Subgroup Specific Alternative Splicing in Medulloblastoma

PubMed Central

Kloosterhof, Nanne K; Northcott, Paul A; Yu, Emily PY; Shih, David; Peacock, John; Grajkowska, Wieslawa; van Meter, Timothy; Eberhart, Charles G; Pfister, Stefan; Marra, Marco A; Weiss, William A; Scherer, Stephen W; Rutka, James T; French, Pim J; Taylor, Michael D

2014-01-01

Medulloblastoma is comprised of four distinct molecular variants: WNT, SHH, Group 3, and Group 4. We analyzed alternative splicing usage in 14 normal cerebellar samples and 103 medulloblastomas of known subgroup. Medulloblastoma samples have a statistically significant increase in alternative splicing as compared to normal fetal cerebella (2.3-times; P<6.47E-8). Splicing patterns are distinct and specific between molecular subgroups. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of alternative splicing events accurately assigns medulloblastomas to their correct subgroup. Subgroup-specific splicing and alternative promoter usage was most prevalent in Group 3 (19.4%) and SHH (16.2%) medulloblastomas, while observed less frequently in WNT (3.2%), and Group 4 (9.3%) tumors. Functional annotation of alternatively spliced genes reveals over-representation of genes important for neuronal development. Alternative splicing events in medulloblastoma may be regulated in part by the correlative expression of antisense transcripts, suggesting a possible mechanism affecting subgroup specific alternative splicing. Our results identify additional candidate markers for medulloblastoma subgroup affiliation, further support the existence of distinct subgroups of the disease, and demonstrate an additional level of transcriptional heterogeneity between medulloblastoma subgroups. PMID:22358458

Support groups for children in alternate care: a largely untapped therapeutic resource.

PubMed

Mellor, D; Storer, S

1995-01-01

Children in alternate care often have adjustment problems that manifest in various aspects of their lives. Individual therapy is often assumed to be the desired intervention, but resources seldom permit one-to-one therapy for these disturbances. The authors argue that groupwork should be considered as a possible treatment of choice. Not only is it likely to be more economical than individual therapy, it has the inherent advantage of telling children in care that they are not alone, and that other children have similar experiences and feelings. It also allows them to develop their own support network. Such groups appear to have been underutilized in work with children in out-of-home care. This article describes such a group and its outcome. Various techniques were developed to achieve specified aims. The techniques appeared to be successful. Further work on such groups and more specific evaluation is called for.

Thinking Outside the Block: An Innovative Alternative to 4X4 Block Scheduling.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frank, Myra

2002-01-01

Introduces a 4x1 block scheduling method that was developed as an alternative to 4x4 block scheduling. Schedules Fridays for summer school, test preparation, and enrichment and elective courses. Includes suggestions on how to alleviate drawbacks of the 4x1 block schedule. (YDS)

Regional alternative transportation evaluation report - Region 4

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-08-15

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Volpe Center (Volpe Center) conducted a regional alternative transportation evaluation (RATE) in Region 4, which is comprised of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Geor...

27 CFR 4.92 - Alternative names permitted for temporary use.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... Grape Variety Names § 4.92 Alternative names permitted for temporary use. The following alternative... of the grape variety shown in the right column. Alternative names listed in the left column may only...

27 CFR 4.92 - Alternative names permitted for temporary use.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... Grape Variety Names § 4.92 Alternative names permitted for temporary use. The following alternative... prime name of the grape variety shown in the right column. Alternative names listed in the left column...

27 CFR 4.92 - Alternative names permitted for temporary use.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... Grape Variety Names § 4.92 Alternative names permitted for temporary use. The following alternative... of the grape variety shown in the right column. Alternative names listed in the left column may only...

A decision-making framework for the grouping and testing of nanomaterials (DF4nanoGrouping).

PubMed

Arts, Josje H E; Hadi, Mackenzie; Irfan, Muhammad-Adeel; Keene, Athena M; Kreiling, Reinhard; Lyon, Delina; Maier, Monika; Michel, Karin; Petry, Thomas; Sauer, Ursula G; Warheit, David; Wiench, Karin; Wohlleben, Wendel; Landsiedel, Robert

2015-03-15

The European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals (ECETOC) 'Nano Task Force' proposes a Decision-making framework for the grouping and testing of nanomaterials (DF4nanoGrouping) that consists of 3 tiers to assign nanomaterials to 4 main groups, to perform sub-grouping within the main groups and to determine and refine specific information needs. The DF4nanoGrouping covers all relevant aspects of a nanomaterial's life cycle and biological pathways, i.e. intrinsic material and system-dependent properties, biopersistence, uptake and biodistribution, cellular and apical toxic effects. Use (including manufacture), release and route of exposure are applied as 'qualifiers' within the DF4nanoGrouping to determine if, e.g. nanomaterials cannot be released from a product matrix, which may justify the waiving of testing. The four main groups encompass (1) soluble nanomaterials, (2) biopersistent high aspect ratio nanomaterials, (3) passive nanomaterials, and (4) active nanomaterials. The DF4nanoGrouping aims to group nanomaterials by their specific mode-of-action that results in an apical toxic effect. This is eventually directed by a nanomaterial's intrinsic properties. However, since the exact correlation of intrinsic material properties and apical toxic effect is not yet established, the DF4nanoGrouping uses the 'functionality' of nanomaterials for grouping rather than relying on intrinsic material properties alone. Such functionalities include system-dependent material properties (such as dissolution rate in biologically relevant media), bio-physical interactions, in vitro effects and release and exposure. The DF4nanoGrouping is a hazard and risk assessment tool that applies modern toxicology and contributes to the sustainable development of nanotechnological products. It ensures that no studies are performed that do not provide crucial data and therefore saves animals and resources. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights

Synthesis of Water-Soluble Amino Functionalized Multithiacalix[4]arene via Quaternization of Tertiary Amino Groups.

PubMed

Nosov, Roman; Padnya, Pavel; Shurpik, Dmitriy; Stoikov, Ivan

2018-05-08

A convenient approach to the synthesis of multithiacalix[4]arene derivatives containing amino groups and phthalimide fragments by the formation of quaternary ammonium salts is presented. As the initial macrocycle for the synthesis of multithiacalix[4]arenes, a differently substituted p-tert- butylthiacalix[4]arene containing bromoacetamide and three phthalimide fragments was used in a 1,3-alternate conformation. The macrocycle in cone conformation containing the tertiary amino groups was found to be a convenient core for the multithiacalix[4]arene systems. Interaction of the core multithiacalix[4]arene with monobromoacetamide derivatives of p-tert- butylthiacalix[4]arene resulted in formation in high yields of pentakisthiacalix[4]arene containing quaternary ammonium and phthalimide fragments. The removal of phthalimide groups led to the formation of amino multithiacalix[4]arene in a good yield. Based on dynamic light scattering, it was shown that the synthesized amino multithiacalix[4]arene, with pronounced hydrophobic and hydrophilic fragments, formed dendrimer-like nanoparticles in water via direct supramolecular self-assembly.

46 CFR 4.05-40 - Alternate electronic means of reporting.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 46 Shipping 1 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Alternate electronic means of reporting. 4.05-40 Section 4.05-40 Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY PROCEDURES APPLICABLE TO THE PUBLIC... electronic means of reporting. The Commandant may approve alternate electronic means of submitting notices...

46 CFR 4.05-40 - Alternate electronic means of reporting.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 46 Shipping 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Alternate electronic means of reporting. 4.05-40 Section 4.05-40 Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY PROCEDURES APPLICABLE TO THE PUBLIC... electronic means of reporting. The Commandant may approve alternate electronic means of submitting notices...

Alternative Fuel News, Vol. 4, No. 4

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2001-02-22

The Clean Cities network is growing, and more fleets are considering alternative fuels. : Industry old-timers that have been using alternative fuels since the passage of Energy Policy : Act of 1992 are beginning to replace their used alternativ...

Alternative Splicing of NOX4 in the Failing Human Heart

PubMed Central

Varga, Zoltán V.; Pipicz, Márton; Baán, Júlia A.; Baranyai, Tamás; Koncsos, Gábor; Leszek, Przemyslaw; Kuśmierczyk, Mariusz; Sánchez-Cabo, Fátima; García-Pavía, Pablo; Brenner, Gábor J.; Giricz, Zoltán; Csont, Tamás; Mendler, Luca; Lara-Pezzi, Enrique; Pacher, Pál; Ferdinandy, Péter

2017-01-01

Increased oxidative stress is a major contributor to the development and progression of heart failure, however, our knowledge on the role of the distinct NADPH oxidase (NOX) isoenzymes, especially on NOX4 is controversial. Therefore, we aimed to characterize NOX4 expression in human samples from healthy and failing hearts. Explanted human heart samples (left and right ventricular, and septal regions) were obtained from patients suffering from heart failure of ischemic or dilated origin. Control samples were obtained from donor hearts that were not used for transplantation. Deep RNA sequencing of the cardiac transcriptome indicated extensive alternative splicing of the NOX4 gene in heart failure as compared to samples from healthy donor hearts. Long distance PCR analysis with a universal 5′-3′ end primer pair, allowing amplification of different splice variants, confirmed the presence of the splice variants. To assess translation of the alternatively spliced transcripts we determined protein expression of NOX4 by using a specific antibody recognizing a conserved region in all variants. Western blot analysis showed up-regulation of the full-length NOX4 in ischemic cardiomyopathy samples and confirmed presence of shorter isoforms both in control and failing samples with disease-associated expression pattern. We describe here for the first time that NOX4 undergoes extensive alternative splicing in human hearts which gives rise to the expression of different enzyme isoforms. The full length NOX4 is significantly upregulated in ischemic cardiomyopathy suggesting a role for NOX4 in ROS production during heart failure. PMID:29204124

30 CFR 49.4 - Alternative mine rescue capability for special mining conditions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Alternative mine rescue capability for special mining conditions. 49.4 Section 49.4 Mineral Resources MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING MINE RESCUE TEAMS § 49.4 Alternative mine rescue capability for...

30 CFR 49.4 - Alternative mine rescue capability for special mining conditions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Alternative mine rescue capability for special mining conditions. 49.4 Section 49.4 Mineral Resources MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING MINE RESCUE TEAMS § 49.4 Alternative mine rescue capability for...

Orbital operations study. Volume 2: Interfacing activities analysis. Part 4: Support operations activity group

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Steinwachs, W. L.; Patrick, J. W.; Galvin, D. M.; Turkel, S. H.

1972-01-01

The findings of the support operations activity group of the orbital operations study are presented. Element interfaces, alternate approaches, design concepts, operational procedures, functional requirements, design influences, and approach selection are presented. The following areas are considered: (1) crew transfer, (2) cargo transfer, (3) propellant transfer, (4) attached element operations, and (5) attached element transport.

Job sharing as an employment alternative in group medical practice.

PubMed

Vanek, E P; Vanek, J A

2001-01-01

Although physicians discuss quality-of-life and employment issues with their patients, they often fail to consider flexible scheduling and reduced employment options to lessen their own job stress. We examined one of these options by surveying two community-based, private practice groups with a combined 13-year experience with job sharing. We found that a majority of respondents rated job sharing as successful, and most wanted it to continue. Job sharers derived considerable personal benefit from the arrangement and had significantly more positive attitudes toward work than full-time physicians. Job sharing appeared to have little impact on practice parameters. Dependability, flexibility and willingness to cooperate were the most important attributes in choosing a job-sharing partner. Job sharing is an employment alternative worth exploring to retain physicians in medical group practice.

The Alternative Peer Group: A Developmentally Appropriate Recovery Support Model for Adolescents.

PubMed

Nash, Angela; Collier, Crystal

2016-01-01

Recovery as the goal for substance use disorder treatment has been a key component of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's mission for the past decade. Consistent with their mission, there is a call for research and development of recovery-oriented systems of care to support affected individuals through all stages of the recovery process. Evidence is emerging to support recovery practice and research for adults, but recovery-oriented models for adolescents are scant. The Alternative Peer Group (APG) is a comprehensive adolescent recovery support model that integrates recovering peers and prosocial activities into evidence-based clinical practice. Employing APG participants' own words, this article will describe the essential elements and three theoretical frameworks underlying the APG model to illustrate how the APG serves as a developmentally appropriate recovery support service for adolescents with substance use disorder.

MAG4 Versus Alternative Techniques for Forecasting Active-Region Flare Productivity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Falconer, David A.; Moore, Ronald L.; Barghouty, Abdulnasser F.; Khazanov, Igor

2014-01-01

MAG4 is a technique of forecasting an active region's rate of production of major flares in the coming few days from a free-magnetic-energy proxy. We present a statistical method of measuring the difference in performance between MAG4 and comparable alternative techniques that forecast an active region's major-flare productivity from alternative observed aspects of the active region. We demonstrate the method by measuring the difference in performance between the "Present MAG4" technique and each of three alternative techniques, called "McIntosh Active-Region Class," "Total Magnetic Flux," and "Next MAG4." We do this by using (1) the MAG4 database of magnetograms and major-flare histories of sunspot active regions, (2) the NOAA table of the major-flare productivity of each of 60 McIntosh active-region classes of sunspot active regions, and (3) five technique-performance metrics (Heidke Skill Score, True Skill Score, Percent Correct, Probability of Detection, and False Alarm Rate) evaluated from 2000 random two-by-two contingency tables obtained from the databases. We find that (1) Present MAG4 far outperforms both McIntosh Active-Region Class and Total Magnetic Flux, (2) Next MAG4 significantly outperforms Present MAG4, (3) the performance of Next MAG4 is insensitive to the forward and backward temporal windows used, in the range of one to a few days, and (4) forecasting from the free-energy proxy in combination with either any broad category of McIntosh active-region classes or any Mount Wilson active-region class gives no significant performance improvement over forecasting from the free-energy proxy alone (Present MAG4).

MAG4 versus alternative techniques for forecasting active region flare productivity.

PubMed

Falconer, David A; Moore, Ronald L; Barghouty, Abdulnasser F; Khazanov, Igor

2014-05-01

MAG4 is a technique of forecasting an active region's rate of production of major flares in the coming few days from a free magnetic energy proxy. We present a statistical method of measuring the difference in performance between MAG4 and comparable alternative techniques that forecast an active region's major-flare productivity from alternative observed aspects of the active region. We demonstrate the method by measuring the difference in performance between the "Present MAG4" technique and each of three alternative techniques, called "McIntosh Active-Region Class," "Total Magnetic Flux," and "Next MAG4." We do this by using (1) the MAG4 database of magnetograms and major flare histories of sunspot active regions, (2) the NOAA table of the major-flare productivity of each of 60 McIntosh active-region classes of sunspot active regions, and (3) five technique performance metrics (Heidke Skill Score, True Skill Score, Percent Correct, Probability of Detection, and False Alarm Rate) evaluated from 2000 random two-by-two contingency tables obtained from the databases. We find that (1) Present MAG4 far outperforms both McIntosh Active-Region Class and Total Magnetic Flux, (2) Next MAG4 significantly outperforms Present MAG4, (3) the performance of Next MAG4 is insensitive to the forward and backward temporal windows used, in the range of one to a few days, and (4) forecasting from the free-energy proxy in combination with either any broad category of McIntosh active-region classes or any Mount Wilson active-region class gives no significant performance improvement over forecasting from the free-energy proxy alone (Present MAG4). Quantitative comparison of performance of pairs of forecasting techniques Next MAG4 forecasts major flares more accurately than Present MAG4 Present MAG4 forecast outperforms McIntosh AR Class and total magnetic flux.

Interleukin-4 Ameliorates the Functional Recovery of Intracerebral Hemorrhage Through the Alternative Activation of Microglia/Macrophage.

PubMed

Yang, Jianjing; Ding, Saidan; Huang, Weilong; Hu, Jiangnan; Huang, Shengwei; Zhang, Yu; Zhuge, Qichuan

2016-01-01

Neuro-inflammation plays an important role in the recovery of brain injury after stroke. Microglia/macrophage is the major executor in the neuro-inflammation, which can be polarized into two distinct phenotypes: injurious/toxic classical activation (M1 phenotype) and protective alternative activation (M2 phenotype). Here, we investigated whether intracerebral administration of interleukin-4 (IL-4) at an early stage could affect the activation of microglia/macrophage and the corresponding outcome after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The neuro-behavior was recorded between different groups in the rat ICH model. The M1 and M2 markers were then determined by qRT-PCR, western blotting, ELISA, and immunofluorescence, respectively. We observed aberrant activation of microglia/macrophage after ICH. After intracerebral injection of IL-4, M1 activation was greatly inhibited while M2 activation was enhanced, along with improving neurobehavioral recovery from deficits after ICH. Our study showed that early intracerebral injection of IL-4 potentially promotes neuro-functional recovery, probably through enhancing the alternative activation of microglia/macrophage.

Alternative splicing for members of human mosaic domain superfamilies. I. The CH and LIM domains containing group of proteins.

PubMed

Friedberg, Felix

2009-05-01

In this paper we examine (restricted to homo sapiens) the products resulting from gene duplication and the subsequent alternative splicing for the members of a multidomain group of proteins which possess the evolutionary conserved calponin homology CH domain, i.e. an "actin binding domain", as a singlet and which, in addition, contain the conserved cysteine rich double Zn finger possessing Lim domain, also as a singlet. Seven genes, resulting from gene duplications, were identified that code for seven group members for which pre-mRNAs appear to have undergone multiple alternative splicing: Mical 1, 2 and 3 are located on chromosomes 6q21, 11p15 and 22q11, respectively. The LMO7 gene is present on chromosome 13q22 and the LIMCH1 gene on chromosome 4p13. Micall1 is mapped to chromosome 22q13 and Micall2 to chromosome 7p22. Translated Gen/Bank ESTs suggest the existence of multiple products alternatively spliced from the pre-mRNAs encoded by these genes. Characteristic indicators of such splicing among the proteins derived from one gene must include containment of some common extensive 100% identical regions. In some instances only one exon might be partly or completely eliminated. Sometimes alternative splicing is also associated with an increased frequency of creation of an exon or part of an exon from an intron. Not only coding regions for the body of the protein but also for its N- or -C ends could be affected by the splicing. If created forms are merely beginning at different starting points but remain identical in sequence thereafter, their existence as products of alternate splicing must be questioned. In the splicings, described in this paper, multiple isoforms rather than a single isoform appear as products during the gene expression.

MAG4 versus alternative techniques for forecasting active region flare productivity

PubMed Central

Falconer, David A; Moore, Ronald L; Barghouty, Abdulnasser F; Khazanov, Igor

2014-01-01

MAG4 is a technique of forecasting an active region's rate of production of major flares in the coming few days from a free magnetic energy proxy. We present a statistical method of measuring the difference in performance between MAG4 and comparable alternative techniques that forecast an active region's major-flare productivity from alternative observed aspects of the active region. We demonstrate the method by measuring the difference in performance between the “Present MAG4” technique and each of three alternative techniques, called “McIntosh Active-Region Class,” “Total Magnetic Flux,” and “Next MAG4.” We do this by using (1) the MAG4 database of magnetograms and major flare histories of sunspot active regions, (2) the NOAA table of the major-flare productivity of each of 60 McIntosh active-region classes of sunspot active regions, and (3) five technique performance metrics (Heidke Skill Score, True Skill Score, Percent Correct, Probability of Detection, and False Alarm Rate) evaluated from 2000 random two-by-two contingency tables obtained from the databases. We find that (1) Present MAG4 far outperforms both McIntosh Active-Region Class and Total Magnetic Flux, (2) Next MAG4 significantly outperforms Present MAG4, (3) the performance of Next MAG4 is insensitive to the forward and backward temporal windows used, in the range of one to a few days, and (4) forecasting from the free-energy proxy in combination with either any broad category of McIntosh active-region classes or any Mount Wilson active-region class gives no significant performance improvement over forecasting from the free-energy proxy alone (Present MAG4). Key Points Quantitative comparison of performance of pairs of forecasting techniques Next MAG4 forecasts major flares more accurately than Present MAG4 Present MAG4 forecast outperforms McIntosh AR Class and total magnetic flux PMID:26213517

26 CFR 1.6411-4 - Consolidated groups.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 13 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Consolidated groups. 1.6411-4 Section 1.6411-4...) INCOME TAXES Abatements, Credits, and Refunds § 1.6411-4 Consolidated groups. For further rules applicable to consolidated groups, see § 1.1502-78. For further rules applicable to consolidated groups that...

Subordinate male meerkats prospect for extra-group paternity: alternative reproductive tactics in a cooperative mammal

PubMed Central

Young, Andrew J; Spong, Goran; Clutton-Brock, Tim

2007-01-01

In cooperatively breeding species, subordinates typically suffer strong constraints on within-group reproduction. While numerous studies have highlighted the additional fitness benefits that subordinates might accrue through helping, few have considered the possibility that subordinates may also seek extra-group matings to improve their chances of actually breeding. Here, we show that subordinate males in cooperative meerkat, Suricata suricatta, societies conduct frequent extraterritorial forays, during periods of peak female fertility, which give rise to matings with females in other groups. Genetic analyses reveal that extra-group paternity (EGP) accrued while prospecting contributes substantially to the reproductive success of subordinates: yielding the majority of their offspring (approx. 70%); significantly reducing their age at first reproduction and allowing them to breed without dispersing. We estimate that prospecting subordinates sire 20–25% of all young in the population. While recent studies on cooperative birds indicate that dominant males accrue the majority of EGP, our findings reveal that EGP can also arise from alternative reproductive tactics employed exclusively by subordinates. It is important, therefore, that future attempts to estimate the fitness of subordinate males in animal societies quantify the distribution of extra-group as well as within-group paternity, because a substantial proportion of the reproductive success of subordinates may otherwise go undetected. PMID:17456454

43 CFR 1610.4-6 - Estimation of effects of alternatives.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 43 Public Lands: Interior 2 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Estimation of effects of alternatives. 1610.4-6 Section 1610.4-6 Public Lands: Interior Regulations Relating to Public Lands (Continued) BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GENERAL MANAGEMENT (1000) PLANNING, PROGRAMMING...

45 CFR 1222.4 - Advisory group responsibilities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 4 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Advisory group responsibilities. 1222.4 Section... COMMUNITY SERVICE PARTICIPATION OF PROJECT BENEFICIARIES § 1222.4 Advisory group responsibilities. The advisory group shall have the following responsibilities for the intent and purposes of these requirements...

45 CFR 1222.4 - Advisory group responsibilities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 4 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Advisory group responsibilities. 1222.4 Section... COMMUNITY SERVICE PARTICIPATION OF PROJECT BENEFICIARIES § 1222.4 Advisory group responsibilities. The advisory group shall have the following responsibilities for the intent and purposes of these requirements...

45 CFR 1222.4 - Advisory group responsibilities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 4 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Advisory group responsibilities. 1222.4 Section... COMMUNITY SERVICE PARTICIPATION OF PROJECT BENEFICIARIES § 1222.4 Advisory group responsibilities. The advisory group shall have the following responsibilities for the intent and purposes of these requirements...

45 CFR 1222.4 - Advisory group responsibilities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Advisory group responsibilities. 1222.4 Section... COMMUNITY SERVICE PARTICIPATION OF PROJECT BENEFICIARIES § 1222.4 Advisory group responsibilities. The advisory group shall have the following responsibilities for the intent and purposes of these requirements...

77 FR 17457 - Work Group on Alternative Test Methods for Commercial Measuring Devices

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-26

... Test Methods for Commercial Measuring Devices AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology... Work Group (WG) to examine alternative methods for testing the accuracy of commercial measuring devices... participates to promote uniformity among the states in laws, regulations, methods, and testing equipment that...

Regulation of human adenovirus alternative RNA splicing by the adenoviral L4-33K and L4-22K proteins.

PubMed

Biasiotto, Roberta; Akusjärvi, Göran

2015-01-28

Adenovirus makes extensive use of alternative RNA splicing to produce a complex set of spliced viral mRNAs. Studies aimed at characterizing the interactions between the virus and the host cell RNA splicing machinery have identified three viral proteins of special significance for the control of late viral gene expression: L4-33K, L4-22K, and E4-ORF4. L4-33K is a viral alternative RNA splicing factor that controls L1 alternative splicing via an interaction with the cellular protein kinases Protein Kinase A (PKA) and DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK). L4-22K is a viral transcription factor that also has been implicated in the splicing of a subset of late viral mRNAs. E4-ORF4 is a viral protein that binds the cellular protein phosphatase IIA (PP2A) and controls Serine/Arginine (SR)-rich protein activity by inducing SR protein dephosphorylation. The L4-33K, and most likely also the L4-22K protein, are highly phosphorylated in vivo. Here we will review the function of these viral proteins in the post-transcriptional control of adenoviral gene expression and further discuss the significance of potential protein kinases phosphorylating the L4-33K and/or L4-22K proteins.

26 CFR 1.6411-4 - Consolidated groups.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 13 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Consolidated groups. 1.6411-4 Section 1.6411-4...) INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED) Abatements, Credits, and Refunds § 1.6411-4 Consolidated groups. For further rules applicable to consolidated groups, see § 1.1502-78. For further rules applicable to consolidated...

26 CFR 1.6411-4 - Consolidated groups.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 13 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Consolidated groups. 1.6411-4 Section 1.6411-4...) INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED) Abatements, Credits, and Refunds § 1.6411-4 Consolidated groups. For further rules applicable to consolidated groups, see § 1.1502-78. For further rules applicable to consolidated...

26 CFR 1.6411-4 - Consolidated groups.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 13 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Consolidated groups. 1.6411-4 Section 1.6411-4...) INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED) Abatements, Credits, and Refunds § 1.6411-4 Consolidated groups. For further rules applicable to consolidated groups, see § 1.1502-78. For further rules applicable to consolidated...

26 CFR 1.6411-4 - Consolidated groups.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 13 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Consolidated groups. 1.6411-4 Section 1.6411-4...) INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED) Abatements, Credits, and Refunds § 1.6411-4 Consolidated groups. For further rules applicable to consolidated groups, see § 1.1502-78. For further rules applicable to consolidated...

Comparison of alternative weight recalibration methods for diagnosis-related groups

PubMed Central

Rogowski, Jeannette Roskamp; Byrne, Daniel J.

1990-01-01

In this article, alternative methodologies for recalibration of the diagnosis-related group (DRG) weights are examined. Based on 1984 data, cost and charge-based weights are less congruent than those calculated with 1981 data. Previous studies using 1981 data demonstrated that cost- and charge-based weights were not very different. Charge weights result in higher payments to surgical DRGs and lower payments to medical DRGs, relative to cost weights. At the provider level, charge weights result in higher payments to large urban hospitals and teaching hospitals, relative to cost weights. PMID:10113568

A study of the compact group of galaxies Shahbazian 4

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lynds, C. R.; Khachikian, E. YE.; Amirkhanian, A. S.

1990-01-01

The radial velocities of members of Shakhbazian 4 are determined. It is found that the dispersion of the radial velocities is 440 km/s. The apparent and absolute magnitudes of galaxies in V color are obtained. It is found that the M/L ratio of the group is about 220 solar mass/solar luminosity. The crossing time for the Shakhbazian 4 group is equal to 47 Myr.

7 CFR 612.4 - Eligible individuals or groups.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 6 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Eligible individuals or groups. 612.4 Section 612.4 Agriculture Regulations of the Department of Agriculture (Continued) NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE... individuals or groups. (a) Any individual or group who is a significant water user and who would benefit from...

7 CFR 612.4 - Eligible individuals or groups.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 6 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Eligible individuals or groups. 612.4 Section 612.4 Agriculture Regulations of the Department of Agriculture (Continued) NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE... individuals or groups. (a) Any individual or group who is a significant water user and who would benefit from...

7 CFR 612.4 - Eligible individuals or groups.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 6 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Eligible individuals or groups. 612.4 Section 612.4 Agriculture Regulations of the Department of Agriculture (Continued) NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE... individuals or groups. (a) Any individual or group who is a significant water user and who would benefit from...

The role of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Germany - a focus group study of GPs.

PubMed

Joos, Stefanie; Musselmann, Berthold; Miksch, Antje; Rosemann, Thomas; Szecsenyi, Joachim

2008-06-12

There has been a marked increase in the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in recent years worldwide. In Germany, apart from 'Heilpraktiker' (= state-licensed, non-medical CAM practitioners), some general practitioners (GPs) provide CAM in their practices. This paper aims to explore the attitudes of GPs about the role of CAM in Germany, in relation to the healthcare system, quality of care, medical education and research. Furthermore, experiences of GPs integrating CAM in their daily practice were explored. Using a qualitative methodological approach 3 focus groups with a convenience sample of 17 GPs were conducted. The discussions were transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis. The majority of the participating GPs had integrated one or more CAM therapies into their every-day practice. Four key themes were identified based on the topics covered in the focus groups: the role of CAM within the German healthcare system, quality of care, education and research. Within the theme 'role of CAM within the healthcare system' there were five categories: integration of CAM, CAM in the Statutory Health Insurance, modernisation of the Statutory Health Insurance Act, individual healthcare services and 'Heilpraktiker'. Regarding quality of care there were two broad groups of GPs: those who thought patients would benefit from standardizing CAM and those who feared that quality control would interfere with the individual approach of CAM. The main issues identified relating to research and education were the need for the development of alternative research strategies and the low quality of existing CAM education respectively. The majority of the participating GPs considered CAM as a reasonable complementary approach within primary care. The study increased our understanding of GPs attitudes about the role of CAM within the German healthcare system and the use of 'Heilpraktiker' as a competing CAM-provider. It seems to be a need for

Alternatives to Suspension: A Government Initiative

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ryan, Thomas G.; Zoldy, Scott

2011-01-01

Student discipline and the ineffectiveness of out-of-school suspension is examined in light of the Ontario (Canada) legislative reform that supported a greater emphasis on progressive discipline alternatives to out-of-school suspension. Alternative discipline herein is explored via the behavior education plan, the school survival group, and…

Head Start’s Impact is Contingent on Alternative Type of Care in Comparison Group

PubMed Central

Brooks-Gunn, Jeanne; Waldfogel, Jane

2014-01-01

Using data (n = 3,790 with 2,119 in the 3-year-old cohort and 1,671 in the 4-year-old cohort) from 353 Head Start centers in the Head Start Impact Study, the only large-scale randomized experiment in Head Start history, this paper examined the impact of Head Start on children’s cognitive and parent-reported social-behavioral outcomes through first grade contingent on the child care arrangements used by children who were randomly assigned to the control group (i.e., parental care, relative/non-relative care, another Head Start program, or other center-based care). A principal score matching approach was adopted to identify children assigned to Head Start who were similar to children in the control group with a specific care arrangement. Overall, the results showed that the effects of Head Start varied substantially contingent on the alternative child care arrangements. Compared to children in parental care and relative/non-relative care, Head Start participants generally had better cognitive and parent-reported behavioral development, with some benefits of Head Start persisting through first grade; in contrast, few differences were found between Head Start and other center-based care. The results have implications regarding the children for whom Head Start is most beneficial as well as how well Head Start compares to other center-based programs. PMID:25329552

30 CFR 49.4 - Alternative mine rescue capability for special mining conditions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Alternative mine rescue capability for special mining conditions. 49.4 Section 49.4 Mineral Resources MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING MINE RESCUE TEAMS Mine Rescue Teams for Underground Metal and...

30 CFR 49.4 - Alternative mine rescue capability for special mining conditions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Alternative mine rescue capability for special mining conditions. 49.4 Section 49.4 Mineral Resources MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING MINE RESCUE TEAMS Mine Rescue Teams for Underground Metal and...

30 CFR 49.4 - Alternative mine rescue capability for special mining conditions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Alternative mine rescue capability for special mining conditions. 49.4 Section 49.4 Mineral Resources MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING MINE RESCUE TEAMS Mine Rescue Teams for Underground Metal and...

Alkali metal cation complexation by 1,3-alternate, mono-ionisable calix[4]arene-benzocrown-6 compounds

DOE PAGES

Surowiec, Malgorzata A.; Custelcean, Radu; Surowiec, Kazimierz; ...

2014-04-23

Alkali metal cation extraction behavior for two series of 1,3-alternate, mono-ionizable calix[4]arene-benzocrown-6 compounds is examined. In Series 1, the proton-ionizable group is a substituent on the benzo group of the polyether ring that directs it away from the crown ether cavity. In Series 2, the proton-ionizable group is attached to one para position in the calixarene framework, thus positioning it over the crown ether ring. Competitive solvent extraction of alkali metal cations from aqueous solutions into chloroform shows high Cs+ efficiency and selectivity. Single-species extraction pH profiles of Cs+ for Series 1 and 2 ligands with the same proton-ionizable groupmore » are very similar. Thus, association of Cs+ with the calixcrown ring is more important than the the proton-ionizable group’s position in relation to the crown ether cavity. Solid-state structures are presented for two unionized ligands from Series 2, as is a crystal containing two different ionized ligand–Cs+ complexes.« less

IVS Working Group 4: VLBI Data Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gipson, John

2010-01-01

In 2007 the IVS Directing Board established IVS Working Group 4 on VLBI Data Structures. This note discusses the current VLBI data format, goals for a new format, the history and formation of the Working Group, and a timeline for the development of a new VLBI data format.

Creating the Southern Region 4-H Volunteer Advisory Group

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Culp, Ken, III; Edwards, Harriett C.; Jordan, Jenny W.

2014-01-01

The SR4-HVAG combines the efforts of states to provide quality educational programming for volunteers and Extension professionals using an advisory group system. An advisory group rather than a council was created because the group provides programmatic input rather than sets policy. The purposes of the SR4-HVAG are to: provide a mechanism for…

4β-Hydroxywithanolide E Modulates Alternative Splicing of Apoptotic Genes in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Huh-7 Cells.

PubMed

Lee, Chien-Chin; Chang, Wen-Hsin; Chang, Ya-Sian; Liu, Ting-Yuan; Chen, Yu-Chia; Wu, Yang-Chang; Chang, Jan-Gowth

2017-08-04

Alternative splicing is a mechanism for increasing protein diversity from a limited number of genes. Studies have demonstrated that aberrant regulation in the alternative splicing of apoptotic gene transcripts may contribute to the development of cancer. In this study, we isolated 4β-Hydroxywithanolide E (4bHWE) from the traditional herb Physalis peruviana and investigated its biological effect in cancer cells. The results demonstrated that 4bHWE modulates the alternative splicing of various apoptotic genes, including HIPK3, SMAC/DIABLO, and SURVIVIN. We also discovered that the levels of SRSF1 phospho-isoform were decreased and the levels of H3K36me3 were increased in 4bHWE treatment. Knockdown experiments revealed that the splicing site selection of SMAC/DIABLO could be mediated by changes in the level of H3K36me3 in 4bHWE-treated cells. Furthermore, we extended our study to apoptosis-associated molecules, and detected increased levels of poly ADP-ribose polymerase cleavage and the active form of CASPASE-3 in 4bHWE-induced apoptosis. In vivo experiments indicated that the treatment of tumor-bearing mice with 4bHWE resulted in a marked decrease in tumor size. This study is the first to demonstrate that 4bHWE affects alternative splicing by modulating splicing factors and histone modifications, and provides a novel view of the antitumor mechanism of 4bHWE.

Effect of Alternate-Day Fasting on Weight Loss, Weight Maintenance, and Cardioprotection Among Metabolically Healthy Obese Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

PubMed

Trepanowski, John F; Kroeger, Cynthia M; Barnosky, Adrienne; Klempel, Monica C; Bhutani, Surabhi; Hoddy, Kristin K; Gabel, Kelsey; Freels, Sally; Rigdon, Joseph; Rood, Jennifer; Ravussin, Eric; Varady, Krista A

2017-07-01

Alternate-day fasting has become increasingly popular, yet, to date, no long-term randomized clinical trials have evaluated its efficacy. To compare the effects of alternate-day fasting vs daily calorie restriction on weight loss, weight maintenance, and risk indicators for cardiovascular disease. A single-center randomized clinical trial of obese adults (18 to 64 years of age; mean body mass index, 34) was conducted between October 1, 2011, and January 15, 2015, at an academic institution in Chicago, Illinois. Participants were randomized to 1 of 3 groups for 1 year: alternate-day fasting (25% of energy needs on fast days; 125% of energy needs on alternating "feast days"), calorie restriction (75% of energy needs every day), or a no-intervention control. The trial involved a 6-month weight-loss phase followed by a 6-month weight-maintenance phase. The primary outcome was change in body weight. Secondary outcomes were adherence to the dietary intervention and risk indicators for cardiovascular disease. Among the 100 participants (86 women and 14 men; mean [SD] age, 44 [11] years), the dropout rate was highest in the alternate-day fasting group (13 of 34 [38%]), vs the daily calorie restriction group (10 of 35 [29%]) and control group (8 of 31 [26%]). Mean weight loss was similar for participants in the alternate-day fasting group and those in the daily calorie restriction group at month 6 (-6.8% [95% CI, -9.1% to -4.5%] vs -6.8% [95% CI, -9.1% to -4.6%]) and month 12 (-6.0% [95% CI, -8.5% to -3.6%] vs -5.3% [95% CI, -7.6% to -3.0%]) relative to those in the control group. Participants in the alternate-day fasting group ate more than prescribed on fast days, and less than prescribed on feast days, while those in the daily calorie restriction group generally met their prescribed energy goals. There were no significant differences between the intervention groups in blood pressure, heart rate, triglycerides, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, insulin resistance, C

Groups 4 Health: Evidence that a social-identity intervention that builds and strengthens social group membership improves mental health.

PubMed

Haslam, Catherine; Cruwys, Tegan; Haslam, S Alexander; Dingle, Genevieve; Chang, Melissa Xue-Ling

2016-04-01

Social isolation and disconnection have profound negative effects on mental health, but there are few, if any, theoretically-derived interventions that directly target this problem. We evaluate a new intervention, Groups 4 Health (G4H), a manualized 5-module psychological intervention that targets the development and maintenance of social group relationships to treat psychological distress arising from social isolation. G4H was tested using a non-randomized control design. The program was delivered to young adults presenting with social isolation and affective disturbance. Primary outcome measures assessed mental health (depression, general anxiety, social anxiety, and stress), well-being (life satisfaction, self-esteem) and social connectedness (loneliness, social functioning). Our secondary goal was to assess whether mechanisms of social identification were responsible for changes in outcomes. G4H was found to significantly improve mental health, well-being, and social connectedness on all measures, both on program completion and 6-month follow-up. In line with social identity theorizing, analysis also showed that improvements in depression, anxiety, stress, loneliness, and life satisfaction were underpinned by participants' increased identification both with their G4H group and with multiple groups. This study provides preliminary evidence of the potential value of G4H and its underlying mechanisms, but further examination is required in other populations to address issues of generalizability, and in randomized controlled trials to address its wider efficacy. Results of this pilot study confirm that G4H has the potential to reduce the negative health-related consequences of social disconnection. Future research will determine its utility in wider community contexts. Crown Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Transcriptome-wide targets of alternative splicing by RBM4 and possible role in cancer.

PubMed

Markus, M Andrea; Yang, Yee Hwa J; Morris, Brian J

2016-04-01

This study determined transcriptome-wide targets of the splicing factor RBM4 using Affymetrix GeneChip(®) Human Exon 1.0 ST Arrays and HeLa cells treated with RBM4-specific siRNA. This revealed 238 transcripts that were targeted for alternative splicing. Cross-linking and immunoprecipitation experiments identified 945 RBM4 targets in mouse HEK293 cells, 39% of which were ascribed to "alternative splicing" by in silico pathway analysis. Mouse embryonic stem cells transfected with Rbm4 siRNA hairpins exhibited reduced colony numbers and size consistent with involvement of RBM4 in cell proliferation. RBM4 cDNA probing of a cancer cDNA array involving 18 different tumor types from 13 different tissues and matching normal tissue found overexpression of RBM4 mRNA (p<0.01) in cervical, breast, lung, colon, ovarian and rectal cancers. Many RBM4 targets we identified have been implicated in these cancers. In conclusion, our findings reveal transcriptome-wide targets of RBM4 and point to potential cancer-related targets and mechanisms that may involve RBM4. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Alternate hot and cold application in the management of heel pain: A pilot study.

PubMed

Arankalle, Dhananjay; Wardle, Jon; Nair, Pradeep M K

2016-12-01

Despite a long-standing tradition of naturopathic physical therapy and hydrotherapy use in the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, neither naturopathy, nor specific aspects of hydrotherapy have been tested for efficacy in the treatment of heel pain. Patients (n=20) were assigned to standard naturopathic physiotherapy care (NPC) with two adjuvant therapy groups: a control group (therapeutic ultrasound, n=10), or alternating compresses (n=10). Pain scores were measured before and after treatment using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and foot functionality was measured using the Foot Function Index (FFI). FFI reduced from 46.97 to 31.98 (p=0.005) among normal protocol patients and from 49.72 to 21.35 (p=<0.001) among patients receiving the alternating compress protocol. Average VAS pain intensity in the seven days of treatment decreased from 3.53 to 2.53cm (p=<0.001) among patients receiving NPC and from 4.09 to 2.61cm (p=<0.001) amongst those receiving NPC plus alternating compresses. There was no significant difference in pain score reduction between the two groups (p=0.206), but patients with alternating compresses as part of their treatment had significant improvements in foot functionality (p=0.007). Naturopathic physical therapy significantly improves foot functionality and pain scores in heel pain. Additionally, alternating compresses improve foot functionality scores. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Are patients who use alternative medicine dissatisfied with orthodox medicine?

PubMed

Donnelly, W J; Spykerboer, J E; Thong, Y H

1985-05-13

Approximately 45% of asthmatic families and 47% of non-asthmatic families had consulted an alternative-medicine practitioner at some time. The most popular form of alternative medicine was chiropractic (21.1% and 26.4%, respectively), followed by homoeopathy/naturopathy (18.8% and 12.7%, respectively), acupuncture (9.4% and 10.9%, respectively), and herbal medicine (4.7% and 6.4%, respectively), while the remainder (20.3% and 11.8% respectively) was distributed among iridology, osteopathy, hypnosis, faith healing and megavitamin therapy. More families were satisfied with orthodox medicine (87.1% and 93.6%, respectively) than with alternative medicine (84.2% and 75.1%, respectively). Crosstabulation analysis of pooled data both from asthma and from non-asthma groups showed that 76.4% were satisfied both with orthodox and with alternative medicine, and 16.4% were satisfied with orthodox, but not with alternative, medicine. In contrast, only 2.7% were dissatisfied with orthodox medicine and satisfied with alternative medicine (chi2 = 9.33; P less than 0.01). These findings do not support the view that patients who use alternative medicine are those who are disgruntled with orthodox medicine.

48 CFR 25.504-4 - Group award basis.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 1 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Group award basis. 25.504... SOCIOECONOMIC PROGRAMS FOREIGN ACQUISITION Evaluating Foreign Offers-Supply Contracts 25.504-4 Group award basis... a group basis. Assume the Buy American Act applies and the acquisition cannot be set aside for small...

48 CFR 25.504-4 - Group award basis.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 1 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Group award basis. 25.504... SOCIOECONOMIC PROGRAMS FOREIGN ACQUISITION Evaluating Foreign Offers-Supply Contracts 25.504-4 Group award basis... a group basis. Assume the Buy American Act applies and the acquisition cannot be set aside for small...

48 CFR 25.504-4 - Group award basis.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 1 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Group award basis. 25.504... SOCIOECONOMIC PROGRAMS FOREIGN ACQUISITION Evaluating Foreign Offers-Supply Contracts 25.504-4 Group award basis... a group basis. Assume the Buy American statute applies and the acquisition cannot be set aside for...

48 CFR 25.504-4 - Group award basis.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 1 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Group award basis. 25.504... SOCIOECONOMIC PROGRAMS FOREIGN ACQUISITION Evaluating Foreign Offers-Supply Contracts 25.504-4 Group award basis... a group basis. Assume the Buy American Act applies and the acquisition cannot be set aside for small...

48 CFR 25.504-4 - Group award basis.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Group award basis. 25.504... SOCIOECONOMIC PROGRAMS FOREIGN ACQUISITION Evaluating Foreign Offers-Supply Contracts 25.504-4 Group award basis... a group basis. Assume the Buy American Act applies and the acquisition cannot be set aside for small...

29 CFR 2520.104-4 - Alternative method of compliance for certain successor pension plans.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... pension plans. 2520.104-4 Section 2520.104-4 Labor Regulations Relating to Labor (Continued) EMPLOYEE... certain successor pension plans. (a) General. Under the authority of section 110 of the Act, this section sets forth an alternative method of compliance for certain successor pension plans in which some...

Alternative strategies: a better alternative.

PubMed

Doody, Dennis

2010-05-01

Alternatives can be defined as being any financial asset other than traditional stocks and bonds. They include marketable alternatives, private capital, and equity real estate. There are two primary reasons for investing in alternatives: the potential for greater return and the opportunity to diversify a portfolio. Although alternatives were challenged in the highly volatile environment that existed in 2008 and early 2009, they generally lived up to expectations.

Group Workshops to Eliminate Self-Defeating Behavior as an Alternative to Suspension in the Secondary School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burress, Carl B.

1978-01-01

Describes group workshops to eliminate self-defeating behavior as an alternative to suspension in the secondary school. Students who worked at understanding the SDB process reported they had better communication with their teachers and received fewer and in many cases no more disciplinary referrals. (Author)

Efficacy and safety of sunitinib alternate day regimen in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma in Japan: Comparison with standard 4/2 schedule.

PubMed

Ohba, Kojiro; Miyata, Yasuyoshi; Yasuda, Takuji; Asai, Akihiro; Mitsunari, Kensuke; Matsuo, Tomohiro; Mochizuki, Yasushi; Matsunaga, Noriko; Sakai, Hideki

2018-06-01

Sunitinib is a standard agent for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). The standard schedule, 4 weeks-on followed by 2 weeks-off (4/2 schedule), often does not maintain an adequate dosage because of the severe adverse events (AEs). We compared the efficacy and safety of an alternative every other day (q.a.d.) dosing with that of the 4/2 schedule in mRCC patients. Of the 55 Japanese patients, 32 and 23 were administered 4/2 (standard group) and q.a.d. schedules (50 or 37.5 mg, every other day; experimental groups), respectively. The AEs, anticancer effects, and trough plasma concentrations of sunitinib were compared between them. The most common AE in the standard group was thrombocytopenia (43.2%), but it was observed in only two patients in the experimental group (8.7%). Although leukopenia and hand-foot syndrome were both detected in six patients (18.8%) in the standard group, no patients had these AEs in the experimental group. The incidence of dose interruption in the experimental group (21.7%) was significantly lower than that in the standard group was (59.4%, P = 0.005). Time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) of the experimental group were better than those of the standard group (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). Mean plasma levels in the experimental group (64.83 ng/mL) were significantly lower than those in the standard group (135.82 ng/mL, P < 0.001) were. Sunitinib administered q.a.d. was safe and effective for mRCC patients. We speculate that the persistent optimal drug plasma concentrations contributed to these effects. © 2018 The Authors. Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology Published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Randomized evaluation of spectacles plus alternate-day occlusion to treat amblyopia.

PubMed

Agervi, Pia; Kugelberg, Ulla; Kugelberg, Maria; Simonsson, Gunnela; Fornander, Monica; Zetterström, Charlotta

2010-02-01

To compare spectacles plus patching >or=8 hours daily 6 days a week with spectacles plus patching >or=8 hours on alternate days to treat amblyopia in children 4 to 5 years of age. Prospective, randomized clinical trial. Forty children (median age, 4.3 years) with untreated amblyopia and a median best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in the amblyopic eye of 0.9 (range, 0.3-1.5) logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution. Refractive correction was provided, and the children were randomized to patching >or=8 hours daily 6 days a week or patching >or=8 hours on alternate days. The BCVA, binocular function, and refractive errors were measured repeatedly during the study. Median change in BCVA of the amblyopic eye after 1 year. The median change in BCVA of the amblyopic eye did not differ significantly between the 2 groups (0.6 log units for daily occlusion; 0.8 log unit for alternate-day occlusion). The final median BCVA in the amblyopic eyes was 0.1 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution in both groups. Binocular function improved in both groups with no significant differences between the groups at 1 year. The median spherical equivalent refractive error did not change significantly during the study period in the amblyopic eyes in either group; however, a significant increase was found in the fellow eyes in both groups (daily occlusion, P<0.05; alternate-day occlusion, P<0.001). The magnitude of change in the BCVA 1 year after spectacles plus prescribed alternate-day patching was not significantly different than that after spectacles plus prescribed daily patching to treat amblyopia in children 4 to 5 years old. The effect of patching was not separate from that of optical correction with a period of refractive adaptation. Thus, the improvement in visual acuity is a combined effect of spectacle wear and occlusion therapy. Copyright (c) 2010 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A four-alternative forced choice (4AFC) software for observer performance evaluation in radiology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Guozhi; Cockmartin, Lesley; Bosmans, Hilde

2016-03-01

Four-alternative forced choice (4AFC) test is a psychophysical method that can be adopted for observer performance evaluation in radiological studies. While the concept of this method is well established, difficulties to handle large image data, perform unbiased sampling, and keep track of the choice made by the observer have restricted its application in practice. In this work, we propose an easy-to-use software that can help perform 4AFC tests with DICOM images. The software suits for any experimental design that follows the 4AFC approach. It has a powerful image viewing system that favorably simulates the clinical reading environment. The graphical interface allows the observer to adjust various viewing parameters and perform the selection with very simple operations. The sampling process involved in 4AFC as well as the speed and accuracy of the choice made by the observer is precisely monitored in the background and can be easily exported for test analysis. The software has also a defensive mechanism for data management and operation control that minimizes the possibility of mistakes from user during the test. This software can largely facilitate the use of 4AFC approach in radiological observer studies and is expected to have widespread applicability.

Structure of 2,4-Diaminopyrimidine - Theobromine Alternate Base Pairs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gengeliczki, Zsolt; Callahan, Michael P.; Kabelac, Martin; Rijs, Anouk M.; deVries, Mattanjah S.

2011-01-01

We report the structure of clusters of 2,4-diaminopyrimidine with 3,7-dimethylxanthine (theobromine) in the gas phase determined by IR-UV double resonance spectroscopy in both the near-IR and mid-IR regions in combination with ab initio computations. These clusters represent potential alternate nucleobase pairs, geometrically equivalent to guanine-cytosine. We have found the four lowest energy structures, which include the Watson-Crick base pairing motif. This Watson-Crick structure has not been observed by resonant two-photon ionization (R2PI) in the gas phase for the canonical DNA base pairs.

2,4-Dinitrophenol: a threat to Chinese body-conscious groups.

PubMed

Lee, Han Chih Hencher; Law, Chun Yiu; Chen, Mo Lung; Lam, Ying Hoo; Chan, Albert Yan Wo; Mak, Tony Wing Lai

2014-08-01

2,4-Dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP), a yellowish compound, has historically been used in the manufacture of dyes, explosives, and fungicides. As it uncouples mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, the compound was also used as an antiobesity agent early in the past century. The compound was subsequently banned by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 1938 due to its potentially fatal adverse effects, including hyperthermia, cataract, agranulocytosis, hepatoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and cardiotoxicity. However, the popularity of 2,4-DNP as a slimming aid has appeared to increase again in recent years. The Hong Kong Hospital Authority Toxicology Reference Laboratory recently confirmed two cases of self-administered 2,4-DNP with different clinical presentations to hospitals in the area. Here we describe those two cases, in an attempt to underscore the potential of misuse of this substance by body-conscious groups among the Chinese population. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.

The response of physician groups to P4P incentives.

PubMed

Mehrotra, Ateev; Pearson, Steven D; Coltin, Kathryn L; Kleinman, Ken P; Singer, Janice A; Rabson, Barbra; Schneider, Eric C

2007-05-01

Despite substantial enthusiasm among insurers and federal policy makers for pay-for-performance incentives, little is known about the current scope of these incentives or their influence on the delivery of care. To assess the scope and magnitude of pay-for-performance (P4P) incentives among physician groups and to examine whether such incentives are associated with quality improvement initiatives. Structured telephone survey of leaders of physician groups delivering primary care in Massachusetts. ASSESSED METHODS: Prevalence of P4P incentives among physician groups tied to specific measures of quality or utilization and prevalence of physician group quality improvement initiatives. Most group leaders (89%) reported P4P incentives in at least 1 commercial health plan contract. Incentives were tied to performance on Health Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS) quality measures (89% of all groups), utilization measures (66%), use of information technology (52%), and patient satisfaction (37%). Among the groups with P4P and knowledge of all revenue streams, the incentives accounted for 2.2% (range, 0.3%-8.8%) of revenue. P4P incentives tied to HEDIS quality measures were positively associated with groups' quality improvement initiatives (odds ratio, 1.6; P = .02). Thirty-six percent of group leaders with P4P incentives reported that they were very important or moderately important to the group's financial success. P4P incentives are now common among physician groups in Massachusetts, and these incentives most commonly reward higher clinical quality or lower utilization of care. Although the scope and magnitude of incentives are still modest for many groups, we found an association between P4P incentives and the use of quality improvement initiatives.

7 CFR 612.4 - Eligible individuals or groups.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

..., DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CONSERVATION OPERATIONS SNOW SURVEYS AND WATER SUPPLY FORECASTS § 612.4 Eligible individuals or groups. (a) Any individual or group who is a significant water user and who would benefit from a water supply forecast may obtain forecasts from NRCS on a regular basis provided data are...

The Ethylene Ketal Protecting Group Revisited: The Synthesis of 4-Hydroxy-4, 4-Diphenyl-2-Butanone

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baar, Marsha R.; Russell, Charles E.; Wusthoiz, Kristen L.

2005-01-01

An experiment to demonstrate the use of ethylene ketal as a protecting group, one that can be completed in four lab periods, is described. The hydroxy ketone like 4-hydroxy-4, 4-diphenyl-2-butanone formed during the reaction can be identified by its melting point, IR, and (super 1)H NMR.

Alternating frequencies of transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation: does it produce greater analgesic effects on mechanical and thermal pain thresholds?

PubMed

Tong, K C; Lo, Sing Kai; Cheing, Gladys L

2007-10-01

To determine whether alternating frequency transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) at 2 and 100Hz (2/100Hz) has a more potent hypoalgesic effect than a fixed frequency at 2 or 100Hz in healthy participants. A single-blind randomized controlled trial with a convenience sample. University physiotherapy department. Sixty-four healthy volunteers (32 men [mean age, 28.1+/-5.9y], 32 women [mean age, 27.7+/-5.6y]) were recruited and randomly divided into 4 groups. The 4 groups received TENS delivered at (1) 2Hz; (2) 100Hz; (3) 2/100Hz alternating frequency; and (4) no treatment (control group), respectively. Electric stimulation was applied over the anterior aspect of the dominant forearm for 30 minutes. Mechanical pain thresholds (MPTs) and heat pain thresholds (HPTs) were recorded before, during, and after TENS stimulation. The data were analyzed using linear mixed models, with group treated as a between-subject factor and time a within-subject factor. During and shortly after electric stimulation, HPT increased significantly in the alternating frequency stimulation group (P=.024). MPT increased significantly in both the 100Hz (P=.008) and the alternating frequency groups (P=.012), but the increase was substantially larger in the 100Hz group. Alternating frequency stimulation produced a greater elevation in the HPT, but a greater increase in the MPT was achieved using 100Hz stimulation.

Alternating Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen versus Monotherapies in Improvements of Distress and Reducing Refractory Fever in Febrile Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PubMed

Luo, Shuanghong; Ran, Mengdong; Luo, Qiuhong; Shu, Min; Guo, Qin; Zhu, Yu; Xie, Xiaoping; Zhang, Chongfan; Wan, Chaomin

2017-10-01

No evidence can be found in the medical literature about the efficacy of alternating acetaminophen and ibuprofen treatment in children with refractory fever. Our objective was to assess the effect of alternating acetaminophen and ibuprofen therapy on distress and refractory fever compared with acetaminophen or ibuprofen as monotherapy in febrile children. A total of 474 febrile children with axillary temperature ≥38.5 °C and fever history ≤3 days in a tertiary hospital were randomly assigned to receive either (1) alternating acetaminophen and ibuprofen (acetaminophen 10 mg/kg per dose with shortest interval of 4 h and ibuprofen 10 mg/kg per dose with shortest interval of 6 h and the shortest interval between acetaminophen and ibuprofen ≥2 h; n = 158), (2) acetaminophen monotherapy (10 mg/kg per dose with shortest interval of 4 h; n = 158), or (3) ibuprofen monotherapy (10 mg/kg per dose with shortest interval of 6 h; n = 158). The mean Non-Communicating Children's Pain Checklist (NCCPC) score was measured every 4 h, and axillary temperatures were measured every 2 h. In total, 471 children were included in an intention-to-treat analysis. No significant clinical or statistical difference was found in mean NCCPC score or temperature during the 24-h treatment period in all febrile children across the three groups. Although the proportion of children with refractory fever for 4 h and 6 h was significantly lower in the alternating group than in the monotherapy groups (4 h: 11.54% vs. 26.58% vs. 21.66%, respectively [p = 0.003]; 6 h: 3.85% vs. 10.13% vs. 17.83%, respectively [p < 0.001]), the mean NCCPC score of children with refractory fever for 4 or 6 h was not lower than those in either of the monotherapy groups. The number of patients who developed persistent high body temperature was consistent across all study groups. Alternating acetaminophen and ibuprofen can reduce the proportion of children with refractory fever, but if one cycle

Plasma fatty acid profile and alternative nutrition.

PubMed

Krajcovicová-Kudlácková, M; Simoncic, R; Béderová, A; Klvanová, J

1997-01-01

Plasma profile of fatty acids was examined in a group of children consisting of 7 vegans, 15 lactoovovegetarians and 10 semivegetarians. The children were 11-15 years old and the average period of alternative nutrition was 3.4 years. The results were compared with a group of 19 omnivores that constituted an average sample with respect to biochemical and hematological parameters from a larger study of health and nutritional status of children in Slovakia. Alternative nutrition groups had significantly lower values of saturated fatty acids. The content of oleic acid was identical to omnivores. A significant increase was observed for linoleic and alpha-linolenic (n-3) acids. The dihomo-gamma-linolenic (n-6) acid and arachidonic (n-6) acid values were comparable to omnivores for all alternative nutrition groups. Values of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in lactoovovegetarians were identical to those of omnivores whereas they were significantly increased in semivegetarians consuming fish twice a week. Due to the total exclusion of animal fats from the diet, vegans had significantly reduced values of palmitoleic acid as well as eicosapentaenoic (n-3) acid and docosahexaenoic (n-3) acid resulting in an increased n-6/n-3 ratio. Values of plasma fatty acids found in alternative nutrition groups can be explained by the higher intake of common vegetable oils (high content of linoleic acid), oils rich in alpha-linolenic acid (cereal germs, soybean oil, walnuts), as well as in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (fish). The results of fatty acids (except n-3 in vegans) and other lipid parameters confirm the beneficial effect of vegetarian nutrition in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Coordination Chemistry of Disilylated Germylenes with Group 4 Metallocenes

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Reaction of the PEt3 adduct of a disilylated five-membered cyclic germylene with group 4 metallocene dichlorides in the presence of magnesium led to the formation of the respective germylene metallocene phosphine complexes of titanium, zirconium, and hafnium. Attempts to react the related NHC adduct of a disilylated four-membered cyclic germylene under the same conditions with Cp2TiCl2 did not give the expected germylene NHC titanocene complex. This complex was, however, obtained in the reaction of Cp2Ti(btmsa) with the NHC germylene adduct. A computational analysis of the structure of the group 4 metallocene germylene complexes revealed the multiple-bond character of the M–Ge(II) linkage, which can be rationalized with the classical σ-donor/π-acceptor interaction. The strength of the M–Ge(II) bond increases descending group 4. PMID:23874053

Rhenium-osmium isotope systematics of Group 2A and Group 4A iron meteorites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Creaser, R. A.; Papanastassiou, D. A.; Wasserburg, G. J.

1993-01-01

We are investigating the Re-Os isotope systematics of two groups of magmatic iron meteorites (2A, 4A) in an attempt to establish precise 'total rock' isochrons by the Re-Os system. The Re-187/Os-187 isotope system is recognized as a method by which the ages of iron meteorites can be directly determined and that can provide information on the timing of FeNi segregation and core formation in planetesimals. The Re-Os isotope system permits the direct absolute dating of the metal phase in iron meteorites. Indirect dating of iron meteorites has been achieved in the past through the Rb-Sr, K-Ar, and most recently, Sm-Nd for silicate inclusions, where present. Relative dating has been obtained directly by extensive studies of the short-lived system Pd-107/Ag-107 for the metal and sulfide phases and indirectly using I-129/Xe-129 in silicate and sulfide inclusions.

Resurgence and alternative-reinforcer magnitude.

PubMed

Craig, Andrew R; Browning, Kaitlyn O; Nall, Rusty W; Marshall, Ciara M; Shahan, Timothy A

2017-03-01

Resurgence is defined as an increase in the frequency of a previously reinforced target response when an alternative source of reinforcement is suspended. Despite an extensive body of research examining factors that affect resurgence, the effects of alternative-reinforcer magnitude have not been examined. Thus, the present experiments aimed to fill this gap in the literature. In Experiment 1, rats pressed levers for single-pellet reinforcers during Phase 1. In Phase 2, target-lever pressing was extinguished, and alternative-lever pressing produced either five-pellet, one-pellet, or no alternative reinforcement. In Phase 3, alternative reinforcement was suspended to test for resurgence. Five-pellet alternative reinforcement produced faster elimination and greater resurgence of target-lever pressing than one-pellet alternative reinforcement. In Experiment 2, effects of decreasing alternative-reinforcer magnitude on resurgence were examined. Rats pressed levers and pulled chains for six-pellet reinforcers during Phases 1 and 2, respectively. In Phase 3, alternative reinforcement was decreased to three pellets for one group, one pellet for a second group, and suspended altogether for a third group. Shifting from six-pellet to one-pellet alternative reinforcement produced as much resurgence as suspending alternative reinforcement altogether, while shifting from six pellets to three pellets did not produce resurgence. These results suggest that alternative-reinforcer magnitude has effects on elimination and resurgence of target behavior that are similar to those of alternative-reinforcer rate. Thus, both suppression of target behavior during alternative reinforcement and resurgence when conditions of alternative reinforcement are altered may be related to variables that affect the value of the alternative-reinforcement source. © 2017 Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior.

Resurgence and Alternative-Reinforcer Magnitude

PubMed Central

Craig, Andrew R.; Browning, Kaitlyn O.; Nall, Rusty W.; Marshall, Ciara M.; Shahan, Timothy A.

2017-01-01

Resurgence is defined as an increase in the frequency of a previously reinforced target response when an alternative source of reinforcement is suspended. Despite an extensive body of research examining factors that affect resurgence, the effects of alternative-reinforcer magnitude have not been examined. Thus, the present experiments aimed to fill this gap in the literature. In Experiment 1, rats pressed levers for single-pellet reinforcers during Phase 1. In Phase 2, target-lever pressing was extinguished, and alternative-lever pressing produced either five-pellet, one-pellet, or no alternative reinforcement. In Phase 3, alternative reinforcement was suspended to test for resurgence. Five-pellet alternative reinforcement produced faster elimination and greater resurgence of target-lever pressing than one-pellet alternative reinforcement. In Experiment 2, effects of decreasing alternative-reinforcer magnitude on resurgence were examined. Rats pressed levers and pulled chains for six-pellet reinforcers during Phases 1 and 2, respectively. In Phase 3, alternative reinforcement was decreased to three pellets for one group, one pellet for a second group, and suspended altogether for a third group. Shifting from six-pellet to one-pellet alternative reinforcement produced as much resurgence as suspending alternative reinforcement altogether, while shifting from six pellets to three pellets did not produce resurgence. These results suggest that alternative-reinforcer magnitude has effects on elimination and resurgence of target behavior that are similar to those of alternative-reinforcer rate. Thus, both suppression of target behavior during alternative reinforcement and resurgence when conditions of alternative reinforcement are altered may be related to variables that affect the value of the alternative-reinforcement source. PMID:28194793

Assessment Strategies for Minority Groups.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sharma, Sarla

1986-01-01

Far-reaching ramifications for minority children of psychological assessment warrants that it be accurate, fair, and valid. This article addresses: (1) problems inherent in standardized testing; (2) a moratorium on intelligence testing; (3) alternate approaches to testing; and (4) guidelines for assessing ethnic minority groups. (LHW)

Alternative Fuel News: Vol. 3, No. 4

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

NREL

2000-01-10

This final issue of the Alternative Fuel News (AFN) for the 20th century provides updates on specific Clean Cities Program progress and provide a glimpse of what is in store for the future. A national nonprofit organization has been part of the Clean Cities vision for some time, and now it is a reality as National Clean Cities, Inc. (NCC). While Clean Cities coalitions have had some success in securing local private foundation funds for alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) projects in their regions, now with the help of NCC, they can tap into the dollars available from large, national foundations.more » The Clean Cities Game Plan 2000, which is the highlight of the cover story, outlines the strategy for the next year.« less

Renewal, Resurgence, and Alternative Reinforcement Context

PubMed Central

Sweeney, Mary M.; Shahan, Timothy A.

2015-01-01

Resurgence, relapse induced by the removal of alternative reinforcement, and renewal, relapse induced by a change in contextual stimuli, are typically studied separately in operant conditioning paradigms. In analogous treatments of operant problem behavior, aspects of both relapse phenomena can operate simultaneously. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine a novel method for studying resurgence and renewal in the same experimental preparation. An alternative source of reinforcement was available during extinction for one group of rats (a typical resurgence preparation). Another group experienced an operant renewal preparation in which the extinction context was distinguished via olfactory and visual stimuli. A third group experienced alternative reinforcement delivery in the new context, a novel combination of typical resurgence and renewal preparations. Removal of alternative reinforcement and/or a change in context induced relapse, relative to an extinction-only control group. When alternative reinforcement was delivered in a novel context, the alternative response was less persistent relative to when extinction of the alternative response took place in the context in which it was trained. This methodology might be used to illustrate shared (or distinct) mechanisms of resurgence and renewal, and to determine how delivering alternative reinforcement in another context may affect persistence and relapse. PMID:25936876

32 CFR 1656.4 - Alternative Service Office: jurisdiction and authority.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... for job placement; (5) Monitor the ASW's job performance; (6) Issue a certificate of satisfactory... assigned to perform alternative service. (b) The ASO shall: (1) Evaluate and approve jobs and employers for Alternative Service; (2) Order the ASW to report for alternative service work; (3) Issue such orders as are...

Estimating Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness With the Test-Negative Design Using Alternative Control Groups: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PubMed

Feng, Shuo; Cowling, Benjamin J; Kelly, Heath; Sullivan, Sheena G

2018-02-01

One important assumption in case-control studies is that control selection should be independent of exposure. Nevertheless, it has been hypothesized that virus interference might lead to a correlation between receipt of influenza vaccination and increased risk of infection with other respiratory viruses. We investigated whether such a phenomenon might affect a study design commonly used to estimate influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE). We searched publications in MEDLINE, PubMed, and Web of Science. We identified 12 studies using the test-negative design (2011-2017) that reported VE estimates separately derived by 3 alternative control groups: 1) all patients testing negative for influenza (FLU), VEFLU-; 2) patients who tested positive for other/another respiratory virus (ORV), VEORV+; and 3) patients who tested negative for all viruses in the panel (PAN), VEPAN-. These included VE estimates from 7 countries for all age groups from 2003/2004 to 2013/2014. We observed no difference in vaccination coverage between the ORV-positive and PAN-negative control groups. A total of 63 VEFLU- estimates, 62 VEORV+ estimates, and 33 VEPAN- estimates were extracted. Pooled estimates of the difference in VE (ΔVE) were very similar between groups. In meta-regression, no association was found between the selection of control group and VE estimates. In conclusion, we did not find any differences in VE estimates based on the choice of control group. © The Author(s) 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Multicenter, randomized, open-label Phase II study comparing S-1 alternate-day oral therapy with the standard daily regimen as a first-line treatment in patients with unresectable advanced pancreatic cancer.

PubMed

Yamaue, Hiroki; Shimizu, Atsushi; Hagiwara, Yasuhiro; Sho, Masayuki; Yanagimoto, Hiroaki; Nakamori, Shoji; Ueno, Hideki; Ishii, Hiroshi; Kitano, Masayuki; Sugimori, Kazuya; Maguchi, Hiroyuki; Ohkawa, Shinichi; Imaoka, Hiroshi; Hashimoto, Daisuke; Ueda, Kazuki; Nebiki, Hiroko; Nagakawa, Tatsuya; Isayama, Hiroyuki; Yokota, Isao; Ohashi, Yasuo; Shirasaka, Tetsuhiko

2017-04-01

Non-inferiority for overall survival (OS) following alternate-day treatment with the oral anticancer drug S-1 compared with standard daily treatment was assessed in Japanese patients with unresectable advanced pancreatic cancer in a multicenter, randomized, phase II study. This trial was registered at the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (no. 000008604). Chemotherapy-naïve patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer were randomly assigned 2:1 to treatment with alternate-day (twice daily on alternate days from days 1 through 42 of a 42-day cycle) or daily (twice daily on days 1 through 28 of a 42-day cycle) treatment with S-1. The primary endpoint was OS. Secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), time to treatment failure, response rate, quality of life assessments, and safety. A total of 190 patients were enrolled, of which 185 were included in the final analysis (alternate-day: 121; daily: 64). Median OS was 9.4 for the alternate-day group and 10.4 months for the daily group [hazard ratio (HR), 1.19; 95% credible interval, 0.86 to 1.64], indicating that non-inferiority of alternate-day treatment to daily treatment was not demonstrated. Median PFS was 3.0 for the alternate-day group and 4.2 months for the daily group (HR, 1.65; 95% credible interval, 1.20-2.29). The incidence of anorexia, fatigue, neutrophils, pigmentation, and pneumonitis was lower in alternate-day treatment compared with daily treatment. S-1 for advanced pancreatic cancer should be taken daily as recommended, based on the decreased OS and PFS and marginal improvement in safety observed in the alternate-day group.

Adinkra (in)equivalence from Coxeter group representations: A case study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chappell, Isaac; Gates, S. James; Hübsch, T.

2014-02-01

Using a MathematicaTM code, we present a straightforward numerical analysis of the 384-dimensional solution space of signed permutation 4×4 matrices, which in sets of four, provide representations of the 𝒢ℛ(4, 4) algebra, closely related to the 𝒩 = 1 (simple) supersymmetry algebra in four-dimensional space-time. Following after ideas discussed in previous papers about automorphisms and classification of adinkras and corresponding supermultiplets, we make a new and alternative proposal to use equivalence classes of the (unsigned) permutation group S4 to define distinct representations of higher-dimensional spin bundles within the context of adinkras. For this purpose, the definition of a dual operator akin to the well-known Hodge star is found to partition the space of these 𝒢ℛ(4, 4) representations into three suggestive classes.

Visual preference and ecological assessments for designed alternative brownfield rehabilitations.

PubMed

Lafortezza, Raffaele; Corry, Robert C; Sanesi, Giovanni; Brown, Robert D

2008-11-01

This paper describes an integrative method for quantifying, analyzing, and comparing the effects of alternative rehabilitation approaches with visual preference. The method was applied to a portion of a major industrial area located in southern Italy. Four alternative approaches to rehabilitation (alternative designs) were developed and analyzed. The scenarios consisted of the cleanup of the brownfields plus: (1) the addition of ground cover species; (2) the addition of ground cover species and a few trees randomly distributed; (3) the addition of ground cover species and a few trees in small groups; and (4) the addition of ground cover species and several trees in large groups. The approaches were analyzed and compared to the baseline condition through the use of cost-surface modeling (CSM) and visual preference assessment (VPA). Statistical results showed that alternatives that were more ecologically functional for forest bird species dispersal were also more visually preferable. Some differences were identified based on user groups and location of residence. The results of the study are used to identify implications for enhancing both ecological attributes and visual preferences of rehabilitating landscapes through planning and design.

Group Cohesion DEOCS 4.1 Construct Validity Summary

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-08-01

Group Cohesion DEOCS 4.1 Construct Validity Summary DEFENSE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE DIRECTORATE...See Table 4 for more information regarding item reliabilities. The relationship between the original four-point scale (Organizational Cohesion) and...future analyses, including those using the seven-point scale. Tables 4 and 5 provide additional information regarding the reliability and descriptive

On Parametrization of the Linear GL(4,C) and Unitary SU(4) Groups in Terms of Dirac Matrices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Red'Kov, Victor M.; Bogush, Andrei A.; Tokarevskaya, Natalia G.

2008-02-01

Parametrization of 4 × 4-matrices G of the complex linear group GL(4,C) in terms of four complex 4-vector parameters (k,m,n,l) is investigated. Additional restrictions separating some subgroups of GL(4,C) are given explicitly. In the given parametrization, the problem of inverting any 4 × 4 matrix G is solved. Expression for determinant of any matrix G is found: det G = F(k,m,n,l). Unitarity conditions G+ = G-1 have been formulated in the form of non-linear cubic algebraic equations including complex conjugation. Several simplest solutions of these unitarity equations have been found: three 2-parametric subgroups G1, G2, G3 - each of subgroups consists of two commuting Abelian unitary groups; 4-parametric unitary subgroup consis! ting of a product of a 3-parametric group isomorphic SU(2) and 1-parametric Abelian group. The Dirac basis of generators Λk, being of Gell-Mann type, substantially differs from the basis λi used in the literature on SU(4) group, formulas relating them are found - they permit to separate SU(3) subgroup in SU(4). Special way to list 15 Dirac generators of GL(4,C) can be used {Λk} = {μiÅνjÅ(μiVνj = KÅL ÅM )}, which permit to factorize SU(4) transformations according to S = eiaμ eibνeikKeilLeimM, where two first factors commute with each other and are isomorphic to SU(2) group, the three last ones are 3-parametric groups, each of them consisting of three Abelian commuting unitary subgroups. Besides, the structure of fifteen Dirac matrices Λk permits to separate twenty 3-parametric subgroups in SU(4) isomorphic to SU(2); those subgroups might be used as bigger elementary blocks in constructing of a general transformation SU(4). It is shown how one can specify the present approach for the pseudounitary group SU(2,2) and SU(3,1).

The Group Setting: A Viable Mental Health Alternative for the Elderly.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Klinger-Vartabedian, Laurel C.

Group settings offer the elderly a unique outlet for interpersonal communication and can alleviate social isolation and aloneness. Group cohesiveness and instillation of hope are two curative factors in the group setting. Persons working with the elderly must be aware of their special problems and also be sensitive to their own age bias. Group…

Factors Associated With Pediatrician Responses to Alternative Immunization Schedule Requests.

PubMed

Mohanty, Salini; Feemster, Kristen A; Buttenheim, Alison; Moser, Charlotte A; Field, Robert I; Mayer, Whitney; Carroll-Scott, Amy

2018-02-01

We conducted a cross-sectional online survey among 4 chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics from July through October 2014 to describe characteristics of pediatricians and practices associated with practice-level responses to alternative immunization schedule requests. Among 374 pediatricians, 58% reported frequent alternative immunization schedule requests and 24% reported feeling comfortable using them. Pediatricians who work in practices that accommodate alternative immunization schedule requests have increased odds of having a high frequency of alternative immunization schedule requests, and beliefs that relationships with families would be negatively affected if they refused requests. Practices that discontinue care to families who request alternative immunization schedules have increased odds of being a private group practice and having a formal office vaccine policy. Pediatricians are frequently asked to use alternative immunization schedules and many are not comfortable using them. Practice-level responses to alternative immunization schedules are associated with characteristics of pediatricians and practices.

Physician need. An alternative projection from a study of large, prepaid group practices.

PubMed

Mulhausen, R; McGee, J

1989-04-07

To model a base level of physician demand in a managed health care system, we examined in 1983 the ratios by specialty of full-time equivalent physicians to health maintenance organization members in seven large, closed-panel health maintenance organizations, each with more than 100,000 members. The medical director of each plan was surveyed by mailed questionnaire and telephone interview to determine the plan's number of full-time equivalent physicians by specialty and members served. Out-of-plan physicians contracted by the group were included within the specialty distribution wherever possible. We compared our findings (4779.4 full-time equivalent physicians serving 4,297,790 members) with Graduate Medical Education National Advisory Committee and others' projections of physician need and supply. Based on this model and unknowns that might affect utilization, our study suggests that at least 111 physicians per 100,000 population would be necessary in a system that emphasized reduced utilization of services and that more primary care physicians would be needed than the Graduate Medical Education National Advisory Committee predicted would be available.

Design alternatives for process group membership and multicast

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Birman, Kenneth P.; Cooper, Robert; Gleeson, Barry

1991-01-01

Process groups are a natural tool for distributed programming, and are increasingly important in distributed computing environments. However, there is little agreement on the most appropriate semantics for process group membership and group communication. These issues are of special importance in the Isis system, a toolkit for distributed programming. Isis supports several styles of process group, and a collection of group communication protocols spanning a range of atomicity and ordering properties. This flexibility makes Isis adaptable to a variety of applications, but is also a source of complexity that limits performance. This paper reports on a new architecture that arose from an effort to simplify Isis process group semantics. Our findings include a refined notion of how the clients of a group should be treated, what the properties of a multicast primitive should be when systems contain large numbers of overlapping groups, and a new construct called the casuality domain. As an illustration, we apply the architecture to the problem of converting processes into fault-tolerant process groups in a manner that is 'transparent' to other processes in the system.

Propulsion and Energetics Panel Working Group 13 on Alternative Jet Engine Fuels. Volume 2. Main Report

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-07-01

twenty years the only economically available fuels for aircraft gas turbine engines will be those from the processing of conventional crude petroleum...alternative fuels in new aircraft engines. i.e. problems ir, combustors. turbines . and afterburners. and methods for their solution. - Fuel system...required expertise assigned to each task group. The three areas were. Supply and demand scenarios for aviation turbine fuels in the NATO Nations for the

Wellness-Based Group Counseling with Elementary Students in Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perepiczka, Michelle

2009-01-01

Students in Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs (DAEPs) have a variety of behavior problems. School counselors in DAEPs have the opportunity to address emotional, academic, social, and behavioral concerns of these students. Counselors may use the strengths-based wellness paradigm as an alternative method of addressing students' holistic…

Confinement in F4 Exceptional Gauge Group Using Domain Structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rafibakhsh, Shahnoosh; Shahlaei, Amir

2017-03-01

We calculate the potential between static quarks in the fundamental representation of the F4 exceptional gauge group using domain structures of the thick center vortex model. As non-trivial center elements are absent, the asymptotic string tension is lost while an intermediate linear potential is observed. SU(2) is a subgroup of F4. Investigating the decomposition of the 26 dimensional representation of F4 to the SU(2) representations, might explain what accounts for the intermediate linear potential, in the exceptional groups with no center element.

Effect of rotation preference on spontaneous alternation behavior on Y maze and introduction of a new analytical method, entropy of spontaneous alternation.

PubMed

Bak, Jia; Pyeon, Hae-In; Seok, Jin-I; Choi, Yun-Sik

2017-03-01

Y maze has been used to test spatial working memory in rodents. To this end, the percentage of spontaneous alternation has been employed. Alternation indicates sequential entries into all three arms; e.g., when an animal visits all three arms clockwise or counterclockwise sequentially, alternation is achieved. Interestingly, animals have a tendency to rotate or turn to a preferred side. Thus, when an animal has a high rotation preference, this may influence their alternation behavior. Here, we have generated a new analytical method, termed entropy of spontaneous alternation, to offset the effect of rotation preference on Y maze. To validate the entropy of spontaneous alternation, we employed a free rotation test using a cylinder and a spatial working memory test on Y maze. We identified that mice showed 65.1% rotation preference on average. Importantly, the percentage of spontaneous alternation in the high preference group (more than 70% rotation to a preferred side) was significantly higher than that in the no preference group (<55%). In addition, there was a clear correlation between rotation preference on cylinder and turning preference on Y maze. On the other hand, this potential leverage effect that arose from rotation preference disappeared when the animal behavior on Y maze was analyzed with the entropy of spontaneous alternation. Further, entropy of spontaneous alternation significantly determined the loss of spatial working memory by scopolamine administration. Combined, these data indicate that the entropy of spontaneous alternation provides higher credibility when spatial working memory is evaluated using Y maze. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Part 2 of a 4-part series Hair Products: Trends and Alternatives

PubMed Central

Jacob, Sharon; Katta, Rajani; Nedorost, Susan; Warshaw, Erin; Zirwas, Matt; Bhinder, Manpreet

2011-01-01

Objective: To provide updated data on usage of ingredients that are common potential contact allergens in several categories of hair products. To identify useful alternative products with few or no common contact allergens. Design: In November 2009, the full ingredient lists of 5,416 skin, hair, and cosmetic products marketed by the CVS pharmacy chain was copied from CVS.com into Microsoft Word format for analysis. Computer searches were made in Microsoft Word using search/replace and sorting functions to accurately identify the presence of specific allergens in each website product. Measurements: Percentages of American Contact Dermatitis Society core series allergens (and other common preservatives and sunblocks) were calculated. Results: The usage of American Contact Dermatitis Society core series allergens (and other preservatives and sunblocks) in hair products is reported. Conclusion: Data on allergens and alternatives for hair products is not widely published. This article reviews some of the common potential allergens in hair products, including shampoos, conditioners, and styling products. Suitable available alternative products for patients with contact allergy are listed. PMID:21779419

Influence of alternative lifestyles on self-reported body weight and health characteristics in women.

PubMed

Simões-Wüst, Ana Paula; Kummeling, Ischa; Mommers, Monique; Huber, Machteld A S; Rist, Lukas; van de Vijver, Lucy P L; Dagnelie, Pieter C; Thijs, Carel

2014-04-01

Alternative lifestyles are often associated with distinct practices with respect to nutrition, physical activity, smoking, alcohol use and usage of complementary medicine. Evidence concerning effects of these lifestyle-related practices on health status is still fragmentary. To describe maternal health characteristics related to alternative lifestyles, with emphasis on body-weight status, during pregnancy and maternity periods. We compared self-reported health-related features of mothers with alternative lifestyles and conventional lifestyles during pregnancy and maternity period in the KOALA Birth Cohort Study. This cohort comprises two recruitment groups of mother-infant pairs, one with a conventional (no selection based on lifestyle, n = 2333), the other with an alternative lifestyle (selected via organic food shops, anthroposophic clinicians and midwives, anthroposophic under-five clinics, Rudolf Steiner schools and relevant magazines, n = 485). Mothers in the alternative group more frequently chose organic foods, adhered to specific living rules, practised vegetarianism and identified themselves with anthroposophy. Mothers in the alternative group showed lower BMI and lower prevalence of overweight and obesity than the conventional group, before pregnancy as well as 4-5 years after delivery. This difference was partly retained after adjusting for potential confounders. Furthermore, women in the alternative group had a lower prevalence of pregnancy-related hypertension, more often started breastfeeding and gave exclusive and prolonged breastfeeding for a longer period. Finally, they smoked less often, but more often drunk alcohol during pregnancy. The results suggest that an alternative lifestyle is associated with favourable body weight and with several differences in other health features.

Evaluation of final waste forms and recommendations for baseline alternatives to group and glass

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

Bleier, A.

1997-09-01

An assessment of final waste forms was made as part of the Federal Facilities Compliance Agreement/Development, Demonstration, Testing, and Evaluation (FFCA/DDT&E) Program because supplemental waste-form technologies are needed for the hazardous, radioactive, and mixed wastes of concern to the Department of Energy and the problematic wastes on the Oak Ridge Reservation. The principal objective was to identify a primary waste-form candidate as an alternative to grout (cement) and glass. The effort principally comprised a literature search, the goal of which was to establish a knowledge base regarding four areas: (1) the waste-form technologies based on grout and glass, (2) candidatemore » alternatives, (3) the wastes that need to be immobilized, and (4) the technical and regulatory constraints on the waste-from technologies. This report serves, in part, to meet this goal. Six families of materials emerged as relevant; inorganic, organic, vitrified, devitrified, ceramic, and metallic matrices. Multiple members of each family were assessed, emphasizing the materials-oriented factors and accounting for the fact that the two most prevalent types of wastes for the FFCA/DDT&E Program are aqueous liquids and inorganic sludges and solids. Presently, no individual matrix is sufficiently developed to permit its immediate implementation as a baseline alternative. Three thermoplastic materials, sulfur-polymer cement (inorganic), bitumen (organic), and polyethylene (organic), are the most technologically developed candidates. Each warrants further study, emphasizing the engineering and economic factors, but each also has limitations that regulate it to a status of short-term alternative. The crystallinity and flexible processing of sulfur provide sulfur-polymer cement with the highest potential for short-term success via encapsulation. Long-term immobilization demands chemical stabilization, which the thermoplastic matrices do not offer. Among the properties of the remaining

A 4-year study on the effectiveness of alternate grazing of cattle and sheep in the control of bovine parasitic gastro-enteritis.

PubMed

Bairden, K; Armour, J; Duncan, J L

1995-11-01

In many farming enterprises, animal management systems which could provide a practical and effective alternative to chemotherapy for the control of bovine helminthosis would be readily accepted. One system which has been proposed and shown to be effective in the short or medium term involves grazing different host species on a rotational basis. The study described here examined the effect of alternating cattle and sheep annually over an extended period of 4 years. Up to the second grazing season the system appeared to be successful, with a marked reduction in the cattle worm burdens. However, by the end of the study period the parasite burdens in calves grazed on the alternated pasture were equal to, or greater than, those of set-stocked control animals. It was thus clear that the alternate grazing strategy had failed. Data obtained from other parameters measured, i.e. faecal egg counts, pasture larval numbers and plasma pepsinogen levels, confirmed this observation.

Multi-stage ranking of emergency technology alternatives for water source pollution accidents using a fuzzy group decision making tool.

PubMed

Qu, Jianhua; Meng, Xianlin; You, Hong

2016-06-05

Due to the increasing number of unexpected water source pollution events, selection of the most appropriate disposal technology for a specific pollution scenario is of crucial importance to the security of urban water supplies. However, the formulation of the optimum option is considerably difficult owing to the substantial uncertainty of such accidents. In this research, a multi-stage technical screening and evaluation tool is proposed to determine the optimal technique scheme, considering the areas of pollutant elimination both in drinking water sources and water treatment plants. In stage 1, a CBR-based group decision tool was developed to screen available technologies for different scenarios. Then, the threat degree caused by the pollution was estimated in stage 2 using a threat evaluation system and was partitioned into four levels. For each threat level, a corresponding set of technique evaluation criteria weights was obtained using Group-G1. To identify the optimization alternatives corresponding to the different threat levels, an extension of TOPSIS, a multi-criteria interval-valued trapezoidal fuzzy decision making technique containing the four arrays of criteria weights, to a group decision environment was investigated in stage 3. The effectiveness of the developed tool was elaborated by two actual thallium-contaminated scenarios associated with different threat levels. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Case studies putting the decision-making framework for the grouping and testing of nanomaterials (DF4nanoGrouping) into practice.

PubMed

Arts, Josje H E; Irfan, Muhammad-Adeel; Keene, Athena M; Kreiling, Reinhard; Lyon, Delina; Maier, Monika; Michel, Karin; Neubauer, Nicole; Petry, Thomas; Sauer, Ursula G; Warheit, David; Wiench, Karin; Wohlleben, Wendel; Landsiedel, Robert

2016-04-01

Case studies covering carbonaceous nanomaterials, metal oxide and metal sulphate nanomaterials, amorphous silica and organic pigments were performed to assess the Decision-making framework for the grouping and testing of nanomaterials (DF4nanoGrouping). The usefulness of the DF4nanoGrouping for nanomaterial hazard assessment was confirmed. In two tiers that rely exclusively on non-animal test methods followed by a third tier, if necessary, in which data from rat short-term inhalation studies are evaluated, nanomaterials are assigned to one of four main groups (MGs). The DF4nanoGrouping proved efficient in sorting out nanomaterials that could undergo hazard assessment without further testing. These are soluble nanomaterials (MG1) whose further hazard assessment should rely on read-across to the dissolved materials, high aspect-ratio nanomaterials (MG2) which could be assessed according to their potential fibre toxicity and passive nanomaterials (MG3) that only elicit effects under pulmonary overload conditions. Thereby, the DF4nanoGrouping allows identifying active nanomaterials (MG4) that merit in-depth investigations, and it provides a solid rationale for their sub-grouping to specify the further information needs. Finally, the evaluated case study materials may be used as source nanomaterials in future read-across applications. Overall, the DF4nanoGrouping is a hazard assessment strategy that strictly uses animals as a last resort. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Development and evaluation of a self-regulating alternating pressure air cushion.

PubMed

Nakagami, Gojiro; Sanada, Hiromi; Sugama, Junko

2015-03-01

To investigate the effect of alternating air cells of a newly developed dynamic cushion on interface pressure and tissue oxygenation levels. This cross-over experimental study included 19 healthy volunteers. The dynamic cushion used has an automatic self-regulating alternating pressure air-cell system with 35 small and four large air cells for maintaining posture while seated. This cushion also has 17 bottoming-out detectors that automatically inflate the air cells to release a high interface pressure. To assess the effect of this alternating system, participants sat on the new cushion with an alternating system or static system for 30 min and then performed push-ups. The interface pressure was monitored by pressure-sensitive and conductive ink film sensors and tissue oxygenation levels were monitored by near-infrared spectroscopy. A reactive hyperaemia indicator was calculated using tissue oxygenation levels as an outcome measure. The peak interface pressure was not significantly different between the groups. The reactive hyperaemia indicator was significantly higher in the static group than in the alternating group. An alternating system has beneficial effects on blood oxygenation levels without increasing interface pressure. Therefore, our new cushion is promising for preventing pressure ulcers with patients with limited ability to perform push-ups. Implications for Rehabilitation A dynamic cushion was developed, which consists of a uniquely-designed air-cell layout, detectors for bottoming out, and an alternating system with multiple air-cell lines. The alternating system did not increase interface pressure and it significantly reduced reactive hyperaemia after 30 min of sitting in healthy volunteers. This cushion is a new option for individuals who require stable posture but have limitations in performing scheduled push-ups for prevention of pressure ulcers.

25 CFR 42.4 - What are alternative dispute resolution processes?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... What are alternative dispute resolution processes? Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes are... action. (a) ADR processes may: (1) Include peer adjudication, mediation, and conciliation; and (2... that these practices are readily identifiable. (b) For further information on ADR processes and how to...

25 CFR 42.4 - What are alternative dispute resolution processes?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... What are alternative dispute resolution processes? Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes are... action. (a) ADR processes may: (1) Include peer adjudication, mediation, and conciliation; and (2... that these practices are readily identifiable. (b) For further information on ADR processes and how to...

A framework program for the teaching of alternative methods (replacement, reduction, refinement) to animal experimentation.

PubMed

Daneshian, Mardas; Akbarsha, Mohammad A; Blaauboer, Bas; Caloni, Francesca; Cosson, Pierre; Curren, Rodger; Goldberg, Alan; Gruber, Franz; Ohl, Frauke; Pfaller, Walter; van der Valk, Jan; Vinardell, Pilar; Zurlo, Joanne; Hartung, Thomas; Leist, Marcel

2011-01-01

Development of improved communication and education strategies is important to make alternatives to the use of animals, and the broad range of applications of the 3Rs concept better known and understood by different audiences. For this purpose, the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing in Europe (CAAT-Europe) together with the Transatlantic Think Tank for Toxicology (t(4)) hosted a three-day workshop on "Teaching Alternative Methods to Animal Experimentation". A compilation of the recommendations by a group of international specialists in the field is summarized in this report. Initially, the workshop participants identified the different audience groups to be addressed and also the communication media that may be used. The main outcome of the workshop was a framework for a comprehensive educational program. The modular structure of the teaching program presented here allows adaptation to different audiences with their specific needs; different time schedules can be easily accommodated on this basis. The topics cover the 3Rs principle, basic research, toxicological applications, method development and validation, regulatory aspects, case studies and ethical aspects of 3Rs approaches. This expert consortium agreed to generating teaching materials covering all modules and providing them in an open access online repository.

Are all grade group 4 prostate cancers created equal? Implications for the applicability of the novel grade grouping.

PubMed

Gandaglia, Giorgio; Karnes, R Jeffrey; Sivaraman, Arjun; Moschini, Marco; Fossati, Nicola; Zaffuto, Emanuele; DellʼOglio, Paolo; Cathelineau, Xavier; Montorsi, Francesco; Sanchez-Salas, Rafael; Briganti, Alberto

2017-07-01

According to the novel prostate cancer (PCa) grade grouping, men with Gleason score 8 should be included in the grade group 4 regardless of primary and secondary scores. We aimed at evaluating the effect of Gleason patterns on the risk of recurrence in men with grade group 4 PCa. Overall, 1,089 patients treated with radical prostatectomy with grade group 4 PCa at final pathology were identified. Biochemical recurrence (BCR) was defined as 2 consecutive prostate-specific antigen values≥0.2ng/ml and rising. Clinical recurrence (CR) was defined as positive imaging after BCR. Kaplan-Meier analyses assessed time to BCR and CR. Multivariable Cox regression analyses assessed the impact of Gleason patterns on the risk of BCR and CR. Overall, 295 (27.1%), 651 (59.8%), and 143 (13.1%) patients had pathologic Gleason pattern 3+5, 4+4, and 5+3. Overall, 435 (39.9%) patients had positive margins and 439 (30.2%), 300 (27.5%), 350 (32.1%), and 216 (19.8%) had pT2, pT3a, pT3b/4, and pN1 disease. Median follow-up was 83 months. Overall, 536 and 221 patients experienced BCR and CR. The 10-year BCR- and CR-free survival rates were 42.9% and 67.5% vs. 38.3% and 59.7% vs. 40.6% and 50.4% for patients with pathologic Gleason pattern 3+5 vs. 4+4 vs. 5+3, respectively (all P≤0.005). In multivariable analyses, patients with Gleason pattern 3+5 were at lower risk of BCR compared to those with 4+4 (P = 0.002). Men with Gleason pattern 3+5 were at lower risk of CR compared to those with 4+4 and 5+3 (all P≤ 0.01). Patients with a primary Gleason score 3 are at reduced risk of recurrence as compared to their counterparts with 4 or 5. Primary and secondary Gleason scores should be considered to stratify the risk of recurrence after surgery in patients with grade group 4 PCa. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Fingerprints as an Alternative Method to Determine ABO and Rh Blood Groups.

PubMed

Chaudhary, Sonam; Deuja, Sajana; Alam, Munna; Karmacharya, Poonam; Mondal, Monami

2017-01-01

Blood grouping is conventionally done with invasive method by taking blood samples. The objective of this study is to determine blood group with uninvasive procedure by taking fingerprints of the participants and know the associations between their fingerprints and blood groups. Seven hundred participants of both genders with no any age limitation from Manipal Teaching Hospital and Manipal College of Medical Sciences were randomly selected. The blood grouping was done by cross reacting blood sample with the antibodies. The fingerprints were taken with the help of stamp pad imprinting the finger ridges over A4 size white papers. The loop, whorl and arch patterns were studied. O+ve blood group 224 (32%) was most prevalent among 700 participants. The loop pattern was highly distributed 3708 (53%) in all blood groups except in A-ve blood group with highest distribution of whorl 20 (40%). The mean comparisons of specific fingerprint in total and also in individual fingers with different ABO and ABO-Rh blood groups showed no any statistical association with P>0.05. However, the loop distribution in individual finger was highest in right middle finger (M) of B-ve blood group 5 (10%). The whorl distribution in individual finger was highest in right index (I), left thumb (T) and left ring (R) fingers of AB+ve blood group 20 (5.5% each). Similarly, the arch distribution was highest in right index fingers of A-ve blood group 3 (6%). The mean comparison of different fingerprints with ABO and Rh blood groups showed no significant statistical association concluding fingerprints cannot be used for blood grouping.

Kinesiotaping as an alternative treatment method for carpal tunnel syndrome.

PubMed

Geler Külcü, Duygu; Bursali, Canan; Aktaş, İlknur; Bozkurt Alp, Selin; Ünlü Özkan, Feyza; Akpinar, Pınar

2016-06-23

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy. Conservative treatment choices are not always satisfactory. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of kinesiotaping (KT) on pain level, grip strength, and functional status compared with that of placebo KT and orthotic device (OD) in patients with CTS. In this randomized, placebo-controlled study, participants were allocated into one of three groups: an experimental KT group (Group 1), a placebo KT group (Group 2), and an OD group (Group 3). Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4) scores, dynamometric grip strength measures, and the Boston CTS questionnaire (BQ) were the outcome measures. All groups significantly improved in terms of VAS scores (P < 0.05), DN4 scores (P < 0.05), and BQ scores (P < 0.05). Grip strength improved in Group 3 (P = 0.001). There was a significant difference among the groups with respect to BQ scores (P < 0.05). KT application for the treatment of CTS should be an alternative treatment choice.

The Group B Streptococcus–Secreted Protein CIP Interacts with C4, Preventing C3b Deposition via the Lectin and Classical Complement Pathways

PubMed Central

Pietrocola, Giampiero; Rindi, Simonetta; Rosini, Roberto; Buccato, Scilla

2016-01-01

The group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of neonatal invasive disease. GBS bacteria are surrounded by a thick capsular polysaccharide that is a potent inhibitor of complement deposition via the alternative pathway. Several of its surface molecules can however activate the classical and lectin complement pathways, rendering this species still vulnerable to phagocytic killing. In this study we have identified a novel secreted protein named complement interfering protein (CIP) that downregulates complement activation via the classical and lectin pathways, but not the alternative pathway. The CIP protein showed high affinity toward C4b and inhibited its interaction with C2, presumably preventing the formation of the C4bC2a convertase. Addition of recombinant CIP to GBS cip-negative bacteria resulted in decreased deposition of C3b on their surface and in diminished phagocytic killing in a whole-blood assay. Our data reveal a novel strategy exploited by GBS to counteract innate immunity and could be valuable for the development of anti-infective agents against this important pathogen. PMID:26608922

Alternate-day fasting protects the livers of mice against high-fat diet-induced inflammation associated with the suppression of Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor κB signaling.

PubMed

Yang, Wanwei; Cao, Meng; Mao, Xiaodong; Wei, Xiao; Li, Xingjia; Chen, Guofang; Zhang, Jiaming; Wang, Zhiguo; Shi, Jianfeng; Huang, HouCai; Yao, Xiaoming; Liu, Chao

2016-06-01

Because of unhealthy lifestyles, a large number of people are suffering from hepatic lipid accumulation and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Energy restriction (ER) is an effective nutritional intervention for preventing chronic disease. However, poor compliance with continuous ER limits its effectiveness. As an alternative to daily ER, alternate-day fasting (ADF) may be more effective. We hypothesized that ADF would improve obesity, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance and protect the liver against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced steatosis and inflammation. In this study, we used C57BL/6 mice to test the beneficial effects of ADF. Thirty male 6-week-old C57BL/6 mice were divided into 3 groups (10 per group, total N = 30): 1 group was fed chow diet, the second was fed HFD ad libitum, and the third group was submitted to ADF. The mice in the third group were fed the HFD ad libitum every other day and fasted the following day. After 12 months, the mice submitted to ADF exhibited reduced body weights and fasting glucose levels and improved insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis compared with continuous HFD-fed mice. In addition, the serum transaminase levels in the mice of the ADF group were lower than those of the HFD group. Moreover, the ADF regimen suppressed the expression levels of Toll-like receptor 4 and nuclear factor κB protein in the liver and suppressed the inflammatory pathway genes interleukin 1β, tumor necrosis factor α, and serum amyloid A. These finding indicate that long-term ADF protects mouse livers against HFD-induced hepatic steatosis and hepatocellular damage associated with the suppression of Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor κB signaling. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A mechanism that maintains alternative life histories in a loggerhead sea turtle population.

PubMed

Hatase, Hideo; Omuta, Kazuyoshi; Tsukamoto, Katsumi

2013-11-01

Intrapopulation variation in habitat use is commonly seen among mobile animals, yet the mechanisms maintaining it have rarely been researched among untrackable species. To investigate how alternative life histories are maintained in a population of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), cumulative reproductive output was evaluated and compared between small planktivores inhabiting oceanic areas (with water depths > 200 m) and large benthivores inhabiting neritic areas (depths < 200 m) that sympatrically nested at Yakushima Island, Japan, from 1986 to 2011. In total, 362 nesting females sampled in three different years were classified into the two foraging groups based on stable isotope ratios in egg yolks. There were significant differences between the two foraging groups in most recorded life history parameters (clutch size, clutch frequency, breeding frequency, and remigration intervals), with the exception of emergence success. We did not find evidence of life history trade-offs, nor age-related changes in fecundity. Over the 26-year study period, we calculated a 2.4-fold greater reproductive output for neritic foragers than for oceanic ones, accounting for breeding and clutch frequency. Temporal consistencies in stable isotope ratios and remigration intervals within females suggested that female Japanese loggerheads show fidelity to respective foraging habitats throughout the adult stage. The large difference in productivity between the two groups was unlikely to be offset by the difference in survival during the period from aboveground emergence to first reproduction, suggesting that oceanic foragers have a lower level of fitness than neritic ones. Together with an absence of genetic structure between foraging groups, we infer that alternative life histories in a loggerhead turtle population are maintained by a conditional strategy.

Complementary Alternation Discourse Constructions in English: A Preliminary Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Iza Erviti, Aneider

2015-01-01

This paper examines the essential features of a group of constructions that belong to the family of complementary alternation discourse constructions in English. In this group of constructions, X and Y are two situations such that Y is less likely (or more likely) to happen than X. Each member of this group (X Let Alone Y, X Much Less Y, X Never…

Alternative transcription of sodium/bicarbonate transporter SLC4A7 gene enhanced by single nucleotide polymorphisms.

PubMed

Park, Hae Jeong; Lee, Soojung; Ju, Eunji; Jones, Jayre A; Choi, Inyeong

2017-03-01

Genome-wide association studies have identified the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs3278 in the human SLC4A7 gene as one of the marker loci for addiction vulnerability. This marker is located in an intron of the gene, and its genomic role has been unknown. In this study, we examined rs3278 and three adjacent SNPs prevalent in alcoholics for their effects on an alternative promoter that would lead to the production of the NH 2 -terminally truncated protein NBCn1ΔN450, missing the first 450 amino acids. Analysis of the transcription start site database and a promoter prediction algorithm identified a cluster of three promoters in intron 7 and two short CpG-rich sites in intron 6. The promoter closest to rs3278 showed strong transcription activity in luciferase reporter gene assays. Major-to-minor allele substitution at rs3278 resulted in increased transcription activity. Equivalent substitutions at adjacent rs3772723 (intron 7) and rs13077400 (exon 8) had negligible effect; however, the substitution at nonsynonymous rs3755652 (exon 8) increased the activity by more than twofold. The concomitant substitution at rs3278/rs3755652 produced an additive effect. The rs3755652 had more profound effects on the promoter than the upstream regulatory CpG sites. The amino acid change E326K caused by rs3755652 had negligible effect on transporter function. In HEK 293 cells, NBCn1ΔN450 was expressed in plasma membranes, but at significantly lower levels than the nontruncated NBCn1-E. The pH change mediated by NBCn1ΔN450 was also low. We conclude that rs3278 and rs3755652 stimulate an alternative transcription of the SLC4A7 gene, increasing the production of a defective transporter. Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.

32 CFR 1630.47 - Class 4-W: Registrant who has completed alternative service in lieu of induction.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 32 National Defense 6 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Class 4-W: Registrant who has completed... to National Defense SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM CLASSIFICATION RULES § 1630.47 Class 4-W: Registrant who has completed alternative service in lieu of induction. In Class 4-W shall be placed any registrant...

Alternative Fuels Data Center: Oregon Leads the Charge for Plug-In Electric

Science.gov Websites

Governor's Alternative Fuel Vehicle Infrastructure Working Group. This group focused on PEVs for several spending of approximately $8 billion on gasoline and diesel, of which 90% of the non-tax dollars leave the equivalent size) with a maximum of two inspections. Step 4: Install Installing EVSE If the existing

Introduction to sporadic groups for physicists

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boya, Luis J.

2013-04-01

We describe the collection of finite simple groups, with a view to physical applications. We recall first the prime cyclic groups Zp and the alternating groups Altn > 4. After a quick revision of finite fields {F}_q, q = pf, with p prime, we consider the 16 families of finite simple groups of Lie type. There are also 26 extra ‘sporadic’ groups, which gather in three interconnected ‘generations’ (with 5+7+8 groups) plus the pariah groups (6). We point out a couple of physical applications, including constructing the biggest sporadic group, the ‘Monster’ group, with close to 1054 elements from arguments of physics, and also the relation of some Mathieu groups with compactification in string and M-theory. This article is dedicated to the memory of Juan Sancho Guimerá.

All-electron molecular Dirac-Hartree-Fock calculations: The group 4 tetrahydrides CH4, SiH4, GeH4, SnH4 and PbH4

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dyall, Kenneth G.; Taylor, Peter R.; Faegri, Knut, Jr.; Partridge, Harry

1990-01-01

A basis-set-expansion Dirac-Hartree-Fock program for molecules is described. Bond lengths and harmonic frequencies are presented for the ground states of the group 4 tetrahydrides, CH4, SiH4, GeH4, SnH4, and PbH4. The results are compared with relativistic effective core potential (RECP) calculations, first-order perturbation theory (PT) calculations and with experimental data. The bond lengths are well predicted by first-order perturbation theory for all molecules, but non of the RECP's considered provides a consistent prediction. Perturbation theory overestimates the relativistic correction to the harmonic frequencies; the RECP calculations underestimate the correction.

Open randomised study of use of levonorgestrel releasing intrauterine system as alternative to hysterectomy

PubMed Central

Lähteenmäki, Pekka; Haukkamaa, Maija; Puolakka, Jukka; Riikonen, Ulla; Sainio, Susanna; Suvisaari, Janne; Nilsson, Carl Gustaf

1998-01-01

Objectives: To assess whether the levonorgestrel intrauterine system could provide a conservative alternative to hysterectomy in the treatment of excessive uterine bleeding. Design: Open randomised multicentre study with two parallel groups: a levonorgestrel intrauterine system group and a control group. Setting: Gynaecology departments of three hospitals in Finland. Subjects: Fifty six women aged 33-49 years scheduled to undergo hysterectomy for treatment of excessive uterine bleeding. Interventions: Women were randomised either to continue with their current medical treatment or to have a levonorgestrel intrauterine system inserted. Main outcome measure: Proportion of women cancelling their decision to undergo hysterectomy. Results: At 6 months, 64.3% (95% confidence interval 44.1 to 81.4%) of the women in the levonorgestrel intrauterine system group and 14.3% (4.0 to 32.7%) in the control group had cancelled their decision to undergo hysterectomy (P<0.001). Conclusions: The use of the levonorgestrel intrauterine system is a good conservative alternative to hysterectomy in the treatment of menorrhagia and should be considered before hysterectomy or other invasive treatments. PMID:9552948

Views and Preferences for Nicotine Products as an Alternative to Smoking: A Focus Group Study of People Living with Mental Disorders

PubMed Central

Meurk, Carla; Ford, Pauline; Sharma, Ratika; Fitzgerald, Lisa; Gartner, Coral

2016-01-01

Aims and Background: People living with mental disorders experience a disproportionately higher burden of tobacco-related disease than the general population. Long-term substitution with less harmful nicotine products could reduce the tobacco-related harm among this population. This study investigated the views and preferences of people with mental health disorders about different nicotine products and their use as long-term substitutes for cigarettes. Methods: Semi-structured focus group discussion followed by a brief questionnaire. The discussion transcripts were analysed for content and themes and quantitative data summarised with descriptive statistics. Results: Twenty-nine participants took part in four focus groups. Vaping devices were the most acceptable nicotine products discussed; however preferences for nicotine products were individual and varied along aesthetic, pragmatic, sensory and symbolic dimensions. The concept of tobacco harm reduction was unfamiliar to participants, however they generally agreed with the logic of replacing cigarettes with less harmful nicotine products. Barriers to activating tobacco harm reduction included the symbolism of smoking and quitting; the importance placed on health; the consumer appeal of alternatives; and cost implications. Discussion and Conclusions: Engaging this population in tobacco harm reduction options will require communication that challenges black and white thinking (a conceptual framework in which smoking cigarettes or quitting all nicotine are the only legitimate options) as in practice this serves to support the continuance of smoking. Consumers should be encouraged to trial a range of nicotine products to find the most acceptable alternative to smoking that reduces health harms. Providing incentives to switch to nicotine products could help overcome barriers to using less harmful nicotine products among mental health consumers. PMID:27886046

Early Sentence Productions of 3- and 4-Year-Old Children Who Use Augmentative and Alternative Communication

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Binger, Cathy; Kent-Walsh, Jennifer; King, Marika; Mansfield, Lindsay

2017-01-01

Purpose: This study investigated the early rule-based sentence productions of 3- and 4-year-old children with severe speech disorders who used single-meaning graphic symbols to communicate. Method: Ten 3- and 4-year-olds requiring the use of augmentative and alternative communication, who had largely intact receptive language skills, received…

Prism under cover test in alternate fixation horizontal strabismus.

PubMed

Tejedor, Jaime; Gutiérrez-Carmona, Francisco José

2018-02-01

To evaluate the applicability of the prism under cover test (PUCT) to quantify manifest deviation in horizontal strabismus with alternate fixation when simultaneous prism and cover test (SPCT) is not feasible. Children aged 4-11 years, with alternate fixation horizontal strabismus and alternate prism and cover test (APCT) distance deviation (DD) up to 25 PD were eligible. In group 1 of the study, SPCT was not feasible (n = 18), whereas in group 2, it was feasible (n = 24). Refraction, PUCT, APCT, central/peripheral fusion, and stereoacuity were measured. Repeatability of PUCT, agreement between PUCT and SPCT, and Pearson correlations between variables were studied. In group 1, mean DD was 15.6 and 9.5 PD using APCT and PUCT, respectively (intraclass correlation, ICC: 0.90). Mean stereoacuity was 201.1 arc seconds. PUCT was better correlated with stereoacuity than APCT, but not significantly (p = 0.12). Coefficient of repeatability for PUCT was 3.4 PD. In group 2, mean DD was 17.6, 14.1, and 12.5 PD using APCT, PUCT, and SPCT, respectively. Mean stereoacuity was 285.9 arc seconds. Correlations APCT-PUCT (0.87), APCT-SPCT (0.82), and SPCT-PUCT (0.95) were significant. APCT did not show as good correlation with stereoacuity (0.58) as SPCT and PUCT (0.74 and 0.78, respectively). Concordance correlation coefficient between SPCT and PUCT was 0.91, and Bland Altman agreement between the two variables was also good. PUCT is a procedure with good repeatability, of interest in children to estimate manifest deviation when SPCT is not feasible, and in support of the diagnosis of monofixation syndrome.

A preclinical evaluation of alternative site for islet allotransplantation

PubMed Central

He, Sirong; Yuan, Yujia; Han, Pengfei; Wang, Dan; Chen, Younan; Liu, Jingping; Tian, Bole; Yang, Guang; Yi, Shounan; Gao, Fabao; Zhong, Zhihui; Li, Hongxia; Cheng, Jingqiu; Lu, Yanrong

2017-01-01

The bone marrow cavity (BMC) has recently been identified as an alternative site to the liver for islet transplantation. This study aimed to compare the BMC with the liver as an islet allotransplantation site in diabetic monkeys. Diabetes was induced in Rhesus monkeys using streptozocin, and the monkeys were then divided into the following three groups: Group1 (islets transplanted in the liver with immunosuppressant), Group 2 (islets transplanted in the tibial BMC), and Group 3 (islets transplanted in the tibial BMC with immunosuppressant). The C-peptide and blood glucose levels were preoperatively measured. An intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was conducted to assess graft function, and complete blood cell counts were performed to assess cell population changes. Cytokine expression was measured using an enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) and MILLIPLEX. Five monkeys in Group 3 exhibited a significantly increased insulin-independent time compared with the other groups (Group 1: 78.2 ± 19.0 days; Group 2: 58.8 ± 17.0 days; Group 3: 189.6 ± 26.2 days) and demonstrated increases in plasma C-peptide 4 months after transplantation. The infusion procedure was not associated with adverse effects. Functional islets in the BMC were observed 225 days after transplantation using the dithizone (DTZ) and insulin/glucagon stains. Our results showed that allogeneic islets transplanted in the BMC of diabetic Rhesus monkeys remained alive and functional for a longer time than those transplanted in the liver. This study was the first successful demonstration of allogeneic islet engraftment in the BMC of non-human primates (NHPs). PMID:28358858

Synthesis and characterization of a series of Group 4 phenoxy-thiol derivatives

DOE PAGES

Boyle, Timothy J.; Neville, Michael L.; Parkes, Marie V.

2016-02-11

In this study, a series of Group 4 phenoxy-thiols were developed from the reaction products of a series of metal tert-butoxides ([M(OBu t) 4]) with four equivalents of 4-mercaptophenol (H-4MP). The products were found by single crystal X-ray diffraction to adopt the general structure [(HOBu t)(4MP) 3M(μ-4MP)] 2 [where M = Ti (1), Zr (2), Hf (3)] from toluene and [(py) 2M(4MP)] where M = Ti (4), Zr (5) and [(py)(4MP) 3Hf(μ-4MP)] 2 (6) from pyridine (py). Varying the [Ti(OR) 4] precursors (OR = iso-propoxide (OPr i) or neo-pentoxide (ONep)) in toluene led to [(HOR)(4MP) 3Ti(μ-4MP)] 2 (OR = OPrmore » i (7), ONep (8)), which were structurally similar to 1. Lower stoichiometric reactions in toluene led to partial substitution by the 4MP ligands yielding [H][Ti(μ-4MP)(4MP)(ONep) 3] 2 (9). Independent of the stoichiometry, all of the Ti derivatives were found to be red in color, whereas the heavier congeners were colorless. Attempts to understand this phenomenon led to investigation with a series of varied –SH substituted phenols. From the reaction of H-2MP and H-3MP (2-mercaptophenol and 3-mercaptophenol, respectively), the isolated products had identical arrangements: [(ONep) 2(2MP)Ti(μ,η2-2MP)] 2 (10) and [(HOR)(3MP)M(μ-3MP)] 2 (M/OR = Ti/ONep (11); Zr/OBu t (12)) with a similar red color. Based on the simulated and observed UV–Vis spectra, it was reasoned that the color was generated due to a ligand-to-metal charge transfer for Ti that was not available for the larger congeners.« less

40 CFR 136.4 - Application for and approval of alternate test procedures for nationwide use.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Procedure (ATP) Program Coordinator (National Coordinator), Office of Science and Technology (4303T), Office... or other categories. (4) Provide comparability data for the performance of the proposed alternative... information and data provided in the applicant's application. The Regional ATP Coordinator or permitting...

40 CFR 136.4 - Application for and approval of alternate test procedures for nationwide use.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Procedure (ATP) Program Coordinator (National Coordinator), Office of Science and Technology (4303T), Office... or other categories. (4) Provide comparability data for the performance of the proposed alternative... information and data provided in the applicant's application. The Regional ATP Coordinator or permitting...

40 CFR 136.4 - Application for and approval of alternate test procedures for nationwide use.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Procedure (ATP) Program Coordinator (National Coordinator), Office of Science and Technology (4303T), Office... or other categories. (4) Provide comparability data for the performance of the proposed alternative... information and data provided in the applicant's application. The Regional ATP Coordinator or permitting...

SRSF3 represses the expression of PDCD4 protein by coordinated regulation of alternative splicing, export and translation

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

Park, Seung Kuk; Jeong, Sunjoo, E-mail: sjsj@dankook.ac.kr

2016-02-05

Gene expression is regulated at multiple steps, such as transcription, splicing, export, degradation and translation. Considering diverse roles of SR proteins, we determined whether the tumor-related splicing factor SRSF3 regulates the expression of the tumor-suppressor protein, PDCD4, at multiple steps. As we have reported previously, knockdown of SRSF3 increased the PDCD4 protein level in SW480 colon cancer cells. More interestingly, here we showed that the alternative splicing and the nuclear export of minor isoforms of pdcd4 mRNA were repressed by SRSF3, but the translation step was unaffected. In contrast, only the translation step of the major isoform of pdcd4 mRNAmore » was repressed by SRSF3. Therefore, overexpression of SRSF3 might be relevant to the repression of all isoforms of PDCD4 protein levels in most types of cancer cell. We propose that SRSF3 could act as a coordinator of the expression of PDCD4 protein via two mechanisms on two alternatively spliced mRNA isoforms.« less

New Groups Giving Teachers Alternative Voice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sawchuk, Stephen

2011-01-01

This article reports on the rise of nonunion advocacy groups for teachers which has enabled them to cut their teeth on policy issues that affect the profession. The teachers' unions remain the most visible, powerful, and probably the most important advocates for teachers. But over the past few years, a number of new efforts have sprung up…

Adapting Evaluations of Alternative Payment Models to a Changing Environment.

PubMed

Grannemann, Thomas W; Brown, Randall S

2018-04-01

To identify the most robust methods for evaluating alternative payment models (APMs) in the emerging health care delivery system environment. We assess the impact of widespread testing of alternative payment models on the ability to find credible comparison groups. We consider the applicability of factorial research designs for assessing the effects of these models. The widespread adoption of alternative payment models could effectively eliminate the possibility of comparing APM results with a "pure" control or comparison group unaffected by other interventions. In this new environment, factorial experiments have distinct advantages over the single-model experimental or quasi-experimental designs that have been the mainstay of recent tests of Medicare payment and delivery models. The best prospects for producing definitive evidence of the effects of payment incentives for APMs include fractional factorial experiments that systematically vary requirements and payment provisions within a payment model. © Health Research and Educational Trust.

Two-year follow-up of a randomized trial of spectacles plus alternate-day patching to treat strabismic amblyopia.

PubMed

Agervi, Pia; Kugelberg, Ulla; Kugelberg, Maria; Zetterström, Charlotta

2013-11-01

  To compare spectacles plus alternate-day patching for 8 hr or more with spectacles plus patching for 8 hr or more 6 days weekly to treat strabismic amblyopia 1 year after a 1-year randomized trial. Forty children (mean age, 4.3 years) participated. Refractive correction was provided. The children were assigned to alternate-day patching for 8 hr or more or patching for 8 hr or more daily 6 days weekly. VA, binocular function, and refractive errors were measured after 2 years. The main outcome measure was the median VA change in the amblyopic eye after 2 years. The median VA change in the amblyopic eye at the 2-year visit was significantly (p = 0.0453) greater with alternate-day patching (0.8 log unit) versus patching daily 6 days weekly (0.6 log unit). The final median VA in the amblyopic eyes was 0.0 logMAR in the alternate-day patching group and 0.1 logMAR in the daily patching group. Binocular function improved with both treatments. The median spherical equivalent (SE) refractive error increased in the fellow eyes (alternate-day patching, p < 0.0001; patching daily 6 days weekly, p = 0.0033); no change was found in the amblyopic eyes in either group. The magnitude of the VA change 2 years after treatment with spectacles plus alternate-day patching for 8 hr or more was significantly greater than with spectacles plus daily patching for 8 hr or more 6 days weekly for strabismic amblyopia. However, the final median VA did not differ significantly between the two treatments. © 2012 The Authors. Acta Ophthalmologica © 2012 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation.

Alternative health care consultations in Ontario, Canada: A geographic and socio-demographic analysis

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background An important but understudied component of Canada's health system is alternative care. The objective of this paper is to examine the geographic and socio-demographic characteristics of alternative care consultation in Ontario, Canada's largest province. Methods Data is drawn from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS Cycle 3.1, 2005) for people aged 18 or over (n = 32,598) who had a consultation with an alternative health care provider. Four groups of consultations are examined: (1) all consultations (2) massage therapy (3) acupuncture, and (4) homeopath/naturopath. Descriptive statistics, mapping and logistic regression modeling are employed to analyze the data and to compare modalities of alternative health care use. Results In 2005, more than 1.2 million adults aged 18 or over consulted an alternative health care provider, representing about 13% of the total population of Ontario. The analysis revealed a varied geographic pattern of consultations across the province. Consultations were fairly even across the urban to rural continuum and rural residents were just as likely to consult a provider as their urban counterparts. From a health perspective, people with a chronic condition, lower health status and self-perceived unmet health care needs were more likely to see an alternative health provider. Women with chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, high blood pressure, chronic fatigue syndrome and chemical sensitivities were more likely to see an alternative provider if they felt their health care needs were not being met. Conclusions The analysis revealed that geography is not a factor in determining alternative health care consultations in Ontario. By contrast, there is a strong association between these consultations and socio-demographic characteristics particularly age, sex, education, health and self-perceived unmet health care needs. The results underscore the importance of women's health needs as related to alternative care use. The paper

Advancing Alternative Analysis: Integration of Decision Science.

PubMed

Malloy, Timothy F; Zaunbrecher, Virginia M; Batteate, Christina M; Blake, Ann; Carroll, William F; Corbett, Charles J; Hansen, Steffen Foss; Lempert, Robert J; Linkov, Igor; McFadden, Roger; Moran, Kelly D; Olivetti, Elsa; Ostrom, Nancy K; Romero, Michelle; Schoenung, Julie M; Seager, Thomas P; Sinsheimer, Peter; Thayer, Kristina A

2017-06-13

Decision analysis-a systematic approach to solving complex problems-offers tools and frameworks to support decision making that are increasingly being applied to environmental challenges. Alternatives analysis is a method used in regulation and product design to identify, compare, and evaluate the safety and viability of potential substitutes for hazardous chemicals. We assessed whether decision science may assist the alternatives analysis decision maker in comparing alternatives across a range of metrics. A workshop was convened that included representatives from government, academia, business, and civil society and included experts in toxicology, decision science, alternatives assessment, engineering, and law and policy. Participants were divided into two groups and were prompted with targeted questions. Throughout the workshop, the groups periodically came together in plenary sessions to reflect on other groups' findings. We concluded that the further incorporation of decision science into alternatives analysis would advance the ability of companies and regulators to select alternatives to harmful ingredients and would also advance the science of decision analysis. We advance four recommendations: a ) engaging the systematic development and evaluation of decision approaches and tools; b ) using case studies to advance the integration of decision analysis into alternatives analysis; c ) supporting transdisciplinary research; and d ) supporting education and outreach efforts. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP483.

The Group B Streptococcus-Secreted Protein CIP Interacts with C4, Preventing C3b Deposition via the Lectin and Classical Complement Pathways.

PubMed

Pietrocola, Giampiero; Rindi, Simonetta; Rosini, Roberto; Buccato, Scilla; Speziale, Pietro; Margarit, Immaculada

2016-01-01

The group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of neonatal invasive disease. GBS bacteria are surrounded by a thick capsular polysaccharide that is a potent inhibitor of complement deposition via the alternative pathway. Several of its surface molecules can however activate the classical and lectin complement pathways, rendering this species still vulnerable to phagocytic killing. In this study we have identified a novel secreted protein named complement interfering protein (CIP) that downregulates complement activation via the classical and lectin pathways, but not the alternative pathway. The CIP protein showed high affinity toward C4b and inhibited its interaction with C2, presumably preventing the formation of the C4bC2a convertase. Addition of recombinant CIP to GBS cip-negative bacteria resulted in decreased deposition of C3b on their surface and in diminished phagocytic killing in a whole-blood assay. Our data reveal a novel strategy exploited by GBS to counteract innate immunity and could be valuable for the development of anti-infective agents against this important pathogen. Copyright © 2015 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.

Identification of a novel acetate-utilizing bacterium belonging to Synergistes group 4 in anaerobic digester sludge.

PubMed

Ito, Tsukasa; Yoshiguchi, Kazumi; Ariesyady, Herto Dwi; Okabe, Satoshi

2011-12-01

Major acetate-utilizing bacterial and archaeal populations in methanogenic anaerobic digester sludge were identified and quantified by radioisotope- and stable-isotope-based functional analyses, microautoradiography-fluorescence in situ hybridization (MAR-FISH) and stable-isotope probing of 16S rRNA (RNA-SIP) that can directly link 16S rRNA phylogeny with in situ metabolic function. First, MAR-FISH with (14)C-acetate indicated the significant utilization of acetate by only two major groups, unidentified bacterial cells and Methanosaeta-like filamentous archaeal cells, in the digester sludge. To identify the acetate-utilizing unidentified bacteria, RNA-SIP was conducted with (13)C(6)-glucose and (13)C(3)-propionate as sole carbon source, which were followed by phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA. We found that bacteria belonging to Synergistes group 4 were commonly detected in both 16S rRNA clone libraries derived from the sludge incubated with (13)C-glucose and (13)C-propionate. To confirm that this bacterial group can utilize acetate, specific FISH probe targeting for Synergistes group 4 was newly designed and applied to the sludge incubated with (14)C-acetate for MAR-FISH. The MAR-FISH result showed that bacteria belonging to Synergistes group 4 significantly took up acetate and their active population size was comparable to that of Methanosaeta in this sludge. In addition, as bacteria belonging to Synergistes group 4 had high K(m) for acetate and maximum utilization rate, they are more competitive for acetate over Methanosaeta at high acetate concentrations (2.5-10  mM). To our knowledge, it is the first time to report the acetate-utilizing activity of uncultured bacteria belonging to Synergistes group 4 and its competitive significance to acetoclastic methanogen, Methanosaeta.

Identification of a novel acetate-utilizing bacterium belonging to Synergistes group 4 in anaerobic digester sludge

PubMed Central

Ito, Tsukasa; Yoshiguchi, Kazumi; Ariesyady, Herto Dwi; Okabe, Satoshi

2011-01-01

Major acetate-utilizing bacterial and archaeal populations in methanogenic anaerobic digester sludge were identified and quantified by radioisotope- and stable-isotope-based functional analyses, microautoradiography-fluorescence in situ hybridization (MAR-FISH) and stable-isotope probing of 16S rRNA (RNA-SIP) that can directly link 16S rRNA phylogeny with in situ metabolic function. First, MAR-FISH with 14C-acetate indicated the significant utilization of acetate by only two major groups, unidentified bacterial cells and Methanosaeta-like filamentous archaeal cells, in the digester sludge. To identify the acetate-utilizing unidentified bacteria, RNA-SIP was conducted with 13C6-glucose and 13C3-propionate as sole carbon source, which were followed by phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA. We found that bacteria belonging to Synergistes group 4 were commonly detected in both 16S rRNA clone libraries derived from the sludge incubated with 13C-glucose and 13C-propionate. To confirm that this bacterial group can utilize acetate, specific FISH probe targeting for Synergistes group 4 was newly designed and applied to the sludge incubated with 14C-acetate for MAR-FISH. The MAR-FISH result showed that bacteria belonging to Synergistes group 4 significantly took up acetate and their active population size was comparable to that of Methanosaeta in this sludge. In addition, as bacteria belonging to Synergistes group 4 had high Km for acetate and maximum utilization rate, they are more competitive for acetate over Methanosaeta at high acetate concentrations (2.5–10 m). To our knowledge, it is the first time to report the acetate-utilizing activity of uncultured bacteria belonging to Synergistes group 4 and its competitive significance to acetoclastic methanogen, Methanosaeta. PMID:21562600

Alternative [SU(3)]4 model of leptonic color and dark matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kownacki, Corey; Ma, Ernest; Pollard, Nicholas; Popov, Oleg; Zakeri, Mohammadreza

2018-03-01

The alternative [ SU (3) ] 4 model of leptonic color and dark matter is discussed. It unifies at MU ∼1014 GeV and has the low-energy subgroup SU(3)q × SU(2)l × SU(2)L × SU(2)R × U(1)X with (u , h) R instead of (u , d) R as doublets under SU(2)R. It has the built-in global U (1) dark symmetry which is generalized B- L. In analogy to SU(3)q quark triplets, it has SU(2)l hemion doublets which have half-integral charges and are confined by SU(2)l gauge bosons (stickons). In analogy to quarkonia, their vector bound states (hemionia) are uniquely suited for exploration at a future e-e+ collider.

In vivo polymerization of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) in the living rat hippocampus does not cause a significant loss of performance in a delayed alternation task

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ouyang, Liangqi; Shaw, Crystal L.; Kuo, Chin-chen; Griffin, Amy L.; Martin, David C.

2014-04-01

After extended implantation times, traditional intracortical neural probes exhibit a foreign-body reaction characterized by a reactive glial sheath that has been associated with increased system impedance and signal deterioration. Previously, we have proposed that the local in vivo polymerization of an electronically and ionically conducting polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), might help to rebuild charge transport pathways across the glial scar between the device and surrounding parenchyma (Richardson-Burns et al 2007 J. Neural Eng. 4 L6-13). The EDOT monomer can be delivered via a microcannula/electrode system into the brain tissue of living animals followed by direct electrochemical polymerization, using the electrode itself as a source of oxidative current. In this study, we investigated the long-term effect of local in vivo PEDOT deposition on hippocampal neural function and histology. Rodent subjects were trained on a hippocampus-dependent task, delayed alternation (DA), and implanted with the microcannula/electrode system in the hippocampus. The animals were divided into four groups with different delay times between the initial surgery and the electrochemical polymerization: (1) control (no polymerization), (2) immediate (polymerization within 5 min of device implantation), (3) early (polymerization within 3-4 weeks after implantation) and (4) late (polymerization 7-8 weeks after polymerization). System impedance at 1 kHz was recorded and the tissue reactions were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. We found that under our deposition conditions, PEDOT typically grew at the tip of the electrode, forming an ˜500 µm cloud in the tissue. This is much larger than the typical width of the glial scar (˜150 µm). After polymerization, the impedance amplitude near the neurologically important frequency of 1 kHz dropped for all the groups; however, there was a time window of 3-4 weeks for an optimal decrease in impedance. For all surgery

Alternate-Day High-Fat Diet Induces an Increase in Mitochondrial Enzyme Activities and Protein Content in Rat Skeletal Muscle.

PubMed

Li, Xi; Higashida, Kazuhiko; Kawamura, Takuji; Higuchi, Mitsuru

2016-04-06

Long-term high-fat diet increases muscle mitochondrial enzyme activity and endurance performance. However, excessive calorie intake causes intra-abdominal fat accumulation and metabolic syndrome. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of an alternating day high-fat diet on muscle mitochondrial enzyme activities, protein content, and intra-abdominal fat mass in rats. Male Wistar rats were given a standard chow diet (CON), high-fat diet (HFD), or alternate-day high-fat diet (ALT) for 4 weeks. Rats in the ALT group were fed a high-fat diet and standard chow every other day for 4 weeks. After the dietary intervention, mitochondrial enzyme activities and protein content in skeletal muscle were measured. Although body weight did not differ among groups, the epididymal fat mass in the HFD group was higher than those of the CON and ALT groups. Citrate synthase and beta-hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase activities in the plantaris muscle of rats in HFD and ALT were significantly higher than that in CON rats, whereas there was no difference between HFD and ALT groups. No significant difference was observed in muscle glycogen concentration or glucose transporter-4 protein content among the three groups. These results suggest that an alternate-day high-fat diet induces increases in mitochondrial enzyme activities and protein content in rat skeletal muscle without intra-abdominal fat accumulation.

Alternative synthesis of 3-acetyl, 3-epoxy, and 3-formyl chlorins from a 3-vinyl chlorin, methyl pyropheophorbide-a, via iodination.

PubMed

Oba, Toru; Masuya, Takuto; Yasuda, Satoru; Ito, Satoshi

2015-08-01

We developed novel methods to convert the C3-vinyl group of a chlorophyll derivative, methyl pyropheophorbide-a, into an acetyl group, an epoxy group, and a formyl group via iodination with I2 and phenyliodine(III) bis(trifluoroacetate). Reaction of the iodinated intermediate with ethylene glycol and subsequent treatment with base led to formation of the C3-acetyl chlorin. Reaction of the iodinated intermediate with ethylenediamine afforded the C3-oxiranyl chlorin. The C3-formyl chlorin was readily derived from the epoxide without hazardous reagents such as OsO4. These reactions were facile and useful alternatives to the previous methods. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chiroptical properties of an alternatingly functionalized cellotriose bearing two porphyrin groups

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Alternatingly functionalized cellulose molecules have potential applications in optoelectronics and molecular receptors. For example, cellulose-based solar cells have been proposed. As a prototype for such molecules, the trisaccharide fragment of cellulose was modified by attachment of porphyrin gro...

Electrodeposition of Nanocrystalline Cobalt Phosphorous Coatings as a Hard Chrome Alternative

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-11-01

1 ASETSDefense 2014 Electrodeposition of Nanocrystalline Cobalt Phosphorous Coatings as a Hard Chrome Alternative Ruben A. Prado, CEF...COVERED 00-00-2014 to 00-00-2014 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Electrodeposition of Nanocrystalline Cobalt Phosphorous Coatings as a Hard Chrome Alternative...coatings as a Hard Chrome (EHC) electroplating alternative for DoD manufacturing and repair. – Fully define deposition parameters and properties

The essence of alternative medicine. A dermatologist's view from Germany.

PubMed

Happle, R

1998-11-01

In Germany, alternative medicine is presently very popular and is supported by the federal government. When deliberating on the essence of alternative medicine we should simultaneously reflect on the intellectual and moral basis of regular medicine. To provide an epistemological demarcation of the 2 fields, the following 12 theses are advanced: (1) alternative and regular medicine are speaking different languages; (2) alternative medicine is not unconventional medicine; (3) the paradigm of regular medicine is rational thinking; (4) the paradigm of alternative medicine is irrational thinking; (5) the present popularity of alternative medicine can be explained by romanticism; (6) some concepts of alternative medicine are falsifiable and others are not; (7) alternative medicine and evidence-based medicine are mutually exclusive; (8) the placebo effect is an important factor in regular medicine and the exclusive therapeutic principle of alternative medicine; (9) regular and alternative medicine have different aims: coming of age vs faithfulness; (10) alternative medicine is not always safe; (11) alternative medicine is not economic; and (12) alternative medicine will always exist. The fact that alternative methods are presently an integral part of medicine as taught at German universities, as well as of the physician's fee schedule, represents a collective aberration of mind that hopefully will last for only a short time.

All-electron molecular Dirac-Hartree-Fock calculations - The group IV tetrahydrides CH4, SiH4, GeH4, SnH4, and PbH4

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dyall, Kenneth G.; Taylor, Peter R.; Faegri, Knut, Jr.; Partridge, Harry

1991-01-01

A basis-set-expansion Dirac-Hartree-Fock program for molecules is described. Bond lengths and harmonic frequencies are presented for the ground states of the group 4 tetrahydrides, CH4, SiH4, GeH4, SnH4, and PbH4. The results are compared with relativistic effective core potential (RECP) calculations, first-order perturbation theory (PT) calculations and with experimental data. The bond lengths are well predicted by first-order perturbation theory for all molecules, but none of the RECP's considered provides a consistent prediction. Perturbation theory overestimates the relativistic correction to the harmonic frequencies; the RECP calculations underestimate the correction.

Alternative Fleet Architecture Design

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-08-01

Alternative Fleet Architecture Design Stuart E. Johnson and Arthur K. Cebrowski Center...2005 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Alternative Fleet Architecture Design 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) 5d...these principles in mind. An alternative fleet architecture design and three examples of future fleet platform architectures are presented in this

Group marking and peer assessment during a group poster presentation: the experiences and views of midwifery students.

PubMed

Ohaja, Magdalena; Dunlea, Margaret; Muldoon, Kathryn

2013-09-01

Traditionally, written examination and clinical practice assessments are the main ways of deeming midwifery students fit and competent for practice. Contemporary academics in an effort to engage the students in the learning process have employed alternative teaching and assessment strategies. Among the alternative strategies are group projects after which members of the group are awarded the same grade, and peer assessment. With the purpose of informing the midwifery curricular, we utilised a qualitative descriptive approach to explore midwifery students' experiences and views on the use of group poster presentation for learning and assessment. The participants consisted of a purposive sample of 14 higher diploma midwifery students who were registered in a third level institution in Ireland. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted following the completion of the poster presentation assessment. Permission to undertake the study was obtained from the college ethics committee. In this paper, we focus on the participants' views of group marking and peer assessment which are among the key elements that emerged in this study. While awarding a group mark was overall accepted, peer assessment proved a more contentious issue. Most of the participants found it challenging marking their friends. Reactions to group marks were very much influenced by the group dynamics. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Primer on Alternative Investments: Free Lunches, Magic, and the Four Ps.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yoder, Jay A.

1998-01-01

A discussion of alternative investments for colleges and universities looks at the kinds of investments that comprise this group, rationales for making such investments, the advantages of diversification, risk issues, and ways to reduce risk, including careful selection of managers. Several strategies for getting started in alternative investments…

Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of alternative schedules of HPV vaccine in Vietnam: a cluster randomized noninferiority trial.

PubMed

Neuzil, Kathleen M; Canh, Do Gia; Thiem, Vu Dinh; Janmohamed, Amynah; Huong, Vu Minh; Tang, Yuxiao; Diep, Nguyen Thi Ngoc; Tsu, Vivien; LaMontagne, D Scott

2011-04-13

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine programs may decrease the morbidity and mortality due to cervical cancer seen among women in low-resource countries. However, the 3-dose schedule over a 6-month period is a potential barrier to vaccine introduction in such settings. To determine the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of different dosing schedules of quadrivalent HPV vaccine in adolescent girls in Vietnam. Open-label, cluster randomized, noninferiority study (conducted between October 2007 and January 2010) assessing 4 schedules of an HPV vaccine delivered in 21 schools to 903 adolescent girls (aged 11-13 years at enrollment) living in northwestern Vietnam. Intramuscular injection of 3 doses of quadrivalent HPV vaccine delivered on a standard dosing schedule (at 0, 2, and 6 months) and 3 alternative dosing schedules (at 0, 3, and 9 months; at 0, 6, and 12 months; or at 0, 12, and 24 months). Serum anti-HPV geometric mean titers (GMT) measured 1 month after the third dose of the HPV vaccine was administered; GMT was determined by type-specific competitive immunoassay. Noninferiority of each alternative vaccination dosing schedule was achieved if the lower bound of the multiplicity-adjusted confidence interval (CI) of the type-specific GMT ratio for HPV-16 and HPV-18 was greater than 0.5 (primary outcome). Safety outcomes were immediate reactions, local reactions, fever within 7 days after each dose, and serious adverse events up to 30 days following the last dose. In the intention-to-treat analysis, 809 girls who received at least 1 HPV vaccine dose had valid serum measurements 1 month after the third dose. After the third dose, the GMTs for those in the standard schedule group who received doses at 0, 2, and 6 months were 5808.0 (95% CI, 4961.4-6799.0) for HPV-16 and 1729.9 (95% CI, 1504.0-1989.7) for HPV-18; 5368.5 (95% CI, 4632.4-6221.5) and 1502.3 (95% CI, 1302.1-1733.2), respectively, for those whose received doses at 0, 3, and 9 months; 5716.4 (95% CI, 4876

Use of Alternative Medications for Menopause-Related Symptoms in Three Major Ethnic Groups of Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.

PubMed

Ohn Mar, Saw; Malhi, Fatehpal; Syed Rahim, Syed Hamid; Chua, Chin Tong; Sidhu, Sarjeet Singh; Sandheep, Sugathan

2015-11-01

This cross-sectional study investigated the use of alternative medications to alleviate menopause-related symptoms among Malay, Chinese, and Indian women of Ipoh city. The prevalence, types, effectiveness, and associated factors were determined. The prevalence of alternative medication use was 41.4%. Evening primrose oil (EPO) was the most popular medication used (18.1%), followed by soy-based products (12.3%), green tea (6.8%), and gingko (5.8%). The medication was reported to be highly effective by 58.3% of soya bean diet users and 41.1% of EPO users. Significant variables associated with the use were Chinese or Indian ethnicity (P < .001), age between 50 and 54 years (P < .01), lower self-health rating (P < .05), education level of diploma or professional degree (P < .05), employment as professionals or entrepreneurs (P < .05), and the use of hormone replacement therapy (P < .05). Regression analysis showed that Chinese and Indians had significantly higher odds for the use than Malays (Chinese: odds ratio [OR] = 4.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.392-7.837; Indians: OR = 3.248, 95% CI = 1.586-6.654). © 2015 APJPH.

[A systematic review of the effectiveness of alternative weight-loss products' ingredients].

PubMed

de Lira-García, Cynthia; Souto-Gallardo, María; Bacardí-Gascón, Monserrat; Jiménez-Cruz, Arturo

2008-01-01

The high demand for obesity treatment and conventional therapies' lack of effectiveness increases the use of alternative products. This study was aimed at assessing evidence from randomised clinical trials regarding the effectiveness of alternative weight-loss products' ingredients. A survey was conducted in Ensenada, Baja California, to assess the frequency of consuming alternative products used for weight reduction. The ingredients in the products most in demand were included in this review. The Pubmed database was searched for all randomised clinical trial papers including these ingredients and assessing weight loss. Thirty-six percent of the subjects questioned had used alternative methods for weight-loss, 83% of them being women. The most frequently used products were shakes, tea, pills and flaxseed/linseed. Sixteen randomised clinical trials using four ingredients were used: Garcinia cambogia, green tea, L-carnitina and flaxseed. Only two studies (green tea and Garcinia cambogia) showed significant weight-loss (25%) amongst control and experimental groups. There was no significant difference between the groups in the studies regarding L-carnitina and flaxseed. There is a lack of evidence regarding quality studies justifying the use of alternative products for weight loss.

Role of the carbonyl group of the (6–4) photoproduct in the (6–4) photolyase reaction†

PubMed Central

Yamamoto, Junpei; Hitomi, Kenichi; Hayashi, Ryosuke; Getzoff, Elizabeth D.; Iwai, Shigenori

2009-01-01

The (6–4) photoproduct, which is one of the major UV-induced DNA lesions, causes carcinogenesis with high frequency. The (6–4) photolyase is a flavoprotein that can restore this lesion to the original bases, but its repair mechanism has not been elucidated. In this study, we focused on the interaction between the enzyme and the 3’ pyrimidone component of the (6–4) photoproduct, and prepared a substrate analog in which the carbonyl group, a hydrogen-bond acceptor, was replaced with an imine, a hydrogen-bond donor, to investigate the involvement of this carbonyl group in the (6–4) photolyase reaction. UV irradiation of oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing a single thymine–5-methylisocytosine site yielded products with absorption bands at wavelengths longer than 300 nm, similar to those obtained from the conversion of the TT site to the (6–4) photoproduct. The nuclease digestion, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and the instability of the products indicated the formation of the 2-iminopyrimidine-type photoproduct. Analyses of the reaction and the binding of the (6–4) photolyase using these oligonucleotides revealed that this imine analog of the (6–4) photoproduct was not repaired by the (6–4) photolyase, although the enzyme bound to the oligonucleotide with considerable affinity. These results indicate that the carbonyl group of the 3’ pyrimidone ring plays an important role in the (6–4) photolyase reaction. Based on these results, we discuss the repair mechanism. PMID:19715341

Various cross-reactivity of the grass pollen group 4 allergens: crystallographic study of the Bermuda grass isoallergen Cyn d 4.

PubMed

Huang, Tse-Hao; Peng, Ho-Jen; Su, Song-Nan; Liaw, Shwu-Huey

2012-10-01

The structure of Cyn d 4, the group 4 allergen from Bermuda grass, is reported at 2.15 Å resolution and is the first crystal structure of a naturally isolated pollen allergen. A conserved N-terminal segment that is only present in the large isoallergens forms extensive interactions with surrounding residues and hence greatly enhances the structural stability of the protein. Cyn d 4 contains an FAD cofactor that is covalently linked to His88 and Cys152. To date, all identified bicovalent flavoproteins are oxidases and their substrates are either sugars or secondary metabolites. A deep large hydrophobic substrate-binding cleft is present. Thus, Cyn d 4 may be an oxidase that is involved in the biosynthesis of a pollen-specific metabolite. Cyn d 4 shares ~70% sequence identity with the Pooideae group 4 allergens. Various cross-reactivities between grass pollen group 4 allergens have previously been demonstrated using sera from allergic patients. The protein surface displays an unusually large number of positively charged clusters, reflecting the high pI of ~10. 38 decapeptides that cover the solvent-accessible sequences did not show any significant IgE-binding activity using sera with high Cyn d 4 reactivity from four patients, suggesting that the IgE epitopes of Cyn d 4 are predominantly conformational in nature. Several group 4 structures were then modelled and their potential cross-reactive and species-specific IgE epitopes were proposed.

Group decision making with the analytic hierarchy process in benefit-risk assessment: a tutorial.

PubMed

Hummel, J Marjan; Bridges, John F P; IJzerman, Maarten J

2014-01-01

The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) has been increasingly applied as a technique for multi-criteria decision analysis in healthcare. The AHP can aid decision makers in selecting the most valuable technology for patients, while taking into account multiple, and even conflicting, decision criteria. This tutorial illustrates the procedural steps of the AHP in supporting group decision making about new healthcare technology, including (1) identifying the decision goal, decision criteria, and alternative healthcare technologies to compare, (2) structuring the decision criteria, (3) judging the value of the alternative technologies on each decision criterion, (4) judging the importance of the decision criteria, (5) calculating group judgments, (6) analyzing the inconsistency in judgments, (7) calculating the overall value of the technologies, and (8) conducting sensitivity analyses. The AHP is illustrated via a hypothetical example, adapted from an empirical AHP analysis on the benefits and risks of tissue regeneration to repair small cartilage lesions in the knee.

4d $$ \\mathcal{N} $$=2 theories with disconnected gauge groups

DOE PAGES

Argyres, Philip C.; Martone, Mario

2017-03-28

In this paper we present a beautifully consistent web of evidence for the existence of interacting 4d rank-1more » $$ \\mathcal{N} $$ = 2 SCFTs obtained from gauging discrete subgroups of global symmetries of other existing 4d rank-1 $$ \\mathcal{N} $$ = 2 SCFTs. The global symmetries that can be gauged involve a non-trivial combination of discrete subgroups of the U(1) R, low-energy EM duality group SL(2,Z), and the outer automorphism group of the flavor symmetry algebra, Out(F ). The theories that we construct are remarkable in many ways: (i) two of them have exceptional F 4 and G 2 flavor groups; (ii) they substantially complete the picture of the landscape of rank-1 $$ \\mathcal{N} $$ = 2 SCFTs as they realize all but one of the remaining consistent rank-1 Seiberg-Witten geometries that we previously constructed but were not associated to known SCFTs; and (iii) some of them have enlarged $$ \\mathcal{N} $$ = 3 SUSY, and have not been previously constructed. They are also examples of SCFTs which violate the ShapereTachikawa relation between the conformal central charges and the scaling dimension of the Coulomb branch vev. Here, we propose a modification of the formulas computing these central charges from the topologically twisted Coulomb branch partition function which correctly compute them for discretely gauged theories.« less

MAG4 Versus Alternative Techniques for Forecasting Active-Region Flare Productivity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Falconer, David A.; Moore, Ronald L.; Barghouty, Abdulnasser F.; Khazanov, Igor

2014-01-01

MAG4 (Magnetogram Forecast), developed originally for NASA/SRAG (Space Radiation Analysis Group), is an automated program that analyzes magnetograms from the HMI (Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager) instrument on NASA SDO (Solar Dynamics Observatory), and automatically converts the rate (or probability) of major flares (M- and X-class), Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), and Solar Energetic Particle Events. MAG4 does not forecast that a flare will occur at a particular time in the next 24 or 48 hours; rather the probability of one occurring.

Cautionary note concerning the CuSO4 X-ray laser. [alternative to lasing action

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Billman, K. W.; Mark, H.

1973-01-01

For the so far unconfirmed lasing action claimed by Kepros et al. (1972) to have been obtained by focusing a 1.06-micron radiation of a q-switched Nd(3+) glass laser to a small cylindrical volume inside a CuSO4-doped gelatin medium supported between two glass plates, an alternate explanation is proposed that does not depend on the assumption of laser action in copper. The proposed explanation shows how collimated X-ray beams might be created under the experimental conditions described by Kepros et al.

Chimpanzees prioritise social information over pre-existing behaviours in a group context but not in dyads.

PubMed

Watson, Stuart K; Lambeth, Susan P; Schapiro, Steven J; Whiten, Andrew

2018-05-01

How animal communities arrive at homogeneous behavioural preferences is a central question for studies of cultural evolution. Here, we investigated whether chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) would relinquish a pre-existing behaviour to adopt an alternative demonstrated by an overwhelming majority of group mates; in other words, whether chimpanzees behave in a conformist manner. In each of five groups of chimpanzees (N = 37), one individual was trained on one method of opening a two-action puzzle box to obtain food, while the remaining individuals learned the alternative method. Over 5 h of open access to the apparatus in a group context, it was found that 4/5 'minority' individuals explored the majority method and three of these used this new method in the majority of trials. Those that switched did so after observing only a small subset of their group, thereby not matching conventional definitions of conformity. In a further 'Dyad' condition, six pairs of chimpanzees were trained on alternative methods and then given access to the task together. Only one of these individuals ever switched method. The number of observations that individuals in the minority and Dyad individuals made of their untrained method was not found to influence whether or not they themselves switched to use it. In a final 'Asocial' condition, individuals (N = 10) did not receive social information and did not deviate from their first-learned method. We argue that these results demonstrate an important influence of social context upon prioritisation of social information over pre-existing methods, which can result in group homogeneity of behaviour.

Reactions of Hydrogen Chloride and Boron Trichloride with Trimethylsilylamino Groups

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-04-04

SUPPLEMENTARY NOTATION 17, COSATI CODES 18. SUBJECT TERMS (Continue on reverse if necessary and kientify by block number) FIELD ,,GROUP SU8 -GROUP...nitride preceramic polymers . Due to the low yield multistage synthesis, alternate routes to isomeric compositions and intermediates needed to be...Organo- metallic Polymers , Zeldin, M., Wynne, K. J., Allcock, H. R.; Ed, ACS Symposium Series 360. (4) Ebsworth, E.A.V. Volatile Silicon Compounds

t4 Workshop Report

PubMed Central

Silbergeld, Ellen K.; Contreras, Elizabeth Q.; Hartung, Thomas; Hirsch, Cordula; Hogberg, Helena; Jachak, Ashish C.; Jordan, William; Landsiedel, Robert; Morris, Jeffery; Patri, Anil; Pounds, Joel G.; de Vizcaya Ruiz, Andrea; Shvedova, Anna; Tanguay, Robert; Tatarazako, Norihasa; van Vliet, Erwin; Walker, Nigel J.; Wiesner, Mark; Wilcox, Neil; Zurlo, Joanne

2014-01-01

Summary In October 2010, a group of experts met as part of the transatlantic think tank for toxicology (t4) to exchange ideas about the current status and future of safety testing of nanomaterials. At present, there is no widely accepted path forward to assure appropriate and effective hazard identification for engineered nanomaterials. The group discussed needs for characterization of nanomaterials and identified testing protocols that incorporate the use of innovative alternative whole models such as zebrafish or C. elegans, as well as in vitro or alternative methods to examine specific functional pathways and modes of action. The group proposed elements of a potential testing scheme for nanomaterials that works towards an integrated testing strategy, incorporating the goals of the NRC report Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century: A Vision and a Strategy by focusing on pathways of toxic response, and utilizing an evidence-based strategy for developing the knowledge base for safety assessment. Finally, the group recommended that a reliable, open, curated database be developed that interfaces with existing databases to enable sharing of information. PMID:21993959

Early Sentence Productions of 3- and 4-Year-Old Children Who Use Augmentative and Alternative Communication

PubMed Central

Kent-Walsh, Jennifer; King, Marika; Mansfield, Lindsay

2017-01-01

Purpose This study investigated the early rule-based sentence productions of 3- and 4-year-old children with severe speech disorders who used single-meaning graphic symbols to communicate. Method Ten 3- and 4-year-olds requiring the use of augmentative and alternative communication, who had largely intact receptive language skills, received instruction in producing up to four different semantic–syntactic targets using an Apple iPad with a communication app. A single-case, multiple-probe, across-targets design was used to assess the progress of each participant and target. Generalization to new vocabulary was assessed, and a subgroup also was taught to produce sentences using grammatical markers. Results Some targets (primarily possessor-entity) were mastered in the baseline phase, and the majority of the remaining targets were mastered during intervention. All four children who completed intervention for grammatical markers quickly learned to use the markers accurately. Conclusions Expressive language potential for preschoolers using graphic symbol–based augmentative and alternative communication systems should not be underestimated. With appropriate presentation and intervention techniques, some preschoolers with profound speech disorders can readily learn to produce rule-based messages via graphic symbols. PMID:28614575

Early Sentence Productions of 3- and 4-Year-Old Children Who Use Augmentative and Alternative Communication.

PubMed

Binger, Cathy; Kent-Walsh, Jennifer; King, Marika; Mansfield, Lindsay

2017-07-12

This study investigated the early rule-based sentence productions of 3- and 4-year-old children with severe speech disorders who used single-meaning graphic symbols to communicate. Ten 3- and 4-year-olds requiring the use of augmentative and alternative communication, who had largely intact receptive language skills, received instruction in producing up to four different semantic-syntactic targets using an Apple iPad with a communication app. A single-case, multiple-probe, across-targets design was used to assess the progress of each participant and target. Generalization to new vocabulary was assessed, and a subgroup also was taught to produce sentences using grammatical markers. Some targets (primarily possessor-entity) were mastered in the baseline phase, and the majority of the remaining targets were mastered during intervention. All four children who completed intervention for grammatical markers quickly learned to use the markers accurately. Expressive language potential for preschoolers using graphic symbol-based augmentative and alternative communication systems should not be underestimated. With appropriate presentation and intervention techniques, some preschoolers with profound speech disorders can readily learn to produce rule-based messages via graphic symbols.

Can research assessments themselves cause bias in behaviour change trials? A systematic review of evidence from solomon 4-group studies.

PubMed

McCambridge, Jim; Butor-Bhavsar, Kaanan; Witton, John; Elbourne, Diana

2011-01-01

The possible effects of research assessments on participant behaviour have attracted research interest, especially in studies with behavioural interventions and/or outcomes. Assessments may introduce bias in randomised controlled trials by altering receptivity to intervention in experimental groups and differentially impacting on the behaviour of control groups. In a Solomon 4-group design, participants are randomly allocated to one of four arms: (1) assessed experimental group; (2) unassessed experimental group (3) assessed control group; or (4) unassessed control group. This design provides a test of the internal validity of effect sizes obtained in conventional two-group trials by controlling for the effects of baseline assessment, and assessing interactions between the intervention and baseline assessment. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate evidence from Solomon 4-group studies with behavioural outcomes that baseline research assessments themselves can introduce bias into trials. Electronic databases were searched, supplemented by citation searching. Studies were eligible if they reported appropriately analysed results in peer-reviewed journals and used Solomon 4-group designs in non-laboratory settings with behavioural outcome measures and sample sizes of 20 per group or greater. Ten studies from a range of applied areas were included. There was inconsistent evidence of main effects of assessment, sparse evidence of interactions with behavioural interventions, and a lack of convincing data in relation to the research question for this review. There were too few high quality completed studies to infer conclusively that biases stemming from baseline research assessments do or do not exist. There is, therefore a need for new rigorous Solomon 4-group studies that are purposively designed to evaluate the potential for research assessments to cause bias in behaviour change trials.

A Wilderness Adventure Program as an Alternative for Juvenile Probationers: An Evaluation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Winterdyk, John Albert

A true experimental design with 60 male probationers, ages 13-16, was used to evaluate the viability of an Ontario-based 21-day wilderness adventure program as an alternative for adjudicated juveniles placed on probation. Participants were randomly assigned to a control group and an experimental group. The experimental group was subdivided into 3…

Safety assessment of nanomaterials using an advanced decision-making framework, the DF4nanoGrouping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Landsiedel, Robert; Ma-Hock, Lan; Wiench, Karin; Wohlleben, Wendel; Sauer, Ursula G.

2017-05-01

As presented at the 2016 TechConnect World Innovation Conference on 22-25 May 2016 in Washington DC, USA, the European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals (ECETOC) `Nano Task Force' proposes a Decision-making framework for the grouping and testing of nanomaterials (DF4nanoGrouping) consisting of three tiers to assign nanomaterials to four main groups with possible further subgrouping to refine specific information needs. The DF4nanoGrouping covers all relevant aspects of a nanomaterial's life cycle and biological pathways: intrinsic material properties and system-dependent properties (that depend upon the nanomaterial's respective surroundings), biopersistence, uptake and biodistribution, and cellular and apical toxic effects. Use, release, and exposure route may be applied as `qualifiers' to determine if, e.g., nanomaterials cannot be released from products, which may justify waiving of testing. The four main groups encompass (1) soluble, (2) biopersistent high aspect ratio, (3) passive, and (4) active nanomaterials. The DF4nanoGrouping foresees a stepwise evaluation of nanomaterial properties and effects with increasing biological complexity. In case studies covering carbonaceous nanomaterials, metal oxide, and metal sulfate nanomaterials, amorphous silica and organic pigments (all nanomaterials having primary particle sizes below 100 nm), the usefulness of the DF4nanoGrouping for nanomaterial hazard assessment was confirmed. The DF4nanoGrouping facilitates grouping and targeted testing of nanomaterials. It ensures that sufficient data for the risk assessment of a nanomaterial are available, and it fosters the use of non-animal methods. No studies are performed that do not provide crucial data. Thereby, the DF4nanoGrouping serves to save both animals and resources.

4PS/insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-2 is the alternative substrate of the insulin receptor in IRS-1-deficient mice.

PubMed

Patti, M E; Sun, X J; Bruening, J C; Araki, E; Lipes, M A; White, M F; Kahn, C R

1995-10-20

Insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) is the major cytoplasmic substrate of the insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 receptors. Transgenic mice lacking IRS-1 are resistant to insulin and IGF-1, but exhibit significant residual insulin action which corresponds to the presence of an alternative high molecular weight substrate in liver and muscle. Recently, Sun et al. (Sun, X.-J., Wang, L.-M., Zhang, Y., Yenush, L. P., Myers, M. G., Jr., Glasheen, E., Lane, W.S., Pierce, J. H., and White, M. F. (1995) Nature 377, 173-177) purified and cloned 4PS, the major substrate of the IL-4 receptor-associated tyrosine kinase in myeloid cells, which has significant structural similarity to IRS-1. To determine if 4PS is the alternative substrate of the insulin receptor in IRS-1-deficient mice, we performed immunoprecipitation, immunoblotting, and phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase assays using specific antibodies to 4PS. Following insulin stimulation, 4PS is rapidly phosphorylated in liver and muscle, binds to the p85 subunit of PI 3-kinase, and activates the enzyme. Insulin stimulation also results in the association of 4PS with Grb 2 in both liver and muscle. In IRS-1-deficient mice, both the phosphorylation of 4PS and associated PI 3-kinase activity are enhanced, without an increase in protein expression. Immunodepletion of 4PS from liver and muscle homogenates removes most of the phosphotyrosine-associated PI 3-kinase activity in IRS-1-deficient mice. Thus, 4PS is the primary alternative substrate, i.e. IRS-2, which plays a major role in physiologic insulin signal transduction via both PI 3-kinase activation and Grb 2/Sos association. In IRS-1-deficient mice, 4PS/IRS-2 provides signal transduction to these two major pathways of insulin signaling.

Alternative states of a semiarid grassland ecosystem: implications for ecosystem services

USGS Publications Warehouse

Miller, Mark E.; Belote, R. Travis; Bowker, Matthew A.; Garman, Steven L.

2011-01-01

Ecosystems can shift between alternative states characterized by persistent differences in structure, function, and capacity to provide ecosystem services valued by society. We examined empirical evidence for alternative states in a semiarid grassland ecosystem where topographic complexity and contrasting management regimes have led to spatial variations in levels of livestock grazing. Using an inventory data set, we found that plots (n = 72) cluster into three groups corresponding to generalized alternative states identified in an a priori conceptual model. One cluster (biocrust) is notable for high coverage of a biological soil crust functional group in addition to vascular plants. Another (grass-bare) lacks biological crust but retains perennial grasses at levels similar to the biocrust cluster. A third (annualized-bare) is dominated by invasive annual plants. Occurrence of grass-bare and annualized-bare conditions in areas where livestock have been excluded for over 30 years demonstrates the persistence of these states. Significant differences among all three clusters were found for percent bare ground, percent total live cover, and functional group richness. Using data for vegetation structure and soil erodibility, we also found large among-cluster differences in average levels of dust emissions predicted by a wind-erosion model. Predicted emissions were highest for the annualized-bare cluster and lowest for the biocrust cluster, which was characterized by zero or minimal emissions even under conditions of extreme wind. Results illustrate potential trade-offs among ecosystem services including livestock production, soil retention, carbon storage, and biodiversity conservation. Improved understanding of these trade-offs may assist ecosystem managers when evaluating alternative management strategies.

An Evaluation of the Single-Group Growth Model as an Alternative to Common-Item Equating. Research Report. ETS RR-16-01

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wei, Youhua; Morgan, Rick

2016-01-01

As an alternative to common-item equating when common items do not function as expected, the single-group growth model (SGGM) scaling uses common examinees or repeaters to link test scores on different forms. The SGGM scaling assumes that, for repeaters taking adjacent administrations, the conditional distribution of scale scores in later…

The behavior pattern of parents of patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis concerning alternative medicine.

PubMed

Işıkay, Sedat

2017-01-01

Işıkay S. The behavior pattern of parents of patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis concerning alternative medicine. Turk J Pediatr 2017; 59: 288-294. The aim of the study was to examine the attitude of the parents of Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE) patients regarding alternative treatment methods and compare with those of the parents of epilepsy patients. The study comprised 39 SSPE and 53 epilepsy patients who were under follow-up in Gaziantep Children`s Hospital. A questionnaire designed to inquire about the knowledge (13 questions) and behavior (11 questions) of parents about alternative medicine methods was given to the caregiver of all patients. The ratio of parents using alternative medicine methods was 29/39 (74.4%) in the SSPE group and 8/53 (15.1%) in the epilepsy group. Less than half of the parents of SSPE patients reported talking about it with their doctors. These results show parents facing a chronic debilitating disease frequently seek benefit from alternative methods. Most define this treatment as complementary to the established medical treatment. However, potential and unrecognized adverse events of alternative methods and their interference with regular medical treatment can be of importance, especially because treating physicians are seldom informed about concurrent use.

Safety and immunogenicity of a four-component meningococcal group B vaccine (4CMenB) and a quadrivalent meningococcal group ACWY conjugate vaccine administered concomitantly in healthy laboratory workers.

PubMed

Findlow, Jamie; Bai, Xilian; Findlow, Helen; Newton, Emma; Kaczmarski, Ed; Miller, Elizabeth; Borrow, Ray

2015-06-26

Safety precautions for laboratory staff working with meningococci should primarily rely on laboratory procedures preventing exposure to aerosols containing viable meningococci. Despite this, vaccination is a key component of protection in the occupational setting. In the UK in 2009, there were no licensed vaccines for meningococcal capsular group B or conjugate vaccines for capsular groups A, C, W and Y. We therefore undertook a Phase II trial in laboratory workers to investigate the safety and immunogenicity of a four component group B vaccine (4CMenB) and a quadrivalent group A, C, W and Y conjugate vaccine (ACWY-CRM). Enrolment was open to staff aged 18-65 years at the Public Health Laboratory, Manchester who may have had a potential occupational exposure risk to meningococci. 4CMenB was administered at 0, 2 and 6 months in the non-dominant arm and ACWY-CRM concomitantly at 0 months in the dominant arm. Pre- and post-vaccination blood samples were taken and analysed by the serum bactericidal antibody (SBA) assay against A, C, W and Y strains and a panel of seven diverse group B strains. Diary cards were used to record any local and systemic reactions following each vaccination. In total, 38 staff were enrolled and received initial vaccinations with 31 completing the trial per protocol. Both vaccines were proven safe, with local reactogenicity being more commonly reported following 4CMenB than ACWY-CRM. High proportions of subjects had putative protective SBA titres pre-vaccination, with 61-84 and 61-87% protected against A, C, W and Y strains and diverse MenB strains, respectively. Post-vaccination, SBA titres increased with 95-100 and 90-100% of subjects with protective SBA titres against A, C, W and Y strains and diverse MenB strains, respectively. These data suggest that 4CMenB and ACWY-CRM are safe when administered concomitantly and have the potential to enhance protection for laboratory workers. www.clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00962624. Crown

Spectroscopic and first principles investigation on 4-[(4-pyridinylmethylene)amino]-benzoic acid bearing pyridyl and carboxyl anchoring groups

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Lei; Wang, Qiaoyi

2018-03-01

We report a combined experimental and computational investigation on the structure and photophysics of 4-[(4-pyridinylmethylene)amino]-benzoic acid, a functional molecule bearing two anchoring groups for attachment onto a TiO2 surface and perovskite surface, for potential solar cell application. This molecule possesses interesting adsorption properties in perovskite solar cell because the pyridyl group serves as the Lewis base and targets Lewis acidic sites in the perovskite surface, while the carboxyl group targets TiO2 surface, improving the coupling between the perovskite surface and the TiO2 surface. The electronic structures of the molecule and its photochemistry are revealed by the UV-vis absorption spectra and the fluorescence spectra under visible light irradiation, which are combined with density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) analysis. Considering the bi-anchoring groups and the conjugated π system embedded in the molecule, we anticipate it can molecular engineer the TiO2/perovskite interface in perovskite solar cell.

In vivo polymerization of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) in living rat hippocampus does not cause a significant loss of performance in a delayed alternation (DA) task

PubMed Central

Ouyang, Liangqi; Shaw, Crystal L.; Kuo, Chin-chen; Griffin, Amy L.; Martin, David C.

2014-01-01

After extended implantation times, traditional intracortical neural probes exhibit a foreign body reaction characterized by a reactive glial sheath that has been associated with increased system impedance and signal deterioration. Previously, we have proposed that the local in vivo polymerization of an electronically and ionically conducting polymer, poly(3,4 ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT), might help to rebuild charge transport pathways across the glial scar between the device and surrounding parenchyma (Richardson-Burns, Hendricks, & Martin, 2007). The EDOT monomer can be delivered via a microcannula/electrode system into the brain tissue of living animals followed by direct electrochemical polymerization, using the electrode itself as a source of oxidative current. In this study we investigated the long-term effect of local in vivo PEDOT deposition on hippocampal neural function and histology. Rodent subjects were trained on a hippocampus-dependent task, Delayed Alternation (DA), and implanted with the microcannula/electrode system in the hippocampus. The animals were divided into four groups with different delay times between the initial surgery and the electrochemical polymerization: (1) Control (no polymerization), (2) Immediate (polymerization within 5 minutes of device implantation), (3) Early (polymerization within 3–4 weeks after implantation), and (4) Late (polymerization 7–8 weeks after polymerization). System impedance at 1 kHz was recorded and the tissue reactions were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. We found that under our deposition conditions, PEDOT typically grew at the tip of the electrode, forming a ~500 μm cloud into the tissue. This is much larger than the typical width of the glial scar (~150 μm). After polymerization, the impedance amplitude near the neurologically important frequency of 1 kHz dropped for all the groups, however, there was a time window of 3–4 weeks for optimal decrease in impedance. For all surgery

Backtrack Programming: A Computer-Based Approach to Group Problem Solving.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scott, Michael D.; Bodaken, Edward M.

Backtrack problem-solving appears to be a viable alternative to current problem-solving methodologies. It appears to have considerable heuristic potential as a conceptual and operational framework for small group communication research, as well as functional utility for the student group in the small group class or the management team in the…

Alternative Ultrasound Gel for a Sustainable Ultrasound Program: Application of Human Centered Design.

PubMed

Salmon, Margaret; Salmon, Christian; Bissinger, Alexa; Muller, Mundenga Mutendi; Gebreyesus, Alegnta; Geremew, Haimanot; Wendel, Sarah K; Wendell, Sarah; Azaza, Aklilu; Salumu, Maurice; Benfield, Nerys

2015-01-01

This paper describes design of a low cost, ultrasound gel from local products applying aspects of Human Centered Design methodology. A multidisciplinary team worked with clinicians who use ultrasound where commercial gel is cost prohibitive and scarce. The team followed the format outlined in the Ideo Took Kit. Research began by defining the challenge "how to create locally available alternative ultrasound gel for a low-resourced environment? The "End-Users," were identified as clinicians who use ultrasound in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia. An expert group was identified and queried for possible alternatives to commercial gel. Responses included shampoo, oils, water and cornstarch. Cornstarch, while a reasonable solution, was either not available or too expensive. We then sought deeper knowledge of locally sources materials from local experts, market vendors, to develop a similar product. Suggested solutions gleaned from these interviews were collected and used to create ultrasound gel accounting for cost, image quality, manufacturing capability. Initial prototypes used cassava root flour from Great Lakes Region (DRC, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania) and West Africa, and bula from Ethiopia. Prototypes were tested in the field and resulting images evaluated by our user group. A final prototype was then selected. Cassava and bula at a 32 part water, 8 part flour and 4 part salt, heated, mixed then cooled was the product design of choice.

Minimally invasive, nonendoscopic thyroidectomy: a cosmetic alternative to robotic-assisted thyroidectomy.

PubMed

Govednik, Cara M; Snyder, Samuel K; Quinn, Courtney E; Saxena, Saurabh; Jupiter, Daniel C

2014-10-01

The desire to improve cosmesis has driven the introduction of robotic-assisted and video-assisted thyroidectomy techniques. We report on minimally invasive thyroidectomy (MIT) through a 2-cm incision without the added need for video assistance and hypothesize similar clinical results to standard open thyroidectomy. Between May 2012 and December 2013, 62 nonendoscopic MIT were evaluated for demographics, clinical outcomes, and patient satisfaction on a 1-10 scale. The results were compared with a case-matched control group who underwent conventional open thyroidectomy by the same surgeon. The 124 study patients demonstrated no differences between groups for demographics or clinical outcomes except a smaller thyroid lobe in the MIT group (9.2 vs 11.7 g; P = .05). There were longer operative times in the MIT group (135.4 vs 119.6 minutes; P = .07) that were not equivalent by equivalence testing (P = .534). In MIT patients, transient recurrent laryngeal nerve injury occurred per nerves at risk (1.1% vs 3.4%; P = .62) with no permanent injuries in either group. There was no difference in symptomatic hypocalcemia (9.7% vs 11.3%; P = .77) and postoperative hematoma (0% vs 3.2%; P = .50). On follow-up, the measured MIT scar was significantly shorter (2.22 vs 3.98 cm; P < .00001), which resulted in significantly improved cosmetic satisfaction ratings (9.56 vs 8.66; P = .03). In selected patients, MIT through a 2-cm incision without endoscopic assistance is a safe alternative to standard open thyroidectomy in the hands of an experienced endocrine surgeon. The operating time is slightly increased, but clinical results are equivalent and patient satisfaction is significantly improved. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

THE GRK4 SUBFAMILY OF G PROTEIN-COUPLED RECEPTOR KINASES: ALTERNATIVE SPLICING, GENE ORGANIZATION, AND SEQUENCE CONSERVATION

EPA Science Inventory

The GRK4 subfamily of G protein-coupled receptor kinases. Alternative splicing, gene organization, and sequence conservation.

Premont RT, Macrae AD, Aparicio SA, Kendall HE, Welch JE, Lefkowitz RJ.

Department of Medicine, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke Univer...

Workers in Alternative Employment Arrangements: A Second Look.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cohany, Sharon R.

1998-01-01

Both the proportion and characteristics of workers in four alternative employment arrangements in February 1997 were little different from two years earlier. The groups--temporary-help-agency workers, contract company workers, workers who are on call, and independent contractors--continue to be highly diverse. (Author/JOW)

Alternative techniques in root canal debridement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luca, Ruxandra; Todea, Carmen; Bǎlǎbuc, Cosmin; Nica, Luminita; Armani, Giacomo; Locovei, Cosmin

2014-01-01

Studies have demonstrated that conventional chemo-mechanical preparation is limited regarding the decontamination of the endodontic space, which is why alternative techniques such as laser radiation have their importance in the modern endodontic treatment. The present study aims to assess the possibility of improving the debridement of the root canals by removing smear layer using Er: YAG laser radiation. We used 18 extracted teeth, which were subjected to the same initial protocol and then divided into 5 study groups: the control group has not been treated with laser; the other 4 groups were exposed to laser radiation using two different geometries peaks of quartz and two energy levels. Scanning electronic microscopy revealed an increased efficiency in the debridement of all interested areas when using PIPS and XPulse tips at proper energy. In the two groups treated with inferior laser energy, the debridement didn't prove to be superior to the conventional treatment.

Two similar but atypical strains of coryneform group A-4 isolated from patients with endophthalmitis.

PubMed Central

Coudron, P E; Harris, R C; Vaughan, M G; Dalton, H P

1985-01-01

Corynebacterium species and other coryneform organisms isolated from clinical specimens are frequently considered contaminants. We isolated two strains of a gram-positive organism from the vitreous fluid of two patients with endophthalmitis who had previously received intraocular lens transplants. The biochemical characteristics and gas chromatographic patterns of both isolates were similar to those of coryneform group A-4 strains. Major differences included esculin hydrolysis, nitrate reduction, growth pigment, and lactic acid production. These two strains along with a limited number of strains collected at the Special Bacterial Pathogens Laboratory (Division of Bacterial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Ga.) may represent a subgroup of coryneform group A-4. Results of in vitro susceptibility testing performed with antimicrobial agents commonly used to treat patients with bacterial endophthalmitis underscore the importance of determining MBCs for slow-growing organisms. This report cautions microbiologists not to discard organisms frequently considered contaminants when isolated from body fluids that are normally sterile and from patients receiving local steroids. PMID:3935657

Summary from Working Group on Multiple Beams and Funneling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wangler, T. P.

1985-01-01

The working group on Multiple Beams and Funneling discussed various topics related to multiple beams and funneling, including (1) design considerations for multiple-beam accelerators; (2) scaling of current, emittance, and brightness for multiple-beam systems; (3) funneling lines using either discrete components or a radiofrequency quadrupole (RFQ) funneling structure; and (4) alternatives to funneling.

Socioeconomic Factors and Women's Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Four Racial/Ethnic Groups

PubMed Central

Chao, Maria T.; Wade, Christine M.

2014-01-01

Objective Higher socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in national surveys. Less is known about how socioeconomic factors affect CAM use in US subpopulations. We examined whether the relationship between SES and CAM use differs by racial/ethnic groups. Methods Using national survey data, we assessed education and income effects on women's CAM use in four racial/ethnic groups (Whites, Blacks, Mexican Americans, and Chinese Americans), controlling for age, health status, and geographic region. CAM use was defined as using any of 11 domains in the prior year. Results Adjusted effects of SES on CAM use were similar among Mexican American and non-Hispanic White women—education had a distinct gradient effect, with each increasing level of education significantly more likely to use CAM; household income ≥$60,000 was associated with CAM use compared to income <$20,000. For Chinese American women, socioeconomic factors were not associated with CAM use when controlling for confounders. Although income was not associated with CAM use among African American women, college graduates were three times more likely to use CAM than those with less than a high school education, adjusting for confounders. Conclusion SES effects on CAM use are not uniform across racial/ethnic populations. Other factors, such as culture and social networks, may interact with SES to influence CAM use in minority populations. PMID:18447102

Culture, ritual, and errors of repudiation: some implications for the assessment of alternative medical traditions.

PubMed

Trotter, G

2000-07-01

In this article, sources of error that are likely involved when alternative medical traditions are assessed from the standpoint of orthodox biomedicine are discussed. These sources include (1) biomedicine's implicit reductive materialism (manifested in its negative orientation toward placebo effects), (2) a related bias against ritual, and (3) cultural barriers to the construction of externally valid protocols. To overcome these biases, investigators must attend to ritualistic elements in alternative treatments and should recruit patients from appropriate cultural groups. Collaborative research may be the key. Benefits of collaborative research include (1) increased mutual respect and integration between culturally distinct groups and practices, (2) increased understanding and use of sophisticated techniques of empirical analysis among practitioners from the alternative traditions, (3) increased appropriation of the therapeutic benefits of ritual, and (4) enhanced overall benefit for patients of all cultural backgrounds.

[Complementary and alternative medicine: use in Montes Claros, Minas Gerais].

PubMed

Neto, Joao Felício Rodrigues; Faria, Anderson Antônio de; Figueiredo, Maria Fernanda Santos

2009-01-01

To determine prevalence of utilization and social and economic profile of those using complementary and alternative medicine in the medium sized Brazilian city of Montes Claros, MG. A transversal descriptive study was conducted. The sample of 3090 people was probabilistic, by clusters using the household as the sample unit for interview of both genders, older than 18 years. Data were collected by semi-structured questionnaires. Utilization of complementary and alternative medicine was of 8.9% when only those involving costs such as homeopathy, acupuncture, chiropractics, techniques of relaxation/ meditation and massage are considered and of 70.0%, when all therapies found were included. Prevalent were prayers to God (52.0%), popular medicines (30.9%), physical exercises (25.5%), faith healers (15.0%), popular diets (7.1%), massage (4.9%), relaxation/meditation (2.8%), homeopathy (2.4%), and groups of self-help (1.9%), chiropractics (1.7%), acupuncture (1.5%) and orthomolecular medicine (0.2%). Women, Catholic, married of higher income and education were positively associated with utilization of therapies involving expenses. Complementary and alternative medicine is used by a significant number of those interviewed. Gender, religion, marital status, income and education were positively associated with utilization of complementary and alternative medicine. Access of those with less income and education could increase the utilization of the options that involve expenses.

13th Meeting of the Scientific Group on Methodologies for the Safety Evaluation of Chemicals (SGOMSEC): alternative testing methodologies for ecotoxicity.

PubMed Central

Walker, C; Kaiser, K; Klein, W; Lagadic, L; Peakall, D; Sheffield, S; Soldan, T; Yasuno, M

1998-01-01

There is growing public pressure to minimize the use of vertebrates in ecotoxicity testing; therefore, effective alternatives to toxicity tests causing suffering are being sought. This report discusses alternatives and differs in some respects from the reports of the other three groups because the primary concern is with harmful effects of chemicals at the level of population and above rather than with harmful effects upon individuals. It is concluded that progress toward the objective of minimizing testing that causes suffering would be served by the following initiatives--a clearer definition of goals and strategies when undertaking testing procedures; development of alternative assays, including in vitro test systems, that are based on new technology; development of nondestructive assays for vertebrates (e.g., biomarkers) that do not cause suffering; selection of most appropriate species, strains, and developmental stages for testing procedures (but no additional species for basic testing); better integrated and more flexible testing procedures incorporating biomarker responses, ecophysiological concepts, and ecological end points (progress in this direction depends upon expert judgment). In general, testing procedures could be made more realistic, taking into account problems with mixtures, and with volatile or insoluble chemicals. PMID:9599690

Fructose-fed streptozotocin-injected rat: an alternative model for type 2 diabetes.

PubMed

Wilson, Rachel D; Islam, Md Shahidul

2012-01-01

The main objective of the study was to develop an alternative non-genetic rat model for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Six-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats (190.56 ± 23.60 g) were randomly divided into six groups, namely: Normal Control (NC), Diabetic Control (DBC), Fructose-10 (FR10), Fructose-20 (FR20), Fructose-30 (FR30) and Fructose-40 (FR40) and were fed a normal rat pellet diet ad libitum for 2 weeks. During this period, the two control groups received normal drinking water whilst the fructose groups received 10, 20, 30 and 40% fructose in drinking water ad libitum, respectively. After two weeks of dietary manipulation, all groups except the NC group received a single injection (i.p.) of streptozotocin (STZ) (40 mg/kg b.w.) dissolved in citrate buffer (pH 4.4). The NC group received only a vehicle buffer injection (i.p.). One week after the STZ injection, animals with non-fasting blood glucose levels > 300 mg/dl were considered as diabetic. Three weeks after the STZ injection, the animals in FR20, FR30 and FR40 groups were eliminated from the study due to the severity of diabetes and the FR10 group was selected for the remainder of the 11 weeks experimental period. The significantly (p < 0.05) higher fluid intake, blood glucose, serum lipids, liver glycogen, liver function enzymes and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and significantly (p < 0.05) lower body weight, oral glucose tolerance, number of pancreatic β-cells and pancreatic β-cell functions (HOMA-β) of FR10 group demonstrate that the 10% fructose-fed followed by 40 mg/kg of BWSTZ injected rat can be a new and alternative model for T2D.

Selective auditory grouping by zebra finches: testing the iambic-trochaic law.

PubMed

Spierings, Michelle; Hubert, Jeroen; Ten Cate, Carel

2017-07-01

Humans have a strong tendency to spontaneously group visual or auditory stimuli together in larger patterns. One of these perceptual grouping biases is formulated as the iambic/trochaic law, where humans group successive tones alternating in pitch and intensity as trochees (high-low and loud-soft) and alternating in duration as iambs (short-long). The grouping of alternations in pitch and intensity into trochees is a human universal and is also present in one non-human animal species, rats. The perceptual grouping of sounds alternating in duration seems to be affected by native language in humans and has so far not been found among animals. In the current study, we explore to which extent these perceptual biases are present in a songbird, the zebra finch. Zebra finches were trained to discriminate between short strings of pure tones organized as iambs and as trochees. One group received tones that alternated in pitch, a second group heard tones alternating in duration, and for a third group, tones alternated in intensity. Those zebra finches that showed sustained correct discrimination were next tested with longer, ambiguous strings of alternating sounds. The zebra finches in the pitch condition categorized ambiguous strings of alternating tones as trochees, similar to humans. However, most of the zebra finches in the duration and intensity condition did not learn to discriminate between training stimuli organized as iambs and trochees. This study shows that the perceptual bias to group tones alternating in pitch as trochees is not specific to humans and rats, but may be more widespread among animals.

Diagnosis-related group (DRG)-based case-mix funding system, a promising alternative for fee for service payment in China.

PubMed

Zhao, Cuirong; Wang, Chao; Shen, Chengwu; Wang, Qian

2018-05-13

Fee for services (FFS) is the prevailing method of payment in most Chinese public hospitals. Under this retrospective payment system, medical care providers are paid based on medical services and tend to over-treat to maximize their income, thereby contributing to rising medical costs and uncontrollable health expenditures to a large extent. Payment reform needs to be promptly implemented to move to a prospective payment plan. The diagnosis-related group (DRG)-based case-mix payment system, with its superior efficiency and containment of costs, has garnered increased attention and it represents a promising alternative. This article briefly describes the DRG-based case-mix payment system, it comparatively analyzes differences between FFS and case-mix funding systems, and it describes the implementation of DRGs in China. China's social and economic conditions differ across regions, so establishment of a national payment standard will take time and involve difficulties. No single method of provider payment is perfect. Measures to monitor and minimize the negative ethical implications and unintended effects of a DRG-based case-mix payment system are essential to ensuring the lasting social benefits of payment reform in Chinese public hospitals.

Advancing Alternative Analysis: Integration of Decision Science

PubMed Central

Zaunbrecher, Virginia M.; Batteate, Christina M.; Blake, Ann; Carroll, William F.; Corbett, Charles J.; Hansen, Steffen Foss; Lempert, Robert J.; Linkov, Igor; McFadden, Roger; Moran, Kelly D.; Olivetti, Elsa; Ostrom, Nancy K.; Romero, Michelle; Schoenung, Julie M.; Seager, Thomas P.; Sinsheimer, Peter; Thayer, Kristina A.

2017-01-01

Background: Decision analysis—a systematic approach to solving complex problems—offers tools and frameworks to support decision making that are increasingly being applied to environmental challenges. Alternatives analysis is a method used in regulation and product design to identify, compare, and evaluate the safety and viability of potential substitutes for hazardous chemicals. Objectives: We assessed whether decision science may assist the alternatives analysis decision maker in comparing alternatives across a range of metrics. Methods: A workshop was convened that included representatives from government, academia, business, and civil society and included experts in toxicology, decision science, alternatives assessment, engineering, and law and policy. Participants were divided into two groups and were prompted with targeted questions. Throughout the workshop, the groups periodically came together in plenary sessions to reflect on other groups’ findings. Results: We concluded that the further incorporation of decision science into alternatives analysis would advance the ability of companies and regulators to select alternatives to harmful ingredients and would also advance the science of decision analysis. Conclusions: We advance four recommendations: a) engaging the systematic development and evaluation of decision approaches and tools; b) using case studies to advance the integration of decision analysis into alternatives analysis; c) supporting transdisciplinary research; and d) supporting education and outreach efforts. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP483 PMID:28669940

Alternative splicing of mutually exclusive exons--a review.

PubMed

Pohl, Martin; Bortfeldt, Ralf H; Grützmann, Konrad; Schuster, Stefan

2013-10-01

Alternative splicing (AS) of pre-mRNAs in higher eukaryotes and several viruses is one major source of protein diversity. Usually, the following major subtypes of AS are distinguished: exon skipping, intron retention, and alternative 3' and 5' splice sites. Moreover, mutually exclusive exons (MXEs) represent a rare subtype. In the splicing of MXEs, two (or more) splicing events are not independent anymore, but are executed or disabled in a coordinated manner. In this review, several bioinformatics approaches for analyzing MXEs are presented and discussed. In particular, we revisit suitable definitions and nomenclatures, and bioinformatics tools for finding MXEs, adjacent and non-adjacent MXEs, clustered and grouped MXEs. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms for splicing MXEs proposed in the literature are reviewed and discussed. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nonlinear dynamics in the perceptual grouping of connected surfaces.

PubMed

Hock, Howard S; Schöner, Gregor

2016-09-01

Evidence obtained using the dynamic grouping method has shown that the grouping of an object's connected surfaces has properties characteristic of a nonlinear dynamical system. When a surface's luminance changes, one of its boundaries is perceived moving across the surface. The direction of this dynamic grouping (DG) motion indicates which of two flanking surfaces has been grouped with the changing surface. A quantitative measure of overall grouping strength (affinity) for adjacent surfaces is provided by the frequency of DG motion perception in directions promoted by the grouping variables. It was found that: (1) variables affecting surface grouping for three-surface objects evolve over time, settling at stable levels within a single fixation, (2) how often DG motion is perceived when a surface's luminance is perturbed (changed) depends on the pre-perturbation affinity state of the surface grouping, (3) grouping variables promoting the same surface grouping combine cooperatively and nonlinearly (super-additively) in determining the surface grouping's affinity, (4) different DG motion directions during different trials indicate that surface grouping can be bistable, which implies that inhibitory interactions have stabilized one of two alternative surface groupings, and (5) when alternative surface groupings have identical affinity, stochastic fluctuations can break the symmetry and inhibitory interactions can then stabilize one of the surface groupings, providing affinity levels are not too high (which results in bidirectional DG motion). A surface-grouping network is proposed within which boundaries vary in salience. Low salience or suppressed boundaries instantiate surface grouping, and DG motion results from changes in boundary salience. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Group patient visits for Parkinson disease: a randomized feasibility trial.

PubMed

Dorsey, E R; Deuel, L M; Beck, C A; Gardiner, I F; Scoglio, N J; Scott, J C; Marshall, F J; Biglan, K M

2011-05-03

Group patient visits are medical appointments shared among patients with a common medical condition. This care delivery method has demonstrated benefits for individuals with chronic conditions but has not been evaluated for Parkinson disease (PD). We conducted a 12-month, randomized trial of group patient visits vs usual (one-on-one) care for patients with PD. Visits were led by one of 3 study physicians, included patients and caregivers, and lasted approximately 90 minutes. Those receiving group visits had 4 sessions over 12 months. The primary outcome measure was feasibility as measured by the ability to recruit participants and by the proportion of participants who completed the study. The primary efficacy outcome was quality of life as measured by the PD Questionnaire-39. Thirty patients and 27 caregivers enrolled in the study. Thirteen of the 15 patients randomized to group patient visits and 14 of the 15 randomized to usual care completed the study. Quality of life measured 12 months after baseline between the 2 groups was not different (25.9 points for group patient visits vs 26.0 points for usual care; p = 0.99). Group patient visits may be a feasible means of providing care to individuals with PD and may offer an alternative or complementary method of care delivery for some patients and physicians. This study provides Class II evidence that group patient visits did not improve quality of life for individuals with PD over a 1-year period.

Alternate concepts study extension. Volume 2: Part 4: Avionics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1971-01-01

A recommended baseline system is presented along with alternate avionics systems, Mark 2 avionics, booster avionics, and a cost summary. Analyses and discussions are included on the Mark 1 orbiter avionics subsystems, electrical ground support equipment, and the computer programs. Results indicate a need to define all subsystems of the baseline system, an installation study to determine the impact on the crew station, and a study on access for maintenance.

Annual Report to Congress: Federal Alternative Motor Fuels Programs (4th : 1995)

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1995-07-01

This annual report to Congress presents the current status of the alternative : fuel programs being conducted across the country in accordance to the : Alternative Motor Fuels Act of 1988. These programs, which represent the most : comprehensive data...

Monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A): a signature marker of alternatively activated monocytes/macrophages

PubMed Central

Cathcart, Martha K.; Bhattacharjee, Ashish

2015-01-01

Monocytes/macrophages are versatile cells centrally involved in host defense and immunity. Th1 cytokines induce a classical activation program in monocytes/macrophages leading to a proinflammatory M1 macrophage phenotype while Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 promote monocyte differentiation into an alternatively activated, anti-inflammatory M2 macrophage phenotype. Although monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) is primarily known for its action in the nervous system, several recent studies have identified MAO-A as a signature marker of alternative activation of monocytes/macrophages. In this brief review we explore the signaling pathways/molecules that regulate MAO-A expression in alternatively activated monocytes/macrophages. We further discuss the contribution of MAO-A to the resolution of inflammation and identify potential therapeutic targets for controlling inflammation. Altogether this review provides deeper insight into the role of MAO-A in alternative activation of monocytes/macrophages and their participation in the inflammatory response. PMID:26052543

Monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A): a signature marker of alternatively activated monocytes/macrophages.

PubMed

Cathcart, Martha K; Bhattacharjee, Ashish

Monocytes/macrophages are versatile cells centrally involved in host defense and immunity. Th1 cytokines induce a classical activation program in monocytes/macrophages leading to a proinflammatory M1 macrophage phenotype while Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 promote monocyte differentiation into an alternatively activated, anti-inflammatory M2 macrophage phenotype. Although monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) is primarily known for its action in the nervous system, several recent studies have identified MAO-A as a signature marker of alternative activation of monocytes/macrophages. In this brief review we explore the signaling pathways/molecules that regulate MAO-A expression in alternatively activated monocytes/macrophages. We further discuss the contribution of MAO-A to the resolution of inflammation and identify potential therapeutic targets for controlling inflammation. Altogether this review provides deeper insight into the role of MAO-A in alternative activation of monocytes/macrophages and their participation in the inflammatory response.

Critical appraisal of arguments for the delayed-start design proposed as alternative to the parallel-group randomized clinical trial design in the field of rare disease.

PubMed

Spineli, Loukia M; Jenz, Eva; Großhennig, Anika; Koch, Armin

2017-08-17

A number of papers have proposed or evaluated the delayed-start design as an alternative to the standard two-arm parallel group randomized clinical trial (RCT) design in the field of rare disease. However the discussion is felt to lack a sufficient degree of consideration devoted to the true virtues of the delayed start design and the implications either in terms of required sample-size, overall information, or interpretation of the estimate in the context of small populations. To evaluate whether there are real advantages of the delayed-start design particularly in terms of overall efficacy and sample size requirements as a proposed alternative to the standard parallel group RCT in the field of rare disease. We used a real-life example to compare the delayed-start design with the standard RCT in terms of sample size requirements. Then, based on three scenarios regarding the development of the treatment effect over time, the advantages, limitations and potential costs of the delayed-start design are discussed. We clarify that delayed-start design is not suitable for drugs that establish an immediate treatment effect, but for drugs with effects developing over time, instead. In addition, the sample size will always increase as an implication for a reduced time on placebo resulting in a decreased treatment effect. A number of papers have repeated well-known arguments to justify the delayed-start design as appropriate alternative to the standard parallel group RCT in the field of rare disease and do not discuss the specific needs of research methodology in this field. The main point is that a limited time on placebo will result in an underestimated treatment effect and, in consequence, in larger sample size requirements compared to those expected under a standard parallel-group design. This also impacts on benefit-risk assessment.

Part 4 of a 4-part series Miscellaneous Products: Trends and Alternatives in Deodorants, Antiperspirants, Sunblocks, Shaving Products, Powders, and Wipes

PubMed Central

Jacob, Sharon; Katta, Rajani; Nedorost, Susan; Warshaw, Erin; Zirwas, Matt; Selbo, Nicole

2011-01-01

Objective: To provide updated data on the usage of ingredients that are common potential contact allergens in several categories of topical products. To identify useful alternative products with few or no common contact allergens. Design: In November 2009, the full ingredient lists of 5,416 skin, hair, and cosmetic products marketed by the CVS pharmacy chain were copied from CVS.com into Microsoft Word format for analysis. Computer searches were made in Microsoft Word using search/replace and sorting functions to accurately identify the presence of specific allergens in each website product. Measurements: Percentages of American Contact Dermatitis Society core series allergens (and other common preservatives and sunblocks) were calculated. Results: The usage of American Contact Dermatitis Society core series allergens (and other preservatives and sunblocks) in various miscellaneous categories of topical products is reported. Conclusion: Data on allergens and alternatives for ancillary skin care products are not widely published. This article reviews some of the common potential allergens in antiperspirants, deodorants, shaving products, sunblocks, powders, and wipes. Suitable available alternative products for patients with contact allergy are listed. PMID:22010054

[Alternative nutrition and glutathione levels].

PubMed

Krajcovicová-Kudlácková, M; Simoncic, R; Béderová, A; Brtková, A; Magálová, T; Barteková, S

1999-08-30

Low protein quality and quantity is reported to be a possible risk of alternative nutrition. Pulses contain 18-41% of methionine in relation to reference protein, moreover, its content in cereals is by one half lower. Therefore vegetarians and vegans may have an insufficient intake of sulphur-containing amino acids that may subsequently affect glutathione values (precursors of its synthesis). In groups of adults on an alternative diet--lactoovovegetarians (n = 47) and vegans (n = 44) aged 19-62 years with average duration on a vegetarian or vegan diet of 7.6 and 4.9 years, respectively, glutathione levels (GSH) were measured in erythrocytes (spectrophotometrically), as well as the activity of GSH-dependent enzymes. As nutritional control (n = 42) served an average sample of omnivores selected from a group of 489 examined, apparently healthy subjects of the same age range living in the same region. One to low protein intake (56% of RDA) exclusively of plant origin significantly lower levels of total proteins were observed in vegans with a 16% frequency of hypoproteinaemia (vs 0% in omnivores). In comparison to omnivores a significantly lower glutathione level was found (4.28 +/- 0.12 vs 4.84 +/- 0.14 mumol/g Hb, P < 0.01). Lactoovovegetarians because of their protein intake in adequate amounts with a 27% proportion of animal proteins (dairy products, eggs) consume a balanced mixture of amino acids, which is reflected in total protein levels similar to omnivores and significantly higher values of glutathione -5.26 +/- 0.12 mumol/g Hb, P < 0.05 (intake of glutathione in diet, higher consumption of fruit and vegetable in comparison to omnivores). A sufficient supply of glutathione as the substrate for enzymatic reactions of hydrogen peroxide or lipid hydroperoxide catabolism, as well as for detoxication of xenobiotics, was reflected in lactoovovegetarians in a significantly higher activity of glutathione-peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase in erythrocytes. Low

Chapter 7. Creating and Sustaining a Culture of Group Care

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ainsworth, Frank; Fulcher, Leon C.

2006-01-01

Group care centers are established to provide a range of living, learning, treatment, and supervisory opportunities for children and young people who, for a variety of reasons, need alternative, supplementary, or substitute care. It is important, therefore, that group care centres establish an organizational climate, ethos, or culture of caring…

Space station group activities habitability module study: A synopsis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nixon, David; Glassman, Terry

1987-01-01

Space station habitability was studied by investigating crew activity routines, proximities, ergonomic envelopes, and group volumes. Ten alternative schematic interior designs were proposed. Preliminary conclusions include: (1) in-service interior modifications may be necessary and should be planned for; (2) design complexity will be increased if the module cluster is reduced from five to three; (3) the increased crew circulation attendant upon enhancement of space station activity may produce human traffic bottlenecks and should be planned for; (4) a single- or two-person quiet area may be desirable to provide crew members with needed solitude during waking hours; and (5) the decision to choose a two-shift or three-shift daily cycle will have a significant impact on the design configuration and operational efficiency of the human habitat.

Chlorellestadite, Ca5(SiO4)1.5(SO4)1.5Cl, a new ellestadite- group mineral from the Shadil-Khokh volcano, South Ossetia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Środek, Dorota; Galuskina, Irina O.; Galuskin, Evgeny; Dulski, Mateusz; Książek, Maria; Kusz, Joachim; Gazeev, Viktor

2018-05-01

Chlorellestadite (IMA2017-013), ideally Ca5(SiO4)1.5(SO4)1.5Cl, the Cl-end member of the ellestadite group was discovered in a calcium-silicate xenolith in rhyodacite lava from the Shadil Khokh volcano, Greater Caucasus, South Ossetia. Chlorellestadite forms white, tinged with blue or green, elongate crystals up to 0.2-0.3 mm in length. Associated minerals include spurrite, larnite, chlormayenite, rondorfite, srebrodolskite, jasmundite and oldhamite. The empirical crystal chemical formula of the holotype specimen is Ca4.99Na0.01(SiO4)1.51(SO4)1.46(PO4)0.03(Cl0.61OH0.21F0.11)Σ0.93. Unit-cell parameters of chlorellestadite are: P63/m, a = 9.6002(2), c = 6.8692(2) Å, V = 548.27(3)Å3, Z = 2. Chlorellestadite has a Mohs hardness of 4-4.5 and a calculated density of 3.091 g/cm3. The cleavage is indistinct, and the mineral shows irregular fracture. The Raman spectrum of chlorellestadite is similar to the spectra of other ellestadite group minerals, with main bands located at 267 cm-1 (Ca-O vibrations), and between 471 and 630 cm-1 (SiO4 4- and SO4 2- bending vibrations) and 850-1150 cm-1 (SiO4 4- and SO4 2- stretching modes). Chlorellestadite forms in xenoliths of calcium-silicate composition when they are exposed to Cl-bearing volcanic exhalations at about 1000 °C under low pressure conditions.

Contingent and Alternative Work Arrangements, Defined.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Polivka, Anne E.

1996-01-01

Discusses the definitions of contingent workers and alternative work arrangements used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to analyze data, and presents aggregate estimates of the number of workers in each group. Discusses the overlap between contingent workers and workers in alternative arrangements. (Author/JOW)

Read-Through Proteins of Group 4 RNA Bacteriophages TW19 and TW28

PubMed Central

Aoi, Takeshi; Kaesberg, Paul

1976-01-01

Group 4 phages TW19 and TW28 of Escherichia coli possess a “read-through” (IIb) protein, although group 2 phage GA does not. This may have implications concerning the evolution and classification of RNA phages. Images PMID:978795

Effects of differential rates of alternative reinforcement on resurgence of human behavior.

PubMed

Smith, Brooke M; Smith, Gregory S; Shahan, Timothy A; Madden, Gregory J; Twohig, Michael P

2017-01-01

Despite the success of exposure-based psychotherapies in anxiety treatment, relapse remains problematic. Resurgence, the return of previously eliminated behavior following the elimination of an alternative source of reinforcement, is a promising model of operant relapse. Nonhuman resurgence research has shown that higher rates of alternative reinforcement result in faster, more comprehensive suppression of target behavior, but also in greater resurgence when alternative reinforcement is eliminated. This study investigated rich and lean rates of alternative reinforcement on response suppression and resurgence in typically developing humans. In Phase 1, three groups (Rich, n = 18; Lean, n = 18; Control, n = 10) acquired the target response. In Phase 2, target responding was extinguished and alternative reinforcement delivered on RI 1 s, RI 3 s, and extinction schedules, respectively. Resurgence was assessed during Phase 3 under extinction conditions for all groups. Target responding was suppressed most thoroughly in Rich and partially in Lean. Target responding resurged in the Rich and Lean groups, but not in the Control group. Between groups, resurgence was more pronounced in the Rich group than the Lean and Control groups. Clinical implications of these findings, including care on the part of clinicians when identifying alternative sources of reinforcement, are discussed. © 2017 Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior.

Why alternative teenagers self-harm: exploring the link between non-suicidal self-injury, attempted suicide and adolescent identity.

PubMed

Young, Robert; Sproeber, Nina; Groschwitz, Rebecca C; Preiss, Marthe; Plener, Paul L

2014-05-22

The term 'self-harm' encompasses both attempted suicide and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Specific adolescent subpopulations such as ethnic or sexual minorities, and more controversially, those who identify as 'Alternative' (Goth, Emo) have been proposed as being more likely to self-harm, while other groups such as 'Jocks' are linked with protective coping behaviours (for example exercise). NSSI has autonomic (it reduces negative emotions) and social (it communicates distress or facilitates group 'bonding') functions. This study explores the links between such aspects of self-harm, primarily NSSI, and youth subculture. An anonymous survey was carried out of 452 15 year old German school students. Measures included: identification with different youth cultures, i.e. Alternative (Goth, Emo, Punk), Nerd (academic) or Jock (athletic); social background, e.g. socioeconomic status; and experience of victimisation. Self-harm (suicide and NSSI) was assessed using Self-harm Behavior Questionnaire and the Functional Assessment of Self-Mutilation (FASM). An "Alternative" identity was directly (r ≈ 0.3) and a "Jock" identity inversely (r ≈ -0.1) correlated with self-harm. "Alternative" teenagers self-injured more frequently (NSSI 45.5% vs. 18.8%), repeatedly self-injured, and were 4-8 times more likely to attempt suicide (even after adjusting for social background) than their non-Alternative peers. They were also more likely to self-injure for autonomic, communicative and social reasons than other adolescents. About half of 'Alternative' adolescents' self-injure, primarily to regulate emotions and communicate distress. However, a minority self-injure to reinforce their group identity, i.e. 'To feel more a part of a group'.

Group Sparse Optimization by Alternating Direction Method

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-11-22

to solving the following linear system: (β1G TG+ β2A TA)x = β1G T z −GTλ1 + β2AT b+ATλ2. (3.5) Note that GTG ∈ Rn×n is a diagonal matrix whose i-th...diagonal entry is the number of repetitions of xi in x̃. When the groups form an complete cover of the solution, the diagonal entries of GTG will be...positive, so GTG is invertible. In the next subsection, we will show that an incomplete cover case can be converted to a complete cover case by

"It's not like a fat camp" - A focus group study of adolescents' experiences on group-based obesity treatment.

PubMed

Engström, Anna; Abildsnes, Eirik; Mildestvedt, Thomas

2016-01-01

The health burden related to obesity is rising among children and adolescents along with the general population worldwide. For the individual as well as the society this trend is alarming. Several factors are driving the trend, and the solution seems to be multifaceted because long-lasting treatment alternatives are lacking. This study aims to explore adolescents' and young adults' motivation for attending group-based obesity treatment and social and environmental factors that can facilitate or hinder lifestyle change. In this study, we arranged three focus groups with 17 participants from different obesity treatment programs in the west and south of Norway. The content in these programs differed, but they all used Motivational Interviewing as a teaching method. We conducted a data-driven analysis using systematic text condensation. Self-determination theory has been used as an explanatory framework. We identified four major themes: 1) motivation, 2) body experience and self-image, 3) relationships and sense of belonging, and 4) the road ahead. Many of the participants expressed external motivation to participate but experienced increasing inner motivation and enjoyment during the treatment. Several participants reported negative experiences related to being obese and appreciated group affiliation and sharing experiences with other participants. Motivation may shift during a lifestyle course. Facilitating factors include achieving and experiencing positive outcomes as well as gaining autonomy support from other course participants and friends. Obstacles to change were a widespread obesogenic environment as well as feelings of guilt, little trust in personal achievements and non-supporting friends.

4 CFR 22.24 - Alternative Dispute Resolution [Rule 24].

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

...) Docketed appeals. The Board considers Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to be an efficient way to timely resolve many contract disputes, and therefore encourages the parties to use ADR as an effective means to resolve their contract dispute. ADR with Board participation is available at the initiative of the Board...

4 CFR 22.24 - Alternative Dispute Resolution [Rule 24].

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

...) Docketed appeals. The Board considers Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to be an efficient way to timely resolve many contract disputes, and therefore encourages the parties to use ADR as an effective means to resolve their contract dispute. ADR with Board participation is available at the initiative of the Board...

Free-range farming: a natural alternative to produce vitamin D-enriched eggs.

PubMed

Kühn, Julia; Schutkowski, Alexandra; Kluge, Holger; Hirche, Frank; Stangl, Gabriele I

2014-04-01

Food-based strategies need to be developed to improve the vitamin D status of individuals. Recent studies identified ultraviolet B irradiation as an efficient method to enrich mushrooms and eggs with vitamin D. The aim of this study was to determine whether free-range farming of hens could provide a valuable method to produce vitamin D-enriched eggs. Laying hens were randomly assigned to three groups of 33 to 34 animals each, and were kept either indoors (indoor group), outdoors (outdoor group), or with an indoor/outdoor option (indoor/outdoor group) over 4 wk. The study shows that the vitamin D3 content of egg yolk was three- to fourfold higher in the groups that were exposed to sunlight (outdoor and indoor/outdoor groups) compared with the indoor group (P < 0.001). Egg yolk from the outdoor group revealed the highest vitamin D3 content, which averaged 14.3 μg/100 g dry matter (DM), followed by that from the indoor/outdoor group (11.3 μg/100 g DM). Yolk from indoor eggs contained only 3.8 μg vitamin D/100 g DM. The 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D3) content of egg yolk was also influenced by sunlight exposure, although less pronounced than the vitamin D content (P < 0.05). In contrast, free-range eggs randomly acquired from supermarkets had relatively low vitamin D contents. Free-range farming offers an efficient alternative to fortify eggs with vitamin D, provided that farming conditions are sufficiently attractive for hens to range outside. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Student Resiliency: A Mixed Methods Analysis of Counseling Group Effects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pickering, Cyril E.

2015-01-01

Student resiliency, or the internal resources that an individual possesses that enables success despite adversity, is a variable of interest, particularly for students who are at-risk for negative outcomes in school. This study examined the group counseling efforts of an alternative high school, looking at how group composition influenced the…

Knowledge deficit of patients with stage 1-4 CKD: a focus group study.

PubMed

Lopez-Vargas, Pamela A; Tong, Allison; Phoon, Richard K S; Chadban, Steven J; Shen, Yvonne; Craig, Jonathan C

2014-04-01

Patients with early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) must make lifestyle modifications and adhere to treatment regimens to prevent their progression to end-stage kidney disease. The aim of this study was to elicit the perspectives of patients with stage 1-4 CKD about their disease, with a specific focus on their information needs in managing and living with CKD and its sequelae. Patients with CKD stages 1-4 were purposively sampled from three major hospitals in Sydney, Australia to participate in focus groups. Transcripts were thematically analysed. From nine focus groups including 38 participants, six major themes were identified: medical attentiveness (shared decision-making, rapport, indifference and insensitivity); learning self-management (diet and nutrition, barriers to physical activity, medication safety); contextualizing comorbidities (prominence of CKD, contradictory treatment); prognostic uncertainty (hopelessness, fear of disease progression, disbelief regarding diagnosis); motivation and coping mechanisms (engage in research, pro-active management, optimism, feeling normal); and knowledge gaps (practical advice, access to information, comprehension of pathology results and CKD diagnosis, education for general practitioners). Patients capacity to slow the progression of CKD may be limited by their lack of knowledge about the disease, its comorbidities, psychosocial influences and their ability to interact and communicate effectively with their health-care provider. Support from a multidisciplinary care team, combined with provision of comprehensive, accessible and practical educational resources may enhance patients' ability and motivation to access and adhere to therapeutic and lifestyle interventions to retard progression of CKD. © 2014 Asian Pacific Society of Nephrology.

Medical group mergers: strategies for success.

PubMed

Latham, Will

2014-01-01

As consolidation sweeps over the healthcare industry, many medical groups are considering mergers with other groups as an alternative to employment. While mergers are challenging and fraught with risk, an organized approach to the merger process can dramatically increase the odds for success. Merging groups need to consider the benefits they seek from a merger, identify the obstacles that must be overcome to merge, and develop alternatives to overcome those obstacles. This article addresses the benefits to be gained and issues to be addressed, and provides a tested roadmap that has resulted in many successful medical group mergers.

Axial point groups: rank 1, 2, 3 and 4 property tensor tables.

PubMed

Litvin, Daniel B

2015-05-01

The form of a physical property tensor of a quasi-one-dimensional material such as a nanotube or a polymer is determined from the material's axial point group. Tables of the form of rank 1, 2, 3 and 4 property tensors are presented for a wide variety of magnetic and non-magnetic tensor types invariant under each point group in all 31 infinite series of axial point groups. An application of these tables is given in the prediction of the net polarization and magnetic-field-induced polarization in a one-dimensional longitudinal conical magnetic structure in multiferroic hexaferrites.

IL-4 and IL-13 employ discrete signaling pathways for target gene expression in alternatively activated monocytes/macrophages.

PubMed

Bhattacharjee, Ashish; Shukla, Meenakshi; Yakubenko, Valentin P; Mulya, Anny; Kundu, Suman; Cathcart, Martha K

2013-01-01

Monocytes/macrophages are innate immune cells that play a crucial role in the resolution of inflammation. In the presence of the Th2 cytokines interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL-13), they display an anti-inflammatory profile and this activation pathway is known as alternative activation. In this study we compare and differentiate pathways mediated by IL-4 and IL-13 activation of human monocytes/macrophages. Here we report differential regulation of IL-4 and IL-13 signaling in monocytes/macrophages starting from IL-4/IL-13 cytokine receptors to Jak/Stat-mediated signaling pathways that ultimately control expression of several inflammatory genes. Our data demonstrate that although the receptor-associated tyrosine kinases Jak2 and Tyk2 are activated after the recruitment of IL-13 to its receptor (containing IL-4Rα and IL-13Rα1), IL-4 stimulates Jak1 activation. We further show that Jak2 is upstream of Stat3 activation and Tyk2 controls Stat1 and Stat6 activation in response to IL-13 stimulation. In contrast, Jak1 regulates Stat3 and Stat6 activation in IL-4-induced monocytes. Our results further reveal that although IL-13 utilizes both IL-4Rα/Jak2/Stat3 and IL-13Rα1/Tyk2/Stat1/Stat6 signaling pathways, IL-4 can use only the IL-4Rα/Jak1/Stat3/Stat6 cascade to regulate the expression of some critical inflammatory genes, including 15-lipoxygenase, monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), and the scavenger receptor CD36. Moreover, we demonstrate here that IL-13 and IL-4 can uniquely affect the expression of particular genes such as dual-specificity phosphatase 1 and tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease-3 and do so through different Jaks. As evidence of differential regulation of gene function by IL-4 and IL-13, we further report that MAO-A-mediated reactive oxygen species generation is influenced by different Jaks. Collectively, these results have major implications for understanding the mechanism and function of alternatively activated monocytes/macrophages by IL-4 and

Interactive videodisc instruction is an alternative method for learning and performing a critical nursing skill.

PubMed

DeAmicis, P A

1997-01-01

A study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of interactive videodisc instruction (IVDI) with the traditional lecture/demonstration as an alternative method for learning and performing a critical nursing skill. Students were assigned randomly to a treatment group that worked in small groups to complete the IVDI on intravenous therapy skills and a control group receiving the same content in a classroom lecture/demonstration format. After the instruction, each subject performed a re-demonstration of the learned skills using specific guidelines. Results revealed that although the IVDI group scored higher on the overall re-demonstration, there was no significant difference in the ability of the two groups to effectively perform this critical nursing skill. These findings support the use of IVDI as an alternative self-paced, independent study method for learning psychomotor skills and are consistent with previous studies, which indicate that working in small groups on the computer has a positive effect on self-efficacy and achievement.

Chinese and Indian women's experience with alternative medications for menopause related symptoms: A qualitative analysis.

PubMed

Ohn Mar, Saw; Malhi, Fatehpal Singh; Syed Rahim, Syed Hamid; Soe, Myint Myint

2017-09-15

To explore women's rationalization for using alternative medications, their experience and view on safety of long-term use. Two focus group discussions, involving 5 participants each for Chinese and Indian groups, were conducted separately. Participant's personal information was collected anonymously. The discussion covered 5 areas: determinants for taking medications; reason for choosing alternative medications rather than hormone replacement therapy (HRT); how these medications help them; their view on cost-effectiveness and concerns over long-term use. The discussions were audio-taped, transcribed and analyzed. Chinese participants took supplements for controlling symptoms while Indian participants used herbs as a preventive measure during menopause according to their tradition. Women of both groups mentioned that they did not take HRT because of fear of side effects. Chinese group mentioned that medications remarkably improved their symptoms whereas Indian participants appreciated their herbals more for improvement in general wellbeing than for specific symptoms. All members agreed that using alternative medication was cost-effective. Both Chinese and Indian participants were quite confident in saying that long-term use will not be associated with any side effects. However, Indian group emphasized that proper preparation of herbal compound using different types of leaves, is essential in order to avoid untoward effects. Chinese and Indian women used alternative medicine in prevention and treatment of menopause-related problems even as they were avoiding HRT because of the fear of side effects. They believed that their supplements were effective, safe and cost-beneficial even with long-term use.

Attendance and graduation patterns in a group-model health maintenance organization alternative cardiac rehabilitation program.

PubMed

Ratchford, Andria M; Hamman, Richard F; Regensteiner, Judith G; Magid, David J; Gallagher, Stacy Brennan; Merenich, John A

2004-01-01

Poor rates of participation in cardiac rehabilitation programs are well documented, especially among women and older patients. The Colorado Kaiser Permanente Cardiac Rehabilitation (KPCR) program is a home-based, case-managed, goal-oriented program with an active recruitment process and unlimited program length. This study evaluated the participation rates for the program and the predictors of attendance and graduation. Patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, and percutaneous coronary intervention from June 1999 to May 2000 (n = 1030) were identified from the administrative database, and the proportion captured by the KPCR staff was determined. Subsequent attendance and graduation patterns were evaluated. Nearly 94% of patients with one of the three aforementioned conditions were identified by the rehabilitation staff, and 41% of all patients attended the KPCR program. More than 75% of the patients who participated went on to graduate from the program. Gender comparisons showed no difference in participation between men (66.8%) and women (59.7%) (P =.07). Participation rates were inversely associated with age, yet age was not associated with graduation from the program. Surgical interventions and two or more events experienced within the first 4 weeks of the index event were the strongest predictors of attendance and graduation from the KPCR program. Innovative approaches for the capture and retention of patients in cardiac rehabilitation programs are urgently needed. The alternative program evaluated in this study showed little difference in participation between men and women, yet participation among older patients remained poor. Overall, patients who underwent surgical interventions or multiple events were more likely to attend and graduate from the program.

Identification of Caspase-6 as a New Regulator of Alternatively Activated Macrophages*

PubMed Central

Yao, Yongfang; Shi, Qian; Chen, Bing; Wang, Qingsong; Li, Xinda; Li, Long; Huang, Yahong; Ji, Jianguo; Shen, Pingping

2016-01-01

Alternatively activated macrophages (AAMs) play essential roles in the promotion of tissue remodeling, vasculogenesis, and tumor progression; however, the detailed mechanisms underlying the activation of AAMs remain largely unknown. Here, by using quantitative proteomic analysis, we identified 62 proteins that were up-regulated in IL-4-induced macrophages. Among these, Caspase-6 was increased significantly. Caspase-6 is important in the apoptotic signaling pathway; however, its role in non-apoptosis is also reported. Here, we first examined the non-apoptotic role of Caspase-6 in the alternative activation of macrophages after administration of IL-4, 4T1 tumor conditional medium, or co-culture with 4T1 cells. Both treatments promoted alternative activation of RAW264.7 cells and primary macrophages, whereas disruption of caspase-6 expression and activity could markedly suppress the biomarker levels of AAMs. Overexpression of Caspase-6 could significantly promote the activation of AAMs. Importantly, we further present evidence that caspase-6 could regulate breast cancer cell invasion by modulating MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in 4T1 tumor-associated macrophages, as ablation of protein levels or activity of caspase-6 suppressed tumor cell invasion in vitro. In conclusion, the observed results markedly expanded our views of the dynamic changes in protein composition during alternative activation of macrophages, and they revealed a critical new role of caspase-6 in regulating this cellular biological process, which suggested that caspase-6 might be a key nod molecule to regulate immunological steady-state and be a therapeutic candidate for tumor immunotherapy. PMID:27325699

Evaluation of the Alternative Healthy Eating Index as a predictor of 10-year cardiovascular disease risk in a group of Iranian employees.

PubMed

Hariri, N; Darafshi Ghahroudi, S; Nasseri, E; Bondarianzadeh, D; Houshyar-Rad, A; Zayeri, F

2017-08-01

Noncommunicable diseases, of which almost half are some form of cardiovascular disease (CVD), have overtaken communicable diseases as the world's major disease burden. There is growing evidence that indices of diet quality could have an association with a decreased risk of CVD in several countries. We aimed to examine the association between diet quality, as measured by the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), and 10-year predicted CVD risk based on the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) in a group of Iranian employees. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 296 (232 male, 64 female) employees aged ≥30 years selected by nonrandom sampling. AHEI was calculated according to a food frequency questionnaire with complementary questions on intake of cooking fats and oils among households. The 10-year risk of CVD was calculated based on FRS. Total and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, fasting blood sugar and blood pressure were measured to help in the calculation of FRS. AHEI did not have a significant relationship with FRS (r = -0.02, P = 0.67). However, some of its components, such as the intake of nuts and soy groups (r = -0.11, P = 0.04) and fruits (r = -0.14, P = 0.01), had a significant relationship with a reduced risk of CVD. According to stepwise multiple linear regression results, for every single increase in the intake of fruit servings, there would be a 0.14 reduction in the 10-year CVD risk score (β = -0.14, P = 0.01). The present study showed no significant relationship between AHEI and the 10-year predicted risk of CVD among Iranian employees. © 2016 The British Dietetic Association Ltd.

45 CFR 1302.32 - Alternative agency-prohibition.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Alternative agency-prohibition. 1302.32 Section 1302.32 Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) OFFICE OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT... Alternative agency—prohibition. (a) No agency will be designated as the alternative agency pursuant to this...

Group Motivational Interviewing in Schools: Development of a Health Promotion Intervention

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hawkins, Jemma L.; Bravo, Paulina; Gobat, Nina; Rollnick, Stephen; Jerzembek, Gabrielle; Whitehead, Sarah; Chanon, Sue; Kelson, Mark; Adams, Orla; Murphy, Simon

2016-01-01

Objective: In the light of the shortcomings of curriculum-based health promotion in secondary schools, group motivational interviewing provides a potential alternative approach. This two-phase study set out to establish the key components, feasibility and acceptability of a group motivational interviewing intervention, focused on alcohol…

Fox-2 Splicing Factor Binds to a Conserved Intron Motif to PromoteInclusion of Protein 4.1R Alternative Exon 16

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

Ponthier, Julie L.; Schluepen, Christina; Chen, Weiguo

Activation of protein 4.1R exon 16 (E16) inclusion during erythropoiesis represents a physiologically important splicing switch that increases 4.1R affinity for spectrin and actin. Previous studies showed that negative regulation of E16 splicing is mediated by the binding of hnRNP A/B proteins to silencer elements in the exon and that downregulation of hnRNP A/B proteins in erythroblasts leads to activation of E16 inclusion. This paper demonstrates that positive regulation of E16 splicing can be mediated by Fox-2 or Fox-1, two closely related splicing factors that possess identical RNA recognition motifs. SELEX experiments with human Fox-1 revealed highly selective binding tomore » the hexamer UGCAUG. Both Fox-1 and Fox-2 were able to bind the conserved UGCAUG elements in the proximal intron downstream of E16, and both could activate E16 splicing in HeLa cell co-transfection assays in a UGCAUG-dependent manner. Conversely, knockdown of Fox-2 expression, achieved with two different siRNA sequences resulted in decreased E16 splicing. Moreover, immunoblot experiments demonstrate mouse erythroblasts express Fox-2, but not Fox-1. These findings suggest that Fox-2 is a physiological activator of E16 splicing in differentiating erythroid cells in vivo. Recent experiments show that UGCAUG is present in the proximal intron sequence of many tissue-specific alternative exons, and we propose that the Fox family of splicing enhancers plays an important role in alternative splicing switches during differentiation in metazoan organisms.« less

Alternative World Scenarios for Strategic Planning

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-01-20

STRATEGIC STUDIES INSTITUTE U.S. ARMY WAR COLLEGE CARLISLE BARRACKS, PENNSYLVANIA 17013-5050 20 JANUARY 198 ACN 81001 Lfl 0ALTERNATIVE WORLD...Howard D. Graves STRATEGIC STUDIES INSTITUTE Director Colonel Thomas R. Stone Author Charles W. Tayloi Editor Marianne P. Cowling Secretary Shirley A...Shearer STRATEGIC STUDIES INSTITUTE U.S. ARMY WAR COLLEGE Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania 17013-5050 20 January 1988 ACN 88001 4e 4’ ALTERNATIVE

A roadmap for the development of alternative (non-animal) methods for systemic toxicity testing - t4 report*.

PubMed

Basketter, David A; Clewell, Harvey; Kimber, Ian; Rossi, Annamaria; Blaauboer, Bas; Burrier, Robert; Daneshian, Mardas; Eskes, Chantra; Goldberg, Alan; Hasiwa, Nina; Hoffmann, Sebastian; Jaworska, Joanna; Knudsen, Thomas B; Landsiedel, Robert; Leist, Marcel; Locke, Paul; Maxwell, Gavin; McKim, James; McVey, Emily A; Ouédraogo, Gladys; Patlewicz, Grace; Pelkonen, Olavi; Roggen, Erwin; Rovida, Costanza; Ruhdel, Irmela; Schwarz, Michael; Schepky, Andreas; Schoeters, Greet; Skinner, Nigel; Trentz, Kerstin; Turner, Marian; Vanparys, Philippe; Yager, James; Zurlo, Joanne; Hartung, Thomas

2012-01-01

Systemic toxicity testing forms the cornerstone for the safety evaluation of substances. Pressures to move from traditional animal models to novel technologies arise from various concerns, including: the need to evaluate large numbers of previously untested chemicals and new products (such as nanoparticles or cell therapies), the limited predictivity of traditional tests for human health effects, duration and costs of current approaches, and animal welfare considerations. The latter holds especially true in the context of the scheduled 2013 marketing ban on cosmetic ingredients tested for systemic toxicity. Based on a major analysis of the status of alternative methods (Adler et al., 2011) and its independent review (Hartung et al., 2011), the present report proposes a roadmap for how to overcome the acknowledged scientific gaps for the full replacement of systemic toxicity testing using animals. Five whitepapers were commissioned addressing toxicokinetics, skin sensitization, repeated-dose toxicity, carcinogenicity, and reproductive toxicity testing. An expert workshop of 35 participants from Europe and the US discussed and refined these whitepapers, which were subsequently compiled to form the present report. By prioritizing the many options to move the field forward, the expert group hopes to advance regulatory science.

[IgG4-related disease: patient group characterization and rituximab therapy].

PubMed

Sedyshev, S Kh; Vasil'ev, V I; Kovrigina, A M; Logvinenko, O A; Rodionova, E B; Safonova, T N; Gaĭduk, I V; Silin, A Iu; Komov, D V; Nasonov, E L

2013-01-01

To characterize a group of patients with IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) in a Russian population and to evaluate the efficiency of rituximab therapy. In 2009 to 2011, at the Research Institute of Rheumatology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, 30 patients (16 men and 14 women; mean age 44 years) were diagnosed with IgG4-RD that was confirmed by determination of serum IgG4 levels and immunohistochemical study of biopsy samples stained for IgG4-positive plasma cells. Seven patients received rituximab therapy. It was assumed at baseline that there were different types of neoplasias in 12 (40%), non-Hodgkin's and Hodgkin's lymphomas in 10 (33.3%), Sjögren's syndrome in 5 (16.7%), and Wegener's granulomatosis in 3 (10%). When 2 or more locations were involved, the condition was regarded as multifocal fibrosclerosis (33.3%). Localized forms were revealed in 20 (66.7%) patients. Among them, the largest number of patients was those who had orbital pseudotumor, Mikulicz's disease, or retroperitoneal fibrosclerosis. The most common sites of involvement were orbits (66.7%), salivary glands (70%) and lymph nodes (36.7%). Comparison of serum IgG4 levels in 28 patients with IgG4-RD, 22 patients with Sjögren's disease, salivary and lacrimal gland lymphomas, and 10 healthy controls showed that the concentration of IgG4 was significantly higher in Group 1 (median 2.6 g/I; IQR 1.22-4.65 (p < 0.001). Tissue IgG4/IgG ratio varied from 25 to 50% and averaged 38%. A moiré-like pattern of varying fibrosis was noted in 83% of cases. Analysis of laboratory data revealed elevated C-reactive protein concentrations (46.7% with a mean of 39.5 mg/l; normal values < 5.0 mg/l), increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (60% with a mean of 37.6 mm/h), hypergammaglobulinemia (30% with a mean of 29.4%; normal range 13-22%), and rheumatoid factor (23.3%). After rituximab therapy, all the patients showed a decrease of IgG4 levels to the normal levels and positive changes evidenced by visualization

Alternative communication network designs for an operational Plato 4 CAI system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mobley, R. E., Jr.; Eastwood, L. F., Jr.

1975-01-01

The cost of alternative communications networks for the dissemination of PLATO IV computer-aided instruction (CAI) was studied. Four communication techniques are compared: leased telephone lines, satellite communication, UHF TV, and low-power microwave radio. For each network design, costs per student contact hour are computed. These costs are derived as functions of student population density, a parameter which can be calculated from census data for one potential market for CAI, the public primary and secondary schools. Calculating costs in this way allows one to determine which of the four communications alternatives can serve this market least expensively for any given area in the U.S. The analysis indicates that radio distribution techniques are cost optimum over a wide range of conditions.

Forum for debate: Safety of allogeneic blood transfusion alternatives in the surgical/critically ill patient.

PubMed

Muñoz Gómez, M; Bisbe Vives, E; Basora Macaya, M; García Erce, J A; Gómez Luque, A; Leal-Noval, S R; Colomina, M J; Comin Colet, J; Contreras Barbeta, E; Cuenca Espiérrez, J; Garcia de Lorenzo Y Mateos, A; Gomollón García, F; Izuel Ramí, M; Moral García, M V; Montoro Ronsano, J B; Páramo Fernández, J A; Pereira Saavedra, A; Quintana Diaz, M; Remacha Sevilla, Á; Salinas Argente, R; Sánchez Pérez, C; Tirado Anglés, G; Torrabadella de Reinoso, P

2015-12-01

In recent years, several safety alerts have questioned or restricted the use of some pharmacological alternatives to allogeneic blood transfusion in established indications. In contrast, there seems to be a promotion of other alternatives, based on blood products and/or antifibrinolytic drugs, which lack a solid scientific basis. The Multidisciplinary Autotransfusion Study Group and the Anemia Working Group España convened a multidisciplinary panel of 23 experts belonging to different healthcare areas in a forum for debate to: 1) analyze the different safety alerts referred to certain transfusion alternatives; 2) study the background leading to such alternatives, the evidence supporting them, and their consequences for everyday clinical practice, and 3) issue a weighted statement on the safety of each questioned transfusion alternative, according to its clinical use. The members of the forum maintained telematics contact for the exchange of information and the distribution of tasks, and a joint meeting was held where the conclusions on each of the items examined were presented and discussed. A first version of the document was drafted, and subjected to 4 rounds of review and updating until consensus was reached (unanimously in most cases). We present the final version of the document, approved by all panel members, and hope it will be useful for our colleagues. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier España, S.L.U. and SEMICYUC. All rights reserved.

Vestibular rehabilitation using the Nintendo® Wii Balance Board -- a user-friendly alternative for central nervous compensation.

PubMed

Sparrer, Ingo; Duong Dinh, Thien An; Ilgner, Justus; Westhofen, Martin

2013-03-01

The Nintendo® Wii Balance Board is a cost-effective and user-friendly alternative to other popular frequently used systems that aid vestibular compensation, particularly in elderly patients. In addition, further treatment in the home environment is possible. This cohort study was designed to investigate the impact of the Nintendo® Wii Balance Board as a visual compensation device after acute vestibular neuritis. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. Group A (n = 37) performed customized exercises with the Nintendo® Wii Balance Board. Group B (n = 34) performed only two elected exercises as a control group for comparison of the results. Both groups underwent additive therapy with steroids (intravenous) in decreasing doses (250 mg decreasing to 25 mg over 10 days). The Sensory Organization Test (SOT), Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Vertigo Symptom Scale (VSS), and Tinneti questionnaire were evaluated immediately before treatment (baseline), at the end of treatment, i.e. at day 5, and after 10 weeks. The early use of a visual feedback system in the context of the balance training supports the central nervous vestibular compensation after peripheral labyrinthine disorders. Patients in group B (without training) required a longer in-patient stay (average 2.4 days, SD 0.4) compared with patients following early Wii rehabilitation. The absence of nystagmus under Frenzel's goggles in group A was observed 2.1 days (SD 0.5) earlier than in group B. Group A showed significantly better results in the SOT, DHI, VSS, and Tinneti questionnaire at all time points measured (p < 0.05).

The Composite of Bone Marrow Concentrate and PRP as an Alternative to Autologous Bone Grafting

PubMed Central

Hakimi, Mohssen; Grassmann, Jan-Peter; Betsch, Marcel; Schneppendahl, Johannes; Gehrmann, Sebastian; Hakimi, Ahmad-Reza; Kröpil, Patric; Sager, Martin; Herten, Monika; Wild, Michael; Windolf, Joachim; Jungbluth, Pascal

2014-01-01

One possible alternative to the application of autologous bone grafts represents the use of autologous bone marrow concentrate (BMC). The purpose of our study was to evaluate the potency of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in combination with BMC. In 32 mini-pigs a metaphyseal critical-size defect was surgically created at the proximal tibia. The animals were allocated to four treatment groups of eight animals each (1. BMC+CPG group, 2. BMC+CPG+PRP group, 3. autograft group, 4. CPG group). In the BMC+CPG group the defect was filled with autologous BMC in combination with calcium phosphate granules (CPG), whereas in the BMC+CPG+PRP group the defect was filled with the composite of autologous BMC, CPG and autologous PRP. In the autograft group the defect was filled with autologous cancellous graft, whereas in the CPG group the defect was filled with CPG solely. After 6 weeks radiological and histomorphometrical analysis showed significantly more new bone formation in the BMC+CPG+PRP group compared to the BMC+CPG group and the CPG group. There were no significant differences between the BMC+CPG+PRP group and the autograft group. In the PRP platelets were enriched significantly about 4.7-fold compared to native blood. In BMC the count of mononuclear cells increased significantly (3.5-fold) compared to the bone marrow aspirate. This study demonstrates that the composite of BMC+CPG+PRP leads to a significantly higher bone regeneration of critical-size defects at the proximal tibia in mini-pigs than the use of BMC+CPG without PRP. Furthermore, within the limits of the present study the composite BMC+CPG+PRP represents a comparable alternative to autologous bone grafting. PMID:24950251

An introduction to data reduction: space-group determination, scaling and intensity statistics.

PubMed

Evans, Philip R

2011-04-01

This paper presents an overview of how to run the CCP4 programs for data reduction (SCALA, POINTLESS and CTRUNCATE) through the CCP4 graphical interface ccp4i and points out some issues that need to be considered, together with a few examples. It covers determination of the point-group symmetry of the diffraction data (the Laue group), which is required for the subsequent scaling step, examination of systematic absences, which in many cases will allow inference of the space group, putting multiple data sets on a common indexing system when there are alternatives, the scaling step itself, which produces a large set of data-quality indicators, estimation of |F| from intensity and finally examination of intensity statistics to detect crystal pathologies such as twinning. An appendix outlines the scoring schemes used by the program POINTLESS to assign probabilities to possible Laue and space groups.

Functional analysis of alternative transcripts of the soybean Rj2 gene that restricts nodulation with specific rhizobial strains.

PubMed

Tang, F; Yang, S; Zhu, H

2016-05-01

The Rj2 gene is a TIR-NBS-LRR-type resistance gene in soybean (Glycine max) that restricts root nodule symbiosis with a group of Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains including USDA122. Rj2 generates two distinct transcript variants in its expression profile through alternative splicing. Alternative splicing of Rj2 is caused by the retention of the 86-bp intron 4. Inclusion of intron 4 in mature mRNA introduces an in-frame stop codon; as such, the alternative transcript is predicted to encode a truncated protein consisting of the entire portion of the TIR, NBS and LRR domains but missing the C-terminal domain of the full-length Rj2 protein encoded by the regular transcript. Since alternative splicing has been shown to be essential for full activity of several plant R genes, we attempted to test whether the alternative splicing is required for Rj2-mediated nodulation restriction. Here we demonstrated that the Rj2-mediated nodulation restriction does not require the combined presence of the regular and alternative transcripts, and the expression of the regular transcript alone is sufficient to confer nodulation restriction. © 2016 German Botanical Society and The Royal Botanical Society of the Netherlands.

Post-decision consolidation in large group decision-making.

PubMed

Bäck, Emma A; Esaiasson, Peter; Gilljam, Mikael; Svenson, Ola; Lindholm, Torun

2011-08-01

Decision-makers tend to change the psychological attractiveness of decision alternatives in favor of their own preferred alternative after the decision is made. In two experiments, the present research examined whether such decision consolidation occurs also among individual group members in a large group decision-making situation. High-school students were presented with a decision scenario on an important issue in their school. The final decision was made by in-group authority, out-group authority or by majority after a ballot voting. Results showed that individual members of large groups changed the attractiveness of their preferred alternative from a pre- to a post-decision phase, that these consolidation effects increased when decisions were made by in-group members, and when participants identified strongly with their school. Implications of the findings for understanding of group behavior and subgroup relations are discussed. © 2011 The Authors. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology © 2011 The Scandinavian Psychological Associations.

Innovative and Alternative Technologies. Instructor Guide. Working for Clean Water: An Information Program for Advisory Groups.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cole, Charles A.

Innovative and alternative methods of wastewater treatment can improve the efficiency and lower the cost of waste treatment procedures. Described in this instructor's guide is a one-hour learning session for citizens interested in improving water quality planning and decision making. Among the topics covered are the need for alternative wastewater…

Analysis of Pulsed Flow Modification Alternatives, Lower Missouri River, 2005

USGS Publications Warehouse

Jacobson, Robert B.

2008-01-01

The graphical, tabular, and statistical data presented in this report resulted from analysis of alternative flow regime designs considered by a group of Missouri River managers, stakeholders, and scientists during the summer of 2005. This plenary group was charged with designing a flow regime with increased spring flow pulses to support reproduction and survival of the endangered pallid sturgeon. Environmental flow components extracted from the reference natural flow regime were used to design and assess performance of alternative flow regimes. The analysis is based on modeled flow releases from Gavins Point Dam (near Yankton, South Dakota) for nine design alternatives and two reference scenarios; the reference scenarios are the run-of-the-river and the water-control plan implemented in 2004. The alternative designs were developed by the plenary group with the goal of providing pulsed spring flows, while retaining traditional social and economic uses of the river.

Electrically conductive alternating copolymers

DOEpatents

Aldissi, M.; Jorgensen, B.S.

1987-08-31

Polymers which are soluble in common organic solvents and are electrically conductive, but which also may be synthesized in such a manner that they become nonconductive. Negative ions from the electrolyte used in the electrochemical synthesis of a polymer are incorporated into the polymer during the synthesis and serve as a dopant. A further electrochemical step may be utilized to cause the polymer to be conductive. The monomer repeat unit is comprised of two rings, a pyrrole molecule joined to a thienyl group, or a furyl group, or a phenyl group. The individual groups of the polymers are arranged in an alternating manner. For example, the backbone arrangement of poly(furylpyrrole) is -furan-pyrrole-furan-pyrrole- furan-pyrrole. An alkyl group or phenyl group may be substituted for either or both of the hydrogen atoms of the pyrrole ring.

Potential Alternatives Report for Validation of Alternative Low-Emission Surface PreparationlDepainting Technologies for Structural Steel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lewis, Pattie

2006-01-01

For this project, particulates and solvents used during the depainting process of steel structures were the identified hazardous material (HazMat) targeted for elimination or reduction. This Potential Alternatives Report (PAR) provides technical analyses of identified alternatives to the current coating removal processes, criteria used to select alternatives for further analysis, and a list of those alternatives recommended for testing. The initial coating removal alternatives list was compiled using literature searches and center participant recommendations. The involved project participants initially considered fifteen (15) alternatives. In late 2004, stakeholders down-selected the list and identified specific processes as potential alternatives to the current depainting methods. The selected alternatives were: 1. Plastic Blast Media 2. Hard Abrasive Media 3. Sponge Blast Media 4. Mechanical Removal with Vacuum Attachment 5. Liquid Nitrogen 6. Laser Coating Removal Available information about these processes was used to analyze the technical merits and the potential environmental, safety, and occupational health (ESOH) impacts of these methods. A preliminary cost benefit analysis will be performed to determine if implementation of alternative technologies is economically justified. NASA AP2

A Renormalisation Group Method. V. A Single Renormalisation Group Step

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brydges, David C.; Slade, Gordon

2015-05-01

This paper is the fifth in a series devoted to the development of a rigorous renormalisation group method applicable to lattice field theories containing boson and/or fermion fields, and comprises the core of the method. In the renormalisation group method, increasingly large scales are studied in a progressive manner, with an interaction parametrised by a field polynomial which evolves with the scale under the renormalisation group map. In our context, the progressive analysis is performed via a finite-range covariance decomposition. Perturbative calculations are used to track the flow of the coupling constants of the evolving polynomial, but on their own perturbative calculations are insufficient to control error terms and to obtain mathematically rigorous results. In this paper, we define an additional non-perturbative coordinate, which together with the flow of coupling constants defines the complete evolution of the renormalisation group map. We specify conditions under which the non-perturbative coordinate is contractive under a single renormalisation group step. Our framework is essentially combinatorial, but its implementation relies on analytic results developed earlier in the series of papers. The results of this paper are applied elsewhere to analyse the critical behaviour of the 4-dimensional continuous-time weakly self-avoiding walk and of the 4-dimensional -component model. In particular, the existence of a logarithmic correction to mean-field scaling for the susceptibility can be proved for both models, together with other facts about critical exponents and critical behaviour.

Replacement of salt by a novel potassium- and magnesium-enriched salt alternative improves the cardiovascular effects of ramipril.

PubMed Central

Mervaala, E. M.; Paakkari, I.; Laakso, J.; Nevala, R.; Teräväinen, T. M.; Fyhrquist, F.; Vapaatalo, H.; Karppanen, H.

1994-01-01

1. The influence of salt (sodium chloride; NaCl) (an additional 6% in the diet) and that of a novel sodium-reduced, potassium-, magnesium-, and L-lysine-enriched salt alternative on the cardiovascular effects of ramipril was studied in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats in a 6-week study. The intake of sodium chloride was adjusted to the same level by adding the salt alternative at a 1.75 times higher amount than regular salt. 2. Salt produced a marked rise in blood pressure and induced cardiac hypertrophy and significant mortality, while the salt alternative neither increased blood pressure nor caused any mortality and produced less cardiac hypertrophy than salt. 3. Ramipril treatment at a daily dose of 3 mg kg-1 normalized blood pressure and prevented the development of cardiac hypertrophy of rats on control diet. These effects of ramipril were blocked by the addition of salt but were only slightly attenuated by the addition of the salt alternative. The mortality in the salt group was prevented by ramipril. 4. Responses of mesenteric arterial rings in vitro were examined at the end of the study. Salt, but not the salt alternative, increased vascular contractile responses to noradrenaline. Ramipril treatment improved the arterial relaxation responses to acetylcholine and to sodium nitroprusside. The vascular relaxation enhancing effect of ramipril was blocked by salt but only slightly attenuated by the salt alternative. 5. Ramipril treatment did not significantly increase plasma renin activity in the presence or in the absence of salt supplementation. The salt alternative did not cause hyperkalaemia, either alone or in combination with ramipril treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID:8032605

Computer-Aided Group Problem Solving for Unified Life Cycle Engineering (ULCE)

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-02-01

defining the problem, generating alternative solutions, evaluating alternatives, selecting alternatives, and implementing the solution. Systems...specialist in group dynamics, assists the group in formulating the problem and selecting a model framework. The analyst provides the group with computer...allocating resources, evaluating and selecting options, making judgments explicit, and analyzing dynamic systems. c. University of Rhode Island Drs. Geoffery

Dual Roles for DNA Polymerase Theta in Alternative End-Joining Repair of Double-Strand Breaks in Drosophila

PubMed Central

McVey, Mitch

2010-01-01

DNA double-strand breaks are repaired by multiple mechanisms that are roughly grouped into the categories of homology-directed repair and non-homologous end joining. End-joining repair can be further classified as either classical non-homologous end joining, which requires DNA ligase 4, or “alternative” end joining, which does not. Alternative end joining has been associated with genomic deletions and translocations, but its molecular mechanism(s) are largely uncharacterized. Here, we report that Drosophila melanogaster DNA polymerase theta (pol theta), encoded by the mus308 gene and previously implicated in DNA interstrand crosslink repair, plays a crucial role in DNA ligase 4-independent alternative end joining. In the absence of pol theta, end joining is impaired and residual repair often creates large deletions flanking the break site. Analysis of break repair junctions from flies with mus308 separation-of-function alleles suggests that pol theta promotes the use of long microhomologies during alternative end joining and increases the likelihood of complex insertion events. Our results establish pol theta as a key protein in alternative end joining in Drosophila and suggest a potential mechanistic link between alternative end joining and interstrand crosslink repair. PMID:20617203

Lower Growth Temperature Increases Alternative Pathway Capacity and Alternative Oxidase Protein in Tobacco 1

PubMed Central

Vanlerberghe, Greg C.; McIntosh, Lee

1992-01-01

Suspension cells of NT1 tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv bright yellow) have been used to study the effect of growth temperature on the CN-resistant, salicylhydroxamic acid-sensitive alternative pathway of respiration. Mitochondria isolated from cells maintained at 30°C had a low capacity to oxidize succinate via the alternative pathway, whereas mitochondria isolated from cells 24 h after transfer to 18°C displayed, on average, a 5-fold increase in this capacity (from 7 to 32 nanoatoms oxygen per milligram protein per minute). This represented an increase in alternative pathway capacity from 18 to 45% of the total capacity of electron transport. This increased capacity was lost upon transfer of cells back to 30°C. A monoclonal antibody to the terminal oxidase of the alternative pathway (the alternative oxidase) from Sauromatum guttatum (T.E. Elthon, R.L. Nickels, L. McIntosh [1989] Plant Physiology 89: 1311-1317) recognized a 35-kilodalton mitochondrial protein in tobacco. There was an excellent correlation between the capacity of the alternative path in isolated tobacco mitochondria and the levels of this 35-kilodalton alternative oxidase protein. Cycloheximide could inhibit both the increased level of the 35-kilodalton alternative oxidase protein and the increased alternative pathway capacity normally seen upon transfer to 18°C. We conclude that transfer of tobacco cells to the lower temperature increases the capacity of the alternative pathway due, at least in part, to de novo synthesis of the 35-kilodalton alternative oxidase protein. Images Figure 3 Figure 4 PMID:16652932

Pulmonary atelectasis: a frequent alternative diagnosis in patients undergoing CT-PA for suspected pulmonary embolism.

PubMed

Tsai, Kun-Lin; Gupta, Ekta; Haramati, Linda B

2004-04-01

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of atelectasis as an alternative diagnosis in patients who underwent computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CT-PA) for suspected pulmonary embolism (PE), and to contrast the pathophysiology of pulmonary atelectasis and PE, both of which are associated with dyspnea and hypoxemia. We retrospectively identified 144 consecutive emergency department patients (n=49) and inpatients (n=95) admitted between July 2001 and June 2002 who were evaluated with CT-PA for suspected PE. There were 98 women and 46 men with a mean age of 58 years (range 27-95 years). Each CT report was reviewed for PE, the words "atelectasis," "collapse," and/or "volume loss," findings known to predispose to atelectasis, and alternative diagnoses. CT scans of those with PE and those with atelectasis were reviewed. Each case was categorized into one of three groups, as follows: group 1, PE; group 2, atelectasis of three or more segments and no PE; group 3, neither PE nor atelectasis. PaO2 was documented, when available (n=115), with PaO2 >100 mmHg recorded as 100 mmHg. Reports for group 3 were reviewed for alternative diagnoses. Thirteen percent of the study population (19/144, group 1) had PE, and two of them had concomitant atelectasis; mean PaO2 was 69 mmHg (range 38-100 mmHg). Nineteen percent of the study population (27/144, group 2) had atelectasis of three or more segments without PE; mean PaO2 was 73 mmHg (range 45-100 mmHg). Sixty-eight percent of the study population (98/144, group 3) had neither PE nor atelectasis; mean PaO2 was 79 mmHg (range 36-100 mmHg). There was a significant difference in the PaO2 between groups 1 and 3 (Student's t-test), with group 2 intermediate. Seventy percent of group 2 (19/27) had at least one finding predisposing to atelectasis: central bronchial abnormality (n=6), moderate or larger pleural effusion (n=11), pleural mass, pneumothorax, elevated hemidiaphragm, and severe kyphosis (the last four all n=1

40 CFR Table 4 to Subpart U of... - Group 1 Storage Vessels at New Sources

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 9 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Group 1 Storage Vessels at New Sources... CATEGORIES National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutant Emissions: Group I Polymers and Resins Pt. 63, Subpt. U, Table 4 Table 4 to Subpart U of Part 63—Group 1 Storage Vessels at New Sources Vessel...

40 CFR Table 4 to Subpart U of... - Group 1 Storage Vessels at New Sources

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 9 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Group 1 Storage Vessels at New Sources... CATEGORIES National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutant Emissions: Group I Polymers and Resins Pt. 63, Subpt. U, Table 4 Table 4 to Subpart U of Part 63—Group 1 Storage Vessels at New Sources Vessel...

40 CFR Table 4 to Subpart U of... - Group 1 Storage Vessels at New Sources

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 10 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Group 1 Storage Vessels at New Sources... CATEGORIES National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutant Emissions: Group I Polymers and Resins Pt. 63, Subpt. U, Table 4 Table 4 to Subpart U of Part 63—Group 1 Storage Vessels at New Sources Vessel...

40 CFR Table 4 to Subpart U of... - Group 1 Storage Vessels at New Sources

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 10 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Group 1 Storage Vessels at New Sources... CATEGORIES National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutant Emissions: Group I Polymers and Resins Pt. 63, Subpt. U, Table 4 Table 4 to Subpart U of Part 63—Group 1 Storage Vessels at New Sources Vessel...

40 CFR Table 4 to Subpart U of... - Group 1 Storage Vessels at New Sources

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 10 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Group 1 Storage Vessels at New Sources... CATEGORIES National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutant Emissions: Group I Polymers and Resins Pt. 63, Subpt. U, Table 4 Table 4 to Subpart U of Part 63—Group 1 Storage Vessels at New Sources Vessel...

46 CFR 107.205 - Alternate compliance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 46 Shipping 4 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Alternate compliance. 107.205 Section 107.205 Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) A-MOBILE OFFSHORE DRILLING UNITS INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION Inspection and Certification § 107.205 Alternate compliance. (a) In place of compliance with other...

46 CFR 107.205 - Alternate compliance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 46 Shipping 4 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Alternate compliance. 107.205 Section 107.205 Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) A-MOBILE OFFSHORE DRILLING UNITS INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION Inspection and Certification § 107.205 Alternate compliance. (a) In place of compliance with other...

46 CFR 107.205 - Alternate compliance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 46 Shipping 4 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Alternate compliance. 107.205 Section 107.205 Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) A-MOBILE OFFSHORE DRILLING UNITS INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION Inspection and Certification § 107.205 Alternate compliance. (a) In place of compliance with other...

46 CFR 107.205 - Alternate compliance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 46 Shipping 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Alternate compliance. 107.205 Section 107.205 Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) A-MOBILE OFFSHORE DRILLING UNITS INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION Inspection and Certification § 107.205 Alternate compliance. (a) In place of compliance with other...

46 CFR 107.205 - Alternate compliance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 46 Shipping 4 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Alternate compliance. 107.205 Section 107.205 Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) A-MOBILE OFFSHORE DRILLING UNITS INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION Inspection and Certification § 107.205 Alternate compliance. (a) In place of compliance with other...

Rhodium-catalyzed tandem Pauson-Khand type reactions of 1,4-enynes tethered by a cyclopropyl group.

PubMed

Chen, Gen-Qiang; Shi, Min

2013-01-25

The tandem Pauson-Khand type reactions of 1,4-enynes tethered by a cyclopropyl group with two molecules of CO proceed smoothly in the presence of [Rh(CO)(2)Cl](2) under a CO atmosphere to give the corresponding 6-hydroxy-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-one derivatives in moderate yields under mild conditions.

Gas Phase Chromatography of some Group 4, 5, and 6 Halides

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

Sylwester, Eric Robert

1998-10-01

Gas phase chromatography using The Heavy Element Volatility Instrument (HEVI) and the On Line Gas Apparatus (OLGA III) was used to determine volatilities of ZrBr 4, HfBr 4, RfBr 4, NbBr 5, TaOBr 3, HaCl 5, WBr 6, FrBr, and BiBr 3. Short-lived isotopes of Zr, Hf, Rf, Nb, Ta, Ha, W, and Bi were produced via compound nucleus reactions at the 88-Inch Cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and transported to the experimental apparatus using a He gas transport system. The isotopes were halogenated, separated from the other reaction products, and their volatilities determined by isothermal gas phase chromatography.more » Adsorption Enthalpy (ΔH a) values for these compounds were calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation program modeling the gas phase chromatography column. All bromides showed lower volatility than molecules of similar molecular structures formed as chlorides, but followed similar trends by central element. Tantalum was observed to form the oxybromide, analogous to the formation of the oxychloride under the same conditions. For the group 4 elements, the following order in volatility and ΔH a was observed: RfBr 4 > ZrBr 4 > HfBr 4. The ΔH a values determined for the group 4, 5, and 6 halides are in general agreement with other experimental data and theoretical predictions. Preliminary experiments were performed on Me-bromides. A new measurement of the half-life of 261Rf was performed. 261Rf was produced via the 248Cm( 18O, 5n) reaction and observed with a half-life of 74 -6 +7 seconds, in excellent agreement with the previous measurement of 78 -6 +11 seconds. We recommend a new half-life of 75±7 seconds for 261Rf based on these two measurements. Preliminary studies in transforming HEVI from an isothermal (constant temperature) gas phase chromatography instrument to a thermochromatographic (variable temperature) instrument have been completed. Thermochromatography is a technique that can be used to study the volatility and ΔH a of longer

Eversion Bile Duct Anastomosis: A Safe Alternative for Bile Duct Size Discrepancy in Deceased Donor Liver Transplantation.

PubMed

Leal-Leyte, Pilar; McKenna, Greg J; Ruiz, Richard M; Anthony, Tiffany L; Saracino, Giovanna; Giuliano, Testa; Klintmalm, Goran B; Kim, Peter Tw

2018-04-10

Introduction Bile duct size discrepancy in liver transplantation may increase the risk of biliary complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and outcomes of the eversion bile duct anastomosis technique in deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) with duct to duct anastomosis. Methods A total of 210 patients who received a DDLT with duct to duct anastomosis from 2012 to 2017 were divided into two groups: those who had eversion bile duct anastomosis (N=70) and standard bile duct anastomosis (N=140). Biliary complications rates were compared between the two groups. Results There was no difference in the cumulative incidence of biliary strictures (P=0.20) and leaks (P=0.17) between the two groups. The biliary complication rate in the eversion group was 14.3% and 11.4% in the standard anastomosis group. All the biliary complications in the eversion group were managed with endoscopic stenting. A severe size mismatch (≥3:1 ratio) was associated with a significantly higher incidence of biliary strictures (44.4%) compared to 2:1 ratio (8.2%), (P=0.002). Conclusion The use of the eversion technique is a safe alternative for bile duct discrepancy in deceased donor liver transplantation; however, severe bile duct size mismatch may be a risk factor for biliary strictures with such technique. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. © 2018 by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

Alternation blindness in the representation of binary sequences.

PubMed

Yu, Ru Qi; Osherson, Daniel; Zhao, Jiaying

2018-03-01

Binary information is prevalent in the environment and contains 2 distinct outcomes. Binary sequences consist of a mixture of alternation and repetition. Understanding how people perceive such sequences would contribute to a general theory of information processing. In this study, we examined how people process alternation and repetition in binary sequences. Across 4 paradigms involving estimation, working memory, change detection, and visual search, we found that the number of alternations is underestimated compared with repetitions (Experiment 1). Moreover, recall for binary sequences deteriorates as the sequence alternates more (Experiment 2). Changes in bits are also harder to detect as the sequence alternates more (Experiment 3). Finally, visual targets superimposed on bits of a binary sequence take longer to process as alternation increases (Experiment 4). Overall, our results indicate that compared with repetition, alternation in a binary sequence is less salient in the sense of requiring more attention for successful encoding. The current study thus reveals the cognitive constraints in the representation of alternation and provides a new explanation for the overalternation bias in randomness perception. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

77 FR 9882 - Arsenic Small Systems Compliance and Alternative Affordability Criteria Working Group; public...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-21

... held via the Internet using a Webcast and teleconference. Registrants will receive an Internet access... period or individuals without Internet access seeking alternative means to participate in the meeting...

Alternative Chelator for 89Zr Radiopharmaceuticals: Radiolabeling and Evaluation of 3,4,3-(LI-1,2-HOPO)

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

Zirconium-89 is an effective radionuclide for antibody-based positron emission tomography (PET) imaging because its physical half-life (78.41 h) matches the biological half-life of IgG antibodies. Desferrioxamine (DFO) is currently the preferred chelator for 89Zr4+; however, accumulation of 89Zr in the bones of mice suggests that 89Zr4+ is released from DFO in vivo. An improved chelator for 89Zr4+ could eliminate the release of osteophilic 89Zr4+ and lead to a safer PET tracer with reduced background radiation dose. Herein, we present an octadentate chelator 3,4,3-(LI-1,2-HOPO) (or HOPO) as a potentially superior alternative to DFO. The HOPO ligand formed a 1:1 Zr-HOPO complex that was evaluated experimentally and theoretically. The stability of 89Zr-HOPO matched or surpassed that of 89Zr-DFO in every experiment. In healthy mice, 89Zr-HOPO cleared the body rapidly with no signs of demetalation. Ultimately, HOPO has the potential to replace DFO as the chelator of choice for 89Zr-based PET imaging agents. PMID:24814511

Emotional and Social Mind Training: A Randomised Controlled Trial of a New Group-Based Treatment for Bulimia Nervosa

PubMed Central

Lavender, Anna; Startup, Helen; Naumann, Ulrike; Samarawickrema, Nelum; DeJong, Hannah; Kenyon, Martha; van den Eynde, Frederique; Schmidt, Ulrike

2012-01-01

Objective There is a need to improve treatment for individuals with bulimic disorders. It was hypothesised that a focus in treatment on broader emotional and social/interpersonal issues underlying eating disorders would increase treatment efficacy. This study tested a novel treatment based on the above hypothesis, an Emotional and Social Mind Training Group (ESM), against a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Group (CBT) treatment. Method 74 participants were randomised to either ESM or CBT Group treatment programmes. All participants were offered 13 group and 4 individual sessions. The primary outcome measure was the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) Global score. Assessments were carried out at baseline, end of treatment (four months) and follow-up (six months). Results There were no differences in outcome between the two treatments. No moderators of treatment outcome were identified. Adherence rates were higher for participants in the ESM group. Discussion This suggests that ESM may be a viable alternative to CBT for some individuals. Further research will be required to identify and preferentially allocate suitable individuals accordingly. Trial Registration ISRCTN61115988 PMID:23118850

What Is the Difference between a Calorie and a Carbohydrate?--Exploring Nutrition Education Opportunities in Alternative School Settings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Norquest, Michele; Phelps, Josh; Hermann, Janice; Kennedy, Tay

2015-01-01

Extension-based nutrition educators have indicated current curricula do not engage alternative school students' interests. The study reported here explored nutrition education opportunities at alternative schools in Oklahoma. Data collection involved focus groups gathering student perspectives regarding preferred teaching and learning styles, and…

An Alternative Representation of a Simulated Human Body

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-11-01

Casualty Assessment ( ORCA )3 uses this model to determine injury from insults to the body from fragments and bullets. An alternative representation was...Based Casualty Assessment: ORCA Analyst’s Manual; U.S. Army Research Laboratory: Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, August 2005; draft. 4 U.S. Army Natick

Alternatives for NASTRAN maintenance, modification and dissemination

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schaeffer, H. G.

1977-01-01

Various alternatives to direct NASA support of the program are considered ranging from no support at one end of the spectrum to subsidizing a non profit user's group at the other. Of all the alternatives that are developed, the user group appears to be most viable. NASA's past and future roles in the development of computerized technology are also considered. The need for an institute for computational analysis is identified and NASA's possible involvement is described. The goals of the proposed institute and research funds to support an activity that has the potential of a much larger impact on the technical community are identified.

Psychosocial needs assessment post kidney transplant: Feasibility of a post-transplant specific support group.

PubMed

Brijmohan, Angela; Famure, Olusegun; Sihota, Kiren; Shea, Mary; Marzario, Barbara; Mitchell, Margot

2015-01-01

This project assessed unmet psychosocial needs of kidney transplant recipients and the feasibility of a support group located at an urban Canadian hospital to meet those needs. A survey assessed transplant recipient concerns about psychosocial issues related to transplantation, interest in a support group, desired group composition, facilitation, leadership, barriers and alternative forms of support. Most respondents were more than two years since transplant and were more concerned about medical complications, returning to normalcy, and had a greater desire to talk to other transplant recipients. Forty per cent of respondents indicated they would be interested in a support group. However, 60% indicated that a support group hosted in the hospital setting would be a deterrent to attending, citing time and transportation as the greatest barriers. More research is needed to assess the feasibility of post-kidney transplant support groups closer to recipients' homes and the feasibility of alternative forms of support.

Severe cyanide poisoning from an alternative medicine treatment with amygdalin and apricot kernels in a 4-year-old child.

PubMed

Sauer, Harald; Wollny, Caroline; Oster, Isabel; Tutdibi, Erol; Gortner, Ludwig; Gottschling, Sven; Meyer, Sascha

2015-05-01

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widespread in children with cancer and is poorly regulated. Case report. We describe a case of severe cyanide poisoning arising from CAM use. A severely agitated, encephalopathic, unresponsive 4-year-old boy (initial Glasgow Coma Scale of 3) with a history of metastatic ependymoma was brought to our emergency department by ambulance services. Initial blood gas analysis demonstrated severe metabolic/lactic acidosis. On detailed questioning of the parents, the use of CAM including intravenous and oral "vitamin B 17" (amygdalin) and oral apricot kernel was reported. After administering sodium thiosulfate, rapid improvement in his medical condition with complete recovery without need for further intensive care treatment was seen. Serum cyanide level was markedly elevated. Cyanide poisoning can be the cause of severe encephalopathy in children receiving CAM treatment with substances containing cyanogenic glycosides.

Increasing Incidence and Prevalence of World Health Organization Groups 1 to 4 Pulmonary Hypertension: A Population-Based Cohort Study in Ontario, Canada.

PubMed

Wijeratne, D Thiwanka; Lajkosz, Katherine; Brogly, Susan B; Lougheed, M Diane; Jiang, Li; Housin, Ahmad; Barber, David; Johnson, Ana; Doliszny, Katharine M; Archer, Stephen L

2018-02-01

The World Health Organization recognizes 5 groups of pulmonary hypertension (PH), categorized by pathogenesis or comorbidity: 1-pulmonary arterial hypertension 2-left-heart disease, 3-lung disease and hypoxia 4-chronic thromboembolic disease, and 5-miscellaneous. The epidemiology of PH, apart from group 1, is largely unknown. We describe incidence, prevalence, comorbidities, mortality and prescribing patterns for groups 1 to 4 PH from 1993 to 2012. Case definitions are based on hospitalizations and emergency department visits, using the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences data, which comprises linked databases of universal coverage health service records for Ontario residents. This cohort included 50 529 patients with PH. The annual incidence of adult PH increased from 2003 to 2012 from 24.1 to 28.7 cases/100 000 population and the annual prevalence from 1993 to 2012 from 99.8 to 127.3 cases/100 000 population, respectively. The most common form of adult PH was group 2, alone (34.2%) or combined with group 3 PH (29.3%). A diagnosis of PH increased the 1-year standardized mortality ratio 7.2-fold. Mortality in adults with PH was 13.0%, 36.4%, and 62.4%, at 30 days, 1 year, and 5 years, respectively. Mortality was highest in groups 2 and 3 and lowest in group 1. PH was present in only 3.6% of people with left heart disease, 0.7% with lung disease, and 1.4% with thromboembolic disease, suggesting that PH is a relatively rare complication of these common diseases. Children (age<16 years) accounted for 3.6% of the cohort. In children group 1 PH was most common (65.2%), and 5-year mortality was lower (21.4%) than in adults. Group 1-specific PH therapies were increasingly prescribed over time and paradoxically were often used in patients who seemed to have group 2, PH based on diagnostic codes indicating left heart disease. The incidence and prevalence of adult PH are increasing. Groups 2 and 3 are the most common and lethal forms of PH. This study identifies an

Visual Reconciliation of Alternative Similarity Spaces in Climate Modeling.

PubMed

Poco, Jorge; Dasgupta, Aritra; Wei, Yaxing; Hargrove, William; Schwalm, Christopher R; Huntzinger, Deborah N; Cook, Robert; Bertini, Enrico; Silva, Claudio T

2014-12-01

Visual data analysis often requires grouping of data objects based on their similarity. In many application domains researchers use algorithms and techniques like clustering and multidimensional scaling to extract groupings from data. While extracting these groups using a single similarity criteria is relatively straightforward, comparing alternative criteria poses additional challenges. In this paper we define visual reconciliation as the problem of reconciling multiple alternative similarity spaces through visualization and interaction. We derive this problem from our work on model comparison in climate science where climate modelers are faced with the challenge of making sense of alternative ways to describe their models: one through the output they generate, another through the large set of properties that describe them. Ideally, they want to understand whether groups of models with similar spatio-temporal behaviors share similar sets of criteria or, conversely, whether similar criteria lead to similar behaviors. We propose a visual analytics solution based on linked views, that addresses this problem by allowing the user to dynamically create, modify and observe the interaction among groupings, thereby making the potential explanations apparent. We present case studies that demonstrate the usefulness of our technique in the area of climate science.

Concentration of acrylamide in a polyacrylamide gel affects VP4 gene coding assignment of group A equine rotavirus strains with P[12] specificity

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background It is universally acknowledged that genome segment 4 of group A rotavirus, the major etiologic agent of severe diarrhea in infants and neonatal farm animals, encodes outer capsid neutralization and protective antigen VP4. Results To determine which genome segment of three group A equine rotavirus strains (H-2, FI-14 and FI-23) with P[12] specificity encodes the VP4, we analyzed dsRNAs of strains H-2, FI-14 and FI-23 as well as their reassortants by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) at varying concentrations of acrylamide. The relative position of the VP4 gene of the three equine P[12] strains varied (either genome segment 3 or 4) depending upon the concentration of acrylamide. The VP4 gene bearing P[3], P[4], P[6], P[7], P[8] or P[18] specificity did not exhibit this phenomenon when the PAGE running conditions were varied. Conclusions The concentration of acrylamide in a PAGE gel affected VP4 gene coding assignment of equine rotavirus strains bearing P[12] specificity. PMID:20573245

CMV infection after transplant from cord blood compared to other alternative donors: the importance of donor-negative CMV serostatus.

PubMed

Mikulska, Małgorzata; Raiola, Anna Maria; Bruzzi, Paolo; Varaldo, Riccardo; Annunziata, Silvana; Lamparelli, Teresa; Frassoni, Francesco; Tedone, Elisabetta; Galano, Barbara; Bacigalupo, Andrea; Viscoli, Claudio

2012-01-01

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease are important complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplant, particularly after transplant from alternative donors. Allogeneic cord blood transplantation (CBT) is being increasingly used, but immune recovery may be delayed. The aim of this study was to compare CMV infection in CBT with transplants from unrelated or mismatched related donors, from now on defined as alternative donors. A total of 165 consecutive transplants were divided in 2 groups: (1) alternative donors transplants (n = 85) and (2) CBT recipients (n = 80). Donor and recipient (D/R) CMV serostatus were recorded. The incidence of CMV infection, its severity, timing, and outcome were compared. Median follow-up was 257 days (1-1328). CMV infection was monitored by CMV antigenemia and expressed as CMV Ag positive cell/2 × 10(5) polymorphonuclear blood cells. There was a trend toward a higher cumulative incidence of CMV infection among CBT than alternative donor transplant recipients (64% vs 51%, P = .12). The median time to CMV reactivation was 35 days, and was comparable in the 2 groups (P = .8). The maximum number of CMV-positive cells was similar in the 2 groups (11 versus 16, P = .2). The time interval between the first and the last positive CMV antigenemia was almost 4 times longer in CBT compared with alternative donor transplants (109 vs 29 days, respectively, P = .008). The incidence of late CMV infection was also higher in CBT (62% vs 24%, P < .001). The incidence of early and late CMV infection in CBT was similar to D-/R+ alternative transplants, and higher than in D+/R+ alternative transplants: early infection, 72% in CBT versus 69% in D-/R+ alternative versus 55% in D+/R+ alternative (P = .21); and late infection, 67% in CBT versus 60% in D-/R+ alternative versus 7% in D+/R+ alternative (P < .001). Transplant-related mortality and overall survival were similar between the groups: 34% versus 36% (P = .6) and 54% versus 46% (P = .3) for

Alternative Fuels Data Center: Sea-Tac and Alaska Air Group Achieve

Science.gov Websites

pilot project, Alaska Air Group encountered a few hurdles during the switch to eGSE. One was Sky-High Results with Electric Ground Support EquipmentA> Sea-Tac and Alaska Air Group Achieve Data Center: Sea-Tac and Alaska Air Group Achieve Sky-High Results with Electric Ground Support

A Synthetic Alternative to Canonical One-Carbon Metabolism.

PubMed

Bouzon, Madeleine; Perret, Alain; Loreau, Olivier; Delmas, Valérie; Perchat, Nadia; Weissenbach, Jean; Taran, Frédéric; Marlière, Philippe

2017-08-18

One-carbon metabolism is an ubiquitous metabolic pathway that encompasses the reactions transferring formyl-, hydroxymethyl- and methyl-groups bound to tetrahydrofolate for the synthesis of purine nucleotides, thymidylate, methionine and dehydropantoate, the precursor of coenzyme A. An alternative cyclic pathway was designed that substitutes 4-hydroxy-2-oxobutanoic acid (HOB), a compound absent from known metabolism, for the amino acids serine and glycine as one-carbon donors. It involves two novel reactions, the transamination of l-homoserine and the transfer of a one-carbon unit from HOB to tetrahydrofolate releasing pyruvate as coproduct. Since canonical reactions regenerate l-homoserine from pyruvate by carboxylation and subsequent reduction, every one-carbon moiety made available for anabolic reactions originates from CO 2 . The HOB-dependent pathway was established in an Escherichia coli auxotroph selected for prototrophy using long-term cultivation protocols. Genetic, metabolic and biochemical evidence support the emergence of a functional HOB-dependent one-carbon pathway achieved with the recruitment of the two enzymes l-homoserine transaminase and HOB-hydroxymethyltransferase and of HOB as an essential metabolic intermediate. Escherichia coli biochemical reprogramming was achieved by minimally altering canonical metabolism and leveraging on natural selection mechanisms, thereby launching the resulting strain on an evolutionary trajectory diverging from all known extant species.

Alternative Fuels Data Center: Underwriters Laboratories Ethanol Dispenser

Science.gov Websites

alternate equivalent dispenser design to be submitted for approval. Each jurisdiction has its own process grant a waiver or variance on a case-by-case basis for alternative equivalent dispensers for mid- to procedures used to evaluate the product. The group of manufacturers and industry partners interested in

Cold-air investigation of a 4 1/2 stage turbine with stage-loading factor of 4.66 and high specific work output. 2: Stage group performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Whitney, W. J.; Behning, F. P.; Moffitt, T. P.; Hotz, G. M.

1980-01-01

The stage group performance of a 4 1/2 stage turbine with an average stage loading factor of 4.66 and high specific work output was determined in cold air at design equivalent speed. The four stage turbine configuration produced design equivalent work output with an efficiency of 0.856; a barely discernible difference from the 0.855 obtained for the complete 4 1/2 stage turbine in a previous investigation. The turbine was designed and the procedure embodied the following design features: (1) controlled vortex flow, (2) tailored radial work distribution, and (3) control of the location of the boundary-layer transition point on the airfoil suction surface. The efficiency forecast for the 4 1/2 stage turbine was 0.886, and the value predicted using a reference method was 0.862. The stage group performance results were used to determine the individual stage efficiencies for the condition at which design 4 1/2 stage work output was obtained. The efficiencies of stages one and four were about 0.020 lower than the predicted value, that of stage two was 0.014 lower, and that of stage three was about equal to the predicted value. Thus all the stages operated reasonably close to their expected performance levels, and the overall (4 1/2 stage) performance was not degraded by any particularly inefficient component.

Four-point functions and the permutation group S4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eichmann, Gernot; Fischer, Christian S.; Heupel, Walter

2015-09-01

Four-point functions are at the heart of many interesting physical processes. A prime example is the light-by-light scattering amplitude, which plays an important role in the calculation of hadronic contributions to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. In the calculation of such quantities one faces the challenge of finding a suitable and well-behaved basis of tensor structures in coordinate and/or momentum space. Provided all (or many) of the external legs represent similar particle content, a powerful tool to construct and organize such bases is the permutation group S4. We introduce an efficient notation for dealing with the irreducible multiplets of S4, and we highlight the merits of this treatment by exemplifying four-point functions with gauge-boson legs such as the four-gluon vertex and the light-by-light scattering amplitude. The multiplet analysis is also useful for isolating the important kinematic regions and the dynamical singularity content of such amplitudes. Our analysis serves as a basis for future efficient calculations of these and similar objects.

Evaluation of an alternative technique to optimize direct bonding of orthodontic brackets to temporary crowns.

PubMed

Dias, Francilena Maria Campos Santos; Pinzan-Vercelino, Célia Regina Maio; Tavares, Rudys Rodolfo de Jesus; Gurgel, Júlio de Araújo; Bramante, Fausto Silva; Fialho, Melissa Nogueira Proença

2015-01-01

To compare shear bond strength of different direct bonding techniques of orthodontic brackets to acrylic resin surfaces. The sample comprised 64 discs of chemically activated acrylic resin (CAAR) randomly divided into four groups: discs in group 1 were bonded by means of light-cured composite resin (conventional adhesive); discs in group 2 had surfaces roughened with a diamond bur followed by conventional direct bonding by means of light-cured composite resin; discs in group 3 were bonded by means of CAAR (alternative adhesive); and discs in group 4 had surfaces roughened with a diamond bur followed by direct bonding by means of CAAR. Shear bond strength values were determined after 24 hours by means of a universal testing machine at a speed of 0.5 mm/min, and compared by analysis of variance followed by post-hoc Tukey test. Adhesive remnant index (ARI) was measured and compared among groups by means of Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests. Groups 3 and 4 had significantly greater shear bond strength values in comparison to groups 1 and 2. Groups 3 and 4 yielded similar results. Group 2 showed better results when compared to group 1. In ARI analyses, groups 1 and 2 predominantly exhibited a score equal to 0, whereas groups 3 and 4 predominantly exhibited a score equal to 3. Direct bonding of brackets to acrylic resin surfaces using CAAR yielded better results than light-cured composite resin. Surface preparation with diamond bur only increased shear bond strength in group 2.

Conserved patterns hidden within group A Streptococcus M protein hypervariability recognize human C4b-binding protein

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

Buffalo, Cosmo Z.; Bahn-Suh, Adrian J.; Hirakis, Sophia P.

No vaccine exists against group A Streptococcus (GAS), a leading cause of worldwide morbidity and mortality. A severe hurdle is the hypervariability of its major antigen, the M protein, with >200 different M types known. Neutralizing antibodies typically recognize M protein hypervariable regions (HVRs) and confer narrow protection. In stark contrast, human C4b-binding protein (C4BP), which is recruited to the GAS surface to block phagocytic killing, interacts with a remarkably large number of M protein HVRs (apparently ~90%). Such broad recognition is rare, and we discovered a unique mechanism for this through the structure determination of four sequence-diverse M proteinsmore » in complexes with C4BP. The structures revealed a uniform and tolerant ‘reading head’ in C4BP, which detected conserved sequence patterns hidden within hypervariability. Our results open up possibilities for rational therapies that target the M–C4BP interaction, and also inform a path towards vaccine design.« less

EJSCREEN Version 1, EJ Index Alternatives

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This map service displays alternative environmental justice (EJ) indexes used in EJSCREEN. The alternative EJ indexes combine each of the 12 environmental indicators and one of two demographic indexes using different methods than the Primary EJ Index. EJ Index Alternative 1 is a combination of a blockgroup environmental factor, the populaiton of the blockgroup, and the demographic index. This EJ Index measures how much a particular place contributes to the total burden faced by subpopulations highlighted by the demographic index. EJ Index Alternative 2 is a combination of a blockgroup environmental factor and the demographic index. Two options are presented for both EJ Index Alternative 1 and Alternative 2-- they are combined with the primary demographic index and alternative demographic index. EJSCREEN is an environmental justice screening tool that provides EPA with a nationally consistent approach to screening for potential areas of EJ concern that may warrant further investigation. The EJ indexes are block group level results that combine multiple demographic factors with a single environmental variable (such as proximity to traffic) that can be used to help identify communities living with the greatest potential for negative environmental and health effects. The EJSCREEN tool is currently for internal EPA use only. It is anticipated that as users become accustomed to this new tool, individual programs within the Agency will develop program use guidelines a

Conformational dimorphism in o-nitrobenzoic acid: alternative ways to avoid the O...O clash.

PubMed

Ibragimov, Aziz; Ashurov, Jamshid; Ibragimov, Bakhtiyar; Wang, Ai; Mouhib, Halima; Englert, Ulli

2016-07-01

Polymorphism is a challenging phenomenon and the competitive packing alternatives which are characteristic for polymorphs may be encountered for essentially rigid molecules. A second crystal form of the well known compound o-nitrobenzoic acid, C7H5NO4, an important intermediate in the production of dyes, pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, is described. Although obtained serendipitously, its intra- and intermolecular features match expectations from database searches and theoretical calculations. O-H...O hydrogen-bonded carboxylic acid dimers represent the building blocks in both polymorphs. For steric reasons and in agreement with a calculated potential energy surface, the carboxylic acid and nitro groups cannot simultaneously be coplanar with the benzene ring but have to tilt. In the well established crystal form, this out-of-plane torsion is more pronounced for the nitro substituent. In contrast, the new polymorph is characterized by a major tilt of the carboxylic acid group. The molecules in both alternative crystal forms achieve a similar compromise with respect to acceptable intramolecular O...O contacts.

Alternatives for Youth-At-Risk: Outdoor Experiences for a Special Population. An Occasional Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lingle, Kendall I.

1980-01-01

Camping or other outdoor experience is seen as an alternative to incarceration for youth-at-risk, matching the excitement of the street-gang society or peer group, while simultaneously giving youth-at-risk a sense of the reason for teamwork, adherence to a group-respected value system, regard for skills and abilities of others, plus a…

Assessing the Impact of a School-Based Group Approach with Adolescent Males

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liddell, T. Michael; Kurpius, Sharon Robinson

2014-01-01

This study assessed the impact of a school-based group intervention, "The Council for Boys and Young Men," specifically designed for adolescent males. The participants who attended an alternative school in a metropolitan area were randomly assigned to the intervention or to waitlist control groups. Measures assessed self-esteem, future…

A More Rigorous Quasi-Experimental Alternative to the One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Craig W.

1986-01-01

A simple quasi-experimental design is described which may have utility in a variety of applied and laboratory research settings where ordinarily the one-group pretest-posttest pre-experimental design might otherwise be the procedure of choice. The design approaches the internal validity of true experimental designs while optimizing external…

26 CFR 1.41-8 - Alternative incremental credit.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 true Alternative incremental credit. 1.41-8 Section 1... Credits Against Tax § 1.41-8 Alternative incremental credit. (a) Determination of credit. At the election... alternative incremental research credit (AIRC) in section 41(c)(4) for any taxable year of the taxpayer...

Maternal expectations about normal child development in 4 cultural groups.

PubMed

Pachter, L M; Dworkin, P H

1997-11-01

To determine whether expectations about normal infant and child development are different among mothers from 4 ethnocultural groups. Two hundred fifty-five mothers (90 Puerto Rican, 59 African American, 69 European American, 37 West Indian-Caribbean) whose children received health care at hospital-based pediatric clinics and private pediatricians' and family practitioners' offices. Verbally administered questionnaire that included 25 questions in which mothers were asked to give their opinions about the age at which a normal child should begin to accomplish standard developmental milestones. Responses (mean ages at which mothers expected children to attain the milestones) from each group were compared after controlling for age of mother, number of children, level of education, and socioeconomic status. Significant differences among ethnic groups' responses were seen for 9 of 25 developmental milestones. Differences were mainly seen among personal and social milestones, and Puerto Rican mothers tended to expect children to attain these milestones at a later age than did other mothers. No differences in responses were seen between Spanish- and English-speaking Puerto Rican mothers. European-American mothers expected children to take first steps and become toilet trained at a later age. Developmental expectations differ among mothers from different ethnocultural groups. Many of these differences can be explained by underlying cultural beliefs and values and specific child-rearing practices. Clinicians should ask about maternal expectations during child health visits to interpret mothers' concerns and opinions about their children's development.

Human Monocytes Engage an Alternative Inflammasome Pathway.

PubMed

Gaidt, Moritz M; Ebert, Thomas S; Chauhan, Dhruv; Schmidt, Tobias; Schmid-Burgk, Jonathan L; Rapino, Francesca; Robertson, Avril A B; Cooper, Matthew A; Graf, Thomas; Hornung, Veit

2016-04-19

Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a cytokine whose bioactivity is controlled by activation of the inflammasome. However, in response to lipopolysaccharide, human monocytes secrete IL-1β independently of classical inflammasome stimuli. Here, we report that this constituted a species-specific response that is not observed in the murine system. Indeed, in human monocytes, lipopolysaccharide triggered an "alternative inflammasome" that relied on NLRP3-ASC-caspase-1 signaling, yet was devoid of any classical inflammasome characteristics including pyroptosome formation, pyroptosis induction, and K(+) efflux dependency. Genetic dissection of the underlying signaling pathway in a monocyte transdifferentiation system revealed that alternative inflammasome activation was propagated by TLR4-TRIF-RIPK1-FADD-CASP8 signaling upstream of NLRP3. Importantly, involvement of this signaling cascade was limited to alternative inflammasome activation and did not extend to classical NLRP3 activation. Because alternative inflammasome activation embraces both sensitivity and promiscuity of TLR4, we propose a pivotal role for this signaling cascade in TLR4-driven, IL-1β-mediated immune responses and immunopathology in humans. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

40 CFR Table 4 to Subpart Jjj of... - Group 1 Storage Vessels at New Affected Sources

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 12 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Group 1 Storage Vessels at New... SOURCE CATEGORIES (CONTINUED) National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutant Emissions: Group IV Polymers and Resins Pt. 63, Subpt. JJJ, Table 4 Table 4 to Subpart JJJ of Part 63—Group 1 Storage Vessels...

40 CFR Table 4 to Subpart Jjj of... - Group 1 Storage Vessels at New Affected Sources

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 11 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Group 1 Storage Vessels at New... SOURCE CATEGORIES National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutant Emissions: Group IV Polymers and Resins Pt. 63, Subpt. JJJ, Table 4 Table 4 to Subpart JJJ of Part 63—Group 1 Storage Vessels at...

40 CFR Table 4 to Subpart Jjj of... - Group 1 Storage Vessels at New Affected Sources

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 12 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Group 1 Storage Vessels at New... SOURCE CATEGORIES (CONTINUED) National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutant Emissions: Group IV Polymers and Resins Pt. 63, Subpt. JJJ, Table 4 Table 4 to Subpart JJJ of Part 63—Group 1 Storage Vessels...

Alternative splicing variants of human Fbx4 disturb cyclin D1 proteolysis in human cancer

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

Chu, Xiufeng; Zhang, Ting; Wang, Jie

2014-04-25

Highlights: • The expression of Fbx4 was significantly lower in HCC tissues. • Novel splicing variants of Fbx4 were identified. • These novel variants are much more abundant in human cancer tissues and cells. • The novel Fbx4 isoforms could promote cell proliferation and migration in vitro. • These isoforms showed less capability for cyclin D1 binding and degradation. - Abstract: Fbx4 is a specific substrate recognition component of SCF ubiquitin ligases that catalyzes the ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of cyclin D1 and Trx1. Two isoforms of human Fbx4 protein, the full length Fbx4α and the C-terminal truncated Fbx4β havemore » been identified, but their functions remain elusive. In this study, we demonstrated that the mRNA level of Fbx4 was significantly lower in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues than that in the corresponding non-tumor tissues. More importantly, we identified three novel splicing variants of Fbx4: Fbx4γ (missing 168–245nt of exon1), Fbx4δ (missing exon6) and a N-terminal reading frame shift variant (missing exon2). Using cloning sequencing and RT-PCR, we demonstrated these novel splice variants are much more abundant in human cancer tissues and cell lines than that in normal tissues. When expressed in Sk-Hep1 and NIH3T3 cell lines, Fbx4β, Fbx4γ and Fbx4δ could promote cell proliferation and migration in vitro. Concordantly, these isoforms could disrupt cyclin D1 degradation and therefore increase cyclin D1 expression. Moreover, unlike the full-length isoform Fbx4α that mainly exists in cytoplasm, Fbx4β, Fbx4γ, and Fbx4δ locate in both cytoplasm and nucleus. Since cyclin D1 degradation takes place in cytoplasm, the nuclear distribution of these Fbx4 isoforms may not be involved in the down-regulation of cytoplasmic cyclin D1. These results define the impact of alternative splicing on Fbx4 function, and suggest that the attenuated cyclin D1 degradation by these novel Fbx4 isoforms provides a new insight for

Integrating Exposure into Chemical Alternatives Assessment ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Most alternatives assessments (AA) published to date are largely hazard-based rankings, and as such may not represent a fully informed consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of possible alternatives. With an assessment goal of identifying an alternative chemical that is more sustainable, other attributes beyond hazard are also important, including exposure, risk, life-cycle impacts, performance, cost, and social responsibility. Building on the 2014 recommendations by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences to improve AA decisions by including comparative exposure assessment, the HESISustainable Chemical Alternatives Technical Committee, which consists of scientists from academia, industry, government, and NGOs, has developed a qualitative comparative exposure approach. Conducting such a comparison can screen for alternatives that are expected to have a higher exposure potential, which could trigger a higher-tiered, more quantitative exposure assessment on the alternatives being considered. This talk will demonstrate an approach for including chemical- and product-related exposure information in a qualitative AA comparison. Starting from existing hazard AAs, a series of four chemical-product application scenarios were examined to test the concept, to understand the effort required, and to determine the value of exposure data in AA decision-making. The group has developed a classification approach for ingredient and product parameters to support compariso

Organizing Schools into Small Units: Alternatives to Homogeneous Grouping.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oxley, Diana

1994-01-01

Large school size adversely affects attendance, school climate, student involvement. Dividing large schools into small units creates a learning and teaching context that is more stable, intimate, supportive, interdisciplinary. Kohn-Holweide, a comprehensive German secondary school, groups all students at a given grade level with the same teachers…

40 CFR Table 4 to Subpart Jjj of... - Group 1 Storage Vessels at New Affected Sources

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 11 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 true Group 1 Storage Vessels at New Affected... CATEGORIES National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutant Emissions: Group IV Polymers and Resins Pt. 63, Subpt. JJJ, Table 4 Table 4 to Subpart JJJ of Part 63—Group 1 Storage Vessels at New Affected...

40 CFR Table 4 to Subpart Jjj of... - Group 1 Storage Vessels at New Affected Sources

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 12 2012-07-01 2011-07-01 true Group 1 Storage Vessels at New Affected... CATEGORIES National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutant Emissions: Group IV Polymers and Resins Pt. 63, Subpt. JJJ, Table 4 Table 4 to Subpart JJJ of Part 63—Group 1 Storage Vessels at New Affected...

“It’s not like a fat camp” — A focus group study of adolescents’ experiences on group-based obesity treatment

PubMed Central

Engström, Anna; Abildsnes, Eirik; Mildestvedt, Thomas

2016-01-01

Background The health burden related to obesity is rising among children and adolescents along with the general population worldwide. For the individual as well as the society this trend is alarming. Several factors are driving the trend, and the solution seems to be multifaceted because long-lasting treatment alternatives are lacking. This study aims to explore adolescents’ and young adults’ motivation for attending group-based obesity treatment and social and environmental factors that can facilitate or hinder lifestyle change. Methods In this study, we arranged three focus groups with 17 participants from different obesity treatment programs in the west and south of Norway. The content in these programs differed, but they all used Motivational Interviewing as a teaching method. We conducted a data-driven analysis using systematic text condensation. Self-determination theory has been used as an explanatory framework. Results We identified four major themes: 1) motivation, 2) body experience and self-image, 3) relationships and sense of belonging, and 4) the road ahead. Many of the participants expressed external motivation to participate but experienced increasing inner motivation and enjoyment during the treatment. Several participants reported negative experiences related to being obese and appreciated group affiliation and sharing experiences with other participants. Conclusion Motivation may shift during a lifestyle course. Facilitating factors include achieving and experiencing positive outcomes as well as gaining autonomy support from other course participants and friends. Obstacles to change were a widespread obesogenic environment as well as feelings of guilt, little trust in personal achievements and non-supporting friends. PMID:27834179

A novel open-framework with non-crossing channels in the uranyl vanadates A(UO 2) 4(VO 4) 3 ( A=Li, Na)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Obbade, S.; Dion, C.; Rivenet, M.; Saadi, M.; Abraham, F.

2004-06-01

A new sodium uranyl vanadate Na(UO 2) 4(VO 4) 3 has been synthesized by solid-state reaction and its structure determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. It crystallizes in the tetragonal symmetry with space group I4 1/ amd and following cell parameters: a=7.2267(4) Å and c=34.079(4) Å, V=1779.8(2) Å 3, Z=4 with ρmes=5.36(3) g/cm 3 and ρcal=5.40(2) g/cm 3. A full-matrix least-squares refinement on the basis of F2 yielded R1=0.028 and w R2=0.056 for 52 parameters with 474 independent reflections with I⩾2 σ( I) collected on a BRUKER AXS diffractometer with Mo Kα radiation and a CCD detector. The crystal structure is characterized by ∞2[(UO 2) 2(VO 4)] sheets parallel to (001) formed by corner-shared UO 6 distorted octahedra and V(2)O 4 tetrahedra, connected by V(1)O 4 tetrahedra to ∞1[UO 5] 4- chains of edge-shared UO 7 pentagonal bipyramids alternately parallel to the a- and b-axis. The resulting three-dimensional framework creates mono-dimensional channels running down the a- and b-axis formed by face-shared oxygen octahedra half occupied by Na. The powder of Li analog compound Li(UO 2) 4(VO 4) 3 has been synthesized by solid-state reaction. The two compounds exhibit high mobility of the alkaline ions within the two-dimensional network of non-intersecting channels.

Dwornikite, (Ni,Fe)SO4.H2O, a member of the kieserite group from Minasragra, Peru.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Milton, C.; Evans, H.T.; Johnson, R.G.

1982-01-01

A new nickel sulphate monohydrate is described from V-sulphide ore from Minasragra; it occurs associated with patronite (VS2) with various sulphates, sulphur and bitumen. Dwornikite forms fine-grained white aggregates mixed with other oxidation products. Indexed X-ray powder data are tabulated; strongest lines 3.342(100) , 4.732(70), 3.024(70), 4.754(50), 3.293(35), 2.491(35) A; a 6.839, b 7.582, c 7.474 A, beta 117.85o; space group C2/c. XRF gave NiO 39.0, FeO 9.3, SO3 42.4, = 90.7; Dcalc. 3.34 g/cm3; mean refr. ind. approx 1.63. Unit-cell data for the synthetic end-member compounds NiSO4.H2O and FeSO4.H2O and new X-ray powder data for retgersite (NiSO4.6H2O) are given. The name is for E. J. Dwornik, mineralogist with the U.S. Geological Survey.-R.A.H.

32 CFR 1656.19 - Completion of alternative service.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 32 National Defense 6 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Completion of alternative service. 1656.19... ALTERNATIVE SERVICE § 1656.19 Completion of alternative service. Upon completion of 24 months of creditable time served in alternative service or when released early in accordance with § 1656.16(b) (3) or (4...

The Integration of Family and Group Therapy as an Alternative to Juvenile Incarceration: A Quasi-Experimental Evaluation Using Parenting with Love and Limits.

PubMed

Karam, Eli A; Sterrett, Emma M; Kiaer, Lynn

2017-06-01

The current study employed a quasi-experimental design using both intent-to-treat and protocol adherence analysis of 155 moderate- to high-risk juvenile offenders to evaluate the effectiveness of Parenting with Love and Limits® (PLL), an integrative group and family therapy approach. Youth completing PLL had significantly lower rates of recidivism than the comparison group. Parents also reported statistically significant improvements in youth behavior. Lengths of service were also significantly shorter for the treatment sample than the matched comparison group by an average of 4 months. This study contributes to the literature by suggesting that intensive community-based combined family and group treatment is effective in curbing recidivism among high-risk juveniles. © 2015 Family Process Institute.

Evaluation of Immunochromatographic Test for Dual Detection of Noroviruses and Group A Rotaviruses in Stool Samples.

PubMed

Khamrin, Pattara; Kumthip, Kattareeya; Thongprachum, Aksara; Takanashi, Sayaka; Okitsu, Shoko; Maneekarn, Niwat; Hayakawa, Satoshi; Ushijima, Hiroshi

2018-05-01

Viral enteric infections, such as noroviruses and rotaviruses are considered as the major causes of acute gastroenteritis in young children and elderly people all over the world. These viruses are responsible for numerous outbreaks of nonbacterial gastroenteritis in several settings such as hospitals, day care centers, nursing homes, and restaurants. Therefore, a rapid and sensitive diagnostic tool for virus detections could be helpful for disease control. A new immunochromatographic test for the dual detection of noroviruses and group A rotaviruses was evaluated by using specimens that were known to be positive for noroviruses and rotaviruses, as well as other diarrheal viruses. The sensitivity of detections for noroviruses and group A rotaviruses were 89.5% and 100%, respectively, while the specificity was 100% for both viruses. This immunochromatographic test was reactive to several norovirus and group A rotavirus genotypes (NoV GII.2, GII.3, GII.4, GII.6, GII.7, GII.17 and RVA G1P[8], G2P[4], G3P[8], G8P[8], G9P[8]). The speed and ease of use of the immunochromatographic test makes this kit particularly attractive as an alternative method for the detections of noroviruses and group A rotaviruses in the primary care unit.

Alternative Fuels Data Center: Alternative Fueling Station Locator

Science.gov Websites

Locate Stations Printable Version Share this resource Send a link to Alternative Fuels Data Center : Alternative Fueling Station Locator to someone by E-mail Share Alternative Fuels Data Center: Alternative Fuels Data Center: Alternative Fueling Station Locator on Digg Find More places to share Alternative

24 CFR 904.307 - Alternative to HBA.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Alternative to HBA. 904.307 Section... LOW RENT HOUSING HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Homebuyers Association (HBA) § 904.307 Alternative to HBA... property), or where the number of homes may be too few to support an HBA, and where an alternative method...

Fiat Chrysler Application for Alternative Methodology for Off-Cycle Technology Credits: High Efficiency Alternators

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

FCA Group LLC request to the EPA regarding greenhouse gas, off-cycle CO2 credits for High Efficiency Alternators used on 2009 and subsequent model year vehicles and off-cycle fuel consumption credits for 2017 and subsequent model year vehicles.

Orbital operations study. Volume 2: Interfacing activities analyses. Part 3: Data management activity group

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mehrbach, E.; Turkel, S. H.

1972-01-01

A summary of the findings of the data management group of the orbital operations study is presented. Element interfaces, alternate approaches, design concepts, operational procedures, functional requirements, design influences, and approach selection are described. The following interfacing activities are considered: (1) communications, (2) rendezvous, (3) stationkeeping, and (4) detached element operations.

Current progress on truffle submerged fermentation: a promising alternative to its fruiting bodies.

PubMed

Tang, Ya-Jie; Liu, Rui-Sang; Li, Hong-Mei

2015-03-01

Truffle (Tuber spp.), also known as "underground gold," is popular in various cuisines because of its unique and characteristic aroma. Currently, truffle fruiting bodies are mostly obtained from nature and semi-artificial cultivation. However, the former source is scarce, and the latter is time-consuming, usually taking 4 to 12 years before harvest of the fruiting body. The truffle submerged fermentation process was first developed in Tang's lab as an alternative to its fruiting bodies. To the best of our knowledge, most reports of truffle submerged fermentation come from Tang's group. This review examines the current state of the truffle submerged fermentation process. First, the strategy to optimize the truffle submerged fermentation process is summarized; the final conditions yielded not only the highest reported truffle biomass but also the highest production of extracellular and intracellular polysaccharides. Second, the comparison of metabolites produced by truffle fermentation and fruiting bodies is presented, and the former were superior to the latter. Third, metabolites (i.e., volatile organic compounds, equivalent umami concentration, and sterol) derived from truffle fermentation could be regulated by fermentation process optimization. These findings indicated that submerged fermentation of truffles can be used for commercial production of biomass and metabolites as a promising alternative to generating its fruiting bodies in bioreactor.

24 CFR 982.610 - Group home: Who may reside in a group home.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Group home: Who may reside in a group home. 982.610 Section 982.610 Housing and Urban Development REGULATIONS RELATING TO HOUSING AND... Housing Types Group Home § 982.610 Group home: Who may reside in a group home. (a) An elderly person or a...

24 CFR 982.610 - Group home: Who may reside in a group home.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Group home: Who may reside in a group home. 982.610 Section 982.610 Housing and Urban Development Regulations Relating to Housing and... Housing Types Group Home § 982.610 Group home: Who may reside in a group home. (a) An elderly person or a...

24 CFR 982.610 - Group home: Who may reside in a group home.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Group home: Who may reside in a group home. 982.610 Section 982.610 Housing and Urban Development REGULATIONS RELATING TO HOUSING AND... Housing Types Group Home § 982.610 Group home: Who may reside in a group home. (a) An elderly person or a...

24 CFR 982.610 - Group home: Who may reside in a group home.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Group home: Who may reside in a group home. 982.610 Section 982.610 Housing and Urban Development REGULATIONS RELATING TO HOUSING AND... Housing Types Group Home § 982.610 Group home: Who may reside in a group home. (a) An elderly person or a...

24 CFR 982.610 - Group home: Who may reside in a group home.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Group home: Who may reside in a group home. 982.610 Section 982.610 Housing and Urban Development REGULATIONS RELATING TO HOUSING AND... Housing Types Group Home § 982.610 Group home: Who may reside in a group home. (a) An elderly person or a...

Alternative Schools: A Practical Manual. Revised.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ascheim, Skip; And Others

This manual is a practical guide based on school experiences and legal requirements in Massachusetts. It is intended to help alternative schools get off the ground and to stay out of trouble with State and local authorities. Some brief sketches of four alternative schools are presented to indicate alternatives that already exist. Sections…

Alternating SiCl4/O2 passivation steps with SF6 etch steps for silicon deep etching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duluard, C. Y.; Ranson, P.; Pichon, L. E.; Pereira, J.; Oubensaid, E. H.; Lefaucheux, P.; Puech, M.; Dussart, R.

2011-06-01

Deep etching of silicon has been investigated in an inductively coupled plasma etch reactor using short SiCl4/O2 plasma steps to passivate the sidewalls of the etched structures. A study was first carried out to define the appropriate parameters to create, at a substrate temperature of -20 °C, a passivation layer by SiCl4/O2 plasma that resists lateral chemical etching in SF6 plasma. The most efficient passivation layer was obtained for a SiCl4/O2 gas flow ratio of 2:1, a pressure of 1 Pa and a source power of 1000 W. Ex situ analyses on a film deposited with these parameters show that it is very rich in oxygen. Silicon etching processes that alternate SF6 plasma etch steps with SiCl4/O2 plasma passivation steps were then developed. Preliminary tests in pulsed-mode conditions have enabled etch rates greater than 2 µm min-1 with selectivities higher than 220. These results show that it is possible to develop a silicon deep etching process at substrate temperatures around -20 °C that uses low SiCl4 and O2 gas flows instead of conventional fluorocarbon gases for sidewall protection.

Video Training of Alternatives to Cross-Gender Identity Behaviors in a 4-Year-Old Boy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dowrick, Peter W.

1983-01-01

Discusses case in which four-year-old boy displaying extreme girl-stereotyped mannerisms and playing behaviors extended his repertoire of alternative behaviors through self and peer modeling in which the subject observed brief edited videotapes of himself and another boy engaged in playing behaviors that were not girl-stereotyped. (CMG)

ABC's of Alternative Fuel Vehicles: A Guide to Alternative Fuel Vehicles

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-04-06

This document presents an overview of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), : discusses their relationship to Federal and California regulations and clean : air requirements, the major types of AFVs, and the new alternative fuels : appearing on the horiz...

Functional assessment of a novel COL4A5 splice region variant and immunostaining of plucked hair follicles as an alternative method of diagnosis in X-linked Alport syndrome.

PubMed

Malone, Andrew F; Funk, Steven D; Alhamad, Tarek; Miner, Jeffrey H

2017-06-01

Many COL4A5 splice region variants have been described in patients with X-linked Alport syndrome, but few have been confirmed by functional analysis to actually cause defective splicing. We sought to demonstrate that a novel COL4A5 splice region variant in a family with Alport syndrome is pathogenic using functional studies. We also describe an alternative method of diagnosis. Targeted next-generation sequencing results of an individual with Alport syndrome were analyzed and the results confirmed by Sanger sequencing in family members. A splicing reporter minigene assay was used to examine the variant's effect on splicing in transfected cells. Plucked hair follicles from patients and controls were examined for collagen IV proteins using immunofluorescence microscopy. A novel splice region mutation in COL4A5, c.1780-6T>G, was identified and segregated with disease in this family. This variant caused frequent skipping of exon 25, resulting in a frameshift and truncation of collagen α5(IV) protein. We also developed and validated a new approach to characterize the expression of collagen α5(IV) protein in the basement membranes of plucked hair follicles. Using this approach we demonstrated reduced collagen α5(IV) protein in affected male and female individuals in this family, supporting frequent failure of normal splicing. Differing normal to abnormal transcript ratios in affected individuals carrying splice region variants may contribute to variable disease severity observed in Alport families. Examination of plucked hair follicles in suspected X-linked Alport syndrome patients may offer a less invasive alternative method of diagnosis and serve as a pathogenicity test for COL4A5 variants of uncertain significance.

Functional assessment of a novel COL4A5 splice region variant and immunostaining of plucked hair follicles as an alternative method of diagnosis in X-linked Alport syndrome

PubMed Central

Malone, Andrew F.; Funk, Steven D.; Alhamad, Tarek; Miner, Jeffrey H.

2016-01-01

Introduction Many COL4A5 splice region variants have been described in patients with X-linked Alport syndrome, but few have been confirmed by functional analysis to actually cause defective splicing. We sought to demonstrate that a novel COL4A5 splice region variant in a family with Alport syndrome is pathogenic using functional studies. We also describe an alternative method of diagnosis. Methods We analyzed targeted next-generation sequencing results of an individual with Alport syndrome and confirmed results by Sanger sequencing in family members. A splicing reporter minigene assay was used to examine the variant’s effect on splicing in transfected cells. Plucked hair follicles from patients and controls were examined for collagen IV proteins using immunofluorescence microscopy. Results A novel splice region mutation in COL4A5, c.1780-6T>G, was identified and segregated with disease in this family. This variant caused frequent skipping of exon 25, resulting in a frameshift and truncation of collagen α5(IV) protein. We also developed and validated a new approach to characterize the expression of collagen α5(IV) protein in the basement membranes of plucked hair follicles. We demonstrated reduced collagen α5(IV) protein in affected male and female individuals in this family, supporting frequent failure of normal splicing. Conclusions Differing normal to abnormal transcript ratios in affected individuals carrying splice region variants may contribute to variable disease severity observed in Alport families. Examination of plucked hair follicles in suspected X-linked Alport syndrome patients may offer a less invasive alternative method of diagnosis and serve as a pathogenicity test for COL4A5 variants of uncertain significance. PMID:28013382

Alternative health practices in ethnically diverse rural areas: a collaborative research project.

PubMed

Vest, G W; Ronnau, J; Lopez, B R; Gonzales, G

1997-05-01

Many alternative health practices are gaining popularity in traditional medical centers throughout the country. However, social workers and allied health professionals are rarely educated in these practices. The collaborative pilot research project discussed in this article involved community health providers and a state university department of social work. The project, conducted in rural health clinics, introduced an approach to skillful, safe, and appropriate use of touch synthesized with an awareness of the breath for giver and receiver to a group of Mexican Americans diagnosed with diabetes and their families. This alternative health practice holds promise for reducing stress, promoting health and well-being, and building relationships and warrants further study.

A model for amalgamation in group decision making

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cutello, Vincenzo; Montero, Javier

1992-01-01

In this paper we present a generalization of the model proposed by Montero, by allowing non-complete fuzzy binary relations for individuals. A degree of unsatisfaction can be defined in this case, suggesting that any democratic aggregation rule should take into account not only ethical conditions or some degree of rationality in the amalgamating procedure, but also a minimum support for the set of alternatives subject to the group analysis.

Clinical outcomes and cost minimization with an alternative dosing regimen for meropenem in a community hospital.

PubMed

Patel, Gita Wasan; Duquaine, Susan M; McKinnon, Peggy S

2007-12-01

To compare outcomes and cost for the traditional United States Food and Drug Administration-approved dosing regimen for meropenem versus an alternative dosing regimen providing similar pharmacodynamic exposure with a lower total daily dose. Retrospective cohort study with a cost-minimization analysis. A 417-bed, privately owned community hospital. One hundred patients who received meropenem 1 g every 8 or 12 hours (traditional dosing regimen) between January 1 and September 30, 2004 (historical controls), and 192 patients who received meropenem 500 mg every 6 or 8 hours (alternative dosing regimen) between October 1, 2004, and September 30, 2005. Demographic and clinical data were collected for all patients. Cost-minimization analysis was performed by using the drug acquisition cost for meropenem. Demographics, sources of infection, distributions of organisms, and Charlson Comorbidity Index scores were similar between patients in the traditionally and alternatively dosed groups. Concomitant therapy, duration of therapy, success rates, lengths of stay, and in-hospital mortality rates were also similar between groups. Median time to the resolution of symptoms was 3 days for traditional dosing and 1.5 days for alternative dosing (p<0.0001). A logistic regression model including the dosing strategy showed that only polymicrobial infections and sepsis were associated with increased failure rates. The median cost for antibiotics was $439.05/patient for traditional dosing and $234.08/patient for alternative dosing (p<0.0001). An alternative dosing regimen for meropenem with a lower total daily dose yielded patient outcomes, including success rates and duration of therapy, equivalent to those of the traditional dosing regimen. Alternative dosing decreased total drug exposure, costs for antibiotics, and time to the resolution of infections.

Constructing a Life Philosophy: An Examination of Alternatives. Opposing Viewpoints Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bender, David L., Ed.

Fourteen brief reading selections from philosophical statements of ancient and modern writers are presented with brief introductions, questions, and individual and group exercises. The purpose of the collection is to stimulate students toward philosophical, thought and discussion based on alternatives. Readings are drawn from: 1) Plato's, Parable…

Alternative security

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

Weston, B.H.

This book contains the following chapters: The Military and Alternative Security: New Missions for Stable Conventional Security; Technology and Alternative Security: A Cherished Myth Expires; Law and Alternative Security: Toward a Just World Peace; Politics and Alternative Security: Toward a More Democratic, Therefore More Peaceful, World; Economics and Alternative Security: Toward a Peacekeeping International Economy; Psychology and Alternative Security: Needs, Perceptions, and Misperceptions; Religion and Alternative Security: A Prophetic Vision; and Toward Post-Nuclear Global Security: An Overview.

Alternate-Fuel Vehicles and Their Application in Schools.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taggart, Chip

1991-01-01

Alternative fuels are becoming increasingly attractive from environmental, energy independence, and economic perspectives. Addresses the following topics: (1) federal and state legislation; (2) alternative fuels and their attributes; (3) practical experience with alternative-fuel vehicles in pupil transportation; and (4) options for school…

Mitochondrial Ca2+ and membrane potential, an alternative pathway for Interleukin 6 to regulate CD4 cell effector function

PubMed Central

Yang, Rui; Lirussi, Dario; Thornton, Tina M; Jelley-Gibbs, Dawn M; Diehl, Sean A; Case, Laure K; Madesh, Muniswamy; Taatjes, Douglas J; Teuscher, Cory; Haynes, Laura; Rincón, Mercedes

2015-01-01

IL-6 plays an important role in determining the fate of effector CD4 cells and the cytokines that these cells produce. Here we identify a novel molecular mechanism by which IL-6 regulates CD4 cell effector function. We show that IL-6-dependent signal facilitates the formation of mitochondrial respiratory chain supercomplexes to sustain high mitochondrial membrane potential late during activation of CD4 cells. Mitochondrial hyperpolarization caused by IL-6 is uncoupled from the production of ATP by oxidative phosphorylation. However, it is a mechanism to raise the levels of mitochondrial Ca2+ late during activation of CD4 cells. Increased levels of mitochondrial Ca2+ in the presence of IL-6 are used to prolong Il4 and Il21 expression in effector CD4 cells. Thus, the effect of IL-6 on mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial Ca2+ is an alternative pathway by which IL-6 regulates effector function of CD4 cells and it could contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.06376.001 PMID:25974216

Variables Affecting the Success of Alternative School Programs in Mississippi

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haley, Sherlyn Williams

2009-01-01

This study focused on examining the effect of two alternative school types on student success in Mississippi. To determine alternative school type, alternative program directors self-reported program design, and schools were divided into two groups. Type I schools were defined as "punitive-based" programs in which students receive…

Anisotropic dielectric phase transition triggered by pendulum-like motion coupled with proton transfer in a layered hybrid crystalline material (4-nitroanilinium+) (18-crown-6) (H2PO4-) (H3PO4)2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yang; Zhu, Chun-li; Qin, Liu-lei; Zheng, Xiao-yuan; Liu, Zun-qi

2018-07-01

The organic-inorganic hybrid phase-transition material, (4-nitroanilinium+) (18-crown-6) (H2PO4-) (H3PO4)2 (1), was successfully synthesized. The organic (4-nitroanilinium) (18-crown-6)+ supramolecular cation layer and inorganic phosphate anion layer were arranged alternately. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), temperature-dependent dielectric measurements, and variable-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the reversible isostructural phase transition of 1 with the same space group Pbca at 225 K, wherein the synergistic effect between the pendulum-like motion of organic cations and the proton transfer in the Osbnd H⋯O hydrogen bonding of inorganic anions was mainly responsible for the phase-transition behavior of 1. The most striking dielectric property was the remarkable anisotropy along various crystallographic axes. A potential-energy calculation further supported the possibility of dynamic motion of cations in the crystal.

Seizures induced in immature rats by homocysteic acid and the associated brain damage are prevented by group II metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist (2R,4R)-4-aminopyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate.

PubMed

Folbergrová, Jaroslava; Druga, Rastislav; Otáhal, Jakub; Haugvicová, Renata; Mares, Pavel; Kubová, Hana

2005-04-01

The present study has examined the anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effect of group II metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) agonist (2R,4R)-4-aminopyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate (2R,4R-APDC) in the model of seizures induced in immature 12-day-old rats by bilateral intracerebroventricular infusion of dl-homocysteic acid (DL-HCA, 600 nmol/side). For biochemical analyses, rat pups were sacrificed during generalized clonic-tonic seizures, approximately 45-50 min after infusion. Comparable time intervals were used for sacrificing the pups which had received 2R,4R-APDC. Low doses of 2R,4R-APDC (0.05 nmol/side) provided a pronounced anticonvulsant effect which was abolished by pretreatment with a selective group II mGluR antagonist LY341495. Generalized clonic-tonic seizures were completely suppressed and cortical energy metabolite changes which normally accompany these seizures were either normalized (decrease of glucose and glycogen) or markedly reduced (an accumulation of lactate). EEG recordings support the marked anticonvulsant effect of 2R,4R-APDC, nevertheless, this was only partial. In spite of the absence of obvious motor phenomena, isolated spikes or even short periods of partial ictal activity could be observed. Isolated spikes could also be seen in some animals after application of 2R,4R-APDC alone, reflecting most likely subclinical proconvulsant activity of this agonist. The neuroprotective effect of 2R,4R-APDC was evaluated after 24 h and 6 days of survival following DL-HCA-induced seizures. Massive neuronal degeneration, as revealed by Fluoro-Jade B staining, was observed in a number of brain regions following infusion of DL-HCA alone (seizure group), whereas 2R,4R-APDC pretreatment provided substantial neuroprotection. The present findings support the possibility that group II mGluRs are a promising target for a novel approach to treating epilepsy.

Visual reconciliation of alternative similarity spaces in climate modeling

Treesearch

J Poco; A Dasgupta; Y Wei; William Hargrove; C.R. Schwalm; D.N. Huntzinger; R Cook; E Bertini; C.T. Silva

2015-01-01

Visual data analysis often requires grouping of data objects based on their similarity. In many application domains researchers use algorithms and techniques like clustering and multidimensional scaling to extract groupings from data. While extracting these groups using a single similarity criteria is relatively straightforward, comparing alternative criteria poses...

Planning and Operating Group Homes for the Handicapped.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Youngblood, Grace Strano; Bensberg, Gerard J.

This text is directed toward service providers, advocacy groups, administrators, and other interested parties who are given the task of setting up independent living facilities for the developmentally disabled. Emphasis is placed on the group home concept of alternative living arrangements. Chapter 1 considers models for alternative residential…

10 CFR 503.21 - Lack of alternate fuel supply.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 10 Energy 4 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Lack of alternate fuel supply. 503.21 Section 503.21 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (CONTINUED) ALTERNATE FUELS NEW FACILITIES Temporary Exemptions for New Facilities § 503.21 Lack of alternate fuel supply. (a) Eligibility. Section 211(a)(1) of the Act provides for...

Deletion of the S3–S4 Linker in theShaker Potassium Channel Reveals Two Quenching Groups near the outside of S4

PubMed Central

Sørensen, J.B.; Cha, A.; Latorre, R.; Rosenman, E.; Bezanilla, F.

2000-01-01

When attached outside the voltage-sensing S4 segment of the Shaker potassium channel, the fluorescent probe tetramethylrhodamine (TMRM) undergoes voltage-dependent fluorescence changes (ΔF) due to differential interaction with a pH-titratable external protein-lined vestibule (Cha, A., and F. Bezanilla. 1998. J. Gen. Physiol. 112:391–408.). We attached TMRM at the same sites [corresponding to M356C and A359C in the wild-type (wt) channel] in a deletion mutant of Shaker where all but the five amino acids closest to S4 had been removed from the S3–S4 linker. In the deletion mutant, the maximal ΔF/F seen was diminished 10-fold, and the ΔF at M356C became pH independent, suggesting that the protein-lined vestibule is made up in large part by the S3–S4 linker. The residual ΔF showed that the probe still interacted with two putative quenching groups near the S4 segment. One group was detected by M356C-TMRM (located outside of S3 in the deletion mutant) and reported on deactivation gating charge movement when applying hyperpolarizing voltage steps from a holding potential of 0 mV. During activating voltage steps from a holding potential of −90 mV, the fluorescence lagged considerably behind the movement of gating charge over a range of potentials. Another putative quenching group was seen by probes attached closer to the S4 and caused a ΔF at extreme hyperpolarizations (more negative than −90 mV) only. A signal from the interaction with this group in the wt S3–S4 linker channel (at L361C) correlated with gating charge moving in the hyperpolarized part of the Q-V curve. Probe attached at A359C in the deletion mutant and at L361C in wt channel showed a biphasic ΔF as the probe oscillated between the two groups, revealing that there is a transient state of the voltage sensor in between, where the probe has maximal fluorescence. We conclude that the voltage sensor undergoes two distinct conformational changes as seen from probes attached outside the S4

Synthetic, Infrared, 1H and 13C NMR Spectral Studies on N-(2-/3-Substituted Phenyl)-4-Substituted Benzenesulphonamides, 4-X'C6H4SO2NH(2-/3-XC6H4), where X' = H, CH3, C2H5, F, Cl or Br, and X = CH3 or Cl

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gowda, B. Thimme; Shetty, Mahesha; Jayalakshmi, K. L.

2005-02-01

Twenty three N-(2-/3-substituted phenyl)-4-substituted benzenesulphonamides of the general formula, 4-X'C6H4SO2NH(2-/3-XC6H4), where X' = H, CH3, C2H5, F, Cl or Br and X = CH3 or Cl have been prepared and characterized, and their infrared spectra in the solid state, 1H and 13C NMR spectra in solution were studied. The N-H stretching vibrations, νN-H, absorb in the range 3285 - 3199 cm-1, while the asymmetric and symmetric SO2 vibrations vary in the ranges 1376 - 1309 cm-1 and 1177 - 1148 cm-1, respectively. The S-N and C-N stretching vibrations absorb in the ranges 945 - 893 cm-1 and 1304 - 1168 cm-1, respectively. The compounds do not exhibit particular trends in the variation of these frequencies on substitution either at ortho or meta positions with either a methyl group or Cl. The observed 1H and 13C chemical shifts of <alternatives>alternatives> are assigned to protons and carbons of the two benzene rings. Incremental shifts of the ring protons and carbons due to -SO2NH(2-/3-XC6H4) groups in C6H5SO2NH(2-/3-XC6H4), and 4- X'C6H4SO2- and 4-X'C6H4SO2NH- groups in 4-X'C6H4SO2NH(C6H5) are computed and employed to calculate the chemical shifts of the ring protons and carbons in the substituted compounds, 4-X'C6H4SO2NH(2-/3-XC6H4). The computed values agree well with the observed chemical shifts.

Correlation of windage-loss data for a Lundell alternator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kempke, E. E., Jr.; Gorland, S. H.

1972-01-01

Viscous torque (windage) of a Lundell-shaped rotor having a major diameter of 20.3 cm (8 in.) rotating within a concentric housing was measured at speeds up to 36,000 rpm. The center cylindrical section of the housing was tested with both a smooth surface and axial slots to simulate alternator winding slots. For concentric cylinders, the range of Reynolds numbers was extended to 70,000. Three radial clearances, 1, 2, and 4 mm (0.04, 0.08, and 0.16in.), corresponding to 1, 2, and 4 percent of the rotor radius, were tested.

49 CFR 229.209 - Alternative locomotive crashworthiness designs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 49 Transportation 4 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Alternative locomotive crashworthiness designs... Locomotive Crashworthiness Design Requirements § 229.209 Alternative locomotive crashworthiness designs. (a... locomotive crashworthiness designs which are not consistent with any FRA-approved locomotive crashworthiness...

49 CFR 229.209 - Alternative locomotive crashworthiness designs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 49 Transportation 4 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Alternative locomotive crashworthiness designs... Locomotive Crashworthiness Design Requirements § 229.209 Alternative locomotive crashworthiness designs. (a... locomotive crashworthiness designs which are not consistent with any FRA-approved locomotive crashworthiness...

49 CFR 229.209 - Alternative locomotive crashworthiness designs.