Vitamin K3 analogs induce selective tumor cytotoxicity in neuroblastoma.

PubMed

Kitano, Toru; Yoda, Hiroyuki; Tabata, Keiichi; Miura, Motofumi; Toriyama, Masaharu; Motohashi, Shigeyasu; Suzuki, Takashi

2012-01-01

We investigated the cytotoxicity of eight vitamin K3 (VK3) analogs against neuroblastoma cell lines (IMR-32, LA-N-1, NB-39, and SK-N-SH) and normal cell lines (human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and human dermal fibroblasts (HDF)) using a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. 2-[(2-Methoxy)ethylthio]-3-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (VK3-OCH(3)) showed especially potent cytotoxic activities against neuroblastoma cells compared with normal cells. In a Hoechst 33342 staining experiment, apoptotic morphologies characterized by cell shrinkage, nuclear condensation, and nuclear fragmentation were observed in IMR-32 and LA-N-1 cells after 48 h of treatment with 10(-5) M of VK3-OCH(3). To clarify the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis induced by VK3-OCH(3), we examined the expression of apoptosis related proteins using a Proteome Profiler Array and western blotting. Heme oxygenase (HO)-1 was remarkably increased by VK3-OCH(3) compared with the control (173% in IMR-32 and 170% in LA-N-1 at 24 h). Moreover, caveolin-1 was induced by VK3-OCH(3) at 48 h. In addition, VK3-OCH(3) arrested the cell cycle at the G2/M phase in IMR-32 cells. These results suggest that VK3-OCH(3) exhibited a selective antitumor activity via HO-1-related mechanisms.

Isolation, structural determination, and evaluation of the biological activity of 20(S)-25-methoxyl-dammarane-3beta, 12beta, 20-triol [20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD], a novel natural product from Panax notoginseng.

PubMed

Zhao, Y; Wang, W; Han, L; Rayburn, E R; Hill, D L; Wang, H; Zhang, R

2007-01-01

Ginseng has been used extensively for medicinal purposes, with suggested utility for indications as diverse as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Herein we report the discovery and characterization of 20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD, a ginsenoside that inhibits growth and survival of cancer cells. The novel dammarane triterpene sapogenin (C31H56O4; molecular weight 492) was isolated from the total hydrolyzed saponins extracted from the leaves of Panax notoginseng using conventional and reverse-phase silica gel chromatography. Based on physicochemical characteristics and NMR data, the compound was identified as 20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD. The biological activities of 20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD and its known analogs, 20(S)-PPD and Rg3, were evaluated in 12 human cancer cell lines. In all cell lines, the order of cytotoxicity of the test compounds was 20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD > 20(S)-PPD > Rg3. 20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD also induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase, and inhibited proliferation in breast cancer cell lines, demonstrating its potent biological effects. In regard to cytotoxicity, the IC50 values of 20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD for most cell lines were in the lower microM range, a 5-15-fold greater cytotoxicity relative to 20(S)-PPD and a 10-100-fold increase over Rg3. These findings suggest a structure-activity relationship among dammarane-type sapogenins. The data presented here may provide a basis for the future development of 20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD as a novel anti-cancer agent.

Determination of 25-OCH3-PPD and the related substances by UPLC-MS/MS and their cytotoxic activity.

PubMed

Ding, Meng; Lu, Jingjing; Zhao, Chen; Zhang, Sainan; Zhao, Yuqing

2016-06-01

20(R)-25-methoxyl-dammarane-3β,12β,20-triol (25-OCH3-PPD) is a promising antitumor compound belonging to triterpenoid saponins isolated from radix notoginseng. A systematic research on the related impurities in raw material of 25-OCH3-PPD has not been conducted. In this study, three impurities obtained by HPLC-ELSD and characterized by (13)C NMR and MS were observed in the raw material of 25-OCH3-PPD. Cytotoxic activities of the related substances were also evaluated, of which impurity B with 25-OCH3-PPD showed synergistic inhibitory activity against BGC-823 with IC50 values of 8.33μM. Furthermore, a rapid and selective UPLC-MS/MS method was developed for simultaneous determination of the principal component and three related substances in the raw material of 25-OCH3-PPD. Multiple reaction monitoring scan mode was used for the quantification of 20(R)-25-OCH3-PPD and its three related substances. The four constituents were separated within 11min on a BEH C18 column (100 mm×2.1mm, 1.7μm) using a mobile phase comprising methanol and 0.03% formic acid water (82:18, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.2mL/min. The proposed UPLC-MS/MS method displayed acceptable levels of linearity, precision, repeatability, and accuracy. In addition, the proposed method was successfully applied for the establishment of a rational quality control standard for the raw material of 25-OCH3-PPD. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Improved oral bioavailability of 20(R)-25-methoxyl-dammarane-3β, 12β, 20-triol using nanoemulsion based on phospholipid complex: design, characterization, and in vivo pharmacokinetics in rats

PubMed Central

Zhang, Xiangrong; Zhang, Yi; Guo, Shuang; Bai, Feifei; Wu, Tong; Zhao, Yuqing

2016-01-01

The aim of the study was to improve the oral absorption of the compound 25-OCH3-PPD with poor hydrophilicity and lipophilicity. 25-OCH3-PPD-phospholipid complex was prepared by solvent evaporation, then characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and infrared absorption spectroscopy. The aqueous solubility and oil–water partition coefficient were compared with the free compound. A nanoemulsion loaded with 25-OCH3-PPD-phospholipid complex was developed by dissolving the complex in water in the presence of hydrophilic surfactant under sonication. After oral administration of the nanoemulsion and the suspension of 25-OCH3-PPD in rats, the concentrations of 25-OCH3-PPD in plasma were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method. The results showed that the solubility of the complex in water and n-octanol was enhanced. The oil–water partition coefficient improved 1.7 times. Peak plasma concentration and area under the curve(0–24 h) of the nanoemulsion of 25-OCH3-PPD-phospholipid complex were higher than that of free compound by 3.9- and 3.5-folds. PMID:27877020

Turner's syndrome and other forms of congenital hypogonadism impair quality of life and sexual function.

PubMed

Ros, Cristina; Alobid, Isam; Balasch, Juan; Mullol, Joaquim; Castelo-Branco, Camil

2013-06-01

We sought to assess the burden of Turner's syndrome (TS) and other congenital hypogonadisms (OCH) on quality of life (QOL) and sexual function. An observational study was undertaken in a gynecological endocrinology unit of a teaching hospital. Three cohorts of women aged 20-50 years were compared: 26 TS patients, 21 women with OCH and wild-type karyotype, and 41 healthy age-matched women who were included as controls. All subjects filled out the Medical Outcome Study Short Form (SF-36) and the Female Sexual Function Index. TS subjects had significantly worse QOL scores in physical functioning (P = .026) and role physical functioning (P = .032) whereas OCH showed significantly worse scores in physical functioning (P = .027) and bodily pain (P = .025) compared to controls. In all, 80% of OCH and 50% of TS patients declared sexual activity. Sexually active TS patients had poorer arousal outcomes (P = .009) and OCH women showed significantly worse scores in arousal (P = .002), orgasm (P = .007), pain (P = .001), and Female Sexual Function Index total score (P = .004) compared with healthy controls. No differences between sexually active and inactive TS women were found in SF-36 scores, clinical characteristics, or anthropomorphic characteristics. TS and OCH subjects presented impaired physical domains in QOL. Women with TS are less likely to be involved in sexual activity, arousal dysfunctions being their main symptom. Conversely, arousal, orgasm, pain, and total score were significantly affected in OCH subjects. Copyright © 2013 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Enthalpy of formation of anisole: implications for the controversy on the O-H bond dissociation enthalpy in phenol.

PubMed

Simões, Ricardo G; Agapito, Filipe; Diogo, Hermínio P; da Piedade, Manuel E Minas

2014-11-20

Significant discrepancies in the literature data for the enthalpy of formation of gaseous anisole, ΔfHmo(PhOCH3, g), have fueled an ongoing controversy regarding the most reliable enthalpy of formation of the phenoxy radical and of the gas phase O-H bond dissociation enthalpy, DHo(PhO-H), in phenol. In the present work ΔfHmo(PhOCH3, g) was reassessed using a combination of calorimetric determinations and high-level (W2-F12) ab initio calculations. Static-bomb combustion calorimetry led to the standard molar enthalpy of formation of liquid anisole at 298.15 K, ΔfHmo(PhOCH3, l) = −(117.1 ± 1.4) kJ·mol(-1). The corresponding enthalpy of vaporization was obtained as, ΔvapHmo(PhOCH3) = 46.41 ± 0.26 kJ·mol(-1), by Calvet-drop microcalorimetry. These results give ΔfHmo(PhOCH3, g) = −(70.7 ± 1.4) kJ·mol(-1), in excellent agreement with ΔfHmo(PhOCH3, g) = −(70.8 ± 3.2) kJ·mol(-1), obtained from the W2-F12 calculations. The ΔfHmo(PhOCH3, g) here recommended leads to ΔfHmo(PhO•, g) = 55.5 ± 2.4 kJ·mol(-)1 and DH°(PhO-H) = 368.1 ± 2.6 kJ·mol(-1).

Tin(II) alkoxide hydrolysis products for use as base catalysts

DOEpatents

Boyle, Timothy J.

2002-01-01

Tin alkoxide compounds are provided with accessible electrons. The compounds are a polymeric tin alkoxide, [Sn(OCH.sub.2 C(CH.sub.3).sub.3).sub.2 ].sub.n, and the hydrolysis products Sn.sub.6 O.sub.4 (OCH.sub.2 C(CH.sub.3).sub.3).sub.4 and Sn.sub.5 O.sub.2 (OCH.sub.2 C(CH.sub.3).sub.3).sub.6. The hydrolysis products are formed by hydrolyzing the [Sn(OCH.sub.2 C(CH.sub.3).sub.3).sub.2 ].sub.n in a solvent with controlled amounts of water, between 0.1 and 2 moles of water per mole of the polymeric tin alkoxide.

Reaction of Methyl Fluoroformyl Peroxycarbonate (FC(O)OOC(O)OCH3) with Cl Atoms: Formation of Hydro-ChloroFluoro-Peroxides.

PubMed

Berasategui, Matias; Argüello, Gustavo A; Burgos Paci, Maxi A

2017-10-12

The products following Cl atom initiated reactions of FC(O)OOC(O)OCH 3 in 50-760 Torr of N 2 at 296 K were investigated using FTIR. Reaction of Cl atoms with methyl fluoroformyl peroxycarbonate proceeds mainly via attack at the methyl group, forming FC(O)OOC(O)OCH 2 • radicals. Further reaction of this kind of radical with Cl 2 forms three new compounds: FC(O)OOC(O)OCH 2 Cl, FC(O)OOC(O)OCHCl 2 , and FC(O)OOC(O)OCCl 3 , whose existence was characterized experimentally by FTIR spectroscopy assisted by ab initio calculations at the B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) level. Relative rate techniques were used to measure k (Cl+FC(O)OOC(O)OCH3) = (4.0 ± 0.4) × 10 -14 cm 3 molecule -1 s -1 and k (Cl+FC(O)OOC(O)OCH2Cl) = (3.2 ± 0.3) × 10 -14 cm 3 molecule -1 s -1 . When the reaction is run in the presence of oxygen, the paths giving chlorinated peroxide formation are suppressed, and oxidation to (mainly) CO 2 and HCl takes place through highly oxidized intermediates with lifetimes long enough to be detected by FTIR spectroscopy.

Theoretical study on the reaction mechanism of CH 4 with CaO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Hua-Qing; Hu, Chang-Wei; Qin, Song

2006-11-01

The reaction pathways and energetics for the reaction of methane with CaO are discussed on the singlet spin state potential energy surface at the B3LYP/6-311+G(2df,2p) and QCISD/6-311++G(3df,3pd)//B3LYP/6-311+G(2df,2p) levels of theory. The reaction of methane with CaO is proposed to proceed in the following reaction pathways: CaO + CH 4 → CaOCH 4 → [TS] → CaOH + CH 3, CaO + CH 4 → OCaCH 4 → [TS] → HOCaCH 3 → CaOH + CH 3 or [TS] → CaCH 3OH → Ca + CH 3OH, and OCaCH 4 → [TS] → HCaOCH 3 → CaOCH 3 + H or [TS] → CaCH 3OH → Ca + CH 3OH. The gas-phase methane-methanol conversion by CaO is suggested to proceed via two kinds of important reaction intermediates, HOCaCH 3 and HCaOCH 3, and the reaction pathway via the hydroxy intermediate (HOCaCH 3) is energetically more favorable than the other one via the methoxy intermediate (HCaOCH 3). The hydroxy intermediate HOCaCH 3 is predicted to be the energetically most preferred configuration in the reaction of CaO + CH 4. Meanwhile, these three product channels (CaOH + CH 3, CaOCH 3 + H and Ca + CH 3OH) are expected to compete with each other, and the formation of methyl radical is the most preferable pathway energetically. On the other hand, the intermediates HCaOCH 3 and HOCaCH 3 are predicted to be the energetically preferred configuration in the reaction of Ca + CH 3OH, which is precisely the reverse reaction of methane hydroxylation.

Ginsenoside 25-OCH3-PPD promotes activity of LXRs to ameliorate P2X7R-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome in the development of hepatic fibrosis.

PubMed

Han, Xin; Song, Jian; Lian, Li-Hua; Yao, You-Li; Shao, Dan-Yang; Fan, Ying; Hou, Li-Shuang; Wang, Ge; Zheng, Shuang; Wu, Yan-Ling; Nan, Ji-Xing

2018-06-22

Ginseng is widely used in energy drinks, dietary supplements and herbal medicines, and its pharmacological actions are related with energy metabolism. As an important modulating energy metabolism pathway, liver X receptors (LXRs) can promote the resolving of hepatic fibrosis and inflammation. The present study aims to evaluate the regulation of 25-OCH3-PPD, a ginsenoside isolated from Panax ginseng, against hepatic fibrosis and inflammation in thioacetamide (TAA)-stimulated mice by activating LXRs pathway. 25-OCH3-PPD decreases serum ALT/AST levels and improves the histological pathology of liver in TAA-induced mice; attenuates transcripts of pro-fibrogenic markers associated with hepatic stellate cell activation; attenuates the levels of pro-Inflammatory cytokines and blocks apoptosis happened in liver; inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome by affecting P2X7R activation; regulates PI3K/Akt and LKB1/AMPK-SIRT1. 25-OCH3-PPD also facilitates LX25Rs and FXR activities decreased by TAA stimulation. 25-OCH3-PPD also decreases α-SMA via regulation of LXRs and P2X7R-NLRP3 in vitro. Our data suggest the possibility that 25-OCH3-PPD promotes activity of LXRs to ameliorate P2X7R-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome in the development of hepatic fibrosis.

Effects of preoperative oral carbohydrate supplementation on postoperative metabolic stress response of patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery.

PubMed

Viganò, Jacopo; Cereda, Emanuele; Caccialanza, Riccardo; Carini, Roberta; Cameletti, Barbara; Spampinato, Marcello; Dionigi, Paolo

2012-08-01

The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effects of preoperative oral carbohydrate supplementation (OCH) on the postoperative metabolic stress response of patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery. The study was designed as a controlled, prospective, cohort study including 38 patients treated with OCH (800 mL the day before surgery and 400 mL within 3 h before the induction of anesthesia) and 38 controls matched for surgical procedure. Fasting glucose, insulin, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR index), cortisol, and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were assessed before and after surgery (postoperative day (POD) 1, 2, and 3). The administration of OCH resulted in lower fasting glucose, HOMA-IR index, cortisol, and IL-6 on both POD 1 and POD 2. At multivariable regression analyses, the reduction of these parameters was independent of sex, age, body mass index, and major abdominal surgery. Particularly, models including OCH treatment explained 70, 63, and 66 % of the variance of the increase in IL-6 levels at POD 1, POD 2, and POD 3, respectively. The effect of OCH on changes in glucose, insulin resistance, and cortisol on POD 1 and POD 2 disappeared after the inclusion of IL-6 in the models. Treatment with OCH was associated with attenuation of the postoperative metabolic stress response. We hypothesize that modulation of the inflammatory response is one of the mechanisms involved.

Natural Product Ginsenoside 25-OCH3-PPD Inhibits Breast Cancer Growth and Metastasis through Down-Regulating MDM2

PubMed Central

Wang, Wei; Zhang, Xu; Qin, Jiang-Jiang; Voruganti, Sukesh; Nag, Subhasree Ashok; Wang, Ming-Hai; Wang, Hui; Zhang, Ruiwen

2012-01-01

Although ginseng and related herbs have a long history of utility for various health benefits, their application in cancer therapy and underlying mechanisms of action are not fully understood. Our recent work has shown that 20(S)-25-methoxyl-dammarane-3β, 12β, 20-triol (25-OCH3-PPD), a newly identified ginsenoside from Panax notoginseng, exerts activities against a variety of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. This study was designed to investigate its anti-breast cancer activity and the underlying mechanisms of action. We observed that 25-OCH3-PPD decreased the survival of breast cancer cells by induction of apoptosis and G1 phase arrest and inhibited the growth of breast cancer xenografts in vivo. We further demonstrated that, in a dose- and time-dependent manner, 25-OCH3-PPD inhibited MDM2 expression at both transcriptional and post-translational levels in human breast cancer cells with various p53 statuses (wild type and mutant). Moreover, 25-OCH3-PPD inhibited in vitro cell migration, reduced the expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, and prevented in vivo metastasis of breast cancer. In summary, 25-OCH3-PPD is a potential therapeutic and anti-metastatic agent for human breast cancer through down-regulating MDM2. Further preclinical and clinical development of this agent is warranted. PMID:22911819

Natural product ginsenoside 25-OCH3-PPD inhibits breast cancer growth and metastasis through down-regulating MDM2.

PubMed

Wang, Wei; Zhang, Xu; Qin, Jiang-Jiang; Voruganti, Sukesh; Nag, Subhasree Ashok; Wang, Ming-Hai; Wang, Hui; Zhang, Ruiwen

2012-01-01

Although ginseng and related herbs have a long history of utility for various health benefits, their application in cancer therapy and underlying mechanisms of action are not fully understood. Our recent work has shown that 20(S)-25-methoxyl-dammarane-3β, 12β, 20-triol (25-OCH(3)-PPD), a newly identified ginsenoside from Panax notoginseng, exerts activities against a variety of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. This study was designed to investigate its anti-breast cancer activity and the underlying mechanisms of action. We observed that 25-OCH(3)-PPD decreased the survival of breast cancer cells by induction of apoptosis and G1 phase arrest and inhibited the growth of breast cancer xenografts in vivo. We further demonstrated that, in a dose- and time-dependent manner, 25-OCH(3)-PPD inhibited MDM2 expression at both transcriptional and post-translational levels in human breast cancer cells with various p53 statuses (wild type and mutant). Moreover, 25-OCH(3)-PPD inhibited in vitro cell migration, reduced the expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, and prevented in vivo metastasis of breast cancer. In summary, 25-OCH(3)-PPD is a potential therapeutic and anti-metastatic agent for human breast cancer through down-regulating MDM2. Further preclinical and clinical development of this agent is warranted.

Hydrogen bond formation between the naturally modified nucleobase and phosphate backbone

PubMed Central

Sheng, Jia; Zhang, Wen; Hassan, Abdalla E. A.; Gan, Jianhua; Soares, Alexei S.; Geng, Song; Ren, Yi; Huang, Zhen

2012-01-01

Natural RNAs, especially tRNAs, are extensively modified to tailor structure and function diversities. Uracil is the most modified nucleobase among all natural nucleobases. Interestingly, >76% of uracil modifications are located on its 5-position. We have investigated the natural 5-methoxy (5-O-CH3) modification of uracil in the context of A-form oligonucleotide duplex. Our X-ray crystal structure indicates first a H-bond formation between the uracil 5-O-CH3 and its 5′-phosphate. This novel H-bond is not observed when the oxygen of 5-O-CH3 is replaced with a larger atom (selenium or sulfur). The 5-O-CH3 modification does not cause significant structure and stability alterations. Moreover, our computational study is consistent with the experimental observation. The investigation on the uracil 5-position demonstrates the importance of this RNA modification at the atomic level. Our finding suggests a general interaction between the nucleobase and backbone and reveals a plausible function of the tRNA 5-O-CH3 modification, which might potentially rigidify the local conformation and facilitates translation. PMID:22641848

Development of a fed-batch process for a recombinant Pichia pastoris Δoch1 strain expressing a plant peroxidase.

PubMed

Gmeiner, Christoph; Saadati, Amirhossein; Maresch, Daniel; Krasteva, Stanimira; Frank, Manuela; Altmann, Friedrich; Herwig, Christoph; Spadiut, Oliver

2015-01-08

Pichia pastoris is a prominent host for recombinant protein production, amongst other things due to its capability of glycosylation. However, N-linked glycans on recombinant proteins get hypermannosylated, causing problems in subsequent unit operations and medical applications. Hypermannosylation is triggered by an α-1,6-mannosyltransferase called OCH1. In a recent study, we knocked out OCH1 in a recombinant P. pastoris CBS7435 Mut(S) strain (Δoch1) expressing the biopharmaceutically relevant enzyme horseradish peroxidase. We characterized the strain in the controlled environment of a bioreactor in dynamic batch cultivations and identified the strain to be physiologically impaired. We faced cell cluster formation, cell lysis and uncontrollable foam formation.In the present study, we investigated the effects of the 3 process parameters temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen concentration on 1) cell physiology, 2) cell morphology, 3) cell lysis, 4) productivity and 5) product purity of the recombinant Δoch1 strain in a multivariate manner. Cultivation at 30°C resulted in low specific methanol uptake during adaptation and the risk of methanol accumulation during cultivation. Cell cluster formation was a function of the C-source rather than process parameters and went along with cell lysis. In terms of productivity and product purity a temperature of 20°C was highly beneficial. In summary, we determined cultivation conditions for a recombinant P. pastoris Δoch1 strain allowing high productivity and product purity.

Hydrogen and methanol exchange processes for (TMP)Rh-OCH3(CH3OH) in binary solutions of methanol and benzene.

PubMed

Sarkar, Sounak; Li, Shan; Wayland, Bradford B

2011-04-18

Tetramesityl porphinato rhodium(III) methoxide ((TMP)Rh-OCH(3)) binds with methanol in benzene to form a 1:1 methanol complex ((TMP)Rh-OCH(3)(CH(3)OH)) (1). Dynamic processes are observed to occur for the rhodium(III) methoxide methanol complex (1) that involve both hydrogen and methanol exchange. Hydrogen exchange between coordinated methanol and methoxide through methanol in solution results in an interchange of the environments for the non-equivalent porphyrin faces that contain methoxide and methanol ligands. Interchange of the environments of the coordinated methanol and methoxide sites in 1 produces interchange of the inequivalent mesityl o-CH(3) groups, but methanol ligand exchange occurs on one face of the porphyrin and the mesityl o-CH(3) groups remain inequivalent. Rate constants for dynamic processes are evaluated by full line shape analysis for the (1)H NMR of the mesityl o-CH(3) and high field methyl resonances of coordinated methanol and methoxide groups in 1. The rate constant for interchange of the inequivalent porphyrin faces is associated with hydrogen exchange between 1 and methanol in solution and is observed to increase regularly with the increase in the mole fraction of methanol. The rate constant for methanol ligand exchange between 1 and the solution varies with the solution composition and fluctuates in a manner that parallels the change in the activation energy for methanol diffusion which is a consequence of solution non-ideality from hydrogen bonded clusters.

Multispectral data compression through transform coding and block quantization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ready, P. J.; Wintz, P. A.

1972-01-01

Transform coding and block quantization techniques are applied to multispectral aircraft scanner data, and digitized satellite imagery. The multispectral source is defined and an appropriate mathematical model proposed. The Karhunen-Loeve, Fourier, and Hadamard encoders are considered and are compared to the rate distortion function for the equivalent Gaussian source and to the performance of the single sample PCM encoder.

Performance measures for transform data coding.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pearl, J.; Andrews, H. C.; Pratt, W. K.

1972-01-01

This paper develops performance criteria for evaluating transform data coding schemes under computational constraints. Computational constraints that conform with the proposed basis-restricted model give rise to suboptimal coding efficiency characterized by a rate-distortion relation R(D) similar in form to the theoretical rate-distortion function. Numerical examples of this performance measure are presented for Fourier, Walsh, Haar, and Karhunen-Loeve transforms.

Disproportionation and thermochemical sulfate reduction reactions in S-H20-Ch4 and S-D2O-CH4 systems from 200 to 340 °C at elevated pressures

USGS Publications Warehouse

Yuan, Shunda; Chou, I-Ming; Burruss, Robert A.

2013-01-01

Elemental sulfur, as a transient intermediate compound, by-product, or catalyst, plays significant roles in thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR) reactions. However, the mechanisms of the reactions in S-H2O-hydrocarbons systems are not clear. To improve our understanding of reaction mechanisms, we conducted a series of experiments between 200 and 340 °C for S-H2O-CH4, S-D2O-CH4, and S-CH4-1m ZnBr2 systems in fused silica capillary capsules (FSCC). After a heating period ranging from 24 to 2160 hours (hrs), the quenched samples were analyzed by Raman spectroscopy. Combined with the in situ Raman spectra collected at high temperatures and pressures in the S-H2O and S-H2O-CH4 systems, our results showed that (1) the disproportionation of sulfur in the S-H2O-CH4 system occurred at temperatures above 200 °C and produced H2S, SO42-, and possibly trace amount of HSO4-; (2) sulfate (and bisulfate), in the presence of sulfur, can be reduced by methane between 250 and 340 °C to produce CO2 and H2S, and these TSR temperatures are much closer to those of the natural system (2O-CH4 system may take place simultaneously, with TSR being favored at higher temperatures; and (4) in the system S-D2O-CH4, both TSR and the competitive disproportionation reactions occurred simultaneously at temperatures above 300 °C, but these reactions were very slow at lower temperatures. Our observation of methane reaction at 250 °C in a laboratory time scale suggests that, in a geologic time scale, methane may be destroyed by TSR reactions at temperatures > 200 °C that can be reached by deep drilling for hydrocarbon resources.

The Spatial Distribution of Complex Organic Molecules in the L1544 Pre-stellar Core

PubMed Central

Jiménez-Serra, Izaskun; Vasyunin, Anton I.; Caselli, Paola; Marcelino, Nuria; Billot, Nicolas; Viti, Serena; Testi, Leonardo; Vastel, Charlotte; Lefloch, Bertrand; Bachiller, Rafael

2016-01-01

The detection of complex organic molecules (COMs) toward cold sources such as pre-stellar cores (with T<10 K), has challenged our understanding of the formation processes of COMs in the interstellar medium. Recent modelling on COM chemistry at low temperatures has provided new insight into these processes predicting that COM formation depends strongly on parameters such as visual extinction and the level of CO freeze out. We report deep observations of COMs toward two positions in the L1544 pre-stellar core: the dense, highly-extinguished continuum peak with AV ≥30 mag within the inner 2700 au; and a low-density shell with average AV ~7.5-8 mag located at 4000 au from the core’s center and bright in CH3OH. Our observations show that CH3O, CH3OCH3 and CH3CHO are more abundant (by factors ~2-10) toward the low-density shell than toward the continuum peak. Other COMs such as CH3OCHO, c-C3H2O, HCCCHO, CH2CHCN and HCCNC show slight enhancements (by factors ≤3) but the associated uncertainties are large. This suggests that COMs are actively formed and already present in the low-density shells of pre-stellar cores. The modelling of the chemistry of O-bearing COMs in L1544 indicates that these species are enhanced in this shell because i) CO starts freezing out onto dust grains driving an active surface chemistry; ii) the visual extinction is sufficiently high to prevent the UV photo-dissociation of COMs by the external interstellar radiation field; and iii) the density is still moderate to prevent severe depletion of COMs onto grains. PMID:27733899

Discourse Markers in Chinese Conversational Narrative

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Xiao, Yang

2010-01-01

This study examines the indexicality of discourse markers (DMs) in Chinese conversational narrative. Drawing upon theoretical and methodological principles related to narrative dimensions (Ochs & Capps, 2001), narrative desires (Ochs, 1997, 2004), and narrative positioning (Bamberg, 1997), this work proposes an integrated analytical framework for…

The Cytoplasmic Region of α-1,6-Mannosyltransferase Mnn9p Is Crucial for Retrograde Transport from the Golgi Apparatus to the Endoplasmic Reticulum in Saccharomyces cerevisiae▿ †

PubMed Central

Okamoto, Michiyo; Yoko-o, Takehiko; Miyakawa, Tokichi; Jigami, Yoshifumi

2008-01-01

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Och1p and Mnn9p mannosyltransferases are localized in the cis-Golgi. Attempts to live image Och1p and Mnn9p tagged with green fluorescent protein or red fluorescent protein, respectively, using a high-performance confocal laser scanning microscope system resulted in simultaneous visualization of the native proteins in a living cell. Our observations revealed that Och1p and Mnn9p are not always colocalized to the same cisternae. The difference in the dynamics of these mannosyltransferases may reflect differences in the mechanisms for their retention in the cis-Golgi, since it has been reported that Mnn9p cycles between the endoplasmic reticulum and the cis-Golgi whereas Och1p does not (Z. Todorow, A. Spang, E. Carmack, J. Yates, and R. Schekman, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97:13643-13648, 2000). We investigated the localization of chimeric proteins of Mnn9p and Och1p in sec12 and erd1 mutant cells. A chimeric protein, M16/O16, which consists of the N-terminal cytoplasmic region of Mnn9p and the transmembrane and luminal region of Och1p, behaved like Mnn9p, suggesting that the N-terminal cytoplasmic region is important for the intracellular dynamics of Mnn9p. This observation is supported by results from subcellular-fractionation experiments. Mutational analysis revealed that two arginine residues in the N-terminal region of Mnn9p are important for the chimeric protein to cycle between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus. PMID:18083825

Thermal decomposition of FC(O)OCH3 and FC(O)OCH2CH3.

PubMed

Berasategui, M; Argüello, G A; Burgos Paci, M A

2018-05-09

The thermal decomposition of methyl and ethyl formates has been extensively studied due to their importance in the oxidation of several fuels, pesticidal properties and their presence in interstellar space. We hitherto present the study of the thermal decomposition of methyl and ethyl fluoroformates, which could help in the elucidation of the reaction mechanisms. The reaction mechanisms were studied using FTIR spectroscopy in the temperature range of 453-733 K in the presence of different pressures of N2 as bath gas. For FC(O)OCH3 two different channels were observed; the unimolecular decomposition which is favored at higher temperatures and has a rate constant kFC(O)OCH3 = (5.3 ± 0.5) × 1015 exp[-(246 ± 10 kJ mol-1/RT)] (in units of s-1) and a bimolecular channel with a rate constant kFC(O)OCH3 = (1.6 ± 0.5) × 1011 exp[-(148 ± 10 kJ mol-1/RT)] (in units of s-1 (mol L)-1). However for ethyl formate, only direct elimination of CO2, HF and ethylene operates. The rate constants of the homogeneous first-order process fit the Arrhenius equation kFC(O)OCH2CH3 = (2.06 ± 0.09) × 1013 exp[-(169 ± 6 kJ mol-1/RT)] (in units of s-1). The difference between the mechanisms of the two fluoroformates relies on the stabilization of a six-centered transition state that only exists for ethyl formate. First principles calculations for the different channels were carried out to understand the dynamics of the decomposition.

Karhunen-Loeve Estimation of the Power Spectrum Parameters from the Angular Distribution of Galaxies in Early Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Szalay, Alexander S.; Jain, Bhuvnesh; Matsubara, Takahiko; Scranton, Ryan; Vogeley, Michael S.; Connolly, Andrew; Dodelson, Scott; Eisenstein, Daniel; Frieman, Joshua A.; Gunn, James E.

2003-01-01

We present measurements of parameters of the three-dimensional power spectrum of galaxy clustering from 222 square degrees of early imaging data in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The projected galaxy distribution on the sky is expanded over a set of Karhunen-Loeve (KL) eigenfunctions, which optimize the signal-to-noise ratio in our analysis. A maximum likelihood analysis is used to estimate parameters that set the shape and amplitude of the three-dimensional power spectrum of galaxies in the SDSS magnitude-limited sample with r* less than 21. Our best estimates are gamma = 0.188 +/- 0.04 and sigma(sub 8L) = 0.915 +/- 0.06 (statistical errors only), for a flat universe with a cosmological constant. We demonstrate that our measurements contain signal from scales at or beyond the peak of the three-dimensional power spectrum. We discuss how the results scale with systematic uncertainties, like the radial selection function. We find that the central values satisfy the analytically estimated scaling relation. We have also explored the effects of evolutionary corrections, various truncations of the KL basis, seeing, sample size, and limiting magnitude. We find that the impact of most of these uncertainties stay within the 2 sigma uncertainties of our fiducial result.

Application of the Karhunen-Loeve transform temporal image filter to reduce noise in real-time cardiac cine MRI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ding, Yu; Chung, Yiu-Cho; Raman, Subha V.; Simonetti, Orlando P.

2009-06-01

Real-time dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) typically sacrifices the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) to achieve higher spatial and temporal resolution. Spatial and/or temporal filtering (e.g., low-pass filtering or averaging) of dynamic images improves the SNR at the expense of edge sharpness. We describe the application of a temporal filter for dynamic MR image series based on the Karhunen-Loeve transform (KLT) to remove random noise without blurring stationary or moving edges and requiring no training data. In this paper, we present several properties of this filter and their effects on filter performance, and propose an automatic way to find the filter cutoff based on the autocorrelation of the eigenimages. Numerical simulation and in vivo real-time cardiac cine MR image series spanning multiple cardiac cycles acquired using multi-channel sensitivity-encoded MRI, i.e., parallel imaging, are used to validate and demonstrate these properties. We found that in this application, the noise standard deviation was reduced to 42% of the original with no apparent image blurring by using the proposed filter cutoff. Greater noise reduction can be achieved by increasing the length of the image series. This advantage of KLT filtering provides flexibility in the form of another scan parameter to trade for SNR.

Role of the ancillary ligand N,N-dimethylaminoethanol in the sensitization of Eu(III) and Tb(III) luminescence in dimeric beta-diketonates.

PubMed

Eliseeva, Svetlana V; Kotova, Oxana V; Gumy, Frédéric; Semenov, Sergey N; Kessler, Vadim G; Lepnev, Leonid S; Bünzli, Jean-Claude G; Kuzmina, Natalia P

2008-04-24

Two types of dimeric complexes [Ln2(hfa)6(mu2-O(CH2)2NHMe2)2] and [Ln(thd)2(mu2,eta2-O(CH2)2NMe2)]2 (Ln = YIII, EuIII, GdIII, TbIII, TmIII, LuIII; hfa- = hexafluoroacetylacetonato, thd- = dipivaloylmethanato) are obtained by reacting [Ln(hfa)3(H2O)2] and [Ln(thd)3], respectively, with N,N-dimethylaminoethanol in toluene and are fully characterized. X-ray single crystal analysis performed for the TbIII compounds confirms their dimeric structure. The coordination mode of N,N-dimethylaminoethanol depends on the nature of the beta-diketonate. In [Tb2(hfa)6(mu2-O(CH2)2NHMe2)2], eight-coordinate TbIII ions adopt distorted square antiprismatic coordination environments and are O-bridged by two zwitterionic N,N-dimethylaminoethanol ligands with a Tb1...Tb2 separation of 3.684(1) A. In [Tb(thd)2(mu2,eta2-O(CH2)2NMe2)]2, the N,N-dimethylaminoethanol acts as chelating-bridging O,N-donor anion and the TbIII ions are seven-coordinate; the Tb1...Tb1A separation amounts to 3.735(2) A within centrosymmetric dimers. The dimeric complexes are thermally stable up to 180 degrees C, as shown by thermogravimetric analysis, and their volatility is sufficient for quantitative sublimation under reduced pressure. The EuIII and TbIII dimers display metal-centered luminescence, particularly [Eu2(hfa)6(O(CH2)2NHMe2)2] (quantum yield Q(L)Ln = 58%) and [Tb(thd)2(O(CH2)2NMe2)]2 (32%). Consideration of energy migration paths within the dimers, based on the study of both pure and EuIII- or TbIII-doped (0.01-0.1 mol %) LuIII analogues, leads to the conclusion that both the beta-diketone and N,N-dimethylaminoethanol ligands contribute significantly to the sensitization process of the EuIII luminescence. The ancillary ligand increases considerably the luminescence of [Eu2(hfa)6(O(CH2)2NHMe2)2], compared to [Ln(hfa)3(H2O)2], through the formation of intra-ligand states while it is detrimental to TbIII luminescence in both beta-diketonates. Thin films of the most luminescent compound [Eu2(hfa)6(O(CH2)2NHMe2)2] obtained by vacuum sublimation display photophysical properties analogous to those of the solid-state sample, thus opening perspectives for applications in electroluminescent devices.

COMPONENTS OF SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE CONNECTIVITY IN A LARGE OREGON (USA) RIVER--WHAT CAN BE RESTORED?

EPA Science Inventory

We conducted research on the Willamette River in western Oregon (USA) to determine the ecological functions of off-channel habitats (OCH). OCHs have declined in our 70 km study reach of the active floodplain since European settlement. Surface and subsurface connectivity between...

Ecological Functions of Off-Channel Habitats of the Willamette River, Oregon, Database and Documentation (1997-2001)

EPA Science Inventory

The database from the Ecological Functions of Off-Channel Habitats of the Willamette River, Oregon project (OCH Project) contains data collected from 1997 through 2001 from multiple research areas of the project, and project documents such as the OCH Research Plan, Quality Assura...

Face Recognition with the Karhunen-Loeve Transform

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-12-01

anthropometry community? 1-2 Methodology As part of this thesis, face recognition software is developed on the Silicon Graphics 4D Personal Iris...the anthropometry community. Standards The most important performance criteria is classification accuracy which is the per- centage of correct...demonstrated by Tarr (24). Reconstructed Output Image yl y2 ... y64 16 hidden layer units xl x2 ... x64 Input 64 by 64 pixel Image Figure 2.6. After the

Survey of adaptive image coding techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Habibi, A.

1977-01-01

The general problem of image data compression is discussed briefly with attention given to the use of Karhunen-Loeve transforms, suboptimal systems, and block quantization. A survey is then conducted encompassing the four categories of adaptive systems: (1) adaptive transform coding (adaptive sampling, adaptive quantization, etc.), (2) adaptive predictive coding (adaptive delta modulation, adaptive DPCM encoding, etc.), (3) adaptive cluster coding (blob algorithms and the multispectral cluster coding technique), and (4) adaptive entropy coding.

Phil Ochs: No Place in This World

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Doughty, Howard A.

2005-01-01

Phil Ochs was a prominent topical songwriter and singer in the 1960s. He was conventionally considered second only to Bob Dylan in terms of popularity, creativity and influence in the specific genre of contemporary folk music commonly known as "protest music." Whereas Dylan successfully reinvented himself many times in terms of his musical style…

Synthesis, antityrosinase activity of curcumin analogues, and crystal structure of (1 E,4 E)-1,5-bis(4-ethoxyphenyl)penta-1,4-dien-3-one

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chantrapromma, S.; Ruanwas, P.; Boonnak, N.; Chantrapromma, K.; Fun, H.-K.

2016-12-01

Five derivatives of curcumin analogue ( R = OCH2CH3 ( 1), R = N(CH3)2 ( 2), R = 2,4,5-OCH3 ( 3), R = 2,4,6-OCH3 ( 4), and R = 3,4,5-OCH3 ( 5)) were synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR, FT-IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The synthesized derivatives were screened for antityrosinase activity, and found that 4 and 5 possess such activity. The crystal structure of 1 was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction: monoclinic, sp. gr. P21/ c, a = 17.5728(15) Å, b = 5.9121(5) Å, c = 19.8269(13) Å, β = 121.155(5)°, Z = 4. The molecule 1 is twisted with the dihedral angle between two phenyl rings being 15.68(10)°. In the crystal packing, the molecules 1 are linked into chains by C-H···π interactions and further stacked by π···π interactions with the centroid-centroid distance of 3.9311(13) Å.

The anatomical location and laterality of orbital cavernous haemangiomas.

PubMed

McNab, Alan A; Selva, Dinesh; Hardy, Thomas G; O'Donnell, Brett

2014-10-01

To determine the anatomical location and laterality of orbital cavernous haemangiomas (OCH). Retrospective case series. The records of 104 patients with OCH were analyzed. The anatomical location of each OCH defined by the location of a point at the centre of the lesion, and its laterality. There were 104 patients included in the study. No patient had more than one lesion. Sixteen (15.4%) were located in the anterior third of the orbit, 74 (71.2%) were in the middle third, and 14 (13.5%) in the posterior third. In the middle third, 10 of 74 (13.5%) were extraconal and 64 intraconal (86.5%), with 30 of 64 (46.9%) middle third intraconal lesions lying lateral to the optic nerve. Of 104 lesions, 56 (53.8%) were left sided, showing a trend towards a predilection for the left side (p = 0.065). If data from other published series which included data on laterality is added to our own data and analysed, 270 of 468 (57.7%) OCH occurred in the left orbit (p < 0.005). OCH may occur at almost any location within the orbit. The commonest location is the middle third of the orbit, in the intraconal space lateral to the optic nerve. This may reflect an origin of these lesions from the arterial side of the circulation, as there are more small arteries in the intraconal space lateral to the optic nerve than in other locations. A predilection for the left orbit remains unexplained.

Randomized clinical trial to compare the effects of preoperative oral carbohydrate versus placebo on insulin resistance after colorectal surgery.

PubMed

Wang, Z G; Wang, Q; Wang, W J; Qin, H L

2010-03-01

Preoperative oral carbohydrate (OCH) reduces postoperative insulin resistance (PIR). This randomized trial investigated whether this effect is related to insulin-induced activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (PKB) signalling pathway. Patients with colorectal cancer scheduled for elective open resection were randomly assigned to preoperative OCH, fasting or placebo. Preoperative general well-being, insulin resistance before and immediately after surgery, and postoperative expression of PI3K, PKB, protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) in rectus abdominis muscle were evaluated. Patient and operative characteristics did not differ between groups. Subjective well-being was significantly better in OCH and placebo groups than in the fasting group, primarily because of reduced thirst (P = 0.005) and hunger (P = 0.041). PIR was significantly greater in fasting and placebo groups (P < 0.010). By the end of surgery, muscle PTK activity as well as PI3K and PKB levels were significantly increased in the OCH group compared with values in fasting and placebo groups (P < 0.050), but GLUT4 expression was unaffected. PIR involves the PI3K/PKB signalling pathway. Preoperative OCH intake improves preoperative subjective feelings of hunger and thirst compared with fasting, while attenuating PIR by stimulation of the PI3K/PKB pathway. (c) 2010 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Conformational and spectroscopic study of xanthogen ethyl formates, ROC(S)SC(O)OCH2CH3. Isolation of CH3CH2OC(O)SH

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Juncal, Luciana C.; Cozzarín, Melina V.; Romano, Rosana M.

2015-03-01

ROC(S)SC(O)OCH2CH3, with R = CH3sbnd , (CH3)2CHsbnd and CH3(CH2)2sbnd , were obtained through the reaction between potassium xanthate salts, ROC(S)SK, and ethyl chloroformate, ClC(O)OCH2CH3. The liquid compounds were identified and characterized by 1H and 13C NMR and mass spectrometry. The conformations adopted by the molecules were studied by DFT methods. 6 conformers were theoretically predicted for R = CH3sbnd and (CH3)2CHsbnd , while the conformational flexibility of the n-propyl substituent increases the total number of feasible rotamers to 21. For the three molecules, the conformers can be associated in 3 groups, being the most stable the AS forms - the Cdbnd S double bond anti (A) with respect to the Csbnd S single bond and the Ssbnd C single bond syn (S) with respect to the Cdbnd O double bond - followed by AA and SS conformers. The vibrational spectra were interpreted in terms of the predicted conformational equilibrium, presenting the ν(Cdbnd O) spectral region signals corresponding to the three groups of conformers. A moderated pre-resonance Raman enhancement of the ν(Cdbnd S) vibrational mode of CH3(CH2)2OC(S)SC(O)OCH2CH3 was detected, when the excitation radiation approaches the energy of a n → π∗ electronic transition associated with the Cdbnd S chromophore. UV-visible spectra in different solvents were measured and interpreted in terms of TD-DFT calculations. The unknown molecule CH3CH2OC(O)SH was isolated by the UV-visible photolysis of CH3OC(S)SC(O)OCH2CH3 isolated in Ar matrix, and also obtained as a side-product of the reaction between potassium xanthate salts, ROC(S)SK, and ethyl chloroformate, ClC(O)OCH2CH3.

The C- and N-Terminal Residues of Synthetic Heptapeptide Ion Channels Influence Transport Efficacy Through Phospholipid Bilayers

PubMed Central

Djedovič, Natasha; Ferdani, Riccardo; Harder, Egan; Pajewska, Jolanta; Pajewski, Robert; Weber, Michelle E.; Schlesinger, Paul H.; Gokel, George W.

2008-01-01

The synthetic peptide, R2N-COCH2OCH2CO-Gly-Gly-Gly-Pro-Gly-Gly-Gly-OR’, was shown to be selective for Cl- over K+ when R is n-octadecyl and R’ is benzyl. Nineteen heptapeptides have now been prepared in which the N-terminal and C-terminal residues have been varied. All of the N-terminal residues are dialkyl but the C-terminal chains are esters, 2° amides, or 3° amides. The compounds having varied N-terminal anchors and C-terminal benzyl groups are as follows: 1, R = n-propyl; 2, R = n-hexyl; 3, R = n-octyl; 4, R = n-decyl; 5, R = n-dodecyl; 6, R = n-tetradecyl; 7, R = n-hexadecyl; 8, R = n-octadecyl. Compounds 9-19 have R = n-octadecyl and C-terminal residues as follows: 9, OR’ = OCH2CH3; 10, OR’ = OCH(CH3)2; 11, OR’ = O(CH2)6CH3; 12, OR’ = OCH2-c-C6H11; 13, OR’ = O(CH2)9CH3; 14, OR’ = O (CH2)17CH3; 15, NR’2 = N[(CH2)6CH3]2; 16, NHR’ = NH(CH2)9CH3; 17, NR’2 = N[(CH2)9CH3]2; 18, NHR’ = NH(CH2)17CH3; 19, NR’2 = N[(CH2)17CH3]2. The highest anion transport activities were observed as follows. For the benzyl esters whose N-terminal residues were varied, i.e. 1-8, compound 3 was most active. For the C18 anchored esters 10-14, n-heptyl ester 11 was most active. For the C18 anchored, C-terminal amides 15-19, di-n-decylamide 17 was most active. It was concluded that both the C- and N-terminal anchors were important for channel function in the bilayer but that activity was lost unless only one of the two anchoring groups was dominant. PMID:19633728

The Synthesis and Characterization of Aromatic Hybrid Anderson–Evans POMs and their Serum Albumin Interactions: The Shift from Polar to Hydrophobic Interactions

PubMed Central

Al-Sayed, Emir; Blazevic, Amir; Roller, Alexander; Rompel, Annette

2015-01-01

Four aromatic hybrid Anderson polyoxomolybdates with Fe3+ or Mn3+ as the central heteroatom have been synthesized by using a pre-functionalization protocol and characterized by using single-crystal X-ray diffraction, FTIR, ESI-MS, 1H NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. Structural analysis revealed the formation of (TBA)3[FeMo6O18{(OCH2)3CNHCOC6H5}2]⋅3.5 ACN (TBA-FeMo6-bzn; TBA=tetrabutylammonium, ACN=acetonitrile, bzn=TRIS-benzoic acid alkanolamide, TRIS–R=(HOCH2)3C–R)), (TBA)3[FeMo6O18{(OCH2)3CNHCOC8H7}2]⋅2.5 ACN (TBA-FeMo6-cin; cin=TRIS-cinnamic acid alkanolamide), (TBA)3[MnMo6O18{(OCH2)3CNHCOC6H5}2]⋅3.5 ACN (TBA-MnMo6-bzn), and (TBA)3[MnMo6O18{(OCH2)3CNHCOC8H7}2]⋅2.5 ACN (TBA-MnMo6-cin). To make these four compounds applicable in biological systems, an ion exchange was performed that gave the water-soluble (up to 80 mm) sodium salts Na3[FeMo6O18{(OCH2)3CNHCOC6H5}2] (Na-FeMo6-bzn), Na3[FeMo6O18{(OCH2)3CNHCOC8H7}2] (Na-FeMo6-cin), Na3[MnMo6O18{(OCH2)3CNHCOC6H5}2] (Na-MnMo6-bzn), and Na3[MnMo6O18{(OCH2)3CNHCOC8H7}2] (Na-MnMo6-cin). The hydrolytic stability of the sodium salts was examined by applying ESI-MS in the pH range of 4 to 9. Sodium dodecylsulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed that human and bovine serum albumin (HSA and BSA) remain intact in solutions that contain up to 100 equivalents of the sodium salts over more than 4 d at 20 °C. Tryptophan (Trp) fluorescence quenching was applied to study the interactions between the sodium salts and HSA and BSA at pH 5.5 and 7.4. The quenching constants were extracted by using Stern–Volmer analysis, which suggested the formation of a 1:1 POM–protein complex in all samples. It is suggested that the aromatic hybrid POM approaches subdomain IIA of HSA and exhibits hydrophobic interactions with its hydrophobic tails, whereas the Anderson core is stabilized through electrostatic interactions with polar amino acid side chains from, for example, subdomain IB. PMID:26527418

Zwitterionic metal carboxylate complexes: In solid state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nath, Bhaskar; Kalita, Dipjyoti; Baruah, Jubaraj B.

2012-07-01

A flexible dicarboxylic acid having composition [(CH(o-C5H4N)(p-C6H4OCH2CO2H)2] derived from corresponding bis-phenol reacts with various metal(II) acetates such as manganese(II), cobalt(II) and nickel(II) acetate leads to zwtterionic complexes with compositions [CH(o-C5H4N)(p-C6H4OCH2CO2){p-C6H4OCH2CO2M(H2O)5}].6H2O (where M = Mn, Co, Ni). The complexes are characterised by X-ray crystallography. These complexes have chiral center due to unsymmetric structure conferred to the ligand through coordination at only one carboxylate group of the ligand. In solid state these complexes are racemic.

Almost analytical Karhunen-Loeve representation of irregular waves based on the prolate spheroidal wave functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Gibbeum; Cho, Yeunwoo

2017-11-01

We present an almost analytical new approach to solving the matrix eigenvalue problem or the integral equation in Karhunen-Loeve (K-L) representation of random data such as irregular ocean waves. Instead of solving this matrix eigenvalue problem purely numerically, which may suffer from the computational inaccuracy for big data, first, we consider a pair of integral and differential equations, which are related to the so-called prolate spheroidal wave functions (PSWF). For the PSWF differential equation, the pair of the eigenvectors (PSWF) and eigenvalues can be obtained from a relatively small number of analytical Legendre functions. Then, the eigenvalues in the PSWF integral equation are expressed in terms of functional values of the PSWF and the eigenvalues of the PSWF differential equation. Finally, the analytically expressed PSWFs and the eigenvalues in the PWSF integral equation are used to form the kernel matrix in the K-L integral equation for the representation of exemplary wave data; ordinary irregular waves and rogue waves. We found that the present almost analytical method is better than the conventional data-independent Fourier representation and, also, the conventional direct numerical K-L representation in terms of both accuracy and computational cost. This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF). (NRF-2017R1D1A1B03028299).

Kalman filter parameter estimation for a nonlinear diffusion model of epithelial cell migration using stochastic collocation and the Karhunen-Loeve expansion.

PubMed

Barber, Jared; Tanase, Roxana; Yotov, Ivan

2016-06-01

Several Kalman filter algorithms are presented for data assimilation and parameter estimation for a nonlinear diffusion model of epithelial cell migration. These include the ensemble Kalman filter with Monte Carlo sampling and a stochastic collocation (SC) Kalman filter with structured sampling. Further, two types of noise are considered -uncorrelated noise resulting in one stochastic dimension for each element of the spatial grid and correlated noise parameterized by the Karhunen-Loeve (KL) expansion resulting in one stochastic dimension for each KL term. The efficiency and accuracy of the four methods are investigated for two cases with synthetic data with and without noise, as well as data from a laboratory experiment. While it is observed that all algorithms perform reasonably well in matching the target solution and estimating the diffusion coefficient and the growth rate, it is illustrated that the algorithms that employ SC and KL expansion are computationally more efficient, as they require fewer ensemble members for comparable accuracy. In the case of SC methods, this is due to improved approximation in stochastic space compared to Monte Carlo sampling. In the case of KL methods, the parameterization of the noise results in a stochastic space of smaller dimension. The most efficient method is the one combining SC and KL expansion. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Environmental risk assessment of hydrofluoroethers (HFEs).

PubMed

Tsai, Wen-Tien

2005-03-17

Hydrofluoroethers (HFEs) are being used as third generation replacements to chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs) because of their nearly zero stratospheric ozone depletion and relatively low global warming potential. HFEs have been developed under commercial uses as cleaning solvents (incl., HFE-7500, C7F15OC2H5; HFE-7200, C4F9OC2H5; HFE-7100, C4F9CH3; HFE-7000, n-C3F7OCH3), blowing agents (incl., HFE-245mc, CF3CF2OCH3; HFC-356mec, CF3CHFCF2OCH3), refrigerants (incl., HFE-143a, CF3OCH3; HFE-134, CHF2OCHF2; HFE-245mc, CF3CF2OCH3), and dry etching agents in semiconductor manufacturing, (incl., HFE-227me, CF3OCHFCF3). From the environmental, ecological, and health points of view, it is important to understand their environmental risks for these HFEs from a diversity of commercial applications and industrial processes. This paper aims to introduce these HFEs with respect to physiochemical properties, commercial uses, and environmental hazards (i.e. global warming, photochemical potential, fire and explosion hazard, and environmental partition). Further, it addresses the updated data on the human toxicity, occupational exposure and potential health risk of commercial HFEs. It is concluded that there are few HFEs that still possess some environmental hazards, including global warming, flammability hazard and adverse effect of exposure. The partition coefficient for these HFEs has been estimated using the group contribution method; the values of logKow for commercial HFEs have been estimated to be below 3.5.

Inhibitors of choline uptake and metabolism cause developmental abnormalities in neurulating mouse embryos.

PubMed

Fisher, M C; Zeisel, S H; Mar, M H; Sadler, T W

2001-08-01

Choline is an essential nutrient in methylation, acetylcholine and phospholipid biosynthesis, and in cell signaling. The demand by an embryo or fetus for choline may place a pregnant woman and, subsequently, the developing conceptus at risk for choline deficiency. To determine whether a disruption in choline uptake and metabolism results in developmental abnormalities, early somite staged mouse embryos were exposed in vitro to either an inhibitor of choline uptake and metabolism, 2-dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), or an inhibitor of phosphatidylcholine synthesis, 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine (ET-18-OCH(3)). Cell death following inhibitor exposure was investigated with LysoTracker Red and histology. Embryos exposed to 250-750 microM DMAE for 26 hr developed craniofacial hypoplasia and open neural tube defects in the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain regions. Embryos exposed to 125-275 microM ET-18-OCH(3) exhibited similar defects or expansion of the brain vesicles. ET-18-OCH(3)-affected embryos also had a distended neural tube at the posterior neuropore. Embryonic growth was reduced in embryos treated with either DMAE (375, 500, and 750 microM) or ET-18-OCH(3) (200 and 275 microM). Whole mount staining with LysoTracker Red and histological sections showed increased areas of cell death in embryos treated with 275 microM ET-18-OCH(3) for 6 hr, but there was no evidence of cell death in DMAE-exposed embryos. Inhibition of choline uptake and metabolism during neurulation results in growth retardation and developmental defects that affect the neural tube and face. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Monitoring the Softening of Aluminum-Alloy V95ochT2 Shapes by a Nondestructive Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shigapov, A. I.; Klimova, T. A.; Il'inkova, T. A.

2015-09-01

Correlation relations between the strength and the electrical conductivity of aluminum shapes are determined. The properties of alloy V95ochT2 are studied after different temperature-and-time actions. It is shown that the "dark spots" appearing on the surface of such shapes can be evaluated by a nondestructive eddy-current method.

Analysis of Investigational Drugs in Biological Fluids. Method Development and Routine Assay. Appendix A.

DTIC Science & Technology

1997-02-13

AMINOPROPIOPHENONE IN DOG PLASMA 0 OCH 3 CH2 CH3 OCH2CHOHCH 2 OH H2 N& p-Aminopropiophenone Guaifenesin (WR 000,302) Internal Standard APPROVALS: This Analytical...40 - 80 il VOLUME: RUN TIME: 14 min (PAPP: 10.7 min; Guaifenesin (Internal Standard): 8.5 min) DETECTOR Wavelength: 316 nm SETTINGS: Absorption Range

ORGANONICKEL CHEMISTRY IN THE CATALYTIC HYDRODECHLORINATION OF POLYCHLOROBIPHENYLS (PCBS): LIGAND STERIC EFFECTS AND MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF REACTION INTERMEDIATES. (R823526)

EPA Science Inventory

Abstract

Soluble homogeneous organophosphorus_¯¯nickel complexes have been used to detoxify polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by catalyzed hydrodechlorination using NaBH₂(OCH₂CH₂OCH₃)₂ as the hyd...

Synthesis, antityrosinase activity of curcumin analogues, and crystal structure of (1E,4E)-1,5-bis(4-ethoxyphenyl)penta-1,4-dien-3-one

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

Chantrapromma, S., E-mail: suchada.c@psu.ac.th; Ruanwas, P.; Boonnak, N.

2016-12-15

Five derivatives of curcumin analogue (R = OCH{sub 2}CH{sub 3} (1), R = N(CH{sub 3}){sub 2} (2), R = 2,4,5-OCH{sub 3} (3), R = 2,4,6-OCH{sub 3} (4), and R = 3,4,5-OCH{sub 3} (5)) were synthesized and characterized by {sup 1}H NMR, FT-IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The synthesized derivatives were screened for antityrosinase activity, and found that 4 and 5 possess such activity. The crystal structure of 1 was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction: monoclinic, sp. gr. P2{sub 1}/c, a = 17.5728(15) Å, b = 5.9121(5) Å, c = 19.8269(13) Å, β = 121.155(5)°, Z = 4. The molecule 1more » is twisted with the dihedral angle between two phenyl rings being 15.68(10)°. In the crystal packing, the molecules 1 are linked into chains by C−H···π interactions and further stacked by π···π interactions with the centroid–centroid distance of 3.9311(13) Å.« less

The Synthesis and Characterization of Aromatic Hybrid Anderson-Evans POMs and their Serum Albumin Interactions: The Shift from Polar to Hydrophobic Interactions.

PubMed

Al-Sayed, Emir; Blazevic, Amir; Roller, Alexander; Rompel, Annette

2015-12-01

Four aromatic hybrid Anderson polyoxomolybdates with Fe(3+) or Mn(3+) as the central heteroatom have been synthesized by using a pre-functionalization protocol and characterized by using single-crystal X-ray diffraction, FTIR, ESI-MS, (1) H NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. Structural analysis revealed the formation of (TBA)3 [FeMo6 O18 {(OCH2 )3 CNHCOC6 H5 }2 ]⋅3.5 ACN (TBA-FeMo6 -bzn; TBA=tetrabutylammonium, ACN=acetonitrile, bzn=TRIS-benzoic acid alkanolamide, TRISR=(HOCH2 )3 CR)), (TBA)3 [FeMo6 O18 {(OCH2 )3 CNHCOC8 H7 }2 ]⋅2.5 ACN (TBA-FeMo6 -cin; cin=TRIS-cinnamic acid alkanolamide), (TBA)3 [MnMo6 O18 {(OCH2 )3 CNHCOC6 H5 }2 ]⋅3.5 ACN (TBA-MnMo6 -bzn), and (TBA)3 [MnMo6 O18 {(OCH2 )3 CNHCOC8 H7 }2 ]⋅2.5 ACN (TBA-MnMo6 -cin). To make these four compounds applicable in biological systems, an ion exchange was performed that gave the water-soluble (up to 80 mM) sodium salts Na3 [FeMo6 O18 {(OCH2 )3 CNHCOC6 H5 }2 ] (Na-FeMo6 -bzn), Na3 [FeMo6 O18 {(OCH2 )3 CNHCOC8 H7 }2 ] (Na-FeMo6 -cin), Na3 [MnMo6 O18 {(OCH2 )3 CNHCOC6 H5 }2 ] (Na-MnMo6 -bzn), and Na3 [MnMo6 O18 {(OCH2 )3 CNHCOC8 H7 }2 ] (Na-MnMo6 -cin). The hydrolytic stability of the sodium salts was examined by applying ESI-MS in the pH range of 4 to 9. Sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed that human and bovine serum albumin (HSA and BSA) remain intact in solutions that contain up to 100 equivalents of the sodium salts over more than 4 d at 20 °C. Tryptophan (Trp) fluorescence quenching was applied to study the interactions between the sodium salts and HSA and BSA at pH 5.5 and 7.4. The quenching constants were extracted by using Stern-Volmer analysis, which suggested the formation of a 1:1 POM-protein complex in all samples. It is suggested that the aromatic hybrid POM approaches subdomain IIA of HSA and exhibits hydrophobic interactions with its hydrophobic tails, whereas the Anderson core is stabilized through electrostatic interactions with polar amino acid side chains from, for example, subdomain IB. © 2015 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Synthesis, structure and reactivity of rare-earth metallacarborane alkyls [η(1):η(5)-O(CH2)2C2B9H9]Ln(σ:η(1)-CH2C6H4-o-NMe2)(THF)2.

PubMed

Yang, Jingying; Xie, Zuowei

2015-04-14

Rare-earth metallacarborane alkyls can be stabilized by the incorporation of a functional sidearm into both π and σ ligands. Reaction of [Me3NH][7,8-O(CH2)2-7,8-C2B9H10] with one equiv. of Ln(CH2C6H4-o-NMe2)3 gave metallacarborane alkyls [η(1):η(5)-O(CH2)2C2B9H9]Ln(σ:η(1)-CH2C6H4-o-NMe2)(THF)2 (Ln = Y (), Gd (), Er ()) via alkane elimination. They represent the first examples of rare-earth metallacarborane alkyls. Treatment of with RN[double bond, length as m-dash]C[double bond, length as m-dash]NR (R = Cy, (i)Pr) or 2-benzoylpyridine afforded the corresponding mono-insertion products [η(1):η(5)-O(CH2)2C2B9H9]Y[η(2)-(RN)2C(CH2C6H4-o-NMe2)](DME) (R = Cy (), (i)Pr ()) or [η(1):η(5)-O(CH2)2C2B9H9]Y[C5H4NC(Ph)(CH2C6H4-o-NMe2)O](THF)2 (), respectively. Complex also reacted with ArNCO or ArNC (Ar = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl, 2,6-dimethylphenyl) to give di-insertion products [η(1):η(5)-O(CH2)2C2B9H9]Y[OC([double bond, length as m-dash]NC6H3Me2)N(C6H3Me2)C(CH2C6H4-o-NMe2)O](THF)2 () or [η(1):η(5)-O(CH2)2C2B9H9]Y[C([double bond, length as m-dash]NC6H3(i)Pr2)C([double bond, length as m-dash]NC6H3(i)Pr2)(CH2C6H4-o-NMe2)](DME) (). These results showed that the reactivity pattern of the Ln-C σ bond in rare-earth metallacarborane alkyls was dependent on the nature of the unsaturated organic molecules. New complexes were characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and elemental analysis. Some were further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis.

Dimethylalkoxygallane incorporating a donor-functionalised alkoxide: the monomeric gas-phase structure.

PubMed

Knapp, Caroline E; Carmalt, Claire J; McMillan, Paul F; Wann, Derek A; Robertson, Heather E; Rankin, David W H

2008-12-28

The structure of the vapour produced upon heating the dimethylalkoxygallane [Me(2)GaOCH(2)CH(2)NMe(2)](2) has been studied by gas-phase electron diffraction and ab initio molecular orbital calculations; only the monomeric form [Me(2)GaOCH(2)CH(2)NMe(2)] is observed in the vapour, with the nitrogen atom forming a dative bond with the metal centre.

Oral Chloral Hydrate Compare with Rectal Thiopental in Pediatric Procedural Sedation and Analgesia; a Randomized Clinical Trial.

PubMed

Azizkhani, Reza; Kanani, Soheila; Sharifi, Ali; Golshani, Keihan; Masoumi, Babak; Ahmadi, Omid

2014-01-01

The increasing use of diagnostic imaging in pediatric medicine has resulted in growing need for procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) to minimize motion artifacts during procedures. The drug of choice in pediatric PSA was not introduced until now. The aim of the present study was comparison of oral chloral hydrate (OCH) and rectal sodium thiopental (RST) in pediatric PSA. In the present randomized clinical trial, 2-6 years old pediatrics who referred for performing brain computed tomography scan was enrolled and were randomly divided in to two groups. OCH (50mg/kg) and RST (25mg/kg) were prescribed and a trained nurse recorded the time from drug prescription to receiving the conscious sedation (onset of action), the total period which the patient has the Ramsay score≥4 (duration of action), and adverse effect of agents. Mann-Whitney U test and chi-squared test, and Non-parametric analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used for comparisons. One hundred and forty children were entered to two groups of OCH and RST, randomly. The patients of two groups had similar age, sex, weight, and baseline vital signs except for diastolic blood pressure (p<0.001). The onset of action in OCH and RST groups were 24.5±6.1and 28.7±5.2 minutes, respectively (p<0.001). Duration of action in OCH and RST groups were 12.9±2.8 minutes and 13.7±2.6 minutes, respectively (p=0.085). Non-parametric ANCOVA revealed that only diastolic blood pressure was affected by drug prescription (p=0.001). In 11(15.7%) patients in RST group, diarrhea was observed during 24 hours (p=0.001). Oxygen desaturation was observed only in two patients, both in OCH group. Each of the sedative has advantages and disadvantages that should be considered when selecting one for inducing short-term sedation. It seems that rectal sodium thiopental and oral chloral hydrate are equally effective in pediatric PSA and based on patient's condition we can administrate one of these agents.

Atmospheric Chemistry of (CF3)2CHOCH3, (CF3)2CHOCHO, and CF3C(O)OCH3.

PubMed

Østerstrøm, Freja From; Wallington, Timothy J; Sulbaek Andersen, Mads P; Nielsen, Ole John

2015-10-22

Smog chambers with in situ FTIR detection were used to measure rate coefficients in 700 Torr of air and 296 ± 2 K of: k(Cl+(CF3)2CHOCH3) = (5.41 ± 1.63) × 10(-12), k(Cl+(CF3)2CHOCHO) = (9.44 ± 1.81) × 10(-15), k(Cl+CF3C(O)OCH3) = (6.28 ± 0.98) × 10(-14), k(OH+(CF3)2CHOCH3) = (1.86 ± 0.41) × 10(-13), and k(OH+(CF3)2CHOCHO) = (2.08 ± 0.63) × 10(-14) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). The Cl atom initiated oxidation of (CF3)2CHOCH3 gives (CF3)2CHOCHO in a yield indistinguishable from 100%. The OH radical initiated oxidation of (CF3)2CHOCH3 gives the following products (molar yields): (CF3)2CHOCHO (76 ± 8)%, CF3C(O)OCH3 (16 ± 2)%, CF3C(O)CF3 (4 ± 1)%, and C(O)F2 (45 ± 5)%. The primary oxidation product (CF3)2CHOCHO reacts with Cl atoms to give secondary products (molar yields): CF3C(O)CF3 (67 ± 7)%, CF3C(O)OCHO (28 ± 3)%, and C(O)F2 (118 ± 12)%. CF3C(O)OCH3 reacts with Cl atoms to give: CF3C(O)OCHO (80 ± 8)% and C(O)F2 (6 ± 1)%. Atmospheric lifetimes of (CF3)2CHOCH3, (CF3)2CHOCHO, and CF3C(O)OCH3 were estimated to be 62 days, 1.5 years, and 220 days, respectively. The 100-year global warming potentials (GWPs) for (CF3)2CHOCH3, (CF3)2CHOCHO, and CF3C(O)OCH3 are estimated to be 6, 121, and 46, respectively. A comprehensive description of the atmospheric fate of (CF3)2CHOCH3 is presented.

The inverse podant [Li3(NBut)3S)]+ stabilises a single ethylene oxide OCH=CH2 anion as a high- and low-temperature polymorph of [(thf)3Li3(OCH=CH2)(NBut)3S)].

PubMed

Walfort, B; Pandey, S K; Stalke, D

2001-09-07

A single ethylene oxide anion derived from the ether cleavage reaction of thf with ButLi is stabilised by the inverse podant [Li3(NBut)3S)]+ to give a high- and a low-temperature polymorph with a considerable difference in conformation and packing.

From CO2 to dimethyl carbonate with dialkyldimethoxystannanes: the key role of monomeric species.

PubMed

Kalhor, Mahboubeh Poor; Chermette, Henry; Chambrey, Stéphane; Ballivet-Tkatchenko, Danielle

2011-02-14

The formation of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from CO(2) and methanol with the dimer [n-Bu(2)Sn(OCH(3))(2)](2) was investigated by experimental kinetics in support of DFT calculations. Under the reaction conditions (357-423 K, 10-20 MPa), identical initial rates are observed with three different reacting mixtures, CO(2)/toluene, supercritical CO(2), and CO(2)/methanol, and are consistent with the formation of monomeric di-n-butyltin(iv) species. An intramolecular mechanism is, therefore, proposed with an Arrhenius activation energy amounting to 104 ± 10 kJ mol(-1) for DMC synthesis. DFT calculations on the [(CH(3))(2)Sn(OCH(3))(2)](2)/CO(2) system show that the exothermic insertion of CO(2) into the Sn-OCH(3) bond occurs by a concerted Lewis acid-base interaction involving the tin center and the oxygen atom of the methoxy ligand. The Gibbs energy diagrams highlight that, under the reaction conditions, the dimer-monomer equilibrium is significantly shifted towards monomeric species, in agreement with the experimental kinetics. Importantly, the two Sn-OCH(3) bonds are prompt to insert CO(2). These results provide new insight into the reaction mechanism and catalyst design to enhance the turnover numbers.

Carboxylate and amino group coated silver nanoparticles as joining materials for copper-to-copper silver joints.

PubMed

Oestreicher, A; Röhrich, T; Lerch, M

2012-12-01

Organic silver complexes are introduced where silver is linked either with a carboxyl group or with an amino group. Upon heating, nanoparticles are generated if the respective ligands are long enough to act as stabilizing agents in the nanoparticulate regime. With decomposition and volatilization of the organic material, the sintering of silver occurs. The thermal characteristics of the carboxylates silver-n-octanoate, silver-n-decanoate, and AgOOC(CH2OCH2)2CH2OCH3 are compared with silver-n-alkylamines (n = 8, 9, and 12), and their thermal behavior is discussed based on thermogravimetry (TG) measurements. The consecutive stages of a metallization process are addressed based on the properties of AgOOC(CH2OCH2)2CH2OCH3, and the usable effects of the individual phases of this metal organic compound are analyzed by cross-sectional scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of silver joints. Selection criteria are addressed based on the thermal behavior. A mechanism for the joining process is proposed, considering formation and sintering of the nanoparticles. It was found that the bulk material can be used for low-temperature joining processes. Strong adherence to copper as a basic material can be achieved.

Spatiotemporal Filtering Using Principal Component Analysis and Karhunen-Loeve Expansion Approaches for Regional GPS Network Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dong, D.; Fang, P.; Bock, F.; Webb, F.; Prawirondirdjo, L.; Kedar, S.; Jamason, P.

2006-01-01

Spatial filtering is an effective way to improve the precision of coordinate time series for regional GPS networks by reducing so-called common mode errors, thereby providing better resolution for detecting weak or transient deformation signals. The commonly used approach to regional filtering assumes that the common mode error is spatially uniform, which is a good approximation for networks of hundreds of kilometers extent, but breaks down as the spatial extent increases. A more rigorous approach should remove the assumption of spatially uniform distribution and let the data themselves reveal the spatial distribution of the common mode error. The principal component analysis (PCA) and the Karhunen-Loeve expansion (KLE) both decompose network time series into a set of temporally varying modes and their spatial responses. Therefore they provide a mathematical framework to perform spatiotemporal filtering.We apply the combination of PCA and KLE to daily station coordinate time series of the Southern California Integrated GPS Network (SCIGN) for the period 2000 to 2004. We demonstrate that spatially and temporally correlated common mode errors are the dominant error source in daily GPS solutions. The spatial characteristics of the common mode errors are close to uniform for all east, north, and vertical components, which implies a very long wavelength source for the common mode errors, compared to the spatial extent of the GPS network in southern California. Furthermore, the common mode errors exhibit temporally nonrandom patterns.

Stochastic uncertainty analysis for unconfined flow systems

USGS Publications Warehouse

Liu, Gaisheng; Zhang, Dongxiao; Lu, Zhiming

2006-01-01

A new stochastic approach proposed by Zhang and Lu (2004), called the Karhunen‐Loeve decomposition‐based moment equation (KLME), has been extended to solving nonlinear, unconfined flow problems in randomly heterogeneous aquifers. This approach is on the basis of an innovative combination of Karhunen‐Loeve decomposition, polynomial expansion, and perturbation methods. The random log‐transformed hydraulic conductivity field (lnKS) is first expanded into a series in terms of orthogonal Gaussian standard random variables with their coefficients obtained as the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the covariance function of lnKS. Next, head h is decomposed as a perturbation expansion series Σh(m), where h(m) represents the mth‐order head term with respect to the standard deviation of lnKS. Then h(m) is further expanded into a polynomial series of m products of orthogonal Gaussian standard random variables whose coefficients hi1,i2,...,im(m) are deterministic and solved sequentially from low to high expansion orders using MODFLOW‐2000. Finally, the statistics of head and flux are computed using simple algebraic operations on hi1,i2,...,im(m). A series of numerical test results in 2‐D and 3‐D unconfined flow systems indicated that the KLME approach is effective in estimating the mean and (co)variance of both heads and fluxes and requires much less computational effort as compared to the traditional Monte Carlo simulation technique.

Analysis of the ST-T complex of the electrocardiogram using the Karhunen--Loeve transform: adaptive monitoring and alternans detection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Laguna, P.; Moody, G. B.; Garcia, J.; Goldberger, A. L.; Mark, R. G.

1999-01-01

The Karhunen-Loeve transform (KLT) is applied to study the ventricular repolarisation period as reflected in the ST-T complex of the surface ECG. The KLT coefficients provide a sensitive means of quantitating ST-T shapes. A training set of ST-T complexes is used to derive a set of KLT basis vectors that permits representation of 90% of the signal energy using four KLT coefficients. As a truncated KLT expansion tends to favor representation of the signal over any additive noise, a time series of KLT coefficients obtained from successive ST-T complexes is better suited for representation of both medium-term variations (such as ischemic changes) and short-term variations (such as ST-T alternans) than discrete parameters such as the ST level or other local indices. For analysis of ischemic changes, an adaptive filter is described that can be used to estimate the KLT coefficient, yielding an increase in the signal-to-noise ratio of 10 dB (u = 0.1), with a convergence time of about three beats. A beat spectrum of the unfiltered KLT coefficient series is used for detection of ST-T alterans. These methods are illustrated with examples from the European ST-T Database. About 20% of records revealed quasi-periodic salvos of ischemic ST-T change episodes and another 20% exhibit repetitive, but not clearly periodic patterns of ST-T change episodes. About 5% of ischemic episodes were associated with ST-T alterans.

Antitumor activity of ginseng sapogenins, 25-OH-PPD and 25-OCH3-PPD, on gastric cancer cells.

PubMed

Zhao, Chen; Su, Guangyue; Wang, Xude; Zhang, Xiaoshu; Guo, Shuang; Zhao, Yuqing

2016-01-01

25-Hydroxyprotopanaxadiol (25-OH-PPD) and 25-methoxylprotopanaxadiol (25-OCH3-PPD), two ginseng sapogenins, have potent antitumor activity and their effects on gastric cancer (BGC-823, SGC-7901, MKN-28) cells and a gastric mucosa (GES-1) cell line are reported. Both compounds significantly inhibited the growth of gastric cancer cells, while having lesser inhibitory effects on GES-1 cells by MTT assay. A mechanistic study revealed that the two ginseng sapogenins could induce apoptosis in BGC-823 cells by morphological observation, DNA fragmentation, flow cytometry and western blot analysis. Besides, the apoptosis was inhibited by Ac-DEVD-CHO, a caspase 3 inhibitor, which was confirmed by cell viability analysis. These results indicate that 25-OH-PPD and 25-OCH3-PPD have potential to be promising agents for the treatment of gastric cancer.

Strong intramolecular Si-N interactions in the chlorosilanes Cl3-nHnSiOCH2CH2NMe2 (n = 1-3).

PubMed

Hagemann, Michael; Mix, Andreas; Berger, Raphael J F; Pape, Tania; Mitzel, Norbert W

2008-11-17

The compounds Cl 3SiOCH 2CH 2NMe 2 ( 1) and Cl 2HSiOCH 2CH 2NMe 2 ( 2) were prepared by reactions of lithium 2-(dimethylamino)ethanolate with SiCl 4 and HSiCl 3. The analogous reaction with H 2SiCl 2 gave ClH 2SiOCH 2CH 2NMe 2 ( 3), but only in a mixture with Cl 2HSiOCH 2CH 2NMe 2 ( 2), from which it could not be separated. All compounds were characterized by IR and NMR ( (1)H, (13)C, (29)Si) spectroscopy, 1 and 2 by elemental analyses and by determination of their crystal structures. Cl 3SiOCH 2CH 2NMe 2 ( 1) and Cl 2HSiOCH 2CH 2NMe 2 ( 2) crystallize as monomeric ring compounds with pentacoordinate silicon atoms participating in intramolecular Si-N bonds [2.060(2) A ( 1), 2.037(2) A ( 2)]. The dative bonds in 1 and 2 between the silicon and nitrogen atoms could also be proven to exist at low temperatures in solution in (1)H, (29)Si-HMBC-NMR experiments by detection of the scalar coupling between the (29)Si and the protons of the NCH 2 and NCH 3 groups. A function describing the chemical shift delta exp (29)Si dependent on the chemical shifts of the individual equilibrium components, the temperature, and the free enthalpy of reaction was worked out and fitted to the experimental VT-NMR data of 1 and 2. This provided values of the free reaction enthalpies of Delta G = -28.8 +/- 3.9 kJ x mol (-1) for 1 and Delta G = -22.3 +/- 0.4 kJ x mol (-1) for 2 and estimates for the chemical shifts of open-chain (index o) and ring conformers (index r) for 1 of delta r = -94 +/- 2 ppm and delta o = -36 +/- 5 ppm and for 2 of delta r = -82 +/- 1 ppm and delta o = -33 +/- 4 ppm. The value of delta r for 1 is very close to that obtained from a solid-state (29)Si MAS NMR spectrum. Quantumchemical calculations (up to MP2/TZVPP) gave largely differing geometries for 1 (with a Si...N distance of 3.072 A), but well reproduced the geometry of 2. These differences are due to Cl...H and Cl...C repulsions and solid state effects, which can be modeled by conductor-like screening model calculations and also rationalized in terms of the topology of the electron density, which was analyzed in terms of the quantum theory of atoms in molecules.

A computational study of the addition of ReO3L (L = Cl(-), CH3, OCH3 and Cp) to ethenone.

PubMed

Aniagyei, Albert; Tia, Richard; Adei, Evans

2016-01-01

The periselectivity and chemoselectivity of the addition of transition metal oxides of the type ReO3L (L = Cl, CH3, OCH3 and Cp) to ethenone have been explored at the MO6 and B3LYP/LACVP* levels of theory. The activation barriers and reaction energies for the stepwise and concerted addition pathways involving multiple spin states have been computed. In the reaction of ReO3L (L = Cl(-), OCH3, CH3 and Cp) with ethenone, the concerted [2 + 2] addition of the metal oxide across the C=C and C=O double bond to form either metalla-2-oxetane-3-one or metalla-2,4-dioxolane is the most kinetically favored over the formation of metalla-2,5-dioxolane-3-one from the direct [3 + 2] addition pathway. The trends in activation and reaction energies for the formation of metalla-2-oxetane-3-one and metalla-2,4-dioxolane are Cp < Cl(-) < OCH3 < CH3 and Cp < OCH3 < CH3 < Cl(-) and for the reaction energies are Cp < OCH3 < Cl(-) < CH3 and Cp < CH3 < OCH3 < Cl CH3. The concerted [3 + 2] addition of the metal oxide across the C=C double of the ethenone to form species metalla-2,5-dioxolane-3-one is thermodynamically the most favored for the ligand L = Cp. The direct [2 + 2] addition pathways leading to the formations of metalla-2-oxetane-3-one and metalla-2,4-dioxolane is thermodynamically the most favored for the ligands L = OCH3 and Cl(-). The difference between the calculated [2 + 2] activation barriers for the addition of the metal oxide LReO3 across the C=C and C=O functionalities of ethenone are small except for the case of L = Cl(-) and OCH3. The rearrangement of the metalla-2-oxetane-3-one-metalla-2,5-dioxolane-3-one even though feasible, are unfavorable due to high activation energies of their rate-determining steps. For the rearrangement of the metalla-2-oxetane-3-one to metalla-2,5-dioxolane-3-one, the trends in activation barriers is found to follow the order OCH3 < Cl(-) < CH3 < Cp. The trends in the activation energies for the most favorable [2 + 2] addition pathways for the LReO3-ethenone system is CH3 > CH3O(-) > Cl(-) > Cp. For the analogous ethylene-LReO3 system, the trends in activation and reaction energies for the most favorable [3 + 2] addition pathway is CH3 > CH3O(-) > Cl(-) > Cp [10]. Even though the most favored pathway in the ethylene-LReO3 system is the [3 + 2] addition pathway and that on the LReO3-ethenone is the [2 + 2] addition pathway, the trends in the activation energies for both pathways are the same, i.e. CH3 > CH3O(-) > Cl(-) > Cp. However, the trends in reaction energies are quite different due to different product stabilities. The formation of the acetic acid precursor through the direct addition pathways was unsuccessful for all the ligands studied. The formation of the acetic acid precursor through the cyclization of the metalla-2-oxetane-3-one is only possible for the ligands L = Cl(-), CH3 whiles for the cyclization of metalla-2-oxetane-4-one to the acetic acid precursor is only possible for the ligand L = CH3. Although there are spin-crossover reaction observed for the ligands L = Cl(-), CH3 and CH3O(-), the reactions occurring on the single surfaces have been found to occur with lower energies than their spin-crossover counterparts.

Chemistry within Molecular van der Waals Clusters

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-07-18

and Discussion 1) Stabilizing an Unstable Reagent within a Cluster a) 1, 1- Difluoroethane Clusters 2) Providing New Chemical Pathways a) Ammonia...1- difluoroethane clusters 24, the generation of (CH3 OCH 3 )nH3 O+ & (CH3 OCH 3 )nCH3 OH2 + ions from dimethyl ether dusters25 ,26, the generation of...Stabilizing an Unstable Reagent within a Cluster a) 1.1- Difluoroethane Clusters 24 The dominant reactive process which occurs within the majority of cluster

Durable Fluorocarbon-Based Coatings for Aircraft

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-11-01

synthesized two novel monomers, 2-fluoro-2- perfluorooctyl - 1,3-propanediol and 2-fluoro-2- perfluoro (2-ethylhexyl)-1,3-propanediol, and demonstrated that...propanediols, two branched perfluoroalkyl methanols, perfluoro -1H,1H-2-ethylhexanol (pefluoro-1-ethylpentyl methanol) and perfluoro - 1H,1H-2,2...malonates. Reduction of the perfluorinated malonates gave the perfluoroalkyl -branched 1,3-propanediols. R-OH + HBr R-Br cat. O O OCH 2CH3 OCH 2CH3 + O O

Calix

PubMed

Frkanec; Visnjevac; Kojic-Prodic; Zinic

2000-02-04

Chiral calix[4]arene derivatives with four O-(N-acetyl-PhgOMe), (1), (Phg denotes R-phenylglycine), or O-(N-acetyl-LeuOMe) (2) strands have been synthesised. Both compounds exist in chloroform in stable cone conformations with a noncovalently organised cavity at the lower rim that is formed by circular interstrand amidic hydrogen bonds. Such organisation affects both the selectivity and extraction/transport properties of 1 and 2 toward metal cations. Calix[4]arene derivatives with one OCH2COPhgOMe strand (3), two OCH2COPhgOMe strands (5) and with 1,3-OMe-2,4-(O-CH2COPhgOMe) substituents (4) at the lower rim have also been prepared. For 3, a conformation stabilised by a circular hydrogen-bond arrangement is found in chloroform, while 4 exists as a time-averaged C2 conformation with two intramolecular NH ...OCH3 hydrogen bonds. Compound 5 has a unique hydrogen-bonding motif in solution and in the solid state with two three-centred NH-.. O and two OH...O hydrogen bonds at the lower rim. This motif keeps 5 in the flattened cone conformation in chloroform. The X-ray structure analysis of 1 revealed a molecular structure with C2 symmetry; this structure is organised in infinite chains by intra- and intermolecular H bonds. The solid-state and solution structures of the [1-Na]ClO4 complex are identical, C4 symmetric cone conformations.

Feasibility study of a microprocessor based oculometer system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Varanasi, M. R.

1981-01-01

The elimination of redundancy in data to maximize processing speed and minimize storage requirements were objectives in a feasibility study of a microprocessor based oculometer system that would be portable in size and flexible in use. The appropriate architectural design of the signal processor, improved optics, and the reduction of size, weight, and power to the system were investigated. A flow chart is presented showing the strategy of the design. The simulation for developing microroutines for the high speed algorithmic processor subsystem is discussed as well as the Karhunen-Loeve transform technique for data compression.

A unified development of several techniques for the representation of random vectors and data sets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bundick, W. T.

1973-01-01

Linear vector space theory is used to develop a general representation of a set of data vectors or random vectors by linear combinations of orthonormal vectors such that the mean squared error of the representation is minimized. The orthonormal vectors are shown to be the eigenvectors of an operator. The general representation is applied to several specific problems involving the use of the Karhunen-Loeve expansion, principal component analysis, and empirical orthogonal functions; and the common properties of these representations are developed.

Detection and mapping of volcanic rock assemblages and associated hydrothermal alteration with Thermal Infrared Multiband Scanner (TIMS) data Comstock Lode Mining District, Virginia City, Nevada

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Taranik, James V.; Hutsinpiller, Amy; Borengasser, Marcus

1986-01-01

Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner (TIMS) data were acquired over the Virginia City area on September 12, 1984. The data were acquired at approximately 1130 hours local time (1723 IRIG). The TIMS data were analyzed using both photointerpretation and digital processing techniques. Karhuen-Loeve transformations were utilized to display variations in radiant spectral emittance. The TIMS image data were compared with color infrared metric camera photography, LANDSAT Thematic Mapper (TM) data, and key areas were photographed in the field.

Diagnosing the occult contralateral inguinal hernia.

PubMed

Koehler, R H

2002-03-01

The incidence of bilateral inguinal hernias reported for total extra peritoneal (TEP) laparoscopic hernia repair, which reaches 45%, appears to be higher than that seen in studies of transabdominal laparoscopic and open repair. Given the unique ability of diagnostic laparoscopy to diagnose occult contralateral hernias (OCH) accurately, this study looked at how concurrent transabdominal diagnostic laparoscopy (TADL) would influence planned TEP repairs. A prospective study oF 100 consecutive TEP cases was conducted. All patients had diagnostic laparoscopy via a 5-mm 45 degrees scope through an umbilical incision with 15 mmHg of pneumoperitoneum, followed by laparoscopic TEPrepair. A contralateral occult hernia was diagnosed and repaired if a true peritoneal eventration through the inguinal region was observed. Among the 100 patients, preoperative diagnosis suggested 31 bilateral hernias (31%), whereas TADL confirmed 25 bilateral hernias (25%). Of these 25 bilateral hernias, TADL confirmed 16 that had been diagnosed preoperatively (64%), but excluded 15 contralateral hernias that were incorrectly diagnosed (37%). Transabdominal diagnostic laparoscopy found nine OCHs, representing 36% of all bilateral hernias and 13% of the 69 preoperatively determined unilateral hernias. The preoperative physician examination false-negative rate for contralateral hernias was 36%, and the false-positive rate was 37%. In 26 cases (26%), TADL changed the operative approach. In this study, patients believed to have unilateral inguinal hernias had OCHs in 13% of cases when examined by TADL. The actual bilateral hernia incidence was 25%, with a 37% false-positive rate for preoperatively diagnosed bilateral hernias. The high rate of bilateral hernias reported by the TEP approach alone suggests that some OCH findings may be an artifact of the TEP dissection. However, failure to search for an OCH could result in up to 13% of patients subsequently requiring a second repair. Because some surgeons are concerned about unnecessary TEP dissection of the asymptomatic contralateral side, the approach described here may offer a solution to accurate diagnosis of the contralateral inguinal region during planned laparoscopic TEP hernia repair.

Conformational and spectroscopic study of xanthogen ethyl formates, ROC(S)SC(O)OCH₂CH₃. Isolation of CH₃CH₂OC(O)SH.

PubMed

Juncal, Luciana C; Cozzarín, Melina V; Romano, Rosana M

2015-03-15

ROC(S)SC(O)OCH2CH3, with R=CH3-, (CH3)2CH- and CH3(CH2)2-, were obtained through the reaction between potassium xanthate salts, ROC(S)SK, and ethyl chloroformate, ClC(O)OCH2CH3. The liquid compounds were identified and characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR and mass spectrometry. The conformations adopted by the molecules were studied by DFT methods. 6 conformers were theoretically predicted for R=CH3- and (CH3)2CH-, while the conformational flexibility of the n-propyl substituent increases the total number of feasible rotamers to 21. For the three molecules, the conformers can be associated in 3 groups, being the most stable the AS forms - the C=S double bond anti (A) with respect to the C-S single bond and the S-C single bond syn (S) with respect to the C=O double bond - followed by AA and SS conformers. The vibrational spectra were interpreted in terms of the predicted conformational equilibrium, presenting the ν(C=O) spectral region signals corresponding to the three groups of conformers. A moderated pre-resonance Raman enhancement of the ν(C=S) vibrational mode of CH3(CH2)2OC(S)SC(O)OCH2CH3 was detected, when the excitation radiation approaches the energy of a n→π∗ electronic transition associated with the C=S chromophore. UV-visible spectra in different solvents were measured and interpreted in terms of TD-DFT calculations. The unknown molecule CH3CH2OC(O)SH was isolated by the UV-visible photolysis of CH3OC(S)SC(O)OCH2CH3 isolated in Ar matrix, and also obtained as a side-product of the reaction between potassium xanthate salts, ROC(S)SK, and ethyl chloroformate, ClC(O)OCH2CH3. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Preoperative oral carbohydrate improved postoperative insulin resistance in rats through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

PubMed

Wang, Zhiguo; Liu, Yiqing; Li, Qi; Ruan, Canping; Wu, Bin; Wang, Qiang; Hu, Zhiqian; Qin, Huanlong

2015-01-01

Preoperative oral carbohydrate (OCH) improves postoperative insulin resistance (PIR) and insulin sensitivity. However, the exact mechanisms involved in the improvement of PIR with respect to preoperative OCH are still not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of preoperative OCH and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in reducing PIR in rats. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to PreOp, glucose, saline, and fasting groups. Rats in the PreOp, glucose, and saline groups received OCH, 5% glucose solution, and saline, respectively. Rats in the fasting group did not receive anything but were fasted 3 h before surgery. Blood glucose, insulin and leucine levels, and insulin resistance, secretion, and sensitivity indexes were measured before and after surgery. mRNA and protein (total and phosphorylated) levels of mTOR, IRS-1, PI3K, PKB/AKT, and GlUT4 were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot in skeletal muscles. In the PIR experiment, blood glucose, serum insulin, insulin resistance, and serum leucine levels were all significantly lower in the PreOp group than in the other 3 groups (P<0.05) after surgery. HOMA-ISI were higher in the PreOp group vs the other 3 groups after surgery (P<0.05), and HOMA-b in the PreOp group was higher than that in the other 3 groups at 30 and 120 min after surgery. Additionally, post-operative phosphorylated IRS-1, PI3K, and AKT protein levels were significantly higher in the PreOp group than in the other 3 groups (P<0.05), but no significant differences were observed in their respective protein levels (P>0.05). OCH decreases postoperative insulin resistance and improves postoperative insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscles through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

Differential apoptotic effect of wogonin and nor-wogonin via stimulation of ROS production in human leukemia cells.

PubMed

Chow, Jyh-Ming; Huang, Guan-Cheng; Shen, Shing-Chuan; Wu, Chin-Yen; Lin, Cheng-Wei; Chen, Yen-Chou

2008-04-01

We investigate the roles of methoxyl (OCH(3)) and hydroxyl (OH) substitutions at C8 of flavonoids on their apoptosis-inducing activities. Wogonin (Wog) and nor-wogonin (N-Wog) are structurally related flavonoids, and respectively contain an OH and OCH(3) at C8. In leukemia HL-60 cells, N-Wog exhibited more-potent cytotoxicity than Wog according to the MTT and LDH release assays, and the IC(50) values of Wog and N-Wog in HL-60 cells were 67.5 +/- 2.1 and 21.7 +/- 1.5 microM, respectively. Apoptotic characteristics including DNA ladders, apoptotic bodies, and hypodiploid cells accompanied by the induction of caspase 3 protein processing appeared in Wog- and N-Wog-treated HL-60 cells. Interestingly, an increase in intracellular peroxide production was detected in N-Wog- but not Wog-treated HL-60 cells by the DCHF-DA assay, and the reduction of intracellular peroxide by catalase (CAT) induced by N-Wog significantly reduced the N-Wog- but not the Wog-induced cytotoxic effect according to the MTT assay in accordance with the blocking of DNA ladder formation and caspase 3 and PARP protein processing elicited by N-Wog. We further analyzed the effect of six structurally related compounds, including 5-OH, 7-OH, 5,7-diOH, 5,7-diOCH(3), 7,8-diOCH(3), and 7-OCH(3)-8-OH flavones, on apoptosis induction in HL-60 cells. Results suggested that OH at C5 and C7 is essential for both the apoptosis-inducing activity of flavonoids, and OH at C8 may contribute to apoptosis induction ability. Evidence to support a distinct structure-activity relationship in apoptosis induction of flavonoids is provided for the first time in this study. 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Nitroaliphatic difluoroformals

DOEpatents

Peters, Howard M.; Simon, Jr., Robert L.

1978-01-01

Nitroaliphatic difluoroformals of the formula RCH.sub.2 OCF.sub.2 OCH.sub.2 R' wherein R = FC(NO.sub.2).sub.2 -- and R' = F.sub.2 C(NO.sub.2)-- or CF.sub.3 --; or R = R' = CF.sub.3 OCH.sub.2 C(NO.sub.2).sub.2 --. The compounds are prepared in accordance with the following reaction: ##STR1## carried out at temperatures of from about 95.degree. C to about 150.degree. C. The compounds are especially useful as energetic plasticizers in explosive compositions.

Theoretical studies on atmospheric chemistry of HFE-245mc and perfluoro-ethyl formate: Reaction with OH radicals, atmospheric fate of alkoxy radical and global warming potential

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lily, Makroni; Baidya, Bidisha; Chandra, Asit K.

2017-02-01

Theoretical studies have been performed on the kinetics, mechanism and thermochemistry of the hydrogen abstraction reactions of CF3CF2OCH3 (HFE-245mc) and CF3CF2OCHO with OH radical using DFT based M06-2X method. IRC calculation shows that both hydrogen abstraction reactions proceed via weakly bound hydrogen-bonded complex preceding to the formation of transition state. The rate coefficients calculated by canonical transition state theory along with Eckart's tunnelling correction at 298 K: k1(CF3CF2OCH3 + OH) = 1.09 × 10-14 and k2(CF3CF2OCHO + OH) = 1.03 × 10-14 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 are in very good agreement with the experimental values. The atmospheric implications of CF3CF2OCH3 and CF3CF2OCHO are also discussed.

New molecular imprinted voltammetric sensor for determination of ochratoxin A.

PubMed

Yola, Mehmet Lütfi; Gupta, Vinod Kumar; Atar, Necip

2016-04-01

In this report, a novel molecular imprinted voltammetric sensor based on silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) involved in a polyoxometalate (H3PW12O40, POM) functionalized reduced graphene oxide (rGO) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was presented for determination of ochrattoxin A (OCH). The developed surfaces were characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) method. OCH imprinted GCE was prepared via electropolymerization process of 100mM phenol as monomer in the presence of phosphate buffer solution (pH6.0) containing 25 mM OCH. The linearity range and the detection limit of the method were calculated as 5.0 × 10(-11) - 1.5 × 10(-9)M and 1.6 × 10(-11) M, respectively. The voltammetric sensor was applied to grape juice and wine samples with good selectivity and recovery. The stability of the voltammetric sensor was also reported. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Semi-analytical Karhunen-Loeve representation of irregular waves based on the prolate spheroidal wave functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Gibbeum; Cho, Yeunwoo

2018-01-01

A new semi-analytical approach is presented to solving the matrix eigenvalue problem or the integral equation in Karhunen-Loeve (K-L) representation of random data such as irregular ocean waves. Instead of direct numerical approach to this matrix eigenvalue problem, which may suffer from the computational inaccuracy for big data, a pair of integral and differential equations are considered, which are related to the so-called prolate spheroidal wave functions (PSWF). First, the PSWF is expressed as a summation of a small number of the analytical Legendre functions. After substituting them into the PSWF differential equation, a much smaller size matrix eigenvalue problem is obtained than the direct numerical K-L matrix eigenvalue problem. By solving this with a minimal numerical effort, the PSWF and the associated eigenvalue of the PSWF differential equation are obtained. Then, the eigenvalue of the PSWF integral equation is analytically expressed by the functional values of the PSWF and the eigenvalues obtained in the PSWF differential equation. Finally, the analytically expressed PSWFs and the eigenvalues in the PWSF integral equation are used to form the kernel matrix in the K-L integral equation for the representation of exemplary wave data such as ordinary irregular waves. It is found that, with the same accuracy, the required memory size of the present method is smaller than that of the direct numerical K-L representation and the computation time of the present method is shorter than that of the semi-analytical method based on the sinusoidal functions.

Perturbations in choline metabolism cause neural tube defects in mouse embryos in vitro.

PubMed

Fisher, Melanie C; Zeisel, Steven H; Mar, Mei-Heng; Sadler, Thomas W

2002-04-01

A role for choline during early stages of mammalian embryogenesis has not been established, although recent studies show that inhibitors of choline uptake and metabolism, 2-dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), and 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine (ET-18-OCH3), produce neural tube defects in mouse embryos grown in vitro. To determine potential mechanisms responsible for these abnormalities, choline metabolism in the presence or absence of these inhibitors was evaluated in cultured, neurulating mouse embryos by using chromatographic techniques. Results showed that 90%-95% of 14C-choline was incorporated into phosphocholine and phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho), which was metabolized to sphingomyelin. Choline was oxidized to betaine, and betaine homocysteine methyltransferase was expressed. Acetylcholine was synthesized in yolk sacs, but 70 kDa choline acetyltransferase was undetectable by immunoblot. DMAE reduced embryonic choline uptake and inhibited phosphocholine, PtdCho, phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdEtn), and sphingomyelin synthesis. ET-18-OCH3 also inhibited PtdCho synthesis. In embryos and yolk sacs incubated with 3H-ethanolamine, 95% of recovered label was PtdEtn, but PtdEtn was not converted to PtdCho, which suggested that phosphatidylethanolamine methyltransferase (PeMT) activity was absent. In ET-18-OCH3 treated yolk sacs, PtdEtn was increased, but PtdCho was still not generated through PeMT. Results suggest that endogenous PtdCho synthesis is important during neurulation and that perturbed choline metabolism contributes to neural tube defects produced by DMAE and ET-18-OCH3.

A Study of Structural Changes in Pressed Semiproducts from Aluminum Alloy V95ochT2 in the Range of Dark Spots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shigapov, A. I.; Il'inkova, T. A.; Kuryntsev, S. V.; Petrova, E. P.

2017-01-01

Seven heats of alloy V95ochT2 are studied after a heat treatment imitating the conditions of the appearance of dark spots in the production process and anodic oxidizing (anodizing). The mechanical properties, the hardness, the structure, and the electrical conductivity of the alloy are determined. The causes and conditions of the appearance of dark spots are analyzed. The transparence of the film is shown to worsen upon formation of particles of second phase in the alloy.

High Temperature Superconducting Compounds

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-11-30

broadened interest in superconductivity in both the engineering and scientific communities. Superconducting materials may be offered as a solution to a...YBa2Cu307- has been made. For yttrium, the tris( isopropoxide ) was used exclusively, while the use of both Ba(O-i-Pr)2 and Ba(OCH2Ch2OEt)2 (prepared in... solutions of Cu(acac)2, Ba(OCH2CH 2OEt)2 , and Y(O-i-Pr)3 were spin coated on SrTiO 3 (100) and fired under oxygen to give oriented (b axis normal to the

Resist Rolymers. 8. Thermolysis of Bromine Containing Acrylate Polymers.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-06-01

bromine containing polymers is particularly interesting because of their role as proven flame retardants . The bromine ...BrI IC COOH I -co2 (1 CH MeI I Br --- CH 2 ---- The presence of bromine on ester units apparently alters the principal mode of degradation of the...CH2---C C--- I I I I C-O C-O C C=O 0’ OCH2CH2Br 0 0 + ’OCH2CH 2Br (6) As described earlier6 bromoethoxy radical loose bromine atom at

A video coding scheme based on joint spatiotemporal and adaptive prediction.

PubMed

Jiang, Wenfei; Latecki, Longin Jan; Liu, Wenyu; Liang, Hui; Gorman, Ken

2009-05-01

We propose a video coding scheme that departs from traditional Motion Estimation/DCT frameworks and instead uses Karhunen-Loeve Transform (KLT)/Joint Spatiotemporal Prediction framework. In particular, a novel approach that performs joint spatial and temporal prediction simultaneously is introduced. It bypasses the complex H.26x interframe techniques and it is less computationally intensive. Because of the advantage of the effective joint prediction and the image-dependent color space transformation (KLT), the proposed approach is demonstrated experimentally to consistently lead to improved video quality, and in many cases to better compression rates and improved computational speed.

Observations on the Proper Orthogonal Decomposition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Berkooz, Gal

1992-01-01

The Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (P.O.D.), also known as the Karhunen-Loeve expansion, is a procedure for decomposing a stochastic field in an L(2) optimal sense. It is used in diverse disciplines from image processing to turbulence. Recently the P.O.D. is receiving much attention as a tool for studying dynamics of systems in infinite dimensional space. This paper reviews the mathematical fundamentals of this theory. Also included are results on the span of the eigenfunction basis, a geometric corollary due to Chebyshev's inequality and a relation between the P.O.D. symmetry and ergodicity.

New Optical Transforms For Statistical Image Recognition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Sing H.

1983-12-01

In optical implementation of statistical image recognition, new optical transforms on large images for real-time recognition are of special interest. Several important linear transformations frequently used in statistical pattern recognition have now been optically implemented, including the Karhunen-Loeve transform (KLT), the Fukunaga-Koontz transform (FKT) and the least-squares linear mapping technique (LSLMT).1-3 The KLT performs principle components analysis on one class of patterns for feature extraction. The FKT performs feature extraction for separating two classes of patterns. The LSLMT separates multiple classes of patterns by maximizing the interclass differences and minimizing the intraclass variations.

Turbulence Time Series Data Hole Filling using Karhunen-Loeve and ARIMA methods

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-01-01

memory is represented by higher values of d. 4.1. ARIMA and EMD We applied an ARIMA (0,d,0) model to predict the behaviour of the final section of the...to a simplified ARIMA (0,d,0) model , which performed better than the linear interpolant but less effectively than the KL algorithm, disregarding edge...ar X iv :p hy si cs /0 70 12 38 v1 22 J an 2 00 7 Turbulence Time Series Data Hole Filling using Karhunen-Loève and ARIMA methods M P J L

Computer program for fast Karhunen Loeve transform algorithm

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jain, A. K.

1976-01-01

The fast KL transform algorithm was applied for data compression of a set of four ERTS multispectral images and its performance was compared with other techniques previously studied on the same image data. The performance criteria used here are mean square error and signal to noise ratio. The results obtained show a superior performance of the fast KL transform coding algorithm on the data set used with respect to the above stated perfomance criteria. A summary of the results is given in Chapter I and details of comparisons and discussion on conclusions are given in Chapter IV.

Plane waves and structures in turbulent channel flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sirovich, L.; Ball, K. S.; Keefe, L. R.

1990-01-01

A direct simulation of turbulent flow in a channel is analyzed by the method of empirical eigenfunctions (Karhunen-Loeve procedure, proper orthogonal decomposition). This analysis reveals the presence of propagating plane waves in the turbulent flow. The velocity of propagation is determined by the flow velocity at the location of maximal Reynolds stress. The analysis further suggests that the interaction of these waves appears to be essential to the local production of turbulence via bursting or sweeping events in the turbulent boundary layer, with the additional suggestion that the fast acting plane waves act as triggers.

Homogeneous and heterogeneous noncovalent dimers of formaldehyde and thioformaldehyde: structures, energetics, and vibrational frequencies.

PubMed

Van Dornshuld, Eric; Holy, Christina M; Tschumper, Gregory S

2014-05-08

This work provides the first characterization of five stationary points of the homogeneous thioformaldehyde dimer, (CH2S)2, and seven stationary points of the heterogeneous formaldehyde/thioformaldehyde dimer, CH2O/CH2S, with correlated ab initio electronic structure methods. Full geometry optimizations and corresponding harmonic vibrational frequencies were computed with second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) and 13 different density functionals in conjunction with triple-ζ basis sets augmented with diffuse and multiple sets of polarization functions. The MP2 results indicate that the three stationary points of (CH2S)2 and four of CH2O/CH2S are minima, in contrast to two stationary points of the formaldehyde dimer, (CH2O)2. Single-point energies were also computed using the explicitly correlated MP2-F12 and CCSD(T)-F12 methods and basis sets as large as heavy-aug-cc-pVTZ. The (CH2O)2 and CH2O/CH2S MP2 and MP2-F12 binding energies deviated from the CCSD(T)-F12 binding energies by no more than 0.2 and 0.4 kcal mol(-1), respectively. The (CH2O)2 and CH2O/CH2S global minimum is the same at every level of theory. However, the MP2 methods overbind (CH2S)2 by as much as 1.1 kcal mol(-1), effectively altering the energetic ordering of the thioformaldehyde dimer minima relative to the CCSD(T)-F12 energies. The CCSD(T)-F12 binding energies of the (CH2O)2 and CH2O/CH2S stationary points are quite similar, with the former ranging from around -2.4 to -4.6 kcal mol(-1) and the latter from about -1.1 to -4.4 kcal mol(-1). Corresponding (CH2S)2 stationary points have appreciably smaller CCSD(T)-F12 binding energies ranging from ca. -1.1 to -3.4 kcal mol(-1). The vibrational frequency shifts upon dimerization are also reported for each minimum on the MP2 potential energy surfaces.

Atmospheric degradation of industrial fluorinated acrylates and methacrylates with Cl atoms at atmospheric pressure and 298 K

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rivela, Cynthia B.; Blanco, María B.; Teruel, Mariano A.

2018-04-01

The gas-phase reaction of Cl atom with 2,2,2-trifluoroethylacrylate (k1), 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropylacrylate (k2), 2,2,2-trifluoroethylmethacrylate (k3) and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropylmethacrylate (k4), have been investigated at 298 K and 1 atm using the relative method by gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The values obtained are (in cm3 molecule-1 s-1): k1(Cl+CH2=CHC(O)OCH2CF3) = (2.41 ± 0.57) × 10-10, k2(Cl+CH2=CHC(O)OCH(CF3)2) = (1.39 ± 0.34) × 10-10, k3(Cl+CH2=C(CH3)C(O)OCH2CF3) = (2.22 ± 0.45) × 10-10, and k4(Cl +CH2=C(CH3)C(O)OCH(CF3)2 = (2.44 ± 0.52) × 10-10. Products identification studies were performed by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method, with on-fiber products derivatization using o-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl) hydroxylamine hydrochloride, coupled with gas chromatography with mass spectrometry detection (GC-MS). Chloroacetone, trifluoroacetaldehyde and formaldehyde were observed as degradation products and a general mechanism is proposed. Additionally, reactivity trends and atmospheric implications are discussed. Significant ozone photochemical potentials (POCP) and acidification potentials lead to local and or regional impact of the esters under study although is expected to a have a minor impact on global warming and climate change.

Hot-hole extraction from quantum dot to molecular adsorbate.

PubMed

Singhal, Pallavi; Ghosh, Hirendra N

2015-03-09

Ultrafast thermalized and hot-hole-transfer processes have been investigated in CdSe quantum dot (QD)/catechol composite systems in which hole transfer from photoexcited QDs to the catechols is thermodynamically favorable. A series of catechol derivatives were selected with different electron-donating and -withdrawing groups, and the effect of these groups on hole transfer and charge recombination (CR) dynamics has been investigated. The hole-transfer time was determined using the fluorescence upconversion technique and found to be 2-10 ps depending on the molecular structure of the catechol derivatives. The hot-hole-transfer process was followed after monitoring 2S luminescence of CdSe QDs. Interestingly, hot-hole extraction was observed only in the CdSe/3-methoxycatechol (3-OCH3) composite system owing to the higher electron-donating property of the 3-methoxy group. To confirm the extraction of the hot hole and to monitor the CR reaction in CdSe QD/catechol composite systems, ultrafast transient absorption studies have been carried out. Ultrafast transient-absorption studies show that the bleach recovery kinetics of CdSe QD at the 2S excitonic position is much faster in the presence of 3-OCH3. This faster bleach recovery at the 2S position in CdSe/3-OCH3 suggests hot-hole transfer from CdSe QD to 3-OCH3. CR dynamics in CdSe QD/catechol composite systems was followed by monitoring the excitonic bleach at the 1S position and was found to decrease with free energy of the CR reaction. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Low-k SiOCH Film Etching Process and Its Diagnostics Employing Ar/C5F10O/N2 Plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nagai, Mikio; Hayashi, Takayuki; Hori, Masaru; Okamoto, Hidekazu

2006-09-01

We proposed an environmental harmonic etching gas of C5F10O (CF3CF2CF2OCFCF2), and demonstrated the etching of low-k SiOCH films employing a dual-frequency capacitively coupled etching system. Dissociative ionization cross sections for the electron impact ionizations of C5F10O and c-C4F8 gases have been measured by quadrupole mass spectroscopy (QMS). The dissociative ionization cross section of CF3+ from C5F10O gas was much higher than those of other ionic species, and 10 times higher than that of CF3+ from C4F8 gas. CF3+ is effective for increasing the etching rate of SiO2. As a result, the etching rate of SiOCH films using Ar/C5F10O/N2 plasma was about 1000 nm/min, which is much higher than that using Ar/C4F8/N2 plasma. The behaviours of fluorocarbon radicals in Ar/C5F10O/N2 plasma, which were measured by infrared diode laser absorption spectroscopy, were similar to those in Ar/C4F8/N2 plasma. The densities of CF and CF3 radicals were markedly decreased with increasing N2 flow rate. Etching rate was controlled by N2 flow rate. A vertical profile of SiOCH with a high etching rate and less microloading was realized using Ar/C5F10O/N2 plasma chemistry.

Stable Aluminum Metal-Organic Frameworks (Al-MOFs) for Balanced CO2 and Water Selectivity.

PubMed

Li, Haiwei; Feng, Xiao; Ma, Dou; Zhang, Mengxi; Zhang, Yuanyuan; Liu, Yi; Zhang, Jinwei; Wang, Bo

2018-01-31

Three new Al-MOFs in the formation of [Al 4 (OH) 2 (OCH 3 ) 4 (OH-BDC) 3 ]·xH 2 O (BIT-72), [Al 4 (OH) 2 (OCH 3 ) 4 (CH 3 -BDC) 3 ]·xH 2 O (BIT-73) and {Al 4 (OH) 2 (OCH 3 ) 4 [(CH 3 ) 2 -BDC] 3 }·xH 2 O (BIT-74) have been synthesized by assembling Al 3+ ion with terephthalic acid ions decorated with monohydroxyl, monomethyl or dimethyl groups, respectively. All of these three MOFs exhibit high stability in boiling water and acidic conditions. Among them, BIT-72 shows the highest surface area of 1618 m 2 ·g -1 and IAST CO 2 /N 2 selectivity of 48, while BIT-73 and BIT-74 present moderate IAST CO 2 /N 2 selectivity and much lower H 2 O capacity below P/P 0 = 0.3. The high CO 2 /N 2 selectivity together with alleviative H 2 O sorption at low water relative pressure may provide promising potential in postcombustion CO 2 capture.

Detection and Characterization of Exoplanets using Projections on Karhunen-Loeve Eigenimages: Forward Modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pueyo, Laurent

2016-01-01

A new class of high-contrast image analysis algorithms, that empirically fit and subtract systematic noise has lead to recent discoveries of faint exoplanet /substellar companions and scattered light images of circumstellar disks. The consensus emerging in the community is that these methods are extremely efficient at enhancing the detectability of faint astrophysical signal, but do generally create systematic biases in their observed properties. This poster provides a solution this outstanding problem. We present an analytical derivation of a linear expansion that captures the impact of astrophysical over/self-subtraction in current image analysis techniques. We examine the general case for which the reference images of the astrophysical scene moves azimuthally and/or radially across the field of view as a result of the observation strategy. Our new method method is based on perturbing the covariance matrix underlying any least-squares speckles problem and propagating this perturbation through the data analysis algorithm. This work is presented in the framework of Karhunen-Loeve Image Processing (KLIP) but it can be easily generalized to methods relying on linear combination of images (instead of eigen-modes). Based on this linear expansion, obtained in the most general case, we then demonstrate practical applications of this new algorithm. We first consider the case of the spectral extraction of faint point sources in IFS data and illustrate, using public Gemini Planet Imager commissioning data, that our novel perturbation based Forward Modeling (which we named KLIP-FM) can indeed alleviate algorithmic biases. We then apply KLIP-FM to the detection of point sources and show how it decreases the rate of false negatives while keeping the rate of false positives unchanged when compared to classical KLIP. This can potentially have important consequences on the design of follow-up strategies of ongoing direct imaging surveys.

Optical and magnetic properties for metal halide-based organic-inorganic layered perovskites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shikoh, Eiji; Ando, Yasuo; Era, Masanao; Miyazaki, Terunobu

2001-05-01

Layered perovskites (RNH 3) 2CuCl 4, where R was methyl-benzene C 6H 5-CH 2, 1-methyl-naphthalene 1-C 10H 9-CH 2, 1-propyl-naphthalene 1-C 10H 9-O(CH 2) 3 and 1-butyl-naphthalene 1-C 10H 9-O(CH 2) 4, were synthesized. These complexes showed ferromagnetism, with different Curie temperatures, TC, depending on the structure of the molecule. The change of TC by taking into account the overlap of the electronic states between the organic and the inorganic layers were discussed.

Oral subchronic toxicity evaluation of a novel antitumor agent 25-methoxydammarane-3, 12, 20-triol from Panax notoginseng in Sprague-Dawley rats.

PubMed

Li, Wei; Zhang, Xiangrong; Xin, Yanfei; Xuan, Yaoxian; Liu, Jinping; Li, Pingya; Zhao, Yuqing

2016-06-01

Panax notoginseng and its main active ingredients ginsenosides have long been used as medicines and food additives in China. Comparing with the extensive uses and active researches of P. notoginseng and its products, the side effect and probable toxicity were rare. 25-Methoxydammarane-3,12,20-triol (25-OCH3-PPD), a novel dammarane-type triterpene sapogenin that was first isolated from the extract of P. notoginseng, was proven to have strong antitumor activities against prostate cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential subchronic toxicity of 25-OCH3-PPD after it was repeatedly orally administered to Sprague-Dawley rats (5/sex/group/each time-point) at dose levels of 0, 150, 300 or 600 mg/kg/day for 13 weeks and 4-week recovery. No mortality and treatment-related toxicity effects were observed as a result of the administration of 25-OCH3-PPD at any dose level (150, 300 and 600 mg/kg) for 92 consecutive days. Although there were some statistical changes, such as increased weights in female rats and decreased organ weights and coefficients of the liver, spleen, kidney, and adrenal gland compared with the control group at the corresponding time, the autopsy and histopathological examination of the target organs did not show any abnormal responses. As a result, 25-OCH3-PPD was well tolerated by SD rat at doses of up to 600 mg/kg and that it is a potential candidate for therapeutic use. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Wogonin but not Nor-wogonin inhibits lipopolysaccharide and lipoteichoic acid-induced iNOS gene expression and NO production in macrophages.

PubMed

Huang, Guan-Cheng; Chow, Jyh-Ming; Shen, Shing-Chuan; Yang, Liang-Yo; Lin, Cheng-Wei; Chen, Yen-Chou

2007-08-01

Wogonin (Wog; 5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxy flavone) has been shown to effectively inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene expression and nitric oxide production in our previous study. In the present study, we found that Nor-wogonin (N-Wog; 5,7,8-trihydroxyl flavone), a structural analogue of Wog with an OH substitution at C8, performed different effect on LPS- or lipoteichoic acid (LTA)-induced iNOS gene expression and nitric oxide (NO) production in macrophages. Wog, but not N-Wog, significantly inhibits LPS- or LTA-induced NO production through suppressing iNOS gene expression at both protein and mRNA without affecting NO donor sodium nitroprusside-induced NO production, NOS enzyme activity, and cells viability. Activation of JNKs (not ERKs) via phosphorylation induction, and an increase in c-Jun (not c-Fos) protein expression were involved in LPS- and LTA-treated RAW264.7 cells, and those events were blocked by Wog, but not N-Wog, addition. Furthermore, 5,7-diOH flavone, but not 5-OH flavone, 7-OH flavone, 5-OH-7-OCH(3) flavone, significantly inhibits LPS-induced iNOS protein expression and NO production, and 7,8-diOCH(3) flavone performs more effective inhibitory activity on LPS-induced NO production and iNOS protein expression than 7-OCH(3)-8-OH flavone. These data suggest that OHs at both C5 and C7 are essential for NO inhibition of flavonoids, and OCH(3) at C8 may contribute to this activity, and suppression of JNKs-c-Jun activation is involved.

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

Prinja, A. K.

The Karhunen-Loeve stochastic spectral expansion of a random binary mixture of immiscible fluids in planar geometry is used to explore asymptotic limits of radiation transport in such mixtures. Under appropriate scalings of mixing parameters - correlation length, volume fraction, and material cross sections - and employing multiple- scale expansion of the angular flux, previously established atomic mix and diffusion limits are reproduced. When applied to highly contrasting material properties in the small cor- relation length limit, the methodology yields a nonstandard reflective medium transport equation that merits further investigation. Finally, a hybrid closure is proposed that produces both small andmore » large correlation length limits of the closure condition for the material averaged equations.« less

VAPOR PRESSURES, LIQUID MOLAR VOLUMES, VAPOR NON- IDEALITIES, AND CRITICAL PROPERTIES OF SOME FLUORINATED ETHERS: CF3OCF2OCF3, CF3OCF2 CF2H, c-CF2CF2CF2O, CF3OCF2H, AND CF3OCH3; AND OF CCl3F AND CF2ClH

EPA Science Inventory

Vapor pressures, compressibilities, expansivities, and molar volumes of the liquid phase have been measured between room temperature and the critical temperature for a series of fluorinated ethers: CF3OCF2OCF3, CF3OCF2CF2H, c-CF2CF2CF2O, CF3OCF2H, and CF3OCH3. Vapor-phase non-ide...

Catalytic Antibodies for Prophylaxis/Treatment of Cyanide Poisoning

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-05-28

Other Synthetic Work As described in detail in the midterm report, the synthesis of a 2-napthyl-3-methylcyclo- hex-2-en- 1 -one derivative (E-l, Chart E...OCH 2-); 3.74 (t. 2H, J = 6.06 Hz, -OCH 2-); 3.4 (br s, 1 H, -OH); 1.96 (q, 2 H, J = 6.11 Hz, -CH2-). Synthesis of 4..[4-(3-Hydroxy- 1 -propyloxy)phenylj...2.05 (q, 2H. J = 6.0 Hz, -OH2.). Synthesis of 4-14-(3-Acetoxy- 1 .propyloxy)phenylJ-4-oxo-3-phenylbutflb-itrile. The ke’one C-3 (100 mg, 0.32 inmol) was

Hydrolysis and coordination behavior of ferrocenyl-phosphonodithiolate: Synthesis and structure of Cu 4[FcP(OCH 3)( μ-S)( μ3-S)] 4 [Fc = Fe( η5-C 5H 4)( η5-C 5H 5)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Shu-Lei; Wang, Xi-Ying; Duan, Taike; Leung, Wa-Hung; Zhang, Qian-Feng

2010-02-01

Treatment of the dimeric [FcP(S)( μ-S)] 2 [Fc = Fe( η5-C 5H 4)( η5-C 5H 5)] with the organic base Et 3N in methylene chloride solution resulted in the isolation of a multi-component compound [Et 3NH] 2[(FcPO 2S) 2CH 2][FcPS(OH) 2] 2·CH 2Cl 2 ( 1·CH 2Cl 2). The formation of the [(FcPO 2S) 2CH 2] 2- anion was due to the dechlorination of methylene chloride, it consists of two [FcPO 2S] 2- units bridging by a methylene group. Reaction of Na[FcP(OCH 3)S 2] with equal equivalent of [Cu(MeCN) 4][ClO 4] in methanol afforded a sole tetranuclear copper(I) complex Cu 4[FcP(OCH 3)( μ-S)( μ3-S)] 4 ( 2). The neutral complex 2 consists of a crystallographically centrosymmetric tetramer containing four CuS 3 arrays each of which has one μ-sulfur and two μ3-sulfur bridges.

Influence of residual stress on the adhesion and surface morphology of PECVD-coated polypropylene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaritz, Montgomery; Hopmann, Christian; Behm, Henrik; Kirchheim, Dennis; Wilski, Stefan; Grochla, Dario; Banko, Lars; Ludwig, Alfred; Böke, Marc; Winter, Jörg; Bahre, Hendrik; Dahlmann, Rainer

2017-11-01

The properties of plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) coatings on polymer materials depend to some extent on the surface and material properties of the substrate. Here, isotactic polypropylene (PP) substrates are coated with silicon oxide (SiO x ) films. Plasmas for the deposition of SiO x are energetic and oxidative due to the high amount of oxygen in the gas mixture. Residual stress measurements using single Si cantilever stress sensors showed that these coatings contain high compressive stress. To investigate the influence of the plasma and the coatings, residual stress, silicon organic (SiOCH) coatings with different thicknesses between the PP and the SiO x coating are used as a means to protect the substrate from the oxidative SiO x coating process. Pull-off tests are performed to analyse differences in the adhesion of these coating systems. It could be shown that the adhesion of the PECVD coatings on PP depends on the coatings’ residual stress. In a PP/SiOCH/SiO x -multilayer system the residual stress can be significantly reduced by increasing the thickness of the SiOCH coating, resulting in enhanced adhesion.

Anharmonic Effect in CH3CH2C(=O)OCH2CH3 Decomposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ding, Yang; Song, Liguo; Yao, Li; Xia, Wenwen

2017-12-01

In this paper, using the B3LYP functional and CCSD(T) method with 6-311++G** basis set, the harmonic and anharmonic rate constants in the unimolecular dissociation of ethyl propanoate have been calculated using Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus theory. The anharmonic rate constants of the title reaction have also been examined, the comparison shows that, the anharmonic effect especially in the case of high total energies and temperature for channels 3 to 6 is significant, so that the anharmonic effect cannot be neglected for unimolecular dissociation reaction of CH3CH2C(=O)OCH2CH3 both in microcanonical and canonical systems.

Characterization of a distonic isomer C6H5C+(OH)OCH2 of methyl benzoate radical cation by associative ion-molecule reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dechamps, Noémie; Flammang, Robert; Gerbaux, Pascal; Nam, Pham-Cam; Nguyen, Minh Tho

2006-03-01

The C6H5C+(OH)OCH2 radical cation, formally a distonic isomer of ionized methyl benzoate, has been prepared by dissociative ionization of neopentyl benzoate, as earlier suggested by Audier et al. [H.E. Audier, A. Milliet, G. Sozzi, S. Hammerum, Org. Mass. Spectrom. 25 (1990) 44]. Its distonic character has now been firmly established by its high reactivity towards neutral methyl isocyanide (ionized methylene transfer) producing N-methyl ketenimine ions. Other mass spectrometric experiments and ab initio quantum chemical calculations also concur with each other pointing toward the existence of a stable distonic radical cation.

A Mechanistical Study on the Formation of Dimethyl Ether (CH3OCH3) and Ethanol (CH3CH2OH) in Methanol-containing Ices and Implications for the Chemistry of Star-forming Regions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bergantini, Alexandre; Góbi, Sándor; Abplanalp, Matthew J.; Kaiser, Ralf I.

2018-01-01

The underlying formation mechanisms of complex organic molecules (COMs)—in particular, structural isomers—in the interstellar medium (ISM) are largely elusive. Here, we report new experimental findings on the role of methanol (CH3OH) and methane (CH4) ices in the synthesis of two C2H6O isomers upon interaction with ionizing radiation: ethanol (CH3CH2OH) and dimethyl ether (CH3OCH3). The present study reproduces the interstellar abundance ratios of both species with ethanol to dimethyl ether branching ratios of (2.33 ± 0.14):1 suggesting that methanol and methane represents the key precursor to both isomers within interstellar ices. Exploiting isotopic labeling combined with reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Re-TOF-MS) after isomer selective vacuum ultra-violet (VUV) photoionization of the neutral molecules, we also determine the formation mechanisms of both isomers via radical–radical recombination versus carbene (CH2) insertion with the former pathway being predominant. Formation routes to higher molecular weight reaction products such as ethylene glycol (HOCH2CH2OH), dimethyl peroxide (CH3OOCH3), and methoxymethanol (CH3OCH2OH) are discussed briefly as well.

Gamma Knife surgery in patients harboring orbital cavernous hemangiomas that were diagnosed on the basis of imaging findings.

PubMed

Liu, Xiaomin; Xu, Desheng; Zhang, Yipei; Liu, Dong; Song, Guoxiang

2010-12-01

This study was undertaken to evaluate clinical outcomes and tumor control in patients harboring orbital cavernous hemangiomas (OCHs) that had been diagnosed based on findings of imaging studies and treated by Gamma Knife surgery (GKS). Between 1995 and 2008, 23 patients harboring OCHs that had been diagnosed on the basis of imaging findings were treated using GKS; complete follow-up data are available in all cases. The median treatment volume was 1.5 cm³ (range 0.15-10.10 cm³), the median tumor margin dose was 15 Gy (range 12-20 Gy), and the median follow-up period was 12 months (range 6-120 months). A decrease in tumor size was found in 20 patients, and no tumor progression was observed after GKS. Eleven of 14 patients whose visual function had been adversely affected prior to treatment had improved visual acuity at the last assessment. Side effects of the procedure included orbital pain in 3 patients and chemosis in 2 patients. In this preliminary experience, GKS proved to be an effective treatment for OCHs diagnosed on the basis of imaging findings. Additional follow-up is necessary, and the long-term side effects of the procedure still need to be determined.

Hydrolysis of Mg(BH4)2 and its coordination compounds as a way to obtain hydrogen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Solovev, Mikhail V.; Chashchikhin, Oleg V.; Dorovatovskii, Pavel V.; Khrustalev, Victor N.; Zyubin, A. S.; Zyubina, T. S.; Kravchenko, O. V.; Zaytsev, Alexey A.; Dobrovolsky, Yu. A.

2018-02-01

Three ligand-stabilized Mg(BH4)2-based complexes have been synthesized and evaluated as potential hydrogen storage media for portable fuel cell applications. The new borohydrides: Mg(BH4)2 × 0.5Et2O and Mg(BH4)2 × diglyme (diglyme - CH3O(CH2)2O(CH2)2OCH3) have been synthesized and examined by X-ray single crystal diffraction method. Hydrolysis reactions of the compounds liberate hydrogen in quantities ranging from 46 to 96% of the theoretical yield. The hydrolysis of Mg(BH4)2 and other borohydrides is also accompanied by the diborane formation. The amount of liberated diborane depends on the Mg-coordination environment. To explain this fact quantum-chemical calculations have been performed. It is shown that formation of Mg-O-Mg-bridges enables the side process of diborane generation. It means that the size and denticity of the ligand directly affects the amount of released diborane. In general, the larger the ligand and the higher its denticity, the smaller is amount of diborane produced. The new compound Mg(BH4)2 × diglyme decomposes without diborane formation that allows one to be considered as a new promising chemical hydrogen storage compound for the practical usage.

Activation of C-O and C-C bonds and formation of novel HAlOH-ether complexes: an EPR study of the reaction of ground-state Al atoms with methylethyl ether and diethyl ether.

PubMed

Brunet, François D; Feola, Julie C; Joly, Helen A

2012-03-15

Reaction mixtures, containing Al atoms and methylethyl ether (MEE) or diethyl ether (DEE) in an adamantane matrix, were prepared with the aid of a metal-atom reactor known as a rotating cryostat. The EPR spectra of the resulting products were recorded from 77-260 K, at 10 K intervals. Al atoms were found to insert into methyl-O, ethyl-O, and C-C bonds to form CH(3)AlOCH(2)CH(3), CH(3)OAlCH(2)CH(3), and CH(3)OCH(2)AlCH(3), respectively, in the case of MEE while DEE produced CH(3)CH(2)AlOCH(2)CH(3) and CH(3)AlCH(2)OCH(2)CH(3), respectively. From the intensity of the transition lines attributed to the Al atom C-O insertion products of MEE, insertion into the methyl-O bond is preferred. The Al hyperfine interaction (hfi) extracted from the EPR spectra of the C-O insertion products was greater than that of the C-C insertion products, that is, 5.4% greater for the DEE system and 7% greater for the MEE system. The increase in Al hfi is thought to arise from the increased electron-withdrawing ability of the substituents bonded to Al. Besides HAlOH, resulting from the reaction of Al atoms with adventitious water, novel mixed HAlOH:MEE and HAlOH:DEE complexes were identified with the aid of isotopic studies involving H(2)(17)O and D(2)O. The Al and H hfi of HAlOH were found to decrease upon complex formation. These findings are consistent with the nuclear hfi calculated using a density functional theory (DFT) method with close agreement between theory and experiment occurring at the B3LYP level using a 6-311+G(2df,p) basis set.

On the Formation of the C2H6O Isomers Ethanol (C2H5OH) and Dimethyl Ether (CH3OCH3) in Star-forming Regions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bergantini, Alexandre; Maksyutenko, Pavlo; Kaiser, Ralf I.

2017-06-01

The structural isomers ethanol (CH3CH2OH) and dimethyl ether (CH3OCH3) were detected in several low-, intermediate-, and high-mass star-forming regions, including Sgr B2, Orion, and W33A, with the relative abundance ratios of ethanol/dimethyl ether varying from about 0.03 to 3.4. Until now, no experimental data regarding the formation mechanisms and branching ratios of these two species in laboratory simulation experiments could be provided. Here, we exploit tunable photoionization reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PI-ReTOF-MS) to detect and analyze the production of complex organic molecules (COMs) resulting from the exposure of water/methane (H2O/CH4) ices to energetic electrons. The main goal is to understand the formation mechanisms in star-forming regions of two C2H6O isomers: ethanol (CH3CH2OH) and dimethyl ether (CH3OCH3). The results show that the experimental branching ratios favor the synthesis of ethanol versus dimethyl ether (31 ± 11:1). This finding diverges from the abundances observed toward most star-forming regions, suggesting that production routes on interstellar grains to form dimethyl ether might be missing; alternatively, ethanol can be overproduced in the present simulation experiments, such as via radical-radical recombination pathways involving ethyl and hydroxyl radicals. Finally, the PI-ReTOF-MS data suggest the formation of methylacetylene (C3H4), ketene (CH2CO), propene (C3H6), vinyl alcohol (CH2CHOH), acetaldehyde (CH3CHO), and methyl hydroperoxide (CH3OOH), in addition to ethane (C2H6), methanol (CH3OH), and CO2 detected from infrared spectroscopy. The yield of all the confirmed species is also determined.

Characterization of supramolecular (H2O)18 water morphology and water-methanol (H2O)15(CH3OH)3 clusters in a novel phosphorus functionalized trimeric amino acid host.

PubMed

Raghuraman, Kannan; Katti, Kavita K; Barbour, Leonard J; Pillarsetty, Nagavarakishore; Barnes, Charles L; Katti, Kattesh V

2003-06-11

Phosphorus functionalized trimeric alanine compounds (l)- and (d)-P(CH(2)NHCH(CH(3))COOH)(3) 2 are prepared in 90% yields by the Mannich reaction of Tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine 1 with (l)- or (d)- Alanine in aqueous media. The hydration properties of (l)-2 and (d)-2 in water and water-methanol mixtures are described. The crystal structure analysis of (l)-2.4H(2)O, reveals that the alanine molecules pack to form two-dimensional bilayers running parallel to (001). The layered structural motif depicts two closely packed monolayers of 2 each oriented with its phosphorus atoms projected at the center of the bilayer and adjacent monolayers are held together by hydrogen bonds between amine and carboxylate groups. The water bilayers are juxtaposed with the H-bonded alanine trimers leading to 18-membered (H(2)O)(18) water rings. Exposure of aqueous solution of (l)-2 and (d)-2 to methanol vapors resulted in closely packed (l)-2 and (d)-2 solvated with mixed water-methanol (H(2)O)(15)(CH(3)OH)(3) clusters. The O-O distances in the mixed methanol-water clusters of (l)-2.3H(2)O.CH(3)OH and (d)-2.3H(2)O.CH(3)OH (O-O(average) = 2.857 A) are nearly identical to the O-O distance observed in the supramolecular (H(2)O)(18) water structure (O-O(average) = 2.859 A) implying the retention of the hydrogen bonded structure in water despite the accommodation of hydrophobic methanol groups within the supramolecular (H(2)O)(15)(CH(3)OH)(3) framework. The O-O distances in (l)-2.3H(2)O.CH(3)OH and (d)-2.3H(2)O.CH(3)OH and in (H(2)O)(18) are very close to the O-O distance reported for liquid water (2.85 A).

Increasing the activity and enantioselectivity of lipases by sol-gel immobilization: further advancements of practical interest

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tielmann, Patrick; Kierkels, Hans; Zonta, Albin; Ilie, Adriana; Reetz, Manfred T.

2014-05-01

The entrapment of lipases in hydrophobic silicate matrices formed by sol-gel mediated hydrolysis of RSi(OCH3)3/Si(OCH3)4 as originally reported in 1996 has been improved over the years by a number of modifications. In the production of second-generation sol-gel lipase immobilizates, a variety of additives during the sol-gel process leads to increased activity and enhanced stereoselectivity in esterifying kinetic resolution. Recent advances in this type of lipase immobilization are reviewed here, in addition to new results regarding the sol-gel entrapment of the lipase from Burkholderia cepacia. It constitutes an excellent heterogeneous biocatalyst in the acylating kinetic resolution of two synthetically and industrially important chiral alcohols, rac-sulcatol and rac-trans-2-methoxycyclohexanol. The observation that the catalyst can be used 10 times in recycling experiments without losing its significant activity or enantioselectivity demonstrates the practical viability of the sol-gel approach.The entrapment of lipases in hydrophobic silicate matrices formed by sol-gel mediated hydrolysis of RSi(OCH3)3/Si(OCH3)4 as originally reported in 1996 has been improved over the years by a number of modifications. In the production of second-generation sol-gel lipase immobilizates, a variety of additives during the sol-gel process leads to increased activity and enhanced stereoselectivity in esterifying kinetic resolution. Recent advances in this type of lipase immobilization are reviewed here, in addition to new results regarding the sol-gel entrapment of the lipase from Burkholderia cepacia. It constitutes an excellent heterogeneous biocatalyst in the acylating kinetic resolution of two synthetically and industrially important chiral alcohols, rac-sulcatol and rac-trans-2-methoxycyclohexanol. The observation that the catalyst can be used 10 times in recycling experiments without losing its significant activity or enantioselectivity demonstrates the practical viability of the sol-gel approach. Dedicated to the pioneer of sol-gel enzyme immobilization, Professor David Avnir, on the occasion of his 65th birthday.

Elucidation of the electronic states in polyethylene glycol by attenuated Total reflectance spectroscopy in the far-ultraviolet region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ueno, Nami; Wakabayashi, Tomonari; Morisawa, Yusuke

2018-05-01

We measured the attenuated total reflectance-far ultraviolet (ATR-FUV) spectra of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG; average molecular weights of 200, 300, and 400) and related materials in the liquid state in the 145-200-nm wavelength region. For appropriately assigning the absorption bands, we also performed theoretical simulation of the unit-number dependent electronic spectra. The FUV spectra of PEGs contain three bands, which are assigned to the transitions between n(CH2OCH2)-3s Rydberg state (176 nm), n(CH2OCH2)-3p Rydberg state (163 nm), and n(OH)-3p Rydberg state (153 nm). Since the contribution of n(OH) decreases compared to n(CH2OCH2) with increase in the number of units, the ratios of the molar absorption coefficients, ε, at 153 nm relative to 163 nm, decrease. On the other hand, the ratio of ε at 176 nm to that at 163 nm increases with increase in the number of units, because of the difference in the number of unoccupied orbitals in the transitions. The calculated results suggest that n orbitals form two electronic bands. In the upper band, the electrons expand over the ether chain, whereas in the lower band, the electrons are localized in the terminal OH in the PEGs.

Molecular identification and functional characterization of rabbit MATE1 and MATE2-K.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiaohong; Cherrington, Nathan J; Wright, Stephen H

2007-07-01

An electroneutral organic cation (OC)/proton exchanger in the apical membrane of proximal tubules mediates the final step of renal OC excretion. Two members of the multidrug and toxin extrusion family, MATE1 and MATE2-K, were recently identified in human and rodent kidney and proposed to be the molecular basis of renal OC/H(+) exchange. To take advantage of the comparative value of the large database on the kinetic and selectivity characteristics of OC/H(+) exchange that exists for rabbit kidney, we cloned rbMATE1 and rbMATE2-K. The rabbit homologs have 75% (MATE1) and 74% (MATE2-K) amino acid identity to their human counterparts (and 51% identity with each other). rbMATE1 and rbMATE2-K exhibited H(+) gradient-dependent uptake and efflux of tetraethylammonium (TEA) when expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Both transporters displayed similar affinities for selected compounds [IC(50) values within 2-fold for TEA, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium, and quinidine] and very different affinities for others (IC(50) values differing by 8- to 80-fold for choline and cimetidine, respectively). These results indicate that rbMATE1 and rbMATE2-K are multispecific OC/H(+) exchangers with similar, but distinct, functional characteristics. Overall, the selectivity of MATE1 and MATE2-K correlated closely with that observed in rabbit renal brush-border membrane vesicles.

Regulation of Long-Chain N-Acyl-Homoserine Lactones in Agrobacterium vitis

PubMed Central

Hao, Guixia; Burr, Thomas J.

2006-01-01

Homologs of quorum-sensing luxR and luxI regulatory genes, avsR and avsI, were identified in Agrobacterium vitis strain F2/5. Compared to other LuxI proteins from related species, the deduced AvsI shows the greatest identity to SinI (71%) from Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm1021. AvsR possesses characteristic autoinducer binding and helix-turn-helix DNA binding domains and shares a high level of identity with SinR (38%) from Rm1021. Site-directed mutagenesis of avsR and avsI was performed, and both genes are essential for hypersensitive-like response (HR) and necrosis. Two hypothetical proteins (ORF1 and ORF2) that are positioned downstream of avsR-avsI are also essential for the phenotypes. Profiles of N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) isolated from the wild type and mutants revealed that disruption of avsI, ORF1, or ORF2 abolished the production of long-chain AHLs. Disruption of avsR reduces long-chain AHLs. Expression of a cloned avsI gene in A. tumefaciens strain NT1 resulted in synthesis of long-chain AHLs. The necrosis and HR phenotypes of the avsI and avsR mutants were fully complemented with cloned avsI. The addition of synthetic AHLs (C16:1 and 3-O-C16:1) complemented grape necrosis in the avsR, avsI, ORF1, and ORF2 mutants. It was determined by reverse transcriptase PCR that the expression level of avsI is regulated by avsR but not by aviR or avhR, two other luxR homologs which were previously shown to be associated with induction of a tobacco hypersensitive response and grape necrosis. We further verified that avsR regulates avsI by measuring the expression of an avsI::lacZ fusion construct. PMID:16513747

Catheter ablation as a treatment of atrioventricular block.

PubMed

Tuohy, Stephen; Saliba, Walid; Pai, Manjunath; Tchou, Patrick

2018-01-01

Symptomatic second-degree atrioventricular (AV) block is typically treated by implantation of a pacemaker. An otherwise healthy AV conduction system can nevertheless develop AV block due to interference from junctional extrasystoles. When present with a high burden, these can produce debilitating symptoms from AV block despite an underlying normal AV node and His-Purkinje system properties. The purpose of this study was to describe a catheter ablation approach for alleviating symptomatic AV block due to a ventricular nodal pathway interfering with AV conduction. Common clinical monitoring techniques such as Holter and event recorders were used. Standard electrophysiological study techniques using multipolar recording and ablation catheters were utilized during procedures. A 55-year-old woman presented with highly symptomatic, high-burden second-degree AV block due to concealed and manifest junctional premature beats. Electrophysiological characteristics indicated interference of AV conduction due to a concealed ventricular nodal pathway as the cause of the AV block. The patient's AV nodal and His-Purkinje system conduction characteristics were otherwise normal. Radiofrequency catheter ablation of the pathway was successful in restoring normal AV conduction and eliminating her clinical symptoms. Pathways inserting into the AV junction can interfere with AV conduction. When present at a high burden, this type of AV block can be highly symptomatic. Catheter ablation techniques can be used to alleviate this type of AV block and restore normal AV conduction. Copyright © 2017 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Method for synthesizing thin film electrodes

DOEpatents

Boyle, Timothy J [Albuquerque, NM

2007-03-13

A method for making a thin-film electrode, either an anode or a cathode, by preparing a precursor solution using an alkoxide reactant, depositing multiple thin film layers with each layer approximately 500 1000 .ANG. in thickness, and heating the layers to above 600.degree. C. to achieve a material with electrochemical properties suitable for use in a thin film battery. The preparation of the anode precursor solution uses Sn(OCH.sub.2C(CH.sub.3).sub.3).sub.2 dissolved in a solvent in the presence of HO.sub.2CCH.sub.3 and the cathode precursor solution is formed by dissolving a mixture of (Li(OCH.sub.2C(CH.sub.3).sub.3)).sub.8 and Co(O.sub.2CCH.sub.3).H.sub.2O in at least one polar solvent.

Cyclodextrin Complexes of Reduced Bromonoscapine in Guar Gum Microspheres Enhance Colonic Drug Delivery

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

Here, we report improved solubility and enhanced colonic delivery of reduced bromonoscapine (Red-Br-Nos), a cyclic ether brominated analogue of noscapine, upon encapsulation of its cyclodextrin (CD) complexes in bioresponsive guar gum microspheres (GGM). Phase–solubility analysis suggested that Red-Br-Nos complexed with β-CD and methyl-β-CD in a 1:1 stoichiometry, with a stability constant (Kc) of 2.29 × 103 M–1 and 4.27 × 103 M–1. Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy indicated entrance of an O–CH2 or OCH3–C6H4–OCH3 moiety of Red-Br-Nos in the β-CD or methyl-β-CD cavity. Furthermore, the cage complex of Red-Br-Nos with β-CD and methyl-β-CD was validated by several spectral techniques. Rotating frame Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy revealed that the Ha proton of the OCH3–C6H4–OCH3 moiety was closer to the H5 proton of β-CD and the H3 proton of the methyl-β-CD cavity. The solubility of Red-Br-Nos in phosphate buffer saline (PBS, pH ∼ 7.4) was improved by ∼10.7-fold and ∼21.2-fold when mixed with β-CD and methyl-β-CD, respectively. This increase in solubility led to a favorable decline in the IC50 by ∼2-fold and ∼3-fold for Red-Br-Nos−β-CD-GGM and Red-Br-Nos–methyl-β-CD-GGM formulations respectively, compared to free Red-Br-Nos−β-CD and Red-Br-Nos–methyl-β-CD in human colon HT-29 cells. GGM-bearing drug complex formulations were found to be highly cytotoxic to the HT-29 cell line and further effective with simultaneous continuous release of Red-Br-Nos from microspheres. This is the first study to showing the preparation of drug-complex loaded GGMS for colon delivery of Red-Br-Nos that warrants preclinical assessment for the effective management of colon cancer. PMID:25350222

Competing 1πσ* mediated dynamics in mequinol: O-H versus O-CH3 photodissociation pathways.

PubMed

Hadden, David J; Roberts, Gareth M; Karsili, Tolga N V; Ashfold, Michael N R; Stavros, Vasilios G

2012-10-14

Deactivation of excited electronic states through coupling to dissociative (1)πσ* states in heteroaromatic systems has received considerable attention in recent years, particularly as a mechanism that contributes to the ultraviolet (UV) photostability of numerous aromatic biomolecules and their chromophores. Recent studies have expanded upon this work to look at more complex species, which involves understanding competing dynamics on two different (1)πσ* potential energy surfaces (PESs) localized on different heteroatom hydride coordinates (O-H and N-H bonds) within the same molecule. In a similar spirit, the work presented here utilizes ultrafast time-resolved velocity map ion imaging to study competing dissociation pathways along (1)πσ* PESs in mequinol (p-methoxyphenol), localized at O-H and O-CH(3) bonds yielding H atoms or CH(3) radicals, respectively, over an excitation wavelength range of 298-238 nm and at 200 nm. H atom elimination is found to be operative via either tunneling under a conical intersection (CI) (298 ≥ λ ≥ 280 nm) or ultrafast internal conversion through appropriate CIs (λ ≤ 245 nm), both of which provide mechanisms for coupling onto the dissociative state associated with the O-H bond. In the intermediate wavelength range of 280 ≥ λ ≥ 245 nm, mediated H atom elimination is not observed. In contrast, we find that state driven CH(3) radical elimination is only observed in the excitation range 264 ≥ λ ≥ 238 nm. Interpretation of these experimental results is guided by: (i) high level complete active space with second order perturbation theory (CASPT2) calculations, which provide 1-D potential energy cuts of the ground and low lying singlet excited electronic states along the O-H and O-CH(3) bond coordinates; and (ii) calculated excitation energies using CASPT2 and the equation-of-motion coupled cluster with singles and doubles excitations (EOM-CCSD) formalism. From these comprehensive studies, we find that the dynamics along the O-H coordinate generally mimic H atom elimination previously observed in phenol, whereas O-CH(3) bond fission in mequinol appears to present notably different behavior to the CH(3) elimination dynamics previously observed in anisole (methoxybenzene).

Brain uptake of a non-radioactive pseudo-carrier and its effect on the biodistribution of [(18)F]AV-133 in mouse brain.

PubMed

Wu, Xianying; Zhou, Xue; Zhang, Shuxian; Zhang, Yan; Deng, Aifang; Han, Jie; Zhu, Lin; Kung, Hank F; Qiao, Jinping

2015-07-01

9-[(18)F]Fluoropropyl-(+)-dihydrotetrabenazine ([(18)F]AV-133) is a new PET imaging agent targeting vesicular monoamine transporter type II (VMAT2). To shorten the preparation of [(18)F]AV-133 and to make it more widely available, a simple and rapid purification method using solid-phase extraction (SPE) instead of high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed. The SPE method produced doses containing the non-radioactive pseudo-carrier 9-hydroxypropyl-(+)-dihydrotetrabenazine (AV-149). The objectives of this study were to evaluate the brain uptake of AV-149 by UPLC-MS/MS and its effect on the biodistribution of [(18)F]AV-133 in the brains of mice. The mice were injected with a bolus including [(18)F]AV-133 and different doses of AV-149. Brain tissue and blood samples were harvested. The effect of different amounts of AV-149 on [(18)F]AV-133 was evaluated by quantifying the brain distribution of radiolabelled tracer [(18)F]AV-133. The concentrations of AV-149 in the brain and plasma were analyzed using a UPLC-MS/MS method. The concentrations of AV-149 in the brain and plasma exhibited a good linear relationship with the doses. The receptor occupancy curve was fit, and the calculated ED50 value was 8.165mg/kg. The brain biodistribution and regional selectivity of [(18)F]AV-133 had no obvious differences at AV-149 doses lower than 0.1mg/kg. With increasing doses of AV-149, the brain biodistribution of [(18)F]AV-133 changed significantly. The results are important to further support that the improved radiolabelling procedure of [(18)F]AV-133 using an SPE method may be suitable for routine clinical application. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Town Hall - Panel question and

NASA Image and Video Library

2016-11-02

James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Town Hall - Panel question and answer - Bill Ochs; Dr. John Mather; Dr. Eric Smith; Thomas Zurbuchen; Center Director Chris Scolese; NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden.

High-dose nifuratel for simple and mixed aerobic vaginitis: A single-center prospective open-label cohort study.

PubMed

Liang, Qian; Li, Nan; Song, Shurong; Zhang, Aihua; Li, Ni; Duan, Ying

2016-10-01

The efficacy and safety of two nifuratel dosages for the treatment of aerobic vaginitis (AV) were compared. This was a prospective open-label cohort study of patients diagnosed and treated at the Tianjin Third Central Hospital between January 2012 and December 2013. The co-presence of bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), or/and trichomonal vaginitis (TV; mixed AV) was determined. Patients were randomized to nifuratel-500 (500 mg nifuratel, intravaginal, 10 days) or nifuratel-250 (250 mg nifuratel, intravaginal, 10 days), and followed-up for three to seven days after treatment completion. Primary and secondary outcomes were recovery rate and adverse events, respectively. The study included 142 patients with AV. Age was not significantly different between the groups (n = 71 each), and disease distribution was identical: 29 (40.85%) simple AV and 42 (59.15%) mixed AV (AV + BV, 42.86 %; AV + VVC, 30.95%; AV + TV, 26.19%). In patients with simple AV, the recovery rate did not differ significantly between the nifuratel-500 (26/29, 89.66%) and nifuratel-250 (22/29, 75.86%) groups. In patients with mixed AV, recovery rates were significantly higher in the nifuratel-500 than in the nifuratel-250 group (AV + BV, 88.89% vs 50.00 %; AV + VVC, 76.92 % vs 30.77 %; AV + TV, 90.91 % vs 36.36%; all P < 0.05). Only one patient (nifuratel-500) reported an adverse event (mild anaphylactic reaction). Nifuratel 500 mg showed good clinical efficacy for the treatment of AV, particularly mixed AV, and is superior to the 250 mg dosage in the treatment of mixed AV. © 2016 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

GSFC_20170308_2017-8679_041

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-03-08

Lt. Governor Rutherford and staff visited Goddard on March 8, 2017. They toured James Webb Space Telescope with Bill Ochs and Robotics Operations Center with Ben Reed. They also met John Mather, Nobel Prize winner.

GSFC_20170308_2017-8679_036

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-03-08

Lt. Governor Rutherford and staff visited Goddard on March 8, 2017. They toured James Webb Space Telescope with Bill Ochs and Robotic Operations Center with Ben Reed. They also met John Mather, Nobel Prize winner.

GSFC_20170308_2017-8679_015

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-03-08

Lt. Governor Rutherford and staff visited Goddard on March 8, 2017. They toured James Webb Space Telescope with Bill Ochs and Robotic Operations Center with Ben Reed. They also met John Mather, Nobel Prize winner.

Synthesis of truncated analogues of the iNKT cell agonist, α-galactosyl ceramide (KRN7000), and their biological evaluation

PubMed Central

Veerapen, Natacha; Reddington, Faye; Salio, Mariolina; Cerundolo, Vincenzo; Besra, Gurdyal S.

2011-01-01

Stimulation of iNKT cells by α-galactosyl ceramide (α-GalCer), also known as KRN7000, and its truncated analogue OCH induces both Th1- and Th2-cytokines, with OCH inducing a Th2-cytokine bias. Skewing of the iNKT cells’ response towards either a Th1- or Th2-cytokine profile offers potential therapeutic benefits. The length of both the acyl and the sphingosine chains in α-galactosyl ceramides is known to influence the cytokine release profile. We have synthesized analogues of α-GalCer with truncated sphingosine chains for biological evaluation, with particular emphasis on the Th1/Th2 distribution. Starting from a common precursor, d-lyxose, the sphingosine derivatives were synthesised via a straightforward Wittig condensation. PMID:21145749

Processing of catalysts by atomic layer epitaxy: modification of supports

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lindblad, Marina; Haukka, Suvi; Kytökivi, Arla; Lakomaa, Eeva-Liisa; Rautiainen, Aimo; Suntola, Tuomo

1997-11-01

Different supports were modified with titania, zirconia and chromia by the atomic layer epitaxy technique (ALE). In ALE, a metal precursor is bound to the support in saturating gas-solid reactions. Surface oxides are grown by alternating reactions of the metal precursor and an oxidizing agent. Growth mechanisms differ depending on the precursor-support pair and the processing conditions. In this work, the influences of the support, precursor and reaction temperature were investigated by comparing the growth of titania from Ti(OCH(CH 3) 2) 4 on silica and alumina, titania from TiCl 4 and Ti(OCH(CH 3) 2) 4 on silica, and zirconia from ZrCl 4 on silica and alumina. The modification of porous oxides supported on metal substrates (monoliths) was demonstrated for the growth of chromia from Cr(acac) 3.

Synthesis and characterisation of new types of side chain cholesteryl polymers.

PubMed

Wang, Bin; Du, Haiyan; Zhang, Junhua

2011-01-01

A series of cholesterol derivatives have been synthesised via the alkylation reaction of the 3-hydroxyl group with the aliphatic bromide compounds with different chain lengths, namely 3β-alkyloxy-cholesterol. The double bond between the C5 and C6 positions in these cholesterol derivatives was oxidised into epoxy, followed by an epoxy-ring-opening reaction with the treatment with acrylic acid, resulting in a series of 3β-alkyloxy-5α-hydroxy-6β-acryloyloxycholesterol, C(n)OCh (n=1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12), The acrylate group is connected to the C6 position, which is confirmed by the single crystal structure analysis. The corresponding polymers, PC(n)OCh, were prepared via free radical polymerisation. The structure of monomers and the resulting polymers were characterised with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The thermal properties of PC(n)OCh were studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). To determine the secondary structure of polymers, circular dichroism (CD) spectra were performed. It was found that not all monomers produce high-molecular-weight polymers because of steric hindrance. However, all polymers have a helical structure, which can be enhanced by increasing the alkoxy chain length. In addition, increasing the alkoxy chain length decreases the glass transition temperature and increases the decomposition temperature of the polymers. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Unusual pi-donating effects of pi-accepting substituents on the stabilities of benzylic cations: a theoretical study.

PubMed

Kim, Chang Kon; Han, In Suk; Ryu, Wang Sun; Lee, Hai Whang; Lee, Bon-Su; Kim, Chan Kyung

2006-02-23

The pi-donating effects of pi-accepting X-substituents in substituted benzylic cations, X-C(6)H(5)-CHR(+) where R = CF(3), H and OCH(3), and X = p-NH(2), p-OCH(3), p-CH(3), H, p-F, p-Cl, p-CHO, m-CN, p-CN, m-NO(2) or p-NO(2), have been studied theoretically by using isodesmic hydride transfer reactions at various levels of theory. It might be difficult to determine the pi-donating effects of pi-acceptors using the simple Hammett-type linear equation, because it is not sensitive enough to include small pi-donating effects. Therefore, this effect was estimated using the NBO deletion energy (DeltaE(D)) of the second-order charge-transfer interaction (DeltaE(ct)) between the pi-orbitals (or lone pair orbitals) of the X-substituent and the pi-orbitals of phenyl ring. The extents of pi-donating effects increased in the order X = p-NO(2) < p-CHO < p-CN < p-Cl for both neutral and cationic species, and these effects were found to be more important for para- than for meta-substituents. Moreover, this could represent a general trend for pi-donation by pi-acceptors. On the other hand, the effects of R-substituents on this pi-donating effect were found to be in the order R = OCH(3) < H congruent with CF(3), as predicted by natural resonance theory (NRT) analyses.

Self-Assembled Amphiphilic Water Oxidation Catalysts: Control of O-O Bond Formation Pathways by Different Aggregation Patterns.

PubMed

Yang, Bing; Jiang, Xin; Guo, Qing; Lei, Tao; Zhang, Li-Ping; Chen, Bin; Tung, Chen-Ho; Wu, Li-Zhu

2016-05-17

The oxidation of water to molecular oxygen is the key step to realize water splitting from both biological and chemical perspective. In an effort to understand how water oxidation occurs on a molecular level, a large number of molecular catalysts have been synthesized to find an easy access to higher oxidation states as well as their capacity to make O-O bond. However, most of them function in a mixture of organic solvent and water and the O-O bond formation pathway is still a subject of intense debate. Herein, we design the first amphiphilic Ru-bda (H2 bda=2,2'-bipyridine-6,6'-dicarboxylic acid) water oxidation catalysts (WOCs) of formula [Ru(II) (bda)(4-OTEG-pyridine)2 ] (1, OTEG=OCH2 CH2 OCH2 CH2 OCH3 ) and [Ru(II) (bda)(PySO3 Na)2 ] (2, PySO3 (-) =pyridine-3-sulfonate), which possess good solubility in water. Dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), critical aggregation concentration (CAC) experiments and product analysis demonstrate that they enable to self-assemble in water and form the O-O bond through different routes even though they have the same bda(2-) backbone. This work illustrates for the first time that the O-O bond formation pathway can be regulated by the interaction of ancillary ligands at supramolecular level. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Photoelectron velocity-map imaging spectroscopic and theoretical study on the reactivity of the gold atom toward CH3SH, CH3OH, and H2O.

PubMed

Qin, Zhengbo; Cong, Ran; Wu, Xia; Liu, Zhiling; Xie, Hua; Tang, Zichao; Jiang, Ling; Fan, Hongjun

2013-07-21

Photoelectron velocity-map imaging spectroscopy has been used to study the reaction of the anionic gold atom with the HR (R = SCH3, OCH3, OH) molecules. The solvated [Au···HR](-) and inserted [HAuR](-) products have been experimentally observed for R = SCH3, whereas only solvated [Au⋯HR](-) products were found for R = OCH3 and OH. This significant difference in the photoelectron spectra suggests the different reactivity of the Au(-) toward the CH3SH, CH3OH, and H2O molecules. Second order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory and coupled-cluster single double triple excitation calculations have been performed to aid the structural assignment of the spectra and to explore the reaction mechanism. Activation energies for the isomerizations of the solvated structures to the inserted ones in the Au(-)∕Au + HR reactions (R = OCH3 and OH) are predicted to be much higher than those for the Au(-)∕Au + CH3SH reactions, supporting the experimental observation. Theoretical calculations provide the evidence that the intriguing [HAuSCH3](-) product may be formed by the attachment of the electron onto the neutral HAuSCH3 species or the isomerization from the anionic [Au···HSCH3](-) one. These findings should be helpful for understanding the feature that the thiols are able to form the staple motifs, whereas CH3OH and H2O are not.

Reversing the established order: Should adrenal venous sampling precede cross-sectional imaging in the evaluation of primary aldosteronism?

PubMed

Asmar, Melissa; Wachtel, Heather; Yan, Yan; Fraker, Douglas L; Cohen, Debbie; Trerotola, Scott O

2015-08-01

Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is the definitive evaluation for primary aldosteronism (PA). Pre-AVS cross-sectional imaging does not reduce the need for AVS. The goal of this study was to examine whether performing AVS prior to imaging could decrease the use of imaging in the evaluation of PA at a high volume, experienced center. We performed a retrospective analysis of all AVS procedures (n = 337) done for PA from 2001-2013. Patients whose cross-sectional imaging reports were unavailable (n = 90) or AVS was non-diagnostic (n = 12) were excluded. AVS was performed using modified Mayo technique. Univariate analysis utilized the χ² test and fisher's exact test. Of the 235 patients analyzed, 63% (n = 148) were male. The mean age was 55 ± 11 years. AVS was non-lateralizing in 43% (n = 101); these patients might have avoided imaging with an AVS-first approach. Imaging and AVS were concordant in 52% (n = 123). In patients ≤40yo (n = 23), 35% (n = 8) had no lateralization on AVS, and might have avoided imaging in an AVS-first approach. Imaging and AVS were concordant in 52% (n = 12) of patients ≤ 40yo, versus 52% (n = 111) of patients > 40 yo (P = 0.987). An AVS-first, imaging-second approach could have avoided CT/MRI in 43% of patients. At a high volume, experienced center, performing AVS first on patients with PA may reduce unnecessary cross-sectional imaging studies. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Patients' and procedural characteristics of AV-block during slow pathway modulation for AVNRT-single center 10year experience.

PubMed

Wasmer, Kristina; Dechering, Dirk G; Köbe, Julia; Leitz, Patrick; Frommeyer, Gerrit; Lange, Phillip S; Kochhäuser, Simon; Reinke, Florian; Pott, Christian; Mönnig, Gerold; Breithardt, Günter; Eckardt, Lars

2017-10-01

Permanent AV-block is a recognized and feared complication of slow pathway modulation for AVNRT. We aimed to assess incidence of transient and permanent AV-block as well as consequences of transient AV-block in a large contemporary AVNRT ablation cohort. We searched our single center prospective ablation database for occurrence of transient and permanent AV-block during slow pathway modulation between January 2004 and October 2015. We analyzed patients' and procedural characteristics as well as outcome of patients in whom transient or permanent AV-block occurred. Of 9170 patients who underwent a catheter ablation at our institution between January 2004 and October 2015, 2101 patients (64% women, mean age 50±18years) underwent slow pathway modulation. In three patients, permanent AV-block occurred during RF application. Additional two patients had transient AV-block that recovered (after a few minutes and 25min), but recurred within two days of the procedure. All five patients underwent dual chamber pacemaker implantation (0.2%). Transient AV-block related to RF delivery occurred in 44 patients (2%). Transient mechanical AV-block occurred in additional 17 patients (0.8%). In 12 patients, ablation was continued despite transient AV-block. One of these patients developed permanent AV-block. Permanent AV-block following slow pathway modulation is a rare event, occurring in 0.2% of patients in a large contemporary single center cohort. Transient AV-block is more frequent (2%). Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

After-visit summaries in primary care: mixed methods results from a literature review and stakeholder interviews.

PubMed

Lyles, Courtney R; Gupta, Reena; Tieu, Lina; Fernandez, Alicia

2018-05-28

After-visit summary (AVS) documents presenting key information from each medical encounter have become standard in the USA due to federal health care reform. Little is known about how they are used or whether they improve patient care. First, we completed a literature review and described the totality of the literature on AVS by article type and major outcome measures. Next, we used reputational sampling from large-scale US studies on primary care to identify and interview nine stakeholders on their perceptions of AVS across high-performing primary care practices. Interviews were transcribed and coded for AVS use in practice, perceptions of the best/worst features and recommendations for improving AVS utility in routine care. The literature review resulted in 17 studies; patients reported higher perceived value of AVS compared with providers, despite poor recall of specific AVS content and varied post-visit use. In key informant interviews, key informants expressed enthusiasm for the potential of using AVS to reinforce key information with patients, especially if AVS were customizable. Despite this potential, key informants found that AVS included incorrect information and did not feel that patients or their practices were using AVS to enhance care. There is a gap between the potential of AVS and how providers and patients are using it in routine care. Suggestions for improved use of AVS include increasing customization, establishing care team responsibilities and workflows and ensuring patients with communication barriers have dedicated support to review AVS during visits.

Electrocardiographic characteristics of atrioventricular block induced by tilt testing.

PubMed

Zyśko, Dorota; Gajek, Jacek; Koźluk, Edward; Mazurek, Walentyna

2009-02-01

The electrocardiographic (ECG) characteristics of atrioventricular (AV) block during reflex syncope may be unique due to the presence of hypervagotonia. The aim of the present study was to define the ECG characteristics of the AV block induced by neurocardiogenic reflex provoked by tilt testing (TT). A series of 31 patients with presumed vasovagal syncope and AV block provoked by TT was studied. The duration of PP and PR interval, AV block grade and type, concomitant arrhythmias, and timing of the AV block occurrence were assessed. The AV block occurred at TT termination in 26 patients, in the recovery in 4 patients, and in both periods in 1 patient. Atrioventricular block was preceded by sinus slowing, and sinus rhythm during AV block was slow and instable. Mobitz I, 2:1 second-degree AV block, and advanced second-degree AV block were recognized in 35.5, 48.4, and 67.8% of patients, respectively. Third-degree AV block was diagnosed in 41.9% of patients. Twenty-one patients had at least two AV block forms. The most prevalent concomitant arrhythmia was junctional escape rhythm (61.3%). (i) The occurrence of the AV block during neurocardiogenic reaction induced by TT is always preceded by sinus rhythm slowing and usually by PR interval prolongation. (ii) The AV block provoked by TT usually occurs at TT termination, but may occur even in the recovery period in a supine position. Sometimes the AV block may be present both at TT termination and during the recovery period.

Nonlinear estimation theory applied to the interplanetary orbit determination problem.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tapley, B. D.; Choe, C. Y.

1972-01-01

Martingale theory and appropriate smoothing properties of Loeve (1953) have been used to develop a modified Gaussian second-order filter. The performance of the filter is evaluated through numerical simulation of a Jupiter flyby mission. The observations used in the simulation are on-board measurements of the angle between Jupiter and a fixed star taken at discrete time intervals. In the numerical study, the influence of each of the second-order terms is evaluated. Five filter algorithms are used in the simulations. Four of the filters are the modified Gaussian second-order filter and three approximations derived by neglecting one or more of the second-order terms in the equations. The fifth filter is the extended Kalman-Bucy filter which is obtained by neglecting all of the second-order terms.

Compression of multispectral Landsat imagery using the Embedded Zerotree Wavelet (EZW) algorithm

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shapiro, Jerome M.; Martucci, Stephen A.; Czigler, Martin

1994-01-01

The Embedded Zerotree Wavelet (EZW) algorithm has proven to be an extremely efficient and flexible compression algorithm for low bit rate image coding. The embedding algorithm attempts to order the bits in the bit stream in numerical importance and thus a given code contains all lower rate encodings of the same algorithm. Therefore, precise bit rate control is achievable and a target rate or distortion metric can be met exactly. Furthermore, the technique is fully image adaptive. An algorithm for multispectral image compression which combines the spectral redundancy removal properties of the image-dependent Karhunen-Loeve Transform (KLT) with the efficiency, controllability, and adaptivity of the embedded zerotree wavelet algorithm is presented. Results are shown which illustrate the advantage of jointly encoding spectral components using the KLT and EZW.

Optimal color coding for compression of true color images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Musatenko, Yurij S.; Kurashov, Vitalij N.

1998-11-01

In the paper we present the method that improves lossy compression of the true color or other multispectral images. The essence of the method is to project initial color planes into Karhunen-Loeve (KL) basis that gives completely decorrelated representation for the image and to compress basis functions instead of the planes. To do that the new fast algorithm of true KL basis construction with low memory consumption is suggested and our recently proposed scheme for finding optimal losses of Kl functions while compression is used. Compare to standard JPEG compression of the CMYK images the method provides the PSNR gain from 0.2 to 2 dB for the convenient compression ratios. Experimental results are obtained for high resolution CMYK images. It is demonstrated that presented scheme could work on common hardware.

Is there a role for segmental adrenal venous sampling and adrenal sparing surgery in patients with primary aldosteronism?

PubMed

Satoh, Fumitoshi; Morimoto, Ryo; Seiji, Kazumasa; Satani, Nozomi; Ota, Hideki; Iwakura, Yoshitsugu; Ono, Yoshikiyo; Kudo, Masataka; Nezu, Masahiro; Omata, Kei; Tezuka, Yuta; Kawasaki, Yoshihide; Ishidoya, Shigeto; Arai, Yoichi; Takase, Kei; Nakamura, Yasuhiro; McNamara, Keely; Sasano, Hironobu; Ito, Sadayoshi

2015-10-01

Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is critical to determine the subtype of primary aldosteronism (PA). Central AVS (C-AVS)--that is, the collection of effluents from bilateral adrenal central veins (CV)--sometimes does not allow differentiation between bilateral aldosterone-producing adenomas (APA) and idiopathic hyperaldosteronism. To establish the best treatment course, we have developed segmental AVS (S-AVS); that is, we collect effluents from the tributaries of CV to determine the intra-adrenal sources of aldosterone overproduction. We then evaluated the clinical utility of this novel approach in the diagnosis and treatment of PA. We performed C-AVS and/or S-AVS in 297 PA patients and assessed the accuracy of diagnosis based on the results of C-AVS (n=138, 46.5%) and S-AVS (n=159, 53.5%) by comparison with those of clinicopathological evaluation of resected specimens. S-AVS demonstrated both elevated and attenuated secretion of aldosterone from APA and non-tumorous segments, respectively, in patients with bilateral APA and recurrent APA. These findings were completely confirmed by detailed histopathological examination after surgery. S-AVS, but not C-AVS, also served to identify APA located distal from the CV. Compared to C-AVS, S-AVS served to identify APA in some patients, and its use should expand the pool of patients eligible for adrenal sparing surgery through the identification of unaffected segments, despite the fact that S-AVS requires more expertise and time. Especially, this new technique could enormously benefit patients with bilateral or recurrent APA because of the preservation of non-tumorous glandular tissue. © 2015 European Society of Endocrinology.

Role of adrenal vein sampling in primary aldosteronism: the Monash Health experience.

PubMed

Teng, J; Hutchinson, M E; Doery, J C G; Choy, K W; Chong, W; Fuller, P J; Yang, J

2015-11-01

Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is useful for distinguishing unilateral versus bilateral hypersecretion in primary aldosteronism (PA), but is technically challenging. Furthermore, the use of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-stimulation in AVS is controversial. We implemented a Monash Health-specific AVS protocol in 2010. The audit aimed to: (i) examine the impact of a dedicated protocol on success rates of AVS at a tertiary referral centre; (ii) evaluate the impact of AVS on sub-typing of PA; and (iii) assess the utility of ACTH stimulation in AVS. AVS was performed on patients with PA confirmed by positive saline suppression testing (aldosterone level >140 pmol/L post-saline infusion), with sequential sampling of adrenal and peripheral veins, pre- and post-ACTH infusion. Patients with unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma diagnosed on successful AVS were referred for adrenalectomy. Between 2010 and 2014 inclusive, a total of 28 AVS procedures was performed, with complete pre- and post-ACTH data for 19 procedures. Bilateral successful cannulation rates improved post-implementation of our protocol (61% vs 41%). Of the patients, 32% had discordant imaging and AVS results: four patients with unilateral adenomas did not lateralise on AVS and were managed medically; four patients with bilateral or no adenomas on imaging, lateralised on AVS and had surgery. Overall, use of ACTH did not increase successful cannulation and tended to mask lateralisation. AVS is crucial in subtype classification of PA and should be performed by a dedicated radiologist with a standardised protocol. AVS outcomes were not improved with the use of ACTH stimulation. © 2015 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

Structure-function analysis of Avian β-defensin-6 and β-defensin-12: role of charge and disulfide bridges.

PubMed

Yang, Ming; Zhang, Chunye; Zhang, Xuehan; Zhang, Michael Z; Rottinghaus, George E; Zhang, Shuping

2016-09-09

Avian beta-defensins (AvBD) are small, cationic, antimicrobial peptides. The potential application of AvBDs as alternatives to antibiotics has been the subject of interest. However, the mechanisms of action remain to be fully understood. The present study characterized the structure-function relationship of AvBD-6 and AvBD-12, two peptides with different net positive charges, similar hydrophobicity and distinct tissue expression profiles. AvBD-6 was more potent than AvBD-12 against E. coli, S. Typhimurium, and S. aureus as well as clinical isolates of extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL)-positive E. coli and K. pneumoniae. AvBD-6 was more effective than AvBD-12 in neutralizing LPS and interacting with bacterial genomic DNA. Increasing bacterial concentration from 10(5) CFU/ml to 10(9) CFU/ml abolished AvBDs' antimicrobial activity. Increasing NaCl concentration significantly inhibited AvBDs' antimicrobial activity, but not the LPS-neutralizing function. Both AvBDs were mildly chemotactic for chicken macrophages and strongly chemotactic for CHO-K1 cells expressing chicken chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2). AvBD-12 at higher concentrations also induced chemotactic migration of murine immature dendritic cells (DCs). Disruption of disulfide bridges abolished AvBDs' chemotactic activity. Neither AvBDs was toxic to CHO-K1, macrophages, or DCs. AvBDs are potent antimicrobial peptides under low-salt conditions, effective LPS-neutralizing agents, and broad-spectrum chemoattractant peptides. Their antimicrobial activity is positively correlated with the peptides' net positive charges, inversely correlated with NaCl concentration and bacterial concentration, and minimally dependent on intramolecular disulfide bridges. In contrast, their chemotactic property requires the presence of intramolecular disulfide bridges. Data from the present study provide a theoretical basis for the design of AvBD-based therapeutic and immunomodulatory agents.

Attachment styles in patients with avoidant personality disorder compared with social phobia.

PubMed

Eikenaes, Ingeborg; Pedersen, Geir; Wilberg, Theresa

2016-09-01

Avoidant personality disorder (AvPD) and social phobia (SP) are common, closely related conditions. Little is known about the underlying processes related to the social discomfort of subjects with AvPD and SP. Both disorders are associated with interpersonal problems. An attachment perspective may shed light on similarities and differences in close relationships between the disorders. The aim of the study was to compare self-reported attachment styles in patients with AvPD and SP. We expected that patients with AvPD would have more attachment anxiety and avoidance and more often a Fearful attachment style, compared with SP. This is a cross-sectional multisite study of 90 adult patients with AvPD and SP. Patients with AvPD with and without SP (AvPD group) were compared with patients with SP without AvPD (SP group). Patients were assessed using structured diagnostic interviews and self-reporting questionnaires, including Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR). The ECR dimensions, Anxiety and Avoidance, and the new described five factors of the ECR were used. The AvPD group had higher levels of attachment anxiety than the SP group, especially for the sub-factors Anxiety for abandonment and Separation frustration. The diagnostic groups did not differ in levels of avoidance. Anxiety for abandonment was still associated with AvPD after controlling for symptom disorders and the criteria of other personality disorders. A Fearful attachment style was more frequent among patients with AvPD. The results indicate AvPD is associated with more attachment anxiety than SP. Fear of abandonment may play a significant role in the AvPD pathology. This is the first study to compare attachment styles in patients with avoidant personality disorder (AvPD) and social phobia (SP). The AvPD group had higher attachment-related anxiety than the SP group, and anxiety was most pronounced for the fear of abandonment. Fear of abandonment may play an important role in the AvPD pathology. © 2015 The British Psychological Society.

AUDIO-VISUAL INSTRUCTION, AN ADMINISTRATIVE HANDBOOK.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Missouri State Dept. of Education, Jefferson City.

THIS HANDBOOK WAS DESIGNED FOR USE BY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS IN DEVELOPING A TOTAL AUDIOVISUAL (AV) PROGRAM. ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO THE IMPORTANCE OF AUDIOVISUAL MEDIA TO EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION, ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS FOR AN AV PROGRAM, BUDGETING FOR AV INSTRUCTION, PROPER UTILIZATION OF AV MATERIALS, SELECTION OF AV EQUIPMENT AND…

Pharmacokinetics of avenanthramides (AV) from AV-enriched malted oats in healthy older adults

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Avenanthramides (AV) are a unique group of phytochemicals found in oat bran. In vitro studies show both purified AV and concentrated oat AV mixtures have anti-atherogenic and anti-inflammatory activity, suggesting they may have similar effects in vivo if they are sufficiently bioavailable. The bioav...

AVS on satellite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Haiwu; Wang, Guozhong; Hou, Gang

2005-07-01

AVS is a new digital audio-video coding standard established by China. AVS will be used in digital TV broadcasting and next general optical disk. AVS adopted many digital audio-video coding techniques developed by Chinese company and universities in recent years, it has very low complexity compared to H.264, and AVS will charge very low royalty fee through one-step license including all AVS tools. So AVS is a good and competitive candidate for Chinese DTV and next generation optical disk. In addition, Chinese government has published a plan for satellite TV signal directly to home(DTH) and a telecommunication satellite named as SINO 2 will be launched in 2006. AVS will be also one of the best hopeful candidates of audio-video coding standard on satellite signal transmission.

A 2:1 AV rhythm: an adverse effect of a long AV delay during DDI pacing and its prevention by the ventricular intrinsic preference algorithm in DDD mode.

PubMed

Minamiguchi, Hitoshi; Oginosawa, Yasushi; Kohno, Ritsuko; Tamura, Masahito; Takeuchi, Masaaki; Otsuji, Yutaka; Abe, Haruhiko

2012-07-01

A 91-year-old woman received a dual-chamber pacemaker for sick sinus syndrome and intermittently abnormal atrioventricular (AV) conduction. The pacemaker was set in DDI mode with a 350-ms AV delay to preserve intrinsic ventricular activity. She complained of palpitation during AV sequential pacing. The electrocardiogram showed a 2:1 AV rhythm from 1:1 ventriculoatrial (VA) conduction during ventricular pacing in DDI mode with a long AV interval. After reprogramming of the pacemaker in DDD mode with a 250-ms AV interval and additional 100-ms prolongation of the AV interval by the ventricular intrinsic preference function, VA conduction disappeared and the patient's symptom were alleviated without increasing unnecessary right ventricular pacing. ©2011, The Authors. Journal compilation ©2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Novel synthetic analogues of avian β-defensin-12: the role of charge, hydrophobicity, and disulfide bridges in biological functions.

PubMed

Yang, Ming; Zhang, Chunye; Zhang, Michael Z; Zhang, Shuping

2017-02-23

Avian β-defensins (AvBD) possess broad-spectrum antimicrobial, LPS neutralizing and chemotactic properties. AvBD-12 is a chemoattractant for avian immune cells and mammalian dendritic cells (JAWSII) - a unique feature that is relevant to the applications of AvBDs as chemotherapeutic agents in mammalian hosts. To identify the structural components essential to various biological functions, we have designed and evaluated seven AvBD analogues. In the first group of analogues, the three conserved disulfide bridges were eliminated by replacing cysteines with alanine and serine residues, peptide hydrophobicity and charge were increased by changing negatively charged amino acid residues to hydrophobic (AvBD-12A1) or positively charged residues (AvBD-12A2 and AvBD-12A3). All three analogues in this group showed improved antimicrobial activity, though AvBD-12A3, with a net positive charge of +9, hydrophobicity of 40% and a predicted CCR2 binding domain, was the most potent antimicrobial peptide. AvBD-12A3 also retained more than 50% of wild type chemotactic activity. In the second group of analogues (AvBD-12A4 to AvBD-12A6), one to three disulfide bridges were removed via substitution of cysteines with isosteric amino acids. Their antimicrobial activity was compromised and chemotactic activity abolished. The third type of analogue was a hybrid that had the backbone of AvBD-12 and positively charged amino acid residues AvBD-6. The antimicrobial and chemotactic activities of the hybrid resembled that of AvBD-6 and AvBD-12, respectively. While the net positive charge and charge distribution have a dominating effect on the antimicrobial potency of AvBDs, the three conserved disulfide bridges are essential to the chemotactic property and the maximum antimicrobial activity. Analogue AvBD-12A3 with a high net positive charge, a moderate degree of hydrophobicity and a CCR2-binding domain can serve as a template for the design of novel antimicrobial peptides with chemotactic property and salt resistance.

Study of the photon-induced formation and subsequent desorption of CH3OH and H2CO in interstellar ice analogs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martín-Doménech, R.; Muñoz Caro, G. M.; Cruz-Díaz, G. A.

2016-05-01

Context. Methanol and formaldehyde are two simple organic molecules that are ubiquitously detected in the interstellar medium, in both the solid and gaseous phases. An origin in the solid phase and a subsequent nonthermal desorption into the gas phase is often invoked to explain their abundances in some of the environments where they are found. Experimental simulations under astrophysically relevant conditions have been carried out in the past four decades in order to find a suitable mechanism for that process. Aims: In particular, photodesorption from pure methanol ice (and presumably from pure formaldehyde ice) has been found to be negligible in previous works, probably because both molecules are very readily dissociated by vacuum-UV photons. Therefore, we explore the in situ formation and subsequent photon-induced desorption of these species, studying the UV photoprocessing of pure ethanol ice, and a more realistic binary H2O:CH4 ice analog. Methods: Experimental simulations were performed in an ultra-high vacuum chamber. Pure ethanol and binary H2O:CH4 ice samples deposited onto an infrared transparent window at 8 K were UV-irradiated using a microwave-discharged hydrogen flow lamp. Evidence of photochemical production of these two species and subsequent UV-photon-induced desorption into the gas phase were searched for by means of a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer and a quadrupole mass spectrometer, respectively. After irradiation, ice samples were warmed up to room temperature until complete sublimation was attained for detection of volatile products. Results: Formation of CH3OH was only observed during photoprocessing of the H2O:CH4 ice analog, accounting for ~4% of the initial CH4 ice column density, but no photon-induced desorption was detected. Photochemical production of H2CO was observed in both series of experiments. Formation of formaldehyde accounted for ≤45% conversion of the initial ethanol ice, but it could not be quantified during irradiation of the binary H2O:CH4 ice analogs. Photochemidesorption of formaldehyde, I.e., photon-induced formation on the ice surface and inmediate desorption, was observed, with a yield of ~6 × 10-5 (molecules/incident photon) in the case of the pure ethanol ice experiments, and ~4.4 × 10-5 (molecules/incident photon) when the H2O:CH4 ice analogs were photoprocessed. Photoprocessing of the ice analogs lead to formation of other species. Some of them were also found to desorb upon UV irradiation. Conclusions: While certain C-bearing species, in particular H2CO, were found to desorb upon irradiation, nonthermal desorption of CH3OH was not observed. So far, there is no experimental evidence of any efficient CH3OH desorption induced by UV photons. On the other hand, the observed photon-induced desorption of H2CO could account for the total formaldehyde abundance observed in the Horsehead photodissociation-dominated region.

Expression of host defense peptides in the intestine of Eimeria-challenged chickens.

PubMed

Su, S; Dwyer, D M; Miska, K B; Fetterer, R H; Jenkins, M C; Wong, E A

2017-07-01

Avian coccidiosis is caused by the intracellular protozoan Eimeria, which produces intestinal lesions leading to weight gain depression. Current control methods include vaccination and anticoccidial drugs. An alternative approach involves modulating the immune system. The objective of this study was to profile the expression of host defense peptides such as avian beta-defensins (AvBDs) and liver expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP2), which are part of the innate immune system. The mRNA expression of AvBD family members 1, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, and 13 and LEAP2 was examined in chickens challenged with either E. acervulina, E. maxima, or E. tenella. The duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and ceca were collected 7 d post challenge. In study 1, E. acervulina challenge resulted in down-regulation of AvBD1, AvBD6, AvBD10, AvBD11, AvBD12, and AvBD13 in the duodenum. E. maxima challenge caused down-regulation of AvBD6, AvBD10, and AvBD11 in the duodenum, down-regulation of AvBD10 in the jejunum, but up-regulation of AvBD8 and AvBD13 in the ceca. E. tenella challenge showed no change in AvBD expression in any tissue. In study 2, which involved challenge with only E. maxima, there was down-regulation of AvBD1 in the ileum, AvBD11 in the jejunum and ileum, and LEAP2 in all 3 segments of the small intestine. The expression of LEAP2 was further examined by in situ hybridization in the jejunum of chickens from study 2. LEAP2 mRNA was expressed similarly in the enterocytes lining the villi, but not in the crypts of control and Eimeria challenged chickens. The lengths of the villi in the Eimeria challenged chickens were less than those in the control chickens, which may in part account for the observed down-regulation of LEAP2 mRNA quantified by PCR. Overall, the AvBD response to Eimeria challenge was not consistent; whereas LEAP2 was consistently down-regulated, which suggests that LEAP2 plays an important role in modulating an Eimeria infection. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Poultry Science Association 2017.

Real-Time PCR with an Internal Control for Detection of All Known Human Adenovirus Serotypes▿

PubMed Central

Damen, Marjolein; Minnaar, René; Glasius, Patricia; van der Ham, Alwin; Koen, Gerrit; Wertheim, Pauline; Beld, Marcel

2008-01-01

The “gold standard” for the diagnosis of adenovirus (AV) infection is virus culture, which is rather time-consuming. Especially for immunocompromised patients, in whom severe infections with AV have been described, rapid diagnosis is important. Therefore, an internally controlled AV real-time PCR assay detecting all known human AV serotypes was developed. Primers were chosen from the hexon region, which is the most conserved region, and in order to cover all known serotypes, degenerate primers were used. The internal control (IC) DNA contained the same primer binding sites as the AV DNA control but had a shuffled probe region compared to the conserved 24-nucleotide consensus AV hexon probe region (the target). The IC DNA was added to the clinical sample in order to monitor extraction and PCR efficiency. The sensitivity and the linearity of the AV PCR were determined. For testing the specificity of this PCR assay for human AVs, a selection of 51 AV prototype strains and 66 patient samples positive for other DNA viruses were tested. Moreover, a comparison of the AV PCR method described herein with culture and antigen (Ag) detection was performed with a selection of 151 clinical samples. All 51 AV serotypes were detected in the selection of AV prototype strains. Concordant results from culture or Ag detection and PCR were found for 139 (92.1%) of 151 samples. In 12 cases (7.9%), PCR was positive while the culture was negative. In conclusion, a sensitive, internally controlled nonnested AV real-time PCR assay which is able to detect all known AV serotypes with higher sensitivity than a culture or Ag detection method was developed. PMID:18923006

Predictors of nonfunctional arteriovenous access at hemodialysis initiation and timing of access creation: A registry-based study

PubMed Central

Metzger, Marie; Labeeuw, Michel; Ayav, Carole; Jacquelinet, Christian; Massy, Ziad A.; Stengel, Bénédicte

2017-01-01

Determinants of nonfunctional arteriovenous (AV) access, including timing of AV access creation, have not been sufficiently described. We studied 29 945 patients who had predialysis AV access placement and were included in the French REIN registry from 2005 through 2013. AV access was considered nonfunctional when dialysis began with a catheter. We estimated crude and adjusted odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of nonfunctional versus functional AV access associated with case-mix, facility characteristics, and timing of AV access creation. Analyses were stratified by dialysis start condition (planned or as an emergency) and comorbidity profile. Overall, 18% patients had nonfunctional AV access at hemodialysis initiation. In the group with planned dialysis start, female gender (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.32–1.56), diabetes (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.15–1.44), and a higher number of cardiovascular comorbidities (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.09–1.49, and 1.31, 1.05–1.64, for 3 and >3 cardiovascular comorbidities versus none, respectively) were independent predictors of nonfunctional AV access. A higher percentage of AV access creation at the region level was associated with a lower rate of nonfunctional AV access (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.98–0.99 per 1% increase). The odds of nonfunctional AV access decreased as time from creation to hemodialysis initiation increased up to 3 months in nondiabetic patients with fewer than 2 cardiovascular comorbidities and 6 months in patients with diabetes or 2 or more such comorbidities. In conclusion, both patient characteristics and clinical practices may play a role in successful AV access use at hemodialysis initiation. Adjusting the timing of AV access creation to patients’ comorbidity profiles may improve functional AV access rates. PMID:28749967

Predictors of nonfunctional arteriovenous access at hemodialysis initiation and timing of access creation: A registry-based study.

PubMed

Alencar de Pinho, Natalia; Coscas, Raphael; Metzger, Marie; Labeeuw, Michel; Ayav, Carole; Jacquelinet, Christian; Massy, Ziad A; Stengel, Bénédicte

2017-01-01

Determinants of nonfunctional arteriovenous (AV) access, including timing of AV access creation, have not been sufficiently described. We studied 29 945 patients who had predialysis AV access placement and were included in the French REIN registry from 2005 through 2013. AV access was considered nonfunctional when dialysis began with a catheter. We estimated crude and adjusted odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of nonfunctional versus functional AV access associated with case-mix, facility characteristics, and timing of AV access creation. Analyses were stratified by dialysis start condition (planned or as an emergency) and comorbidity profile. Overall, 18% patients had nonfunctional AV access at hemodialysis initiation. In the group with planned dialysis start, female gender (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.32-1.56), diabetes (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.15-1.44), and a higher number of cardiovascular comorbidities (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.09-1.49, and 1.31, 1.05-1.64, for 3 and >3 cardiovascular comorbidities versus none, respectively) were independent predictors of nonfunctional AV access. A higher percentage of AV access creation at the region level was associated with a lower rate of nonfunctional AV access (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.98-0.99 per 1% increase). The odds of nonfunctional AV access decreased as time from creation to hemodialysis initiation increased up to 3 months in nondiabetic patients with fewer than 2 cardiovascular comorbidities and 6 months in patients with diabetes or 2 or more such comorbidities. In conclusion, both patient characteristics and clinical practices may play a role in successful AV access use at hemodialysis initiation. Adjusting the timing of AV access creation to patients' comorbidity profiles may improve functional AV access rates.

Failure mode analysis in adrenal vein sampling: a single-center experience.

PubMed

Trerotola, Scott O; Asmar, Melissa; Yan, Yan; Fraker, Douglas L; Cohen, Debbie L

2014-10-01

To analyze failure modes in a high-volume adrenal vein sampling (AVS) practice in an effort to identify preventable causes of nondiagnostic sampling. A retrospective database was constructed containing 343 AVS procedures performed over a 10-year period. Each nondiagnostic AVS procedure was reviewed for failure mode and correlated with results of any repeat AVS. Data collected included selectivity index, lateralization index, adrenalectomy outcomes if performed, and details of AVS procedure. All AVS procedures were performed after cosyntropin stimulation, using sequential technique. AVS was nondiagnostic in 12 of 343 (3.5%) primary procedures and 2 secondary procedures. Failure was right-sided in 8 (57%) procedures, left-sided in 4 (29%) procedures, bilateral in 1 procedure, and neither in 1 procedure (laboratory error). Failure modes included diluted sample from correctly identified vein (n = 7 [50%]; 3 right and 4 left), vessel misidentified as adrenal vein (n = 3 [21%]; all right), failure to locate an adrenal vein (n = 2 [14%]; both right), cosyntropin stimulation failure (n = 1 [7%]; diagnostic by nonstimulated criteria), and laboratory error (n = 1 [7%]; specimen loss). A second AVS procedure was diagnostic in three of five cases (60%), and a third AVS procedure was diagnostic in one of one case (100%). Among the eight patients in whom AVS ultimately was not diagnostic, four underwent adrenalectomy based on diluted AVS samples, and one underwent adrenalectomy based on imaging; all five experienced improvement in aldosteronism. A substantial percentage of AVS failures occur on the left, all related to dilution. Even when technically nondiagnostic per strict criteria, some "failed" AVS procedures may be sufficient to guide therapy. Repeat AVS has a good yield. Copyright © 2014 SIR. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Peter J Derrick and the Grand Scale 'Magnificent Mass Machine' mass spectrometer at Warwick.

PubMed

Colburn, A W; Derrick, Peter J; Bowen, Richard D

2017-12-01

The value of the Grand Scale 'Magnificent Mass Machine' mass spectrometer in investigating the reactivity of ions in the gas phase is illustrated by a brief analysis of previously unpublished work on metastable ionised n-pentyl methyl ether, which loses predominantly methanol and an ethyl radical, with very minor contributions for elimination of ethane and water. Expulsion of an ethyl radical is interpreted in terms of isomerisation to ionised 3-pentyl methyl ether, via distonic ions and, possibly, an ion-neutral complex comprising ionised ethylcyclopropane and methanol. This explanation is consistent with the closely similar behaviour of the labelled analogues, C 3 H 7 CH 2 CD 2 OCH 3 +. and C 3 H 7 CD 2 CH 2 OCH 3 +. , and is supported by the greater kinetic energy release associated with loss of ethane from ionised n-propyl methyl ether compared to that starting from directly generated ionised 3-pentyl methyl ether.

Synthesis of ketones from biomass-derived feedstock.

PubMed

Meng, Qinglei; Hou, Minqiang; Liu, Huizhen; Song, Jinliang; Han, Buxing

2017-01-31

Cyclohexanone and its derivatives are very important chemicals, which are currently produced mainly by oxidation of cyclohexane or alkylcyclohexane, hydrogenation of phenols, and alkylation of cyclohexanone. Here we report that bromide salt-modified Pd/C in H 2 O/CH 2 Cl 2 can efficiently catalyse the transformation of aromatic ethers, which can be derived from biomass, to cyclohexanone and its derivatives via hydrogenation and hydrolysis processes. The yield of cyclohexanone from anisole can reach 96%, and the yields of cyclohexanone derivatives produced from the aromatic ethers, which can be extracted from plants or derived from lignin, are also satisfactory. Detailed study shows that the Pd, bromide salt and H 2 O/CH 2 Cl 2 work cooperatively to promote the desired reaction and inhibit the side reaction. Thus high yields of desired products can be obtained. This work opens the way for production of ketones from aromatic ethers that can be derived from biomass.

ALMA Detection of Interstellar Methoxymethanol (CH3OCH2OH)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McGuire, Brett A.; Shingledecker, Christopher N.; Willis, Eric R.; Burkhardt, Andrew M.; El-Abd, Samer; Motiyenko, Roman A.; Brogan, Crystal L.; Hunter, Todd R.; Margulès, Laurent; Guillemin, Jean-Claude; Garrod, Robin T.; Herbst, Eric; Remijan, Anthony J.

2017-12-01

We report the detection of interstellar methoxymethanol (CH3OCH2OH) in Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) Bands 6 and 7 toward the MM1 core in the high-mass star-forming region NGC 6334I at ∼0.″1–1″ spatial resolution. A column density of 4(2) × 1018 cm‑2 at T ex = 200 K is derived toward MM1, ∼34 times less abundant than methanol (CH3OH), and significantly higher than predicted by astrochemical models. Probable formation and destruction pathways are discussed, primarily through the reaction of the CH3OH photodissociation products, the methoxy (CH3O) and hydroxymethyl (CH2OH) radicals. Finally, we comment on the implications of these mechanisms on gas-phase versus grain-surface routes operative in the region, and the possibility of electron-induced dissociation of CH3OH rather than photodissociation.

A nuclear magnetic double resonance study of N-beta-bis-(beta'-chloroethyl) phosphonylethyl-DL-phenylalanine.

PubMed

Friedman, M; Boyd, W A

1977-01-01

Studies were carried out on the effect of decoupling, deuterium labeling, concentration, temperature, and solvent media on the NMR parameters of the vinyl phosphonate adduct of phenylalanine, C6H5CH2CH(COO-)NH2+CH2CH2PO(OCH2CH2C1)2. The results permit assignments of chemical shifts and coupling constants to the various protons of this molecule which contains unique structural features. The NH2+-CH2-protons are deshielded by more than 1 ppm than the CH2-PO-protons. The -OCH2-protons are nonequivalent exhibiting a fine split. Possible sources of the fine split include NH...O=P hydrogen bonding. The deuterium-labeling method should be applicable for synthesizing deuterium-and tritium-labeled crosslinked amino acids such as lysinoalanine and lanthionine and demonstrating analgous dehydroalanine-alpha-amino group-crosslinking.

Diagnostic and therapeutic advancements for aerobic vaginitis.

PubMed

Han, Cha; Wu, Wenjuan; Fan, Aiping; Wang, Yingmei; Zhang, Huiying; Chu, Zanjun; Wang, Chen; Xue, Fengxia

2015-02-01

Aerobic vaginitis (AV) is a newly defined clinical entity that is distinct from candidiasis, trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis (BV). Because of the poor recognition of AV, this condition can lead to treatment failures and is associated with severe complications, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, preterm birth and foetal infections. This review describes the diagnosis and treatment of AV and the relationship between AV and pregnancy. The characteristics of AV include severely depressed levels of lactobacilli, increased levels of aerobic bacteria and an inflamed vagina. The diagnosis is made by microscopy on wet mounts of fresh vaginal fluid, and some distinct clinical features are recognized. Vaginal suppositories that contain kanamycin or clindamycin have shown curative effects in nonpregnant women. Additionally, the application of topical probiotics can restore the vaginal flora and reduce the recurrence of AV. Clindamycin vaginal suppositories and probiotics may be a better choice for gravida with AV than metronidazole. AV requires prompt attention, and the early diagnosis and treatment of AV during pregnancy significantly improves perinatal outcomes. Further research is needed to define the pathogenesis, diagnostic criteria and standard treatment guidelines for AV.

Open-Loop Audio-Visual Stimulation (AVS): A Useful Tool for Management of Insomnia?

PubMed

Tang, Hsin-Yi Jean; Riegel, Barbara; McCurry, Susan M; Vitiello, Michael V

2016-03-01

Audio Visual Stimulation (AVS), a form of neurofeedback, is a non-pharmacological intervention that has been used for both performance enhancement and symptom management. We review the history of AVS, its two sub-types (close- and open-loop), and discuss its clinical implications. We also describe a promising new application of AVS to improve sleep, and potentially decrease pain. AVS research can be traced back to the late 1800s. AVS's efficacy has been demonstrated for both performance enhancement and symptom management. Although AVS is commonly used in clinical settings, there is limited literature evaluating clinical outcomes and mechanisms of action. One of the challenges to AVS research is the lack of standardized terms, which makes systematic review and literature consolidation difficult. Future studies using AVS as an intervention should; (1) use operational definitions that are consistent with the existing literature, such as AVS, Audio-visual Entrainment, or Light and Sound Stimulation, (2) provide a clear rationale for the chosen training frequency modality, (3) use a randomized controlled design, and (4) follow the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials and/or related guidelines when disseminating results.

Development of a membrane of poly (L-co-D,L lactic acid-co-trimethylene carbonate) with aloe vera: An alternative biomaterial designed to improve skin healing.

PubMed

Komatsu, Daniel; Mistura, Daniel V; Motta, Adriana; Domingues, Juliana A; Hausen, Moema A; Duek, Eliana

2017-09-01

The search for new therapies and drugs that act as topical agents to relieve pain and control the infectious processes in burns always attracted interest in clinical trials. As an alternative to synthetic drugs, the use of natural extracts is useful in the development of new strategies and formulations for improving the life quality. The aim of this study was to develop a wound dressing using Poly(L-co-D,L lactic acid-co-TMC) (PLDLA-co-TMC) containing aloe vera (AV). This natural plant extract is known for its modulatory effects under healing process. The membrane of PLDLA-co-TMC+aloe vera was prepared at different concentrations of AV (5, 10, 15 and 50%). The FTIR showed no change in the PLDLA-co-TMC spectrum after AV addition, while the swelling test showed changes only in PLDLA-co-TMC+AV at 50%. The wettability measurements showed decrease in the contact angle in all samples after the AV addition in the polymer, while the AV release test showed that PLDLA-co-TMC+50%AV sample has higher AV release rate than the sample with other AV concentrations. The SEM analysis showed that AV was homogeneously distributed at 5% only. Tensile tests demonstrated an increase in the Young's modulus and a reduction in the elongation till rupture of the PLDLA-co-TMC after the addition of AV. Biocompatibility in vitro evaluation with fibroblast cells seeded in the membranes of PLDLA-co-TMC+AV showed that the cells were able to adhere, proliferate and maintain mitochondrial activity in all AV concentrations tested. Due to the known skin medicinal properties attributed to AV and the results here obtained, we suggest that after in vivo trials, the PLDLA-co-TMC+AV should be a promising biomaterial for application as a device for skin curative and healing agent.

Discovery and characterization of Coturnix chinensis avian β-defensin 10, with broad antibacterial activity.

PubMed

Ma, Deying; Lin, Lijuan; Zhang, Kexin; Han, Zongxi; Shao, Yuhao; Wang, Ruiqin; Liu, Shengwang

2012-04-01

A novel avian β-defensin (AvBD), AvBD10, was discovered in the liver and bone marrow tissues from Chinese painted quail (Coturnix chinensis) in the present study. The complete nucleotide sequence of quail AvBD10 contains a 207-bp open reading frame that encodes 68 amino acids. The quail AvBD10 was expressed widely in all the tissues from quails except the tongue, crop, breast muscle, and thymus and was highly expressed in the bone marrow. In contrast to the expression pattern of AvBD10 in tissues from quail, the chicken AvBD10 was expressed in all 21 tissues from the layer hens investigated, with a high level of expression in the kidney, lung, liver, bone marrow, and Harderian glands. Recombinant glutathione S-transferase (GST)-tagged AvBD10s of both quail and chicken were produced and purified by expression of the two cDNAs in Escherichia coli, respectively. In addition, peptide according to the respective AvBD10s sequence was synthesized, named synthetic AvBD10s. As expected, both recombinant GST-tagged AvBD10s and synthetic AvBD10s of quail and chicken exhibited similar bactericidal properties against most bacteria, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative forms. However, no significant bactericidal activity was found for quail recombinant GST-tagged AvBD10 against Salmonella choleraesuis or for chicken recombinant GST-tagged AvBD10 against Proteus mirabilis. Copyright © 2012 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The clinical implication and molecular mechanism of preferential IL-4 production by modified glycolipid-stimulated NKT cells

PubMed Central

Oki, Shinji; Chiba, Asako; Yamamura, Takashi; Miyake, Sachiko

2004-01-01

OCH, a sphingosine-truncated analog of α-galactosylceramide (αGC), is a potential therapeutic reagent for a variety of Th1-mediated autoimmune diseases through its selective induction of Th2 cytokines from natural killer T (NKT) cells. We demonstrate here that the NKT cell production of IFN-γ is more susceptible to the sphingosine length of glycolipid ligand than that of IL-4 and that the length of the sphingosine chain determines the duration of NKT cell stimulation by CD1d-associated glycolipids. Furthermore, IFN-γ production by NKT cells requires longer T cell receptor stimulation than is required for IL-4 production by NKT cells stimulated either with immobilized mAb to CD3 or with immobilized “αGC-loaded” CD1d molecules. Interestingly, transcription of IFN-γ but not that of IL-4 was sensitive to cycloheximide treatment, indicating the intrinsic involvement of de novo protein synthesis for IFN-γ production by NKT cells. Finally, we determined c-Rel was preferentially transcribed in αGC-stimulated but not in OCH-stimulated NKT cells and was essential for IFN-γ production by activated NKT cells. Given the dominant immune regulation by the remarkable cytokine production of ligand-stimulated NKT cells in vivo, in comparison with that of (antigen-specific) T cells or NK cells, the current study confirms OCH as a likely therapeutic reagent for use against Th1-mediated autoimmune diseases and provides a novel clue for the design of drugs targeting NKT cells. PMID:15173890

Searching for trans ethyl methyl ether in Orion KL★,★★

PubMed Central

Tercero, B.; Cernicharo, J.; López, A.; Brouillet, N.; Kolesniková, L.; Motiyenko, R. A.; Margulès, L.; Alonso, J. L.; Guillemin, J.-C.

2015-01-01

We report on the tentative detection of trans ethyl methyl ether (tEME), t-CH3CH2OCH3, through the identification of a large number of rotational lines from each one of the spin states of the molecule towards Orion KL. We also search for gauche-trans-n-propanol, Gt-n-CH3CH2CH2OH, an isomer of tEME in the same source. We have identified lines of both species in the IRAM 30 m line survey and in the ALMA Science Verification data. We have obtained ALMA maps to establish the spatial distribution of these species. Whereas tEME mainly arises from the compact ridge component of Orion, Gt-n-propanol appears at the emission peak of ethanol (south hot core). The derived column densities of these species at the location of their emission peaks are ≤(4.0 ± 0.8) × 1015 cm−2 and ≤(1.0 ± 0.2)× 1015 cm−2 for tEME and Gt-n-propanol, respectively. The rotational temperature is ~100 K for both molecules. We also provide maps of CH3OCOH, CH3CH2OCOH, CH3OCH3, CH3OH, and CH3CH2OH to compare the distribution of these organic saturated O-bearing species containing methyl and ethyl groups in this region. Abundance ratios of related species and upper limits to the abundances of non-detected ethers are provided. We derive an abundance ratio N(CH3OCH3)/N(tEME) ≥ 150 in the compact ridge of Orion. PMID:26869726

Searching for trans ethyl methyl ether in Orion KL.

PubMed

Tercero, B; Cernicharo, J; López, A; Brouillet, N; Kolesniková, L; Motiyenko, R A; Margulès, L; Alonso, J L; Guillemin, J-C

2015-10-01

We report on the tentative detection of trans ethyl methyl ether (tEME), t-CH 3 CH 2 OCH 3 , through the identification of a large number of rotational lines from each one of the spin states of the molecule towards Orion KL. We also search for gauche-trans-n-propanol, Gt-n-CH 3 CH 2 CH 2 OH, an isomer of tEME in the same source. We have identified lines of both species in the IRAM 30 m line survey and in the ALMA Science Verification data. We have obtained ALMA maps to establish the spatial distribution of these species. Whereas tEME mainly arises from the compact ridge component of Orion, Gt-n-propanol appears at the emission peak of ethanol (south hot core). The derived column densities of these species at the location of their emission peaks are ≤(4.0 ± 0.8) × 10 15 cm -2 and ≤(1.0 ± 0.2)× 10 15 cm -2 for tEME and Gt-n-propanol, respectively. The rotational temperature is ~100 K for both molecules. We also provide maps of CH 3 OCOH, CH 3 CH 2 OCOH, CH 3 OCH 3 , CH 3 OH, and CH 3 CH 2 OH to compare the distribution of these organic saturated O-bearing species containing methyl and ethyl groups in this region. Abundance ratios of related species and upper limits to the abundances of non-detected ethers are provided. We derive an abundance ratio N (CH 3 OCH 3 )/ N (tEME) ≥ 150 in the compact ridge of Orion.

Hydrogen-bonding Interactions between Apigenin and Ethanol/Water: A Theoretical Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Yan-Zhen; Zhou, Yu; Liang, Qin; Chen, Da-Fu; Guo, Rui; Lai, Rong-Cai

2016-10-01

In this work, hydrogen-bonding interactions between apigenin and water/ethanol were investigated from a theoretical perspective using quantum chemical calculations. Two conformations of apigenin molecule were considered in this work. The following results were found. (1) For apigenin monomer, the molecular structure is non-planar, and all of the hydrogen and oxygen atoms can be hydrogen-bonding sites. (2) Eight and seven optimized geometries are obtained for apigenin (I)-H2O/CH3CH2OH and apigenin (II)-H2O/CH3CH2OH complexes, respectively. In apigenin, excluding the aromatic hydrogen atoms in the phenyl substituent, all other hydrogen atoms and the oxygen atoms form hydrogen-bonds with H2O and CH3CH2OH. (3) In apigenin-H2O/CH3CH2OH complexes, the electron density and the E(2) in the related localized anti-bonding orbital are increased upon hydrogen-bond formation. These are the cause of the elongation and red-shift of the X-H bond. The sum of the charge change transfers from the hydrogen-bond acceptor to donor. The stronger interaction makes the charge change more intense than in the less stable structures. (4) Most of the hydrogen-bonds in the complexes are electrostatic in nature. However, the C4-O5···H, C9-O4···H and C13-O2···H hydrogen-bonds have some degree of covalent character. Furthermore, the hydroxyl groups of the apigenin molecule are the preferred hydrogen-bonding sites.

Exploring the intrinsic polar [4+2(+)] cycloaddition reactivity of gaseous carbosulfonium and carboxonium ions.

PubMed

Basher, Muftah M; Corilo, Yuri E; Sparrapan, Regina; Benassi, Mario; Augusti, Rodinei; Eberlin, Marcos N; Riveros, José M

2012-11-01

Gas-phase reactions of model carbosulfonium ions (CH(3)-S(+)=CH(2;) CH(3)CH(2)-S(+)=CH(2) and Ph-S(+)=CH(2)) and an O-analogue carboxonium ion (CH(3)-O(+)=CH(2)) with acyclic (isoprene, 1,3-butadiene, methyl vinyl ketone) and cyclic (1,3-cyclohexadiene, thiophene, furan) conjugated dienes were systematically investigated by pentaquadrupole mass spectrometry. As corroborated by B3LYP/6-311 G(d,p) calculations, the carbosulfonium ions first react at large extents with the dienes forming adducts via simple addition. The nascent adducts, depending on their stability and internal energy, react further via two competitive channels: (1) in reactions with acyclic dienes via cyclization that yields formally [4+2(+)] cycloadducts, or (2) in reactions with the cyclic dienes via dissociation by HSR loss that yields methylenation (net CH(+) transfer) products. In great contrast to its S-analogues, CH(3)-O(+)=CH(2) (as well as C(2)H(5)-O(+)=CH(2) and Ph-O(+)=CH(2) in reactions with isoprene) forms little or no adduct and proton transfer is the dominant reaction channel. Isomerization to more acidic protonated aldehydes in the course of reaction seems to be the most plausible cause of the contrasting reactivity of carboxonium ions. The CH(2)=CH-O(+)=CH(2) ion forms an abundant [4+2(+)] cycloadduct with isoprene, but similar to the behavior of such α,β-unsaturated carboxonium ions in solution, seems to occur across the C=C bond. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties of three new MnII-[MoIII(CN)7]4- molecular magnets.

PubMed

Wei, Xiao-Qin; Pi, Qian; Shen, Fu-Xing; Shao, Dong; Wei, Hai-Yan; Wang, Xin-Yi

2018-05-22

By reaction of K4[MoIII(CN)7]·2H2O, Mn(ClO4)2·6H2O and bidentate chelating ligands, three new cyano-bridged compounds, namely Mn2(3-pypz)(H2O)(CH3CN)[Mo(CN)7] (1), Mn2(1-pypz)(H2O)(CH3CN)[Mo(CN)7] (2) and Mn2(pyim)(H2O)(CH3CN)[Mo(CN)7] (3) (3-pypz = 2-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine, 1-pypz = 2-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine, pyim = 2-(1H-imidazol-2-yl)pyridine), have been synthesized and characterized structurally and magnetically. Single crystal X-ray analyses revealed that although the chelating ligands are different, compounds 1 to 3 are isomorphous and crystallize in the same monoclinic space group C2/m. Connected by the bridging cyano groups, one crystallographically unique [Mo(CN)7]4- unit and three crystallographically unique MnII ions of different coordination environments form similar three-dimensional frameworks, which have a four-nodal 3,4,4,7-connecting topological net with a vertex symbol of {43}{44·62}2{410·611}. Magnetic measurements revealed that compounds 1-3 display long-range magnetic ordering with critical temperatures of 64, 66 and 62 K, respectively. These compounds are rare examples of a small number of chelating co-ligand coordinated [Mo(CN)7]4--based magnetic materials. Specifically, the bidentate chelating ligands were successfully introduced into the heptacyanomolybdate system for the first time.

Methyl-perfluoroheptene-ethers (CH3OC7F13): measured OH radical reaction rate coefficients for several isomers and enantiomers and their atmospheric lifetimes and global warming potentials.

PubMed

Jubb, Aaron M; Gierczak, Tomasz; Baasandorj, Munkhbayar; Waterland, Robert L; Burkholder, James B

2014-05-06

Mixtures of methyl-perfluoroheptene-ethers (CH3OC7F13, MPHEs) are currently in use as replacements for perfluorinated alkanes (PFCs) and poly-ether heat transfer fluids, which are persistent greenhouse gases with lifetimes >1000 years. At present, the atmospheric processing and environmental impact from the use of MPHEs is unknown. In this work, rate coefficients at 296 K for the gas-phase reaction of the OH radical with six key isomers (including stereoisomers and enantiomers) of MPHEs used commercially were measured using a relative rate method. Rate coefficients for the six MPHE isomers ranged from ∼ 0.1 to 2.9 × 10(-12) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) with a strong stereoisomer and -OCH3 group position dependence; the (E)-stereoisomers with the -OCH3 group in an α- position relative to the double bond had the greatest reactivity. Rate coefficients measured for the d3-MPHE isomer analogues showed decreased reactivity consistent with a minor contribution of H atom abstraction from the -OCH3 group to the overall reactivity. Estimated atmospheric lifetimes for the MPHE isomers range from days to months. Atmospheric lifetimes, radiative efficiencies, and global warming potentials for these short-lived MPHE isomers were estimated based on the measured OH rate coefficients along with measured and theoretically calculated MPHE infrared absorption spectra. Our results highlight the importance of quantifying the atmospheric impact of individual components in an isomeric mixture.

Social phobia and avoidant personality disorder: similar but different?

PubMed

Lampe, Lisa; Sunderland, Matthew

2015-02-01

Avoidant personality disorder (AvPD) is regarded as a severe variant of social phobia (SP), consistent with a dimensional model. However, these conclusions are largely drawn from studies based on individuals with SP, with or without comorbid AvPD. The present study hypothesized that there are qualitative differences between AvPD and SP that are undermined by limiting research to participants with SP. The authors sought to test this hypothesis by comparing three groups-SP only, AvPD only, and SP+AvPD-using data extracted from an epidemiological sample of 10,641 adults aged 18 years and over. Screening questions were used in the epidemiological survey to identify ICD-10 personality disorders; from this the author developed a proxy measure for DSM-IV AvPD. Axis I diagnoses, including DSM-IV SP, were identified using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). In this sample, the majority of those with AvPD did not also have SP: The authors found 116 persons with AvPD only, 196 with SP only, and 69 with SP+AvPD. There was little difference between any of the groups on sex, marital status, employment, education, or impairment variables. The SP+AvPD group reported more distress and comorbidity than the SP only and AvPD only groups, which did not differentiate from each other. More feared social situations were endorsed in the SP only group compared to the AvPD only group. Although the finding of few differences between SP only and AvPD only groups among the variables measured in this epidemiological survey fails to provide support for the hypothesis of qualitative differences, the finding that the AvPD only group appears more similar to the SP only group than to the SP+AvPD group also fails to provide support for the alternative continuity hypothesis. The greater distress and additional comorbidity with depression associated with SP+AvPD may be due to the additional symptom load of a second disorder rather than simply representing a more severe variant of social phobia. The use of a proxy for AvPD is a limitation of the study. Future studies should focus on broader clinical variables that have been proposed as qualitatively different between these disorders, and on the possible genetic and environmental factors that might help explain such differences.

Are acid volatile sulfides (AVS) important trace metals sinks in semi-arid mangroves?

PubMed

Queiroz, Hermano Melo; Nóbrega, Gabriel Nuto; Otero, Xose L; Ferreira, Tiago Osório

2018-01-01

Acid-volatile sulfides (AVS) formation and its role on trace metals bioavailability were studied in semi-arid mangroves. The semi-arid climatic conditions at the studied sites, marked by low rainfall and high evapotranspiration rates, clearly limited the AVS formation (AVS contents varied from 0.10 to 2.34μmolg -1 ) by favoring oxic conditions (Eh>+350mV). The AVS contents were strongly correlated with reactive iron and organic carbon (r=0.84; r=0.83 respectively), evidencing their dominant role for AVS formation under semi-arid conditions. On the other hand, the recorded ΣSEM/AVS values remained >1 evidencing a little control of AVS over the bioavailability of trace metals and, thus, its minor role as a sink for toxic metals. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An ALE meta-analysis on the audiovisual integration of speech signals.

PubMed

Erickson, Laura C; Heeg, Elizabeth; Rauschecker, Josef P; Turkeltaub, Peter E

2014-11-01

The brain improves speech processing through the integration of audiovisual (AV) signals. Situations involving AV speech integration may be crudely dichotomized into those where auditory and visual inputs contain (1) equivalent, complementary signals (validating AV speech) or (2) inconsistent, different signals (conflicting AV speech). This simple framework may allow the systematic examination of broad commonalities and differences between AV neural processes engaged by various experimental paradigms frequently used to study AV speech integration. We conducted an activation likelihood estimation metaanalysis of 22 functional imaging studies comprising 33 experiments, 311 subjects, and 347 foci examining "conflicting" versus "validating" AV speech. Experimental paradigms included content congruency, timing synchrony, and perceptual measures, such as the McGurk effect or synchrony judgments, across AV speech stimulus types (sublexical to sentence). Colocalization of conflicting AV speech experiments revealed consistency across at least two contrast types (e.g., synchrony and congruency) in a network of dorsal stream regions in the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes. There was consistency across all contrast types (synchrony, congruency, and percept) in the bilateral posterior superior/middle temporal cortex. Although fewer studies were available, validating AV speech experiments were localized to other regions, such as ventral stream visual areas in the occipital and inferior temporal cortex. These results suggest that while equivalent, complementary AV speech signals may evoke activity in regions related to the corroboration of sensory input, conflicting AV speech signals recruit widespread dorsal stream areas likely involved in the resolution of conflicting sensory signals. Copyright © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Avoidant personality disorder versus social phobia: the significance of childhood neglect.

PubMed

Eikenaes, Ingeborg; Egeland, Jens; Hummelen, Benjamin; Wilberg, Theresa

2015-01-01

Avoidant personality disorder (AvPD) and social phobia (SP) are common disorders both in the community and in clinical settings. Whether the two disorders represent different severity levels of social anxiety disorder is currently in dispute. The relationship between AvPD and SP is probably more complex than previously assumed. Several environmental, temperamental, and constitutional factors may play a role in the etiology of AvPD and SP. Better knowledge about childhood experiences may shed light on similarities and differences between the two disorders. The aim of this study was to compare self-reported childhood experiences in AvPD and SP patients. This is a cross-sectional multi-site study of 91 adult patients with AvPD and/ or SP. We compared patients with AvPD with and without SP (AvPD group) to patients with SP without AvPD (SP group). The patients were examined using structured diagnostic interviews and self-report measures, including Child Trauma Questionnaire, Parental Bonding Instrument, and Adult Temperament Questionnaire. Both AvPD and SP were associated with negative childhood experiences. AvPD patients reported more severe childhood neglect than patients with SP, most pronounced for physical neglect. The difference between the disorders in neglect remained significant after controlling for temperamental factors and concurrent abuse. The study indicates that childhood neglect is a risk factor for AvPD and may be one contributing factor to phenomenological differences between AvPD and SP.

Water drives the deuterium content of the methane emitted from plants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vigano, I.; Holzinger, R.; Keppler, F.; Greule, M.; Brand, W. A.; Geilmann, H.; van Weelden, H.; Röckmann, T.

2010-07-01

The spatial distribution of the deuterium content of precipitation has a well-established latitudinal variation that is reflected in organic molecules in plants growing at different locations. Some laboratory and field studies have already shown that the deuterium content of methane emitted from methanogens can be partially related to δD variations of the water in the surrounding environment. Here we present a similar relation for the methane emitted from plant biomass under UV radiation. To show this relation, we determined the hydrogen isotopic composition of methane released from leaves of a range of plants grown with water of different deuterium content (δD = -130‰ to +115‰). The plant leaves were irradiated with UV light and the CH 4 isotopic composition was measured by continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry (CF-IRMS). Furthermore, the deuterium content of bulk biomass and of the methoxyl (OCH 3) groups of the biomass was measured. The D/H ratio successively decreases from bulk biomass (δD = -106‰ to -50‰) via methoxyl groups (δD = -310‰ to -115‰) to the CH 4 emitted (δD = -581‰ to -196‰). The range of isotope ratios in bulk biomass and OCH 3 groups is smaller than in the water used to grow the plants. Methoxyl groups, which contain only non-exchangeable hydrogen, can be used to assess the fraction of external water that was incorporated before OCH 3 groups were formed. Surprisingly, the CH 4 formed under UV irradiation has a wider isotopic range than the OCH 3 groups. Although the precise production pathway cannot be fully determined, the presented experiments indicate that methoxyl groups are not the only source substrate for CH 4, but that other sources, including very depleted ones, must contribute. The main limitation to the interpretation of the data is the possible influence of exchangeable water, which could not be quantified. Future studies should include measurements of leaf water and avoid interaction between different plants via the gas phase. Despite these deficiencies, the results suggest that the deuterium content of the methane generated from plants under UV irradiation is closely linked to δD in precipitation. This dependency, which should also exist for other biogenic methane sources could be evaluated with global isotope models.

Antigenic characterization of intermediate adenovirus 14-11 strains associated with upper respiratory illness in a military camp.

PubMed Central

Hierholzer, J C; Pumarola, A

1976-01-01

An unusual variant of adenovirus (AV) 11 was isolated from throat and rectal swabs from six persons with upper respiratory illness in a Spanish military camp in March 1969. The same strain was serologically related to the upper respiratory illness of seven other men among 25 sample cases studied in detail. After strain purification, the virus was grouped as an AV by standard biological tests; it possessed the usual titers of group-specific hexon antigen but only low hemagglutinin titers (1:4 to 1:8) with erythrocytes from selected rhesus monkeys. The virus gave little reaction in hemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests with antisera to AV 1 through 35, but was neutralized to homologous titers by AV 11 antiserum. Reciprocally, rabbit and guinea pig antisera to the isolates possessed high HI antibody titers to prototype AV 14 and high serum neutralization (SN) antibody titers to prototype AV 11. On this basis, the variants were classified as AV 14-11 intermediates. Sequential serum specimens from the patients with and without positive cultures showed diagnostic rises in HI and SN antibody levels to the AV 14-11 intermediate and to prototype AV 11, but little response to AV 14. PMID:177365

Adrenal Vein Sampling for Conn's Syndrome: Diagnosis and Clinical Outcomes.

PubMed

Deipolyi, Amy R; Bailin, Alexander; Wicky, Stephan; Alansari, Shehab; Oklu, Rahmi

2015-06-19

Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is the gold standard test to determine unilateral causes of primary aldosteronism (PA). We have retrospectively characterized our experience with AVS including concordance of AVS results and imaging, and describe the approach for the PA patient in whom bilateral AVS is unsuccessful. We reviewed the medical records of 85 patients with PA and compared patients who were treated medically and surgically on pre-procedure presentation and post-treatment outcomes, and evaluated how technically unsuccessful AVS results were used in further patient management. Out of the 92 AVS performed in 85 patients, AVS was technically successful bilaterally in 58 (63%) of cases. Either unsuccessful AVS prompted a repeat AVS, or results from the contralateral side and from CT imaging were used to guide further therapy. Patients who were managed surgically with adrenalectomy had higher initial blood pressure and lower potassium levels compared with patients who were managed medically. Adrenalectomy results in significantly decreased blood pressure and normalization of potassium levels. AVS can identify surgically curable causes of PA, but can be technically challenging. When one adrenal vein fails to be cannulated, results from the contralateral vein can be useful in conjunction with imaging and clinical findings to suggest further management.

Formation of ethylene glycol and other complex organic molecules in star-forming regions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rivilla, V. M.; Beltrán, M. T.; Cesaroni, R.; Fontani, F.; Codella, C.; Zhang, Q.

2017-02-01

Context. The detection of complex organic molecules related with prebiotic chemistry in star-forming regions allows us to investigate how the basic building blocks of life are formed. Aims: Ethylene glycol (CH2OH)2 is the simplest sugar alcohol and the reduced alcohol of the simplest sugar glycoladehyde (CH2OHCHO). We study the molecular abundance and spatial distribution of (CH2OH)2, CH2OHCHO and other chemically related complex organic species (CH3OCHO, CH3OCH3, and C2H5OH) towards the chemically rich massive star-forming region G31.41+0.31. Methods: We analyzed multiple single-dish (Green Bank Telescope and IRAM 30 m) and interferometric (Submillimeter Array) spectra towards G31.41+0.31, covering a range of frequencies from 45 to 258 GHz. We fitted the observed spectra with a local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) synthetic spectra, and obtained excitation temperatures and column densities. We compared our findings in G31.41+0.31 with the results found in other environments, including low- and high-mass star-forming regions, quiescent clouds and comets. Results: We report for the first time the presence of the aGg' conformer of (CH2OH)2 towards G31.41+0.31, detecting more than 30 unblended lines. We also detected multiple transitions of other complex organic molecules such as CH2OHCHO, CH3OCHO, CH3OCH3, and C2H5OH. The high angular resolution images show that the (CH2OH)2 emission is very compact, peaking towards the maximum of the 1.3 mm continuum. These observations suggest that low abundance complex organic molecules, like (CH2OH)2 or CH2OHCHO, are good probes of the gas located closer to the forming stars. Our analysis confirms that (CH2OH)2 is more abundant than CH2OHCHO in G31.41+0.31, as previously observed in other interstellar regions. Comparing different star-forming regions we find evidence of an increase of the (CH2OH)2/CH2OHCHO abundance ratio with the luminosity of the source. The CH3OCH3/CH3OCHO and (CH2OH)2/C2H5OH ratios are nearly constant with luminosity. We also find that the abundance ratios of pairs of isomers (CH2OHCHO/CH3OCHO and C2H5OH/CH3OCH3) decrease with the luminosity of the sources. Conclusions: The most likely explanation for the behavior of the (CH2OH)2/CH2OHCHO ratio is that these molecules are formed by different chemical formation routes not directly linked, although different formation and destruction efficiencies in the gas phase cannot be ruled out. The most likely formation route of (CH2OH)2 is by combination of two CH2OH radicals on dust grains. We also favor that CH2OHCHO is formed via the solid-phase dimerization of the formyl radical HCO. The interpretation of the observations also suggests a chemical link between CH3OCHO and CH3OCH3, and between (CH2OH)2 and C2H5OH. The behavior of the abundance ratio C2H5OH/CH3OCH3 with luminosity may be explained by the different warm-up timescales in hot cores and hot corinos. The reduced spectra (ASCII files) are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (http://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/598/A59

Effects of liquid cooling garments on recovery and performance time in individuals performing strenuous work wearing a firefighter ensemble.

PubMed

Kim, Jung-Hyun; Coca, Aitor; Williams, W Jon; Roberge, Raymond J

2011-07-01

This study investigated the effects of body cooling using liquid cooling garments (LCG) on performance time (PT) and recovery in individuals wearing a fully equipped prototype firefighter ensemble (PFE) incorporating a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Six healthy male participants (three firefighters and three non-firefighters) completed six experimental sessions in an environmental chamber (35°C, 50% relative humidity), consisting of three stages of 15 min exercise at 75% VO2max, and 10 min rest following each exercise stage. During each session, one of the following six conditions was administered in a randomized order: control (no cooling, CON); air ventilation of exhaust SCBA gases rerouted into the PFE (AV); top cooling garment (TCG); TCG combined with AV (TCG+AV); a shortened whole body cooling garment (SCG), and SCG combined with AV (SCG+AV). Results showed that total PT completed was longer under SCG and SCG+AV compared with CON, AV, TCG, and TCG+AV (p<0.01). Magnitude of core temperature (Tc) elevation was significantly decreased when SCG was utilized (p<0.01), and heart rate recovery rate (10 min) was enhanced under SCG, SCG+AV, TCG, and TCG+AV compared with CON (p<0.05). Estimated Esw rate (kg·h(-1)) was the greatest in CON, 1.62 (0.37), and the least in SCG+AV 0.98 (0.44): (descending order: CON>AV>TCG=TCG+AV>SCG>SCG+AV) without a statistical difference between the conditions (p<0.05). Results of the present study suggest that the application of LCG underneath the PFE significantly improves the recovery during a short period of rest and prolongs performance time in subsequent bouts of exercise. LCG also appears to be an effective method for body cooling that promotes heat dissipation during uncompensable heat stress.

[Estimation of the atrioventricular time interval by pulse Doppler in the normal fetal heart].

PubMed

Hamela-Olkowska, Anita; Dangel, Joanna

2009-08-01

To assess normative values of the fetal atrioventricular (AV) time interval by pulse-wave Doppler methods on 5-chamber view. Fetal echocardiography exams were performed using Acuson Sequoia 512 in 140 singleton fetuses at 18 to 40 weeks of gestation with sinus rhythm and normal cardiac and extracardiac anatomy. Pulsed Doppler derived AV intervals were measured from left ventricular inflow/outflow view using transabdominal convex 3.5-6 MHz probe. The values of AV time interval ranged from 100 to 150 ms (mean 123 +/- 11.2). The AV interval was negatively correlated with the heart rhythm (p<0.001). Fetal heart rate decreased as gestation progressed (p<0.001). Thus, the AV intervals increased with the age of gestation (p=0.007). However, in the same subgroup of the fetal heart rate there was no relation between AV intervals and gestational age. Therefore, the AV intervals showed only the heart rate dependence. The 95th percentiles of AV intervals according to FHR ranged from 135 to 148 ms. 1. The AV interval duration was negatively correlated with the heart rhythm. 2. Measurement of AV time interval is easy to perform and has a good reproducibility. It may be used for the fetal heart block screening in anti-Ro and anti-La positive pregnancies. 3. Normative values established in the study may help obstetricians in assessing fetal abnormalities of the AV conduction.

Joint recognition and discrimination in nonlinear feature space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Talukder, Ashit; Casasent, David P.

1997-09-01

A new general method for linear and nonlinear feature extraction is presented. It is novel since it provides both representation and discrimination while most other methods are concerned with only one of these issues. We call this approach the maximum representation and discrimination feature (MRDF) method and show that the Bayes classifier and the Karhunen- Loeve transform are special cases of it. We refer to our nonlinear feature extraction technique as nonlinear eigen- feature extraction. It is new since it has a closed-form solution and produces nonlinear decision surfaces with higher rank than do iterative methods. Results on synthetic databases are shown and compared with results from standard Fukunaga- Koontz transform and Fisher discriminant function methods. The method is also applied to an automated product inspection problem (discrimination) and to the classification and pose estimation of two similar objects (representation and discrimination).

Dynamical eigenfunction decomposition of turbulent channel flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ball, K. S.; Sirovich, L.; Keefe, L. R.

1991-01-01

The results of an analysis of low-Reynolds-number turbulent channel flow based on the Karhunen-Loeve (K-L) expansion are presented. The turbulent flow field is generated by a direct numerical simulation of the Navier-Stokes equations at a Reynolds number Re(tau) = 80 (based on the wall shear velocity and channel half-width). The K-L procedure is then applied to determine the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions for this flow. The random coefficients of the K-L expansion are subsequently found by projecting the numerical flow field onto these eigenfunctions. The resulting expansion captures 90 percent of the turbulent energy with significantly fewer modes than the original trigonometric expansion. The eigenfunctions, which appear either as rolls or shearing motions, possess viscous boundary layers at the walls and are much richer in harmonics than the original basis functions.

CD142+/CD61+, CD146+ and CD45+ microparticles predict cardiovascular events in high risk patients following a Mediterranean diet supplemented with nuts.

PubMed

Chiva-Blanch, Gemma; Crespo, Javier; Suades, Rosa; Arderiu, Gemma; Padro, Teresa; Vilahur, Gemma; Cubedo, Judith; Corella, Dolores; Salas-Salvadó, Jordi; Arós, Fernando; Martínez-González, Miguel-Angel; Ros, Emilio; Fitó, Montse; Estruch, Ramon; Badimon, Lina

2016-07-04

Circulating microparticles (cMPs) are small phospholipid-rich microvesicles shed by activated cells that play a pivotal role in cell signalling related to the pathogenesis of atherothrombosis. We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of cMPs released from different vascular cells for cardiovascular event (CVE) presentation in asymptomatic patients at high cardiovascular risk factors under nutritional and pharmacologic treatment. This is a nested case-control study of 50 patients from the five-year follow-up prospective PREDIMED trial enrolled in the nuts arm of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet-nuts). We randomly selected 25 patients who had suffered a CVE during follow-up and pair-matched them for sex, age, and classical CV risk factors to 25 patients who remained asymptomatic (no-CVE). Total Annexin V-(AV)+ cMPs and cMPs from cells of the vascular compartment were quantified by flow cytometry at baseline and after one year follow-up. MedDiet-nuts and pharmacological treatment neither modified levels nor source of MP shedding in CVE patients. However, no-CVE patients showed 40-86 % decreased total AV+, PAC-1+/AV+, CD61+/AV+, CD142+/CD61+/AV+, CD62P+/AV+, CD146+/AV+, CD63+/AV+ and CD11a+/AV+ cMPs at one year follow-up (p≤0.046, all). CD142+/CD61+/AV+, CD146+/AV+ and CD45+/AV+ cMPs were decreased in no-CVE patients compared to CVE patients. A ROC-curve clustered model for CD142+/CD61+/AV+, CD45+/AV+ and CD146+/AV+ cMPs predicted a future CVE [p<0.0001, AUC=0.805 (0.672 to 0.938)]. In patients at high CV risk profile treated with a controlled MedDiet supplemented with nuts and receiving up-to-date CV drug treatment, reduced cMPs derived from activated platelets, leukocytes and endothelial cells are predictive of protection against CVE within the next four years.

The Unusual Resistance of Avian Defensin AvBD7 to Proteolytic Enzymes Preserves Its Antibacterial Activity

PubMed Central

Bailleul, Geoffrey; Kravtzoff, Amanda; Joulin-Giet, Alix; Lecaille, Fabien; Labas, Valérie; Meudal, Hervé; Loth, Karine; Teixeira-Gomes, Ana-Paula; Gilbert, Florence B.; Coquet, Laurent; Jouenne, Thierry; Brömme, Dieter; Schouler, Catherine; Landon, Céline; Lalmanach, Gilles; Lalmanach, Anne-Christine

2016-01-01

Defensins are frontline peptides of mucosal immunity in the animal kingdom, including birds. Their resistance to proteolysis and their ensuing ability to maintain antimicrobial potential remains questionable and was therefore investigated. We have shown by bottom-up mass spectrometry analysis of protein extracts that both avian beta-defensins AvBD2 and AvBD7 were ubiquitously distributed along the chicken gut. Cathepsin B was found by immunoblotting in jejunum, ileum, caecum, and caecal tonsils, while cathepsins K, L, and S were merely identified in caecal tonsils. Hydrolysis product of AvBD2 and AvBD7 incubated with a panel of proteases was analysed by RP-HPLC, mass spectrometry and antimicrobial assays. AvBD2 and AvBD7 were resistant to serine proteases and to cathepsins D and H. Conversely cysteine cathepsins B, K, L, and S degraded AvBD2 and abolished its antibacterial activity. Only cathepsin K cleaved AvBD7 and released Ile4-AvBD7, a N-terminal truncated natural peptidoform of AvBD7 that displayed antibacterial activity. Besides the 3-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet typical of beta-defensins, structural analysis of AvBD7 by two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy highlighted the restricted accessibility of the C-terminus embedded by the N-terminal region and gave a formal evidence of a salt bridge (Asp9-Arg12) that could account for proteolysis resistance. The differential susceptibility of avian defensins to proteolysis opens intriguing questions about a distinctive role in the mucosal immunity against pathogen invasion. PMID:27561012

AVS-1357 inhibits melanogenesis via prolonged ERK activation.

PubMed

Kim, Dong-Seok; Lee, Hyun-Kyung; Park, Seo-Hyoung; Chae, Chong Hak; Park, Kyoung-Chan

2009-08-01

In this study, we demonstrated that a derivative of imidazole, AVS-1357, is a novel skin-whitening compound. AVS-1357 was found to significantly inhibit melanin production in a dose-dependent manner; however, it did not directly inhibit tyrosinase. Furthermore, we found that AVS-1357 induced prolonged activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt, while it downregulated microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and tyrosinase. It has been reported that the activation of ERK and/or Akt is involved in melanogenesis. Therefore, we examined the effects of AVS-1357 on melanogenesis in the absence or presence of PD98059 (a specific inhibitor of the ERK pathway) and/or LY294002 (a specific inhibitor of the Akt pathway). PD98059 dramatically increased melanogenesis, whereas LY294002 had no effect. Furthermore, PD98059 attenuated AVS-1357 induced ERK activation, as well as the downregulation of MITF and tyrosinase. These findings suggest that the effects of AVS-1357 occur via downregulation of MITF and tyrosinase, which is caused by AVS-1357-induced prolonged ERK activation. Taken together, our results indicate that AVS-1357 has the potential as a new skin whitening agent.

Efficient lowering of triglyceride levels in mice by human apoAV protein variants associated with hypertriglyceridemia.

PubMed

Vaessen, Stefan F C; Sierts, Jeroen A; Kuivenhoven, Jan Albert; Schaap, Frank G

2009-02-06

Variation in the apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5) gene has consistently been associated with increased plasma triglyceride (TG) levels in epidemiological studies. In vivo functionality of these variations, however, has thus far not been tested. Using adenoviral over-expression, we evaluated plasma expression levels and TG-lowering efficacies of wild-type human apoAV, two human apoAV variants associated with increased TG (S19W, G185C) and one variant (Q341H) that is predicted to have altered protein function. Injection of mice with adenovirus encoding wild-type or mutant apoAV resulted in an identical dose-dependent elevation of human apoAV levels in plasma. The increase in apoAV levels resulted in pronounced lowering of plasma TG levels at two viral dosages. Unexpectedly, the TG-lowering efficacy of all three apoAV variants was similar to wild-type apoAV. In addition, no effect on TG-hydrolysis-related plasma parameters (free fatty acids, glycerol and post-heparin lipoprotein lipase activity) was apparent upon expression of all apoAV variants. In conclusion, our data indicate that despite their association with hypertriglyceridemia and/or predicted protein dysfunction, the 19W, 185C and 341H apoAV variants are equally effective in reducing plasma TG levels in mice.

Adrenal Vein Sampling for Conn’s Syndrome: Diagnosis and Clinical Outcomes

PubMed Central

Deipolyi, Amy R.; Bailin, Alexander; Wicky, Stephan; Alansari, Shehab; Oklu, Rahmi

2015-01-01

Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is the gold standard test to determine unilateral causes of primary aldosteronism (PA). We have retrospectively characterized our experience with AVS including concordance of AVS results and imaging, and describe the approach for the PA patient in whom bilateral AVS is unsuccessful. We reviewed the medical records of 85 patients with PA and compared patients who were treated medically and surgically on pre-procedure presentation and post-treatment outcomes, and evaluated how technically unsuccessful AVS results were used in further patient management. Out of the 92 AVS performed in 85 patients, AVS was technically successful bilaterally in 58 (63%) of cases. Either unsuccessful AVS prompted a repeat AVS, or results from the contralateral side and from CT imaging were used to guide further therapy. Patients who were managed surgically with adrenalectomy had higher initial blood pressure and lower potassium levels compared with patients who were managed medically. Adrenalectomy results in significantly decreased blood pressure and normalization of potassium levels. AVS can identify surgically curable causes of PA, but can be technically challenging. When one adrenal vein fails to be cannulated, results from the contralateral vein can be useful in conjunction with imaging and clinical findings to suggest further management. PMID:26854152

Awareness and Use of the After-Visit Summary Through a Patient Portal: Evaluation of Patient Characteristics and an Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior.

PubMed

Emani, Srinivas; Healey, Michael; Ting, David Y; Lipsitz, Stuart R; Ramelson, Harley; Suric, Vladimir; Bates, David W

2016-04-13

Patient portals are being used to provide a clinical summary of the office visit or the after-visit summary (AVS) to patients. There has been relatively little research on the characteristics of patients who access the AVS through a patient portal and their beliefs about the AVS. The aim was to (1) assess the characteristics of patients who are aware of and access the AVS through a patient portal and (2) apply the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to predict behavioral intention of patients toward accessing the AVS provided through a patient portal. We developed a survey capturing the components of TPB (beliefs, attitude, perceived norm, and perceived behavioral control). Over a 6-month period, patients with a patient portal account with an office visit in the previous week were identified using our organization's scheduling system. These patients were sent an email about the study and a link to the survey via their portal account. We applied univariate statistical analysis (Pearson chi-square and 1-way ANOVA) to assess differences among groups (aware/unaware of AVS and accessed/did not access AVS). We reported means and standard deviations to depict belief strengths and presented correlations between beliefs and attitude, perceived norm, and perceived behavioral control. We used hierarchical regression analysis to predict behavioral intention toward accessing the AVS through the patient portal. Of the 23,336 patients who were sent the survey, 5370 responded for a response rate of 23.01%. Overall, 76.52% (4109/5370) were aware that the AVS was available through the patient portal and 54.71% of those (2248/4109) accessed the AVS within 5 days of the office visit. Patients who accessed the AVS had a greater number of sessions with the portal (mean 119, SD 221.5) than those who did not access the AVS (mean 79.1, SD 123.3, P<.001); the difference was not significant for awareness of the AVS. The strongest behavioral beliefs with accessing the AVS were being able to track visits and tests (mean 2.53, SD 1.00) followed by having medical information more readily accessible (mean 2.48, SD 1.07). In all, 56.7% of the variance in intention to access the AVS through the portal was accounted for by attitude, perceived norm, and perceived behavioral control. Most users of a patient portal were aware that the AVS was accessible through the portal. Patients had stronger beliefs about accessing the AVS with the goal of timely and efficient access of information than with engaging in their health care. Interventions to improve patient access of the AVS can focus on providers promoting patient beliefs about the value of the AVS for tracking tests and visits, and timely and efficient access of information.

Awareness and Use of the After-Visit Summary Through a Patient Portal: Evaluation of Patient Characteristics and an Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior

PubMed Central

Healey, Michael; Ting, David Y; Lipsitz, Stuart R; Ramelson, Harley; Suric, Vladimir; Bates, David W

2016-01-01

Background Patient portals are being used to provide a clinical summary of the office visit or the after-visit summary (AVS) to patients. There has been relatively little research on the characteristics of patients who access the AVS through a patient portal and their beliefs about the AVS. Objective The aim was to (1) assess the characteristics of patients who are aware of and access the AVS through a patient portal and (2) apply the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to predict behavioral intention of patients toward accessing the AVS provided through a patient portal. Methods We developed a survey capturing the components of TPB (beliefs, attitude, perceived norm, and perceived behavioral control). Over a 6-month period, patients with a patient portal account with an office visit in the previous week were identified using our organization’s scheduling system. These patients were sent an email about the study and a link to the survey via their portal account. We applied univariate statistical analysis (Pearson chi-square and 1-way ANOVA) to assess differences among groups (aware/unaware of AVS and accessed/did not access AVS). We reported means and standard deviations to depict belief strengths and presented correlations between beliefs and attitude, perceived norm, and perceived behavioral control. We used hierarchical regression analysis to predict behavioral intention toward accessing the AVS through the patient portal. Results Of the 23,336 patients who were sent the survey, 5370 responded for a response rate of 23.01%. Overall, 76.52% (4109/5370) were aware that the AVS was available through the patient portal and 54.71% of those (2248/4109) accessed the AVS within 5 days of the office visit. Patients who accessed the AVS had a greater number of sessions with the portal (mean 119, SD 221.5) than those who did not access the AVS (mean 79.1, SD 123.3, P<.001); the difference was not significant for awareness of the AVS. The strongest behavioral beliefs with accessing the AVS were being able to track visits and tests (mean 2.53, SD 1.00) followed by having medical information more readily accessible (mean 2.48, SD 1.07). In all, 56.7% of the variance in intention to access the AVS through the portal was accounted for by attitude, perceived norm, and perceived behavioral control. Conclusions Most users of a patient portal were aware that the AVS was accessible through the portal. Patients had stronger beliefs about accessing the AVS with the goal of timely and efficient access of information than with engaging in their health care. Interventions to improve patient access of the AVS can focus on providers promoting patient beliefs about the value of the AVS for tracking tests and visits, and timely and efficient access of information. PMID:27076485

Using EEG and stimulus context to probe the modelling of auditory-visual speech.

PubMed

Paris, Tim; Kim, Jeesun; Davis, Chris

2016-02-01

We investigated whether internal models of the relationship between lip movements and corresponding speech sounds [Auditory-Visual (AV) speech] could be updated via experience. AV associations were indexed by early and late event related potentials (ERPs) and by oscillatory power and phase locking. Different AV experience was produced via a context manipulation. Participants were presented with valid (the conventional pairing) and invalid AV speech items in either a 'reliable' context (80% AVvalid items) or an 'unreliable' context (80% AVinvalid items). The results showed that for the reliable context, there was N1 facilitation for AV compared to auditory only speech. This N1 facilitation was not affected by AV validity. Later ERPs showed a difference in amplitude between valid and invalid AV speech and there was significant enhancement of power for valid versus invalid AV speech. These response patterns did not change over the context manipulation, suggesting that the internal models of AV speech were not updated by experience. The results also showed that the facilitation of N1 responses did not vary as a function of the salience of visual speech (as previously reported); in post-hoc analyses, it appeared instead that N1 facilitation varied according to the relative time of the acoustic onset, suggesting for AV events N1 may be more sensitive to the relationship of AV timing than form. Crown Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Do gender differences in audio-visual benefit and visual influence in audio-visual speech perception emerge with age?

PubMed Central

Alm, Magnus; Behne, Dawn

2015-01-01

Gender and age have been found to affect adults’ audio-visual (AV) speech perception. However, research on adult aging focuses on adults over 60 years, who have an increasing likelihood for cognitive and sensory decline, which may confound positive effects of age-related AV-experience and its interaction with gender. Observed age and gender differences in AV speech perception may also depend on measurement sensitivity and AV task difficulty. Consequently both AV benefit and visual influence were used to measure visual contribution for gender-balanced groups of young (20–30 years) and middle-aged adults (50–60 years) with task difficulty varied using AV syllables from different talkers in alternative auditory backgrounds. Females had better speech-reading performance than males. Whereas no gender differences in AV benefit or visual influence were observed for young adults, visually influenced responses were significantly greater for middle-aged females than middle-aged males. That speech-reading performance did not influence AV benefit may be explained by visual speech extraction and AV integration constituting independent abilities. Contrastingly, the gender difference in visually influenced responses in middle adulthood may reflect an experience-related shift in females’ general AV perceptual strategy. Although young females’ speech-reading proficiency may not readily contribute to greater visual influence, between young and middle-adulthood recurrent confirmation of the contribution of visual cues induced by speech-reading proficiency may gradually shift females AV perceptual strategy toward more visually dominated responses. PMID:26236274

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

Schmelter, Christopher, E-mail: christopher.schmelter@klinikum-ingolstadt.de; Raab, Udo, E-mail: udo.raab@klinikum-ingolstadt.de; Lazarus, Friedrich, E-mail: friedrich.lazarus@klinikum-ingolstadt.de

PurposeThe study was designed to assess outcomes of arteriovenous (AV) accesses after interventional stent-graft deployment in haemodialysis patients.Materials and Methods63 haemodialysis patients with 66 AV fistulas and AV grafts were treated by interventional stent-graft deployment from 2006 to 2012 at our hospital. Data of these patients were retrospectively analysed for location of deployed stent-grafts, occurrence and location of (re-)stenosis and (re-)thrombosis. Complex stenosis was the most frequent indication for stent-graft deployment (45.5 %), followed by complications of angioplasty with vessel rupture or dissection (31.8 %).ResultsA high rate of procedural success was achieved (98.5 %). The most frequent location of the deployed stent-graft wasmore » the draining vein (66.7 %). Stent-graft deployment was more frequent in AV grafts than in AV fistulas. Primary patency was 45.5 % at 6 month, 31.3 % at 12 month and 19.2 % at 24 month. Primary patency was significantly better for AV fistulas than for AV grafts with deployed stent-grafts. Patency of the deployed stent-graft was much better than overall AV access primary patency with deployed stent-graft. Re-stenosis with thrombosis was the most frequent indication for re-intervention. Most frequent location of re-stenosis was the draining vein (37.1 %), followed by stenosis at the AV access (29.5 %) and the deployed stent-graft (23.5 %).ConclusionRe-stenosis and re-thrombosis remain frequent in AV fistulas and AV grafts in haemodialysis patients despite stent-graft deployment. Re-stenosis of the deployed stent-graft is, only in the minority of the cases, responsible for AV access dysfunction.« less

Differential gene expression profiles of β-defensins in the crop, intestine, and spleen using a necrotic enteritis model in 2 commercial broiler chicken lines.

PubMed

Hong, Y H; Song, W; Lee, S H; Lillehoj, H S

2012-05-01

Changes in the expression levels of avian β-defensin (AvBD) mRNA were evaluated in necrotic enteritis (NE) disease model in 2 genetically disparate commercial broiler chicken lines: Ross and Cobb. The NE was initiated in the gut by a previously established co-infection model using oral Eimeria maxima infection followed by a Clostridium perfringens challenge. Among the 14 AvBD types examined, there was a tissue-specific expression of AvBD transcripts: AvBD1, AvBD7, and AvBD9 in the crop; AvBD8, AvBD10, and AvBD13; in the intestine and AvBD1 and AvBD7 in the spleen. The 2 different commercial broiler chicken lines showed differential gene expression patterns of AvBD transcripts following co-infection with E. maxima and C. perfringens, with R-line chickens generally showing higher expression levels than the C strain. Both chicken strains showed enhanced gene expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17F, and TNFSF15 in spleen, and TNFSF15 in intestine, whereas IL-17F was significantly increased only in the intestine of R-line chickens following NE infection. Although the exact nature of interactions between defensins and cytokines in determining the outcome of host innate immune responses to the pathogens of NE remains to be investigated, the differences in gene expression levels of β-defensins and proinflammatory cytokines in the intestine, crop, and spleen could explain the predisposed disease resistance and susceptibility to NE in the 2 commercial broiler chicken lines.

Physician Perceptions and Beliefs about Generating and Providing a Clinical Summary of the Office Visit.

PubMed

Emani, S; Ting, D Y; Healey, M; Lipsitz, S R; Ramelson, H; Suric, V; Bates, D W

2015-01-01

A core measure of the meaningful use of EHR incentive program is the generation and provision of the clinical summary of the office visit, or the after visit summary (AVS), to patients. However, little research has been conducted on physician perceptions and beliefs about the AVS. Evaluate physician perceptions and beliefs about the AVS and the effect of the AVS on workload, patient outcomes, and the care the physician delivers. A cross-sectional online survey of physicians at two academic medical centers (AMCs) in the northeast who are participating in the meaningful use EHR incentive program. Of the 1 795 physicians at both AMCs participating in the incentive program, 853 completed the survey for a response rate of 47.5%. Eighty percent of the respondents reported that the AVS was easy (very easy or quite easy or somewhat easy) to generate and provide to patients. Nonetheless, more than three-fourths of the respondents reported a negative effect of generating and providing the AVS on workload of office staff (78%) and workload of physicians (76%). Primary care physicians had more positive beliefs about the effect of the AVS on patient outcomes than specialists (p<0.001) and also had more positive beliefs about the effect of the AVS on the care they delivered than specialists (p<0.001). Achieving the core meaningful use measure of generating and providing the AVS was easy for physicians but it did not necessarily translate into positive beliefs about the effect of the AVS on patient outcomes or the care the physician delivered. Physicians also had negative beliefs about the effect of the AVS on workload. To promote positive beliefs among physicians around the AVS, organizations should obtain physician input into the design and implementation of the AVS and develop strategies to mitigate its negative impacts on workload.

Adrenal vein sampling in primary aldosteronism: concordance of simultaneous vs sequential sampling.

PubMed

Almarzooqi, Mohamed-Karji; Chagnon, Miguel; Soulez, Gilles; Giroux, Marie-France; Gilbert, Patrick; Oliva, Vincent L; Perreault, Pierre; Bouchard, Louis; Bourdeau, Isabelle; Lacroix, André; Therasse, Eric

2017-02-01

Many investigators believe that basal adrenal venous sampling (AVS) should be done simultaneously, whereas others opt for sequential AVS for simplicity and reduced cost. This study aimed to evaluate the concordance of sequential and simultaneous AVS methods. Between 1989 and 2015, bilateral simultaneous sets of basal AVS were obtained twice within 5 min, in 188 consecutive patients (59 women and 129 men; mean age: 53.4 years). Selectivity was defined by adrenal-to-peripheral cortisol ratio ≥2, and lateralization was defined as an adrenal aldosterone-to-cortisol ratio ≥2, the contralateral side. Sequential AVS was simulated using right sampling at -5 min (t = -5) and left sampling at 0 min (t = 0). There was no significant difference in mean selectivity ratio (P = 0.12 and P = 0.42 for the right and left sides respectively) and in mean lateralization ratio (P = 0.93) between t = -5 and t = 0. Kappa for selectivity between 2 simultaneous AVS was 0.71 (95% CI: 0.60-0.82), whereas it was 0.84 (95% CI: 0.76-0.92) and 0.85 (95% CI: 0.77-0.93) between sequential and simultaneous AVS at respectively -5 min and at 0 min. Kappa for lateralization between 2 simultaneous AVS was 0.84 (95% CI: 0.75-0.93), whereas it was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.78-0.94) and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.71-0.90) between sequential AVS and simultaneous AVS at respectively -5 min at 0 min. Concordance between simultaneous and sequential AVS was not different than that between 2 repeated simultaneous AVS in the same patient. Therefore, a better diagnostic performance is not a good argument to select the AVS method. © 2017 European Society of Endocrinology.

Physician Perceptions and Beliefs about Generating and Providing a Clinical Summary of the Office Visit

PubMed Central

Ting, D.Y.; Healey, M.; Lipsitz, S.R.; Ramelson, H.; Suric, V.; Bates, D.W.

2015-01-01

Summary Background A core measure of the meaningful use of EHR incentive program is the generation and provision of the clinical summary of the office visit, or the after visit summary (AVS), to patients. However, little research has been conducted on physician perceptions and beliefs about the AVS. Objectives Evaluate physician perceptions and beliefs about the AVS and the effect of the AVS on workload, patient outcomes, and the care the physician delivers. Methods A cross-sectional online survey of physicians at two academic medical centers (AMCs) in the northeast who are participating in the meaningful use EHR incentive program. Results Of the 1 795 physicians at both AMCs participating in the incentive program, 853 completed the survey for a response rate of 47.5%. Eighty percent of the respondents reported that the AVS was easy (very easy or quite easy or somewhat easy) to generate and provide to patients. Nonetheless, more than three-fourths of the respondents reported a negative effect of generating and providing the AVS on workload of office staff (78%) and workload of physicians (76%). Primary care physicians had more positive beliefs about the effect of the AVS on patient outcomes than specialists (p<0.001) and also had more positive beliefs about the effect of the AVS on the care they delivered than specialists (p<0.001). Conclusions Achieving the core meaningful use measure of generating and providing the AVS was easy for physicians but it did not necessarily translate into positive beliefs about the effect of the AVS on patient outcomes or the care the physician delivered. Physicians also had negative beliefs about the effect of the AVS on workload. To promote positive beliefs among physicians around the AVS, organizations should obtain physician input into the design and implementation of the AVS and develop strategies to mitigate its negative impacts on workload. PMID:26448799

Evolving Practice Trends of Aortic Root Surgery in North America.

PubMed

Caceres, Manuel; Ma, Yicheng; Rankin, J Scott; Saha-Chaudhuri, Paramita; Gammie, James S; Suri, Rakesh M; Thourani, Vinod H; Englum, Brian R; Esmailian, Fardad; Czer, Lawrence S; Puskas, John D; Svensson, Lars G

2014-08-19

Aortic-valve sparing (AVS) techniques have emerged as alternatives to composite graft-valve replacement (CVR) for treatment of aortic root aneurysm. This study analyzed recent practice trends of aortic root surgery using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons database. From January 2000 through June 2011, 31,747, Overall patients received AVS (n=3,585/31,747; 11.3%) or CVR (n=28,162/31,747; 88.7%). A High-Risk Subgroup was defined as: age >75 years, endocarditis, aortic stenosis, dialysis, multi-valve surgery, valve reoperation, or emergency/salvage status, and high-risk patients were less likely to receive AVS (n=20,356/31,747 [64.1%]; 6% AVS; unadjusted operative mortality 10.5% AVS and 11.7% CVR). The remaining patients comprised a Low-Risk Subgroup, in which AVS was more common (n=11,388/31,747 [35.9%]; 21% AVS; unadjusted operative mortality 1.4% AVS and 3.1% CVR). Procedural changes over 3 equal time periods (P1-P2-P3) were evaluated by Cochran-Armitage trends analysis. Compared to AVS, Overall CVR patients had worse baseline risk profiles and higher unadjusted operative mortality. In High-Risk patients, AVS mortality was comparable to CVR (10.5% vs 11.7%, p=0.19), but AVS mortality was lower in the Low-Risk group (1.4% vs 3%, p<0.0001). For P1/P2/P3, AVS percentages and trend p-values were: High-Risk (6%/6%/7%, p=0.26) and Low-Risk (12%/21%/25%, p<0.0001). CVR prosthesis type (mechanical/bioprosthesis/homograft) also changed: P1 (63%/22%/15%), P2 (58%/38%/4%), and P3 (53%/44%/3%) (all p<0.0001, except mechanical valves in High-Risk patients p=0.18). Patients receiving CVR tended to have higher risk profiles. AVS increased over time in Low-Risk patients while bioprostheses increased in CVR. Favorable outcomes support the trend toward further expansion of AVS. Copyright © 2014 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Designing algorithm visualization on mobile platform: The proposed guidelines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Supli, A. A.; Shiratuddin, N.

2017-09-01

This paper entails an ongoing study about the design guidelines of algorithm visualization (AV) on mobile platform, helping students learning data structures and algorithm (DSA) subject effectively. Our previous review indicated that design guidelines of AV on mobile platform are still few. Mostly, previous guidelines of AV are developed for AV on desktop and website platform. In fact, mobile learning has been proved to enhance engagement in learning circumstances, and thus effect student's performance. In addition, the researchers highly recommend including UI design and Interactivity in designing effective AV system. However, the discussions of these two aspects in previous AV design guidelines are not comprehensive. The UI design in this paper describes the arrangement of AV features in mobile environment, whereas interactivity is about the active learning strategy features based on learning experiences (how to engage learners). Thus, this study main objective is to propose design guidelines of AV on mobile platform (AVOMP) that entails comprehensively UI design and interactivity aspects. These guidelines are developed through content analysis and comparative analysis from various related studies. These guidelines are useful for AV designers to help them constructing AVOMP for various topics on DSA.

Genomic sequence of Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3g isolated from Spodoptera exigua.

PubMed

Huang, Guo-Hua; Wang, Yun-Sheng; Wang, Xing; Garretson, Tyler A; Dai, Liang-Ying; Zhang, Chuan-Xi; Cheng, Xiao-Wen

2012-11-01

Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3a (HvAV-3a), a member of the family Ascoviridae, has the highest diversity among ascovirus species that have been reported in Australia, Indonesia, China, and the United States. To understand the diversity and origin of this important ascovirus, the complete genome of the HvAV Indonesia strain (HvAV-3g), isolated from Spodoptera exigua, was determined to be 199,721 bp, with a G+C content of 45.9%. Therefore, HvAV-3g has the largest genome among the reported ascovirus genomes to date. There are 194 predicted open reading frames (ORFs) encoding proteins of 50 or more amino acid residues. In comparison to HvAV-3e reported from Australia, HvAV-3g has all the ORFs in HvAV-3e with 6 additional ORFs unique to HvAV-3g, including 1 peptidase C26 gene with the highest identity to Drosophila spp. and 2 gas vesicle protein U (GvpU) genes with identities to Bacillus megaterium. The five unique homologous regions (hrs) and 25 baculovirus repeat ORFs (bro) of HvAV-3g are highly variable.

8D.04: CLINICAL BENEFITS OF ADMINISTERING SUPER-SELECTIVE SEGMENTAL ADRENAL VENOUS SAMPLING AND PERFORMING ADRENAL SPARING SURGERY IN THE PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY ALDOSTERONISM.

PubMed

Satoh, F; Morimoto, R; Ono, Y; Iwakura, Y; Omata, K; Kudo, M; Satani, N; Ota, H; Seiji, K; Takase, K; Nakamura, Y; Sasano, H; Ito, S

2015-06-01

Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) has been well known to play pivotal roles in clinical differential diagnosis of unilateral aldosterone producing adenoma (APA) from bilateral idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA). However, it is also true that a central vein AVS or c-AVS which collects the blood from right and left central adrenal veins can by no means discriminate bilateral APA from BHA. There have been no published studies reporting the reliable clinical differential diagnosis between bilateral APA and IHA, especially IHA cases with bilateral non-functioning adenomas (NFA), which has been considered practically impossible in clinical differential diagnosis. As an attempt to this clinical dilemma, segmental AVS (S-AVS), which could evaluate segmental effluents from adrenal tributary veins, has been recently developed. We have performed S-AVS in these patients above following C-AVS, via the insertion of a microcatheter in up to three intra-adrenal first-degree tributary veins on bilateral adrenals. S-AVS did enable us to evaluate the intra-adrenal localization of corticosteroidogenesis. These data did indicate that S-AVS should be performed in the PA patients who had increased aldosterone levels in bilateral central vein and demonstrated space occupying lesions in the bilateral adrenals in order to avoid bilateral adrenalectomy or long lasting medical treatment toward persistent PA. In addition to the situations above, we have administere S-AVS to the following patients; those who had clinically suspected APA but not sufficiently high lateralization indexes according to the results of C-AVS, very young ones with higher clinical probability of recurrence and those who could benefit from partial adrenalectomy by demonstrating the sites of specific steroidogenesis. However, it is also entirely true that S-AVS is more expensive, time-consuming and labor-intensive compared to C-AVS.(Figure is included in full-text article.)The angiography during S-AVS (A, B), the coronal CT image (C), and the data in external iliac vein (EIV), each central vein (1, 4) and each tributary vein (2, 3, 5, 6) of 66 year-old male patient with bilateral APAs. We should carefully select the candidate patients who should undergo S-AVS, which will give a benefit to themselves by demonstrating intra-adrenal steroidogenesis for a safer preserving adrenalectomy.

How TSPSM Implementation has Evolved at AV-8B

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-05-01

How TSPSM Implementation Has Evolved at AV-8B Chris Rickets AV-8B Joint Systems/Software Support Activity (JSSA) Brad Hodgins NAVAIR Systems...members need to be involved) NAVAIR Software/Systems Support Center (NSSC) Slide 40 Contact Information • Chris Rickets (AV-8B Sr. Software Engr...phone: (760) 939-5838 – e-mail: chris rickets @navy mil . . • Brad Hodgins (NAVAIR TSP Coach supporting AV-8B ) – phone: (760) 939-0666/4446 – e

Diagnosis of aerobic vaginitis by quantitative real-time PCR.

PubMed

Rumyantseva, T A; Bellen, G; Savochkina, Y A; Guschin, A E; Donders, G G G

2016-07-01

To evaluate a real-time PCR-based technique to quantify bacteria associated with aerobic vaginitis (AV) as a potential test. Vaginal samples from 100 women were tested by wet-mount microscopy, gram stain and quantitative real-time PCR targeting Enterobacteriacea, Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Enterococcus spp., Escherichia coli, Streptococcus agalactiae, S. aureus; Lactobacillus spp. AV diagnosis obtained by wet-mount microscopy was used as reference. Some level of AV was diagnosed in 23 (23.7 %) cases. Various concentrations of Enterobacteriacea, Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp. were detected an all patients. Enterococcus spp. were detected in 76 (78.3 %) cases. Summarized concentrations of aerobes were tenfold higher in AV-positive compared to AV-negative cases [7.30lg vs 6.06lg (p = 0.02)]. Concentrations of aerobes in severe, moderate and light AV cases did not vary significantly (p = 0.14). Concentration of lactobacilli was 1000-fold lower in AV-positive cases compared to normal cases (5.3lg vs 8.3lg, p < 0.0001). Streptococcus spp. dominated in the majority of AV-positive cases [19/22 (86.4 %) samples]. The relation of high loads of aerobes to the low numbers of Lactobacilli are a reliable marker for the presence of AV and could substitute microscopy as a test. PCR may be a good standardized substitution for AV diagnosis in settings where well-trained microscopists are lacking.

Is it useful to repeat an adrenal venous sampling in patients with primary hyperaldosteronism?

PubMed

Bouhanick, B; Delchier, M-C; Fauvel, J; Rousseau, H; Amar, J; Chamontin, B

2014-02-01

Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is a challenging technical procedure and few patients had AVS procedure twice. To evaluate the reproducibility of the AVS, why AVS were repeated and the conclusions drawn from them. From 1997-2012, 12 patients underwent two AVS. A cortisol level in the adrenal vein greater than or equal to 1.1 to inferior vena cava defined a successful catheterization and a lateralization of secretion corresponded to an aldosterone-to-cortisol vein ratio greater than or equal to 2 between the one side to another. The same side of lateralization of secretion was found in 75% of them. The second AVS were due to technical failure (n=4), unproven lateralization (n=2), a lateralization opposite to the main nodule and ipsilateral to hyperplasia (n=4) on first AVS. For two patients, as the CT was normal, AVS was required again. The second AVS was successful in all patients, including those with an initial technical failure but only patient with technical failure underwent surgery, as BP and kaliemia were controlled. Lateralization on the side of hyperplasia or opposite to the biggest nodule was confirmed in two of four cases. When AVS is unsuccessful for technical reasons, it is worth doing it again but after being sure that surgery is still possibly indicated. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Neural networks supporting audiovisual integration for speech: A large-scale lesion study.

PubMed

Hickok, Gregory; Rogalsky, Corianne; Matchin, William; Basilakos, Alexandra; Cai, Julia; Pillay, Sara; Ferrill, Michelle; Mickelsen, Soren; Anderson, Steven W; Love, Tracy; Binder, Jeffrey; Fridriksson, Julius

2018-06-01

Auditory and visual speech information are often strongly integrated resulting in perceptual enhancements for audiovisual (AV) speech over audio alone and sometimes yielding compelling illusory fusion percepts when AV cues are mismatched, the McGurk-MacDonald effect. Previous research has identified three candidate regions thought to be critical for AV speech integration: the posterior superior temporal sulcus (STS), early auditory cortex, and the posterior inferior frontal gyrus. We assess the causal involvement of these regions (and others) in the first large-scale (N = 100) lesion-based study of AV speech integration. Two primary findings emerged. First, behavioral performance and lesion maps for AV enhancement and illusory fusion measures indicate that classic metrics of AV speech integration are not necessarily measuring the same process. Second, lesions involving superior temporal auditory, lateral occipital visual, and multisensory zones in the STS are the most disruptive to AV speech integration. Further, when AV speech integration fails, the nature of the failure-auditory vs visual capture-can be predicted from the location of the lesions. These findings show that AV speech processing is supported by unimodal auditory and visual cortices as well as multimodal regions such as the STS at their boundary. Motor related frontal regions do not appear to play a role in AV speech integration. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The analysis of forms of sulfur in ancient sediments and sedimentary rocks: comments and cautions

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rice, C.A.; Tuttle, M.L.; Reynolds, R.L.

1993-01-01

Assumptions commonly made during analysis of the amount of monosulfides [acid-volatile sulfides (AVS)] and disulfides in modern sediments, may not be valid for ancient sedimentary rocks. It is known that ferric iron can oxidize H2S during AVS analysis unless a reducing agent such as stannous chloride is added to the treatment. In addition, some monosulfides such as greigite and pyrrhotite require heat during the AVS analysis in order to dissolve completely. However, the use of heat and/or stannous chloride in the AVS treatment may partially dissolve disulfides and it is generally recommended that stannous chloride not be used in the AVS treatment for modern sediments. Most of the monosulfides are assumed to be recovered as AVS without the addition of stannous chloride. This study investigates the recovery of monosulfides during sulfur speciation analysis with application to ancient sedimentary rocks. Sulfur in samples containing naturally occurring greigite and mackinawite or pyrite was measured using variations of a common sulfur-speciation scheme. The sulfur-speciation scheme analyzes for monosulfide sulfur, disulfide sulfur, elemental sulfur, inorganic sulfate and organically bound sulfur. The effects of heat, stannous chloride and ferric iron on the amounts of acid-volatile sulfide and disulfide recovered during treatment for AVS were investigated. Isotopic compositions of the recovered sulfur species along with yields from an extended sulfur-speciation scheme were used to quantify the effects. Hot 6 N HCl AVS treatment recovers > 60% of the monosulfides as AVS in samples containing pure greigite and mackinawite. The remaining monosulfide sulfur is recovered in a subsequent elemental sulfur extraction. Hot 6 N HCl plus stannous chloride recovers 100% of the monosulfides as AVS. The addition of ferric iron to pure greigite and mackinawite samples during AVS treatment without stannous chloride decreased the amount of monosulfides recovered as AVS and, if present in great enough concentration, oxidized some of the AVS to a form not recovered in later treatments. The hot stannous chloride AVS treatments dissolve <5% of well-crystallized pyrite in this study. The amount of pyrite dissolved depends on grain size and crystallinity. Greigite in ancient sedimentary rocks was quantitatively recovered as AVS only with hot 6 N HCl plus stannous chloride. Hot 6 N HCl AVS treatment of these rocks did not detect any monosulfides in most samples. A subsequent elemental sulfur extraction did not completely recover the oxidized monosulfides. Therefore, the use of stannous chloride plus heat is recommended in the AVS treatment of ancient sedimentary rocks if monosulfides are present and of interest. All assumptions about the amount of monosulfides and disulfides recovered with the sulfur-speciation scheme used should be verified by extended sulfur-speciation and/or isotopic analysis of the species recovered. ?? 1993.

Formation of Polyhydroxyalkanoate in Aerobic Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria and Its Relationship to Carbon Source and Light Availability▿

PubMed Central

Xiao, Na; Jiao, Nianzhi

2011-01-01

Aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria (AAPB) are unique players in carbon cycling in the ocean. Cellular carbon storage is an important mechanism regulating the nutrition status of AAPB but is not yet well understood. In this paper, six AAPB species (Dinoroseobacter sp. JL1447, Roseobacter denitrificans OCh 114, Roseobacter litoralis OCh 149, Dinoroseobacter shibae DFL 12T, Labrenzia alexandrii DFL 11T, and Erythrobacter longus DSMZ 6997) were examined, and all of them demonstrated the ability to form the carbon polymer polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) in the cell. The PHA in Dinoroseobacter sp. JL1447 was identified as poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) according to evidence from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy examinations. Carbon sources turned out to be critical for PHA production in AAPB. Among the eight media tested with Dinoroseobacter sp. JL1447, sodium acetate, giving a PHA production rate of 72%, was the most productive carbon source, followed by glucose, with a 68% PHA production rate. Such PHA production rates are among the highest recorded for all bacteria. The C/N ratio of substrates was verified by the experiments as another key factor in PHA production. In the case of R. denitrificans OCh 114, PHA was not detected when the organism was cultured at C/N ratios of <2 but became apparent at C/N ratios of >3. Light is also important for the formation of PHA in AAPB. In the case of Dinoroseobacter sp. JL1447, up to a one-quarter increase in PHB production was observed when the culture underwent growth in a light-dark cycle compared to growth completely in the dark. PMID:21908634

CNN pincer ruthenium catalysts for hydrogenation and transfer hydrogenation of ketones: experimental and computational studies.

PubMed

Baratta, Walter; Baldino, Salvatore; Calhorda, Maria José; Costa, Paulo J; Esposito, Gennaro; Herdtweck, Eberhardt; Magnolia, Santo; Mealli, Carlo; Messaoudi, Abdelatif; Mason, Sax A; Veiros, Luis F

2014-10-13

Reaction of [RuCl(CNN)(dppb)] (1-Cl) (HCNN=2-aminomethyl-6-(4-methylphenyl)pyridine; dppb=Ph2 P(CH2 )4 PPh2 ) with NaOCH2 CF3 leads to the amine-alkoxide [Ru(CNN)(OCH2 CF3 )(dppb)] (1-OCH2 CF3 ), whose neutron diffraction study reveals a short RuO⋅⋅⋅HN bond length. Treatment of 1-Cl with NaOEt and EtOH affords the alkoxide [Ru(CNN)(OEt)(dppb)]⋅(EtOH)n (1-OEt⋅n EtOH), which equilibrates with the hydride [RuH(CNN)(dppb)] (1-H) and acetaldehyde. Compound 1-OEt⋅n EtOH reacts reversibly with H2 leading to 1-H and EtOH through dihydrogen splitting. NMR spectroscopic studies on 1-OEt⋅n EtOH and 1-H reveal hydrogen bond interactions and exchange processes. The chloride 1-Cl catalyzes the hydrogenation (5 atm of H2 ) of ketones to alcohols (turnover frequency (TOF) up to 6.5×10(4) h(-1) , 40 °C). DFT calculations were performed on the reaction of [RuH(CNN')(dmpb)] (2-H) (HCNN'=2-aminomethyl-6-(phenyl)pyridine; dmpb=Me2 P(CH2 )4 PMe2 ) with acetone and with one molecule of 2-propanol, in alcohol, with the alkoxide complex being the most stable species. In the first step, the Ru-hydride transfers one hydrogen atom to the carbon of the ketone, whereas the second hydrogen transfer from NH2 is mediated by the alcohol and leads to the key "amide" intermediate. Regeneration of the hydride complex may occur by reaction with 2-propanol or with H2 ; both pathways have low barriers and are alcohol assisted. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

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

Zhao, Xianhui; Ngo, Huong T.; Walker, Devin M.

The performance of catalytic tri-reforming under industrially relevant situations (e.g., pellet catalysts, pressurized reactor) was investigated using surrogate biogas as the feedstock. Tri-reforming using Ni/Mg/Ce 0.6Zr 0.4O 2/Al 2O 3 pellet catalysts was studied in a bench scale fixed-bed reactor. The feed molar ratio for CH 4: CO 2: air was fixed as 1.0: 0.70: 0.95. The effects of temperature (800 – 860 °C), pressure (1 – 6 bar), and H 2O/CH 4 molar feed ratio (0.23 – 0.65) were examined. Pressure has substantial impact on the reaction and transport rates and equilibrium conversions, making it a key variable. Atmore » 860 °C, CO 2 conversion increased from 4 to 61% and H 2/CO molar ratio decreased from 2.0 to 1.1 as the pressure changed from 1 to 6 bar. CO 2 conversion and H 2/CO molar ratio were also influenced by the temperature and H 2O/CH 4 molar ratio. At 3 bar, CO 2 conversion varied between 4 and 43% and the H 2/CO molar ratio varied between 1.2 and 1.9 as the temperature changed from 800 to 860 °C. At 3 bar and 860 °C, CO 2 conversion decreased from 35 to 8% and H 2/CO molar ratio increased from 1.7 to 2.4 when the H 2O/CH 4 molar ratio was increased from 0.23 to 0.65. This work demonstrates that the tri-reforming technology is feasible for converting biogas under scaled-up conditions in a fixed-bed reactor.« less

Tri-reforming of surrogate blogs over Ni/Mg/ceria-zirconia/alumina pellet catalysts

DOE PAGES

Zhao, Xianhui; Ngo, Huong T.; Walker, Devin M.; ...

2018-01-23

The performance of catalytic tri-reforming under industrially relevant situations (e.g., pellet catalysts, pressurized reactor) was investigated using surrogate biogas as the feedstock. Tri-reforming using Ni/Mg/Ce 0.6Zr 0.4O 2/Al 2O 3 pellet catalysts was studied in a bench scale fixed-bed reactor. The feed molar ratio for CH 4: CO 2: air was fixed as 1.0: 0.70: 0.95. The effects of temperature (800 – 860 °C), pressure (1 – 6 bar), and H 2O/CH 4 molar feed ratio (0.23 – 0.65) were examined. Pressure has substantial impact on the reaction and transport rates and equilibrium conversions, making it a key variable. Atmore » 860 °C, CO 2 conversion increased from 4 to 61% and H 2/CO molar ratio decreased from 2.0 to 1.1 as the pressure changed from 1 to 6 bar. CO 2 conversion and H 2/CO molar ratio were also influenced by the temperature and H 2O/CH 4 molar ratio. At 3 bar, CO 2 conversion varied between 4 and 43% and the H 2/CO molar ratio varied between 1.2 and 1.9 as the temperature changed from 800 to 860 °C. At 3 bar and 860 °C, CO 2 conversion decreased from 35 to 8% and H 2/CO molar ratio increased from 1.7 to 2.4 when the H 2O/CH 4 molar ratio was increased from 0.23 to 0.65. This work demonstrates that the tri-reforming technology is feasible for converting biogas under scaled-up conditions in a fixed-bed reactor.« less

Multiheteromacrocycles that Complex Metal Ions. Second Progress Report, 1 May 1975 -- 30 April 1976

DOE R&D Accomplishments Database

Cram, D. J.

1976-01-15

Objective is to develop cyclic and polycyclic host organic compounds to complex and lipophilize metal ions. Macrorings were synthesized: (OCH{sub 2} CH{sub 2} O CH{sub 2}COCH{sub 2} COCH{sub 2}){sub 2} and (OCH{sub 2} CH{sub 2} O CH{sub 2} COCH{sub 2} COCH{sub 2}){sub 3}. The smaller ring complexes divalent metals 10{sup 1+9} times better than the open-chain model CH{sub 3} O CH{sub 2} CO CH{sub 2} COCH{sub 2} O CH{sub 3}, and the order in which metal ions are complexed is Cu{sup 2+}, UO{sub 2}{sup 2+} greater than Ni{sup 2+} greater than Fe{sup 2+}, Co{sup 2+}, Zn{sup 2+}, Cd{sup 2+} greater than Mn{sup 2+}. The UO{sub 2}{sup 2+} and Cu{sup 2+} complexes were isolated and characterized. The larger ring complexes trivalent metals 10{sup 0.9-1.7} times better than the open- chain model compound, and the order is La{sup 3+}, Ce{sup 3+} greater than Cr{sup 3+}. Five other macrocycles were also synthesized, and their binding constants with Na, K, NH{sub 4}, and Cs picrates were measured. Six compounds containing one macroring and two inward-pointing ArOH or ArOCH{sub 3} groups were also prepared and tested for binding of Li, Na, K, Rb, and NH{sub 4} picrates. Racemic compounds containing two binaphthyls and its sulfur analog were prepared. Cage-shaped multiheteromacrocycles containing ten O ligand sites or four S and six O ligand sites were prepared and the binding capability of the first compound for picrates studied. Two ring systems with phosphonate ester groups were also prepared. (DLC)

The social dilemma of autonomous vehicles.

PubMed

Bonnefon, Jean-François; Shariff, Azim; Rahwan, Iyad

2016-06-24

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) should reduce traffic accidents, but they will sometimes have to choose between two evils, such as running over pedestrians or sacrificing themselves and their passenger to save the pedestrians. Defining the algorithms that will help AVs make these moral decisions is a formidable challenge. We found that participants in six Amazon Mechanical Turk studies approved of utilitarian AVs (that is, AVs that sacrifice their passengers for the greater good) and would like others to buy them, but they would themselves prefer to ride in AVs that protect their passengers at all costs. The study participants disapprove of enforcing utilitarian regulations for AVs and would be less willing to buy such an AV. Accordingly, regulating for utilitarian algorithms may paradoxically increase casualties by postponing the adoption of a safer technology. Copyright © 2016, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Trajectory Optimization of a Bimodal Nuclear Powered Spacecraft to Mars

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-05-29

velocity M = initial mass of spacecraft o m= ion fuel expulsion rate (constant) 0 = thrust direction angle = gravitational constant of Sun AVto t...total velocity change possible for the impulsive engines AV1 = velocity change for Earth escape AV2 = velocity change for Mars capture AVto t = AV + AV

A New Availability-Payment Model for Pricing Performance-Based Logistics Contracts

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-05-01

Petri   net ) is used to  capture concurrency and  synchronization...properties of the  system. Petri   Net Available IN 1`A failure indication IN Down Repair Shop IN Down Replace Order IN Replace Order U costs PC (1,2) time...action (expTime(50*w)); INT Repairs AV Replaces AV AV av.req AV DOWNTIME 0 INT 0 INT Manufacturer Quantity Inventory 5 Quantity stock Cost Book

A Survey of Statistical Machine Translation

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-04-01

methods are notoriously sen- sitive to domain differences, however, so the move to informal text is likely to present many interesting challenges ...Och, Christoph Tillman, and Hermann Ney. Improved alignment models for statistical machine translation. In Proc. of EMNLP- VLC , pages 20–28, Jun 1999

Near-infrared diode laser hydrogen fluoride monitor for dielectric etch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Ning; Pirkle, David R.; Jeffries, Jay B.; McMillin, Brian; Hanson, Ronald K.

2004-11-01

A hydrogen fluoride (HF) monitor, using a tunable diode laser, is designed and used to detect the etch endpoints for dielectric film etching in a commercial plasma reactor. The reactor plasma contains HF, a reaction product of feedstock gas CF4 and the hydrogen-containing films (photoresist, SiOCH) on the substrate. A near-infrared diode laser is used to scan the P(3) transition in the first overtone of HF near 1.31 μm to monitor changes in the level of HF concentration in the plasma. Using 200 ms averaging and a signal modulation technique, we estimate a minimum detectable HF absorbance of 6×10-5 in the etch plasma, corresponding to an HF partial pressure of 0.03 mTorr. The sensor could indicate, in situ, the SiOCH over tetraethoxysilane oxide (TEOS) trench endpoint, which was not readily discerned by optical emission. These measurements demonstrate the feasibility of a real-time diode laser-based sensor for etch endpoint monitoring and a potential for process control.

Equation of state of asymmetric nuclear matter using re-projected nucleon–nucleon potentials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asadi Aghbolaghi, Z.; Bigdeli, M.

2018-06-01

In this paper, we have calculated the equation of state of asymmetric nuclear matter using the lowest order constrained variational approach and Argonne family potentials with and without three-nucleon interaction (TNI) contribution. In particular, we have used the AV18 potential and the re-projected potentials, AV8‧, and AV6‧. We have also calculated the saturation properties of symmetric nuclear matter, and the nuclear symmetry energy using AV18+TNI, AV8‧+TNI and AV6‧+TNI potentials. The inclusion of TNI has modified the agreement with experiment. We have also made a comparison between our results and those of other many-body calculations.

Replication of Heliothis virescens ascovirus in insect cell lines.

PubMed

Asgari, S

2006-09-01

Ascoviruses (AVs) infect larvae of various insect pests belonging to the family Noctuidae. The result of AV infection in the hosts is cleavage of infected cells into vesicles, a unique feature of AV infection. Since insect cell lines facilitate the study of virus life cycles, attempts were made to analyze Heliothis virescens AV (HvAV3e) infection in several cell lines and compare cell pathology to larval infection. In this study, replication and cytopathological effects of HvAV3e on four different cell lines were investigated. HvAV3e replication was confirmed in three noctuid cell lines from Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) and Helicoverpa zea (BCIRL-Hz-AM1 and FB33). However, the virus did not replicate in the non-noctuid insect cell line from Pieris rapae (Pieridae). Despite replication of the virus in the three permissive cell lines, the cytopathological effects of the virus were significantly different from that of larval infection.

Sampling method, storage and pretreatment of sediment affect AVS concentrations with consequences for bioassay responses.

PubMed

De Lange, H J; Van Griethuysen, C; Koelmans, A A

2008-01-01

Sediment treatment and sediment storage may alter sediment toxicity, and consequently biotic response. Purpose of our study was to combine these three aspects (treatment-toxicity-biotic response) in one integrated approach. We used Acid Volatile Sulfide (AVS) concentrations as a proxy of the disturbance of the sediment. AVS and Simultaneously Extracted Metal (SEM) concentrations were compared to bioassay responses with the freshwater benthic macroinvertebrate Asellus aquaticus. Storage conditions and sediment treatment affected AVS but not SEM levels. AVS can be used as a proxy for sediment disturbance. The best way to pretreat the sediment for use in a bioassay in order to maintain initial AVS conditions was to sample the sediment with an Ekman grab, immediately store it in a jar without headspace, and freeze it as soon as possible. In a survey using seven different sediments, bioassay responses of A. aquaticus were correlated with SEM and AVS characteristics.

The Pattern of Brain Amyloid Load in Posterior Cortical Atrophy Using 18F-AV45: Is Amyloid the Principal Actor in the Disease?

PubMed Central

Beaufils, Emilie; Ribeiro, Maria Joao; Vierron, Emilie; Vercouillie, Johnny; Dufour-Rainfray, Diane; Cottier, Jean-Philippe; Camus, Vincent; Mondon, Karl; Guilloteau, Denis; Hommet, Caroline

2014-01-01

Background Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is characterized by progressive higher-order visuoperceptual dysfunction and praxis declines. This syndrome is related to a number of underlying diseases, including, in most cases, Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study was to compare the amyloid load with 18F-AV45 positron emission tomography (PET) between PCA and AD subjects. Methods We performed 18F-AV45 PET, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker analysis and a neuropsychological assessment in 11 PCA patients and 12 AD patients. Results The global and regional 18F-AV45 uptake was similar in the PCA and AD groups. No significant correlation was observed between global 18F-AV45 uptake and CSF biomarkers or between regional 18F-AV45 uptake and cognitive and affective symptoms. Conclusion This 18F-AV45 PET amyloid imaging study showed no specific regional pattern of cortical 18F-AV45 binding in PCA patients. These results confirm that a distinct clinical phenotype in amnestic AD and PCA is not related to amyloid distribution. PMID:25538727

Proteolysis in isolated autophagic vacuoles from the rat pancreas. Effects of chloroquine administration.

PubMed

Yucel-Lindberg, T; Jansson, H; Glaumann, H

1991-01-01

Administration of the antimalaria drug chloroquine increased the number of autophagic vacuoles (AVs) in the rat pancreas. Ultrastructural analysis showed that AVs contained segregated organelles such as mitochondria, zymogen granules, peroxisomes and small portions of cytoplasm. The maximum number of AVs was observed after 3 h of chloroquine treatment. The effect lasted for 12 h and almost disappeared after 16 h. The increase in AVs caused by chloroquine made it possible to isolate them in a discontinuous Metrizamide gradient with high purity. The proteolytic capacity of the AVs isolated after different chloroquine exposure times was measured after prelabeling pancreatic proteins with an injection of L-(1-14C)leucine 16 h before sacrifice. Protein degradation in isolated AVs increased during the first 6 h of chloroquine exposure and then returned to control values 16 h after the administration. In addition, the activities of two lysosomal enzymes, acid phosphatase and cathepsin B, increased in the AV-fractions following chloroquine treatment. It is concluded that the augmented proteolysis in the isolated AVs is due to a combination of increased substrate content and increased proteolytic lysosomal enzyme activities.

Prevalence and treatment of aerobic vaginitis among non-pregnant women: evaluation of the evidence for an underestimated clinical entity.

PubMed

Tansarli, G S; Kostaras, E K; Athanasiou, S; Falagas, M E

2013-08-01

We sought to evaluate the evidence on the prevalence of aerobic vaginitis (AV) among symptomatic non-pregnant women, as well as the treatment administered for this clinical entity. The PubMed and Scopus databases were systematically searched. Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria, 11 of which reported on the prevalence of possible AV, two on the prevalence of diagnosed AV, and three on the treatment and outcomes of women with diagnosed AV. The prevalence of diagnosed AV varied from 5 to 10.5 %. Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most commonly identified Gram-positive pathogens among women with possible AV, with prevalences of up to 58.7, 41.7, and 37.4 %, respectively, while Escherichia coli was the most common Gram-negative pathogen identified, with a prevalence of up to 23 % among symptomatic women. Regarding antibiotic treatment for AV, the antibiotic schemes administered, which mainly consisted of suppositories of aminoglycosides, showed good effectiveness without serious adverse events provided by any of the included studies. The currently available data suggest that the prevalence of AV is not negligible, while the prevalence of possible AV is considerable. Well-designed studies comparing the prevalence of aerobic pathogens between symptomatic and asymptomatic women are warranted.

[Clinical characteristics of aerobic vaginitis and its mixed infections].

PubMed

Fan, Ai-Ping; Xue, Feng-Xia

2010-12-01

To investigate clinical characteristics of aerobic vaginitis (AV) and its mixed infections for diagnosis efficiently. From April 2008 to December 2008, 516 patients with vaginitis treated in Tianjin Medical University General Hospital were enrolled in this study. AV, bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), trichomonal vaginitis (TV), and cytolytic vaginosis (CV) were diagnosed based on symptoms, sign and vaginal discharge examination. Among 516 cases, AV cases were found in 14.7% (76/516), and AV was common vaginal infection. AV mixed infections was diagnosed in 58% (44/76), including mixed with BV (45%, 20/44), mixed with VVC (30%, 13/44), and mixed with TV (25%, 11/44). Those common symptom of AV were yellow vaginal discharge (63%, 20/32), more vaginal discharge (44%, 14/32). Vaginal pH value was usually more than 4.5 (84%, 27/32). Vaginal cleanliness mainly was grade III - IV (88%, 28/32). Six cases with enterococcus faecium and 4 cases with streptococci were frequently isolated. The symptom and sign of mixed AV infection was atypical. Aerobic vaginitis is a common lower vaginal infection and easily mixed with other pathogens, especially with BV, VVC or TV. When patients were diagnosed with AV or other vaginal infection, it should be mentioned whether those patients have mixed vaginal infection or AV.

Evaluation of a patient-centered after visit summary in primary care.

PubMed

Federman, Alex D; Jandorf, Lina; DeLuca, Joseph; Gover, Mary; Sanchez Munoz, Angela; Chen, Li; Wolf, Michael S; Kannry, Joseph

2018-03-06

To test the impact of a redesigned, patient-centered after visit summary (AVS) on patients' and clinicians' ratings of and experience with the document. We conducted a difference-in-differences (DiD) evaluation of the impact of the redesigned AVS before and after its introduction in an academic primary care practice compared to a concurrent control practice. Outcomes included ratings of the features of the AVS. The intervention site had 118 and 98 patients in the pre- and post-intervention periods and the control site had 99 and 105, respectively. In adjusted DiD analysis, introduction of the patient-centered AVS in the intervention site increased patient reports that the AVS was an effective reminder for taking medications (p = .004) and of receipt of the AVS from clinicians (p = .002). However, they were more likely to perceive it as too long (p = .04). There were no significant changes in overall rating of the AVS by clinicians or their likelihood of providing it to patients. A patient-centered AVS increased the number of patients receiving it and reporting that it would help them remember to take their medications. Improvements in the patient-centeredness of the AVS may improve its usefulness as a document to support self-management in primary care. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Clinical feasibility of exercise-based A-V interval optimization for cardiac resynchronization: a pilot study.

PubMed

Choudhuri, Indrajit; MacCarter, Dean; Shaw, Rachael; Anderson, Steve; St Cyr, John; Niazi, Imran

2014-11-01

One-third of eligible patients fail to respond to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Current methods to "optimize" the atrio-ventricular (A-V) interval are performed at rest, which may limit its efficacy during daily activities. We hypothesized that low-intensity cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) could identify the most favorable physiologic combination of specific gas exchange parameters reflecting pulmonary blood flow or cardiac output, stroke volume, and left atrial pressure to guide determination of the optimal A-V interval. We assessed relative feasibility of determining the optimal A-V interval by three methods in 17 patients who underwent optimization of CRT: (1) resting echocardiographic optimization (the Ritter method), (2) resting electrical optimization (intrinsic A-V interval and QRS duration), and (3) during low-intensity, steady-state CPX. Five sequential, incremental A-V intervals were programmed in each method. Assessment of cardiopulmonary stability and potential influence on the CPX-based method were assessed. CPX and determination of a physiological optimal A-V interval was successfully completed in 94.1% of patients, slightly higher than the resting echo-based approach (88.2%). There was a wide variation in the optimal A-V delay determined by each method. There was no observed cardiopulmonary instability or impact of the implant procedure that affected determination of the CPX-based optimized A-V interval. Determining optimized A-V intervals by CPX is feasible. Proposed mechanisms explaining this finding and long-term impact require further study. ©2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

[AVS concentrations in Xinan Creek and the influencing factors].

PubMed

Liu, Xiao-Bing; Wen, Yan-Mao; Li, Feng; Wu, Chang-Hua; Duan, Zhi-Peng

2012-07-01

Sediment and overlying water samples were collected at 10 sampling stations at Xinan Creek, a tidal river in Pearl River Delta, and analyzed for physical and chemical characteristics as well as microbial incicators, in order to reveal the main factors dominating the spatial distribution of acid volatile sulfide (AVS). The effects of Eh, SRB OC and TS on the spatial distribution of AVS were investigated and the impact of AVS on the toxicity of heavy metals in the studied area was evaluated. The results showed that the range of AVS was 0.207-41.453 micromol x g(-1), with an average of 6.684 micromol x g(-1), which is relatively high compared to the results in other studies. The AVS value of the surface layer was higher than the bottom layer in 5 stations. The AVS values in both the surface layer and the bottom layer were highly variable, the coefficients of variation being 93.61% and 153.09% , respectively. The analytical results revealed that TS was the factor with the greatest impact on the spatial distribution of AVS, and the order was TS > OC > Eh > SRB. Potential ecological risk of heavy metals existed in 60% of the smpling stations based on the value of Sigma (SEM5-AVS), however, with the criterion of [Sigma(SEM5-AVS)]/foc, none of them had inacceptable ecological risk. Furthermore, in terms of single species of heavy metals, there was certain risk of toxic effect for all the five heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb). The above mentioned results will provide valuable data for the in-depth study of the formation mechanism of AVS and helpful reference for environmental impact assessment and scientific rehabilitation of heavy metals in polluted rivers.

C-Arm Computed Tomography-Assisted Adrenal Venous Sampling Improved Right Adrenal Vein Cannulation and Sampling Quality in Primary Aldosteronism.

PubMed

Park, Chung Hyun; Hong, Namki; Han, Kichang; Kang, Sang Wook; Lee, Cho Rok; Park, Sungha; Rhee, Yumie

2018-05-04

Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is a gold standard for subtype classification of primary aldosteronism (PA). However, this procedure has a high failure rate because of the anatomical difficulties in accessing the right adrenal vein. We investigated whether C-arm computed tomography-assisted AVS (C-AVS) could improve the success rate of adrenal sampling. A total of 156 patients, diagnosed with PA who underwent AVS from May 2004 through April 2017, were included. Based on the medical records, we retrospectively compared the overall, left, and right catheterization success rates of adrenal veins during the periods without C-AVS (2004 to 2010, n=32) and with C-AVS (2011 to 2016, n=134). The primary outcome was adequate bilateral sampling defined as a selectivity index (SI) >5. With C-AVS, the rates of adequate bilateral AVS increased from 40.6% to 88.7% (P<0.001), with substantial decreases in failure rates (43.7% to 0.8%, P<0.001). There were significant increases in adequate sampling rates from right (43.7% to 91.9%, P<0.001) and left adrenal veins (53.1% to 95.9%, P<0.001) as well as decreases in catheterization failure from right adrenal vein (9.3% to 0.0%, P<0.001). Net improvement of SI on right side remained significant after adjustment for left side (adjusted SI, 1.1 to 9.0; P=0.038). C-AVS was an independent predictor of adequate bilateral sampling in the multivariate model (odds ratio, 9.01; P<0.001). C-AVS improved the overall success rate of AVS, possibly as a result of better catheterization of right adrenal vein. Copyright © 2018 Korean Endocrine Society.

Prevalence of E/A wave fusion and A wave truncation in DDD pacemaker patients with complete AV block under nominal AV intervals.

PubMed

Poller, Wolfram C; Dreger, Henryk; Schwerg, Marius; Melzer, Christoph

2015-01-01

Optimization of the AV-interval (AVI) in DDD pacemakers improves cardiac hemodynamics and reduces pacemaker syndromes. Manual optimization is typically not performed in clinical routine. In the present study we analyze the prevalence of E/A wave fusion and A wave truncation under resting conditions in 160 patients with complete AV block (AVB) under the pre-programmed AVI. We manually optimized sub-optimal AVI. We analyzed 160 pacemaker patients with complete AVB, both in sinus rhythm (AV-sense; n = 129) and under atrial pacing (AV-pace; n = 31). Using Doppler analyses of the transmitral inflow we classified the nominal AVI as: a) normal, b) too long (E/A wave fusion) or c) too short (A wave truncation). In patients with a sub-optimal AVI, we performed manual optimization according to the recommendations of the American Society of Echocardiography. All AVB patients with atrial pacing exhibited a normal transmitral inflow under the nominal AV-pace intervals (100%). In contrast, 25 AVB patients in sinus rhythm showed E/A wave fusion under the pre-programmed AV-sense intervals (19.4%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 12.6-26.2%). A wave truncations were not observed in any patient. All patients with a complete E/A wave fusion achieved a normal transmitral inflow after AV-sense interval reduction (mean optimized AVI: 79.4 ± 13.6 ms). Given the rate of 19.4% (CI 12.6-26.2%) of patients with a too long nominal AV-sense interval, automatic algorithms may prove useful in improving cardiac hemodynamics, especially in the subgroup of atrially triggered pacemaker patients with AV node diseases.

A NEW CLINICAL PREDICTION CRITERION ACCURATELY DETERMINES A SUBSET OF PATIENTS WITH BILATERAL PRIMARY ALDOSTERONISM BEFORE ADRENAL VENOUS SAMPLING.

PubMed

Kocjan, Tomaz; Janez, Andrej; Stankovic, Milenko; Vidmar, Gaj; Jensterle, Mojca

2016-05-01

Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is the only available method to distinguish bilateral from unilateral primary aldosteronism (PA). AVS has several drawbacks, so it is reasonable to avoid this procedure when the results would not affect clinical management. Our objective was to identify a clinical criterion that can reliably predict nonlateralized AVS as a surrogate for bilateral PA that is not treated surgically. A retrospective diagnostic cross-sectional study conducted at Slovenian national endocrine referral center included 69 consecutive patients (mean age 56 ± 8 years, 21 females) with PA who underwent AVS. PA was confirmed with the saline infusion test (SIT). AVS was performed sequentially during continuous adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) infusion. The main outcome measures were variables associated with nonlateralized AVS to derive a clinical prediction rule. Sixty-seven (97%) patients had a successful AVS and were included in the statistical analysis. A total of 39 (58%) patients had nonlateralized AVS. The combined criterion of serum potassium ≥3.5 mmol/L, post-SIT aldosterone <18 ng/dL, and either no or bilateral tumor found on computed tomography (CT) imaging had perfect estimated specificity (and thus 100% positive predictive value) for bilateral PA, saving an estimated 16% of the patients (11/67) from unnecessary AVS. The best overall classification accuracy (50/67 = 75%) was achieved using the post-SIT aldosterone level <18 ng/dL alone, which yielded 74% sensitivity and 75% specificity for predicting nonlateralized AVS. Our clinical prediction criterion appears to accurately determine a subset of patients with bilateral PA who could avoid unnecessary AVS and immediately commence with medical treatment.

Aerobic vaginitis and mixed infections: comparison of clinical and laboratory findings.

PubMed

Fan, Aiping; Yue, Yingli; Geng, Nv; Zhang, Huiying; Wang, Yingmei; Xue, Fengxia

2013-02-01

To investigate the clinical features of aerobic vaginitis (AV) and mixed infections with AV to achieve efficient diagnosis. From April 2008 to August 2009, 657 consecutive outpatients with vaginal symptoms in gynecology clinic in the General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University were investigated. Samples were taken for examination of vaginal discharge and fresh wet mount microscopy. AV, bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), and trichomonal vaginitis (TV) were diagnosed according to standardized definitions. Sixty patients with single AV were randomly selected over the same period. Each patient accepted moxifloxacin therapy. Two kinds of treatment course (400 mg qd, 6 days or 400 mg qd, 12 days) were given. Clinical features and laboratory test results in the first visit and follow-ups were recorded and statistically analyzed. Among the 657 cases, AV was found in 23.74 % of the cases (156/657). AV mixed infections were diagnosed in 53.85 % (84/156): the mixed infections included VVC (32/84, 38.10 %), BV (31/84, 36.90 %), and TV (21/84, 25.00 %). Common symptoms of AV were a change in the characteristics of the discharge (44/72, 61.11 %) and increased discharge (30/72, 41.67 %). Vaginal pH was usually higher than 4.5 (63/72, 87.50 %). Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus viridans, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus epidermidis were frequently isolated. There is no statistically significant difference between two moxifloxacin treatment groups (p > 0.05). Cure rate was 89.7 % in 6-day group, and 71.4 % in 12-day group. AV is a common vaginal infection, and it is often mixed with other infections, especially VVC, BV and TV. The symptoms and signs of AV mixed infections are atypical. If a patient has vaginal complaints, it is necessary to determine whether AV or mixed infections are present. Oral moxifloxacin is effective in treating AV, and an appropriate course should be selected taking the severity of AV into consideration.

Short-term outcomes after Fab antivenom therapy for severe crotaline snakebite.

PubMed

Lavonas, Eric J; Kokko, Jamie; Schaeffer, Tammi H; Mlynarchek, Sara L; Bogdan, Gregory M; Dart, Richard C

2011-02-01

We seek to determine the short-term outcomes associated with the use of Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab (ovine) (CroFab; FabAV) therapy for severe crotaline snake envenomation and to better define the incidence of hypersensitivity reactions associated with FabAV use. We conducted a multicenter observational case series study of patients who received FabAV at 17 US hospitals in 2002 to 2004. A 7-point score incorporating local, systemic, and hematologic venom effects was used to grade envenomation severity before and after FabAV therapy. The primary outcome for response to therapy was the change in overall envenomation severity after FabAV administration. The primary safety outcomes were the rates of immediate hypersensitivity reactions and serum sickness. The outcome-evaluable population included 209 patients, of whom 28 had severe envenomation. All severely envenomated patients improved after receiving FabAV. The median severity scores of severely envenomated patients were 5 (interquartile range [IQR] 5 to 5) before FabAV, 1 (IQR 1 to 2) at the last FabAV loading dose, and 1 (IQR 0 to 1) at the last clinical observation. The proportion of patients with progressive pain, progressive swelling, cardiovascular effects, respiratory effects, neurologic effects, gastrointestinal effects, coagulopathy, and thrombocytopenia all improved after FabAV therapy. The safety population included 247 patients. Immediate hypersensitivity reactions were reported in 6.1% (95% confidence interval 3.4% to 9.8%) of patients. Serum sickness was reported in 5% (95% confidence interval 0.6% to 17%) of patients with a minimum of 6 days of follow-up after the last dose of FabAV. FabAV therapy is associated with clinical improvement in severe crotaline snake envenomation. Immediate hypersensitivity and serum sickness rates may be less than described in the FabAV prescribing information. Copyright © 2010. Published by Mosby, Inc.

Elimination of both E1 and E2 from adenovirus vectors further improves prospects for in vivo human gene therapy.

PubMed Central

Gorziglia, M I; Kadan, M J; Yei, S; Lim, J; Lee, G M; Luthra, R; Trapnell, B C

1996-01-01

A novel recombinant adenovirus vector, Av3nBg, was constructed with deletions in adenovirus E1, E2a, and E3 regions and expressing a beta-galactosidase reporter gene. Av3nBg can be propagated at a high titer in a corresponding A549-derived cell line, AE1-2a, which contains the adenovirus E1 and E2a region genes inducibly expressed from separate glucocorticoid-responsive promoters. Av3nBg demonstrated gene transfer and expression comparable to that of Av1nBg, a first-generation adenovirus vector with deletions in E1 and E3. Several lines of evidence suggest that this vector is significantly more attenuated than E1 and E3 deletion vectors. Metabolic DNA labeling studies showed no detectable de novo vector DNA synthesis or accumulation, and metabolic protein labeling demonstrated no detectable de novo hexon protein synthesis for Av3nBg in naive A549 cells even at a multiplicity of infection of up to 3,000 PFU per cell. Additionally, naive A549 cells infected by Av3nBg did not accumulate infectious virions. In contrast, both Av1nBg and Av2Lu vectors showed DNA replication and hexon protein synthesis at multiplicities of infection of 500 PFU per cell. Av2Lu has a deletion in E1 and also carries a temperature-sensitive mutation in E2a. Thus, molecular characterization has demonstrated that the Av3nBg vector is improved with respect to the potential for vector DNA replication and hexon protein expression compared with both first-generation (Av1nBg) and second-generation (Av2Lu) adenoviral vectors. These observations may have important implications for potential use of adenovirus vectors in human gene therapy. PMID:8648763

Audiovisual spoken word training can promote or impede auditory-only perceptual learning: prelingually deafened adults with late-acquired cochlear implants versus normal hearing adults

PubMed Central

Bernstein, Lynne E.; Eberhardt, Silvio P.; Auer, Edward T.

2014-01-01

Training with audiovisual (AV) speech has been shown to promote auditory perceptual learning of vocoded acoustic speech by adults with normal hearing. In Experiment 1, we investigated whether AV speech promotes auditory-only (AO) perceptual learning in prelingually deafened adults with late-acquired cochlear implants. Participants were assigned to learn associations between spoken disyllabic C(=consonant)V(=vowel)CVC non-sense words and non-sense pictures (fribbles), under AV and then AO (AV-AO; or counter-balanced AO then AV, AO-AV, during Periods 1 then 2) training conditions. After training on each list of paired-associates (PA), testing was carried out AO. Across all training, AO PA test scores improved (7.2 percentage points) as did identification of consonants in new untrained CVCVC stimuli (3.5 percentage points). However, there was evidence that AV training impeded immediate AO perceptual learning: During Period-1, training scores across AV and AO conditions were not different, but AO test scores were dramatically lower in the AV-trained participants. During Period-2 AO training, the AV-AO participants obtained significantly higher AO test scores, demonstrating their ability to learn the auditory speech. Across both orders of training, whenever training was AV, AO test scores were significantly lower than training scores. Experiment 2 repeated the procedures with vocoded speech and 43 normal-hearing adults. Following AV training, their AO test scores were as high as or higher than following AO training. Also, their CVCVC identification scores patterned differently than those of the cochlear implant users. In Experiment 1, initial consonants were most accurate, and in Experiment 2, medial consonants were most accurate. We suggest that our results are consistent with a multisensory reverse hierarchy theory, which predicts that, whenever possible, perceivers carry out perceptual tasks immediately based on the experience and biases they bring to the task. We point out that while AV training could be an impediment to immediate unisensory perceptual learning in cochlear implant patients, it was also associated with higher scores during training. PMID:25206344

Comparison of aviary, barn and conventional cage raising of chickens on laying performance and egg quality.

PubMed

Ahammed, M; Chae, B J; Lohakare, J; Keohavong, B; Lee, M H; Lee, S J; Kim, D M; Lee, J Y; Ohh, S J

2014-08-01

This study intended to compare the productive performance of three different layer raising systems; conventional cage (CC), barn (BR) and aviary (AV). The AV is welfare bestowed housing that allows free locomotion for birds within the BR. The BR allows bird's free locomotion inside BR but without multilevel structures. Both pullets and cockerels were housed together in both AV and BR, but only pullets in CC. Seventeen weeks old Lohmann Brown Lite (n = 800) pullets were housed in AV during this study. The same age layer pullets were simultaneously assigned to either at CC or BR to compare egg production performance with AV. The duration of experiment was 40 weeks (from 21st to 60th week). There were no remarkable differences in egg production, hen day egg production (HDEP) and average egg weight among three rearing systems. First 20 weeks (phase-1) average HDEP (%) of AV, CC, and BR were 85.9, 88.8, 87.1 and average egg weights (g) were 57.5, 59.9, and 56.9 respectively. Those of the remaining 20 weeks (phase-2) were 87.1, 87.9, 85.5 and 64.2, 63.0 62.1, respectively. Daily feed intakes (122 g, 110 g, 125 g); feed conversion ratio (2.4, 2.1, 2.5) and daily egg mass (53.9 g, 54.4 g, 52.8 g) data from AV, CC, and BR were not influenced significantly by the respective raising systems. Daily feed intake of layers in both AV (124 g) and BR (127 g) tended to be higher than that in CC (113 g) during phase-2. Overall, exterior egg quality (dirty and cracked eggs) in both phases was superior in BR compared with AV and CC, whereas CC generated intermediate results. This study indicated that the HDEP per se in AV and BR were not significantly different from that in CC. The study implied that the facility depreciation cost for AV and cost for increased feed intake in AV compared to CC are believed to be critical to evaluate the cost effectiveness of egg production in AV.

Audiovisual spoken word training can promote or impede auditory-only perceptual learning: prelingually deafened adults with late-acquired cochlear implants versus normal hearing adults.

PubMed

Bernstein, Lynne E; Eberhardt, Silvio P; Auer, Edward T

2014-01-01

Training with audiovisual (AV) speech has been shown to promote auditory perceptual learning of vocoded acoustic speech by adults with normal hearing. In Experiment 1, we investigated whether AV speech promotes auditory-only (AO) perceptual learning in prelingually deafened adults with late-acquired cochlear implants. Participants were assigned to learn associations between spoken disyllabic C(=consonant)V(=vowel)CVC non-sense words and non-sense pictures (fribbles), under AV and then AO (AV-AO; or counter-balanced AO then AV, AO-AV, during Periods 1 then 2) training conditions. After training on each list of paired-associates (PA), testing was carried out AO. Across all training, AO PA test scores improved (7.2 percentage points) as did identification of consonants in new untrained CVCVC stimuli (3.5 percentage points). However, there was evidence that AV training impeded immediate AO perceptual learning: During Period-1, training scores across AV and AO conditions were not different, but AO test scores were dramatically lower in the AV-trained participants. During Period-2 AO training, the AV-AO participants obtained significantly higher AO test scores, demonstrating their ability to learn the auditory speech. Across both orders of training, whenever training was AV, AO test scores were significantly lower than training scores. Experiment 2 repeated the procedures with vocoded speech and 43 normal-hearing adults. Following AV training, their AO test scores were as high as or higher than following AO training. Also, their CVCVC identification scores patterned differently than those of the cochlear implant users. In Experiment 1, initial consonants were most accurate, and in Experiment 2, medial consonants were most accurate. We suggest that our results are consistent with a multisensory reverse hierarchy theory, which predicts that, whenever possible, perceivers carry out perceptual tasks immediately based on the experience and biases they bring to the task. We point out that while AV training could be an impediment to immediate unisensory perceptual learning in cochlear implant patients, it was also associated with higher scores during training.

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, safety and immunogenicity study of 4 formulations of Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed plus CPG 7909 (AV7909) in healthy adult volunteers.

PubMed

Hopkins, Robert J; Daczkowski, Nancy F; Kaptur, Paulina E; Muse, Derek; Sheldon, Eric; LaForce, Craig; Sari, Suha; Rudge, Thomas L; Bernton, Edward

2013-06-26

A new anthrax vaccine that could accelerate the immune response and possibly reduce the number of injections needed for protection would be desirable in a post-exposure setting. This Phase 1 study compared the safety and immunogenicity of 2 IM doses (Days 0 and 14) of 4 formulations of AV7909 (AVA plus CPG 7909) with 2 IM doses of BioThrax(®) (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed) and 2 IM doses of saline placebo administered on Days 0 and 14. A total of 105 healthy adults 18-50 years of age were randomized to 1 of 6 study groups: BioThrax (0.5 mL), AV7909 Formulation 1 (0.5 mL AVA+0.5mg CPG 7909), AV7909 Formulation 2 (0.5 mL AVA+0.25mg CPG 7909), AV7909 Formulation 3 (0.25 mL AVA+0.5mg CPG 7909), AV7909 Formulation 4 (0.25 mL AVA+0.25mg CPG 7909), or saline placebo (0.5 mL). All randomized subjects received at least 1 vaccination, and 100 subjects completed the trial. After 2 doses, mean peak normalized toxin neutralizing antibody responses (TNA NF50) in the AV7909 groups were higher than in the BioThrax group. Differences among the 4 AV7909 groups were not statistically significant. Subjects who received AV7909 reached peak titers on Day 28 vs. Day 35 in the BioThrax group. The most common adverse events (AEs) in the BioThrax and AV7909 groups assessed as related to vaccination were injection site reactions. Transient lymphopenia was observed after the first dose in each AV7909 group. Frequencies of injection site and systemic reactions recorded by subjects in diaries for 7 days after each injection were highest with AV7909 Formulation 1. No AEs of special interest (autoimmune events) were observed in the study. Further studies of doses and dosing regimens are planned to assess the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of AV7909. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparison of Aviary, Barn and Conventional Cage Raising of Chickens on Laying Performance and Egg Quality

PubMed Central

Ahammed, M.; Chae, B. J.; Lohakare, J.; Keohavong, B.; Lee, M. H.; Lee, S. J.; Kim, D. M.; Lee, J. Y.; Ohh, S. J.

2014-01-01

This study intended to compare the productive performance of three different layer raising systems; conventional cage (CC), barn (BR) and aviary (AV). The AV is welfare bestowed housing that allows free locomotion for birds within the BR. The BR allows bird’s free locomotion inside BR but without multilevel structures. Both pullets and cockerels were housed together in both AV and BR, but only pullets in CC. Seventeen weeks old Lohmann Brown Lite (n = 800) pullets were housed in AV during this study. The same age layer pullets were simultaneously assigned to either at CC or BR to compare egg production performance with AV. The duration of experiment was 40 weeks (from 21st to 60th week). There were no remarkable differences in egg production, hen day egg production (HDEP) and average egg weight among three rearing systems. First 20 weeks (phase-1) average HDEP (%) of AV, CC, and BR were 85.9, 88.8, 87.1 and average egg weights (g) were 57.5, 59.9, and 56.9 respectively. Those of the remaining 20 weeks (phase-2) were 87.1, 87.9, 85.5 and 64.2, 63.0 62.1, respectively. Daily feed intakes (122 g, 110 g, 125 g); feed conversion ratio (2.4, 2.1, 2.5) and daily egg mass (53.9 g, 54.4 g, 52.8 g) data from AV, CC, and BR were not influenced significantly by the respective raising systems. Daily feed intake of layers in both AV (124 g) and BR (127 g) tended to be higher than that in CC (113 g) during phase-2. Overall, exterior egg quality (dirty and cracked eggs) in both phases was superior in BR compared with AV and CC, whereas CC generated intermediate results. This study indicated that the HDEP per se in AV and BR were not significantly different from that in CC. The study implied that the facility depreciation cost for AV and cost for increased feed intake in AV compared to CC are believed to be critical to evaluate the cost effectiveness of egg production in AV. PMID:25083115

Effect of breed body size and the muscular hypertrophy gene in the production and carcass traits of concentrate-finished yearling bulls.

PubMed

Martínez, A; Aldai, N; Celaya, R; Osoro, K

2010-04-01

To examine the extent of the effect of muscular hypertrophy character in beef of northern-Spanish breeds, animal performance and carcass characteristics of 152 finishing steers from 5 genotypes were studied: 32 yearling bulls from a rustic Asturiana de la Montaña (AM) breed, 96 yearling bulls from Asturiana de los Valles (AV) breed, divided in 3 groups depending on the presence of the gene responsible for double-muscling (i.e., 32 AV mh/mh, 32 AV mh/+, 32 AV +/+), and 24 yearling bulls from AM x AV cross were used. Each genotype was composed of 8 animals per year (4 animals per pen) for 4 yr, except for the AM x AV genotype, which was only evaluated in the last 3 yr of the experiment. All animals were fed indoors with concentrate meal and barley straw ad libitum. Average daily gains in AV animals (1.41 kg/d) were greater (P < 0.01) than in AM (1.12 kg/d), whereas AM x AV were intermediate (1.29 kg/d) to these. No significant differences (P = 0.604) in ADG were found among the 3 AV genotypes. Longer fattening periods (P < 0.001) were taken for AM animals to reach acceptable BW at slaughter. Double-muscled animals (AV mh/mh) were found to have the best feed efficiencies when expressed as G:F (P < 0.001). However, residual feed intake calculated on a daily basis showed a greater efficiency in AV mh/mh and AM than in other genotypes. Carcasses from double-muscled animals had greater BW, yield, conformation and compactness index, and less fat cover than the other genotypes (P < 0.001). Carcasses from AM breed were the lightest and had the worst conformation, whereas those from AM x AV generally presented intermediate characteristics between AV and AM. Double-muscled animals had the greatest LM weight and area. The sixth-rib dissection revealed a greater percentage of muscle (84.6%) and decreased percentages of subcutaneous fat (1.1%), intermuscular fat (4.7%), bone (8.5%), and other tissues (1.2%) in AV mh/mh compared with other genotypes. Water-holding capacity was greatest in AM and least in AV mh/mh. In conclusion, double-muscled AV bulls would provide the greatest economic returns at intensive feeding systems because of their greater efficiency, reduced feeding costs, greater carcass weight and conformation, and greater lean yields, though some LM characteristics (reduced fat content and water-holding capacity) could negatively affect the sensory attributes of the meat compared with other genotypes with greater fatness.

Influence of acid volatile sulfides and metal concentrations on metal partitioning in contaminated sediments

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lee, J.-S.; Lee, B.-G.; Luoma, S.N.; Choi, H.J.; Koh, C.-H.; Brown, C.L.

2000-01-01

The influence of acid volatile sulfide (AVS) on the partitioning of Cd, Ni, and Zn in porewater (PW) and sediment as reactive metals (SEM, simultaneously extracted metals) was investigated in laboratory microcosms. Two spiking procedures were compared, and the effects of vertical geochemical gradients and infaunal activity were evaluated. Sediments were spiked with a Cd-Ni-Zn mixture (0.06, 3, 7.5 ??mol/g, respectively) containing four levels of AVS (0.5, 7.5, 15, 35 ??mol/g). The results were compared to sediments spiked with four levels of Cd-Ni-Zn mixtures at one AVS concentration (7.5 ??mol/g). A vertical redox gradient was generated in each treatment by an 18-d incubation with an oxidized water column. [AVS] in the surface sediments decreased by 65-95% due to oxidation during incubation; initial [AVS] was maintained at 0.5-7.5 cm depth. PW metal concentrations were correlated with [SEM - AVS] among all data. But PW metal concentrations were variable, causing the distribution coefficient, Kd(pw) (the ratio of [SEM] to PW metal concentrations) to vary by 2-3 orders of magnitude at a given [SEM - AVS]. One reason for the variability was that vertical profiles in PW metal concentrations appeared to be influenced by diffusion as well as [SEM - AVS]. The presence of animals appeared to enhance the diffusion of at least Zn. The generalization that PW metal concentrations are controlled by [SEM - AVS] is subject to some important qualifications if vertical gradients are complicated, metal concentrations vary, or equilibration times differ.The influence of acid volatile sulfide (AVS) on the partitioning of Cd, Ni, and Zn in porewater (PW) and sediment as reactive metals (SEM, simultaneously extracted metals) was investigated in laboratory microcosms. Two spiking procedures were compared, and the effects of vertical geochemical gradients and infaunal activity were evaluated. Sediments were spiked with a Cd-Ni-Zn mixture (0.06, 3, 7.5 ??mol/g, respectively) containing four levels of AVS (0.5, 7.5, 15, 35 ??mol/g). The results were compared to sediments spiked with four levels of Cd-Ni-Zn mixtures at one AVS concentration (7.5 ??mol/g). A vertical redox gradient was generated in each treatment by an 18-d incubation with an oxidized water column. [AVS] in the surface sediments decreased by 65-95% due to oxidation during incubation; initial [AVS] was maintained at 0.5-7.5 cm depth. PW metal concentrations were correlated with [SEM - AVS] among all data. But PW metal concentrations were variable, causing the distribution coefficient, Kdpw (the ratio of [SEM] to PW metal concentrations) to vary by 2-3 orders of magnitude at a given [SEM - AVS]. One reason for the variability was that vertical profiles in PW metal concentrations appeared to be influenced by diffusion as well as [SEM - AVS]. The presence of animals appeared to enhance the diffusion of at least Zn. The generalization that PW metal concentrations are controlled by [SEM - AVS] is subject to some important qualifications if vertical gradients are complicated, metal concentrations vary, or equilibration times differ.

Gear-box fault detection using time-frequency based methods

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

Odgaard, Peter Fogh; Stoustrup, Jakob

2015-01-01

Gear-box fault monitoring and detection is important for optimization of power generation and availability of wind turbines. The current industrial approach is to use condition monitoring systems, which runs in parallel with the wind turbine control system, using expensive additional sensors. An alternative would be to use the existing measurements which are normally available for the wind turbine control system. The usage of these sensors instead would cut down the cost of the wind turbine by not using additional sensors. One of these available measurements is the generator speed, in which changes in the gear-box resonance frequency can be detected.more » Two different time-frequency based approaches are presented in this paper. One is a filter based approach and the other is based on a Karhunen-Loeve basis. Both of them detects the gear-box fault with an acceptable detection delay.« less

Advanced Interrogation of Fiber-Optic Bragg Grating and Fabry-Perot Sensors with KLT Analysis

PubMed Central

Tosi, Daniele

2015-01-01

The Karhunen-Loeve Transform (KLT) is applied to accurate detection of optical fiber sensors in the spectral domain. By processing an optical spectrum, although coarsely sampled, through the KLT, and subsequently processing the obtained eigenvalues, it is possible to decode a plurality of optical sensor results. The KLT returns higher accuracy than other demodulation techniques, despite coarse sampling, and exhibits higher resilience to noise. Three case studies of KLT-based processing are presented, representing most of the current challenges in optical fiber sensing: (1) demodulation of individual sensors, such as Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) and Fabry-Perot Interferometers (FPIs); (2) demodulation of dual (FBG/FPI) sensors; (3) application of reverse KLT to isolate different sensors operating on the same spectrum. A simulative outline is provided to demonstrate the KLT operation and estimate performance; a brief experimental section is also provided to validate accurate FBG and FPI decoding. PMID:26528975

Advanced Interrogation of Fiber-Optic Bragg Grating and Fabry-Perot Sensors with KLT Analysis.

PubMed

Tosi, Daniele

2015-10-29

The Karhunen-Loeve Transform (KLT) is applied to accurate detection of optical fiber sensors in the spectral domain. By processing an optical spectrum, although coarsely sampled, through the KLT, and subsequently processing the obtained eigenvalues, it is possible to decode a plurality of optical sensor results. The KLT returns higher accuracy than other demodulation techniques, despite coarse sampling, and exhibits higher resilience to noise. Three case studies of KLT-based processing are presented, representing most of the current challenges in optical fiber sensing: (1) demodulation of individual sensors, such as Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) and Fabry-Perot Interferometers (FPIs); (2) demodulation of dual (FBG/FPI) sensors; (3) application of reverse KLT to isolate different sensors operating on the same spectrum. A simulative outline is provided to demonstrate the KLT operation and estimate performance; a brief experimental section is also provided to validate accurate FBG and FPI decoding.

Face recognition with the Karhunen-Loeve transform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suarez, Pedro F.

1991-12-01

The major goal of this research was to investigate machine recognition of faces. The approach taken to achieve this goal was to investigate the use of Karhunen-Loe've Transform (KLT) by implementing flexible and practical code. The KLT utilizes the eigenvectors of the covariance matrix as a basis set. Faces were projected onto the eigenvectors, called eigenfaces, and the resulting projection coefficients were used as features. Face recognition accuracies for the KLT coefficients were superior to Fourier based techniques. Additionally, this thesis demonstrated the image compression and reconstruction capabilities of the KLT. This theses also developed the use of the KLT as a facial feature detector. The ability to differentiate between facial features provides a computer communications interface for non-vocal people with cerebral palsy. Lastly, this thesis developed a KLT based axis system for laser scanner data of human heads. The scanner data axis system provides the anthropometric community a more precise method of fitting custom helmets.

KRASH Parametric Sensitivity Study - Transport Category Airplanes

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-12-01

8217_ COPILOT PELVIS w Uj 0 •-’-AV - 24.8 -10 .Y +10 VERTICAL ACCELERATION, -i 0 COPILOT PELVIS uUoAV 4 4 -10 2891 "+15 VERTICAL ACCELERATION...j 0 " -- PILOT PELVIS Uw - - AV =47,9 • ----- 4 -15 AV INCREMENTAL VELOCITY CHANGE, FT/SEC Figure 3-65. DC-7 Test, Measured Acceleration, Eight

Algorithm Visualization: The State of the Field

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shaffer, Clifford A.; Cooper, Matthew L.; Alon, Alexander Joel D.; Akbar, Monika; Stewart, Michael; Ponce, Sean; Edwards, Stephen H.

2010-01-01

We present findings regarding the state of the field of Algorithm Visualization (AV) based on our analysis of a collection of over 500 AVs. We examine how AVs are distributed among topics, who created them and when, their overall quality, and how they are disseminated. There does exist a cadre of good AVs and active developers. Unfortunately, we…

User-Driven Quality Certification of Workplace Software, the UsersAward Experience

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-06-01

the set of criteria and the chosen level of approval was sufficiently balanced . Furthermore, the fact that both software providers experienced... Worklife - Building Social Capacity - European Approaches, Edition sigma Berlin. Lind, T. (2002). IT-kartan, användare och IT-system i svenskt

Polymerizable 2(2-hydroxynaphthyl)2H-benzotriazole compounds

DOEpatents

Gomez, P.M.; Neidlinger, H.H.

1991-07-16

Benzotriazole compounds having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is H, Cl, or OCH.sub.3 ; R.sub.2 is a hydroxynaphthyl group; and R.sub.3 is a vinyl unsaturated polymerizable group. Homopolymers or copolymers thereof are effective as UV light stabilizers and absorbers.

Polymerizable 2(2-hydroxynaphthyl)2H-benzotriazole compounds

DOEpatents

Gomez, Peter M.; Neidlinger, Hermann H.

1991-01-01

Benzotriazole compounds having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is H, Cl, or OCH.sub.3 ; R.sub.2 is a hydroxynaphthyl group; and R.sub.3 is a vinyl unsaturated polymerizable group. Homopolymers or copolymers thereof are effective as UV light stabilizers and absorbers.

FTIR gas-phase kinetic study on the reactions of some acrylate esters with OH radicals and Cl atoms.

PubMed

Moreno, A; Gallego-Iniesta, M P; Taccone, R; Martín, M P; Cabañas, B; Salgado, M S

2014-10-01

Acrylate esters are α,β-unsaturated esters that contain vinyl groups directly attached to the carbonyl carbon. These compounds are widely used in the production of plastics and resins. Atmospheric degradation processes of these compounds are currently not well understood. The kinetics of the gas phase reactions of OH radicals with methyl 3-methylacrylate and methyl 3,3-dimethylacrylate were determined using the relative rate technique in a 50 L Pyrex photoreactor using in situ FTIR spectroscopy at room temperature (298 ± 2 K) and atmospheric pressure (708 ± 8 Torr) with air as the bath gas. Rate coefficients obtained were (in units cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)): (3.27 ± 0.33) × 10(-11) and (4.43 ± 0.42) × 10(-11), for CH3CH═CHC(O)OCH3 and (CH3)2CH═CHC(O)OCH3, respectively. The same technique was used to study the gas phase reactions of hexyl acrylate and ethyl hexyl acrylate with OH radicals and Cl atoms. In the experiments with Cl, N2 and air were used as the bath gases. The following rate coefficients were obtained (in cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)): k3 (CH2═CHC(O)O(CH2)5CH3 + Cl) = (3.31 ± 0.31) × 10(-10), k4(CH2═CHC(O)OCH2CH(CH2CH3)(CH2)3CH3 + Cl) = (3.46 ± 0.31) × 10(-10), k5(CH2═CHC(O)O(CH2)5CH3 + OH) = (2.28 ± 0.23) × 10(-11), and k6(CH2═CHC(O)OCH2CH(CH2CH3)(CH2)3CH3 + OH) = (2.74 ± 0.26) × 10(-11). The reactivity increased with the number of methyl substituents on the double bond and with the chain length of the alkyl group in -C(O)OR. Estimations of the atmospheric lifetimes clearly indicate that the dominant atmospheric loss process for these compounds is their daytime reaction with the hydroxyl radical. In coastal areas and in some polluted environments, Cl atom-initiated degradation of these compounds can be significant, if not dominant. Maximum Incremental Reactivity (MIR) index and global warming potential (GWP) were also calculated, and it was concluded that these compounds have significant MIR values, but they do not influence global warming.

Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric study of protonated and alkali- cationized α/ε-hybrid peptides: differentiation of a pair of dipeptide positional isomers.

PubMed

Ramesh Babu, A; Raju, G; Purna Chander, C; Shoban Babu, B; Srinivas, R; Sharma, G V M

A new class of Boc-N-protected hybrid peptides derived from L- Ala and ε 6 -Caa (L-Ala = L-Alanine, Caa = C-linked carboamino acid derived from D-xylose) have been studied by positive ion electrospray ionization (ESI) ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). MS n spectra of protonated and alkali-cationized hybrid peptides produce characteristic fragmentation involving the peptide backbone, the tert-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) group, and the side chain. The dipeptide positional isomers are differentiated by the collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the protonated and alkali-cationized peptides. The CID of [M + H] + ion of Boc-NH-L-Ala-ε-Caa- OCH 3 (1) shows a prominent [M + H - C 4 H 8 ] + ion, which is totally absent for its positional isomer Boc-NH-ε-Caa-L-Ala-OCH 3 (6), which instead shows significant loss of t-butanol. The formation of the [M + Cat - C 4 H 8 ] + ion is totally absent and [M + Cat - Boc + H] + is prominent in the CID of the [M + Cat] + ion of Boc-NH-L-Ala-ε-Caa- OCH 3 (1), whereas the former is highly abundant and the latter is of low abundance for its positional isomer Boc-NH-ε-Caa-L-Ala-OCH 3 (6). It is observed that 'b' ions are abundant when oxazolone structures are formed through a five-membered cyclic transition state in tetra-, penta-, and hexapeptides and the cyclization process for larger 'b' ions led to an insignificant abundance. However, the significant 'b' ion is formed in ε,α-dipeptide, which may have a seven-membered substituted 2-oxoazepanium ion structure. The MS n spectra of [M + Cat - Boc + H] + ions of these peptides are found to be significantly different to those of [M + H - Boc + H] + ions. The CID spectra of [M + Cat - Boc + H] + ions of peptide acids containing L-Ala at the C-terminus show an abundant N-terminal rearrangement ion, [b n  + 17 + Cat] + , which is absent for the peptide acids containing ε-Caa at the C-terminus. Thus, the results of these hybrid peptides provide sequencing information, the structure of the cyclic intermediate involved in the formation of the rearrangement ion, and distinguish a pair of dipeptide positional isomers.

Deletion of Rbpj from postnatal endothelium leads to abnormal arteriovenous shunting in mice

PubMed Central

Nielsen, Corinne M.; Cuervo, Henar; Ding, Vivianne W.; Kong, Yupeng; Huang, Eric J.; Wang, Rong A.

2014-01-01

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are tortuous vessels characterized by arteriovenous (AV) shunts, which displace capillaries and shunt blood directly from artery to vein. Notch signaling regulates embryonic AV specification by promoting arterial, as opposed to venous, endothelial cell (EC) fate. To understand the essential role of endothelial Notch signaling in postnatal AV organization, we used inducible Cre-loxP recombination to delete Rbpj, a mediator of canonical Notch signaling, from postnatal ECs in mice. Deletion of endothelial Rbpj from birth resulted in features of AVMs by P14, including abnormal AV shunting and tortuous vessels in the brain, intestine and heart. We further analyzed brain AVMs, as they pose particular health risks. Consistent with AVM pathology, we found cerebral hemorrhage, hypoxia and necrosis, and neurological deficits. AV shunts originated from capillaries (and possibly venules), with the earliest detectable morphological abnormalities in AV connections by P8. Prior to AV shunt formation, alterations in EC gene expression were detected, including decreased Efnb2 and increased Pai1, which encodes a downstream effector of TGFβ signaling. After AV shunts had formed, whole-mount immunostaining showed decreased Efnb2 and increased Ephb4 expression within AV shunts, suggesting that ECs were reprogrammed from arterial to venous identity. Deletion of Rbpj from adult ECs led to tortuosities in gastrointestinal, uterine and skin vascular beds, but had mild effects in the brain. Our results demonstrate a temporal requirement for Rbpj in postnatal ECs to maintain proper artery, capillary and vein organization and to prevent abnormal AV shunting and AVM pathogenesis. PMID:25209249

Multimodal correlation of dynamic [18F]-AV-1451 perfusion PET and neuronal hypometabolism in [18F]-FDG PET.

PubMed

Hammes, Jochen; Leuwer, Isabel; Bischof, Gérard N; Drzezga, Alexander; van Eimeren, Thilo

2017-12-01

Cerebral glucose metabolism measured with [18F]-FDG PET is a well established marker of neuronal dysfunction in neurodegeneration. The tau-protein tracer [18F]-AV-1451 PET is currently under evaluation and shows promising results. Here, we assess the feasibility of early perfusion imaging with AV-1451 as a substite for FDG PET in assessing neuronal injury. Twenty patients with suspected neurodegeneration underwent FDG and early phase AV-1451 PET imaging. Ten one-minute timeframes were acquired after application of 200 MBq AV-1451. FDG images were acquired on a different date according to clinical protocol. Early AV-1451 timeframes were coregistered to individual FDG-scans and spatially normalized. Voxel-wise intermodal correlations were calculated on within-subject level for every possible time window. The window with highest pooled correlation was considered optimal. Z-transformed deviation maps (ZMs) were created from both FDG and early AV-1451 images, comparing against FDG images of healthy controls. Regional patterns and extent of perfusion deficits were highly comparable to metabolic deficits. Best results were observed in a time window from 60 to 360 s (r = 0.86). Correlation strength ranged from r = 0.96 (subcortical gray matter) to 0.83 (frontal lobe) in regional analysis. ZMs of early AV-1451 and FDG images were highly similar. Perfusion imaging with AV-1451 is a valid biomarker for assessment of neuronal dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases. Radiation exposure and complexity of the diagnostic workup could be reduced significantly by routine acquisition of early AV-1451 images, sparing additional FDG PET.

Atorvastatin and fenofibrate increase apolipoprotein AV and decrease triglycerides by up-regulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α

PubMed Central

Huang, Xian-sheng; Zhao, Shui-ping; Bai, Lin; Hu, Min; Zhao, Wang; Zhang, Qian

2009-01-01

Background and purpose: Combining statin and fibrate in clinical practice provides a greater reduction of triglycerides than either drug given alone, but the mechanism for this effect is poorly understood. Apolipoprotein AV (apoAV) has been implicated in triglyceride metabolism. This study was designed to investigate the effect of the combination of statin and fibrate on apoAV and the underlying mechanism(s). Experimental approach: Hypertriglyceridaemia was induced in rats by giving them 10% fructose in drinking water for 2 weeks. They were then treated with atorvastatin, fenofibrate or the two agents combined for 4 weeks, and plasma triglyceride and apoAV measured. We also tested the effects of these two agents on triglycerides and apoAV in HepG2 cells in culture. Western blot and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to measure apoAV and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα) expression. Key results: The combination of atorvastatin and fenofibrate resulted in a greater decrease in plasma triglycerides and a greater increase in plasma and hepatic apoAV than either agent given alone. Hepatic expression of the PPARα was also more extensively up-regulated in rats treated with the combination. A similar, greater increase in apoAV and a greater decrease in triglycerides were observed following treatment of HepG2 cells pre-exposed to fructose), with the combination. Adding an inhibitor of PPARα (MK886) abolished the effects of atorvastatin on HepG2 cells. Conclusions and implications: A combination of atorvastatin and fenofibrate increased apoAV and decreased triglycerides through up-regulation of PPARα. PMID:19694729

Impact of New Quick Gold Nanoparticle-Based Cortisol Assay During Adrenal Vein Sampling for Primary Aldosteronism.

PubMed

Yoneda, Takashi; Karashima, Shigehiro; Kometani, Mitsuhiro; Usukura, Mikiya; Demura, Masashi; Sanada, Junichirou; Minami, Tetsuya; Koda, Wataru; Gabata, Toshifumi; Matsui, Osamu; Idegami, Koutarou; Takamura, Yuzuru; Tamiya, Eiichi; Oe, Masashi; Nakai, Masuo; Mori, Shunsuke; Terayama, Noboru; Matsuda, Yuichi; Kamemura, Kouhei; Fujii, Sumie; Seta, Takashi; Sawamura, Toshitaka; Okuda, Rika; Takeda, Yoshimichi; Hayashi, Kenshi; Yamagishi, Masakazu; Takeda, Yoshiyu

2016-06-01

Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is essential for identifying a surgically curable form of primary aldosteronism (PA), but accurate placement of the sampling catheter is technically challenging. Intraprocedural cortisol measurement can confirm the catheter's position, thereby increasing the AVS success rate. We developed a quick cortisol assay (QCA) that uses immunochromatography and gold nanoparticles and can be performed either semiquantitatively or quantitatively. The assay was evaluated in two studies. In a single-center study, PA patients were assigned to undergo AVS incorporating the semiquantitative QCA (n = 30), the quantitative QCA (n = 30), or without the QCA (n = 30), and the rates of successful AVS were determined. In a prospective multicenter randomized, controlled study, the success rates of AVS performed with (n = 148) or without (n = 145) the semiquantitative QCA were determined. Cortisol concentrations were measured during AVS in 6 minutes or less in the radiology suite, without additional technical assistance, and significantly correlated with a conventional reference assay (R(2) = 0.994; P < .001). In the single-center study, the differences in the AVS success rates associated with semiquantitative and quantitative QCAs were not significant (both 93%); however, the success rates were significantly higher than the rate of successful AVS performed without using the QCA (63%; P < .001). The success rate of AVS performed in the multicenter study was 94% for the semiquantitative QCA, which was significantly higher than the rate for the patients without QCA (60%; P < .001). Our novel QCA was rapidly and easily performed at the point of care and improved the rate of successful AVS.

Adrenal venous sampling: the learning curve of a single interventionalist with 282 consecutive procedures.

PubMed

Jakobsson, Hugo; Farmaki, Katerina; Sakinis, Augustinas; Ehn, Olof; Johannsson, Gudmundur; Ragnarsson, Oskar

2018-01-01

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a common cause of secondary hypertension. Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is the gold standard for assessing laterality of PA, which is of paramount importance to decide adequate treatment. AVS is a technically complicated procedure with success rates ranging between 30% and 96%. The aim of this study was to investigate the success rate of AVS over time, performed by a single interventionalist. This was a retrospective study based on consecutive AVS procedures performed by a single operator between September 2005 and June 2016. Data on serum concentrations of aldosterone and cortisol from right and left adrenal vein, inferior vena cava, and peripheral vein were collected and selectivity index (SI) calculated. Successful AVS was defined as SI > 5. In total, 282 AVS procedures were performed on 269 patients, 168 men (62%) and 101 women (38%), with a mean age of 55±11 years (range, 26-78 years). Out of 282 AVS procedures, 259 were successful, giving an overall success rate of 92%. The most common reason for failure was inability to localize the right adrenal vein (n=16; 76%). The success rates were 63%, 82%, and 94% during the first, second, and third years, respectively. During the last 8 years the success rate was 95%, and on average 27 procedures were performed annually. Satisfactory AVS success rate was achieved after approximately 36 procedures and satisfactory success rate was maintained by performing approximately 27 procedures annually. AVS should be limited to few operators that perform sufficiently large number of procedures to achieve, and maintain, satisfactory AVS success rate.

Diagnostic performance of multidetector computed tomography in distinguishing unilateral from bilateral abnormalities in primary hyperaldosteronism: comparison of multidetector computed tomography with adrenal vein sampling.

PubMed

Raman, Siva P; Lessne, Mark; Kawamoto, Satomi; Chen, Yifei; Salvatori, Roberto; Prescott, Jason D; Fishman, Elliot K

2015-01-01

The management of patients with primary hyperaldosteronism (PH) varies depending on whether the unregulated aldosterone secretion localizes to a single unilateral adrenal gland, traditionally determined using adrenal vein sampling (AVS). This study seeks to determine if the performance of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) examinations performed using the latest scanner technology can reasonably match the results of AVS, and potentially avoid AVS in some patients. Computed tomographic scans in 56 patients with PH were independently reviewed by 2 radiologists for the presence of adrenal nodules and qualitative adrenal thickening. Results were correlated with AVS results. Of 35 patients with MDCT evidence of unilateral nodules, the imaging findings correctly predicted AVS localization in only 23 (65.7%) cases. When stratified by size, MDCT was accurate in only 71.4% of cases for nodules measuring 10 mm or less, and only 55.0% of cases for nodules measuring 11 to 20 mm. Of the 12 cases where MDCT did not correctly localize, AVS localized to the contralateral adrenal gland in 4 cases, whereas AVS suggested no lateralization in 8 cases. In patients with normal bilateral adrenal glands on MDCT, 2/7 (28.6%) of cases demonstrated unilateral localization on AVS, and in patients with bilateral adrenal nodules, only 3/14 (21.4%) did not demonstrate lateralization on AVS. Multidetector computed tomography, even when performed with the latest generation of MDCT scanners, does not offer sufficient diagnostic accuracy to replace AVS in patients with PH.

Alternating versus synchronous ventilation of left and right lungs in piglets.

PubMed

Versprille, A; Hrachovina, V; Jansen, J R

1995-12-01

We tested whether alternating ventilation (AV) of each lung (i.e. with a phase difference of half a ventilatory cycle) would decrease central venous pressure and so increase cardiac output when compared with simultaneous ventilation (SV) of both lungs. If, during AV, the inflated lung expands partly via compression of the opposite lung, mean lung volume will be smaller during AV than SV. As a consequence, mean intrathoracic pressure (as cited in the literature), and therefore, central venous pressure will be smaller. The experiments were performed in seven anaesthetized and paralyzed piglets using a double-piston ventilator. Minute ventilation was the same during AV and SV. Starting at SV, we alternated three times between AV and SV for periods of 10 min. During AV, central venous pressure was decreased by 0.7 mmHg and cardiac output was increased by 10 +/- 4.4% (mean, +/-SD) compared with SV. AV also resulted in increased arterial pressure. During one-sided inflation with closed outlet of the opposite lung, a pressure rise occurred in the opposite lung, indicating compression. The higher cardiac output during AV than SV can be explained by the fact that central venous pressure is lower during AV. This lower central venous pressure is very probably due to the lower mean intrathoracic pressure caused by compression of the opposite lung during unilateral inflation.

Diagnosis and microecological characteristics of aerobic vaginitis in outpatients based on preformed enzymes.

PubMed

Wang, Zhi-Liang; Fu, Lan-Yong; Xiong, Zheng-Ai; Qin, Qin; Yu, Teng-Hua; Wu, Yu-Tong; Hua, Yuan-Yuan; Zhang, Yong-Hong

2016-02-01

Aerobic vaginitis (AV) is a recently proposed term for genital tract infection in women. The diagnosis of AV is mainly based on descriptive diagnostic criteria proposed by Donders and co-workers. The objective of this study is to report AV prevalence in southwest China using an objective assay kit based on preformed enzymes and also to determine its characteristics. A total of 1948 outpatients were enrolled and tested by a commercial diagnostic kit to investigate the AV prevalence and characteristics in southwestern China. The study mainly examined the vaginal ecosystem, age distribution, Lactobacillus amount, and changes in pH. Differences within groups were analyzed by Wilcoxon two-sample test. The AV detection rate is 15.40%. The AV patients were usually seen in the sexually active age group of 20-30 years, followed by those in the age group of 30-40 years. The vaginal ecosystems of all the patients studied were absolutely abnormal, and diagnosed to have a combined infection [aerobic vaginitis (AV) + bacterial vaginitis (BV) 61.33%; 184/300]. Aerobic bacteria, especially Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, were predominantly found in the vaginal samples of these women. AV is a common type of genital infection in southwestern China and is characterized by sexually active age and combined infection predominated by the AV and BV type. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Audio-visual speech perception in infants and toddlers with Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, and Williams syndrome.

PubMed

D'Souza, Dean; D'Souza, Hana; Johnson, Mark H; Karmiloff-Smith, Annette

2016-08-01

Typically-developing (TD) infants can construct unified cross-modal percepts, such as a speaking face, by integrating auditory-visual (AV) information. This skill is a key building block upon which higher-level skills, such as word learning, are built. Because word learning is seriously delayed in most children with neurodevelopmental disorders, we assessed the hypothesis that this delay partly results from a deficit in integrating AV speech cues. AV speech integration has rarely been investigated in neurodevelopmental disorders, and never previously in infants. We probed for the McGurk effect, which occurs when the auditory component of one sound (/ba/) is paired with the visual component of another sound (/ga/), leading to the perception of an illusory third sound (/da/ or /tha/). We measured AV integration in 95 infants/toddlers with Down, fragile X, or Williams syndrome, whom we matched on Chronological and Mental Age to 25 TD infants. We also assessed a more basic AV perceptual ability: sensitivity to matching vs. mismatching AV speech stimuli. Infants with Williams syndrome failed to demonstrate a McGurk effect, indicating poor AV speech integration. Moreover, while the TD children discriminated between matching and mismatching AV stimuli, none of the other groups did, hinting at a basic deficit or delay in AV speech processing, which is likely to constrain subsequent language development. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Pilot Implementation and Preliminary Evaluation of START:AV Assessments in Secure Juvenile Correctional Facilities

PubMed Central

Sellers, Brian G; Viljoen, Jodi L.; Cruise, Keith R.; Nicholls, Tonia L.; Dvoskin, Joel A.

2012-01-01

The Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability: Adolescent Version (START:AV) is a new structured professional judgment guide for assessing short-term risks in adolescents. The scheme may be distinguished from other youth risk assessment and treatment planning instruments by its inclusion of 23 dynamic factors that are each rated for both vulnerability and strength. In addition, START:AV is also unique in that it focuses on multiple adverse outcomes—namely, violence, self-harm, suicide, unauthorized leave, substance abuse, self-neglect, victimization, and general offending—over the short-term (i.e., weeks to months) rather than long-term (i.e., years). This paper describes a pilot implementation and preliminary evaluation of START:AV in three secure juvenile correctional facilities in the southern United States. Specifically, we examined the descriptive characteristics and psychometric properties of START:AV assessments completed by 21 case managers on 291 adolescent offenders (250 boys and 41 girls) at the time of admission. Results provide preliminary support for the feasibility of completing START:AV assessments as part of routine practice. Findings also highlight differences in the characteristics of START:AV assessments for boys and girls and differential associations between the eight START:AV risk domains. Though results are promising, further research is needed to establish the reliability and validity of START:AV assessments completed in the field. PMID:23316116

Temporal changes in the expression of avian β-defensins in the chicken vagina during sexual maturation and Salmonella infection.

PubMed

Anastasiadou, Maria; Avdi, Melpomeni; Theodoridis, Alexandros; Michailidis, Georgios

2013-06-01

Avian β-defensins (AvβDs) constitute a family of antimicrobial peptides that are critical to innate immunity in chickens, providing protection against microbial pathogens including Salmonella Enteritidis (SE). As apart from the digestive tract another main route of SE colonization in birds is via infection of the oviduct and specifically of the vagina, the aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the complete family of AvβDs, in the chicken vagina in vivo, to determine whether sexual maturation affects their mRNA abundance and to investigate whether SE infection alters the vaginal AvβDs expression. Expression analysis revealed that 11 members of the AvβD family were expressed in the chicken vagina. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that the mRNA abundance of five AvβDs was up regulated and of one AvβD was down regulated with respect to sexual maturation. In addition SE infection resulted in a significant induction of AvβD5, 7, 10, 11, 12 and 14 in the vagina of sexually mature birds, and in a significant induction of AvβD5 and 11 in the vagina of aged birds. These findings provide strong evidence to suggest that an AvβD-mediated immune response mechanism exists in the chicken vagina providing protection against bacterial pathogens including Salmonella species.

Deep-level stereoscopic multiple traps of acoustic vortices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yuzhi; Guo, Gepu; Ma, Qingyu; Tu, Juan; Zhang, Dong

2017-04-01

Based on the radiation pattern of a planar piston transducer, the mechanisms underlying the generation of axially controllable deep-level stereoscopic multiple traps of acoustic vortices (AV) using sparse directional sources were proposed with explicit formulae. Numerical simulations for the axial and cross-sectional distributions of acoustic pressure and phase were conducted for various ka (product of the wave number and the radius of transducer) values at the frequency of 1 MHz. It was demonstrated that, for bigger ka, besides the main-AV (M-AV) generated by the main lobes of the sources, cone-shaped side-AV (S-AV) produced by the side lobes were closer to the source plane at a relatively lower pressure. Corresponding to the radiation angles of pressure nulls between the main lobe and the side lobes of the sources, vortex valleys with nearly pressure zero could be generated on the central axis to form multiple traps, based on Gor'kov potential theory. The number and locations of vortex valleys could be controlled accurately by the adjustment of ka. With the established eight-source AV generation system, the existence of the axially controllable multiple traps was verified by the measured M-AV and S-AVs as well as the corresponding vortex valleys. The favorable results provided the feasibility of deep-level stereoscopic control of AV and suggested potential application of multiple traps for particle manipulation in the area of biomedical engineering.

Vibration-Rotation Bands of HF and DF

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-09-23

98 IZa. Comparison of Observed and Calculated Line Positions of HF, Av = I Sequence ........................... 99 f2b. Comparison of Observed and...Calculated Line Positions of HF, Av = 2 Sequence ........................... 102 12c. Comparison of Observed and Calculated Line Positions of HF, Av = 3...Sequence ........................... 107 i2d. Comparison of Observed and Calculated Line Positions ofHF, Av = 4 Sequence ........................... fi

30 CFR 773.26 - How to challenge an ownership or control listing or finding.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... authority with jurisdiction over the violation and the AVS Office to obtain additional information. (d) A... investigation by the AVS Office. (e) At any time, you, a person listed in AVS as an owner or controller of a surface coal mining operation, may request an informal explanation from the AVS Office as to the reason...

Preschoolers Benefit From Visually Salient Speech Cues

PubMed Central

Holt, Rachael Frush

2015-01-01

Purpose This study explored visual speech influence in preschoolers using 3 developmentally appropriate tasks that vary in perceptual difficulty and task demands. They also examined developmental differences in the ability to use visually salient speech cues and visual phonological knowledge. Method Twelve adults and 27 typically developing 3- and 4-year-old children completed 3 audiovisual (AV) speech integration tasks: matching, discrimination, and recognition. The authors compared AV benefit for visually salient and less visually salient speech discrimination contrasts and assessed the visual saliency of consonant confusions in auditory-only and AV word recognition. Results Four-year-olds and adults demonstrated visual influence on all measures. Three-year-olds demonstrated visual influence on speech discrimination and recognition measures. All groups demonstrated greater AV benefit for the visually salient discrimination contrasts. AV recognition benefit in 4-year-olds and adults depended on the visual saliency of speech sounds. Conclusions Preschoolers can demonstrate AV speech integration. Their AV benefit results from efficient use of visually salient speech cues. Four-year-olds, but not 3-year-olds, used visual phonological knowledge to take advantage of visually salient speech cues, suggesting possible developmental differences in the mechanisms of AV benefit. PMID:25322336

A complete characterization of all-versus-nothing arguments for stabilizer states.

PubMed

Abramsky, Samson; Barbosa, Rui Soares; Carù, Giovanni; Perdrix, Simon

2017-11-13

An important class of contextuality arguments in quantum foundations are the all-versus-nothing (AvN) proofs, generalizing a construction originally due to Mermin. We present a general formulation of AvN arguments and a complete characterization of all such arguments that arise from stabilizer states. We show that every AvN argument for an n -qubit stabilizer state can be reduced to an AvN proof for a three-qubit state that is local Clifford-equivalent to the tripartite Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger state. This is achieved through a combinatorial characterization of AvN arguments, the AvN triple theorem, whose proof makes use of the theory of graph states. This result enables the development of a computational method to generate all the AvN arguments in [Formula: see text] on n -qubit stabilizer states. We also present new insights into the stabilizer formalism and its connections with logic.This article is part of the themed issue 'Second quantum revolution: foundational questions'. © 2017 The Author(s).

A quantitative description of normal AV nodal conduction curve in man.

PubMed

Teague, S; Collins, S; Wu, D; Denes, P; Rosen, K; Arzbaecher, R

1976-01-01

The AV nodal conduction curve generated by the atrial extrastimulus technique has been described only qualitatively in man, making clinical comparison of known normal curves with those of suspected AV nodal dysfunction difficult. Also, the effects of physiological and pharmacological interventions have not been quantifiable. In 50 patients with normal AV conduction as defined by normal AH (less than 130 ms), normal AV nodal effective and functional refractory periods (less than 380 and less than 500 ms), and absence of demonstrable dual AV nodal pathways, we found that conduction curves (at sinus rhythm or longest paced cycle length) can be described by an exponential equation of the form delta = Ae-Bx. In this equation, delta is the increase in AV nodal conduction time of an extrastimulus compared to that of a regular beat and x is extrastimulus interval. The natural logarithm of this equation is linear in the semilogarithmic plane, thus permitting the constants A and B to be easily determined by a least-squares regression analysis with a hand calculator.

Radiotherapy as a cause of complete atrioventricular block in Hodgkin's disease. An electrophysiological-pathological correlation

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

Cohen, S.I.; Bharati, S.; Glass, J.

1981-04-01

A 20-year-old man contracted Hodgkin's disease and was treated with mantle radiotherapy. Heart block developed 11 years later. Electrocardiograms revealed predominant atrioventricular (AV) block and occasional AV conduction. Intracardiac electrograms demonstrated that the site of AV block was above the level of the His bundle. A permanent transvenous pacemaker was implanted. Seven months later the patient died of complications from cryptococcal meningitis. Pathological study of the heart revealed marked arteriosclerosis with fibrosis of the epicardium, myocardium, and endocardium. Examination of the conduction system revealed extensive arteriolosclerosis of the sinoatrial node and its approaches. In addition, there was marked fibrosis ofmore » the approaches to the AV node, the AV bundle, and both bundle branches. There was no evidence of Hodgkin's disease. This case documents the rare occurrence of AV block due to tissue destruction by radiotherapy. There was a good correlation between block proximal to the His bundle recording site and fibrosis of the approaches to the AV node.« less

Radiotherapy as a cause of complete atrioventricular block in Hodgkin's disease: an electrophysiological-pathological correlation

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

Cohen, S.I.; Bharati, S.; Glass, J.

1981-04-01

A 20-year-old man contracted Hodgkin's disease and was treated with mantle radiotherapy. Heart block developed 11 years later. Electrocardiograms revealed predominant atrioventricular (AV) block and occasional AV conduction. Intracardiac electrograms demonstrated that the site of AV block was above the level of the His bundle. A permanent transvenous pacemaker was implanted. Seven months later the patient died of complications from cryptococcal meningitis. Pathological study of the heart revealed marked arteriosclerosis with fibrosis of the epicardium, myocardium, and endocardium. Examination of the conduction system revealed extensive arteriolosclerosis of the sinoatrial node and its approaches. In addition, there was marked fibrosis ofmore » the approaches to the AV node, the AV bundle, and both bundle branches. There was no evidence of Hodgkin's disease. This case documents the rare occurrence of AV block due to tissue destruction by radiotherapy. There was a good correlation between block proximal to the His bundle recording site and fibrosis of the approaches to the AV node.« less

TIME VARIATION OF AV AND RV FOR TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE BEHIND INTERSTELLAR DUST

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Xiaosheng; Biederman, M.; Herger, B.; Aldering, G. S.

2014-01-01

TIME VARIATION OF AV AND RV FOR TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE BEHIND NON-UNIFORM INTERSTELLAR DUST ABSTRACT We investigate the time variation of the visual extinction, AV, and the total-to-selective extinction ratio, RV, resulting from interstellar dust in front of an expanding photospheric disk of a type Ia supernova (SN Ia). We simulate interstellar dust clouds according to a power law power spectrum and produce extinction maps that either follow a pseudo-Gaussian distribution or a lognormal distribution. The RV maps are produced through a correlation between AV and RV. With maps of AV and RV generated in each case (pseudo-Gaussian and lognormal), we then compute the effective AV and RV for a SN as its photospheric disk expands behind the dust screen. We find for a small percentage of SNe the AV and RV values can vary by a large factor from day to day in the first 40 days after explosion.

Axonal autophagosomes recruit dynein for retrograde transport through fusion with late endosomes

PubMed Central

Cheng, Xiu-Tang; Zhou, Bing; Lin, Mei-Yao; Cai, Qian

2015-01-01

Efficient degradation of autophagic vacuoles (AVs) via lysosomes is an important cellular homeostatic process. This is particularly challenging for neurons because mature acidic lysosomes are relatively enriched in the soma. Although dynein-driven retrograde transport of AVs was suggested, a fundamental question remains how autophagosomes generated at distal axons acquire dynein motors for retrograde transport toward the soma. In this paper, we demonstrate that late endosome (LE)–loaded dynein–snapin complexes drive AV retrograde transport in axons upon fusion of autophagosomes with LEs into amphisomes. Blocking the fusion with syntaxin17 knockdown reduced recruitment of dynein motors to AVs, thus immobilizing them in axons. Deficiency in dynein–snapin coupling impaired AV transport, resulting in AV accumulation in neurites and synaptic terminals. Altogether, our study provides the first evidence that autophagosomes recruit dynein through fusion with LEs and reveals a new motor–adaptor sharing mechanism by which neurons may remove distal AVs engulfing aggregated proteins and dysfunctional organelles for efficient degradation in the soma. PMID:25940348

Co-Construction in Korean Interaction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ju, Hee

2011-01-01

This dissertation explores co-construction of a situated activity in a current unit by mainly focusing on hearers' actions. The "co-construction" involves a process of interaction in which speakers and hearers jointly construct the form and the meaning of ongoing utterances even when they disagree with each other (Jacoby & Ochs,…

Laboratory spectroscopy of methoxymethanol in the millimeter-wave range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Motiyenko, Roman A.; Margulès, Laurent; Despois, Didier; Guillemin, Jean-Claude

2018-02-01

Methoxymethanol, CH3OCH2OH is a very interesting candidate for detection in the interstellar medium since it can be formed in the recombination reaction between two radicals considered as intermediates in methanol formation: CH3O (already detected in the ISM) and CH2OH.

Debate on the Draft--Helping Students Decide Where They Stand.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Victory, James

1981-01-01

Presents four exercises to help secondary school social studies students understand the complex issues of the draft. Students participate in a mock draft lottery, analyze Phil Och's Draft Dodger Rag, examine how individual experiences affect attitudes, and compare writings by Bill Mauldin and Ron Kovic. (KC)

A Voyage through the Radio Universe

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Spuck, Timothy

2004-01-01

Each year, professionals and amateurs alike make significant contributions to the field of astronomy. High school students can also conduct astronomy research. Since 1992, the Radio Astronomy Research Team from Oil City Area Senior High School (OCHS) in Oil City, Pennsylvania, has traveled each year to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory…

Natural history of aortic valve disease following intervention for rheumatic mitral valve disease.

PubMed

Namboodiri, Narayanan; Remash, Krishnan; Tharakan, Jaganmohan A; Shajeem, Othayoth; Nair, Krishnakumar; Titus, Thomas; Ajitkumar, Valaparambil K; Sivasankaran, Sivasubramonian; Krishnamoorthy, Kavassery M; Harikrishnan, Sivadasan P; Harikrishnan, Madhavankutty S; Bijulal, Sasidharan

2009-01-01

A significant proportion of patients who require interventions for rheumatic mitral valve (MV) disease have coexisting aortic valve (AV) disease. To date, little is known of the natural history of AV disease in these patients. The details of a cohort of 200 patients (146 females, 54 males; mean age at MV intervention 30.3 +/- 9.9 years) with rheumatic heart disease were retrospectively reviewed. The patients had undergone an index MV intervention (either closed or balloon mitral valvotomy) or MV replacement between 1994 and 1996, and received long-term regular follow up examinations. The clinical and echocardiographic data at entry and at follow up were noted. Patients were allocated to two groups, based on whether the AV disease was absent (group I, n=98) or present (group II, n=102) at baseline. The AV disease was categorized as thickening only (group IIA), isolated aortic regurgitation (AR) (group IIB), or combined aortic stenosis (AS) and AR (group IIC). No patient had isolated AS at baseline. The mean follow up period was 9.3 +/- 1.07 years; during which 10 patients in group I developed new AV disease, which included AV thickening only (n=2), trivial-mild AR (n=7) and mild AS with trivial AR (n=1). Of 16 patients in group IIA, 11 developed isolated AR, and one patient progressed to have mild AS and AR. Among 69 patients in group IIB, 22 (31.9%) developed AS, and all had either mild (n=8) or moderate (n=14) AR with mild AS. Group IIC included 17 patients with mild combined AV disease at baseline, except for moderate AS and moderate AR in one patient each. Among 16 patients with mild AS in group IIC, six progressed to moderate AS and two to severe AS. AR became moderate in 10 patients and severe in one patient. The two patients who progressed to severe AS requiring AV replacement had mild AS at baseline. No patient who developed new combined AV disease had lesions with severity more than mild AS or moderate AR. On logistic regression analysis of the variables predisposing to progression of AV disease, such as age, gender, history of rheumatic fever (RF) and recurrence, and interval from RF episode to symptom onset, only the initial AV gradient was identified as being statistically significant (beta coefficient 0.528, SE = 0.17, p < 0.0001). Patients with no or mild AV disease at the time of MV intervention rarely develop severe AV disease, and seldom require AV surgery over the long-term follow up. The presence of mild AS at baseline is predictive in the minority of cases where AV disease will progress relatively more rapidly.

CFD- and Bernoulli-based pressure drop estimates: A comparison using patient anatomies from heart and aortic valve segmentation of CT images.

PubMed

Weese, Jürgen; Lungu, Angela; Peters, Jochen; Weber, Frank M; Waechter-Stehle, Irina; Hose, D Rodney

2017-06-01

An aortic valve stenosis is an abnormal narrowing of the aortic valve (AV). It impedes blood flow and is often quantified by the geometric orifice area of the AV (AVA) and the pressure drop (PD). Using the Bernoulli equation, a relation between the PD and the effective orifice area (EOA) represented by the area of the vena contracta (VC) downstream of the AV can be derived. We investigate the relation between the AVA and the EOA using patient anatomies derived from cardiac computed tomography (CT) angiography images and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations. We developed a shape-constrained deformable model for segmenting the AV, the ascending aorta (AA), and the left ventricle (LV) in cardiac CT images. In particular, we designed a structured AV mesh model, trained the model on CT scans, and integrated it with an available model for heart segmentation. The planimetric AVA was determined from the cross-sectional slice with minimum AV opening area. In addition, the AVA was determined as the nonobstructed area along the AV axis by projecting the AV leaflet rims on a plane perpendicular to the AV axis. The flow rate was derived from the LV volume change. Steady-state CFD simulations were performed on the patient anatomies resulting from segmentation. Heart and valve segmentation was used to retrospectively analyze 22 cardiac CT angiography image sequences of patients with noncalcified and (partially) severely calcified tricuspid AVs. Resulting AVAs were in the range of 1-4.5 cm 2 and ejection fractions (EFs) between 20 and 75%. AVA values computed by projection were smaller than those computed by planimetry, and both were strongly correlated (R 2 = 0.995). EOA values computed via the Bernoulli equation from CFD-based PD results were strongly correlated with both AVA values (R 2 = 0.97). EOA values were ∼10% smaller than planimetric AVA values. For EOA values < 2.0 cm 2 , the EOA was up to ∼15% larger than the projected AVA. The presented segmentation algorithm allowed to construct detailed AV models for 22 patient cases. Because of the crown-like 3D structure of the AV, the planimetric AVA is larger than the projected AVA formed by the free edges of the AV leaflets. The AVA formed by the free edges of the AV leaflets was smaller than the EOA for EOA values <2.0cm2. This contradiction with respect to previous studies that reported the EOA to be always smaller or equal to the geometric AVA is explained by the more detailed AV models used within this study. © 2017 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Imaging of VMAT2 binding sites in the brain by (18)F-AV-133: the effect of a pseudo-carrier.

PubMed

Zhu, Lin; Qiao, Hongwen; Lieberman, Brian P; Wu, Jingxiao; Liu, Yajing; Pan, Zhongyun; Ploessl, Karl; Choi, Seok Rye; Chan, Piu; Kung, Hank F

2012-10-01

Recently, 9-[(18)F]fluoropropyl-(+)-dihydrotetrabenazine ((18)F-AV-133) was reported as a new vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT2) imaging agent for diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD). To shorten the preparation of (18)F-AV-133 and to make it more widely available, we evaluated a simple, rapid purification with a solid-phase extraction method (SPE) using an Oasis HLB cartridge instead of high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The SPE method produced doses containing a pseudo-carrier, 9-hydroxypropyl-(+)-dihydrotetrabenazine (AV-149). To test the possible side effects of this pseudo-carrier, comparative dynamic PET scans of the brains of normal monkeys (2 each) and uni-laterally 6-OH-dopamine-lesioned PD monkeys (2 each) were performed using (18)F-AV-133 doses prepared by either SPE (containing pseudo-carrier) or HPLC (containing no pseudo-carrier). Autoradiographs of post mortem monkey brain sections were evaluated to confirm the relative (18)F-AV-133 uptake in the PD monkey brains and the effects of the pseudo-carrier on VMAT2 binding. The radiochemical purity of the (18)F-AV-133, whether prepared by SPE or by HPLC, was excellent (>99%). PET scans of normal and PD monkey brains showed an expected reduction of VMAT2 in the lesioned areas of the striatum. It was not affected by the presence of the pseudo-carrier, AV-149 (maximally 250 μg/dose). The reduced uptake in the striatum of the lesioned monkey brains was confirmed by autoradiography. Ex vivo inhibition studies of (18)F-AV-133 binding in rat brains, conducted with increasing amounts of AV-149, suggested that at the highest concentration (3.5mg/kg) the VMAT2 binding in the striatum was only moderately blocked (20% reduction). The pseudo-carrier, AV-149, did not affect the (18)F-AV-133/PET imaging of VMAT2 binding sites in normal or uni-laterally lesioned monkey brains. The new streamlined SPE purification method will enable (18)F-AV-133 to be widely available for routine clinical application in determining changes in monoamine neurons for patient with movement disorders or other psychiatric illnesses. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Flavodoxin 1 of Azotobacter vinelandii: characterization and role in electron donation to purified assimilatory nitrate reductase.

PubMed Central

Gangeswaran, R; Eady, R R

1996-01-01

Flavodoxins synthesized by Azotobacter vinelandii strain UW 36 during growth on nitrate as nitrogen source were separated by FPLC on a Mono Q column into two species, flavodoxin 1 (AvFld 1) and flavodoxin 2 (AvFld 2). Both proteins migrated as single bands on SDS/PAGE. AvFld 1 was approx. 5-fold more abundant than AvFld 2 in the unresolved flavodoxin mixture. N-terminal amino acid analysis showed the sequence of AvFld 2 to correspond to the nif F gene product, an electron donor to nitrogenase. The sequences also show that these species corresponded to the flavodoxins Fld A and Fld B isolated from N2-grown cultures of the closely related organism Azotobacter throococcum [Bagby, Barker, Hill, Eady and Thorneley (1991) Biochem.J.277, 313-319]. Electrospray mass spectrometry gave M, values for the polypeptides of 19430 +/- 3 and 19533 +/- 5 respectively. 31P-NMR measurements showed that in addition to the phosphate associated with the FMN (delta = -136.3 p.p.m. and -135.48 p.p.m.), AvFld 1 had a signal at delta = -142.1 p.p.m. and AvFld 2 at delta = -138.59 p.p.m. present in substoichiometric amounts with FMN. These appeared to arise from unstable species since they were readily lost on further manipulation of the proteins. The mid-point potentials of the semiquinone hydroquinone redox couples were -330 mV and -493 mV for AvFld 1 and AvFld 2 respectively, but only AvFld 1 was competent in donating electrons to the purified assimilatory nitrate reductase of A. vinelandii to catalyse the reduction of nitrate to nitrite. Flavodoxin isolated from NH4(+)-grown cells (Fld 3) also functioned as electron donor at half the rate of AvFld 1, but ferredoxin 1 from A. chroococcum did not. PMID:8694750

Effects of acid-volatile sulfide on metal bioavailability and toxicity to midge (Chironomus tentans) larvae in black shale sediments

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ogendi, G.M.; Brumbaugh, W.G.; Hannigan, R.E.; Farris, J.L.

2007-01-01

Metal bioavailability and toxicity to aquatic organisms are greatly affected by variables such as pH, hardness, organic matter, and sediment acid-volatile sulfide (AVS). Sediment AVS, which reduces metal bioavailability and toxicity by binding and immobilizing metals as insoluble sulfides, has been studied intensely in recent years. Few studies, however, have determined the spatial variability of AVS and its interaction with simultaneously extracted metals (SEM) in sediments containing elevated concentrations of metals resulting from natural geochemical processes, such as weathering of black shales. We collected four sediment samples from each of four headwater bedrock streams in northcentral Arkansa (USA; three black shale-draining streams and one limestone-draining stream). We conducted 10-d acute whole-sediment toxicity tests using the midge Chironomus tentans and performed analyses for AVS, total metals, SEMs, and organic carbon. Most of the sediments from shale-draining streams had similar total metal and SEM concentrations but considerable differences in organic carbon and AVS. Zinc was the leading contributor to the SEM molar sum, averaging between 68 and 74%, whereas lead and cadmium contributed less than 3%. The AVS concentration was very low in all but two samples from one of the shale streams, and the sum of the SEM concentrations was in molar excess of AVS for all shale stream sediments. No significant differences in mean AVS concentrations between sediments collected from shale-draining or limestone-draining sites were noted (p > 0.05). Midge survival and growth in black shale-derived sediments were significantly less (p < 0.001) than that of limestone-derived sediments. On the whole, either SEM alone or SEM-AVS explained the total variation in midge survival and growth about equally well. However, survival and growth were significantly greater (p < 0.05) in the two sediment samples that contained measurable AVS compared with the two sediments from the same stream that contained negligible AVS. ?? 2007 SETAC.

Initial experience with Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab (ovine) antivenom in the treatment of copperhead snakebite.

PubMed

Lavonas, Eric J; Gerardo, Charles J; O'Malley, Gerald; Arnold, Thomas C; Bush, Sean P; Banner, William; Steffens, Mark; Kerns, William P

2004-02-01

Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab (ovine) (CroFab; FabAV) effectively treats patients bitten by rattlesnakes. The copperhead snake (Agkistrodon contortrix) caused 37% of venomous snakebites reported to US poison centers in 2001 and is the major envenomating reptile in the southeastern United States. FabAV has not been tested in human beings envenomated by copperhead snakes. In this preliminary study, we performed a retrospective chart review of all copperhead snake envenomations reported to the Carolinas Poison Center that were treated with FabAV. Progression of limb swelling, coagulopathy, and hemodynamic status before and after FabAV administration, adverse effects of FabAV therapy, and recurrence phenomena were recorded. Of approximately 400 copperhead envenomation cases reported to the poison center during the study period, 32 received FabAV and were included. Most patients had moderate envenomation. The median time to FabAV administration was 4.0 hours. The median time to achieve initial control was 1.0 hour, with a median dose of 4 vials of FabAV. A rapid initial response, defined as cessation of the progression of local tissue injury within 4 hours of FabAV administration, occurred in 28 cases (88%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 76% to 99%). Four cases (13%; 95% CI 1% to 24%) were considered treatment failures. Recurrent swelling occurred in 6 cases (19%; 95% CI 5% to 32%). The incidence of recurrent swelling was not reduced by administration of repeated doses of antivenom on a planned schedule. One patient developed late-onset coagulopathy. One minor allergic reaction was observed. In this select group of patients bitten by copperhead snakes, local tissue effects of envenomation halted promptly after FabAV treatment in most cases. Treatment failures occurred, and recurrence of swelling and defibrination syndrome was sometimes problematic. Time to return to work and long-term limb function were not assessed. A controlled trial with long-term follow-up is needed to define the role of FabAV treatment for copperhead envenomation.

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

Le Blanche, Alain F.; Pautas, Eric; Gouin, Isabelle

Purpose. To evaluate routine use of access sites in the arm for percutaneous caval filter placement (PCFP) in elderly patients. Neck arthritis, patient anxiety, access site thrombosis or fecal/urinary incontinence complicating jugular or femoral access may require alternative access sites in this population. Methods. Access via the right arm was chosen for PCFP (VenaTech LP). The indication for PCFP was deep vein thrombosis, a history of pulmonary embolism, and a contraindication to anticoagulant therapy. Ultrasound-guided puncture was performed after diameter measurement of the arm veins (O{sub AV}). The filter was inserted with standard imaging procedures. Procedural difficulty was graded andmore » compared with O{sub AV} and the angle from the arm vein to the superior vena cava ({alpha}{sub AV/SVC}). Results. Over 2 years, 16 patients (14 women, 2 men) with an average age of 90 years (range 79-97 years) were included in the study. The average O{sub AV} value of the basilic or brachial veins was 4.2 mm (range 3.0-5.1 mm). The minimal O{sub AV} for successful access was determined after the first 15 patients. No hematoma occurred at the puncture sites. The average {alpha}{sub AV/SVC} value was 62 deg. (range 29 deg. - 90 deg.). Arm access was possible in 12 of 16 patients (75%) with O{sub AV} {>=} 3.5 mm and {alpha}{sub AV/SVC} {>=} 29 deg. Every procedure via the arm was graded 'easy' by the operator, regardless of angulation values. Femoral access was used in one case due to the impossibility of traversing the heart (patient no. 2), and jugular access was used in 3 of 16 (19%) patients due to puncture failure (patient no. 4), small O{sub AV} (3 mm) (patient no. 6), and stenosis of the distal right subclavian vein (patient no.16), respectively. Conclusion. PCFP via the arm can be routinely accomplished in patients older than 75 years, provided O{sub AV} {>=} 3.5 mm, and {alpha}{sub AV/SVC} {>=} 200119 d.« less

Alternative Fuels Data Center

Science.gov Websites

Support for Automated Vehicle (AV) Testing and Operation Effective September 1, 2017, Texas state agencies must support the testing and operation of AVs. AV usage is authorized if the driving system

Temporal dissociation between muscle and pulmonary oxygen uptake kinetics: influences of perfusion dynamics and arteriovenous oxygen concentration differences in muscles and lungs.

PubMed

Drescher, U; Koschate, J; Thieschäfer, L; Schneider, S; Hoffmann, U

2018-06-22

The aim of the study was to test whether or not the arteriovenous oxygen concentration difference (avDO 2 ) kinetics at the pulmonary (avDO 2 pulm) and muscle (avDO 2 musc) levels is significantly different during dynamic exercise. A re-analysis involving six publications dealing with kinetic analysis was utilized with an overall sample size of 69 participants. All studies comprised an identical pseudorandom binary sequence work rate (WR) protocol-WR changes between 30 and 80 W-to analyze the kinetic responses of pulmonary ([Formula: see text]) and muscle ([Formula: see text]) oxygen uptake kinetics as well as those of avDO 2 pulm and avDO 2 musc. A significant difference between [Formula: see text] (0.395 ± 0.079) and [Formula: see text] kinetics (0.330 ± 0.078) was observed (p < 0.001), where the variables showed a significant relationship (r SP  = 0.744, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences between avDO 2 musc (0.446 ± 0.077) and avDO 2 pulm kinetics (0.451 ± 0.075), which are highly correlated (r = 0.929, p < 0.001). It is suggested that neither avDO 2 pulm nor avDO 2 musc kinetic responses seem to be responsible for the differences between estimated [Formula: see text] and measured [Formula: see text] kinetics. Obviously, the conflation of avDO 2 and perfusion ([Formula: see text] ) at different points in time and at different physiological levels drive potential differences in [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] kinetics. Therefore, [Formula: see text] should, in general, be considered whenever oxygen uptake kinetics are analyzed or discussed.

Diastolic mitral and tricuspid regurgitation by Doppler echocardiography in patients with atrioventricular block: new insight into the mechanism of atrioventricular valve closure.

PubMed

Schnittger, I; Appleton, C P; Hatle, L K; Popp, R L

1988-01-01

The purpose of this study was to prospectively determine the incidence of diastolic mitral and tricuspid regurgitation in atrioventricular (AV) block using Doppler echocardiography. The temporal relation between mitral and tricuspid diastolic insufficiency and the diastolic murmur recorded in patients with complete heart block was also investigated. Twenty-two consecutive patients with AV block (referred to the Echo-Doppler laboratory for routine clinical studies), aged 18 to 87 years, were enrolled in the study. Eleven patients had third degree AV block and a ventricular-inhibited (VVI) pacemaker, two patients had second degree AV block, seven patients had first degree AV block, one patient had blocked premature atrial complexes and one patient had atrial flutter with 4:1 AV block. Diastolic mitral regurgitation was detected in 20 patients, and diastolic tricuspid regurgitation in 21. A mid-diastolic murmur was detected in all patients except in the three youngest. The murmur occurred before diastolic regurgitation and coincided with peak forward flow through the AV valve after atrial contraction. M-mode mitral valve echocardiograms obtained in nine patients demonstrated near closure of some portions of the mitral valve after atrial contraction. Effective closure of the valve, however, did not occur unless ventricular systole supervened. In conclusion, diastolic mitral and tricuspid regurgitation are almost universally present in patients with AV block and are associated with a diastolic murmur. The murmur coincides with forward AV valve flow. Diastolic regurgitation is silent. Effective AV valve closure is not established until ventricular systole occurs, as demonstrated by M-mode echocardiographic recording of the mitral valve.

Chronic effect of cadmium in sediments on colonization by benthic marine organisms: An evaluation of the role of interstitial cadmium and acid-volatile sulfide in biological availability

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

Hansen, D.J.; Berry, W.J.; Benyi, S.J.

1996-12-01

The role of interstitial cadmium and acid-volatile sulfide (AVS) in controlling the bioavailability of sediment-associated metal was examined using the chronic saltwater benthic colonization test. Sediments were spiked to achieve nominal cadmium/AVS molar ratios of 0.0 (control), 0.1, 0.8, and 3.0 in this 118-d test. Oxidation of AVS in the surficial 2.4 cm within 2 to 4 weeks resulted in sulfide profiles similar to those occurring naturally in local sediments. In the nominal 0.1 cadmium/AVS treatment measured simultaneously extracted metal (SEM{sub Cd}) was always less than AVS. Interstitial cadmium concentrations were less than those likely to cause biological effects. Nomore » significant biological effects were detected. In the nominal 0.8 cadmium/AVS treatment, measured SEM{sub Cd} commonly exceeded AVS in the surficial 2.4 cm of sediment. Interstitial cadmium concentrations were of likely toxicological significance to highly sensitive species. Shifts in the presence or absence over all taxa, and fewer macrobenthic polychaetes (Mediomastus ambiseta, Streblospio benedicti, and Podarke obscurea) and unidentified meiofaunal nematodes, were observed. In the nominal 3.0 cadmium/AVS treatment, concentrations of SEM{sub Cd} were always greater than AVS throughout the sediment column. Interstitial cadmium ranged from 28,000 to 174,000 {micro}g/L. In addition to the effects above, the sediments were colonized by fewer macrobenthic species, polychaete species, and harpacticoids; had lower densities of diatoms; lacked bivalve molluscs; and exhibited other impacts. Over all treatments, the observed biological responses were consistent with SEM{sub Cd}/AVS ratios in surficial sediments and interstitial water cadmium concentrations.« less

Effect of cadmium in sediments on colonization by benthic marine organisms: Role of interstitial cadmium and acid volatile sulfide in bioavailability

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

Hansen, D.; Berry, W.; Benyi, S.

1995-12-31

The role of interstitial cadmium and acid volatile sulfide (AVS) in controlling the bioavailability of sediment-associated metal was examined using the chronic saltwater benthic colonization test. Sediments were spiked with cadmium to achieve simultaneously extracted metal (SEM)/AVS molar ratios of 0. 0 (control), 0.1, 0.8 and 3.0 in this 118-day test. Oxidation of AVS in the surficial 2.4 cm within two to four weeks resulted in sulfide profiles similar to those occurring naturally in local sediments. In the nominal 0.1 SEM/AVS treatment, measured SEM was always less than AVS. Interstitial cadmium concentrations (< 3--10 {micro}g/L) were below those likely tomore » cause biological effects. No significant biological effects were detected. In the nominal 0.8 SEM/AVS treatment, measured SEM commonly exceeded AVS in the surficial 2.4 cm of sediment. Interstitial cadmium concentrations (24--157 {micro}g/L) were likely of toxicological significance to sensitive species. Shifts were observed in presence/absence of species, and there were fewer macrobenthic polychaetes (Mediomastus ambiseta, Strebloapio benedicti and Podarke obscura) and unidentified meiofaunal nematodes. In the nominal 3.0 SEM/AVS treatment, concentrations of SEM were always greater than AVS throughout the sediment column. Interstitial cadmium ranged from 28,000 to 174,000 {micro}g/L. In addition to the effects above, these sediments were colonized by fewer macrobenthic species, polychaete species and harpacticoids; had lower densities of diatoms; lacked bivalve molluscs and exhibited other impacts. The observed biological responses were consistent with measured SEM/AVS ratios in surficial sediments and interstitial water cadmium concentrations, further supporting their utility in predicting metals bioavailability.« less

Vitamin D(2) supplementation induces the development of aortic stenosis in rabbits: interactions with endothelial function and thioredoxin-interacting protein.

PubMed

Ngo, Doan T M; Stafford, Irene; Kelly, Darren J; Sverdlov, Aaron L; Wuttke, Ronald D; Weedon, Helen; Nightingale, Angus K; Rosenkranz, Anke C; Smith, Malcolm D; Chirkov, Yuliy Y; Kennedy, Jennifer A; Horowitz, John D

2008-08-20

Understanding of the pathophysiology of aortic valve stenosis (AVS) and finding potentially effective treatments are impeded by the lack of suitable AVS animal models. A previous study demonstrated the development of AVS in rabbits with vitamin D(2) and cholesterol supplementation without any hemodynamic changes in the cholesterol supplemented group alone. The current study aimed to determine whether AVS develops in an animal model with vitamin D(2) supplementation alone, and to explore pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this process. The effects of 8 weeks' treatment with vitamin D(2) alone (n=8) at 25,000 IU/4 days weekly on aortic valve structure and function were examined in male New Zealand white rabbits. Echocardiographic aortic valve backscatter (AV(BS)), transvalvular velocity, and transvalvular pressure gradient were utilized to quantitate changes in valve structure and function. Valvular histology/immunochemistry and function were examined after 8 weeks. Changes in valves were compared with those in endothelial function and in valvular measurement of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), a marker/mediator of reactive oxygen species-induced oxidative stress. Vitamin D(2) treated rabbits developed AVS with increased AV(BS) (17.6+/-1.4 dB vs 6.7+/-0.8 dB, P<0.0001), increased transvalvular velocity and transvalvular pressure gradient (both P<0.01 via 2-way ANOVA) compared to the control group. There was associated valve calcification, lipid deposition and macrophage infiltration. Endothelial function was markedly impaired, and intravalvular TXNIP concentration increased. In this model, vitamin D(2) induces the development of AVS with histological features similar to those of early AVS in humans and associated endothelial dysfunction/redox stress. AVS development may result from the loss of nitric oxide suppression of TXNIP expression.

The human apolipoprotein AV gene is regulated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha and contains a novel farnesoid X-activated receptor response element.

PubMed

Prieur, Xavier; Coste, Herve; Rodriguez, Joan C

2003-07-11

The newly identified apolipoprotein AV (apoAV) gene is a key player in determining plasma triglyceride concentrations. Because hypertriglyceridemia is a major independent risk factor in coronary artery disease, the understanding of the regulation of the expression of this gene is of considerable importance. We presently characterize the structure, the transcription start site, and the promoter of the human apoAV gene. Since the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARalpha) and the farnesoid X-activated receptor (FXR) have been shown to modulate the expression of genes involved in triglyceride metabolism, we evaluated the potential role of these nuclear receptors in the regulation of apoAV transcription. Bile acids and FXR induced the apoAV gene promoter activity. 5'-Deletion, mutagenesis, and gel shift analysis identified a heretofore unknown element at positions -103/-84 consisting of an inverted repeat of two consensus receptor-binding hexads separated by 8 nucleotides (IR8), which was required for the response to bile acid-activated FXR. The isolated IR8 element conferred FXR responsiveness on a heterologous promoter. On the other hand, in apoAV-expressing human hepatic Hep3B cells, transfection of PPARalpha specifically enhanced apoAV promoter activity. By deletion, site-directed mutagenesis, and binding analysis, a PPARalpha response element located 271 bp upstream of the transcription start site was identified. Finally, treatment with a specific PPARalpha activator led to a significant induction of apoAV mRNA expression in hepatocytes. The identification of apoAV as a PPARalpha target gene has major implications with respect to mechanisms whereby pharmacological PPARalpha agonists may exert their beneficial hypotriglyceridemic actions.

Functional, Anatomical, and Molecular Investigation of the Cardiac Conduction System and Arrhythmogenic Atrioventricular Ring Tissue in the Rat Heart

PubMed Central

Atkinson, Andrew J.; Logantha, Sunil Jit R. J.; Hao, Guoliang; Yanni, Joseph; Fedorenko, Olga; Sinha, Aditi; Gilbert, Stephen H.; Benson, Alan P.; Buckley, David L.; Anderson, Robert H.; Boyett, Mark R.; Dobrzynski, Halina

2013-01-01

Background The cardiac conduction system consists of the sinus node, nodal extensions, atrioventricular (AV) node, penetrating bundle, bundle branches, and Purkinje fibers. Node‐like AV ring tissue also exists at the AV junctions, and the right and left rings unite at the retroaortic node. The study aims were to (1) construct a 3‐dimensional anatomical model of the AV rings and retroaortic node, (2) map electrical activation in the right ring and study its action potential characteristics, and (3) examine gene expression in the right ring and retroaortic node. Methods and Results Three‐dimensional reconstruction (based on magnetic resonance imaging, histology, and immunohistochemistry) showed the extent and organization of the specialized tissues (eg, how the AV rings form the right and left nodal extensions into the AV node). Multiextracellular electrode array and microelectrode mapping of isolated right ring preparations revealed robust spontaneous activity with characteristic diastolic depolarization. Using laser microdissection gene expression measured at the mRNA level (using quantitative PCR) and protein level (using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting) showed that the right ring and retroaortic node, like the sinus node and AV node but, unlike ventricular muscle, had statistically significant higher expression of key transcription factors (including Tbx3, Msx2, and Id2) and ion channels (including HCN4, Cav3.1, Cav3.2, Kv1.5, SK1, Kir3.1, and Kir3.4) and lower expression of other key ion channels (Nav1.5 and Kir2.1). Conclusions The AV rings and retroaortic node possess gene expression profiles similar to that of the AV node. Ion channel expression and electrophysiological recordings show the AV rings could act as ectopic pacemakers and a source of atrial tachycardia. PMID:24356527

Adrenal venous sampling: the learning curve of a single interventionalist with 282 consecutive procedures

PubMed Central

Jakobsson, Hugo; Farmaki, Katerina; Sakinis, Augustinas; Ehn, Olof; Johannsson, Gudmundur; Ragnarsson, Oskar

2018-01-01

PURPOSE Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a common cause of secondary hypertension. Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is the gold standard for assessing laterality of PA, which is of paramount importance to decide adequate treatment. AVS is a technically complicated procedure with success rates ranging between 30% and 96%. The aim of this study was to investigate the success rate of AVS over time, performed by a single interventionalist. METHODS This was a retrospective study based on consecutive AVS procedures performed by a single operator between September 2005 and June 2016. Data on serum concentrations of aldosterone and cortisol from right and left adrenal vein, inferior vena cava, and peripheral vein were collected and selectivity index (SI) calculated. Successful AVS was defined as SI >5. RESULTS In total, 282 AVS procedures were performed on 269 patients, 168 men (62%) and 101 women (38%), with a mean age of 55±11 years (range, 26–78 years). Out of 282 AVS procedures, 259 were successful, giving an overall success rate of 92%. The most common reason for failure was inability to localize the right adrenal vein (n=16; 76%). The success rates were 63%, 82%, and 94% during the first, second, and third years, respectively. During the last 8 years the success rate was 95%, and on average 27 procedures were performed annually. CONCLUSION Satisfactory AVS success rate was achieved after approximately 36 procedures and satisfactory success rate was maintained by performing approximately 27 procedures annually. AVS should be limited to few operators that perform sufficiently large number of procedures to achieve, and maintain, satisfactory AVS success rate. PMID:29467114

FTO Is Associated with Aortic Valve Stenosis in a Gender Specific Manner of Heterozygote Advantage: A Population-Based Case-Control Study.

PubMed

Thron, Cindy; Akhyari, Payam; Godehardt, Erhard; Lichtenberg, Artur; Rüther, Ulrich; Seehaus, Stefanie

2015-01-01

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the Fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene have been linked with increased body weight. However, the data on an association of FTO with cardiovascular diseases remains conflicting. Therefore, we ascertained whether FTO is associated with aortic valve stenosis (AVS), one of the most frequent cardiovascular diseases in the Western world. In this population-based case-control study the FTO SNP rs9939609 was analyzed in 300 German patients with AVS and 429 German controls of the KORA survey S4, representing a random population. Blood samples were collected prior to aortic valve replacement in AVS cases and FTO rs9939609 was genotyped via ARMS-PCR. Genotype frequencies differed significantly between AVS cases and KORA controls (p = 0.004). Separate gender-analyses uncovered an association of FTO with AVS exclusively in males; homozygote carriers for the risk-allele (A) had a higher risk to develop AVS (p = 0.017, odds ratio (OR) 1.727; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.087-2.747, recessive model), whereas heterozygote carriers for the risk-allele showed a lower risk (p = 0.002, OR 0.565, 95% CI 0.384-0.828, overdominant model). After adjustment for multiple co-variables, the odds ratios of heterozygotes remained significant for an association with AVS (p = 0.008, OR 0.565, 95% CI 0.369-0.861). This study revealed an association of FTO rs9939609 with AVS. Furthermore, this association was restricted to men, with heterozygotes having a significantly lower chance to develop AVS. Lastly, the association between FTO and AVS was independent of BMI and other variables such as diabetes mellitus.

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

Lee, Danny; Greer, Peter B.; Department of Radiation Oncology, Calvary Mater Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW

Purpose: To assess the impact of an audiovisual (AV) biofeedback on intra- and interfraction tumor motion for lung cancer patients. Methods and Materials: Lung tumor motion was investigated in 9 lung cancer patients who underwent a breathing training session with AV biofeedback before 2 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sessions. The breathing training session was performed to allow patients to become familiar with AV biofeedback, which uses a guiding wave customized for each patient according to a reference breathing pattern. In the first MRI session (pretreatment), 2-dimensional cine-MR images with (1) free breathing (FB) and (2) AV biofeedback were obtained, andmore » the second MRI session was repeated within 3-6 weeks (mid-treatment). Lung tumors were directly measured from cine-MR images using an auto-segmentation technique; the centroid and outlier motions of the lung tumors were measured from the segmented tumors. Free breathing and AV biofeedback were compared using several metrics: intra- and interfraction tumor motion consistency in displacement and period, and the outlier motion ratio. Results: Compared with FB, AV biofeedback improved intrafraction tumor motion consistency by 34% in displacement (P=.019) and by 73% in period (P<.001). Compared with FB, AV biofeedback improved interfraction tumor motion consistency by 42% in displacement (P<.046) and by 74% in period (P=.005). Compared with FB, AV biofeedback reduced the outlier motion ratio by 21% (P<.001). Conclusions: These results demonstrated that AV biofeedback significantly improved intra- and interfraction lung tumor motion consistency for lung cancer patients. These results demonstrate that AV biofeedback can facilitate consistent tumor motion, which is advantageous toward achieving more accurate medical imaging and radiation therapy procedures.« less

The tau positron-emission tomography tracer AV-1451 binds with similar affinities to tau fibrils and monoamine oxidases.

PubMed

Vermeiren, Céline; Motte, Philippe; Viot, Delphine; Mairet-Coello, Georges; Courade, Jean-Philippe; Citron, Martin; Mercier, Joël; Hannestad, Jonas; Gillard, Michel

2018-02-01

Lilly/Avid's AV-1451 is one of the most advanced tau PET tracers in the clinic. Although results obtained in Alzheimer's disease patients are compelling, discrimination of tracer uptake in healthy individuals and patients with supranuclear palsy (PSP) is less clear as there is substantial overlap of signal in multiple brain regions. Moreover, accurate quantification of [ 18 F]AV-1451 uptake in Alzheimer's disease may not be possible. The aim of the present study was to characterize the in vitro binding of AV-1451 to understand and identify potential off-target binding that could explain the poor discrimination observed in PSP patients. [ 3 H]AV-1451 and AV-1451 were characterized in in vitro binding assays using recombinant and native proteins/tissues from postmortem samples of controls and Alzheimer's disease and PSP patients. [ 3 H]AV-1451 binds to multiple sites with nanomolar affinities in brain homogenates and to tau fibrils isolated from Alzheimer's disease or PSP patients. [ 3 H]AV-1451 also binds with similarly high affinities in brain homogenates devoid of tau pathology. This unexpected binding was demonstrated to be because of nanomolar affinities of [ 3 H]AV-1451 for monoamine oxidase A and B enzymes. High affinity of AV-1451 for monoamine oxidase proteins may limit its utility as a tau PET tracer in PSP and Alzheimer's disease because of high levels of monoamine oxidase expression in brain regions also affected by tau deposition, especially if monoamine oxidase levels change over time or with a treatment intervention. © 2017 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. © 2017 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

FTO Is Associated with Aortic Valve Stenosis in a Gender Specific Manner of Heterozygote Advantage: A Population-Based Case-Control Study

PubMed Central

Thron, Cindy; Akhyari, Payam; Godehardt, Erhard; Lichtenberg, Artur; Rüther, Ulrich; Seehaus, Stefanie

2015-01-01

Background Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the Fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene have been linked with increased body weight. However, the data on an association of FTO with cardiovascular diseases remains conflicting. Therefore, we ascertained whether FTO is associated with aortic valve stenosis (AVS), one of the most frequent cardiovascular diseases in the Western world. Methods and Findings In this population-based case-control study the FTO SNP rs9939609 was analyzed in 300 German patients with AVS and 429 German controls of the KORA survey S4, representing a random population. Blood samples were collected prior to aortic valve replacement in AVS cases and FTO rs9939609 was genotyped via ARMS-PCR. Genotype frequencies differed significantly between AVS cases and KORA controls (p = 0.004). Separate gender-analyses uncovered an association of FTO with AVS exclusively in males; homozygote carriers for the risk-allele (A) had a higher risk to develop AVS (p = 0.017, odds ratio (OR) 1.727; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.087–2.747, recessive model), whereas heterozygote carriers for the risk-allele showed a lower risk (p = 0.002, OR 0.565, 95% CI 0.384–0.828, overdominant model). After adjustment for multiple co-variables, the odds ratios of heterozygotes remained significant for an association with AVS (p = 0.008, OR 0.565, 95% CI 0.369–0.861). Conclusions This study revealed an association of FTO rs9939609 with AVS. Furthermore, this association was restricted to men, with heterozygotes having a significantly lower chance to develop AVS. Lastly, the association between FTO and AVS was independent of BMI and other variables such as diabetes mellitus. PMID:26431034

A Multi-institutional Comparison of Adrenal Venous Sampling in Patients with Primary Aldosteronism: Caution Advised if Successful Bilateral Adrenal Vein Sampling is Not Achieved.

PubMed

Wang, Tracy S; Kline, Greg; Yen, Tina W; Yin, Ziyan; Liu, Ying; Rilling, William; So, Benny; Findling, James W; Evans, Douglas B; Pasieka, Janice L

2018-02-01

In patients with primary aldosteronism (PA), adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is recommended to differentiate between unilateral (UNI) or bilateral (BIL) adrenal disease. A recent study suggested that lateralization could be predicted, based on the ratio of aldosterone/cortisol levels (A/C) between the left adrenal vein (LAV) and inferior vena cava (IVC), with a 100% positive predictive value (PPV). This study aimed to validate those findings utilizing a larger, multi-institutional cohort. A retrospective review was performed of patients with PA who underwent AVS from 2 tertiary-care institutions. Laterality was predicted by an A/C ratio of >3:1 between the dominant and non-dominant adrenal. AVS results were compared to LAV/IVC ratios utilizing the published criteria (Lt ≥ 5.5; Rt ≤ 0.5). Of 222 patients, 124 (57%) had UNI and 98 (43%) had BIL disease based on AVS. AVS and LAV/IVC findings were concordant for laterality in 141 (64%) patients (69 UNI, 72 BIL). Using only the LAV/IVC ratio, 54 (24%) patients with UNI disease on AVS who underwent successful surgery would have been assumed to have BAH unless AVS was repeated, and 24 (11%) patients with BIL disease on AVS may have been incorrectly offered surgery (PPV 70%). Based on median LAV/IVC ratios (left 5.26; right 0.31; BIL 2.84), no LAV/IVC ratio accurately predicted laterality. This multi-institutional study of patients with both UNI and BIL PA failed to validate the previously reported PPV of LAV/IVC ratio for lateralization. Caution should be used in interpreting incomplete AVS data to differentiate between UNI versus BIL disease and strong consideration given to repeat AVS prior to adrenalectomy.

Application of strict criteria in adrenal venous sampling increases the proportion of missed patients with unilateral disease who benefit from surgery for primary aldosteronism.

PubMed

Kline, Gregory; Leung, Alexander; So, Benny; Chin, Alex; Harvey, Adrian; Pasieka, Janice L

2018-06-01

Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is intended to confirm unilateral forms of primary aldosteronism, which are amenable to surgical cure. Excessively strict AVS criteria to define lateralization may result in many patients incorrectly categorized as bilateral primary aldosteronism and opportunity for surgical cure missed. Retrospective review of an AVS-primary aldosteronism database in which surgical cases are verified by standardized outcomes. Having used 'less strict' AVS criteria for lateralization, we examined the distribution of AVS lateralization indices in our confirmed unilateral primary aldosteronism cases both with and without cosyntropin stimulation. The proportion of proven unilateral cases that would have been missed with stricter AVS interpretation criteria was calculated. Particular focus was given to the proportion of missed cases according to use of international guidelines. False-positive lateralization with 'less strict' interpretation was also calculated. Of 80 surgical primary aldosteronism cases, 10-23% would have been missed with AVS lateralization indices of 3 : 1 to 5 : 1, with or without cosyntropin. If strict selectivity indices (for confirmation of catheterization) were combined with strict lateralization indices, up to 70% of unilateral primary aldosteronism cases could have been missed. Use of Endocrine Society AVS guidelines would have missed 21-43% of proven unilateral cases. 'Less strict' AVS interpretation yielded one case (1.2%) of false lateralization. Excessively strict AVS interpretation criteria will result in a high rate of missed unilateral primary aldosteronism with subsequent loss of opportunity for intervention. Use of more lenient lateralization criteria will improve the detection rate of unilateral primary aldosteronism with very low false-positive rate.

Early and 1-year outcomes of aortic root surgery in patients with Marfan syndrome: a prospective, multicenter, comparative study.

PubMed

Coselli, Joseph S; Volguina, Irina V; LeMaire, Scott A; Sundt, Thoralf M; Connolly, Heidi M; Stephens, Elizabeth H; Schaff, Hartzell V; Milewicz, Dianna M; Vricella, Luca A; Dietz, Harry C; Minard, Charles G; Miller, D Craig

2014-06-01

To compare the 1-year results after aortic valve-sparing (AVS) or valve-replacing (AVR) aortic root replacement from a prospective, international registry of 316 patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS). Patients underwent AVS (n = 239, 76%) or AVR (n = 77, 24%) aortic root replacement at 19 participating centers from 2005 to 2010. One-year follow-up data were complete for 312 patients (99%), with imaging findings available for 293 (94%). The time-to-events were compared between groups using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models. Two patients (0.6%)--1 in each group--died within 30 days. No significant differences were found in early major adverse valve-related events (MAVRE; P = .6). Two AVS patients required early reoperation for coronary artery complications. The 1-year survival rates were similar in the AVR (97%) and AVS (98%) groups; the procedure type was not significantly associated with any valve-related events. At 1 year and beyond, aortic regurgitation of at least moderate severity (≥2+) was present in 16 patients in the AVS group (7%) but in no patients in the AVR group (P = .02). One AVS patient required late AVR. AVS aortic root replacement was not associated with greater 30-day mortality or morbidity rates than AVR root replacement. At 1 year, no differences were found in survival, valve-related morbidity, or MAVRE between the AVS and AVR groups. Of concern, 7% of AVS patients developed grade ≥2+ aortic regurgitation, emphasizing the importance of 5 to 10 years of follow-up to learn the long-term durability of AVS versus AVR root replacement in patients with MFS. Copyright © 2014 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Visualization and Tracking of Parallel CFD Simulations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vaziri, Arsi; Kremenetsky, Mark

1995-01-01

We describe a system for interactive visualization and tracking of a 3-D unsteady computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation on a parallel computer. CM/AVS, a distributed, parallel implementation of a visualization environment (AVS) runs on the CM-5 parallel supercomputer. A CFD solver is run as a CM/AVS module on the CM-5. Data communication between the solver, other parallel visualization modules, and a graphics workstation, which is running AVS, are handled by CM/AVS. Partitioning of the visualization task, between CM-5 and the workstation, can be done interactively in the visual programming environment provided by AVS. Flow solver parameters can also be altered by programmable interactive widgets. This system partially removes the requirement of storing large solution files at frequent time steps, a characteristic of the traditional 'simulate (yields) store (yields) visualize' post-processing approach.

A dual mechanism involved in membrane and nucleic acid disruption of AvBD103b, a new avian defensin from the king penguin, against Salmonella enteritidis CVCC3377.

PubMed

Teng, Da; Wang, Xiumin; Xi, Di; Mao, Ruoyu; Zhang, Yong; Guan, Qingfeng; Zhang, Jun; Wang, Jianhua

2014-10-01

The food-borne bacterial gastrointestinal infection is a serious public health threat. Defensins are evolutionarily conserved innate immune components with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity that do not easily induce resistance. AvBD103b, an avian defensin with potent activity against Salmonella enteritidis, was isolated from the stomach contents of the king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus). To elucidate further the antibacterial mechanism of AvBD103b, its effect on the S. enteritidis CVCC3377 cell membrane and intracellular DNA was researched. The cell surface hydrophobicity and a N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine uptake assay demonstrated that AvBD103b treatment increased the cell surface hydrophobicity and outer membrane permeability. Atomic absorption spectrometry, ultraviolet spectrophotometry, flow cytometry, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that AvBD103b treatment can lead to the release of the cellular contents and cell death through damage of the membrane. DNA gel retardation and circular dichroism analysis demonstrated that AvBD103b interacted with DNA and intercalated into the DNA base pairs. A cell cycle assay demonstrated that AvBD103b affected cellular functions, such as DNA synthesis. Our results confirmed that AvBD103b exerts its antibacterial activity by damaging the cell membrane and interfering with intracellular DNA, ultimately causing cell death, and suggested that AvBD103b may be a promising candidate as an alternative to antibiotics against S. enteritidis.

IgA Vasculitis: Genetics and Clinical and Therapeutic Management.

PubMed

González-Gay, Miguel A; López-Mejías, Raquel; Pina, Trinitario; Blanco, Ricardo; Castañeda, Santos

2018-04-02

The purpose of the study is to perform an update on the current knowledge on genetics, clinical manifestations, and therapy in immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV) (Henoch-Schönlein purpura). A strong genetic predisposition in individuals with IgAV was confirmed. It was due to the association with the HLA class II region that in people of European background is mainly related to HLA-DRB1*01 allele. Recent reports support the claim that kidney disease is more common in adults than in children with IgAV. The clinical spectrum and outcome of adults with IgAV depends on the age of onset. Relapses are not uncommon in IgAV. The presence of renal impairment or proteinuria excretion exceeding 1 g/24 h at the time of disease diagnosis and the degree of renal damage on the kidney biopsy are the best predictors of end-stage renal failure in adults with IgAV. The levels of urinary IgA at the onset of the disease may predict a poor renal outcome. The use of prednisone does not seem to prevent persistent kidney disease in children with IgAV. No additional benefit of adding cyclophosphamide to glucocorticoids in adults with IgAV was found. Rituximab seems to be a promising therapy in the management of adults with IgAV. In this overview, we focus on the genetics, clinical manifestations, and therapy of IgA vasculitis, emphasizing the main differences in the clinical expression of the disease between children and adults.

Effects of spatial and temporal variation of acid-volatile sulfide on the bioavailability of copper and zinc in freshwater sediments

USGS Publications Warehouse

Besser, John M.; Ingersoll, Christopher G.; Giesty, John P.

1996-01-01

Variation in concentrations of acid-volatile sulfide (AVS) in sediments from the upper Clark Fork River of Montana, USA, was associated with differences in bioaccumulation of Cu and Zn and growth of larvae of the midge, Chironomus tentans. Growth of midge larvae was significantly greater and bioaccumulation of Cu was significantly less in surface sections (0–3 cm depth) of sediment cores, which had greater concentrations of AVS and lesser ratios of simultaneously extracted metals to AVS (SEM:AVS ratios) than in subsurface sediments (6–9 cm). Concentrations of AVS were significantly less in sediments incubated with oxic overlying water for 9 weeks than in the same sediments incubated under anoxic conditions. Bioaccumulation of Cu differed significantly between incubation treatments, corresponding to differences in concentrations of AVS and SEM:AVS ratios, although midge growth did not. Bioaccumulation of Zn did not differ significantly between depth strata of sediment cores or between incubation treatments. When results from the two sets of bioassays were combined, bioaccumulation of Cu and Zn, but not growth, was significantly correlated with SEM:AVS ratios and other estimates of bioavailable metal fractions in sediments. Growth of midge larvae was significantly correlated with bioaccumulation of Zn, but not Cu, suggesting that Zn was the greater contributor to the toxicity of these sediments. Assessments of the toxicity of metal-contaminated freshwater sediments should consider the effects of spatial and temporal variation in AVS concentrations on metal bioavailability.

Influence of diagnostic criteria on the interpretation of adrenal vein sampling.

PubMed

Lethielleux, Gaëlle; Amar, Laurence; Raynaud, Alain; Plouin, Pierre-François; Steichen, Olivier

2015-04-01

Guidelines promote the use of adrenal vein sampling (AVS) to document lateralized aldosterone hypersecretion in primary aldosteronism. However, there are large discrepancies between institutions in the criteria used to interpret its results. This study evaluates the consequences of these differences on the classification and management of patients. The results of all 537 AVS procedures performed between January 2001 and July 2010 in our institution were interpreted with 4 diagnostic criteria used in experienced institutions where AVS is performed without cosyntropin (Brisbane, Padua, Paris, and Turin) and with criteria proposed by a recent consensus statement. AVS procedures were classified as unsuccessful, lateralized, or not lateralized according to each set of criteria. Almost 5× more AVS procedures were classified as unsuccessful with the strictest criteria than with the least strict criteria (18% versus 4%, respectively). Similarly, over 2× more AVS procedures were classified as lateralized with the least stringent criteria than with the most stringent criteria (60% versus 26%, respectively). Multiple samples were available from ≥1 side for 155 AVS procedures. These procedures were classified differently by ≥2 right-left sample pairs in 12% to 20% of cases. Thus, different sets of criteria used to interpret AVS in experienced institutions translate into heterogeneous classifications and hence management decisions, for patients with primary aldosteronism. Defining the most appropriate procedures and diagnostic criteria is needed for AVS to achieve optimal performance and fully justify its status as a gold standard. © 2015 American Heart Association, Inc.

A SAR Observation and Numerical Study on Ocean Surface Imprints of Atmospheric Vortex Streets.

PubMed

Li, Xiaofeng; Zheng, Weizhong; Zou, Cheng-Zhi; Pichel, William G

2008-05-21

The sea surface imprints of Atmospheric Vortex Street (AVS) off Aleutian Volcanic Islands, Alaska were observed in two RADARSAT-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images separated by about 11 hours. In both images, three pairs of distinctive vortices shedding in the lee side of two volcanic mountains can be clearly seen. The length and width of the vortex street are about 60-70 km and 20 km, respectively. Although the AVS's in the two SAR images have similar shapes, the structure of vortices within the AVS is highly asymmetrical. The sea surface wind speed is estimated from the SAR images with wind direction input from Navy NOGAPS model. In this paper we present a complete MM5 model simulation of the observed AVS. The surface wind simulated from the MM5 model is in good agreement with SAR-derived wind. The vortex shedding rate calculated from the model run is about 1 hour and 50 minutes. Other basic characteristics of the AVS including propagation speed of the vortex, Strouhal and Reynolds numbers favorable for AVS generation are also derived. The wind associated with AVS modifies the cloud structure in the marine atmospheric boundary layer. The AVS cloud pattern is also observed on a MODIS visible band image taken between the two RADARSAT SAR images. An ENVISAT advance SAR image taken 4 hours after the second RADARSAT SAR image shows that the AVS has almost vanished.

Role of adrenal vein sampling in primary aldosteronism: Impact of imaging, localization, and age.

PubMed

Wachtel, Heather; Zaheer, Salman; Shah, Parth K; Trerotola, Scott O; Karakousis, Giorgos C; Roses, Robert E; Cohen, Debbie L; Fraker, Douglas L

2016-04-01

The role of adrenal vein sampling (AVS) has been debated, with some authorities advocating selective use in younger patients (≤40 years), and those localized by preoperative imaging. We examined our experience to determine the impact of AVS in patients who routinely underwent AVS with a high success rate. A retrospective cohort study was performed using a prospectively maintained database of patients referred for evaluation of PA (1997-2013). Patients were classified as localized (L) if a unilateral mass was identified on imaging, and non-localized (NL) otherwise. Of 367 patients, 94% (n = 345) underwent successful AVS. Seventy-two percent (n = 265) were L; AVS was lateralizing 58% (n = 214). AVS changed management in 43% of patients (n = 158). In patients ≤40 years, AVS changed management in 30% (n = 15). In patients ≤40 years with a ≥1 cm adrenal mass, 12% (n = 3) would have undergone unnecessary surgery based on imaging results alone; in patients >40 years with a ≥1 cm adrenal mass, 3% (n = 5) would have undergone wrong-side surgery, and 30% (n = 50) would have undergone unnecessary surgery based on imaging. AVS changed management in a significant minority of patients regardless of age and imaging findings. AVS should be routinely recommended in all patients with PA, to direct operative therapy. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;113:532-537. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Hearing Lips and Seeing Voices: How Cortical Areas Supporting Speech Production Mediate Audiovisual Speech Perception

PubMed Central

Skipper, Jeremy I.; van Wassenhove, Virginie; Nusbaum, Howard C.; Small, Steven L.

2009-01-01

Observing a speaker’s mouth profoundly influences speech perception. For example, listeners perceive an “illusory” “ta” when the video of a face producing /ka/ is dubbed onto an audio /pa/. Here, we show how cortical areas supporting speech production mediate this illusory percept and audiovisual (AV) speech perception more generally. Specifically, cortical activity during AV speech perception occurs in many of the same areas that are active during speech production. We find that different perceptions of the same syllable and the perception of different syllables are associated with different distributions of activity in frontal motor areas involved in speech production. Activity patterns in these frontal motor areas resulting from the illusory “ta” percept are more similar to the activity patterns evoked by AV/ta/ than they are to patterns evoked by AV/pa/ or AV/ka/. In contrast to the activity in frontal motor areas, stimulus-evoked activity for the illusory “ta” in auditory and somatosensory areas and visual areas initially resembles activity evoked by AV/pa/ and AV/ka/, respectively. Ultimately, though, activity in these regions comes to resemble activity evoked by AV/ta/. Together, these results suggest that AV speech elicits in the listener a motor plan for the production of the phoneme that the speaker might have been attempting to produce, and that feedback in the form of efference copy from the motor system ultimately influences the phonetic interpretation. PMID:17218482

Beneficial Effects of Galectin-3 Blockade in Vascular and Aortic Valve Alterations in an Experimental Pressure Overload Model

PubMed Central

Ibarrola, Jaime; Martínez-Martínez, Ernesto; Sádaba, J. Rafael; Arrieta, Vanessa; García-Peña, Amaia; Álvarez, Virginia; Fernández-Celis, Amaya; Gainza, Alicia; Rossignol, Patrick; Cachofeiro Ramos, Victoria; López-Andrés, Natalia

2017-01-01

Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is involved in cardiovascular fibrosis and aortic valve (AV) calcification. We hypothesized that Gal-3 pharmacological inhibition with modified citrus pectin (MCP) could reduce aortic and AV remodeling in normotensive rats with pressure overload (PO). Six weeks after aortic constriction, vascular Gal-3 expression was up-regulated in male Wistar rats. Gal-3 overexpression was accompanied by an increase in the aortic media layer thickness, enhanced total collagen, and augmented expression of fibrotic mediators. Further, vascular inflammatory markers as well as inflammatory cells content were greater in aorta from PO rats. MCP treatment (100 mg/kg/day) prevented the increase in Gal-3, media thickness, fibrosis, and inflammation in the aorta of PO rats. Gal-3 levels were higher in AVs from PO rats. This paralleled enhanced AV fibrosis, inflammation, as well as greater expression of calcification markers. MCP treatment prevented the increase in Gal-3 as well as fibrosis, inflammation, and calcification in AVs. Overall, Gal-3 is overexpressed in aorta and AVs from PO rats. Gal-3 pharmacological inhibition blocks aortic and AV remodeling in experimental PO. Gal-3 could be a new therapeutic approach to delay the progression and the development of aortic remodeling and AV calcification in PO. PMID:28758988

Patented natural avocado sugar modulates the HBD-2 and HBD-3 expression in human keratinocytes through toll-like receptor-2 and ERK/MAPK activation.

PubMed

Paoletti, Iole; Buommino, Elisabetta; Fusco, Alessandra; Baudouin, Caroline; Msika, Philippe; Tufano, Maria Antonietta; Baroni, Adone; Donnarumma, Giovanna

2012-10-01

Keratinocytes stimulated by microbial organisms secrete not only a variety of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors, but also antimicrobial peptides such as beta-defensins (HBDs) such as HBD-2 and HBD-3. AV119, a patented blend of avocado sugar, triggers the up-regulation of HBD-2 in skin epithelia upon contact with AV119, but the signalling mechanisms involved are not completely understood. The purpose of this study was to determine if AV119 was able to induce also the expression of HBD-3 in human keratinocytes. In addition, the receptor and intracellular pathways involved in the AV119 up-regulation of HBD-2 and HBD-3 were investigated. Our results demonstrated that AV119 induces a significantly increase of the expression of HBD-3. In addition, the HBD-2 and HBD-3 AV119-induced gene expression and release are TLR-2 dependent. Finally, we demonstrated that AV119 induced ERK/MAPK phosphorylation in human keratinocytes, thus providing evidence that HBD-2 and HBD-3 secretion is through the same transductional pathway. The ability of AV119 to induce also HBD-3 may amplify its therapeutic potential against a broader spectrum of bacterial and yeast strains responsible for human skin disorders.

Innate Immune Mechanisms in Transplant Allograft Vasculopathy

PubMed Central

Jane-wit, D; Fang, C; Goldstein, DR

2016-01-01

Purpose of Review Allograft vasculopathy (AV) is the leading cause of late allograft loss following solid organ transplantation. Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) and donor specific antibody (DSA)-induced complement activation confer heightened risk for AV via numerous innate immune mechanisms including MyD88, HMGB1, and complement induced non-canonical NF-kB signaling. Recent Findings The role of MyD88, a signal adaptor downstream of the toll-like receptors (TLR), has been defined in an experimental heart transplant model, which demonstrated that recipient MyD88 enhanced AV. Importantly, triggering receptor on myeloid receptor 1(Trem1), a MyD88 amplifying signal, was present in rejecting human cardiac transplant biopsies and enhanced the development of AV in mice. HMGB1, a nuclear protein that activates TLRs, also enhanced the development of AV. Complement activation elicits assembly of membrane attack complexes (MAC) on endothelial cells which activate non-canonical NF-kB signaling, a novel complement effector pathway that induces pro-inflammatory genes and potentiates endothelial cell mediated alloimmune T cell activation, processes which enhance AV. Summary Innate immune mediators including HMGB1, MyD88, and non-canonical NFκB signaling via complement activation contribute to AV. These pathways represent potential therapeutic targets to reduce AV after solid organ transplantation. PMID:27077602

Ammonia Volatilization Losses from Paddy Fields under Controlled Irrigation with Different Drainage Treatments

PubMed Central

He, Yupu; Yang, Shihong; Wang, Yijiang

2014-01-01

The effect of controlled drainage (CD) on ammonia volatilization (AV) losses from paddy fields under controlled irrigation (CI) was investigated by managing water table control levels using a lysimeter. Three drainage treatments were implemented, namely, controlled water table depth 1 (CWT1), controlled water table depth 2 (CWT2), and controlled water table depth 3 (CWT3). As the water table control levels increased, irrigation water volumes in the CI paddy fields decreased. AV losses from paddy fields reduced due to the increases in water table control levels. Seasonal AV losses from CWT1, CWT2, and CWT3 were 59.8, 56.7, and 53.0 kg N ha−1, respectively. AV losses from CWT3 were 13.1% and 8.4% lower than those from CWT1 and CWT2, respectively. A significant difference in the seasonal AV losses was confirmed between CWT1 and CWT3. Less weekly AV losses followed by TF and PF were also observed as the water table control levels increased. The application of CD by increasing water table control levels to a suitable level could effectively reduce irrigation water volumes and AV losses from CI paddy fields. The combination of CI and CD may be a feasible water management method of reducing AV losses from paddy fields. PMID:24741349

Ammonia volatilization losses from paddy fields under controlled irrigation with different drainage treatments.

PubMed

He, Yupu; Yang, Shihong; Xu, Junzeng; Wang, Yijiang; Peng, Shizhang

2014-01-01

The effect of controlled drainage (CD) on ammonia volatilization (AV) losses from paddy fields under controlled irrigation (CI) was investigated by managing water table control levels using a lysimeter. Three drainage treatments were implemented, namely, controlled water table depth 1 (CWT1), controlled water table depth 2 (CWT2), and controlled water table depth 3 (CWT3). As the water table control levels increased, irrigation water volumes in the CI paddy fields decreased. AV losses from paddy fields reduced due to the increases in water table control levels. Seasonal AV losses from CWT1, CWT2, and CWT3 were 59.8, 56.7, and 53.0 kg N ha(-1), respectively. AV losses from CWT3 were 13.1% and 8.4% lower than those from CWT1 and CWT2, respectively. A significant difference in the seasonal AV losses was confirmed between CWT1 and CWT3. Less weekly AV losses followed by TF and PF were also observed as the water table control levels increased. The application of CD by increasing water table control levels to a suitable level could effectively reduce irrigation water volumes and AV losses from CI paddy fields. The combination of CI and CD may be a feasible water management method of reducing AV losses from paddy fields.

[Complete atrioventricular block in Duchenne muscular dystrophy].

PubMed

Kuru, Satoshi; Tanahashi, Tamotsu; Matsumoto, Shinjirou; Kitamura, Tetsuya; Konagaya, Masaaki

2012-01-01

We report a case of complete atrioventricular (AV) block in a 40-year-old patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). While he was bed-ridden and required mechanical ventilation, his cardiac involvement was mild. He had the deletion of exon 45-52 in the dystrophin gene. He underwent transient complete AV block and came to require pacemaker implantation due to recurrence of complete AV block ten days after the first attack. Electrophysiological study revealed mild prolonged AH and HV interval. Although DMD patients with AV block have been rarely reported so far, attention should be paid to AV block for patients who prolonged their lives.

Synthesis of Automated Vehicle Legislation

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-10-01

This report provides a synthesis of issues addressed by state legislation regarding automated vehicles (AV); AV technologies are rapidly evolving and many states have developed legislation to govern AV testing and deployment and to assure safety on p...

A complete characterization of all-versus-nothing arguments for stabilizer states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abramsky, Samson; Barbosa, Rui Soares; Carù, Giovanni; Perdrix, Simon

2017-10-01

An important class of contextuality arguments in quantum foundations are the all-versus-nothing (AvN) proofs, generalizing a construction originally due to Mermin. We present a general formulation of AvN arguments and a complete characterization of all such arguments that arise from stabilizer states. We show that every AvN argument for an n-qubit stabilizer state can be reduced to an AvN proof for a three-qubit state that is local Clifford-equivalent to the tripartite Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger state. This is achieved through a combinatorial characterization of AvN arguments, the AvN triple theorem, whose proof makes use of the theory of graph states. This result enables the development of a computational method to generate all the AvN arguments in on n-qubit stabilizer states. We also present new insights into the stabilizer formalism and its connections with logic. This article is part of the themed issue `Second quantum revolution: foundational questions'.

The Threat of Aerobic Vaginitis to Pregnancy and Neonatal Morbidity.

PubMed

Kaambo, Eveline; Africa, Charlene W J

2017-06-01

Aerobic vaginitis (AV) is an endogenous opportunistic infection brought about by the disruption of the normal vaginal microbiota. Its early diagnosis and treatment during pregnancy may reduce the risk of negative pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this review was to report on the aerobic bacteria most prevalent in AV and to provide evidence of the threat of untreated AV on pregnancy outcomes. More than 300 papers on preterm delivery were extracted from several research domains and filtered to include only AV-associated bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli and Group B streptococci and their association with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Due to the diverse sample groups, study techniques and outcomes, a meta-analysis was not conducted. The review revealed that the association of AV with adverse pregnancy outcomes has not been as widely researched as bacterial vaginosis (BV) and needs further investigation. Furthermore, the frequent misdiagnosis of AV coupled with the emerging antimicrobial resistance associated with bacteria implicated in AV and neonatal nosocomial infections pose a problem for prophylaxis and treatment to reduce the risk of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.

Autonomous vehicles are cost-effective when used as taxis.

PubMed

Freedman, Isaac G; Kim, Ellen; Muennig, Peter A

2018-06-04

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) will radically re-shape the health and well-being of people in the United States in good ways and bad. We set out to estimate a reasonable time-to-adoption using cost-effectivenessmodels to estimate the point at which AVs become reasonably safe and affordable for widespread adoption. We used Waymo data (previously, Google Self-Driving Car Project) and a microsimulation model to explore projected costs and safety issues today and five years from today to get a sense of the speed of consumer adoption were AVs brought to the market. The adoption of AVs for private use was associated with an ICER of 1,396,110/QALY gained today, a figure that would decline to 173,890/QALY gained 5-years in the future. However, AV taxis are both less expensive and potentially already safer than human-piloted taxis. While AVs are not unlikely to be used a family vehicles any time soon, it would make economic sense to adopt them as taxis today. Legislation enhancing the benefits while mitigating the potential harmful health impacts of AV taxis is needed with some urgency.

Seasonal AVS-SEM relationship in sediments and potential bioavailability of metals in industrialized estuary, southeastern Brazil.

PubMed

Nizoli, Erico Casare; Luiz-Silva, Wanilson

2012-04-01

In anoxic sediments, as those found in estuaries, the mobility of metals can be controlled by the formation of stable sulfide complexes. The potential bioavailability of a metal can then be predicted on the basis of the acid volatile sulfide (AVS) and simultaneously extracted metals (SEM) criterion. Distributions of AVS and SEM (Hg, Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, and Ni) along the sediment profiles were determined seasonally for three rivers that constitute the Santos-Cubatão estuarine system (SE Brazil), which is located in one of the most industrialized areas of Latin America. AVS and SEM concentrations varied significantly, from 0.04 to 31.9 μmol g(-1) and 0.086-6.659 μmol g(-1), respectively. The highest AVS levels in sediments were detected in the winter, whereas high SEM values predominated in the summer. Considering SEM-AVS molar differences as a parameter to evaluate potential bioavailability, sediments nearest to the industrial area represent higher risk to biota, especially during the summer. It is due to relatively low AVS values and not necessarily high concentrations of metals.

Aerobic vaginitis in pregnancy.

PubMed

Donders, Ggg; Bellen, G; Rezeberga, D

2011-09-01

Aerobic vaginitis (AV) is an alteration in vaginal bacterial flora that differs from bacterial vaginosis (BV). AV is characterised by an abnormal vaginal microflora accompanied by an increased localised inflammatory reaction and immune response, as opposed to the suppressed immune response that is characteristic of BV. Given the increased local production of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and IL-8 associated with AV during pregnancy, not surprisingly AV is associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery, chorioamnionitis and funisitis of the fetus. There is no consensus on the optimal treatment for AV in pregnant or non-pregnant women, but a broader spectrum drug such as clindamycin is preferred above metronidazole to prevent infection-related preterm birth. The exact role of AV in pregnancy, the potential benefit of screening, and the use of newer local antibiotics, disinfectants, probiotics and immune modulators need further study. © 2011 The Authors BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology © 2011 RCOG.

Mass movement on Vesta at steep scarps and crater rims

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krohn, K.; Jaumann, R.; Otto, K.; Hoogenboom, T.; Wagner, R.; Buczkowski, D. L.; Garry, B.; Williams, D. A.; Yingst, R. A.; Scully, J.; De Sanctis, M. C.; Kneissl, T.; Schmedemann, N.; Kersten, E.; Stephan, K.; Matz, K.-D.; Pieters, C. M.; Preusker, F.; Roatsch, T.; Schenk, P.; Russell, C. T.; Raymond, C. A.

2014-12-01

The Quadrangles Av-11 and Av-12 on Vesta are located at the northern rim of the giant Rheasilvia south polar impact basin. The primary geologic units in Av-11 and Av-12 include material from the Rheasilvia impact basin formation, smooth material and different types of impact crater structures (such as bimodal craters, dark and bright crater ray material and dark ejecta material). Av-11 and Av-12 exhibit almost the full range of mass wasting features observed on Vesta, such as slump blocks, spur-and-gully morphologies and landslides within craters. Processes of collapse, slope instability and seismically triggered events force material to slump down crater walls or scarps and produce landslides or rotational slump blocks. The spur-and-gully morphology that is known to form on Mars is also observed on Vesta; however, on Vesta this morphology formed under dry conditions.

Mass Movement on Vesta at Steep Scarps and Crater Rims

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krohn, K.; Jaumann, R.; Otto, K.; Hoogenboom, T.; Wagner, R.; Buczkowski, D. L.; Garry, B.; Williams, D. A.; Yingst, R. A.; Scully, J.;

Examination of office visit patient preferences for the after-visit summary (AVS).

PubMed

Neuberger, Marolee; Dontje, Katherine; Holzman, Greg; Corser, Bill; Keskimaki, Abigail; Chant, Ericka

2014-01-01

The federal government advocates the practice of routinely providing an after-visit summary (AVS) to patients after each office-based visit as an element of stage 1 meaningful use. A significant potential benefit of the AVS is improved patient engagement achieved by enabling patients and family members to better understand and retain key health information. The methodology for this study was a mixed-methods pilot study to examine, through the perspectives of adult primary care patients, how relevant and actionable data can be better formatted in the AVS. Results of this study suggest that the goal of the AVS to serve as a communication tool to engage and support patients is frequently not being met. Further study is needed to understand, from the viewpoints of patients and providers, what barriers are keeping them from optimally providing and using the information on the AVS.

Examination of Office Visit Patient Preferences for the After-Visit Summary (AVS)

PubMed Central

Neuberger, Marolee; Dontje, Katherine; Holzman, Greg; Corser, Bill; Keskimaki, Abigail; Chant, Ericka

2014-01-01

The federal government advocates the practice of routinely providing an after-visit summary (AVS) to patients after each office-based visit as an element of stage 1 meaningful use. A significant potential benefit of the AVS is improved patient engagement achieved by enabling patients and family members to better understand and retain key health information. The methodology for this study was a mixed-methods pilot study to examine, through the perspectives of adult primary care patients, how relevant and actionable data can be better formatted in the AVS. Results of this study suggest that the goal of the AVS to serve as a communication tool to engage and support patients is frequently not being met. Further study is needed to understand, from the viewpoints of patients and providers, what barriers are keeping them from optimally providing and using the information on the AVS. PMID:25593570

Crotaline Fab antivenom appears to be effective in cases of severe North American pit viper envenomation: An integrative review

PubMed Central

Lavonas, Eric J; Schaeffer, Tammi H; Kokko, Jamie; Mlynarchek, Sara L; Bogdan, Gregory M

2009-01-01

Background In 2000, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab (Ovine) (hereafter, FabAV), "for the management of patients with minimal to moderate North American Crotalid envenomation." Because whole-IgG pit viper antivenom is no longer available in the United States, FabAV is currently the only specific treatment option available to United States clinicians treating snakebite victims of any severity. No clinical trial data are available concerning the effectiveness of FabAV for treatment of severe snakebite, but several published articles describe its use in this setting. Methods We performed a comprehensive review of the English-language medical literature to identify all publications (1996 to July, 2008) containing data about the administration of FabAV. Two trained reviewers separately extracted case-level data concerning the administration of FabAV to patients with severe envenomation by North American crotaline snakes to a standardized form. Descriptive statistics were used. In addition, we hand-searched the US National Poison Data System reports for the years 2000–2006 to identify and describe any reports of death that occurred after FabAV administration. Results The literature review found 147 unique publications regarding FabAV. Twenty-four evaluable cases of severe human envenomation treated with FabAV were identified in 19 publications. Seven cases were described in five cohort studies, and 17 cases were described in 14 single patient case reports or non-cohort case series. Sixty-five specific severe venom effects were reported in these 24 patients, of which 50 effects (77%) improved or resolved after FabAV therapy. Initial control of all severe venom effects was achieved in 12 patients (50%). The rate at which initial control was achieved was significantly higher among patients reported in the cohort series than in the case series and non-cohort reports (100% vs. 29%, P = 0.005). The median dose of FabAV used to obtain initial control was 6 vials (range: 4 – 18 vials). Nine patients had severe venom effects that persisted despite FabAV therapy. Recurrent and/or delayed-onset severe defibrination syndrome occurred in 12 patients, most of whom did not receive recommended maintenance FabAV dosing. No patient developed systemic bleeding. Conclusion In this structured literature review, FabAV appears to be effective in the management of severe crotaline snake envenomation. Incomplete response to therapy, recurrence of venom effects, and delayed-onset venom effects were reported in case reports, but not reported in cohort studies. PMID:19545426

Reduction of opioid withdrawal and potentiation of acute opioid analgesia by systemic AV411 (ibudilast)

PubMed Central

Hutchinson, Mark R.; Lewis, Susannah S.; Coats, Benjamen D.; Skyba, David A.; Crysdale, Nicole Y.; Berkelhammer, Debra L.; Brzeski, Anita; Northcutt, Alexis; Vietz, Christine M.; Judd, Charles M.; Maier, Steven F.; Watkins, Linda R.; Johnson, Kirk W.

2009-01-01

Morphine-induced glial proinflammatory responses have been documented to contribute to tolerance to opioid analgesia. Here, we examined whether drugs previously shown to suppress glial proinflammatory responses can alter other clinically relevant opioid effects; namely, withdrawal or acute analgesia. AV411 (ibudilast) and minocycline, drugs with distinct mechanisms of action that result in attenuation of glial proinflammatory responses, each reduced naloxone-precipitated withdrawal. Analysis of brain nuclei associated with opioid withdrawal revealed that morphine altered expression of glial activation markers, cytokines, chemokines, and a neurotrophic factor. AV411 attenuated many of these morphine-induced effects. AV411 also protected against spontaneous withdrawal-induced hyperactivity and weight loss recorded across a 12-day timecourse. Notably, in the spontaneous withdrawal study, AV411 treatment was delayed relative to the start of the morphine regimen so to also test whether AV411 could still be effective in the face of established morphine dependence, which it was. AV411 did not simply attenuate all opioid effects, as co-administering AV411 with morphine or oxycodone caused 3-to-5-fold increases in acute analgesic potency, as revealed by leftward shifts in the analgesic dose response curves. Timecourse analyses revealed that plasma morphine levels were not altered by AV411, suggestive that potentiated analgesia was not simply due to prolongation of morphine exposure or increased plasma concentrations. These data support and extend similar potentiation of acute opioid analgesia by minocycline, again providing converging lines of evidence of glial involvement. Hence, suppression of glial proinflammatory responses can significantly reduce opioid withdrawal, whilst improving analgesia. PMID:18938237

[Preclinical study of AV0012 early stage inhibitor of hepatitis C virus infection: I. In vitro ADME and pharmacokinetics].

PubMed

Ivashchenko, A V; Iamanushkin, P M; Mit'kin, O D; Ezhova, E V; Korzinov, O M; Shevkun, N A; Koriakova, A G; Karapetian, R N; Bychko, V V; Ivashchenko, A A; Agrba, V Z; Lapin, B A; Orlov, S V

2014-01-01

In vitro immunohistochemical investigations on the human hepatoma cell line (Huh7) infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) strain JFH-1 showed that AV0012 compound blocks the early stages of viral infection. AV0012 also blocked viral infection spread in tissue culture through the secreted virus and through tight cell-to-cell contact. AV0012 is a specific inhibitor of HCV but not of related pestivirus, flaviviruses and other RNA-containing viruses such as bovine diarrhea (BVDV), Venezuelan equine encephalitis (strain TC-83), dengue type 2 (New Guinea), yellow fever (strain 17D), west Nile fever, parainfluenza (type 3) virus, RSV (strain A2), and Rhinovirus (type 2 strain HGP). It is established that human serum does not significantly affect the antiviral activity of AV0012 in vitro. The drug combination studies with AV0012 and interferon alpha 2a in vitro showed that the two inhibitors act additively, which makes possible the use of this combination in clinical tests. AV0012 is highly soluble and stable in aqueous solutions and murine blood plasma, has limited metabolic stability, low binding to human plasma proteins, high permeability through biological membranes, and only interacts with isoenzymes 2D6 and 3A4 of human cytochrome P450. In animal pharmacokinetic studies, AV0012 was rapidly absorbed into the blood stream upon oral administration, showed sufficiently long half-elimination times, and had high oral bioavailability that reached 92% in monkeys. Further preclinical development of AV0012 is in progress.

Electrophysiologic and histologic observations of chronic atrioventricular block induced by closed-chest catheter desiccation with radiofrequency energy.

PubMed

Huang, S K; Bharati, S; Lev, M; Marcus, F I

1987-07-01

Direct-current or laser energy has been used to induce atrioventricular (AV) block, but certain complications associated with this type of energy have been reported. We have previously documented that radiofrequency (RF) energy can effectively and safely induce acute AV block in closed-chest dogs during the 4-7 days of follow-up. This study was undertaken to determine if the ablation was permanent and to define the chronic pathology and site of AV block. Complete AV block was successfully achieved in four dogs immediately after ablation with a bipolar "standard" RF output (750 kHz) delivered between the tip electrode of a standard 7F USCI catheter and an external patch electrode on the left lateral chest wall. During 2 months of follow-up, three dogs had persistent complete AV block with a stable escape rhythm; the other had persistent 2:1 AV block. Repeat His bundle recordings were performed at 2 months prior to sacrifice of the dogs. Supra-His AV block was noted in two dogs; His bundle potential could not be recorded in another two. Histologically, the damaged area was well delineated. In all animals, the AV node and, in some dogs, part of the His bundle were completely replaced by granulation tissue and/or cartilage. There was fatty infiltration and also chronic inflammatory cells around the lesions. Neither perforation, hemorrhage nor vacuolation was seen in the adjacent area. Thrombus was not present. It is concluded that RF energy can effectively achieve chronic AV block and produce well-circumscribed pathological lesions.

Outcome of adrenal vein sampling performed during concurrent mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist therapy.

PubMed

Haase, Matthias; Riester, Anna; Kröpil, Patric; Hahner, Stefanie; Degenhart, Christoph; Willenberg, Holger S; Reincke, Martin

2014-12-01

Pharmacological inhibition of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) signaling in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) reestablishes aldosterone synthesis by nondiseased zona glomerulosa cells through activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. In this context, current guidelines recommend discontinuing MR blockade for diagnostic procedures, including adrenal vein sampling (AVS). Discontinuation of MR blockade in high-risk patients may be harmful because of uncontrolled hypertension and severe hypokalemia. We hypothesize that MR antagonist therapy can be continued during AVS as long as renin levels remain suppressed. The objective of this study was to assess the validity of AVS results in the context of MR antagonistic therapy. We retrospectively analyzed all AVS studies in Munich (since 2008) and Düsseldorf (since 2011) and identified four of 237 (1.7%) patients with PA who underwent AVS while treated with an MR antagonist. Adrenalectomy was recommended based on the results of AVS in all four patients. After adrenalectomy, follow-up data were obtained to confirm improvement or remission of PA. Main outcome measures included blood pressure values, daily defined doses of antihypertensive medication, as well as levels of aldosterone, renin, and potassium, and the aldosterone/renin ratio. In all patients, renin remained low or suppressed during AVS despite MR antagonist treatment. AVS clearly demonstrated unilateral aldosterone excess in each case. After adrenalectomy, all patients showed remission of PA as demonstrated by blood pressure values, potassium levels, and the aldosterone/renin ratio. In selected cases of PA, MR antagonist therapy might be continued during AVS, provided that renin values remain low.

Discordance between imaging and immunohistochemistry in unilateral primary aldosteronism.

PubMed

Nanba, Aya T; Nanba, Kazutaka; Byrd, James B; Shields, James J; Giordano, Thomas J; Miller, Barbara S; Rainey, William E; Auchus, Richard J; Turcu, Adina F

2017-12-01

Correct subtyping of primary aldosteronism (PA) is essential for good surgical outcomes. Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) and/or computed tomography (CT) are used for PA subclassification. Clinical and/or biochemical improvement after surgery, however, is not always achieved in patients with presumed unilateral PA. We aimed to identify the pitfalls in PA subclassification leading to surgical treatment failures. We retrospectively studied 208 patients who underwent adrenal vein sampling (AVS) for PA subclassification in a tertiary referral centre, between January 2009 and August 2016. Simultaneous bilateral AVS was performed before and after cosyntropin administration. We implemented immunohistochemistry for aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) and 17α-hydroxylase/17,20 lyase (CYP17A1) in adrenal glands resected from patients without improvement of PA after surgical treatment and from those with limitations in AVS interpretation. Of 55 patients who underwent adrenalectomy, three (5.5%) had no improvement of PA. All three patients underwent partial adrenalectomy to remove a CT-detected nodule present on the same side with AVS lateralization. Immunohistochemistry revealed a CYP11B2-negative nodule in both cases available. All patients who underwent total adrenalectomy based on AVS lateralization benefitted from surgery, including three patients with unilateral unsuccessful AVS and aldosterone suppression in the catheterized side vs inferior vena cava. Radiographically identified adrenal nodules are not always a source of PA, even when ipsilateral with AVS lateralization. These data caution against reliance on imaging findings, either alone or in conjunction with AVS, to guide surgery for PA. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Parental Expectations of the Swedish Municipal School of Arts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lilliedahl, Jonathan; Georgii-Hemming, Eva

2009-01-01

This article draws on a study designed to analyse parental expectations of the Swedish municipal school of arts (hereafter MSA) (in Swedish: kommunal musik- och kulturskola). The study is based on in-depth interviews conducted and informed by grounded theory. Although parental expectations are scarcely uniform, the study reveals a hope that the…

Tacit Rejection of Policy and Teacher Ambivalence: Insights into English Language Teaching in Bahrain through Actors' Perceptions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hayes, Aneta

2018-01-01

This article develops Phillips and Ochs's (2003) framework for policy borrowing, particularly their theorisations about indigenisation of international programmes. It uses the example of communicative language teaching (CLT) in Bahrain, exploring teacher perspectives regarding the effects of CLT on the preexisting arrangements in the national…

40 CFR Table 2 to Subpart F of... - Organic Hazardous Air Pollutants

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... (N,N-) 121697 Diethyl sulfate 64675 Dimethylbenzidine (3,3″-) 119937 Dimethylformamide (N,N-) 68122... Hexachlorobenzene 118741 Hexachlorobutadiene 87683 Hexachloroethane 67721 Hexane 110543 Hydroquinone 123319... ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, and triethylene glycol R-(OCH2 CH2n-OR where: n=1, 2, or 3; R=alkyl or...

40 CFR Table 2 to Subpart F of... - Organic Hazardous Air Pollutants

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... (N,N-) 121697 Diethyl sulfate 64675 Dimethylbenzidine (3,3′-) 119937 Dimethylformamide (N,N-) 68122... Hexachlorobenzene 118741 Hexachlorobutadiene 87683 Hexachloroethane 67721 Hexane 110543 Hydroquinone 123319... ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, and triethylene glycol R-(OCH2 CH2n-OR where: n=1, 2, or 3; R=alkyl or...

Metal cluster chemistry: Structure and stereochemistry in the polynuclear rhodium hydrides HnRhn[P(OR)3]2n

PubMed Central

Brown, R. K.; Williams, J. M.; Fredrich, M. F.; Day, V. W.; Sivak, A. J.; Muetterties, E. L.

1979-01-01

Crystallographic analyses of x-ray and neutron diffraction data have provided a definitive structural representation of {HRh[P(O-i-C3H7)3]2}2 and {HRh[P(OCH3)3]2}3. These polynuclear hydrides are generated from square planar H2Rh[P(OR)3]2 units by edge (hydrogen atom) sharing and by vertex (hydrogen atom) sharing to form the dimeric and trimeric structures, respectively. The square-planar units are held together through four-center and three-center two-electron Rh—H—Rh bonds in the dimer and trimer, respectively. The dimer and trimer molecules each add one molecule of hydrogen to form H[(i-C3H7O)3P]2RhH3Rh [P(O-i-C3H7)3]2 and H5Rh3[P(OCH3)3]6, respectively. NMR spectral information has served to define the stereochemical features of these polyhydrides. The significance of this chemistry in the metal cluster-metal surface analogy is described. PMID:16592645

a Comparison of the Molecular Structures of C_4H_9OCH_3, C_4H_9SCH_3, C_5H_{11}OCH_3, and C_5H_{11}SCH_3 Using Microwave Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Long, Brittany E.; Betancur, Juan; Choi, Yoon Jeong; Cooke, S. A.; Grubbs, G. S., II; Ogulnick, Jonathan; Holmes, Tara

2017-06-01

Pure rotational spectra of the title molecules have been recorded using chirped pulse Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. Under our experimental conditions only one conformer has been observed for each of the four compounds. These conformers have torsional angles of CXCC = 180^o, XCCC = 60^o, CCCC = 180^o, and, for the C_5H_{11}-X-CH_3 species, CCCC_{Methyl} = 180^o. These angles correspond to anti-gauche-anti conformations for the butyl methyl ether/thioether species, and anti-gauche-anti-anti conformations for the pentyl methyl ether/thioether species. Splittings due to the internal rotation of the X-CH_3 group are observed in both butyl species but are not observed in the pentyl species. The barrier to the X-CH_3 internal rotation has been investigated through spectral analyses and quantum chemical calculations. The differences in the internal rotation barrier between the ethers and thioethers will be discussed and will further be compared to the barriers obtained for similar molecules.

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

Zhao, Xianhui; Walker, Devin; Maiti, Debtanu

Cylindrical NiMg/Ce 0.6Zr 0.4O 2 pellet catalysts with two different sizes (large: radius = 1.59 mm; and small: radius = 0.75 mm) were produced by extrusion of powder catalysts. The small catalyst pellets had a higher specific surface area, pore volume, average pore size, radial crush strength, and resistance to breakage than the large ones. Tri-reforming tests with surrogate biogas were conducted at 3 bar and 882 °C, with the feed molar ratios of CH 4: CO 2: air fixed at 1.0: 0.7: 0.95 and the H 2O/CH 4 molar feed ratio (0.35 – 1.16) varied. The small catalyst pelletsmore » exhibited lower internal mass transfer resistance and higher coking resistance, compared to the large ones. CO 2 conversion decreased and H 2/CO molar ratio increased with the increase of H 2O/CH 4 molar feed ratio, which are consistent with the trends predicted by thermodynamic equilibrium calculations. Finally, the results indicate that the NiMg/Ce 0.6Zr 0.4O 2 catalyst pellets are promising for commercial scale applications.« less

Synthesis of a Novel Series of 2-Methylsulfanyl Fatty Acids and their Toxicity on the Human K-562 and U-937 Leukemia Cell Lines

PubMed Central

Carballeira, Néstor M.; Miranda, Carlos; Orellano, Elsie A.; González, Fernando A.

2006-01-01

The hitherto unknown 2-methylsulfanyldecanoic acid and 2-methylsulfanyldodecanoic acid were synthesized from methyl decanoate and methyl dodecanoate, respectively, through the reaction of lithium diisopropylamide and dimethyldisulfide in THF followed by saponification with potassium hydroxide in ethanol. Both α-methylsulfanylated FA were cytotoxic to the human chronic myelogenous leukemia K-562 and the human histiocytic lymphoma U-937 cell lines with EC50 values in the 200-300 μM range, which makes them more cytotoxic to these cell lines than either decanoic acid or dodecanoic acid. The cytotoxicity of the studied FA towards K-562 followed the order: 2-SCH3-12:0 > 2-SCH3-10:0 > 10:0 > 12:0 > 2-OCH3-12:0, while towards U-937 the cytotoxicity was found to be: 2-SCH3-10:0 > 2-SCH3-12:0 > 12:0 > 10:0 > 2-OCH3-12:0. These results indicate that the α-methylsulfanyl substitution increases the cytotoxicity of the C10 and C12 fatty acids towards the studied leukemia cell lines. PMID:16382579

Fluorinated microemulsions: A study of the phase behavior and structure

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

LoNostro, P.; Choi, S.M.; Chen, S.H.

1999-06-24

Fluorinated surfactants have been studied for their peculiar property to form micellar aggregates in water and oils (hydrocarbons or fluorocarbons) and to produce stable microemulsions. Because of their capacity to dissolve large amounts of gases (such as oxygen and carbon dioxide) and for their characteristic physicochemical properties, fluorocarbons have been tested for specific medical purposes, and their microemulsions are among the most promising candidates for the production of suitable blood substitutes and other biocompatible fluids. The authors have synthesized a new partially fluorinated nonionic surfactant, namely, F(CF{sub 2}){sub 7}-CO-(OCH{sub 2}CH{sub 2}){sub 7.2}OCH{sub 3} (I), that forms stable microemulsions with watermore » and perfluorocarbons such as perfluorooctane (PFO). In this paper the authors describe for the first time the phase behaviors of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in water/PFH and in water/PFO, and that of ester I in water/PFO. Small-angle neutron-scattering (SANS) experiments provide a detailed description of the microstructure of the H{sub 2}O/PFO/PFOA ternary system.« less

Versatile Organic Chemistry on Vanadium-Based Multi-Electron Reservoirs.

PubMed

Nachtigall, Olaf; Spandl, Johann

2018-02-21

We report the synthesis, post-functionalization, and redox behavior of two organically functionalized aggregates, [V 6 O 7 (OMe) 9 {(OCH 2 ) 3 C-CH 2 N 3 }] and [V 6 O 7 (OMe) 9 {(OCH 2 ) 3 C-NH 2 }]. All twelve μ 2 -oxo groups on the edges of the Lindqvist-type {V 6 O 19 } core were replaced by alkoxo ligands. The absence of a negative charge and the closed organic shell make these neutral mixed-valence compounds very stable towards hydrolysis and well soluble in almost all common organic solvents. These are important advantages over classical POMs. By post-functionalization through copper(I)-catalyzed Huisgen cycloaddition or imine formation, various organic moieties could be introduced. Even a well-soluble trimer composed of three hexanuclear vanadium units connected through an aromatic triimino core was synthesized and studied. The diverse redox behavior, the versatile reactivity, the good stability, and the excellent solubility make our vanadium compounds highly interesting for applications as building blocks in macromolecular chemistry as well as redox labels in biochemistry. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The Gaseous Phase as a Probe of the Astrophysical Solid Phase Chemistry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abou Mrad, Ninette; Duvernay, Fabrice; Isnard, Robin; Chiavassa, Thierry; Danger, Grégoire

2017-09-01

In support of space missions and spectroscopic observations, laboratory experiments on ice analogs enable a better understanding of organic matter formation and evolution in astrophysical environments. Herein, we report the monitoring of the gaseous phase of processed astrophysical ice analogs to determine if the gaseous phase can elucidate the chemical mechanisms and dominant reaction pathways occurring in the solid ice subjected to vacuum ultra-violet (VUV) irradiation at low temperature and subsequently warmed. Simple (CH3OH), binary (H2O:CH3OH, CH3OH:NH3), and ternary ice analogs (H2O:CH3OH:NH3) were VUV-processed and warmed. The evolution of volatile organic compounds in the gaseous phase shows a direct link between their relative abundances in the gaseous phase, and the radical and thermal chemistries modifying the initial ice composition. The correlation between the gaseous and solid phases may play a crucial role in deciphering the organic composition of astrophysical objects. As an example, possible solid compositions of the comet Lovejoy are suggested using the abundances of organics in its comae.

Immobilization of nanobeads on a surface to control the size, shape and distribution of pores in electrochemically generated sol-gel films.

PubMed

Ciabocco, Michela; Berrettoni, Mario; Zamponi, Silvia; Cox, James A

2015-07-01

Electrochemically assisted deposition of an ormosil film at a potential where hydrogen ion is generated as the catalyst yields insulating films on electrodes. When the base electrode is modified with 20-nm poly(styrene sulfonate), PSS, beads bound to the surface with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and using (CH 3 ) 3 SiOCH 3 as the precursor, the resulting film of organically modified silica (ormosil) has cylindrical channels that reflect both the diameter of the PSS and the distribution of the APTES-PSS on the electrode. At an electrode modified by a 20-min immersion in 0.5 mmol dm -3 APTES followed by a 30-s immersion in PSS, a 20-min electrolysis at 1.5 V in acidified (CH 3 ) 3 SiOCH 3 resulted in an ormosil film with 20-nm pores separated by 100 nm. Cyclic voltammetry of Ru(CN) 6 4- at scan rates above 5 mVs -1 yielded currents controlled primarily by linear diffusion. Below 5 mVs -1 , convection rather than the expected factor, radial diffusion, apparently limited the current.

The New World whirligig beetles of the genus Dineutus Macleay, 1825 (Coleoptera, Gyrinidae, Gyrininae, Dineutini)

PubMed Central

Gustafson, Grey T.; Miller, Kelly B.

2015-01-01

Abstract All New World members of the whirligig beetle genus Dineutus Macleay, 1825 are treated. The New World Dineutus are found to be composed of 18 species and 6 subspecies: one species, Dineutus mexicanus Ochs, 1925, stat. n. is elevated from subspecies to species rank, and the subspecies Dineutus carolinus mutchleri Ochs, 1925, syn. n. is synonymized here with the typical form. Lectotypes are designated for Dineutus discolor Aubé, 1838, Dineutes metallicus Aubé, 1838, Dineutus solitarius Aubé, 1838, Dineutes analis Régimbart, 1883, and Gyrinus longimanus Olivier, 1795. Each taxonomic unit is provided with a taxonomic history, type locality, diagnosis, distribution, habitat information, and a discussion section. The aedeagus and male mesotarsal claws are illustrated, and dorsal and ventral habitus images of both sexes, for each species and subspecies are provided. General distribution maps are provided for all taxonimc units. A key to the genera of New World Gyrinidae, as well as all the New World Dineutus species is provided. General Dineutus anatomy as well as a clarification of homology and anatomical terms is included. PMID:25685002

Conformational Study of Dibenzyl Ether

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hernandez-Castillo, Alicia O.; Abeysekera, Chamara; Hewett, Daniel M.; Zwier, Timothy S.

2017-06-01

Understanding the initial stages of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) aggregation, the onset of soot formation, is an important goal on the pathway to cleaner combustion processes. PAHs with short alkyl chains, present in fuel-rich combustion environments, can undergo reactions that will chemically link aromatic rings together. One such example of a linked diaryl compound is dibenzyl ether, C_{6}H_{5}-CH_{2}-O-CH_{2}-C_{6}H_{5}. The -CH_{2}-O-CH_{2}- linkage has a length and flexibility well-suited to forming a π-stacked conformation between the two phenyl rings. In this talk, we will explore the single-conformation spectroscopy of dibenzyl ether under jet-cooled conditions in the gas phase. Laser-induced fluorescence, chirped pulse Fourier transform microwave (8-18 GHz region), and single-conformation infrared spectroscopy in the alkyl CH stretch region were all carried out on the molecule, thereby interrogating its full array of electronic, vibrational and rotational degrees of freedom. This work is the first step in a broader study to determine the extent of π-stacking in linked aryl compounds as a function of linkage and PAH size.

Cost-Effectiveness of Antivenoms for Snakebite Envenoming in 16 Countries in West Africa.

PubMed

Hamza, Muhammad; Idris, Maryam A; Maiyaki, Musa B; Lamorde, Mohammed; Chippaux, Jean-Philippe; Warrell, David A; Kuznik, Andreas; Habib, Abdulrazaq G

2016-03-01

Snakebite poisoning is a significant medical problem in agricultural societies in Sub Saharan Africa. Antivenom (AV) is the standard treatment, and we assessed the cost-effectiveness of making it available in 16 countries in West Africa. We determined the cost-effectiveness of AV based on a decision-tree model from a public payer perspective. Specific AVs included in the model were Antivipmyn, FAV Afrique, EchiTab-G and EchiTab-Plus. We derived inputs from the literature which included: type of snakes causing bites (carpet viper (Echis species)/non-carpet viper), AV effectiveness against death, mortality without AV, probability of Early Adverse Reactions (EAR), likelihood of death from EAR, average age at envenomation in years, anticipated remaining life span and likelihood of amputation. Costs incurred by the victims include: costs of confirming and evaluating envenomation, AV acquisition, routine care, AV transportation logistics, hospital admission and related transportation costs, management of AV EAR compared to the alternative of free snakebite care with ineffective or no AV. Incremental Cost Effectiveness Ratios (ICERs) were assessed as the cost per death averted and the cost per Disability-Adjusted-Life-Years (DALY) averted. Probabilistic Sensitivity Analyses (PSA) using Monte Carlo simulations were used to obtain 95% Confidence Intervals of ICERs. The cost/death averted for the 16 countries of interest ranged from $1,997 in Guinea Bissau to $6,205 for Liberia and Sierra Leone. The cost/DALY averted ranged from $83 (95% Confidence Interval: $36-$240) for Benin Republic to $281 ($159-457) for Sierra-Leone. In all cases, the base-case cost/DALY averted estimate fell below the commonly accepted threshold of one time per capita GDP, suggesting that AV is highly cost-effective for the treatment of snakebite in all 16 WA countries. The findings were consistent even with variations of inputs in 1-way sensitivity analyses. In addition, the PSA showed that in the majority of iterations ranging from 97.3% in Liberia to 100% in Cameroun, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal, our model results yielded an ICER that fell below the threshold of one time per capita GDP, thus, indicating a high degree of confidence in our results. Therapy for SBE with AV in countries of WA is highly cost-effective at commonly accepted thresholds. Broadening access to effective AVs in rural communities in West Africa is a priority.

Effect of calcium level and phytase addition on ileal phytate degradation and amino acid digestibility of broilers fed corn-based diets.

PubMed

Amerah, A M; Plumstead, P W; Barnard, L P; Kumar, A

2014-04-01

This study investigated the effect of dietary Ca to available P (AvP) ratio and phytase supplementation on bone ash, ileal phytate degradation, and nutrient digestibility in broilers fed corn-based diets. The experimental design was a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments evaluating 4 Ca:AvP ratios (1.43, 2.14, 2.86, and 3.57) and 2 levels of phytase (0 and 1,000 phytase units/kg of feed). The 4 Ca:AvP ratios were achieved by formulating all diets to a constant AvP level of 0.28% and varying Ca levels (0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0%). Each treatment was fed to 6 cages of 8 male Ross 308 broilers from 5 to 21 d. At 21 d, digesta from the terminal ileum was collected and analyzed for energy, phytate, P, Ca, and amino acids (AA) to determine digestibility. Digesta pH was measured in each segment (crop, gizzard, duodenum, and ileum) of the digestive tract. Data were analyzed by 2-way analysis of covariance. There was a significant interaction between dietary Ca:AvP ratio and phytase supplementation for weight gain (WG), feed intake (FI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). In diets with no phytase, Ca:AvP ratio had a greater effect on WG, FI, and FCR compared with those fed diets without phytase. The orthogonal polynomial contrasts showed that the increase in dietary Ca:AvP ratio significantly decreased WG and FI in a quadratic manner, whereas FCR increased (P < 0.05) linearly with higher dietary Ca:AvP ratio. Increasing dietary Ca:AvP ratio led to a significant quadratic decrease in phytate degradation and significant linear decreases in P digestibility and bone ash. Phytase addition increased (P < 0.05) phytate degradation and improved (P < 0.05) energy, AA, and P digestibility at all levels of Ca:AvP with no interaction (P > 0.05) between the main factors. Digestibility of AA was positively correlated (P < 0.05) with the degree of phytate degradation. Increasing dietary Ca:AvP ratio significantly increased gizzard pH in a linear manner. In conclusion, phytase (1,000 phytase units/kg of feed) improved phytate, and P and AA digestibility at all Ca:AvP ratios evaluated in this study.

Being First Matters: Topographical Representational Similarity Analysis of ERP Signals Reveals Separate Networks for Audiovisual Temporal Binding Depending on the Leading Sense.

PubMed

Cecere, Roberto; Gross, Joachim; Willis, Ashleigh; Thut, Gregor

2017-05-24

In multisensory integration, processing in one sensory modality is enhanced by complementary information from other modalities. Intersensory timing is crucial in this process because only inputs reaching the brain within a restricted temporal window are perceptually bound. Previous research in the audiovisual field has investigated various features of the temporal binding window, revealing asymmetries in its size and plasticity depending on the leading input: auditory-visual (AV) or visual-auditory (VA). Here, we tested whether separate neuronal mechanisms underlie this AV-VA dichotomy in humans. We recorded high-density EEG while participants performed an audiovisual simultaneity judgment task including various AV-VA asynchronies and unisensory control conditions (visual-only, auditory-only) and tested whether AV and VA processing generate different patterns of brain activity. After isolating the multisensory components of AV-VA event-related potentials (ERPs) from the sum of their unisensory constituents, we ran a time-resolved topographical representational similarity analysis (tRSA) comparing the AV and VA ERP maps. Spatial cross-correlation matrices were built from real data to index the similarity between the AV and VA maps at each time point (500 ms window after stimulus) and then correlated with two alternative similarity model matrices: AV maps = VA maps versus AV maps ≠ VA maps The tRSA results favored the AV maps ≠ VA maps model across all time points, suggesting that audiovisual temporal binding (indexed by synchrony perception) engages different neural pathways depending on the leading sense. The existence of such dual route supports recent theoretical accounts proposing that multiple binding mechanisms are implemented in the brain to accommodate different information parsing strategies in auditory and visual sensory systems. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Intersensory timing is a crucial aspect of multisensory integration, determining whether and how inputs in one modality enhance stimulus processing in another modality. Our research demonstrates that evaluating synchrony of auditory-leading (AV) versus visual-leading (VA) audiovisual stimulus pairs is characterized by two distinct patterns of brain activity. This suggests that audiovisual integration is not a unitary process and that different binding mechanisms are recruited in the brain based on the leading sense. These mechanisms may be relevant for supporting different classes of multisensory operations, for example, auditory enhancement of visual attention (AV) and visual enhancement of auditory speech (VA). Copyright © 2017 Cecere et al.

Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab (ovine) antivenom is effective in the neutralization of South American viperidae venoms in a murine model.

PubMed

Richardson, William H; Tanen, David A; Tong, Tri C; Betten, David P; Carstairs, Shaun D; Williams, Saralyn R; Cantrell, Frank L; Clark, Richard F

2005-06-01

Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab (ovine) (CroFab; FabAV) is used in the treatment of symptomatic crotaline envenomations in North America. Unlike Antivenin (Crotalidae) Polyvalent, which is approved for treatment of crotaline envenomation in North and South America, FabAV is manufactured using only venoms from crotaline snakes native to the United States. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of FabAV in the neutralization of venom from 2 South American crotaline snakes: Crotalus durissus terrificus (tropical rattlesnake) and Bothrops atrox (fer-de-lance). A randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled murine model of intraperitoneal venom injection was used. Venom potency was determined in preliminary median lethal dose (LD 50) dosing studies. Study animals were then divided into 7 groups: (1) C durissus terrificus venom (Sigma-Aldrich Co.)+FabAV, (2) C durissus terrificus venom (Sigma-Aldrich Co.)+0.9% normal saline solution, (3) C durissus terrificus venom (Biotoxins Inc.)+FabAV, (4) C durissus terrificus venom (Biotoxins Inc.)+normal saline solution, (5) B atrox venom+FabAV, (6) B atrox venom+normal saline solution, and (7) FabAV+normal saline solution. Twice the estimated LD 50 was the chosen venom dose, and the amount of FabAV injected was 10 times the amount needed for venom neutralization. Statistical analysis included Fisher's exact test and log-rank testing to compare survival rates and times. The venom LD 50 was found in preliminary studies to be 0.9 mg/kg and 1.35 mg/kg for the C durissus terrificus venom obtained from Sigma-Aldrich Co. and Biotoxins Inc., respectively. The LD 50 for B atrox venom was 5.0 mg/kg. All animals receiving venom only and saline solution died. Animals receiving FabAV together with either venom survived to the end of the 24-hour observation period ( P <.001). Comparison of survival times between groups demonstrated a significant difference in time to death between venom-only control groups and the FabAV+venom groups (P <.001). All animals in the FabAV+normal saline solution group survived to the conclusion of the study. FabAV, when premixed with venom, decreases lethality in a murine model of intraperitoneal venom injection of the South American pit vipers, C durissus terrificus and B atrox .

Avian coronavirus isolated from a pigeon sample induced clinical disease, tracheal ciliostasis, and a high humoral response in day-old chicks.

PubMed

Martini, Matheus C; Caserta, Leonardo C; Dos Santos, Marcia M A B; Barnabé, Ana C S; Durães-Carvalho, Ricardo; Padilla, Marina A; Simão, Raphael M; Rizotto, Laís S; Simas, Paulo V M; Bastos, Juliana C S; Cardoso, Tereza C; Felippe, Paulo A N; Ferreira, Helena L; Arns, Clarice W

2018-06-01

The detection of avian coronaviruses (AvCoV) in wild birds and the emergence of new AvCoV have increased in the past few years. In the present study, the pathogenicity of three AvCoV isolates was investigated in day-old chicks. One AvCoV isolated from a pigeon, which clustered with the Massachusetts vaccine serotype, and two AvCoV isolated from chickens, which grouped with a Brazilian genotype lineage, were used. Clinical signs, gross lesions, histopathological changes, ciliary activity, viral RNA detection, and serology were evaluated during 42 days post infection. All AvCoV isolates induced clinical signs, gross lesions in the trachea, moderate histopathological changes in the respiratory tract, and mild changes in other tissues. AvCoV isolated from the pigeon sample caused complete tracheal ciliostasis over a longer time span. Specific viral RNA was detected in all tissues, but the highest RNA loads were detected in the digestive tract (cloacal swabs and ileum). The highest antibody levels were also detected in the group infected with an isolate from the pigeon. These results confirm the pathogenicity of Brazilian variants, which can cause disease and induce gross lesions and histopathological changes in chickens. Our results suggest that non-Galliformes birds can also play a role in the ecology of AvCoV.

[EPIDEMIOLOGICAL, CLINICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL FINDINGS IN WOMEN WITH AEROBIC VAGINITIS].

PubMed

Dermendjiev, T; Pehlivanov, B; Hadjieva, K; Stanev, S

2015-01-01

Aerobic vaginitis (AV) is an alterarion of the normal lactobacillic flora accompanied by signs of inflammation, presence of mainly aerobic microorganisms from intestinal commensals or other aerobic pathogens. Clinical symptoms may vary by type and intensity and are marked by a high tendency for recurrence and chronification. Inflammation and ulcerations in AV could increase the risk of contracting HIV or other sexually transmitted infections. The aim is to study some epidemiological, clinical and microbiological features of the aerobic vaginitis in patients of the specialized Obstetric and Gynecological Clinic in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. In a retrospective research 4687 vaginal smears have been gathered in Microbiological laboratory at "St. George" Hospital - Plovdiv. We used clinical, microbiological and statistical methods. Information processing is performed by variation, alternative, correlation and graphical analysis using specialized package SPSS v13.0. The overall prevalence rate of AV in the studied population is 11.77%. The levels of prevalence of AV in pregnant and non-pregnant women are respectively 13.08% and 4.34%. The highest frequency of AV is in the age group 21-30 years (32.3%). The results show a marked association between Escherichia coli and the cases of AV (p < 0.001). AV is a common cause of vaginal symptoms in patients of specialized ambulatory outpatient. One in ten women with vaginal complaints suffers from AV Streptococcus agalactiae and Escherichia coli are most often isolated aerobic microorganisms.

Ramipril retards development of aortic valve stenosis in a rabbit model: mechanistic considerations.

PubMed

Ngo, Doan Tm; Stafford, Irene; Sverdlov, Aaron L; Qi, Weier; Wuttke, Ronald D; Zhang, Yuan; Kelly, Darren J; Weedon, Helen; Smith, Malcolm D; Kennedy, Jennifer A; Horowitz, John D

2011-02-01

Aortic valve stenosis (AVS) is associated with significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. To date, no therapeutic modality has been shown to be effective in retarding AVS progression. We evaluated the effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition with ramipril on disease progression in a recently developed rabbit model of AVS. The effects of 8 weeks of treatment with either vitamin D₂ at 25,000 IU for 4 days a week alone or in combination with ramipril (0.5 mg·kg⁻¹) on aortic valve structure and function were examined in New Zealand white rabbits. Echocardiographic aortic valve backscatter (AV(BS)) and aortic valve:outflow tract flow velocity ratio were utilized to quantify changes in valve structure and function. Treatment with ramipril significantly reduced AV(BS) and improved aortic valve :outflow tract flow velocity ratio. The intravalvular content of the pro-oxidant thioredoxin-interacting protein was decreased significantly with ramipril treatment. Endothelial function, as measured by asymmetric dimethylarginine concentrations and vascular responses to ACh, was improved significantly with ramipril treatment. Ramipril retards the development of AVS, reduces valvular thioredoxin-interacting protein accumulation and limits endothelial dysfunction in this animal model. These findings provide important insights into the mechanisms of AVS development and an impetus for future human studies of AVS retardation using an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. © 2011 The Authors. British Journal of Pharmacology © 2011 The British Pharmacological Society.

Temporal characteristics of audiovisual information processing.

PubMed

Fuhrmann Alpert, Galit; Hein, Grit; Tsai, Nancy; Naumer, Marcus J; Knight, Robert T

2008-05-14

In complex natural environments, auditory and visual information often have to be processed simultaneously. Previous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies focused on the spatial localization of brain areas involved in audiovisual (AV) information processing, but the temporal characteristics of AV information flow in these regions remained unclear. In this study, we used fMRI and a novel information-theoretic approach to study the flow of AV sensory information. Subjects passively perceived sounds and images of objects presented either alone or simultaneously. Applying the measure of mutual information, we computed for each voxel the latency in which the blood oxygenation level-dependent signal had the highest information content about the preceding stimulus. The results indicate that, after AV stimulation, the earliest informative activity occurs in right Heschl's gyrus, left primary visual cortex, and the posterior portion of the superior temporal gyrus, which is known as a region involved in object-related AV integration. Informative activity in the anterior portion of superior temporal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, right occipital cortex, and inferior frontal cortex was found at a later latency. Moreover, AV presentation resulted in shorter latencies in multiple cortical areas compared with isolated auditory or visual presentation. The results provide evidence for bottom-up processing from primary sensory areas into higher association areas during AV integration in humans and suggest that AV presentation shortens processing time in early sensory cortices.

A marked proportional rise in IVC aldosterone following cosyntropin administration during AVS is a signal to the presence of adrenal hyperplasia in primary aldosteronism.

PubMed

Kline, G A; Pasieka, J L; Harvey, A; So, B; Dias, V C

2014-05-01

We hypothesized aldosteronoma responsiveness to cosyntropin may be a characterizing feature that could be determined in addition to standard adrenal vein sampling (AVS) data. We reviewed an AVS database from June 2005 to October 2011 including 65 patients with confirmed primary aldosteronism (PA) who underwent AVS and, if applicable, unilateral adrenalectomy. Patients were divided into confirmed lateralized and non-lateralized groups and subgrouped by histology. Plasma aldosterone in inferior vena cava (IVC) pre- and post-cosyntropin infusion during AVS was measured. Peak aldosterone and proportional change was compared between groups. Baseline and peak IVC aldosterone was higher in lateralized patients but incremental aldosterone rise was much greater in subjects with bilateral hyperplasia. From receiver operator characteristics (ROC) analysis, the optimized diagnostic cut point of peak IVC aldosterone of >649 pmol l(-1) would have a sensitivity of 94% for surgical disease although specificity of just 59%. A 250% increase in IVC aldosterone following cosyntropin would be specific enough to exclude 87% of surgical/lateralized disease. These diagnostic capabilities are similar to other results with non-AVS tests performed for diagnosis of lateralization. Although not specific enough to replace standard AVS interpretation, a marked IVC aldosterone increase after cosyntropin during AVS is a useful additional test to diagnose non-lateralizing forms of PA. Such a calculation requires no additional expense or tests.

Evaluating the Effects of Metals on Microorganisms in Flooded Paddy Soils Using the SEM/AVS-Based Approach and Measurements of Exchangeable Metal Concentrations.

PubMed

Kunito, Takashi; Toya, Hitomi; Sumi, Hirotaka; Ishikawa, Yuichi; Toda, Hideshige; Nagaoka, Kazunari; Saeki, Kazutoshi; Aikawa, Yoshio; Matsumoto, Satoshi

2017-04-01

We examined possible adverse effects of heavy metals on microbial activity, biomass, and community composition using the simultaneously extracted metals (SEM)/acid-volatile sulfide (AVS)-based approach and measurements of exchangeable metal concentrations in three paddy soils (wastewater-contaminated soil, mine-contaminated soil, and noncontaminated soil) incubated for 60 days under flooded conditions. Incubation under flooding increased pH and decreased Eh in all samples. AVS increased when Eh decreased to approximately -200 mV for the mine-contaminated and noncontaminated soils, while the wastewater-contaminated soil originally had a high concentration of AVS despite its air-dried condition. Addition of rice straw or alkaline material containing calcium carbonate and gypsum increased AVS levels under flooded conditions. We observed no apparent relationship between soil enzyme activity (β-D-glucosidase and acid phosphatase) and concentrations of SEM, [∑SEM - AVS], and exchangeable metals. Bacterial and fungal community composition, assessed using polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis targeting rRNA genes, was largely influenced by site of collection and incubation time, but metal contamination did not influence community composition. We observed significant negative correlations between biomass C and [∑SEM - AVS] and between biomass C and ∑SEM, suggesting that [∑SEM - AVS] and ∑SEM might reflect the bioavailability of organic matter to microorganisms in these soils.

Randomized, Double-blind, Active-controlled Study Evaluating the Safety and Immunogenicity of Three Vaccination Schedules and Two Dose Levels of AV7909 Vaccine for Anthrax Post-exposure Prophylaxis in Healthy Adults

PubMed Central

Hopkins, Robert J.; Kalsi, Gurdyal; Montalvo-Lugo, Victor M.; Sharma, Mona; Wu, Yukun; Muse, Derek D.; Sheldon, Eric.A.; Hampel, Frank C.; Lemiale, Laurence

2016-01-01

AV7909 vaccine being developed for post-exposure prophylaxis of anthrax disease may require fewer vaccinations and reduced amount of antigen to achieve an accelerated immune response over BioThrax® (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed). A phase 2, randomized, double-blind, BioThrax vacccine-controlled study was conducted to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of three intramuscular vaccination schedules and two dose levels of AV7909 in 168 healthy adults. Subjects were randomized at a 4:3:2:4:2 ratio to 5 groups: 1) AV7909 on Days 0/14; 2) AV7909 on Days 0/28; 3) AV7909 on Days 0/14/28; 4) half dose AV7909 on Days 0/14/28; and 5) BioThrax vaccine on Days 0/14/28. Vaccinations in all groups were well tolerated. The incidences of adverse events (AEs) were 79% for AV7909 subjects and 65% for BioThrax subjects; 92% of AV7909 subjects and 87% of BioThrax subjects having AEs reported Grade 1-2 AEs. No serious AEs were assessed as potentially vaccine-related, and no AEs of potential autoimmune etiology were reported. There was no discernible pattern indicative of a safety concern across groups in the incidence or severity of reactogenicity events. Groups 2, 3, and 4 achieved success for the primary endpoint, demonstrated by a lower 95% confidence limit of the percentage of subjects with protective toxin neutralizing antibody NF50 values (≥ 0.56) to be ≥ 40% at Day 63. Group 1 marginally missed the criterion (lower bound 95% confidence limit of 39.5%). Immune responses were above this threshold for Groups 1, 3 and 4 at Day 28 and all groups at Day 42. Further study of an AV7909 two-dose schedule given 2 weeks apart is warranted in light of the favorable tolerability profile and immunogenicity response relative to three doses of BioThrax vaccine, as well as preliminary data from nonclinical studies indicating similar immune responses correlate with higher survival for AV7909 than BioThrax vaccine. PMID:26979136

Impact of high-dose atorvastatin therapy and clinical risk factors on incident aortic valve stenosis in patients with cardiovascular disease (from TNT, IDEAL, and SPARCL).

PubMed

Arsenault, Benoit J; Boekholdt, S Matthijs; Mora, Samia; DeMicco, David A; Bao, Weihang; Tardif, Jean-Claude; Amarenco, Pierre; Pedersen, Terje; Barter, Philip; Waters, David D

2014-04-15

Clinical trials have not provided evidence for a role of statin therapy in reducing aortic valve stenosis (AVS) severity in patients with documented AVS. However, whether statin therapy could prevent the onset of AVS is unknown. Our objectives were (1) to compare the incidence rates of AVS among patients treated with high-dose versus usual-dose statin or placebo and (2) to identify clinical risk factors associated with the development of AVS. We conducted post hoc analyses in 23,508 participants from 3 large-scale multicenter atorvastatin randomized blinded clinical trials: Treating to New Targets, the Incremental Decrease in End Points Through Aggressive Lipid Lowering, and the Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction in Cholesterol Levels. The main outcome measure was the incidence of clinical AVS over a median follow-up of 4.9 years (82 cases). Among patients who developed AVS, 39 (47.6%) were treated with atorvastatin 80 mg and 43 (52.4%) were treated with lower dose statin (atorvastatin 10 mg in Treating to New Targets, simvastatin 20 to 40 mg in Incremental Decrease in End Points Through Aggressive Lipid Lowering, or placebo in Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction in Cholesterol Levels; hazard ratio [HR] 0.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.59 to 1.41, p=0.67). In multivariate analyses forcing treatment, sex, and race into the model, factors that were significantly associated with AVS included age (HR 2.17, 95% CI 1.61 to 2.93, p<0.0001 per 1-SD increment), diabetes (HR 1.67, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.80, p=0.05), vitamin K antagonist use (HR 3.25, 95% CI 2.06 to 5.16, p<0.0001), and previous statin use (HR 2.65, 95% CI 1.54 to 4.60, p=0.0008). In conclusion, random allocation to high-dose versus usual-dose statin therapy or placebo did not impact the incidence of AVS among patients without known AVS. Age, diabetes, vitamin K antagonists, and previous statin use were significant predictors of incident AVS in these high-risk patients. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Porosity in low dielectric constant SiOCH films depth profiled by positron annihilation spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brusa, R. S.; Spagolla, M.; Karwasz, G. P.; Zecca, A.; Ottaviani, G.; Corni, F.; Bacchetta, M.; Carollo, E.

2004-03-01

The 3γ annihilation of orthopositronium and the Doppler broadening of the positron annihilation line have been measured by implanting low energy positrons in low dielectric constant (low-k) SiOCH films. The evolution and stability of film porosity with thermal treatments in the 400-900 °C temperature range has been studied. The films have been produced by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition and after annealing in N2 atmospheres at 480 °C have been treated in N2+He plasma. The minimum free volume of the pores in the as-produced samples has been estimated to correspond to that of a sphere with radius r=0.6 nm. The treatment in the N2 plasma was found to seal the pores up to 45 nm depth. Both the composition of the films (as obtained by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy and elastic recoil detection analysis) and the chemical environment of the pores probed by positrons were found to be very stable up to 600 °C thermal treatment. Above such a temperature a reduction of the hydrogen content accompanied by a change in the structure and in the chemical environment of the pores has been observed. In the samples thermal treated at 800-900 °C, the positronium formation is reduced by one-third respect with the as produced sample. In the annealed and as-produced films, a natural aging of 30 days in air was enough to contaminate the porosity, as pointed out by a strong reduction of the 3γ annihilations. The effect of contamination and the distribution of the pores were completely recovered after a thermal treatment at 400 °C. Artificial aging of SiOCH films in controlled atmospheres of H2, O2, H2O has shown that H2O is the more efficient contaminant in reducing the effective volume of the pores.

New 3D structuring process for non-integrated circuit related technologies (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nouri, Lamia; Possémé, Nicolas; Landis, Stéfan; Milesi, Frédéric; Gaillard, Frédéric-Xavier

2017-04-01

Fabrication processes that microelectronic developed for Integrated circuit (IC) technologies for decades, do not meet the new emerging structuration's requirements, in particular non-IC related technologies one, such as MEMS/NEMS, Micro-Fluidics, photovoltaics, lenses. Actually complex 3D structuration requires complex lithography patterning approaches such as gray-scale electron beam lithography, laser ablation, focused ion beam lithography, two photon polymerization. It is now challenging to find cheaper and easiest technique to achieve 3D structures. In this work, we propose a straightforward process to realize 3D structuration, intended for silicon based materials (Si, SiN, SiOCH). This structuration technique is based on nano-imprint lithography (NIL), ion implantation and selective wet etching. In a first step a pattern is performed by lithography on a substrate, then ion implantation is realized through a resist mask in order to create localized modifications in the material, thus the pattern is transferred into the subjacent layer. Finally, after the resist stripping, a selective wet etching is carried out to remove selectively the modified material regarding the non-modified one. In this paper, we will first present results achieved with simple 2D line array pattern processed either on Silicon or SiOCH samples. This step have been carried out to demonstrate the feasibility of this new structuration process. SEM pictures reveals that "infinite" selectivity between the implanted areas versus the non-implanted one could be achieved. We will show that a key combination between the type of implanted ion species and wet etching chemistries is required to obtain such results. The mechanisms understanding involved during both implantation and wet etching processes will also be presented through fine characterizations with Photoluminescence, Raman and Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) for silicon samples, and ellipso-porosimetry and Fourier Transform InfraRed spectroscopy (FTIR) for SiOCH samples. Finally the benefit of this new patterning approach will be presented on 3D patterns structures.

Inference of nitrogen cycling in three watersheds of northern Florida, USA, by multivariate statistical analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Ji-Meng; Winchester, John W.

1994-03-01

Nitrogen in fresh waters of three rivers in northern Florida - the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) River system, Ochlockonee (Och), and Sopchoppy (Sop) - is inferred to be derived mostly from atmospheric deposition. Because the N:P mole ratios in the rivers are nearly three times higher than the Redfield ratio for aquatic photosynthesis, N is saturated in the ecosystems, not a limiting nutrient, although it may be chemically transformed. Absolute principal component analysis (APCA), a receptor model, was applied to many years of monitoring data for Apalachicola River water and rainfall over its basin in order to better understand aquatic chemistry of nitrogen in the watershed. The APCA model describes the river water as mainly a mixture of components with compositions resembling fresh rain, aged rain, and groundwater. In the fresh rain component, the ratio of atmospheric nitrate to sulfate is close to that in rainwater, as if some samples had been collected following very recent rainfall. The aged rain component of the river water is distinguished by a low NO 3-/SO 42- ratio, signifying an atmospheric source but with most of its nitrate having been lost or transformed. The groundwater component, inferred from its concentration to contribute on average about one fourth of the river water, contains abundant Ca 2+ but no detectable nitrogen. Results similar to ACF were obtained for Sop and Och, though Och exhibits some association of NO 3- with the Ca 2+-rich component. Similar APCA of wet precipitation resolves mainly components that represent acid rain, with NO 3-, SO 42- and NH 4+ and sea salt, with Na +, Cl - and Mg 2+. Inland, the acid rain component is relatively more prominent and Cl - is depleted, while at atmospheric monitoring sites nearer the coastal region sea salt tends to be more prominent.

Rotational Spectrum, Conformational Composition, and Quantum Chemical Calculations of Cyanomethyl Formate (HC(O)OCH2C≡N), a Compound of Potential Astrochemical Interest.

PubMed

Samdal, Svein; Møllendal, Harald; Carles, Sophie

2015-08-27

The rotational spectrum of cyanomethyl formate (HC(O)OCH2C≡N) has been recorded in the 12–123 GHz spectral range. The spectra of two conformers were assigned. The rotamer denoted I has a symmetry plane and two out-of plane hydrogen atoms belonging to the cyanomethyl (CH2CN) moiety. In the conformer called II, the cyanomethyl group is rotated 80.3° out of this plane. Conformer I has an energy that is 1.4(6) kJ/mol lower than the energy of II according to relative intensity measurements. A large number of rotational transitions have been assigned for the ground and vibrationally excited states of the two conformers and accurate spectroscopic constants have been obtained. These constants should predict frequencies of transitions outside the investigated spectral range with a very high degree of precision. It is suggested that cyanomethyl formate is a potential interstellar compound. This suggestion is based on the fact that its congener methyl formate (HC(O)OCH3) exists across a large variety of interstellar environments and the fact that cyanides are very prevalent in the Universe. The experimental work has been augmented by high-level quantum chemical calculations. The CCSD/cc-pVQZ calculations are found to predict structures of the two forms that are very close to the Born–Oppenheimer equilibrium structures. MP2/cc-pVTZ predictions of several vibration–rotation interaction constants were generally found to be rather inaccurate. A gas-phase reaction between methyl formate and the cyanomethyl radical CH2CN to produce a hydrogen atom and cyanomethyl formate was mimicked using MP2/cc-pVTZ calculations. It was found that this reaction is not favored thermodynamically. It is also conjectured that the possible formation of cyanomethyl formate might be catalyzed and take place on interstellar particles.

Mortality characteristics of aortic root surgery in North America†

PubMed Central

Caceres, Manuel; Ma, Yicheng; Rankin, J. Scott; Saha-Chaudhuri, Paramita; Englum, Brian R.; Gammie, James S.; Suri, Rakesh M.; Thourani, Vinod H.; Esmailian, Fardad; Czer, Lawrence S.; Puskas, John D.; Svensson, Lars G.

2014-01-01

OBJECTIVES Aortic root surgery is transitioning to aortic valve sparing (AVS), but little is known about the relative early outcomes of AVS versus composite graft-valve replacement (CVR). This study assessed mortality differences for AVS versus CVR to guide future practice decisions. METHODS From January 2000 to June 2011, 31 747 patients had aortic root replacement with AVS (n = 3585; 11%) or CVR (n = 28 162; 89%). The cohort of Overall patients was divided into two subgroups: high-risk patients (n = 20 356; 6% AVS) having age >75 years, endocarditis, aortic stenosis, dialysis, multiple valves, reoperation or emergency/salvage status, and the remaining low-risk patients (n = 11 388; 21% AVS). Using logistic regression analysis, outcomes were presented as unadjusted operative mortality (UOM), risk-adjusted operative mortality (AOM) and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for mortality. RESULTS Baseline characteristics for the Overall group (AVS versus CVR) were: mean age (52 vs 57 years), endocarditis (1 vs 11%), aortic stenosis (4 vs 36%), dialysis (1 vs 2%), multiple valves (7 vs 10%), reoperation (6 vs 17%) and emergency status (14 vs 12%) (all P < 0.0001). In high- and low-risk groups, baseline differences narrowed, and lower mortality was generally observed with AVS: (AVS versus CVR) UOM group Overall (4.5 vs 8.9%)*, group High-risk (10.5 vs 11.7%), group Low-risk (1.4 vs 3.1%)*; AOM group Overall (6.2 vs 8.6%), group High-risk (10.1 vs 11.7%), group Low-risk (2.2 vs 2.8%); AOR group Overall (0.59)*, group High-risk (0.62)*, group Low-risk (0.69). *P < 0.05. CONCLUSIONS Relative risk-adjusted mortality seemed comparable with AVS versus CVR in low- and high-risk subgroups. These data support judicious expansion of aortic valve repair in patients having aortic root replacement. PMID:24639452

Mortality characteristics of aortic root surgery in North America.

PubMed

Caceres, Manuel; Ma, Yicheng; Rankin, J Scott; Saha-Chaudhuri, Paramita; Englum, Brian R; Gammie, James S; Suri, Rakesh M; Thourani, Vinod H; Esmailian, Fardad; Czer, Lawrence S; Puskas, John D; Svensson, Lars G

2014-11-01

Aortic root surgery is transitioning to aortic valve sparing (AVS), but little is known about the relative early outcomes of AVS versus composite graft-valve replacement (CVR). This study assessed mortality differences for AVS versus CVR to guide future practice decisions. From January 2000 to June 2011, 31 747 patients had aortic root replacement with AVS (n = 3585; 11%) or CVR (n = 28 162; 89%). The cohort of Overall patients was divided into two subgroups: high-risk patients (n = 20 356; 6% AVS) having age >75 years, endocarditis, aortic stenosis, dialysis, multiple valves, reoperation or emergency/salvage status, and the remaining low-risk patients (n = 11 388; 21% AVS). Using logistic regression analysis, outcomes were presented as unadjusted operative mortality (UOM), risk-adjusted operative mortality (AOM) and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for mortality. Baseline characteristics for the Overall group (AVS versus CVR) were: mean age (52 vs 57 years), endocarditis (1 vs 11%), aortic stenosis (4 vs 36%), dialysis (1 vs 2%), multiple valves (7 vs 10%), reoperation (6 vs 17%) and emergency status (14 vs 12%) (all P < 0.0001). In high- and low-risk groups, baseline differences narrowed, and lower mortality was generally observed with AVS: (AVS versus CVR) UOM group Overall (4.5 vs 8.9%)*, group High-risk (10.5 vs 11.7%), group Low-risk (1.4 vs 3.1%)*; AOM group Overall (6.2 vs 8.6%), group High-risk (10.1 vs 11.7%), group Low-risk (2.2 vs 2.8%); AOR group Overall (0.59)*, group High-risk (0.62)*, group Low-risk (0.69). *P < 0.05. Relative risk-adjusted mortality seemed comparable with AVS versus CVR in low- and high-risk subgroups. These data support judicious expansion of aortic valve repair in patients having aortic root replacement. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.

Lipoprotein(a) levels, genotype, and incident aortic valve stenosis: a prospective Mendelian randomization study and replication in a case-control cohort.

PubMed

Arsenault, Benoit J; Boekholdt, S Matthijs; Dubé, Marie-Pierre; Rhéaume, Eric; Wareham, Nicholas J; Khaw, Kay-Tee; Sandhu, Manjinder S; Tardif, Jean-Claude

2014-06-01

Although a previous study has suggested that a genetic variant in the LPA region was associated with the presence of aortic valve stenosis (AVS), no prospective study has suggested a role for lipoprotein(a) levels in the pathophysiology of AVS. Our objective was to determine whether lipoprotein(a) levels and a common genetic variant that is strongly associated with lipoprotein(a) levels are associated with an increased risk of developing AVS. Serum lipoprotein(a) levels were measured in 17 553 participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk study. Among these study participants, 118 developed AVS during a mean follow-up of 11.7 years. The rs10455872 genetic variant in LPA was genotyped in 14 735 study participants, who simultaneously had lipoprotein(a) level measurements, and in a replication study of 379 patients with echocardiography-confirmed AVS and 404 controls. In EPIC-Norfolk, compared with participants in the bottom lipoprotein(a) tertile, those in the top lipoprotein(a) tertile had a higher risk of AVS (hazard ratio, 1.57; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-2.42) after adjusting for age, sex, and smoking. Compared with rs10455872 AA homozygotes, carriers of 1 or 2 G alleles were at increased risk of AVS (hazard ratio, 1.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-2.87, versus hazard ratio, 4.83; 95% confidence interval, 1.77-13.20, respectively). In the replication study, the genetic variant rs10455872 also showed a positive association with AVS (odds ratio, 1.57; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-2.26). Patients with high lipoprotein(a) levels are at increased risk for AVS. The rs10455872 variant, which is associated with higher lipoprotein(a) levels, is also associated with increased risk of AVS, suggesting that this association may be causal. © 2014 American Heart Association, Inc.

Valve-sparing aortic root replacement in patients with Marfan syndrome enrolled in the National Registry of Genetically Triggered Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms and Cardiovascular Conditions.

PubMed

Song, Howard K; Preiss, Liliana R; Maslen, Cheryl L; Kroner, Barbara; Devereux, Richard B; Roman, Mary J; Holmes, Kathryn W; Tolunay, H Eser; Desvigne-Nickens, Patrice; Asch, Federico M; Milewski, Rita K; Bavaria, Joseph; LeMaire, Scott A

2014-05-01

The long-term outcomes of aortic valve-sparing (AVS) root replacement in Marfan syndrome (MFS) patients remain uncertain. The study aim was to determine the utilization and outcomes of AVS root replacement in MFS patients enrolled in the Registry of Genetically Triggered Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms and Cardiovascular Conditions (GenTAC). At the time of this analysis, 788 patients with MFS were enrolled in the GenTAC Registry, of whom 288 had undergone aortic root replacement. Patients who had undergone AVS procedures were compared to those who had undergone aortic valve replacement (AVR). AVS root replacement was performed in 43.5% of MFS patients, and the frequency of AVS was increased over the past five years. AVS patients were younger at the time of surgery (31.0 versus 36.3 years, p = 0.006) and more likely to have had elective rather than emergency surgery compared to AVR patients, in whom aortic valve dysfunction and aortic dissection was the more likely primary indication for surgery. After a mean follow up of 6.2 +/- 3.6 years, none of the 87 AVS patients had required reoperation; in contrast, after a mean follow up of 10.5 +/- 7.6 years, 11.5% of AVR patients required aortic root reoperation. Aortic valve function has been durable, with 95.8% of AVS patients having aortic insufficiency that was graded as mild or less. AVS root replacement is performed commonly among the MFS population, and the durability of the aortic repair and aortic valve function have been excellent to date. These results justify a continued use of the procedure in an elective setting. The GenTAC Registry will be a useful resource to assess the long-term durability of AVS root replacement in the future.

The internal-external respiratory motion correlation is unaffected by audiovisual biofeedback.

PubMed

Steel, Harry; Pollock, Sean; Lee, Danny; Keall, Paul; Kim, Taeho

2014-03-01

This study evaluated if an audiovisual (AV) biofeedback causes variation in the level of external and internal correlation due to its interactive intervention in natural breathing. The internal (diaphragm) and external (abdominal wall) respiratory motion signals of 15 healthy human subjects under AV biofeedback and free breathing (FB) were analyzed and measures of correlation and regularity taken. Regularity metrics (root mean square error and spectral power dispersion metric) were obtained and the correlation between these metrics and the internal and external correlation was investigated. For FB and AV biofeedback assisted breathing the mean correlations found between internal and external respiratory motion were 0.96±0.02 and 0.96±0.03, respectively. This means there is no evidence to suggest (p-value=0.88) any difference in the correlation between internal and external respiratory motion with the use of AV biofeedback. Our results confirmed the hypothesis that the internal-external correlation with AV biofeedback is the same as for free breathing. Should this correlation be maintained for patients, AV biofeedback can be implemented in the clinic with confidence as regularity improvements using AV biofeedback with an external signal will be reflected in increased internal motion regularity.

Isolation and chemical characterization of agelaiatoxin8 (AvTx8) from Agelaia vicina wasp venom and its biological effects on GABA neurotransmission.

PubMed

Pizzo, Andrea B; Beleboni, Renê O; Gomes Carolino, Ruither O; de Oliveira, Luciana; Miranda, Antonio; Coutinho-Netto, Joaquim; Fontana, Andréia C K; Dos Santos, Wagner Ferreira

2017-10-01

Arthropod venoms are sources of molecules that may be useful tools to investigate molecular mechanisms of putative new medicines and laboratory drugs. Here we show the effects of the compound agelaiatoxin-8 (AVTx8), isolated from Agelaia vicina venom, on γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission in rat brain synaptosomes. Analysis reveals that AvTx8 is composed by 14 amino acid residues with a molecular weight (MW) of 1567 Da. AvTx8 increased GABA release and inhibited GABA uptake in synaptosomes from rat cerebral cortex. AvTx8 inhibited GABA uptake and increased GABA release in the presence of Ca + , Na + , and K + channel blockers, suggesting that it acts directly on GABA transporters. In addition, AvTx8 significantly decreases GABA binding in synaptic membranes from rat brain cortex, suggesting that it also modulates the activity of GABA receptors. Moreover, AvTx8 decreased GAT-1- and GAT-3-mediated GABA uptake in transfected COS-7 cells. Accordingly, we suggest that AvTx8 modulates GABA neurotransmission and might provide a novel entry point for identifying a new class of GABA-modulating neuroprotective drugs. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

[Comparison of echocardiographic findings in AVS patients with and without high IgG, IgM, IgA titers against Chlamydia pneumoniae during 12 months' observation of AVS natural course].

PubMed

Swierszcz, Jolanta; Dubiel, Jacek S; Krzysiek, Józef; Sztefko, Krystyna; Galicka-Latała, Danuta; Roman, Pfitzner; Podolec, Piotr; Wodniecki, Jan

2011-01-01

Comparison of echocardiographic findings in AVS patients with and without high IgG, IgM, IgA titers against Chlamydia pneumoniae during 12 months' observation of AVS natural course. 60 AVS patients who did not agree for operational treatment were divided into group A (30 patients with high IgG titer) group B (30 patients with low IgG titer), group C (22 patients with high IgA titer) group D (38 patients with low IgA titer), group E (7 patients with high IgM titer), group F (53 patients with low IgA titer) Antibodies titers and echocardiographic scans were carried out every 12 months. There were more (p < 0.02) patients with AVS deterioration in group A compared to group B. Group A patients had lower left ventricle posteriori wall systolic diameter compared to group B. There were no differences in echocardiographic parameters between group C and D. Mean ejection fraction was lower and mean right atrium diameter was higher in group E compared to group F. The results may suggest link between Chlamydia pneumoniae and deterioration of AVS.

Spinal arteriovenous shunts: accuracy of shunt detection, localization, and subtype discrimination using spinal magnetic resonance angiography and manual contrast injection using a syringe.

PubMed

Unsrisong, Kittisak; Taphey, Siriporn; Oranratanachai, Kanokporn

2016-04-01

The object of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of fast 3D contrast-enhanced spinal MR angiography (MRA) using a manual syringe contrast injection technique for detecting and evaluating spinal arteriovenous shunts (AVSs). This was a retrospective study of 15 patients and 20 spinal MRA and catheter angiography studies. The accuracy of using spinal MRA to detect spinal AVS, localize shunts, and discriminate the subtype and dominant arterial feeder of the AVS were studied. There were 14 pretherapeutic and 6 posttherapeutic follow-up spinal MRA and catheter spinal angiography studies. The spinal AVS was demonstrated in 17 of 20 studies. Spinal MRA demonstrated 100% sensitivity for detecting spinal AVS with no false-negative results. A 97% accuracy rate for AVS subtype discrimination and shunt level localization was achieved using this study's diagnostic criteria. The detection of the dominant arterial feeder was limited to 9 of these 17 cases (53%). The fast 3D contrast-enhanced MRA technique performed using manual syringe contrast injection can detect the presence of a spinal AVS, locate the shunt level, and discriminate AVS subtype in most cases, but is limited when detecting small arterial feeders.

What are the keys to successful adrenal venous sampling (AVS) in patients with primary aldosteronism?

PubMed

Young, William F; Stanson, Anthony W

2009-01-01

Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is the criterion standard to distinguish between unilateral and bilateral adrenal disease in patients with primary aldosteronism. The keys to successful AVS include appropriate patient selection, careful patient preparation, focused technical expertise, defined protocol, and accurate data interpretation. The use of AVS should be based on patient preferences, patient age, clinical comorbidities, and the clinical probability of finding an aldosterone-producing adenoma. AVS is optimally performed in the fasting state in the morning. AVS is an intricate procedure because the right adrenal vein is small and may be difficult to locate - the success rate depends on the proficiency of the angiographer. The key factors that determine the successful catheterization of both adrenal veins are experience, dedication and repetition. With experience, and focusing the expertise to 1 or 2 radiologists at a referral centre, the AVS success rate can be as high as 96%. A centre-specific, written protocol is mandatory. The protocol should be developed by an interested group of endocrinologists, radiologists and laboratory personnel. Safeguards should be in place to prevent mislabelling of the blood tubes in the radiology suite and to prevent sample mix-up in the laboratory.

[Changes of heart electrophysiological parameters after destruction of epicardial subplexuses that innervate sinoatrial node].

PubMed

Kulboka, Arūnas; Veikutis, Vincentas; Pauza, Dainius Haroldas; Lekas, Raimundas

2003-01-01

The aims of present study were to verify the topography of the intracardiac nerve subplexuses (INS) by using electrophysiological methods, its relations with sinoatrial (SA) node function and to investigate possibility of selective surgical SA node denervation. Fifteen mongrel dogs of either sex weighing 8 to 15 kg were used for electrophysiological studies. Both cervical vagosympathetic trunks were isolated and crushed by tight ligatures. Nervus subplexuses destructions were performed by cryocoagulation in three zones located around the right superior vena cava: ventral, lateral and dorsal. The sinus rhythm, SA node function recovery time, AV node conductivity, AV node and atrial effective refractory period were measured. Five experiments in each of three zones were performed. Experimental data show that destruction of the epicardial nerves has different effect on electrophysiological parameters. After destruction of the anterior zone of the right atrium the sinus rhythm decreased on an average by 11.6%; SA node function recovery time prolonged by 7.2%; AV node conductivity decreased by 13.1%; AV node effective refractory period prolonged by 12.9% and atrial effective refractory period, by 10.9 %. Measurements of electrophysiological parameters after intravenous injection of atropine sulphate show that sinus rhythm decreased on an average by 23.4%; SA node function recovery time increased by 9.1%; the conductivity of AV node decreased by 10.2%; AV node effective refractory period prolonged by 15.4% and atrial effective refractory period, by 13.2%. After destruction of the intracardiac nerves of the lateral zone, the sinus rhythm decreased by 15.7%; SA node function recovery time increased by 16.3%; AV node conductivity decreased by 8.3%; AV node effective refractory period and atrial effective refractory period prolonged by 11.9% and 10.0%, respectively. After the atropine sulphate intravenous injection, the sinus rhythm decreased on an average by 7.1%, SA node function recovery time prolonged by 7.1%, AV conductivity decreased by 9.1%, AV node effective refractory period increased by 12.4%, and atrial effective refractory period prolonged by 12.5%. After destruction of the nerves in the dorsal zone the changes of electrophysiological parameters were opposite to those obtained after destruction of the nerve tracts in the anterior or lateral zones: the sinus rhythm increased on an average by 4.3%; SA node function recovery time shortened by 8.8%; AV conductivity increased by 9.7%; AV node and atrial effective refractory period decreased by 12.3% and 12.1%, respectively. After intravenous atropine sulphate infusion, sinus rhythm decreased on an average by 8.3%; SA node function recovery time prolonged by 9.6%; AV node conductivity decreased by 5%; AV node and atrial effective refractory period prolonged by 4.2% and 5.2%, respectively. The average changes of electrophysiological parameters before and after INS destruction shows that cryocoagulation of ventral and lateral zones eliminates the effects of sympathetic tone to SA and AV nodal activity. Cryocoagulation of dorsal zone eliminates the effects of nervus vagus to both nodal structures. These findings shows the possibility alter or correct SA node function by making selective surgical SA node denervation.

Thermodynamic properties (enthalpy, bond energy, entropy, and heat capacity) and internal rotor potentials of vinyl alcohol, methyl vinyl ether, and their corresponding radicals.

PubMed

da Silva, Gabriel; Kim, Chol-Han; Bozzelli, Joseph W

2006-06-29

Vinyl alcohols (enols) have been discovered as important intermediates and products in the oxidation and combustion of hydrocarbons, while methyl vinyl ethers are also thought to occur as important combustion intermediates. Vinyl alcohol has been detected in interstellar media, while poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(methyl vinyl ether) are common polymers. The thermochemical property data on these vinyl alcohols and methyl vinyl ethers is important for understanding their stability, reaction paths, and kinetics in atmospheric and thermal hydrocarbon-oxygen systems. Enthalpies , entropies , and heat capacities (C(p)()(T)) are determined for CH(2)=CHOH, C(*)H=CHOH, CH(2)=C(*)OH, CH(2)=CHOCH(3), C(*)H=CHOCH(3), CH(2)=C(*)OCH(3), and CH(2)=CHOC(*)H(2). Molecular structures, vibrational frequencies, , and C(p)(T) are calculated at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) density functional calculation level. Enthalpies are also determined using the composite CBS-Q, CBS-APNO, and G3 methods using isodesmic work reactions to minimize calculation errors. Potential barriers for internal rotors are calculated at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level and used to determine the hindered internal rotational contributions to entropy and heat capacity. The recommended ideal gas phase values calculated in this study are the following (in kcal mol(-1)): -30.0, -28.9 (syn, anti) for CH(2)=CHOH; -25.6, -23.9 for CH(2)=CHOCH(3); 31.3, 33.5 for C(*)H=CHOH; 27.1 for anti-CH(2)=C(*)OH; 35.6, 39.3 for C(*)H=CHOCH(3); 33.5, 32.2 for CH(2)=C(*)OCH(3); 21.3, 22.0 for CH(2)=CHOC(*)H(2). Bond dissociation energies (BDEs) and group additivity contributions are also determined. The BDEs reveal that the O-H, O-CH(3), C-OH, and C-OCH(3) bonds in vinyl alcohol and methyl vinyl ether are similar in energy to those in the aromatic molecules phenol and methyl phenyl ether, being on average around 3 kcal mol(-1) weaker in the vinyl systems. The keto-enol tautomerization enthalpy for the interconversion of vinyl alcohol to acetaldehyde is determined to be -9.7 kcal mol(-1), while the activation energy for this reaction is calculated as 55.9 kcal mol(-1); this is the simplest keto-enol tautomerization and is thought to be important in the reactions of vinyl alcohol. Formation of the formyl methyl radical (vinoxy radical/vinyloxy radical) from both vinyl alcohol and methyl vinyl ether is also shown to be important, and its reactions are discussed briefly.

AV3V lesions attenuate the cardiovascular responses produced by blood-borne excitatory amino acid analogs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Whalen, E. J.; Beltz, T. G.; Lewis, S. J.; Johnson, A. K.

1999-01-01

Systemic injections of the excitatory amino acid (EAA) analogs, kainic acid (KA) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), produce a pressor response in conscious rats that is caused by a centrally mediated activation of sympathetic drive and the release of arginine vasopressin (AVP). This study tested the hypothesis that the tissue surrounding the anteroventral part of the third ventricle (AV3V) plays a role in the expression of the pressor responses produced by systemically injected EAA analogs. Specifically, we examined whether prior electrolytic ablation of the AV3V region would affect the pressor responses to KA and NMDA (1 mg/kg iv) in conscious rats. The KA-induced pressor response was smaller in AV3V-lesioned than in sham-lesioned rats (11 +/- 2 vs. 29 +/- 2 mmHg; P < 0.05). After ganglion blockade, KA produced a pressor response in sham-lesioned but not AV3V-lesioned rats (+27 +/- 3 vs. +1 +/- 2 mmHg; P < 0.05). The KA-induced pressor response in ganglion-blocked sham-lesioned rats was abolished by a vasopressin V1-receptor antagonist. Similar results were obtained with NMDA. The pressor response to AVP (10 ng/kg iv) was slightly smaller in AV3V-lesioned than in sham-lesioned ganglion-blocked rats (45 +/- 3 vs. 57 +/- 4 mmHg; P < 0.05). This study demonstrates that the pressor responses to systemically injected EAA analogs are smaller in AV3V-lesioned rats. The EAA analogs may produce pressor responses by stimulation of EAA receptors in the AV3V region, or the AV3V region may play an important role in the expression of these responses.

Perinatal outcome in fetuses with heterotaxy syndrome and atrioventricular block or bradycardia.

PubMed

Escobar-Diaz, Maria C; Tworetzky, Wayne; Friedman, Kevin; Lafranchi, Terra; Fynn-Thompson, Francis; Alexander, Mark E; Mah, Douglas Y

2014-08-01

Congenital atrioventricular (AV) block is commonly associated with heterotaxy syndrome; together they have reportedly low survival rates (10-25%). However, information about perinatal outcome and predictors of non-survival after prenatal diagnosis of this association is scarce. Therefore, we studied fetuses with heterotaxy syndrome and bradycardia or AV-block diagnosed between 1995 and 2011, and analyzed pre and post-natal variables. The primary outcome was death and the secondary outcome was pacemaker placement. Of the 154 fetuses with heterotaxy syndrome, 91 had polysplenia syndrome, 22/91(24%) with bradycardia or AV-block. Thirteen (59%) patients had sinus bradycardia at diagnosis, 8 (36%) complete AV block, and 1 (5%) second-degree AV-block. Three patients elected for termination of pregnancy (3/22, 14%), 4 had spontaneous fetal demise (4/22, 18%), and 15 (15/22, 68%) were live-born. Of the fetuses with bradycardia/AV-block, 30% presented with hydrops, 20% had ventricular rates <55 beats/min, and 10% had cardiac dysfunction. Excluding termination of pregnancy, 15/19 fetuses (79%) survived to birth. Among the 15 live-born patients, 4 had bradycardia and 11 had AV-block. A further 3 patients died in infancy, all with AV-block who required pacemakers in the neonatal period. Thus, the 1-year survival rate, excluding termination of pregnancy, was 63% (12/19). Of the remaining 12 patients, 9 required pacemaker. Predictors of perinatal death included hydrops (p < 0.0001), ventricular dysfunction (p = 0.002), prematurity (p = 0.04), and low ventricular rates (p = 0.04). In conclusion, we found a higher survival rate (63%) than previously published in patients with heterotaxy syndrome and AV block or bradycardia diagnosed prenatally. Hydrops, cardiac dysfunction, prematurity and low ventricular rates were predictors of death.

Perinatal Outcome in Fetuses with Heterotaxy Syndrome and Atrioventricular Block or Bradycardia

PubMed Central

Tworetzky, Wayne; Friedman, Kevin; Lafranchi, Terra; Fynn-Thompson, Francis; Alexander, Mark E.; Mah, Douglas Y.

2015-01-01

Congenital atrioventricular (AV) block is commonly associated with heterotaxy syndrome; together they have reportedly low survival rates (10–25 %). However, information about perinatal outcome and predictors of nonsurvival after prenatal diagnosis of this association is scarce. Therefore, we studied fetuses with heterotaxy syndrome and bradycardia or AV-block diagnosed between 1995 and 2011, and analyzed pre and post-natal variables. The primary outcome was death and the secondary outcome was pacemaker placement. Of the 154 fetuses with heterotaxy syndrome, 91 had polysplenia syndrome, 22/91(24 %) with bradycardia or AV-block. Thirteen (59 %) patients had sinus bradycardia at diagnosis, 8 (36 %) complete AV block, and 1 (5 %) second-degree AV-block. Three patients elected for termination of pregnancy (3/22, 14 %), 4 had spontaneous fetal demise (4/22, 18 %), and 15 (15/22, 68 %) were live-born. Of the fetuses with bradycardia/AV-block, 30 % presented with hydrops, 20 % had ventricular rates <55 beats/min, and 10 % had cardiac dysfunction. Excluding termination of pregnancy, 15/19 fetuses (79 %) survived to birth. Among the 15 live-born patients, 4 had bradycardia and 11 had AV-block. A further 3 patients died in infancy, all with AV-block who required pacemakers in the neonatal period. Thus, the 1-year survival rate, excluding termination of pregnancy, was 63 % (12/19). Of the remaining 12 patients, 9 required pacemaker. Predictors of perinatal death included hydrops (p < 0.0001), ventricular dysfunction (p = 0.002), prematurity (p = 0.04), and low ventricular rates (p = 0.04). In conclusion, we found a higher survival rate (63 %) than previously published in patients with heterotaxy syndrome and AV block or bradycardia diagnosed prenatally. Hydrops, cardiac dysfunction, prematurity and low ventricular rates were predictors of death. PMID:24509635

AV-95 Sun Devil: High-Speed Military Rotorcraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1996-01-01

The AV-95 Sun Devil must combine helicopter capabilities, such as vertical takeoff and landings (VTOL) and rotor-powered flight, along with long-duration cruise and high-speed dash capabilities unobtainable by conventional helicopters. To be able to perform both tasks, and perform them well, the AV-95 Sun Devil design incorporates several unconventional devices; the AV-95 uses two convertible turbofan engines, able to provide both shaft power for the main rotor and tall fan as well as jet thrust either separately or simultaneously. Other devices used for the AV-95 include a variable diameter main rotor and a blown flap. In helicopter mode, the AV-95 Sun Devil performs like a winged helicopter. The addition of wings to an attack helicopter results in two significant advantages. First, the addition of wings makes a helicopter more maneuverable than a wingless, but otherwise similar helicopter. Second, since the wings produce lift, rotor stall and compressibility effects can be significantly delayed at high tip velocities. In fixed-wing mode, the main rotor is completely off-loaded but slightly powered, and the rotor diameter has been minimized. The AV-95 Sun Devil has many advantages over other VTOL aircraft. The conversion process is simple and fast; conversion does not make the AV-95 vulnerable to enemy attack during conversion such as a tilt-wing or a tilt-rotor. Stop-rotor aircraft and a stowed rotor aircraft require heavy breaking of the rotor for conversion; this adds time for conversion and weight to the aircraft. Because the AV-95 never stops the rotor in flight, much weight is spared, and conversion is much simpler and faster.

A Helminth Protease Inhibitor Modulates the Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Proinflammatory Phenotype of Microglia in vitro.

PubMed

Behrendt, Peter; Arnold, Philipp; Brueck, Max; Rickert, Uta; Lucius, Richard; Hartmann, Susanne; Klotz, Christian; Lucius, Ralph

2016-01-01

The aim of this study was to examine whether the natural protease inhibitor Av-cystatin (rAv17) of the parasitic nematode Acanthocheilonema viteae exerts anti-inflammatory effects in an in vitro model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated microglia. Primary microglia were harvested from the brains of 2-day-old Wistar rats and cultured with or without rAv17 (250 nM). After 6 and 24 h the release of nitric oxide (Griess reagent) and TNF-α (ELISA) was measured in the supernatant. Real-time PCR was performed after 2, 6 and 24 h of culture to measure the mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, COX-2, iNOS and IL-10. To address the involved signaling pathways, nuclear NF-x0138;B translocation was visualized by immunocytochemistry. Morphological changes of microglia were analyzed by Coomassie blue staining. Differences between groups were calculated using one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni's post hoc test. Morphological analysis indicated that LPS-induced microglial transformation towards an amoeboid morphology is inhibited by rAv17. Av-cystatin caused a time-dependent downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines, iNOS and COX-2 mRNA expression, respectively. This was paralleled by an upregulated expression of IL-10 in resting as well as in LPS-stimulated microglia. Av-cystatin reduced the release of NO and TNF-α in the culture supernatant. Immunocytochemical staining demonstrated an attenuated translocation of NF-x0138;B by Av-cystatin in response to LPS. In addition, Western blot analysis revealed a rAv17-dependent reduction of the LPS-induced ERK1/2-pathway activation. The parasite-derived secretion product Av-cystatin inhibits proinflammatory mechanisms of LPS-induced microglia with IL-10, a potential key mediator. © 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Auditory Perceptual Learning for Speech Perception Can be Enhanced by Audiovisual Training.

PubMed

Bernstein, Lynne E; Auer, Edward T; Eberhardt, Silvio P; Jiang, Jintao

2013-01-01

Speech perception under audiovisual (AV) conditions is well known to confer benefits to perception such as increased speed and accuracy. Here, we investigated how AV training might benefit or impede auditory perceptual learning of speech degraded by vocoding. In Experiments 1 and 3, participants learned paired associations between vocoded spoken nonsense words and nonsense pictures. In Experiment 1, paired-associates (PA) AV training of one group of participants was compared with audio-only (AO) training of another group. When tested under AO conditions, the AV-trained group was significantly more accurate than the AO-trained group. In addition, pre- and post-training AO forced-choice consonant identification with untrained nonsense words showed that AV-trained participants had learned significantly more than AO participants. The pattern of results pointed to their having learned at the level of the auditory phonetic features of the vocoded stimuli. Experiment 2, a no-training control with testing and re-testing on the AO consonant identification, showed that the controls were as accurate as the AO-trained participants in Experiment 1 but less accurate than the AV-trained participants. In Experiment 3, PA training alternated AV and AO conditions on a list-by-list basis within participants, and training was to criterion (92% correct). PA training with AO stimuli was reliably more effective than training with AV stimuli. We explain these discrepant results in terms of the so-called "reverse hierarchy theory" of perceptual learning and in terms of the diverse multisensory and unisensory processing resources available to speech perception. We propose that early AV speech integration can potentially impede auditory perceptual learning; but visual top-down access to relevant auditory features can promote auditory perceptual learning.

Auditory Perceptual Learning for Speech Perception Can be Enhanced by Audiovisual Training

PubMed Central

Bernstein, Lynne E.; Auer, Edward T.; Eberhardt, Silvio P.; Jiang, Jintao

2013-01-01

Speech perception under audiovisual (AV) conditions is well known to confer benefits to perception such as increased speed and accuracy. Here, we investigated how AV training might benefit or impede auditory perceptual learning of speech degraded by vocoding. In Experiments 1 and 3, participants learned paired associations between vocoded spoken nonsense words and nonsense pictures. In Experiment 1, paired-associates (PA) AV training of one group of participants was compared with audio-only (AO) training of another group. When tested under AO conditions, the AV-trained group was significantly more accurate than the AO-trained group. In addition, pre- and post-training AO forced-choice consonant identification with untrained nonsense words showed that AV-trained participants had learned significantly more than AO participants. The pattern of results pointed to their having learned at the level of the auditory phonetic features of the vocoded stimuli. Experiment 2, a no-training control with testing and re-testing on the AO consonant identification, showed that the controls were as accurate as the AO-trained participants in Experiment 1 but less accurate than the AV-trained participants. In Experiment 3, PA training alternated AV and AO conditions on a list-by-list basis within participants, and training was to criterion (92% correct). PA training with AO stimuli was reliably more effective than training with AV stimuli. We explain these discrepant results in terms of the so-called “reverse hierarchy theory” of perceptual learning and in terms of the diverse multisensory and unisensory processing resources available to speech perception. We propose that early AV speech integration can potentially impede auditory perceptual learning; but visual top-down access to relevant auditory features can promote auditory perceptual learning. PMID:23515520

Audio-visual onset differences are used to determine syllable identity for ambiguous audio-visual stimulus pairs

PubMed Central

ten Oever, Sanne; Sack, Alexander T.; Wheat, Katherine L.; Bien, Nina; van Atteveldt, Nienke

2013-01-01

Content and temporal cues have been shown to interact during audio-visual (AV) speech identification. Typically, the most reliable unimodal cue is used more strongly to identify specific speech features; however, visual cues are only used if the AV stimuli are presented within a certain temporal window of integration (TWI). This suggests that temporal cues denote whether unimodal stimuli belong together, that is, whether they should be integrated. It is not known whether temporal cues also provide information about the identity of a syllable. Since spoken syllables have naturally varying AV onset asynchronies, we hypothesize that for suboptimal AV cues presented within the TWI, information about the natural AV onset differences can aid in speech identification. To test this, we presented low-intensity auditory syllables concurrently with visual speech signals, and varied the stimulus onset asynchronies (SOA) of the AV pair, while participants were instructed to identify the auditory syllables. We revealed that specific speech features (e.g., voicing) were identified by relying primarily on one modality (e.g., auditory). Additionally, we showed a wide window in which visual information influenced auditory perception, that seemed even wider for congruent stimulus pairs. Finally, we found a specific response pattern across the SOA range for syllables that were not reliably identified by the unimodal cues, which we explained as the result of the use of natural onset differences between AV speech signals. This indicates that temporal cues not only provide information about the temporal integration of AV stimuli, but additionally convey information about the identity of AV pairs. These results provide a detailed behavioral basis for further neuro-imaging and stimulation studies to unravel the neurofunctional mechanisms of the audio-visual-temporal interplay within speech perception. PMID:23805110

Low molecular-weight gel fraction of Aloe vera exhibits gastroprotection by inducing matrix metalloproteinase-9 inhibitory activity in alcohol-induced acute gastric lesion tissues.

PubMed

Park, Chul-Hong; Son, Hyeong-U; Yoo, Chi-Yeol; Lee, Sang-Han

2017-12-01

Aloe has been used for the prevention and cure of various diseases and symptoms including burns, injuries, oedema and pain. This study determines the specific inhibitory activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 induced by the low molecular-weight gel fraction of Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. (lgfAv) on alcohol-induced acute gastric lesions. We examined the protective effects of oral (p.o.) administration of lgfAv (molecular weight cutoff <50.0 kDa, 150.0 mg/kg body weight) in a Balb/c mouse model of alcohol-induced acute gastritis for 1 h exposure. By measuring ulcer index, we compared the antiulcerative activity of the fraction. mRNA expression and immunohistochemical analysis of various biomarkers were performed. The lgfAv-treated mice exhibited drastically fewer ulcer lesions than the untreated control mice did. It featured that lgfAv lessened the ulcer lesions than their relevant controls. Moreover, the transcriptional level of MMP-9 was completely alleviated by lgfAv treatment in alcohol-treated gastritis-induced mice. The transcriptional level of MMP-9 was significantly alleviated by lgfAv treatment of the model. However, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry experiments revealed that lgfAv treatment in mucosal tissues had the potential to inhibit the mRNA and protein expression levels of MMP-9, respectively. The protein expression of MMP-9 was closely associated with lgfAv-induced gastroprotection against alcohol-induced gastric lesions. The present findings suggest that lgfAv has the potential to alleviate alcohol-induced acute gastric lesions, which is mediated in part, mainly by the suppression of the mRNA expression of MMP-9.

Reduction of right ventricular pacing with advanced atrioventricular search hysteresis: results of the PREVENT study.

PubMed

Kolb, Christof; Schmidt, Roland; Dietl, Josef U; Weyerbrock, Sonja; Morgenstern, Martin; Fleckenstein, Martin; Beier, Thomas; Von Bary, Christian; Mackes, Karl G; Widmaier, Jochen; Kreuzer, Jörg; Semmler, Verena; Zrenner, Bernhard

2011-08-01

Right ventricular pacing predisposes to the development of heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Automatic atrioventricular search hysteresis (AVSH) is a commonly used strategy to decrease the percentage of right ventricular pacing (%VP) in patients without permanent AV block, but the results have not been optimal. The randomized, crossover PREVENT study evaluated whether an enhanced AVSH with two new features can reduce %VP compared with standard AVSH. The new features are the repetitive hysteresis [switch from extended to basic AV delay after a consistent loss of intrinsic AV conduction (IAVC) lasting for six consecutive atrial cycles] and the scan hysteresis (periodic IAVC search extension over six consecutive atrial cycles). Both standard AVSH and enhanced AVSH performed a periodic IAVC search every 180 cardiac cycles and operated with a basic AV-delay of 225 ms and a rate-independent maximum AV-delay of 300 ms for paced and sensed atrial events. Among 178 patients, 53.4% had no evidence of AV block at enrollment and 46.6% had history of intermittent AV block. The median %VP was decreased by enhanced AVSH compared to standard AVSH (4.0% vs 5.5%, P < 0.001), particularly in patients with a history of AV block (21.4% vs 25.5%, P < 0.001). The primary study hypothesis that 25% of all patients would experience > 20% relative %VP reduction was not met as 46 (25.8%) patients (95% confidence interval, 20.5-31.8%) presented such relative reduction. The enhanced AVSH algorithm reduces %VP compared with standard AVSH in patients with intermittent AV block. ©2011, The Authors. Journal compilation ©2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and incidence of aortic valve stenosis.

PubMed

Larsson, S C; Wolk, A; Bäck, M

2017-10-01

Alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking are modifiable lifestyle factors with important impact on public health. It is unclear whether these factors influence the risk of aortic valve stenosis (AVS). To investigate the associations of alcohol consumption and smoking, including smoking intensity and time since cessation, with AVS incidence in two prospective cohorts. This analysis was based on data from the Swedish Mammography Cohort and the Cohort of Swedish Men, comprising 69 365 adults without cardiovascular disease at baseline. Participants were followed for AVS incidence and death by linkage to the Swedish National Patient and Causes of Death Registers. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated by Cox proportional hazards regression. Over a mean follow-up of 15.3 years, 1249 cases of AVS (494 in women and 755 in men) were recorded. Compared with never drinkers of alcohol (lifelong abstainers), the risk of AVS was significantly lower in current light drinkers (1-6 drinks per week [1 drink = 12 g alcohol]; multivariable HR 0.82; 95% CI: 0.68-0.99). The risk of AVS increased with increasing smoking intensity. Compared with never smokers, the HR was 1.46 (95% CI: 1.16-1.85) in current smokers of ≥30 pack-years. Former smokers who had quit smoking 10 or more years previously had similar risk for AVS as never smokers. This study suggests that current light alcohol consumption is associated with a lower risk of AVS, and indicates that the association between smoking and AVS risk is reversible. © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Internal Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Association for Publication of The Journal of Internal Medicine.

Could circulating fetuin A be a biomarker of aortic valve stenosis?

PubMed

Di Minno, Alessandro; Zanobini, Marco; Myasoedova, Veronika A; Valerio, Vincenza; Songia, Paola; Saccocci, Matteo; Di Minno, Matteo Nicola Dario; Tremoli, Elena; Poggio, Paolo

2017-12-15

Aortic valve stenosis (AVS) is a multifactorial-progressive pathological process. In the past decades, many studies have focus their attention on circulating biomarkers able to identify AVS and/or to predict its progression. One of the many biomarkers studied is the fetuin A. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to evaluate the correlation between fetuin A levels and end-stage AVS. A systematic search was performed in three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus), looking for studies that compared control subjects with AVS patients and that have measured fetuin A circulating levels in both groups. The main outcome was to evaluate the difference in circulating fetuin A concentration in the two groups. Seven studies, enrolling 2283 AVS patients and 1549 controls, were included. Differences between control subjects and AVS patients were expressed as standardized mean difference (SMD) with pertinent 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) and standard deviation (SD), analysing the data using a random effect model. We found significantly lower circulating levels of fetuin A in AVS patients compared to healthy subjects (SMD: -0.96μg/mL, 95% CI: -1.62, -0.30; p=0.004). In addition, meta-regression analyses showed that several cardiovascular risk factors were significantly associated with circulating levels of fetuin A between patients affected by AVS and healthy controls. In conclusion, our meta-analysis shows that AVS patients have significant lower circulating levels of fetuin A compared to control subjects. However, dedicated studies with large and matched cohorts are needed to validate these findings, evaluating if there is a real link or just a mere association. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Audio-visual onset differences are used to determine syllable identity for ambiguous audio-visual stimulus pairs.

PubMed

Ten Oever, Sanne; Sack, Alexander T; Wheat, Katherine L; Bien, Nina; van Atteveldt, Nienke

2013-01-01

Content and temporal cues have been shown to interact during audio-visual (AV) speech identification. Typically, the most reliable unimodal cue is used more strongly to identify specific speech features; however, visual cues are only used if the AV stimuli are presented within a certain temporal window of integration (TWI). This suggests that temporal cues denote whether unimodal stimuli belong together, that is, whether they should be integrated. It is not known whether temporal cues also provide information about the identity of a syllable. Since spoken syllables have naturally varying AV onset asynchronies, we hypothesize that for suboptimal AV cues presented within the TWI, information about the natural AV onset differences can aid in speech identification. To test this, we presented low-intensity auditory syllables concurrently with visual speech signals, and varied the stimulus onset asynchronies (SOA) of the AV pair, while participants were instructed to identify the auditory syllables. We revealed that specific speech features (e.g., voicing) were identified by relying primarily on one modality (e.g., auditory). Additionally, we showed a wide window in which visual information influenced auditory perception, that seemed even wider for congruent stimulus pairs. Finally, we found a specific response pattern across the SOA range for syllables that were not reliably identified by the unimodal cues, which we explained as the result of the use of natural onset differences between AV speech signals. This indicates that temporal cues not only provide information about the temporal integration of AV stimuli, but additionally convey information about the identity of AV pairs. These results provide a detailed behavioral basis for further neuro-imaging and stimulation studies to unravel the neurofunctional mechanisms of the audio-visual-temporal interplay within speech perception.

Effects of isradipine and other calcium antagonists on arteriovenous-shunt flow in anesthetized rabbits and cats

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

Hof, R.P.

The effects of vasodilators on arteriovenous (AV)-shunt flow was investigated in anesthetized cats and rabbits, using the tracer microsphere method. In cats, the calcium antagonist isradipine reduced AV-shunt flow; verapamil showed a similar tendency and nicardipine was without effect. Dihydralazine strongly increased, but nitroglycerin and dipyridamole decreased AV-shunt flow. In rabbits, the effects of isradipine and verapamil were similar to those seen in cats. Sodium nitroprusside had no effect, whereas prazosin, minoxidil, and the potassium-channel activator cromakalim increased AV-shunt flow. The contrasting effects of drugs sharing the same mechanism of action suggest that target-tissue selectivity is more important than themore » mechanism of action. An increase of AV-shunt flow is unlikely to be beneficial but could be associated with a number of undesirable side effects. It might negatively affect migraine sufferers and, if AV-shunt dilatation shows no tolerance development, it represents an unnecessary hemodynamic burden for the heart.« less

Aerobic vaginitis: no longer a stranger.

PubMed

Donders, Gilbert G G; Bellen, Gert; Grinceviciene, Svitrigaile; Ruban, Kateryna; Vieira-Baptista, Pedro

Aerobic vaginitis (AV) is the name given in 2002 to a vaginal infectious entity which was not recognized as such before. It is characterized by abnormal (dysbiotic) vaginal microflora containing aerobic, enteric bacteria, variable levels of vaginal inflammation and deficient epithelial maturation. Although AV and bacterial vaginosis (BV) share some characteristics, such as a diminished number or absence of lactobacilli, increased discharge (fishy smelling in BV, while in severe forms of AV, a foul, rather rotten smell may be present) and increased pH (often more pronounced in AV), there are also striking differences between the two. There is no inflammation in women with BV, whereas the vagina of women with AV often appears red and edematous, and may even display small erosions or ulcerations. The color of the discharge in BV is usually whitish or gray and of a watery consistency, whereas in AV it is yellow to green and rather thick and mucoid. Women with BV do not have dyspareunia, while some women with severe AV do. Finally, the microscopic appearance differs in various aspects, such as the presence of leucocytes and parabasal or immature epithelial cells in AV and the absence of the granular aspect of the microflora, typical of BV. Despite all these differences, the distinction between AV and BV was not recognized in many former studies, leading to incomplete and imprecise diagnostic workouts and erroneous management of patients in both clinical and research settings. The prevalence of AV ranges between 7 and 12%, and is therefore less prevalent than BV. Although still largely undiagnosed, many researchers and clinicians increasingly take it into account as a cause of symptomatic vaginitis. AV can co-occur with other entities, such as BV and candidiasis. It can be associated with dyspareunia, sexually transmitted infections (such as human papilloma virus, human immunodeficiency virus, Trichomonas vaginalis and Chlamydia trachomatis), chorioamnionitis, fetal infection, preterm birth and cervical dysplasia. Many other possible pathological associations are currently under investigation. The diagnosis of AV is made using wet mount microscopy, ideally using phase contrast. An AV score is calculated, according to: lactobacillary grade, presence of inflammation, proportion of toxic leucocytes, characteristics of the microflora and presence of immature epithelial cells. To circumvent the hurdle of microscopic investigation, some groups have begun to develop nucleic-acid-based and enzymatic diagnostic tests, but the detailed information obtained with phase contrast microscopy is irreplaceable. The best treatment is not yet fully determined, but it must be tailored according to the microscopic findings and the patient's needs. There is a role for local estrogen therapy, corticosteroids, antimicrobials and probiotics. Further research will reveal more precise data on diagnosis, pathogenesis, management and prevention. Copyright © 2017 Institut Pasteur. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Sialidase activity in aerobic vaginitis is equal to levels during bacterial vaginosis.

PubMed

Marconi, C; Donders, G G G; Bellen, G; Brown, D R; Parada, C M G L; Silva, M G

2013-04-01

To evaluate levels of proinflammatory cytokines and sialidase activity in aerobic vaginitis (AV) in relation to normal vaginal flora and bacterial vaginosis (BV). In this cross-sectional study, a total of 682 consecutive non-pregnant women attending the gynecology service were assessed and 408 women were included. Vaginal rinsing samples were collected from 223 women with microscopic finding of BV (n=98), aerobic vaginitis (n=25) and normal flora (n=100). Samples were tested for interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and sialidase activity. Compared to women with normal flora, vaginal levels of IL-1β were highly increased in both BV and AV (p<0.0001). Significantly higher vaginal IL-6 was detected in AV (p<0.0001) but not in BV, in relation to normal flora. Women with AV also presented increased IL-8 levels (p<0.001), while those with BV presented levels similar to normal flora. Sialidase was increased in BV and AV compared with the normal group (p<0.0001) but no difference in sialidase activity was observed between BV and AV. A more intense inflammatory host response occurs for AV than for BV when compared with normal flora. Furthermore, the increased sialidase activity in AV and BV indicates that both abnormal vaginal flora types can be harmful to the maintenance of a healthy vaginal environment. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Recurrent coagulopathy and thrombocytopenia in children treated with crotalidae polyvalent immune fab: a case series.

PubMed

Miller, Alexander D; Young, Michael C; DeMott, Megan C; Ly, Binh T; Clark, Richard F

2010-08-01

Recurrent signs and symptoms after initial treatment and control of coagulopathy and thrombocytopenia after American pit viper (crotaline) envenomations have been previously described in patients treated with Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab antivenom (FabAV). The significance and necessity of treatment of these recurrent abnormalities are uncertain. Our goal was to further characterize recurrent coagulopathy or thrombocytopenia in pediatric patients. All cases presenting to our Toxicology Consult Service, which covers 6 hospitals in a metropolitan area, from May 2007 to April 2008 with recurrent coagulopathy after initial control with FabAV were included and retrospectively reviewed. Four cases of pediatric patients are presented who presented with recurrent coagulopathy and/or thrombocytopenia after initial control with FabAV. The patients were all treated with delayed administration of FabAV with variable results. Blood products administered without concurrent FabAV were of limited use. The laboratory abnormalities took up to 18 days to resolve in one case. One patient developed hemodynamically significant spontaneous bleeding. The cases presented here suggest administration of FabAV may correct delayed coagulopathy associated with crotaline envenomations. The first 3 cases illustrate that in the face of severe derangements in laboratory values, most envenomated patients treated with FabAV do not develop significant bleeding. These cases may respond to additional antivenom alone. However, case 4 illustrates that hemodynamically significant spontaneous bleeding can occur. Until more data are available, readministration of FabAV is a reasonable first-line therapy for delayed coagulopathy associated with crotaline envenomations.

The role of attainment value, academic self-efficacy, and message frame in the appraisal of value-promoting messages.

PubMed

Symes, Wendy; Putwain, David W

2016-09-01

Prior to high-stakes examinations, teachers may use value-promoting messages (VPMs) to communicate to students the value and importance of their forthcoming examinations in the hope that they will adopt adaptive learning and study behaviours. These messages can focus on achieving success (gain-framed) or avoiding failure (loss-framed). This study examined how secondary school students appraised hypothetical gain- and loss-framed VPMs, and how these appraisals differed according to self-reported levels of attainment value (AV) and academic self-efficacy (ASE). In total, 539 secondary school students (284 male, 255 female, mean age 14.8 years) were participated in this study. Participants completed self-report measures of AV and ASE and appraised hypothetical VPMs as challenging, threatening, or irrelevant (disregard). Participants were randomly assigned to a gain- or loss-framed condition. A challenge appraisal was greater in students with higher AV and ASE. A threat appraisal was greater in students with higher AV and lower ASE. A disregard appraisal was higher in students with lower AV. Message frame did not interact with AV or ASE in the appraisal of VPMs as challenging, threatening, or irrelevant. Educational practitioners should consider the characteristics of their students before using VPMs. In particular, they may not be effective for students high in AV and low in ASE. They are likely to be ineffective for students low in AV. © 2016 The British Psychological Society.

Identification of Two Novel Amalgaviruses in the Common Eelgrass (Zostera marina) and in Silico Analysis of the Amalgavirus +1 Programmed Ribosomal Frameshifting Sites.

PubMed

Park, Dongbin; Goh, Chul Jun; Kim, Hyein; Hahn, Yoonsoo

2018-04-01

The genome sequences of two novel monopartite RNA viruses were identified in a common eelgrass ( Zostera marina ) transcriptome dataset. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analyses revealed that these two novel viruses belong to the genus Amalgavirus in the family Amalgaviridae . They were named Zostera marina amalgavirus 1 (ZmAV1) and Zostera marina amalgavirus 2 (ZmAV2). Genomes of both ZmAV1 and ZmAV2 contain two overlapping open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 encodes a putative replication factory matrix-like protein, while ORF2 encodes a RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) domain. The fusion protein (ORF1+2) of ORF1 and ORF2, which mediates RNA replication, was produced using the +1 programmed ribosomal frameshifting (PRF) mechanism. The +1 PRF motif sequence, UUU_CGN, which is highly conserved among known amalgaviruses, was also found in ZmAV1 and ZmAV2. Multiple sequence alignment of the ORF1+2 fusion proteins from 24 amalgaviruses revealed that +1 PRF occurred only at three different positions within the 13-amino acid-long segment, which was surrounded by highly conserved regions on both sides. This suggested that the +1 PRF may be constrained by the structure of fusion proteins. Genome sequences of ZmAV1 and ZmAV2, which are the first viruses to be identified in common eelgrass, will serve as useful resources for studying evolution and diversity of amalgaviruses.

Identification of Two Novel Amalgaviruses in the Common Eelgrass (Zostera marina) and in Silico Analysis of the Amalgavirus +1 Programmed Ribosomal Frameshifting Sites

PubMed Central

Park, Dongbin; Goh, Chul Jun; Kim, Hyein; Hahn, Yoonsoo

2018-01-01

The genome sequences of two novel monopartite RNA viruses were identified in a common eelgrass (Zostera marina) transcriptome dataset. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analyses revealed that these two novel viruses belong to the genus Amalgavirus in the family Amalgaviridae. They were named Zostera marina amalgavirus 1 (ZmAV1) and Zostera marina amalgavirus 2 (ZmAV2). Genomes of both ZmAV1 and ZmAV2 contain two overlapping open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 encodes a putative replication factory matrix-like protein, while ORF2 encodes a RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) domain. The fusion protein (ORF1+2) of ORF1 and ORF2, which mediates RNA replication, was produced using the +1 programmed ribosomal frameshifting (PRF) mechanism. The +1 PRF motif sequence, UUU_CGN, which is highly conserved among known amalgaviruses, was also found in ZmAV1 and ZmAV2. Multiple sequence alignment of the ORF1+2 fusion proteins from 24 amalgaviruses revealed that +1 PRF occurred only at three different positions within the 13-amino acid-long segment, which was surrounded by highly conserved regions on both sides. This suggested that the +1 PRF may be constrained by the structure of fusion proteins. Genome sequences of ZmAV1 and ZmAV2, which are the first viruses to be identified in common eelgrass, will serve as useful resources for studying evolution and diversity of amalgaviruses. PMID:29628822

Cost-Effectiveness of Antivenoms for Snakebite Envenoming in 16 Countries in West Africa

PubMed Central

Hamza, Muhammad; Idris, Maryam A.; Maiyaki, Musa B.; Lamorde, Mohammed; Chippaux, Jean-Philippe; Warrell, David A.; Kuznik, Andreas; Habib, Abdulrazaq G.

2016-01-01

Background Snakebite poisoning is a significant medical problem in agricultural societies in Sub Saharan Africa. Antivenom (AV) is the standard treatment, and we assessed the cost-effectiveness of making it available in 16 countries in West Africa. Methods We determined the cost-effectiveness of AV based on a decision-tree model from a public payer perspective. Specific AVs included in the model were Antivipmyn, FAV Afrique, EchiTab-G and EchiTab-Plus. We derived inputs from the literature which included: type of snakes causing bites (carpet viper (Echis species)/non-carpet viper), AV effectiveness against death, mortality without AV, probability of Early Adverse Reactions (EAR), likelihood of death from EAR, average age at envenomation in years, anticipated remaining life span and likelihood of amputation. Costs incurred by the victims include: costs of confirming and evaluating envenomation, AV acquisition, routine care, AV transportation logistics, hospital admission and related transportation costs, management of AV EAR compared to the alternative of free snakebite care with ineffective or no AV. Incremental Cost Effectiveness Ratios (ICERs) were assessed as the cost per death averted and the cost per Disability-Adjusted-Life-Years (DALY) averted. Probabilistic Sensitivity Analyses (PSA) using Monte Carlo simulations were used to obtain 95% Confidence Intervals of ICERs. Results The cost/death averted for the 16 countries of interest ranged from $1,997 in Guinea Bissau to $6,205 for Liberia and Sierra Leone. The cost/DALY averted ranged from $83 (95% Confidence Interval: $36-$240) for Benin Republic to $281 ($159–457) for Sierra-Leone. In all cases, the base-case cost/DALY averted estimate fell below the commonly accepted threshold of one time per capita GDP, suggesting that AV is highly cost-effective for the treatment of snakebite in all 16 WA countries. The findings were consistent even with variations of inputs in 1—way sensitivity analyses. In addition, the PSA showed that in the majority of iterations ranging from 97.3% in Liberia to 100% in Cameroun, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal, our model results yielded an ICER that fell below the threshold of one time per capita GDP, thus, indicating a high degree of confidence in our results. Conclusions Therapy for SBE with AV in countries of WA is highly cost-effective at commonly accepted thresholds. Broadening access to effective AVs in rural communities in West Africa is a priority. PMID:27027633

A Scientist or Salesman? Identity Construction through Referent Honorifics on a Japanese Shopping Channel Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cook, Haruko Minegishi

2013-01-01

This paper explores how referent honorifics contribute to identity construction on a Japanese TV shopping channel program. Drawing on Ochs' twostep model of indexicality (1993, 1996) and Agah's proposal (1993) that honorifics are not directly linked to social status but index a "relative position within events of discursive interaction"…

Social Networking in an Intensive English Program Classroom: A Language Socialization Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reinhardt, Jonathon; Zander, Victoria

2011-01-01

This ongoing project seeks to investigate the impact, inside and outside of class, of instruction focused on developing learner awareness of social-networking site (SNS) use in an American Intensive English Program (IEP). With language socialization as an interpretative framework (Duff, in press; Ochs, 1988; Watson-Gegeo, 2004), the project uses a…

Adolescent Tobacco and Cannabis Use: Young Adult Outcomes from the Ontario Child Health Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Georgiades, Katholiki; Boyle, Michael H.

2007-01-01

Background: This study examines the longitudinal associations between adolescent tobacco and cannabis use and young adult functioning. Methods: Data for analysis come from the Ontario Child Health Study (OCHS), a prospective study of child health, psychiatric disorder and adolescent substance use in a general population sample that began in 1983,…

Submillimeter-wave Observations of Complex Organic Molecules in Southern Massive Star Forming Regions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamegai, Kazuhisa; Sakai, Takeshi; Sakai, Nami; Hirota, Tomoya; Yamamoto, Satoshi

2013-03-01

Submillimeter-wave observations of complex organic molecules toward southern massive star forming regions were carried out with ASTE 10m telescope. Methyl formate (HCOOCH3) and dimethyl ether (CH3OCH3) were detected in some molecular cloud cores with young protostars. Differences in chemical composition among neighboring cores were also found.

Knowledge and Life-Experiences: Finland Seen through Its Libraries and Information Services = Kunskap och Upplevelser: Finland som BDI-land.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Laaksovirta, Tuula H.; Haavisto, Tuula

This illustrated publication, printed in both English and Finnish, describes Finland's libraries and information services. Topics covered include: (1) library users; (2) the conceptual role of the library; (3) the growth and development of the library system through Finland's agrarian, industrial, and budding infotech social phases; (4) the…

Electrocatalysis of Oxygen Using Water Soluble Metal Porphyrins and Chemically Modified Porphyrin Electrodes.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-11-01

NUMBER(’s Theodore Kuwana Grant No. ,AFOSR-78-36729 9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS 10. PROGRAM ELMENJT. PROJECT. TASK AREA &WORK UNIT...RFP. (e) sample (d) following post plasma treatment with a reducing agent, NaAlH2- (OCH2CH20CH3 )2, (Vitride, Hexcell Corp., Zeeland. itch.) at SOIC

Algorithm Visualization in Teaching Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Törley, Gábor

2014-01-01

This paper presents the history of algorithm visualization (AV), highlighting teaching-methodology aspects. A combined, two-group pedagogical experiment will be presented as well, which measured the efficiency and the impact on the abstract thinking of AV. According to the results, students, who learned with AV, performed better in the experiment.

Second-degree atrioventricular block.

PubMed

Zipes, D P

1979-09-01

1) While it is possible only one type of second-degree AV block exists electrophysiologically, the available data do not justify such a conclusion and it would seem more appropriate to remain a "splitter," and advocate separation and definition of multiple mechanisms, than to be a "lumper," and embrace a unitary concept. 2) The clinical classification of type I and type II AV block, based on present scalar electrocardiographic criteria, for the most part accurately differentiates clinically important categories of patients. Such a classification is descriptive, but serves a useful function and should be preserved, taking into account the caveats mentioned above. The site of block generally determines the clinical course for the patient. For most examples of AV block, the type I and type II classification in present use is based on the site of block. Because block in the His-Purkinje system is preceded by small or nonmeasurable increments, it is called type II AV block; but the very fact that it is preceded by small increments is because it occurs in the His-Purkinje system. Similar logic can be applied to type I AV block in the AV node. Exceptions do occur. If the site of AV block cannot be distinguished with certainity from the scalar ECG, an electrophysiologic study will generally reveal the answer.

Activatable Optical Imaging with a Silica-Rhodamine Based Near Infrared (SiR700) Fluorophore: A comparison with cyanine based dyes

PubMed Central

McCann, Thomas E.; Kosaka, Nobuyuki; Koide, Yuichiro; Mitsunaga, Makoto; Choyke, Peter L.; Nagano, Tetsuo; Urano, Yasuteru; Kobayashi, Hisataka

2011-01-01

Optical imaging is emerging as an important tool to visualize tumors. However, there are many potential choices among the available fluorophores. Optical imaging probes that emit in the visible range can image superficial tumors with high quantum yields, however, if deeper imaging is needed then near infrared (NIR) fluorophores are necessary. Most commercially available NIR fluorophores are cyanine based and are prone to non-specific binding and relatively limited photostability. Silica-containing rhodamine (SiR) fluorophores represent a new class of NIR fluorophores, which permit photoactivation via H-dimer formation as well as demonstrate improved photostability. This permits higher tumor-to-background ratios (TBRs) to be achieved over longer periods of time. Here, we compared an avidin conjugated with SiR700 (Av-SiR700) to similar compounds based on cyanine dyes (Av-Cy5.5 and Av-Alexa Fluor 680) in a mouse tumor model of ovarian cancer metastasis. We found that the Av-SiR700 probe demonstrated superior quenching enabling activation after binding-internalization to the target cell. As a result, Av-SiR700 had higher TBRs compared to Av-Cy5.5, and better biostability compared to Av-Alexa Fluor 680. PMID:22034863

Assessment of sedimentary Cu availability: A comparison of biomimetic and AVS approaches

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

Chen, Z.; Mayer, L.M.

1999-02-15

Sedimentary Cu bioavailability during deposit feeding is determined by both the digestive physiology of the organisms and the geochemistry of the sediments. The authors assessed the contribution of these two factors by using a biomimetic approach involving extraction of Cu with digestive fluids of two deposit feeders and one suspension feeder and a geochemical approach measuring Cu associated with acid-volatile sulfide (AVS) in sediments. Cu bioavailability determined by the biomimetic method varied among species with varying digestive physiology but all showed a marked increase when SEM{sub Cu}-AVS {ge} 0, corroborating the premise underlying the AVS method in determining sedimentary Cumore » bioavailability. The existence of a positive SEM{sub Cu}-AVS threshold suggests the existence of additional Cu-binding phases or mixed Cu(I)--Cu(II) sulfides in sediments. In addition, Cu bioavailable to digestive fluids was much less than that measured as SEM{sub Cu}-AVS, indicating that the AVS method overestimates Cu bioavailability to digestive fluid of deposit feeders. Incubation of digestive fluids with two Cu-bound model phases, goethite and sulfide, corroborated the relative unavailability of sulfide-bound Cu. Subsurface deposit feeders feeding on anoxic sediments may be exposed to less Cu than their surface-feeding counterparts in Cu-contaminated environments.« less

Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Analysis and Epigenetic Variations Associated with Congenital Aortic Valve Stenosis (AVS).

PubMed

Radhakrishna, Uppala; Albayrak, Samet; Alpay-Savasan, Zeynep; Zeb, Amna; Turkoglu, Onur; Sobolewski, Paul; Bahado-Singh, Ray O

2016-01-01

Congenital heart defect (CHD) is the most common cause of death from congenital anomaly. Among several candidate epigenetic mechanisms, DNA methylation may play an important role in the etiology of CHDs. We conducted a genome-wide DNA methylation analysis using an Illumina Infinium 450k human methylation assay in a cohort of 24 newborns who had aortic valve stenosis (AVS), with gestational-age matched controls. The study identified significantly-altered CpG methylation at 59 sites in 52 genes in AVS subjects as compared to controls (either hypermethylated or demethylated). Gene Ontology analysis identified biological processes and functions for these genes including positive regulation of receptor-mediated endocytosis. Consistent with prior clinical data, the molecular function categories as determined using DAVID identified low-density lipoprotein receptor binding, lipoprotein receptor binding and identical protein binding to be over-represented in the AVS group. A significant epigenetic change in the APOA5 and PCSK9 genes known to be involved in AVS was also observed. A large number CpG methylation sites individually demonstrated good to excellent diagnostic accuracy for the prediction of AVS status, thus raising possibility of molecular screening markers for this disorder. Using epigenetic analysis we were able to identify genes significantly involved in the pathogenesis of AVS.

Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Analysis and Epigenetic Variations Associated with Congenital Aortic Valve Stenosis (AVS)

PubMed Central

Radhakrishna, Uppala; Albayrak, Samet; Alpay-Savasan, Zeynep; Zeb, Amna; Turkoglu, Onur; Sobolewski, Paul; Bahado-Singh, Ray O.

2016-01-01

Congenital heart defect (CHD) is the most common cause of death from congenital anomaly. Among several candidate epigenetic mechanisms, DNA methylation may play an important role in the etiology of CHDs. We conducted a genome-wide DNA methylation analysis using an Illumina Infinium 450k human methylation assay in a cohort of 24 newborns who had aortic valve stenosis (AVS), with gestational-age matched controls. The study identified significantly-altered CpG methylation at 59 sites in 52 genes in AVS subjects as compared to controls (either hypermethylated or demethylated). Gene Ontology analysis identified biological processes and functions for these genes including positive regulation of receptor-mediated endocytosis. Consistent with prior clinical data, the molecular function categories as determined using DAVID identified low-density lipoprotein receptor binding, lipoprotein receptor binding and identical protein binding to be over-represented in the AVS group. A significant epigenetic change in the APOA5 and PCSK9 genes known to be involved in AVS was also observed. A large number CpG methylation sites individually demonstrated good to excellent diagnostic accuracy for the prediction of AVS status, thus raising possibility of molecular screening markers for this disorder. Using epigenetic analysis we were able to identify genes significantly involved in the pathogenesis of AVS. PMID:27152866

Non-stimulated adrenal venous sampling using Dyna computed tomography in patients with primary aldosteronism

PubMed Central

Chang, Chin-Chen; Lee, Bo-Ching; Liu, Kao-Lang; Chang, Yeun-Chung; Wu, Vin-Cent; Huang, Kuo-How

2016-01-01

In this retrospective study, we aimed to examine the effect of applying Dyna computed tomography (CT) on the success rate of adrenal venous sampling (AVS) without adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation. A total of 100 consecutive patients with primary aldosteronism who underwent AVS between May 2012 and July 2015 were enrolled. In all the cases, Dyna CT was used in AVS to validate catheter position in the right adrenal vein. A selectivity index (cortisoladrenal vein /cortisolinferior vena cava) of ≥2.0 of both adrenal veins were required for successful AVS. Dyna CT indicated misplaced catheters in 16 patients; of these patients, 75% (12/16) eventually had successful right AVS after catheter repositioning. The success rate of initial sampling at the right adrenal vein was 76% (76/100), which increased to 88% (88/100) after Dyna CT was applied (p < 0.001). The most common inadvertently catheterised vessels detected using Dyna CT were the accessory hepatic veins (56.3%, 9/16), followed by the renal capsular veins (37.5%, 6/16). The overall success rate of non-stimulated AVS using Dyna CT was 87% (87/100). Thus, the application of Dyna CT further increased the success rate of non-stimulated AVS. PMID:27876824

Tumor-specific detection of an optically targeted antibody combined with a quencher-conjugated neutravidin "quencher-chaser": a dual "quench and chase" strategy to improve target to nontarget ratios for molecular imaging of cancer.

PubMed

Ogawa, Mikako; Kosaka, Nobuyuki; Choyke, Peter L; Kobayashi, Hisataka

2009-01-01

In vivo molecular cancer imaging with monoclonal antibodies has great potential not only for cancer detection, but also for cancer characterization. However, the prolonged retention of intravenously injected antibody in the blood causes low target tumor-to-background ratio (TBR). Avidin has been used as a "chase" to clear the unbound, circulating biotinylated antibody and decrease the background signal. Here, we utilize a combined approach of a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) quenched antibody with an "avidin chase" to increase TBR. Trastuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2), was biotinylated and conjugated with the near-infrared (NIR) fluorophore Alexa680 to synthesize Tra-Alexa680-biotin. Next, the FRET quencher, QSY-21, was conjugated to avidin, neutravidin (nAv), or streptavidin (sAv), thus creating Av-QSY21, nAv-QSY21, or sAv-QSY21 as "chasers". The fluorescence was quenched in vitro by binding Tra-Alexa680-biotin to Av-QSY21, nAv-QSY21, or sAv-QSY21. To evaluate if the injection of quencher-conjugated avidin derivatives can improve target TBR by using a dual "quench and chase" strategy, both target (3T3/HER2+) and nontarget (Balb3T3/ZsGreen) tumor-bearing mice were employed. The "FRET quench" effect induced by all the QSY21 avidin-based conjugates reduced but did not totally eliminate background signal from the blood pool. The addition of nAv-QSY21 administration increased target TBR mainly because of the "chase" effect where unbound conjugated antibody was preferentially cleared to the liver. The relatively slow clearance of unbound nAv-QSY21 leads to further reductions in background signal by leaking out of the vascular space and binding to unbound antibodies in the extravascular space of tumors, resulting in decreased nontarget tumor-to-background ratios but increased target TBR due to the "FRET quench" effect, because target-bound antibodies were internalized and could not bind to nAv-QSY21. In conclusion, the proposed "quench-and-chase" system combines two strategies, fluorescent quenching and avidin chasing, to improve target TBR and reduce nontarget TBR, which should result in both improved tumor sensitivity and improved specificity.

Randomized, double-blind, active-controlled study evaluating the safety and immunogenicity of three vaccination schedules and two dose levels of AV7909 vaccine for anthrax post-exposure prophylaxis in healthy adults.

PubMed

Hopkins, Robert J; Kalsi, Gurdyal; Montalvo-Lugo, Victor M; Sharma, Mona; Wu, Yukun; Muse, Derek D; Sheldon, Eric A; Hampel, Frank C; Lemiale, Laurence

2016-04-19

AV7909 vaccine being developed for post-exposure prophylaxis of anthrax disease may require fewer vaccinations and reduced amount of antigen to achieve an accelerated immune response over BioThrax(®) (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed). A phase 2, randomized, double-blind, BioThrax vacccine-controlled study was conducted to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of three intramuscular vaccination schedules and two dose levels of AV7909 in 168 healthy adults. Subjects were randomized at a 4:3:2:4:2 ratio to 5 groups: (1) AV7909 on Days 0/14; (2) AV7909 on Days 0/28; (3) AV7909 on Days 0/14/28; (4) half dose AV7909 on Days 0/14/28; and (5) BioThrax vaccine on Days 0/14/28. Vaccinations in all groups were well tolerated. The incidences of adverse events (AEs) were 79% for AV7909 subjects and 65% for BioThrax subjects; 92% of AV7909 subjects and 87% of BioThrax subjects having AEs reported Grade 1-2 AEs. No serious AEs were assessed as potentially vaccine-related, and no AEs of potential autoimmune etiology were reported. There was no discernible pattern indicative of a safety concern across groups in the incidence or severity of reactogenicity events. Groups 2-4 achieved success for the primary endpoint, demonstrated by a lower 95% confidence limit of the percentage of subjects with protective toxin neutralizing antibody NF50 values (≥0.56) to be ≥40% at Day 63. Group 1 marginally missed the criterion (lower bound 95% confidence limit of 39.5%). Immune responses were above this threshold for Groups 1, 3 and 4 at Day 28 and all groups at Day 42. Further study of an AV7909 two-dose schedule given 2 weeks apart is warranted in light of the favorable tolerability profile and immunogenicity response relative to three doses of BioThrax vaccine, as well as preliminary data from nonclinical studies indicating similar immune responses correlate with higher survival for AV7909 than BioThrax vaccine. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Continuous IV Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab (Ovine) (FabAV) for selected North American rattlesnake bite patients.

PubMed

Bush, Sean P; Seifert, Steven A; Oakes, Jennifer; Smith, Susan D; Phan, Tammy H; Pearl, Sarah R; Reibling, Ellen T

2013-07-01

In patients bitten by North American rattlesnakes and treated with Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab (Ovine) (FabAV), late hematologic abnormalities-persistent, recurrent, or late, new onset of hypofibrinogenemia, prolonged PT/INR, prolonged PTT, and/or thrombocytopenia beyond 48 h post-envenomation-are common, difficult to manage, and may result in morbidity and mortality are common, difficult to manage, and may result in morbidity and mortality. The optimal management of late hematologic abnormalities, particularly the use of further treatment with antivenom, has not been well defined. The current FabAV treatment regimen is to give antivenom as a bolus dose over a one-hour period. We describe our experience using a continuous intravenous infusion of FabAV for late hematologic effects and/or associated bleeding complications in rattlesnake envenomation. This is a retrospective, observational case series of patients envenomated by North American rattlesnakes at three medical centers managed with a continuous intravenous infusion of FabAV for late hematologic abnormalities and/or associated bleeding complications. Indications, dilution and infusion protocols, and duration of therapy were individualized. Five cases were identified between July 2010 and September 2011. All patients had profound late hematologic abnormalities and/or were associated with bleeding complications. Several patients had received repeat bolus infusions of FabAV, with or without human blood products, with either inadequate or only transient beneficial response. All patients were then managed with a continuous intravenous infusion of FabAV and all appeared to respond to the continuous intravenous infusion of FabAV, titrated to effect, with cessation of progression and, in most cases, improvement in hematologic abnormalities. Rates of infusion varied from 2 to 4 vials per 24 h (mean = 3.1 ± 0.4 vials/day). The termination of FabAV infusion was between day 6 and day 14 from the time of envenomation (mean = 10 ± 3 days), after which hematologic values were normalized or were normalizing in all patients and continued to do so. The use of FabAV as a continuous intravenous infusion, particularly after the acute phase of envenomation has passed, provides a continuous source of circulating antibodies to neutralize venom components reaching circulation from tissue stores and allows natural replenishment of hematologic factors such as platelets and/or fibrinogen. This method is an efficient use of FabAV, avoiding the wasteful excess of a bolus dose, may be more effective, eliminating the potential for destruction of hematologic factors when protective antivenom levels are lost between bolus FabAV doses, and appears to be safe. Further assessments of the stability and sterility of the product during infusion are needed. The need to continue hospitalization is the major drawback, but continued observation and inpatient care may be needed for other indications (e.g. bleeding) in this subset of patients. A continuous intravenous infusion of FabAV between 2 and 4 vials per day, titrated to effect, and continued for 6-14 days post-envenomation appeared to be associated with reversal of late hematologic effects of rattlesnake envenomation and, when combined with indicated human blood products, control of significant bleeding. Continuous intravenous infusion of FabAV may be safer, more efficacious, and more cost-effective than observation without FabAV treatment or as-needed bolus dosing in selected patients with late hematologic abnormalities. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influence of acid volatile sulfide and metal concentrations on metal bioavailability to marine invertebrates in contaminated sediments

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lee, B.-G.; Lee, J.-S.; Luoma, S.N.; Choi, H.J.; Koh, C.-H.

2000-01-01

An 18-day microcosm study was conducted to evaluate the influence of acid volatile sulfides (AVS) and metal additions on bioaccumulation from sediments of Cd, Ni, and Zn in two clams (Macoma balthica and Potamocorbula amurensis) and three marine polychaetes (Neanthes arenaceodentata, Heteromastus filiformis, and Spiophanes missionensis). Manipulation of AVS by oxidation of naturally anoxic sediments allowed use of metal concentrations typical of nature and evaluation of processes important to chronic metal exposure. A vertical sediment column similar to that often found in nature was used to facilitate realistic biological behavior. Results showed that AVS or porewater (PW) metals controlled bioaccumulation in only 2 of 15 metal-animal combinations. Bioaccumulation of all three metals by the bivalves was related significantly to metal concentrations extracted from sediments (SEM) but not to [SEM - AVS] or PW metals. SEM predominantly influenced bioaccumulation of Ni and Zn in N. arenaceodentata, but Cd bioaccumulation followed PW Cd concentrations. SEM controlled tissue concentrations of all three metals in H. filiformis and S. missionensis, with minor influences from metal-sulfide chemistry. Significant bioaccumulation occurred when SEM was only a small fraction of AVS in several treatments. Three factors appeared to contribute to the differences between these bioaccumulation results and the results from toxicity tests reported previously: differences in experimental design, dietary uptake, and biological attributes of the species, including mode and depth of feeding.An 18-day microcosm study was conducted to evaluate the influence of acid volatile sulfides (AVS) and metal additions on bioaccumulation from sediments of Cd, Ni, and Zn in two clams (Macoma balthica and Potamocorbula amurensis) and three marine polychaetes (Neanthes arenaceodentata, Heteromastus filiformis, and Spiophanes missionensis). Manipulation of AVS by oxidation of naturally anoxic sediments allowed use of metal concentrations typical of nature and evaluation of processes important to chronic metal exposure. A vertical sediment column similar to that often found in nature was used to facilitate realistic biological behavior. Results showed that AVS or porewater (PW) metals controlled bioaccumulation in only 2 of 15 metal-animal combinations. Bioaccumulation of all three metals by the bivalves was related significantly to metal concentrations extracted from sediments (SEM) but not to [SEM - AVS] or PW metals. SEM predominantly influenced bioaccumulation of Ni and Zn in N. arenaceodentata, but Cd bioaccumulation followed PW Cd concentrations. SEM controlled tissue concentrations of all three metals in H. filiformis and S. missionensis, with minor influences from metal-sulfide chemistry. Significant bioaccumulation occurred when SEM was only a small fraction of AVS in several treatments. Three factors appeared to contribute to the differences between these bioaccumulation results and the results from toxicity tests reported previously: differences in experimental design, dietary uptake, and biological attributes of the species, including mode and depth of feeding.Microcosms were used to simulate environmentally realistic metal, acid volatile sulfide (AVS), and geochemical gradients in sediments to evaluate effects of metal bioavailability. The 18-d study involved five test species: two bivalves and three polychaetes. Two series of experiments were designed to evaluate the effects of metal concentration and AVS on bioaccumulation, respectively. The metals of interest were cadmium, nickel, and zinc. Results showed that the concentrations of pore-water Cd, Ni, and Zn were controlled by the concentration of AVS. Organisms bioaccumulated significant amounts of metals from the sediments when the simultaneously extracted metal was only a small fraction of the AVS. Bioavailability increased linearly with the sediment metal concentration irrespective of AVS or pore-w

18F-AV-1451 positron emission tomography in Alzheimer's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy.

PubMed

Passamonti, Luca; Vázquez Rodríguez, Patricia; Hong, Young T; Allinson, Kieren S J; Williamson, David; Borchert, Robin J; Sami, Saber; Cope, Thomas E; Bevan-Jones, W Richard; Jones, P Simon; Arnold, Robert; Surendranathan, Ajenthan; Mak, Elijah; Su, Li; Fryer, Tim D; Aigbirhio, Franklin I; O'Brien, John T; Rowe, James B

2017-03-01

The ability to assess the distribution and extent of tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy in vivo would help to develop biomarkers for these tauopathies and clinical trials of disease-modifying therapies. New radioligands for positron emission tomography have generated considerable interest, and controversy, in their potential as tau biomarkers. We assessed the radiotracer 18F-AV-1451 with positron emission tomography imaging to compare the distribution and intensity of tau pathology in 15 patients with Alzheimer's pathology (including amyloid-positive mild cognitive impairment), 19 patients with progressive supranuclear palsy, and 13 age- and sex-matched controls. Regional analysis of variance and a support vector machine were used to compare and discriminate the clinical groups, respectively. We also examined the 18F-AV-1451 autoradiographic binding in post-mortem tissue from patients with Alzheimer's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and a control case to assess the 18F-AV-1451 binding specificity to Alzheimer's and non-Alzheimer's tau pathology. There was increased 18F-AV-1451 binding in multiple regions in living patients with Alzheimer's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy relative to controls [main effect of group, F(2,41) = 17.5, P < 0.0001; region of interest × group interaction, F(2,68) = 7.5, P < 0.00001]. More specifically, 18F-AV-1451 binding was significantly increased in patients with Alzheimer's disease, relative to patients with progressive supranuclear palsy and with control subjects, in the hippocampus and in occipital, parietal, temporal, and frontal cortices (t's > 2.2, P's < 0.04). Conversely, in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy, relative to patients with Alzheimer's disease, 18F-AV-1451 binding was elevated in the midbrain (t = 2.1, P < 0.04); while patients with progressive supranuclear palsy showed, relative to controls, increased 18F-AV-1451 uptake in the putamen, pallidum, thalamus, midbrain, and in the dentate nucleus of the cerebellum (t's > 2.7, P's < 0.02). The support vector machine assigned patients' diagnoses with 94% accuracy. The post-mortem autoradiographic data showed that 18F-AV-1451 strongly bound to Alzheimer-related tau pathology, but less specifically in progressive supranuclear palsy. 18F-AV-1451 binding to the basal ganglia was strong in all groups in vivo. Postmortem histochemical staining showed absence of neuromelanin-containing cells in the basal ganglia, indicating that off-target binding to neuromelanin is an insufficient explanation of 18F-AV-1451 positron emission tomography data in vivo, at least in the basal ganglia. Overall, we confirm the potential of 18F-AV-1451 as a heuristic biomarker, but caution is indicated in the neuropathological interpretation of its binding. Off-target binding may contribute to disease profiles of 18F-AV-1451 positron emission tomography, especially in primary tauopathies such as progressive supranuclear palsy. We suggest that 18F-AV-1451 positron emission tomography is a useful biomarker to assess tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease and to distinguish it from other tauopathies with distinct clinical and pathological characteristics such as progressive supranuclear palsy. © The Author (2017). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Guarantors of Brain.

Face recognition: a convolutional neural-network approach.

PubMed

Lawrence, S; Giles, C L; Tsoi, A C; Back, A D

1997-01-01

We present a hybrid neural-network for human face recognition which compares favourably with other methods. The system combines local image sampling, a self-organizing map (SOM) neural network, and a convolutional neural network. The SOM provides a quantization of the image samples into a topological space where inputs that are nearby in the original space are also nearby in the output space, thereby providing dimensionality reduction and invariance to minor changes in the image sample, and the convolutional neural network provides partial invariance to translation, rotation, scale, and deformation. The convolutional network extracts successively larger features in a hierarchical set of layers. We present results using the Karhunen-Loeve transform in place of the SOM, and a multilayer perceptron (MLP) in place of the convolutional network for comparison. We use a database of 400 images of 40 individuals which contains quite a high degree of variability in expression, pose, and facial details. We analyze the computational complexity and discuss how new classes could be added to the trained recognizer.

A new method to measure electron density and effective atomic number using dual-energy CT images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramos Garcia, Luis Isaac; Pérez Azorin, José Fernando; Almansa, Julio F.

2016-01-01

The purpose of this work is to present a new method to extract the electron density ({ρ\\text{e}} ) and the effective atomic number (Z eff) from dual-energy CT images, based on a Karhunen-Loeve expansion (KLE) of the atomic cross section per electron. This method was used to calibrate a Siemens Definition CT using the CIRS phantom. The predicted electron density and effective atomic number using 80 kVp and 140 kVp were compared with a calibration phantom and an independent set of samples. The mean absolute deviations between the theoretical and calculated values for all the samples were 1.7 %  ±  0.1 % for {ρ\\text{e}} and 4.1 %  ±  0.3 % for Z eff. Finally, these results were compared with other stoichiometric method. The application of the KLE to represent the atomic cross section per electron is a promising method for calculating {ρ\\text{e}} and Z eff using dual-energy CT images.

A study and evaluation of image analysis techniques applied to remotely sensed data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Atkinson, R. J.; Dasarathy, B. V.; Lybanon, M.; Ramapriyan, H. K.

1976-01-01

An analysis of phenomena causing nonlinearities in the transformation from Landsat multispectral scanner coordinates to ground coordinates is presented. Experimental results comparing rms errors at ground control points indicated a slight improvement when a nonlinear (8-parameter) transformation was used instead of an affine (6-parameter) transformation. Using a preliminary ground truth map of a test site in Alabama covering the Mobile Bay area and six Landsat images of the same scene, several classification methods were assessed. A methodology was developed for automatic change detection using classification/cluster maps. A coding scheme was employed for generation of change depiction maps indicating specific types of changes. Inter- and intraseasonal data of the Mobile Bay test area were compared to illustrate the method. A beginning was made in the study of data compression by applying a Karhunen-Loeve transform technique to a small section of the test data set. The second part of the report provides a formal documentation of the several programs developed for the analysis and assessments presented.

Diffusive oxygen shunting between vessels in the preglomerular renal vasculature: anatomic observations and computational modeling.

PubMed

Gardiner, Bruce S; Thompson, Sarah L; Ngo, Jennifer P; Smith, David W; Abdelkader, Amany; Broughton, Brad R S; Bertram, John F; Evans, Roger G

2012-09-01

To understand how geometric factors affect arterial-to-venous (AV) oxygen shunting, a mathematical model of diffusive oxygen transport in the renal cortex was developed. Preglomerular vascular geometry was investigated using light microscopy (providing vein shape, AV separation, and capillary density near arteries) and published micro-computed tomography (CT) data (providing vessel size and AV separation; Nordsletten DA, Blackett S, Bentley MD, Ritman EL, Smith NP. IUPS Physiome Project. http://www.physiome.org.nz/publications/nordsletten_blackett_ritman_bentley_smith_2005/folder_contents). A "U-shaped" relationship was observed between the arterial radius and the distance between the arterial and venous lumens. Veins were found to partially wrap around the artery more consistently for larger rather than smaller arteries. Intrarenal arteries were surrounded by an area of fibrous tissue, lacking capillaries, the thickness of which increased from ∼5 μm for the smallest arteries (<16-μm diameter) to ∼20 μm for the largest arteries (>200-μm diameter). Capillary density was greater near smaller arteries than larger arteries. No capillaries were observed between wrapped AV vessel pairs. The computational model comprised a single AV pair in cross section. Geometric parameters critical in renal oxygen transport were altered according to variations observed by CT and light microscopy. Lumen separation and wrapping of the vein around the artery were found to be the critical geometric factors determining the amount of oxygen shunted between AV pairs. AV oxygen shunting increases both as lumen separation decreases and as the degree of wrapping increases. The model also predicts that capillaries not only deliver oxygen, but can also remove oxygen from the cortical parenchyma close to an AV pair. Thus the presence of oxygen sinks (capillaries or tubules) near arteries would reduce the effectiveness of AV oxygen shunting. Collectively, these data suggest that AV oxygen shunting would be favored in larger vessels common to the cortical and medullary circulations (i.e., arcuate and proximal interlobular arteries) rather than the smaller vessels specific to the cortical circulation (distal interlobular arteries and afferent arterioles).

Mid-term variation of vertical distribution of acid volatile sulphide and simultaneously extracted metals in sediment cores from Lake Albufera (Valencia, Spain).

PubMed

Hernández-Crespo, Carmen; Martín, Miguel

2013-11-01

Lake Albufera is one of the most eutrophic bodies of water in Spain due to point and diffuse pollution over past decades, and its sediments are likely to be anoxic because of high organic matter flux. Hence, sulphides can play an important role in limiting the mobility of heavy metals. This study aimed to study the vertical variation of acid volatile sulphide (AVS) and simultaneously extracted metals (SEM) in sediment cores collected from Lake Albufera; other sediment characteristics, such as organic matter, biochemical oxygen, demand or total metals, were also studied. Three sites were selected, and four sampling campaigns were performed to study spatial and temporal variation as well as to obtain information regarding historical variation in the composition of sediments. AVS and SEM were analysed by the purge-and-trap method. The vertical distribution of AVS and SEM varied depending on the sampling site-concentrations of AVS and SEM were higher at sites close to mouths of inflowing channels. A decreasing trend of AVS has been found at these sites over time: In the two first samplings, AVS increased with depth reaching maximum concentrations of 40 and 21 μmol g(-1), but from then on AVS were lower and decreased with depth. SEM decreased with depth from 3 μmol g(-1) in surface layers to approximately 1 μmol g(-1) at deeper segments at these sites. However, the central site was more uniform with respect to depth as well as with time; it presented lower values of SEM and AVS (mean 0.9 and 2.0 μmol g(-1) respectively), and the maximum value of AVS (7 μmol g(-1)) was found at the top layer (0-3 cm). According to the (SEM-AVS)/fOC approach, every site, and throughout the cores, can be classified as containing nontoxic metals because the values were <130 μmol g(-1).

Beneficial Effects of High-Density Lipoproteins on Acquired von Willebrand Syndrome in Aortic Valve Stenosis.

PubMed

Gebhard, C; Maafi, F; Stähli, B E; Bonnefoy, A; Gebhard, C E; Nachar, W; de Oliveira Moraes, A Benjamim; Mecteau, M; Mihalache-Avram, T; Lavoie, V; Kernaleguen, A E; Shi, Y; Busseuil, D; Chabot-Blanchet, M; Perrault, L P; Rhainds, D; Rhéaume, E; Tardif, J C

2018-02-01

 Infusions of apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), the major protein component of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), result in aortic valve stenosis (AVS) regression in experimental models. Severe AVS can be complicated by acquired von Willebrand syndrome, a haemorrhagic disorder associated with loss of high-molecular-weight von Willebrand factor (vWF) multimers (HMWM), the latter being a consequence of increased shear stress and enhanced vWF-cleaving protease (ADAMTS-13) activity. Although antithrombotic actions of HDL have been described, its effects on ADAMTS-13 and vWF in AVS are unknown.  We assessed ADAMTS-13 activity in plasma derived from a rabbit model of AVS ( n  = 29) as well as in plasma collected from 64 patients with severe AVS (age 65.0 ± 10.4 years, 44 males) undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR). In both human and rabbit AVS plasma, ADAMTS-13 activity was higher than that in controls ( p  < 0.05). Accordingly, AVS patients had less HMWM than controls (66.3 ± 27.2% vs. 97.2 ± 24.1%, p  < 0.0001). Both ADAMTS-13 activity and HMWM correlated significantly with aortic transvalvular gradients, thereby showing opposing correlations ( r  = 0.3, p  = 0.018 and r  = -0.4, p  = 0.003, respectively). Administration of an apoA-I mimetic peptide reduced ADAMTS-13 activity in AVS rabbits as compared with the placebo group (2.0 ± 0.5 RFU/sec vs. 3.8 ± 0.4 RFU/sec, p  < 0.05). Similarly, a negative correlation was found between ADAMTS-13 activity and HDL cholesterol levels in patients with AVS ( r  = -0.3, p  = 0.045).  Our data indicate that HDL levels are associated with reduced ADAMTS-13 activity and increased HMWM. HDL-based therapies may reduce the haematologic abnormalities of the acquired von Willebrand syndrome in AVS. Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart.

Growth prior to thermogenesis for a quick fledging of Adélie penguin chicks (Pygoscelis adeliae).

PubMed

Dégletagne, Cyril; Roussel, Damien; Rouanet, Jean Louis; Baudimont, Fanny; Moureaux, Elodie-Marie; Harvey, Steve; Duchamp, Claude; Le Maho, Yvon; Raccurt, Mireille

2013-01-01

The evolutionary trade-off between tissue growth and mature function restricts the post natal development of polar birds. The present study uses an original integrative approach as it includes gene expression, plus biochemical and physiological analysis to investigate how Adélie penguin chicks achieve a rapid growth despite the energetic constraints linked to the cold and the very short breeding season in Antarctica. In pectoralis muscle, the main thermogenic tissue in birds, our data show that the transition from ectothermy to endothermy on Day 15 post- hatching is associated with substantial and coordinated changes in the transcription of key genes. While the early activation of genes controlling cell growth and differentiation (avGHR, avIGF-1R, T3Rβ) is rapidly down-regulated after hatching, the global increase in the relative expression of genes involved in thermoregulation (avUCP, avANT, avLPL) and transcriptional regulation (avPGC1α, avT3Rβ) underlie the muscular acquisition of oxidative metabolism. Adélie chicks only become real endotherms at 15 days of age with the development of an oxidative muscle phenotype and the ability to shiver efficiently. The persistent muscular expression of IGF-1 throughout growth probably acts as a local mediator to adjust muscle size and its oxidative capacity to anticipate the new physiological demands of future Dives in cold water. The up-regulation of T3Rβ mRNA levels suggests that circulating T3 may play an important role in the late maturation of skeletal muscle by reinforcing, at least in part, the paracrine action of IGF-1. From day 30, the metabolic shift from mixed substrate to lipid metabolism, with the markedly increased mRNA levels of muscle avLPL, avANT and avUCP, suggests the late development of a fatty acid-enhanced muscle non-shivering thermogenesis mechanism. This molecular control is the key to this finely-tuned strategy by which the Adélie penguin chick successfully heads for the sea on schedule.

Growth Prior to Thermogenesis for a Quick Fledging of Adélie Penguin Chicks (Pygoscelis adeliae)

PubMed Central

Dégletagne, Cyril; Roussel, Damien; Rouanet, Jean Louis; Baudimont, Fanny; Moureaux, Elodie-Marie; Harvey, Steve; Duchamp, Claude; Le Maho, Yvon; Raccurt, Mireille

2013-01-01

The evolutionary trade-off between tissue growth and mature function restricts the post natal development of polar birds. The present study uses an original integrative approach as it includes gene expression, plus biochemical and physiological analysis to investigate how Adélie penguin chicks achieve a rapid growth despite the energetic constraints linked to the cold and the very short breeding season in Antarctica. In pectoralis muscle, the main thermogenic tissue in birds, our data show that the transition from ectothermy to endothermy on Day 15 post- hatching is associated with substantial and coordinated changes in the transcription of key genes. While the early activation of genes controlling cell growth and differentiation (avGHR, avIGF-1R, T3Rβ) is rapidly down-regulated after hatching, the global increase in the relative expression of genes involved in thermoregulation (avUCP, avANT, avLPL) and transcriptional regulation (avPGC1α, avT3Rβ) underlie the muscular acquisition of oxidative metabolism. Adélie chicks only become real endotherms at 15 days of age with the development of an oxidative muscle phenotype and the ability to shiver efficiently. The persistent muscular expression of IGF-1 throughout growth probably acts as a local mediator to adjust muscle size and its oxidative capacity to anticipate the new physiological demands of future Dives in cold water. The up-regulation of T3Rβ mRNA levels suggests that circulating T3 may play an important role in the late maturation of skeletal muscle by reinforcing, at least in part, the paracrine action of IGF-1. From day 30, the metabolic shift from mixed substrate to lipid metabolism, with the markedly increased mRNA levels of muscle avLPL, avANT and avUCP, suggests the late development of a fatty acid-enhanced muscle non-shivering thermogenesis mechanism. This molecular control is the key to this finely-tuned strategy by which the Adélie penguin chick successfully heads for the sea on schedule. PMID:24040194

Nitric Oxide Synthase-3 Promotes Embryonic Development of Atrioventricular Valves

PubMed Central

Liu, Yin; Lu, Xiangru; Xiang, Fu-Li; Lu, Man; Feng, Qingping

2013-01-01

Nitric oxide synthase-3 (NOS3) has recently been shown to promote endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in the developing atrioventricular (AV) canal. The present study was aimed to investigate the role of NOS3 in embryonic development of AV valves. We hypothesized that NOS3 promotes embryonic development of AV valves via EndMT. To test this hypothesis, morphological and functional analysis of AV valves were performed in wild-type (WT) and NOS3−/− mice at postnatal day 0. Our data show that the overall size and length of mitral and tricuspid valves were decreased in NOS3−/− compared with WT mice. Echocardiographic assessment showed significant regurgitation of mitral and tricuspid valves during systole in NOS3−/− mice. These phenotypes were all rescued by cardiac specific NOS3 overexpression. To assess EndMT, immunostaining of Snail1 was performed in the embryonic heart. Both total mesenchymal and Snail1+ cells in the AV cushion were decreased in NOS3−/− compared with WT mice at E10.5 and E12.5, which was completely restored by cardiac specific NOS3 overexpression. In cultured embryonic hearts, NOS3 promoted transforming growth factor (TGFβ), bone morphogenetic protein (BMP2) and Snail1expression through cGMP. Furthermore, mesenchymal cell formation and migration from cultured AV cushion explants were decreased in the NOS3−/− compared with WT mice. We conclude that NOS3 promotes AV valve formation during embryonic heart development and deficiency in NOS3 results in AV valve insufficiency. PMID:24204893

Audiovisual biofeedback improves image quality and reduces scan time for respiratory-gated 3D MRI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, D.; Greer, P. B.; Arm, J.; Keall, P.; Kim, T.

2014-03-01

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that audiovisual (AV) biofeedback can improve image quality and reduce scan time for respiratory-gated 3D thoracic MRI. For five healthy human subjects respiratory motion guidance in MR scans was provided using an AV biofeedback system, utilizing real-time respiratory motion signals. To investigate the improvement of respiratory-gated 3D MR images between free breathing (FB) and AV biofeedback (AV), each subject underwent two imaging sessions. Respiratory-related motion artifacts and imaging time were qualitatively evaluated in addition to the reproducibility of external (abdominal) motion. In the results, 3D MR images in AV biofeedback showed more anatomic information such as a clear distinction of diaphragm, lung lobes and sharper organ boundaries. The scan time was reduced from 401±215 s in FB to 334±94 s in AV (p-value 0.36). The root mean square variation of the displacement and period of the abdominal motion was reduced from 0.4±0.22 cm and 2.8±2.5 s in FB to 0.1±0.15 cm and 0.9±1.3 s in AV (p-value of displacement <0.01 and p-value of period 0.12). This study demonstrated that audiovisual biofeedback improves image quality and reduces scan time for respiratory-gated 3D MRI. These results suggest that AV biofeedback has the potential to be a useful motion management tool in medical imaging and radiation therapy procedures.

AV3V lesions reduce the pressor response to L-glutamate into the RVLM.

PubMed

Vieira, Alexandre Antonio; Colombari, Eduardo; De Luca, Laurival A; Colombari, Débora Simões de Almeida; Menani, José V

2006-05-01

Neurons from the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) directly activate sympathetic pre-ganglionic neurons in the spinal cord. Hypertensive responses and sympathetic activation produced by different stimuli are strongly affected by lesions of the preoptic periventricular tissue surrounding the anteroventral third ventricle (AV3V region). Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the effects of acute (1 day) and chronic (15 days) electrolytic lesions of the AV3V region on the pressor responses produced by injections of the excitatory amino acid L-glutamate into the RVLM of unanesthetized rats. Male Holtzman rats with sham or electrolytic AV3V lesions and a stainless steel cannula implanted into the RVLM were used. The pressor responses produced by injections of L-glutamate (1, 5 and 10 nmol/100 nl) into the RVLM were reduced 1 day (9 +/- 4, 39 +/- 6 and 37 +/- 4 mm Hg, respectively) and 15 days after AV3V lesions (13 +/- 6, 39 +/- 4 and 43 +/- 4 mm Hg, respectively, vs. sham lesions: 29 +/- 3, 50 +/- 2 and 58 +/- 3 mm Hg, respectively). Injections of L-glutamate into the RVLM in sham or AV3V-lesioned rats produced no significant change in the heart rate (HR). Baroreflex bradycardia and tachycardia produced by iv phenylephrine or sodium nitroprusside, respectively, and the pressor and bradycardic responses to chemoreflex activation with iv potassium cyanide were not modified by AV3V lesions. The results suggest that signals from the AV3V region are important for sympathetic activation induced by L-glutamate into the RVLM.

Accelerated Evaluation of Automated Vehicles Safety in Lane-Change Scenarios Based on Importance Sampling Techniques

PubMed Central

Zhao, Ding; Lam, Henry; Peng, Huei; Bao, Shan; LeBlanc, David J.; Nobukawa, Kazutoshi; Pan, Christopher S.

2016-01-01

Automated vehicles (AVs) must be thoroughly evaluated before their release and deployment. A widely used evaluation approach is the Naturalistic-Field Operational Test (N-FOT), which tests prototype vehicles directly on the public roads. Due to the low exposure to safety-critical scenarios, N-FOTs are time consuming and expensive to conduct. In this paper, we propose an accelerated evaluation approach for AVs. The results can be used to generate motions of the other primary vehicles to accelerate the verification of AVs in simulations and controlled experiments. Frontal collision due to unsafe cut-ins is the target crash type of this paper. Human-controlled vehicles making unsafe lane changes are modeled as the primary disturbance to AVs based on data collected by the University of Michigan Safety Pilot Model Deployment Program. The cut-in scenarios are generated based on skewed statistics of collected human driver behaviors, which generate risky testing scenarios while preserving the statistical information so that the safety benefits of AVs in nonaccelerated cases can be accurately estimated. The cross-entropy method is used to recursively search for the optimal skewing parameters. The frequencies of the occurrences of conflicts, crashes, and injuries are estimated for a modeled AV, and the achieved accelerated rate is around 2000 to 20 000. In other words, in the accelerated simulations, driving for 1000 miles will expose the AV with challenging scenarios that will take about 2 to 20 million miles of real-world driving to encounter. This technique thus has the potential to greatly reduce the development and validation time for AVs. PMID:27840592

Recurrent hemorrhage after western diamondback rattlesnake envenomation treated with crotalidae polyvalent immune fab (ovine).

PubMed

Fazelat, Joyia; Teperman, Sheldon H; Touger, Michael

2008-11-01

Recurrent coagulopathy has been observed in patients after rattlesnake envenomation treated with Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab (ovine) [FabAV]. While recurrent coagulopathy is well documented in the literature, clinically significant sequelae have not been reported. We present a case of recurrent thrombocytopenia after western diamondback envenomation treated with FabAV, resulting in an extensive recurrent local hemorrhage. A 24-year-old male presented to our emergency department several hours after western diamondback envenomation. He sustained bites to both hands and the right flank by leaning over his pet "snake enclosure." On presentation, the patient was hypotensive, tachycardic, and thrombocytopenic with a platelet count of 17/nl. Antivenom therapy was initiated according to the standard FabAV protocol. However, sixteen hours after completion of the recommended FabAV infusion, the patient experienced a recurrent thrombocytopenia with a dramatic seventeen point drop in hematocrit. The source of bleeding was clinically attributed to an expanding hematoma at the site of envenomation. FabAV has become the standard treatment for symptomatic crotalid envenomation. However, the pharmacokinetics of this drug predispose it to recurrent coagulopathies. While studies have shown persistent and recurrent coagulopathic derangements after FabAV therapy, no clinically significant sequelae have been reported. This report highlights the potential for recurrent local hemorrhagic complications following rattlesnake envenomation, even after treatment guided by the current FabAV protocol. Recurrent coagulopathy following FabAV therapy can result in clinically significant hemorrhage, supporting the observation that extended repeat dosing may be necessary to adequately treat subjects of rattlesnake envenomation.

Accelerated Evaluation of Automated Vehicles Safety in Lane-Change Scenarios Based on Importance Sampling Techniques.

PubMed

Zhao, Ding; Lam, Henry; Peng, Huei; Bao, Shan; LeBlanc, David J; Nobukawa, Kazutoshi; Pan, Christopher S

2017-03-01

Automated vehicles (AVs) must be thoroughly evaluated before their release and deployment. A widely used evaluation approach is the Naturalistic-Field Operational Test (N-FOT), which tests prototype vehicles directly on the public roads. Due to the low exposure to safety-critical scenarios, N-FOTs are time consuming and expensive to conduct. In this paper, we propose an accelerated evaluation approach for AVs. The results can be used to generate motions of the other primary vehicles to accelerate the verification of AVs in simulations and controlled experiments. Frontal collision due to unsafe cut-ins is the target crash type of this paper. Human-controlled vehicles making unsafe lane changes are modeled as the primary disturbance to AVs based on data collected by the University of Michigan Safety Pilot Model Deployment Program. The cut-in scenarios are generated based on skewed statistics of collected human driver behaviors, which generate risky testing scenarios while preserving the statistical information so that the safety benefits of AVs in nonaccelerated cases can be accurately estimated. The cross-entropy method is used to recursively search for the optimal skewing parameters. The frequencies of the occurrences of conflicts, crashes, and injuries are estimated for a modeled AV, and the achieved accelerated rate is around 2000 to 20 000. In other words, in the accelerated simulations, driving for 1000 miles will expose the AV with challenging scenarios that will take about 2 to 20 million miles of real-world driving to encounter. This technique thus has the potential to greatly reduce the development and validation time for AVs.

Adrenal venous sampling for stratifying patients for surgery of adrenal nodules detected using dynamic contrast enhanced CT

PubMed Central

Kim, Jin Young; Kim, See Hyung; Lee, Hee Jung; Kim, Young Hwan; Kim, Mi Jeong; Cho, Seung Hyun

2014-01-01

PURPOSE We aimed to assess the value of adrenal venous sampling (AVS) for diagnosing primary aldosteronism (PA) subtypes in patients with a unilateral nodule detected on adrenal computed tomography (CT) and scheduled for adrenalectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective study included 80 consecutive patients with PA undergoing CT and AVS. Different lateralization indices were assessed, and a cutoff established using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The value of CT alone versus CT with AVS for differentiating PA subtypes was compared. The adrenalectomy outcome was assessed, and predictors of cure were determined using univariate analysis. RESULTS AVS was successful in 68 patients. A cortisol-corrected aldosterone affected-to-unaffected ratio cutoff of 2.0 and affected-to-inferior vena cava ratio cutoff of 1.4 were the best lateralization indices, with accuracies of 82.5% and 80.4%, respectively. CT and AVS diagnosed 38 patients with aldosterone-producing adenomas, five patients with unilateral adrenal hyperplasia, and 25 patients with bilateral adrenal hyperplasia. Of the 52 patients with a nodule detected on CT, subsequent AVS diagnosed bilateral adrenal hyperplasia in 14 patients (27%). Compared to the results of combining CT with AVS, the accuracy of CT alone for diagnosing aldosterone-producing adenomas was 71.1% (P < 0.001). The cure rate for hypertension after adrenalectomy was 39.2%, with improvement in 53.5% of patients. On univariate analysis, predictors of persistent hypertension were male gender and preoperative systolic blood pressure. CONCLUSION To avoid inappropriate surgery, AVS is necessary for diagnosing unilateral nodules with aldosterone hypersecretion detected by CT. PMID:24047720

Cortical inter-hemispheric circuits for multimodal vocal learning in songbirds.

PubMed

Paterson, Amy K; Bottjer, Sarah W

2017-10-15

Vocal learning in songbirds and humans is strongly influenced by social interactions based on sensory inputs from several modalities. Songbird vocal learning is mediated by cortico-basal ganglia circuits that include the SHELL region of lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior nidopallium (LMAN), but little is known concerning neural pathways that could integrate multimodal sensory information with SHELL circuitry. In addition, cortical pathways that mediate the precise coordination between hemispheres required for song production have been little studied. In order to identify candidate mechanisms for multimodal sensory integration and bilateral coordination for vocal learning in zebra finches, we investigated the anatomical organization of two regions that receive input from SHELL: the dorsal caudolateral nidopallium (dNCL SHELL ) and a region within the ventral arcopallium (Av). Anterograde and retrograde tracing experiments revealed a topographically organized inter-hemispheric circuit: SHELL and dNCL SHELL , as well as adjacent nidopallial areas, send axonal projections to ipsilateral Av; Av in turn projects to contralateral SHELL, dNCL SHELL , and regions of nidopallium adjacent to each. Av on each side also projects directly to contralateral Av. dNCL SHELL and Av each integrate inputs from ipsilateral SHELL with inputs from sensory regions in surrounding nidopallium, suggesting that they function to integrate multimodal sensory information with song-related responses within LMAN-SHELL during vocal learning. Av projections share this integrated information from the ipsilateral hemisphere with contralateral sensory and song-learning regions. Our results suggest that the inter-hemispheric pathway through Av may function to integrate multimodal sensory feedback with vocal-learning circuitry and coordinate bilateral vocal behavior. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Comparison of C-arm computed tomography and on-site quick cortisol assay for adrenal venous sampling: A retrospective study of 178 patients.

PubMed

Chang, Chin-Chen; Lee, Bo-Ching; Chang, Yeun-Chung; Wu, Vin-Cent; Huang, Kuo-How; Liu, Kao-Lang

2017-12-01

To compare the performance of on-site quick cortisol assay (QCA) and C-arm computed tomography (CT) assistance on adrenal venous sampling (AVS) without adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation. The institutional review board at our hospital approved this retrospective study, which included 178 consecutive patients with primary aldosteronism. During AVS, we used C-arm CT to confirm right adrenal cannulation between May 2012 and June 2015 (n = 100) and QCA for bilateral adrenal cannulation between July 2015 and September 2016 (n = 78). Successful AVS required a selectivity index (cortisol adrenal vein /cortisol peripheral ) of ≥ 2.0 bilaterally. The overall success rate of C-arm CT-assisted AVS was 87%, which increased to 97.4% under QCA (P = .013). The procedure time (C-arm CT, 49.5 ± 21.3 min; QCA, 37.5 ± 15.6 min; P < .001) and radiation dose (C-arm CT, 673.9 ± 613.8 mGy; QCA, 346.4 ± 387.8 mGy; P < .001) were also improved. The resampling rate was 16% and 21.8% for C-arm CT and QCA, respectively. The initial success rate of the performing radiologist remained stable during the study period (C-arm CT 75%; QCA, 82.1%, P = .259). QCA might be superior to C-arm CT for improving the performance of AVS. • Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is a technically challenging procedure. • C-arm CT and quick cortisol assay (QCA) are efficient for assisting AVS. • QCA might outperform C-arm CT in enhancing AVS performance.

[Role of adrenal vein sampling in differential diagnosis of primary aldosteronism subtypes].

PubMed

Li, H Y; Li, P; Shen, S M; Zhang, X B; Feng, W H; Huang, H; Chen, W; Zhu, D L

2017-11-14

Objective: To investigate the role of adrenal vein sampling (AVS) in identifying the subtype of primary aldosteronism (PA). Methods: AVS was performed in 50 patients who were confirmed as PA between September 2010 and September 2016 in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital. Clinical, biochemical and follow-up data were reviewed retrospectively. Bilaterally simultaneous catheterization without cosyntropin stimulation and contemporaneous cortisol measurement during AVS were used. Selectivity index (SI)≥1.5 suggested that the sample was from the adrenal vein.Lateralization index (LI) ≥2 suggested unilateral disease.Clinical data was further compared and the AVS findings were analyzed. Results: AVS was successful performed in 41 cases of 50 patients, and the success rate was 82%. According to the results of AVS and postoperative pathology, 41 cases were divided into aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA)/unilateral adrenal hyperplasia (UAH) group (24 cases) and idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA) group (17 cases). Compared with IHA group, patients with APA/UAH showed longer duration of hypertension[10.0 (5.0, 13.0) y vs 4.0 (2.0, 8.0) y, P =0.046], higher proportion of hypokalemia (95.8% vs 64.7%, P =0.009). Furthermore, patients with APA/UAH demonstrated lower plasma renin activity ( P =0.089), higher plasma aldosterone concentration and aldosterone to renin ratio (ARR) (both P <0.05). The diagnostic concordance between CT and adrenal vein sampling was only 48.8%(20/41). Conclusions: The application of bilaterally simultaneous catheterization and contemporaneous cortisol measurement improves success rate and diagnostic accuracy of AVS. AVS is useful in subtype diagnosis of PA with equivocal imaging findings.

Comfort and exertion while using filtering facepiece respirators with exhalation valve and an active venting system among male military personnel.

PubMed

Seng, Melvin; Wee, Liang En; Zhao, Xiahong; Cook, Alex R; Chia, Sin Eng; Lee, Vernon J

2017-07-06

This study aimed to determine if disposable filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs), with exhalation valve (EV) and a novel active venting system (AVS), provided greater perceived comfort and exertion when compared to standard N95 FFRs without these features among male military personnel performing prolonged essential outdoor duties. We used a randomised open-label controlled crossover study design to compare three FFR options: (a) standard FFR; (b) FFR with EV; and (c) FFR with EV+AVS. Male military personnel aged between 18 and 20 years completed a questionnaire at the beginning (baseline), after two hours of standardised non-strenuous outdoor duty and after 12 hours of duty divided into two-hour work-rest cycles. Participants rated the degree of discomfort, exertion and symptoms using a five-point Likert scale. The association between outcomes and the types of FFR was assessed using a multivariate ordered probit mixed-effects model. For a majority of the symptoms, study participants rated FFR with EV and FFR with EV+AVS with significantly better scores than standard FFR. Both FFR with EV and FFR with EV+AVS had significantly less discomfort (FFR with EV+AVS: 91.1%; FFR with EV: 57.6%) and exertion (FFR with EV+AVS: 83.5%; FFR with EV: 34.4%) than standard FFR. FFR with EV+AVS also had significantly better scores for exertion (53.4%) and comfort (39.4%) when compared to FFR with EV. Usage of FFR with EV+AVS resulted in significantly reduced symptoms, discomfort and exertion when compared to FFR with EV and standard FFR.

Students' Mathematical Work on Absolute Value: Focusing on Conceptions, Errors and Obstacles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elia, Iliada; Özel, Serkan; Gagatsis, Athanasios; Panaoura, Areti; Özel, Zeynep Ebrar Yetkiner

2016-01-01

This study investigates students' conceptions of absolute value (AV), their performance in various items on AV, their errors in these items and the relationships between students' conceptions and their performance and errors. The Mathematical Working Space (MWS) is used as a framework for studying students' mathematical work on AV and the…

Effects of chronic lesions of the anteroventral third ventricle region on baroreceptor reflex function in conscious rats

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lewis, S. J.; Whalen, E. J.; Beltz, T. G.; Johnson, A. K.

1999-01-01

This study determined baroreceptor reflex (BR) function in conscious rats which had received sham or electrolytic lesions of the anteroventral third ventricle (AV3V) 54-56 days previously. Resting mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) values of the AV3V-lesion rats were similar to those of sham-lesion rats (P>0.05 for both comparisons). The sensitivity of the BR-mediated tachycardia in AV3V-lesion was greater than in sham-lesion rats (-9. 92+/-1.00 vs. -4.54+/-0.45 bpm/mmHg, P<0.05). The sensitivity of the BR-mediated bradycardia in AV3V-lesion rats was also greater than in rats with sham lesions (-3.56+/-0.38 vs. -2.06+/-0.42 bpm/mmHg, P<0. 05). The AV3V lesions did not affect other BR parameters. These findings demonstrate that chronic lesions of the AV3V region increase the sensitivity of the baroreceptor HR reflex in conscious rats. Copyright 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

Distinct binding of PET ligands PBB3 and AV-1451 to tau fibril strains in neurodegenerative tauopathies

PubMed Central

Ono, Maiko; Sahara, Naruhiko; Kumata, Katsushi; Ji, Bin; Ni, Ruiqing; Koga, Shunsuke; Dickson, Dennis W.; Trojanowski, John Q.; Lee, Virginia M-Y.; Yoshida, Mari; Hozumi, Isao; Yoshiyama, Yasumasa; van Swieten, John C.; Nordberg, Agneta; Suhara, Tetsuya; Zhang, Ming-Rong; Higuchi, Makoto

2017-01-01

Abstract Diverse neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by deposition of tau fibrils composed of conformers (i.e. strains) unique to each illness. The development of tau imaging agents has enabled visualization of tau lesions in tauopathy patients, but the modes of their binding to different tau strains remain elusive. Here we compared binding of tau positron emission tomography ligands, PBB3 and AV-1451, by fluorescence, autoradiography and homogenate binding assays with homologous and heterologous blockades using tauopathy brain samples. Fluorescence microscopy demonstrated intense labelling of non-ghost and ghost tangles with PBB3 and AV-1451, while dystrophic neurites were more clearly detected by PBB3 in brains of Alzheimer’s disease and diffuse neurofibrillary tangles with calcification, characterized by accumulation of all six tau isoforms. Correspondingly, partially distinct distributions of autoradiographic labelling of Alzheimer’s disease slices with 11C-PBB3 and 18F-AV-1451 were noted. Neuronal and glial tau lesions comprised of 4-repeat isoforms in brains of progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration and familial tauopathy due to N279K tau mutation and 3-repeat isoforms in brains of Pick’s disease and familial tauopathy due to G272V tau mutation were sensitively detected by PBB3 fluorescence in contrast to very weak AV-1451 signals. This was in line with moderate 11C-PBB3 versus faint 18F-AV-1451 autoradiographic labelling of these tissues. Radioligand binding to brain homogenates revealed multiple binding components with differential affinities for 11C-PBB3 and 18F-AV-1451, and higher availability of binding sites on progressive supranuclear palsy tau deposits for 11C-PBB3 than 18F-AV-1451. Our data indicate distinct selectivity of PBB3 compared to AV-1451 for diverse tau fibril strains. This highlights the more robust ability of PBB3 to capture wide-range tau pathologies. PMID:28087578

Development of a modified straw method for vitrification of in vitro-produced bovine blastocysts and various genes expression in between the methods.

PubMed

Ha, A-Na; Lee, Sang-Ryeul; Jeon, Jeong-Seon; Park, Han-Seul; Lee, Sang-Ho; Jin, Jong-In; Sessions, Benjamin R; Wang, Zhongde; White, Kenneth L; Kong, Il-Keun

2014-02-01

This study evaluated a modified plastic straw loading method for vitrification of in vitro-produced bovine blastocysts. A modified straw was used with a depressed area on its inner surface to which embryos attach. In vitro-produced blastocysts were randomly assigned into three groups: (i) blastocysts attached to the inner surface of a plastic straw (aV), (ii) blastocysts attached to the inner surface of a modified plastic straw (maV), and (iii) non-vitrified blastocysts (control). The recovery rates were not significantly different between aV and maV groups (95.8% vs. 94.3%). The post-thaw survival rate did not significantly differ between aV and maV groups (86.4% vs. 88.2%). The total cell numbers of blastocyst was higher in control than in aV and maV groups (142 ± 21.8 vs. 117 ± 29.7 and 120 ± 25.2; P < 0.05), but not significantly differ between aV and maV groups. The mRNA levels of pro-apoptosis related genes Bax and Caspase-3 were higher in aV and maV than in control (P < 0.05). By contrast, the mRNA levels of anti-apoptotic genes Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 and of antioxidant-related genes MnSOD and Prdx5 were lower in aV and maV than in control (P < 0.05). Confocal microscopy analysis of Golgi apparatus and mitochondria showed that the fluorescence intensity of Golgi apparatus and mitochondria was higher in control than in aV and maV groups. In conclusion, both aV and maV methods can be used to successfully vitrify IVP blastocysts, with maV method to be preferable because of its easiness in embryo loading. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Modelling grain alignment by radiative torques and hydrogen formation torques in reflection nebula

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoang, Thiem; Lazarian, A.; Andersson, B.-G.

2015-04-01

Reflection nebulae - dense cores - illuminated by surrounding stars offer a unique opportunity to directly test our quantitative model of grain alignment based on radiative torques (RATs) and to explore new effects arising from additional torques. In this paper, we first perform detailed modelling of grain alignment by RATs for the IC 63 reflection nebula illuminated both by a nearby γ Cas star and the diffuse interstellar radiation field. We calculate linear polarization pλ of background stars by radiatively aligned grains and explore the variation of fractional polarization (pλ/AV) with visual extinction AV across the cloud. Our results show that the variation of pV/AV versus AV from the dayside of IC 63 to its centre can be represented by a power law (p_V/A_V∝ A_V^{η }) with different slopes depending on AV. We find a shallow slope η ˜ -0.1 for AV < 3 and a very steep slope η ˜ -2 for AV > 4. We then consider the effects of additional torques due to H2 formation and model grain alignment by joint action of RATs and H2 torques. We find that pV/AV tends to increase with an increasing magnitude of H2 torques. In particular, the theoretical predictions obtained for pV/AV and peak wavelength λmax in this case show an improved agreement with the observational data. Our results reinforce the predictive power of the RAT alignment mechanism in a broad range of environmental conditions and show the effect of pinwheel torques in environments with efficient H2 formation. Physical parameters involved in H2 formation may be constrained using detailed modelling of grain alignment combined with observational data. In addition, we discuss implications of our modelling for interpreting latest observational data by Planck and other ground-based instruments.

Biomarkers of IgA vasculitis nephritis in children

PubMed Central

Pillebout, Evangeline; Jamin, Agnès; Ayari, Hamza; Housset, Pierre; Pierre, Melissa; Sauvaget, Virginia; Viglietti, Denis; Deschenes, Georges

2017-01-01

Henoch–Schönlein purpura is a systemic vasculitis characterized by IgA deposits, which target the skin, joints, and kidneys, among other organs. In children, prognosis is often good but little is known about biomarkers of pediatric nephritis. We hypothesized that biological markers, including cytokines, immunoglobulins, IgA-immune complexes, IgA glycosylation and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), may discriminate IgA vasculitis (IgAV) pediatric patients with renal involvement from those without renal involvement. Fifty children at the time of IgAV rash between 2010 and 2015 were prospectively enrolled and compared to 21 controls. All patients were assessed for clinical and biological parameters at the time of diagnosis, including the levels of cytokines, immunoglobulins, immune complexes, IgA glycosylation and NGAL in serum and urine. Among IgAV patients, 33 patients exhibited nephritis (IgAV-N) and 17 children were without nephritis (IgAV-woN). The serum level of galactose-deficient (Gd)-IgA1 (p<0.01) and the urinary concentrations of IgA, IgG, IgM, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IgA-IgG complexes and IgA-sCD89 complexes (p<0.001 for all) were higher in the IgAV-N patients than in the IgAV-woN patients. Among those markers, urinary IgA and IgM had the highest AUC (0.86 and 0.87 respectively, p<0.0001). This prospective cohort study furthers our understanding of the pathophysiology of IgAV. We identified biomarkers that are able to distinguish patients initially with or without nephritis. To conclude, serum Gd-IgA1 and urinary IgA, IgG, IgM, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IgA-IgG and IgA-sCD89 complexes could identify IgAV pediatric patients with renal involvement at the time of diagnosis. PMID:29190714

The subtyping of primary aldosteronism by adrenal vein sampling: sequential blood sampling causes factitious lateralization.

PubMed

Rossitto, Giacomo; Battistel, Michele; Barbiero, Giulio; Bisogni, Valeria; Maiolino, Giuseppe; Diego, Miotto; Seccia, Teresa M; Rossi, Gian Paolo

2018-02-01

The pulsatile secretion of adrenocortical hormones and a stress reaction occurring when starting adrenal vein sampling (AVS) can affect the selectivity and also the assessment of lateralization when sequential blood sampling is used. We therefore tested the hypothesis that a simulated sequential blood sampling could decrease the diagnostic accuracy of lateralization index for identification of aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA), as compared with bilaterally simultaneous AVS. In 138 consecutive patients who underwent subtyping of primary aldosteronism, we compared the results obtained simultaneously bilaterally when starting AVS (t-15) and 15 min after (t0), with those gained with a simulated sequential right-to-left AVS technique (R ⇒ L) created by combining hormonal values obtained at t-15 and at t0. The concordance between simultaneously obtained values at t-15 and t0, and between simultaneously obtained values and values gained with a sequential R ⇒ L technique, was also assessed. We found a marked interindividual variability of lateralization index values in the patients with bilaterally selective AVS at both time point. However, overall the lateralization index simultaneously determined at t0 provided a more accurate identification of APA than the simulated sequential lateralization indexR ⇒ L (P = 0.001). Moreover, regardless of which side was sampled first, the sequential AVS technique induced a sequence-dependent overestimation of lateralization index. While in APA patients the concordance between simultaneous AVS at t0 and t-15 and between simultaneous t0 and sequential technique was moderate-to-good (K = 0.55 and 0.66, respectively), in non-APA patients, it was poor (K = 0.12 and 0.13, respectively). Sequential AVS generates factitious between-sides gradients, which lower its diagnostic accuracy, likely because of the stress reaction arising upon starting AVS.

[F-18]-AV-1451 binding correlates with postmortem neurofibrillary tangle Braak staging.

PubMed

Marquié, Marta; Siao Tick Chong, Michael; Antón-Fernández, Alejandro; Verwer, Eline E; Sáez-Calveras, Nil; Meltzer, Avery C; Ramanan, Prianca; Amaral, Ana C; Gonzalez, Jose; Normandin, Marc D; Frosch, Matthew P; Gómez-Isla, Teresa

2017-10-01

[F-18]-AV-1451, a PET tracer specifically developed to detect brain neurofibrillary tau pathology, has the potential to facilitate accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), staging of brain tau burden and monitoring disease progression. Recent PET studies show that patients with mild cognitive impairment and AD dementia exhibit significantly higher in vivo [F-18]-AV-1451 retention than cognitively normal controls. Importantly, PET patterns of [F-18]-AV-1451 correlate well with disease severity and seem to match the predicted topographic Braak staging of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in AD, although this awaits confirmation. We studied the correlation of autoradiographic binding patterns of [F-18]-AV-1451 and the stereotypical spatiotemporal pattern of progression of NFTs using legacy postmortem brain samples representing different Braak NFT stages (I-VI). We performed [F-18]-AV-1451 phosphor-screen autoradiography and quantitative tau measurements (stereologically based NFT counts and biochemical analysis of tau pathology) in three brain regions (entorhinal cortex, superior temporal sulcus and visual cortex) in a total of 22 cases: low Braak (I-II, n = 6), intermediate Braak (III-IV, n = 7) and high Braak (V-VI, n = 9). Strong and selective [F-18]-AV-1451 binding was detected in all tangle-containing regions matching precisely the observed pattern of PHF-tau immunostaining across the different Braak stages. As expected, no signal was detected in the white matter or other non-tangle containing regions. Quantification of [F-18]-AV-1451 binding was very significantly correlated with the number of NFTs present in each brain region and with the total tau and phospho-tau content as reported by Western blot and ELISA. [F-18]-AV-1451 is a promising biomarker for in vivo quantification of brain tau burden in AD. Neuroimaging-pathologic studies conducted on postmortem material from individuals imaged while alive are now needed to confirm these observations.

Epicardial Adipose Tissue Thickness Independently Predicts Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis.

PubMed

Mahabadi, Amir A; Kahlert, Heike A; Dykun, Iryna; Balcer, Bastian; Kahlert, Philipp; Rassaf, Tienush

2017-05-01

Epicardial fat tissue (EAT) is associated with coronary as well as aortic valve calcification. The study aim was to determine whether EAT thickness is different in patients with and without aortic valve stenosis (AVS). A cohort of 200 consecutive patients with severe AVS and 200 matched patients without AVS were included retrospectively in the study. EAT thickness was quantified, using transthoracic echocardiography, as the space between the epicardial wall of the myocardium and the visceral layer of the pericardium. Unadjusted and risk factor-adjusted logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association of EAT thickness with the presence of AVS. Overall, 400 patients (182 males, 218 females; mean age 79.6 ± 6.5 years) were included in the study. EAT thickness was significantly higher in patients with severe AVS (7.4 ± 0.3 mm versus 5.8 ± 0.2 mm; p <0.0001 for patients with and without AVS, respectively). In logistic regression analysis, an increase in EAT by one standard deviation was associated with a two-fold increased occurrence of AVS (OR [95%CI]: 2.10 [1.65-2.68]; p <0.0001). Associations remained stable upon adjustment for age, gender and traditional cardiovascular risk factors (2.08 [1.59-2.72]; p <0.0001). Body mass index (BMI) -specific subgroup analysis showed that the link between EAT and AVS was independent of BMI (1.78 [1.15-2.75], 2.62 [1.71- 4.02], and 2.22 [1.36- 3.62], for BMI <25 kg/m2, 25-30 kg/m2, and >30kg/ m2, respectively). EAT, in addition to traditional cardiovascular risk factors, significantly improved the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (from 0.70 to 0.76; p = 0.003). EAT thickness is significantly associated with severe AVS, independent of traditional risk factors. While further studies are needed to confirm these results, the present findings support the hypothesis that EAT may influence sclerosis of the aortic valve.

Adrenal venous sampling in primary aldosteronism: multinomial regression modeling to detect aldosterone secretion lateralization when right adrenal sampling is missing.

PubMed

Durivage, Camille; Blanchette, Rémi; Soulez, Gilles; Chagnon, Miguel; Gilbert, Patrick; Giroux, Marie-France; Bourdeau, Isabelle; Oliva, Vincent L; Lacroix, André; Therasse, Eric

2017-02-01

Difficulty to recognize or canulate the right adrenal vein is the most frequent cause of adrenal venous sampling (AVS) failure. We aimed to assess multinomial regression modeling (MRM) of peripheral and left adrenal vein samplings to detect lateralization of aldosterone secretion when the right AVS is missing. Simultaneous bilateral AVS samplings were performed before (basal) and after intravenous cosyntropin injection in 188 consecutive patients between December 1989 and September 2015. Different reference standards for lateralization of aldosterone secretion were defined for basal and for postcosyntropin AVS and according to lateralization index cutoffs at least 2 and at least 4. MRMs were built to detect lateralization of aldosterone secretion according to these reference standards using only peripheral and left adrenal veins samplings (without the right AVS). Detection accuracy was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves and detection sensitivities were reported for specificity at least 95%. For basal AVS with lateralization index at least 2, AUROC were respectively 0.931 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.894-0.968] and 0.922 (95% CI 0.882-0.962) for right and left lateralization of aldosterone secretion detection and MRM could detect respectively 65.5 and 62.7% of the right and left lateralization of aldosterone secretion. For AVS after cosyntropin with lateralization index at least 4, AUROC were respectively 0.964 (95% CI: 0.940-0.987) and 0.955 (95% CI: 0.927-0.983) for right and left lateralization of aldosterone secretion, and MRM could detect respectively 77.2 and 72.9% of the right and left lateralization of aldosterone secretion. MRM can detect lateralization of aldosterone secretion without the right AVS in most patients and could eliminate the need for repeat AVS when right adrenal vein canulation is nonselective or impossible.

Use of plasma metanephrine to aid adrenal venous sampling in combined aldosterone and cortisol over-secretion.

PubMed

Goupil, Rémi; Wolley, Martin; Ungerer, Jacobus; McWhinney, Brett; Mukai, Kuniaki; Naruse, Mitsuhide; Gordon, Richard D; Stowasser, Michael

2015-01-01

In patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) undergoing adrenal venous sampling (AVS), cortisol levels are measured to assess lateralization of aldosterone overproduction. Concomitant adrenal autonomous cortisol and aldosterone secretion therefore have the potential to confound AVS results. We describe a case where metanephrine was measured during AVS to successfully circumvent this problem. A 55-year-old hypertensive male had raised plasma aldosterone/renin ratios and PA confirmed by fludrocortisone suppression testing. Failure of plasma cortisol to suppress overnight following dexamethasone and persistently suppressed corticotrophin were consistent with adrenal hypercortisolism. On AVS, comparison of adrenal and peripheral A/F ratios (left 5.7 vs peripheral 1.0; right 1.7 vs peripheral 1.1) suggested bilateral aldosterone production, with the left gland dominant but without contralateral suppression. However, using aldosterone/metanephrine ratios (left 9.7 vs peripheral 2.4; right 1.3 vs peripheral 2.5), aldosterone production lateralized to the left with good contralateral suppression. The patient underwent left laparoscopic adrenalectomy with peri-operative glucocorticoid supplementation to prevent adrenal insufficiency. Pathological examination revealed adrenal cortical adenomas producing both cortisol and aldosterone within a background of aldosterone-producing cell clusters. Hypertension improved and cured of PA and hypercortisolism were confirmed by negative post-operative fludrocortisone suppression and overnight 1 mg dexamethasone suppression testing. Routine dexamethasone suppression testing in patients with PA permits detection of concurrent hypercortisolism which can confound AVS results and cause unilateral PA to be misdiagnosed as bilateral with patients thereby denied potentially curative surgical treatment. In such patients, measurement of plasma metanephrine during AVS may overcome this issue. Simultaneous autonomous overproduction of cortisol and aldosterone is increasingly recognised although still apparently uncommon.Because cortisol levels are used during AVS to correct for differences in dilution of adrenal with non-adrenal venous blood when assessing for lateralisation, unilateral cortisol overproduction with contralateral suppression could confound the interpretation of AVS resultsMeasuring plasma metanephrine during AVS to calculate lateralisation ratios may circumvent this problem.

A Tale of Two Stars: The Extreme O7 Iaf+ Supergiant AV 83 and the OC7.5 III((f)) star AV 69

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hillier, D. John; Lanz, T.; Heap, S. R.; Hubeny, I.; Smith, L. J.; Evans, C. J.; Lennon, D. J.; Bouret, J. C.

2003-05-01

We present a detailed study of AV 83, an O7 Iaf+ supergiant, and AV 69 [OC7.5 III((f))] in the SMC. The stars have similar effective temperatures and luminosities but show very different wind signatures. For our study we have used the non-LTE line-blanketed atmosphere code developed by Hillier and Miller, which explicitly allows for line blanketing by C, N, O, S, Ar, Ne, Fe, and other elements. Our study finds that AV 83 has an effective temperature of approximately 33,000 K and logg~3.25. It has an extended photosphere as a result of a ``low'' effective surface gravity and a much denser wind than main-sequence O stars. We can match the spectrum only by using a slow velocity law with β~2, a value that is much larger than the values of around 1 predicted by standard radiation wind theory. Further, we show that the Hα emission profile in AV 83 is sensitive to the adopted surface gravity. To fit the spectrum of AV 83, we have considered conventional models in which the wind is smooth and alternate models in which the winds are highly clumped. Both types of winds yield a satisfactory fit to the majority of lines in the observed spectrum; however, strong UV photospheric lines and the P V resonance transitions favor a clumped wind. If clumping is important, it must begin at relatively low velocities (i.e., 30 km s-1, not 300 km s-1). In the smooth wind, the line force is too small to drive the wind. In the clumped wind, the line force is generally sufficient to drive the wind, although there are still some discrepancies around the sonic point. In AV 83, the N abundance is substantially enhanced relative to normal SMC abundances, while both C and O are SMC-like, consistent with the presence of internally processed CNO material at the stellar surface. The N III λ4640 multiplet, which is known to be produced by dielectronic recombination, is well reproduced by the models. These lines, and the adjacent C III λ4649 multiplet, show a significant sensitivity to surface gravity, as well as the usual sensitivity to abundance and effective temperature. Incoherent electron scattering, occurring within the photosphere, can explain the broad wings seen on these lines. We have modeled the Fe spectrum (Fe IV-Fe VI) in the UV in both AV 83 and AV 69. For stars with an effective temperature around 33,000 K, the Fe IV-to-Fe V line ratios form a useful effective temperature diagnostic and give results consistent with those found from optical and UV line diagnostics. The derived iron abundance, which is sensitive to the adopted microturbulent velocity, is 0.2-0.4 times the solar iron abundance in AV 83, while 0.2 solar gives a good fit for AV 69. The wind of AV 69 is substantially less dense than that of AV 83. Because of the lack of suitable diagnostics, it is impossible to constrain the mass-loss rate and velocity law independently. Its spectrum indicates that it has a similar effective temperature to AV 83 (Teff~34,000 K), a substantially higher gravity (logg=3.5) than AV 83, and a CNO abundance pattern that has not been influenced by internal CNO processing. We show that the N/C abundance ratio is substantially below solar, in agreement with SMC nebular and stellar abundance studies. The differences between the spectra of AV 83 and AV 69, and between the derived masses and surface abundances, are striking. We have examined possible causes, and only one seems consistent with the observations and our current understanding of massive star evolution. AV 83 was most likely a fast rotator that experienced rotationally enhanced mass loss. The presence of enhanced N but almost normal C and O abundances is a direct indication of rotationally induced mixing. On the other hand, AV 69 is a slow rotator. As part of our analyses, we have systematically examined the influence of the H/He abundance ratio, the mass-loss rate, the velocity law, the Fe abundance, microturbulence, and clumping on the theoretical spectrum. We illustrate which lines provide useful diagnostics and highlight some of the difficulties associated with spectroscopic analyses of O stars. The spectrum of AV 83 shows the presence of photospheric absorption lines, the presence of lines formed at the base of the wind, and numerous wind lines. Since these lines sample the photosphere and the entire wind, extreme O If supergiants, such as AV 83, are ideal candidates to probe conditions in stellar winds and hence further our knowledge of O star winds. Based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS5-26555. Based in part, on observations with the NASA-CNES-CSA Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer. FUSE is operated by Johns Hopkins University under NASA contract NAS5-32985.

Pacemaker mediated tachycardia as a complication of the autointrinsic conduction search function.

PubMed

Dennis, Malcolm J; Sparks, Paul B

2004-06-01

The autointrinsic conduction search (AICS) option, featured on some DDD pacemakers, performs periodic assessments of atrioventricular (AV) conduction capability during a single beat AV delay extension. Demonstration of ventricular conduction during the prolonged AV delay, permits ongoing AV delay extension if the patient's intrinsic conduction is preferred to ventricular pacing. A case is presented where the wide separation of atrial and ventricular pacing during the conduction search permitted retrograde ventriculoatrial conduction, precipitating pacemaker mediated tachycardia (PMT) on seven occasions in one patient. Two onset patterns are reported, both attributable to the AICS option. Recommendations for prevention strategies are made.

Fractional order absolute vibration suppression (AVS) controllers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halevi, Yoram

2017-04-01

Absolute vibration suppression (AVS) is a control method for flexible structures. The first step is an accurate, infinite dimension, transfer function (TF), from actuation to measurement. This leads to the collocated, rate feedback AVS controller that in some cases completely eliminates the vibration. In case of the 1D wave equation, the TF consists of pure time delays and low order rational terms, and the AVS controller is rational. In all other cases, the TF and consequently the controller are fractional order in both the delays and the "rational parts". The paper considers stability, performance and actual implementation in such cases.

Quantitative analysis of binding sites for 9-fluoropropyl-(+)-dihydrotetrabenazine ([¹⁸F]AV-133) in a MPTP-lesioned PD mouse model.

PubMed

Chao, Ko-Ting; Tsao, Hsin-Hsin; Weng, Yi-Hsin; Hsiao, Ing-Tsung; Hsieh, Chia-Ju; Wey, Shiaw-Pyng; Yen, Tzu-Chen; Kung, Mei-Ping; Lin, Kun-Ju

2012-09-01

[¹⁸F]AV-133 is a novel PET tracer for targeting the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2). The aim of this study is to characterize and quantify the loss of monoamine neurons with [¹⁸F]AV-133 in the MPTP-lesioned PD mouse model using animal PET imaging and ex vivo quantitative autoradiography (QARG). Optimal imaging time window of [¹⁸F]AV-133 was first determined in normal C57BL/6 mice (n = 3) with a 90-min dynamic scan. The reproducibility of [¹⁸F]AV-133 PET imaging was evaluated by performing a test-retest study within 1 week for the normal group (n = 6). For MPTP-lesioned studies, normal, and MPTP-treated [25 mg mg/kg once (Group A) and twice (Group B), respectively, daily for 5 days, i.p., groups of four normal and MPTP-treated] mice were used. PET imaging studies at baseline and at Day 4 post-MPTP injections were performed at the optimal time window after injection of 11.1 MBq [¹⁸F]AV-133. Specific uptake ratio (SUr) of [¹⁸F]AV-133 was calculated by [(target uptake-cerebellar uptake)/cerebellar uptake] with cerebellum as the reference region. Ex vitro QARG and immunohistochemistry (IHC) studies with tyrosine hydroxylase antibody were carried out to confirm the abundance of dopaminergic neurons. The variability between [¹⁸F]AV-133 test-retest striatal SUr was 6.60 ± 3.61% with less than 5% standard deviation between animals (intervariability). The percentages of MPTP lesions were Group A 0.94 ± 0.29, -42.1% and Group B 0.65 ± 0.09, -60.4%. By QARG, specific binding of [¹⁸F]AV-133 was reduced relative to the control groups by 50.6% and 60.7% in striatum and by 30.6% and 46.4% in substantia nigra (Groups A and B, respectively). Relatively small [¹⁸F]AV-133 SUr decline was noted in the serotonin and norepinephrine-enriched regions (7.9% and 9.4% in mid-brain). Results obtained from IHC consistently confirmed the sensitivity and selectivity of dopaminergic neuron loss after MPTP treatment. [¹⁸F]AV-133 PET SUr displayed a high test-retest stability. The SUr significantly declined in the caudate putamen but not in the hypothalamus and midbrain regions after MPTP treatment in the mouse brain. The results obtained for QARG and IHC were consistent and correlated well with the PET imaging studies. On the basis of these concordant results, we find that [¹⁸F]AV-133 should serve as a useful and reliable PET tracer for evaluating nigrostriatal degeneration. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

SU-D-17A-04: The Impact of Audiovisual Biofeedback On Image Quality During 4D Functional and Anatomic Imaging: Results of a Prospective Clinical Trial

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

Keall, P; Pollock, S; Yang, J

2014-06-01

Purpose: The ability of audiovisual (AV) biofeedback to improve breathing regularity has not previously been investigated for functional imaging studies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of AV biofeedback on 4D-PET and 4D-CT image quality in a prospective clinical trial. We hypothesized that motion blurring in 4D-PET images and the number of artifacts in 4D-CT images are reduced using AV biofeedback. Methods: AV biofeedback is a real-time, interactive and personalized system designed to help a patient self-regulate his/her breathing using a patient-specific representative waveform and musical guides. In an IRB-approved prospective clinical trial, 4D-PET and 4D-CTmore » images of 10 lung cancer patients were acquired with AV biofeedback (AV) and free breathing (FB). The 4D-PET images in 6 respiratory bins were analyzed for motion blurring by: (1) decrease of GTVPET and (2) increase of SUVmax in 4-DPET compared to 3D-PET. The 4D-CT images were analyzed for artifacts by: (1) comparing normalized cross correlation-based scores (NCCS); and (2) quantifying a visual assessment score (VAS). A two-tailed paired t-test was used to test the hypotheses. Results: The impact of AV biofeedback on 4D-PET and 4D-CT images varied widely between patients, suggesting inconsistent patient comprehension and capability. Overall, the 4D-PET decrease of GTVPET was 2.0±3.0cm3 with AV and 2.3±3.9cm{sup 3} for FB (p=0.61). The 4D-PET increase of SUVmax was 1.6±1.0 with AV and 1.1±0.8 with FB (p=0.002). The 4D-CT NCCS were 0.65±0.27 with AV and 0.60±0.32 for FB (p=0.32). The 4D-CT VAS was 0.0±2.7 (p=ns). Conclusion: A 10-patient study demonstrated a statistically significant reduction of motion blurring of AV over FB for 1/2 functional 4D-PET imaging metrics. No difference between AV and FB was found for 2 anatomic 4D-CT imaging metrics. Future studies will focus on optimizing the human-computer interface and including patient training sessions for improved comprehension and capability. Supported by NIH/NCI R01 CA 093626, Stanford BioX Interdisciplinary Initiatives Program, NHMRC Australia Fellowship, and Kwanjeong Educational Foundation. GE Healthcare provided the Respiratory Gating Toolbox for 4D-PET image reconstruction. Stanford University owns US patent #E7955270 which is unlicensed to any commercial entity.« less

Cross-reactivity of Sydney funnel-web spider antivenom: neutralization of the in vitro toxicity of other Australian funnel-web (Atrax and Hadronyche) spider venoms.

PubMed

Graudins, A; Wilson, D; Alewood, P F; Broady, K W; Nicholson, G M

2002-03-01

Australian funnel-web spiders are recognized as one of the most venomous spiders to humans world-wide. Funnel-web spider antivenom (FWS AV) reverses clinical effects of envenomation from the bite of Atrax robustus and a small number of related Hadronyche species. This study assessed the in vitro efficacy of FWS AV in neutralization of the effects of funnel-web spider venoms, collected from various locations along the eastern seaboard of Australia, in an isolated chick biventer cervicis nerve-muscle preparation. Venoms were separated by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis to compare protein composition and transblotted for Western blotting and incubation with FWS AV.SDS-PAGE of venoms revealed similar low and high molecular weight protein bands. Western blotting with FWS AV showed similar antivenom binding with protein bands in all the venoms tested. Male funnel-web spider venoms (7/7) and female venoms (5/10) produced muscle contracture and fasciculation when applied to the nerve-muscle preparation. Venom effects were reversed by subsequent application of FWS AV or prevented by pretreatment of the preparation with antivenom.FWS AV appears to reverse the in vitro toxicity of a number of funnel-web spider venoms from the eastern seaboard of Australia. FWS AV should be effective in the treatment of envenomation from most, if not all, species of Australian funnel-web spiders.

Microcomputer-based artificial vision support system for real-time image processing for camera-driven visual prostheses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fink, Wolfgang; You, Cindy X.; Tarbell, Mark A.

2010-01-01

It is difficult to predict exactly what blind subjects with camera-driven visual prostheses (e.g., retinal implants) can perceive. Thus, it is prudent to offer them a wide variety of image processing filters and the capability to engage these filters repeatedly in any user-defined order to enhance their visual perception. To attain true portability, we employ a commercial off-the-shelf battery-powered general purpose Linux microprocessor platform to create the microcomputer-based artificial vision support system (μAVS2) for real-time image processing. Truly standalone, μAVS2 is smaller than a deck of playing cards, lightweight, fast, and equipped with USB, RS-232 and Ethernet interfaces. Image processing filters on μAVS2 operate in a user-defined linear sequential-loop fashion, resulting in vastly reduced memory and CPU requirements during execution. μAVS2 imports raw video frames from a USB or IP camera, performs image processing, and issues the processed data over an outbound Internet TCP/IP or RS-232 connection to the visual prosthesis system. Hence, μAVS2 affords users of current and future visual prostheses independent mobility and the capability to customize the visual perception generated. Additionally, μAVS2 can easily be reconfigured for other prosthetic systems. Testing of μAVS2 with actual retinal implant carriers is envisioned in the near future.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with aortic valve sclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PubMed

Bonapace, Stefano; Valbusa, Filippo; Bertolini, Lorenzo; Pichiri, Isabella; Mantovani, Alessandro; Rossi, Andrea; Zenari, Luciano; Barbieri, Enrico; Targher, Giovanni

2014-01-01

Recent epidemiological data suggest that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely associated with aortic valve sclerosis (AVS), an emerging risk factor for adverse cardiovascular outcomes, in nondiabetic and type 2 diabetic individuals. To date, nobody has investigated the association between NAFLD and AVS in people with type 2 diabetes, a group of individuals in which the prevalence of these two diseases is high. We recruited 180 consecutive type 2 diabetic patients without ischemic heart disease, valvular heart disease, hepatic diseases or excessive alcohol consumption. NAFLD was diagnosed by liver ultrasonography whereas AVS was determined by conventional echocardiography in all participants. In the whole sample, 120 (66.7%) patients had NAFLD and 53 (29.4%) had AVS. No patients had aortic stenosis. NAFLD was strongly associated with an increased risk of prevalent AVS (odds ratio [OR] 2.79, 95% CI 1.3-6.1, p<0.01). Adjustments for age, sex, duration of diabetes, diabetes treatment, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, hypertension, dyslipidemia, hemoglobin A1c and estimated glomerular filtration rate did not attenuate the strong association between NAFLD and risk of prevalent AVS (adjusted-OR 3.04, 95% CI 1.3-7.3, p = 0.01). Our results provide the first demonstration of a positive and independent association between NAFLD and AVS in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Sediment nickel bioavailability and toxicity to estuarine crustaceans of contrasting bioturbative behaviors--an evaluation of the SEM-AVS paradigm.

PubMed

Chandler, G Thomas; Schlekat, Christian E; Garman, Emily R; He, Lijian; Washburn, Katherine M; Stewart, Emily R; Ferry, John L

2014-11-04

Robust sediment quality criteria require chemistry and toxicity data predictive of concentrations where population/community response should occur under known geochemical conditions. Understanding kinetic and geochemical effects on toxicant bioavailability is key, and these are influenced by infaunal sediment bioturbation. This study used fine-scale sediment and porewater measurement of contrasting infaunal effects on carbon-normalized SEM-AVS to evaluate safe or potentially toxic nickel concentrations in a high-binding Spartina saltmarsh sediment (4%TOC; 35-45 μmol-S2-·g(-1)). Two crustaceans producing sharply contrasting bioturbation--the copepod Amphiascus tenuiremis and amphipod Leptocheirus plumulosus--were cultured in oxic to anoxic sediments with SEM[Ni]-AVS, TOC, porewater [Ni], and porewater DOC measured weekly. From 180 to 750 μg-Ni·g(-1) sediment, amphipod bioturbation reduced [AVS] and enhanced porewater [Ni]. Significant amphipod uptake, mortality, and growth-depression occurred at the higher sediment [Ni] even when [SEM-AVS]/foc suggested acceptable risk. Less bioturbative copepods produced higher AVS and porewater DOC but exhibited net population growth despite porewater [Ni] 1.3-1.7× their aqueous [Ni] LOEC. Copepod aqueous tests with/without dissolved organic matter showed significant aqueous DOC protection, which suggests porewater DOC attenuates sediment Ni toxicity. The SEM[Ni]-AVS relationship was predictive of acceptable risk for copepods at the important population-growth level.

Impact of After Visit Summaries on Patient Return Rates at an Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Clinic

PubMed Central

Carter, Sarah Uma; Watanabe, Mika

2014-01-01

Abstract Objective: To determine whether an after visit summary (AVS) provided to patients at the conclusion of their first acupuncture treatments affects the number of times patients return for follow-up treatments, a retrospective cohort study was performed. Materials and Methods: Two random samples of 100 new patient records (N=200) at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine's (OCOM) outpatient clinics in Portland, OR, were reviewed over a 3-month period before and after the implementation of using the AVS. Patients who had been seen previously at any of the college clinics were excluded. The number of return visits recorded in the MediSoft™ database was hand counted for each patient. Results: The use of an AVS did not significantly change the mean number of return visits for acupuncture (2-sided p-value=0.91), but there was a trend toward more frequent returns by patients who received AVS, compared to those who did not (2-sided p-value=0.0827, relative risk [RR]: 1.51, confidence interval [CI] 0.95–2.41). Conclusions: These data support the concept that the AVS has a positive influence on patient return rates. In this study, patients who received an AVS were 51% more likely to return for 5 visits than patients who did not receive an AVS. PMID:25184014

Evaluation of PSA-age volume score in predicting prostate cancer in Chinese populationArticle Subject.

PubMed

Wu, Yi-Shuo; Wu, Xiao-Bo; Zhang, Ning; Jiang, Guang-Liang; Yu, Yang; Tong, Shi-Jun; Jiang, Hao-Wen; Mao, Shan-Hua; Na, Rong; Ding, Qiang

2018-02-06

This study was performed to evaluate prostate-specific antigen-age volume (PSA-AV) scores in predicting prostate cancer (PCa) in a Chinese biopsy population. A total of 2355 men who underwent initial prostate biopsy from January 2006 to November 2015 in Huashan Hospital were recruited in the current study. The PSA-AV scores were calculated and assessed together with PSA and PSA density (PSAD) retrospectively. Among 2133 patients included in the analysis, 947 (44.4%) were diagnosed with PCa. The mean age, PSA, and positive rates of digital rectal examination result and transrectal ultrasound result were statistically higher in men diagnosed with PCa (all P < 0.05). The values of area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) of PSAD and PSA-AV were 0.864 and 0.851, respectively, in predicting PCa in the entire population, both performed better than PSA (AUC = 0.805; P < 0.05). The superiority of PSAD and PSA-AV was more obvious in subgroup with PSA ranging from 2.0 ng ml-1 to 20.0 ng ml-1. A PSA-AV score of 400 had a sensitivity and specificity of 93.7% and 40.0%, respectively. In conclusion, the PSA-AV score performed equally with PSAD and was better than PSA in predicting PCa. This indicated that PSA-AV score could be a useful tool for predicting PCa in Chinese population.

Gender difference in brain activation to audio-visual sexual stimulation; do women and men experience the same level of arousal in response to the same video clip?

PubMed

Chung, W S; Lim, S M; Yoo, J H; Yoon, H

2013-01-01

Factors related to sexual arousal are different in men and women. The conditions for women to become aroused are more complex. However, the conventional audio-visual stimulation (AVS) materials used to evaluate sexual arousal are universal. In the present study, we investigated sexual differences in the response to different types of AVS by studying activated areas of the brain using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). fMRI was performed during two types of AVS in 20 healthy heterosexual volunteers (aged 20-28 years, 10 men and 10 women). The two AVS types were: (1) mood type, erotic video clips with a concrete story and (2) physical type, directly exposing sexual intercourse and genitalia. fMRI images were analyzed and compared for each stimulation with a Mann-Whitney U test, with statistical significance set at P<0.05. Men preferred the physical type of AVS to the mood type (mean arousal score 2.14 vs 1.86 in females) and women preferred the mood type (mean arousal score 2.14 vs 1.86 in males) (P<0.05). Degrees of activation in brain areas differed between genders and types of AVS for each gender. This should be considered when applying the AVS method to evaluate and diagnose female sexual dysfunction.

Cardiovascular responses to injections of angiotensin II or carbachol into the rostral ventrolateral medulla in rats with AV3V lesions.

PubMed

Vieira, Alexandre Antonio; Colombari, Eduardo; De Luca, Laurival A; Colombari, Débora S A; De Paula, Patrícia M; Menani, José V

2013-11-27

Injection of l-glutamate (GLU) into the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) produces sympathetically-mediated pressor responses that depend on the integrity of the tissue surrounding the anteroventral third ventricle (AV3V region). The injection of angiotensin II (ANG II) or the cholinergic agonist carbachol into the RVLM also produces pressor responses. In the present study, we investigated if the lesion of the AV3V region affects the pressor responses to ANG II or carbachol injected into the RVLM in unanesthetized rats. Male Holtzman rats with sham or electrolytic AV3V lesions and a stainless steel cannula implanted into the RVLM were used. The pressor responses to ANG II (200ng/100nl) injected into the RVLM were reduced by acute (1 day) (12±3 vs. sham lesions: 26±4mmHg) or chronic (15 days) AV3V lesions (12±5 vs. sham lesions: 27±4mmHg), whereas acute or chronic AV3V lesions did not affect the pressor responses to carbachol (1nmol/100nl) injected into the RVLM. The present results suggest that the AV3V region modulates the excitability of the RVLM neurons involved with the pressor response produced by the activation of angiotensinergic mechanisms in this area. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Microcomputer-based artificial vision support system for real-time image processing for camera-driven visual prostheses.

PubMed

Fink, Wolfgang; You, Cindy X; Tarbell, Mark A

2010-01-01

It is difficult to predict exactly what blind subjects with camera-driven visual prostheses (e.g., retinal implants) can perceive. Thus, it is prudent to offer them a wide variety of image processing filters and the capability to engage these filters repeatedly in any user-defined order to enhance their visual perception. To attain true portability, we employ a commercial off-the-shelf battery-powered general purpose Linux microprocessor platform to create the microcomputer-based artificial vision support system (microAVS(2)) for real-time image processing. Truly standalone, microAVS(2) is smaller than a deck of playing cards, lightweight, fast, and equipped with USB, RS-232 and Ethernet interfaces. Image processing filters on microAVS(2) operate in a user-defined linear sequential-loop fashion, resulting in vastly reduced memory and CPU requirements during execution. MiccroAVS(2) imports raw video frames from a USB or IP camera, performs image processing, and issues the processed data over an outbound Internet TCP/IP or RS-232 connection to the visual prosthesis system. Hence, microAVS(2) affords users of current and future visual prostheses independent mobility and the capability to customize the visual perception generated. Additionally, microAVS(2) can easily be reconfigured for other prosthetic systems. Testing of microAVS(2) with actual retinal implant carriers is envisioned in the near future.

Multilingual Affordances in a Swedish Preschool: An Action Research Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ljunggren, Åsa

2016-01-01

This article summarizes the work and the main findings of an action research project that was conducted in an early childhood education and care setting in the city of Malmö, Sweden in the autumn of 2013 and spring 2014. Rönnerman's model (Aktionsforskning i praktiken: förskola och skola på vetenskaplig grund [Action research in practice:…

Gas-Phase Chemistry of Trimethyl Phosphite,

DTIC Science & Technology

keywords include: Flowing afterglow; Trimethyl phosphite ; Reaction mechanisms; Phosphorous ; and Nucleophilic displacement....The reactions of trimethyl phosphite were investigated with a series of nucleophiles. Products, branching ratios, and reaction rate constants are...of methoxide to form a new ion-dipole complex (CH3O-(CH3O)2PZ). If an additional acidic hydrogen is available on the nucleophile, the major products

Peer Socialization into Gendered L2 Mandarin Practices in a Study Abroad Context: Talk in the Dorm

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Diao, Wenhao

2016-01-01

This article reports on the peer socialization of gendered Mandarin practices between three American students and their Chinese roommates in a college dorm in China. Gender is often perceived to be a salient identity category among adult L2 learners overseas. Drawing on the language socialization framework (Ochs and Schieffelin 1984), this study…

Dialing in single-site reactivity of a supported calixarene-protected tetrairidium cluster catalyst

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

Palermo, Andrew; Solovyov, Andrew; Ertler, Daniel

2017-05-04

A closed Ir 4carbonyl cluster,1, comprising a tetrahedral metal frame and threetert-butyl-calix[4]arene(OPr) 3(OCH 2PPh 2) (Ph = phenyl; Pr = propyl) ligands at the basal plane, was silica supported and consists of “*” and “S” sites, which could be dialed in selectively for controlling ethylene hydrogenation catalysis.

Genetics Home Reference: autosomal dominant hyper-IgE syndrome

MedlinePlus

... binding domain of STAT3 cause hyper-IgE syndrome. Nature. 2007 Aug 30;448(7157):1058-62. Epub 2007 Aug 5. Citation on PubMed Renner ED, Torgerson TR, Rylaarsdam S, Añover-Sombke S, Golob K, LaFlam T, Zhu Q, Ochs HD. STAT3 mutation in the original patient with Job's syndrome. N Engl J Med. 2007 Oct 18; ...

Synthesis and biological evaluation of pyrazolylthiazole carboxylic acids as potent anti-inflammatory-antimicrobial agents.

PubMed

Khloya, Poonam; Kumar, Satish; Kaushik, Pawan; Surain, Parveen; Kaushik, Dhirender; Sharma, Pawan K

2015-03-15

Current Letter presents design, synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel series of pyrazolylthiazole carboxylates 1a-1p and corresponding acid derivatives 2a-2p. All 32 novel compounds were tested for their in vivo anti-inflammatory activity by carrageenan-induced rat paw edema method as well as for in vitro antimicrobial activity. All the tested compounds exhibited excellent AI activity profile. Three compounds 1p (R=Cl, R(1)=Cl), 2c (R=H, R(1)=F) and 2n (R=Cl, R(1)=OCH3) were identified as potent anti-inflammatory agents exhibiting edema inhibition of 93.06-89.59% which is comparable to the reference drug indomethacin (91.32%) after 3h of carrageenan injection while most of the other compounds displayed inhibition ⩾80%. In addition, pyrazolylthiazole carboxylic acids (2a-2p) also showed good antimicrobial profile. Compound 2h (R=OCH3, R(1)=Cl) showed excellent antimicrobial activity (MIC 6.25μg/mL) against both Gram positive bacteria comparable with the reference drug ciprofloxacin (MIC 6.25μg/mL). Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Star-shaped azomethines based on tris(2-aminoethyl)amine. Characterization, thermal and optical study.

PubMed

Iwan, Agnieszka; Janeczek, Henryk; Kaczmarczyk, Bozena; Jarzabek, Bozena; Sobota, Michal; Rannou, Patrice

2010-02-01

The synthesis and detailed (physico)-chemical ((1)H/(13)C NMR, FTIR, UV-vis and elemental analysis) characterizations of new star-shaped compounds based on tris(2-aminoethyl)amine, including in their structure an azomethine function (HCN-) and alkoxysemiperfluorinated (-O-(CH(2))(3)-(CF(2))(7)-CF(3)), octadecyloxy aliphatic (-O-(CH(2))(17)-CH(3)) chain or two phenyl rings (-Ph-Ph-) as a terminal group, were reported. The mesomorphic behavior was investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM) and additionally by FTIR(T) and UV-vis(T) spectroscopy. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) technique was used to probe the structural properties of the azomethines. Moreover, the azomethine A1 was electro-spun to prepare fibers with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and investigated by DSC and POM. Additionally, a film of the A1 with PMMA was cast from chloroform and the thermal properties of the film were compared with the thermal properties of the fiber and powder. It was showed that terminal groups dramatically influence the thermal and optical properties of the star-shaped azomethines. Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

H2O-CH4 and H2S-CH4 complexes: a direct comparison through molecular beam experiments and ab initio calculations.

PubMed

Cappelletti, David; Bartocci, Alessio; Frati, Federica; Roncaratti, Luiz F; Belpassi, Leonardo; Tarantelli, Francesco; Lakshmi, Prabha Aiswarya; Arunan, Elangannan; Pirani, Fernando

2015-11-11

New molecular beam scattering experiments have been performed to measure the total (elastic plus inelastic) cross sections as a function of the velocity in collisions between water and hydrogen sulfide projectile molecules and the methane target. Measured data have been exploited to characterize the range and strength of the intermolecular interaction in such systems, which are of relevance as they drive the gas phase molecular dynamics and the clathrate formation. Complementary information has been obtained by rotational spectra, recorded for the hydrogen sulfide-methane complex, with a pulsed nozzle Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. Extensive ab initio calculations have been performed to rationalize all the experimental findings. The combination of experimental and theoretical information has established the ground for the understanding of the nature of the interaction and allows for its basic components to be modelled, including charge transfer, in these weakly bound systems. The intermolecular potential for H2S-CH4 is significantly less anisotropic than for H2O-CH4, although both of them have potential minima that can be characterized as 'hydrogen bonded'.

Crystalline silicon carbide nanoparticles encapsulated in branched wavelike carbon nanotubes: synthesis and optical properties.

PubMed

Xi, Guangcheng; Yu, Shijun; Zhang, Rui; Zhang, Meng; Ma, Dekun; Qian, Yitai

2005-07-14

A novel nanostructure, cubic silicon carbide (3C-SiC) nanoparticles encapsulated in branched wavelike carbon nanotubes have been prepared by a reaction of 1,2-dimenthoxyethane (CH3OCH2CH2OCH3), SiCl4, and Mg in an autoclave at 600 degrees C. According to X-ray powder diffraction, the products are composed of 3C-SiC and carbon. TEM and HRTEM images show that the as-synthesized products are composed of 3C-SiC nanoparticles encapsulated in branched carbon nanotubes with wavelike walls. The diameter of the 3C-SiC cores is approximately 20-40 nm and the thickness of the carbon shells is about 3-5 nm. In Raman scattering spectroscopy, both the TO (Gamma) phonon line and the LO (Gamma) phonon line have red shifts about 6 cm(-1) relative to that for the bulk 3C-SiC. The photoluminescence (PL) spectrum shows that there are two emission peaks: blue light emission (431 nm) and violet light emission (414 nm). A sequential deposition growth process (with cores as the templates for the shells) for the nanostructure was proposed.

The Detection of Hot Cores and Complex Organic Molecules in the Large Magellanic Cloud

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sewilo, Marta; Indebetouw, Remy; Charnley, Steven; Zahorecz, Sarolta; Oliveira, Joana M.; van Loon, Jacco Th.; Ward, Jacob L.; Chen, C.-H. Rosie; Wiseman, Jennifer; Fukui, Yasuo; Kawamura, Akiko; Meixner, Margaret; Onishi, Toshikazu; Schilke, Peter

2018-01-01

We report the detection of the complex organic molecules (COMs) dimethyl ether (CH3OCH3) and methyl formate (CH3OCHO), and their parent species methanol (CH3OH), toward the N113 star-formation region in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). This constitutes the first detection of CH3OCH3 and CH3OCHO outside the Milky Way. We calculated the rotational temperatures (Trot ~ 130 K) and total column densities (Nrot ~ 1016 cm-2) for two sources in N113 with the COMs detection based on multiple transitions of CH3OH, and measured abundances for all detected species. The physical and chemical properties of these sources, and the association with H2O and OH maser emission indicate that they are hot molecular cores. The fractional abundances of COMs scaled by a factor of 2.5 to account for the lower metallicity in the LMC are comparable to those found at the lower end of the range in Galactic hot cores. Our results have important implications for studies of organic chemistry at higher redshift.

Nucleophilic substitution at silicon (SN2@Si) via a central reaction barrier.

PubMed

Bento, A Patrícia; Bickelhaupt, F Matthias

2007-03-16

It is textbook knowledge that nucleophilic substitution at carbon (SN2@C) proceeds via a central reaction barrier which disappears in the corresponding nucleophilic substitution reaction at silicon (SN2@Si). Here, we address the question why the central barrier disappears from SN2@C to SN2@Si despite the fact that these processes are isostructural and isoelectronic. To this end, we have explored and analyzed the potential energy surfaces (PES) of various Cl-+CR3Cl (R=H, CH3) and Cl-+SiR3Cl model reactions (R=H, CH3, C2H5, and OCH3). Our results show that the nature of the SN2 reaction barrier is in essence steric, but that it can be modulated by electronic factors. Thus, simply by increasing the steric demand of the substituents R around the silicon atom, the SN2@Si mechanism changes from its regular single-well PES (with a stable intermediate transition complex, TC), via a triple-well PES (with a pre- and a post-TS before and after the central TC), to a double-well PES (with a TS; R=OCH3), which is normally encountered for SN2@C reactions.

Reaction of singlet-excited 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene and tert-butoxyl radicals with aryl-substituted benzofuranones.

PubMed

Lundgren, Cecilia Vannesjö; Koner, Apurba L; Tinkl, Michael; Pischel, Uwe; Nau, Werner M

2006-03-03

5,7-Di-tert-butyl-3-aryl-3H-benzofuran-2-ones are lactones with potential antioxidant activity, owing to their abstractable benzylic C-H hydrogens. The fluorescence quenching of the azoalkane 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (DBO), an established probe for the hydrogen-donor propensity of chain-breaking antioxidants, was investigated for 16 aryl-substituted benzofuranone derivatives [m,m-(CF3)2, p-CN, m-CN, p-CF3, p-COOCH3, m-CF3, p-Cl, p-F, H, m-CH3, p-CH3, m,p-(CH3)2, p-OCH3, o-CH3, o-CF3, o,m-(CH3)2]. Analysis of the rate data in terms of a linear free energy relationship yielded a reaction constant of rho = +0.35. This implies that n,pi*-excited DBO acts as nucleophilic species. In contrast, hydrogen abstraction of tert-butoxyl radicals from the benzofuranones was accelerated by electron-donating substituents (rho = -0.23), in conformity with the electrophilic character of oxygen-centered alkoxyl radicals. Possible implications for the optimization of the hydrogen-donor propensity of antioxidants through structural variation are discussed.

NiMg/Ceria-Zirconia Cylindrical Pellet Catalysts for Tri-reforming of Surrogate Biogas

DOE PAGES

Zhao, Xianhui; Walker, Devin; Maiti, Debtanu; ...

2017-12-22

Cylindrical NiMg/Ce 0.6Zr 0.4O 2 pellet catalysts with two different sizes (large: radius = 1.59 mm; and small: radius = 0.75 mm) were produced by extrusion of powder catalysts. The small catalyst pellets had a higher specific surface area, pore volume, average pore size, radial crush strength, and resistance to breakage than the large ones. Tri-reforming tests with surrogate biogas were conducted at 3 bar and 882 °C, with the feed molar ratios of CH 4: CO 2: air fixed at 1.0: 0.7: 0.95 and the H 2O/CH 4 molar feed ratio (0.35 – 1.16) varied. The small catalyst pelletsmore » exhibited lower internal mass transfer resistance and higher coking resistance, compared to the large ones. CO 2 conversion decreased and H 2/CO molar ratio increased with the increase of H 2O/CH 4 molar feed ratio, which are consistent with the trends predicted by thermodynamic equilibrium calculations. Finally, the results indicate that the NiMg/Ce 0.6Zr 0.4O 2 catalyst pellets are promising for commercial scale applications.« less

77 FR 20526 - Airworthiness Directives; 328 Support Services GmbH Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-05

... directive (AD) for all 328 Support Services GmbH (Type Certificate previously held by AvCraft Aerospace GmbH... GmbH (Type Certificate Previously Held by AvCraft Aerospace GmbH; Fairchild Dornier GmbH; Dornier... applies to 328 Support Services GmbH (Type Certificate previously held by AvCraft Aerospace GmbH...

Alternative Fuels Data Center

Science.gov Websites

, and Department of Professional and Financial Regulation to develop, test, and operate AVs for public transportation use. An AV is defined as any vehicle that is equipped with a technology that has the capability to operate the vehicle without the direct control of the driver. A municipality that conducts an AV pilot

77 FR 41400 - AV Solar Ranch 1, LLC; Supplemental Notice That Initial Market-Based Rate Filing Includes Request...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-13

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. ER12-2178-000] AV Solar Ranch 1, LLC; Supplemental Notice That Initial Market- Based Rate Filing Includes Request for Blanket Section 204 Authorization This is a supplemental notice in the above-referenced proceeding of AV Solar...

30 CFR 778.9 - Certifying and updating existing permit application information.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... you have previously applied for a permit and the required information is already in AVS, then you may... information already in AVS is accurate and complete may certify to us by swearing or affirming, under oath and in writing, that the relevant information in AVS is accurate, complete, and up to date. (2) Part of...

Creating Engaging Online Learning Material with the JSAV JavaScript Algorithm Visualization Library

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Karavirta, Ville; Shaffer, Clifford A.

2016-01-01

Data Structures and Algorithms are a central part of Computer Science. Due to their abstract and dynamic nature, they are a difficult topic to learn for many students. To alleviate these learning difficulties, instructors have turned to algorithm visualizations (AV) and AV systems. Research has shown that especially engaging AVs can have an impact…

77 FR 12163 - Airworthiness Directives; 328 Support Services GmbH (Type Certificate Previously Held by AvCraft...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-29

... Airworthiness Directives; 328 Support Services GmbH (Type Certificate Previously Held by AvCraft Aerospace GmbH; Fairchild Dornier GmbH; Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH) Airplanes AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA... directive (AD) for all 328 Support Services GmbH (Type Certificate Previously Held by AvCraft Aerospace GmbH...

76 FR 42031 - Airworthiness Directives; 328 Support Services GmbH (Type Certificate Previously Held by AvCraft...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-18

... Airworthiness Directives; 328 Support Services GmbH (Type Certificate Previously Held by AvCraft Aerospace GmbH; Fairchild Dornier GmbH; Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH) Model 328-100 and -300 Airplanes AGENCY: Federal Aviation... 328 Support Services GmbH (Type Certificate Previously Held by AvCraft Aerospace GmbH; Fairchild...

78 FR 52872 - Airworthiness Directives; 328 Support Services GmbH (Type Certificate Previously Held by AvCraft...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-27

... Services GmbH (Type Certificate Previously Held by AvCraft Aerospace GmbH; Fairchild Dornier GmbH; Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH) Airplanes AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of proposed... certain 328 Support Services GmbH (Type Certificate Previously Held by AvCraft Aerospace GmbH; Fairchild...

30 CFR 774.11 - Post-permit issuance requirements for regulatory authorities and other actions based on ownership...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... actions, we, the regulatory authority, must enter into AVS the data shown in the following table— We must enter into AVS all . . . Within 30 days after . . . (1) permit records the permit is issued or... enter the results of each enforcement action, including administrative and judicial decisions, into AVS...

Tumor Specific Detection of an Optically Targeted Antibody Combined with a Quencher-conjugated Neutravidin “Quencher-Chaser”: A Dual “Quench and Chase” Strategy to Improve Target to Non-target Ratios for Molecular Imaging of Cancer

PubMed Central

Ogawa, Mikako; Kosaka, Nobuyuki; Choyke, Peter L; Kobayashi, Hisataka

2009-01-01

In vivo molecular cancer imaging with monoclonal antibodies has great potential not only for cancer detection but also for cancer characterization. However, the prolonged retention of intravenously injected antibody in the blood causes low target tumor-to-background ratio (TBR). Avidin has been used as a “chase” to clear the unbound, circulating biotinylated antibody and decrease the background signal. Here, we utilize a combined approach of a Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) quenched antibody with an “avidin chase” to increase TBR. Trastuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2), was biotinylated and conjugated with the near-infrared (NIR) fluorophore Alexa680 to synthesize Tra-Alexa680-biotin. Next, the FRET quencher, QSY-21, was conjugated to avidin, neutravidin (nAv) or streptavidin (sAv), thus creating Av-QSY21, nAv-QSY21 or sAv-QSY21 as “chasers”. The fluorescence was quenched in vitro by binding Tra-Alexa680-biotin to Av-QSY21, nAv-QSY21 or sAv-QSY21. To evaluate if the injection of quencher-conjugated avidin-derivatives can improve target TBR by using a dual “quench and chase” strategy, both target (3T3/HER2+) and non-target (Balb3T3/ZsGreen) tumor bearing mice were employed. The “FRET quench” effect induced by all the QSY21 avidin-based conjugates reduced but did not totally eliminate background signal from the blood pool. The addition of nAv-QSY21 administration increased target TBR mainly due to the “chase” effect where unbound conjugated antibody was preferentially cleared to the liver. The relatively slow clearance of unbound nAv-QSY21 leads to further reductions in background signal by leaking out of the vascular space and binding to unbound antibodies in the extravascular space of tumors resulting in decreased non-target tumor-to-background ratios but increased target TBR due to the “FRET quench” effect because target-bound antibodies were internalized and could not bind to nAv-QSY21. In conclusion, the proposed “quench-and-chase” system combines two strategies, fluorescent quenching and avidin chasing to improve target TBR and reduce non target TBR which should result in both improved tumor sensitivity and specificity. PMID:19072537

Effect of audiovisual eyeglasses during local anesthesia injections in 5- to 8-year-old children.

PubMed

Asvanund, Yuwadee; Mitrakul, Kemthong; Juhong, Ratana-on; Arunakul, Malee

2015-06-01

To evaluate the effectiveness of audiovisual (AV) eyeglasses on pain reduction during local anesthetic injection in children who are 5 to 8 years old. Forty-nine healthy, cooperative children with bilateral carious molars requiring treatment under local anesthesia were recruited in this crossover study. Treatments were done in two visits, 1 to 4 weeks apart. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups according to the sequence of AV eyeglasses used. Group I received the injection without wearing AV eyeglasses in the first visit and then wearing AV eyeglasses in a second visit. Group II was vice versa. Self-reporting pain using the Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R), face, legs, activity, crying, and consolability scale (FLACC), and heart rate (HR), were measured to assess the injection pain. No significant differences in sex (P = .132) and treatment arch (P = .779) were observed between the two groups using a chi-square test at P < .05. There were no significant differences in age (P = .341, t test at P ≤ .05) and previous dental experience (P = .19, Fisher's exact test at P ≤ .05) between the two groups. Pain scores were lower when the patients had their injection while wearing AV eyeglasses in both groups. No subject reported a maximum score on the pain rating scale when wearing AV eyeglasses, while 14% of the subjects reported so when not wearing the eyeglasses. AV eyeglasses significantly reduced FLACC scores (P = .03) and HR (P = .005) when compared with not wearing the eyeglasses (Mann-Whitney U test at P ≤ .05). AV eyeglasses successfully reduced pain, physical distress, and HR during local anesthesia injection.

Construct Validity of Accelerometry-Derived Force to Quantify Basketball Movement Patterns.

PubMed

Staunton, Craig; Wundersitz, Daniel; Gordon, Brett; Kingsley, Michael

2017-12-01

This study assessed the construct validity of accelerometry-derived net force to quantify the external demands of basketball movements. Twenty-eight basketballers completed the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test (Yo-Yo-IR1) and basketball exercise simulation test (BEST). Intensity was quantified using accelerometry-derived average net force (AvF Net ) and PlayerLoad TM per minute (PL/min). Within-player correlations were determined between intensity and running speed during Yo-Yo-IR1. Measured AvF Net was determined for movements during the BEST and predicted AvF Net was calculated using movement speed and correlations from Yo-Yo-IR1. Relationships between AvF Net and running speed during Yo-Yo-IR1 were nearly perfect (r 2 =0.95, 95% CI: 0.94-0.96; p<0.001) and stronger than correlations between running speed and PL/min (r 2 =0.80, 95% CI: 0.73-0.87; p<0.001). Differences between measured and predicted AvF Net were small during jogging and running (<1%), but large for basketball movements including jumping, change-of-direction and shuffling (15%-41%). As hypothesised, AvF Net differed by playing position (11%-16%; p <0.001) and reflected the additional demand upon players with larger body mass and lower movement efficiency. Both sprint speed and AvF Net reduced during the course of the BEST ( p ≤0.013). These findings confirm the construct validity of AvF Net to quantify the external demand of basketball movements. Accelerometry-derived net force has the potential to quantify the external demands of basketballers during training and competition. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Separating lexical-semantic access from other mnemonic processes in picture-name verification

PubMed Central

Smith, Jason F.; Braun, Allen R.; Alexander, Gene E.; Chen, Kewei; Horwitz, Barry

2013-01-01

We present a novel paradigm to identify shared and unique brain regions underlying non-semantic, non-phonological, abstract, audio-visual (AV) memory vs. naming using a longitudinal functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment. Participants were trained to associate novel AV stimulus pairs containing hidden linguistic content. Half of the stimulus pairs were distorted images of animals and sine-wave speech versions of the animal's name. Images and sounds were distorted in such a way as to make their linguistic content easily recognizable only after being made aware of its existence. Memory for the pairings was tested by presenting an AV pair and asking participants to verify if the two stimuli formed a learned pairing. After memory testing, the hidden linguistic content was revealed and participants were tested again on their recollection of the pairings in this linguistically informed state. Once informed, the AV verification task could be performed by naming the picture. There was substantial overlap between the regions involved in recognition of non-linguistic sensory memory and naming, suggesting a strong relation between them. Contrasts between sessions identified left angular gyrus and middle temporal gyrus as key additional players in the naming network. Left inferior frontal regions participated in both naming and non-linguistic AV memory suggesting the region is responsible for AV memory independent of phonological content contrary to previous proposals. Functional connectivity between angular gyrus and left inferior frontal gyrus and left middle temporal gyrus increased when performing the AV task as naming. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that, at the spatial resolution of fMRI, the regions that facilitate non-linguistic AV associations are a subset of those that facilitate naming though reorganized into distinct networks. PMID:24130539

Correlation between anthrax lethal toxin neutralizing antibody levels and survival in guinea pigs and nonhuman primates vaccinated with the AV7909 anthrax vaccine candidate.

PubMed

Savransky, Vladimir; Shearer, Jeffry D; Gainey, Melicia R; Sanford, Daniel C; Sivko, Gloria S; Stark, Gregory V; Li, Na; Ionin, Boris; Lacy, Michael J; Skiadopoulos, Mario H

2017-09-05

The anthrax vaccine candidate AV7909 is being developed as a next generation vaccine for a post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) indication against anthrax. AV7909 consists of the Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed (AVA, BioThrax®) bulk drug substance adjuvanted with the immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) compound, CPG 7909. The addition of CPG 7909 to AVA enhances both the magnitude and the kinetics of antibody responses in animals and human subjects, making AV7909 a suitable next-generation vaccine for use in a PEP setting. The studies described here provide initial information on AV7909-induced toxin-neutralizing antibody (TNA) levels associated with the protection of animals from lethal Bacillus anthracis challenge. Guinea pigs or nonhuman primates (NHPs) were immunized on Days 0 and 28 with various dilutions of AV7909, AVA or a saline or Alhydrogel+CPG 7909 control. Animals were challenged via the inhalational route with a lethal dose of aerosolized B. anthracis (Ames strain) spores and observed for clinical signs of disease and mortality. The relationship between pre-challenge serum TNA levels and survival following challenge was determined in order to calculate a threshold TNA level associated with protection. Immunisation with AV7909 induced a rapid, highly protective TNA response in guinea pigs and NHPs. Surprisingly, the TNA threshold associated with a 70% probability of survival for AV7909 immunized animals was substantially lower than the threshold which has been established for the licensed AVA vaccine. The results of this study suggest that the TNA threshold of protection against anthrax could be modified by the addition of an immune stimulant such as CPG 7909 and that the TNA levels associated with protection may be vaccine-specific. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Molecular basis of pollen-related food allergy: identification of a second cross-reactive IgE epitope on Pru av 1, the major cherry (Prunus avium) allergen

PubMed Central

2004-01-01

Birch (Betula verrucosa) pollen-associated food allergy is a well-characterized syndrome, which is due to the cross-reactivity of IgE antibodies to homologous allergens in various foods. One crossreacting area on the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 and its homologue in cherry (Prunus avium) Pru av 1 has already been identified. This is the so-called ‘P-loop’ region, which encompasses amino acid residues around position 45 and is found on the two virtually identical tertiary protein structures. We tried to determine an additional IgE cross-reacting patch on Pru av 1 and Bet v 1. The putative IgE-binding region on Pru av 1 was localized with a mAb (monoclonal antibody) that was generated against Bet v 1, and cross-reacts with several Bet v 1 homologues in food and inhibits the binding of patients' IgE to Pru av 1. mAb reactivity pattern was analysed and amino acid positions 28 and 108 of Pru av 1 were selected and mutated by site-directed mutagenesis. The Pru av 1 mutants were produced as recombinant proteins and characterized for their folding, mAb- and IgE-binding capacity and allergenic potency with a cellular assay using the humanized rat basophilic leukaemia cell line RBL-25/30. Amino acid position 28 is involved in a second major IgE-binding region on Pru av 1 and probably on Bet v 1. The identification of this second major IgE-binding region is an essential prerequisite to understand the phenomenon of cross-reactivity and its clinical consequences, and to produce hypoallergenic proteins for an improved immunotherapy of type I allergy. PMID:15330760

Molecular basis of pollen-related food allergy: identification of a second cross-reactive IgE epitope on Pru av 1, the major cherry (Prunus avium) allergen.

PubMed

Wiche, Regina; Gubesch, Michaela; König, Herbert; Fötisch, Kay; Hoffmann, Andreas; Wangorsch, Andrea; Scheurer, Stephan; Vieths, Stefan

2005-01-01

Birch (Betula verrucosa) pollen-associated food allergy is a well-characterized syndrome, which is due to the cross-reactivity of IgE antibodies to homologous allergens in various foods. One crossreacting area on the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 and its homologue in cherry (Prunus avium) Pru av 1 has already been identified. This is the so-called 'P-loop' region, which encompasses amino acid residues around position 45 and is found on the two virtually identical tertiary protein structures. We tried to determine an additional IgE cross-reacting patch on Pru av 1 and Bet v 1. The putative IgE-binding region on Pru av 1 was localized with a mAb (monoclonal antibody) that was generated against Bet v 1, and cross-reacts with several Bet v 1 homologues in food and inhibits the binding of patients' IgE to Pru av 1. mAb reactivity pattern was analysed and amino acid positions 28 and 108 of Pru av 1 were selected and mutated by site-directed mutagenesis. The Pru av 1 mutants were produced as recombinant proteins and characterized for their folding, mAb- and IgE-binding capacity and allergenic potency with a cellular assay using the humanized rat basophilic leukaemia cell line RBL-25/30. Amino acid position 28 is involved in a second major IgE-binding region on Pru av 1 and probably on Bet v 1. The identification of this second major IgE-binding region is an essential prerequisite to understand the phenomenon of cross-reactivity and its clinical consequences, and to produce hypoallergenic proteins for an improved immunotherapy of type I allergy.

Amyloid and Tau PET Demonstrate Region-Specific Associations in Normal Older People

PubMed Central

Lockhart, Samuel N.; Schöll, Michael; Baker, Suzanne L.; Ayakta, Nagehan; Swinnerton, Kaitlin N.; Bell, Rachel K.; Mellinger, Taylor J.; Shah, Vyoma D.; O’Neil, James P.; Janabi, Mustafa; Jagust, William J.

2017-01-01

β-amyloid (Aβ) and tau pathology become increasingly prevalent with age, however, the spatial relationship between the two pathologies remains unknown. We examined local (same region) and non-local (different region) associations between these 2 aggregated proteins in 46 normal older adults using [18F]AV-1451 (for tau) and [11C]PiB (for Aβ) positron emission tomography (PET) and 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images. While local voxelwise analyses showed associations between PiB and AV-1451 tracer largely in the temporal lobes, k-means clustering revealed that some of these associations were driven by regions with low tracer retention. We followed this up with a whole-brain region-by-region (local and non-local) partial correlational analysis. We calculated each participant’s mean AV-1451 and PiB uptake values within 87 regions of interest (ROI). Pairwise ROI analysis demonstrated many positive PiB—AV-1451 associations. Importantly, strong positive partial correlations (controlling for age, sex, and global gray matter fraction, p < .01) were identified between PiB in multiple regions of association cortex and AV-1451 in temporal cortical ROIs. There were also less frequent and weaker positive associations of regional PiB with frontoparietal AV-1451 uptake. Particularly in temporal lobe ROIs, AV-1451 uptake was strongly predicted by PiB across multiple ROI locations. These data indicate that Aβ and tau pathology show significant local and non-local regional associations among cognitively normal elderly, with increased PiB uptake throughout the cortex correlating with increased temporal lobe AV-1451 uptake. The spatial relationship between Aβ and tau accumulation does not appear to be specific to Aβ location, suggesting a regional vulnerability of temporal brain regions to tau accumulation regardless of where Aβ accumulates. PMID:28232190

Intra-adrenal Aldosterone Secretion: Segmental Adrenal Venous Sampling for Localization.

PubMed

Satani, Nozomi; Ota, Hideki; Seiji, Kazumasa; Morimoto, Ryo; Kudo, Masataka; Iwakura, Yoshitsugu; Ono, Yoshikiyo; Nezu, Masahiro; Omata, Kei; Ito, Sadayoshi; Satoh, Fumitoshi; Takase, Kei

2016-01-01

To use segmental adrenal venous sampling (AVS) (S-AVS) of effluent tributaries (a version of AVS that, in addition to helping identify aldosterone hypersecretion, also enables the evaluation of intra-adrenal hormone distribution) to detect and localize intra-adrenal aldosterone secretion. The institutional review board approved this study, and all patients provided informed consent. S-AVS was performed in 65 patients with primary aldosteronism (34 men; mean age, 50.9 years ± 11 [standard deviation]). A microcatheter was inserted in first-degree tributary veins. Unilateral aldosterone hypersecretion at the adrenal central vein was determined according to the lateralization index after cosyntropin stimulation. Excess aldosterone secretion at the adrenal tributary vein was considered to be present when the aldosterone/cortisol ratio from this vein exceeded that from the external iliac vein; suppressed secretion was indicated by the opposite pattern. Categoric variables were expressed as numbers and percentages; continuous variables were expressed as means ± standard errors of the mean. The AVS success rate, indicated by a selectivity index of 5 or greater, was 98% (64 of 65). The mean numbers of sampled tributaries on the left and right sides were 2.11 and 1.02, respectively. The following diagnoses were made on the basis of S-AVS results: unilateral aldosterone hypersecretion in 30 patients, bilateral hypersecretion without suppressed segments in 22 patients, and bilateral hypersecretion with at least one suppressed segment in 12 patients. None of the patients experienced severe complications. S-AVS could be used to identify heterogeneous intra-adrenal aldosterone secretion. Patients who have bilateral aldosterone-producing adenomas can be treated with adrenal-sparing surgery or other minimally invasive local therapies if any suppressed segment is identified at S-AVS. © RSNA, 2015.

Pittsburgh Compound B and AV-1451 positron emission tomography assessment of molecular pathologies of Alzheimer's disease in progressive supranuclear palsy.

PubMed

Whitwell, Jennifer L; Ahlskog, J Eric; Tosakulwong, Nirubol; Senjem, Matthew L; Spychalla, Anthony J; Petersen, Ronald C; Jack, Clifford R; Lowe, Val J; Josephs, Keith A

2018-03-01

Little is known about Alzheimer's disease molecular proteins, beta-amyloid and paired helical filament (PHF) tau, in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Recent techniques have been developed to allow for investigations of these proteins in PSP. We determined the frequency of beta-amyloid deposition in PSP, and whether beta-amyloid deposition in PSP is associated with PHF-tau deposition pattern, or clinical features. Thirty probable PSP participants underwent MRI, [ 18 F]AV-1451 PET and Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) PET. Apolipoprotein (APOE) genotyping was also performed. A global PiB standard-uptake value ratio (SUVR) was calculated. AV-1451 SUVRs were calculated for a set of Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related regions and a set of PSP-related regions. Voxel-level analyses were conducted to assess for differences in AV-1451 uptake patterns and MRI atrophy between PiB(+) and PiB(-) cases compared to 60 normal PiB(-) controls. Statistical testing for correlations and associations between variables of interest were also performed. Twelve subjects (40%) showed beta-amyloid deposition. Higher PiB SUVR correlated with older age but not with AV-1451 SUVR in the AD- or PSP-related regions. Higher AV-1451 SUVR in AD-related regions was associated with higher AV-1451 SUVR in PSP-related regions. We found little evidence for beta-amyloid related differences in clinical metrics, proportion of APOE e4 carriers, pattern of AV-1451 uptake, or pattern of atrophy. Beta-amyloid deposition occurs in a relatively high proportion of PSP subjects. Unlike in Alzheimer's disease, however, there is little evidence that beta-amyloid, and PHF-tau, play a significant role in neurodegeneration in PSP. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Atrioventricular and ventricular-to-ventricular programming in patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy: results from ALTITUDE.

PubMed

Steinberg, Benjamin A; Wehrenberg, Scott; Jackson, Kevin P; Hayes, David L; Varma, Niraj; Powell, Brian D; Day, John D; Frazier-Mills, Camille G; Stein, Kenneth M; Jones, Paul W; Piccini, Jonathan P

2015-12-01

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves outcomes in patients with heart failure, yet response rates are variable. We sought to determine whether physician-specified CRT programming was associated with improved outcomes. Using data from the ALTITUDE remote follow-up cohort, we examined sensed atrioventricular (AV) and ventricular-to-ventricular (VV) programming and their associated outcomes in patients with de novo CRT from 2009-2010. Outcomes included arrhythmia burden, left ventricular (LV) pacing, and all-cause mortality at 4 years. We identified 5709 patients with de novo CRT devices; at the time of implant, 34% (n = 1959) had entirely nominal settings programmed, 40% (n = 2294) had only AV timing adjusted, 11% (n = 604) had only VV timing adjusted, and 15% (n = 852) had both AV and VV adjusted from nominal programming. Suboptimal LV pacing (<95%) during follow-up was similar across groups; however, the proportion with atrial fibrillation (AF) burden >5% was lowest in the AV-only adjusted group (17.9%) and highest in the nominal (27.7%) and VV-only adjusted (28.3%) groups. Adjusted all-cause mortality was significantly higher among patients with non-nominal AV delay >120 vs. <120 ms (adjusted heart rate (HR) 1.28, p = 0.008) but similar when using the 180-ms cutoff (adjusted HR 1.13 for >180 vs. ≤180 ms, p = 0.4). Nominal settings for de novo CRT implants are frequently altered, most commonly the AV delay. There is wide variability in reprogramming. Patients with nominal or AV-only adjustments appear to have favorable pacing and arrhythmia outcomes. Sensed AV delays less than 120 ms are associated with improved survival.

Formulation and PEGylation optimization of the therapeutic PEGylated phenylalanine ammonia lyase for the treatment of phenylketonuria.

PubMed

Bell, Sean M; Wendt, Dan J; Zhang, Yanhong; Taylor, Timothy W; Long, Shinong; Tsuruda, Laurie; Zhao, Bin; Laipis, Phillip; Fitzpatrick, Paul A

2017-01-01

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a genetic metabolic disease in which the decrease or loss of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) activity results in elevated, neurotoxic levels of phenylalanine (Phe). Due to many obstacles, PAH enzyme replacement therapy is not currently an option. Treatment of PKU with an alternative enzyme, phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), was first proposed in the 1970s. However, issues regarding immunogenicity, enzyme production and mode of delivery needed to be overcome. Through the evaluation of PAL enzymes from multiple species, three potential PAL enzymes from yeast and cyanobacteria were chosen for evaluation of their therapeutic potential. The addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG, MW = 20,000), at a particular ratio to modify the protein surface, attenuated immunogenicity in an animal model of PKU. All three PEGylated PAL candidates showed efficacy in a mouse model of PKU (BTBR Pahenu2) upon subcutaneous injection. However, only PEGylated Anabaena variabilis (Av) PAL-treated mice demonstrated sustained low Phe levels with weekly injection and was the only PAL evaluated that maintained full enzymatic activity upon PEGylation. A PEGylated recombinant double mutant version of AvPAL (Cys503Ser/Cys565Ser), rAvPAL-PEG, was selected for drug development based on its positive pharmacodynamic profile and favorable expression titers. PEGylation was shown to be critical for rAvPAL-PEG efficacy as under PEGylated rAvPAL had a lower pharmacodynamic effect. rAvPAL and rAvPAL-PEG had poor stability at 4°C. L-Phe and trans-cinnamate were identified as activity stabilizing excipients. rAvPAL-PEG is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials to assess efficacy in PKU patients.

Antihypertensive effects of central ablations in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

PubMed

Moreira, Thiago S; Takakura, Ana C; Colombari, Eduardo; Menani, José V

2009-06-01

Commissural nucleus of the solitary tract (commNTS) lesions transitorily (first 5 days) reduce mean arterial pressure (MAP) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), and lesions of the tissue surrounding the anteroventral third ventricle (AV3V region) chronically reduce MAP in other models of hypertension. In the present study, we investigated the effects of combined AV3V+commNTS electrolytic lesions on MAP and heart rate (HR) in conscious SHR. Baseline MAP and HR were recorded in male SHR before and for the next 40 days after sham or AV3V lesions combined with sham or commNTS lesions. The AV3V lesions produced no change in MAP in SHR, while commNTS lesions reduced MAP acutely (121 +/- 2 to 127 +/- 3 mmHg in the 1st and 5th days, respectively, vs. prelesion: 192 +/- 4 mmHg) but not chronically (from 10 to 40 days). However, combined AV3V+commNTS lesions reduced MAP of SHR chronically (119 +/- 2 to 161 +/- 4 mmHg, in the 1st and 40th day, respectively, vs. prelesion levels: 186 +/- 4 mmHg) or sham-lesioned SHR (187 +/- 4 to 191 +/- 6 mmHg). Sympathetic and angiotensinergic blockade produced less reduction in MAP in SHR with AV3V+commNTS-lesions, and there was no relationship between changes on water and food intake, body weight, or urinary excretion produced by AV3V+commNTS lesions with the changes in MAP. The present findings suggest that in the absence of the commNTS, the AV3V region contributes to the hypertension observed in SHR by mechanisms that appear to involve enhanced angiotensinergic and sympathetic activity.

Understanding the structural features of symptomatic calcific aortic valve stenosis: A broad-spectrum clinico-pathologic study in 236 consecutive surgical cases.

PubMed

Galli, Daniela; Manuguerra, Roberta; Monaco, Rodolfo; Manotti, Laura; Goldoni, Matteo; Becchi, Gabriella; Carubbi, Cecilia; Vignali, Giulia; Cucurachi, Nicola; Gherli, Tiziano; Nicolini, Francesco; Lorusso, Roberto; Vitale, Marco; Corradi, Domenico

2017-02-01

With age, aortic valve cusps undergo varying degrees of sclerosis which, sometimes, can progress to calcific aortic valve stenosis (AVS). To perform a retrospective clinico-pathologic investigation in patients with calcific AVS. We characterized and graded the structural remodeling in 236 aortic valves (200 tricuspid and 36 bicuspid) from patients with calcific AVS (148 males; average 72years); possible relationships between general/clinical/echocardiographic characteristics and the histopathologic changes were explored. Twenty autopsy aortic valves served as controls. In 40 cases, we also tested the immunohistochemical expression of metalloproteinases and cytokines, and characterized the inflammatory infiltrate. In 5 cases, we cultured cusp stem cells and explored their potential to differentiate into osteoblasts/adipocytes. AVS cusps showed structural remodeling as severe fibrosis (100%), calcific nodules (100%), neoangiogenesis (81%), inflammation (71%), bone metaplasia with or without hematopoiesis (6% and 53%, respectively), adipose metaplasia (16%), and cartilaginous metaplasia (7%). At multivariate analysis, AVS degree and interventricular septum thickness were the only predictors of remodeling (barring inflammation). All the tested metalloproteinases (except MMP-13) and cytokines were expressed in AVS cusps. Inflammation mainly consisted of B and T lymphocytes (CD4+/CD8+ cell ratio 3:1) and plasma cells. AVS changes were mostly different from typical atherosclerosis. Cultured mesenchymal cusp stem cells could differentiate into osteoblasts/adipocytes. Structural remodeling in AVS is peculiar and considerable, and is related to the severity of the disease. However, the different newly formed tissues-where "valvular interstitial cells" play a key role-and their well-known slow turnover suggest a reverse structural remodeling improbable. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.