulin sensitive (IS) and 30 insulin resistant (IR) subjects before and after: 1) one dose of a sulfonylurea medication, glipizide, 5 mg orally; 2) two days of twice daily metformin 500 mg orally; and 3) a 75-gram OGTT. Percent change in BCAA/AAAs was determined after each intervention. Results Following glipizide, which increased insulin and decreased glucose in both subject groups, BCAA/AAAs decreased in the IS subjects only (all P<0.05). Following metformin, which decreased glucose and insulin in only the IR subjects, 4 BCAA/AAAs increased in the IR subjects at or below P=0.05, and none changed in the IS subjects. Following OGTT, which increased glucose and insulin in all subjects, BCAA/AAAs decreased in all subjects (P<0.05). Conclusions BCAA/AAAs changed acutely during glipizide and metformin administration, and the magnitude and direction of change differed by the insulin resistance status of the individual and the intervention. These results indicate that BCAA/AAAs may be useful biomarkers for monitoring the early response to therapeutic interventions for T2D. PMID:23953891

Acute influence of restricted ankle dorsiflexion angle on knee joint mechanics during gait.

PubMed

Ota, S; Ueda, M; Aimoto, K; Suzuki, Y; Sigward, S M

2014-06-01

Restrictions in range of ankle dorsiflexion (DF) motion can persist following ankle injuries. Ankle DF is necessary during terminal stance of gait, and its restricted range may affect knee joint kinematics and kinetics. The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute influence of varied levels of restricted ankle DF on knee joint sagittal and frontal plane kinematics and kinetics during gait. Thirty healthy volunteers walked with a custom-designed ankle brace that restricted ankle DF. Kinematics and kinetics were collected using a 7-camera motion analysis system and two force plates. Ankle dorsiflexion was restricted in 10-degree increments, allowing for four conditions: Free, light (LR), moderate (MR) and severe restriction (SR). Knee angles and moments were measured during terminal stance. Real peak ankle DF for Free, LR, MR, and SR were 13.7±4.8°, 11.6±5.0°, 7.5±5.3°, and 4.2±7.2°, respectively. Peak knee extension angles under the same conditions were -6.7±6.7°, -5.4±6.4°, -2.5±7.5°, and 0.6±7.8°, respectively, and the peak knee varus moment was 0.48±0.17 Nm/kg, 0.47±0.17 Nm/kg, 0.53±0.20 Nm/kg, and 0.57±0.20 Nm/kg. The knee varus moment was significantly increased from MR condition with an 8-degree restriction in ankle DF. Knee joint kinematics and kinetics in the sagittal and frontal planes were affected by reduced ankle DF during terminal stance of gait. Differences were observed with restriction in ankle DF range of approximately 8°. level III. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cytoplasmic Nucleation and Atypical Branching Nucleation Generate Endoplasmic Microtubules in Physcomitrella patens[OPEN

PubMed Central

Nakaoka, Yuki; Kimura, Akatsuki; Tani, Tomomi; Goshima, Gohta

2015-01-01

The mechanism underlying microtubule (MT) generation in plants has been primarily studied using the cortical MT array, in which fixed-angled branching nucleation and katanin-dependent MT severing predominate. However, little is known about MT generation in the endoplasm. Here, we explored the mechanism of endoplasmic MT generation in protonemal cells of Physcomitrella patens. We developed an assay that utilizes flow cell and oblique illumination fluorescence microscopy, which allowed visualization and quantification of individual MT dynamics. MT severing was infrequently observed, and disruption of katanin did not severely affect MT generation. Branching nucleation was observed, but it showed markedly variable branch angles and was occasionally accompanied by the transport of nucleated MTs. Cytoplasmic nucleation at seemingly random locations was most frequently observed and predominated when depolymerized MTs were regrown. The MT nucleator γ-tubulin was detected at the majority of the nucleation sites, at which a single MT was generated in random directions. When γ-tubulin was knocked down, MT generation was significantly delayed in the regrowth assay. However, nucleation occurred at a normal frequency in steady state, suggesting the presence of a γ-tubulin-independent backup mechanism. Thus, endoplasmic MTs in this cell type are generated in a less ordered manner, showing a broader spectrum of nucleation mechanisms in plants. PMID:25616870

Phase behavior of blends of linear and branched polyethylenes in the molten and solid states by small-angle neutron scattering

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

Alamo, R.G.; Mandelkern, L.; Londono, J.D.

1994-01-17

The state of mixing in blends of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) in the liquid and solid state has been examined by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) in conjunction with deuterium labeling. In the melt, SANS results indicate that HDPE/LDPE mixtures from a single-phase solution for all concentrations, including blends containing high volume fractions ([phi] > 0.5) of branched polymer, for which multiphase melts have previously been suggested. Proper accounting for isotope effects is essential to avoid artifacts, because the H/D interaction parameter is sufficiently large ([sub [chi]HD] [approximately] 4 [times] 10[sup [minus]4]) to cause phase separation in themore » amorphous state for molecular weights (MW) >150,000. In the solid state, after slow cooling from the melt ([approximately]0.75 C/min), the HDPE/LDPE system shows extensive segregation into separate domains [approximately]100--300 [angstrom] in size. Both the shape and magnitude of the absolute scattering cross section are consistent with the conclusion that the components are extensively segregated into separate lamellae. Two-peak melting curves obtained for such mixtures support the SANS interpretation, and the segregation of components in the solid state is therefore a consequence of crystallization mechanisms rather than incompatibility in the liquid state.« less

Anatomic changes of target vessels after fenestrated and branched aortic aneurysm repair.

PubMed

Kalder, J; Keschenau, P; Tamm, M; Jalaie, H; Jacobs, M J; Greiner, A

2014-04-01

Objective of this study was to evaluate the anatomic changes of the stented target vessels after endovascular repair of complex aortic aneurysms. Between July 2011 and December 2013, 53 aortic aneurysms were treated in our department with fenestrated and branched stent-graft devices. Forty-two of these patients were pre- and postoperatively scanned with a high resolution computer tomography (CT) (Cook Zenith® fenestrated or branched, Australia Pty. Ltd., Brisbane, Australia: N.=19; AnacondaTM fenestrated, Vascutek, Glasgow, Scotland, UK: N.=23). The other 11 out of the 53 patients did not receive a CT scan, because of a pre-existing renal failure. In the CT scans we retrospectively evaluated the anatomic vessel deviation at the origin of the target vessel and the vessel shift distal to the stent. For the first measurement the CT scans were loaded into OsiriX MD®, and the pre- and postoperative angles of the target vessels were measured and subtracted. For matching, the CT-scans were normalized at vertebral body lumbar 2. The second measured angle was the maximal measured angle distal to the target vessel stent-graft. Altogether, 113 target vessels were stented (celiac trunk [CT] 15, superior mesenteric arteries [SMA] 26, renal arteries [RA] 72), with 97 balloon-expandable PTFE stents: 90 Atrium V12 (Maquet Getinge group, Hudson, NH, USA), 7 BeGrafts (Bentley InnoMed, Hechingen, Germany) and 16 self-expandable fluency PTFE stents (Bard, Karlsruhe, Germany). The mean anatomic deviation at the target vessel origin was 28±17.3 and the mean vessel shift distal to the stent was 36.3±18.8. There were no significant differences between the main device and the target vessel stent types. Fenestrated and branched stent-graft solutions for aortic aneurysm repair induce changes of the target vessel anatomy. We did not observe significant differences between the several devices.

The morphology of blends of linear and branched polyethylenes by small-angle neutron and x-ray scattering

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

Londono, J.D.; Wignall, G.D.; Lin, J.S.

1995-12-31

The solid-state morphology and liquid-state homogeneity of blends of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) were investigated by small-angle neutron and x-ray scattering (SANS and SAXS). The solid state morphology was investigated as a function of composition and cooling rate from the melt. After slow cooling, the evidence indicated that the mixtures were either completely (HDPE-rich blends) or almost completely (LDPE-rich blends) phase separated into separate HDPE and LDPE lamellae over the whole compositional range. In contrast, for rapidly quenched blends the components are extensively co-crystallized for all concentrations, though the SANS data indicated that the branched component hadmore » a tendency to be preferentially located in the inter-lamellar regions. In the liquid state, the blends were homogeneous at all compositions, showing that the solid state morphology is not determined by the melt structure, but is a function of the crystallization kinetics. Further evidence for blend homogeneity in the liquid is presented. In particular the authors examine the hypothesis that a phase separated mixture might give a scattering pattern similar to a homogeneous blend if the domain sizes were larger than the maximum spatial resolution of the SANS experiment (D > 2{pi}/Q{sub min} {approximately} 2,000 {angstrom}). In this scenario, the differential scattering cross section d{Sigma}/d{Omega}(Q) {approximately} Q{sup {minus}2}, though phase separation decreases the cross section in this Q-range with respect to the homogeneous blend. For HDPE/LDPE blends in the melt, this decrease in intensity was not observed, thus ruling out the possibility of phase separation.« less

Liver glycogen in type 2 diabetic mice is randomly branched as enlarged aggregates with blunted glucose release.

PubMed

Besford, Quinn Alexander; Zeng, Xiao-Yi; Ye, Ji-Ming; Gray-Weale, Angus

2016-02-01

Glycogen is a vital highly branched polymer of glucose that is essential for blood glucose homeostasis. In this article, the structure of liver glycogen from mice is investigated with respect to size distributions, degradation kinetics, and branching structure, complemented by a comparison of normal and diabetic liver glycogen. This is done to screen for differences that may result from disease. Glycogen α-particle (diameter ∼ 150 nm) and β-particle (diameter ∼ 25 nm) size distributions are reported, along with in vitro γ-amylase degradation experiments, and a small angle X-ray scattering analysis of mouse β-particles. Type 2 diabetic liver glycogen upon extraction was found to be present as large loosely bound, aggregates, not present in normal livers. Liver glycogen was found to aggregate in vitro over a period of 20 h, and particle size is shown to be related to rate of glucose release, allowing a structure-function relationship to be inferred for the tissue specific distribution of particle types. Application of branching theories to small angle X-ray scattering data for mouse β-particles revealed these particles to be randomly branched polymers, not fractal polymers. Together, this article shows that type 2 diabetic liver glycogen is present as large aggregates in mice, which may contribute to the inflexibility of interconversion between glucose and glycogen in type 2 diabetes, and further that glycogen particles are randomly branched with a size that is related to the rate of glucose release.

Radiology of adolescent slipped capital femoral epiphysis: measurement of epiphyseal angles and diagnosis.

PubMed

Gekeler, Jörg

2007-10-01

AIMS OF DIAGNOSTIC RADIOGRAPHY: Visualization of the proximal femur in two clearly defined projections. Radiologic and morphological diagnosis of slipped capital femoral epiphysis. Evaluation of the stability of the femoral epiphysis: chronic slippage or acute interruption of continuity between the femoral epiphysis and the femoral neck metaphysis. Radiometric measurement of the spatial deformity of the femoral epiphysis. Measurement of the projected epiphyseal angle on the radiograph as the basis for possible conversion into anatomically correct angles at the proximal femur. Preoperative planning of therapeutic surgical procedures. Idiopathic hip pain in the growing child or adolescent. Referred pain to the knee or thigh. Unusual gait pattern with external rotation deformity of the leg, limping that favors one leg or limping due to leg length discrepancy. Abnormal sonography, CT or MRI findings. Eventful history including minor injury or genuine trauma. Symptoms and uncommon physical constitution: obesity, exceptional longitudinal growth of the extremities, and absence of secondary sex characteristics. Indications for Radiographic Imaging of the Hip Joint in Two Planes None. Standard positioning of the patient or the affected extremity. First standard radiograph: proximal femur in anteroposterior projection. Position of the leg with the patella directed anteriorly. Contraction of the external rotators at the hip joint is compensated by elevation of the hip until the leg is in the neutral position. Second standard radiograph: axial view of the proximal femur in anteroposterior projection. Leg flexed to 90 degrees at the hip and in 45 degrees abduction. Thigh position parallel to the longitudinal axis of the table (zero rotation). Early signs of incipient or imminent femoral epiphyseolysis: --Disintegration, widening and blurred margins of the epiphyseal plate. --Increasing loss of height of the femoral epiphysis due to incipient dislocation. --The tangent to the

Why are angles misperceived?

PubMed Central

Nundy, Surajit; Lotto, Beau; Coppola, David; Shimpi, Amita; Purves, Dale

2000-01-01

Although it has long been apparent that observers tend to overestimate the magnitude of acute angles and underestimate obtuse ones, there is no consensus about why such distortions are seen. Geometrical modeling combined with psychophysical testing of human subjects indicates that these misperceptions are the result of an empirical strategy that resolves the inherent ambiguity of angular stimuli by generating percepts of the past significance of the stimulus rather than the geometry of its retinal projection. PMID:10805814

Multiple incidence angle SIR-B experiment over Argentina Mapping of forest units

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cimino, J.; Casey, D.; Wall, S. D.; Brandani, A.; Rabassa, J.

1986-01-01

Multiple incidence angle SIR-B data of the Cordon la Grasa region of the Chubut Province of Argentina are used to discriminate various forest types by their relative brightness versus incidence angle signatures. The region consists of several species of Nothofagas which change in canopy structure with elevation, slope, and exposure. In general, the factors that appear to impact the radar response most are canopy structure, density, and ground cover (presence or absence of dead trunks and branches in particular). The results of this work indicate that (1) different forest species, and structures of a single species, may be discriminated using multiple incidence angle radar imagery and (2) it is essential to consider the variation in backscatter due to incidence angle when analyzing the comparing data collected at varying frequencies and polarizations.

Existing branches correlatively inhibit further branching in Trifolium repens: possible mechanisms

PubMed Central

Thomas, R. G.; Hay, M. J. M.

2011-01-01

In Trifolium repens removal of any number of existing branches distal to a nodal root stimulates development of axillary buds further along the stem such that the complement of branches distal to a nodal root remains constant. This study aimed to assess possible mechanisms by which existing branches correlatively inhibit the outgrowth of axillary buds distal to them. Treatments were applied to basal branches to evaluate the roles of three postulated inhibitory mechanisms: (I) the transport of a phloem-mobile inhibitory feedback signal from branches into the main stem; (II) the polar flow of auxin from branches into the main stem acting to limit further branch development; or (III) the basal branches functioning as sinks for a net root-derived stimulatory signal (NRS). Results showed that transport of auxin, or of a non-auxin phloem-mobile signal, from basal branches did not influence regulation of correlative inhibition and were consistent with the possibility that the intra-plant distribution of NRS could be involved in the correlative inhibition of distal buds by basal branches. This study supports existing evidence that regulation of branching in T. repens is dominated by a root-derived stimulatory signal, initially distributed via the xylem, the characterization of which will progress the generic understanding of branching regulation. PMID:21071681

Kinematics of a vertical axis wind turbine with a variable pitch angle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jakubowski, Mateusz; Starosta, Roman; Fritzkowski, Pawel

2018-01-01

A computational model for the kinematics of a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) is presented. A H-type rotor turbine with a controlled pitch angle is considered. The aim of this solution is to improve the VAWT productivity. The discussed method is related to a narrow computational branch based on the Blade Element Momentum theory (BEM theory). The paper can be regarded as a theoretical basis and an introduction to further studies with the application of BEM. The obtained torque values show the main advantage of using the variable pitch angle.

Stress-strain state of a rock mass in the vicinity of the meeting point of intersecting and branching workings

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

Konstantinova, S.A.; Spirkov, V.L.; Sokolov, V.Yu.

1987-07-01

The results of solving the problems of the stress-strain state of peripheral rock in the vicinity of the meeting point of two workings of intersection and branching type are presented. Values of the load coefficients are obtained, as well as values of the dimensions of the zone of influence of the meeting point and the conventional zone of inelastic deformations. Intersection and branching of workings at various angles are considered.

Medium-Induced QCD Cascade: Democratic Branching and Wave Turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blaizot, J.-P.; Iancu, E.; Mehtar-Tani, Y.

2013-08-01

We study the average properties of the gluon cascade generated by an energetic parton propagating through a quark-gluon plasma. We focus on the soft, medium-induced emissions which control the energy transport at large angles with respect to the leading parton. We show that the effect of multiple branchings is important. In contrast with what happens in a usual QCD cascade in vacuum, medium-induced branchings are quasidemocratic, with offspring gluons carrying sizable fractions of the energy of their parent gluon. This results in an efficient mechanism for the transport of energy toward the medium, which is akin to wave turbulence with a scaling spectrum ˜1/ω. We argue that the turbulent flow may be responsible for the excess energy carried by very soft quanta, as revealed by the analysis of the dijet asymmetry observed in Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC.

The morphology of blends of linear and branched polyethylenes

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

Wignall, G.D.; Londono, J.D.; Alamo, R.G.

1995-12-31

The state of mixing in blends of high density (HD), low density (LD) and linear low density (LLD) polyethylenes (PE) in the melt and solid states has been examined by small-angle x-ray and neutron scattering (SAXS and SANS). In the melt, SANS results indicate that HDPE/LDPE mixtures (with 1-2 branches/100 C) form a single phase. HDPE/LLDPE blends are also homogeneous when the branch content is low, but phase separate as the branching increases. In the solid state, after slow-cooling from the melt, the HDPE/LDPE system segregates into domains {approximately}10{sup 2} in size. For high concentrations of linear polymer ({phi} {ge}more » 0.5), there are separate stacks of HDPE and LDPE lamellae, and the measured SANS cross section agrees closely with the theoretical calculation based on the assumption of complete phase separation of the components. For predominantly branched blends ({phi} < 0.5), the phase segregation is less complete, and the components are separated within the same lamellar stack. Moreover, the phases no longer consist of the pure components, and the HDPE lamellae contain up to 15% LDPE. The segregation of components in the solid state is a consequence of crystallization mechanisms and the blend morphology is a strong function of the cooling rate. Rapid quenching to -78{degrees}C produces only one lamellar stack and these blends show extensive cocrystallization. Samples quenched less rapidly (e.g., into water at 23{degrees}C) show a similar structure to slowly cooled samples. The solid state morphology also depends on the type of branching and differences between HDPE/LDPE and HDPE/LLDPE blends will be reviewed.« less

Trastuzumab (Herceptin)-associated cardiomyopathy presented as new onset of complete left bundle-branch block mimicking acute coronary syndrome: a case report and literature review.

PubMed

Tu, Chung-Ming; Chu, Kai-Ming; Yang, Shin-Ping; Cheng, Shu-Mung; Wang, Wen-Been

2009-09-01

Trastuzumab (Herceptin) is well documented in reducing suffering and mortality from breast cancer. The clinically most important side effect of Herceptin is cardiotoxicity, which is reported in 2.6% to 4.5% of patients receiving trastuzumab alone and in as many as 27% of patients when trastuzumab is combined with an anthracycline in metastatic disease. We reported the case of a 50-year-old woman who presented to our emergency department (ED) because of chest pain and shortness of breath. On physical examination, holosystolic murmur over apex could be heard. Pulmonary and abdominal examinations were unremarkable. Twelve-lead electrocardiography showed sinus tachycardia and new onset of complete left bundle-branch block. Emergent transthoracic echocardiography revealed generalized hypokinesia of left ventricle and akinesia over interventricular septum and apex. She subsequently underwent immediate coronary angiography that revealed normal coronary angiography, and left ventriculogram revealed generalized hypokinesia with severe left ventricle dysfunction with ejection fraction of 33%. During right heart catheterization and endomyocardial biopsy, cardiac tamponade developed and was successfully relieved by pericardial window. She was discharged event-free 3 weeks later with conservative treatment. Although new onset of complete left bundle-branch block in a patient with chest pain may be acute coronary syndrome, careful review of medicine history is mandatory to avoid unnecessary procedure and complications.

Synergy of multi-scale toughening and protective mechanisms at hierarchical branch-stem interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Müller, Ulrich; Gindl-Altmutter, Wolfgang; Konnerth, Johannes; Maier, Günther A.; Keckes, Jozef

2015-09-01

Biological materials possess a variety of artful interfaces whose size and properties are adapted to their hierarchical levels and functional requirements. Bone, nacre, and wood exhibit an impressive fracture resistance based mainly on small crystallite size, interface organic adhesives and hierarchical microstructure. Currently, little is known about mechanical concepts in macroscopic biological interfaces like the branch-stem junction with estimated 1014 instances on earth and sizes up to few meters. Here we demonstrate that the crack growth in the upper region of the branch-stem interface of conifer trees proceeds along a narrow predefined region of transversally loaded tracheids, denoted as sacrificial tissue, which fail upon critical bending moments on the branch. The specific arrangement of the tracheids allows disconnecting the overloaded branch from the stem in a controlled way by maintaining the stem integrity. The interface microstructure based on the sharply adjusted cell orientation and cell helical angle secures a zig-zag crack propagation path, mechanical interlock closing after the bending moment is removed, crack gap bridging and self-repairing by resin deposition. The multi-scale synergetic concepts allows for a controllable crack growth between stiff stem and flexible branch, as well as mechanical tree integrity, intact physiological functions and recovery after the cracking.

Preferred nasolabial angle in Middle Eastern population.

PubMed

Alharethy, Sami

2017-05-01

To define the preferred nasolabial angle measurement in Middle Eastern population. An observational study was conducted from January 2012 to January 2016 at the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A total of 1027 raters, 506 males, and 521 females were asked to choose the most ideal nasolabial angle for 5 males and 5 females lateral photographs whose nasolabial angle were modified with Photoshop into the following angles (85°, 90°, 95°, 100°, 105°, and 110°). Male raters preferred the angle of 89.5° ± 3.5° (mean ± SD) for males and 90.8° ± 5.6° for females. While female raters preferred the angle of 89.3° ± 3.8° for males and 90.5° ± 4.8° for females. ANOVA test compare means among groups: p: 0.342, and there is no statistically significant difference between groups. The results of our study showed an even more acute angles than degrees found in the literature. It shows that what young generation in our region prefers and clearly reflects that what could be explained as under rotation of the nasal tip in other cultures is just the ideal for some Middle Eastern population.

(1 + 1) resonant enhanced multiphoton ionization via the A2Sigma(+) state of NO - Ionic rotational branching ratios and their intensity dependence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rudolph, H.; Mckoy, V.; Dixit, S. N.; Huo, W. M.

1988-01-01

Rotational branching ratios resulting from the (1 + 1) resonant enhanced multiphoton ionization spectroscopy of NO via the 0-0 transition of the A-X band for the four possible branches that can be assigned as R(21.5) are explored using calculation performed in the frozen-core approximation at the Hartree-Fock level. The four different branches, of which three are distinctly different in the perturbative limit, have rather different branching ratios. The mixed R12 + Q22(21.5) branch, which is not intense and has the lowest transition energy, appears to give the best agreement with experimental branching ratio for parallel detection. The agreement is less satisfactory for perpendicular detection. Neither the effect of finite-acceptance angle of the photoelectron detector nor high intensities can explain the discrepancy.

Unilateral angle-closure glaucoma with ciliochoroidal effusion after the consumption of cannabis: a case report.

PubMed

Hanna, Rana; Tiosano, Beatrice; Dbayat, Noora; Gaton, Dan

2014-01-01

A 35-year-old male patient, diagnosed with acute angle-closure glaucoma, did not improve despite intensive treatment with antiglaucoma medications. Ultrasound biomicroscopy revealed a ciliochoroidal effusion. Due to his past history of drug abuse, a urine test was analyzed and found to be positive for cannabis. After topical cycloplegia and oral steroid therapy, his symptoms improved substantially. The present case highlights the role of ultrasound biomicroscopy in evaluating patients with acute angle-closure glaucoma and the role of cannabis abuse in the development of ciliochoroidal effusion.

Branching Search

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eliazar, Iddo

2017-12-01

Search processes play key roles in various scientific fields. A widespread and effective search-process scheme, which we term Restart Search, is based on the following restart algorithm: i) set a timer and initiate a search task; ii) if the task was completed before the timer expired, then stop; iii) if the timer expired before the task was completed, then go back to the first step and restart the search process anew. In this paper a branching feature is added to the restart algorithm: at every transition from the algorithm's third step to its first step branching takes place, thus multiplying the search effort. This branching feature yields a search-process scheme which we term Branching Search. The running time of Branching Search is analyzed, closed-form results are established, and these results are compared to the coresponding running-time results of Restart Search.

Unilateral Angle-Closure Glaucoma with Ciliochoroidal Effusion after the Consumption of Cannabis: A Case Report

PubMed Central

Hanna, Rana; Tiosano, Beatrice; Dbayat, Noora; Gaton, Dan

2014-01-01

A 35-year-old male patient, diagnosed with acute angle-closure glaucoma, did not improve despite intensive treatment with antiglaucoma medications. Ultrasound biomicroscopy revealed a ciliochoroidal effusion. Due to his past history of drug abuse, a urine test was analyzed and found to be positive for cannabis. After topical cycloplegia and oral steroid therapy, his symptoms improved substantially. The present case highlights the role of ultrasound biomicroscopy in evaluating patients with acute angle-closure glaucoma and the role of cannabis abuse in the development of ciliochoroidal effusion. PMID:25606036

Can a surgeon drill accurately at a specified angle?

PubMed Central

Brioschi, Valentina; Cook, Jodie; Arthurs, Gareth I

2016-01-01

Objectives To investigate whether a surgeon can drill accurately a specified angle and whether surgeon experience, task repetition, drill bit size and perceived difficulty influence drilling angle accuracy. Methods The sample population consisted of final-year students (n=25), non-specialist veterinarians (n=22) and board-certified orthopaedic surgeons (n=8). Each participant drilled a hole twice in a horizontal oak plank at 30°, 45°, 60°, 80°, 85° and 90° angles with either a 2.5  or a 3.5 mm drill bit. Participants then rated the perceived difficulty to drill each angle. The true angle of each hole was measured using a digital goniometer. Results Greater drilling accuracy was achieved at angles closer to 90°. An error of ≤±4° was achieved by 84.5 per cent of participants drilling a 90° angle compared with approximately 20 per cent of participants drilling a 30–45° angle. There was no effect of surgeon experience, task repetition or drill bit size on the mean error for intended versus achieved angle. Increased perception of difficulty was associated with the more acute angles and decreased accuracy, but not experience level. Clinical significance This study shows that surgeon ability to drill accurately (within ±4° error) is limited, particularly at angles ≤60°. In situations where drill angle is critical, use of computer-assisted navigation or custom-made drill guides may be preferable. PMID:27547423

Wide-angle full-vector beam propagation method based on an alternating direction implicit preconditioner

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chui, Siu Lit; Lu, Ya Yan

2004-03-01

Wide-angle full-vector beam propagation methods (BPMs) for three-dimensional wave-guiding structures can be derived on the basis of rational approximants of a square root operator or its exponential (i.e., the one-way propagator). While the less accurate BPM based on the slowly varying envelope approximation can be efficiently solved by the alternating direction implicit (ADI) method, the wide-angle variants involve linear systems that are more difficult to handle. We present an efficient solver for these linear systems that is based on a Krylov subspace method with an ADI preconditioner. The resulting wide-angle full-vector BPM is used to simulate the propagation of wave fields in a Y branch and a taper.

Wide-angle full-vector beam propagation method based on an alternating direction implicit preconditioner.

PubMed

Chui, Siu Lit; Lu, Ya Yan

2004-03-01

Wide-angle full-vector beam propagation methods (BPMs) for three-dimensional wave-guiding structures can be derived on the basis of rational approximants of a square root operator or its exponential (i.e., the one-way propagator). While the less accurate BPM based on the slowly varying envelope approximation can be efficiently solved by the alternating direction implicit (ADI) method, the wide-angle variants involve linear systems that are more difficult to handle. We present an efficient solver for these linear systems that is based on a Krylov subspace method with an ADI preconditioner. The resulting wide-angle full-vector BPM is used to simulate the propagation of wave fields in a Y branch and a taper.

Branches of the Facial Artery.

PubMed

Hwang, Kun; Lee, Geun In; Park, Hye Jin

2015-06-01

The aim of this study is to review the name of the branches, to review the classification of the branching pattern, and to clarify a presence percentage of each branch of the facial artery, systematically. In a PubMed search, the search terms "facial," AND "artery," AND "classification OR variant OR pattern" were used. The IBM SPSS Statistics 20 system was used for statistical analysis. Among the 500 titles, 18 articles were selected and reviewed systematically. Most of the articles focused on "classification" according to the "terminal branch." Several authors classified the facial artery according to their terminal branches. Most of them, however, did not describe the definition of "terminal branch." There were confusions within the classifications. When the inferior labial artery was absent, 3 different types were used. The "alar branch" or "nasal branch" was used instead of the "lateral nasal branch." The angular branch was used to refer to several different branches. The presence as a percentage of each branch according to the branches in Gray's Anatomy (premasseteric, inferior labial, superior labial, lateral nasal, and angular) varied. No branch was used with 100% consistency. The superior labial branch was most frequently cited (95.7%, 382 arteries in 399 hemifaces). The angular branch (53.9%, 219 arteries in 406 hemifaces) and the premasseteric branch were least frequently cited (53.8%, 43 arteries in 80 hemifaces). There were significant differences among each of the 5 branches (P < 0.05) except between the angular branch and the premasseteric branch and between the superior labial branch and the inferior labial branch. The authors believe identifying the presence percentage of each branch will be helpful for surgical procedures.

The influence of age, sex, population group, and dentition on the mandibular angle as measured on a South African sample.

PubMed

Oettlé, Anna C; Becker, Piet J; de Villiers, Elzabe; Steyn, Maryna

2009-08-01

The mandibular angle is measured in physical anthropological assessments of human remains to possibly assist with the determination of sex and population affinity. The purpose of this investigation was to establish how the mandibular angle changes with age and loss of teeth among the sexes in South African population groups. The angles of 653 dried adult mandibles from the Pretoria Bone Collection were measured with a mandibulometer. Males and females of both South African whites and blacks were included. To compensate for imbalances in numbers among subgroups, type IV ANOVA testing was applied. No association was found between age and angle within either of the populations, within sexes, or within dentition groups. The angle was the most obtuse in individuals without molars and with an uneven distribution of molars, and most acute in the group with an even distribution of molars on both sides. Statistically significant differences (P < 0.001) were found in the angle between the two population groups and sexes in the overall sample as well as in the subgroup with absent molar teeth (P = 0.003 for sex, males more acute angle, and P = 0.001 for population group, blacks more acute angle), although a very large overlap existed. No significant differences could be demonstrated between the sexes or populations within the subgroups with molars. We concluded that the loss of molars, especially if complete or uneven, has a considerable effect on the mandibular angle. In the assessment of human remains, the mandibular angle is not very usable in determining sex.

BRANCHED FIBERS FROM OLD FAST-TWITCH DYSTROPHIC MUSCLES ARE THE SITES OF TERMINAL DAMAGE IN MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY.

PubMed

Kiriaev, Leonit; Kueh, Sindy; Morley, John W; North, Kathryn N; Houweling, Peter J; Head, Stewart I

2018-02-07

A striking pathological feature of dystrophinopathies is the presence of morphologically abnormal branched skeletal muscle fibers. The deterioration of muscle contractile function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy is accompanied by both an increase in number and complexity of these branched fibers. We propose that when number and complexity of branched fibers reaches a critical threshold, "tipping point" the branches in and of themselves are the site of contraction-induced rupture. In the present study, we use the dystrophic mdx mouse and littermate controls to study the pre-diseased dystrophic fast-twitch EDL muscle at 2-3-weeks, the peak myonecrotic phase at 6-9 weeks and finally "old" at 58-112 weeks. Using a combination of isolated muscle function contractile measurements coupled with single fiber imaging and confocal microscope imaging of cleared whole muscles we identified a distinct pathophysiology; acute fiber rupture at branch nodes, which occurs in "old" fast-twitch EDL muscle approaching the end stage of the dystrophinopathy muscle disease, where the EDL muscles are entirely composed of complexed branched fibers. This evidence supports our concept of "tipping point" where the number and extent of fiber branching reaches a level where the branching itself terminally compromises muscle function, irrespective of the absence of dystrophin.

Measurement of branching fractions of B decays to K 1(1270)π and K 1(1400)π and determination of the CKM angle α from B 0→ a 1(1260) ± π ∓

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

Stracka, Simone

2011-02-01

In the Standard Model, CP violation in weak interactions involving quarks is parameterized by an irreducible complex phase in the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) quark-mixing-matrix. The precise determination of the CKM elements is a necessary ingredient for a stringent test of the Standard Model predictions, and is a crucial input for reducing the theoretical error in many New Physics searches with flavor, e.g., in the kaon sector. The unitarity of the CKM matrix is typically expressed as a triangle relationship among its parameters, where the area of the so-called Unitarity Triangle visually depicts the amount of asymmetry between the decays of B particles and their antimatter counterparts. In the past few years, the BABAR and Belle experiments have been able to measure all three angles of the triangle from CP asymmetry measurements. The first asymmetry measurements in B particle decays, about ten years ago, allowed to determine β, which is now known to better than 5% precision. The angles α and γ, measured in much rarer processes, required several years of data taking before analyses could yield reliable answers. A remarkable feature is that the direct measurement of the angles of the Unitarity Triangle generates an area that is consistent with the area predicted by measurement of the sides. In this thesis we have presented the branching fraction measurements of charged and neutral B meson decays to K 1(1270)π and K 1(1400)π, obtained from a data sample of 454 million Υ(4S) → Bmore » $$\\bar{B}$$ events. This analysis is particularly challenging from the experimental side since the branching fractions involved are very low, at the level of 10 -6 - 10 -7, and the signal is characterized by the simultaneous presence of two overlapping resonances, which exhibit sizeable interference effects. The combined K 1(1270)π and K 1(1400)π signal is therefore modeled with a K-matrix formalism, which accounts for the effects of interference between the K 1

Channeling of Branched Flow in Weakly Scattering Anisotropic Media.

PubMed

Degueldre, Henri; Metzger, Jakob J; Schultheis, Erik; Fleischmann, Ragnar

2017-01-13

When waves propagate through weakly scattering but correlated, disordered environments they are randomly focused into pronounced branchlike structures, a phenomenon referred to as branched flow, which has been studied in a wide range of isotropic random media. In many natural environments, however, the fluctuations of the random medium typically show pronounced anisotropies. A prominent example is the focusing of tsunami waves by the anisotropic structure of the ocean floor topography. We study the influence of anisotropy on such natural focusing events and find a strong and nonintuitive dependence on the propagation angle which we explain by semiclassical theory.

Anatomical risk evaluation of iatrogenic injury to the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve during medial meniscus arthroscopic surgery.

PubMed

Koch, Guillaume; Kling, Agathe; Ramamurthy, Nitin; Edalat, Faramarz; Cazzato, Roberto Luigi; Kahn, Jean-Luc; Garnon, Julien; Clavert, Philippe

2017-06-01

To determine the relationship of the medial meniscus with the infrapatellar branches of the saphenous nerve, the primary goal is to define and characterize different risk areas for these nerves during medial meniscus surgery. After dissecting 20 embalmed cadaver knees, we defined 7 readily identifiable anatomical landmarks. For each knee, we recorded 2 morphological criteria and 16 measurements. The most common anatomical course is a main trunk that is 8 mm anterior to the tuberculum adductorium and 60 mm posterior to the midpoint of the medial patellar margin. It has two main infrapatellar branches. The nerve division is 23 mm above the joint line. The path is oblique with an angle of 55.5°. The anterior meniscal landmark is 24 mm from the upper branch and 42.5 mm from the lower branch. The posterior meniscal landmark is 55 mm from the upper branch and 38 mm from the lower branch. We defined a common anatomical course for the saphenous nerve and its infrapatellar branches. Then, three different areas were defined at risk for iatrogenic nerve injuries during medial meniscus.

Morphometric Study of Subpubic Angle in Human Fetuses.

PubMed

Haque, Mahboobul; Faruqi, Nafis Ahmad; Yunus, Syed Mobashir

2016-01-01

The symphysis pubis is formed at the confluence of the pubic bones. Each pubic bone consists of a body and two rami; the superior ramus is joined with the ilium and the inferior ramus with the ischium. The two bones meet in the midline at the pubic symphysis. The two inferior rami at the lower border of pubic symphysis subtend the subpubic angle. In females the subpubic angle is more than 90° and in males it is less than 90°. Most of the previous studies on the subpubic angle have been in children or adults, therefore data on fetuses did merit. The aims of the present study were to measure the subpubic angle in developing human fetuses of different gestational age, whether it is sex dependent and to compare the results with that in the adults. A cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Anatomy JN Medical College, AMU Aligarh, over a period of two years. A total of 41 fetuses immersion fixed in 10% formalin were obtained from the museum department of anatomy. For the purpose of study fetuses were divided into five groups according to gestational age. Group I comprises fetuses of 14-18weeks, group II 19-22weeks, group III 23-26weeks, group IV 27-30weeks, groupV >30weeks of gestation. Pubic symphyses were dissected, cleaned and subjected to radiological examination in the anteroposterior plane. With the help of radiographs subpubic angle was measured. Readings obtained were analysed statistically. Subpubic angle ranged between 58°-64° throughout intrauterine life. Maximum angle (63°- 64°) was observed in group I and V and in the rest of the groups it was less than 60°, with highly significant (p-value<0.001) increase in the last group. Statistically significant sexual dimorphism was observed in group I and II fetuses (p-value <0.001). Subpubic angle was more in females during the first half and in the terminal part of gestation. Subpubic angle remained acute throughout the intrauterine life, with significant widening in fetuses more than 30 weeks of

Cerebellopontine angle epidermoid tumour presenting with bilateral gaze nystagmus.

PubMed

Han, I B; Huh, R; Chung, S S; Kim, O J

2008-06-01

Vestibular symptoms have been rarely described in cerebellopontine angle epidermoid tumours. We report a case of CPA epidermoid tumour presenting with subacute onset of vestibular symptoms such as vertigo, gait ataxia, and nystagmus masquerading as acute vestibular neuritis or central vertigo. The vestibular symptoms disappeared after excision of the tumour.

Dependence of Polarization of the near-Earth Asteroids (1036) Ganymed and (5143) Heracles on Wavelength and Phase Angle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maleszewski, C.; McMillan, R.; Smith, P.

2012-12-01

We are measuring the polarization of asteroids with the SPOL polarimeter of Steward Observatory. With monthly access to the instrument, we can obtain many observations throughout phase angle. This is in contrast to other recent work that had to rely on aggregate properties of targets of similar taxonomic type. Comparing individual objects to these aggregate results may reveal differences of regolith properties from object to object. Both the phase angle and spectral dependence of polarization are being measured. SPOL provides simultaneous coverage from 0.40-0.75 microns, equivalent to BVR filters. Three phase curves thus reveal differences of phase angle dependences with respect to wavelength. The spectral dependence of the linear polarization is determined according to a linear trend previously used to describe the dependence for Main Belt Asteroids (MBAs) in various taxonomic classes (Belskaya et al. 2009). The slopes of these linear trends vs. phase angle are also investigated as was also done in the Belskaya analysis for MBAs in the C-, M-, and S-types. Two initial objects of interest are the NEAs (1036) Ganymed and (5143) Heracles. The taxonomic types of Ganymed and Heracles are S-type and Q-type respectively (DeMeo et al. 2009). For Ganymed, twelve observations were made between 2011 September and 2012 March. These include observations below ten degrees phase angle, which are currently lacking in the polarimetric databases. The positive branch of Ganymed's polarization phase curve behaved similarly across SPOL's wavelength range. But for wavelengths associated with a typical B-filter, the negative branch is more shallow and narrow. The negative phase branch of Ganymed is smaller compared to the aggregate phase curve of S-types determined by Gil-Hutton and Cañada-Assandri (2011). The linear polarization decreases with increasing wavelength at all observed phase angles. As the phase angle increases, the slope of the wavelength dependence of polarization

The prognostic value of a new left bundle branch block in patients with acute myocardial infarction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Al Rajoub, Belal; Noureddine, Samar; El Chami, Samer; Haidar, Mohamad Hussein; Itani, Bachir; Zaiter, Aida; Akl, Elie A

To assess the prognostic value of new left bundle branch block (LBBB) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). LBBB develops in many cardiac conditions, including AMI. The empirical evidence for the contribution of LBBB to mortality in AMI is not consistent. Medline, PubMed, CINAHL, and EMBASE were searched. Inverse variance meta-analysis was performed with odds ratios as the effect estimates. The I 2 statistic and risk of bias were assessed. Eight studies involving 105,861 participants were eligible. New LBBB was associated with higher mortality at 30 days (OR: 2.10, 95% CI 1.27 to 3.48) and 1-year follow up (OR: 2.81, 95% CI 1.64 to 4.80), and increased heart failure risk (OR: 2.64, 95% CI 1.84 to 3.77). AMI patients with new LBBB are a high risk group and must be treated accordingly. Yet, more research is needed given the limitations of studies. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Surgical peripheral iridectomy via a clear-cornea phacoemulsification incision for pupillary block following cataract surgery in acute angle closure.

PubMed

Fang, Aiwu; Wang, Peijuan; He, Rui; Qu, Jia

2018-05-18

To describe a technique of surgical peripheral iridectomy via a clear-cornea tunnel incision to prevent or treat pupillary block following phacoemulsification. Description of technique and retrospective description results in 20 eyes of 20 patients with acute angle closure with coexisting visually significant cataract undergoing phacoemulsification considered at risk of postoperative papillary block as well as two pseudo-phakic eyes with acute postoperative pupillary-block. Following phacoemulsification and insertion of an intraocular lens, a needle with a bent tip was inserted behind the iris through the corneal tunnel incision. A blunt iris repositor was introduced through the paracentesis and placed above the iris to exert posterior pressure and create a puncture. The size of the puncture was enlarged using scissors. For postoperative pupillary block the same technique was carried out through the existing incisions created for phacoemulsification. Peripheral iridectomy was successfully created in all 22 eyes. At a mean follow-up of 18.77 ± 9.72 months, none of the iridectomies closed or required enlargement. Two eyes had mild intraoperative bleeding and one eye a small Descemet's detachment that did not require intervention. No clinically significant complications were observed. Visual acuity and IOP improved or was maintained in all patients. The incidence of pupillary block in our hospital was 0.09% overall, 0.6% in diabetics and 3.5% in those with diabetic retinopathy. This technique of peripheral iridectomy via the cornea tunnel incision can be safely used during phacoemulsification in eyes at high risk of pupillary block or in the treatment of acute postoperative pupillary-block after cataract surgery. The technique is likely to be especially useful in brown iris, or if a laser is not available.

Branching ratios and CP asymmetries of B→ χ _{c1}K(π ) decays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rui, Zhou; Zhao, Qiang; Zhang, Li-li

2018-06-01

We investigate the exclusive nonleptonic decays B→ χ _{c1}K(π ) in the conventional perturbative QCD (PQCD) formalism. The predictions of branching ratios and CP asymmetries are given in detail. We compare our results with available experimental data as well as predictions of other theoretical studies existing in the literature. It seems that the branching ratios of B→ χ _{c1} K are more consistent with data than the earlier analyses. For the Cabibbo-suppressed B_s decays, the branching ratios can reach the order of 10^{-5}, which would be straight forward for experimental observations. The numerical results show that the direct CP asymmetries of the concerned decays are rather small. The mixing-induced CP asymmetry in the B^0→ χ _{c1}K_S is very close to sin {2β }, which suggests that this channel offer an alternative method for measuring the Cabbibo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) angle β . The obtained results in the present work could be tested by further experiments in the LHCb and forthcoming Belle II.

Acute effects of constant torque and constant angle stretching on the muscle and tendon tissue properties.

PubMed

Konrad, Andreas; Budini, Francesco; Tilp, Markus

2017-08-01

Static stretching induces acute structural changes of the muscle-tendon unit (MTU) that are related to the intensity or duration of stretching. It has been reported that stretching with a constant torque (CT) leads to greater joint range of motion changes than stretching with a constant angle (CA). Whether or not this difference is due to different structural changes of the MTUs of the lower leg and ankle plantar flexors is not known. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the acute effects of single CA and CT stretching on various muscle and tendon mechanical properties. Seventeen young, healthy volunteers were tested on two separate days using either CT or CA stretching (4 × 30 s each). Before and after stretching, dorsiflexion range of motion (RoM), passive resistive torque (PRT), and maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) were measured with a dynamometer. Ultrasonography of the medial gastrocnemius (GM) muscle-tendon junction (MTJ) displacement allowed us to determine the length changes in the tendon and muscle, respectively, and hence to calculate their stiffness. Maximum dorsiflexion increased while PRT, muscle-tendon stiffness, and muscle stiffness decreased following both CA and CT stretching. There was a greater increase in RoM following CT stretching compared to CA stretching. Moreover, the decline in PRT was greater during CT stretching compared to CA stretching. As expected, several functional adaptations (RoM, PRT) were different between CT and CA stretching due to the higher intensity of CT stretching. However, no structural differences in the adaptations to the stretching modalities could be detected. We suggest that the different functional adaptations between CA and CT stretching are the consequence of different adaptations in the perception of stretch and pain.

Anomalous incident-angle and elliptical-polarization rotation of an elastically refracted P-wave

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fa, Lin; Fa, Yuxiao; Zhang, Yandong; Ding, Pengfei; Gong, Jiamin; Li, Guohui; Li, Lijun; Tang, Shaojie; Zhao, Meishan

2015-08-01

We report a newly discovered anomalous incident-angle of an elastically refracted P-wave, arising from a P-wave impinging on an interface between two VTI media with strong anisotropy. This anomalous incident-angle is found to be located in the post-critical incident-angle region corresponding to a refracted P-wave. Invoking Snell’s law for a refracted P-wave provides two distinctive solutions before and after the anomalous incident-angle. For an inhomogeneously refracted and elliptically polarized P-wave at the anomalous incident-angle, its rotational direction experiences an acute variation, from left-hand elliptical to right-hand elliptical polarization. The new findings provide us an enhanced understanding of acoustical-wave scattering and lead potentially to widespread and novel applications.

Effects of branch height on leaf gas exchange, branch hydraulic conductance and branch sap flux in open-grown ponderosa pine.

PubMed

Hubbard, Robert M; Bond, Barbara J; Senock, Randy S; Ryan, Michael G

2002-06-01

Recent studies have shown that stomata respond to changes in hydraulic conductance of the flow path from soil to leaf. In open-grown tall trees, branches of different heights may have different hydraulic conductances because of differences in path length and growth. We determined if leaf gas exchange, branch sap flux, leaf specific hydraulic conductance, foliar carbon isotope composition (delta13C) and ratios of leaf area to sapwood area within branches were dependent on branch height (10 and 25 m) within the crowns of four open-grown ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Laws.) trees. We found no difference in leaf gas exchange or leaf specific hydraulic conductance from soil to leaf between the upper and lower canopy of our study trees. Branch sap flux per unit leaf area and per unit sapwood area did not differ between the 10- and 25-m canopy positions; however, branch sap flux per unit sapwood area at the 25-m position had consistently lower values. Branches at the 25-m canopy position had lower leaf to sapwood area ratios (0.17 m2 cm-2) compared with branches at the 10-m position (0.27 m2 cm-2) (P = 0.03). Leaf specific conductance of branches in the upper crown did not differ from that in the lower crown. Other studies at our site indicate lower hydraulic conductance, sap flux, whole-tree canopy conductance and photosynthesis in old trees compared with young trees. This study suggests that height alone may not explain these differences.

Entanglement branching operator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harada, Kenji

2018-01-01

We introduce an entanglement branching operator to split a composite entanglement flow in a tensor network which is a promising theoretical tool for many-body systems. We can optimize an entanglement branching operator by solving a minimization problem based on squeezing operators. The entanglement branching is a new useful operation to manipulate a tensor network. For example, finding a particular entanglement structure by an entanglement branching operator, we can improve a higher-order tensor renormalization group method to catch a proper renormalization flow in a tensor network space. This new method yields a new type of tensor network states. The second example is a many-body decomposition of a tensor by using an entanglement branching operator. We can use it for a perfect disentangling among tensors. Applying a many-body decomposition recursively, we conceptually derive projected entangled pair states from quantum states that satisfy the area law of entanglement entropy.

A facile, branched DNA assay to quantitatively measure glucocorticoid receptor auto-regulation in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

PubMed Central

Schwartz, Jason R.; Sarvaiya, Purvaba J.; Leiva, Lily E.; Velez, Maria C.; Singleton, Tammuella C.; Yu, Lolie C.; Vedeckis, Wayne V.

2012-01-01

Glucocorticoid (GC) steroid hormones are used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) because of their pro-apoptotic effects in hematopoietic cells. However, not all leukemia cells are sensitive to GC, and no assay to stratify patients is available. In the GC-sensitive T-cell ALL cell line CEM-C7, auto-up-regulation of RNA transcripts for the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) correlates with increased apoptotic response. This study aimed to determine if a facile assay of GR transcript levels might be promising for stratifying ALL patients into hormone-sensitive and hormone-resistant populations. The GR transcript profiles of various lymphoid cell lines and 4 bone marrow samples from patients with T-cell ALL were analyzed using both an optimized branched DNA (bDNA) assay and a real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay. There were significant correlations between both assay platforms when measuring total GR (exon 5/6) transcripts in various cell lines and patient samples, but not for a probe set that detects a specific, low abundance GR transcript (exon 1A3). Our results suggest that the bDNA platform is reproducible and precise when measuring total GR transcripts and, with further development, may ultimately offer a simple clinical assay to aid in the prediction of GC-sensitivity in ALL patients. PMID:22739263

The 3H(d,gamma) Reaction and the 3 H(d,gamma)/ 3H(d, n) Branching Ratio for Ec.m. 300 keV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parker, Cody E.

The 3H(d, gamma)5He reaction and the 3H(d, gamma)/3H(d, n) branching ratio have been measured using a 500-keV pulsed deuteron beam incident on a titanium tritide target of stopping thickness at the Edwards Accelerator Laboratory. The time-of-flight technique has been used to distinguish the gamma-rays from neutrons in the bismuth germinate (BGO) gamma-ray detector. A stilbene scintillator and an NE-213 scintillator have been used to detect the neutrons from the 3H(d, n)alpha reaction using both the pulse-shape discrimination and time-of-flight techniques. A target holder with an ion-implanted silicon detector at a fixed angle of 135° to the beam axis to simultaneously measure alpha-particles as a normalization for the number of neutrons was incorporated to reduce the uncertainty in the neutron yield over the preliminary measurement. The gamma-rays have been measured at laboratory angles of 0°, 4°, 9°, and 15°. Information about the gamma-ray energy distribution for the unbound ground state and first excited state of 5He have been obtained experimentally by comparing the BGO data to Monte Carlo simulations. The reported branching ratios for each angle contain only contributions from the ground-state gamma-ray branch.

Trailing edge cooling using angled impingement on surface enhanced with cast chevron arrangements

DOEpatents

Lee, Ching-Pang; Heneveld, Benjamin E.; Brown, Glenn E.; Klinger, Jill

2015-05-26

A gas turbine engine component, including: a pressure side (12) having an interior surface (34); a suction side (14) having an interior surface (36); a trailing edge portion (30); and a plurality of suction side and pressure side impingement orifices (24) disposed in the trailing edge portion (30). Each suction side impingement orifice is configured to direct an impingement jet (48) at an acute angle (52) onto a target area (60) that encompasses a tip (140) of a chevron (122) within a chevron arrangement (120) formed in the suction side interior surface. Each pressure side impingement orifice is configured to direct an impingement jet at an acute angle onto an elongated target area that encompasses a tip of a chevron within a chevron arrangement formed in the pressure side interior surface.

Branching microtubule nucleation in Xenopus egg extracts mediated by augmin and TPX2

PubMed Central

Petry, Sabine; Groen, Aaron C.; Ishihara, Keisuke; Mitchison, Timothy J.; Vale, Ronald D.

2013-01-01

Summary The microtubules that comprise mitotic spindles in animal cells are nucleated at centrosomes and by spindle assembly factors that are activated in the vicinity of chromatin. Indirect evidence also has suggested that microtubules might be nucleated from pre-existing microtubules throughout the spindle, but this process has not been observed directly. Here, we demonstrate microtubule nucleation from the sides of existing microtubules in meiotic Xenopus egg extracts. Daughter microtubules grow at a low branch angle and with the same polarity as mother filaments. Branching microtubule nucleation requires gamma-tubulin and augmin and is stimulated by GTP-bound Ran and its effector TPX2, factors previously implicated in chromatin-stimulated nucleation. Because of the rapid amplification of microtubule numbers and the preservation of microtubule polarity, microtubule-dependent microtubule nucleation is well suited for spindle assembly and maintenance. PMID:23415226

Measurement of B⁰→J/ψη (') and constraint on the η-η' mixing angle

DOE PAGES

Chang, M.-C.; Duh, Y.-C.; Lin, J.-Y.; ...

2012-05-04

We measure the branching fractions of B⁰→J/ψη (') decays with the complete Belle data sample of 772×10⁶ BB¯¯¯ events collected at the Υ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e⁺e⁻ collider. The results for the branching fractions are: B(B⁰→J/ψη)=(12.3± 1.81 1.7±0.7)×10⁻⁶ and B(B⁰→J/ψη')<7.4×10⁻⁶ at 90% confidence level. The η-η' mixing angle is constrained to be less than 42.2° at 90% confidence level.

Structural model of the p14/SF3b155 · branch duplex complex.

PubMed

Schellenberg, Matthew J; Dul, Erin L; MacMillan, Andrew M

2011-01-01

Human p14 (SF3b14), a component of the spliceosomal U2 snRNP, interacts directly with the pre-mRNA branch adenosine within the context of the bulged duplex formed between the pre-mRNA branch region and U2 snRNA. This association occurs early in spliceosome assembly and persists within the fully assembled spliceosome. Analysis of the crystal structure of a complex containing p14 and a peptide derived from p14-associated SF3b155 combined with the results of cross-linking studies has suggested that the branch nucleotide interacts with a pocket on a non-canonical RNA binding surface formed by the complex. Here we report a structural model of the p14 · bulged duplex interaction based on a combination of X-ray crystallography of an adenine p14/SF3b155 peptide complex, biochemical comparison of a panel of disulfide cross-linked protein-RNA complexes, and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). These studies reveal specific recognition of the branch adenosine within the p14 pocket and establish the orientation of the bulged duplex RNA bound on the protein surface. The intimate association of one surface of the bulged duplex with the p14/SF3b155 peptide complex described by this model buries the branch nucleotide at the interface and suggests that p14 · duplex interaction must be disrupted before the first step of splicing.

Structural model of the p14/SF3b155·branch duplex complex

PubMed Central

Schellenberg, Matthew J.; Dul, Erin L.; MacMillan, Andrew M.

2011-01-01

Human p14 (SF3b14), a component of the spliceosomal U2 snRNP, interacts directly with the pre-mRNA branch adenosine within the context of the bulged duplex formed between the pre-mRNA branch region and U2 snRNA. This association occurs early in spliceosome assembly and persists within the fully assembled spliceosome. Analysis of the crystal structure of a complex containing p14 and a peptide derived from p14-associated SF3b155 combined with the results of cross-linking studies has suggested that the branch nucleotide interacts with a pocket on a non-canonical RNA binding surface formed by the complex. Here we report a structural model of the p14•bulged duplex interaction based on a combination of X-ray crystallography of an adenine p14/SF3b155 peptide complex, biochemical comparison of a panel of disulfide cross-linked protein–RNA complexes, and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). These studies reveal specific recognition of the branch adenosine within the p14 pocket and establish the orientation of the bulged duplex RNA bound on the protein surface. The intimate association of one surface of the bulged duplex with the p14/SF3b155 peptide complex described by this model buries the branch nucleotide at the interface and suggests that p14•duplex interaction must be disrupted before the first step of splicing. PMID:21062891

Role of TCP Gene BRANCHED1 in the Control of Shoot Branching in Arabidopsis.

PubMed

Poza-Carrión, César; Aguilar-Martínez, José Antonio; Cubas, Pilar

2007-11-01

Branching patterns are major determinants of plant architecture. They depend both on leaf phillotaxy (branch primordia are formed in the axils of leaves) and on the decision of buds to grow out to give a branch or to remain dormant. In Arabidopsis, several genes involved in the long-distance signalling of the control of branch outgrowth have been identified. However, the genes acting inside the buds to cause growth arrest remained unknown until now. In the February issue of Plant Cell we have described the function of BRANCHED1 (BRC1), an Arabidopsis gene coding for a plant-specific transcription factor of the TCP family that is expressed in the buds and prevents their development. Loss of BRC1 function leads to accelerated AM initiation, precocious progression of bud development and excess of shoot branching. BRC1 transcription is affected by endogenous and environmental signals controlling branching and we have shown that BRC1 function mediates the response to these stimuli. Therefore we have proposed that BRC1 function represents the point at which signals controlling branching are integrated within axillary buds.

Gene expression polymorphisms and ESTs associated with gravitropic response of subterranean branch meristems and growth habit in Leymus wildryes

Treesearch

Parminder Kaur; Ivan W. Mott; Steven R. Larson; B. Shaun Bushman; Alvaro G. Hernandez; W. Ryan Kim; Lei Liu; Mark A. Mikel

2008-01-01

Negatively orthogeotropic (NOGT) tiller and diageotropic (DGT) rhizome meristems develop from the same type of lateral axillary meristems and phytomer structure. Although subterranean NOGT and DGT buds appear similar, they display different responses to gravity and perhaps other cues governing branch angle and overall growth habit (GH). Leymus wildryes show remarkable...

Acute bilateral cerebellar infarction in the territory of the medial branches of posterior inferior cerebellar arteries.

PubMed

Gurer, G; Sahin, G; Cekirge, S; Tan, E; Saribas, O

2001-10-01

The most frequent type of cerebellar infarcts involved the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) and superior cerebellar artery territories but bilateral involvement of lateral or medial branches of PICA is extremely rare. In this report, we present a 55-year-old male who admitted to hospital with vomiting, nausea and dizziness. On examination left-sided hemiparesia and ataxic gait were detected. Infarct on bilateral medial branch of PICA artery territories was found out with cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique and 99% stenosis of the left vertebral artery was found out with digital subtraction arteriography. The patient was put on heparin treatment. After 3 weeks, his complaints and symptoms had disappeared except for mild gait ataxia.

Bundle Branch Block

MedlinePlus

... known cause. Causes can include: Left bundle branch block Heart attacks (myocardial infarction) Thickened, stiffened or weakened ... myocarditis) High blood pressure (hypertension) Right bundle branch block A heart abnormality that's present at birth (congenital) — ...

Diurnal patterns of branch movement in a desert shrub (Larrea tridentata) track hydraulic stress

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hallmark, A.

2016-12-01

Near-surface, repeat digital photography has emerged as a powerful tool to collect continuous observations of plant traits of individuals and communities across daily, seasonal, and annual time scales. To date, this technology has largely been used to detect patterns of vegetative phenology or "canopy greenness." Little work has been done to use digital photographs to quantify changes in canopy structure or shifts in canopy function on shorter time scales. In this study, we tracked the position of creosote (Larrea tridentata) branches using a timeseries of photos taken in a creosote-dominated shrubland in central New Mexico, USA where radiation, temperature, humidity, soil water content, soil water potential, and stem water potential were also measured. We found that both living and dead woody branches displayed dramatic diurnal patterns of movement, with shrubs only 1-2 m in height sometimes undergoing vertical shifts in branch position of over 0.25 m and changes in branch angle of over 20 degrees. Although circadian rhythms in plants are often attributed to cyclical patterns of photoperiod or temperature, we found that creosote branch movements were best correlated with diurnal changes in stem water potential and atmospheric humidity and that this correlation was stronger under wetter soil conditions. Branches were straighter and oriented in higher positions in times of low hydraulic stress, possibly preparing the creosote to better capture moisture via stemflow. Branches were oriented lower to the ground in times of high hydraulic stress, possibly providing more shade and reducing soil evaporation beneath the base of the shrub. To our knowledge, this is the first study to describe diurnal patterns of branch movements in creosote and is the most extensive dataset of observations of diurnal movements in any woody plant. It provides more knowledge about the biology of a desert shrub, but also offers novel methods for using repeat digital photography to gain

Developing Structure-Property Relationships in Branched Wormlike Micelles via Advanced Rheological and Neutron Scattering Techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Calabrese, Michelle A.

Surfactant wormlike micelles (WLMs) are of particular scientific interest due to their ability to branch, break, and reform under shear, which can lead to shear banding flow instabilities. The tunable self-assembly of WLMs makes them ubiquitous in applications ranging from consumer products to energy recovery fluids. Altering the topology of WLMs by inducing branching provides a microstructural pathway to design and optimize the flow properties for such targeted applications. The goal of this thesis is to understand the role of micellar branching on the resulting equilibrium and non-equilibrium properties, while advancing instrumentation and analysis methods in rheology and neutron scattering. The degree of branching in the mixed cationic/anionic surfactant solutions is controlled by the addition of sodium tosylate. The equilibrium properties are characterized via small angle neutron scattering (SANS), linear viscoelastic rheology, neutron spin echo, and dynamic light scattering. Combining rheology with spatiotemporally-resolved SANS enables unambiguous identification of non-equilibrium rheological and scattering signatures of branching and shear banding. The nonlinear WLM response is characterized via flow-SANS under steady shear, shear startup, and large amplitude oscillatory shear. New methods of time-resolved data analysis are developed, which improve experimental resolution by several-fold. Shear-induced orientation is a complex function of branching level, radial position, and deformation type. The structural mechanisms behind shear band formation are elucidated for steady and dynamic flows, which depend on branching level. Shear banding disappears at high branching levels for all deformation types. These responses are used to validate constitutive modeling predictions of dynamic shear banding for the first time. Finally, quantitative metrics to predict shear banding from rheology or flow-induced orientation are developed. Together, advanced rheological and

The Arabidopsis LAZY1 Family Plays a Key Role in Gravity Signaling within Statocytes and in Branch Angle Control of Roots and Shoots.

PubMed

Taniguchi, Masatoshi; Furutani, Masahiko; Nishimura, Takeshi; Nakamura, Moritaka; Fushita, Toyohito; Iijima, Kohta; Baba, Kenichiro; Tanaka, Hirokazu; Toyota, Masatsugu; Tasaka, Masao; Morita, Miyo Terao

2017-08-01

During gravitropism, the directional signal of gravity is perceived by gravity-sensing cells called statocytes, leading to asymmetric distribution of auxin in the responding organs. To identify the genes involved in gravity signaling in statocytes, we performed transcriptome analyses of statocyte-deficient Arabidopsis thaliana mutants and found two candidates from the LAZY1 family, AtLAZY1 / LAZY1-LIKE1 ( LZY1 ) and AtDRO3 / AtNGR1 / LZY2 We showed that LZY1 , LZY2 , and a paralog AtDRO1/AtNGR2/LZY3 are redundantly involved in gravitropism of the inflorescence stem, hypocotyl, and root. Mutations of LZY genes affected early processes in gravity signal transduction without affecting amyloplast sedimentation. Statocyte-specific expression of LZY genes rescued the mutant phenotype, suggesting that LZY genes mediate gravity signaling in statocytes downstream of amyloplast displacement, leading to the generation of asymmetric auxin distribution in gravity-responding organs. We also found that lzy mutations reversed the growth angle of lateral branches and roots. Moreover, expression of the conserved C-terminal region of LZY proteins also reversed the growth direction of primary roots in the lzy mutant background. In lateral root tips of lzy multiple mutants, asymmetric distribution of PIN3 and auxin response were reversed, suggesting that LZY genes regulate the direction of polar auxin transport in response to gravity through the control of asymmetric PIN3 expression in the root cap columella. © 2017 American Society of Plant Biologists. All rights reserved.

Materials Test Branch

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gordon, Gail

2012-01-01

The Materials Test Branch resides at Marshall Space Flight Center's Materials and Processing laboratory and has a long history of supporting NASA programs from Mercury to the recently retired Space Shuttle. The Materials Test Branch supports its customers by supplying materials testing expertise in a wide range of applications. The Materials Test Branch is divided into three Teams, The Chemistry Team, The Tribology Team and the Mechanical Test Team. Our mission and goal is to provide world-class engineering excellence in materials testing with a special emphasis on customer service.

NCO Production Management Branch

Science.gov Websites

Climate Climate Prediction Climate Archives Weather Safety Storm Ready NOAA Central Library Photo Library Management Branch Production Management Branch About the Production Management Branch NCO REQUEST FOR CHANGE (RFC) DATABASE ACCESS NCO Request For Change (RFC) Archive [For INTERNAL Use Only] NCO Request For

Why the 2002 Denali fault rupture propagated onto the Totschunda fault: implications for fault branching and seismic hazards

USGS Publications Warehouse

Schwartz, David P.; Haeussler, Peter J.; Seitz, Gordon G.; Dawson, Timothy E.

2012-01-01

The propagation of the rupture of the Mw7.9 Denali fault earthquake from the central Denali fault onto the Totschunda fault has provided a basis for dynamic models of fault branching in which the angle of the regional or local prestress relative to the orientation of the main fault and branch plays a principal role in determining which fault branch is taken. GeoEarthScope LiDAR and paleoseismic data allow us to map the structure of the Denali-Totschunda fault intersection and evaluate controls of fault branching from a geological perspective. LiDAR data reveal the Denali-Totschunda fault intersection is structurally simple with the two faults directly connected. At the branch point, 227.2 km east of the 2002 epicenter, the 2002 rupture diverges southeast to become the Totschunda fault. We use paleoseismic data to propose that differences in the accumulated strain on each fault segment, which express differences in the elapsed time since the most recent event, was one important control of the branching direction. We suggest that data on event history, slip rate, paleo offsets, fault geometry and structure, and connectivity, especially on high slip rate-short recurrence interval faults, can be used to assess the likelihood of branching and its direction. Analysis of the Denali-Totschunda fault intersection has implications for evaluating the potential for a rupture to propagate across other types of fault intersections and for characterizing sources of future large earthquakes.

Terminal branching pattern of the right coronary artery in left-dominant hearts: a cadaveric study.

PubMed

Gupta, Tulika; Saini, Abhimanyu; Sahni, Daisy

2013-01-01

Left coronary dominance has been reported to be associated with increased mortality and severity in case of myocardial ischemia involving left coronary artery. The present cadaveric study was proposed to objectively study and document the termination and branching pattern of the right coronary artery in left-coronary-dominant hearts in relation to the blood supply to the posterior surface of the right ventricle. Seventy-five cadaveric hearts were studied. The coronary vessels were injected with colored cellulose acetate butyrate and dissected. The coronary dominance was determined. In left-dominant hearts, branches and termination of the right coronary artery were studied. Left coronary dominance was found in 13% of the specimens. The number of ventricular branches was found to be present as 0, 1, 2, and 4 in two, four, two, and two of the cases, respectively. The average length of the ventricular branch was 12.7 mm with a range of 5-35 mm. The atrial branch was found in 50% of hearts, varying from 2 to 3 mm in length. In three hearts, the acute marginal artery did not give any posterior ventricular branch, while two, three, and five posterior ventricular branches were seen in four, two, and one heart(s), respectively. The length of the posterior ventricular arteries was between 5 and 15 mm. The RCA is an inconstant and unreliable source of posterior right ventricular perfusion in a significant percentage of population with left-coronary-dominant hearts. This might be the reason for the increased morbidity and mortality seen in the event of left coronary ischemia. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Variation in xylem formation of Viburnum odoratissimum var. awabuki: growth strain and related anatomical features of branches exhibiting unusual eccentric growth.

PubMed

Wang, Yue; Gril, Joseph; Sugiyama, Junji

2009-05-01

Growth strains (GSs) and growth eccentricity in the branches of Viburnum odoratissimum var. awabuki (K. Koch) Zabel were measured. A pronounced growth promotion occurred on the lower side of some branches. Although the GS of the branches was similar to that of normal wood, a larger GS was observed on the upper side of the branches. Thus, eccentric growth occurred on the side opposite to the larger GS. In addition, there was a strong negative relationship between f-back bending and eccentric growth, indicating that eccentric growth largely precluded correction to the vertical position. To understand the function of eccentric growth on the lower side of the branches, we examined several anatomical features of the branches and found that (1) the cell walls of both sides lacked the gelatinous layer, (2) the microfibril angle measured by X-ray diffraction and polarizing light was small on both the upper and the lower sides and (3) the vessel number and the cell wall area did not change to a large extent. The anatomical features of the xylem did not differ obviously between the upper and the lower sides of the branches; however, the fibers were longer on the lower side than on the upper side. These results suggest that the growth stress pattern and formation of branch architecture in V. odoratissimum differ from those observed in other woody angiosperms.

Combining living anionic polymerization with branching reactions in an iterative fashion to design branched polymers.

PubMed

Higashihara, Tomoya; Sugiyama, Kenji; Yoo, Hee-Soo; Hayashi, Mayumi; Hirao, Akira

2010-06-16

This paper reviews the precise synthesis of many-armed and multi-compositional star-branched polymers, exact graft (co)polymers, and structurally well-defined dendrimer-like star-branched polymers, which are synthetically difficult, by a commonly-featured iterative methodology combining living anionic polymerization with branched reactions to design branched polymers. The methodology basically involves only two synthetic steps; (a) preparation of a polymeric building block corresponding to each branched polymer and (b) connection of the resulting building unit to another unit. The synthetic steps were repeated in a stepwise fashion several times to successively synthesize a series of well-defined target branched polymers. Copyright © 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Measurement of the radiative decay branching fraction in the MEG experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiao, Feng

A measurement of the radiative muon decay mu+ → e+nuenumugamma branching fraction was done on the basis of the radiative decay data of MEG experiment. The data were taken periodically one day per week with the beam intensity of 1.2 x 106 mu+/ s from September to December, 2008. The positron was measured by a spectrometer with gradient magnetic field. The photon was detected by an innovative ˜900 liter liquid xenon scintillation detector. The measurement was carried out with a cut-and-count approach. We report the radiative muon decay branching fraction to be B(m→enng )=(2.84+/-0.20(stat)+/-0.05 (syst))x10-7, with Ee > 46 MeV, E gamma > 30 MeV, and the opening angle between the positron and photon thetaegamma in its full kinematic range. Distributions of three observables, Ee, Egamma, and thetaegamma, as well as their kinematic correlations were verified to be consistent with the radiative decays. The measurement is in excellent agreement with the prediction of the Standard Model.

Hydrologic and hydraulic analyses at Akin Branch and Cayce Valley Branch, Columbia, Tennessee

USGS Publications Warehouse

Outlaw, George S.

1993-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the City of Columbia, Tennessee, conducted hydrologic and hydraulic analyses at Akin Branch and Cayce Valley Branch in the Little Bigby Creek watershed, Columbia, Tennessee, from 1990 through 1991. Results of the analyses can be used by city planners in the development of plans to replace several deteriorating and inadequate drainage structures. Akin Branch and Cayce Valley Branch drain small watersheds of 1.69 and 1.04 square miles, respectively. Flood discharges for 5-, lo-, and 25-year recurrence-interval storm events were calculated at the stream mouths using flood-frequency relations developed for use at small urban streams in Tennessee. For each stream, flood discharges at locations upstream from the mouth were calculated by subdividing the watershed and assigning a percentage of the discharge at the mouth, based on drainage area, to each subarea. Flood profiles for the selected recurrence-interval flood discharges were simulated for Akin Branch and Cayce Valley Branch for existing conditions and conditions that might exist if drainage improvements such as larger culverts and bridges and channel improvements are constructed. The results of the simulations were used to predict changes in flood elevations that might result from such drainage improvements. Analyses indicate that reductions in existing flood elevations of as much as 2.1 feet for the 5-year flood at some sites on Akin Branch and as much as 3.8 feet for the 5-year flood at some sites on Cayce Valley Branch might be expected with the drainage improvements.

Fine-Branched Ridges

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-10-14

This image from NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft shows numerous branching ridges with various degrees of sinuosity. These branching forms resemble tributaries funneling and draining into larger channel trunks towards the upper portion of the scene. The raised relief of these branching ridges suggests that these are ancient channels are inverted due to lithification and cementation of the riverbed sediment, which made it more resistant to erosion than the surrounding material. Wind-blown bedforms are abundant and resemble small ridges that are aligned in an approximately north-south direction. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA20006

An Anatomical Assessment of Branch Abscission and Branch-base Hydraulic Architecture in the Endangered Wollemia nobilis

PubMed Central

Burrows, G. E.; Meagher, P. F.; Heady, R. D.

2007-01-01

Background and Aims The branch-base xylem structure of the endangered Wollemia nobilis was anatomically investigated. Wollemia nobilis is probably the only extant tree species that produces only first-order branches and where all branches are cleanly abscised. An investigation was carried out to see if these unusual features might influence branch-base xylem structure and water supply to the foliage. Methods The xylem was sectioned at various distances along the branch bases of 6-year-old saplings. Huber values and relative theoretical hydraulic conductivities were calculated for various regions of the branch base. Key Results The most proximal branch base featured a pronounced xylem constriction. The constriction had only 14–31 % (average 21 %) of the cross-sectional area and 20–42 % (average 28 %) of the theoretical hydraulic conductivity of the more distal branch xylem. Wollemia nobilis had extremely low Huber values for a conifer. Conclusions The branch-base xylem constriction would appear to facilitate branch abscission, while the associated Huber values show that W. nobilis supplies a relatively large leaf area through a relatively small diameter ‘pipe’. It is tempting to suggest that the pronounced decline of W. nobilis in the Tertiary is related to its unusual branch-base structure but physiological studies of whole plant conductance are still needed. PMID:17272303

Haemodynamic Variations of Flow to Renal Arteries in Custom-Made and Pivot Branch Fenestrated Endografting.

PubMed

Ou, J; Tang, A Y S; Chiu, T L; Chow, K W; Chan, Y C; Cheng, S W K

2017-01-01

This study aimed to investigate variation of blood flow to renal arteries in custom-made and pivot branch (p-branch) fenestrated endografting, using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique. Idealised models of custom-made and p-branch fenestrated grafting were constructed on a basis of a 26 mm stent graft. The custom-made fenestration was designed with a 6 mm diameter, while the 5 mm depth renal p-branch was created with a 6 mm inner and 15 mm outer fenestration. Two configurations (option A and option B) were constructed with different locations of p-branches. Option A had both renal p-branches at the same level, whereas option B contained two staggered p-branches at lower positions. The longitudinal stent orientation in both custom-made and p-branch models was represented by a takeoff angle (ToA) between the renal stent and distal stent graft centreline, varying from 55° to 125°. Computational simulations were performed with realistic boundary conditions governing the blood flow. In both custom-made and p-branch fenestrated models, the flow rate and wall shear stress (WSS) were generally higher and recirculation zones were smaller when the renal stent faced caudally. In custom-made models, the highest flow rate (0.390 L/min) was detected at 70° ToA and maximum WSS on vessel segment (16.8 Pa) was attained at 55° ToA. In p-branch models, option A and option B displayed no haemodynamic differences when having the same ToA. The highest flow rate (0.378 L/min) and maximum WSS on vessel segment (16.7 Pa) were both calculated at 55° ToA. The largest and smallest recirculation zones occurred at 90° and 55° ToA respectively in both custom-made and p-branch models. Custom-made fenestrated models exhibited consistently higher flow rate and shear stress and smaller recirculation zones in renal arteries than p-branch models at the same ToA. Navigating the renal stents towards caudal orientation can achieve better haemodynamic outcomes in both

Acute effect of constant torque and angle stretching on range of motion, muscle passive properties, and stretch discomfort perception.

PubMed

Cabido, Christian E T; Bergamini, Juliana C; Andrade, André G P; Lima, Fernando V; Menzel, Hans J; Chagas, Mauro H

2014-04-01

The aim of the present study was to compare the acute effects of constant torque (CT) and constant angle (CA) stretching exercises on the maximum range of motion (ROMmax), passive stiffness (PS), and ROM corresponding to the first sensation of tightness in the posterior thigh (FSTROM). Twenty-three sedentary men (age, 19-33 years) went through 1 familiarization session and afterward proceeded randomly to both CA and CT treatment stretching conditions, on separate days. An isokinetic dynamometer was used to analyze hamstring muscles during passive knee extension. The subjects performed 4 stretches of 30 seconds each with a 15-second interval between them. In the CA stretching, the subject reached a certain ROM (95% of ROMmax), and the angle was kept constant. However, in the CT stretching exercise, the volunteer reached a certain resistance torque (corresponding to 95% of ROMmax) and it was kept constant. The results showed an increase in ROMmax for both CA and CT (p < 0.001), but the increase was greater for CT than for CA (CA vs. CT in poststretching, p = 0.002). Although the PS decreased for both CA and CT (p < 0.001), the decrease was greater for CT than for CA (CA vs. CT in poststretching, p = 0.002). The FSTROM increased for both CA and CT, but the increase for CT was greater than that for CA (CA vs. CT in poststretching, p = 0.003). The greater increase in ROMmax for the CT stretch may be explained by greater changes in the biomechanical properties of the muscle-tendon unit and stretch tolerance, as indicated by the results of PS and FSTROM.

The Role of Surface Water for the Branching Geometry of Mars' Channel Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seybold, H. F.; Rothman, D.; Kirchner, J. W.

2016-12-01

The controversy over the origin of Mars' channel networks is almost as old as their discovery 150 years ago. In recent decades, new Mars probe missions have revealed detailed network structures, and new studies suggest that Mars once had an active hydrologic cycle. But how this water flowed and how it could have carved these huge channel networks remains unclear. A recent analysis of high-resolution data for the Continental United States suggests that climate leaves a characteristic imprint in the branching geometry of stream networks: arid regions dominated by overland or near-surface flows have much narrower branching angles than humid regions with greater groundwater recharge. Based on this result we analyze the channel networks of Mars, and find that their geometry resembles those created by near-surface and overland flows on Earth. This result gives additional support to the hypothesis that Mars once had a more active hydrologic cycle, with liquid water flowing over its surface.

Delivery of siRNA using ternary complexes containing branched cationic peptides: the role of peptide sequence, branching and targeting.

PubMed

Kudsiova, Laila; Welser, Katharina; Campbell, Frederick; Mohammadi, Atefeh; Dawson, Natalie; Cui, Lili; Hailes, Helen C; Lawrence, M Jayne; Tabor, Alethea B

2016-03-01

Ternary nanocomplexes, composed of bifunctional cationic peptides, lipids and siRNA, as delivery vehicles for siRNA have been investigated. The study is the first to determine the optimal sequence and architecture of the bifunctional cationic peptide used for siRNA packaging and delivery using lipopolyplexes. Specifically three series of cationic peptides of differing sequence, degrees of branching and cell-targeting sequences were co-formulated with siRNA and vesicles prepared from a 1 : 1 molar ratio of the cationic lipid DOTMA and the helper lipid, DOPE. The level of siRNA knockdown achieved in the human alveolar cell line, A549-luc cells, in both reduced serum and in serum supplemented media was evaluated, and the results correlated to the nanocomplex structure (established using a range of physico-chemical tools, namely small angle neutron scattering, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and zeta potential measurement); the conformational properties of each component (circular dichroism); the degree of protection of the siRNA in the lipopolyplex (using gel shift assays) and to the cellular uptake, localisation and toxicity of the nanocomplexes (confocal microscopy). Although the size, charge, structure and stability of the various lipopolyplexes were broadly similar, it was clear that lipopolyplexes formulated from branched peptides containing His-Lys sequences perform best as siRNA delivery agents in serum, with protection of the siRNA in serum balanced against efficient release of the siRNA into the cytoplasm of the cell.

Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves in the Helium Branch Induced by Multiple Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Triggered Emissions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shoji, M.; Omura, Y.; Grison, B.; Pickett, J. S.; Dandouras, I. S.; Engebretson, M. J.

2011-12-01

Electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) triggered emissions with rising tones between the H+ and He+ cyclotron frequencies were found in the inner magnetosphere by the recent Cluster observations. Another type of EMIC wave with a constant frequency is occasionally observed below the He+ cyclotron frequency after the multiple EMIC triggered emissions. We performed a self-consistent hybrid simulation with a one-dimensional cylindrical magnetic flux model approximating the dipole magnetic field of the Earth's inner magnetosphere. In the presence of energetic protons with a sufficient density and temperature anisotropy, multiple EMIC triggered emissions are reproduced due to the nonlinear wave growth mechanism of rising-tone chorus emissions, and a constant frequency wave in the He+ EMIC branch is subsequently generated. Through interaction with the multiple EMIC rising-tone emissions, the velocity distribution function of the energetic protons is strongly modified. Because of the pitch angle scattering of the protons, the gradient of the distribution in velocity phase space is enhanced along the diffusion curve of the He+ branch wave, resulting in the linear growth of the EMIC wave in the He+ branch.

Electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves in the helium branch induced by multiple electromagnetic ion cyclotron triggered emissions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shoji, Masafumi; Omura, Yoshiharu; Grison, Benjamin; Pickett, Jolene; Dandouras, Iannis; Engebretson, Mark

2011-09-01

Electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) triggered emissions with rising tones between the H+ and He+ cyclotron frequencies were found in the inner magnetosphere by the recent Cluster observations. Another type of EMIC wave with a constant frequency is occasionally observed below the He+ cyclotron frequency after the multiple EMIC triggered emissions. We performed a self-consistent hybrid simulation with a one-dimensional cylindrical magnetic flux model approximating the dipole magnetic field of the Earth's inner magnetosphere. In the presence of energetic protons with a sufficient density and temperature anisotropy, multiple EMIC triggered emissions are reproduced due to the nonlinear wave growth mechanism of rising-tone chorus emissions, and a constant frequency wave in the He+ EMIC branch is subsequently generated. Through interaction with the multiple EMIC rising-tone emissions, the velocity distribution function of the energetic protons is strongly modified. Because of the pitch angle scattering of the protons, the gradient of the distribution in velocity phase space is enhanced along the diffusion curve of the He+ branch wave, resulting in the linear growth of the EMIC wave in the He+ branch.

Role of interstitial branching in the development of visual corticocortical connections: a time-lapse and fixed-tissue analysis.

PubMed

Ruthazer, Edward S; Bachleda, Amelia R; Olavarria, Jaime F

2010-12-15

We combined fixed-tissue and time-lapse analyses to investigate the axonal branching phenomena underlying the development of topographically organized ipsilateral projections from area 17 to area 18a in the rat. These complementary approaches allowed us to relate static, large-scale information provided by traditional fixed-tissue analysis to highly dynamic, local, small-scale branching phenomena observed with two-photon time-lapse microscopy in acute slices of visual cortex. Our fixed-tissue data revealed that labeled area 17 fibers invaded area 18a gray matter at topographically restricted sites, reaching superficial layers in significant numbers by postnatal day 6 (P6). Moreover, most parental axons gave rise to only one or occasionally a small number of closely spaced interstitial branches beneath 18a. Our time-lapse data showed that many filopodium-like branches emerged along parental axons in white matter or deep layers in area 18a. Most of these filopodial branches were transient, often disappearing after several minutes to hours of exploratory extension and retraction. These dynamic behaviors decreased significantly from P4, when the projection is first forming, through the second postnatal week, suggesting that the expression of, or sensitivity to, cortical cues promoting new branch addition in the white matter is developmentally down-regulated coincident with gray matter innervation. Together, these data demonstrate that the development of topographically organized corticocortical projections in rats involves extensive exploratory branching along parental axons and invasion of cortex by only a small number of interstitial branches, rather than the widespread innervation of superficial cortical layers by an initially exuberant population of branches. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Role of Interstitial Branching in the Development of Visual Corticocortical Connections: A Time-Lapse and Fixed-Tissue Analysis

PubMed Central

Ruthazer, Edward S.; Bachleda, Amelia R.; Olavarria, Jaime F.

2013-01-01

We combined fixed-tissue and time-lapse analyses to investigate the axonal branching phenomena underlying the development of topographically organized ipsilateral projections from area 17 to area 18a in the rat. These complementary approaches allowed us to relate static, large-scale information provided by traditional fixed-tissue analysis to highly dynamic, local, small-scale branching phenomena observed with two-photon time-lapse microscopy in acute slices of visual cortex. Our fixed-tissue data revealed that labeled area 17 fibers invaded area 18a gray matter at topographically restricted sites, reaching superficial layers in significant numbers by postnatal day 6 (P6). Moreover, most parental axons gave rise to only one or occasionally a small number of closely spaced interstitial branches beneath 18a. Our time-lapse data showed that many filopodium-like branches emerged along parental axons in white matter or deep layers in area 18a. Most of these filopo-dial branches were transient, often disappearing after several minutes to hours of exploratory extension and retraction. These dynamic behaviors decreased significantly from P4, when the projection is first forming, through the second postnatal week, suggesting that the expression of, or sensitivity to, cortical cues promoting new branch addition in the white matter is developmentally down-regulated coincident with gray matter innervation. Together, these data demonstrate that the development of topographically organized corticocortical projections in rats involves extensive exploratory branching along parental axons and invasion of cortex by only a small number of interstitial branches, rather than the widespread innervation of superficial cortical layers by an initially exuberant population of branches. PMID:21031561

Transluminal Angioplasty of Peroneal Artery Branches in Diabetics: Initial Technical Experience

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

Graziani, Lanfroi, E-mail: langrazi@tin.it; Silvestro, Antonio; Monge, Luca

2008-01-15

The present study aimed to report the technical feasibility of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of obstructed or insufficient collateral branches (anterior and posterior perforating branches) from distal peroneal to foot arteries in diabetic patients with chronic critical limb ischemia (CLI) and chronic noncrossable occlusion of the anterior and posterior tibial arteries. Twenty-four diabetic CLI patients (age, 67 {+-} 8 years; 87% males) undergoing collateral PTA were included. Baseline clinical angiographic and follow-up data were retrospectively reviewed. Collateral PTA was associated with a concomitant PTA of other sites in 21 (83%) cases. In 15 cases the treated collateral linked the peronealmore » with the plantaris communis; in 9 cases, the peroneal with the dorsalis pedis. Angiographic results of collateral PTA were good in 13 cases (<30% residual stenosis), whereas the result was considered moderate (30%-49% residual stenosis) in the remaining cases. Neither perforation nor acute occlusion of the treated collaterals or other relevant complications were observed. Mean follow-up was 32 {+-} 17 months. Major amputation was necessary for two (8.3%) patients. Cumulative limb salvage rates at 2 and 4 years were 96% and 87%, respectively. In conclusion, this initial experience shows that PTA of the collateral branches from distal peroneal to foot arteries is a feasible technique. Future studies are required to define the clinical role of this novel approach.« less

PARACENTRAL ACUTE MIDDLE MACULOPATHY ASSOCIATED WITH RETINAL ARTERY OCCLUSION AFTER COSMETIC FILLER INJECTION.

PubMed

Sridhar, Jayanth; Shahlaee, Abtin; Shieh, Wen-Shi; Rahimy, Ehsan

2017-01-01

To report a single case of paracentral acute middle maculopathy in association with retinal artery occlusion in the setting of ipsilateral facial cosmetic filler injection. Case report. A 35-year-old woman presenting with sudden vision loss to finger count vision immediately after left nasal fat pad cosmetic filler injection. Dilated funduscopic examination revealed a swollen optic disc with multiple branch arterial occlusions with visible embolic material. Fluorescein angiography confirmed multiple branch arterial occlusions in addition to a focal choroidal infarction in the macula. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography revealed middle retinal hyperreflectivity in the superotemporal macula consistent with paracentral acute middle maculopathy. En face optical coherence tomography demonstrated a superotemporal area of whitening at the level of the deep capillary plexus corresponding to the paracentral acute middle maculopathy lesion seen on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. On twelve-month follow-up, final visual acuity was 20/100 due to optic neuropathy. Emboli from cosmetic facial filler injections may rarely result in ipsilateral arterial occlusions and now have a novel association with paracentral acute middle maculopathy likely due to deep capillary plexus feeder vessel occlusion.

[Croatian Medical Association--Branch Zagreb].

PubMed

Kaić, Zvonimir; Sain, Snjezana; Gulić, Mirjana; Mahovlić, Vjekoslav; Krznarić, Zeljko

2014-01-01

The available literature shows us that "Druztvo ljeciteljah u Zagrebus (the Society of Healers in Zagreb) was founded as far back as the year 1845 by a total of thirteen members. This data allows us to follow the role of doctors and health workers in Zagreb through their everyday profession, research, organizational and social work as well as management through a period of over one hundred to seventy years. The Branch Zagreb was active before the official establishment of subsidiaries of CMA which is evident from the minutes of the regular annual assembly of the Croatian Medical Association on 21 March 1948. Until the end of 1956, there was no clear division of labor, functions and competencies between the Branch and the Main Board. Their actions were instead consolidated and the Branch operated within and under the name of Croatian Medical Association. In that year the Branch became independent. The Branch Zagreb is the largest and one of the most active branches of the Croatian Medical Association. At the moment, the Branch brings together 3621 members, regular members--doctors of medicine (2497), doctors of dental medicine (384), retired physicians (710), and associate members (30 specialists with higher education who are not doctors). The Branch is especially accomplished in its activities in the area of professional development of its members and therefore organizes a series of scientific conferences in the framework of continuous education of physicians, allowing its members to acquire necessary points for the extension of their operating license. The choir "Zagrebacki lijecnici pjevaci" (Zagreb Physicians' Choir) of the Croatian Medical Music Society of the CMA and its activities are inseparable from the Branch Zagreb. The Branch is firmly linked to the parent body, the CMA, and thus has a visible impact on the strategy and the activities of the Association as a whole. Most professional societies of the CMA have their headquarters in Zagreb and this is

The Arabidopsis LAZY1 Family Plays a Key Role in Gravity Signaling within Statocytes and in Branch Angle Control of Roots and Shoots[OPEN

PubMed Central

Taniguchi, Masatoshi; Furutani, Masahiko; Nishimura, Takeshi; Nakamura, Moritaka; Fushita, Toyohito; Iijima, Kohta; Baba, Kenichiro; Toyota, Masatsugu

2017-01-01

During gravitropism, the directional signal of gravity is perceived by gravity-sensing cells called statocytes, leading to asymmetric distribution of auxin in the responding organs. To identify the genes involved in gravity signaling in statocytes, we performed transcriptome analyses of statocyte-deficient Arabidopsis thaliana mutants and found two candidates from the LAZY1 family, AtLAZY1/LAZY1-LIKE1 (LZY1) and AtDRO3/AtNGR1/LZY2. We showed that LZY1, LZY2, and a paralog AtDRO1/AtNGR2/LZY3 are redundantly involved in gravitropism of the inflorescence stem, hypocotyl, and root. Mutations of LZY genes affected early processes in gravity signal transduction without affecting amyloplast sedimentation. Statocyte-specific expression of LZY genes rescued the mutant phenotype, suggesting that LZY genes mediate gravity signaling in statocytes downstream of amyloplast displacement, leading to the generation of asymmetric auxin distribution in gravity-responding organs. We also found that lzy mutations reversed the growth angle of lateral branches and roots. Moreover, expression of the conserved C-terminal region of LZY proteins also reversed the growth direction of primary roots in the lzy mutant background. In lateral root tips of lzy multiple mutants, asymmetric distribution of PIN3 and auxin response were reversed, suggesting that LZY genes regulate the direction of polar auxin transport in response to gravity through the control of asymmetric PIN3 expression in the root cap columella. PMID:28765510

Corneal Confocal Microscopy Detects Corneal Nerve Damage in Patients Admitted With Acute Ischemic Stroke.

PubMed

Khan, Adnan; Akhtar, Naveed; Kamran, Saadat; Ponirakis, Georgios; Petropoulos, Ioannis N; Tunio, Nahel A; Dargham, Soha R; Imam, Yahia; Sartaj, Faheem; Parray, Aijaz; Bourke, Paula; Khan, Rabia; Santos, Mark; Joseph, Sujatha; Shuaib, Ashfaq; Malik, Rayaz A

2017-11-01

Corneal confocal microscopy can identify corneal nerve damage in patients with peripheral and central neurodegeneration. However, the use of corneal confocal microscopy in patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke is unknown. One hundred thirty patients (57 without diabetes mellitus [normal glucose tolerance], 32 with impaired glucose tolerance, and 41 with type 2 diabetes mellitus) admitted with acute ischemic stroke, and 28 age-matched healthy control participants underwent corneal confocal microscopy to quantify corneal nerve fiber density, corneal nerve branch density, and corneal nerve fiber length. There was a significant reduction in corneal nerve fiber density, corneal nerve branch density, and corneal nerve fiber length in stroke patients with normal glucose tolerance ( P <0.001, P <0.001, P <0.001), impaired glucose tolerance ( P =0.004, P <0.001, P =0.002), and type 2 diabetes mellitus ( P <0.001, P <0.001, P <0.001) compared with controls. HbA1c and triglycerides correlated with corneal nerve fiber density ( r =-0.187, P =0.03; r =-0.229 P =0.01), corneal nerve fiber length ( r =-0.228, P =0.009; r =-0.285; P =0.001), and corneal nerve branch density ( r =-0.187, P =0.033; r =-0.229, P =0.01). Multiple linear regression showed no independent associations between corneal nerve fiber density, corneal nerve branch density, and corneal nerve fiber length and relevant risk factors for stroke. Corneal confocal microscopy is a rapid noninvasive ophthalmic imaging technique that identifies corneal nerve fiber loss in patients with acute ischemic stroke. © 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.

OPTOTRAK Measurement of the Quadriceps Angle Using Standardized Foot Positions

PubMed Central

Livingston, Lori A.; Spaulding, Sandi J.

2002-01-01

Objective: While there is evidence to suggest that the magnitude of the quadriceps (Q) angle changes with alterations in foot position, a detailed quantitative description of this relationship has not been reported. Our purpose was to determine the effect of varying foot placement on the magnitude of the Q angle. Design and Setting: A mixed between-within, repeated-measures design was used to compare Q angles derived under static weight-bearing conditions with the feet positioned in self-selected versus standardized stance positions. Subjects: Twenty healthy young-adult men and women with no history of acute injury to or chronic dysfunction of the lower limbs. Measurements: We placed light-emitting diodes bilaterally on the left and right anterior superior iliac spines, the tibial tuberosities, and the midpoints of the patellae to bilaterally define the Q angles. An OPTOTRAK motion-measurement system was used to capture x,y coordinate data at a sampling rate of 60 Hz. These data were subsequently filtered and used to calculate the magnitude of the left and right Q angles. Results: A repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed that when measured statically, Q angles differed significantly between stance positions (P < .001) and limbs (P < .05). Depending on the stance adopted, mean Q angles varied from 7.2° to 12.7° and 11.0° to 16.1° in the left and right lower limbs, respectively. Q-angle measurements taken in conjunction with the Romberg foot position most closely resembled those gathered with the feet in a self-selected stance (Pearson r = 0.86 to 0.92). Conclusions: Q-angle magnitude varies with changes in foot position, increasing or decreasing as the foot rotates internally or externally, respectively. These data demonstrate the need for a standardized foot position for Q-angle measurements. PMID:12937581

OPTOTRAK Measurement of the Quadriceps Angle Using Standardized Foot Positions.

PubMed

Livingston, Lori A; Spaulding, Sandi J

2002-09-01

OBJECTIVE: While there is evidence to suggest that the magnitude of the quadriceps (Q) angle changes with alterations in foot position, a detailed quantitative description of this relationship has not been reported. Our purpose was to determine the effect of varying foot placement on the magnitude of the Q angle. DESIGN AND SETTING: A mixed between-within, repeated-measures design was used to compare Q angles derived under static weight-bearing conditions with the feet positioned in self-selected versus standardized stance positions. SUBJECTS: Twenty healthy young-adult men and women with no history of acute injury to or chronic dysfunction of the lower limbs. MEASUREMENTS: We placed light-emitting diodes bilaterally on the left and right anterior superior iliac spines, the tibial tuberosities, and the midpoints of the patellae to bilaterally define the Q angles. An OPTOTRAK motion-measurement system was used to capture x,y coordinate data at a sampling rate of 60 Hz. These data were subsequently filtered and used to calculate the magnitude of the left and right Q angles. RESULTS: A repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed that when measured statically, Q angles differed significantly between stance positions (P <.001) and limbs (P <.05). Depending on the stance adopted, mean Q angles varied from 7.2 degrees to 12.7 degrees and 11.0 degrees to 16.1 degrees in the left and right lower limbs, respectively. Q-angle measurements taken in conjunction with the Romberg foot position most closely resembled those gathered with the feet in a self-selected stance (Pearson r = 0.86 to 0.92). CONCLUSIONS: Q-angle magnitude varies with changes in foot position, increasing or decreasing as the foot rotates internally or externally, respectively. These data demonstrate the need for a standardized foot position for Q-angle measurements.

[Morphometrical analyze of the middle cerebral artery system at the 13-15 weeks fetuses].

PubMed

Macovei, Georgeta Nataşa; Varlam, H; St Antohe, D

2002-01-01

Tele-encephalization process is accompanied by the appearance and progressive complication of the middle cerebral artery system. The aim of our study is to analyze the morphometrical parameters of the middle cerebral artery branches in the beginning of the edification of its system. We used 162 cerebral hemispheres from 88 fetuses aged of 13-15 weeks. Middle cerebral artery system was injected with a gelatin-China ink mixture and images recorded by means of a Zeiss surgical microscope. Parameters evaluation (length, proximal and distal diameters, external surface, volume, angles of bifurcation) was realized with KS-300 program. At this early age middle cerebral artery system has only 4-5 generations of branches usually resulting from acute angle bifurcations.

Lattice Boltzmann modeling of contact angle and its hysteresis in two-phase flow with large viscosity difference.

PubMed

Liu, Haihu; Ju, Yaping; Wang, Ningning; Xi, Guang; Zhang, Yonghao

2015-09-01

Contact angle hysteresis is an important physical phenomenon omnipresent in nature and various industrial processes, but its effects are not considered in many existing multiphase flow simulations due to modeling complexity. In this work, a multiphase lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is developed to simulate the contact-line dynamics with consideration of the contact angle hysteresis for a broad range of kinematic viscosity ratios. In this method, the immiscible two-phase flow is described by a color-fluid model, in which the multiple-relaxation-time collision operator is adopted to increase numerical stability and suppress unphysical spurious currents at the contact line. The contact angle hysteresis is introduced using the strategy proposed by Ding and Spelt [Ding and Spelt, J. Fluid Mech. 599, 341 (2008)JFLSA70022-112010.1017/S0022112008000190], and the geometrical wetting boundary condition is enforced to obtain the desired contact angle. This method is first validated by simulations of static contact angle and dynamic capillary intrusion process on ideal (smooth) surfaces. It is then used to simulate the dynamic behavior of a droplet on a nonideal (inhomogeneous) surface subject to a simple shear flow. When the droplet remains pinned on the surface due to hysteresis, the steady interface shapes of the droplet quantitatively agree well with the previous numerical results. Four typical motion modes of contact points, as observed in a recent study, are qualitatively reproduced with varying advancing and receding contact angles. The viscosity ratio is found to have a notable impact on the droplet deformation, breakup, and hysteresis behavior. Finally, this method is extended to simulate the droplet breakup in a microfluidic T junction, with one half of the wall surface ideal and the other half nonideal. Due to the contact angle hysteresis, the droplet asymmetrically breaks up into two daughter droplets with the smaller one in the nonideal branch channel, and the

Randomized branch sampling

Treesearch

Harry T. Valentine

2002-01-01

Randomized branch sampling (RBS) is a special application of multistage probability sampling (see Sampling, environmental), which was developed originally by Jessen [3] to estimate fruit counts on individual orchard trees. In general, the method can be used to obtain estimates of many different attributes of trees or other branched plants. The usual objective of RBS is...

Quantum-state-resolved CO2 scattering dynamics at the gas-liquid interface: dependence on incident angle.

PubMed

Perkins, Bradford G; Nesbitt, David J

2007-08-09

Energy transfer dynamics at the gas-liquid interface have been probed with a supersonic molecular beam of CO2 and a clean perfluorinated-liquid surface in vacuum. High-resolution infrared spectroscopy measures both the rovibrational state populations and the translational distributions for the scattered CO2 flux. The present study investigates collision dynamics as a function of incident angle (thetainc = 0 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, and 60 degrees), where column-integrated quantum state populations are detected along the specular-scattering direction (i.e., thetascat approximately thetainc). Internal state rovibrational and Doppler translational distributions in the scattered CO2 yield clear evidence for nonstatistical behavior, providing quantum-state-resolved support for microscopic branching of the gas-liquid collision dynamics into multiple channels. Specifically, the data are remarkably well described by a two-temperature model, which can be associated with both a trapping desorption (TD) component emerging at the surface temperature (Trot approximately TS) and an impulsive scattering (IS) component appearing at hyperthermal energies (Trot > TS). The branching ratio between the TD and IS channels is found to depend strongly on thetainc, with the IS component growing dramatically with increasingly steeper angle of incidence.

Angle-resolved molecular beam scattering of NO at the gas-liquid interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zutz, Amelia; Nesbitt, David J.

2017-08-01

This study presents first results on angle-resolved, inelastic collision dynamics of thermal and hyperthermal molecular beams of NO at gas-liquid interfaces. Specifically, a collimated incident beam of supersonically cooled NO (2 Π 1/2, J = 0.5) is directed toward a series of low vapor pressure liquid surfaces ([bmim][Tf2N], squalane, and PFPE) at θinc = 45(1)°, with the scattered molecules detected with quantum state resolution over a series of final angles (θs = -60°, -30°, 0°, 30°, 45°, and 60°) via spatially filtered laser induced fluorescence. At low collision energies [Einc = 2.7(9) kcal/mol], the angle-resolved quantum state distributions reveal (i) cos(θs) probabilities for the scattered NO and (ii) electronic/rotational temperatures independent of final angle (θs), in support of a simple physical picture of angle independent sticking coefficients and all incident NO thermally accommodating on the surface. However, the observed electronic/rotational temperatures for NO scattering reveal cooling below the surface temperature (Telec < Trot < TS) for all three liquids, indicating a significant dependence of the sticking coefficient on NO internal quantum state. Angle-resolved scattering at high collision energies [Einc = 20(2) kcal/mol] has also been explored, for which the NO scattering populations reveal angle-dependent dynamical branching between thermal desorption and impulsive scattering (IS) pathways that depend strongly on θs. Characterization of the data in terms of the final angle, rotational state, spin-orbit electronic state, collision energy, and liquid permit new correlations to be revealed and investigated in detail. For example, the IS rotational distributions reveal an enhanced propensity for higher J/spin-orbit excited states scattered into near specular angles and thus hotter rotational/electronic distributions measured in the forward scattering direction. Even more surprisingly, the average NO scattering angle (�

Evaluation of popliteal artery branching patterns and a new subclassification of the 'usual' branching pattern.

PubMed

Celtikci, Pinar; Ergun, Onur; Durmaz, Hasan Ali; Conkbayir, Isik; Hekimoglu, Baki

2017-09-01

To determine the frequency of popliteal artery branching variations in a wide study cohort and to investigate the relationship between these variations and infrapopliteal peripheral arterial disease (PAD). A subclassification was proposed for the most encountered type I-A, utilizing tibio-fibular trunk (TFT) length. A total number of 1184 lower extremity digital subtraction angiography (DSA) studies of 669 patients were evaluated. Following exclusion, 863 lower extremity DSA studies (431 right, 432 left) of 545 patients were enrolled. Popliteal artery branching type, patency of anterior tibial artery (ATA), fibular artery (FA) and posterior tibial artery (PTA) in each extremity and TFT length for type I-A extremities were recorded. Percentages of branching patterns, mean length and cut-off value of TFT and incidence of PAD in different types of branching were calculated. Type I-A was the most common type of branching (81.3%). Frequency of branching pattern variation was 18.7%, the most common variation category was category III (12.2%) and the most common variation type was type III-A (5.6%). ATA and PTA had higher percentages of PAD in extremities with variant branching types. Cut-off value of 3 cm for TFT length was proposed in order to subclassify type I-A. Our study cohort presents a higher incidence of popliteal artery branching variations. Some branching variations might have effect on the involvement pattern of the infrapopliteal arteries by PAD. We propose a subclassification for type I-A; type I-A-S (TFT < 3 cm) and type I-A-L (TFT ≥ 3 cm) which might have impact on interventional procedures.

Correlation between extension-block K-wire insertion angle and postoperative extension loss in mallet finger fracture.

PubMed

Lee, S K; Kim, Y H; Moon, K H; Choy, W S

2018-02-01

Extension-block pinning represents a simple and reliable surgical technique. Although this procedure is commonly performed successfully, some patients develop postoperative extension loss. To date, the relationship between extension-block Kirschner wire (K-wire) insertion angle and postoperative extension loss in mallet finger fracture remains unclear. We aimed to clarify this relationship and further evaluate how various operative and non-operative factors affect postoperative extension loss after extension-block pinning for mallet finger fracture. A retrospective study was conducted to investigate a relationship between extension block K-wire insertion angle and postoperative extension loss. The inclusion criteria were: (1) a dorsal intra-articular fracture fragment involving 30% of the base of the distal phalanx with or without volar subluxation of the distal phalanx; and (2) <3 weeks delay from the injury without treatment. Extension-block K-wire insertion angle and fixation angle of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint were assessed using lateral radiograph at immediate postoperative time. Postoperative extension loss was assessed by using lateral radiograph at latest follow-up. Extension-block K-wire insertion angle was defined as the acute angle between extension block K-wire and longitudinal axis of middle phalangeal head. DIP joint fixation angle was defined as the acute angle between the distal phalanx and middle phalanx longitudinal axes. Seventy-five patients were included. The correlation analysis revealed that extension-block K-wire insertion angle had a negative correlation with postoperative extension loss, whereas fracture size and time to operation had a positive correlation (correlation coefficient for extension block K-wire angle: -0.66, facture size: +0.67, time to operation: +0.60). When stratifying patients in terms of negative and positive fixation angle of the DIP joint, the independent t-test showed that mean postoperative extension

The control of branching morphogenesis

PubMed Central

Iber, Dagmar; Menshykau, Denis

2013-01-01

Many organs of higher organisms are heavily branched structures and arise by an apparently similar process of branching morphogenesis. Yet the regulatory components and local interactions that have been identified differ greatly in these organs. It is an open question whether the regulatory processes work according to a common principle and how far physical and geometrical constraints determine the branching process. Here, we review the known regulatory factors and physical constraints in lung, kidney, pancreas, prostate, mammary gland and salivary gland branching morphogenesis, and describe the models that have been formulated to analyse their impacts. PMID:24004663

Model-based branching point detection in single-cell data by K-branches clustering

PubMed Central

Chlis, Nikolaos K.; Wolf, F. Alexander; Theis, Fabian J.

2017-01-01

Abstract Motivation The identification of heterogeneities in cell populations by utilizing single-cell technologies such as single-cell RNA-Seq, enables inference of cellular development and lineage trees. Several methods have been proposed for such inference from high-dimensional single-cell data. They typically assign each cell to a branch in a differentiation trajectory. However, they commonly assume specific geometries such as tree-like developmental hierarchies and lack statistically sound methods to decide on the number of branching events. Results We present K-Branches, a solution to the above problem by locally fitting half-lines to single-cell data, introducing a clustering algorithm similar to K-Means. These halflines are proxies for branches in the differentiation trajectory of cells. We propose a modified version of the GAP statistic for model selection, in order to decide on the number of lines that best describe the data locally. In this manner, we identify the location and number of subgroups of cells that are associated with branching events and full differentiation, respectively. We evaluate the performance of our method on single-cell RNA-Seq data describing the differentiation of myeloid progenitors during hematopoiesis, single-cell qPCR data of mouse blastocyst development, single-cell qPCR data of human myeloid monocytic leukemia and artificial data. Availability and implementation An R implementation of K-Branches is freely available at https://github.com/theislab/kbranches. Contact fabian.theis@helmholtz-muenchen.de Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. PMID:28582478

Influence of knee flexion angle and transverse drill angle on creation of femoral tunnels in double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using the transportal technique: Three-dimensional computed tomography simulation analysis.

PubMed

Choi, Chong Hyuk; Kim, Sung-Jae; Chun, Yong-Min; Kim, Sung-Hwan; Lee, Su-Keon; Eom, Nam-Kyu; Jung, Min

2018-01-01

The purpose of this study was to find appropriate flexion angle and transverse drill angle for optimal femoral tunnels of anteromedial (AM) bundle and posterolateral (PL) bundle in double-bundle ACL reconstruction using transportal technique. Thirty three-dimensional knee models were reconstructed. Knee flexion angles were altered from 100° to 130° at intervals of 10°. Maximum transverse drill angle (MTA), MTA minus 10° and 20° were set up. Twelve different tunnels were determined by four flexion angles and three transverse drill angles for each bundle. Tunnel length, wall breakage, inter-tunnel communication and graft-bending angle were assessed. Mean tunnel length of AM bundle was >30mm at 120° and 130° of flexion in all transverse drill angles. Mean tunnel length of PL bundle was >30mm during every condition. There were ≥1 cases of wall breakage except at 120° and 130° of flexion with MTA for AM bundle. There was no case of wall breakage for PL bundle. Considering inter-tunnel gap of >2mm without communication and obtuse graft-bending angle, 120° of flexion and MTA could be recommended as optimal condition for femoral tunnels of AM and PL bundles. Flexion angle and transverse drill angle had combined effect on femoral tunnel in double-bundle ACL reconstruction using transportal technique. Achieving flexion angle of 120° and transverse drill angle close to the medial femoral condyle could be recommended as optimal condition for femoral tunnels of AM and PL bundles to avoid insufficient tunnel length, wall breakage, inter-tunnel communication and acute graft-bending angle. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Vegetation survey of PEN Branch wetlands

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

Not Available

A survey was conducted of vegetation along Pen Branch Creek at Savannah River Site (SRS) in support of K-Reactor restart. Plants were identified to species by overstory, understory, shrub, and groundcover strata. Abundance was also characterized and richness and diversity calculated. Based on woody species basal area, the Pen Branch delta was the most impacted, followed by the sections between the reactor and the delta. Species richness for shrub and groundcover strata were also lowest in the delta. No endangered plant species were found. Three upland pine areas were also sampled. In support of K Reactor restart, this report summarizesmore » a study of the wetland vegetation along Pen Branch. Reactor effluent enters Indian Grove Branch and then flows into Pen Branch and the Pen Branch Delta.« less

Vegetation survey of PEN Branch wetlands

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

Not Available

1991-01-01

A survey was conducted of vegetation along Pen Branch Creek at Savannah River Site (SRS) in support of K-Reactor restart. Plants were identified to species by overstory, understory, shrub, and groundcover strata. Abundance was also characterized and richness and diversity calculated. Based on woody species basal area, the Pen Branch delta was the most impacted, followed by the sections between the reactor and the delta. Species richness for shrub and groundcover strata were also lowest in the delta. No endangered plant species were found. Three upland pine areas were also sampled. In support of K Reactor restart, this report summarizesmore » a study of the wetland vegetation along Pen Branch. Reactor effluent enters Indian Grove Branch and then flows into Pen Branch and the Pen Branch Delta.« less

Comparison of the QRS Complex, ST-Segment, and T-Wave Among Patients with Left Bundle Branch Block with and without Acute Myocardial Infarction.

PubMed

Dodd, Kenneth W; Elm, Kendra D; Smith, Stephen W

2016-07-01

The modified Sgarbossa criteria have been validated as a rule for diagnosis of acute coronary occlusion (ACO) in left bundle branch block (LBBB). However, no analysis has been done on differences in the QRS complex, T-wave, or ST-segment concordance of < 1 mm in the derivation or validation studies. Furthermore, there was no comparison of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) but without ACO (i.e., non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction [non-STEMI]) to patients with ACO or without AMI (no MI). We compare findings involving the QRS amplitude, ST-segment morphology, ST-concordance < 1 mm, and T-waves in patients with LBBB with ACO, non-STEMI, and no MI. Retrospectively, emergency department patients were identified with LBBB and ischemic symptoms but no MI, with angiographically proven ACO, and with non-STEMI. ACO, non-STEMI, and no MI groups consisted of 33, 24, and 105 patients. The sum of the maximum deflection of the QRS amplitude across all leads (ΣQRS) was smaller in patients with ACO than those without ACO (101.5 mm vs. 132.5 mm; p < 0.0001) and a cutoff of ΣQRS < 90 mm was 92% specific. For ACO, non-concave ST-segment morphology was 91% specific, any ST concordance ≥ 1 mm was 95% specific, and any ST concordance ≥ 0.5 mm was 94% sensitive. For non-STEMI, terminal T-wave concordance, analogous to biphasic T-waves, was moderately sensitive at 79%. We found differences in QRS amplitude, ST-segment morphology, and T-waves between patients with LBBB and ACO, non-STEMI, and no MI. However, none of these criteria outperformed the modified Sgarbossa criteria for diagnosis of ACO in LBBB. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Acute Necrotizing Esophagitis Followed by Duodenal Necrosis

PubMed Central

del Hierro, Piedad Magdalena

2011-01-01

Acute Necrotizing Esophagitis is an uncommon pathology, characterized by endoscopic finding of diffuse black coloration in esophageal mucosa and histological presence of necrosis in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The first case of acute necrotizing esophagitis followed by duodenal necrosis, in 81 years old woman with a positive history of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, and usual intake of Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs, is reported. Although its etiology remains unknown, the duodenal necrosis suggests that ischemia could be the main cause given that the branches off the celiac axis provide common blood supply to the distal esophageal and duodenal tissue. The massive gastroesophagic reflux and NSAID intake could be involved. PMID:27957030

Branched Features on the Floor of Antoniadni Crater

NASA Image and Video Library

2009-05-06

In this image from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, the dark branched features in the floor of Antoniadi Crater look like giant ferns, or fern casts. However, these ferns would be several miles in size and are composed of rough rocky materials. A more likely hypothesis is that this represents a channel network that now stands in inverted relief. The channels may have been lined or filled by indurated materials, making the channel fill more resistant to erosion by the wind than surrounding materials. After probably billions of years of wind erosion the resistant channels are now relatively high-standing. The material between the branched ridges has a fracture pattern and color similar to deposits elsewhere on Mars that are known to be rich in hydrated minerals such as clays. The inverted channels have short, stubby branches characteristic of formation by groundwater sapping. Spring water seeps into the channels and undercuts overlying layers, which collapse, so the channels grow headward. These images tell the story of an ancient wet environment on Mars, where life could have been possible. Ancient Martian life, if it existed, would most likely consist of microorganisms rather than giant tree ferns. This image, covering an area about 1 kilometer (0.6 mile) across, is a portion of the HiRISE observation catalogued as ESP_012435_2015, taken on March 22, 2009. The observation is centered at 21.4 degrees north latitude, 61.3 degrees east longitude. The image was taken at a local Mars time of 3:31 p.m. and the scene is illuminated from the west with a solar incidence angle of 66 degrees, thus the sun was about 24 degrees above the horizon. At a solar longitude of 232.1 degrees, the season on Mars is northern autumn. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA12003

Qualitative numerical studies of the modification of the pitch angle distribution of test particles by alfvènic wave activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keilbach, D.; Drews, C.; Berger, L.; Marsch, E.; Wimmer-Schweingruber, R. F.

2017-12-01

Using a test particle approach we have investigated, how an oxygen pickup ion torus velocity distribution is modified by continuous and intermittent alfvènic waves on timescales, where the gyro trajectory of each particle can be traced.We have therefore exposed the test particles to mono frequent waves, which expanded through the whole simulation in time and space. The general behavior of the pitch angle distribution is found to be stationary and a nonlinear function of the wave frequency, amplitude and the initial angle between wave elongation and field-perpendicular particle velocity vector. The figure shows the time-averaged pitch angle distributions as a function of the Doppler shifted wave frequency (where the Doppler shift was calculated with respect to the particles initial velocity) for three different wave amplitudes (labeled in each panel). The background field is chosen to be 5 nT and the 500 test particles were initially distributed on a torus with 120° pitch angle at a solar wind velocity of 450 km/s. Each y-slice of the histogram (which has been normalized to it's respective maximum) represents an individual run of the simulation.The frequency-dependent behavior of the test particles is found to be classifiable into the regimes of very low/high frequencies and frequencies close to first order resonance. We have found, that only in the latter regime the particles interact strongly with the wave, where in the time averaged histograms a branch structure is found, which was identified as a trace of particles co-moving with the wave phase. The magnitude of pitch angle change of these particles is as well as the frequency margin, where the branch structure is found, an increasing function with the wave amplitude.We have also investigated the interaction with mono frequent intermittent waves. Exposed to such waves a torus distribution is scattered in pitch angle space, whereas the pitch angle distribution is broadened systematically over time similar to

Structural Mechanics and Dynamics Branch

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stefko, George

2003-01-01

The 2002 annual report of the Structural Mechanics and Dynamics Branch reflects the majority of the work performed by the branch staff during the 2002 calendar year. Its purpose is to give a brief review of the branch s technical accomplishments. The Structural Mechanics and Dynamics Branch develops innovative computational tools, benchmark experimental data, and solutions to long-term barrier problems in the areas of propulsion aeroelasticity, active and passive damping, engine vibration control, rotor dynamics, magnetic suspension, structural mechanics, probabilistics, smart structures, engine system dynamics, and engine containment. Furthermore, the branch is developing a compact, nonpolluting, bearingless electric machine with electric power supplied by fuel cells for future "more electric" aircraft. An ultra-high-power-density machine that can generate projected power densities of 50 hp/lb or more, in comparison to conventional electric machines, which generate usually 0.2 hp/lb, is under development for application to electric drives for propulsive fans or propellers. In the future, propulsion and power systems will need to be lighter, to operate at higher temperatures, and to be more reliable in order to achieve higher performance and economic viability. The Structural Mechanics and Dynamics Branch is working to achieve these complex, challenging goals.

Equilibrium contact angle or the most-stable contact angle?

PubMed

Montes Ruiz-Cabello, F J; Rodríguez-Valverde, M A; Cabrerizo-Vílchez, M A

2014-04-01

It is well-established that the equilibrium contact angle in a thermodynamic framework is an "unattainable" contact angle. Instead, the most-stable contact angle obtained from mechanical stimuli of the system is indeed experimentally accessible. Monitoring the susceptibility of a sessile drop to a mechanical stimulus enables to identify the most stable drop configuration within the practical range of contact angle hysteresis. Two different stimuli may be used with sessile drops: mechanical vibration and tilting. The most stable drop against vibration should reveal the changeless contact angle but against the gravity force, it should reveal the highest resistance to slide down. After the corresponding mechanical stimulus, once the excited drop configuration is examined, the focus will be on the contact angle of the initial drop configuration. This methodology needs to map significantly the static drop configurations with different stable contact angles. The most-stable contact angle, together with the advancing and receding contact angles, completes the description of physically realizable configurations of a solid-liquid system. Since the most-stable contact angle is energetically significant, it may be used in the Wenzel, Cassie or Cassie-Baxter equations accordingly or for the surface energy evaluation. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

What can the dihedral angle of conjugate-faults tell us?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ismat, Zeshan

2015-04-01

Deformation within the upper crust (elastico-frictional regime) is largely accommodated by fractures and conjugate faults. The Coulomb fracture criterion leads us to expect that the average dihedral angle of conjugate-fault sets is expected to be ∼60°. Experiments, however, reveal a significant amount of scatter from this 60° average. The confining pressure under which these rocks are deformed is a contributing factor to this scatter. The Canyon Range syncline, Sevier fold-thrust belt (USA) and the Jebel Bani, Anti-Atlas fold-belt (Morocco) both folded under different depths, within the elastico-frictional regime, by cataclastic flow. Conjugate-fault sets assisted deformation by cataclastic flow. The Canyon Range syncline and the Jebel Bani are used here as natural examples to test the relationship between the dihedral angle of conjugate-faults and confining pressure. Variations is confining pressure are modeled by the difference in depth of deformation and position within the folds. Results from this study show that the dihedral angle increases with an increase in depth and within the hinge regions of folds, where space problems commonly occur. Moreover, the shortening directions based on the acute bisectors of conjugate-faults may not be accurately determined if the dihedral angles are unusually large or small, leading to incorrect kinematic analyses.

Longitudinal changes of angle configuration in primary angle-closure suspects: the Zhongshan Angle-Closure Prevention Trial.

PubMed

Jiang, Yuzhen; Chang, Dolly S; Zhu, Haogang; Khawaja, Anthony P; Aung, Tin; Huang, Shengsong; Chen, Qianyun; Munoz, Beatriz; Grossi, Carlota M; He, Mingguang; Friedman, David S; Foster, Paul J

2014-09-01

To determine longitudinal changes in angle configuration in the eyes of primary angle-closure suspects (PACS) treated by laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) and in untreated fellow eyes. Longitudinal cohort study. Primary angle-closure suspects aged 50 to 70 years were enrolled in a randomized, controlled clinical trial. Each participant was treated by LPI in 1 randomly selected eye, with the fellow eye serving as a control. Angle width was assessed in a masked fashion using gonioscopy and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) before and at 2 weeks, 6 months, and 18 months after LPI. Angle width in degrees was calculated from Shaffer grades assessed under static gonioscopy. Angle configuration was also evaluated using angle opening distance (AOD250, AOD500, AOD750), trabecular-iris space area (TISA500, TISA750), and angle recess area (ARA) measured in AS-OCT images. No significant difference was found in baseline measures of angle configuration between treated and untreated eyes. At 2 weeks after LPI, the drainage angle on gonioscopy widened from a mean of 13.5° at baseline to a mean of 25.7° in treated eyes, which was also confirmed by significant increases in all AS-OCT angle width measures (P<0.001 for all variables). Between 2 weeks and 18 months after LPI, a significant decrease in angle width was observed over time in treated eyes (P<0.001 for all variables), although the change over the first 5.5 months was not statistically significant for angle width measured under gonioscopy (P = 0.18), AOD250 (P = 0.167) and ARA (P = 0.83). In untreated eyes, angle width consistently decreased across all follow-up visits after LPI, with a more rapid longitudinal decrease compared with treated eyes (P values for all variables ≤0.003). The annual rate of change in angle width was equivalent to 1.2°/year (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.8-1.6) in treated eyes and 1.6°/year (95% CI, 1.3-2.0) in untreated eyes (P<0.001). Angle width of treated eyes

Structural dynamics branch research and accomplishments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1990-01-01

Summaries are presented of fiscal year 1989 research highlights from the Structural Dynamics Branch at NASA Lewis Research Center. Highlights from the branch's major work areas include aeroelasticity, vibration control, dynamic systems, and computation structural methods. A listing of the fiscal year 1989 branch publications is given.

Molecular epidemiology of WU polyomavirus in hospitalized children with acute respiratory tract infection in China.

PubMed

Zhu, Teng; Lu, Qing-Bin; Zhang, Shu-Yan; Wo, Ying; Zhuang, Lu; Zhang, Pan-He; Zhang, Xiao-Ai; Wei, Wei; Liu, Wei

2017-05-01

To explore the molecular epidemiology and clinical characteristics of Washington University polyomavirus (WUPyV) infection in pediatric patients with acute respiratory tract infections in China. A laboratory surveillance was performed to recruit pediatric patients with acute respiratory tract infections. WUPyV was detected using real-time PCR and complete genome was sequenced for randomly selected positive nasopharyngeal aspirate. Altogether 122 (7.5%) of 1617 children found to be infected with WUPyV and 88 (72.1%) were coinfected with other viruses during 2012-2015. The phylogenetic analysis showed that 14 strains from our study formed two new clusters (Id and IIIc) within the Branch I and Branch III, respectively. WUPyV is persistently circulating in China. Surveillance on WUPyV infection in wider areas and long persistence is warranted.

Research program of the Geodynamics Branch

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kahn, W. D. (Editor); Cohen, S. C. (Editor); Boccucci, B. S. (Editor)

1986-01-01

This report is the Fourth Annual Summary of the Research Program of the Geodynamics Branch. The branch is located within the Laboratory for Terrestrial Physics of the Space and Earth Sciences Directorate of the Goddard Space Flight Center. The research activities of the branch staff cover a broad spectrum of geoscience disciplines including: tectonophysics, space geodesy, geopotential field modeling, and dynamic oceanography. The NASA programs which are supported by the work described in this document include the Geodynamics and Ocean Programs, the Crustal Dynamics Project and the proposed Ocean Topography Experiment (TOPEX). The reports highlight the investigations conducted by the Geodynamics Branch staff during calendar year 1985. The individual papers are grouped into chapters on Crustal Movements and Solid Earth Dynamics, Gravity Field Modeling and Sensing Techniques, and Sea Surface Topography. Further information on the activities of the branch or the particular research efforts described herein can be obtained through the branch office or from individual staff members.

Angle-resolved molecular beam scattering of NO at the gas-liquid interface.

PubMed

Zutz, Amelia; Nesbitt, David J

2017-08-07

This study presents first results on angle-resolved, inelastic collision dynamics of thermal and hyperthermal molecular beams of NO at gas-liquid interfaces. Specifically, a collimated incident beam of supersonically cooled NO ( 2 Π 1/2 , J = 0.5) is directed toward a series of low vapor pressure liquid surfaces ([bmim][Tf 2 N], squalane, and PFPE) at θ inc = 45(1)°, with the scattered molecules detected with quantum state resolution over a series of final angles (θ s = -60°, -30°, 0°, 30°, 45°, and 60°) via spatially filtered laser induced fluorescence. At low collision energies [E inc = 2.7(9) kcal/mol], the angle-resolved quantum state distributions reveal (i) cos(θ s ) probabilities for the scattered NO and (ii) electronic/rotational temperatures independent of final angle (θ s ), in support of a simple physical picture of angle independent sticking coefficients and all incident NO thermally accommodating on the surface. However, the observed electronic/rotational temperatures for NO scattering reveal cooling below the surface temperature (T elec < T rot < T S ) for all three liquids, indicating a significant dependence of the sticking coefficient on NO internal quantum state. Angle-resolved scattering at high collision energies [E inc = 20(2) kcal/mol] has also been explored, for which the NO scattering populations reveal angle-dependent dynamical branching between thermal desorption and impulsive scattering (IS) pathways that depend strongly on θ s . Characterization of the data in terms of the final angle, rotational state, spin-orbit electronic state, collision energy, and liquid permit new correlations to be revealed and investigated in detail. For example, the IS rotational distributions reveal an enhanced propensity for higher J/spin-orbit excited states scattered into near specular angles and thus hotter rotational/electronic distributions measured in the forward scattering direction. Even more surprisingly, the average NO scattering angle

[Branches of the National Institute of Hygiene].

PubMed

Gromulska, Marta

2008-01-01

National Epidemiological Institute (National Institute of Hygiene, from 7th September 1923) was established in 1918 in Warsaw and acted at national level. Its actions in the field of diseases combat were supported by bacteriological stations and vaccine production in voivodeship cities, which were taken charge of by the state, and names "National Epidemiological Institutes". According to the ministers resolution from 6th July 1921,Epidemiological Institutes were merged to National Central Epidemiological Institutes (PZH), the epidemiological institutes outside Warsaw were named branches, which were to be located in every voivodeship city, according to the initial organizational resolutions. There were country branches of NCEI in: Cracow, Lwów, Lódź, Toruń, Lublin, and Wilno in the period 1919-1923. New branches in Poznań (1925), Gdynia(1934), Katowice (Voivodeship Institute of Hygiene (1936), Luck (1937), Stanisławów (1937), Kielce(1938), and Brześć/Bug (Municipal Station acting as branch of National Central Epidemiological Institute. Branches were subordinated to NCEI-PZH) in Warsaw where action plans and unified research and diagnostic method were established and annual meeting of the country branches managers took place. All branches cooperated with hospitals, national health services, district general practitioners and administration structure in control of infectious diseases. In 1938, the post of branch inspector was established, the first of whom was Feliks Przesmycki PhD. Branches cooperated also with University of Cracow, University of Lwów and University of Wilno. In 1935, National Institutes of Food Research was incorporated in PZH, Water Department was established, and these areas of activity began to develop in the branches accordingly. In 1938 there were 13 branches of PZH, and each had three divisions: bacteriological, food research and water research. Three branches in Cracow, Kielce and Lublin worked during World War II under German

30 CFR 56.6403 - Branch circuits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... SAFETY AND HEALTH SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS-SURFACE METAL AND NONMETAL MINES Explosives Electric Blasting § 56.6403 Branch circuits. (a) If electric blasting includes the use of branch circuits, each... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Branch circuits. 56.6403 Section 56.6403...

17 CFR 166.4 - Branch offices.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 17 Commodity and Securities Exchanges 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Branch offices. 166.4 Section 166.4 Commodity and Securities Exchanges COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION CUSTOMER PROTECTION RULES § 166.4 Branch offices. Each branch office of each Commission registrant must use the name of the...

Branch Input Resistance and Steady Attenuation for Input to One Branch of a Dendritic Neuron Model

PubMed Central

Rall, Wilfrid; Rinzel, John

1973-01-01

Mathematical solutions and numerical illustrations are presented for the steady-state distribution of membrane potential in an extensively branched neuron model, when steady electric current is injected into only one dendritic branch. Explicit expressions are obtained for input resistance at the branch input site and for voltage attenuation from the input site to the soma; expressions for AC steady-state input impedance and attenuation are also presented. The theoretical model assumes passive membrane properties and the equivalent cylinder constraint on branch diameters. Numerical examples illustrate how branch input resistance and steady attenuation depend upon the following: the number of dendritic trees, the orders of dendritic branching, the electrotonic length of the dendritic trees, the location of the dendritic input site, and the input resistance at the soma. The application to cat spinal motoneurons, and to other neuron types, is discussed. The effect of a large dendritic input resistance upon the amount of local membrane depolarization at the synaptic site, and upon the amount of depolarization reaching the soma, is illustrated and discussed; simple proportionality with input resistance does not hold, in general. Also, branch input resistance is shown to exceed the input resistance at the soma by an amount that is always less than the sum of core resistances along the path from the input site to the soma. PMID:4715583

Damage Tolerance Assessment Branch

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Walker, James L.

2013-01-01

The Damage Tolerance Assessment Branch evaluates the ability of a structure to perform reliably throughout its service life in the presence of a defect, crack, or other form of damage. Such assessment is fundamental to the use of structural materials and requires an integral blend of materials engineering, fracture testing and analysis, and nondestructive evaluation. The vision of the Branch is to increase the safety of manned space flight by improving the fracture control and the associated nondestructive evaluation processes through development and application of standards, guidelines, advanced test and analytical methods. The Branch also strives to assist and solve non-aerospace related NDE and damage tolerance problems, providing consultation, prototyping and inspection services.

39 CFR 241.2 - Stations and branches.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... number, letter or name. As a general rule, branches are named. (2) Stations and branches transact... 39 Postal Service 1 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Stations and branches. 241.2 Section 241.2 Postal... DISCONTINUANCE § 241.2 Stations and branches. (a) Description. (1) Stations are established within the corporate...

39 CFR 241.2 - Stations and branches.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... number, letter or name. As a general rule, branches are named. (2) Stations and branches transact... 39 Postal Service 1 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Stations and branches. 241.2 Section 241.2 Postal... DISCONTINUANCE § 241.2 Stations and branches. (a) Description. (1) Stations are established within the corporate...

39 CFR 241.2 - Stations and branches.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... number, letter or name. As a general rule, branches are named. (2) Stations and branches transact... 39 Postal Service 1 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Stations and branches. 241.2 Section 241.2 Postal... DISCONTINUANCE § 241.2 Stations and branches. (a) Description. (1) Stations are established within the corporate...

39 CFR 241.2 - Stations and branches.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... number, letter or name. As a general rule, branches are named. (2) Stations and branches transact... 39 Postal Service 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Stations and branches. 241.2 Section 241.2 Postal... DISCONTINUANCE § 241.2 Stations and branches. (a) Description. (1) Stations are established within the corporate...

39 CFR 241.2 - Stations and branches.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... number, letter or name. As a general rule, branches are named. (2) Stations and branches transact... 39 Postal Service 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Stations and branches. 241.2 Section 241.2 Postal... DISCONTINUANCE § 241.2 Stations and branches. (a) Description. (1) Stations are established within the corporate...

Molecular Analysis of Sensory Axon Branching Unraveled a cGMP-Dependent Signaling Cascade.

PubMed

Dumoulin, Alexandre; Ter-Avetisyan, Gohar; Schmidt, Hannes; Rathjen, Fritz G

2018-04-24

Axonal branching is a key process in the establishment of circuit connectivity within the nervous system. Molecular-genetic studies have shown that a specific form of axonal branching—the bifurcation of sensory neurons at the transition zone between the peripheral and the central nervous system—is regulated by a cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent signaling cascade which is composed of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), the receptor guanylyl cyclase Npr2, and cGMP-dependent protein kinase Iα (cGKIα). In the absence of any one of these components, neurons in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and cranial sensory ganglia no longer bifurcate, and instead turn in either an ascending or a descending direction. In contrast, collateral axonal branch formation which represents a second type of axonal branch formation is not affected by inactivation of CNP, Npr2, or cGKI. Whereas axon bifurcation was lost in mouse mutants deficient for components of CNP-induced cGMP formation; the absence of the cGMP-degrading enzyme phosphodiesterase 2A had no effect on axon bifurcation. Adult mice that lack sensory axon bifurcation due to the conditional inactivation of Npr2-mediated cGMP signaling in DRG neurons demonstrated an altered shape of sensory axon terminal fields in the spinal cord, indicating that elaborate compensatory mechanisms reorganize neuronal circuits in the absence of bifurcation. On a functional level, these mice showed impaired heat sensation and nociception induced by chemical irritants, whereas responses to cold sensation, mechanical stimulation, and motor coordination are normal. These data point to a critical role of axon bifurcation for the processing of acute pain perception.

7 CFR 51.578 - Branch.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

..., CERTIFICATION, AND STANDARDS) United States Standards for Celery Definitions § 51.578 Branch. Branch means the leaf of a stalk and consists of the edible stem-like portion and the tops or leaf blades. ...

7 CFR 51.578 - Branch.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

..., CERTIFICATION, AND STANDARDS) United States Standards for Celery Definitions § 51.578 Branch. Branch means the leaf of a stalk and consists of the edible stem-like portion and the tops or leaf blades. ...

12 CFR 545.92 - Branch offices.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 12 Banks and Banking 5 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Branch offices. 545.92 Section 545.92 Banks and Banking OFFICE OF THRIFT SUPERVISION, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY FEDERAL SAVINGS ASSOCIATIONS-OPERATIONS § 545.92 Branch offices. (a) Definition. A branch office of a Federal savings association (“you”) is any...

Turing mechanism underlying a branching model for lung morphogenesis.

PubMed

Xu, Hui; Sun, Mingzhu; Zhao, Xin

2017-01-01

The mammalian lung develops through branching morphogenesis. Two primary forms of branching, which occur in order, in the lung have been identified: tip bifurcation and side branching. However, the mechanisms of lung branching morphogenesis remain to be explored. In our previous study, a biological mechanism was presented for lung branching pattern formation through a branching model. Here, we provide a mathematical mechanism underlying the branching patterns. By decoupling the branching model, we demonstrated the existence of Turing instability. We performed Turing instability analysis to reveal the mathematical mechanism of the branching patterns. Our simulation results show that the Turing patterns underlying the branching patterns are spot patterns that exhibit high local morphogen concentration. The high local morphogen concentration induces the growth of branching. Furthermore, we found that the sparse spot patterns underlie the tip bifurcation patterns, while the dense spot patterns underlies the side branching patterns. The dispersion relation analysis shows that the Turing wavelength affects the branching structure. As the wavelength decreases, the spot patterns change from sparse to dense, the rate of tip bifurcation decreases and side branching eventually occurs instead. In the process of transformation, there may exists hybrid branching that mixes tip bifurcation and side branching. Since experimental studies have reported that branching mode switching from side branching to tip bifurcation in the lung is under genetic control, our simulation results suggest that genes control the switch of the branching mode by regulating the Turing wavelength. Our results provide a novel insight into and understanding of the formation of branching patterns in the lung and other biological systems.

In-hospital outcome in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction and right bundle branch block. A sub-study from RENASICA II, a national multicenter registry.

PubMed

Juárez-Herrera, Ursulo; Jerjes Sánchez, Carlos; González-Pacheco, Héctor; Martínez-Sánchez, Carlos

2010-01-01

Compare in-hospital outcome in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction with right versus left bundle branch block. RENASICA II, a national Mexican registry enrolled 8098 patients with final diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome secondary to ischemic heart disease. In 4555 STEMI patients, 545 had bundle branch block, 318 (58.3%) with right and 225 patients with left (41.6%). Both groups were compared in terms of in-hospital outcome through major cardiovascular adverse events; (cardiovascular death, recurrent ischemia and reinfarction). Multivariable analysis was performed to identify in-hospital mortality risk among right and left bundle branch block patients. There were not statistical differences in both groups regarding baseline characteristics, time of ischemia, myocardial infarction location, ventricular dysfunction and reperfusion strategies. In-hospital outcome in bundle branch block group was characterized by a high incidence of major cardiovascular adverse events with a trend to higher mortality in patients with right bundle branch block (OR 1.70, CI 1.19 - 2.42, p < 0.003), compared to left bundle branch block patients. In this sub-study right bundle branch block accompanying ST-elevation myocardial infarction of any location at emergency room presentation was an independent predictor of high in-hospital mortality.

Joint mobilization acutely improves landing kinematics in chronic ankle instability.

PubMed

Delahunt, Eamonn; Cusack, Kim; Wilson, Laura; Doherty, Cailbhe

2013-03-01

The objective of this study is to examine the acute effect of ankle joint mobilizations akin to those performed in everyday clinical practice on sagittal plane ankle joint kinematics during a single-leg drop landing in participants with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Fifteen participants with self-reported CAI (defined as <24 on the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool) performed three single-leg drop landings under two different conditions: 1) premobilization and, 2) immediately, postmobilization. The mobilizations performed included Mulligan talocrural joint dorsiflexion mobilization with movement, Mulligan inferior tibiofibular joint mobilization, and Maitland anteroposterior talocrural joint mobilization. Three CODA cx1 units (Charnwood Dynamics Ltd., Leicestershire, UK) were used to provide information on ankle joint sagittal plane angular displacement. The dependent variable under investigation was the angle of ankle joint plantarflexion at the point of initial contact during the drop landing. There was a statistically significant acute decrease in the angle of ankle joint plantarflexion from premobilization (34.89° ± 4.18°) to postmobilization (31.90° ± 5.89°), t(14) = 2.62, P < 0.05 (two-tailed). The mean decrease in the angle of ankle joint plantarflexion as a result of the ankle joint mobilization was 2.98° with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 0.54 to 5.43. The eta squared statistic (0.32) indicated a large effect size. These results indicate that mobilization acted to acutely reduce the angle of ankle joint plantarflexion at initial contact during a single-leg drop landing. Mobilization applied to participants with CAI has a mechanical effect on the ankle joint, thus facilitating a more favorable positioning of the ankle joint when landing from a jump.

USPIO-enhanced 3D-cine self-gated cardiac MRI based on a stack-of-stars golden angle short echo time sequence: Application on mice with acute myocardial infarction.

PubMed

Trotier, Aurélien J; Castets, Charles R; Lefrançois, William; Ribot, Emeline J; Franconi, Jean-Michel; Thiaudière, Eric; Miraux, Sylvain

2016-08-01

To develop and assess a 3D-cine self-gated method for cardiac imaging of murine models. A 3D stack-of-stars (SOS) short echo time (STE) sequence with a navigator echo was performed at 7T on healthy mice (n = 4) and mice with acute myocardial infarction (MI) (n = 4) injected with ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles. In all, 402 spokes were acquired per stack with the incremental or the golden angle method using an angle increment of (360/402)° or 222.48°, respectively. A cylindrical k-space was filled and repeated with a maximum number of repetitions (NR) of 10. 3D cine cardiac images at 156 μm resolution were reconstructed retrospectively and compared for the two methods in terms of contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). The golden angle images were also reconstructed with NR = 10, 6, and 3, to assess cardiac functional parameters (ejection fraction, EF) on both animal models. The combination of 3D SOS-STE and USPIO injection allowed us to optimize the identification of cardiac peaks on navigator signal and generate high CNR between blood and myocardium (15.3 ± 1.0). The golden angle method resulted in a more homogeneous distribution of the spokes inside a stack (P < 0.05), enabling reducing the acquisition time to 15 minutes. EF was significantly different between healthy and MI mice (P < 0.05). The method proposed here showed that 3D-cine images could be obtained without electrocardiogram or respiratory gating in mice. It allows precise measurement of cardiac functional parameters even on MI mice. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;44:355-365. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Guide to the Seattle Archives Branch.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hobbs, Richard, Comp.

The guide presents an overview of the textual and microfilmed records located at the Seattle Branch of the National Archives of the United States. Established in 1969, the Seattle Archives Branch is one of 11 branches which preserve and make available for research those U.S. Government records of permanent value created and maintained by Federal…

The Effects of a Branch Campus

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lien, Donald; Wang, Yaqin

2012-01-01

We examine the effects of a branch campus on the social welfare of the host country and the foreign university. Overall, we find that a branch campus increases both the domestic social welfare (measured by the aggregate student utility) and the tuition revenue of the foreign university. The effect of a branch campus on the brain drain is…

Modified parton branching model for multi-particle production in hadronic collisions: Application to SUSY particle branching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuanyuan, Zhang

The stochastic branching model of multi-particle productions in high energy collision has theoretical basis in perturbative QCD, and also successfully describes the experimental data for a wide energy range. However, over the years, little attention has been put on the branching model for supersymmetric (SUSY) particles. In this thesis, a stochastic branching model has been built to describe the pure supersymmetric particle jets evolution. This model is a modified two-phase stochastic branching process, or more precisely a two phase Simple Birth Process plus Poisson Process. The general case that the jets contain both ordinary particle jets and supersymmetric particle jets has also been investigated. We get the multiplicity distribution of the general case, which contains a Hypergeometric function in its expression. We apply this new multiplicity distribution to the current experimental data of pp collision at center of mass energy √s = 0.9, 2.36, 7 TeV. The fitting shows the supersymmetric particles haven't participate branching at current collision energy.

Magnetic guide-wire navigation in pulmonary and systemic arterial catheterization: initial experience in pigs.

PubMed

Grosse-Wortmann, Lars; Grabitz, Ralf; Seghaye, Marie-Christine

2007-04-01

Cardiovascular catheterization can be challenging whenever a stenosis or an abnormal vascular course interferes with probing the target vessel. This study addresses the feasibility of navigating a guide wire with a magnetic tip by an external magnetic field through pulmonary and systemic arteries in an experimental porcine model. We investigated six piglets using magnetic guide-wire navigation. Two pulmonary arteriograms were taken from different angles in order to reconstruct the three-dimensional vessel anatomy. A computer interface then calculated three-dimensional coordinates for the vessel in space. Using these coordinates, two external magnets were positioned to create magnetic vectors along the expected vessel course. Magnetically enabled guide wires were then navigated into the vessels using the magnetic field to orient the guide-wire tips. Aortic and renal branches were addressed in a similar fashion. Difficulty in reaching the target vessel was reflected by the number of attempts that were necessary. After 10 failed attempts, the maneuver was recorded to have failed. Thirty-five of 37 (94.6%) arteries with branches at acute angles were reached successfully using magnetic navigation. In two pigs, the left upper lobe artery could not be probed. Peripheral arteries of small diameter were easier to reach than large central arteries, requiring less attempts. Magnetic guide-wire navigation is feasible in the arteries of the lungs, the head and neck, and the kidneys. It is particularly useful in entering small arterial branches at acute angles and may facilitate interventional therapy in a variety of vascular diseases in children and adults.

New branched DNA constructs.

PubMed

Chandra, Madhavaiah; Keller, Sascha; Gloeckner, Christian; Bornemann, Benjamin; Marx, Andreas

2007-01-01

The Watson-Crick base pairing of DNA is an advantageous phenomenon that can be exploited when using DNA as a scaffold for directed self-organization of nanometer-sized objects. Several reports have appeared in the literature that describe the generation of branched DNA (bDNA) with variable numbers of arms that self-assembles into predesigned architectures. These bDNA units are generated by using cleverly designed rigid crossover DNA molecules. Alternatively, bDNA can be generated by using synthetic branch points derived from either nucleoside or non-nucleoside building blocks. Branched DNA has scarcely been explored for use in nanotechnology or from self-assembling perspectives. Herein, we wish to report our results for the synthesis, characterization, and assembling properties of asymmetrical bDNA molecules that are able to generate linear and circular bDNA constructs. Our strategy for the generation of bDNA is based on a branching point that makes use of a novel protecting-group strategy. The bDNA units were generated by means of automated DNA synthesis methods and were used to generate novel objects by employing chemical and biological techniques. The entities generated might be useful building blocks for DNA-based nanobiotechnology.

Longitudinal Changes of Angle Configuration in Primary Angle-Closure Suspects

PubMed Central

Jiang, Yuzhen; Chang, Dolly S.; Zhu, Haogang; Khawaja, Anthony P.; Aung, Tin; Huang, Shengsong; Chen, Qianyun; Munoz, Beatriz; Grossi, Carlota M.

2015-01-01

Objective To determine longitudinal changes in angle configuration in the eyes of primary angle-closure suspects (PACS) treated by laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) and in untreated fellow eyes. Design Longitudinal cohort study. Participants Primary angle-closure suspects aged 50 to 70 years were enrolled in a randomized, controlled clinical trial. Methods Each participant was treated by LPI in 1 randomly selected eye, with the fellow eye serving as a control. Angle width was assessed in a masked fashion using gonioscopy and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) before and at 2 weeks, 6 months, and 18 months after LPI. Main Outcome Measures Angle width in degrees was calculated from Shaffer grades assessed under static gonioscopy. Angle configuration was also evaluated using angle opening distance (AOD250, AOD500, AOD750), trabecular-iris space area (TISA500, TISA750), and angle recess area (ARA) measured in AS-OCT images. Results No significant difference was found in baseline measures of angle configuration between treated and untreated eyes. At 2 weeks after LPI, the drainage angle on gonioscopy widened from a mean of 13.5° at baseline to a mean of 25.7° in treated eyes, which was also confirmed by significant increases in all AS-OCT angle width measures (P<0.001 for all variables). Between 2 weeks and 18 months after LPI, a significant decrease in angle width was observed over time in treated eyes (P<0.001 for all variables), although the change over the first 5.5 months was not statistically significant for angle width measured under gonioscopy (P = 0.18), AOD250 (P = 0.167) and ARA (P = 0.83). In untreated eyes, angle width consistently decreased across all follow-up visits after LPI, with a more rapid longitudinal decrease compared with treated eyes (P values for all variables ≤0.003). The annual rate of change in angle width was equivalent to 1.2°/year (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.8–1.6) in treated eyes and 1.6°/year (95% CI, 1

[Electrocardiographic abnormalities in acute olanzapine poisonings].

PubMed

Ciszowski, Krzysztof; Sein Anand, Jacek

2011-01-01

Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic used for many years in the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Poisonings with this medicine can results with cardiotoxic effects in the form of ECG abnormalities. To evaluate the nature and incidence of electrocardiographic abnormalities in patients with acute olanzapine poisoning. 23 adult (mean age 38.4 +/- 15.5 years) patients with acute olanzapine poisoning, including 10 men (30.4 +/- 8.1 years) and 11 women (45.7 +/- 17.2 years), where 1 man and 1 woman were poisoned twice. The toxic serum level of olanzapine (above 100 ng/mL) was confirmed in each patient. Evaluation of electrocardiograms performed in patients in the first day of hospitalization with automatic measurement of durations of PQ, QRS and QTc and the identification of arrhythmias and conduction disorders on the basis of visual analysis of the ECG waveforms. Statistical analysis of the results using the methods of descriptive statistics. The mean durations of PQ, QRS and QTc in the study group were as follows: 135 +/- 23 ms, 91 +/- 12 ms, and 453 +/- 48 ms, respectively. The most common ECG abnormalities were prolonged QTc and supraventricular tachycardia (including sinus tachycardia) - each 22%; less common were ST-T changes (17%) and supraventricular premature complexes (9%), and only in individual cases (4%) ventricular premature complexes, bundle branch block, sinus bradycardia and atrial fibrillation were present. In the course of acute olanzapine poisonings: (1) prolonged QTc interval is quite common, but rarely leads to torsade de pointes tachycardia; (2) fast supraventricular rhythms are also common, but rarely cause irregular tachyarrhythmias, eg. atrial fibrillation; (3) conduction disorders (atrioventricular blocks, bundle branch blocks) are not typical abnormalities; (4) the observed ECG abnormalities emphasize the need of continuous ECG monitoring in these patients.

Stacking and Branching in Self-Aggregation of Caffeine in Aqueous Solution: From the Supramolecular to Atomic Scale Clustering.

PubMed

Tavagnacco, Letizia; Gerelli, Yuri; Cesàro, Attilio; Brady, John W

2016-09-22

The dynamical and structural properties of caffeine solutions at the solubility limit have been investigated as a function of temperature by means of MD simulations, static and dynamic light scattering, and small angle neutron scattering experiments. A clear picture unambiguously supported by both experiment and simulation emerges: caffeine self-aggregation promotes the formation of two distinct types of clusters: linear aggregates of stacked molecules, formed by 2-14 caffeine molecules depending on the thermodynamic conditions and disordered branched aggregates with a size in the range 1000-3000 Å. While the first type of association is well-known to occur under room temperature conditions for both caffeine and other purine systems, such as nucleotides, the presence of the supramolecular aggregates has not been reported previously. MD simulations indicate that branched structures are formed by caffeine molecules in a T-shaped arrangement. An increase of the solubility limit (higher temperature but also higher concentration) broadens the distribution of cluster sizes, promoting the formation of stacked aggregates composed by a larger number of caffeine molecules. Surprisingly, the effect on the branched aggregates is rather limited. Their internal structure and size do not change considerably in the range of solubility limits investigated.

Experimental cross-correlation nitrogen Q-branch CARS thermometry in a spark ignition engine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lockett, R. D.; Ball, D.; Robertson, G. N.

2013-07-01

A purely experimental technique was employed to derive temperatures from nitrogen Q-branch Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) spectra, obtained in a high pressure, high temperature environment (spark ignition Otto engine). This was in order to obviate any errors arising from deficiencies in the spectral scaling laws which are commonly used to represent nitrogen Q-branch CARS spectra at high pressure. The spectra obtained in the engine were compared with spectra obtained in a calibrated high pressure, high temperature cell, using direct cross-correlation in place of the minimisation of sums of squares of residuals. The technique is demonstrated through the measurement of air temperature as a function of crankshaft angle inside the cylinder of a motored single-cylinder Ricardo E6 research engine, followed by the measurement of fuel-air mixture temperatures obtained during the compression stroke in a knocking Ricardo E6 engine. A standard CARS programme (SANDIA's CARSFIT) was employed to calibrate the altered non-resonant background contribution to the CARS spectra that was caused by the alteration to the mole fraction of nitrogen in the unburned fuel-air mixture. The compression temperature profiles were extrapolated in order to predict the auto-ignition temperatures.

Additional chain-branching pathways in the low-temperature oxidation of branched alkanes

DOE PAGES

Wang, Zhandong; Zhang, Lidong; Moshammer, Kai; ...

2015-12-31

Chain-branching reactions represent a general motif in chemistry, encountered in atmospheric chemistry, combustion, polymerization, and photochemistry; the nature and amount of radicals generated by chain-branching are decisive for the reaction progress, its energy signature, and the time towards its completion. In this study, experimental evidence for two new types of chain-branching reactions is presented, based upon detection of highly oxidized multifunctional molecules (HOM) formed during the gas-phase low-temperature oxidation of a branched alkane under conditions relevant to combustion. The oxidation of 2,5-dimethylhexane (DMH) in a jet-stirred reactor (JSR) was studied using synchrotron vacuum ultra-violet photoionization molecular beam mass spectrometry (SVUV-PI-MBMS).more » Specifically, species with four and five oxygen atoms were probed, having molecular formulas of C 8H 14O 4 (e.g., diketo-hydroperoxide/keto-hydroperoxy cyclic ether) and C 8H 16O 5 (e.g., keto-dihydroperoxide/dihydroperoxy cyclic ether), respectively. The formation of C 8H 16O 5 species involves alternative isomerization of OOQOOH radicals via intramolecular H-atom migration, followed by third O 2 addition, intramolecular isomerization, and OH release; C 8H 14O 4 species are proposed to result from subsequent reactions of C 8H 16O 5 species. The mechanistic pathways involving these species are related to those proposed as a source of low-volatility highly oxygenated species in Earth's troposphere. At the higher temperatures relevant to auto-ignition, they can result in a net increase of hydroxyl radical production, so these are additional radical chain-branching pathways for ignition. Furthermore, the results presented herein extend the conceptual basis of reaction mechanisms used to predict the reaction behavior of ignition, and have implications on atmospheric gas-phase chemistry and the oxidative stability of organic substances.« less

Branched nanostructured anodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alayashi, Wissal

The high relative efficiency demonstrated in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) arises from a combination of light scattering within, and photo-generated electron transport through, the porous structure of a TiO2 anodes. However, the convoluted conduction path for extracting photo-generated electrons through the sponge-like structure of conventional DSSC anodes has limited further improvement. This thesis is an investigation of thin film deposited TiO2 anodes with branched tree-like structures that mimic the highly-efficient natural flow structures of trees, rivers, and the human vascular system, which can providing uninterrupted paths for photo-generated electron transport through the hierarchical branches. The main goal has been the development of a robust fabrication process for the study of DSSCs with anodes deposited with glancing angle deposition (GLAD) as it is a new area of research and the first DSSCs produced in our lab. The anodes are deposited as thin films using electron-beam evaporation with two different source of material: metallic Ti and TiO2. Ti films are shown to exhibit highly branched characteristics, with distinct branches when deposited at rate of 15 A/s versus 5 A/s (i.e. rate dependence). A thermal oxidation study for these films is performed using H2/ O2 at 450°C-520°C. For TiO2 films, post deposition annealing is performed in O2 at 450°C. Two methods are explored to create defined active areas of the films: dilute hydrofluoric acid (HF) wet etching, and lift-off lithography. DSSCs are constructed using standard components (N719 dye, I-/I3- electrolyte, and Pt cathode) paired with the photoanodes. The films are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The properties of DSSCs are investigated with current density-voltage measurements (J-V). Annealed TiO2 films with thickness ranging from 1 microm-3.3 microm exhibit power conversion efficiency of DSSC of 0.5% -3.7%, respectively, which are high

Branch Width and Height Influence the Incorporation of Branches into Foraging Trails and Travel Speed in Leafcutter Ants Atta cephalotes (L.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

PubMed

Freeman, B M; Chaves-Campos, J

2016-06-01

Fallen branches are often incorporated into Atta cephalotes (L.) foraging trails to optimize leaf tissue transport rates and economize trail maintenance. Recent studies in lowlands show laden A. cephalotes travel faster across fallen branches than on ground, but more slowly ascending or descending a branch. The latter is likely because (1) it is difficult to travel up or downhill and (2) bottlenecks occur when branches are narrower than preceding trail. Hence, both branch height and width should determine whether branches decrease net travel times, but no study has evaluated it yet. Laden A. cephalotes were timed in relation to branch width and height across segments preceding, accessing, across, and departing a fallen branch in the highlands of Costa Rica. Ants traveled faster on branches than on cleared segments of trunk-trail, but accelerated when ascending or descending the branch-likely because of the absence of bottlenecks during the day in the highlands. Branch size did not affect ant speed in observed branches; the majority of which (22/24) varied from 11 to 120 mm in both height and width (average 66 mm in both cases). To determine whether ants exclude branches outside this range, ants were offered the choice between branches within this range and branches that were taller/wider than 120 mm. Ants strongly preferred the former. Our results indicate that A. cephalotes can adjust their speed to compensate for the difficulty of traveling on branch slopes. More generally, branch size should be considered when studying ant foraging efficiency.

Nervous branch passing through an accessory canal in the sphenozygomatic suture: the temporal branch of the zygomatic nerve.

PubMed

Akita, K; Shimokawa, T; Tsunoda, A; Sato, T

2002-05-01

A nervous branch which passes through a small canal in the sphenozygomatic suture is sometimes observed during dissection. To examine the origin, course and distribution of this nervous branch, 42 head halves of 21 Japanese cadavers (11 males, 10 females) and 142 head halves of 71 human dry skulls were used. The branch was observed in seven sides (16.7%); it originated from the communication between the lacrimal nerve and the zygomaticotemporal branch of the zygomatic nerve or from the trunk of the zygomatic nerve. In two head halves (4.8%), the branch pierced the anterior part of the temporalis muscle during its course to the skin of the anterior part of the temple. The small canal in the suture was observed in 31 head halves (21.8%) of the dry skulls. Although this nervous branch is inconstantly observed, it should be called the temporal branch of the zygomatic nerve according to the constant positional relationship to the sphenoid and zygomatic bones. According to its origin, course and distribution, this nervous branch may be considered to be influential in zygomatic and retro-orbital pain due to entrapment and tension from the temporalis muscle and/or the narrow bony canal. The French version of this article is available in the form of electronic supplementary material and can be obtained by using the Springer LINK server located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00276-002-0027-4.

The Aortic Bifurcation Angle as a Factor in Application of the Outback for Femoropopliteal Lesions in Ipsilateral Versus Contralateral Approaches.

PubMed

Raskin, Daniel; Khaitovich, Boris; Balan, Shmuel; Silverberg, Daniel; Halak, Moshe; Rimon, Uri

2018-01-01

To assess the technical success of the Outback reentry device in contralateral versus ipsilateral approaches for femoropopliteal arterial occlusion. A retrospective review of patients treated for critical limb ischemia (CLI) using the Outback between January 2013 and July 2016 was performed. Age, gender, length and site of the occlusion, approach site, aortic bifurcation angle, and reentry site were recorded. Calcification score was assigned at both aortic bifurcation and reentry site. Technical success was assessed. During the study period, a total of 1300 endovascular procedures were performed on 489 patients for CLI. The Outback was applied on 50 femoropopliteal chronic total occlusions. Thirty-nine contralateral and 11 ipsilateral antegrade femoral were accessed. The device was used successfully in 41 patients (82%). There were nine failures, all in the contralateral approach group. Six due to inability to deliver the device due to acute aortic bifurcation angle and three due to failure to achieve luminal reentry. Procedural success was significantly affected by the aortic bifurcation angle (p = 0.013). The Outback has high technical success rates in treatment of femoropopliteal occlusion, when applied from either an ipsi- or contralateral approach. When applied in contralateral access, acute aortic bifurcation angle predicts procedural failure.

A Branch Meeting in Avon

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vaughan, Kathryn; Coles, Alf

2011-01-01

The Association of Teachers of Mathematics (ATM) exists for, and is run by, its members. Branch meetings are so much more than the "grass roots" of the association--it can be a powerhouse of inspiration and creativity. In this article, the authors provide commentaries on a recent branch meeting.

Synthesis and macrophage activation of lentinan-mimic branched amino polysaccharides: curdlans having N-Acetyl-d-glucosamine branches.

PubMed

Kurita, Keisuke; Matsumura, Yuriko; Takahara, Hiroki; Hatta, Kiyoshige; Shimojoh, Manabu

2011-06-13

N-Acetyl-d-glucosamine branches were incorporated at the C-6 position of curdlan, a linear β-1,3-d-glucan, and the resulting nonnatural branched polysaccharides were evaluated in terms of the immunomodulation activities in comparison with lentinan, a β-1,3-d-glucan having d-glucose branches at C-6. To incorporate the amino sugar branches, we conducted a series of regioselective protection-deprotections of curdlan involving triphenylmethylation at C-6, phenylcarbamoylation at C-2 and C-4, and detriphenylmethylation. Subsequent glycosylation with a d-glucosamine-derived oxazoline, followed by deprotection gave rise to the branched curdlans with various substitution degrees. The products exhibited remarkable solubility in both organic solvents and water. Their immunomodulation activities were determined using mouse macrophagelike cells, and the secretions of both the tumor necrosis factor and nitric oxide proved to be significantly higher than those with lentinan. These results conclude that the amino sugar/curdlan hybrid materials are promising as a new type of polysaccharide immunoadjuvants useful for cancer chemotherapy.

Wind-Induced Reconfigurations in Flexible Branched Trees

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ojo, Oluwafemi; Shoele, Kourosh

2017-11-01

Wind induced stresses are the major mechanical cause of failure in trees. We know that the branching mechanism has an important effect on the stress distribution and stability of a tree in the wind. Eloy in PRL 2011, showed that Leonardo da Vinci's original observation which states the total cross section of branches is conserved across branching nodes is the best configuration for resisting wind-induced fracture in rigid trees. However, prediction of the fracture risk and pattern of a tree is also a function of their reconfiguration capabilities and how they mitigate large wind-induced stresses. In this studies through developing an efficient numerical simulation of flexible branched trees, we explore the role of the tree flexibility on the optimal branching. Our results show that the probability of a tree breaking at any point depends on both the cross-section changes in the branching nodes and the level of tree flexibility. It is found that the branching mechanism based on Leonardo da Vinci's original observation leads to a uniform stress distribution over a wide range of flexibilities but the pattern changes for more flexible systems.

Enhanced total neurite outgrowth and secondary branching in dorsal root ganglion neurons elicited by low intensity pulsed ultrasound.

PubMed

Ventre, Daniel; Puzan, Marissa; Ashbolt, Emily; Koppes, Abigail

2018-04-17

Despite the prevalence of peripheral nerve injuries (PNI), challenges remain in restoring full functionality to those afflicted. For recovery to occur, axons must extend across the injury site to connect with distal targets, where injury gap size is a critical factor in the probability of restoration of function. Current clinical therapies often achieve limited neural regeneration, motivating the development of new therapeutic interventions such as biophysical stimulation. To investigate the potential for low intensity, pulsed ultrasonic simulation (LIPUS) to impact peripheral nerve regeneration, primary neonatal rat dorsal root ganglion neurons were examined in vitro in response to ultrasound (US). Dissociated neurons were stimulated with varied acoustic power (low, medium, high) and their morphometrics, including total outgrowth, branching, and length, were analyzed acutely after 18 h of growth. Results show US increases total neurite outgrowth by 2.83-fold compared to unstimulated controls at the highest power. Neurite branching at medium and high-power US increased approximately 2-fold compared to controls, while low stimulation exhibited more muted trends. Neurite branching is also impacted by US, with medium and high power eliciting the highest branching, of approximately 2-fold compared to low power and unstimulated controls. These results demonstrate that US stimulation of DRG neurons in vitro impacts neurite morphology and enhances total extension, indicating the potential for advancing and understanding driving mechanisms of ultrasonic therapies for peripheral nerve regeneration.

Thermoelectric effects in disordered branched nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roslyak, Oleksiy; Piriatinskiy, Andrei

2013-03-01

We shall develop formalism of thermal and electrical transport in Si1 - x Gex and BiTe nanowires. The key feature of those nanowires is the possibility of dendrimer type branching. The branching tree can be of size comparable to the short wavelength of phonons and by far smaller than the long wavelength of conducting electrons. Hence it is expected that the branching may suppress thermal and let alone electrical conductance. We demonstrate that the morphology of branches strongly affects the electronic conductance. The effect is important to the class of materials known as thermoelectrics. The small size of the branching region makes large temperature and electrical gradients. On the other hand the smallness of the region would allow the electrical transport being ballistic. As usual for the mesoscopic systems we have to solve macroscopic (temperature) and microscopic ((electric potential, current)) equations self-consistently. Electronic conductance is studied via NEGF formalism on the irreducible electron transfer graph. We also investigate the figure of merit ZT as a measure of the suppressed electron conductance.

Effect of the bifurcation angle on the flow within a synthetic model of lower human airways

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Espinosa Moreno, Andres Santiago; Duque Daza, Carlos Alberto

2016-11-01

The effect of the bifurcation angle on the flow pattern developed during respiratory inhalation and exhalation processes was explored numerically using a synthetic model of lower human airways featuring three generations of a dichotomous morphology as described by a Weibel model. Laminar flow simulations were performed for six bifurcation angles and four Reynolds numbers relevant to human respiratory flow. Numerical results of the inhalation process showed a peak displacement trend of the velocity profile towards the inner walls of the model. This displacement exhibited correlation with Dean-type secondary flow patterns, as well as with the onset and location of vortices. High wall shear stress regions on the inner walls were observed for a range of bifurcation angles. Noteworthy, specific bifurcation angles produced higher values of pressure drop, compared to the average behavior, as well as changes in the volumetric flow through the branches. Results of the simulations for exhalation process showed a different picture, mainly the appearance of symmetrical velocity profiles and the change of location of the regions of high wall shear stress. The use of this modelling methodology for biomedical applications is discussed considering the validity of the obtained results. Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, Universidad Nacional de Colombia.

Apparent contact angle and contact angle hysteresis on liquid infused surfaces.

PubMed

Semprebon, Ciro; McHale, Glen; Kusumaatmaja, Halim

2016-12-21

We theoretically investigate the apparent contact angle and contact angle hysteresis of a droplet placed on a liquid infused surface. We show that the apparent contact angle is not uniquely defined by material parameters, but also has a dependence on the relative size between the droplet and its surrounding wetting ridge formed by the infusing liquid. We derive a closed form expression for the contact angle in the limit of vanishing wetting ridge, and compute the correction for small but finite ridge, which corresponds to an effective line tension term. We also predict contact angle hysteresis on liquid infused surfaces generated by the pinning of the contact lines by the surface corrugations. Our analytical expressions for both the apparent contact angle and contact angle hysteresis can be interpreted as 'weighted sums' between the contact angles of the infusing liquid relative to the droplet and surrounding gas phases, where the weighting coefficients are given by ratios of the fluid surface tensions.

46 CFR 169.690 - Lighting branch circuits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 46 Shipping 7 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Lighting branch circuits. 169.690 Section 169.690... Machinery and Electrical Electrical Installations on Vessels of 100 Gross Tons and Over § 169.690 Lighting branch circuits. Each lighting branch circuit must meet the requirements of § 111.75-5 of this chapter...

Branched Hamiltonians and supersymmetry

DOE PAGES

Curtright, Thomas L.; Zachos, Cosmas K.

2014-03-21

Some examples of branched Hamiltonians are explored both classically and in the context of quantum mechanics, as recently advocated by Shapere and Wilczek. These are in fact cases of switchback potentials, albeit in momentum space, as previously analyzed for quasi-Hamiltonian chaotic dynamical systems in a classical setting, and as encountered in analogous renormalization group flows for quantum theories which exhibit RG cycles. In conclusion, a basic two-worlds model, with a pair of Hamiltonian branches related by supersymmetry, is considered in detail.

Branching, Superdiffusion and Stress Relaxation in Surfactant Micelles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sureshkumar, R.; Dhakal, S.; Syracuse University Team

2016-11-01

We investigate the mechanism of branch formation and its effects on the dynamics and rheology of a model cationic micellar fluid using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Branched structures are formed upon increasing counter ion density. A sharp decrease in the solution viscosity with increasing salinity has long been attributed to the sliding motion of micellar branches along the main chain. Simulations not only provide firm evidence of branch sliding in real time, but also show enhanced diffusion of surfactants by virtue of such motion. Insights into the mechanism of stress relaxation associated with branch sliding will be discussed. Specifically, an externally imposed stress damps out more quickly in a branched system compared to that in an unbranched one. NSF Grants 1049489, 1049454.

Geology of the Cane Branch and Helton Branch watershed areas, McCreary County, Kentucky

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lyons, Erwin J.

1957-01-01

Cane Branch and Helton Branch in McCreary County, Kentucky, are about 1.4 miles apart (fig. 1). Can Branch, which is about 2.1 miles long, emptied into Hughes Fork of Beaver Creek. Its watershed area of about 1.5 square miles lies largely in the Wiborf 7 1/2-minute quadrangle (SW/4 Cumberland Falls 15-minute quadrangle), but the downstream part of the area extends northward into the Hail 7 1/2-minute quadrangle (NW/4 Cumberland Falls 15-minute quadrangle). Helton Branch, which is about 1.1 miles long, has two tributaries and empties into Little Hurricane Fork of Beaver Creek. It drains an area of about 0.8 square mile of while about 0.5 square mile is in the Hail quadrangle and the remainder in the Wilborg quadrangle. The total relief in the Can Branch area is about 500 feet and in the Helton Branch area about 400 feet. Narrow, steep-sided to canyon-like valley and winding ridges, typical of the Pottsville escarpment region, are characteristic of both areas. Thick woods and dense undergrowth cover much of the two areas. Field mapping was done on U.S. Geological Survey 7 1/2-minute maps having a scale of 1:24,000 and a contour interval of 20 feet. Elevations of lithologic contacts were determined with a barometer and a hand level. Aerial photographs were used principally to trace the cliffs formed by sandstone and conglomerate ledges. Exposures, except for those of the cliff- and ledge-forming sandstone and conglomerates, are not abundant. The most complete stratigraphic sections (secs. 3 and 4, fig. 2) in the two areas are exposed in cuts of newly completed Forest Service roads, but the rick in the upper parts of the exposures is weathered. To supplement these sections, additional sections were measured in cuts along the railroad and main highways in nor near the watersheds.

Clinical verification of a theory for predicting side branch stenosis after main vessel stenting in coronary bifurcation lesions.

PubMed

Vassilev, Dobrin; Gil, Robert

2008-12-01

To verify in a clinical scenario a theory for predicting side branch (SB) stenosis after main vessel stent implantation in coronary bifurcation lesions. Many unresolved issues remain regarding SB compromise when the parent vessel is stented. Bifurcation lesions (all Medina types) were subjected to angiographic analysis to determine the angle, defined as alpha, between the axes of the parent vessel and the SB. Using the prediction that the percent diameter stenosis (%DS) is equal to the cosine of angle alpha and relating it to a formula to determine the minimal lumen diameter (MLD) led to the following equation: MLD = ds x (1 -cos alpha); ds refers to the diameter of the SB. The predicted and observed SB stenosis values following angiography were compared. Fifty-two patients with 57 lesions were included in the analysis. Patient demographics and characteristics were similar to those in previous studies. There was a high coefficient of determination between the predicted and observed values of %DS (r(2)= 0.82, P < 0.001) and MLD (r(2)= 0.86, P < 0.001). We determined a cutoff value of 70% for predicted %DS for SB closure. When using multivariate regression analysis, the only predictor of SB ostial stenosis after stenting was alpha angle, whereas the predictors of MLD included the angle alpha and the RVD of the SB. Our analysis shows that the most powerful independent predictor of SB compromise is a new variable angle alpha.

Fuzzy branching temporal logic.

PubMed

Moon, Seong-ick; Lee, Kwang H; Lee, Doheon

2004-04-01

Intelligent systems require a systematic way to represent and handle temporal information containing uncertainty. In particular, a logical framework is needed that can represent uncertain temporal information and its relationships with logical formulae. Fuzzy linear temporal logic (FLTL), a generalization of propositional linear temporal logic (PLTL) with fuzzy temporal events and fuzzy temporal states defined on a linear time model, was previously proposed for this purpose. However, many systems are best represented by branching time models in which each state can have more than one possible future path. In this paper, fuzzy branching temporal logic (FBTL) is proposed to address this problem. FBTL adopts and generalizes concurrent tree logic (CTL*), which is a classical branching temporal logic. The temporal model of FBTL is capable of representing fuzzy temporal events and fuzzy temporal states, and the order relation among them is represented as a directed graph. The utility of FBTL is demonstrated using a fuzzy job shop scheduling problem as an example.

Scanning electron microscopy of the trabecular meshwork: understanding the pathogenesis of primary angle closure glaucoma.

PubMed

Sihota, Ramanjit; Goyal, Amita; Kaur, Jasbir; Gupta, Viney; Nag, Tapas C

2012-01-01

To study ultrastructural changes of the trabecular meshwork in acute and chronic primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) eyes by scanning electron microscopy. Twenty-one trabecular meshwork surgical specimens from consecutive glaucomatous eyes after a trabeculectomy and five postmortem corneoscleral specimens were fixed immediately in Karnovsky solution. The tissues were washed in 0.1 M phosphate buffer saline, post-fixed in 1% osmium tetraoxide, dehydrated in acetone series (30-100%), dried and mounted. Normal trabecular tissue showed well-defined, thin, cylindrical uveal trabecular beams with many large spaces, overlying flatter corneoscleral beams and numerous smaller spaces. In acute PACG eyes, the trabecular meshwork showed grossly swollen, irregular trabecular endothelial cells with intercellular and occasional basal separation with few spaces. Numerous activated macrophages, leucocytes and amorphous debris were present. Chronic PACG eyes had a few, thickened posterior uveal trabecular beams visible. A homogenous deposit covered the anterior uveal trabeculae and spaces. Converging, fan-shaped trabecular beam configuration corresponded to gonioscopic areas of peripheral anterior synechiae. In POAG eyes, anterior uveal trabecular beams were thin and strap-like, while those posteriorly were wide, with a homogenous deposit covering and bridging intertrabecular spaces, especially posteriorly. Underlying corneoscleral trabecular layers and spaces were visualized in some areas. In acute PACG a marked edema of the endothelium probably contributes for the acute and marked intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation. Chronically raised IOP in chronic PACG and POAG probably results, at least in part, from decreased aqueous outflow secondary to widening and fusion of adjacent trabecular beams, together with the homogenous deposit enmeshing trabecular beams and spaces.

Automated analysis of angle closure from anterior chamber angle images.

PubMed

Baskaran, Mani; Cheng, Jun; Perera, Shamira A; Tun, Tin A; Liu, Jiang; Aung, Tin

2014-10-21

To evaluate a novel software capable of automatically grading angle closure on EyeCam angle images in comparison with manual grading of images, with gonioscopy as the reference standard. In this hospital-based, prospective study, subjects underwent gonioscopy by a single observer, and EyeCam imaging by a different operator. The anterior chamber angle in a quadrant was classified as closed if the posterior trabecular meshwork could not be seen. An eye was classified as having angle closure if there were two or more quadrants of closure. Automated grading of the angle images was performed using customized software. Agreement between the methods was ascertained by κ statistic and comparison of area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC). One hundred forty subjects (140 eyes) were included, most of whom were Chinese (102/140, 72.9%) and women (72/140, 51.5%). Angle closure was detected in 61 eyes (43.6%) with gonioscopy in comparison with 59 eyes (42.1%, P = 0.73) using manual grading, and 67 eyes (47.9%, P = 0.24) with automated grading of EyeCam images. The agreement for angle closure diagnosis between gonioscopy and both manual (κ = 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI), 0.81-0.96) and automated grading of EyeCam images was good (κ = 0.74; 95% CI, 0.63-0.85). The AUC for detecting eyes with gonioscopic angle closure was comparable for manual and automated grading (AUC 0.974 vs. 0.954, P = 0.31) of EyeCam images. Customized software for automated grading of EyeCam angle images was found to have good agreement with gonioscopy. Human observation of the EyeCam images may still be needed to avoid gross misclassification, especially in eyes with extensive angle closure. Copyright 2014 The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc.

Coulomb branches with complex singularities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Argyres, Philip C.; Martone, Mario

2018-06-01

We construct 4d superconformal field theories (SCFTs) whose Coulomb branches have singular complex structures. This implies, in particular, that their Coulomb branch coordinate rings are not freely generated. Our construction also gives examples of distinct SCFTs which have identical moduli space (Coulomb, Higgs, and mixed branch) geometries. These SCFTs thus provide an interesting arena in which to test the relationship between moduli space geometries and conformal field theory data. We construct these SCFTs by gauging certain discrete global symmetries of N = 4 superYang-Mills (sYM) theories. In the simplest cases, these discrete symmetries are outer automorphisms of the sYM gauge group, and so these theories have lagrangian descriptions as N = 4 sYM theories with disconnected gauge groups.

Qualitative evaluation of the iris and ciliary body by ultrasound biomicroscopy in subjects with angle closure.

PubMed

Ku, Judy Y; Nongpiur, Monisha E; Park, Judy; Narayanaswamy, Arun K; Perera, Shamira A; Tun, Tin A; Kumar, Rajesh S; Baskaran, Mani; Aung, Tin

2014-12-01

To qualitatively analyze anterior chamber structures imaged by ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in primary angle-closure patients. Subjects diagnosed as primary angle-closure suspect (PACS), primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG), and previous acute primary angle closure (APAC) were recruited prospectively along with a group of normal controls. UBM was performed under standardized dark room conditions and qualitative assessment was carried out using a set of reference photographs of standard UBM images to categorize the various anatomic features related to angle configuration. These included overall and basal iris thicknesses, iris convexity, iris angulation, ciliary body size, and ciliary sulcus. A total of 60 PACS, 114 PACG, 41 APAC, and 33 normal controls were included. Patients were predominantly older Chinese females. After controlling the confounding effect of age and sex, eyes with overall thicker irides [medium odds ratio (OR) 3.58, thick OR 2.84] when compared with thin irides have a significantly higher likelihood of having PACS/PACG/APAC versus controls. Thicker basal iris component (medium OR 4.13, thick OR 3.39) also have higher likelihood of having angle closure when compared with thin basal iris thickness. Subjects with basal iris insertion, mild iris angulation, and large ciliary body have a higher OR of having angle closure. In contrast, the presence/absence of a ciliary sulcus did not influence the likelihood of angle closure. Eyes with thicker overall and basal iris thicknesses are more likely to have angle closure than controls. Other features that increase the likelihood of angle closure include basal iris insertion, mild iris angulation, and large ciliary body.

Disassortativity of random critical branching trees

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, J. S.; Kahng, B.; Kim, D.

2009-06-01

Random critical branching trees (CBTs) are generated by the multiplicative branching process, where the branching number is determined stochastically, independent of the degree of their ancestor. Here we show analytically that despite this stochastic independence, there exists the degree-degree correlation (DDC) in the CBT and it is disassortative. Moreover, the skeletons of fractal networks, the maximum spanning trees formed by the edge betweenness centrality, behave similarly to the CBT in the DDC. This analytic solution and observation support the argument that the fractal scaling in complex networks originates from the disassortativity in the DDC.

Reperfusion of occluded branch retinal arteries by transluminal Nd:YAG laser embolysis combined with intravenous thrombolysis of urokinase

PubMed Central

Chai, Fang; Du, Shanshuang; Zhao, Xiquan

2017-01-01

Purpose: To report successful treatment with transluminal Nd:YAG laser embolysis (TYE) combined with urokinase thrombolysis for reperfusion of occluded branch retinal arteries with visible emboli. Methods: A total of 34 eyes from 34 patients with acute, severe vision loss secondary to a branch retinal artery occlusion with visible emboli and retinal whitening were examined. Each patient was administered TYE therapy, which focused on the embolus, using an ocular contact lens; a 0.3–0.9 mJ laser pulse was delivered directly and gradually according to the reaction. Fundus photographs and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) were obtained before and immediately after the laser treatment. All patients received urokinase thrombolysis therapy drops intravenously for 5 days at 10–20 u/d. The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 14 months after therapy. The morphological characteristics of FFA associated with obstruction recovery of arterial fluorescence filling and visual function were analyzed. Results: After TYE therapy, FFA examinations showed that the retinal artery and its branches exhibited completely restored blood flow without obstruction in 13 eyes, accounting for 38.2% of the cases. The blood flow was mostly recovered in 11 eyes (32.4% of patients). FFA examinations following the combined intravenous urokinase thrombolysis therapy showed that the retinal artery and its branches exhibited completely restored blood flow after obstruction in 16 eyes (47.1% of patients). The blood flow was mostly recovered in 15 eyes (44.1% of patients). Conclusion: TYE combined with urokinase thrombolysis is effective for reperfusion of occluded branch retinal arteries and improving visual recovery in patients with visible emboli. PMID:29162667

Unusual Presentation of Spasm of Near Reflex Mimicking Large-Angle Acute Acquired Comitant Esotropia

PubMed Central

Shanker, Varshini; Nigam, Vishal

2015-01-01

Abstract We report the case of an 11-year-old boy who presented with sudden esotropia, binocular diplopia, and blurred vision. The patient was neurologically normal. He had a large, constant, comitant, alternating esotropia associated with minimal accommodative spasm. Ocular motility and pupillary reactions were normal. He was diagnosed to have spasm of the near reflex presenting as acute onset of esotropia. The esotropia was persistent despite treatment and eventually resolved with prolonged cycloplegic therapy. This unusual case illustrates that spasm of the near reflex can have unique and variable presentations. Spasm of the near reflex needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of every case of acute, acquired, comitant esotropia. This is the first case of spasm of the near reflex where persistent esotropia is reported in the absence of any neurological disorder. PMID:27928354

Pacific Coastal Ecology Branch: Research Overview

EPA Science Inventory

The Pacific Coastal Ecology Branch, Newport, Oregon is part of the Western Ecology Division of the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory of the U.S. EPA. The Branch conducts research and provides scientific technical support to Headquarters and Regional O...

Coronal plane radiographic evaluation of the single TightRope technique in the treatment of acute acromioclavicular joint injury.

PubMed

Yi, Young; Kim, Jeong Woo

2015-10-01

This study aimed to demonstrate the technical aspects of the single TightRope (Arthrex, Naples, FL, USA) procedure for acute acromioclavicular-coracoclavicular joint dislocation, identify the predictive factors influencing its outcome, and assess and validate the significance of specific radiologic parameters. We reviewed true anteroposterior shoulder radiographs of 62 consecutive patients who had undergone surgical reconstruction using TightRope for an acute acromioclavicular-coracoclavicular injury. All patients were followed up for at least 12 months between October 2009 and March 2012 and were divided into dissociated or nondissociated groups according to their surgical outcome. We measured the clavicle tunnel anteroposterior angle, distal clavicular tunnel placement, and tunnel-to-medial coracoid ratio, and compared the parameters in each group after a satisfactory intraclass correlation coefficient reliability test result. The angles of patients in the dissociated group were more acute compared with the angles of those in the nondissociated group, which were perpendicular, as verified statistically using the paired t test. The difference in the distal clavicular tunnel placement and tunnel-to-medial coracoid ratio between the groups was not significant. Therefore, tunnel placement is not influenced by coracoclavicular dissociation. The clavicle tunnel anteroposterior angle can be used as a predictor of surgical outcome in coracoclavicular augmentation surgery. The surgeon should strive to place a perpendicular hole from the clavicle to the coracoid process for the TightRope fixation to enable a successful reconstruction of the acute acromioclavicular-coracoclavicular injury. Copyright © 2015 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Spontaneous Age-Related Neurite Branching in C. elegans

PubMed Central

Tank, Elizabeth M. H.; Rodgers, Kasey E.; Kenyon, Cynthia

2011-01-01

The analysis of morphological changes that occur in the nervous system during normal aging could provide insight into cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disease. Previous studies have suggested that the nervous system of C. elegans maintains its structural integrity with age despite the deterioration of surrounding tissues. Unexpectedly, we observed that neurons in aging animals frequently displayed ectopic branches, and that the prevalence of these branches increased with time. Within age-matched populations, the branching of mechnosensory neurons correlated with decreased response to light touch and decreased mobility. The incidence of branching was influenced by two pathways that can affect the rate of aging, the Jun kinase pathway and the insulin/IGF-1 pathway. Loss of Jun kinase signaling, which slightly shortens lifespan, dramatically increased and accelerated the frequency of neurite branching. Conversely, inhibition of the daf-2 insulin/IGF-1-like signaling pathway, which extends lifespan, delayed and suppressed branching, and this delay required DAF-16/FOXO activity. Both JNK-1 and DAF-16 appeared to act within neurons in a cell-autonomous manner to influence branching, and, through their tissue-specific expression, it was possible to disconnect the rate at which branching occurred from the overall rate of aging of the animal. Old age has generally been associated with the decline and deterioration of different tissues, except in the case of tumor cell growth. To our knowledge, this is the first indication that aging can potentiate another form of growth, the growth of neurite branches, in normal animals. PMID:21697377

[Angle-closure glaucoma secondary to nonspecific orbital inflammatory: case report].

PubMed

Násser, Luciano Sólia; Liendo da Costa, Vera Lucia; Taniguchi, Marcel Papa; Bolanho, Anamaria; Petrilli, Ana Maria Noriega

2007-01-01

The nonspecific orbital inflammatory presents several clinical forms. When it evolves the posterior segment of the eye, usually by contiguity, it can lead to serious damage to vision functions. Posterior scleritis causes permanent damage to the vision and rarely progresses to acute glaucoma. E.N., a 24-year-old black man, complained of pain in the left eye (OS) for ten days, with low visual acuity, malaise, nauseas and vomiting. On ophthalmologic examination, he presented proptosis, restricted eye movements and edema on the upper left eyelid. Best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20 in OD and counting fingers at 1.5m in OS. The intraocular pressure was 14 mmHg in OD and 34 mmHg in OS. The biomicroscopy presented in OS conjunctival hyperemia cornea with keratic precipitates, shallow anterior chamber with cells and flare 2+. Gonioscopy in OS showed angle-closure of 360 masculine. The ophthalmoscopic examination revealed increased vascular tortuosity and posterior pole edema. Treatment for acute glaucoma was initiated and complementary tests were ordered. Ocular ultrasonography and orbit computerized tomography showed a diffuse thickening of the ocular wall and extrinsic muscles. Other tests were normal. The presumptive diagnosis was acute nonspecific orbital inflammation affecting the ocular bulb posterior segment together with acute glaucoma. He initiated on prednisone 60 mg/day PO. After two weeks of systemic corticotherapy, the patient was asymptomatic, with evident regression of proptosis and scleritis and normal intraocular pressure (11 mmHg in AU). Although not very frequent, acute glaucoma may be present in orbital inflammatory process and should be treated with systemic corticotherapy and topical medication.

Mechanical Components Branch Test Facilities and Capabilities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oswald, Fred B.

2004-01-01

The Mechanical Components Branch at NASA Glenn Research Center formulates, conducts, and manages research focused on propulsion systems for both present and advanced aeronautical and space vehicles. The branch is comprised of research teams that perform basic research in three areas: mechanical drives, aerospace seals, and space mechanisms. Each team has unique facilities for testing aerospace hardware and concepts. This report presents an overview of the Mechanical Components Branch test facilities.

Developmental Programming of Branching Morphogenesis in the Kidney

PubMed Central

Schneider, Laura; Al-Awqati, Qais

2015-01-01

The kidney developmental program encodes the intricate branching and organization of approximately 1 million functional units (nephrons). Branching regulation is poorly understood, as is the source of a 10-fold variation in nephron number. Notably, low nephron count increases the risk for developing hypertension and renal failure. To better understand the source of this variation, we analyzed the complete gestational trajectory of mouse kidney development. We constructed a computerized architectural map of the branching process throughout fetal life and found that organogenesis is composed of two distinct developmental phases, each with stage-specific rate and morphologic parameters. The early phase is characterized by a rapid acceleration in branching rate and by branching divisions that repeat with relatively reproducible morphology. The latter phase, however, is notable for a significantly decreased yet constant branching rate and the presence of nonstereotyped branching events that generate progressive variability in tree morphology until birth. Our map identifies and quantitates the contribution of four developmental mechanisms that guide organogenesis: growth, patterning, branching rate, and nephron induction. When applied to organs that developed under conditions of malnutrition or in the setting of growth factor mutation, our normative map provided an essential link between kidney architecture and the fundamental morphogenetic mechanisms that guide development. This morphogenetic map is expected to find widespread applications and help identify modifiable targets to prevent developmental programming of common diseases. PMID:25644110

Optimal reconstruction angles

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

Cook, G.O. Jr.; Knight, L.

1979-07-01

The question of optimal projection angles has recently become of interest in the field of reconstruction from projections. Here, studies are concentrated on the n x n pixel space, where literative algorithms such as ART and direct matrix techniques due to Katz are considered. The best angles are determined in a Gauss--Markov statistical sense as well as with respect to a function-theoretical error bound. The possibility of making photon intensity a function of angle is also examined. Finally, the best angles to use in an ART-like algorithm are studied. A certain set of unequally spaced angles was found to bemore » preferred in several contexts. 15 figures, 6 tables.« less

Development of wide-angle 2D light scattering static cytometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Linyan; Liu, Qiao; Shao, Changshun; Su, Xuantao

2016-10-01

We have recently developed a 2D light scattering static cytometer for cellular analysis in a label-free manner, which measures side scatter (SSC) light in the polar angular range from 79 to 101 degrees. Compared with conventional flow cytometry, our cytometric technique requires no fluorescent labeling of the cells, and static cytometry measurements can be performed without flow control. In this paper we present an improved label-free static cytometer that can obtain 2D light scattering patterns in a wider angular range. By illuminating the static microspheres on chip with a scanning optical fiber, wide-angle 2D light scattering patterns of single standard microspheres with a mean diameter of 3.87 μm are obtained. The 2D patterns of 3.87 μm microspheres contain both large-angle forward scatter (FSC) and SSC light in the polar angular range from 40 to 100 degrees, approximately. Experimental 2D patterns of 3.87 μm microspheres are in good agreement with Mie theory simulated ones. The wide-angle light scattering measurements may provide a better resolution for particle analysis as compared with the SSC measurements. Two dimensional light scattering patterns of HL-60 human acute leukemia cells are obtained by using our static cytometer. Compared with SSC 2D light scattering patterns, wide-angle 2D patterns contain richer information of the HL-60 cells. The obtaining of 2D light scattering patterns in a wide angular range could help to enhance the capabilities of our label-free static cytometry for cell analysis.

Strigolactones regulate rice tiller angle by attenuating shoot gravitropism through inhibiting auxin biosynthesis

PubMed Central

Sang, Dajun; Chen, Dongqin; Liu, Guifu; Liang, Yan; Huang, Linzhou; Meng, Xiangbing; Chu, Jinfang; Sun, Xiaohong; Dong, Guojun; Yuan, Yundong; Qian, Qian; Li, Jiayang; Wang, Yonghong

2014-01-01

Tiller angle, a key agronomic trait for achieving ideal plant architecture and increasing grain yield, is regulated mainly by shoot gravitropism. Strigolactones (SLs) are a group of newly identified plant hormones that are essential for shoot branching/rice tillering and have further biological functions as yet undetermined. Through screening for suppressors of lazy1 (sols), a classic rice mutant exhibiting large tiller angle and defective shoot gravitropism, we identified multiple SOLS that are involved in the SL biosynthetic or signaling pathway. We show that SL biosynthetic or signaling mutants can rescue the spreading phenotype of lazy1 (la1) and that SLs can inhibit auxin biosynthesis and attenuate rice shoot gravitropism, mainly by decreasing the local indoleacetic acid content. Although both SLs and LA1 are negative regulators of polar auxin transport, SLs do not alter the lateral auxin transport of shoot base, unlike LA1, which is a positive regulator of lateral auxin transport in rice. Genetic evidence demonstrates that SLs and LA1 participate in regulating shoot gravitropism and tiller angle in distinct genetic pathways. In addition, the SL-mediated shoot gravitropism is conserved in Arabidopsis. Our results disclose a new role of SLs and shed light on a previously unidentified mechanism underlying shoot gravitropism. Our study indicates that SLs could be considered as an important tool to achieve ideal plant architecture in the future. PMID:25028496

Strigolactones regulate rice tiller angle by attenuating shoot gravitropism through inhibiting auxin biosynthesis.

PubMed

Sang, Dajun; Chen, Dongqin; Liu, Guifu; Liang, Yan; Huang, Linzhou; Meng, Xiangbing; Chu, Jinfang; Sun, Xiaohong; Dong, Guojun; Yuan, Yundong; Qian, Qian; Li, Jiayang; Wang, Yonghong

2014-07-29

Tiller angle, a key agronomic trait for achieving ideal plant architecture and increasing grain yield, is regulated mainly by shoot gravitropism. Strigolactones (SLs) are a group of newly identified plant hormones that are essential for shoot branching/rice tillering and have further biological functions as yet undetermined. Through screening for suppressors of lazy1 (sols), a classic rice mutant exhibiting large tiller angle and defective shoot gravitropism, we identified multiple SOLS that are involved in the SL biosynthetic or signaling pathway. We show that SL biosynthetic or signaling mutants can rescue the spreading phenotype of lazy1 (la1) and that SLs can inhibit auxin biosynthesis and attenuate rice shoot gravitropism, mainly by decreasing the local indoleacetic acid content. Although both SLs and LA1 are negative regulators of polar auxin transport, SLs do not alter the lateral auxin transport of shoot base, unlike LA1, which is a positive regulator of lateral auxin transport in rice. Genetic evidence demonstrates that SLs and LA1 participate in regulating shoot gravitropism and tiller angle in distinct genetic pathways. In addition, the SL-mediated shoot gravitropism is conserved in Arabidopsis. Our results disclose a new role of SLs and shed light on a previously unidentified mechanism underlying shoot gravitropism. Our study indicates that SLs could be considered as an important tool to achieve ideal plant architecture in the future.

Branching habit and the allocation of reproductive resources in conifers.

PubMed

Leslie, Andrew B

2012-09-01

Correlated relationships between branch thickness, branch density, and twig and leaf size have been used extensively to study the evolution of plant canopy architecture, but fewer studies have explored the impact of these relationships on the allocation of reproductive resources. This study quantifies pollen cone production in conifers, which have similar basic reproductive biology but vary dramatically in branching habit, in order to test how differences in branch diameter influence pollen cone size and the density with which they are deployed in the canopy. Measurements of canopy branch density, the number of cones per branch and cone size were used to estimate the amount of pollen cone tissues produced by 16 species in three major conifer clades. The number of pollen grains produced was also estimated using direct counts from individual pollen cones. The total amount of pollen cone tissues in the conifer canopy varied little among species and clades, although vegetative traits such as branch thickness, branch density and pollen cone size varied over several orders of magnitude. However, branching habit controls the way these tissues are deployed: taxa with small branches produce small pollen cones at a high density, while taxa with large branches produce large cones relatively sparsely. Conifers appear to invest similar amounts of energy in pollen production independent of branching habit. However, similar associations between branch thickness, branch density and pollen cone size are seen across conifers, including members of living and extinct groups not directly studied here. This suggests that reproductive features relating to pollen cone size are in large part a function of the evolution of vegetative morphology and branching habit.

Branching habit and the allocation of reproductive resources in conifers

PubMed Central

Leslie, Andrew B.

2012-01-01

Background and Aims Correlated relationships between branch thickness, branch density, and twig and leaf size have been used extensively to study the evolution of plant canopy architecture, but fewer studies have explored the impact of these relationships on the allocation of reproductive resources. This study quantifies pollen cone production in conifers, which have similar basic reproductive biology but vary dramatically in branching habit, in order to test how differences in branch diameter influence pollen cone size and the density with which they are deployed in the canopy. Methods Measurements of canopy branch density, the number of cones per branch and cone size were used to estimate the amount of pollen cone tissues produced by 16 species in three major conifer clades. The number of pollen grains produced was also estimated using direct counts from individual pollen cones. Key Results The total amount of pollen cone tissues in the conifer canopy varied little among species and clades, although vegetative traits such as branch thickness, branch density and pollen cone size varied over several orders of magnitude. However, branching habit controls the way these tissues are deployed: taxa with small branches produce small pollen cones at a high density, while taxa with large branches produce large cones relatively sparsely. Conclusions Conifers appear to invest similar amounts of energy in pollen production independent of branching habit. However, similar associations between branch thickness, branch density and pollen cone size are seen across conifers, including members of living and extinct groups not directly studied here. This suggests that reproductive features relating to pollen cone size are in large part a function of the evolution of vegetative morphology and branching habit. PMID:22782240

40 CFR 721.3627 - Branched synthetic fatty acid.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 30 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Branched synthetic fatty acid. 721... Substances § 721.3627 Branched synthetic fatty acid. (a) Chemical substance and significant new uses subject to reporting. (1) The chemical substance identified generically as a branched synthetic fatty acid...

40 CFR 721.3627 - Branched synthetic fatty acid.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 31 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Branched synthetic fatty acid. 721... Substances § 721.3627 Branched synthetic fatty acid. (a) Chemical substance and significant new uses subject to reporting. (1) The chemical substance identified generically as a branched synthetic fatty acid...

The influence of branch order on optimal leaf vein geometries: Murray's law and area preserving branching.

PubMed

Price, Charles A; Knox, Sarah-Jane C; Brodribb, Tim J

2013-01-01

Models that predict the form of hierarchical branching networks typically invoke optimization based on biomechanical similitude, the minimization of impedance to fluid flow, or construction costs. Unfortunately, due to the small size and high number of vein segments found in real biological networks, complete descriptions of networks needed to evaluate such models are rare. To help address this we report results from the analysis of the branching geometry of 349 leaf vein networks comprising over 1.5 million individual vein segments. In addition to measuring the diameters of individual veins before and after vein bifurcations, we also assign vein orders using the Horton-Strahler ordering algorithm adopted from the study of river networks. Our results demonstrate that across all leaves, both radius tapering and the ratio of daughter to parent branch areas for leaf veins are in strong agreement with the expectation from Murray's law. However, as veins become larger, area ratios shift systematically toward values expected under area-preserving branching. Our work supports the idea that leaf vein networks differentiate roles of leaf support and hydraulic supply between hierarchical orders.

Cash efficiency for bank branches.

PubMed

Cabello, Julia García

2013-01-01

Bank liquidity management has become a major issue during the financial crisis as liquidity shortages have intensified and have put pressure on banks to diversity and improve their liquidity sources. While a significant strand of the literature concentrates on wholesale liquidity generation and on the alternative to deposit funding, the management of an inventory of cash holdings within the banks' branches is also a relevant issue as any significant improvement in cash management at the bank distribution channels may have a positive effect in reducing liquidity tensions. In this paper, we propose a simple programme of cash efficiency for the banks' branches, very easy to implement, which conform to a set of instructions to be imposed from the bank to their branches. This model proves to significantly reduce cash holdings at branches thereby providing efficiency improvements in liquidity management. The methodology we propose is based on the definition of some stochastic processes combined with renewal processes, which capture the random elements of the cash flow, before applying suitable optimization programmes to all the costs involved in cash movements. The classical issue of the Transaction Demand for the Cash and some aspects of Inventory Theory are also present. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000) C02, C60, E50.

30 CFR 57.6403 - Branch circuits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... SAFETY AND HEALTH SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS-UNDERGROUND METAL AND NONMETAL MINES Explosives Electric Blasting-Surface and Underground § 57.6403 Branch circuits. (a) If electric blasting includes the use of... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Branch circuits. 57.6403 Section 57.6403...

The Steerable Microcatheter: A New Device for Selective Catheterisation

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

Soyama, Takeshi; Yoshida, Daisuke; Sakuhara, Yusuke, E-mail: yusaku@med.hokudai.ac.jp

The steerable microcatheter (SwiftNINJA, Sumitomo Bakelite, Tokyo, Japan), which has a remote-controlled flexible tip manipulated using a dial in the handgrip, was recently developed and delivered to the market. This device enables the user to change the angle of the microcatheter tip manually, and potentially makes selective catheterisation easier. We evaluated its unique characteristics and utility in selective catheterisation and coil embolization. This article describes: (1) the advantages of this device in catheterisations involving acute angle branches, and (2) a new technique of compact coil packing with the use of intentional folding by the bendable tip of the catheter.

Space plasma branch at NRL

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

The Naval Research Laboratory (Washington, D.C.) formed the Space Plasma Branch within its Plasma Physics Division on July 1. Vithal Patel, former Program Director of Magnetospheric Physics, National Science Foundation, also joined NRL on the same date as Associate Superintendent of the Plasma Physics Division. Barret Ripin is head of the newly organized branch. The Space Plasma branch will do basic and applied space plasma research using a multidisciplinary approach. It consolidates traditional rocket and satellite space experiments, space plasma theory and computation, with laboratory space-related experiments. About 40 research scientists, postdoctoral fellows, engineers, and technicians are divided among its five sections. The Theory and Computation sections are led by Joseph Huba and Joel Fedder, the Space Experiments section is led by Paul Rodriguez, and the Pharos Laser Facility and Laser Experiments sections are headed by Charles Manka and Jacob Grun.

Building Virtual Spaces for Children in the Digital Branch

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DuBroy, Michelle

2010-01-01

Purpose: A digital branch is just like a physical branch except that content is delivered digitally via the web. A digital branch has staff, a collection, a community, and a building. The purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of building individual spaces for different user groups, specifically children, within a digital branch.…

12 CFR 208.6 - Establishment and maintenance of branches.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... the Board's Regulation K (12 CFR part 211). (3) Public notice of branch applications. (i) Location of... 12 Banks and Banking 2 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Establishment and maintenance of branches. 208... maintenance of national bank branches (12 U.S.C. 36 and 1831u), except that approval of such branches shall be...

Developmental Programming of Branching Morphogenesis in the Kidney.

PubMed

Sampogna, Rosemary V; Schneider, Laura; Al-Awqati, Qais

2015-10-01

The kidney developmental program encodes the intricate branching and organization of approximately 1 million functional units (nephrons). Branching regulation is poorly understood, as is the source of a 10-fold variation in nephron number. Notably, low nephron count increases the risk for developing hypertension and renal failure. To better understand the source of this variation, we analyzed the complete gestational trajectory of mouse kidney development. We constructed a computerized architectural map of the branching process throughout fetal life and found that organogenesis is composed of two distinct developmental phases, each with stage-specific rate and morphologic parameters. The early phase is characterized by a rapid acceleration in branching rate and by branching divisions that repeat with relatively reproducible morphology. The latter phase, however, is notable for a significantly decreased yet constant branching rate and the presence of nonstereotyped branching events that generate progressive variability in tree morphology until birth. Our map identifies and quantitates the contribution of four developmental mechanisms that guide organogenesis: growth, patterning, branching rate, and nephron induction. When applied to organs that developed under conditions of malnutrition or in the setting of growth factor mutation, our normative map provided an essential link between kidney architecture and the fundamental morphogenetic mechanisms that guide development. This morphogenetic map is expected to find widespread applications and help identify modifiable targets to prevent developmental programming of common diseases. Copyright © 2015 by the American Society of Nephrology.

Vere-Jones' self-similar branching model

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

Saichev, A.; Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095; Sornette, D.

2005-11-01

Motivated by its potential application to earthquake statistics as well as for its intrinsic interest in the theory of branching processes, we study the exactly self-similar branching process introduced recently by Vere-Jones. This model extends the ETAS class of conditional self-excited branching point-processes of triggered seismicity by removing the problematic need for a minimum (as well as maximum) earthquake size. To make the theory convergent without the need for the usual ultraviolet and infrared cutoffs, the distribution of magnitudes m{sup '} of daughters of first-generation of a mother of magnitude m has two branches m{sup '}m with exponent {beta}+d, where {beta} and d are two positive parameters. We investigate the condition and nature of the subcritical, critical, and supercritical regime in this and in an extended version interpolating smoothly between several models. We predict that the distribution of magnitudes of events triggered by a mother of magnitude m over all generations has also two branches m{sup '}m with exponent {beta}+h, with h=d{radical}(1-s), where s is the fraction of triggered events. This corresponds to a renormalization of the exponent d into h by the hierarchy of successive generations of triggered events. For a significant part of the parameter space, the distribution of magnitudes over a full catalog summed over an average steady flow of spontaneous sources (immigrants) reproduces the distribution of the spontaneous sources with a single branch and is blind to the exponents {beta},d of the distribution of triggered events. Since the distribution of earthquake magnitudes is usually obtained with catalogs including many sequences, we conclude that the two branches of the distribution of aftershocks are not directly observable and the model is compatible with real seismic catalogs. In summary, the exactly self-similar Vere-Jones model provides an

The Critical Angle Can Override the Brewster Angle

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Froehle, Peter H.

2009-01-01

As a culminating activity in their study of optics, my students investigate polarized light and the Brewster angle. In this exercise they encounter a situation in which it is impossible to measure the Brewster angle for light reflecting from a particular surface. This paper describes the activity and explains the students' observations.

Undetected angle closure in patients with a diagnosis of open-angle glaucoma.

PubMed

Varma, Devesh K; Simpson, Sarah M; Rai, Amandeep S; Ahmed, Iqbal Ike K

2017-08-01

The aim of this study was to identify the proportion of patients referred to a tertiary glaucoma centre with a diagnosis of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) who were found to have angle closure glaucoma. Retrospective chart review. Consecutive new patients referred for glaucoma management to a tertiary centre between July 2010 and December 2011 were reviewed. Patients whose referrals for glaucoma assessment specified angle status as "open" were included. The data collected included glaucoma specialist's angle assessment, diagnosis, and glaucoma severity. The status of those with 180 degrees or more Shaffer angle grading of 0 was classified as "closed." From 1234 glaucoma referrals, 179 cases were specified to have a diagnosis of OAG or when angles were known to be open. Of these, 16 (8.9%) were found on examination by the glaucoma specialist to have angle closure. Pseudoexfoliation was present in 4 of 16 patients (25%) in the missed angle-closure glaucoma (ACG) group and 22 of 108 patients (13.5%) in the remaining OAG group. There was no difference found in demographic or ocular biometric parameters between those with confirmed OAG versus those with missed ACG. Almost 1 in 11 patients referred by ophthalmologists to a tertiary glaucoma centre with a diagnosis of OAG were in fact found to have angle closure. Given the different treatment approaches for ACG versus OAG, this study suggests a need to strengthen angle evaluations. Copyright © 2017 Canadian Ophthalmological Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The sensory-motor bridge neurorraphy: an anatomic study of feasibility between sensory branch of the musculocutaneous nerve and deep branch of the radial nerve.

PubMed

Goubier, Jean-Noel; Teboul, Frédéric

2011-05-01

Restoring elbow flexion remains the first step in the management of total palsy of the brachial plexus. Non avulsed upper roots may be grafted on the musculocutaneous nerve. When this nerve is entirely grafted, some motor fibres regenerate within the sensory fibres quota. Aiming potential utilization of these lost motor fibres, we attempted suturing the sensory branch of the musculocutaneous nerve onto the deep branch of the radial nerve. The objective of our study was to assess the anatomic feasibility of such direct suturing of the terminal sensory branch of the musculocutaneous nerve onto the deep branch of the radial nerve. The study was carried out with 10 upper limbs from fresh cadavers. The sensory branch of the musculocutaneous muscle was dissected right to its division. The motor branch of the radial nerve was identified and dissected as proximally as possible into the radial nerve. Then, the distance separating the two nerves was measured so as to assess whether direct neurorraphy of the two branches was feasible. The excessive distance between the two branches averaged 6 mm (1-13 mm). Thus, direct neurorraphy of the sensory branch of the musculocutaneous nerve and the deep branch of the radial nerve was possible. When the whole musculocutaneous nerve is grafted, some of its motor fibres are lost amongst the sensory fibres (cutaneous lateral antebrachial nerve). By suturing this sensory branch onto the deep branch of the radial nerve, "lost" fibres may be retrieved, resulting in restoration of digital extension. Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Branch breakage under snow and ice loads.

PubMed

Cannell, M G; Morgan, J

1989-09-01

Measurements were made on branches and trunks of Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr. to determine the relationship between (i) the bending moment at the bases of branches that cause breakage, and (ii) midpoint diameter cubed. The theory for cantilever beams was then used to calculate the basal bending moments and midpoint diameters of branches with different numbers of laterals and endpoint deflections, given previously measured values of Young's modulus, taper and weights of foliage and wood. Snow and ice loads (equal to 2 and 4 g cm(-1) of shoot, respectively) were then included in the calculation to determine whether the basal bending moments exceeded the breakage values. The likelihood of breakage increased with an increase in (i) number of laterals, and (ii) endpoint deflection under self weight (without snow or ice)-features that had previously been shown to lessen the amount of branch wood required to support a unit of foliage. However, branches which deflected moderately (> 10% of their length) under their own weight deflected greatly under snow or ice loads and might shed powdery snow before breakage occurs.

Growth and branching habit of rooted cuttings collected from epicormic shoots of Betula pendula Roth.

PubMed

Cameron, A D; Sani, H

1994-04-01

Patterns of shoot growth and branching were studied over two growing seasons in rooted cuttings collected from both epicormic shoots and seedlings of Betula pendula Roth. Epicormic shoots were induced to sprout on stumps and small logs of 5-, 10- and 30-year-old trees. The use of epicormic shoots enhanced the rooting capacity of stem cuttings collected from these shoots but did not appear to reverse the process of maturation. In this study, maturation was based on characteristics typical of mature trees but not necessarily those of the mother plant, because it was not possible to root cuttings, for comparison, from 5-, 10- and 30-year-old ortets, other than from epicormic shoots. There was evidence of the persistence of mature characteristics through an increase in shoot plagiotropism with increasing ortet age. Rooted cuttings from both seedlings and epicormic shoots, however, assumed an increasingly orthotropic habit with a smaller shoot angle at the end of the first growing season than at the beginning and this continued into the second growing season. Other indications of maturation, such as delayed bud flushing and the incidence of flowering with increasing ortet age, were also evident in rooted cuttings from epicormic shoots. There was a clear difference in branching habit depending on cutting source. Rooted cuttings derived from epicormic shoots produced nearly twice as many lateral branches compared with rooted cuttings collected from seedlings, but this was not an effect of maturation. There was some evidence that rooted cuttings derived from seedlings grew taller than rooted cuttings from epicormic shoots.

Torsion of an Indirect Hernia Sac Causing Acute Scrotal Swelling in a Child

PubMed Central

Ahn, Jae Hyun; Kim, Hyeon Woo; Park, Hyun Jun; Lee, Sang Don; Chung, Moon Kee

2012-01-01

Torsion of a hernia sac is an extremely rare condition that presents as acute scrotum in children. We report a case of a 6-year-old boy who presented with an acute scrotum and was found during surgical exploration to have torsion of an indirect hernia sac associated with hydrocele. Upon scrotal exploration, deterioration of the scrotum due to inflammatory changes was found. A necrotic cyst was recognized within a communicating hydrocele of the scrotum and was twisted at an angle of about 360°. All urologists should be aware of this special condition in the differential diagnosis of acute scrotum. PMID:23596604

Branching processes in disease epidemics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Sarabjeet

Branching processes have served as a model for chemical reactions, biological growth processes and contagion (of disease, information or fads). Through this connection, these seemingly different physical processes share some common universalities that can be elucidated by analyzing the underlying branching process. In this thesis, we focus on branching processes as a model for infectious diseases spreading between individuals belonging to different populations. The distinction between populations can arise from species separation (as in the case of diseases which jump across species) or spatial separation (as in the case of disease spreading between farms, cities, urban centers, etc). A prominent example of the former is zoonoses -- infectious diseases that spill from animals to humans -- whose specific examples include Nipah virus, monkeypox, HIV and avian influenza. A prominent example of the latter is infectious diseases of animals such as foot and mouth disease and bovine tuberculosis that spread between farms or cattle herds. Another example of the latter is infectious diseases of humans such as H1N1 that spread from one city to another through migration of infectious hosts. This thesis consists of three main chapters, an introduction and an appendix. The introduction gives a brief history of mathematics in modeling the spread of infectious diseases along with a detailed description of the most commonly used disease model -- the Susceptible-Infectious-Recovered (SIR) model. The introduction also describes how the stochastic formulation of the model reduces to a branching process in the limit of large population which is analyzed in detail. The second chapter describes a two species model of zoonoses with coupled SIR processes and proceeds into the calculation of statistics pertinent to cross species infection using multitype branching processes. The third chapter describes an SIR process driven by a Poisson process of infection spillovers. This is posed as a

Evaluation of blotchy pigments in the anterior chamber angle as a sign of angle closure

PubMed Central

Rao, Harsha L; Mungale, Sachin C; Kumbar, Tukaram; Parikh, Rajul S; Garudadri, Chandra S

2012-01-01

Background: Blotchy pigments in the anterior chamber (AC) angle are considered diagnostic of primary angle closure (PAC). But there are no reports either on the prevalence of blotchy pigments in AC angles or the validity of this sign. Aims: To determine the prevalence of blotchy pigments in AC angles and to evaluate their relationship with glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON) in eyes with occludable angles. Setting and Design: Cross-sectional, comparative study. Materials and Methods: Gonioscopy was performed in 1001 eyes of 526 subjects (245 eyes of 148 consecutive, occludable angle subjects and 756 eyes of 378 non-consecutive, open angle subjects), above 35 years of age. Quadrant-wise location of blotchy pigments was documented. Statistical Analysis: Odds of blotchy pigments in occludable angles against that in open angles were evaluated. Relationship of GON with blotchy pigments in occludable angle eyes was evaluated using a multivariate model. Results: Prevalence of blotchy pigments in occludable angles was 28.6% (95% CI, 22.9-34.3) and in open angles was 4.7% (95% CI, 3.2-6.3). Blotchy pigments were more frequently seen in inferior (16%) and superior quadrants (15%) of occludable angles, and inferior quadrant of open angles (4%). Odds of superior quadrant blotchy pigments in occludable angles were 33 times that in open angles. GON was seen in 107 occludable angle eyes. Blotchy pigments were not significantly associated with GON (odds ratio = 0.5; P = 0.1). Conclusions: Blotchy pigments were seen in 28.6% of occludable angle eyes and 4.7% of open angles eyes. Presence of blotchy pigments in the superior quadrant is more common in occludable angles. Presence of GON in occludable angle eyes was not associated with blotchy pigments. PMID:23202393

Implant of permanent pacemaker during acute coronary syndrome: Mortality and associated factors in the ARIAM registry.

PubMed

Pola-Gallego-de-Guzmán, María Dolores; Ruiz-Bailén, Manuel; Martínez-Arcos, Maria-Angeles; Gómez-Blizniak, Artur; Castillo Rivera, Ana-Maria; Molinos, Jesus Cobo

2018-04-01

Patients with acute coronary syndrome complicated with high degree atrioventricular block still have a high mortality. A low percentage of these patients need a permanent pacemaker (PPM) but mortality and associated factors with the PPM implant in acute coronary syndrome patients are not known. We assess whether PPM implant is an independent variable in the mortality of acute coronary syndrome patients. Also, we explored the variables that remain independently associated with PPM implantation. This was an observational study on the Spanish ARIAM register. The inclusion period was from January 2001 to December 2011. This registry included all Andalusian acute coronary syndrome patients. Follow-up for global mortality was until November 2013. We selected 27,608 cases. In 62 patients a PPM was implanted (0.024%). The mean age in PPM patients was 70.71±11.214 years versus 64.46±12.985 years in patients with no PPM. PPM implant was associated independently with age (odds ratio (OR) 1.031, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.007-1.055), with left ventricular branch block (OR 6.622, 95% CI 2.439-18.181), with any arrhythmia at intensive care unit admission (OR 2.754, 95% CI 1.506-5.025) and with heart failure (OR 3.344, 95% CI 1.78-8.333). PPM implant was independently associated with mortality (OR 11.436, 95% CI 1.576-83.009). In propensity score analysis PPM implant was still associated with mortality (OR 5.79, 95% CI 3.27-25.63). PPM implant is associated with mortality in the acute coronary syndrome population in the ARIAM registry. Advanced age, heart failure, arrhythmias and left ventricular branch block at intensive care unit admission were found associated factors with PPM implant in acute coronary syndrome patient.

26 CFR 1.884-1 - Branch profits tax.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 9 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Branch profits tax. 1.884-1 Section 1.884-1...) INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED) Foreign Corporations § 1.884-1 Branch profits tax. (a) General rule. A foreign corporation shall be liable for a branch profits tax in an amount equal to 30 percent of the foreign...

26 CFR 1.884-1 - Branch profits tax.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 9 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Branch profits tax. 1.884-1 Section 1.884-1...) INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED) Foreign Corporations § 1.884-1 Branch profits tax. (a) General rule. A foreign corporation shall be liable for a branch profits tax in an amount equal to 30 percent of the foreign...

26 CFR 1.884-1 - Branch profits tax.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 9 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Branch profits tax. 1.884-1 Section 1.884-1...) INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED) Foreign Corporations § 1.884-1 Branch profits tax. (a) General rule. A foreign corporation shall be liable for a branch profits tax in an amount equal to 30 percent of the foreign...

Epicormic Branches and Lumber Grade of Bottomland Oak

Treesearch

James S. Meadows

1995-01-01

Epicormic branches can be a serious problem in management of hardwood forests for high-quality sawtimber production. In one study in central Alabama, defects caused by epicormic branches that developed following a partial cutting resulted in a 13 percent reduction in the value of willow oak lumber. Production of epicormic branches along the boles of hardwood trees is...

Cadaveric Study of the Articular Branches of the Shoulder Joint.

PubMed

Eckmann, Maxim S; Bickelhaupt, Brittany; Fehl, Jacob; Benfield, Jonathan A; Curley, Jonathan; Rahimi, Ohmid; Nagpal, Ameet S

This cadaveric study investigated the anatomic relationships of the articular branches of the suprascapular (SN), axillary (AN), and lateral pectoral nerves (LPN), which are potential targets for shoulder analgesia. Sixteen embalmed cadavers and 1 unembalmed cadaver, including 33 shoulders total, were dissected. Following dissections, fluoroscopic images were taken to propose an anatomical landmark to be used in shoulder articular branch blockade. Thirty-three shoulders from 17 total cadavers were studied. In a series of 16 shoulders, 16 (100%) of 16 had an intact SN branch innervating the posterior head of the humerus and shoulder capsule. Suprascapular sensory branches coursed laterally from the spinoglenoid notch then toward the glenohumeral joint capsule posteriorly. Axillary nerve articular branches innervated the posterolateral head of the humerus and shoulder capsule in the same 16 (100%) of 16 shoulders. The AN gave branches ascending circumferentially from the quadrangular space to the posterolateral humerus, deep to the deltoid, and inserting at the inferior portion of the posterior joint capsule. In 4 previously dissected and 17 distinct shoulders, intact LPNs could be identified in 14 (67%) of 21 specimens. Of these, 12 (86%) of 14 had articular branches innervating the anterior shoulder joint, and 14 (100%) of 14 LPN articular branches were adjacent to acromial branches of the thoracoacromial blood vessels over the superior aspect of the coracoid process. Articular branches from the SN, AN, and LPN were identified. Articular branches of the SN and AN insert into the capsule overlying the glenohumeral joint posteriorly. Articular branches of the LPN exist and innervate a portion of the anterior shoulder joint.

Investigations of interpolation errors of angle encoders for high precision angle metrology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yandayan, Tanfer; Geckeler, Ralf D.; Just, Andreas; Krause, Michael; Asli Akgoz, S.; Aksulu, Murat; Grubert, Bernd; Watanabe, Tsukasa

2018-06-01

Interpolation errors at small angular scales are caused by the subdivision of the angular interval between adjacent grating lines into smaller intervals when radial gratings are used in angle encoders. They are often a major error source in precision angle metrology and better approaches for determining them at low levels of uncertainty are needed. Extensive investigations of interpolation errors of different angle encoders with various interpolators and interpolation schemes were carried out by adapting the shearing method to the calibration of autocollimators with angle encoders. The results of the laboratories with advanced angle metrology capabilities are presented which were acquired by the use of four different high precision angle encoders/interpolators/rotary tables. State of the art uncertainties down to 1 milliarcsec (5 nrad) were achieved for the determination of the interpolation errors using the shearing method which provides simultaneous access to the angle deviations of the autocollimator and of the angle encoder. Compared to the calibration and measurement capabilities (CMC) of the participants for autocollimators, the use of the shearing technique represents a substantial improvement in the uncertainty by a factor of up to 5 in addition to the precise determination of interpolation errors or their residuals (when compensated). A discussion of the results is carried out in conjunction with the equipment used.

Bird exclosures for branches and whole trees.

Treesearch

Robert W. Campbell; Torolf R. Torgersen; Steven C. Forrest; Lorna C. Youngs

1981-01-01

Two types of lightweight, portable bird exclosures are described. One is for individual branches or branch tips; the other is for whole trees up to 9 m tall. Several alternative configurations and uses of these exclosures are discussed.

Technical activities of the configuration aeroelasticity branch

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cole, Stanley R. (Editor)

1991-01-01

A number of recent technical activities of the Configuration Aeroelasticity Branch of the NASA Langley Research Center are discussed in detail. The information on the research branch is compiled in twelve separate papers. The first of these topics is a summary of the purpose of the branch, including a full description of the branch and its associated projects and program efforts. The next ten papers cover specific projects and are as follows: Experimental transonic flutter characteristics of supersonic cruise configurations; Aeroelastic effects of spoiler surfaces mounted on a low aspect ratio rectangular wing; Planform curvature effects on flutter of 56 degree swept wing determined in Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT); An introduction to rotorcraft testing in TDT; Rotorcraft vibration reduction research at the TDT; A preliminary study to determine the effects of tip geometry on the flutter of aft swept wings; Aeroelastic models program; NACA 0012 pressure model and test plan; Investigation of the use of extension twist coupling in composite rotor blades; and Improved finite element methods for rotorcraft structures. The final paper describes the primary facility operation by the branch, the Langley TDT.

Effect of cationic monomer content on polyacrylamide copolymers by frit-inlet asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation/multi-angle light scattering.

PubMed

Lee, Hyejin; Kim, Jin Yong; Choi, Woonjin; Moon, Myeong Hee

2017-06-23

In this study, ultrahigh-molecular-weight (MW) (>10 7 Da) cationic polyacrylamides (C-PAMs), which are water-soluble polymers used in waste water treatment, were characterized using frit-inlet asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation coupled with multi-angle light scattering and differential refractive detection. C-PAMs copolymerized with acryloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (DAC) were prepared by varying the feed amount of cationic monomer, polymerization method (solution vs. emulsion), and degree of branching. The MW of the copolymers prepared using emulsion polymerization (10 7 -10 9 Da) was generally larger than that of copolymers prepared using solution polymerization (4×10 7 -10 8 Da). When the amount of cationic monomer was increased from 10 to 55mol% in solution polymerization, hydrophobic contraction of the core induced formation of more compact C-PAMs. The copolymers prepared using emulsion polymerization formed highly aggregated or supercoil structures owing to increased intermolecular hydrophobic interaction when less cationic monomer was used. However, the MW decreased with increased cationic group content. In addition, C-PAMs larger than ∼10 8 Da prepared using the emulsion method were separated by steric/hyperlayer elution mode while those in the 10 7 -10 8 Da range were analyzed in either normal or steric/hyperlayer mode depending on the decay patterns of field programming. Moreover, branched copolymers were found to be resolved with different elution modes under the same field decay pattern depending on the degree of branching: steric/hyperlayer for low-branching and normal for high-branching C-PAMs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair Combined with Assistant Techniques and Devices for the Treatment of Acute Complicated Stanford Type B Aortic Dissections Involving Aortic Arch.

PubMed

Zhang, Tianhua; Jiang, Weiliang; Lu, Haitao; Liu, Jianfeng

2016-04-01

The present study retrospectively reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) combined with assistant techniques and devices for the treatment of acute complicated Stanford type B aortic dissections involving aortic arch. Fifty-six patients with acute complicated Stanford type B aortic dissection involving aortic arch were treated with TEVAR combined with hybrid procedure, chimney-graft technique, and branched stent grafts from January 2009 to March 2014. Seventeen patients undergone TEVAR combined with hybrid technique. Technical success was achieved in 94.1% with 5.8% of early mortality. Strokes occurred in a patient developing paraplegia, who completely recovered after lumbar drainage. Cardiocirculatory and pulmonary complications, bypass dysfunction or severe endoleak was not observed. Thirty patients undergone TEVAR combined with chimney technique with 100% technical success rate. Chimney-stent compression was observed in 1 patient, and another bare stent was deployed inside the first one. Three patients (10%) died during the study period. Immediate postoperative type I endoleak was detected in 4 cases (13.3%). TEVAR assisted by Castor branched aortic stent grafts in 9 patients was successful. Mortality during perioperative period and 30 days after TEVAR was null. No serious complications such as strokes, acute myocardial infarction, and ischemia of arms occurred. The results indicate that TEVAR combined with hybrid technique, chimney technique, and branched stent grafts is proven to be a technically feasible and effective treatment for acute complicated Stanford type B aortic dissection involving aortic arch in small cohort. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Computational models of airway branching morphogenesis.

PubMed

Varner, Victor D; Nelson, Celeste M

2017-07-01

The bronchial network of the mammalian lung consists of millions of dichotomous branches arranged in a highly complex, space-filling tree. Recent computational models of branching morphogenesis in the lung have helped uncover the biological mechanisms that construct this ramified architecture. In this review, we focus on three different theoretical approaches - geometric modeling, reaction-diffusion modeling, and continuum mechanical modeling - and discuss how, taken together, these models have identified the geometric principles necessary to build an efficient bronchial network, as well as the patterning mechanisms that specify airway geometry in the developing embryo. We emphasize models that are integrated with biological experiments and suggest how recent progress in computational modeling has advanced our understanding of airway branching morphogenesis. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Enzymes involved in branched-chain amino acid metabolism in humans.

PubMed

Adeva-Andany, María M; López-Maside, Laura; Donapetry-García, Cristóbal; Fernández-Fernández, Carlos; Sixto-Leal, Cristina

2017-06-01

Branched-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine and valine) are structurally related to branched-chain fatty acids. Leucine is 2-amino-4-methyl-pentanoic acid, isoleucine is 2-amino-3-methyl-pentanoic acid, and valine is 2-amino-3-methyl-butanoic acid. Similar to fatty acid oxidation, leucine and isoleucine produce acetyl-coA. Additionally, leucine generates acetoacetate and isoleucine yields propionyl-coA. Valine oxidation produces propionyl-coA, which is converted into methylmalonyl-coA and succinyl-coA. Branched-chain aminotransferase catalyzes the first reaction in the catabolic pathway of branched-chain amino acids, a reversible transamination that converts branched-chain amino acids into branched-chain ketoacids. Simultaneously, glutamate is converted in 2-ketoglutarate. The branched-chain ketoacid dehydrogenase complex catalyzes the irreversible oxidative decarboxylation of branched-chain ketoacids to produce branched-chain acyl-coA intermediates, which then follow separate catabolic pathways. Human tissue distribution and function of most of the enzymes involved in branched-chain amino acid catabolism is unknown. Congenital deficiencies of the enzymes involved in branched-chain amino acid metabolism are generally rare disorders. Some of them are associated with reduced pyruvate dehydrogenase complex activity and respiratory chain dysfunction that may contribute to their clinical phenotype. The biochemical phenotype is characterized by accumulation of the substrate to the deficient enzyme and its carnitine and/or glycine derivatives. It was established at the beginning of the twentieth century that the plasma level of the branched-chain amino acids is increased in conditions associated with insulin resistance such as obesity and diabetes mellitus. However, the potential clinical relevance of this elevation is uncertain.

Three ancient hormonal cues co-ordinate shoot branching in a moss.

PubMed

Coudert, Yoan; Palubicki, Wojtek; Ljung, Karin; Novak, Ondrej; Leyser, Ottoline; Harrison, C Jill

2015-03-25

Shoot branching is a primary contributor to plant architecture, evolving independently in flowering plant sporophytes and moss gametophytes. Mechanistic understanding of branching is largely limited to flowering plants such as Arabidopsis, which have a recent evolutionary origin. We show that in gametophytic shoots of Physcomitrella, lateral branches arise by re-specification of epidermal cells into branch initials. A simple model co-ordinating the activity of leafy shoot tips can account for branching patterns, and three known and ancient hormonal regulators of sporophytic branching interact to generate the branching pattern- auxin, cytokinin and strigolactone. The mode of auxin transport required in branch patterning is a key divergence point from known sporophytic pathways. Although PIN-mediated basipetal auxin transport regulates branching patterns in flowering plants, this is not so in Physcomitrella, where bi-directional transport is required to generate realistic branching patterns. Experiments with callose synthesis inhibitors suggest plasmodesmal connectivity as a potential mechanism for transport.

Three ancient hormonal cues co-ordinate shoot branching in a moss

PubMed Central

Coudert, Yoan; Palubicki, Wojtek; Ljung, Karin; Novak, Ondrej; Leyser, Ottoline; Harrison, C Jill

2015-01-01

Shoot branching is a primary contributor to plant architecture, evolving independently in flowering plant sporophytes and moss gametophytes. Mechanistic understanding of branching is largely limited to flowering plants such as Arabidopsis, which have a recent evolutionary origin. We show that in gametophytic shoots of Physcomitrella, lateral branches arise by re-specification of epidermal cells into branch initials. A simple model co-ordinating the activity of leafy shoot tips can account for branching patterns, and three known and ancient hormonal regulators of sporophytic branching interact to generate the branching pattern- auxin, cytokinin and strigolactone. The mode of auxin transport required in branch patterning is a key divergence point from known sporophytic pathways. Although PIN-mediated basipetal auxin transport regulates branching patterns in flowering plants, this is not so in Physcomitrella, where bi-directional transport is required to generate realistic branching patterns. Experiments with callose synthesis inhibitors suggest plasmodesmal connectivity as a potential mechanism for transport. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.06808.001 PMID:25806686

Angle performance on optima MDxt

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

David, Jonathan; Kamenitsa, Dennis

2012-11-06

Angle control on medium current implanters is important due to the high angle-sensitivity of typical medium current implants, such as halo implants. On the Optima MDxt, beam-to-wafer angles are controlled in both the horizontal and vertical directions. In the horizontal direction, the beam angle is measured through six narrow slits, and any angle adjustment is made by electrostatically steering the beam, while cross-wafer beam parallelism is adjusted by changing the focus of the electrostatic parallelizing lens (P-lens). In the vertical direction, the beam angle is measured through a high aspect ratio mask, and any angle adjustment is made by slightlymore » tilting the wafer platen prior to implant. A variety of tests were run to measure the accuracy and repeatability of Optima MDxt's angle control. SIMS profiles of a high energy, channeling sensitive condition show both the cross-wafer angle uniformity, along with the small-angle resolution of the system. Angle repeatability was quantified by running a channeling sensitive implant as a regular monitor over a seven month period and measuring the sheet resistance-to-angle sensitivity. Even though crystal cut error was not controlled for in this case, when attributing all Rs variation to angle changes, the overall angle repeatability was measured as 0.16 Degree-Sign (1{sigma}). A separate angle repeatability test involved running a series of V-curves tests over a four month period using low crystal cut wafers selected from the same boule. The results of this test showed the angle repeatability to be <0.1 Degree-Sign (1{sigma}).« less

Automated branching pattern report generation for laparoscopic surgery assistance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oda, Masahiro; Matsuzaki, Tetsuro; Hayashi, Yuichiro; Kitasaka, Takayuki; Misawa, Kazunari; Mori, Kensaku

2015-05-01

This paper presents a method for generating branching pattern reports of abdominal blood vessels for laparoscopic gastrectomy. In gastrectomy, it is very important to understand branching structure of abdominal arteries and veins, which feed and drain specific abdominal organs including the stomach, the liver and the pancreas. In the real clinical stage, a surgeon creates a diagnostic report of the patient anatomy. This report summarizes the branching patterns of the blood vessels related to the stomach. The surgeon decides actual operative procedure. This paper shows an automated method to generate a branching pattern report for abdominal blood vessels based on automated anatomical labeling. The report contains 3D rendering showing important blood vessels and descriptions of branching patterns of each vessel. We have applied this method for fifty cases of 3D abdominal CT scans and confirmed the proposed method can automatically generate branching pattern reports of abdominal arteries.

Simulation of Cardiovascular Response to the Head-Up/Head-Down Tilt at Different Angles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yang; Lu, Hong-Bing; Jiao, Chun; Zhang, Li-Fan

2008-06-01

The disappearance of hydrostatic pressure is the original factor that causes the changes of cardiovascular system under microgravity. The hydrostatical changes can be simulated by postural changes. Especially the head-down position can be used to simulate the effects of microgravity. The goal of this investigation was to develop a mathematical model for simulation of the human cardiovascular responses to acute and prolonged exposure under microgravity environment. We were particularly interested in the redistribution of transmural pressures, flows, blood volume, and the consequent alterations in local hemodynamics in different cardiovascular compartments during acute exposure and chronic adjustments. As a preliminary study, we first developed a multi-element, distributed hemodynamic model of human cardiovascular system, and verified the model to simulate cardiovascular changes during head up/down tilt at various angles.

Molecular basis of branched peptides resistance to enzyme proteolysis.

PubMed

Falciani, Chiara; Lozzi, Luisa; Pini, Alessandro; Corti, Federico; Fabbrini, Monica; Bernini, Andrea; Lelli, Barbara; Niccolai, Neri; Bracci, Luisa

2007-03-01

We found that synthetic peptides in the form of dendrimers become resistant to proteolysis. To determine the molecular basis of this resistance, different bioactive peptides were synthesized in monomeric, two-branched and tetra-branched form and incubated with human plasma and serum. Proteolytic resistance of branched multimeric sequences was compared to that of the same peptides synthesized as multimeric linear molecules. Unmodified peptides and cleaved sequences were detected by high pressure liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. An increase in peptide copies did not increase peptide resistance in linear multimeric sequences, whereas multimericity progressively enhanced proteolytic stability of branched multimeric peptides. A structure-based hypothesis of branched peptide resistance to proteolysis by metallopeptidases is presented.

Observational drawing biases are predicted by biases in perception: Empirical support of the misperception hypothesis of drawing accuracy with respect to two angle illusions.

PubMed

Ostrofsky, Justin; Kozbelt, Aaron; Cohen, Dale J

2015-01-01

We tested the misperception hypothesis of drawing errors, which states that drawing accuracy is strongly influenced by the perceptual encoding of a to-be-drawn stimulus. We used a highly controlled experimental paradigm in which nonartist participants made perceptual judgements and drawings of angles under identical stimulus exposure conditions. Experiment 1 examined the isosceles/scalene triangle angle illusion; congruent patterns of bias in the perception and drawing tasks were found for 40 and 60° angles, but not for 20 or 80° angles, providing mixed support for the misperception hypothesis. Experiment 2 examined shape constancy effects with respect to reproductions of single acute or obtuse angles; congruent patterns of bias in the perception and drawing tasks were found across a range of angles from 29 to 151°, providing strong support for the misperception hypothesis. In both experiments, perceptual and drawing biases were positively correlated. These results are largely consistent with the misperception hypothesis, suggesting that inaccurate perceptual encoding of angles is an important reason that nonartists err in drawing angles from observation.

47 CFR 32.6341 - Large private branch exchange expense.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 2 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Large private branch exchange expense. 32.6341... Large private branch exchange expense. This account shall include expenses associated with large private branch exchanges. Expenses associated with company internal use communication equipment shall be recorded...

Structural Dynamics Branch research and accomplishments for FY 1990

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1991-01-01

Presented here is a collection of FY 1990 research highlights from the Structural Dynamics Branch at the NASA Lewis Research Center. Highlights are from the branch's major work areas: aeroelasticity, vibration control, dynamic systems, and computational structural methods. A listing is given of FY 1990 branch publications.

Spatial mapping and quantification of developmental branching morphogenesis.

PubMed

Short, Kieran; Hodson, Mark; Smyth, Ian

2013-01-15

Branching morphogenesis is a fundamental developmental mechanism that shapes the formation of many organs. The complex three-dimensional shapes derived by this process reflect equally complex genetic interactions between branching epithelia and their surrounding mesenchyme. Despite the importance of this process to normal adult organ function, analysis of branching has been stymied by the absence of a bespoke method to quantify accurately the complex spatial datasets that describe it. As a consequence, although many developmentally important genes are proposed to influence branching morphogenesis, we have no way of objectively assessing their individual contributions to this process. We report the development of a method for accurately quantifying many aspects of branching morphogenesis and we demonstrate its application to the study of organ development. As proof of principle we have employed this approach to analyse the developing mouse lung and kidney, describing the spatial characteristics of the branching ureteric bud and pulmonary epithelia. To demonstrate further its capacity to profile unrecognised genetic contributions to organ development, we examine Tgfb2 mutant kidneys, identifying elements of both developmental delay and specific spatial dysmorphology caused by haplo-insufficiency for this gene. This technical advance provides a crucial resource that will enable rigorous characterisation of the genetic and environmental factors that regulate this essential and evolutionarily conserved developmental mechanism.

Fluoropolymer Dynamics: Effects of Perfluoromethyl Branches

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eby, R. K.; Holt, D. B.; Farmer, B. L.; Adams, D. D.

1997-03-01

Previous simulations of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in the solid state showed that the interaction and movement of helix reversals plays an important role in the dynamic behavior of this important polymer. Copolymers of TFE and hexafluoropropylene (HFP), which can be viewed as PTFE with perfluoromethyl (PFM) group branch defects, is also widely used. Molecular mechanics and dynamics calculations have been performed with PTFE chain clusters containing PFM branches to investigate the effect of these defects on the local crystalline environment (and vice versa) and on the motions and interactions of helix reversals. Initial results indicate that helix reversals are attracted to sites of PFM branches in a chain. Such an interaction will impede the motions of helix reversals and have an impact on macroscopic mechanical properties such as resistance to plastic deformation under shear.

SASfit: a tool for small-angle scattering data analysis using a library of analytical expressions.

PubMed

Breßler, Ingo; Kohlbrecher, Joachim; Thünemann, Andreas F

2015-10-01

SASfit is one of the mature programs for small-angle scattering data analysis and has been available for many years. This article describes the basic data processing and analysis workflow along with recent developments in the SASfit program package (version 0.94.6). They include (i) advanced algorithms for reduction of oversampled data sets, (ii) improved confidence assessment in the optimized model parameters and (iii) a flexible plug-in system for custom user-provided models. A scattering function of a mass fractal model of branched polymers in solution is provided as an example for implementing a plug-in. The new SASfit release is available for major platforms such as Windows, Linux and MacOS. To facilitate usage, it includes comprehensive indexed documentation as well as a web-based wiki for peer collaboration and online videos demonstrating basic usage. The use of SASfit is illustrated by interpretation of the small-angle X-ray scattering curves of monomodal gold nanoparticles (NIST reference material 8011) and bimodal silica nanoparticles (EU reference material ERM-FD-102).

AmeriFlux US-WBW Walker Branch Watershed

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

Meyers, Tilden

2016-01-01

This is the AmeriFlux version of the carbon flux data for the site US-WBW Walker Branch Watershed. Site Description - The stand is over 50 years old, having regenerated from agricultural land.This site is located near Oak Ridge, Tennessee near the Walker Branch Watershed.

Radioiodinated branched carbohydrates

DOEpatents

Goodman, Mark M.; Knapp, Jr., Furn F.

1989-01-01

A radioiodinated branched carbohydrate for tissue imaging. Iodine-123 is stabilized in the compound by attaching it to a vinyl functional group that is on the carbohydrate. The compound exhibits good uptake and retention and is promising in the development of radiopharmaceuticals for brain, heart and tumor imaging.

20 CFR 422.5 - District offices and branch offices.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... office is the manager. The principal officer in each branch office is the officer-in-charge. Each... 20 Employees' Benefits 2 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false District offices and branch offices. 422.5... and Functions of the Social Security Administration § 422.5 District offices and branch offices. There...

20 CFR 422.5 - District offices and branch offices.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... office is the manager. The principal officer in each branch office is the officer-in-charge. Each... 20 Employees' Benefits 2 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false District offices and branch offices. 422.5... and Functions of the Social Security Administration § 422.5 District offices and branch offices. There...

20 CFR 422.5 - District offices and branch offices.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false District offices and branch offices. 422.5... and Functions of the Social Security Administration § 422.5 District offices and branch offices. There are over 700 social security district offices and branch offices located in the principal cities and...

Mass loss during the RR Lyrae phase of the horizontal branch: Mass dispersion on the horizontal branch and RR Lyrae period changes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Koopmann, Rebecca A.; Lee, Young-Wook; Demarque, Pierre; Howard, Jamie M.

1994-01-01

Mass loss on the horizontal branch has been invoked in the literature to explain such phenomena as the color (mass) dispersion of the horizontal branch and the observed distribution of period changes in RR Lyrae stars. To test these claims, the Yale stellar evolution code was used to evolve horizontal branch models of masses 0.64, 0.66, 0.68, 0.70, and 0.72 solar mass with Z of 0.001, core mass of 0.4893, main-sequence helium abundance of 0.23, and constant mass loss rates of 0, 10(exp -10), 5 x 10(exp -10), and 10(exp -9) solar mass/yr. Mass loss was assumed to occur only in the instability strip, where a mechanism is most likely to exist. Synthetic horizontal branches, constructed from the models, show that mass loss on the horizontal branch cannot produce the observed color dispersion even for the highest mass-loss rate of 10(exp -9) solar mass/yr. Mass loss is unlikely to occur at a higher rate without significant effects on the horizontal branch morphology, which would destroy the good agreement between standard synthetic models without mass loss and observed horizontal branches. Periods and period changes were calculated for all models. The period changes are not significantly larger for models with mass loss. The effect of mass loss in clusters of other metallicities is discussed.

[Acute right-sided upper abdominal pain in a 46-year-old woman].

PubMed

Bauder, M; Fiala, A; Klinger, C; Kersjes, W; Caca, K

2018-02-01

A 46-year-old woman presented with acute abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a duodenal stenosis within the horizontal part of the duodenum. Based on the findings of abdominal computed tomography (CT), endosonography, Doppler duplex sonography and angiography, the diagnosis of an aneurysm of a branch of the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery was established. This arterial branch was part of a collateral circulation between the superior mesenteric artery and the proper hepatic artery caused by obturation of the celiac artery. The symptomatic duodenal stenosis was the result of a local hematoma due to prior rupture of an aneurysm. After successful coiling of the afferent vessels to the aneurysm follow-up examinations showed progredient resorption of the hematoma and the patient was free of complaints.

Structural dynamics branch research and accomplishments to FY 1992

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lawrence, Charles

1992-01-01

This publication contains a collection of fiscal year 1992 research highlights from the Structural Dynamics Branch at NASA LeRC. Highlights from the branch's major work areas--Aeroelasticity, Vibration Control, Dynamic Systems, and Computational Structural Methods are included in the report as well as a listing of the fiscal year 1992 branch publications.

Electrocardiographic Findings in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome Presenting With Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

PubMed

Sarak, Bradley; Goodman, Shaun G; Brieger, David; Gale, Chris P; Tan, Nigel S; Budaj, Andrzej; Wong, Graham C; Huynh, Thao; Tan, Mary K; Udell, Jacob A; Bagai, Akshay; Fox, Keith A A; Yan, Andrew T

2018-02-01

We sought to characterize presenting electrocardiographic findings in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). In the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events and Canadian ACS Registry I, we examined presenting and 24- to 48-hour follow-up ECGs (electrocardiogram) of ACS patients who survived to hospital admission, stratified by presentation with OHCA. We assessed the prevalence of ST-segment deviation and bundle branch blocks (assessed by an independent ECG core laboratory) and their association with in-hospital and 6-month mortality among those with OHCA. Of the 12,040 ACS patients, 215 (1.8%) survived to hospital admission after OHCA. Those with OHCA had higher presenting rates of ST-segment elevation, ST-segment depression, T-wave inversion, precordial Q-waves, left bundle branch block (LBBB), and right bundle branch block (RBBB) than those without. Among patients with OHCA, those with ST-segment elevation had significantly lower in-hospital mortality (20.9% vs 33.0%, p = 0.044) and a trend toward lower 6-month mortality (27% vs 39%, p = 0.060) compared with those without ST-segment elevation. Conversely, among OCHA patients, LBBB was associated with significantly higher in-hospital and 6-month mortality rates (58% vs 22%, p <0.001, and 65% vs 28%, p <0.001, respectively). ST-segment depression and RBBB were not associated with either outcome. Sixty-three percent of bundle branch blocks (RBBB or LBBB) on the presenting ECG resolved by 24 to 48 hours. In conclusion, compared with ACS patients without cardiac arrest, those with OHCA had higher rates of ST-segment elevation, LBBB, and RBBB on admission. Among OHCA patients, ST-segment elevation was associated with lower in-hospital mortality, whereas LBBB was associated with higher in-hospital and 6-month mortality. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Stochastic and deterministic causes of streamer branching in liquid dielectrics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jadidian, Jouya; Zahn, Markus; Lavesson, Nils; Widlund, Ola; Borg, Karl

2013-08-01

Streamer branching in liquid dielectrics is driven by stochastic and deterministic factors. The presence of stochastic causes of streamer branching such as inhomogeneities inherited from noisy initial states, impurities, or charge carrier density fluctuations is inevitable in any dielectric. A fully three-dimensional streamer model presented in this paper indicates that deterministic origins of branching are intrinsic attributes of streamers, which in some cases make the branching inevitable depending on shape and velocity of the volume charge at the streamer frontier. Specifically, any given inhomogeneous perturbation can result in streamer branching if the volume charge layer at the original streamer head is relatively thin and slow enough. Furthermore, discrete nature of electrons at the leading edge of an ionization front always guarantees the existence of a non-zero inhomogeneous perturbation ahead of the streamer head propagating even in perfectly homogeneous dielectric. Based on the modeling results for streamers propagating in a liquid dielectric, a gauge on the streamer head geometry is introduced that determines whether the branching occurs under particular inhomogeneous circumstances. Estimated number, diameter, and velocity of the born branches agree qualitatively with experimental images of the streamer branching.

Environmental control of branching in petunia.

PubMed

Drummond, Revel S M; Janssen, Bart J; Luo, Zhiwei; Oplaat, Carla; Ledger, Susan E; Wohlers, Mark W; Snowden, Kimberley C

2015-06-01

Plants alter their development in response to changes in their environment. This responsiveness has proven to be a successful evolutionary trait. Here, we tested the hypothesis that two key environmental factors, light and nutrition, are integrated within the axillary bud to promote or suppress the growth of the bud into a branch. Using petunia (Petunia hybrida) as a model for vegetative branching, we manipulated both light quality (as crowding and the red-to-far-red light ratio) and phosphate availability, such that the axillary bud at node 7 varied from deeply dormant to rapidly growing. In conjunction with the phenotypic characterization, we also monitored the state of the strigolactone (SL) pathway by quantifying SL-related gene transcripts. Mutants in the SL pathway inhibit but do not abolish the branching response to these environmental signals, and neither signal is dominant over the other, suggesting that the regulation of branching in response to the environment is complex. We have isolated three new putatively SL-related TCP (for Teosinte branched1, Cycloidia, and Proliferating cell factor) genes from petunia, and have identified that these TCP-type transcription factors may have roles in the SL signaling pathway both before and after the reception of the SL signal at the bud. We show that the abundance of the receptor transcript is regulated by light quality, such that axillary buds growing in added far-red light have greatly increased receptor transcript abundance. This suggests a mechanism whereby the impact of any SL signal reaching an axillary bud is modulated by the responsiveness of these cells to the signal. © 2015 American Society of Plant Biologists. All Rights Reserved.

BPP: a sequence-based algorithm for branch point prediction.

PubMed

Zhang, Qing; Fan, Xiaodan; Wang, Yejun; Sun, Ming-An; Shao, Jianlin; Guo, Dianjing

2017-10-15

Although high-throughput sequencing methods have been proposed to identify splicing branch points in the human genome, these methods can only detect a small fraction of the branch points subject to the sequencing depth, experimental cost and the expression level of the mRNA. An accurate computational model for branch point prediction is therefore an ongoing objective in human genome research. We here propose a novel branch point prediction algorithm that utilizes information on the branch point sequence and the polypyrimidine tract. Using experimentally validated data, we demonstrate that our proposed method outperforms existing methods. Availability and implementation: https://github.com/zhqingit/BPP. djguo@cuhk.edu.hk. Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. © The Author (2017). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com

Aqueous Humor Levels of TGF-β2 and TNF-α in Indonesian Eyes With Acute Primary Angle Closure.

PubMed

Artini, Widya; Gondhowiardjo, Tjahjono Darminto; Supiandi, Edi S; Tin, Aung

2012-01-01

To measure aqueous humor levels of TGF-β2 and TNF-α in Indonesian eyes with acute primary angle closure (APAC) and to investigate their relationship to response to treatment. A prospective observational study. On presentation, aqueous humor samples were taken from APAC eyes by paracentesis. All APAC eyes then underwent laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI). Two weeks following LPI, trabeculectomy was performed if the intraocular pressure (IOP) was still high. Alternatively, phacoemulsification was performed in cases of normal IOP. Aqueous humor samples were taken again at the time of both surgical procedures. Age-matched cataract patients were included as a control group. Cytokine samples were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Forty-three Indonesian APAC subjects were recruited in this study. The mean presenting IOP was 56.4 ± 0.52 mmHg and 53% underwent trabeculectomy. Comparison of the APAC eyes to the control group showed there was a significant difference in the mean levels of TGF-β2 (2007.7 ± 827.2 pg/mL vs 466.1 ± 219.3 pg/mL, p < 0.001) and TNF-α (0.714 ± 0.33 pg/mL vs 0.228 ± 0.16 pg/mL, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the presented TGF-β2 and TNF-α levels between the trabeculectomy and phacoemulsification groups (p:0.391 and p:0.494). Between presentation and surgery in the trabeculectomy subgroup, both cytokine levels appeared to be significantly different (p < 0.035 and p < 0.038). This study showed the aqueous humor levels of TGF-β2 and TNF-α appeared high at presentation but decreased subsequently, with no difference detected between groups with persistently high IOP and those with normalized IOP.

Angle classification revisited 2: a modified Angle classification.

PubMed

Katz, M I

1992-09-01

Edward Angle, in his classification of malocclusions, appears to have made Class I a range of abnormality, not a point of ideal occlusion. Current goals of orthodontic treatment, however, strive for the designation "Class I occlusion" to be synonymous with the point of ideal intermeshing and not a broad range. If contemporary orthodontists are to continue to use Class I as a goal, then it is appropriate that Dr. Angle's century-old classification, be modified to be more precise.

Measurement of prominent eta-decay branching fractions.

PubMed

Lopez, A; Mehrabyan, S; Mendez, H; Ramirez, J; Ge, J Y; Miller, D H; Sanghi, B; Shipsey, I P J; Xin, B; Adams, G S; Anderson, M; Cummings, J P; Danko, I; Hu, D; Moziak, B; Napolitano, J; He, Q; Insler, J; Muramatsu, H; Park, C S; Thorndike, E H; Yang, F; Artuso, M; Blusk, S; Khalil, S; Li, J; Menaa, N; Mountain, R; Nisar, S; Randrianarivony, K; Sia, R; Skwarnicki, T; Stone, S; Wang, J C; Bonvicini, G; Cinabro, D; Dubrovin, M; Lincoln, A; Asner, D M; Edwards, K W; Naik, P; Briere, R A; Ferguson, T; Tatishvili, G; Vogel, H; Watkins, M E; Rosner, J L; Adam, N E; Alexander, J P; Cassel, D G; Duboscq, J E; Ehrlich, R; Fields, L; Galik, R S; Gibbons, L; Gray, R; Gray, S W; Hartill, D L; Heltsley, B K; Hertz, D; Jones, C D; Kandaswamy, J; Kreinick, D L; Kuznetsov, V E; Mahlke-Krüger, H; Mohapatra, D; Onyisi, P U E; Patterson, J R; Peterson, D; Riley, D; Ryd, A; Sadoff, A J; Shi, X; Stroiney, S; Sun, W M; Wilksen, T; Athar, S B; Patel, R; Yelton, J; Rubin, P; Eisenstein, B I; Karliner, I; Lowrey, N; Selen, M; White, E J; Wiss, J; Mitchell, R E; Shepherd, M R; Besson, D; Pedlar, T K; Cronin-Hennessy, D; Gao, K Y; Hietala, J; Kubota, Y; Klein, T; Lang, B W; Poling, R; Scott, A W; Zweber, P; Dobbs, S; Metreveli, Z; Seth, K K; Tomaradze, A; Ernst, J; Ecklund, K M; Severini, H; Love, W; Savinov, V

2007-09-21

The decay psi(2S) --> etaJ/psi is used to measure, for the first time, all prominent eta-meson branching fractions with the same experiment in the same dataset, thereby providing a consistent treatment of systematics across branching fractions. We present results for eta decays to gamma gamma, pi(+)pi(-)pi(0), 3pi(0), pi(+)pi(-)gamma and e(+)e(-)gamma, accounting for 99.9% of all eta decays. The precision of several of the branching fractions and their ratios is improved. Two channels, pi(+)pi(-)gamma and e(+)e(-)gamma, show results that differ at the level of three standard deviations from those previously determined.

Measurement of Prominent η-Decay Branching Fractions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lopez, A.; Mehrabyan, S.; Mendez, H.; Ramirez, J.; Ge, J. Y.; Miller, D. H.; Sanghi, B.; Shipsey, I. P. J.; Xin, B.; Adams, G. S.; Anderson, M.; Cummings, J. P.; Danko, I.; Hu, D.; Moziak, B.; Napolitano, J.; He, Q.; Insler, J.; Muramatsu, H.; Park, C. S.; Thorndike, E. H.; Yang, F.; Artuso, M.; Blusk, S.; Khalil, S.; Li, J.; Menaa, N.; Mountain, R.; Nisar, S.; Randrianarivony, K.; Sia, R.; Skwarnicki, T.; Stone, S.; Wang, J. C.; Bonvicini, G.; Cinabro, D.; Dubrovin, M.; Lincoln, A.; Asner, D. M.; Edwards, K. W.; Naik, P.; Briere, R. A.; Ferguson, T.; Tatishvili, G.; Vogel, H.; Watkins, M. E.; Rosner, J. L.; Adam, N. E.; Alexander, J. P.; Cassel, D. G.; Duboscq, J. E.; Ehrlich, R.; Fields, L.; Galik, R. S.; Gibbons, L.; Gray, R.; Gray, S. W.; Hartill, D. L.; Heltsley, B. K.; Hertz, D.; Jones, C. D.; Kandaswamy, J.; Kreinick, D. L.; Kuznetsov, V. E.; Mahlke-Krüger, H.; Mohapatra, D.; Onyisi, P. U. E.; Patterson, J. R.; Peterson, D.; Riley, D.; Ryd, A.; Sadoff, A. J.; Shi, X.; Stroiney, S.; Sun, W. M.; Wilksen, T.; Athar, S. B.; Patel, R.; Yelton, J.; Rubin, P.; Eisenstein, B. I.; Karliner, I.; Lowrey, N.; Selen, M.; White, E. J.; Wiss, J.; Mitchell, R. E.; Shepherd, M. R.; Besson, D.; Pedlar, T. K.; Cronin-Hennessy, D.; Gao, K. Y.; Hietala, J.; Kubota, Y.; Klein, T.; Lang, B. W.; Poling, R.; Scott, A. W.; Zweber, P.; Dobbs, S.; Metreveli, Z.; Seth, K. K.; Tomaradze, A.; Ernst, J.; Ecklund, K. M.; Severini, H.; Love, W.; Savinov, V.

2007-09-01

The decay ψ(2S)→ηJ/ψ is used to measure, for the first time, all prominent η-meson branching fractions with the same experiment in the same dataset, thereby providing a consistent treatment of systematics across branching fractions. We present results for η decays to γγ, π+π-π0, 3π0, π+π-γ and e+e-γ, accounting for 99.9% of all η decays. The precision of several of the branching fractions and their ratios is improved. Two channels, π+π-γ and e+e-γ, show results that differ at the level of three standard deviations from those previously determined.

[Spectral Study on the Effects of Angle-Tuned Filter Wedge Angle Parameter to Reflecting Characteristics].

PubMed

Yu, Kan; Huang, De-xiu; Yin, Juan-juan; Bao, Jia-qi

2015-08-01

Three-port tunable optical filter is a key device in the all-optic intelligent switching network and dense wavelength division multiplexing system. The characteristics of the reflecting spectrum, especially the reflectivity and the isolation degree are very important to the three-port filter. Angle-tuned thin film filter is widely used as a three-port tunable filter for its high rectangular degree and good temperature stability. The characteristics of the reflecting spectrum are greatly influenced not only by the incident angle, but also by the wedge angle parameter of the non-paralleled wedge thin film filter. In the present paper, the influences of the wedge angle parameter to the reflectivity and the half bandwidth are analyzed, and the reflecting spectrum characterstics are simulationed in different wedge angle parameter and polarity. The wedge angle-tuned thin film filter with 0.8° wedge angle parameter is fabricated. The experimental results show that keeping the wedge angle the same orientation to the incident angle will worsen the reflectivity and the rectangular degree of the reflecting spectrum. However, keeping the wedge angle orientation reverse to the incident angle will enhance the reflectivity and decrease the bandwidth, which will give higher reflectivity and isolation degree to the three-port filter than that of high parallel degree angle-tuned thin film filter.

Uncertainty and probability for branching selves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lewis, Peter J.

Everettian accounts of quantum mechanics entail that people branch; every possible result of a measurement actually occurs, and I have one successor for each result. Is there room for probability in such an account? The prima facie answer is no; there are no ontic chances here, and no ignorance about what will happen. But since any adequate quantum mechanical theory must make probabilistic predictions, much recent philosophical labor has gone into trying to construct an account of probability for branching selves. One popular strategy involves arguing that branching selves introduce a new kind of subjective uncertainty. I argue here that the variants of this strategy in the literature all fail, either because the uncertainty is spurious, or because it is in the wrong place to yield probabilistic predictions. I conclude that uncertainty cannot be the ground for probability in Everettian quantum mechanics.

Characterization of ultrahigh-molecular weight cationic polyacrylamide using frit-inlet asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation and multi-angle light scattering.

PubMed

Woo, Sohee; Lee, Ju Yong; Choi, Woonjin; Moon, Myeong Hee

2016-01-15

In this study, frit inlet asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (FlFFF) with multi-angle light scattering (MALS) and differential refractive index (DRI) detection is utilized for size separation, determination of molecular weight (MW), and conformation of ultrahigh-MW (10(7)-10(9) g/mol) cationic polyacrylamides (C-PAMs), a class of water-soluble copolymers based on acrylamide and vinyl-type comonomers with quaternary ammonium cations that are widely used in wastewater treatment and in paper industries. Linear and branched C-PAM copolymers prepared in two different polymerization methods (solution and emulsion) from varying amounts of crosslinking agent and initiator were size fractionated by FlFFF with field-programming. It was found experimentally that the linear copolymers from both polymerization methods were less than 10(8) g/mol in MW with compact, nearly spherical structures, while the branched C-PAM copolymers from the emulsion polymerization showed a significant increase in average MW up to ∼ 10(9)g/mol, which was about 20-fold greater than those from the solution method, and the branched copolymers had more compact or shrunken conformations. While both linear and branched copolymers less than 10(8) g/mol MW were well resolved in an increasing order of MW (normal mode), it was noted that branched copolymers prepared through emulsion polymerization exhibited significantly larger MWs of 10(8-)10(9) g/mol and eluted in the steric/hyperlayer mode, in which the elution order is reversed in an extreme run condition (strong initial field strength followed by a fast field decay during programming). Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Dendrimers and methods of preparing same through proportionate branching

DOEpatents

Yu, Yihua; Yue, Xuyi

2015-09-15

The present invention provides for monodispersed dendrimers having a core, branches and periphery ends, wherein the number of branches increases exponentially from the core to the periphery end and the length of the branches increases exponentially from the periphery end to the core, thereby providing for attachment of chemical species at the periphery ends without exhibiting steric hindrance.

On extreme events for non-spatial and spatial branching Brownian motions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Avan, Jean; Grosjean, Nicolas; Huillet, Thierry

2015-04-01

We study the impact of having a non-spatial branching mechanism with infinite variance on some parameters (height, width and first hitting time) of an underlying Bienaymé-Galton-Watson branching process. Aiming at providing a comparative study of the spread of an epidemics whose dynamics is given by the modulus of a branching Brownian motion (BBM) we then consider spatial branching processes in dimension d, not necessarily integer. The underlying branching mechanism is either a binary branching model or one presenting infinite variance. In particular we evaluate the chance p(x) of being hit if the epidemics started away at distance x. We compute the large x tail probabilities of this event, both when the branching mechanism is regular and when it exhibits very large fluctuations.

Angle Performance on Optima XE

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

David, Jonathan; Satoh, Shu

2011-01-07

Angle control on high energy implanters is important due to shrinking device dimensions, and sensitivity to channeling at high beam energies. On Optima XE, beam-to-wafer angles are controlled in both the horizontal and vertical directions. In the horizontal direction, the beam angle is measured through a series of narrow slits, and any angle adjustment is made by steering the beam with the corrector magnet. In the vertical direction, the beam angle is measured through a high aspect ratio mask, and any angle adjustment is made by slightly tilting the wafer platen during implant.Using a sensitive channeling condition, we were ablemore » to quantify the angle repeatability of Optima XE. By quantifying the sheet resistance sensitivity to both horizontal and vertical angle variation, the total angle variation was calculated as 0.04 deg. (1{sigma}). Implants were run over a five week period, with all of the wafers selected from a single boule, in order to control for any crystal cut variation.« less

Manifold angles, the concept of self-similarity, and angle-enhanced bifurcation diagrams

PubMed Central

Beims, Marcus W.; Gallas, Jason A. C.

2016-01-01

Chaos and regularity are routinely discriminated by using Lyapunov exponents distilled from the norm of orthogonalized Lyapunov vectors, propagated during the temporal evolution of the dynamics. Such exponents are mean-field-like averages that, for each degree of freedom, squeeze the whole temporal evolution complexity into just a single number. However, Lyapunov vectors also contain a step-by-step record of what exactly happens with the angles between stable and unstable manifolds during the whole evolution, a big-data information permanently erased by repeated orthogonalizations. Here, we study changes of angles between invariant subspaces as observed during temporal evolution of Hénon’s system. Such angles are calculated numerically and analytically and used to characterize self-similarity of a chaotic attractor. In addition, we show how standard tools of dynamical systems may be angle-enhanced by dressing them with informations not difficult to extract. Such angle-enhanced tools reveal unexpected and practical facts that are described in detail. For instance, we present a video showing an angle-enhanced bifurcation diagram that exposes from several perspectives the complex geometrical features underlying the attractors. We believe such findings to be generic for extended classes of systems. PMID:26732416

Manifold angles, the concept of self-similarity, and angle-enhanced bifurcation diagrams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beims, Marcus W.; Gallas, Jason A. C.

2016-01-01

Chaos and regularity are routinely discriminated by using Lyapunov exponents distilled from the norm of orthogonalized Lyapunov vectors, propagated during the temporal evolution of the dynamics. Such exponents are mean-field-like averages that, for each degree of freedom, squeeze the whole temporal evolution complexity into just a single number. However, Lyapunov vectors also contain a step-by-step record of what exactly happens with the angles between stable and unstable manifolds during the whole evolution, a big-data information permanently erased by repeated orthogonalizations. Here, we study changes of angles between invariant subspaces as observed during temporal evolution of Hénon’s system. Such angles are calculated numerically and analytically and used to characterize self-similarity of a chaotic attractor. In addition, we show how standard tools of dynamical systems may be angle-enhanced by dressing them with informations not difficult to extract. Such angle-enhanced tools reveal unexpected and practical facts that are described in detail. For instance, we present a video showing an angle-enhanced bifurcation diagram that exposes from several perspectives the complex geometrical features underlying the attractors. We believe such findings to be generic for extended classes of systems.

Branch and foliage morphological plasticity in old-growth Thuja plicata.

PubMed

Edelstein, Zoe R; Ford, E David

2003-07-01

At the Wind River Canopy Crane Facility in southeastern Washington State, USA, we examined phenotypic variation between upper- and lower-canopy branches of old-growth Thuja plicata J. Donn ex D. Don (western red cedar). Lower-canopy branches were longer, sprouted fewer daughter branches per unit stem length and were more horizontal than upper-canopy branches. Thuja plicata holds its foliage in fronds, and these had less projected area per unit mass, measured by specific frond area, and less overlap, measured by silhouette to projected area ratio (SPARmax), in the lower canopy than in the upper canopy. The value of SPARmax, used as an indicator of sun and shade foliage in needle-bearing species, did not differ greatly between upper- and lower-canopy branches. We suggest that branching patterns, as well as frond structure, are important components of morphological plasticity in T. plicata. Our results imply that branches of old-growth T. plicata trees have a guerilla growth pattern, responding to changes in solar irradiance in a localized manner.

Directing the Branching Growth of Cuprous Oxide by OH- Ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Kunfeng; Si, Yunfei; Xue, Dongfeng

The effect of OH- ions on the branching growth of cuprous oxide microcrystals was systematically studied by a reduction route, where copper-citrate complexes were reduced by glucose under alkaline conditions. Different copper salts including Cu(NO3)2, CuCl2, CuSO4, and Cu(Ac)2 were used in this work. The results indicate that the Cu2O branching growth habit is closely correlated to the concentration of OH- ions, which plays an important role in directing the diffusion-limited branching growth of Cu2O and influencing the reduction power of glucose. A variety of Cu2O branching patterns including 6-pod, 8-pod and 24-pod branches, have been achieved without using template and surfactant. The current method can provide a good platform for studying the growth mechanism of microcrystal branching patterns.

["Habitual" left branch block alternating with 2 "disguised" bracnch block].

PubMed

Lévy, S; Jullien, G; Mathieu, P; Mostefa, S; Gérard, R

1976-10-01

Two cases of alternating left bundle branch block and "masquerading block" (with left bundle branch morphology in the stnadard leads and right bundle branch block morphology in the precordial leads) were studied by serial tracings and his bundle electrocardiography. In case 1 "the masquerading" block was associated with a first degree AV block related to a prolongation of HV interval. This case is to our knowledge the first cas of alternating bundle branch block in which his bundle activity was recorded in man. In case 2, the patient had atrial fibrilation and His bundle recordings were performed while differents degrees of left bundle branch block were present: The mechanism of the alternation and the concept of "masquerading" block are discussed. It is suggested that this type of block represents a right bundle branch block associated with severe lesions of the "left system".

Characterization of branch complexity by fractal analyses

USGS Publications Warehouse

Alados, C.L.; Escos, J.; Emlen, J.M.; Freeman, D.C.

1999-01-01

The comparison between complexity in the sense of space occupancy (box-counting fractal dimension D(c) and information dimension D1) and heterogeneity in the sense of space distribution (average evenness index f and evenness variation coefficient J(cv)) were investigated in mathematical fractal objects and natural branch structures. In general, increased fractal dimension was paired with low heterogeneity. Comparisons between branch architecture in Anthyllis cytisoides under different slope exposure and grazing impact revealed that branches were more complex and more homogeneously distributed for plants on northern exposures than southern, while grazing had no impact during a wet year. Developmental instability was also investigated by the statistical noise of the allometric relation between internode length and node order. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that fractal dimension of branch structure can be used to analyze the structural organization of plants, especially if we consider not only fractal dimension but also shoot distribution within the canopy (lacunarity). These indexes together with developmental instability analyses are good indicators of growth responses to the environment.

Structural development of redwood branches and its effects on wood growth.

PubMed

Kramer, Russell D; Sillett, Stephen C; Carroll, Allyson L

2014-03-01

Redwood branches provide all the carbohydrates for the most carbon-heavy forests on Earth, and recent whole-tree measurements have quantified trunk growth rates associated with complete branch inventories. Providing all of a tree's photosynthetic capacity, branches represent an increasing proportion of total aboveground wood production as trees enlarge. To examine branch development and its effects on wood volume growth, we dissected 31 branches from eight Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl. and seven Sequoiadendron giganteum Lindl. trees. The cambium-area-to-leaf-area ratio was maintained with size and age but increased with light availability, whereas the heartwood-deposition-area-to-leaf-area ratio increased with size and age but was insensitive to light availability. The proportion of foliage mass arrayed in <1-cm-diameter epicormic shoots increased with decreasing light and was higher in Sequoia (20-60%) than in Sequoiadendron (3-16%). Well-illuminated branches concentrated leaves higher and distally, while shaded branches distributed leaves lower and proximally. In similar light environments, older branches distributed leaves lower and more proximally than younger branches. Branch size, light, species, heartwood area, a heartwood-area-species interaction, and ovulate cone mass predicted 87.5% of the variability in wood volume growth of branches. After accounting for the positive effects of size and light, wood volume growth declined with heartwood area and age. The effect of age was trivial compared to the effect of heartwood area, suggesting that heartwood expansion caused the age-related decline in wood volume growth. Additionally, Sequoiadendron branches of similar size and light environment with more ovulate cones produced less wood, even though these cones were long-lived and photosynthetic, reflecting the energetic cost of seed production. These results contributed to a conceptual model of branch development in which light availability, injury

Inhibition of post-traumatic septic proteolysis and ureagenesis and stimulation of hepatic acute-phase protein production by branched-chain amino acid TPN.

PubMed

Chiarla, C; Siegel, J H; Kidd, S; Coleman, B; Mora, R; Tacchino, R; Placko, R; Gum, M; Wiles, C E; Belzberg, H

1988-08-01

Previous studies have shown that severe sepsis after major trauma results in the reprioritization of release of hepatic acute-phase proteins (APP). They suggest competition for leucine for nutritional utilization may be responsible. To test this hypothesis, a branched-chain enriched (46.6%) amino acid mixture (BCAA) was administered on a prospective randomized basis with standard TPN therapy to 16 septic post-trauma patients. After sepsis was diagnosed, a randomized therapy (control-TPN or BCAA-TPN) was given for 12 days, or until death occurred. Total calories and amino acid nitrogen (N) administered were not different in the two groups (t-test) and q 8 h (347 study periods) amino acid clearances, urinary urea nitrogen excretion, muscle proteolysis from 3-methyl-histidine (3-MH) excretion, and standard indices of sepsis severity and hepatic function were measured, as well as platelets (PLAT), leucocytes (WBC), albumin (ALB), and six acute-phase proteins: C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1TRIP), fibrinogen (FIBRIN), alpha-2-macroglobulin (AMACRO), ceruloplasmin (CERUL), and transferrin (TRANS). Using Scheffé analysis of all contrasts the data showed: BCAA resulted in a fall in 24-hour urea N excretion (24.0 to 20.0 gm/24 hr) and in proteolysis (138 to 126 gm/24 hr) (p less than 0.0001). Prestudy CRP levels were all elevated, but compared to control where APP reprioritization occurred, over the initial 10 days of therapy BCAA patients had a more rapid fall in CRP with a more rapid rise in FIBRIN, TRANS, CERUL, ALBUMIN, AMACRO, and A1TRIP (all p less than 0.0001) relative to CRP. Also, the sepsis-reduced clearances of glutamine and glutamate, alanine, and proline were increased (p less than 0.0001) during BCAA even though urea nitrogen production was reduced (p less than 0.0001). The increase in leucine clearance with BCAA-enriched TPN was positively correlated (r2 = 0.601; p less than 0.0001) with the increase in the sum of all APP and ALB and was

Tillering and panicle branching genes in rice.

PubMed

Liang, Wei-hong; Shang, Fei; Lin, Qun-ting; Lou, Chen; Zhang, Jing

2014-03-01

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important staple food crops in the world, and rice tillering and panicle branching are important traits determining grain yield. Since the gene MONOCULM 1 (MOC 1) was first characterized as a key regulator in controlling rice tillering and branching, great progress has been achieved in identifying important genes associated with grain yield, elucidating the genetic basis of yield-related traits. Some of these important genes were shown to be applicable for molecular breeding of high-yielding rice. This review focuses on recent advances, with emphasis on rice tillering and panicle branching genes, and their regulatory networks. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Setting the magic angle for fast magic-angle spinning probes.

PubMed

Penzel, Susanne; Smith, Albert A; Ernst, Matthias; Meier, Beat H

2018-06-15

Fast magic-angle spinning, coupled with 1 H detection is a powerful method to improve spectral resolution and signal to noise in solid-state NMR spectra. Commercial probes now provide spinning frequencies in excess of 100 kHz. Then, one has sufficient resolution in the 1 H dimension to directly detect protons, which have a gyromagnetic ratio approximately four times larger than 13 C spins. However, the gains in sensitivity can quickly be lost if the rotation angle is not set precisely. The most common method of magic-angle calibration is to optimize the number of rotary echoes, or sideband intensity, observed on a sample of KBr. However, this typically uses relatively low spinning frequencies, where the spinning of fast-MAS probes is often unstable, and detection on the 13 C channel, for which fast-MAS probes are typically not optimized. Therefore, we compare the KBr-based optimization of the magic angle with two alternative approaches: optimization of the splitting observed in 13 C-labeled glycine-ethylester on the carbonyl due to the Cα-C' J-coupling, or optimization of the H-N J-coupling spin echo in the protein sample itself. The latter method has the particular advantage that no separate sample is necessary for the magic-angle optimization. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Objective Assessment of the Interfrontal Angle for Severity Grading and Operative Decision-Making in Metopic Synostosis.

PubMed

Anolik, Rachel A; Allori, Alexander C; Pourtaheri, Navid; Rogers, Gary F; Marcus, Jeffrey R

2016-05-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of a previously validated interfrontal angle for classification of severity of metopic synostosis and as an aid to operative decision-making. An expert panel was asked to study 30 cases ranging from minor to severe metopic synostosis. Based on computed tomographic images of the skull and clinical photographs, they classified the severity of trigonocephaly (1 = normal, 2 = mild, 3 = moderate, and 4 = severe) and management (0 = nonoperative and 1 = operative). The severity scores and management reported by experts were then pooled and matched with the interfrontal angle computed from each respective computed tomographic scan. A threshold was identified at which most experts agree on operative management. Expert severity scores were higher for more acute interfrontal angles. There was a high concordance at the extremes of classifications, severe (4) and normal (1) (p < 0.0001); however, between interfrontal angles of 114.3 and 136.1 degrees, there exists a "gray zone," with severe discordance in expert rankings. An operative threshold of 118.2 degrees was identified, with the interfrontal angle able to predict the expert panel's decision to proceed with surgery 87.6 percent of the time. The interfrontal angle has been previously validated as a simple, accurate, and reproducible means for diagnosing trigonocephaly, but must be obtained from computed tomographic data. In this article, the authors demonstrate that the interfrontal angle can be used to further characterize the severity of trigonocephaly. It also correlated with expert decision-making for operative versus nonoperative management. This tool may be used as an adjunct to clinical decision-making when the decision to proceed with surgery may not be straightforward. Diagnostic, V.

SLAC-standard CAMAC branch terminator (Engineering Materials)

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

Not Available

1980-04-04

The drawings listed on the drawing list provide the data and specifications for constructing a Branch Terminator for the SLAC standard CAMAC units. This is a device for matching the cables and other branch lines in the system. This unit is designed for a certain group of SLAC CAMAC units which are referred to as SLAC-Standard CAMAC Units.

Branching out Has So Much to Offer

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Murray, Joe

2012-01-01

In 1989 there were thirty ATM branches nationally. In January 2012 there were just twelve ATM branches with another three "proposed". How can that happen? How did it happen? Maybe the most pertinent question is: Why did it happen? There is no single answer to the last question, but perhaps it was something to do with the changes that…

RIAD visual imaging branch assessment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Beam, Sherilee F.

1993-01-01

Every year the demand to visualize research efforts increases. The visualization provides the means to effectively analyze data and present the results. The technology support for visualization is constantly changing, improving, and being made available to users everywhere. As such, many researchers are entering into the practice of doing their own visualization in house - sometimes successfully, sometimes not. In an effort to keep pace with the visualization needs of researchers, the Visual Imaging Branch of the Research, Information, and Applications Division at NASA Langley Research Center has conducted an investigation into the current status of imaging technology and imaging production throughout the various research branches at the center. This investigation will allow the branch to evaluate its current resources and personnel in an effort to identify future directions for meeting the needs of the researchers at the center. The investigation team, which consisted of the ASEE fellow, the head of the video section, and the head of the photo section, developed an interview format that could be accomplished during a short interview period with researchers, and yet still provide adequate statistics about items such as in-house equipment and usage.

An unusual branch of celiac trunk feeding suprarenal gland - a case report.

PubMed

Sarkar, Munmun; Mukherjee, Pranab; Roy, Hironmoy; Sengupta, Sandip Kumar; Sarkar, Amarendra Nath

2014-04-01

During routine dissection, variation in branching pattern of coeliac trunk has been observed in adult 54-year-old male cadaver. Instead of normal three branches an additional branch i.e., Left inferior phrenic artery originated from it as fourth branch. Then it divided into two branches, one directly supplied the diaphragm and other branch divided into three sub-branches. First and second branch entered into the left suprarenal gland at its upper and middle pole and third one finally terminated by supplying to the diaphragm. There is no separate middle suprarenal artery on the left side, but inferior suprarenal artery was as usual. No variations have been found on right side in the lateral branches of abdominal aorta. Such a quadrifurcation of celiac trunk to supply suprarenal gland is quiet unique so far searched in literature.

A Different Angle on Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frantz, Marc

2012-01-01

When a plane figure is photographed from different viewpoints, lengths and angles appear distorted. Hence it is often assumed that lengths, angles, protractors, and compasses have no place in projective geometry. Here we describe a sense in which certain angles are preserved by projective transformations. These angles can be constructed with…

A simulation study on the mode conversion process from slow Z-mode to LO mode by the tunneling effect and variations of beaming angle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalaee, Mohammad Javad; Katoh, Yuto

2014-12-01

For a particular angle of incidence wave, it is possible for a slow Z-mode wave incident on an inhomogeneous plasma slab to be converted into an LO mode wave. But for another wave normal angle of the incident wave, it has been considered impossible, since an evanescence region exists between two mode branches. In this case we expect that the mode conversion takes place through the tunneling effect. We investigate the effect of the spatial scale of the density gradient on the mode conversion efficiency in an inhomogeneous plasma where the mode conversion can occur only by the tunneling effect. We use the computer simulation solving Maxwell's equations and the motion of a cold electron fluid. By considering the steepness of the density gradient, the simulation results show the efficient mode conversion could be expected even in the case that the mismatch of the refractive indexes prevents the close coupling of plasma waves. Also, we show for these cases the beaming angle does not correspond to Jones' formula. This effect leads to the angles larger and smaller than the angle estimated by the formula. This type of mode conversion process becomes important in a case where the different plasmas form a discontinuity at their contact boundary.

Leading Process Branch Instability in Lis1+/− Nonradially Migrating Interneurons

PubMed Central

Gopal, Pallavi P.; Simonet, Jacqueline C.; Shapiro, William

2010-01-01

Mammalian forebrain development requires extensive migration, yet the mechanisms through which migrating neurons sense and respond to guidance cues are not well understood. Similar to the axon growth cone, the leading process and branches of neurons may guide migration, but the cytoskeletal events that regulate branching are unknown. We have previously shown that loss of microtubule-associated protein Lis1 reduces branching during migration compared with wild-type neurons. Using time-lapse imaging of Lis1+/− and Lis1+/+ cells migrating from medial ganglionic eminence explant cultures, we show that the branching defect is not due to a failure to initiate branches but a defect in the stabilization of new branches. The leading processes of Lis1+/− neurons have reduced expression of stabilized, acetylated microtubules compared with Lis1+/+ neurons. To determine whether Lis1 modulates branch stability through its role as the noncatalytic β regulatory subunit of platelet-activating factor (PAF) acetylhydrolase 1b, exogenous PAF was applied to wild-type cells. Excess PAF added to wild-type neurons phenocopies the branch instability observed in Lis1+/− neurons, and a PAF antagonist rescues leading process branching in Lis1+/− neurons. These data highlight a role for Lis1, acting through the PAF pathway, in leading process branching and microtubule stabilization. PMID:19861636

The gonial angle stripper: an instrument for the treatment of prominent gonial angle.

PubMed

Kyutoku, S; Yanagida, A; Kusumoto, K; Ogawa, Y

1994-12-01

In the Orient, a prominent gonial angle, so-called benign masseteric hypertrophy, is rather common and considered unattractive. Therefore, its surgical correction is one of the most popular forms of facial skeletal contouring. For accurate and safe osteotomy of the mandibular angle region, a gonial angle stripper was specially invented. It has a small projection that will ease identification of the osteotomy line in a narrow operative field. The tool has been clinically used in eight patients to prove its usefulness, especially for a posteriorly developed mandibular angle.

"Dangerous" anatomic varieties of recurrent motor branch of median nerve.

PubMed

Elsaftawy, Ahmed; Gworys, Bohdan; Jabłecki, Jerzy; Szajerka, Tobiasz

2013-08-01

Carpal tunnel release became one of the most common operations in the field of hand surgery. Many controversies has been made about frequency of the so-called dangerous variations of motor branch of the median nerve. Knowledge of all the anatomical variations motor branches is the duty of every surgeon dealing with the subject. The aim of the study was to present the incidence of dangerous variants of median nerve motor branch in the carpal tunnel based on both clinical experience and anatomical studies performed on 20 cadaver wrists. Between 2006-2012 during minimally open carpal tunnel release we made photographic documentation of all visible dangerous varieties of recurrent motor branches of the median nerve. We also studied 20 cadaver wrists in the Department of Anatomy Medical University in Wrocław. Dangerous varieties of the motor branch of median nerve was found in three clinical cases and in one cadaver wrist. Also In one wrist we found one regular branche, which, however, has atypical two separate branches supplying the thenar muscles. Dangerous varieties of the motor branch of median nerve occur very rare in the population, but does not release from the fact that in each case special attention must be given.We also conclude that, at the minimally open carpal tunnel release procedure, the transverse carpal ligament should be released rather from the line of radial border of the 4th finger to minimize the risk of injury to the recurrent motor branch of median nerve.

Small-angle x-ray scattering study of polymer structure: Carbosilane dendrimers in hexane solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shtykova, E. V.; Feigin, L. A.; Volkov, V. V.; Malakhova, Yu. N.; Streltsov, D. R.; Buzin, A. I.; Chvalun, S. N.; Katarzhanova, E. Yu.; Ignatieva, G. M.; Muzafarov, A. M.

2016-09-01

The three-dimensional organization of monodisperse hyper-branched macromolecules of regular structure—carbosilane dendrimers of zero, third, and sixth generations—has been studied by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) in solution. The use of modern methods of SAXS data interpretation, including ab initio modeling, has made it possible to determine the internal architecture of the dendrimers in dependence of the generation number and the number of cyclosiloxane end groups (forming the shell of dendritic macromolecules) and show dendrimers to be spherical. The structural results give grounds to consider carbosilane dendrimers promising objects for forming crystals with subsequent structural analysis and determining their structure with high resolution, as well as for designing new materials to be used in various dendrimer-based technological applications.

Acquired left bundle branch block in an asymptomatic fighter pilot: a case report.

PubMed

Newman, D G

1999-12-01

This report describes a case of acquired left bundle branch block (LBBB) in an asymptomatic F/A-18 fighter pilot of the Royal Australian Air Force. The previously fit and healthy pilot was found to have LBBB on routine electrocardiographic screening prior to his annual aircrew medical. He was completely asymptomatic, and the only potential etiological factor was a short-lived acute gastrointestinal infectious illness some 4 mo previously. The pilot was extensively investigated with the full range of available diagnostic procedures, including coronary angiography and cardiac biopsy. No cause was determined for his LBBB pattern, and he was assessed as having normal cardiovascular function. The aeromedical disposition of this aviator and the issues involved in determining fitness to fly in such a case are discussed. The importance of thorough clinical investigation and appropriate follow-up are highlighted.

Secondary motion in three-dimensional branching networks

PubMed Central

Guha, Abhijit; Pradhan, Kaustav

2017-01-01

A major aim of the present work is to understand and thoroughly document the generation, the three-dimensional distribution, and the evolution of the secondary motion as the fluid progresses downstream through a branched network. Six generations (G0-G5) of branches (involving 63 straight portions and 31 bifurcation modules) are computed in one go; such computational challenges are rarely taken in the literature. More than 30 × 106 computational elements are employed for high precision of computed results and fine quality of the flow visualization diagrams. The study of co-planar vis-à-vis non-planar space-filling configurations establishes a quantitative evaluation of the dependence of the fluid dynamics on the three-dimensional arrangement of the same individual branches. As compared to the secondary motion in a simple curved pipe, three distinctive features, viz., the change of shape and size of the flow-cross-section, the division of non-uniform primary flow in a bifurcation module, and repeated switchover from clockwise to anticlockwise curvature and vice versa in the flow path, make the present situation more complex. It is shown that the straight portions in the network, in general, attenuate the secondary motion, while the three-dimensionally complex bifurcation modules generate secondary motion and may alter the number, arrangement, and structure of vortices. A comprehensive picture of the evolution of quantitative flow visualizations of the secondary motion is achieved by constructing contours of secondary velocity v→S, streamwise vorticity ωS, and λ2 iso-surfaces. It is demonstrated, for example, that for in-plane configuration, the vortices on any plane appear in pair (i.e., for each clockwise rotating vortex, there is an otherwise identical anticlockwise vortex), whereas the vortices on a plane for the out-of-plane configuration may be dissimilar, and there may even be an odd number of vortices. We have formulated three new parameters (ES/P, �

Secondary motion in three-dimensional branching networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guha, Abhijit; Pradhan, Kaustav

2017-06-01

A major aim of the present work is to understand and thoroughly document the generation, the three-dimensional distribution, and the evolution of the secondary motion as the fluid progresses downstream through a branched network. Six generations (G0-G5) of branches (involving 63 straight portions and 31 bifurcation modules) are computed in one go; such computational challenges are rarely taken in the literature. More than 30 × 106 computational elements are employed for high precision of computed results and fine quality of the flow visualization diagrams. The study of co-planar vis-à-vis non-planar space-filling configurations establishes a quantitative evaluation of the dependence of the fluid dynamics on the three-dimensional arrangement of the same individual branches. As compared to the secondary motion in a simple curved pipe, three distinctive features, viz., the change of shape and size of the flow-cross-section, the division of non-uniform primary flow in a bifurcation module, and repeated switchover from clockwise to anticlockwise curvature and vice versa in the flow path, make the present situation more complex. It is shown that the straight portions in the network, in general, attenuate the secondary motion, while the three-dimensionally complex bifurcation modules generate secondary motion and may alter the number, arrangement, and structure of vortices. A comprehensive picture of the evolution of quantitative flow visualizations of the secondary motion is achieved by constructing contours of secondary velocity | v → S | , streamwise vorticity ω S , and λ 2 iso-surfaces. It is demonstrated, for example, that for in-plane configuration, the vortices on any plane appear in pair (i.e., for each clockwise rotating vortex, there is an otherwise identical anticlockwise vortex), whereas the vortices on a plane for the out-of-plane configuration may be dissimilar, and there may even be an odd number of vortices. We have formulated three new parameters

Branching ratios, CP asymmetries and polarizations of B→ ψ (2S) V decays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rui, Zhou; Li, Ya; Xiao, Zhen-Jun

2017-09-01

We analyze the non-leptonic decays B/B_s→ ψ (2S) V with V=(ρ , ω , K^{*}, φ ) by employing the perturbative QCD (pQCD) factorization approach. Here the branching ratios, the CP asymmetries and the complete set of polarization observables are investigated systematically. Besides the traditional contributions from the factorizable and non-factorizable diagrams at the leading order, the next-to-leading order (NLO) vertex corrections could also provide considerable contributions. The pQCD predictions for the branching ratios of the B_{(s)}→ ψ (2S)K^{*}, ψ (2S)φ decays are consistent with the measured values within errors. As for B→ ψ (2S) ρ , ψ (2S) ω decays, the branching ratios can reach the order of 10^{-5} and could be measured in the LHCb and Belle-II experiments. The numerical results show that the direct CP asymmetries of the considered decays are very small. Thus the observation of any large direct CP asymmetry for these decays will be a signal for new physics. The mixing-induced CP asymmetries in the neutral modes are very close to sin 2β _{(s)}, which suggests that these channels can give a cross-check on the measurement of the Cabbibo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) angle β and β _s. We find that the longitudinal polarization fractions f_0 are suppressed to ˜ 50% due to the large non-factorizable contributions. The magnitudes and phases of the two transverse amplitudes A_{allel } and A_{\\perp } are roughly equal, which is an indication for the approximate light-quark helicity conservation in these decays. The overall polarization observables of B→ ψ (2S) K^{*0} and B_s→ ψ (2S) φ channels are also in good agreement with the experimental measurements as reported by LHCb and BaBar. Other results can also be tested by the LHCb and Belle-II experiments.

On an Integral with Two Branch Points

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

de Oliveira, E. Capelas; Chiacchio, Ary O.

2006-01-01

The paper considers a class of real integrals performed by using a convenient integral in the complex plane. A complex integral containing a multi-valued function with two branch points is transformed into another integral containing a pole and a unique branch point. As a by-product we obtain a new class of integrals which can be calculated in a…

Angle-stable and compressed angle-stable locking for tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis with retrograde intramedullary nails. Biomechanical evaluation.

PubMed

Mückley, Thomas; Hoffmeier, Konrad; Klos, Kajetan; Petrovitch, Alexander; von Oldenburg, Geert; Hofmann, Gunther O

2008-03-01

Retrograde intramedullary nailing is an established procedure for tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of angle-stable locking or compressed angle-stable locking on the initial stability of the nails and on the behavior of the constructs under cyclic loading conditions. Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis was performed in fifteen third-generation synthetic bones and twenty-four fresh-frozen cadaver legs with use of retrograde intramedullary nailing with three different locking modes: a Stryker nail with compressed angle-stable locking, a Stryker nail with angle-stable locking, and a statically locked Biomet nail. Analyses were performed of the initial stability of the specimens (range of motion) and the laxity of the constructs (neutral zone) in dorsiflexion/plantar flexion, varus/valgus, and external rotation/internal rotation. Cyclic testing up to 100,000 cycles was also performed. The range of motion and the neutral zone in dorsiflexion/plantar flexion at specific cycle increments were determined. In both bone models, the intramedullary nails with compressed angle-stable locking and those with angle-stable locking were significantly superior, in terms of a smaller range of motion and neutral zone, to the statically locked nails. The compressed angle-stable nails were superior to the angle-stable nails only in the synthetic bone model, in external/internal rotation. Cyclic testing showed the nails with angle-stable locking and those with compressed angle-stable locking to have greater stability in both models. In the synthetic bone model, compressed angle-stable locking was significantly better than angle-stable locking; in the cadaver bone model, there was no significant difference between these two locking modes. During cyclic testing, five statically locked nails in the cadaver bone model failed, whereas one nail with angle-stable locking and one with compressed angle-stable locking failed. Regardless of the bone model

Survival and Growth of Cottonwood Clones After Angle Planting and Base Angle Treatments

Treesearch

W.K. Randall; Harvey E. Kennedy

1976-01-01

Presently, commercial cottonwood plantations in the lower Mississippi Valley are established using vertically planted, unrooted cuttings with a flat (90°) base. Neither survival nor first-year growth of a group of six Stoneville clones was improved by angle planting or cutting base angles diagonally. For one clone, survival was significantly better when base angle was...

Branch length mediates flower production and inflorescence architecture of Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bowers, Janice E.

2006-01-01

The capacity of individual branches to store water and fix carbon can have profound effects on inflorescence size and architecture, thus on floral display, pollination, and fecundity. Mixed regression was used to investigate the relation between branch length, a proxy for plant resources, and floral display of Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo), a woody, candelabraform shrub of wide distribution in arid North America. Long branches produced three times as many flowers as short branches, regardless of overall plant size. Long branches also had more complex panicles with more cymes and cyme types than short branches; thus, branch length also influenced inflorescence architecture. Within panicles, increasing the number of cymes by one unit added about two flowers, whereas increasing the number of cyme types by one unit added about 21 flowers. Because flower production is mediated by branch length, and because most plants have branches of various lengths, the floral display of individual plants necessarily encompasses a wide range of inflorescence size and structure. ?? Springer 2006.

Some posterior branches of extralaryngeal recurrent laryngeal nerves have motor fibers.

PubMed

Cho, Ilyoung; Jo, Min-Gyu; Choi, Sung-Won; Jang, Jeon Yeob; Wang, Soo-Geun; Cha, Wonjae

2017-11-01

Anatomical variations of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), such as extralaryngeal branching, are a well-known risk factor for RLN injury during thyroid surgery. This study aimed to analyze the surgical anatomy and to investigate the existence of posterior branch motor fibers of extralaryngeal RLNs. Prospective consecutive observational study. This was a prospective cohort study of 366 patients between January 2014 and February 2016. Operative data included the type of operation, incidence of nerve bifurcation, the distances among anatomical landmarks. The motor fibers were evaluated using neurostimulation with laryngeal palpation. A total of 667 RLNs at risk were analyzed in this study, and of these 103 (14.5%) nerves were bifurcated or trifurcated before the laryngeal entry point (LEP). More extralaryngeal branched RLNs were observed on the right side than on the left (17.5% vs. 13.3%, P = .294). The mean distance of the LEP point of division was longer on the left side (16.2 ± 6.7 mm) than on the right (14.7 ± 5.9 mm, P = .132). All branched RLNs had a palpable laryngeal twitch when stimulating anterior branches. When stimulating posterior branches, 28.2%(29/103) of branched RLNs showed palpable laryngeal twitch. Overall incidence of posterior motor branch in total RLNs was 4.3% (29/667). The motor fibers of the RLN are all located in the anterior branch, whereas some posterior branches have motor function. Identification of all of the branches of the RLN may be mandatory to decrease the risk of postoperative nerve injury. 4. Laryngoscope, 127:2678-2685, 2017. © 2017 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

Branched terthiophenes in organic electronics: from small molecules to polymers.

PubMed

Scheuble, Martin; Goll, Miriam; Ludwigs, Sabine

2015-01-01

A zoo of chemical structures is accessible when the branched unit 2,2':3',2″-terthiophene (3T) is included both in structurally well-defined small molecules and polymer-like architectures. The first part of this review article highlights literature on all-thiophene based branched oligomers including dendrimers as well as combinations of 3T-units with functional moieties for light-harvesting systems. Motivated by the perfectly branched macromolecular dendrimers both electropolymerization as well as chemical approaches are presented as methods for the preparation of branched polythiophenes with different branching densities. Structure-function relationships between the molecular architecture and optical and electronic properties are discussed throughout the article. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Improved deoxyribozymes for synthesis of covalently branched DNA and RNA.

PubMed

Lee, Christine S; Mui, Timothy P; Silverman, Scott K

2011-01-01

A covalently branched nucleic acid can be synthesized by joining the 2'-hydroxyl of the branch-site ribonucleotide of a DNA or RNA strand to the activated 5'-phosphorus of a separate DNA or RNA strand. We have previously used deoxyribozymes to synthesize several types of branched nucleic acids for experiments in biotechnology and biochemistry. Here, we report in vitro selection experiments to identify improved deoxyribozymes for synthesis of branched DNA and RNA. Each of the new deoxyribozymes requires Mn²(+) as a cofactor, rather than Mg²(+) as used by our previous branch-forming deoxyribozymes, and each has an initially random region of 40 rather than 22 or fewer combined nucleotides. The deoxyribozymes all function by forming a three-helix-junction (3HJ) complex with their two oligonucleotide substrates. For synthesis of branched DNA, the best new deoxyribozyme, 8LV13, has k(obs) on the order of 0.1 min⁻¹, which is about two orders of magnitude faster than our previously identified 15HA9 deoxyribozyme. 8LV13 also functions at closer-to-neutral pH than does 15HA9 (pH 7.5 versus 9.0) and has useful tolerance for many DNA substrate sequences. For synthesis of branched RNA, two new deoxyribozymes, 8LX1 and 8LX6, were identified with broad sequence tolerances and substantial activity at pH 7.5, versus pH 9.0 for many of our previous deoxyribozymes that form branched RNA. These experiments provide new, and in key aspects improved, practical catalysts for preparation of synthetic branched DNA and RNA.

47 CFR 32.2341 - Large private branch exchanges.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... UNIFORM SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTS FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES Instructions for Balance Sheet Accounts § 32... cost of installation, of multiple manual private branch exchanges and of dial system private branch...) Embedded CPE is that equipment or inventory which is tariffed or otherwise subject to the jurisdictional...

47 CFR 32.2341 - Large private branch exchanges.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... UNIFORM SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTS FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES Instructions for Balance Sheet Accounts § 32... cost of installation, of multiple manual private branch exchanges and of dial system private branch...) Embedded CPE is that equipment or inventory which is tariffed or otherwise subject to the jurisdictional...

47 CFR 32.2341 - Large private branch exchanges.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... UNIFORM SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTS FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES Instructions for Balance Sheet Accounts § 32... cost of installation, of multiple manual private branch exchanges and of dial system private branch...) Embedded CPE is that equipment or inventory which is tariffed or otherwise subject to the jurisdictional...

47 CFR 32.2341 - Large private branch exchanges.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... UNIFORM SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTS FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES Instructions for Balance Sheet Accounts § 32... cost of installation, of multiple manual private branch exchanges and of dial system private branch...) Embedded CPE is that equipment or inventory which is tariffed or otherwise subject to the jurisdictional...

Photoelectric angle converter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Podzharenko, Volodymyr A.; Kulakov, Pavlo I.

2001-06-01

The photo-electric angle transmitter of rotation is offered, at which the output voltage is linear function of entering magnitude. In a transmitter the linear phototransducer is used on the basis of pair photo diode -- operating amplifier, which output voltage is linear function of the area of an illuminated photosensitive stratum, and modulator of a light stream of the special shape, which ensures a linear dependence of this area from an angle of rotation. The transmitter has good frequent properties and can be used for dynamic measurements of an angular velocity and angle of rotation, in systems of exact drives and systems of autocontrol.

Branching instability in expanding bacterial colonies.

PubMed

Giverso, Chiara; Verani, Marco; Ciarletta, Pasquale

2015-03-06

Self-organization in developing living organisms relies on the capability of cells to duplicate and perform a collective motion inside the surrounding environment. Chemical and mechanical interactions coordinate such a cooperative behaviour, driving the dynamical evolution of the macroscopic system. In this work, we perform an analytical and computational analysis to study pattern formation during the spreading of an initially circular bacterial colony on a Petri dish. The continuous mathematical model addresses the growth and the chemotactic migration of the living monolayer, together with the diffusion and consumption of nutrients in the agar. The governing equations contain four dimensionless parameters, accounting for the interplay among the chemotactic response, the bacteria-substrate interaction and the experimental geometry. The spreading colony is found to be always linearly unstable to perturbations of the interface, whereas branching instability arises in finite-element numerical simulations. The typical length scales of such fingers, which align in the radial direction and later undergo further branching, are controlled by the size parameters of the problem, whereas the emergence of branching is favoured if the diffusion is dominant on the chemotaxis. The model is able to predict the experimental morphologies, confirming that compact (resp. branched) patterns arise for fast (resp. slow) expanding colonies. Such results, while providing new insights into pattern selection in bacterial colonies, may finally have important applications for designing controlled patterns. © 2015 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.

Branched Chain Amino Acid Oxidation in Cultured Rat Skeletal Muscle Cells

PubMed Central

Pardridge, William M.; Casanello-Ertl, Delia; Duducgian-Vartavarian, Luiza

1980-01-01

Leucine metabolism in skeletal muscle is linked to protein turnover. Since clofibrate is known both to cause myopathy and to decrease muscle protein content, the present investigations were designed to examine the effects of acute clofibrate treatment on leucine oxidation. Rat skeletal muscle cells in tissue culture were used in these studies because cultivated skeletal muscle cells, like muscle in vivo, have been shown to actively utilize branched chain amino acids and to produce alanine. The conversion of [1-14C]leucine to 14CO2 or to the [1-14C]keto-acid of leucine (α-keto-isocaproate) was linear for at least 2 h of incubation; the production of 14CO2 from [1-14C]leucine was saturable with a Km = 6.3 mM and a maximum oxidation rate (Vmax) = 31 nmol/mg protein per 120 min. Clofibric acid selectively inhibited the oxidation of [1-14C]leucine (Ki = 0.85 mM) and [U-14C]isoleucine, but had no effect on the oxidation of [U-14C]glutamate, -alanine, -lactate, or -palmitate. The inhibition of [1-14C]leucine oxidation by clofibrate was also observed in the rat quarter-diaphragm preparation. Clofibrate primarily inhibited the production of 14CO2 and had relatively little effect on the production of [1-14C]keto-acid of leucine. A physiological concentration—3.0 g/100 ml—of albumin, which actively binds clofibric acid, inhibited but did not abolish the effects of a 2-mM concentration of clofibric acid on leucine oxidation. Clofibrate treatment stimulated the net consumption of pyruvate, and inhibited the net production of alanine. The drug also increased the cytosolic NADH/NAD+ ratio as reflected by an increase in the lactate/pyruvate ratio, in association with a decrease in cell aspartate levels. The changes in pyruvate metabolism and cell redox state induced by the drug were delayed compared with the nearly immediate inhibition of leucine oxidation. These studies suggest that clofibric acid, in concentrations that approximate high therapeutic levels of the drug

Methods and Technologies Branch (MTB)

Cancer.gov

The Methods and Technologies Branch focuses on methods to address epidemiologic data collection, study design and analysis, and to modify technological approaches to better understand cancer susceptibility.

Ecological effects of contaminants in McCoy Branch, 1989-1990

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

Ryon, M.G.

1992-01-01

The 1984 Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) required assessment of all current and former solid waste management units. Such a RCRA Facility Investigation (RFI) was required of the Y-12 Plant for their Filled Coal Ash Pond on McCoy Branch. Because the disposal of coal ash in the ash pond, McCoy Branch, and Rogers Quarry was not consistent with the Tennessee Water Quality Act, several remediation steps were implemented or planned for McCoy Branch to address disposal problems. The McCoy Branch RFI plan included provisions for biological monitoring of the McCoy Branch watershed.more » The objectives of the biological monitoring were to: (1) document changes in biological quality of McCoy Branch after completion of a pipeline and after termination of all discharges to Rogers Quarry, (2) provide guidance on the need for additional remediation, and (3) evaluate the effectiveness of implemented remedial actions. The data from the biological monitoring program will also determine if the classified uses, as identified by the State of Tennessee, of McCoy Branch are being protected and maintained. This report discusses results from toxicity monitoring of snails fish community assessment, and a Benthic macroinvertebrate community assessment.« less

Phototropic growth in a reef flat acroporid branching coral species.

PubMed

Kaniewska, Paulina; Campbell, Paul R; Fine, Maoz; Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove

2009-03-01

Many terrestrial plants form complex morphological structures and will alter these growth patterns in response to light direction. Similarly reef building corals have high morphological variation across coral families, with many species also displaying phenotypic plasticity across environmental gradients. In particular, the colony geometry in branching corals is altered by the frequency, location and direction of branch initiation and growth. This study demonstrates that for the branching species Acropora pulchra, light plays a key role in axial polyp differentiation and therefore axial corallite development--the basis for new branch formation. A. pulchra branches exhibited a directional growth response, with axial corallites only developing when light was available, and towards the incident light. Field experimentation revealed that there was a light intensity threshold of 45 micromol m(-2) s(-1), below which axial corallites would not develop and this response was blue light (408-508 nm) dependent. There was a twofold increase in axial corallite growth above this light intensity threshold and a fourfold increase in axial corallite growth under the blue light treatment. These features of coral branch growth are highly reminiscent of the initiation of phototropic branch growth in terrestrial plants, which is directed by the blue light component of sunlight.

MDCT evaluation of acute aortic syndrome (AAS)

PubMed Central

Rossi, Giovanni; Lassandro, Francesco; Rea, Gaetano; Marino, Maurizio; Muto, Maurizio; Molino, Antonio; Scaglione, Mariano

2016-01-01

Non-traumatic acute thoracic aortic syndromes (AAS) describe a spectrum of life-threatening aortic pathologies with significant implications on diagnosis, therapy and management. There is a common pathway for the various manifestations of AAS that eventually leads to a breakdown of the aortic intima and media. Improvements in biology and health policy and diffusion of technology into the community resulted in an associated decrease in mortality and morbidity related to aortic therapeutic interventions. Hybrid procedures, branched and fenestrated endografts, and percutaneous aortic valves have emerged as potent and viable alternatives to traditional surgeries. In this context, current state-of-the art multidetector CT (MDCT) is actually the gold standard in the emergency setting because of its intrinsic diagnostic value. Management of acute aortic disease has changed with the increasing realization that endovascular therapies may offer distinct advantages in these situations. This article provides a summary of AAS, focusing especially on the MDCT technique, typical and atypical findings and common pitfalls of AAS, as well as recent concepts regarding the subtypes of AAS, consisting of aortic dissection, intramural haematoma, penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer and unstable aortic aneurysm or contained aortic rupture. MDCT findings will be related to pathophysiology, timing and management options to achieve a definite and timely diagnostic and therapeutic definition. In the present article, we review the aetiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, outcomes and therapeutic approaches to acute aortic syndromes. PMID:27033344

[Croatian Medical Association--Branch Slavonski Brod].

PubMed

Mahovne, Zvonimir

2014-01-01

The branch of the Croatian Medical Association in Slav. Brod was founded in 1953. The economic and social progress in subsequent years led to the increased number of health institutions, health professionals and owing to their activity to better health care. The branch survived very difficult war years from 1991 to 1995. Our members treated thousands of wounded and ill and gave the best of their skill and humanity. In the last decade our members took part in educational and scientific activities of School of Medicine, J. J. Strossmayer University in Osijek.

Engineered short branched-chain acyl-CoA synthesis in E. coli and acylation of chloramphenicol to branched-chain derivatives.

PubMed

Bi, Huiping; Bai, Yanfen; Cai, Tao; Zhuang, Yibin; Liang, Xiaomei; Zhang, Xueli; Liu, Tao; Ma, Yanhe

2013-12-01

Short branched-chain acyl-CoAs are important building blocks for a wide variety of pharmaceutically valuable natural products. Escherichia coli has been used as a heterologous host for the production of a variety of natural compounds for many years. In the current study, we engineered synthesis of isobutyryl-CoA and isovaleryl-CoA from glucose in E. coli by integration of the branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase complex from Streptomyces avermitilis. In the presence of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (cat) gene, chloramphenicol was converted to both chloramphenicol-3-isobutyrate and chloramphenicol-3-isovalerate by the recombinant E. coli strains, which suggested successful synthesis of isobutyryl-CoA and isovaleryl-CoA. Furthermore, we improved the α-keto acid precursor supply by overexpressing the alsS gene from Bacillus subtilis and the ilvC and ilvD genes from E. coli and thus enhanced the synthesis of short branched-chain acyl-CoAs. By feeding 25 mg/L chloramphenicol, 2.96 ± 0.06 mg/L chloramphenicol-3-isobutyrate and 3.94 ± 0.06 mg/L chloramphenicol-3-isovalerate were generated by the engineered E. coli strain, which indicated efficient biosynthesis of short branched-chain acyl-CoAs. HPLC analysis showed that the most efficient E. coli strain produced 80.77 ± 3.83 nmol/g wet weight isovaleryl-CoA. To our knowledge, this is the first report of production of short branched-chain acyl-CoAs in E. coli and opens a way to biosynthesize various valuable natural compounds based on these special building blocks from renewable carbon sources.

Transmyocardial laser revascularization in the acute ischaemic heart: no improvement of acute myocardial perfusion or prevention of myocardial infarction.

PubMed

Eckstein, F S; Scheule, A M; Vogel, U; Schmid, S T; Miller, S; Jurmann, M J; Ziemer, G

1999-05-01

Transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMLR) has been used to provide enhanced myocardial perfusion in patients not suitable for coronary revascularization or angioplasty. This study investigates the acute changes in myocardial perfusion after TMLR with a Holmium:Yttrium-Aluminium-Garnet (YAG) laser with a thermal imaging camera in a model of acute ischaemia, and confirms its midterm effects by post-mortem investigation of magnetic resonance imaging and histopathological examination. Acute myocardial ischaemia was induced by occlusion of the dominant diagonal branch in ten sheep. Perfusion measurements were undertaken first in the unaffected myocardium, then after temporary occlusion of the coronary to obtain a control measurement for ischaemic myocardium. Myocardial perfusion was then evaluated during reperfusion after release of coronary occlusion. Then the coronary was permanently occluded and 20.5+/-2 channels were drilled with the Holmium:YAG laser and perfusion was measured again. The other four sheep served as control with untreated ischaemia. All animals were sacrificed after 28 days following administration of gadolinium i.v. to serve as contrast medium for magnetic resonance tomography. The hearts were subjected to magnetic resonance tomography and histopathological examination. Intraoperative perfusion measurements revealed a decreased perfusion after temporary occlusion and an increased perfusion in reperfused myocardium. After TMLR, no improvement of myocardial perfusion above the ischaemic level could be shown. Magnetic resonance images could neither confirm patent laser channels nor viable myocardium within ischaemic areas. On histology no patent endocardial laser channel could be detected. The transmural features were myocardial infarct with scar tissue. In the presented sheep model with acute ischaemia, TMLR with a Holmium:YAG laser did not provide acute improvement of myocardial perfusion as assessed by a thermal imaging camera. This would

Electromagnetic Nucleus - Nucleus Cross Sections Using Energy Dependent Branching Ratios

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adamczyk, Anne; Norbury, John

2009-11-01

Energy dependent branching ratios, derived from Weisskopf-Ewing theory, are presented and compared to an energy independent formalism, developed by Norbury, Townsend, and Westfall. The energy dependent branching ratio formalism is more versatile since it allows for not only neutron and proton emission, but also alpha particle, deuteron, helion, and triton emission. A new theoretical method for calculating electromagnetic dissociation (EMD) nucleus - nucleus cross sections, with energy dependent branching ratios, is introduced. Comparisons of photonuclear and nucleus - nucleus cross sections, using energy dependent and independent branching ratios, to experiment are presented. Experimental efforts, by various groups, have focused on measuring cross sections for proton and neutron emission, because proton and neutron emission is generally more probable than heavier particle emission. Consequently, comparisons of energy dependent and independent branching ratios to experiment are made for photoneutron and photoproton cross sections. EMD cross sections for single neutron, proton, and alpha particle removal are calculated and compared to experimental data for a variety of projectile, target, and energy combinations. Results indicate that using energy dependent branching ratios yields better estimates.

46 CFR 111.75-5 - Lighting branch circuits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 46 Shipping 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Lighting branch circuits. 111.75-5 Section 111.75-5 Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING ELECTRIC SYSTEMS-GENERAL REQUIREMENTS Lighting Circuits and Protection § 111.75-5 Lighting branch circuits. (a) Loads. A...

Sharper angle, higher risk? The effect of cutting angle on knee mechanics in invasion sport athletes.

PubMed

Schreurs, Mervin J; Benjaminse, Anne; Lemmink, Koen A P M

2017-10-03

Cutting is an important skill in team-sports, but unfortunately is also related to non-contact ACL injuries. The purpose was to examine knee kinetics and kinematics at different cutting angles. 13 males and 16 females performed cuts at different angles (45°, 90°, 135° and 180°) at maximum speed. 3D kinematics and kinetics were collected. To determine differences across cutting angles (45°, 90°, 135° and 180°) and sex (female, male), a 4×2 repeated measures ANOVA was conducted followed by post hoc comparisons (Bonferroni) with alpha level set at α≤0.05a priori. At all cutting angles, males showed greater knee flexion angles than females (p<0.01). Also, where males performed all cutting angles with no differences in the amount of knee flexion -42.53°±8.95°, females decreased their knee flexion angle from -40.6°±7.2° when cutting at 45° to -36.81°±9.10° when cutting at 90°, 135° and 180° (p<0.01). Knee flexion moment decreased for both sexes when cutting towards sharper angles (p<0.05). At 90°, 135° and 180°, males showed greater knee valgus moments than females. For both sexes, knee valgus moment increased towards the sharper cutting angles and then stabilized compared to the 45° cutting angle (p<0.01). Both females and males showed smaller vGRF when cutting to sharper angles (p<0.01). It can be concluded that different cutting angles demand different knee kinematics and kinetics. Sharper cutting angles place the knee more at risk. However, females and males handle this differently, which has implications for injury prevention. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Endovascular Repair of Thoracoabdominal and Arch Aneurysms in Patients with Connective Tissue Disease Using Branched and Fenestrated Devices.

PubMed

Clough, Rachel E; Martin-Gonzalez, Teresa; Van Calster, Katrien; Hertault, Adrien; Spear, Rafaëlle; Azzaoui, Richard; Sobocinski, Jonathan; Haulon, Stéphan

2017-10-01

Prophylactic open surgery is the standard practice in patients with connective tissue and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) and aortic arch disease. Branched and fenestrated devices offer a less invasive alternative but there are concerns regarding the durability of the repair and the effect of the stent graft on the fragile aortic wall. The aim of this study is to evaluate mid-term outcomes of fenestrated and/or branched endografting in patients with connective tissue disease. All patients with connective tissue disease who underwent TAAA or arch aneurysm repair using a fenestrated and/or branched endograft in a single, high-volume center between 2004 and 2015 were included. Ruptured aneurysms and acute aortic dissections were excluded from this study, but not chronic aortic dissections. In total, 427 (403 pararenal and TAAAs, and 24 arch aneurysms) endovascular interventions were performed during the study period. Of these, 17 patients (4%) (16 TAAAs, 1 arch) had connective tissue disease. All patients were classified as unfit for open repair. The mean age was 51 ± 8 years. Thirteen patients with TAAA were treated with a fenestrated, 1 with a branched, and 2 with a combined fenestrated/branch device. A double inner branch device was used to treat the arch aneurysm. The technical success rate was 100% with no incidence of early mortality, spinal cord ischemia, stroke, or further dissection. Postoperative deterioration in renal function was seen in 3 patients (18.8%) and no hemodialysis was required. The mean follow-up was 3.4 years (0.3-7.4). Aneurysm sac shrinkage was seen in 35% of patients (6/17) and the sac diameter remained stable in 65% of patients (11/17). No sac or sealing zone enlargement was observed in any of the patients and there were no conversions to open repair. Reintervention was required in 1 patient at 2 years for bilateral renal artery occlusion (successful fibrinolysis). One type II endoleak (lumbar) is under surveillance and 1 type

Acute necrosis after Gamma Knife surgery in vestibular schwannoma leading to multiple cranial nerve palsies.

PubMed

Kapitza, Sandra; Pangalu, Athina; Horstmann, Gerhard A; van Eck, Albert T; Regli, Luca; Tarnutzer, Alexander A

2016-08-01

We discuss a rare acute complication after Gamma Knife therapy (Elekta AB, Stockholm, Sweden) in a single patient. A 52-year-old woman presented with vertigo, facial weakness and hearing loss emerging 48hours following Gamma Knife radiosurgery for a right-sided vestibular schwannoma. Neurological examination 6days after symptom onset showed right-sided facial palsy, spontaneous left-beating nystagmus and pathologic head-impulse testing to the right. Pure-tone audiogram revealed right-sided sensorineural hearing loss. A diagnosis of acute vestibulocochlear and facial neuropathy was made. Brain MRI demonstrated focal contrast sparing within the schwannoma, likely related to acute radiation necrosis. Acute multiple cranial neuropathies of the cerebellopontine angle after Gamma Knife treatment should raise suspicion of acute tissue damage within the schwannoma and should result in urgent MRI. Treatment with steroids may be considered based on accompanying swelling and edema. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Phenomenological picture of fluctuations in branching random walks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mueller, A. H.; Munier, S.

2014-10-01

We propose a picture of the fluctuations in branching random walks, which leads to predictions for the distribution of a random variable that characterizes the position of the bulk of the particles. We also interpret the 1 /√{t } correction to the average position of the rightmost particle of a branching random walk for large times t ≫1 , computed by Ebert and Van Saarloos, as fluctuations on top of the mean-field approximation of this process with a Brunet-Derrida cutoff at the tip that simulates discreteness. Our analytical formulas successfully compare to numerical simulations of a particular model of a branching random walk.

Behavior of Tilted Angle Shear Connectors.

PubMed

Khorramian, Koosha; Maleki, Shervin; Shariati, Mahdi; Ramli Sulong, N H

2015-01-01

According to recent researches, angle shear connectors are appropriate to transfer longitudinal shear forces across the steel-concrete interface. Angle steel profile has been used in different positions as L-shaped or C-shaped shear connectors. The application of angle shear connectors in tilted positions is of interest in this study. This study investigates the behaviour of tilted-shaped angle shear connectors under monotonic loading using experimental push out tests. Eight push-out specimens are tested to investigate the effects of different angle parameters on the ultimate load capacity of connectors. Two different tilted angles of 112.5 and 135 degrees between the angle leg and steel beam are considered. In addition, angle sizes and lengths are varied. Two different failure modes were observed consisting of concrete crushing-splitting and connector fracture. By increasing the size of connector, the maximum load increased for most cases. In general, the 135 degrees tilted angle shear connectors have a higher strength and stiffness than the 112.5 degrees type.

Absolute measurement of hadronic branching fractions of the Ds+ meson.

PubMed

Alexander, J P; Berkelman, K; Cassel, D G; Duboscq, J E; Ehrlich, R; Fields, L; Gibbons, L; Gray, R; Gray, S W; Hartill, D L; Heltsley, B K; Hertz, D; Jones, C D; Kandaswamy, J; Kreinick, D L; Kuznetsov, V E; Mahlke-Krüger, H; Mohapatra, D; Onyisi, P U E; Patterson, J R; Peterson, D; Riley, D; Ryd, A; Sadoff, A J; Shi, X; Stroiney, S; Sun, W M; Wilksen, T; Athar, S B; Patel, R; Yelton, J; Rubin, P; Eisenstein, B I; Karliner, I; Mehrabyan, S; Lowrey, N; Selen, M; White, E J; Wiss, J; Mitchell, R E; Shepherd, M R; Besson, D; Pedlar, T K; Cronin-Hennessy, D; Gao, K Y; Hietala, J; Kubota, Y; Klein, T; Lang, B W; Poling, R; Scott, A W; Zweber, P; Dobbs, S; Metreveli, Z; Seth, K K; Tomaradze, A; Libby, J; Powell, A; Wilkinson, G; Ecklund, K M; Love, W; Savinov, V; Lopez, A; Mendez, H; Ramirez, J; Ge, J Y; Miller, D H; Sanghi, B; Shipsey, I P J; Xin, B; Adams, G S; Anderson, M; Cummings, J P; Danko, I; Hu, D; Moziak, B; Napolitano, J; He, Q; Insler, J; Muramatsu, H; Park, C S; Thorndike, E H; Yang, F; Artuso, M; Blusk, S; Khalil, S; Li, J; Mountain, R; Nisar, S; Randrianarivony, K; Sultana, N; Skwarnicki, T; Stone, S; Wang, J C; Zhang, L M; Bonvicini, G; Cinabro, D; Dubrovin, M; Lincoln, A; Rademacker, J; Asner, D M; Edwards, K W; Naik, P; Briere, R A; Ferguson, T; Tatishvili, G; Vogel, H; Watkins, M E; Rosner, J L

2008-04-25

The branching fractions of D(s)(+/-) meson decays serve to normalize many measurements of processes involving charm quarks. Using 298 pb(-1) of e(+)e(-) collisions recorded at a center of mass energy of 4.17 GeV, we determine absolute branching fractions for eight D(s)(+/-) decays with a double tag technique. In particular we determine the branching fraction B(D(s)(+)-->K(-)K(+}pi(+))=(5.50+/-0.23+/-0.16)%, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. We also provide partial branching fractions for kinematic subsets of the K(-)K(+)pi(+) decay mode.

Absolute Measurement of Hadronic Branching Fractions of the Ds+ Meson

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alexander, J. P.; Berkelman, K.; Cassel, D. G.; Duboscq, J. E.; Ehrlich, R.; Fields, L.; Gibbons, L.; Gray, R.; Gray, S. W.; Hartill, D. L.; Heltsley, B. K.; Hertz, D.; Jones, C. D.; Kandaswamy, J.; Kreinick, D. L.; Kuznetsov, V. E.; Mahlke-Krüger, H.; Mohapatra, D.; Onyisi, P. U. E.; Patterson, J. R.; Peterson, D.; Riley, D.; Ryd, A.; Sadoff, A. J.; Shi, X.; Stroiney, S.; Sun, W. M.; Wilksen, T.; Athar, S. B.; Patel, R.; Yelton, J.; Rubin, P.; Eisenstein, B. I.; Karliner, I.; Mehrabyan, S.; Lowrey, N.; Selen, M.; White, E. J.; Wiss, J.; Mitchell, R. E.; Shepherd, M. R.; Besson, D.; Pedlar, T. K.; Cronin-Hennessy, D.; Gao, K. Y.; Hietala, J.; Kubota, Y.; Klein, T.; Lang, B. W.; Poling, R.; Scott, A. W.; Zweber, P.; Dobbs, S.; Metreveli, Z.; Seth, K. K.; Tomaradze, A.; Libby, J.; Powell, A.; Wilkinson, G.; Ecklund, K. M.; Love, W.; Savinov, V.; Lopez, A.; Mendez, H.; Ramirez, J.; Ge, J. Y.; Miller, D. H.; Sanghi, B.; Shipsey, I. P. J.; Xin, B.; Adams, G. S.; Anderson, M.; Cummings, J. P.; Danko, I.; Hu, D.; Moziak, B.; Napolitano, J.; He, Q.; Insler, J.; Muramatsu, H.; Park, C. S.; Thorndike, E. H.; Yang, F.; Artuso, M.; Blusk, S.; Khalil, S.; Li, J.; Mountain, R.; Nisar, S.; Randrianarivony, K.; Sultana, N.; Skwarnicki, T.; Stone, S.; Wang, J. C.; Zhang, L. M.; Bonvicini, G.; Cinabro, D.; Dubrovin, M.; Lincoln, A.; Rademacker, J.; Asner, D. M.; Edwards, K. W.; Naik, P.; Briere, R. A.; Ferguson, T.; Tatishvili, G.; Vogel, H.; Watkins, M. E.; Rosner, J. L.

2008-04-01

The branching fractions of Ds± meson decays serve to normalize many measurements of processes involving charm quarks. Using 298pb-1 of e+e- collisions recorded at a center of mass energy of 4.17 GeV, we determine absolute branching fractions for eight Ds± decays with a double tag technique. In particular we determine the branching fraction B(Ds+→K-K+π+)=(5.50±0.23±0.16)%, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. We also provide partial branching fractions for kinematic subsets of the K-K+π+ decay mode.

Branched nanostructures and method of synthesizing the same

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fonseca, Luis F. (Inventor); Sola, Francisco (Inventor); Resto, Oscar (Inventor)

2009-01-01

A branched nanostructure is synthesized. A porous material, with pores having a diameter of approximately 1 .mu.m or less, is placed in a vacuum. It is irradiated with an electron beam. This causes a trunk to grow from the porous material and further causes branches to grow from the trunk.

33 CFR 117.927 - Coosaw River (Whale Branch).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Coosaw River (Whale Branch). 117.927 Section 117.927 Navigation and Navigable Waters COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY... (Whale Branch). The draw of the Seaboard System Railroad bridge, mile 5.3 at Seabrook, and the draw of...

33 CFR 117.927 - Coosaw River (Whale Branch).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Coosaw River (Whale Branch). 117.927 Section 117.927 Navigation and Navigable Waters COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY... (Whale Branch). The draw of the Seaboard System Railroad bridge, mile 5.3 at Seabrook, and the draw of...

33 CFR 117.927 - Coosaw River (Whale Branch).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Coosaw River (Whale Branch). 117.927 Section 117.927 Navigation and Navigable Waters COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY... (Whale Branch). The draw of the Seaboard System Railroad bridge, mile 5.3 at Seabrook, and the draw of...

33 CFR 117.927 - Coosaw River (Whale Branch).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Coosaw River (Whale Branch). 117.927 Section 117.927 Navigation and Navigable Waters COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY... (Whale Branch). The draw of the Seaboard System Railroad bridge, mile 5.3 at Seabrook, and the draw of...

33 CFR 117.927 - Coosaw River (Whale Branch).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Coosaw River (Whale Branch). 117.927 Section 117.927 Navigation and Navigable Waters COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY... (Whale Branch). The draw of the Seaboard System Railroad bridge, mile 5.3 at Seabrook, and the draw of...

Global solution branches for a nonlocal Allen-Cahn equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuto, Kousuke; Mori, Tatsuki; Tsujikawa, Tohru; Yotsutani, Shoji

2018-05-01

We consider the Neumann problem of a 1D stationary Allen-Cahn equation with nonlocal term. Our previous paper [4] obtained a local branch of asymmetric solutions which bifurcates from a point on the branch of odd-symmetric solutions. This paper derives the global behavior of the branch of asymmetric solutions, and moreover, determines the set of all solutions to the nonlocal Allen-Cahn equation. Our proof is based on a level set analysis for an integral map associated with the nonlocal term.

Aortic Branch Artery Pseudoaneurysms Associated with Intramural Hematoma: When and How to Do Endovascular Embolization

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

Ferro, Carlo; Rossi, Umberto G., E-mail: urossi76@hotmail.com; Seitun, Sara

To describe when and how to perform endovascular embolization of aortic branch artery pseudoaneurysms associated with type A and type B intramural hematoma (IMH) involving the descending thoracic and abdominal aorta (DeBakey I and III) that increased significantly in size during follow-up. Sixty-one patients (39 men; mean {+-} standard deviation age 66.1 {+-} 11.2 years) with acute IMH undergoing at least two multidetector computed tomographic examinations during follow-up for 12 months or longer were enrolled. Overall, 48 patients (31 men, age 65.9 {+-} 11.5) had type A and type B IMH involving the descending thoracic and abdominal aorta (DeBakey Imore » and III). Among the 48 patients, 26 (54 %; 17 men, aged 64.3 {+-} 11.4 years) had 71 aortic branch artery pseudoaneurysms. Overall, during a mean follow-up of 22.1 {+-} 9.5 months (range 12-42 months), 31 (44 %) pseudoaneurysms disappeared; 22 (31 %) decreased in size; two (3 %) remained stable; and 16 (22 %) increased in size. Among the 16 pseudoaneurysms with increasing size, five of these (three intercostal arteries, one combined intercostobronchial/intercostal arteries, one renal artery), present in five symptomatic patients, had a significant increase in size (thickness >10 mm; width and length >20 mm). These five patients underwent endovascular embolization with coils and/or Amplatzer Vascular Plug. In all patients, complete thrombosis and exclusion of aortic pseudoaneurysm and relief of back pain were achieved. Aortic branch artery pseudoaneurysms associated with type A and type B IMH involving the descending thoracic and abdominal aorta (DeBakey I and III) may be considered relatively benign lesions. However, a small number may grow in size or extend longitudinally with clinical symptoms during follow-up, and in these cases, endovascular embolization can be an effective and safe procedure.« less

Critical branching neural networks.

PubMed

Kello, Christopher T

2013-01-01

It is now well-established that intrinsic variations in human neural and behavioral activity tend to exhibit scaling laws in their fluctuations and distributions. The meaning of these scaling laws is an ongoing matter of debate between isolable causes versus pervasive causes. A spiking neural network model is presented that self-tunes to critical branching and, in doing so, simulates observed scaling laws as pervasive to neural and behavioral activity. These scaling laws are related to neural and cognitive functions, in that critical branching is shown to yield spiking activity with maximal memory and encoding capacities when analyzed using reservoir computing techniques. The model is also shown to account for findings of pervasive 1/f scaling in speech and cued response behaviors that are difficult to explain by isolable causes. Issues and questions raised by the model and its results are discussed from the perspectives of physics, neuroscience, computer and information sciences, and psychological and cognitive sciences.

Foliage motion under wind, from leaf flutter to branch buffeting.

PubMed

Tadrist, Loïc; Saudreau, Marc; Hémon, Pascal; Amandolese, Xavier; Marquier, André; Leclercq, Tristan; de Langre, Emmanuel

2018-05-01

The wind-induced motion of the foliage in a tree is an important phenomenon both for biological issues (photosynthesis, pathogens development or herbivory) and for more subtle effects such as on wi-fi transmission or animal communication. Such foliage motion results from a combination of the motion of the branches that support the leaves, and of the motion of the leaves relative to the branches. Individual leaf dynamics relative to the branch, and branch dynamics have usually been studied separately. Here, in an experimental study on a whole tree in a large-scale wind tunnel, we present the first empirical evidence that foliage motion is actually dominated by individual leaf flutter at low wind velocities, and by branch turbulence buffeting responses at higher velocities. The transition between the two regimes is related to a weak dependence of leaf flutter on wind velocity, while branch turbulent buffeting is strongly dependent on it. Quantitative comparisons with existing engineering-based models of leaf and branch motion confirm the prevalence of these two mechanisms. Simultaneous measurements of the wind-induced drag on the tree and of the light interception by the foliage show the role of an additional mechanism, reconfiguration, whereby leaves bend and overlap, limiting individual leaf flutter. We then discuss the consequences of these findings on the role of wind-mediated phenomena. © 2018 The Author(s).

Ecological effects of contaminants in McCoy Branch, 1991--1993

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

Ryon, M.G.

1996-09-01

The 1984 Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) required assessment of all current and former solid waste management units. Following guidelines under RCRA and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), a remedial investigation (RI) was required of the Y-12 Plant for their filled coal ash pond (FCAP) and associated areas on McCoy Branch. The RI process was initiated and assessments were presented. Because the disposal of coal ash in the ash pond, McCoy Branch, and Rogers Quarry was not consistent with the Tennessee Water Quality Act, several remediation steps weremore » implemented between 1986 and 1994 for McCoy Branch to address disposal problems. The required ecological risk assessments of McCoy Branch watershed included provisions for biological monitoring of the watershed. The objectives of the biological monitoring were to (1) document changes in biological quality of McCoy Branch after completion of a pipeline bypassing upper McCoy Branch and further, after termination of all discharges to Rogers Quarry, (2) provide guidance on the need for additional remediation, and (3) evaluate the effectiveness of implemented remedial actions. The data from the biological monitoring program may also determine whether the goals of protection of human health and the environment of McCoy Branch are being accomplished.« less

[Acute monocular loss of vision : Differential diagnostic considerations apart from the internistic etiological clarification].

PubMed

Rickmann, A; Macek, M A; Szurman, P; Boden, K

2017-08-03

We report the case of acute painless monocular loss of vision in a 53-year-old man. An interdisciplinary etiological evaluation remained without pathological findings with respect to arterial branch occlusion. A reevaluation of the patient history led to a possible association with the administration of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5 inhibitor). A critical review of the literature on PDE5 inhibitor administration with ocular participation was performed.

Structure and Hydration of Highly-Branched, Monodisperse Phytoglycogen Nanoparticles

DOE PAGES

Nickels, Jonathan D.; Atkinson, John; Papp-Szabo, Erzsebet; ...

2016-01-30

Phytoglycogen is a naturally occurring polysaccharide nanoparticle made up of extensively branched glucose monomers. It has a number of unusual and advantageous properties, such as high water retention, low viscosity, and high stability in water, which make this biomaterial a promising candidate for a wide variety of applications. For this paper, we have characterized the structure and hydration of aqueous dispersions of phytoglycogen nanoparticles using neutron scattering. Small angle neutron scattering results suggest that the phytoglycogen nanoparticles behave similar to hard sphere colloids and are hydrated by a large number of water molecules (each nanoparticle contains between 250% and 285%more » of its mass in water). This suggests that phytoglycogen is an ideal sample in which to study the dynamics of hydration water. To this end, we used quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS) to provide an independent and consistent measure of the hydration number, and to estimate the retardation factor (or degree of water slow-down) for hydration water translational motions. These data demonstrate a length-scale dependence in the measured retardation factors that clarifies the origin of discrepancies between retardation factor values reported for hydration water using different experimental techniques. Finally, the present approach can be generalized to other systems containing nanoconfined water.« less

Growth Angle - a Microscopic View

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mazurak, K.; Volz, M. P.; Croll, A.

2017-01-01

The growth angle that is formed between the side of the growing crystal and the melt meniscus is an important parameter in the detached Bridgman crystal growth method, where it determines the extent of the crystal-crucible wall gap, and in the Czochralski and float zone methods, where it influences the size and stability of the crystals. The growth angle is a non-equilibrium parameter, defined for the crystal growth process only. For a melt-crystal interface translating towards the crystal (melting), there is no specific angle defined between the melt and the sidewall of the solid. In this case, the corner at the triple line becomes rounded, and the angle between the sidewall and the incipience of meniscus can take a number of values, depending on the position of the triple line. In this work, a microscopic model is developed in which the fluid interacts with the solid surface through long range van der Waals or Casimir dispersive forces. This growth angle model is applied to Si and Ge and compared with the macroscopic approach of Herring. In the limit of a rounded corner with a large radius of curvature, the wetting of the melt on the crystal is defined by the contact angle. The proposed microscopic approach addresses the interesting issue of the transition from a contact angle to a growth angle as the radius of curvature decreases.

Do Vascular Networks Branch Optimally or Randomly across Spatial Scales?

PubMed Central

Newberry, Mitchell G.; Savage, Van M.

2016-01-01

Modern models that derive allometric relationships between metabolic rate and body mass are based on the architectural design of the cardiovascular system and presume sibling vessels are symmetric in terms of radius, length, flow rate, and pressure. Here, we study the cardiovascular structure of the human head and torso and of a mouse lung based on three-dimensional images processed via our software Angicart. In contrast to modern allometric theories, we find systematic patterns of asymmetry in vascular branching, potentially explaining previously documented mismatches between predictions (power-law or concave curvature) and observed empirical data (convex curvature) for the allometric scaling of metabolic rate. To examine why these systematic asymmetries in vascular branching might arise, we construct a mathematical framework to derive predictions based on local, junction-level optimality principles that have been proposed to be favored in the course of natural selection and development. The two most commonly used principles are material-cost optimizations (construction materials or blood volume) and optimization of efficient flow via minimization of power loss. We show that material-cost optimization solutions match with distributions for asymmetric branching across the whole network but do not match well for individual junctions. Consequently, we also explore random branching that is constrained at scales that range from local (junction-level) to global (whole network). We find that material-cost optimizations are the strongest predictor of vascular branching in the human head and torso, whereas locally or intermediately constrained random branching is comparable to material-cost optimizations for the mouse lung. These differences could be attributable to developmentally-programmed local branching for larger vessels and constrained random branching for smaller vessels. PMID:27902691

Branching ratios, CP asymmetries and polarizations of $$B\\rightarrow \\psi (2S) V$$ decays

DOE PAGES

Rui, Zhou; Li, Ya; Xiao, Zhen -Jun

2017-09-14

We analyze the non-leptonic decays B/B s→ψ(2S)V with V=(ρ,ω,K*,Φ) by employing the perturbative QCD (pQCD) factorization approach. Here the branching ratios, the CP asymmetries and the complete set of polarization observables are investigated systematically. Besides the traditional contributions from the factorizable and non-factorizable diagrams at the leading order, the next-to-leading order (NLO) vertex corrections could also provide considerable contributions. The pQCD predictions for the branching ratios of the B (s)→ψ(2S)K*,ψ(2S) decays are consistent with the measured values within errors. As for B→ψ(2S)ρ,ψ(2S)ω decays, the branching ratios can reach the order of 10 –5 and could be measured in the LHCbmore » and Belle-II experiments. The numerical results show that the direct CP asymmetries of the considered decays are very small. Thus the observation of any large direct CP asymmetry for these decays will be a signal for new physics. The mixing-induced CP asymmetries in the neutral modes are very close to sin2β (s), which suggests that these channels can give a cross-check on the measurement of the Cabbibo–Kobayashi–Maskawa (CKM) angle β and β s. We find that the longitudinal polarization fractions f 0 are suppressed to ~50% due to the large non-factorizable contributions. The magnitudes and phases of the two transverse amplitudes A∥ and A⊥ are roughly equal, which is an indication for the approximate light-quark helicity conservation in these decays. The overall polarization observables of B→ψ(2S)K* 0 and B s→ψ(2S)Φ channels are also in good agreement with the experimental measurements as reported by LHCb and BaBar. In conclusion, other results can also be tested by the LHCb and Belle-II experiments.« less

Branching ratios, CP asymmetries and polarizations of $$B\\rightarrow \\psi (2S) V$$ decays

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

Rui, Zhou; Li, Ya; Xiao, Zhen -Jun

We analyze the non-leptonic decays B/B s→ψ(2S)V with V=(ρ,ω,K*,Φ) by employing the perturbative QCD (pQCD) factorization approach. Here the branching ratios, the CP asymmetries and the complete set of polarization observables are investigated systematically. Besides the traditional contributions from the factorizable and non-factorizable diagrams at the leading order, the next-to-leading order (NLO) vertex corrections could also provide considerable contributions. The pQCD predictions for the branching ratios of the B (s)→ψ(2S)K*,ψ(2S) decays are consistent with the measured values within errors. As for B→ψ(2S)ρ,ψ(2S)ω decays, the branching ratios can reach the order of 10 –5 and could be measured in the LHCbmore » and Belle-II experiments. The numerical results show that the direct CP asymmetries of the considered decays are very small. Thus the observation of any large direct CP asymmetry for these decays will be a signal for new physics. The mixing-induced CP asymmetries in the neutral modes are very close to sin2β (s), which suggests that these channels can give a cross-check on the measurement of the Cabbibo–Kobayashi–Maskawa (CKM) angle β and β s. We find that the longitudinal polarization fractions f 0 are suppressed to ~50% due to the large non-factorizable contributions. The magnitudes and phases of the two transverse amplitudes A∥ and A⊥ are roughly equal, which is an indication for the approximate light-quark helicity conservation in these decays. The overall polarization observables of B→ψ(2S)K* 0 and B s→ψ(2S)Φ channels are also in good agreement with the experimental measurements as reported by LHCb and BaBar. In conclusion, other results can also be tested by the LHCb and Belle-II experiments.« less

Behavior of Tilted Angle Shear Connectors

PubMed Central

Khorramian, Koosha; Maleki, Shervin; Shariati, Mahdi; Ramli Sulong, N. H.

2015-01-01

According to recent researches, angle shear connectors are appropriate to transfer longitudinal shear forces across the steel-concrete interface. Angle steel profile has been used in different positions as L-shaped or C-shaped shear connectors. The application of angle shear connectors in tilted positions is of interest in this study. This study investigates the behaviour of tilted-shaped angle shear connectors under monotonic loading using experimental push out tests. Eight push-out specimens are tested to investigate the effects of different angle parameters on the ultimate load capacity of connectors. Two different tilted angles of 112.5 and 135 degrees between the angle leg and steel beam are considered. In addition, angle sizes and lengths are varied. Two different failure modes were observed consisting of concrete crushing-splitting and connector fracture. By increasing the size of connector, the maximum load increased for most cases. In general, the 135 degrees tilted angle shear connectors have a higher strength and stiffness than the 112.5 degrees type. PMID:26642193

Gender, race, and electrophysiologic characteristics of the branched recurrent laryngeal nerve.

PubMed

Fontenot, Tatyana E; Randolph, Gregory W; Friedlander, Paul L; Masoodi, Hammad; Yola, Ibrahim M; Kandil, Emad

2014-10-01

The extralaryngeal branching of recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLN) conveys an increased risk of nerve injury during thyroid surgery. We hypothesized that racial and gender variations in prevalence of branched RLN exist. A retrospective review of all patients who underwent thyroid surgery in a 4-year period in a single surgeon practice. The RLN was routinely identified during thyroid surgery. Presence of RLN branching, its distance from the laryngeal nerve entry point (NEP), and functionality of the branches were ascertained. Patient demographics, rates of neural branching, and distance of bifurcation from the NEP were evaluated using statistical analysis. We identified 719 RLNs at risk in 491 patients who underwent central neck surgery. Four hundred and five (82.5%) patients were female and 86 (17.5%) patients were male. There were 218 (44.4%) African American patients and 251 (51.1 %) Caucasian patients. In African American patients, 42.1% RLNs bifurcated compared to 33.2% RLNs in Caucasian (P = 0.017) patients. The RLNs of African American and Caucasian patients bifurcated at comparable distances (P = 0.30). In male patients, 39.1% RLNs bifurcated; whereas in female patients 36.2% RLNs bifurcated (P = 0.53). On average, RLN bifurcation in female patients was at a longer distance from NEP compared to that of male patients (P = 0.012). Electrophysiologic testing found motor fibers in all anterior branches and three posterior extralaryngeal RLN branches. African American patients have a higher rate of RLN bifurcation compared to Caucasian patients but no statistically significant difference in distance from NEP. Female patients tend to have longer branching variants of bifid RLNs. RLN motor fibers reside primarily in the anterior branch but may occur in the posterior branch. © 2014 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

Polyphosphazene Based Star-Branched and Dendritic Molecular Brushes.

PubMed

Henke, Helena; Posch, Sandra; Brüggemann, Oliver; Teasdale, Ian

2016-05-01

A new synthetic procedure is described for the preparation of poly(organo)phosphazenes with star-branched and star dendritic molecular brush type structures, thus describing the first time it has been possible to prepare controlled, highly branched architectures for this type of polymer. Furthermore, as a result of the extremely high-arm density generated by the phosphazene repeat unit, the second-generation structures represent quite unique architectures for any type of polymer. Using two relativity straight forward iterative syntheses it is possible to prepare globular highly branched polymers with up to 30 000 functional end groups, while keeping relatively narrow polydispersities (1.2-1.6). Phosphine mediated polymerization of chlorophosphoranimine is first used to prepare three-arm star polymers. Subsequent substitution with diphenylphosphine moieties gives poly(organo)phosphazenes to function as multifunctional macroinitiators for the growth of a second generation of polyphosphazene arms. Macrosubstitution with Jeffamine oligomers gives a series of large, water soluble branched macromolecules with high-arm density and hydrodynamic diameters between 10 and 70 nm. © 2016 The Authors. Published by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Computer simulations of melts of randomly branching polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosa, Angelo; Everaers, Ralf

2016-10-01

Randomly branching polymers with annealed connectivity are model systems for ring polymers and chromosomes. In this context, the branched structure represents transient folding induced by topological constraints. Here we present computer simulations of melts of annealed randomly branching polymers of 3 ≤ N ≤ 1800 segments in d = 2 and d = 3 dimensions. In all cases, we perform a detailed analysis of the observed tree connectivities and spatial conformations. Our results are in excellent agreement with an asymptotic scaling of the average tree size of R ˜ N1/d, suggesting that the trees behave as compact, territorial fractals. The observed swelling relative to the size of ideal trees, R ˜ N1/4, demonstrates that excluded volume interactions are only partially screened in melts of annealed trees. Overall, our results are in good qualitative agreement with the predictions of Flory theory. In particular, we find that the trees swell by the combination of modified branching and path stretching. However, the former effect is subdominant and difficult to detect in d = 3 dimensions.

Observing Holliday junction branch migration one step at a time

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ha, Taekjip

2004-03-01

During genetic recombination, two homologous DNA molecules undergo strand exchange to form a four-way DNA (Holliday) junction and the recognition and processing of this species by branch migration and junction resolving enzymes determine the outcome. We have used single molecule fluorescence techniques to study two intrinsic structural dynamics of the Holliday junction, stacking conformer transitions and spontaneous branch migration. Our studies show that the dynamics of branch migration, resolved with one base pair resolution, is determined by the stability of conformers which in turn depends on the local DNA sequences. Therefore, the energy landscape of Holliday junction branch migation is not uniform, but is rugged.

The Ignition of Two Phase Detonation by a Branching Detonation Tube

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiong, Cha; Qiu, Hua; Lu, Qinwei

2017-11-01

A branching tube is available to deliver sufficient energy to directly initiate a detonation wave. But sustaining the detonation wave through a branching tube is a challenge. In this study, a preliminary exploration about a branching pulsed detonation engine with a gas-liquid mixture was carried out to evaluate filling conditions on detonation initiation. Two detonation tubes were connected by three different schemes, such as Tail-Tail, Tail-Mid, and Tail-Head. Experimental results showed only end-head connected tubes can be ignited by the branching tube, which is quite different from the results using gas fuels or pre-evaporated liquid fuel. Liquid fuel distribution is crucial for successful detonation traveling through the branching tube.

Simple model of inhibition of chain-branching combustion processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Babushok, Valeri I.; Gubernov, Vladimir V.; Minaev, Sergei S.; Miroshnichenko, Taisia P.

2017-11-01

A simple kinetic model has been suggested to describe the inhibition and extinction of flame propagation in reaction systems with chain-branching reactions typical for hydrocarbon systems. The model is based on the generalised model of the combustion process with chain-branching reaction combined with the one-stage reaction describing the thermal mode of flame propagation with the addition of inhibition reaction steps. Inhibitor addition suppresses the radical overshoot in flame and leads to the change of reaction mode from the chain-branching reaction to a thermal mode of flame propagation. With the increase of inhibitor the transition of chain-branching mode of reaction to the reaction with straight-chains (non-branching chain reaction) is observed. The inhibition part of the model includes a block of three reactions to describe the influence of the inhibitor. The heat losses are incorporated into the model via Newton cooling. The flame extinction is the result of the decreased heat release of inhibited reaction processes and the suppression of radical overshoot with the further decrease of the reaction rate due to the temperature decrease and mixture dilution. A comparison of the results of modelling laminar premixed methane/air flames inhibited by potassium bicarbonate (gas phase model, detailed kinetic model) with the results obtained using the suggested simple model is presented. The calculations with the detailed kinetic model demonstrate the following modes of combustion process: (1) flame propagation with chain-branching reaction (with radical overshoot, inhibitor addition decreases the radical overshoot down to the equilibrium level); (2) saturation of chemical influence of inhibitor, and (3) transition to thermal mode of flame propagation (non-branching chain mode of reaction). The suggested simple kinetic model qualitatively reproduces the modes of flame propagation with the addition of the inhibitor observed using detailed kinetic models.

Gibberellin Promotes Shoot Branching in the Perennial Woody Plant Jatropha curcas

PubMed Central

Ni, Jun; Gao, Congcong; Chen, Mao-Sheng; Pan, Bang-Zhen; Ye, Kaiqin; Xu, Zeng-Fu

2015-01-01

Strigolactone (SL), auxin and cytokinin (CK) interact to regulate shoot branching. CK has long been considered to be the only key phytohormone to promote lateral bud outgrowth. Here we report that gibberellin also acts as a positive regulator in the control of shoot branching in the woody plant Jatropha curcas. We show that gibberellin and CK synergistically promote lateral bud outgrowth, and that both hormones influence the expression of putative branching regulators, J. curcas BRANCHED1 and BRANCHED2, which are key transcription factors maintaining bud dormancy. Moreover, treatment with paclobutrazol, an inhibitor of de novo gibberellin biosynthesis, significantly reduced the promotion of bud outgrowth by CK, suggesting that gibberellin is required for CK-mediated axillary bud outgrowth. In addition, SL, a plant hormone involved in the repression of shoot branching, acted antagonistically to both gibberellin and CK in the control of lateral bud outgrowth. Consistent with this, the expression of JcMAX2, a J. curcas homolog of Arabidopsis MORE AXILLARY GROWTH 2 encoding an F-box protein in the SL signaling pathway, was repressed by gibberellin and CK treatment. We also provide physiological evidence that gibberellin also induces shoot branching in many other trees, such as papaya, indicating that a more complicated regulatory network occurs in the control of shoot branching in some perennial woody plants. PMID:26076970

ACUTE RETINAL ARTERIAL OCCLUSIVE DISORDERS

PubMed Central

Hayreh, Sohan Singh

2011-01-01

The initial section deals with basic sciences; among the various topics briefly discussed are the anatomical features of ophthalmic, central retinal and cilioretinal arteries which may play a role in acute retinal arterial ischemic disorders. Crucial information required in the management of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is the length of time the retina can survive following that. An experimental study shows that CRAO for 97 minutes produces no detectable permanent retinal damage but there is a progressive ischemic damage thereafter, and by 4 hours the retina has suffered irreversible damage. In the clinical section, I discuss at length various controversies on acute retinal arterial ischemic disorders. Classification of acute retinal arterial ischemic disorders These are of 4 types: CRAO, branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO), cotton wools spots and amaurosis fugax. Both CRAO and BRAO further comprise multiple clinical entities. Contrary to the universal belief, pathogenetically, clinically and for management, CRAO is not one clinical entity but 4 distinct clinical entities – non-arteritic CRAO, non-arteritic CRAO with cilioretinal artery sparing, arteritic CRAO associated with giant cell arteritis (GCA) and transient non-arteritic CRAO. Similarly, BRAO comprises permanent BRAO, transient BRAO and cilioretinal artery occlusion (CLRAO), and the latter further consists of 3 distinct clinical entities - non-arteritic CLRAO alone, non-arteritic CLRAO associated with central retinal vein occlusion and arteritic CLRAO associated with GCA. Understanding these classifications is essential to comprehend fully various aspects of these disorders. Central retinal artery occlusion The pathogeneses, clinical features and management of the various types of CRAO are discussed in detail. Contrary to the prevalent belief, spontaneous improvement in both visual acuity and visual fields does occur, mainly during the first 7 days. The incidence of spontaneous visual

CryoEM structure of the spliceosome immediately after branching

PubMed Central

Galej, Wojciech P.; Wilkinson, Max E.; Fica, Sebastian M.; Oubridge, Chris; Newman, Andrew J.; Nagai, Kiyoshi

2016-01-01

Pre-mRNA splicing proceeds by two consecutive trans-esterification reactions via a lariat-intron intermediate. We present the 3.8Å cryoEM structure of the spliceosome immediately after lariat formation. The 5’-splice site is cleaved but remains close to the catalytic Mg2+ site in the U2/U6 snRNA triplex, and the 5’-phosphate of the intron nucleotide G(+1) is linked to the branch adenosine 2’OH. The 5’-exon is held between the Prp8 N-terminal and Linker domains, and base-pairs with U5 snRNA loop 1. Non-Watson-Crick interactions between the branch helix and 5’-splice site dock the branch adenosine into the active site, while intron nucleotides +3 to +6 base-pair with the U6 snRNA ACAGAGA sequence. Isy1 and the step one factors Yju2 and Cwc25 stabilise docking of the branch helix. The intron downstream of the branch site emerges between the Prp8 RT and Linker domains and extends towards Prp16 helicase, suggesting a plausible mechanism of remodelling before exon ligation. PMID:27459055

View angle effect in LANDSAT imagery

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kaneko, T.; Engvall, J. L.

1977-01-01

The view angle effect in LANDSAT 2 imagery was investigated. The LANDSAT multispectral scanner scans over a range of view angles of -5.78 to 5.78 degrees. The view angle effect, which is caused by differing view angles, could be studied by comparing data collected at different view angles over a fixed location at a fixed time. Since such LANDSAT data is not available, consecutive day acquisition data were used as a substitute: they were collected over the same geographical location, acquired 24 hours apart, with a view angle change of 7 to 8 degrees at a latitude of 35 to 45 degrees. It is shown that there is approximately a 5% reduction in the average sensor response on the second-day acquisitions as compared with the first-day acquisitions, and that the view angle effect differs field to field and crop to crop. On false infrared color pictures the view angle effect causes changes primarily in brightness and to a lesser degree in color (hue and saturation). An implication is that caution must be taken when images with different view angles are combined for classification and a signature extension technique needs to take the view angle effect into account.

Demonstration of angle widening using EyeCam after laser peripheral iridotomy in eyes with angle closure.

PubMed

Perera, Shamira A; Quek, Desmond T; Baskaran, Mani; Tun, Tin A; Kumar, Rajesh S; Friedman, David S; Aung, Tin

2010-06-01

To evaluate EyeCam in detecting changes in angle configuration after laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) in comparison to gonioscopy, the reference standard. Prospective comparative study. Twenty-four subjects (24 eyes) with primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) were recruited. Gonioscopy and EyeCam (Clarity Medical Systems) imaging of all 4 angle quadrants were performed, before and 2 weeks after LPI. Images were graded according to angle structures visible by an observer masked to clinical data or the status of LPI, and were performed in a random order. Angle closure in a quadrant was defined as the inability to visualize the posterior trabecular meshwork. We determined the number of quadrants with closed angles and the mean number of clock hours of angle closure before and after LPI in comparison to gonioscopy. Using EyeCam, all 24 eyes showed at least 1 quadrant of angle widening after LPI. The mean number of clock hours of angle closure decreased significantly, from 8.15 +/- 3.47 clock hours before LPI to 1.75 +/- 2.27 clock hours after LPI (P < .0001, Wilcoxon signed rank test). Overall, gonioscopy showed 1.0 +/- 1.41 (95% CI, 0.43-1.57) quadrants opening from closed to open after LPI compared to 2.0 +/- 1.28 (95% CI, 1.49-2.51, P = .009) quadrants with EyeCam. Intra-observer reproducibility of grading the extent of angle closure in clock hours in EyeCam images was moderate to good (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.831). EyeCam may be used to document changes in angle configuration after LPI in eyes with PACG. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Finite-size scaling of survival probability in branching processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garcia-Millan, Rosalba; Font-Clos, Francesc; Corral, Álvaro

2015-04-01

Branching processes pervade many models in statistical physics. We investigate the survival probability of a Galton-Watson branching process after a finite number of generations. We derive analytically the existence of finite-size scaling for the survival probability as a function of the control parameter and the maximum number of generations, obtaining the critical exponents as well as the exact scaling function, which is G (y ) =2 y ey /(ey-1 ) , with y the rescaled distance to the critical point. Our findings are valid for any branching process of the Galton-Watson type, independently of the distribution of the number of offspring, provided its variance is finite. This proves the universal behavior of the finite-size effects in branching processes, including the universality of the metric factors. The direct relation to mean-field percolation is also discussed.

The Coulomb Branch of 3d N= 4 Theories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bullimore, Mathew; Dimofte, Tudor; Gaiotto, Davide

2017-09-01

We propose a construction for the quantum-corrected Coulomb branch of a general 3d gauge theory with N=4 supersymmetry, in terms of local coordinates associated with an abelianized theory. In a fixed complex structure, the holomorphic functions on the Coulomb branch are given by expectation values of chiral monopole operators. We construct the chiral ring of such operators, using equivariant integration over BPS moduli spaces. We also quantize the chiral ring, which corresponds to placing the 3d theory in a 2d Omega background. Then, by unifying all complex structures in a twistor space, we encode the full hyperkähler metric on the Coulomb branch. We verify our proposals in a multitude of examples, including SQCD and linear quiver gauge theories, whose Coulomb branches have alternative descriptions as solutions to Bogomolnyi and/or Nahm equations.

Epicormic branching on hardwood trees bordering forest openings

Treesearch

G.R., Jr. Trimble; Donald W. Seegrist; Donald W. Seegrist

1973-01-01

Epicormic branching in hardwoods can degrade logs and reduce the dollar returns from growing trees. A study made around clearcut openings of various sizes showed that the following variables were related to the degree of epicormic branching on trees bordering the openings: size of opening, species, tree dominance class, exposure of tree bole, and position on tree bole...

Modeling Radioactive Decay Chains with Branching Fraction Uncertainties

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-03-01

moments methods with transmutation matrices. Uncertainty from both half-lives and branching fractions is carried through these calculations by Monte...moment methods, method for sampling from normal distributions for half- life uncertainty, and use of transmutation matrices were leveraged. This...distributions for half-life and branching fraction uncertainties, building decay chains and generating the transmutation matrix (T-matrix

24 CFR 3280.804 - Disconnecting means and branch-circuit protective equipment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 5 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Disconnecting means and branch... SAFETY STANDARDS Electrical Systems § 3280.804 Disconnecting means and branch-circuit protective equipment. (a) The branch-circuit equipment is permitted to be combined with the disconnecting means as a...

Posterior Branches of Lumbar Spinal Nerves - Part I: Anatomy and Functional Importance.

PubMed

Kozera, Katarzyna; Ciszek, Bogdan

2016-01-01

The aim of this paper is to compare anatomic descriptions of posterior branches of the lumbar spinal nerves and, on this basis, present the location of these structures. The majority of anatomy textbooks do not describe these nerves in detail, which may be attributable to the fact that for many years they were regarded as structures of minor clinical importance. The state of knowledge on these nerves has changed within the last 30 years. Attention has been turned to their function and importance for both diagnostic practice and therapy of lower back pain. Summarising the available literature, we may conclude that the medial and lateral branches separate at the junction of the facet joint and the distal upper edge of the transverse process; that the size, course and area supplied differ between the lateral and the medial branch; and that facet joints receive multisegmental innervation. It has been demonstrated that medial branches are smaller than the respective lateral branches and they have a more constant course. Medial branches supply the area from the midline to the facet joint line, while lateral branches innervate tissues lateral to the facet joint. The literature indicates difficulties with determining specific anatomic landmarks relative to which the lateral branch and the distal medial branch can be precisely located. Irritation of sensory fibres within posterior branches of the lumbar spinal nerves may be caused by pathology of facet joints, deformity of the spine or abnormalities due to overloading or injury. The anatomic location and course of posterior branches of spinal nerves should be borne in mind to prevent damaging them during low-invasive analgesic procedures.

Late Ordovician (post-Sardic) rifting branches in the North Gondwanan Montagne Noire and Mouthoumet massifs of southern France

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Javier Álvaro, J.; Colmenar, Jorge; Monceret, Eric; Pouclet, André; Vizcaïno, Daniel

2016-06-01

Upper Ordovician-Lower Devonian rocks of the Cabrières klippes (southern Montagne Noire) and the Mouthoumet massif in southern France rest paraconformably or with angular discordance on Cambrian-Lower Ordovician strata. Neither Middle-Ordovician volcanism nor associated metamorphism is recorded, and the subsequent Middle-Ordovician stratigraphic gap is related to the Sardic phase. Upper Ordovician sedimentation started in the rifting branches of Cabrières and Mouthoumet with deposition of basaltic lava flows and lahar deposits (Roque de Bandies and Villerouge formations) of continental tholeiite signature (CT), indicative of continental fracturing. The infill of both rifting branches followed with the onset of (1) Katian (Ka1-Ka2) conglomerates and sandstones (Glauzy and Gascagne formations), which have yielded a new brachiopod assemblage representative of the Svobodaina havliceki Community; (2) Katian (Ka2-Ka4) limestones, marlstones, and shales with carbonate nodules, reflecting development of bryozoan-echinoderm meadows with elements of the Nicolella Community (Gabian and Montjoi formations); and (3) the Hirnantian Marmairane Formation in the Mouthoumet massif that has yielded a rich and diverse fossil association representative of the pandemic Hirnantia Fauna. The sealing of the subaerial palaeorelief generated during the Sardic phase is related to Silurian and Early Devonian transgressions leading to onlapping patterns and the record of high-angle discordances.

Bilateral mandibular angle fractures: clinical considerations.

PubMed

Boffano, Paolo; Roccia, Fabio

2010-03-01

The mandibular angle is a frequent site of fracture. It is a weak zone that is more exposed to fractures than other areas of the mandibular bone. The presence of incompletely erupted third molars is associated with a further increased risk of angle fractures. Our objective was to evaluate and discuss the surgical outcomes of a group of patients with bilateral mandibular angle fractures.In our study, patients with bilateral mandibular angle fractures surgically treated from January 1, 2001, to June 30, 2009, at the Division of Maxillofacial Surgery of the University of Turin were retrospectively analyzed. A combined transbuccal and intraoral approach or an intraoral approach only was adopted.Eight patients (7 men and 1 woman) underwent surgery for bilateral mandibular angle fractures. Good to satisfactory reduction of the fractures was obtained with both surgical techniques. Good to fair restored occlusion was observed postoperatively in all patients.Successful treatment of bilateral mandibular angle fractures may be achieved via different techniques. Superficially impacted third molars seem to be associated with an increased risk of angle fractures. Bilateral angle fractures are an ideal model to study the biomechanical pathogenesis of angle fractures.

Secondary angle closure caused by air migrating behind the pupil in descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty.

PubMed

Lee, Jung S; Desai, Neel R; Schmidt, Gregory W; Jun, Albert S; Schein, Oliver D; Stark, Walter J; Eghrari, Allen O; Gottsch, John D

2009-07-01

To report secondary angle closure caused by air migrating behind the pupil in the context of intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation in the early postoperative period after Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK). A retrospective case series was conducted on 100 consecutive DSEK cases from 90 patients undergoing DSEK because of corneal disease from Fuchs corneal dystrophy, pseudophakic bullous keratopathy, aphakic bullous keratopathy, and iridocorneal endothelial syndrome. Preoperative and postoperative slit-lamp examinations and IOP measurements were ascertained for all 100 eyes. Main outcome measures included preoperative and postoperative IOP. Thirteen of 100 eyes developed an IOP rise of greater than 30 mm Hg on the first postoperative day. Six of these 13 patients developed angle closure from air migrating posterior to the iris and causing iridocorneal adhesions. One of these 13 patients developed pupillary block from air anterior to iris. Six of 13 patients developed increased IOP without pupillary block or iridocorneal adhesions and had a history of preexisting primary or secondary glaucoma. A secondary angle closure associated with DSEK is reported with air migrating behind the iris, resulting in extensive iridocorneal adhesions. An acute increase in IOP after DSEK can also be induced by air anterior to the iris causing pupillary block. IOP spikes are much more common in the first few postoperative days after DSEK. Medical treatment can occasionally resolve air posterior to the iris, but if iridocorneal adhesions are extensive and persistent, air removal and angle reformation may be necessary.

Title Sheet, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Northwestern Branch ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

Title Sheet, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Northwestern Branch - National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Northwestern Branch, 5000 West National Avenue, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI

Reading angles in maps.

PubMed

Izard, Véronique; O'Donnell, Evan; Spelke, Elizabeth S

2014-01-01

Preschool children can navigate by simple geometric maps of the environment, but the nature of the geometric relations they use in map reading remains unclear. Here, children were tested specifically on their sensitivity to angle. Forty-eight children (age 47:15-53:30 months) were presented with fragments of geometric maps, in which angle sections appeared without any relevant length or distance information. Children were able to read these map fragments and compare two-dimensional to three-dimensional angles. However, this ability appeared both variable and fragile among the youngest children of the sample. These findings suggest that 4-year-old children begin to form an abstract concept of angle that applies both to two-dimensional and three-dimensional displays and that serves to interpret novel spatial symbols. © 2013 The Authors. Child Development © 2013 Society for Research in Child Development, Inc.

Atomic temporal interval relations in branching time: calculation and application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anger, Frank D.; Ladkin, Peter B.; Rodriguez, Rita V.

1991-03-01

A practical method of reasoning about intervals in a branching-time model which is dense, unbounded, future-branching, without rejoining branches is presented. The discussion is based on heuristic constraint- propagation techniques using the relation algebra of binary temporal relations among the intervals over the branching-time model. This technique has been applied with success to models of intervals over linear time by Allen and others, and is of cubic-time complexity. To extend it to branding-time models, it is necessary to calculate compositions of the relations; thus, the table of compositions for the 'atomic' relations is computed, enabling the rapid determination of the composition of arbitrary relations, expressed as disjunctions or unions of the atomic relations.

Sleep promotes branch-specific formation of dendritic spines after learning

PubMed Central

Yang, Guang; Lai, Cora Sau Wan; Cichon, Joseph; Ma, Lei; Li, Wei; Gan, Wen-Biao

2015-01-01

How sleep helps learning and memory remains unknown. We report in mouse motor cortex that sleep after motor learning promotes the formation of postsynaptic dendritic spines on a subset of branches of individual layer V pyramidal neurons. New spines are formed on different sets of dendritic branches in response to different learning tasks and are protected from being eliminated when multiple tasks are learned. Neurons activated during learning of a motor task are reactivated during subsequent non-rapid eye movement sleep, and disrupting this neuronal reactivation prevents branch-specific spine formation. These findings indicate that sleep has a key role in promoting learning-dependent synapse formation and maintenance on selected dendritic branches, which contribute to memory storage. PMID:24904169

Anterior Segment Imaging for Angle Closure.

PubMed

Chansangpetch, Sunee; Rojanapongpun, Prin; Lin, Shan C

2018-04-01

To summarize the role of anterior segment imaging (AS-imaging) in angle closure diagnosis and management, and the possible advantages over the current standard of gonioscopy. Literature review and perspective. Review of the pertinent publications with interpretation and perspective in relation to the use of AS-imaging in angle closure assessment focusing on anterior segment optical coherence tomography and ultrasound biomicroscopy. Several limitations have been encountered with the reference standard of gonioscopy for angle assessment. AS-imaging has been shown to have performance in angle closure detection compared to gonioscopy. Also, imaging has greater reproducibility and serves as better documentation for long-term follow-up than conventional gonioscopy. The qualitative and quantitative information obtained from AS-imaging enables better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of angle closure and provides useful parameters for risk assessment and possible prediction of the response to laser and surgical intervention. The latest technologies-including 3-dimensional imaging-have allowed for the assessment of the angle that simulates the gonioscopic view. These advantages suggest that AS-imaging has a potential to be a reference standard for the diagnosis and monitoring of angle closure disease in the future. Although gonioscopy remains the primary method of angle assessment, AS-imaging has an increasing role in angle closure screening and management. The test should be integrated into clinical practice as an adjunctive tool for angle assessment. It is arguable that AS-imaging should be considered first-line screening for patients at risk for angle closure. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Anatomical medial surfaces with efficient resolution of branches singularities.

PubMed

Gil, Debora; Vera, Sergio; Borràs, Agnés; Andaluz, Albert; González Ballester, Miguel A

2017-01-01

Medial surfaces are powerful tools for shape description, but their use has been limited due to the sensibility of existing methods to branching artifacts. Medial branching artifacts are associated to perturbations of the object boundary rather than to geometric features. Such instability is a main obstacle for a confident application in shape recognition and description. Medial branches correspond to singularities of the medial surface and, thus, they are problematic for existing morphological and energy-based algorithms. In this paper, we use algebraic geometry concepts in an energy-based approach to compute a medial surface presenting a stable branching topology. We also present an efficient GPU-CPU implementation using standard image processing tools. We show the method computational efficiency and quality on a custom made synthetic database. Finally, we present some results on a medical imaging application for localization of abdominal pathologies. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

12 CFR 211.3 - Foreign branches of U.S. banking organizations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... country where the banking organization operates one or more branches. (5) Branching by nonbanking... affiliates. (2) A banking organization is considered to be operating a branch in a foreign country if it has... office (other than a representative office) in that country. (3) For purposes of this subpart, a foreign...

12 CFR 211.3 - Foreign branches of U.S. banking organizations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... country where the banking organization operates one or more branches. (5) Branching by nonbanking... affiliates. (2) A banking organization is considered to be operating a branch in a foreign country if it has... office (other than a representative office) in that country. (3) For purposes of this subpart, a foreign...

Gibberellin Promotes Shoot Branching in the Perennial Woody Plant Jatropha curcas.

PubMed

Ni, Jun; Gao, Congcong; Chen, Mao-Sheng; Pan, Bang-Zhen; Ye, Kaiqin; Xu, Zeng-Fu

2015-08-01

Strigolactone (SL), auxin and cytokinin (CK) interact to regulate shoot branching. CK has long been considered to be the only key phytohormone to promote lateral bud outgrowth. Here we report that gibberellin also acts as a positive regulator in the control of shoot branching in the woody plant Jatropha curcas. We show that gibberellin and CK synergistically promote lateral bud outgrowth, and that both hormones influence the expression of putative branching regulators, J. curcas BRANCHED1 and BRANCHED2, which are key transcription factors maintaining bud dormancy. Moreover, treatment with paclobutrazol, an inhibitor of de novo gibberellin biosynthesis, significantly reduced the promotion of bud outgrowth by CK, suggesting that gibberellin is required for CK-mediated axillary bud outgrowth. In addition, SL, a plant hormone involved in the repression of shoot branching, acted antagonistically to both gibberellin and CK in the control of lateral bud outgrowth. Consistent with this, the expression of JcMAX2, a J. curcas homolog of Arabidopsis MORE AXILLARY GROWTH 2 encoding an F-box protein in the SL signaling pathway, was repressed by gibberellin and CK treatment. We also provide physiological evidence that gibberellin also induces shoot branching in many other trees, such as papaya, indicating that a more complicated regulatory network occurs in the control of shoot branching in some perennial woody plants. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists.

Standardization of formulations for the acute amino acid depletion and loading tests.

PubMed

Badawy, Abdulla A-B; Dougherty, Donald M

2015-04-01

The acute tryptophan depletion and loading and the acute tyrosine plus phenylalanine depletion tests are powerful tools for studying the roles of cerebral monoamines in behaviour and symptoms related to various disorders. The tests use either amino acid mixtures or proteins. Current amino acid mixtures lack specificity in humans, but not in rodents, because of the faster disposal of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) by the latter. The high content of BCAA (30-60%) is responsible for the poor specificity in humans and we recommend, in a 50g dose, a control formulation with a lowered BCAA content (18%) as a common control for the above tests. With protein-based formulations, α-lactalbumin is specific for acute tryptophan loading, whereas gelatine is only partially effective for acute tryptophan depletion. We recommend the use of the whey protein fraction glycomacropeptide as an alternative protein. Its BCAA content is ideal for specificity and the absence of tryptophan, tyrosine and phenylalanine render it suitable as a template for seven formulations (separate and combined depletion or loading and a truly balanced control). We invite the research community to participate in standardization of the depletion and loading methodologies by using our recommended amino acid formulation and developing those based on glycomacropeptide. © The Author(s) 2015.

Mechanical Systems Technology Branch research summary, 1985 - 1992

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krantz, Timothy L. (Editor)

1993-01-01

A collection of significant accomplishments from the research of the Mechanical Systems Technology Branch at the NASA Lewis Research Center completed during the years 1985-1992 is included. The publication highlights and accomplishments made in bearing and gearing technology through in-house research, university grants, and industry contracted projects. The publication also includes a complete listing of branch publications for these years.

Oral branched-chain amino acids decrease whole-body proteolysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ferrando, A. A.; Williams, B. D.; Stuart, C. A.; Lane, H. W.; Wolfe, R. R.

1995-01-01

BACKGROUND: This study reports the effects of ingesting branched-chain amino acids (leucine, valine, and isoleucine) on protein metabolism in four men. METHODS: To calculate leg protein synthesis and breakdown, we used a new model that utilized the infusion of L-[ring-13C6]phenylalanine and the sampling of the leg arterial-venous difference and muscle biopsies. In addition, protein-bound enrichments provided for the direct calculation of muscle fractional synthetic rate. Four control subjects ingested an equivalent amount of essential amino acids (threonine, methionine, and histidine) to discern the effects of branched-chain amino acid nitrogen vs the effects of essential amino acid nitrogen. Each drink also included 50 g of carbohydrate. RESULTS: Consumption of the branched-chain and the essential amino acid solutions produced significant threefold and fourfold elevations in their respective arterial concentrations. Protein synthesis and breakdown were unaffected by branched-chain amino acids, but they increased by 43% (p < .05) and 36% (p < .03), respectively, in the group consuming the essential amino acids. However, net leg balance of phenylalanine was unchanged by either drink. Direct measurement of protein synthesis by tracer incorporation into muscle protein (fractional synthetic rate) revealed no changes within or between drinks. Whole-body phenylalanine flux was significantly suppressed by each solution but to a greater extent by the branched-chain amino acids (15% and 20%, respectively) (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that branched-chain amino acid ingestion suppresses whole-body proteolysis in tissues other than skeletal muscle in normal men.

Angle-Ply Weaving

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Farley, Gary L.

1990-01-01

Bias-direction or angle-ply weaving is proposed new process for weaving fibers along bias in conventional planar fabric or in complicated three-dimensional multilayer fabric preform of fiber-reinforced composite structure. Based upon movement of racks of needles and corresponding angle yarns across fabric as fabric being formed. Fibers woven along bias increases shear stiffness and shear strength of preform, increasing value of preform as structural member.

Acute shallowing of the anterior chamber.

PubMed Central

Mapstone, R

1981-01-01

In aging eyes phenylephrine drops have no significant effect on the depth of the anterior chamber, whereas pilocarpine drops produce a significant shallowing. If both drugs are instilled simultaneously, a significantly greater decrease in anterior chamber depth occurs. The effect is seen in normal, glaucomatous, and hypertensive eyes, and in eyes with shallow anterior chambers. It did not occur in eyes that had had an iridectomy. During the course of a positive provocative test an acute reduction in anterior depth occurs which is reversed when the angle opens and pressure returns to normal levels. It is concluded that the depth of the anterior chamber is not a static dimension but that changes can occur which are rapid and transient. The mechanism of shallowing and deepening depends on an increase or a decrease in the pupil block force. It is a necessary consequence too that eyes with nonshallow anterior chambers can get closed-angle glaucoma and that this possibility cannot be detected by a conventional gonioscopic approach. PMID:6455153

Thermal Energy Conversion Branch

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bielozer, Matthew C.; Schreiber, Jeffrey, G.; Wilson, Scott D.

2004-01-01

The Thermal Energy Conversion Branch (5490) leads the way in designing, conducting, and implementing research for the newest thermal systems used in space applications at the NASA Glenn Research Center. Specifically some of the most advanced technologies developed in this branch can be broken down into four main areas: Dynamic Power Systems, Primary Solar Concentrators, Secondary Solar Concentrators, and Thermal Management. Work was performed in the Dynamic Power Systems area, specifically the Stirling Engine subdivision. Today, the main focus of the 5490 branch is free-piston Stirling cycle converters, Brayton cycle nuclear reactors, and heat rejection systems for long duration mission spacecraft. All space exploring devices need electricity to operate. In most space applications, heat energy from radioisotopes is converted to electrical power. The Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) already supplies electricity for missions such as the Cassini Spacecraft. The focus of today's Stirling research at GRC is aimed at creating an engine that can replace the RTG. The primary appeal of the Stirling engine is its high system efficiency. Because it is so efficient, the Stirling engine will significantly reduce the plutonium fuel mission requirements compared to the RTG. Stirling is also being considered for missions such as the lunar/Mars bases and rovers. This project has focused largely on Stirling Engines of all types, particularly the fluidyne liquid piston engine. The fluidyne was developed by Colin D. West. This engine uses the same concepts found in any type of Stirling engine, with the exception of missing mechanical components. All the working components are fluid. One goal was to develop and demonstrate a working Stirling Fluidyne Engine at the 2nd Annual International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference in Providence, Rhode Island.

6-O-Branched Oligo-β-glucan-Based Antifungal Glycoconjugate Vaccines.

PubMed

Liao, Guochao; Zhou, Zhifang; Liao, Jun; Zu, Luning; Wu, Qiuye; Guo, Zhongwu

2016-02-12

With the rapid growth in fungal infections and drug-resistant fungal strains, antifungal vaccines have become an especially attractive strategy to tackle this important health problem. β-Glucans, a class of extracellular carbohydrate antigens abundantly and consistently expressed on fungal cell surfaces, are intriguing epitopes for antifungal vaccine development. β-Glucans have a conserved β-1,3-glucan backbone with sporadic β-1,3- or β-1,6-linked short glucans as branches at the 6-O-positions, and the branches may play a critical role in their immunologic functions. To study the immunologic properties of branched β-glucans and develop β-glucan-based antifungal vaccines, three branched β-glucan oligosaccharides with 6-O-linked β-1,6-tetraglucose, β-1,3-diglucose, and β-1,3-tetraglucose branches on a β-1,3-nonaglucan backbone, which mimic the structural epitopes of natural β-glucans, were synthesized and coupled with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) to form novel synthetic conjugate vaccines. These glycoconjugates were proved to elicit strong IgG antibody responses in mice. It was also discovered that the number, size, and structure of branches linked to the β-glucan backbone had a significant impact on the immunologic property. Moreover, antibodies induced by the synthetic oligosaccharide-KLH conjugates were able to recognize and bind to natural β-glucans and fungal cells. Most importantly, these conjugates elicited effective protection against systemic Candida albicans infection in mice. Thus, branched oligo-β-glucans were identified as functional epitopes for antifungal vaccine design and the corresponding protein conjugates as promising antifungal vaccine candidates.

Wafer scale oblique angle plasma etching

DOEpatents

Burckel, David Bruce; Jarecki, Jr., Robert L.; Finnegan, Patrick Sean

2017-05-23

Wafer scale oblique angle etching of a semiconductor substrate is performed in a conventional plasma etch chamber by using a fixture that supports a multiple number of separate Faraday cages. Each cage is formed to include an angled grid surface and is positioned such that it will be positioned over a separate one of the die locations on the wafer surface when the fixture is placed over the wafer. The presence of the Faraday cages influences the local electric field surrounding each wafer die, re-shaping the local field to be disposed in alignment with the angled grid surface. The re-shaped plasma causes the reactive ions to follow a linear trajectory through the plasma sheath and angled grid surface, ultimately impinging the wafer surface at an angle. The selected geometry of the Faraday cage angled grid surface thus determines the angle at with the reactive ions will impinge the wafer.

Universal features of dendrites through centripetal branch ordering

PubMed Central

Effenberger, Felix; Muellerleile, Julia

2017-01-01

Dendrites form predominantly binary trees that are exquisitely embedded in the networks of the brain. While neuronal computation is known to depend on the morphology of dendrites, their underlying topological blueprint remains unknown. Here, we used a centripetal branch ordering scheme originally developed to describe river networks—the Horton-Strahler order (SO)–to examine hierarchical relationships of branching statistics in reconstructed and model dendritic trees. We report on a number of universal topological relationships with SO that are true for all binary trees and distinguish those from SO-sorted metric measures that appear to be cell type-specific. The latter are therefore potential new candidates for categorising dendritic tree structures. Interestingly, we find a faithful correlation of branch diameters with centripetal branch orders, indicating a possible functional importance of SO for dendritic morphology and growth. Also, simulated local voltage responses to synaptic inputs are strongly correlated with SO. In summary, our study identifies important SO-dependent measures in dendritic morphology that are relevant for neural function while at the same time it describes other relationships that are universal for all dendrites. PMID:28671947

Spinning angle optical calibration apparatus

DOEpatents

Beer, Stephen K.; Pratt, II, Harold R.

1991-01-01

An optical calibration apparatus is provided for calibrating and reproducing spinning angles in cross-polarization, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. An illuminated magnifying apparatus enables optical setting an accurate reproducing of spinning "magic angles" in cross-polarization, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy experiments. A reference mark scribed on an edge of a spinning angle test sample holder is illuminated by a light source and viewed through a magnifying scope. When the "magic angle" of a sample material used as a standard is attained by varying the angular position of the sample holder, the coordinate position of the reference mark relative to a graduation or graduations on a reticle in the magnifying scope is noted. Thereafter, the spinning "magic angle" of a test material having similar nuclear properties to the standard is attained by returning the sample holder back to the originally noted coordinate position.

Branch length estimation and divergence dating: estimates of error in Bayesian and maximum likelihood frameworks.

PubMed

Schwartz, Rachel S; Mueller, Rachel L

2010-01-11

Estimates of divergence dates between species improve our understanding of processes ranging from nucleotide substitution to speciation. Such estimates are frequently based on molecular genetic differences between species; therefore, they rely on accurate estimates of the number of such differences (i.e. substitutions per site, measured as branch length on phylogenies). We used simulations to determine the effects of dataset size, branch length heterogeneity, branch depth, and analytical framework on branch length estimation across a range of branch lengths. We then reanalyzed an empirical dataset for plethodontid salamanders to determine how inaccurate branch length estimation can affect estimates of divergence dates. The accuracy of branch length estimation varied with branch length, dataset size (both number of taxa and sites), branch length heterogeneity, branch depth, dataset complexity, and analytical framework. For simple phylogenies analyzed in a Bayesian framework, branches were increasingly underestimated as branch length increased; in a maximum likelihood framework, longer branch lengths were somewhat overestimated. Longer datasets improved estimates in both frameworks; however, when the number of taxa was increased, estimation accuracy for deeper branches was less than for tip branches. Increasing the complexity of the dataset produced more misestimated branches in a Bayesian framework; however, in an ML framework, more branches were estimated more accurately. Using ML branch length estimates to re-estimate plethodontid salamander divergence dates generally resulted in an increase in the estimated age of older nodes and a decrease in the estimated age of younger nodes. Branch lengths are misestimated in both statistical frameworks for simulations of simple datasets. However, for complex datasets, length estimates are quite accurate in ML (even for short datasets), whereas few branches are estimated accurately in a Bayesian framework. Our reanalysis of

Effects of Acute Exposure to Increased Plasma Branched-Chain Amino Acid Concentrations on Insulin-Mediated Plasma Glucose Turnover in Healthy Young Subjects

PubMed Central

Everman, Sarah; Mandarino, Lawrence J.; Carroll, Chad C.; Katsanos, Christos S.

2015-01-01

Background Plasma branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) are inversely related to insulin sensitivity of glucose metabolism in humans. However, currently, it is not known whether there is a cause-and-effect relationship between increased plasma BCAA concentrations and decreased insulin sensitivity. Objective To determine the effects of acute exposure to increased plasma BCAA concentrations on insulin-mediated plasma glucose turnover in humans. Methods Ten healthy subjects were randomly assigned to an experiment where insulin was infused at 40 mU/m2/min (40U) during the second half of a 6-hour intravenous infusion of a BCAA mixture (i.e., BCAA; N = 5) to stimulate plasma glucose turnover or under the same conditions without BCAA infusion (Control; N = 5). In a separate experiment, seven healthy subjects were randomly assigned to receive insulin infusion at 80 mU/m2/min (80U) in association with the above BCAA infusion (N = 4) or under the same conditions without BCAA infusion (N = 3). Plasma glucose turnover was measured prior to and during insulin infusion. Results Insulin infusion completely suppressed the endogenous glucose production (EGP) across all groups. The percent suppression of EGP was not different between Control and BCAA in either the 40U or 80U experiments (P > 0.05). Insulin infusion stimulated whole-body glucose disposal rate (GDR) across all groups. However, the increase (%) in GDR was not different [median (1st quartile – 3rd quartile)] between Control and BCAA in either the 40U ([199 (167–278) vs. 186 (94–308)] or 80 U ([491 (414–548) vs. 478 (409–857)] experiments (P > 0.05). Likewise, insulin stimulated the glucose metabolic clearance in all experiments (P < 0.05) with no differences between Control and BCAA in either of the experiments (P > 0.05). Conclusion Short-term exposure of young healthy subjects to increased plasma BCAA concentrations does not alter the insulin sensitivity of glucose metabolism. PMID:25781654

Effects of acute exposure to increased plasma branched-chain amino acid concentrations on insulin-mediated plasma glucose turnover in healthy young subjects.

PubMed

Everman, Sarah; Mandarino, Lawrence J; Carroll, Chad C; Katsanos, Christos S

2015-01-01

Plasma branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) are inversely related to insulin sensitivity of glucose metabolism in humans. However, currently, it is not known whether there is a cause-and-effect relationship between increased plasma BCAA concentrations and decreased insulin sensitivity. To determine the effects of acute exposure to increased plasma BCAA concentrations on insulin-mediated plasma glucose turnover in humans. Ten healthy subjects were randomly assigned to an experiment where insulin was infused at 40 mU/m2/min (40U) during the second half of a 6-hour intravenous infusion of a BCAA mixture (i.e., BCAA; N = 5) to stimulate plasma glucose turnover or under the same conditions without BCAA infusion (Control; N = 5). In a separate experiment, seven healthy subjects were randomly assigned to receive insulin infusion at 80 mU/m2/min (80U) in association with the above BCAA infusion (N = 4) or under the same conditions without BCAA infusion (N = 3). Plasma glucose turnover was measured prior to and during insulin infusion. Insulin infusion completely suppressed the endogenous glucose production (EGP) across all groups. The percent suppression of EGP was not different between Control and BCAA in either the 40U or 80U experiments (P > 0.05). Insulin infusion stimulated whole-body glucose disposal rate (GDR) across all groups. However, the increase (%) in GDR was not different [median (1st quartile - 3rd quartile)] between Control and BCAA in either the 40U ([199 (167-278) vs. 186 (94-308)] or 80 U ([491 (414-548) vs. 478 (409-857)] experiments (P > 0.05). Likewise, insulin stimulated the glucose metabolic clearance in all experiments (P < 0.05) with no differences between Control and BCAA in either of the experiments (P > 0.05). Short-term exposure of young healthy subjects to increased plasma BCAA concentrations does not alter the insulin sensitivity of glucose metabolism.

Programmable growth of branched silicon nanowires using a focused ion beam.

PubMed

Jun, Kimin; Jacobson, Joseph M

2010-08-11

Although significant progress has been made in being able to spatially define the position of material layers in vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) grown nanowires, less work has been carried out in deterministically defining the positions of nanowire branching points to facilitate more complicated structures beyond simple 1D wires. Work to date has focused on the growth of randomly branched nanowire structures. Here we develop a means for programmably designating nanowire branching points by means of focused ion beam-defined VLS catalytic points. This technique is repeatable without losing fidelity allowing multiple rounds of branching point definition followed by branch growth resulting in complex structures. The single crystal nature of this approach allows us to describe resulting structures with linear combinations of base vectors in three-dimensional (3D) space. Finally, by etching the resulting 3D defined wire structures branched nanotubes were fabricated with interconnected nanochannels inside. We believe that the techniques developed here should comprise a useful tool for extending linear VLS nanowire growth to generalized 3D wire structures.

Countability of Planck Boxes in Quantum Branching Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berezin, Alexander A.

2002-04-01

Two popular paradigms of cosmological quantum branching are Many World (MW) model of parallel universes (Everett, Deutsch) and inflationary quantum foam (IQF) model (Guth, Linde). Taking Planck L,T units as physically smallest, our Big Bang miniverse with size 10E28 cm and duration 10E18 sec has some 10E244 (N) elementary 4D Planck Boxes (PB) in its entire spacetime history. Using combinatorics, N! (about 10E10E247) is upper estimate for number of all possible 4D states, i.e. scale of "eternal return" (ER; Nietzsche, Eliade) for such miniverses. To count all states in full Megaverse (all up and down branches of infinite tree of all MW and/or IQF miniverses) we recall that all countable infinities have same (aleph-naught) cardinality (Cantor). Using Godel-type numbering, count PB in our miniverse by primes. This uses first N primes. Both MW and IQF models presume splitting of miniverses as springing (potentially) from each PB, making each PB infinitely rich, inexhaustible and unique. Next branching level is counted by integers p1Ep2, third level by p1Ep2Ep3 integers, etc, ad infinitum. To count in up and down directions from "our" miniverse, different branching subsets of powers of primes can be used at all levels of tower exponentiation. Thus, all PB in all infinitude of MW and/or IQF branches can be uniquely counted by never repeating integers (tower exponents of primes), offering escape from grim ER scenarios.

Branch Campus Leadership: Like Running a Three-Ring Circus?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gillie Gossom, J.; Deckert Pelton, M.

2011-01-01

Members of National Association of Branch Campus Administrators (NABCA) have spent three years crafting a survey instrument for assessing the leadership abilities and skills of branch administrators. In pursuit of the goal to investigate four leadership dimensions: diagnosing, implementing, visioning, and entrepreneurial, a pilot survey was…

Critical Branches and Lucky Loads in Control-Independence Architectures

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malik, Kshitiz

2009-01-01

Branch mispredicts have a first-order impact on the performance of integer applications. Control Independence (CI) architectures aim to overlap the penalties of mispredicted branches with useful execution by spawning control-independent work as separate threads. Although control independent, such threads may consume register and memory values…

A brittle-ductile high- and low-angle fault related to the Kea extensional detachment (W Cyclades., Greece)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rockenschaub, M.; Grasemann, B.; Iglseder, C.; Rice, A. H. N.; Schneider, D.; Zamolyi, A.

2010-05-01

Roll-back of the African Plate within the Eurasian-African collision zone since the Oligocene/Miocene led to extension in the Cyclades along low-angle normal fault zones and exhumation of rocks from near the brittle-ductile transition zone. On the island of Kea (W Cyclades), which represents such a crustal scale low-angle fault zone with top-to-SSW kinematics, remote sensing analysis of brittle fault lineaments in the Pissis area (W Kea) demonstrates two dominant strike directions: ca. NE-SW and NW-SE. From the north of Pisses southwards, the angle between the two main fault directions changes gradually from a rhombohedral geometry (ca. 50°/130° angle between faults, with the acute angle facing westwards) to an orthogonal geometry. The aim of this study is the development of this fault system. We investigate, if this fault system is related to the Miocene extension or if it is related to a later overprinting event (e.g. the opening of the Corinth) Field observations revealed that the investigated lineaments are high-angle (50-90° dip) brittle/ductile conjugate, faults. Due to the lack of marker layers offsets could only rarely be estimated. Locally centimetre thick marble layers in the greenschists suggest a displacement gradient along the faults with a maximum offset of less than 60 cm. Large displacement gradients are associated with a pronounced ductile fault drag in the host rocks. In some instances, high-angle normal faults were observed to link kinematically with low-angle, top-to-SSW brittle/ductile shear bands. Both the high- and the low-angle faults have a component of ductile shear, which is overprinted by brittle deformation mechanisms. In thin-section, polyphase mode-2 cracks are filled mainly with calcite and quartz (ultra)cataclasites, sometimes followed by further opening with fluid-related iron-rich carbonate (ankeritic) precipitation. CL analysis reveals several generations of cements, indicating multiple phases of cataclastic deformation and

Kodiak: An Implementation Framework for Branch and Bound Algorithms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, Andrew P.; Munoz, Cesar A.; Narkawicz, Anthony J.; Markevicius, Mantas

2015-01-01

Recursive branch and bound algorithms are often used to refine and isolate solutions to several classes of global optimization problems. A rigorous computation framework for the solution of systems of equations and inequalities involving nonlinear real arithmetic over hyper-rectangular variable and parameter domains is presented. It is derived from a generic branch and bound algorithm that has been formally verified, and utilizes self-validating enclosure methods, namely interval arithmetic and, for polynomials and rational functions, Bernstein expansion. Since bounds computed by these enclosure methods are sound, this approach may be used reliably in software verification tools. Advantage is taken of the partial derivatives of the constraint functions involved in the system, firstly to reduce the branching factor by the use of bisection heuristics and secondly to permit the computation of bifurcation sets for systems of ordinary differential equations. The associated software development, Kodiak, is presented, along with examples of three different branch and bound problem types it implements.

Branching fractions for psi(2S)-to-J/psi transitions.

PubMed

Adam, N E; Alexander, J P; Berkelman, K; Cassel, D G; Crede, V; Duboscq, J E; Ecklund, K M; Ehrlich, R; Fields, L; Galik, R S; Gibbons, L; Gittelman, B; Gray, R; Gray, S W; Hartill, D L; Heltsley, B K; Hertz, D; Hsu, L; Jones, C D; Kandaswamy, J; Kreinick, D L; Kuznetsov, V E; Mahlke-Krüger, H; Meyer, T O; Onyisi, P U E; Patterson, J R; Peterson, D; Phillips, E A; Pivarski, J; Riley, D; Ryd, A; Sadoff, A J; Schwarthoff, H; Shepherd, M R; Stroiney, S; Sun, W M; Urner, D; Wilksen, T; Weinberger, M; Athar, S B; Avery, P; Breva-Newell, L; Patel, R; Potlia, V; Stoeck, H; Yelton, J; Rubin, P; Cawlfield, C; Eisenstein, B I; Gollin, G D; Karliner, I; Kim, D; Lowrey, N; Naik, P; Sedlack, C; Selen, M; Williams, J; Wiss, J; Edwards, K W; Besson, D; Pedlar, T K; Cronin-Hennessy, D; Gao, K Y; Gong, D T; Kubota, Y; Klein, T; Lang, B W; Li, S Z; Poling, R; Scott, A W; Smith, A; Dobbs, S; Metreveli, Z; Seth, K K; Tomaradze, A; Zweber, P; Ernst, J; Mahmood, A H; Severini, H; Asner, D M; Dytman, S A; Love, W; Mehrabyan, S; Mueller, J A; Savinov, V; Li, Z; Lopez, A; Mendez, H; Ramirez, J; Huang, G S; Miller, D H; Pavlunin, V; Sanghi, B; Shibata, E I; Shipsey, I P J; Adams, G S; Chasse, M; Cravey, M; Cummings, J P; Danko, I; Napolitano, J; He, Q; Muramatsu, H; Park, C S; Park, W; Thorndike, E H; Coan, T E; Gao, Y S; Liu, F; Artuso, M; Boulahouache, C; Blusk, S; Butt, J; Dambasuren, E; Dorjkhaidav, O; Li, J; Menaa, N; Mountain, R; Nandakumar, R; Redjimi, R; Sia, R; Skwarnicki, T; Stone, S; Wang, J C; Zhang, K; Csorna, S E; Bonvicini, G; Cinabro, D; Dubrovin, M; Briere, R A; Chen, G P; Chen, J; Ferguson, T; Tatishvili, G; Vogel, H; Watkins, M E; Rosner, J L

2005-06-17

We describe new measurements of the inclusive and exclusive branching fractions for psi(2S) transitions to J/psi using e(+)e(-) collision data collected with the CLEO detector operating at CESR. All branching fractions and ratios of branching fractions reported here represent either the most precise measurements to date or the first direct measurements. Indirectly and in combination with other CLEO measurements, we determine B(chi(cJ) --> gamma(J/psi)) and B[psi(2S) --> light hadrons].

Clinical and Translational Epidemiology Branch (CTEB)

Cancer.gov

The Clinical and Translational Epidemiology Branch focuses on factors that influence cancer progression, recurrence, survival, and other treatment outcomes, and factors associated with cancer development.

Fault Branching and Long-Term Earthquake Rupture Scenario for Strike-Slip Earthquake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klinger, Y.; CHOI, J. H.; Vallage, A.

2017-12-01

Careful examination of surface rupture for large continental strike-slip earthquakes reveals that for the majority of earthquakes, at least one major branch is involved in the rupture pattern. Often, branching might be either related to the location of the epicenter or located toward the end of the rupture, and possibly related to the stopping of the rupture. In this work, we examine large continental earthquakes that show significant branches at different scales and for which ground surface rupture has been mapped in great details. In each case, rupture conditions are described, including dynamic parameters, past earthquakes history, and regional stress orientation, to see if the dynamic stress field would a priori favor branching. In one case we show that rupture propagation and branching are directly impacted by preexisting geological structures. These structures serve as pathways for the rupture attempting to propagate out of its shear plane. At larger scale, we show that in some cases, rupturing a branch might be systematic, hampering possibilities for the development of a larger seismic rupture. Long-term geomorphology hints at the existence of a strong asperity in the zone where the rupture branched off the main fault. There, no evidence of throughgoing rupture could be seen along the main fault, while the branch is well connected to the main fault. This set of observations suggests that for specific configurations, some rupture scenarios involving systematic branching are more likely than others.

A comparative study to determine the optimal intravitreal injection angle to the eye: A computational fluid-structure interaction model.

PubMed

Karimi, Alireza; Razaghi, Reza; Biglari, Hasan; Sabbaghi, Hamideh; Sera, Toshihiro; Kudo, Susumu

2018-04-20

This study was aimed at investigating the role of IVI angle on the induced stresses and deformations among the components of the eye. Thereafter, the most optimal angle of IVI to minimize the complications of post IVI at the injection site on a basis of the computed stresses via a Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) computational model was proposed. IntraVitreal Injection (IVI) is broadly employed as a principal treatment of vascular vitro-retinal diseases. So far, there have been reports regarding the complications of post IVI and determine them as severe uveitis, tractional retinal detachment, IntraOcular Pressure (IOP) elevation as well as ocular haemorrhage. However, there is a lack of knowledge on how to reduce the subsequent ocular tissue damage and patient symptoms in the injection site. Seven different IVI angles were simulated, including 0∘, 15∘, 30∘, 45∘, 60∘, 75∘, and 90∘, through the Finite Element (FE) code; and the term, 'post IVI complication' or 'injury', in the results was interpreted as the level of maximal principal stress in the eye components. The results revealed the lowest amount of stresses at the angle of 45∘ in respect to the horizontal line (acute to the surface of the sclera) for the lens, iris, vitreous body, aqueous body, ciliary body, sclera, retina, and choroid. The cornea illustrated the same amount of stress at the angles of 45∘, 60∘, 75∘, and 90∘ with the highest one at the IVI angle of 30∘. The lowest and the highest stresses among the eye components regardless of IVI angle were observed in the choroid and retina/sclera, respectively, which imply the importance of the IVI angle on the stresses of these eye components. The findings of the contemporary research revealed that the IVI angle of 45∘ would trigger less post IVI complications and, as a result, a more effective surgery outcome compared to the other angles, i.e., 0∘, 15∘, 30∘, 60∘, 75∘, and 90∘.

Aggregation Dynamics Using Phase Wave Signals and Branching Patterns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sakaguchi, Hidetsugu; Kusagaki, Takuma

2016-09-01

The aggregation dynamics of slime mold is studied using coupled equations of phase ϕ and cell concentration n. Phase waves work as tactic signals for aggregation. Branching structures appear during the aggregation. A stationary branching pattern appears like a river network, if cells are uniformly supplied into the system.

Spinning angle optical calibration apparatus

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

Beer, S.K.; Pratt, H.R. II.

1989-09-12

An optical calibration apparatus is provided for calibrating and reproducing spinning angles in cross-polarization, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. An illuminated magnifying apparatus enables optical setting and accurate reproducing of spinning magic angles in cross-polarization, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy experiments. A reference mark scribed on an edge of a spinning angle test sample holder is illuminated by a light source and viewed through a magnifying scope. When the magic angle of a sample material used as a standard is attained by varying the angular position of the sample holder, the coordinate position of the reference mark relative to a graduation ormore » graduations on a reticle in the magnifying scope is noted. Thereafter, the spinning magic angle of a test material having similar nuclear properties to the standard is attained by returning the sample holder back to the originally noted coordinate position. 2 figs.« less

Growth Angle: A Microscopic View

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mazuruk, Konstantin; Croll, Arne; Volz, Martin P.

2017-01-01

A microscopic continuum mechanical model of the growth angle is proposed. It is based on the van der Waals type framework that is used for surface force phenomena. The obtained augmented Laplace type integro-differential equations are, in general, difficult to analyze. Here we focused primarily on the particular case of equal melt and crystal surface energies. We derived an approximate equation for the meniscus shape, and obtained an analytical relationship between the contact and the growth angle. Interestingly, the same result can be obtained using the macroscopic model of Herring. The case of a macroscopically sharp corner is also considered. For this case, the macroscopic angle is not defined and it can be any angle between the contact angles of both flat surfaces. The microscopic model yields the smooth shape for the meniscus that also is not unique, but depends on the initial position of the meniscus.

Parotid Branches of the Auriculotemporal Nerve: An Anatomical Study With Implications for Frey Syndrome.

PubMed

Iwanaga, Joe; Fisahn, Christian; Watanabe, Koichi; Bobek, Samuel L; Ogata, Kinuko; Tanoue, Ryuichiro; Kusukawa, Jingo; Oskouian, Rod J; Tubbs, R Shane

2017-01-01

The auriculotemporal nerve is one of the many branches of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve. Of these, its superficial temporal branch has been most described. Although the parotid branches, secretomotor fibers to the parotid gland, are well known as the cause of Frey syndrome, there have been almost no descriptions of their anatomy. In this study, the authors dissected the parotid branches of the auriculotemporal nerve to elucidate their anatomy. A total of 10 sides from 7 adult and embalmed cadaver heads were used in this study. The specimens were derived from 3 males and 4 females, the age of cadavers at death ranged from 65 to 92 years old. Measurements included their diameter and the distance of their branching point from the main trunk of the auriculotemporal nerve from the middle of the tragus. Three of 10 sides had 2 parotid branches and 7 sides were found to have 1 parotid branch. The vertical distance between middle of the tragus to branching point of the parotid branch ranged from 1.79 to 16.17 mm. The horizontal distance between middle of the tragus to branching point of the parotid branch ranged from 3.03 to 12.62 mm. The diameter of the parotid branch ranged from 0.31 to 0.49 mm. An improved knowledge of the parotid branch of the auriculotemporal nerve might decrease injury to these structures with the potential for postoperative.

Press releases, preliminary maps, and preliminary reports released by the Geologic Branch and Alaskan Branch between January 1, 1938 and January 1, 1945

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kent, Lois S.; Keroher, R.P.

1945-01-01

This pamphlet contains a complete list of all maps and reports issued by the Geologic Branch and Alaskan Branch of the Geological Survey whose release was announced by press notice during the period between January 1, 1938 and January 1, 1945. The Geologic Branch material was compiled by Lois S. Kent, and the Alaskan Branch material by R. P. Kerocher. It is expected that similar lists will be published annually hereafter. These reports and maps are the results of work carried out by Survey geologists on mineral deposits in the United States, Alaska, and Cuba during the war and the years immediately preceding the war. They were released in preliminary form as rapidly as possible in this period to avoid the delays necessarily attendant upon formal publication and to make the information contained in them promptly available to property owners and mine operators concerned with the production of strategic and critical mineral commodities.

Transcriptome profiling of radiata pine branches reveals new insights into reaction wood formation with implications in plant gravitropism.

PubMed

Li, Xinguo; Yang, Xiaohui; Wu, Harry X

2013-11-08

Formation of compression (CW) and opposite wood (OW) in branches and bent trunks is an adaptive feature of conifer trees in response to various displacement forces, such as gravity, wind, snow and artificial bending. Several previous studies have characterized tracheids, wood and gene transcription in artificially or naturally bent conifer trunks. These studies have provided molecular basis of reaction wood formation in response to bending forces and gravity stimulus. However, little is known about reaction wood formation and gene transcription in conifer branches under gravity stress. In this study SilviScan® technology was used to characterize tracheid and wood traits in radiate pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) branches and genes differentially transcribed in CW and OW were investigated using cDNA microarrays. CW drastically differed from OW in tracheids and wood traits with increased growth, thicker tracheid walls, larger microfibril angle (MFA), higher density and lower stiffness. However, CW and OW tracheids had similar diameters in either radial or tangential direction. Thus, gravity stress largely influenced wood growth, secondary wall deposition, cellulose microfibril orientation and wood properties, but had little impact on primary wall expansion. Microarray gene transcription revealed about 29% of the xylem transcriptomes were significantly altered in CW and OW sampled in both spring and autumn, providing molecular evidence for the drastic variation in tracheid and wood traits. Genes involved in cell division, cellulose biosynthesis, lignin deposition, and microtubules were mostly up-regulated in CW, conferring its greater growth, thicker tracheid walls, higher density, larger MFA and lower stiffness. However, genes with roles in cell expansion and primary wall formation were differentially transcribed in CW and OW, respectively, implicating their similar diameters of tracheid walls and different tracheid lengths. Interestingly, many genes related to hormone

Dielectric response of branched copper phthalocyanine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamam, Khalil J.; Al-Amar, Mohammad M.; Mezei, Gellert; Guda, Ramakrishna; Burns, Clement A.

2017-09-01

The dielectric constant of pressed pellets and thin films of branched copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) was investigated as a function of frequency from 0.1 kHz to 1 MHz and temperature from 20 °C to 100 °C. Surface morphology was studied using a scanning electron microscope. The high-frequency values of the dielectric constant of pellets and thin films are ~3.5 and ~5.8, respectively. The response was only weakly dependent on frequency and temperature. The branched structure of the CuPc molecules helped to cancel out the effects of low-frequency polarization mechanisms. A planar delocalized charge system with two-dimensional localization was found using time-resolved photoluminescence measurements.

Anatomic suitability of aortoiliac aneurysms for next generation branched systems.

PubMed

Pearce, Benjamin J; Varu, Vinit N; Glocker, Roan; Novak, Zdenek; Jordan, William D; Lee, Jason T

2015-01-01

Preservation of internal iliac flow is an important consideration to prevent ischemic complications during endovascular aneurysm repair. We sought to determine the suitability of aortoiliac aneurysms for off-the-shelf iliac branched systems currently in clinical trial. Patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm repair from 2004 to 2013 at 2 institutions were reviewed. Centerline diameters and lengths of aortoiliac morphology were measured using three-dimensional workstations and compared with inclusion/exclusion criteria for both Cook and Gore iliac branch devices. Of the nearly 2,400 aneurysm repairs performed during the study period, 99 patients had common iliac aneurysms suitable for imaging review. Eighteen of the 99 (18.2%) patients and 25/99 (25.3%) patients fit the inclusion criteria and would have been able to be treated using the Cook and Gore iliac branch devices, respectively. The most common reason for exclusion from Cook was internal iliac diameter of <6 or >9 mm (68/99, 68.7%). The most common reason for exclusion from Gore was proximal common iliac diameter of <17 mm (39/99, 39.4%) and inadequate internal iliac artery diameter of <6.5 or >13.5 mm (37/99, 37.3%). Comparing the included patients across both devices, a total of 35/99 (35.4%) of patients would be eligible for the treatment of aortoiliac aneurysms based on anatomic criteria. Only 35% of the aneurysm repairs involving common iliac arteries would have been candidates for the 2 iliac branch devices currently in trial based on anatomic criteria. The major common reason for exclusion is the internal iliac landing zone for both devices. Design modifications for future generation iliac branch technology should focus on diameter accommodations for the hypogastric branch stent and proximal and distal sizes of the iliac branch components. Familiarity with alternate branch preserving techniques is still needed in the majority of cases. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Business Systems Branch Abilities, Capabilities, and Services Web Page

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cortes-Pena, Aida Yoguely

2009-01-01

During the INSPIRE summer internship I acted as the Business Systems Branch Capability Owner for the Kennedy Web-based Initiative for Communicating Capabilities System (KWICC), with the responsibility of creating a portal that describes the services provided by this Branch. This project will help others achieve a clear view ofthe services that the Business System Branch provides to NASA and the Kennedy Space Center. After collecting the data through the interviews with subject matter experts and the literature in Business World and other web sites I identified discrepancies, made the necessary corrections to the sites and placed the information from the report into the KWICC web page.

Branch morphology in young poplar clones on floodplain sites in Missouri

Treesearch

Stephen G. Pallardy; Daniel E. Gibbins

2003-01-01

Four Populus clones were grown in central Missouri for 2 years at 1 x 1 m spacing to study total biomass production on floodplain sites previously in forage grasses. Branch morphology (living, first-order proleptic, and sylleptic shoots) was assessed for 2-year-old plants. All 2-year-old plants had lateral branches, and clones varied significantly in certain branch...

Angle closure in younger patients.

PubMed Central

Chang, Brian M; Liebmann, Jeffrey M; Ritch, Robert

2002-01-01

PURPOSE: Angle-closure glaucoma is rare in children and young adults. Only scattered cases associated with specific clinical entities have been reported. We evaluated the findings in patients in our database aged 40 or younger with angle closure. METHODS: Our database was searched for patients with angle closure who were 40 years old or younger. Data recorded included age at initial consultation; age at the time of diagnosis; gender; results of slit-lamp examination, gonioscopy, and ultrasound biomicroscopy (from 1993 onward); clinical diagnosis; and therapy. Patients with previous incisional surgery were excluded, as were patients with anterior chamber proliferative mechanisms leading to angle closure. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients (49 females, 18 males) met entry criteria. Mean age (+/- SD) at the time of consultation was 34.4 +/- 9.4 years (range, 3-68 years). Diagnoses included plateau iris syndrome (35 patients), iridociliary cysts (8 patients), retinopathy of prematurity (7 patients), uveitis (5 patients), isolated nanophthalmos (3 patients), relative pupillary block (2 patients), Weill-Marchesani syndrome (3 patients), and 1 patient each with Marfan syndrome, miotic-induced angle closure, persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous, and idiopathic lens subluxation. CONCLUSION: The etiology of angle closure in young persons is different from that in the older population and is typically associated with structural or developmental ocular anomalies rather than relative pupillary block. Following laser iridotomy, these eyes should be monitored for recurrent angle closure and the need for additional laser or incisional surgical intervention. PMID:12545694

40 CFR 721.10217 - Branched and linear alcohols (generic).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 31 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Branched and linear alcohols (generic... Specific Chemical Substances § 721.10217 Branched and linear alcohols (generic). (a) Chemical substance and... linear alcohols (PMN P-09-426) is subject to reporting under this section for the significant new uses...

Seeing believes: Watching entangled sculpted branched DNA in real time

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jee, Ah-Young; Guan, Juan; Chen, Kejia; Granick, Steve

2015-03-01

The importance of branching in polymer physics is universally accepted but the details are disputed. We have sculpted DNA to various degrees of branching and used single-molecule tracking to image its diffusion in real time when entangled. By ligating three identical or varying length DNA segments, we construct symmetric and asymmetric ?Y? branches from elements of lambda-DNA with 16 um contour length, allowing for single-molecule visualization of equilibrium dynamics. Using home-written software, a full statistical distribution based on at least hundreds of trajectories is quantified with focus on discriminating arm-retraction from branch point motion. Some part of our observations is consistent with the anticipated ?relaxation through arm retraction? mechanism but other observations do not appear to be anticipated theoretically. Currently working as a researcher in Institute for Basic Science.

Branch-pipe-routing approach for ships using improved genetic algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sui, Haiteng; Niu, Wentie

2016-09-01

Branch-pipe routing plays fundamental and critical roles in ship-pipe design. The branch-pipe-routing problem is a complex combinatorial optimization problem and is thus difficult to solve when depending only on human experts. A modified genetic-algorithm-based approach is proposed in this paper to solve this problem. The simplified layout space is first divided into threedimensional (3D) grids to build its mathematical model. Branch pipes in layout space are regarded as a combination of several two-point pipes, and the pipe route between two connection points is generated using an improved maze algorithm. The coding of branch pipes is then defined, and the genetic operators are devised, especially the complete crossover strategy that greatly accelerates the convergence speed. Finally, simulation tests demonstrate the performance of proposed method.

Predicting the cover-up of dead branches using a simple single regressor equation

Treesearch

Christopher M. Oswalt; Wayne K. Clatterbuck; E.C. Burkhardt

2007-01-01

Information on the effects of branch diameter on branch occlusion is necessary for building models capable of forecasting the effect of management decisions on tree or log grade. We investigated the relationship between branch size and subsequent branch occlusion through diameter growth with special attention toward the development of a simple single regressor equation...

Risk Factor Assessment Branch (RFAB)

Cancer.gov

The Risk Factor Assessment Branch (RFAB) focuses on the development, evaluation, and dissemination of high-quality risk factor metrics, methods, tools, technologies, and resources for use across the cancer research continuum, and the assessment of cancer-related risk factors in the population.

SU-E-T-446: Group-Sparsity Based Angle Generation Method for Beam Angle Optimization

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

Gao, H

2015-06-15

Purpose: This work is to develop the effective algorithm for beam angle optimization (BAO), with the emphasis on enabling further improvement from existing treatment-dependent templates based on clinical knowledge and experience. Methods: The proposed BAO algorithm utilizes a priori beam angle templates as the initial guess, and iteratively generates angular updates for this initial set, namely angle generation method, with improved dose conformality that is quantitatively measured by the objective function. That is, during each iteration, we select “the test angle” in the initial set, and use group-sparsity based fluence map optimization to identify “the candidate angle” for updating “themore » test angle”, for which all the angles in the initial set except “the test angle”, namely “the fixed set”, are set free, i.e., with no group-sparsity penalty, and the rest of angles including “the test angle” during this iteration are in “the working set”. And then “the candidate angle” is selected with the smallest objective function value from the angles in “the working set” with locally maximal group sparsity, and replaces “the test angle” if “the fixed set” with “the candidate angle” has a smaller objective function value by solving the standard fluence map optimization (with no group-sparsity regularization). Similarly other angles in the initial set are in turn selected as “the test angle” for angular updates and this chain of updates is iterated until no further new angular update is identified for a full loop. Results: The tests using the MGH public prostate dataset demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed BAO algorithm. For example, the optimized angular set from the proposed BAO algorithm was better the MGH template. Conclusion: A new BAO algorithm is proposed based on the angle generation method via group sparsity, with improved dose conformality from the given template. Hao Gao was partially supported by

The Branching Pattern of the Brachiocephalic Trunk in the Donkey (Equus asinus).

PubMed

Akbari, G; Asadiahranjani, B; Goodarzi, N; Shokrollahi, S