BcsA and BcsB form the catalytically active core of bacterial cellulose synthase sufficient for in vitro cellulose synthesis

PubMed Central

Omadjela, Okako; Narahari, Adishesh; Strumillo, Joanna; Mélida, Hugo; Mazur, Olga; Bulone, Vincent; Zimmer, Jochen

2013-01-01

Cellulose is a linear extracellular polysaccharide. It is synthesized by membrane-embedded glycosyltransferases that processively polymerize UDP-activated glucose. Polymer synthesis is coupled to membrane translocation through a channel formed by the cellulose synthase. Although eukaryotic cellulose synthases function in macromolecular complexes containing several different enzyme isoforms, prokaryotic synthases associate with additional subunits to bridge the periplasm and the outer membrane. In bacteria, cellulose synthesis and translocation is catalyzed by the inner membrane-associated bacterial cellulose synthase (Bcs)A and BcsB subunits. Similar to alginate and poly-β-1,6 N-acetylglucosamine, bacterial cellulose is implicated in the formation of sessile bacterial communities, termed biofilms, and its synthesis is likewise stimulated by cyclic-di-GMP. Biochemical studies of exopolysaccharide synthesis are hampered by difficulties in purifying and reconstituting functional enzymes. We demonstrate robust in vitro cellulose synthesis reconstituted from purified BcsA and BcsB proteins from Rhodobacter sphaeroides. Although BcsA is the catalytically active subunit, the membrane-anchored BcsB subunit is essential for catalysis. The purified BcsA-B complex produces cellulose chains of a degree of polymerization in the range 200–300. Catalytic activity critically depends on the presence of the allosteric activator cyclic-di-GMP, but is independent of lipid-linked reactants. Our data reveal feedback inhibition of cellulose synthase by UDP but not by the accumulating cellulose polymer and highlight the strict substrate specificity of cellulose synthase for UDP-glucose. A truncation analysis of BcsB localizes the region required for activity of BcsA within its C-terminal membrane-associated domain. The reconstituted reaction provides a foundation for the synthesis of biofilm exopolysaccharides, as well as its activation by cyclic-di-GMP. PMID:24127606

Adsorption of β-casein-surfactant mixed layers at the air-water interface evaluated by interfacial rheology.

PubMed

Maestro, Armando; Kotsmar, Csaba; Javadi, Aliyar; Miller, Reinhard; Ortega, Francisco; Rubio, Ramón G

2012-04-26

This work presents a detailed study of the dilational viscoelastic moduli of the adsorption layers of the milk protein β-casein (BCS) and a surfactant at the liquid/air interface, over a broad frequency range. Two complementary techniques have been used: a drop profile tensiometry technique and an excited capillary wave method, ECW. Two different surfactants were studied: the nonionic dodecyldimethylphosphine oxide (C12DMPO) and the cationic dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DoTAB). The interfacial dilational elasticity and viscosity are very sensitive to the composition of protein-surfactant mixed adsorption layers at the air/water interface. Two different dynamic processes have been observed for the two systems studied, whose characteristic frequencies are close to 0.01 and 100 Hz. In both systems, the surface elasticity was found to show a maximum when plotted versus the surfactant concentration. However, at frequencies above 50 Hz the surface elasticity of BCS + C12DMPO is higher than the one of the aqueous BCS solution over most of the surfactant concentration range, whereas for the BCS + DoTAB it is smaller for high surfactant concentrations and higher at low concentrations. The BCS-surfactant interaction modifies the BCS random coil structure via electrostatic and/or hydrophobic interactions, leading to a competitive adsorption of the BCS-surfactant complexes with the free, unbound surfactant molecules. Increasing the surfactant concentration decreases the adsorbed proteins. However, the BCS molecules are rather strongly bound to the interface due to their large adsorption energy. The results have been fitted to the model proposed by C. Kotsmar et al. ( J. Phys. Chem. B 2009 , 113 , 103 ). Even though the model describes well the concentration dependence of the limiting elasticity, it does not properly describe its frequency dependence.

Instability of superfluid Fermi gases induced by a rotonlike density mode in optical lattices

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

Yunomae, Yoshihiro; Yamamoto, Daisuke; Danshita, Ippei

2009-12-15

We study the stability of superfluid Fermi gases in deep optical lattices in the BCS-Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) crossover at zero temperature. Within the tight-binding attractive Hubbard model, we calculate the spectrum of the low-energy Anderson-Bogoliubov (AB) mode as well as the single-particle excitations in the presence of superfluid flow in order to determine the critical velocities. To obtain the spectrum of the AB mode, we calculate the density response function in the generalized random-phase approximation applying the Green's function formalism developed by Cote and Griffin to the Hubbard model. We find that the spectrum of the AB mode is separatedmore » from the particle-hole continuum having the characteristic rotonlike minimum at short wavelength due to the strong charge-density-wave fluctuations. The energy of the rotonlike minimum decreases with increasing the lattice velocity and it reaches zero at the critical velocity which is smaller than the pair-breaking velocity. This indicates that the superfluid state is energetically unstable due to the spontaneous emission of the short-wavelength rotonlike excitations of the AB mode instead due to pair breaking. We determine the critical velocities as functions of the interaction strength across the BCS-BEC crossover regime.« less

Exotic superconductivity with enhanced energy scales in materials with three band crossings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Yu-Ping; Nandkishore, Rahul M.

2018-04-01

Three band crossings can arise in three-dimensional quantum materials with certain space group symmetries. The low energy Hamiltonian supports spin one fermions and a flat band. We study the pairing problem in this setting. We write down a minimal BCS Hamiltonian and decompose it into spin-orbit coupled irreducible pairing channels. We then solve the resulting gap equations in channels with zero total angular momentum. We find that in the s-wave spin singlet channel (and also in an unusual d-wave `spin quintet' channel), superconductivity is enormously enhanced, with a possibility for the critical temperature to be linear in interaction strength. Meanwhile, in the p-wave spin triplet channel, the superconductivity exhibits features of conventional BCS theory due to the absence of flat band pairing. Three band crossings thus represent an exciting new platform for realizing exotic superconducting states with enhanced energy scales. We also discuss the effects of doping, nonzero temperature, and of retaining additional terms in the k .p expansion of the Hamiltonian.

Distinct Physiological Maturation of Parvalbumin-Positive Neuron Subtypes in Mouse Prefrontal Cortex.

PubMed

Miyamae, Takeaki; Chen, Kehui; Lewis, David A; Gonzalez-Burgos, Guillermo

2017-05-10

Parvalbumin-positive (PV + ) neurons control the timing of pyramidal cell output in cortical neuron networks. In the prefrontal cortex (PFC), PV + neuron activity is involved in cognitive function, suggesting that PV + neuron maturation is critical for cognitive development. The two major PV + neuron subtypes found in the PFC, chandelier cells (ChCs) and basket cells (BCs), are thought to play different roles in cortical circuits, but the trajectories of their physiological maturation have not been compared. Using two separate mouse lines, we found that in the mature PFC, both ChCs and BCs are abundant in superficial layer 2, but only BCs are present in deeper laminar locations. This distinctive laminar distribution was observed by postnatal day 12 (P12), when we first identified ChCs by the presence of axon cartridges. Electrophysiology analysis of excitatory synapse development, starting at P12, showed that excitatory drive remains low throughout development in ChCs, but increases rapidly before puberty in BCs, with an earlier time course in deeper-layer BCs. Consistent with a role of excitatory synaptic drive in the maturation of PV + neuron firing properties, the fast-spiking phenotype showed different maturation trajectories between ChCs and BCs, and between superficial versus deep-layer BCs. ChC and BC maturation was nearly completed, via different trajectories, before the onset of puberty. These findings suggest that ChC and BC maturation may contribute differentially to the emergence of cognitive function, primarily during prepubertal development. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Parvalbumin-positive (PV + ) neurons tightly control pyramidal cell output. Thus PV + neuron maturation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is crucial for cognitive development. However, the relative physiological maturation of the two major subtypes of PV + neurons, chandelier cells (ChCs) and basket cells (BCs), has not been determined. We assessed the maturation of ChCs and BCs in different layers of the mouse PFC, and found that, from early postnatal age, ChCs and BCs differ in laminar location. Excitatory synapses and fast-spiking properties matured before the onset of puberty in both cell types, but following cell type-specific developmental trajectories. Hence, the physiological maturation of ChCs and BCs may contribute to the emergence of cognitive function differentially, and predominantly during prepubertal development. Copyright © 2017 the authors 0270-6474/17/374883-20$15.00/0.

μ SR and magnetometry study of superconducting 5% Pt-doped IrTe 2

DOE PAGES

Wilson, M. N.; Medina, T.; Munsie, T. J.; ...

2016-11-11

In this paper, we present magnetometry and muon spin rotation ( SR) measurements of the superconducting dichalcogenide Ir 0.95Pt 0.05Te 2. From both sets of measurements we calculate the penetration depth and thence superfluid density as a function of temperature. The temperature dependence of the superfluid densities from both sets of data indicate fully gapped superconductivity that can be fit to a conventional s-wave model and yield fitting parameters consistent with a BCS weak coupling superconductor. Finally, we therefore see no evidence for exotic superconductivity in Ir 0.95Pt 0.05Te 2.

μ SR and magnetometry study of superconducting 5% Pt-doped IrTe2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilson, M. N.; Medina, T.; Munsie, T. J.; Cheung, S. C.; Frandsen, B. A.; Liu, L.; Yan, J.; Mandrus, D.; Uemura, Y. J.; Luke, G. M.

2016-11-01

We present magnetometry and muon spin rotation (μ SR ) measurements of the superconducting dichalcogenide Ir0.95Pt0.05Te2 . From both sets of measurements, we calculate the penetration depth and thence superfluid density as a function of temperature. The temperature dependence of the superfluid densities from both sets of data indicate fully gapped superconductivity that can be fit to a conventional s -wave model and yield fitting parameters consistent with a BCS weak coupling superconductor. We therefore see no evidence for exotic superconductivity in Ir0.95Pt0.05Te2 .

Body image and quality of life in patients with and without body contouring surgery following bariatric surgery: a comparison of pre- and post-surgery groups

PubMed Central

de Zwaan, Martina; Georgiadou, Ekaterini; Stroh, Christine E.; Teufel, Martin; Köhler, Hinrich; Tengler, Maxi; Müller, Astrid

2014-01-01

Background: Massive weight loss (MWL) following bariatric surgery frequently results in an excess of overstretched skin causing physical discomfort and negatively affecting quality of life, self-esteem, body image, and physical functioning. Methods: In this cross-sectional study 3 groups were compared: (1) patients prior to bariatric surgery (n = 79), (2) patients after bariatric surgery who had not undergone body contouring surgery (BCS) (n = 252), and (3) patients after bariatric surgery who underwent subsequent BCS (n = 62). All participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing body image (Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire, MBSRQ), quality of life (IWQOL-Lite), symptoms of depression (PHQ-9), and anxiety (GAD-7). Results: Overall, 62 patients (19.2%) reported having undergone a total of 90 BCS procedures. The most common were abdominoplasties (88.7%), thigh lifts (24.2%), and breast lifts (16.1%). Post-bariatric surgery patients differed significantly in most variables from pre-bariatric surgery patients. Although there were fewer differences between patients with and without BCS, patients after BCS reported better appearance evaluation (AE), body area satisfaction (BAS), and physical functioning, even after controlling for excess weight loss and time since surgery. No differences were found for symptoms of depression and anxiety, and most other quality of life and body image domains. Discussion: Our results support the results of longitudinal studies demonstrating significant improvements in different aspects of body image, quality of life, and general psychopathology after bariatric surgery. Also, we found better AE and physical functioning in patients after BCS following bariatric surgery compared to patients with MWL after bariatric surgery who did not undergo BCS. Overall, there appears to be an effect of BCS on certain aspects of body image and quality of life but not on psychological aspects on the whole. PMID:25477839

BcsZ inhibits biofilm phenotypes and promotes virulence by blocking cellulose production in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.

PubMed

Ahmad, Irfan; Rouf, Syed Fazle; Sun, Lei; Cimdins, Annika; Shafeeq, Sulman; Le Guyon, Soazig; Schottkowski, Marco; Rhen, Mikael; Römling, Ute

2016-10-19

Cellulose, a 1,4 beta-glucan polysaccharide, is produced by a variety of organisms including bacteria. Although the production of cellulose has a high biological, ecological and economical impact, regulatory mechanisms of cellulose biosynthesis are mostly unknown. Family eight cellulases are regularly associated with cellulose biosynthesis operons in bacteria; however, their function is poorly characterized. In this study, we analysed the role of the cellulase BcsZ encoded by the bcsABZC cellulose biosynthesis operon of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) in biofilm related behavior. We also investigated the involvement of BcsZ in pathogenesis of S. Typhimurium including a murine typhoid fever infection model. In S. Typhimurium, cellulase BcsZ with a putative periplasmic location negatively regulates cellulose biosynthesis. Moreover, as assessed with a non-polar mutant, BcsZ affects cellulose-associated phenotypes such as the rdar biofilm morphotype, cell clumping, biofilm formation, pellicle formation and flagella-dependent motility. Strikingly, although upregulation of cellulose biosynthesis was not observed on agar plate medium at 37 °C, BcsZ is required for efficient pathogen-host interaction. Key virulence phenotypes of S. Typhimurium such as invasion of epithelial cells and proliferation in macrophages were positively regulated by BcsZ. Further on, a bcsZ mutant was outcompeted by the wild type in organ colonization in the murine typhoid fever infection model. Selected phenotypes were relieved upon deletion of the cellulose synthase BcsA and/or the central biofilm activator CsgD. Although the protein scaffold has an additional physiological role, our findings indicate that the catalytic activity of BcsZ effectively downregulates CsgD activated cellulose biosynthesis. Repression of cellulose production by BcsZ subsequently enables Salmonella to efficiently colonize the host.

Bleaching effects of massecuite on some properties of crystallized sugar beet and milk chocolate bars produced.

PubMed

Sadjadi, F Seyed; Honarvar, M; Kalbasi-Ashtari, A; Motaghian, P

2018-04-01

Four kinds of bleached, unbleached, second and third crystal sugars (BCS, UCS, SCS and TCS) were made from different massecuites in a sugar-beet factory, and their physiochemical (polarization, invert sugar, colorants, pH, ash and SO 2 ), microbiological and functional properties were measured. While the polarization of UCS, SCS and TCS were lower than BCS; their invert sucrose, colorants, pH and ash contents were significantly higher than BCS. The phenols and betaine of BCS, UCS, SCS, and TCS were 144, 401, 384 and 673 (mg/100 g); and 244, 791, 4662, and 6589 (mg/100 g); respectively. Whereas the phenol of milk chocolate bars (MCB) made with UCS, SCS, and TCS were only 10% higher than MCB completed with BCS; their betaine contents were substantially (up to 16 times) higher than the ones finished with BCS. Sensory evaluation showed that the MCB prepared with three sugars including UCS, SCS and TCS had significantly higher glossiness, brittleness, flavor and mouth feel than those made with BCS. The greater colorants, ash content and inverted sugars of UCS, SCS and TCS (in comparison with BCS) made considerable improvements in the glossiness, flavor and brittleness of MCB, respectively. BCS had 8 ppm of toxic sulfur; whereas, UCS, SCS and TCS had no detectable sulfur and significantly higher beneficial copper content than BCS. No pathogenic microorganism were detected in UCS, SCS, TCS or their subsequent MCB. Our results highly recommend using UCS, SCS and TCS instead of BCS in food products (such as MCB) due to their higher health benefits.

Superconducting states of topological surface states in β-PdBi2 investigated by STM/STS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iwaya, Katsuya; Okawa, Kenjiro; Hanaguri, Tetsuo; Kohsaka, Yuhki; Machida, Tadashi; Sasagawa, Takao

We investigate superconducting (SC) states of topological surface states in β-PdBi2 using very low temperature STM. Characteristic quasiparticle interference patterns strongly support the existence of the spin-polarized surface states at the Fermi level in the normal state. A fully-opened SC gap well described by the conventional BCS model is observed, indicating the SC gap opening at the spin-polarized Fermi surfaces. Considering a possible mixing of odd- and even parity orbital functions in C4v group symmetry lowered from D4h near the surface, we suggest that the SC gap consists of the mixture of s- and p-wave SC gap functions in the two-dimensional state.

Observing cellulose biosynthesis and membrane translocation in crystallo

PubMed Central

Morgan, Jacob L.W.; McNamara, Joshua T.; Fischer, Michael; Rich, Jamie; Chen, Hong-Ming; Withers, Stephen G.; Zimmer, Jochen

2016-01-01

Many biopolymers, including polysaccharides, must be translocated across at least one membrane to reach their site of biological function. Cellulose is a linear glucose polymer synthesized and secreted by a membrane-integrated cellulose synthase. In crystallo enzymology with the catalytically-active bacterial cellulose synthase BcsA-B complex reveals structural snapshots of a complete cellulose biosynthesis cycle, from substrate binding to polymer translocation. Substrate and product-bound structures of BcsA provide the basis for substrate recognition and demonstrate the stepwise elongation of cellulose. Furthermore, the structural snapshots show that BcsA translocates cellulose via a ratcheting mechanism involving a “finger helix” that contacts the polymer's terminal glucose. Cooperating with BcsA's gating loop, the finger helix moves ‘up’ and ‘down’ in response to substrate binding and polymer elongation, respectively, thereby pushing the elongated polymer into BcsA’s transmembrane channel. This mechanism is validated experimentally by tethering BcsA's finger helix, which inhibits polymer translocation but not elongation. PMID:26958837

A Negative Regulator of Cellulose Biosynthesis, bcsR, Affects Biofilm Formation, and Adhesion/Invasion Ability of Cronobacter sakazakii.

PubMed

Gao, Jian-Xin; Li, Ping; Du, Xin-Jun; Han, Zhong-Hui; Xue, Rui; Liang, Bin; Wang, Shuo

2017-01-01

Cronobacter sakazakii is an important foodborne pathogen that causes neonatal meningitis and sepsis, with high mortality in neonates. However, very little information is available regarding the pathogenesis of C. sakazakii at the genetic level. In our previous study, a cellulose biosynthesis-related gene ( bcsR ) was shown to be involved in C. sakazakii adhesion/invasion into epithelial cells. In this study, the detailed functions of this gene were investigated using a gene knockout technique. A bcsR knockout mutant (Δ bcsR ) of C. sakazakii ATCC BAA-894 showed decreased adhesion/invasion (3.9-fold) in human epithelial cell line HCT-8. Biofilm formation by the mutant was reduced to 50% of that exhibited by the wild-type (WT) strain. Raman spectrometry was used to detect variations in biofilm components caused by bcsR knockout, and certain components, including carotenoids, fatty acids, and amides, were significantly reduced. However, another biofilm component, cellulose, was increased in Δ bcsR , suggesting that bcsR negatively affects cellulose biosynthesis. This result was also verified via RT-PCR, which demonstrated up-regulation of five crucial cellulose synthesis genes ( bcsA, B, C, E, Q ) in Δ bcsR . Furthermore, the expression of other virulence or biofilm-related genes, including flagellar assembly genes ( fliA, C, D ) and toxicity-related genes ( ompA, ompX, hfq ), was studied. The expression of fliC and ompA in the Δ bcsR mutant was found to be remarkably reduced compared with that in the wild-type and the others were also affected excepted ompX . In summary, bcsR is a negative regulator of cellulose biosynthesis but positively regulates biofilm formation and the adhesion/invasion ability of C. sakazakii .

Response Functions for the Two-Dimensional Ultracold Fermi Gas: Dynamical BCS Theory and Beyond

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vitali, Ettore; Shi, Hao; Qin, Mingpu; Zhang, Shiwei

2017-12-01

Response functions are central objects in physics. They provide crucial information about the behavior of physical systems, and they can be directly compared with scattering experiments involving particles such as neutrons or photons. Calculations of such functions starting from the many-body Hamiltonian of a physical system are challenging and extremely valuable. In this paper, we focus on the two-dimensional (2D) ultracold Fermi atomic gas which has been realized experimentally. We present an application of the dynamical BCS theory to obtain response functions for different regimes of interaction strengths in the 2D gas with zero-range attractive interaction. We also discuss auxiliary-field quantum Monte Carlo (AFQMC) methods for the calculation of imaginary time correlations in these dilute Fermi gas systems. Illustrative results are given and comparisons are made between AFQMC and dynamical BCS theory results to assess the accuracy of the latter.

Cooper-pair-condensate fluctuations and plasmons in layered superconductors

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

Cote, R.; Griffin, A.

1993-10-01

Starting from a given attractive potential, we give a systematic analysis of the spin-singlet [ital s]-wave Cooper-pair-condensate fluctuations in a two-dimensional (2D) superconductor. These results are applied to a superlattice of superconducting sheets in which the 2D charge fluctuations are coupled via the Coulomb interaction. Our main interest is how the low-energy Anderson-Bogoliubov (AB) phonon mode in the pair-breaking gap [omega][lt]2[Delta] is modified by the Coulomb interaction. Our formal analysis is valid at arbitrary temperatures. It describes the weakly bound, large-Cooper-pair limit as well as the strongly bound, small-Cooper-pair limit and thus includes both the BCS and Bose-Einstein scenarios (asmore » discussed by Nozieres and Schmitt-Rink as well as Randeira [ital et] [ital al].). A comlete normal-mode analysis is given for a charged BCS superconductor, showing how the repulsive (Coulomb) interaction modifies the collective modes of a neutral superconductor. This complements the recent numerical study carried out by Fertig and Das Sarma. We show that the pair-response function shares the same spectrum as the charge-response function, given by the zero of the longitudinal dielectric function [epsilon]([bold q],[omega]). In 2D and layered superconductors, there is a low-frequency and high-frequency plasmon branch, separated by a relatively narrow particle-hole continuum at around 2[Delta]. The low-frequency ([omega][lt]2[Delta]) plasmon branch is a renormalized version of the AB phonon mode.« less

Blind compressive sensing dynamic MRI

PubMed Central

Lingala, Sajan Goud; Jacob, Mathews

2013-01-01

We propose a novel blind compressive sensing (BCS) frame work to recover dynamic magnetic resonance images from undersampled measurements. This scheme models the dynamic signal as a sparse linear combination of temporal basis functions, chosen from a large dictionary. In contrast to classical compressed sensing, the BCS scheme simultaneously estimates the dictionary and the sparse coefficients from the undersampled measurements. Apart from the sparsity of the coefficients, the key difference of the BCS scheme with current low rank methods is the non-orthogonal nature of the dictionary basis functions. Since the number of degrees of freedom of the BCS model is smaller than that of the low-rank methods, it provides improved reconstructions at high acceleration rates. We formulate the reconstruction as a constrained optimization problem; the objective function is the linear combination of a data consistency term and sparsity promoting ℓ1 prior of the coefficients. The Frobenius norm dictionary constraint is used to avoid scale ambiguity. We introduce a simple and efficient majorize-minimize algorithm, which decouples the original criterion into three simpler sub problems. An alternating minimization strategy is used, where we cycle through the minimization of three simpler problems. This algorithm is seen to be considerably faster than approaches that alternates between sparse coding and dictionary estimation, as well as the extension of K-SVD dictionary learning scheme. The use of the ℓ1 penalty and Frobenius norm dictionary constraint enables the attenuation of insignificant basis functions compared to the ℓ0 norm and column norm constraint assumed in most dictionary learning algorithms; this is especially important since the number of basis functions that can be reliably estimated is restricted by the available measurements. We also observe that the proposed scheme is more robust to local minima compared to K-SVD method, which relies on greedy sparse coding. Our phase transition experiments demonstrate that the BCS scheme provides much better recovery rates than classical Fourier-based CS schemes, while being only marginally worse than the dictionary aware setting. Since the overhead in additionally estimating the dictionary is low, this method can be very useful in dynamic MRI applications, where the signal is not sparse in known dictionaries. We demonstrate the utility of the BCS scheme in accelerating contrast enhanced dynamic data. We observe superior reconstruction performance with the BCS scheme in comparison to existing low rank and compressed sensing schemes. PMID:23542951

Severe fatigue after treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ: A comparison with age-matched breast cancer survivors and healthy controls.

PubMed

Abrahams, H J G; Smits, L; Lugt, M de; Roos, W K de; Kamm, Y; Heins, M J; Verhagen, C A H H V M; Gielissen, M F M; Knoop, H

2017-02-01

Severe fatigue after treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) has not been studied before. The current study examined (i) the prevalence of severe fatigue in DCIS patients versus breast cancer survivors (BCS) and healthy controls (HC), (ii) quality of life and functioning of severely versus non-severely fatigued DCIS patients and BCS, and (iii) the association of fatigue with psychosocial and behavioral factors in DCIS patients. 89 patients treated for DCIS were matched on age and gender to 67 BCS and 178 HC (ratio 1:1:2). Fatigue was measured with the Fatigue Severity subscale of the Checklist Individual Strength. 23% of DCIS patients, 25% of BCS, and 6% of HC were severely fatigued (DCIS versus HC: p < 0.001). Severely fatigued DCIS patients had a lower quality of life and were more impaired in all domains of functioning than non-severely fatigued DCIS patients. Sleep problems, dysfunctional cognitions regarding fatigue, avoidance of activities, all-or-nothing behavior, perceived lack of social support, DCIS-related coping problems, and fear of future cancer occurrence were related to fatigue. The prevalence of severe fatigue in DCIS patients was similar to BCS, but higher than in HC. Severely fatigued DCIS patients had a lower quality of life and more functional impairments. The psychosocial and behavioral fatigue-related factors in DCIS patients are known to perpetuate fatigue in BCS. These factors can be targeted in interventions for cancer-related fatigue. Our findings suggest that the same treatment elements might be applicable to severely fatigued DCIS patients. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Endogenous minerals have influences on surface electrochemistry and ion exchange properties of biochar.

PubMed

Zhao, Ling; Cao, Xinde; Zheng, Wei; Wang, Qun; Yang, Fan

2015-10-01

The feedstocks for biochar production are diverse and many of them contain various minerals in addition to being rich in carbon. Twelve types of biomass classified into 2 categories: plant-based and municipal waste, were employed to produce biochars under 350 °C and 500 °C. Their pH, point of zero net charge (PZNC), zeta potential, cation and anion exchange capacity (CEC and AEC) were analyzed. The municipal waste-based biochars (MW-BC) had higher mineral levels than the plant-based biochars (PB-BC). However, the water soluble mineral levels were lower in the MW-BCs due to the dominant presence of less soluble minerals, such as CaCO3 and (Ca,Mg)3(PO4)2. The higher total minerals in MW-BCs accounted for the higher PZNC (5.47-9.95) than in PB-BCs (1.91-8.18), though the PZNCs of the PB-BCs increased more than that of the MW-BCs as the production temperature rose. The minerals had influence on the zeta potentials via affecting the negative charges of biochars and the ionic strength of solution. The organic functional groups in PB-BCs such as -COOH and -OH had a greater effect on the CEC and AEC, while the minerals had a greater effect on that of MW-BCs. The measured CEC and AEC values had a strong positive correlation with the total amount of soluble cations and anions, respectively. Results indicated that biochar surface charges depend not only on the organic functional groups, but also on the minerals present and to some extent, minerals have more influences on the surface electrochemistry and ion exchange properties of biochar. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

BCS superconductors: The out-of-equilibrium response to a laser pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Avella, Adolfo

2018-05-01

The dynamics of a 2D d-wave BCS superconductor driven out-of-equilibrium by a perpendicularly-impinging polarized laser pulse is analyzed on varying the laser pulse characteristics. The observed effects include: oscillations both in the amplitude and in the phase of the superconducting order parameter, suppression of the superconductivity, but also its enhancement with a strong dependence on all varying parameters and, in particular, on the polarization in plane of the applied vector potential and on the value of its frequency. This study opens up the possibility to distinguish very clearly the behavior of the nodal and anti-nodal non-thermal excitations and to tackle some of the puzzling results of the current experimental scenario in the field.

Bacterial cellulose synthesis mechanism of facultative anaerobe Enterobacter sp. FY-07.

PubMed

Ji, Kaihua; Wang, Wei; Zeng, Bing; Chen, Sibin; Zhao, Qianqian; Chen, Yueqing; Li, Guoqiang; Ma, Ting

2016-02-25

Enterobacter sp. FY-07 can produce bacterial cellulose (BC) under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Three potential BC synthesis gene clusters (bcsI, bcsII and bcsIII) of Enterobacter sp. FY-07 have been predicted using genome sequencing and comparative genome analysis, in which bcsIII was confirmed as the main contributor to BC synthesis by gene knockout and functional reconstitution methods. Protein homology, gene arrangement and gene constitution analysis indicated that bcsIII had high identity to the bcsI operon of Enterobacter sp. 638; however, its arrangement and composition were same as those of BC synthesizing operon of G. xylinum ATCC53582 except for the flanking sequences. According to the BC biosynthesizing process, oxygen is not directly involved in the reactions of BC synthesis, however, energy is required to activate intermediate metabolites and synthesize the activator, c-di-GMP. Comparative transcriptome and metabolite quantitative analysis demonstrated that under anaerobic conditions genes involved in the TCA cycle were downregulated, however, genes in the nitrate reduction and gluconeogenesis pathways were upregulated, especially, genes in three pyruvate metabolism pathways. These results suggested that Enterobacter sp. FY-07 could produce energy efficiently under anaerobic conditions to meet the requirement of BC biosynthesis.

Bacterial cellulose synthesis mechanism of facultative anaerobe Enterobacter sp. FY-07

PubMed Central

Ji, Kaihua; Wang, Wei; Zeng, Bing; Chen, Sibin; Zhao, Qianqian; Chen, Yueqing; Li, Guoqiang; Ma, Ting

2016-01-01

Enterobacter sp. FY-07 can produce bacterial cellulose (BC) under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Three potential BC synthesis gene clusters (bcsI, bcsII and bcsIII) of Enterobacter sp. FY-07 have been predicted using genome sequencing and comparative genome analysis, in which bcsIII was confirmed as the main contributor to BC synthesis by gene knockout and functional reconstitution methods. Protein homology, gene arrangement and gene constitution analysis indicated that bcsIII had high identity to the bcsI operon of Enterobacter sp. 638; however, its arrangement and composition were same as those of BC synthesizing operon of G. xylinum ATCC53582 except for the flanking sequences. According to the BC biosynthesizing process, oxygen is not directly involved in the reactions of BC synthesis, however, energy is required to activate intermediate metabolites and synthesize the activator, c-di-GMP. Comparative transcriptome and metabolite quantitative analysis demonstrated that under anaerobic conditions genes involved in the TCA cycle were downregulated, however, genes in the nitrate reduction and gluconeogenesis pathways were upregulated, especially, genes in three pyruvate metabolism pathways. These results suggested that Enterobacter sp. FY-07 could produce energy efficiently under anaerobic conditions to meet the requirement of BC biosynthesis. PMID:26911736

A 27-Year Experience With Surgical Treatment of Budd-Chiari Syndrome

PubMed Central

Orloff, Marshall J.; Daily, Pat O.; Orloff, Susan L.; Girard, Barbara; Orloff, Mark S.

2000-01-01

Objective To determine the effects of surgical portal decompression in Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) on survival, quality of life, shunt patency, liver function, portal hemodynamics, and hepatic morphology during periods ranging from 3.5 to 27 years. Summary Background Data Experiments in the authors’ laboratory showed that surgical portal decompression reversed the deleterious effects of BCS on the liver. This study was aimed at determining whether similar benefit could be obtained in patients with BCS. Methods From 1972 to 1999, the authors conducted prospective studies of the treatment of 60 patients with BCS who were divided into three groups: the first had occlusion confined to the hepatic veins treated by direct side-to-side portacaval shunt (SSPCS); the second had occlusion involving the inferior vena cava (IVC) treated by a portal decompressive procedure that bypassed the obstructed IVC; and the third group, who had advanced cirrhosis and hepatic decompensation and were referred too late for treatment by portal decompression, required orthotopic liver transplantation. Results In the 32 patients with BCS resulting from hepatic vein occlusion alone, SSPCS had a surgical death rate of 3%, and 94% of the patients were alive 3.5 to 27 years after surgery. All 31 survivors remained free of ascites and almost all had normal liver function. No patient with a patent shunt had encephalopathy. The SSPCS remained patent in all but one patient. Liver biopsies showed no evidence of congestion or necrosis, and 48% of the biopsies were diagnosed as normal. Mesoatrial shunt was performed in eight patients with BCS caused by IVC thrombosis. All patients survived surgery, but five subsequently developed thrombosis of the synthetic graft and died. Because of the poor results, mesoatrial shunt was abandoned. Instead, a high-flow combination shunt was introduced, consisting of SSPCS combined with a cavoatrial shunt (CAS) through a Gore-Tex graft. There were no surgical or long-term deaths among 10 patients who underwent combined SSPCS and CAS, and the shunts functioned effectively during 4 to 16 years of follow-up. Ten patients with advanced cirrhosis were referred too late to benefit from surgical portal decompression, and they were approved and listed for orthotopic liver transplantation. Three patients died of liver failure while awaiting a transplant, and four patients died after the transplant. The 1- and 5-year survival rates were 40% and 30%, respectively. Conclusions SSPCS in BCS with hepatic vein occlusion alone results in reversal of liver damage, correction of hemodynamic disturbances, prolonged survival, and good quality of life when performed early in the course of BCS. Similarly good results are obtained with combined SSPCS and CAS in patients with BCS resulting from IVC occlusion. In contrast, mesoatrial shunt has been discontinued in the authors’ program because of an unacceptable incidence of graft thrombosis and death. In patients with advanced cirrhosis from long-standing, untreated BCS, orthotopic liver transplantation is the only hope of relief and results in the salvage of some patients. The key to long survival in BCS is prompt diagnosis and treatment by portal decompression. PMID:10973384

Origin of the U(1) field mass in superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koizumi, Hiroyasu

2017-05-01

Recently, a new theory for superconductivity has been put forward, in which the persistent current generation is attributed to the emergent singularities of the electronic wave function that are created by the spin-twisting itinerant circular motion of electrons. The persistent current generated by this mechanism behaves in every respect like supercurrent in superconductors, yielding the flux quantum h/2e and the Josephson frequency 2eV/h, where h is Planck’s constant, -e is the electron charge, and V is the voltage across the Josephson junction. The mass generation of the U(1) gauge field (or the Meissner effect) in the new theory is due to the emergence of topological objects, ‘instantons’ generated by the single-valued requirement of the wave function in the presence of the emergent singularities. The current standard theory of superconductivity is based on the BCS theory, and explains the emergence of superconductivity as due to the global U(1) gauge symmetry breaking realized by the Cooper pair formation. The U(1) field mass generation is believed to be due to this global U(1) gauge symmetry breaking. However, the feasibility of this mechanism has been questioned since no known interaction can prepare the global U(1) symmetry broken state from the normal state. We argue here that the U(1) mass generation in the BCS superconductor can be attributed to the one by the instanton mentioned above if the Rashba spin-orbit interaction is added. Then, the occurrence of persistent current generation becomes due to the instanton formation, and the role of the Cooper pair formation is to stabilize the instanton by providing an energy gap for perturbative excitations. Upon forming the Cooper pair, the instanton is stabilized and persistent current generation becomes possible. Thus, the superconducting transition temperature coincides with the Cooper pair formation temperature.

Bipolar cell gap junctions serve major signaling pathways in the human retina.

PubMed

Kántor, Orsolya; Varga, Alexandra; Nitschke, Roland; Naumann, Angela; Énzsöly, Anna; Lukáts, Ákos; Szabó, Arnold; Németh, János; Völgyi, Béla

2017-08-01

Connexin36 (Cx36) constituent gap junctions (GJ) throughout the brain connect neurons into functional syncytia. In the retina they underlie the transmission, averaging and correlation of signals prior conveying visual information to the brain. This is the first study that describes retinal bipolar cell (BC) GJs in the human inner retina, whose function is enigmatic even in the examined animal models. Furthermore, a number of unique features (e.g. fovea, trichromacy, midget system) necessitate a reexamination of the animal model results in the human retina. Well-preserved postmortem human samples of this study are allowed to identify Cx36 expressing BCs neurochemically. Results reveal that both rod and cone pathway interneurons display strong Cx36 expression. Rod BC inputs to AII amacrine cells (AC) appear in juxtaposition to AII GJs, thus suggesting a strategic AII cell targeting by rod BCs. Cone BCs serving midget, parasol or koniocellular signaling pathways display a wealth of Cx36 expression to form homologously coupled arrays. In addition, they also establish heterologous GJ contacts to serve an exchange of information between parallel signaling streams. Interestingly, a prominent Cx36 expression was exhibited by midget system BCs that appear to maintain intimate contacts with bistratified BCs serving other pathways. These findings suggest that BC GJs in parallel signaling streams serve both an intra- and inter-pathway exchange of signals in the human retina.

Bcs1p can rescue a large and productive cytochrome bc(1) complex assembly intermediate in the inner membrane of yeast mitochondria.

PubMed

Conte, Laura; Trumpower, Bernard L; Zara, Vincenzo

2011-01-01

The yeast cytochrome bc(1) complex, a component of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, is composed of ten distinct protein subunits. In the assembly of the bc(1) complex, some ancillary proteins, such as the chaperone Bcs1p, are actively involved. The deletion of the nuclear gene encoding this chaperone caused the arrest of the bc(1) assembly and the formation of a functionally inactive bc(1) core structure of about 500-kDa. This immature bc(1) core structure could represent, on the one hand, a true assembly intermediate or, on the other hand, a degradation product and/or an incorrect product of assembly. The experiments here reported show that the gradual expression of Bcs1p in the yeast strain lacking this protein was progressively able to rescue the bc(1) core structure leading to the formation of the functional homodimeric bc(1) complex. Following Bcs1p expression, the mature bc(1) complex was also progressively converted into two supercomplexes with the cytochrome c oxidase complex. The capability of restoring the bc(1) complex and the supercomplexes was also possessed by the mutated yeast R81C Bcsp1. Notably, in the human ortholog BCS1L, the corresponding point mutation (R45C) was instead the cause of a severe bc(1) complex deficiency. Differently from the yeast R81C Bcs1p, two other mutated Bcs1p's (K192P and F401I) were unable to recover the bc(1) core structure in yeast. This study identifies for the first time a productive assembly intermediate of the yeast bc(1) complex and gives new insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in the last steps of bc(1) assembly. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

μ SR study of the noncentrosymmetric superconductor PbTaSe2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilson, M. N.; Hallas, A. M.; Cai, Y.; Guo, S.; Gong, Z.; Sankar, R.; Chou, F. C.; Uemura, Y. J.; Luke, G. M.

2017-06-01

We present muon spin rotation and relaxation (μ SR ) measurements on the noncentrosymmetric superconductor PbTaSe2. From measurements in an applied transverse field between Hc 1 and Hc 2, we extract the superfluid density as a function of temperature in the vortex state. These data can be fit with a fully gapped two-band model, consistent with previous evidence from ARPES, thermal conductivity, and resistivity. Furthermore, zero-field measurements show no evidence for a time-reversal symmetry-breaking field greater than 0.05 G in the superconducting state. This makes exotic fully gapped spin-triplet states unlikely, and hence we contend that PbTaSe2 is characterized by conventional BCS s -wave superconductivity in multiple bands.

An update on the management of Budd-Chiari syndrome: the issues of timing and choice of treatment.

PubMed

Mancuso, Andrea

2015-03-01

Because of the rarity of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS), the flow chart of management comes from expert opinion and is not evidence based. To report an update on the management of BCS. I performed a review on published papers on BCS in an attempt to speculate in particular on the timing and the choice of treatment. Some authors suggest that the management of BCS should follow a step-wise strategy. Anticoagulation and medical therapy should be the first-line treatment. Revascularization or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt should be performed in case of no response to medical therapy. Orthotopic liver transplant should be used as a rescue therapy. The biggest criticism of this flow chart is that it is based on the assumption that patients with BCS should receive further treatment only when hemodynamic effects on portal hypertension become clinically evident, thus paying little attention to the chronic ischemic liver damage effects on hepatic function and to the possibility of preventing liver failure by relieving impaired hepatic veins outflow. Recently, I presented a proposal of a new algorithm for the management of BCS, in which medical therapy alone is suggested only for patients without any sign of portal hypertension, irrespective of whether early interventional treatment is suggested when either any symptoms or signs of portal hypertension appear, with the aim of preventing hepatic fibrosis development, disease progression, and finally improving outcome. Given that the benefit of treatments for BCS is not under debate, guidelines for the management of BCS should be re-evaluated and updated, with particular attention to both the timing and the choice of treatment.

Relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and interference control in breast cancer survivors.

PubMed

Zuniga, Krystle E; Mackenzie, Michael J; Roberts, Sarah A; Raine, Lauren B; Hillman, Charles H; Kramer, Arthur F; McAuley, Edward

2016-06-01

Nutrition plays an important role in brain structure and function, and the effects of diet may even be greater in those at greater risk of cognitive decline, such as individuals with cancer-related cognitive impairment. However, the relation of dietary components to cognitive function in cancer survivors is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine whether breast cancer survivors (BCS) evidenced impairments in interference control, a component of cognitive control, compared to age-matched women with no prior history of cancer, and to examine the moderating role of diet on cognitive function. In this cross-sectional study, a modified flanker task was used to assess interference control in BCS (n = 31) and age-matched women with no prior history of cancer (n = 30). Diet was assessed with 3-day food records. Differences between BCS and age-matched controls were assessed using linear mixed models, and multilevel regression analyses were conducted to assess the moderating role of diet on cognitive performance. Cognitive performance was not different between groups. Fruit intake and vegetable intake were significantly associated with better performance on the incompatible condition of the flanker task (i.e., shorter reaction time and increased accuracy), independent of disease status. The association between dietary components and cognition was stronger for the incompatible incongruent condition, suggesting that fruit and vegetables may be important for the up-regulation of cognitive control when faced with higher cognitive demands. There was no difference in performance on an interference control task between BCS and age-matched controls. The data suggest that greater fruit intake and vegetable intake were positively associated with interference control in both BCS and age-matched controls.

The Religiosity/Spirituality of Latina Breast Cancer Survivors and Influence on Health-Related Quality of Life

PubMed Central

Wildes, Kimberly A.; Miller, Alexander R.; de Majors, Sandra San Miguel; Ramirez, Amelie G.

2010-01-01

Objective The study evaluated the association of religiosity/spirituality (R/S) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among Latina breast cancer survivors (BCS) in order to determine whether R/S would be positively correlated with HRQOL and whether R/S would significantly influence HRQOL. Methods The cross-sectional study utilized self-report data from 117 Latina BCS survivors. R/S was measured with the Systems of Belief Inventory - 15 Revised (SBI-15R) and HRQOL was measured with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – General (FACT-G). Analyses included calculation of descriptive statistics, t-tests, bivariate correlations, and multivariate analyses. Results Latina BCS had very high levels of R/S and generally good HRQOL. The SBI-15R total score was positively correlated with FACT-G social well-being (r=0.266, p=0.005), relationship with doctor (r=0.219, p=0.020), and functional well-being (r=0.216, p=0.022). Multivariate analyses revealed that SBI-15R was a significant predictor of FACT-G functional well-being (p=0.041) and satisfaction with the relationship with the doctor (p=0.050), where higher levels of R/S predicted higher levels of well-being. Conclusions Latina BCS had very high levels of R/S, which were significantly, positively correlated with dimensions of HRQOL (social well-being, functional well-being, relationship with doctor). Further, these high levels of R/S predicted better functional well-being and satisfaction with the patient-doctor relationship while controlling for potentially confounding variables. Implications are discussed. PMID:19034922

IMG-ABC: new features for bacterial secondary metabolism analysis and targeted biosynthetic gene cluster discovery in thousands of microbial genomes

DOE PAGES

Hadjithomas, Michalis; Chen, I-Min A.; Chu, Ken; ...

2016-11-29

Secondary metabolites produced by microbes have diverse biological functions, which makes them a great potential source of biotechnologically relevant compounds with antimicrobial, anti-cancer and other activities. The proteins needed to synthesize these natural products are often encoded by clusters of co-located genes called biosynthetic gene clusters (BCs). In order to advance the exploration of microbial secondary metabolism, we developed the largest publically available database of experimentally verified and predicted BCs, the Integrated Microbial Genomes Atlas of Biosynthetic gene Clusters (IMG-ABC) (https://img.jgi.doe.gov/abc/). Here, we describe an update of IMG-ABC, which includes ClusterScout, a tool for targeted identification of custom biosynthetic genemore » clusters across 40 000 isolate microbial genomes, and a new search capability to query more than 700 000 BCs from isolate genomes for clusters with similar Pfam composition. Additional features enable fast exploration and analysis of BCs through two new interactive visualization features, a BC function heatmap and a BC similarity network graph. These new tools and features add to the value of IMG-ABC's vast body of BC data, facilitating their in-depth analysis and accelerating secondary metabolite discovery.« less

IMG-ABC: new features for bacterial secondary metabolism analysis and targeted biosynthetic gene cluster discovery in thousands of microbial genomes

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

Hadjithomas, Michalis; Chen, I-Min A.; Chu, Ken

Secondary metabolites produced by microbes have diverse biological functions, which makes them a great potential source of biotechnologically relevant compounds with antimicrobial, anti-cancer and other activities. The proteins needed to synthesize these natural products are often encoded by clusters of co-located genes called biosynthetic gene clusters (BCs). In order to advance the exploration of microbial secondary metabolism, we developed the largest publically available database of experimentally verified and predicted BCs, the Integrated Microbial Genomes Atlas of Biosynthetic gene Clusters (IMG-ABC) (https://img.jgi.doe.gov/abc/). Here, we describe an update of IMG-ABC, which includes ClusterScout, a tool for targeted identification of custom biosynthetic genemore » clusters across 40 000 isolate microbial genomes, and a new search capability to query more than 700 000 BCs from isolate genomes for clusters with similar Pfam composition. Additional features enable fast exploration and analysis of BCs through two new interactive visualization features, a BC function heatmap and a BC similarity network graph. These new tools and features add to the value of IMG-ABC's vast body of BC data, facilitating their in-depth analysis and accelerating secondary metabolite discovery.« less

Cooper-pair size and binding energy for unconventional superconducting systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dinóla Neto, F.; Neto, Minos A.; Salmon, Octavio D. Rodriguez

2018-06-01

The main proposal of this paper is to analyze the size of the Cooper pairs composed by unbalanced mass fermions from different electronic bands along the BCS-BEC crossover and study the binding energy of the pairs. We are considering an interaction between fermions with different masses leading to an inter-band pairing. In addiction to the attractive interaction we have an hybridization term to couple both bands, which in general acts unfavorable for the pairing between the electrons. We get first order phase transitions as the hybridization breaks the Cooper pairs for the s-wave symmetry of the gap amplitude. The results show the dependence of the Cooper-pair size as a function of the hybridization for T = 0 . We also propose the structure of the binding energy of the inter-band system as a function of the two-bands quasi-particle energies.

Quality of preimplantation embryos recovered in vivo from dairy cows in relation to their body condition.

PubMed

Makarevich, A V; Stádník, L; Kubovičová, E; Hegedüšová, Z; Holásek, R; Louda, F; Beran, J; Nejdlová, M

2016-06-01

This study examined the impact of cow body condition on the quality of bovine preimplantation embryos. The embryos (n = 107) were flushed from dairy cows and classified according to a five-point scale body condition score (BCS2 n = 17; BCS3 n = 31; BCS4 n = 11) on the 7th day after insemination and then analyzed for development, dead cell index (DCI), cell number and actin cytoskeleton quality. The highest embryo recovery rate (P < 0.05) was recorded in the BCS3 group and the lowest in the BCS4 group. More transferable (morula, blastocyst) embryos were obtained from the BCS4 cows (79%), compared with the BCS2 (64%) or BCS3 (63%) animals. However, cell numbers were higher in the BCS2 and BCS3 groups (P < 0.05) compared with the BCS4 embryos. Conversely, the DCI was lowest in the BCS2 (3.88%; P < 0.05) and highest in the BCS4 (6.56%) embryos. The proportion of embryos with the best actin quality (grade I) was higher in the BCS2 and BCS3 cows compared with the BCS4 group. Almost 25% of all embryos showed fragmented morphology and a higher DCI (5.65%) than normal morulas (1.76%). More fragmented embryos were revealed in the BCS2 (28.6%) and BCS4 (31.25%) groups, and less (19.15%) in the BCS3 group. The cell numbers in such embryos were lower in the BCS4 (22.57) than in the BCS2 (46.25) or BCS3 (42.4) groups. In conclusion, the body condition of dairy cows affects the quality of preimplantation embryos. A BCS over 3.0 resulted in a higher incidence of poor (fragmented) embryos.

Berry phase from vortex dynamics in BCS superconductors revisited

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanaka, Akihiro; Machida, Masahiko

1999-02-01

Motivated by a recent series of papers by Ao et al., we reconsider the Berry phase produced by an adiabatic motion of a vortex in an s-wave BCS superconductor. Avoiding the use of the gradient expansion approach which may give rise to ambiguity in the presence of vortices, we make certain assumptions which enable us to extend the methods of Goff, Gaitan and Stone, originally used in the context of superfluid dynamics of 3He, to our vortex problem. Using the pseudo-spin representation of the BCS Hamiltonian, contributions to the Berry phase coming from each quasiparticle state constituting the ground state are added together to give a total phase proportional to n- C0, where n≡ {1}/{2}∑ pσ(1-ɛ/ ɛ 2+|Δ| 2) and C 0≡∑ pσΘ(-ɛ)=p 3F/3π 2 are the superconducting and normal electron densities, respectively. We consider this to be a clear counterexample to Ao's claim that the only possible hydrodynamic transverse force exerted on a vortex is a Magnus force proportional to n. Relations to the spectral-flow phenomenology of Volovik, and a brief discussion on possible extension to the cuprate superconductors, are suggested.

Barnacle Balanus amphitrite adheres by a stepwise cementing process.

PubMed

Burden, Daniel K; Barlow, Daniel E; Spillmann, Christopher M; Orihuela, Beatriz; Rittschof, Daniel; Everett, R K; Wahl, Kathryn J

2012-09-18

Barnacles adhere permanently to surfaces by secreting and curing a thin interfacial adhesive underwater. Here, we show that the acorn barnacle Balanus amphitrite adheres by a two-step fluid secretion process, both contributing to adhesion. We found that, as barnacles grow, the first barnacle cement secretion (BCS1) is released at the periphery of the expanding base plate. Subsequently, a second, autofluorescent fluid (BCS2) is released. We show that secretion of BCS2 into the interface results, on average, in a 2-fold increase in adhesive strength over adhesion by BCS1 alone. The two secretions are distinguishable both spatially and temporally, and differ in morphology, protein conformation, and chemical functionality. The short time window for BCS2 secretion relative to the overall area increase demonstrates that it has a disproportionate, surprisingly powerful, impact on adhesion. The dramatic change in adhesion occurs without measurable changes in interface thickness and total protein content. A fracture mechanics analysis suggests the interfacial material's modulus or work of adhesion, or both, were substantially increased after BCS2 secretion. Addition of BCS2 into the interface generates highly networked amyloid-like fibrils and enhanced phenolic content. Both intertwined fibers and phenolic chemistries may contribute to mechanical stability of the interface through physically or chemically anchoring interface proteins to the substrate and intermolecular interactions. Our experiments point to the need to reexamine the role of phenolic components in barnacle adhesion, long discounted despite their prevalence in structural membranes of arthropods and crustaceans, as they may contribute to chemical processes that strengthen adhesion through intermolecular cross-linking.

Sustained attention abnormalities in breast cancer survivors with cognitive deficits post chemotherapy: An electrophysiological study.

PubMed

Kam, J W Y; Brenner, C A; Handy, T C; Boyd, L A; Liu-Ambrose, T; Lim, H J; Hayden, S; Campbell, K L

2016-01-01

Many breast cancer survivors (BCS) report cognitive problems following chemotherapy, yet controversy remains concerning which cognitive domains are affected. This study investigated a domain crucial to daily function: the ability to maintain attention over time. We examined whether BCS who self-reported cognitive problems up to 3 years following cancer treatment (n=19) performed differently from healthy controls (HC, n=12) in a task that required sustained attention. Participants performed a target detection task while periodically being asked to report their attentional state. Electroencephalogram was recorded during this task and at rest. BCS were less likely to maintain sustained attention during the task compared to HC. Further, the P3 event-related potential component elicited by visual targets during the task was smaller in BCS relative to HC. BCS also displayed greater neural activity at rest. BCS demonstrated an abnormal pattern of sustained attention and resource allocation compared to HC, suggesting that attentional deficits can be objectively observed in breast cancer survivors who self-report concentration problems. These data underscore the value of EEG combined with a less traditional measure of sustained attention, or attentional states, as objective laboratory tools that are sensitive to subjective complaints of chemotherapy-related attentional impairments. Copyright © 2015 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Quantum Monte Carlo studies of superfluid Fermi gases

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

Chang, S.Y.; Pandharipande, V.R.; Carlson, J.

2004-10-01

We report results of quantum Monte Carlo calculations of the ground state of dilute Fermi gases with attractive short-range two-body interactions. The strength of the interaction is varied to study different pairing regimes which are characterized by the product of the s-wave scattering length and the Fermi wave vector, ak{sub F}. We report results for the ground-state energy, the pairing gap {delta}, and the quasiparticle spectrum. In the weak-coupling regime, 1/ak{sub F}<-1, we obtain Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) superfluid and the energy gap {delta} is much smaller than the Fermi gas energy E{sub FG}. When a>0, the interaction is strong enough tomore » form bound molecules with energy E{sub mol}. For 1/ak{sub F} > or approx. 0.5, we find that weakly interacting composite bosons are formed in the superfluid gas with {delta} and gas energy per particle approaching E{sub mol}/2. In this region, we seem to have Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of molecules. The behavior of the energy and the gap in the BCS-to-BEC transition region, -0.5<1/ak{sub F}<0.5, is discussed.« less

Superconducting properties of molybdenum ruthenium alloy Mo0.63Ru0.37

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Wensen; Ge, Min; Wang, Shasha; Zhang, Lei; Han, Yuyan; Du, Haifeng; Tian, Mingliang; Zhang, Yuheng

2018-03-01

Resistance, magnetization and specific heat measurements were performed on Mo0.63Ru0.37 alloy. All of them confirm that Mo0.63Ru0.37 becomes superconducting at about 7.0 K with bulk nature. Its upper critical field behavior fits to Werthamer-Helfand-Hohenberg (WHH) model quite well, with an upper critical field of μ0Hc2(0) = 8.64 T, less than its Pauli limit. Its electronic specific heat is reproduced by Bardeen-Cooper-Schriffer (BCS)-based α-model with a gap ratio Δ0 = 1.88kBTc, which is a little larger than the standard BCS value of 1.76. We concluded that Mo0.63Ru0.37 is a fully gapped isotropic s-wave superconductor, with its features are mostly consistent with the conventional theory.

Quantum quench in a p+ip superfluid: Winding numbers and topological states far from equilibrium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Foster, Matthew S.; Dzero, Maxim; Gurarie, Victor; Yuzbashyan, Emil A.

2013-09-01

We study the nonadiabatic dynamics of a two-dimensional p+ip superfluid following an instantaneous quantum quench of the BCS coupling constant. The model describes a topological superconductor with a nontrivial BCS (trivial BEC) phase appearing at weak- (strong-) coupling strengths. We extract the exact long-time asymptotics of the order parameter Δ(t) by exploiting the integrability of the classical p-wave Hamiltonian, which we establish via a Lax construction. Three different types of asymptotic behavior can occur depending upon the strength and direction of the interaction quench. We refer to these as the nonequilibrium phases {I, II, III}, characterized as follows. In phase I, the order parameter asymptotes to zero due to dephasing. In phase II, Δ→Δ∞, a nonzero constant. Phase III is characterized by persistent oscillations of Δ(t). For quenches within phases I and II, we determine the topological character of the asymptotic states. We show that two different formulations of the bulk topological winding number, although equivalent in the BCS or BEC ground states, must be regarded as independent out of equilibrium. The first winding number Q characterizes the Anderson pseudospin texture of the initial state; we show that Q is generically conserved. For Q≠0, this leads to the prediction of a “gapless topological” state when Δ asymptotes to zero. The presence or absence of Majorana edge modes in a sample with a boundary is encoded in the second winding number W, which is formulated in terms of the retarded Green's function. We establish that W can change following a quench across the quantum critical point. When the order parameter asymptotes to a nonzero constant, the final value of W is well defined and quantized. We discuss the implications for the (dis)appearance of Majorana edge modes. Finally, we show that the parity of zeros in the bulk out-of-equilibrium Cooper-pair distribution function constitutes a Z2-valued quantum number, which is nonzero whenever W≠Q. The pair distribution can in principle be measured using rf spectroscopy in an ultracold-atom realization, allowing direct experimental detection of the Z2 number. This has the following interesting implication: topological information that is experimentally inaccessible in the bulk ground state can be transferred to an observable distribution function when the system is driven far from equilibrium.

Detecting the BCS pairing amplitude via a sudden lattice ramp in a honeycomb lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tiesinga, Eite; Nuske, Marlon; Mathey, Ludwig

2016-05-01

We determine the exact time evolution of an initial Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) state of ultra-cold atoms in a hexagonal optical lattice. The dynamical evolution is triggered by ramping the lattice potential up, such that the interaction strength Uf is much larger than the hopping amplitude Jf. The quench initiates collective oscillations with frequency | Uf | /(2 π) in the momentum occupation numbers and imprints an oscillating phase with the same frequency on the order parameter Δ. The latter is not reproduced by treating the time evolution in mean-field theory. The momentum density-density or noise correlation functions oscillate at frequency | Uf | /(2 π) as well as its second harmonic. For a very deep lattice, with negligible tunneling energy, the oscillations of momentum occupation numbers are undamped. Non-zero tunneling after the quench leads to dephasing of the different momentum modes and a subsequent damping of the oscillations. This occurs even for a finite-temperature initial BCS state, but not for a non-interacting Fermi gas. We therefore propose to use this dephasing to detect a BCS state. Finally, we predict that the noise correlation functions in a honeycomb lattice will develop strong anti-correlations near the Dirac point. We acknowledge funding from the National Science Foundation.

IMG-ABC: new features for bacterial secondary metabolism analysis and targeted biosynthetic gene cluster discovery in thousands of microbial genomes.

PubMed

Hadjithomas, Michalis; Chen, I-Min A; Chu, Ken; Huang, Jinghua; Ratner, Anna; Palaniappan, Krishna; Andersen, Evan; Markowitz, Victor; Kyrpides, Nikos C; Ivanova, Natalia N

2017-01-04

Secondary metabolites produced by microbes have diverse biological functions, which makes them a great potential source of biotechnologically relevant compounds with antimicrobial, anti-cancer and other activities. The proteins needed to synthesize these natural products are often encoded by clusters of co-located genes called biosynthetic gene clusters (BCs). In order to advance the exploration of microbial secondary metabolism, we developed the largest publically available database of experimentally verified and predicted BCs, the Integrated Microbial Genomes Atlas of Biosynthetic gene Clusters (IMG-ABC) (https://img.jgi.doe.gov/abc/). Here, we describe an update of IMG-ABC, which includes ClusterScout, a tool for targeted identification of custom biosynthetic gene clusters across 40 000 isolate microbial genomes, and a new search capability to query more than 700 000 BCs from isolate genomes for clusters with similar Pfam composition. Additional features enable fast exploration and analysis of BCs through two new interactive visualization features, a BC function heatmap and a BC similarity network graph. These new tools and features add to the value of IMG-ABC's vast body of BC data, facilitating their in-depth analysis and accelerating secondary metabolite discovery. © The Author(s) 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.

Prepartum concentrate supplementation of a diet based on medium-quality grass silage: Effects on performance, health, fertility, metabolic function, and immune function of low body condition score cows.

PubMed

Little, M W; O'Connell, N E; Welsh, M D; Barley, J; Meade, K G; Ferris, C P

2016-09-01

When cows with a "higher" body condition score (BCS) are oversupplied with energy during the dry period, postpartum energy balance is normally reduced, which can have a detrimental effect on immune competence and increase the infectious disease risk. However, within grassland-based systems higher yielding cows frequently have a low BCS at drying off. The effects on performance, health, and metabolic and immune functions of providing additional energy to cows with low BCS during the dry period is less certain. To address this uncertainty, 53 multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows (mean BCS of 2.5; 1-5 scale) were allocated to 1 of 2 treatments at dry-off: silage only or silage plus concentrates. Cows on the silage-only treatment were offered ad libitum access to medium-quality grass silage. Cows on the silage-plus-concentrate treatment were offered ad libitum access to a mixed ration comprising the same grass silage plus concentrates [in a 75:25 dry matter (DM) ratio], which provided a mean concentrate DM intake of 3.0kg/cow per day. Postpartum, cows were offered a common mixed ration comprising grass silage and concentrates (in a 40:60 DM ratio) for a 70-d period. Offering concentrates during the dry period increased DM intake, tended to increase energy balance, and increased body weight (BW) and BCS gain prepartum. Offering concentrates during the dry period increased BW and BCS loss postpartum and tended to increase milk fat percentage and serum nonesterified fatty acid concentration, but it did not affect postpartum DM intake, energy balance, and milk yield. Although the percentage of phagocytosis-positive neutrophils did not differ, neutrophils from cows on the silage-plus-concentrate treatment had higher phagocytic fluorescence intensity at 1 and 2 wk postpartum and higher phagocytic index at 1 wk postpartum. Serum haptoglobin concentrations and IFN-γ production by pokeweed mitogen stimulated whole blood culture were unaffected by treatment, although haptoglobin concentrations increased and IFN-γ production decreased peripartum. Offering concentrates during the dry period increased the incidence of lameness postpartum, although other health and fertility parameters were unaffected. In conclusion, supplementing low BCS cows with concentrates during the dry period had no effect on performance and fertility and resulted in a higher neutrophil phagocytic index at 1 wk postpartum and an increased incidence of lameness compared with offering cows a grass silage-only diet prepartum. Copyright © 2016 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The use of biochar substrates for soil reclamation - results of experiments in Northeastern Germany

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lukas, Stefan; Haubold-Rosar, Michael

2017-04-01

After the model of the very fertile "Terra preta do Indio" in Amazonia, the joint project "LaTerra" has been taken up a new technology for the production of organic substrates using biochar as admixture to the composting and fermentation of biomass to test its application for soil improvement, reclamation and remediation purposes. Processing organic materials or residues and the creation of high quality organic soil improving materials will close material cycles and contribute to the value added on a regional scale. This should be an essential part of a sustainable material flow management. The presentation will focus on the application of biochar substrates for the reclamation of sandy soils in Northeastern Germany. Lignite mining activities leave raw soils without humus on dumps and tips. The rapid formation and maintenance of a balanced humus and nutrient budget is of great importance. Field, lysimeter and pot experiments were part of the research program in order to find out the impact of biochar substrate application on soil functions and plant growth and to derive quality criteria and recommendations for practice. The results of the experiments show that application of biochar substrates (BCS) improved soil properties like nutrient supply, organic carbon content, water storage and cation exchange capacity. However, crop yields did not increase in the year of BCS application on the test sites or even decreased on the dumped soil with rising amounts of BCS. This is a consequence of nitrogen immobilization and sorption in the soils treated with BCS. Therefore, BCS applications should be combined with mineral fertilization of nitrogen and BCS production should be modified aiming to improve contents and release of plant available nitrogen. In the third year after BCS application variants treated with 60 t BCS ha-1 (15 Vol.-% biochar) showed highest yields, exceeding the variants with mineral fertilization. On the dumped soil, in the fourth and fifth year after application all variants exceeded yields of mineral fertilization by 5 to 15 % with maximum in variants treated with 90 t BCS (15 Vol.-% biochar) ha-1.

Risk factors for and causes and treatment of recurrence of inferior vena cava type of Budd-Chiari syndrome after stenting in China: A retrospective analysis of a large cohort.

PubMed

Li, Wen-Dong; Yu, Hui-Ying; Qian, Ai-Min; Rong, Jian-Jie; Zhang, Ye-Qing; Li, Xiao-Qiang

2017-03-01

To explore the risk factors for recurrence of inferior vena cava (IVC)-type Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) after stenting and evaluate the feasibility and primary outcomes of endovascular therapies for recurrent BCS. A retrospective analysis of 219 patients was performed to identify risk factors for recurrence. The images of the recurrent patients during follow-up duration and interventional surgery were also reviewed to find the possible reasons of recurrence. The outcome of endovascular therapies for recurrent BCS was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Among the 219 patients, 172 patients with primary IVC-type BCS underwent stenting and 28 patients experienced recurrence. Multivariate analysis identified age, Child-Pugh score, MELD and total bilirubin as independent recurrent indicators. Possible causes of recurrence include thrombosis in the stent, re-obstruction in or above the stent, and stent-related hepatic vein obstruction. Twenty-five patients with recurrent BCS underwent endovascular therapies with a few complications and achieved a high level of short- and mid-term patency. Age, total bilirubin and severity of liver function are the main risk factors for BCS recurrence. These risks might contribute to thrombosis or subsequent fibrous obstruction. Endovascular therapies are effective and safe management options that yield positive outcomes for recurrent BCS. • Risk factors for recurrent Budd-Chiari syndrome were identified by multivariate analysis. • Causes of recurrent Budd-Chiari syndrome were investigated by assessing radiological images. • There is a correlation between risk factors and causes of recurrence. • Endovascular therapies for recurrent Budd-Chiari syndrome are effective and safe.

Neural dynamics of motion perception: direction fields, apertures, and resonant grouping.

PubMed

Grossberg, S; Mingolla, E

1993-03-01

A neural network model of global motion segmentation by visual cortex is described. Called the motion boundary contour system (BCS), the model clarifies how ambiguous local movements on a complex moving shape are actively reorganized into a coherent global motion signal. Unlike many previous researchers, we analyze how a coherent motion signal is imparted to all regions of a moving figure, not only to regions at which unambiguous motion signals exist. The model hereby suggests a solution to the global aperture problem. The motion BCS describes how preprocessing of motion signals by a motion oriented contrast (MOC) filter is joined to long-range cooperative grouping mechanisms in a motion cooperative-competitive (MOCC) loop to control phenomena such as motion capture. The motion BCS is computed in parallel with the static BCS of Grossberg and Mingolla (1985a, 1985b, 1987). Homologous properties of the motion BCS and the static BCS, specialized to process motion directions and static orientations, respectively, support a unified explanation of many data about static form perception and motion form perception that have heretofore been unexplained or treated separately. Predictions about microscopic computational differences of the parallel cortical streams V1-->MT and V1-->V2-->MT are made--notably, the magnocellular thick stripe and parvocellular interstripe streams. It is shown how the motion BCS can compute motion directions that may be synthesized from multiple orientations with opposite directions of contrast. Interactions of model simple cells, complex cells, hyper-complex cells, and bipole cells are described, with special emphasis given to new functional roles in direction disambiguation for endstopping at multiple processing stages and to the dynamic interplay of spatially short-range and long-range interactions.

Effect of cosmetic outcome on quality of life after breast cancer surgery.

PubMed

Kim, M K; Kim, T; Moon, H G; Jin, U S; Kim, K; Kim, J; Lee, J W; Kim, J; Lee, E; Yoo, T K; Noh, D-Y; Minn, K W; Han, W

2015-03-01

Studies regarding the effects of aesthetic outcomes after breast cancer surgery on quality of life (QoL) have yielded inconsistent results. This study analyzed the aesthetic outcomes and QoL of women who underwent breast conserving surgery (BCS) or total mastectomy with immediate reconstruction (TMIR) using objective and validated methods. QoL questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30, BR23, and HADs) were administered at least 1 year after surgery and adjuvant therapy to 485 patients who underwent BCS, 46 who underwent TMIR, and 87 who underwent total mastectomy (TM) without reconstruction. Aesthetic results were evaluated using BCCT.core software and by a panel of physicians. Patients' body image perception was assessed using the body image scale (BIS). QoL outcomes, including for social and role functioning, fatigue, pain, body image, and arm symptoms, were significantly better in the BCS and TMIR groups than in the TM group (p<0.05 each). BIS was significantly better in the BCS than in the TM or TMIR group (p<0.001 each). In the BCS and TMIR groups, general QoL factors were not significantly associated with objective cosmetic outcomes, except for body image in the QLQ-BR23. In contrast, patients with poorer BIS score reported lower QoL in almost all items of the QLQ-C30, BR23, and HADS (p<0.05 each). In conclusion, BCS and TMIR enhanced QoL compared with TM. Among BCS and TMIR patients, objectively measured cosmetic results did not affect general QoL. Self-perception of body image seems to be more important for QoL after breast cancer surgery. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A New First-Principles Calculation of Field-Dependent RF Surface Impedance of BCS Superconductor

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

Xiao, Binping; Reece, Charles E.

2014-02-01

There is a need to understand the intrinsic limit of radiofrequency (RF) surface impedance that determines the performance of superconducting RF cavities in particle accelerators. Here we present a field-dependent derivation of Mattis-Bardeen theory of the RF surface impedance of BCS superconductors based on the shifted density of states resulting from coherently moving Cooper pairs. Our theoretical prediction of the effective BCS RF surface resistance (Rs) of niobium as a function of peak surface magnetic field amplitude agrees well with recently reported record low loss resonant cavity measurements from JLab and FNAL with carefully, yet differently, prepared niobium material. Themore » surprising reduction in resistance with increasing field is explained to be an intrinsic effect.« less

Structure and functioning of a multidisciplinary 'Heart Team' for patients with coronary artery disease: rationale and recommendations from a joint BCS/BCIS/SCTS working group.

PubMed

Luckraz, Heyman; Norell, Michael; Buch, Mamta; James, Rachael; Cooper, Graham

2015-10-01

The decision-making process in the management of patients with ischaemic heart disease has historically been the responsibility of the cardiologist and encompasses medical management, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Currently, there is significant geographical variability in the PCI:CABG ratio. There are now emerging recommendations that this decision-making process should be carried out through a multidisciplinary approach, namely the Heart Team. This work was carried out on behalf of The British Cardiovascular Society (BCS), Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland (SCTS) and British Cardiovascular Intervention Society (BCIS). This manuscript sets out the principles for the functioning of the Heart Team. This work has been approved by the Executive Committees of BCS/BCIS/SCTS. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.

Analysis of the cellulose synthase operon genes, bcsA, bcsB, and bcsC in Cronobacter species: Prevalence among species and their roles in biofilm formation and cell-cell aggregation.

PubMed

Hu, Lan; Grim, Christopher J; Franco, Augusto A; Jarvis, Karen G; Sathyamoorthy, Vengopal; Kothary, Mahendra H; McCardell, Barbara A; Tall, Ben D

2015-12-01

Cronobacter species are emerging food-borne pathogens that cause severe sepsis, meningitis, and necrotizing entercolitis in neonates and infants. Bacterial pathogens such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella species produce extracellular cellulose which has been shown to be involved in rugosity, biofilm formation, and host colonization. In this study the distribution and prevalence of cellulose synthase operon genes (bcsABZC) were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis in 231 Cronobacter strains isolated from clinical, food, environmental, and unknown sources. Furthermore, bcsA and bcsB isogenic mutants were constructed in Cronobacter sakazakii BAA894 to determine their roles. In calcofluor binding assays bcsA and bcsB mutants did not produce cellulose, and their colonial morphotypes were different to that of the parent strain. Biofilm formation and bacterial cell-cell aggregation were significantly reduced in bcsA and bcsB mutants compared to the parental strain. bcsA or bcsAB PCR-negative strains of C. sakazakii did not bind calcofluor, and produced less biofilm and cell-cell aggregation compared to strains possessing bcsAB genes. These data indicated that Cronobacter bcsABZC were present in all clinical isolates and most of food and environmental isolates. bcsA and bcsB genes of Cronobacter were necessary to produce cellulose, and were involved in biofilm formation and cell-cell aggregation. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Single Spin Superconductivity: Bulk and Junction Effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rudd, Robert E.; Pickett, Warren E.

1998-03-01

The Josephson Effect provides a primary signature of single spin superconductivity (SSS), the as yet unobserved superconducting state which was proposed recently(W.E. Pickett, Phys. Rev. Lett. 77), 3185 (1996). as a low temperature phase of half-metallic antiferromagnets.(W.E. Pickett, ``Spin Density Functional Based Search for Half-Metallic Antiferromagnets,'' cond-mat/9709100 (1997).) These materials are insulating in the spin-down channel but are metallic in the spin-up channel. The SSS state is characterized by a unique form of p-wave pairing within a single spin channel.(R.E. Rudd and W.E. Pickett, ``Single Spin Superconductivity:Formulation and Ginzburg-Landau Theory,'' Phys. Rev. B. in press) We develop the theory of a rich variety of Josephson effects that arise due to the form of the SSS order parameter. Tunneling is allowed at a SSS-SSS^' junction depending on the relative orientation of each of their order parameters (SSS and HM AFM). No current flows between an SSS and an s-wave BCS system, which provides a powerful method to distinguish SSS from other superconducting states.

Postprandial Gastrointestinal Function Differs after Acute Administration of Sourdough Compared with Brewer's Yeast Bakery Products in Healthy Adults.

PubMed

Polese, Barbara; Nicolai, Emanuele; Genovese, Daniela; Verlezza, Viviana; La Sala, Carmine N; Aiello, Marco; Inglese, Marianna; Incoronato, Mariarosaria; Sarnelli, Giovanni; De Rosa, Tiziana; Schiatti, Alfio; Mondelli, Francesco; Ercolini, Danilo; Cuomo, Rosario

2018-02-01

Europeans consume large quantities of bakery products, although these are known as one of the food categories that potentially leads to postprandial symptoms (such as fullness and bloating). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of sourdough baked goods on gastric emptying and gastrointestinal fermentation and symptoms in healthy people. In a double-blind, randomized crossover study, 2 sourdough croissants (SCs) or 2 brewer's yeast croissants (BCs) were served as single meals to 17 healthy adults [9 women; age range: 18-40 y; body mass index range (in kg/m2): 18-24]. Gastric volume (GV) was evaluated by magnetic resonance to calculate gastric-emptying rate in the 3-h interval after croissant ingestion. A hydrogen breath test was performed to measure hydrogen production after SC and BC ingestion. Palatability and postprandial gastrointestinal symptoms (discomfort, nausea, fullness, and bloating) over a 4-h period after the meal were evaluated. The area under the curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the overall effects on all variables tested. The total GV AUC was reduced by 11% during the 3 h after the consumption of SCs compared with BCs (P = 0.02). Hydrogen production during the 4-h interval after ingestion of SCs was 30% lower than after BCs (P = 0.03). SCs were rated as being >2 times as palatable as BCs (P < 0.001). The overall severity of postprandial symptoms was 36% lower during the 4 h after intake of SCs compared with BCs (P = 0.05). Sourdough bakery products could promote better postprandial gastrointestinal function in healthy adults and be more acceptable than those prepared with brewer's yeast. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03207516.

Disorder and superfluid density in overdoped cuprate superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee-Hone, N. R.; Dodge, J. S.; Broun, D. M.

2017-07-01

We calculate superfluid density for a dirty d -wave superconductor. The effects of impurity scattering are treated within the self-consistent t -matrix approximation, in weak-coupling BCS theory. Working from a realistic tight-binding parametrization of the Fermi surface, we find a superfluid density that is both correlated with Tc and linear in temperature, in good correspondence with recent experiments on overdoped La2 -xSrxCuO4 .

Spectroscopy of Dipolar Fermions in Layered Two-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional Lattices

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-09-06

Moreover, we consider other sources of spectral broadening: interaction-induced quasiparticle lifetimes and the different polarizabilities of the...and study Cooper pair binding [7,8], polaron quasiparticle residue [9], and pseudogap behavior of ultracold fermions across the BEC/BCS crossover [10...imaginary part of this energy is the quasiparticle lifetime, and the only source of quasiparticle decay is the p-wave particle loss. Thus the cloud

Improved perception of communication and compliance with a revised, intensive care unit-specific bedside communication sheet.

PubMed

Aponte-Patel, Linda; Sen, Anita

2015-01-01

Although many pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) use beside communication sheets (BCSs) to highlight daily goals, the optimal format is unknown. A site-specific BCS could improve both PICU communication and compliance completing the BCS. Via written survey, PICU staff at an academic children's hospital provided recommendations for improving and revising an existing BCS. Pre- and post-BCS revision, PICU staff were polled regarding PICU communication and BCS effectiveness, and daily compliance for completing the BCS was monitored. After implementation of the revised BCS, staff reporting "excellent" or "very good" day-to-day communication within the PICU increased from 57% to 77% (P = .02). Compliance for completing the BCS also increased significantly (75% vs 83%, P = .03). Introduction of a focused and concise BCS tailored to a specific PICU leads to improved perceptions of communication by PICU staff and increased compliance completing the daily BCS. © The Author(s) 2014.

Twisting Anderson pseudospins with light: Quench dynamics in terahertz-pumped BCS superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chou, Yang-Zhi; Liao, Yunxiang; Foster, Matthew S.

2017-03-01

We study the preparation (pump) and the detection (probe) of far-from-equilibrium BCS superconductor dynamics in THz pump-probe experiments. In a recent experiment [R. Matsunaga, Y. I. Hamada, K. Makise, Y. Uzawa, H. Terai, Z. Wang, and R. Shimano, Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 057002 (2013), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.057002], an intense monocycle THz pulse with center frequency ω ≃Δ was injected into a superconductor with BCS gap Δ ; the subsequent postpump evolution was detected via the optical conductivity. It was argued that nonlinear coupling of the pump to the Anderson pseudospins of the superconductor induces coherent dynamics of the Higgs (amplitude) mode Δ (t ) . We validate this picture in a two-dimensional BCS model with a combination of exact numerics and the Lax reduction method, and we compute the nonequilibrium phase diagram as a function of the pump intensity. The main effect of the pump is to scramble the orientations of Anderson pseudospins along the Fermi surface by twisting them in the x y plane. We show that more intense pump pulses can induce a far-from-equilibrium phase of gapless superconductivity ("phase I"), originally predicted in the context of interaction quenches in ultracold atoms. We show that the THz pump method can reach phase I at much lower energy densities than an interaction quench, and we demonstrate that Lax reduction (tied to the integrability of the BCS Hamiltonian) provides a general quantitative tool for computing coherent BCS dynamics. We also calculate the Mattis-Bardeen optical conductivity for the nonequilibrium states discussed here.

Correlates of existential well-being and their association with health-related quality of life in breast cancer survivors compared with the general population.

PubMed

Shin, Hae Won; Noh, Dong Young; Lee, Eun Sook; Nam, Seok Jin; Park, Byeong Woo; Ahn, Sei Hyun; Yun, Young Ho

2009-11-01

The aim was to evaluate the correlates of existential well-being (EWB) and investigate the relationship between EWB and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) according to the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire (MQOL) in breast cancer survivors (BCS) and in the general population. BCS (N = 1,933) recruited from five large hospitals completed a mailed survey, which included the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30), Quality of Life Questionnaire Breast Cancer Module (QLQ-BR23) and the MQOL. Reference data were derived from a representative sample of the Korean adult population composed of 500 women selected by a nationwide random route technique. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that members of the general population with a lower educational status were more likely to report poor EWB. However, among BCS, correlates that were associated with poor EWB included lower monthly income, lower educational status, unemployment and comorbidities. Almost all factors listed on the HRQOL questionnaire were correlated with EWB in BCS as well as in the general population (P < 0.001). Factors listed on the QLQ-C30 that were correlated to a clinically meaningful extent with EWB in the general population included physical functioning, nausea and vomiting, and appetite loss, whereas among BCS, insomnia and distress over hair loss were meaningfully correlated with EWB. Compared with general population, BCS showed different EWB correlates and distinct associations with HRQOL findings. Our data suggest that socio-economic status and comorbidities influence on their EWB.

Prospects of Anderson's theorem for disordered cuprate superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghosal, Amit; Chakraborty, Debmalya; Kaushal, Nitin

2018-05-01

We develop a simple pairing theory of superconductivity in strongly correlated d-wave superconductors for up to a moderate strength of disorder. Our description implements the key ideas of Anderson, originally proposed for disordered s-wave superconductors, but in addition takes care of the inherent strong electronic repulsion in these compounds, as well as the inhomogeneities. We first obtain the self-consistent one-particle states, that capture the effects of disorder exactly, and strong correlations using Gutzwiller approximation. These 'normal states' (at zero temperature) when coupled through BCS-type pairing attractions, produces results which are nearly identical to those from a more sophisticated Gutzwiller augmented Bogoliubov-de Gennes analysis.

High-temperature atomic superfluidity in lattice Bose-Fermi mixtures.

PubMed

Illuminati, Fabrizio; Albus, Alexander

2004-08-27

We consider atomic Bose-Fermi mixtures in optical lattices and study the superfluidity of fermionic atoms due to s-wave pairing induced by boson-fermion interactions. We prove that the induced fermion-fermion coupling is always attractive if the boson-boson on-site interaction is repulsive, and predict the existence of an enhanced BEC-BCS crossover as the strength of the lattice potential is varied. We show that for direct on-site fermion-fermion repulsion, the induced attraction can give rise to superfluidity via s-wave pairing at striking variance with the case of pure systems of fermionic atoms with direct repulsive interactions.

A Preliminary Study on the Efficacy of a Community-Based Physical Activity Intervention on Physical Function-Related Risk Factors for Falls Among Breast Cancer Survivors.

PubMed

Lee, C Ellen; Warden, Stuart J; Szuck, Beth; Lau, Y K James

2016-08-01

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a 6-week community-based physical activity (PA) intervention on physical function-related risk factors for falls among 56 breast cancer survivors (BCS) who had completed treatments. This was a single-group longitudinal study. The multimodal PA intervention included aerobic, strengthening, and balance components. Physical function outcomes based on the 4-meter walk, chair stand, one-leg stance, tandem walk, and dynamic muscular endurance tests were assessed at 6-week pre-intervention (T1), baseline (T2), and post-intervention (T3). T1 to T2 and T2 to T3 were the control and intervention periods, respectively. All outcomes, except the tandem walk test, significantly improved after the intervention period (P < 0.05), with no change detected after the control period (P > 0.05). Based on the falls risk criterion in the one-leg stance test, the proportion at risk for falls was significantly lower after the intervention period (P = 0.04), but not after the control period. A community-based multimodal PA intervention for BCS may be efficacious in improving physical function-related risk factors for falls, and lowering the proportion of BCS at risk for falls based on specific physical function-related falls criteria. Further larger trials are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.

Relationship between body condition score at calving and reproductive performance in young postpartum cows grazing native range.

PubMed

Mulliniks, J T; Cox, S H; Kemp, M E; Endecott, R L; Waterman, R C; Vanleeuwen, D M; Petersen, M K

2012-08-01

Body condition score is used as a management tool to predict competency of reproduction in beef cows. Therefore, a retrospective study was performed to evaluate association of BCS at calving with subsequent pregnancy rate, days to first postpartum ovulation, nutrient status (assessed by blood metabolites), and calf BW change in 2- and 3-yr-old cows (n = 351) managed and selected to fit their environment of grazing native range over 6 yr at the Corona Range and Livestock Research Center, Corona, NM. Cows were managed similarly before calving, without manipulation of management, to achieve predetermined BCS at parturition. Palpable BCS (scale of 1 to 9) were determined by 2 experienced technicians before calving. Cows were classified to 1 of 3 BCS groups prior calving: BCS 4 (mean BCS = 4.3 ± 0.02), 5 (mean BCS = 5.0 ± 0.03), or 6 (mean BCS = 5.8 ± 0.06). Cows were weighed weekly after calving and serum was collected once weekly (1 yr) or twice weekly (5 yr) for progesterone analysis to estimate first postpartum ovulation beginning 35 d postpartum. Year effects also were evaluated, with years identified as either above or below average precipitation. Days to first postpartum ovulation did not differ among calving BCS groups (P = 0.93). Pregnancy rates were not influenced by calving BCS (P = 0.83; 92%, 91%, 90% for BCS 4, 5, and 6, respectively). Days to BW nadir was not influenced by BCS at calving (P = 0.95). Cow BW was different at all measuring points (P < 0.01) with BCS 6 cows having the heaviest BW and cows with BCS 4 the lightest. Cows with calving BCS 4 and 5 lost more (P = 0.06) BW from the initiation of the study to the end of breeding than cows with BCS 6. However, cow BW change at all other measurement periods was not different (P ≥ 0.49) among calving BCS groups. Serum glucose and NEFA concentrations were not influenced by calving BCS (P ≥ 0.51). Calf BW at birth (P = 0.60), branding (55-d BW; P = 0.76), and weaning (205-d BW; P = 0.60) were not impacted by cow calving BCS. Body condition score did not influence overall pregnancy rates, indicating that young cows can have a reduced BCS and still be reproductively punctual. Therefore, these results indicate that reproductive performance of young cows with reduced BCS may not be affected when managed in extensive range conditions.

The effect of mare obesity and endocrine function on foal birthweight in Thoroughbreds.

PubMed

Smith, S; Marr, C M; Dunnett, C; Menzies-Gow, N J

2017-07-01

Birthweight of Thoroughbred foals has increased in recent years. It is unknown whether this is associated with increased broodmare obesity or endocrine dysfunction. To determine insulin, leptin and triglyceride concentrations in Thoroughbred mares throughout gestation and investigate their association with obesity and foal birthweight. Cohort study. A total of 66 mares were included from 40 days post-breeding. Body condition score (BCS), weight and blood samples were obtained every 60 days throughout gestation. Serum/plasma insulin, leptin and triglyceride concentrations and foal birthweight were recorded. Associations between hormone/triglyceride concentration with BCS, stage of gestation and birthweight were analysed using a linear mixed effects model. Serum insulin concentrations were greater at 1-60 days (4.31 μiu/mL) compared with 241-300 days (3.13 μiu/mL) and 61-120 days (5.33 μiu/mL) compared with 181-240, 241-300 and 301-360 days (3.78, 3.13, 3.37 μiu/mL) gestation (P<0.05). There was no significant hyperinsulinaemia and no association of insulin concentration with BCS. Leptin concentration was greater at 181-240 days (2.28 μg/L, P<0.0001) compared with all other time points and correlated with BCS (P<0.0003). Triglyceride concentration was greater at 241-300 days (0.245 mmol, P<0.02) compared with earlier time points, but was not associated with BCS. Foal birthweight was weakly positively correlated with BCS (r = 0.13, P<0.001) and inversely correlated with leptin concentrations at 61-120 and 241-300 days gestation (r = -0.64, P<0.05). Reduction in sample size over the study and tight clustering of BCS. Mare BCS correlated with foal birthweight; obese mares had heavier foals. Significant hyperinsulinaemia was not identified in this population. Increased leptin concentration in early and late gestation was associated with decreased foal birthweight. Further work is required to establish whether leptin concentration in late gestation could predict foal birthweight. © 2016 EVJ Ltd.

[Relationship between factor v Leiden mutation and Chinese Budd-Chiari syndrome and its clinical significance].

PubMed

Feng, B; Xu, K; Jiang, H

2000-05-01

To investigate the relationship between factor v Leiden (FvL) mutation and Chinese sporadic Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS), familial BCS, and to explore the significance of FvL mutation in the etiology of BCS. Twenty-five patients with sporadic BCS, 6 patients with familial BCS (from A and B families), 39 both A and B family members, and 31 healthy persons were detected for FvL mutation with PCR. Meantime, two family members were explored for the related etiology of BCS. Factor V Leiden mutation was detected in 4 of 6 patients with familial BCS and in 2 family members. AIII(7,11,15) and BII(10), AII(2) and BIII(5) were found FvL mutation, and mutation was heterzygous. FvL mutation in the two degrees was compatible with Mendel hereditery law. The frequency of FvL mutation in 31 BCS and 31 healthy persons showed no statistical significance: but the frequency of FvL mutation between the familial BCS and healthy persons showed statistical significance. Ten persons in A family had varicose vein of the low extremeties, which was compatible with autosomal dominant inheritance. FvL mutation is related to Chinese familial BCS, but is not related to Chinese sporadic BCS. FvL mutation may be a underlying pathogenicity of familial BCS. Varicose vein of the low extremeties may be one of the pathogenicity of familial BCS.

Higgs Mode in the d -Wave Superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 +x Driven by an Intense Terahertz Pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Katsumi, Kota; Tsuji, Naoto; Hamada, Yuki I.; Matsunaga, Ryusuke; Schneeloch, John; Zhong, Ruidan D.; Gu, Genda D.; Aoki, Hideo; Gallais, Yann; Shimano, Ryo

2018-03-01

We investigate the terahertz (THz)-pulse-driven nonlinear response in the d -wave cuprate superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 +x (Bi2212) using a THz pump near-infrared probe scheme in the time domain. We observe an oscillatory behavior of the optical reflectivity that follows the THz electric field squared and is markedly enhanced below Tc . The corresponding third-order nonlinear effect exhibits both A1 g and B1 g symmetry components, which are decomposed from polarization-resolved measurements. A comparison with a BCS calculation of the nonlinear susceptibility indicates that the A1 g component is associated with the Higgs mode of the d -wave order parameter.

Higgs Mode in the d -Wave Superconductor Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8 + x Driven by an Intense Terahertz Pulse

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

Katsumi, Kota; Tsuji, Naoto; Hamada, Yuki I.

We investigated the terahertz (THz)-pulse driven nonlinear response in the d-wave cuprate superconductor Bi 2Sr 2CaCu 2O 8+x (Bi2212) using a THz pump near-infrared probe scheme in the time domain. We have observed an oscillatory behavior of the optical reflectivity that follows the THz electric field squared and is strongly enhanced below Tc. The corresponding third-order nonlinear effect exhibits both A 1g and B 1g symmetry components, which are decomposed from polarization-resolved measurements. Comparison with a BCS calculation of the nonlinear susceptibility indicates that the A 1g component is associated with the Higgs mode of the d-wave order parameter.

Higgs Mode in the d -Wave Superconductor Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8 + x Driven by an Intense Terahertz Pulse

DOE PAGES

Katsumi, Kota; Tsuji, Naoto; Hamada, Yuki I.; ...

2018-03-14

We investigated the terahertz (THz)-pulse driven nonlinear response in the d-wave cuprate superconductor Bi 2Sr 2CaCu 2O 8+x (Bi2212) using a THz pump near-infrared probe scheme in the time domain. We have observed an oscillatory behavior of the optical reflectivity that follows the THz electric field squared and is strongly enhanced below Tc. The corresponding third-order nonlinear effect exhibits both A 1g and B 1g symmetry components, which are decomposed from polarization-resolved measurements. Comparison with a BCS calculation of the nonlinear susceptibility indicates that the A 1g component is associated with the Higgs mode of the d-wave order parameter.

Sodium bicarbonate secretion indicated by ultrastructural cytochemical localization of HCO3(-), Cl-, and Na+ ions on rat bile duct brush cells.

PubMed

Ogata, Takuro

2005-12-01

Brush cells are widely distributed in the digestive and respiratory apparatus, but their function is still unknown. Because brush cells (BC) are found in organs secreting NaHCO3, it was hypothesized that these cells may secrete NaHCO3. To test this possibility, rat common bile duct epithelia were examined by ultrastructural cytochemical methods for localizing HCO3(-), Cl-, and Na+ ions. All three ion precipitates were few in or on BCs of rats without stimulation. Lead carbonate precipitates, which localized HCO3(-) ions by the lead nitrate-osmium method, increased markedly on the surface of the microvilli (MV) of BCs after secretin or meal stimulation, but similar precipitates were few on the luminal surface of principal cells (PCs). Silver chloride precipitates, which indicate the presence of Cl- ions by the silver-osmium method, increased in the apical cytoplasm and in MV of BCs after secretin or meal stimulation, but they were few in PCs. Sodium pyroantimonate precipitates, which localize Na+ ions by the potassium pyroantimonate-osmium method, increased on the surface of the MV, along the basolateral membrane, and in the apical cytoplasm of BCs after secretin or meal stimulation, but they were few in PCs. These results strongly suggest that BCs may be a significant source of NaHCO3 secretion.

Chemosensory brush cells of the trachea. A stable population in a dynamic epithelium.

PubMed

Saunders, Cecil J; Reynolds, Susan D; Finger, Thomas E

2013-08-01

Tracheal brush cells (BCs) are specialized epithelial chemosensors that use the canonical taste transduction cascade to detect irritants. To test whether BCs are replaced at the same rate as other cells in the surrounding epithelium of adult mice, we used 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) to label dividing cells. Although scattered BrdU-labeled epithelial cells are present 5-20 days after BrdU, no BCs are labeled. These data indicate that BCs comprise a relatively static population. To determine how BCs are generated during development, we injected 5-day-old mice with BrdU and found labeled BCs and non-BC epithelial cells 5 days after BrdU. During the next 60 days, the percentage of labeled BCs increased, whereas the percentage of other labeled cell types decreased. These data suggest that BCs are generated from non-BC progenitor cells during postnatal tracheal growth. To test whether the adult epithelium retains the capacity to generate BCs, tracheal epithelial cells were recovered from adult mice and grown in an air-liquid interface (ALI) culture. After transition to differentiation conditions, BCs are detected, and comprise 1% of the total cell population by Day 14. BrdU added to cultures before the differentiation of BCs was chased into BCs, indicating that the increase in BC density is attributable to the proliferation of a non-BC progenitor. We conclude that: (1) BCs are normally a static population in adult mice; (2) BC progenitors proliferate and differentiate during neonatal development; and (3) BCs can be regenerated from a proliferative population resident in adult epithelium.

Disparities in the Initial Local Treatment of Older Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer: A Population-Based Study.

PubMed

LeMasters, Traci J; Madhavan, Suresh S; Sambamoorthi, Usha; Vyas, Ami M

2017-07-01

Although breast cancer is most prevalent among older women, the majority are diagnosed at an early stage. When diagnosed at an early stage, women have the option of breast-conserving surgery (BCS) plus radiation therapy (RT) or mastectomy for the treatment of early-stage breast cancer (ESBC). Omission of RT when receiving BCS increases the risk for recurrence and poor survival. Yet, a small subset of older women may omit RT after BCS. This study examines the current patterns of local treatment for ESBC among older women. This study conducted a retrospective observational analysis using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked dataset of women age ≥66 diagnosed with stage I-II breast cancer in 2003-2009. SEER-Medicare data was additionally linked with data from the Area Resource File (ARF) to examine the association between area-level healthcare resources and treatment. Two logistic regression models were used to estimate how study factors were associated with receiving (1) BCS versus BCS+RT and (2) Mastectomy versus BCS+RT. A stratified analysis was also conducted among women aged <70 years. Among 45,924 patients, 55% received BCS+RT, 23% received mastectomy, and 22% received BCS only. Women of increasing age, comorbidity, primary care provider visits, stage II disease, and nonwhite race were more likely to have mastectomy or BCS only, than BCS+RT. Women diagnosed in 2004-2006, treated by an oncology surgeon, residing in metro areas, areas of greater education and income, were less likely to receive mastectomy or BCS only, than BCS+RT. While women aged <70 years were more likely to receive BCS+RT, socioeconomic and physician specialties were associated with receiving BCS only. Over half of older women with ESBC initially receive BCS+RT. The likelihood for mastectomy and BCS only increases with age, comorbidity, and vulnerable socio-demographic characteristics. Findings demonstrate continued treatment disparities among certain vulnerable populations.

BCS and generalized BCS superconductivity in relativistic quantum field theory. II. Numerical calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohsaku, Tadafumi

2002-08-01

We solve numerically various types of the gap equations developed in the relativistic BCS and generalized BCS framework, presented in part I of this paper. We apply the method for not only the usual solid metal but also other physical systems by using homogeneous fermion gas approximation. We examine the relativistic effects on the thermal properties and the Meissner effect of the BCS and generalized BCS superconductivity of various cases.

Surgical Outcomes of Primary Versus Post-Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Breast Conservation Surgery: A Comparative Study from a Developing Country.

PubMed

Agarwal, Gaurav; Sonthineni, Chaitra; Mayilvaganan, Sabaretnam; Mishra, Anjali; Lal, Punita; Agrawal, Vinita

2018-05-01

In India and other developing countries, breast conservation surgery (BCS) rates in breast cancer patients are low due to advanced disease at presentation and misconceptions about BCS outcomes. Many patients presenting with large or locally advanced breast cancers (LABC) can be offered post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) BCS, safety of which is not as well established as that of primary BCS. This retrospective study compared pathological and surgical outcome parameters in patients undergoing primary and post-NACT BCS. All non-metastatic breast cancer patients undergoing BCS during 2011-2015 with 1-year follow-up were included. Outcome parameters in form of margin infiltration, ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) rates and IBTR-free survival were compared between primary and post-NACT BCS patients groups. One hundred and twenty-nine patients underwent BCS; 95 underwent primary and 34 post-NACT BCS. Patients in both groups underwent similar multimodality treatment as per institutional protocols. Post-NACT patients more frequently required oncoplastic volume displacement or replacement surgery (p = 0.002). Re-excision of infiltrated margins was needed more frequently in primary BCS compared with post-NACT BCS group (14.4 vs. 8.8%; p = 0.40). IBTR (Mean follow-up = 30.7 months) was seen in 8.8% post-NACT patients compared with 2.1% primary BCS (p = 0.114). IBTR-free survival did not differ significantly between the groups in stage-wise comparison. Post-NACT BCS is safe even in large tumors and LABC, though many require oncoplastic procedures for satisfactory cosmesis. In a developing country where many patients present with large breast cancers or LABC, the benefits of BCS can be offered to a majority with the help of NACT, without compromising the chances of cure.

A functional approach to the body condition assessment of lactating donkeys as a tool for welfare evaluation

PubMed Central

Raspa, Federica; Giribaldi, Marzia; Barbero, Raffaella; Bergagna, Stefania; Antoniazzi, Sara; Mc Lean, Amy K.; Minero, Michela; Cavallarin, Laura

2017-01-01

Background The breeding of lactating donkeys is increasing in Western Europe; with it the evaluation of body condition is growing in importance since it is considered a key principle for their welfare. However, assessment of body condition is a complex task, since several factors are involved. The aim of the present study is to investigate which animal-based indicators are the most reliable to describe the body condition of lactating donkeys. For this purpose, new animal-based indicators, which are easy to measure in field conditions (including body measurements, fatty neck score (FNS), dental score), are recorded and their relationship with BCS (a proxy measure for overall adiposity) was assessed. The ones that reveal an association with the BCS are included in an integrated principal component analysis to understand which are the most related to BCS. Methods Fifty-three healthy lactating donkeys of various breeds, including 7 Martina Franca, 10 Ragusano, 2 Romagnolo and 34 crossbreeds, were evaluated. The animal-based indicators that were recorded were: length (OP, olecranon tuber-pinbone and SH, shoulder-hip), heart girth (HG), abdominal circumference (AC), neck length (NL), neck height (NH) and neck thickness (NT) at 0.50 and neck circumference (NC) at 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75, body condition score (BCS) and fatty neck score (FNS). The owners’ evaluation of the BCS was also considered. A dental assessment was performed and the month of lactation and age of each animal was recorded. Results No correlation was found between BCS and the other morphometric body measurements. On the contrary the FNS was correlated with the morphometric measurements of the neck (positive correlation to 0.50 NH and 0.50 NT, 0.50 NC, 0.75 mean NC, and negative correlation to the mean NC:NH and mean NC:NT, 0.50 NC:NT and 0.50 NC:NH ratios). A significant inverse relationship was identified between BCS and dental score. A Principal Component analysis (PCA) separated the BCS classes on the first principal component (PC1). PC1 revealed a meaningful positive correlation between the BCS and the neck measurements (NT, NH and FNS), with high positive loadings, while a negative correlation was found for dental abnormalities. The owners’ evaluation of BCS was different from the expert evaluator’ assessment, since they tended to give higher score that was slightly but significantly correlated to AC. Discussion A new scoring system, called Fatty Neck Score (FNS), has been proposed for the judgement of the adiposity status of donkey neck. The results suggest that caregivers might use the proposed animal based indicators (BCS, FNS and dental scores) together as a tool for the evaluation of the body condition of lactating donkeys. Our findings highlight that caregivers need to be trained in order to be able to properly record these indicators. Ultimately use of these indicators may help to improve the welfare of lactating donkeys. PMID:28367363

Behcet's disease in Budd-Chiari syndrome.

PubMed

Desbois, Anne Claire; Rautou, Pierre Emmanuel; Biard, Lucie; Belmatoug, Nadia; Wechsler, Bertrand; Resche-Rigon, Mathieu; Zarrouk, Virginie; Fantin, Bruno; de Chambrun, M Pineton; Cacoub, Patrice; Valla, Dominique; Saadoun, David; Plessier, Aurélie

2014-01-01

Behcet's disease (BD) is a well-known cause of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). Data are lacking on the presentation and outcome of BCS related to BD. We investigated the relationship between BD and BCS in 14 patients with both diseases and compared the results to 92 BCS patients without BD. Male gender (p = 0.003), North African origin (P = 0.007) and inferior vena cava obstruction (P < 0.0001) were more frequent in patients with BD and BCS than in those with BCS alone and the plasma C-reactive protein level was higher (p = 0.003). Two of the patients with the combined diseases underwent recanalization of the vena cava and the hepatic veins, none received transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS), one received a surgical shunt and one underwent liver transplantation. TIPS were less frequent in patients with BD and BCS than in those with BCS alone (P = 0.019). Eighty six per cent of patients with BCS and BD received corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapy. The 5-year transplantation-free survival rate was 63% in patients with BCS alone and 91% in those without BD (P = 0.11). In our series and in the literature, a high number of patients [12 (61.5%) and 11 (64.7%) respectively] treated with anticoagulation and corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressants did not require invasive treatment. This study shows a higher frequency of IVC obstruction in patients with BCS and BD. Medical treatment with anticoagulation and immunosuppressive agents may improve the symptoms of BCS. Therefore early management with immunosuppressive and anticoagulation therapy appears to be the treatment of choice in patients with BCS and BD.

Evaluation of body condition score measured throughout lactation as an indicator of fertility in dairy cattle.

PubMed

Banos, G; Brotherstone, S; Coffey, M P

2004-08-01

Body condition score (BCS) records of primiparous Holstein cows were analyzed both as a single measure per animal and as repeated measures per sire of cow. The former resulted in a single, average, genetic evaluation for each sire, and the latter resulted in separate genetic evaluations per day of lactation. Repeated measure analysis yielded genetic correlations of less than unity between days of lactation, suggesting that BCS may not be the same trait across lactation. Differences between daily genetic evaluations on d 10 or 30 and subsequent daily evaluations were used to assess BCS change at different stages of lactation. Genetic evaluations for BCS level or change were used to estimate genetic correlations between BCS measures and fertility traits in order to assess the capacity of BCS to predict fertility. Genetic correlation estimates with calving interval and non-return rate were consistently higher for daily BCS than single measure BCS evaluations, but results were not always statistically different. Genetic correlations between BCS change and fertility traits were not significantly different from zero. The product of the accuracy of BCS evaluations with their genetic correlation with the UK fertility index, comprising calving interval and non-return rate, was consistently higher for daily than for single BCS evaluations, by 28 to 53%. This product is associated with the conceptual correlated response in fertility from BCS selection and was highest for early (d 10 to 75) evaluations.

A Preliminary Study on the Efficacy of a Community-Based Physical Activity Intervention on Physical Function-Related Risk Factors for Falls among Breast Cancer Survivors

PubMed Central

Lee, C. Ellen; Warden, Stuart J.; Szuck, Beth; Lau, Y.K. James

2015-01-01

Objective The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a 6-week community-based physical activity (PA) intervention on physical function-related risk factors for falls among 56 breast cancer survivors (BCS) who had completed treatments. Design This was a single-group longitudinal study. The multimodal PA intervention included aerobic, strengthening and balance components. Physical function outcomes based on the 4-meter walk, chair stand, one-leg stance, tandem walk, and dynamic muscular endurance tests were assessed at 6-week pre-intervention (T1), baseline (T2), and post-intervention (T3). T1-T2 and T2-T3 were the control and intervention periods, respectively. Results All outcomes, except the tandem walk test, significantly improved after the intervention period (p < 0.05), with no change detected after the control period (p > 0.05). Based on the falls risk criterion in the one-leg stance test, the proportion at risk for falls was significantly lower after the intervention period (p = 0.04), but not after the control period. Conclusions A community-based multimodal PA intervention for BCS may be efficacious in improving physical function-related risk factors for falls, and lowering the proportion of BCS at risk for falls based on specific physical function-related falls criteria. Further larger trials are needed to confirm these preliminary findings. PMID:26829081

Dark lump excitations in superfluid Fermi gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Yan-Xia; Duan, Wen-Shan

2012-11-01

We study the linear and nonlinear properties of two-dimensional matter-wave pulses in disk-shaped superfluid Fermi gases. A Kadomtsev—Petviashvili I (KPI) solitary wave has been realized for superfluid Fermi gases in the limited cases of Bardeen—Cooper—Schrieffer (BCS) regime, Bose—Einstein condensate (BEC) regime, and unitarity regime. One-lump solution as well as one-line soliton solutions for the KPI equation are obtained, and two-line soliton solutions with the same amplitude are also studied in the limited cases. The dependence of the lump propagating velocity and the sound speed of two-dimensional superfluid Fermi gases on the interaction parameter are investigated for the limited cases of BEC and unitarity.

Immobilization of metals in contaminated soil from E-waste recycling site by dairy-manure-derived biochar.

PubMed

Chen, Zhiliang; Zhang, Jianqiang; Liu, Minchao; Wu, Yingxin; Yuan, Zhihui

2017-08-24

E-waste is a growing concern around the world and varieties of abandoned E-waste recycling sites, especially in urban area, need to remediate immediately. The impacts of dairy-manure-derived biochars (BCs) on the amelioration of soil properties, the changes in the morphologies as well as the mobility of metals were studied to test their efficacy in immobilization of metals for a potential restoration of vegetation landscape in abandoned E-waste recycling site. The amendment with BCs produced positive effects on bioavailability and mobility reduction for Pb, Cd, Zn and Cu depending on BC ratio and incubation time. The BCs promoted the transformation of species of heavy metals to a more stable fraction, and the metals concentrations in Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure extract declined significantly, especially Pb and Cu. Besides, the BCs ameliorated the substrate with increasing the soil pH, cations exchangeable capacity and available phosphorous, which suggested BC as a potential amendment material for abandoned E-waste recycling sites before restoration of vegetation landscape. Generally, the BC modified by alkaline treatment has a higher efficacy, probably due to increase of specific surface area and porosity as well as the functional groups after alkaline treatment.

Effect of black cumin seeds on growth performance, nutrient utilization, immunity, gut health and nitrogen excretion in broiler chickens.

PubMed

Kumar, Pawan; Patra, Amlan Kumar; Mandal, Guru Prasad; Samanta, Indranil; Pradhan, Saktipada

2017-08-01

Use of antibiotic growth promoters (AB) as feed additives in broiler chickens poses risks due to cross-resistance amongst pathogens and residues in tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of black cumin seeds (BCS) as a natural growth promoter in chickens on nutrient utilization, intestinal microbiota and morphology, immunity, antioxidant status, protein deposition in muscles and nitrogen excretion. Broiler chickens were fed BCS at 0, 5, 10 and 20 g kg -1 diet. Body weight gain tended to increase (P = 0.10) and daily feed intake increased quadratically with increasing concentrations of BCS in the diets. Supplementation of BCS resulted in a tendency to decrease feed conversion efficiency on days 28-42. Metabolizability of nutrients increased linearly with increasing doses of BCS. Protein deposition in thigh and breast muscles was increased and nitrogen excretion was reduced by BCS and AB compared with the control (CON). Intestinal morphology in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum was not generally affected by BCS. Counts of total bacteria, Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus spp. and Clostridium spp. were not affected by BCS and AB compared with CON, but Salmonella spp. decreased linearly (P = 0.05) with increasing doses of BCS. Antibody titers against Newcastle disease virus on day 35 increased quadratically (P < 0.001) with increasing doses of BCS. Concentrations of glucose and triglyceride in blood were not affected by BCS. Concentrations of cholesterol decreased linearly while the concentration of total protein increased linearly with increasing doses of BCS. The use of dietary BCS may improve growth performance, immunity and nutrient utilization in broiler chickens. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Scientific publications on portal vein thrombosis and Budd-Chiari syndrome: a global survey of the literature.

PubMed

Qi, Xingshun; Jia, Jia; Ren, Weirong; Yang, Man; De Stefano, Valerio; Wang, Juan; Fan, Daiming

2014-03-01

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) and Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) are two rare vascular disorders of the liver that can lead to life-threatening complications. We conducted a global survey to systematically analyze the scientific publications in the fields of PVT and BCS. All papers regarding PVT and BCS were identified via the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases. The publication year, country, type of paper, study design, and number of citations were summarized. Good quality papers were defined as those in which a high proportion of homogeneous patients with BCS and/or PVT was observed. We identified 6691 and 4325 papers regarding PVT and BCS, respectively. The number of papers gradually increased over time. Researchers from the USA published the greatest number of papers (PVT: n=1418; BCS: n=888). Clinical studies were the most common type of paper (PVT: n=5395; BCS n=3171), but fewer than half of these observed more than 10 patients (PVT: n=2667/5395; BCS: n=1092/3171). Furthermore, fewer than half of the clinical studies with more than 10 patients were of good quality (PVT: 976/2667; BCS: 466/1092). According to the study design, the good quality papers were classified as cohort studies (PVT: n=865; BCS: n=421), case-control studies (PVT: n=98; BCS: n=45), and randomized controlled trials (PVT: n=13; BCS: n=0). The 5 most frequently cited original articles and guidelines/consensuses were also listed. Despite an increase in the number of papers regarding PVT and BCS over time, most of the papers had a small sample size, suggesting the necessity of large cohort studies or randomized controlled trials.

Verification assessment of piston boundary conditions for Lagrangian simulation of compressible flow similarity solutions

DOE PAGES

Ramsey, Scott D.; Ivancic, Philip R.; Lilieholm, Jennifer F.

2015-12-10

This work is concerned with the use of similarity solutions of the compressible flow equations as benchmarks or verification test problems for finite-volume compressible flow simulation software. In practice, this effort can be complicated by the infinite spatial/temporal extent of many candidate solutions or “test problems.” Methods can be devised with the intention of ameliorating this inconsistency with the finite nature of computational simulation; the exact strategy will depend on the code and problem archetypes under investigation. For example, self-similar shock wave propagation can be represented in Lagrangian compressible flow simulations as rigid boundary-driven flow, even if no such “piston”more » is present in the counterpart mathematical similarity solution. The purpose of this work is to investigate in detail the methodology of representing self-similar shock wave propagation as a piston-driven flow in the context of various test problems featuring simple closed-form solutions of infinite spatial/temporal extent. The closed-form solutions allow for the derivation of similarly closed-form piston boundary conditions (BCs) for use in Lagrangian compressible flow solvers. Finally, the consequences of utilizing these BCs (as opposed to directly initializing the self-similar solution in a computational spatial grid) are investigated in terms of common code verification analysis metrics (e.g., shock strength/position errors and global convergence rates).« less

Anomalous scaling of Δ C versus T c in the Fe-based superconductors: the $${S}_{\\pm }$$-wave pairing state model

DOE PAGES

Bang, Yunkyu; Stewart, G. R.

2016-02-01

The strong power law behavior of the specific heat jumpmore » $${\\rm{\\Delta }}C\\;$$ versus T c $$({\\rm{\\Delta }}C/{T}_{{\\rm{c}}}\\sim {T}_{{\\rm{c}}}^{\\alpha },\\alpha \\approx 2)$$, first observed by Bud'ko et al (2009 Phys. Rev. B 79 220516), has been confirmed with several families of the Fe-based superconducting compounds with various dopings. We tested a minimal two band BCS model to understand this anomalous behavior and showed that this non-BCS relation between $${\\rm{\\Delta }}C\\;$$ versus T c is a generic property of the multiband superconducting state paired by a dominant interband interaction ($${V}_{\\mathrm{inter}}\\gt {V}_{\\mathrm{intra}}$$) reflecting the relation $$\\frac{{{\\rm{\\Delta }}}_{{\\rm{h}}}}{{{\\rm{\\Delta }}}_{{\\rm{e}}}}\\sim \\sqrt{\\frac{{N}_{{\\rm{e}}}}{{N}_{{\\rm{h}}}}}$$ near T c, as in the $${S}_{\\pm }$$-wave pairing state. We also found that this $${\\rm{\\Delta }}C\\;$$ versus T c power law can continuously change from the ideal BNC scaling to a considerable deviation by a moderate variation of the impurity scattering rate $${{\\rm{\\Gamma }}}_{0}$$ (non-pair-breaking). Finally, as a result, our model provides a consistent explanation why the electron-doped Fe-based superconductors follow the ideal BNC scaling very well while the hole-doped systems often show varying degree of deviations.« less

Verification assessment of piston boundary conditions for Lagrangian simulation of compressible flow similarity solutions

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

Ramsey, Scott D.; Ivancic, Philip R.; Lilieholm, Jennifer F.

This work is concerned with the use of similarity solutions of the compressible flow equations as benchmarks or verification test problems for finite-volume compressible flow simulation software. In practice, this effort can be complicated by the infinite spatial/temporal extent of many candidate solutions or “test problems.” Methods can be devised with the intention of ameliorating this inconsistency with the finite nature of computational simulation; the exact strategy will depend on the code and problem archetypes under investigation. For example, self-similar shock wave propagation can be represented in Lagrangian compressible flow simulations as rigid boundary-driven flow, even if no such “piston”more » is present in the counterpart mathematical similarity solution. The purpose of this work is to investigate in detail the methodology of representing self-similar shock wave propagation as a piston-driven flow in the context of various test problems featuring simple closed-form solutions of infinite spatial/temporal extent. The closed-form solutions allow for the derivation of similarly closed-form piston boundary conditions (BCs) for use in Lagrangian compressible flow solvers. Finally, the consequences of utilizing these BCs (as opposed to directly initializing the self-similar solution in a computational spatial grid) are investigated in terms of common code verification analysis metrics (e.g., shock strength/position errors and global convergence rates).« less

The Selection of a Marine Artillery Battery Fire Direction Computer System.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-12-01

yhsical Characteristics: Tbe VI provi-ds s h gen er al physical characteri-sti-cs of the BCS. The total weight of the BCS is based on ti,: eg’±ipment...twenty special fanc -tion keys. Six of the special function keys arc- currently spares and will be programmed -o support the P31 software aiditions...close to the weapon or mounted on the weapon. Phs- ga C aacteri sti cs: Table XIV provides the gen e ral physical charactaristics of the FCC. The act

Superfluid density and condensate fraction in the BCS-BEC crossover regime at finite temperatures

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

Fukushima, N.; Ohashi, Y.; Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Hiyoshi, Yokohama 223

2007-03-15

The superfluid density is a fundamental quantity describing the response to a rotation as well as in two-fluid collisional hydrodynamics. We present extensive calculations of the superfluid density {rho}{sub s} in the BCS-BEC crossover regime of a uniform superfluid Fermi gas at finite temperatures. We include strong-coupling or fluctuation effects on these quantities within a Gaussian approximation. We also incorporate the same fluctuation effects into the BCS single-particle excitations described by the superfluid order parameter {delta} and Fermi chemical potential {mu}, using the Nozieres-Schmitt-Rink approximation. This treatment is shown to be necessary for consistent treatment of {rho}{sub s} over themore » entire BCS-BEC crossover. We also calculate the condensate fraction N{sub c} as a function of the temperature, a quantity which is quite different from the superfluid density {rho}{sub s}. We show that the mean-field expression for the condensate fraction N{sub c} is a good approximation even in the strong-coupling BEC regime. Our numerical results show how {rho}{sub s} and N{sub c} depend on temperature, from the weak-coupling BCS region to the BEC region of tightly bound Cooper pair molecules. In a companion paper [Phys. Rev. A 74, 063626 (2006)], we derive an equivalent expression for {rho}{sub s} from the thermodynamic potential, which exhibits the role of the pairing fluctuations in a more explicit manner.« less

Influence of body condition score on carcass characteristics and subprimal yield from cull beef cows.

PubMed

Apple, J K; Davis, J C; Stephenson, J; Hankins, J E; Davis, J R; Beaty, S L

1999-10-01

Mature beef cows (n = 83) were slaughtered to measure the influence of body condition score (BCS) on carcass characteristics and subprimal yields. All cows were weighed and assigned BCS, based on a 9-point scale, 24 h before slaughter. Cows were slaughtered, and, after a 48-h chilling period, quality and yield grade data were collected on the left side of each carcass. The right side was quartered, fabricated into primal cuts, and weighed. Each primal cut was further processed into boneless subprimal cuts, minor cuts, lean trim, fat, and bone. Cuts were progressively trimmed to 6.4 and 0 mm of external and visible seam fat. Weights were recorded at all stages of fabrication, and subprimal yields were calculated as a percentage of the chilled carcass weight. Live weight, carcass weight, dressing percentage, fat thickness, longissimus muscle area, muscle:bone ratio, and numerical yield grade increased linearly (P = .0001) and predicted cutability and actual muscle-to-fat ratio decreased linearly (P = .0001) as BCS increased from 2 to 8. Carcasses from BCS-8 cows had the most (P<.05) marbling. The percentage of carcasses grading U.S. Utility, or higher, was 16.7, 20.0, 63.6, 43.3, 73.3, 100.0, and 100.0% for cows assigned a BCS of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, respectively. At 6.4 mm of fat trim, carcasses from BCS-5 cows had higher (P<.05) shoulder clod yields than carcasses from cows having a BCS of 6, 7, and 8. Carcasses of BCS-2 cows had lower (P<.05) strip loin yields than carcasses from BCS-3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 cows. Top sirloin butt yields were higher (P<.05) for carcasses of BCS-2, 3, 4, and 5 cows than those of BCS-6, 7, or 8 cows. Carcasses from BCS-7 and 8 cows had lower (P<.05) tenderloin and inside round yields than carcasses of BCS-5, or less, cows. At both fat-trim levels, carcasses from BCS-5 cows had higher (P<.05) eye of round yields than cows assigned BCS of 2, 7, or 8. When subprimal cuts were trimmed to 6.4 mm of visible fat, carcasses from BCS-5 cows had higher (P<.05) total lean product yields than cows assigned a BCS of 2, 4, 7, and 8. Regardless of fat trim, total fat yields increased (P = .0001) and total bone yields decreased (P = .0001) linearly as BCS increased from 2 to 8. Although carcasses from BCS-5 and 6 cows had the highest yields of lean product, cattle producers and packers may benefit most by marketing and(or) purchasing BCS-6 cows because a higher percentage of their carcasses had quality characteristics deemed desirable for fabrication into boneless subprimal cuts.

Body condition score prior to parturition is associated with plasma and adipose tissue biomarkers of lipid metabolism and inflammation in Holstein cows.

PubMed

Alharthi, Abdulrahman; Zhou, Zheng; Lopreiato, Vincenzo; Trevisi, Erminio; Loor, Juan J

2018-01-01

Previous research has revealed a strong inflammatory response within adipose (AT) tissue during the transition into lactation. Whether this effect is a result of oxidative stress induced by lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation associated with differences in prepartum body condition score remains to be determined. The objectives of this study were to investigate systemic biomarkers of energy balance and inflammation and the expression of lipid metabolism- and inflammation-related genes in AT during the transition period in dairy cows. Twenty multiparous Holstein cows were retrospectively divided by body condition score (BCS) prior to parturition into two groups (10 cows/group): BCS ≤ 3.25 (LoBCS) and BCS ≥ 3.75 (HiBCS). Subcutaneous adipose tissue was biopsied from the tail-head region at d - 10, 7 and 20 relative to parturition. Plasma was used to evaluate biomarkers of energy balance (EBAL) [free fatty acids (NEFA), glycerol, insulin] and inflammation [IL-1β, haptoglobin, myeloperoxidase, and reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM)]. Although insulin concentration was not affected by BCS, NEFA was overall greater and glycerol lower in HiBCS cows. Greater activity of myeloperoxidase in plasma coincided with increased haptoglobin and IL-1β postpartum in LoBCS cows. Among genes related with oxidative stress, the expression of the cytosolic antioxidant enzyme SOD1 was greater in LoBCS compared to HiBCS. Cows in LoBCS compared with HiBCS had greater overall expression of ABDH5 and ATGL along with ADIPOQ , indicating enhanced basal lipolysis and secretion of adiponectin. Expression of CPT1A , ACADVL , and ACOX1 was greater overall in HiBCS than LoBCS indicating enhanced NEFA oxidation. Although the temporal increase in plasma NEFA regardless of BCS coincided with the profile of CPT1A , the gradual decrease in genes related with re-esterification of NEFA ( PCK1 ) and glycerol efflux ( AQP7 ) coupled with an increase in glycerol kinase ( GK ) suggested some stimulation of NEFA utilization within adipose tissue. This idea is supported in part by the gradual decrease in insulin regardless of BCS. Although expression of the inflammation-related gene toll-like receptor 4 ( TLR4 ) was greater in HiBCS versus LoBCS cows at -10 d, expression of TLR9 was greater in HiBCS versus LoBCS at 20 d. These profiles did not seem to be associated with concentrations of pro-inflammatory biomarkers or ROM. Overall, data indicated that cows with BCS 3.25 or lower before calving experienced greater alterations in systemic inflammation and basal lipolysis without excessive increases in NEFA plasma concentrations. Despite the greater plasma NEFA around parturition, cows with BCS 3.75 or higher seemed to have a more active system for catabolism of NEFA and utilization of glycerol within adipose tissue. A linkage between those pathways and risk of disorders postpartum remains to be determined.

Hydrogen Bond Induces Hierarchical Self-Assembly in Liquid-Crystalline Block Copolymers.

PubMed

Huang, Shuai; Pang, Linlin; Chen, Yuxuan; Zhou, Liming; Fang, Shaoming; Yu, Haifeng

2018-03-01

Microphase-separated structures of block copolymers (BCs) with a size of sub-10 nm are usually obtained by hydrogen-bond-induced self-assembly of BCs through doping with small molecules as functional additives. Here, fabrication of hierarchically self-assembled sub-10 nm structures upon microphase separation of amphiphilic liquid-crystalline BCs (LCBCs) at the existence of hydrogen bonds but without any dopants is reported. The newly introduced urethane groups in the side chain of the hydrophobic block of LCBCs interact with the ether groups of the hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) block, leading to imperfect crystallization of the PEO blocks. Both crystalline and amorphous domains coexist in the separated PEO phase, enabling a lamellar structure to appear inside the PEO nanocylinders. This provides an elegant method to fabricate controllable sub-10 nm microstructures in well-defined polymer systems without the introduction of any dopants. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Increased body condition score through increased lean muscle, but not fat deposition, is associated with reduced reproductive response to oestrus induction in beef cows.

PubMed

Guzmán, A; Gonzalez-Padilla, E; Garcés-Yepez, P; Rosete-Fernández, J V; Calderón-Robles, R C; Whittier, W D; Keisler, D H; Gutierrez, C G

2016-10-01

Energy reserve, estimated as body condition score (BCS), is the major determinant of the re-initiation of ovarian activity in postpartum cows. Leptin, IGF-I and insulin are positively related to BCS and are putative mediators between BCS and reproductive function. However, when BCS and body composition dissociates, concentrations of these metabolic hormones are altered. We hypothesized that increasing lean muscle tissue, but not fat tissue, would diminish the reproductive response to oestrus induction treatments. Thirty lactating beef cows with BCS of 3.10±1.21 and 75.94±12 days postpartum were divided in two groups. Control cows (n=15) were supplemented with 10.20 kg of concentrate daily for 60 days. Treated cows (n=15) were supplemented equally, and received a β-adrenergic receptor agonist (β-AA; 0.15 mg/kg BW) to achieve accretion of lean tissue mass and not fat tissue mass. Twelve days after ending concentrate supplementation/β-AA treatment, cows received a progestin implant to induce oestrus. Cows displaying oestrus were inseminated during the following 60 days, and maintained with a fertile bull for a further 21 days. Cows in both groups gained weight during the supplementation period (Daily weight gain: Control=0.75 kg v. β-AA=0.89 kg). Cows treated with β-AA had a larger increase in BCS (i.e. change in BCS: control=1 point (score 4.13) v. β-AA=2 points (score 5.06; P0.05) did not differ between groups. However, the number of cows displaying oestrus (control 13/15 v. β-AA 8/15; P<0.05) and the percentage cycling (control 6/8 v. β-AA 3/10; P=0.07) after progestin treatment and the pregnancy percentage at the end of the breeding period (control 13/15 v. β-AA 8/15; P<0.05) were lower in β-AA than control cows. In summary, the increase BCS through muscle tissue accretion, but not through fat tissue accretion, resulted in a lower response to oestrus induction, lower percentage of cycling animals and lower pregnancy percentage after progestin treatment; which was associated with a decrease in serum concentrations of leptin and IGF-I.

Body condition score at parturition and postpartum supplemental fat effects on cow and calf performance.

PubMed

Lake, S L; Scholljegerdes, E J; Atkinson, R L; Nayigihugu, V; Paisley, S I; Rule, D C; Moss, G E; Robinson, T J; Hess, B W

2005-12-01

Three-year-old Angus x Gelbvieh beef cows nutritionally managed to achieve a BCS of 4 +/- 0.07 (479.3 +/- 36.3 kg of BW) or 6 +/- 0.07 (579.6 +/- 53.1 kg of BW) at parturition were used in a 2-yr experiment (n = 36/yr) to determine the effects of prepartum energy balance and postpartum lipid supplementation on cow and calf performance. Beginning 3 d postpartum, cows within each BCS were assigned randomly to be fed hay and a low-fat control supplement or supplements with either high-linoleate cracked safflower seeds or high-oleate cracked safflower seeds until d 60 of lactation. Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric, and safflower seed supplements were provided to achieve 5% of DMI as fat. Ultrasonic 12th rib fat and LM area were lower (P < 0.001) for cows in BCS 4 compared with BCS 6 cows throughout the study. Cows in BCS 4 at parturition maintained (P = 0.02) condition over the course of the study, whereas cows in BCS 6 lost condition. No differences (P = 0.44 to 0.71) were detected for milk yield, milk energy, milk fat percentage, or milk lactose percentage because of BCS; however, milk protein percentage was less (P = 0.03) for BCS 4 cows. First-service conception rates did not differ (P = 0.22) because of BCS at parturition, but overall pregnancy rate was greater (P = 0.02) in BCS 6 cows. No differences (P = 0.48 to 0.83) were detected in calf birth weight or ADG because of BCS at parturition. Dietary lipid supplementation did not influence (P = 0.23 to 0.96) cow BW change, BCS change, 12th rib fat, LM area, milk yield, milk energy, milk fat percentage, milk lactose percentage, first service conception, overall pregnancy rates, or calf performance. Although cows in BCS of 4 at parturition seemed capable of maintaining BCS during lactation, the overall decrease in pregnancy rate indicates cows should be managed to achieve a BCS >4 before parturition to improve reproductive success.

Comparison of a classical with a highly formularized body condition scoring system for dairy cattle.

PubMed

Isensee, A; Leiber, F; Bieber, A; Spengler, A; Ivemeyer, S; Maurer, V; Klocke, P

2014-12-01

Body condition scoring is a common tool to assess the subcutaneous fat reserves of dairy cows. Because of its subjectivity, which causes limits in repeatability, it is often discussed controversially. Aim of the current study was to evaluate the impact of considering the cows overall appearance on the scoring process and on the validity of the results. Therefore, two different methods to reveal body condition scores (BCS), 'independent BCS' (iBCS) and 'dependent BCS' (dBCS), were used to assess 1111 Swiss Brown Cattle. The iBCS and the dBCS systems were both working with the same flowchart with a decision tree structure for visual and palpatory assessment using a scale from 2 to 5 with increment units of 0.25. The iBCS was created strictly complying with the defined frames of the decision tree structure. The system was chosen due to its formularized approach to reduce the influence of subjective impressions. By contrast, the dBCS system, which was in line with common practice, had a more open approach, where - besides the decision tree - the overall impression of the cow's physical appearance was taken into account for generating the final score. Ultrasound measurement of the back fat thickness (BFT) was applied as a validation method. The dBCS turned out to be the better predictor of BFT, explaining 67.3% of the variance. The iBCS was only able to explain 47.3% of the BFT variance. Within the whole data set, only 31.3% of the animals received identical dBCS and iBCS. The pin bone region caused the most deviations between dBCS and iBCS, but also assessing the pelvis line, the hook bones and the ligaments led to divergences in around 20% of the scored animals. The study showed that during the assessment of body condition a strict adherence to a decision tree is a possible source of inexact classifications. Some body regions, especially the pin bones, proved to be particularly challenging for scoring due to difficulties in assessing them. All the more, the inclusion of the overall appearance of the cow into the assessment process counteracted these errors and led to a fair predictability of BFT with the flowchart-based BCS. This might be particularly important, if different cattle types and breeds are assessed.

Unconventional superconductivity in Y5Rh6Sn18 probed by muon spin relaxation

PubMed Central

Bhattacharyya, Amitava; Adroja, Devashibhai; Kase, Naoki; Hillier, Adrian; Akimitsu, Jun; Strydom, Andre

2015-01-01

Conventional superconductors are robust diamagnets that expel magnetic fields through the Meissner effect. It would therefore be unexpected if a superconducting ground state would support spontaneous magnetics fields. Such broken time-reversal symmetry states have been suggested for the high—temperature superconductors, but their identification remains experimentally controversial. We present magnetization, heat capacity, zero field and transverse field muon spin relaxation experiments on the recently discovered caged type superconductor Y5Rh6Sn18 ( TC= 3.0 K). The electronic heat capacity of Y5Rh6Sn18 shows a T3 dependence below Tc indicating an anisotropic superconducting gap with a point node. This result is in sharp contrast to that observed in the isostructural Lu5Rh6Sn18 which is a strong coupling s—wave superconductor. The temperature dependence of the deduced superfluid in density Y5Rh6Sn18 is consistent with a BCS s—wave gap function, while the zero-field muon spin relaxation measurements strongly evidences unconventional superconductivity through a spontaneous appearance of an internal magnetic field below the superconducting transition temperature, signifying that the superconducting state is categorized by the broken time-reversal symmetry. PMID:26286229

Thermodynamic functions of Fermi gas with quadruple BCS-type binding potential

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tarasewicz, P.; Maćkowiak, J.

2000-01-01

A gas of spin 1/2 fermions with an interaction V+ W=-2 γ∑ kχ( k) bk* bk+-| Λ| -1g∑ k, k‧ χ( k) χ( k‧) bk* bk* bk‧ b- k‧ , where bk= ak+ ak- and akσ , ak‧ σ‧ satisfy Fermi anticommutation relations, is investigated by the method of Mühlschlegel. W+ V is nonzero only within a thin layer of single-fermion energies around the chemical potential μ and χ( k) denotes the characteristic function of the corresponding range of momenta. Two cases are studied: 1 0γ=0, 2 0γ=0.10025 eV. In the first case, the system exhibits a first-order transition, in the second the transition is second order. The temperature dependence of the system's thermodynamic functions is examined and compared with that of the BCS model.

Elaboration of the α-model derived from the BCS theory of superconductivity

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

Johnston, David C.

2013-10-14

The single-band α-model of superconductivity (Padamsee et al 1973 J. Low Temp. Phys. 12 387) is a popular model that was adapted from the single-band Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (BCS) theory of superconductivity mainly to allow fits to electronic heat capacity versus temperature T data that deviate from the BCS prediction. The model assumes that the normalized superconducting order parameter Δ(T)/Δ(0) and therefore the normalized London penetration depth λL(T)/λL(0) are the same as in BCS theory, calculated using the BCS value αBCS ≈ 1.764 of α ≡ Δ(0)/kBTc, where kB is The single-band α-model of superconductivity (Padamsee et al 1973 J. Low Temp.more » Phys. 12 387) is a popular model that was adapted from the single-band Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (BCS) theory of superconductivity mainly to allow fits to electronic heat capacity versus temperature T data that deviate from the BCS prediction. The model assumes that the normalized superconducting order parameter Δ(T)/Δ(0) and therefore the normalized London penetration depth λL(T)/λL(0) are the same as in BCS theory, calculated using the BCS value αBCS ≈ 1.764 of α ≡ Δ(0)/kBTc, where kB is Boltzmann's constant and Tc is the superconducting transition temperature. On the other hand, to calculate the electronic free energy, entropy, heat capacity and thermodynamic critical field versus T, the α-model takes α to be an adjustable parameter. Here we write the BCS equations and limiting behaviors for the superconducting state thermodynamic properties explicitly in terms of α, as needed for calculations within the α-model, and present plots of the results versus T and α that are compared with the respective BCS predictions. Mechanisms such as gap anisotropy and strong coupling that can cause deviations of the thermodynamics from the BCS predictions, especially the heat capacity jump at Tc, are considered. Extensions of the α-model that have appeared in the literature, such as the two-band model, are also discussed. Tables of values of Δ(T)/Δ(0), the normalized London parameter Λ(T)/Λ(0) and λL(T)/λL(0) calculated from the BCS theory using α = αBCS are provided, which are the same in the α-model by assumption. Tables of values of the entropy, heat capacity and thermodynamic critical field versus T for seven values of α, including αBCS, are also presented.« less

Assessing and managing body condition score for the prevention of metabolic disease in dairy cows.

PubMed

Roche, John R; Kay, Jane K; Friggens, Nic C; Loor, Juan J; Berry, Donagh P

2013-07-01

Body condition score (BCS) is an assessment of a cow's body fat (and muscle) reserves, with low values reflecting emaciation and high values equating to obesity. The intercalving profile of BCS is a mirror image of the milk lactation profile. The BCS at which a cow calves, her nadir BCS, and the amount of BCS lost after calving are associated with milk production, reproduction, and health. Genetics, peripartum nutrition, and management are factors that likely interact with BCS to determine the risk of health disorders. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of induced body condition score differences on physiological response, productive and reproductive performance of Malpura ewes kept in a hot, semi-arid environment.

PubMed

Sejian, V; Maurya, V P; Naqvi, S M K; Kumar, D; Joshi, A

2010-04-01

This study was undertaken to study the influence of induced body condition score (BCS) differences on physiological response, productive and reproductive performance of Malpura ewes to optimise BCS for these ewes for maximising production making it economically viable. The study was conducted for a period of 1 year using thirty healthy Malpura ewes (2-4 year old). The animals were randomly divided and different BCS was induced within three groups named Group I (BCS 2.5; n = 10), Group II (BCS 3.0-3.5; n = 10) and Group III (BCS 4.0; n = 10). The parameters included in the study were allometric measurements, physiological response, wool yield and reproductive performance. BCS had a significant influence on allometric measurements, respiration rate and different reproductive parameters studied, while wool production differed significantly during spring and non-significantly during autumn. The results revealed that the reproductive performance of Malpura ewes with a BCS of 3.0-3.5 was better in comparison with the groups with lower and higher BCS. It may be concluded from this study that an active management of breeding sheep flock to achieve a BCS of 3.0-3.5 may prove to result in an economically viable return from these flocks.

Influence of body condition score on live and carcass value of cull beef cows.

PubMed

Apple, J K

1999-10-01

Mature beef cows (n = 88) were slaughtered to determine the influence of body condition score (BCS) on carcass and live animal value. Cows were weighed and assigned a BCS (9-point scale), 24 h before slaughter. Hide and by-products weights were recorded during harvest. After a 48-h chill period, the right side of each carcass was fabricated into boneless subprimal cuts, minor cuts, lean trim, fat, and bone. Weights were recorded at all stages of fabrication. Carcass values (U.S.$/100 kg of hot carcass weight) were calculated for U.S. Utility and U.S. Cutter grades, as well as for the Utility/Cutter mix for each BCS. Gross value included the carcass value and the value of the hide and byproducts, whereas net value was calculated after harvest and fabrication costs and by-product value were considered. Live value (U.S.$/100 kg of live weight) was computed by dividing the net value by the animal's live weight 24 h before harvest. The value of the hide and by-products for BCS-2 cows was greater (P<.05) than for cows assigned a BCS of 3 through 8. Even though U.S. Utility carcasses from BCS-8 cows produced the least (P<.05) valuable subprimal cuts from the chuck, loin, and round, the gross and net values of BCS-8 cows were greater (P<.05) than those of BCS-3, 4, 5, and 6. Within the grade of U.S. Cutter, carcasses from BCS-6 cows had the highest (P<.05), and BCS-2 cows had the lowest (P<.05), gross and net values. Across the U.S. Utility/Cutter mix, cows designated with a BCS of 7 and 8 had greater (P<.05) gross and net values than cows assigned a BCS of 6, or lower. Live value increased linearly (P = .0002) from a low of $76.10/100 kg for BCS-2 cows to a high of $90.84/100 kg for BCS-7 cows. Carcasses from BCS-6 cows were relatively lean (8.4 mm of fat opposite of the longissimus muscle), and approximately 73% of the carcasses achieved a quality grade of U.S. Utility. Moreover, carcasses from BCS-6 cows had the highest total carcass values and live values comparable (P>.05) to BCS-7 cows. Information from this study can be used by the non-fed beef industry to establish a value-based marketing system. Data from this study would indicate that marketing cull beef cows at a BCS of 6 could optimize economic returns to both cow-calf producers and non-fed beef packers.

Nickel Availability in Soil as Influenced by Liming and Its Role in Soybean Nitrogen Metabolism

PubMed Central

de Macedo, Fernando G.; Bresolin, Joana D.; Santos, Elcio F.; Furlan, Felipe; Lopes da Silva, Wilson T.; Polacco, Joe C.; Lavres, José

2016-01-01

Nickel (Ni) availability in soil varies as a function of pH. Plants require Ni in small quantities for normal development, especially in legumes due its role in nitrogen (N) metabolism. This study investigated the effect of soil base saturation, and Ni amendments on Ni uptake, N accumulation in the leaves and grains, as well as to evaluate organic acids changes in soybean. In addition, two N assimilation enzymes were assayed: nitrate reductase (NR) and Ni-dependent urease. Soybean plants inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum were cultivated in soil-filled pots under two base-cation saturation (BCS) ratios (50 and 70%) and five Ni rates – 0.0; 0.1; 0.5; 1.0; and 10.0 mg dm-3 Ni. At flowering (R1 developmental stage), plants for each condition were evaluated for organic acids (oxalic, malonic, succinic, malic, tartaric, fumaric, oxaloacetic, citric and lactic) levels as well as the activities of urease and NR. At the end of the growth period (R7 developmental stage – grain maturity), grain N and Ni accumulations were determined. The available soil-Ni in rhizosphere extracted by DTPA increased with Ni rates, notably in BCS50. The highest concentrations of organic acid and N occurred in BCS70 and 0.5 mg dm-3 of Ni. There were no significant differences for urease activity taken on plants grown at BSC50 for Ni rates, except for the control treatment, while plants cultivated at soil BCS70 increased the urease activity up to 0.5 mg dm-3 of Ni. In addition, the highest values for urease activities were reached from the 0.5 mg dm-3 of Ni rate for both BCS treatments. The NR activity was not affected by any treatment indicating good biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) for all plants. The reddish color of the nodules increased with Ni rates in both BCS50 and 70, also confirms the good BNF due to Ni availability. The optimal development of soybean occurs in BCS70, but requires an extra Ni supply for the production of organic acids and for increased N-shoot and grain accumulation. PMID:27660633

Role of body condition score and body weight in the control of seasonal reproduction in Blanca Andaluza goats.

PubMed

Gallego-Calvo, L; Gatica, M C; Guzmán, J L; Zarazaga, L A

2014-12-30

The reproductive activity of 84 female Blanca Andaluza goats was monitored over 17 months to determine the role of body condition score (BCS) and body weight (BW) in its control. Following a 3×2 factorial experimental design, the animals were allocated to three groups: low BCS (≤2.50, n=24), medium BCS (BCS=2.75-3.00, n=31) and high BCS (≥3.25, n=29). The same animals, irrespective of the BCS group categorization, were also divided into two groups depending on BW: low BW (≤40kg, n=44) and high BW (>40kg, n=40). Oestrus was evaluated daily using vasectomised males. The ovulation rate was assessed by trans-rectal ultrasonography after the identification of oestrus. Ovulations were determined by monitoring the plasma progesterone concentration weekly. The BCS and BW were recorded once a week and nutritional status adjusted to maintain the initial differences in BW and BCS between the groups. Both BCS and BW had a significant (at least P<0.05) influence on the onset, the end, and the duration of the breeding season, with longer periods of reproductive activity recorded in does with a BCS of ≥2.75 and BW of >40kg. No significant interaction between these variables was observed. Some (11.7%) of the does in the groups with animals of BCS≥2.75 had ovulations during seasonal anoestrus. None of the does with a BCS of ≤2.5 had ovulations during seasonal anoestrus. The ovulation rate of the first and last oestrus was influenced by BW (P<0.01). These results demonstrate that Blanca Andaluza goats show marked reproductive seasonality that is clearly and independently modulated by BCS and BW. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Impact of canine overweight and obesity on health-related quality of life.

PubMed

Yam, P S; Butowski, C F; Chitty, J L; Naughton, G; Wiseman-Orr, M L; Parkin, T; Reid, J

2016-05-01

Canine obesity is increasing in prevalence in the UK and raises concerns about dog welfare. This study compares the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of dogs of varying body condition: overweight and obese (BCS 4 and 5) versus non-overweight dogs (BCS 2 and 3), obese (BCS 5) versus non-overweight (BCS 2 and 3) and an overall comparison between all four BCS (BCS 2, 3, 4 and 5) using a novel, validated HRQL instrument which is both web and mobile tablet/phone app based. Of 271 dog owners who were approached, 174 completed a web-based instrument (2013) or a mobile tablet app instrument (2014) during the summers of 2013 and 2014. Automatically generated scores in four domains of HRQL (energetic/enthusiastic, happy/content, active/comfortable, calm/relaxed) were compared for dogs with each of the body condition scores (BCS 2-5). For all body condition scores a statistically significant difference was found between the HRQL scores in two of the domains: energetic/enthusiastic (p=0.02) and active comfortable (p=0.004). When BCS 2 and 3 were compared to BCS 4 and 5, statistical significance was found in the same two domains - energetic/enthusiastic (p=0.01) and active comfortable (p=0.001) - as it was in comparison of non-overweight (BCS 2 and 3) compared to obese dogs (BCS 5): energetic/enthusiastic (p=0.012) and active comfortable (p=0.004). These results suggest that overweight and obese dogs have a reduced HRQL in two of the domains compared to non-overweight dogs, and that differences in HRQL are detectable between BCS scores 2, 3, 4 and 5. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Implementing the Biopharmaceutics Classification System in Drug Development: Reconciling Similarities, Differences, and Shared Challenges in the EMA and US-FDA-Recommended Approaches.

PubMed

Cardot, J-M; Garcia Arieta, A; Paixao, P; Tasevska, I; Davit, B

2016-07-01

The US-FDA recently posted a draft guideline for industry recommending procedures necessary to obtain a biowaiver for immediate-release oral dosage forms based on the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS). This review compares the present FDA BCS biowaiver approach, with the existing European Medicines Agency (EMA) approach, with an emphasis on similarities, difficulties, and shared challenges. Some specifics of the current EMA BCS guideline are compared with those in the recently published draft US-FDA BCS guideline. In particular, similarities and differences in the EMA versus US-FDA approaches to establishing drug solubility, permeability, dissolution, and formulation suitability for BCS biowaiver are critically reviewed. Several case studies are presented to illustrate the (i) challenges of applying for BCS biowaivers for global registration in the face of differences in the EMA and US-FDA BCS biowaiver criteria, as well as (ii) challenges inherent in applying for BCS class I or III designation and common to both jurisdictions.

The valine and lysine residues in the conserved FxVTxK motif are important for the function of phylogenetically distant plant cellulose synthases

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

Slabaugh, Erin; Scavuzzo-Duggan, Tess; Chaves, Arielle

2015-12-08

Cellulose synthases (CESAs) synthesize the β-1,4-glucan chains that coalesce to form cellulose microfibrils in plant cell walls. In addition to a large cytosolic (catalytic) domain, CESAs have eight predicted transmembrane helices (TMHs). However, analogous to the structure of BcsA, a bacterial CESA, predicted TMH5 in CESA may instead be an interfacial helix. This would place the conserved FxVTxK motif in the plant cell cytosol where it could function as a substrate-gating loop as occurs in BcsA. To define the functional importance of the CESA region containing FxVTxK, we tested five parallel mutations in Arabidopsis thaliana CESA1 and Physcomitrella patens CESA5more » in complementation assays of the relevant cesa mutants. In both organisms, the substitution of the valine or lysine residues in FxVTxK severely affected CESA function. In Arabidopsis roots, both changes were correlated with lower cellulose anisotropy, as revealed by Pontamine Fast Scarlet. Analysis of hypocotyl inner cell wall layers by atomic force microscopy showed that two altered versions of Atcesa1 could rescue cell wall phenotypes observed in the mutant background line. Overall, the data show that the FxVTxK motif is functionally important in two phylogenetically distant plant CESAs. The results show that Physcomitrella provides an efficient model for assessing the effects of engineered CESA mutations affecting primary cell wall synthesis and that diverse testing systems can lead to nuanced insights into CESA structure–function relationships. Although CESA membrane topology needs to be experimentally determined, the results support the possibility that the FxVTxK region functions similarly in CESA and BcsA.« less

Transition and Damping of Collective Modes in a Trapped Fermi Gas between BCS and Unitary Limits near the Phase Transition

PubMed Central

Dong, Hang; Zhang, Wenyuan; Zhou, Li; Ma, Yongli

2015-01-01

We investigate the transition and damping of low-energy collective modes in a trapped unitary Fermi gas by solving the Boltzmann-Vlasov kinetic equation in a scaled form, which is combined with both the T-matrix fluctuation theory in normal phase and the mean-field theory in order phase. In order to connect the microscopic and kinetic descriptions of many-body Feshbach scattering, we adopt a phenomenological two-fluid physical approach, and derive the coupling constants in the order phase. By solving the Boltzmann-Vlasov steady-state equation in a variational form, we calculate two viscous relaxation rates with the collision probabilities of fermion’s scattering including fermions in the normal fluid and fermion pairs in the superfluid. Additionally, by considering the pairing and depairing of fermions, we get results of the frequency and damping of collective modes versus temperature and s-wave scattering length. Our theoretical results are in a remarkable agreement with the experimental data, particularly for the sharp transition between collisionless and hydrodynamic behaviour and strong damping between BCS and unitary limits near the phase transition. The sharp transition originates from the maximum of viscous relaxation rate caused by fermion-fermion pair collision at the phase transition point when the fermion depair, while the strong damping due to the fast varying of the frequency of collective modes from BCS limit to unitary limit. PMID:26522094

Survey on breast cancer patients in China toward breast-conserving surgery.

PubMed

Zhang, Li; Jiang, Ming; Zhou, Yi; Du, Xiao-Bo; Yao, Wen-Xiu; Yan, Xi; Jiang, Yu; Zou, Li-Qun

2012-05-01

We sought to investigate attitudes toward breast-conserving therapy (BCS) in early-stage breast cancer (EBC) patients from P. R. China and assess the factors influencing their decision. There exists geographical difference in decision to perform mastectomy or BCS for EBC patients. To date, there has been no report on attitudes toward BCS or factors influencing the surgical choice in mainland China. A structured questionnaire was delivered to 1800 EBC patients. The questionnaire elicited information about general patients' characteristics, attitudes toward BCS, the roles of doctors and spouses, the levels of understanding of BCS, and the reasons for their preferences. Of 1590 participants, only 7.3% anticipated BCS and this was significantly associated with patient age, income, occupation, martial status, education, levels of self-understanding of the disease, and doctors' and spouses' suggestions (P<0.05). Approximately 70% of doctors (71.0%) and 40% spouses (39.6%) advised patients not to conserve their breasts. Although the percentage of patients endorsing BCS was higher than that of those opposing it (43.7 vs 15.1%) and more patient believed BCS was beneficial for women (39.2%), even if given another opportunity, only 32.5% of patients preferred to choose it. Moreover, the level of understanding BCS among patients is low (well-known: less-known: never-heard, 2.3 vs 47.4 vs 13.3%). These results suggested that Chinese EBC patients lack accurate and comprehensive understanding of BCS. More efforts are needed to educate breast cancer patients in mainland China toward BCS. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Comparison of Muscle Recovery Following Bi-cruciate Substituting versus Posterior Stabilized Total Knee Arthroplasty in the Asian Population.

PubMed

Takubo, Akihito; Ryu, Keinosuke; Iriuchishima, Takanori; Tokuhashi, Yasuaki

2017-09-01

The purpose of this study was to compare muscle recovery in the lower extremities following the newly developed bi-cruciate substituting (BCS) to posterior stabilized (PS) total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in the Asian population. Forty-one knees in 41 patients undergoing BCS-TKA (41 female, average age: 71 ± 8.8) and 34 knees in 34 patients undergoing PS-TKA (33 female, average age: 73 ± 7.2) were included in this study. The maximum isometric power of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles was measured preoperatively, and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery using a handheld dynamometer. Postoperative muscle recovery was calculated regarding preoperative muscle power as 100%. Pre- and postoperative range of knee motion, femorotibial angle, and clinical scores (Knee Society score and function score) were also compared. No significant difference in sex, age, preoperative quadriceps, or preoperative hamstring power was observed between the BCS and PS-TKA groups. When regarding the preoperative muscle power as 100%, quadriceps power at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months following BCS-TKA was 61.2 ± 22%, 86.3 ± 28.3%, 97 ± 27.4%, and 112.4 ± 30.8%, respectively. Quadriceps power at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months following PS-TKA was 72.4 ± 20.8%, 84 ± 16.9%, 95 ± 20.7%, and 110.8 ± 27%, respectively. Hamstring power at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months following BCS-TKA was 96.3 ± 30%, 111.4 ± 35%, 120 ± 37%, and 125 ± 31%, respectively. Hamstring power at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months following PS-TKA was 95 ± 25%, 112.4 ± 27%, 117 ± 38.5%, and 120.4 ± 18.5%, respectively. No significant difference in muscle power recovery was observed at 3 ( p  = 0.995), 6 ( p  = 0.944), and 12 ( p  = 0.917) months after surgery between the two groups. No significant difference of the clinical score was observed between the groups (Knee Society score: p  = 0.479, function score: p  = 0.342). No significant difference in muscle recovery and clinical score were observed between the BCS and PS-TKA groups. Longer follow-up is needed for the evaluation of efficacy of BCS-TKA in the Asian populations. Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Diagnosis and Management of Budd Chiari Syndrome: An Update

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

Copelan, Alexander, E-mail: alexander.copelan@beaumont.edu; Remer, Erick M., E-mail: remere1@ccf.org; Sands, Mark, E-mail: sandsm@ccf.org

Imaging plays a crucial role in the early detection and assessment of the extent of disease in Budd Chiari syndrome (BCS). Early diagnosis and intervention to mitigate hepatic congestion is vital to restoring hepatic function and alleviating portal hypertension. Interventional radiology serves a key role in the management of these patients. The interventionist should be knowledgeable of the clinical presentation as well as key imaging findings, which often dictate the approach to treatment. This article concisely reviews the etiology, pathophysiology, and clinical presentation of BCS and provides a detailed description of imaging and treatment options, particularly interventional management.

Superconducting properties and μSR study of the noncentrosymmetric superconductor Nb0.5Os0.5.

PubMed

Singh, D; Barker, J A T; Thamizhavel, A; Hillier, A D; Paul, D McK; Singh, R P

2018-01-22

The properties of the noncentrosymmetric superconductor (α-[Formula: see text] structure) Nb 0.5 Os 0.5 have been investigated using resistivity, magnetization, specific heat, and muon spin relaxation and rotation (μSR) measurements. These measurements suggest that Nb 0.5 Os 0.5 is a weakly coupled ([Formula: see text]) type-II superconductor ([Formula: see text]), having a bulk superconducting transition temperature T c   =  3.07 K. The specific heat data fits well with the single-gap BCS model indicating nodeless s-wave superconductivity in Nb 0.5 Os 0.5 . The μSR measurements also confirm [Formula: see text]-wave superconductivity with the preserved time-reversal symmetry.

Classification of "multipole" superconductivity in multiorbital systems and its implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nomoto, T.; Hattori, K.; Ikeda, H.

2016-11-01

Motivated by a growing interest in multiorbital superconductors with spin-orbit interactions, we perform the group-theoretical classification of various unconventional superconductivity emerging in symmorphic O , D4, and D6 space groups. The generalized Cooper pairs, which we here call "multipole" superconductivity, possess spin-orbital coupled (multipole) degrees of freedom, instead of the conventional spin singlet/triplet in single-orbital systems. From the classification, we obtain the following key consequences, which have never been focused in the long history of research in this field: (1) A superconducting gap function with Γ9⊗Γ9 in D6 possesses nontrivial momentum dependence different from the usual spin-1/2 classification. (2) Unconventional gap structure can be realized in the BCS approximation of purely local (onsite) interactions irrespective of attraction/repulsion. It implies the emergence of an electron-phonon (e-ph) driven unconventional superconductivity. (3) Reflecting symmetry of orbital basis functions there appear not symmetry protected but inevitable line nodes/gap minima, and thus, anisotropic s -wave superconductivity can be naturally explained even in the absence of competing fluctuations.

Development of a mobile application of Breast Cancer e-Support program for women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

PubMed

Zhu, Jiemin; Ebert, Lyn; Xue, Zhimin; Shen, Qu; Chan, Sally Wai-Chi

2017-01-01

Women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy experience a variety of physical and psychosocial symptoms, which have negative effect on women's quality of life and psychological well-being. Although M-health technologies provides innovative and easily accessible option to provide psychosocial support, mobile phone based interventions remain limited for these women in China. To develop a new mobile application to offer information as well as social and emotional support to women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy to promote their self-efficacy and social support, thus improving symptom management strategies. Basing on previous theoretical framework which incorporated Bandura's self-efficacy theory and the social exchange theory, a new mobile application, called Breast Cancer e-Support Program (BCS) was designed, with the content and functionality being validated by the expert panel and women with breast cancer. BCS App program has four modules: 1) Learning forum; 2) Discussion forum; 3) Ask-the-Expert forum; and 4) Personal Stories forum. BCS program can be applied on both android mobile phones and iPhones to reach more women. This is the first of its kind developed in China for women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. A randomized controlled trial is undertaking to test the effectiveness of BCS program.

The nucleoid-associated protein Fis directly modulates the synthesis of cellulose, an essential component of pellicle-biofilms in the phytopathogenic bacterium Dickeya dadantii.

PubMed

Prigent-Combaret, Claire; Zghidi-Abouzid, Ouafa; Effantin, Géraldine; Lejeune, Philippe; Reverchon, Sylvie; Nasser, William

2012-10-01

Bacteria use biofilm structures to colonize surfaces and to survive in hostile conditions, and numerous bacteria produce cellulose as a biofilm matrix polymer. Hence, expression of the bcs operon, responsible for cellulose biosynthesis, must be finely regulated in order to allow bacteria to adopt the proper surface-associated behaviours. Here we show that in the phytopathogenic bacterium, Dickeya dadantii, production of cellulose is required for pellicle-biofilm formation and resistance to chlorine treatments. Expression of the bcs operon is growth phase-regulated and is stimulated in biofilms. Furthermore, we unexpectedly found that the nucleoid-associated protein and global regulator of virulence functions, Fis, directly represses bcs operon expression by interacting with an operator that is absent from the bcs operon of animal pathogenic bacteria and the plant pathogenic bacterium Pectobacterium. Moreover, production of cellulose enhances plant surface colonization by D. dadantii. Overall, these data suggest that cellulose production and biofilm formation may be important factors for surface colonization by D. dadantii and its subsequent survival in hostile environments. This report also presents a new example of how bacteria can modulate the action of a global regulator to co-ordinate basic metabolism, virulence and modifications of lifestyle. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Is family functioning and communication associated with health-related quality of life for Chinese- and Korean-American breast cancer survivors?

PubMed

Lim, Jung-won; Ashing-Giwa, Kimlin T

2013-08-01

This study aims to investigate direct and indirect pathways of family flexibility, social support, and family communication on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for Chinese- and Korean-American breast cancer survivors (BCS). A total of 157 Chinese (n = 86)- and Korean-American (n = 71) BCS were recruited from the California Cancer Surveillance Program and area hospitals in Los Angeles County. The present study was guided by the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment, and Adaptation. Structural equation modeling demonstrated that (1) family communication was directly associated with HRQOL for both groups; (2) family flexibility was indirectly associated with HRQOL through family communication for Korean-Americans only; (3) social support mediated the relationship between family flexibility and family communication for Chinese-Americans only; and (4) acculturation was directly related to social support for both groups. Multigroup analysis demonstrated that the structural paths were equivalent between Chinese- and Korean-American BCS, although statistical differences in baseline parameters were noted. Our findings suggest that family communication impacts HRQOL among Asian-American BCS. Our results show that while there are commonalities in family characteristics among Asian-Americans, specific ethnic variations also exist. Therefore, specific cultural and familial contexts should be assessed to better inform interventions to enhance family communication strategies and improve HRQOL.

Crystallographic snapshot of cellulose synthesis and membrane translocation.

PubMed

Morgan, Jacob L W; Strumillo, Joanna; Zimmer, Jochen

2013-01-10

Cellulose, the most abundant biological macromolecule, is an extracellular, linear polymer of glucose molecules. It represents an essential component of plant cell walls but is also found in algae and bacteria. In bacteria, cellulose production frequently correlates with the formation of biofilms, a sessile, multicellular growth form. Cellulose synthesis and transport across the inner bacterial membrane is mediated by a complex of the membrane-integrated catalytic BcsA subunit and the membrane-anchored, periplasmic BcsB protein. Here we present the crystal structure of a complex of BcsA and BcsB from Rhodobacter sphaeroides containing a translocating polysaccharide. The structure of the BcsA-BcsB translocation intermediate reveals the architecture of the cellulose synthase, demonstrates how BcsA forms a cellulose-conducting channel, and suggests a model for the coupling of cellulose synthesis and translocation in which the nascent polysaccharide is extended by one glucose molecule at a time.

Variation in sorption of propiconazole with biochars: The effect of temperature, mineral, molecular structure, and nano-porosity

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Sorption behavior of propiconazole (PROPI) by plant-residue derived biochars (PLABs) and animal manure-derived biochars (ANIBs) obtained at three heating treatment temperatures (HTTs) at 300, 450 and 600 degrees Celsius (denoted as BCs300, BCs450, and BCs600) and their corresponding de-ashed BCs450 ...

Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour regarding breast cancer screening among women from different socio-economic regions in southwest China: a cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Huang, Yuan; Zhou, Ke; Li, Hui; Wang, Anrong; Li, Jiayuan; Pang, Yi; Wang, Qiong; Huang, Rong; Fu, Liang; Kang, Min; Ning, Ping; Yuan, Ping

2011-01-01

In most developed countries, breast cancer screening (BCS) is a well-established practice which is widely accepted by women. In contrast, national BCS projects in China were only launched in the last two years, so little is known about their public response. We surveyed 1,162 Chinese women from different socio-economic regions in Sichuan Province to assess participants' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour regarding BCS. ANOVA/t-test, Chi-square test, SNK test, and covariance analyses were used to compare subgroups and a multinomial logistic regression model was adopted to examine factors associated with BCS attendance. Statistically significant differences in scores of BCS knowledge were seen across regions. Most women from all four regions were interested in knowing the risk factors for (1,053, 90.6%) and means of prevention (912, 78.5%) of breast cancer. Eight hundred thirty-seven (72.0%) women expressed willingness to pay extra insurance fees when young in exchange for reimbursement for cancer screening when they reached the age at which screening is recommended. Approval of primary medical institutions was generally low. Regional socio-economic level, work status, and education were strong predictors of BCS attendance. To eliminate geographic disparities and raise the participation rate of BCS, future health education should be adjusted to local conditions and strengthened for women in under-developed regions. Incorporating BCS into a regular program of community-based prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases, and increasing medical insurance funds to cover BCS, especially in rural areas, may be effective means to increase BCS attendance.

Development of the Cancer Survivor Profile-Breast Cancer (CSPro-BC) app: patient and nurse perspectives on a new navigation tool.

PubMed

Gehrke, Amanda; Lee, Sukhyung Steve; Hilton, Karrie; Ganster, Barbara; Trupp, Rebecca; McCullough, Corinne; Mott, Elizabeth; Feuerstein, Michael

2018-06-01

Despite advancements in care, cancer survivors continue to report unmet needs following active cancer treatment. The Cancer Survivor Profile-Breast Cancer (CSPro-BC) application (app) was developed to help address these needs, using breast cancer survivors (BCS) as a pilot group. This paper describes the app development, BCS and nurse perceptions of the app, and changes made based on this feedback. The CSPro-BC app was developed for use on an iPad and includes (1) administration of a 15-20-min survey assessing 18 needs, (2) generation of a profile of needs, relative to a reference group of BCS (median 2 years post-treatment), and (3) provision of problem-specific online resources. Perceptions of the app were evaluated using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Feedback was elicited from nurse navigators and BCS. BCS were recruited until the point of saturation. BCS (N = 11) were middle-aged and a median of 2.4 months post active treatment. Structured questionnaires indicated the following: survey covered meaningful problem areas, profile display was clear, and nurse's involvement was helpful. Follow-up interviews (2 weeks later) revealed that BCS shared their profile with others, but most BCS did not use the resources and those who did thought there were too many. Nurses (N = 3) said the app increased appointment time, but prompted them to discuss areas often not covered in typical BCS follow-up. Feedback by end users directly informed revision of the app. The CSPro-BC app has been optimized based on BCS feedback.

Bacterial cellulose biosynthesis: diversity of operons, subunits, products, and functions.

PubMed

Römling, Ute; Galperin, Michael Y

2015-09-01

Recent studies of bacterial cellulose biosynthesis, including structural characterization of a functional cellulose synthase complex, provided the first mechanistic insight into this fascinating process. In most studied bacteria, just two subunits, BcsA and BcsB, are necessary and sufficient for the formation of the polysaccharide chain in vitro. Other subunits - which differ among various taxa - affect the enzymatic activity and product yield in vivo by modulating (i) the expression of the biosynthesis apparatus, (ii) the export of the nascent β-D-glucan polymer to the cell surface, and (iii) the organization of cellulose fibers into a higher-order structure. These auxiliary subunits play key roles in determining the quantity and structure of resulting biofilms, which is particularly important for the interactions of bacteria with higher organisms - leading to rhizosphere colonization and modulating the virulence of cellulose-producing bacterial pathogens inside and outside of host cells. We review the organization of four principal types of cellulose synthase operon found in various bacterial genomes, identify additional bcs genes that encode components of the cellulose biosynthesis and secretion machinery, and propose a unified nomenclature for these genes and subunits. We also discuss the role of cellulose as a key component of biofilms and in the choice between acute infection and persistence in the host. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ultra-fast pump-probe determination of electron-phonon coupling in cuprate superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mihailovic, Dragan

2010-03-01

Fresh femtosecond spectroscopy experiments show the electron-phonon interaction strength λ to be 0.7 and 1.4 for YBCO and LSCO respectively and not around 0.2 as previously reported [1]. The revised estimates arise primarily from improved time-resolution, and also partly from improved modeling. Comparison with classical superconductors and pnictides shows non-monotonic correlation of λ with Tc. Systematic new measurements of the condensate vaporization energy (Uv) in cuprates [2] and pnictides reveals a power-law dependence on Tc with exponent 2. However, Uc is 16-18 times greater than the BCS condensation energy Uc, implying that a significant heat capacity of the ``bosonic glue.'' In contrast, charge-density wave systems with electronically driven ordering transitions have Uv˜Uc. The data suggest BCS and Eliashberg-based models to be inappropriate for describing the physics of high-temperature superconductors, and point towards polaron models which consider strong or intermediate λ.[4pt] [1] C.Gadermeier et al., arXiv:0902.1636[0pt] [2] P.Kusar et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 227001 (2008)

Experimental verification of electrostatic boundary conditions in gate-patterned quantum devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hou, H.; Chung, Y.; Rughoobur, G.; Hsiao, T. K.; Nasir, A.; Flewitt, A. J.; Griffiths, J. P.; Farrer, I.; Ritchie, D. A.; Ford, C. J. B.

2018-06-01

In a model of a gate-patterned quantum device, it is important to choose the correct electrostatic boundary conditions (BCs) in order to match experiment. In this study, we model gated-patterned devices in doped and undoped GaAs heterostructures for a variety of BCs. The best match is obtained for an unconstrained surface between the gates, with a dielectric region above it and a frozen layer of surface charge, together with a very deep back boundary. Experimentally, we find a  ∼0.2 V offset in pinch-off characteristics of 1D channels in a doped heterostructure before and after etching off a ZnO overlayer, as predicted by the model. Also, we observe a clear quantised current driven by a surface acoustic wave through a lateral induced n-i-n junction in an undoped heterostructure. In the model, the ability to pump electrons in this type of device is highly sensitive to the back BC. Using the improved boundary conditions, it is straightforward to model quantum devices quite accurately using standard software.

The Biopharmaceutics Classification System: subclasses for in vivo predictive dissolution (IPD) methodology and IVIVC.

PubMed

Tsume, Yasuhiro; Mudie, Deanna M; Langguth, Peter; Amidon, Greg E; Amidon, Gordon L

2014-06-16

The Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) has found widespread utility in drug discovery, product development and drug product regulatory sciences. The classification scheme captures the two most significant factors influencing oral drug absorption; solubility and intestinal permeability and it has proven to be a very useful and a widely accepted starting point for drug product development and drug product regulation. The mechanistic base of the BCS approach has, no doubt, contributed to its wide spread acceptance and utility. Nevertheless, underneath the simplicity of BCS are many detailed complexities, both in vitro and in vivo which must be evaluated and investigated for any given drug and drug product. In this manuscript we propose a simple extension of the BCS classes to include sub-specification of acid (a), base (b) and neutral (c) for classes II and IV. Sub-classification for Classes I and III (high solubility drugs as currently defined) is generally not needed except perhaps in border line solubility cases. It is well known that the , pKa physical property of a drug (API) has a significant impact on the aqueous solubility dissolution of drug from the drug product both in vitro and in vivo for BCS Class II and IV acids and bases, and is the basis, we propose for a sub-classification extension of the original BCS classification. This BCS sub-classification is particularly important for in vivo predictive dissolution methodology development due to the complex and variable in vivo environment in the gastrointestinal tract, with its changing pH, buffer capacity, luminal volume, surfactant luminal conditions, permeability profile along the gastrointestinal tract and variable transit and fasted and fed states. We believe this sub-classification is a step toward developing a more science-based mechanistic in vivo predictive dissolution (IPD) methodology. Such a dissolution methodology can be used by development scientists to assess the likelihood of a formulation and dosage form functioning as desired in humans, can be optimized along with parallel human pharmacokinetic studies to set a dissolution methodology for Quality by Design (QbD) and in vitro-in vivo correlations (IVIVC) and ultimately can be used as a basis for a dissolution standard that will ensure continued in vivo product performance. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Biopharmaceutics Classification System: Subclasses for in vivo predictive dissolution (IPD) methodology and IVIVC

PubMed Central

Tsume, Yasuhiro; Mudie, Deanna M.; Langguth, Peter; Amidon, Greg E.; Amidon, Gordon L.

2014-01-01

The Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) has found widespread utility in drug discovery, product development and drug product regulatory sciences. The classification scheme captures the two most significant factors influencing oral drug absorption; solubility and intestinal permeability and it has proven to be a very useful and a widely accepted starting point for drug product development and drug product regulation. The mechanistic base of the BCS approach has, no doubt, contributed to its wide spread acceptance and utility. Nevertheless, underneath the simplicity of BCS are many detailed complexities, both in vitro and in vivo which must be evaluated and investigated for any given drug and drug product. In this manuscript we propose a simple extension of the BCS classes to include subspecification of acid (a), base (b) and neutral (c) for classes II and IV. Sub-classification for Classes I and III (high solubility drugs as currently defined) is generally not needed except perhaps in border line solubility cases. It is well known that the , pKa physical property of a drug (API) has a significant impact on the aqueous solubility dissolution of drug from the drug product both in vitro and in vivo for BCS Class II and IV acids and bases, and is the basis, we propose for a sub-classification extension of the original BCS classification. This BCS sub-classification is particularly important for in vivo predictive dissolution methodology development due to the complex and variable in vivo environment in the gastrointestinal tract, with its changing pH, buffer capacity, luminal volume, surfactant luminal conditions, permeability profile along the gastrointestinal tract and variable transit and fasted and fed states. We believe this sub-classification is a step toward developing a more science-based mechanistic in vivo predictive dissolution (IPD) methodology. Such a dissolution methodology can be used by development scientists to assess the likelihood of a formulation and dosage form functioning as desired in humans, can be optimized along with parallel human pharmacokinetic studies to set a dissolution methodology for Quality by Design (QbD) and in vitro–in vivo correlations (IVIVC) and ultimately can be used as a basis for a dissolution standard that will ensure continued in vivo product performance. PMID:24486482

Coordinated Cyclic-Di-GMP Repression of Salmonella Motility through YcgR and Cellulose

PubMed Central

Zorraquino, Violeta; García, Begoña; Latasa, Cristina; Echeverz, Maite; Toledo-Arana, Alejandro; Valle, Jaione

2013-01-01

Cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) is a secondary messenger that controls a variety of cellular processes, including the switch between a biofilm and a planktonic bacterial lifestyle. This nucleotide binds to cellular effectors in order to exert its regulatory functions. In Salmonella, two proteins, BcsA and YcgR, both of them containing a c-di-GMP binding PilZ domain, are the only known c-di-GMP receptors. BcsA, upon c-di-GMP binding, synthesizes cellulose, the main exopolysaccharide of the biofilm matrix. YcgR is dedicated to c-di-GMP-dependent inhibition of motility through its interaction with flagellar motor proteins. However, previous evidences indicate that in the absence of YcgR, there is still an additional element that mediates motility impairment under high c-di-GMP levels. Here we have uncovered that cellulose per se is the factor that further promotes inhibition of bacterial motility once high c-di-GMP contents drive the activation of a sessile lifestyle. Inactivation of different genes of the bcsABZC operon, mutation of the conserved residues in the RxxxR motif of the BcsA PilZ domain, or degradation of the cellulose produced by BcsA rescued the motility defect of ΔycgR strains in which high c-di-GMP levels were reached through the overexpression of diguanylate cyclases. High c-di-GMP levels provoked cellulose accumulation around cells that impeded flagellar rotation, probably by means of steric hindrance, without affecting flagellum gene expression, exportation, or assembly. Our results highlight the relevance of cellulose in Salmonella lifestyle switching as an architectural element that is both essential for biofilm development and required, in collaboration with YcgR, for complete motility inhibition. PMID:23161026

Coping Resources and Self-Rated Health among Latina Breast Cancer Survivors

PubMed Central

Nápoles, Anna M.; Ortíz, Carmen; O’Brien, Helen; Sereno, Andrea B.; Kaplan, Celia P.

2013-01-01

Purpose/Objectives To examine relationships between coping resources and self-rated health among Latina breast cancer survivors (BCS). Design Cross-sectional telephone survey. Setting Four Northern California counties. Sample 330 Latina BCS within 1–5 years of diagnosis. Methods Telephone survey conducted by bilingual-bicultural interviewers. Main Research Variables Predictors were sociodemographic and clinical factors, cancer self-efficacy (adapted Cancer Behavior Inventory-B, ver. 2), spirituality (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Quality of Life Measurement System Spiritual Well-being Scale, ver. 4) social support from family/friends and oncologists (adapted Helgeson’s Social Support Scales). Outcomes were functional limitations and self-rated health. Findings Mean age was 58 years; 70% were Mexican; and most had ≤ a high school education. About 60% had a mastectomy; about 90% were within 2–3 years of diagnosis. Approximately one-fourth of women reported functional limitations (73; 22.1%) and poor/fair self-rated health (89; 27%). Unemployment (AOR=7.06; 95% CI 2.04, 24.46), mastectomy (AOR=2.67; 95% CI 1.06, 6.77), and comorbidity (AOR=4.09; 95% CI 1.69, 9.89) were associated with higher risk of functional limitations; cancer self-efficacy had a protective effect (AOR=0.40, 95% CI 0.18, 0.90). Comorbidity was associated with higher risk of poor/fair self-rated health (AOR=4.95; 95% CI 2.13, 11.47); cancer self-efficacy had a protective effect (AOR=0.30; 95% CI 0.13, 0.66). Conclusions Comorbidity places Latina BCS at increased risk of poor health. Cancer self-efficacy deserves more attention as a potentially modifiable protective factor. Implications for Nursing Practice Nurses need to assess the impact of comorbidity on functioning and can reinforce a sense of clinician support and control over cancer. PMID:21875840

Effects of precalving body condition score and prepartum feeding level on production, reproduction, and health parameters in pasture-based transition dairy cows.

PubMed

Roche, J R; Meier, S; Heiser, A; Mitchell, M D; Walker, C G; Crookenden, M A; Riboni, M Vailati; Loor, J J; Kay, J K

2015-10-01

Precalving feeding level alters postcalving energy balance, dry matter intake, the liver and adipose tissue transcriptome, hepatic lipidosis, and the risk of metabolic diseases in both high-production cows consuming total mixed rations and moderate-production cows grazing pasture. We hypothesized that the reported benefits of a controlled restriction before calving are dependent on precalving body condition score (BCS): low BCS animals would not benefit from reduced feeding levels precalving, but high BCS cows would have metabolic and immunomodulatory profiles indicative of an improved health status. One hundred sixty-one days before calving, 150 cows were allocated randomly to 1 of 6 treatment groups (n = 25) in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement: 2 precalving BCS categories (4.0 and 5.0; based on a 10-point scale: BCS4 and BCS5, respectively) and 3 levels of energy intake during the 3 wk preceding calving (75, 100, and 125% of estimated requirements). Cows in the BCS4 and BCS5 groups were managed through late lactation to ensure that target calving BCS was achieved at dry off. Cows were then fed to maintain this BCS target until 3 wk before expected calving date, at which point they were managed within their allotted precalving energy intake treatments by offering different allowances of fresh pasture/cow per day. Milk production, body weight, and BCS were measured weekly; blood was sampled weekly before and after calving and on d 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 relative to calving. Aspirated plasma was assayed for nonesterified fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate, total protein, albumin, cholesterol, haptoglobin, IL-1β, IL-6, total antioxidant capacity, and reactive oxygen species. Liver was sampled wk 1, 2, and 4 postcalving for triacylglycerol analysis. Results confirm that precalving BCS and precalving feeding level have both independent and interdependent effects on production and health characteristics of transition dairy cows. Irrespective of precalving BCS, a controlled restriction precalving reduced the net release of nonesterified fatty acids from adipose tissue postpartum and increased plasma calcium concentrations, reducing the risk of milk fever. Fatter cows produced more milk but lost more BCS postcalving and had greater blood β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations and increased hepatic lipidosis. In comparison, after calving, indicators of reduced immune competence were accentuated in BCS4 cows subjected to a feed restriction before calving, probably increasing the risk of infectious diseases. It would appear from these results that optimally conditioned cows will benefit from a short-term (2-3 wk) controlled feed restriction (75-90% of requirements), whereas cows in less than optimal condition should be fed to requirements before calving. Copyright © 2015 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Visualizing the BEC-BCS crossover in a two-dimensional Fermi gas: Pairing gaps and dynamical response functions from ab initio computations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vitali, Ettore; Shi, Hao; Qin, Mingpu; Zhang, Shiwei

2017-12-01

Experiments with ultracold atoms provide a highly controllable laboratory setting with many unique opportunities for precision exploration of quantum many-body phenomena. The nature of such systems, with strong interaction and quantum entanglement, makes reliable theoretical calculations challenging. Especially difficult are excitation and dynamical properties, which are often the most directly relevant to experiment. We carry out exact numerical calculations, by Monte Carlo sampling of imaginary-time propagation of Slater determinants, to compute the pairing gap in the two-dimensional Fermi gas from first principles. Applying state-of-the-art analytic continuation techniques, we obtain the spectral function and the density and spin structure factors providing unique tools to visualize the BEC-BCS crossover. These quantities will allow for a direct comparison with experiments.

Assessment of body fat in the pony: part I. Relationships between the anatomical distribution of adipose tissue, body composition and body condition.

PubMed

Dugdale, A H A; Curtis, G C; Harris, P A; Argo, C Mc

2011-09-01

Evaluation of equine body fat content is important for nutritional and clinical purposes. However, our understanding of total body fat and its regional distribution in the body is sparse. Currently, body fat evaluation relies on the subjective assessment of body condition score (BCS), which has never been validated against 'gold standard' chemical analysis or dissection measurements in ponies. To define the relationships between subjective (BCS), objective (morphometric) indices of body fat and 'gold standard' measurements of actual body composition. BCS and morphometry offer valid, noninvasive methods for determination of body fat in equids. Seven mature (mean ± s.e. 13 ± 3 years, 212 ± 14 kg, BCS 1.25-7/9), Welsh Mountain pony mares, destined for euthanasia (for nonresearch purposes), were used. For all ponies, body mass (BM), BCS and various morphometric measurements were recorded. Following euthanasia, all ponies were systematically dissected. Discrete white adipose tissue (WAT) depots were independently described. Gross, body chemical composition was determined by proximate analyses. Total somatic soft tissues increased linearly (r(2) = 1.00), whereas body WAT content (1-26% live BM) increased exponentially (r(2) = 0.96), with BCS. WAT was equally distributed between internal and external sites in all animals irrespective of BCS. Nuchal fat was a poor predictor of total WAT (r(2) = 0.66). Periorbital WAT did not alter with BCS (r(2) = 0.01). Heart girth:withers height and ultrasonic retroperitoneal fat depth were closely associated with total, chemically-extracted lipid which comprised 1-29% live BM (r(2) = 0.91 and 0.88, respectively). The exponential relationship between BCS and total body WAT/lipid suggests that BCS is unlikely to be a sensitive index of body fat for animals in moderate-obese states. Morphometric measurements (body girths and retroperitonel fat depth) may be useful to augment subjective BCS systems. © 2011 EVJ Ltd.

Effect of body condition and season on yield and quality of in vitro produced bovine embryos.

PubMed

Chrenek, Peter; Kubovičová, Elena; Olexíková, Lucia; Makarevich, Alexander V; Toporcerová, Silvia; Ostró, Alexander

2015-12-01

The aim of our study was to examine the effects of cow's body condition score (BCS; scale 1-5) and season on the quality of bovine in vitro produced embryos. The proportion of good quality oocytes (Q1 and Q2) was higher (P < 0.05) in the BCS 2 (57.60%) and BCS 3 (60.90%) groups compared with the BCS 1 (43.60%) group. There were no statistical differences in embryo cleavage and blastocyst rate among the BCS groups. The highest total cell number (TCN, DAPI stain) of blastocysts (P < 0.05), recorded in BCS 1 (122.27 ± 6.90) in comparison with BCS 2 (101.8 ± 3.60) or BCS 3 (105.44 ± 3.70) groups, was related to higher dead cell (DCI, TUNEL) index in this group (7.07%) when compared with BCS 2 (6.54%) or BCS 3 (6.06%), respectively. The yield of good quality oocytes during spring was lower (P < 0.05) compared with the summer season. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in maturation and cleavage rates between autumn and summer (73.42%, 76.2% vs. 85.0%, 41.8%, respectively). The highest (P < 0.01) blastocyst rate was noted during spring and summer months. Significant difference (P < 0.05) in the TCN among spring (99.38 ± 3.90), autumn (110.1 ± 4.58) or summer (108.96 ± 3.52) was observed. The highest proportion of embryos with the best (grade I) actin cytoskeleton (phalloidin-TRITC) quality was noted during the summer months. Our results indicate that body condition affects the initial quality of oocytes, but does not affect embryo cleavage, blastocyst rate and actin quality. This finding may suggest that development in vitro can mask the influence of BCS. The season affects yield and quality of blastocysts in the way that the autumn period is more favorable for embryo development.

Assessment of season-dependent body condition scores in relation to faecal glucocorticoid metabolites in free-ranging Asian elephants

PubMed Central

Pokharel, Sanjeeta Sharma; Seshagiri, Polani B.

2017-01-01

Abstract We studied seasonal and annual changes in visual body condition scores (BCSs), and assessed how these scores were related to levels of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs) in free-ranging Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in the seasonally dry tropical forests of the Mysore and Nilgiri Elephant Reserves in southern India. We assessed the animals’ BCS visually on a scale of 1 to 5; where 1 represents a very thin and 5 represents a very fat elephant. To understand the influence of seasonality on BCS, we sampled the population during dry (n = 398) and wet seasons (n = 255) of 2013 and 2015 while, for annual changes in BCS, we sampled nine free-ranging adult females from different family groups that had been repeatedly sighted over seven years. To evaluate the influence of body condition on fGCM, 307 faecal samples were collected from 261 different elephants and were analysed. As a parameter of adrenocortical activity, and thus stress, fGCM was measured (μg/g) in the ethanol-extracted samples using a group-specific 11-oxoaetiocholanolone EIA (antibody raised against 11-oxoaetiocholanolone-17-CMO:BSA and biotinylated-11-oxoaetiocholanolone as a label). Effect of age and season on BCS in relation to fGCM was also studied. A seasonal shift in BCS was observed as expected, i.e. individuals with low BCS were more frequent during the dry season when compared with the wet season. Concentrations of fGCM were highest in individuals with lowest BCS (BCS 1) and then significantly declined till BCS 3. fGCM levels were almost comparable for BCS 3, 4 and 5. This pattern was more conspicuous in female than in male elephants. Season-dependent BCS, hence, reflect the stress status as measured by fGCM, especially in female Asian elephants. This could be used as an important non-invasive approach to monitor the physiological health of free-ranging elephant populations. PMID:28721215

Transfer of Downy Mildew Resistance from Wild Basil (Ocimum americanum) to Sweet Basil (O. basilicum).

PubMed

Ben-Naim, Yariv; Falach, Lidan; Cohen, Yigal

2018-01-01

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is susceptible to downy mildew caused by the oomycete foliar pathogen Peronospora belbahrii. No resistant varieties of sweet basil are commercially available. Here, we report on the transfer of resistance gene Pb1 from the highly resistant tetraploid wild basil O. americanum var. americanum (PI 500945, 2n = 4x = 48) to the tetraploid susceptible O. basilicum 'Sweet basil' (2n = 4x = 48). F1 progeny plants derived from the interspecific hybridization PI 500945 × Sweet basil were resistant, indicating that the gene controlling resistance (Pb1) is dominant, but sterile due to the genetic distance between the parents. Despite their sterility, F1 plants were pollinated with the susceptible parent and 115 first backcross generation to the susceptible parent (BCs1) embryos were rescued in vitro. The emerging BCs1 plants segregated, upon inoculation, 5:1 resistant/susceptible, suggesting that resistance in F1 was controlled by a pair of dominant genes (Pb1A and Pb1A'). Thirty-one partially fertile BCs1 plants were self-pollinated to obtain BCs1-F2 or were backcrossed to Sweet basil to obtain the second backcross generation to the susceptible parent (BCs2). In total, 1 BCs1-F2 and 22 BCs2 progenies were obtained. The BCs1-F2 progeny segregated 35:1 resistant/susceptible, as expected from a tetraploid parent with two dominant resistant genes. The 22 BCs2 progenies segregated 1:1 resistant/susceptible (for a BCs1 parent that carried one dominant gene for resistance) or 5:1 (for a BCs1 parent that carried two dominant genes for resistance) at a ratio of 4:1. The data suggest that a pair of dominant genes (Pb1A and Pb1A') residing on a two homeologous chromosomes is responsible for resistance of PI 500945 against P. belbahrii.

The pattern of LH secretion and the ovarian response to the 'ram effect' in the anoestrous ewe is influenced by body condition but not by short-term nutritional supplementation.

PubMed

Scaramuzzi, R J; Oujagir, L; Menassol, J-B; Freret, S; Piezel, A; Brown, H M; Cognié, J; Fabre Nys, C

2014-10-01

In sheep, the 'ram effect' induces out-of-season fertility and good nutrition increases prolificacy. This experiment determined if fatness or short-term nutritional supplementation modified the response to the 'ram effect'. A group of 48 Île-de-France ewes were fed diets that produced groups with body-condition scores (BCS) of >3.0 and <2.0. Within each BCS group animals were supplemented daily with 500g of lupins from Day -5 to Day 0 (ram introduction) resulting in four groups: low BCS, supplemented (n=7) and non-supplemented (n=8) and high BCS, supplemented (n=12) and non-supplemented (n=11). The blood concentrations of glucose and insulin and the LH response to gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) were determined. After the 'ram effect' the pattern of LH pulsatility, the LH surge and ovarian responses were analysed. Low BCS ewes had lower glucose and insulin (P<0.001) and supplementation increased both (P≤0.001). The increase in LH induced by GnRH was reduced in low BCS ewes (P=0.015) but it was not affected by supplementation. Similarly, LH pulsatility was reduced in low BCS ewes (P<0.05). The LH surge and ovarian cyclicity were not affected but the follow-up cycle was delayed (P=0.034) and progesterone was reduced (P=0.029) in low BCS ewes. There was an effect of BCS on ovulation rate (P<0.05). These results show that the BCS can modify the response to the 'ram effect' and that supplementation has little effect on this response.

Associations among body condition score, body weight, and reproductive performance in seasonal-calving dairy cattle.

PubMed

Roche, J R; Macdonald, K A; Burke, C R; Lee, J M; Berry, D P

2007-01-01

The objective of the present study was to identify and quantify relationships between body condition score (BCS) and body weight (BW) in dairy cows with reproduction variables in pasture-based, seasonal-calving dairy herds. Over 2,500 lactation records from 897 spring-calving Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were used in the analyses. Eleven BCS- and 11 BW-related variables were generated, including observations at calving, nadir, planned start of mating (PSM), and first service, as well as days to nadir and the amount and rate of change between periods. The binary reproductive variables were cycling by PSM, mated in the first 21 d from PSM, pregnant to first service, and pregnant in the first 21, 42, and 84 d of the seasonal mating period. Generalized estimating equations were used to identify BCS and BW variables that significantly affected the probability of a successful reproductive outcome. After adjusting for the fixed effect of year of calving, parity (for cycling by PSM only), and the interval from calving to either first service or PSM, reproductive performance was found to be significantly affected by BW or BCS at key points, and by BCS and BW change during lactation. All reproductive response measures were negatively affected when BCS and BW measures indicated an increased severity and duration of the postpartum negative energy balance. In particular, cycling by PSM was positively associated with calving BCS, whereas pregnancy at 21, 42, and 84 d post-PSM were positively associated with nadir BCS and BW gain post-PSM, and negatively associated with BCS loss between calving and nadir. The results highlight the important role that BCS and BW loss has on reproductive performance, especially in seasonal-calving dairy systems because of the short period between calving and PSM.

Breast cancer survivors' perceived medical communication competence and satisfaction with care at the end of treatment.

PubMed

Brédart, Anne; Kop, Jean-Luc; Fiszer, Chavie; Sigal-Zafrani, Brigitte; Dolbeault, Sylvie

2015-12-01

Information is a care priority in most breast cancer survivors (BCS). We assessed whether BCS information needs at 8 months after hospital cancer treatment could be related to their age, education level, perceived medical communication competence, satisfaction with care, attachment style, and self-esteem. Of 426 BCS approached during the last week of treatment (T1), 85% completed the Medical Communication Competence Scale, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Satisfaction with Care Questionnaire, Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale and Experiences in Close Relationships Scale. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Supportive Care Needs Survey were completed at T1 and again 8 months later (T2) with a 66% (n = 283) response rate. Baseline respondents' median (range) age was 56 years (23-86 years). Information needs decreased over time, although some persisted. Multivariate regression analyses evidenced overall higher information needs at T2 in younger BCS and in those dissatisfied with the information provided at T1. Specifically, in younger BCS, higher information needs were related to lower satisfaction with doctors' availability, and in older BCS, they were related to higher self-perceived competence in information giving, lower self-perceived competence in information seeking, and lower satisfaction with doctors' information provision. Psychological distress was strongly related to information needs. Education, BCS attachment style, and self-esteem were not associated with information needs. In order to enhance supportive care for BCS, younger BCS should be provided with more time to address all their concerns and older BCS should be encouraged to express their specific desires for information. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Exotic open-flavor bcq¯q¯, bcs¯s¯ and qcq¯b¯, scs¯b¯ tetraquark states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Wei; Steele, T. G.; Zhu, Shi-Lin

2014-03-01

We study the exotic bcq¯q¯, bcs¯s¯ and qcq¯b¯, scs¯b¯ systems by constructing the corresponding tetraquark currents with JP=0+ and 1+. After investigating the two-point correlation functions and the spectral densities, we perform QCD sum rule analysis and extract the masses of these open-flavor tetraquark states. Our results indicate that the masses of both the scalar and axial vector tetraquark states are about 7.1-7.2 GeV for the bcq¯q¯ system and 7.2-7.3 GeV for the bcs¯s¯ system. For the qcq¯b¯ tetraquark states with JP=0+ and 1+, their masses are extracted to be around 7.1 GeV. The masses for the scalar and axial vector scs¯b¯ states are 7.1 and 6.9-7.1 GeV, respectively. The tetraquark states qcq¯b¯ and scs¯b¯ lie below the thresholds of D(*)B(*) and Ds(*)Bs(*) respectively, but they can decay into Bc plus a light meson. However, the tetraquark states bcq¯q¯ and bcs¯s¯ lie below the D(*)B¯(*) and Ds(*)B¯s(*) thresholds, suggesting dominantly weak decay mechanisms.

Is family functioning and communication associated with health-related quality of life for Chinese- and Korean-American breast cancer survivors?

PubMed Central

Lim, Jung-won; Ashing-Giwa, Kimlin T.

2012-01-01

Purpose This study aims to investigate direct and indirect pathways of family flexibility, social support, and family communication on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for Chinese- and Korean-American breast cancer survivors (BCS). Methods A total of 157 Chinese (n = 86)- and Korean-American (n = 71) BCS were recruited from the California Cancer Surveillance Program and area hospitals in Los Angeles County. The present study was guided by the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment, and Adaptation. Results Structural equation modeling demonstrated that (1) family communication was directly associated with HRQOL for both groups; (2) family flexibility was indirectly associated with HRQOL through family communication for Korean-Americans only; (3) social support mediated the relationship between family flexibility and family communication for Chinese-Americans only; and (4) acculturation was directly related to social support for both groups. Multigroup analysis demonstrated that the structural paths were equivalent between Chinese- and Korean-American BCS, although statistical differences in baseline parameters were noted. Conclusions Our findings suggest that family communication impacts HRQOL among Asian-American BCS. Our results show that while there are commonalities in family characteristics among Asian-Americans, specific ethnic variations also exist. Therefore, specific cultural and familial contexts should be assessed to better inform interventions to enhance family communication strategies and improve HRQOL. PMID:22875219

Chladni solitons and the onset of the snaking instability for dark solitons in confined superfluids.

PubMed

Muñoz Mateo, A; Brand, J

2014-12-19

Complex solitary waves composed of intersecting vortex lines are predicted in a channeled superfluid. Their shapes in a cylindrical trap include a cross, spoke wheels, and Greek Φ, and trace the nodal lines of unstable vibration modes of a planar dark soliton in analogy to Chladni's figures of membrane vibrations. The stationary solitary waves extend a family of solutions that include the previously known solitonic vortex and vortex rings. Their bifurcation points from the dark soliton indicating the onset of new unstable modes of the snaking instability are predicted from scale separation for Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) and superfluid Fermi gases across the BEC-BCS crossover, and confirmed by full numerical calculations. Chladni solitons could be observed in ultracold gas experiments by seeded decay of dark solitons.

Superconducting Properties and μSR Study of the Noncentrosymmetric Superconductor Nb_0.5Os_0.5.

PubMed

Singh, D; Barker, J A T; Arumugam, Thamizhavel; Hillier, A D; Paul, D McK; Singh, R P

2017-12-21

The properties of the noncentrosymmetric superconductor ($\\alpha$-$\\textit{Mn}$ structure) Nb$_{0.5}$Os$_{0.5}$ is investigated using resistivity, magnetization, specific heat, and muon spin relaxation and rotation ($\\mu$SR) measurements. These measurements suggest that Nb$_{0.5}$Os$_{0.5}$ is a weakly coupled ($\\lambda_{e-ph}$ $\\sim$ 0.53) type-II superconductor ($\\kappa_{GL}$ $\\approx$ 61) having a bulk superconducting transition temperature $T_c$ = 3.07 K. The specific heat data in the superconductive regime fits well with the single-gap BCS model indicating nodeless s-wave superconductivity in Nb$_{0.5}$Os$_{0.5}$. The $\\mu$SR measurements also confirm $\\textit{s}$-wave superconductivity with the preserved time-reversal symmetry. © 2017 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Chladni Solitons and the Onset of the Snaking Instability for Dark Solitons in Confined Superfluids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muñoz Mateo, A.; Brand, J.

2014-12-01

Complex solitary waves composed of intersecting vortex lines are predicted in a channeled superfluid. Their shapes in a cylindrical trap include a cross, spoke wheels, and Greek Φ , and trace the nodal lines of unstable vibration modes of a planar dark soliton in analogy to Chladni's figures of membrane vibrations. The stationary solitary waves extend a family of solutions that include the previously known solitonic vortex and vortex rings. Their bifurcation points from the dark soliton indicating the onset of new unstable modes of the snaking instability are predicted from scale separation for Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) and superfluid Fermi gases across the BEC-BCS crossover, and confirmed by full numerical calculations. Chladni solitons could be observed in ultracold gas experiments by seeded decay of dark solitons.

Andreev bound states. Some quasiclassical reflections

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

Lin, Y., E-mail: yiriolin@illinois.edu; Leggett, A. J.

2014-12-15

We discuss a very simple and essentially exactly solvable model problem which illustrates some nice features of Andreev bound states, namely, the trapping of a single Bogoliubov quasiparticle in a neutral s-wave BCS superfluid by a wide and shallow Zeeman trap. In the quasiclassical limit, the ground state is a doublet with a splitting which is proportional to the exponentially small amplitude for “normal” reflection by the edges of the trap. We comment briefly on a prima facie paradox concerning the continuity equation and conjecture a resolution to it.

A minimal model of striped superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martin, I.; Ortiz, G.; Balatsky, A. V.; Bishop, A. R.

2001-12-01

We present a minimal model of high-temperature superconductors that simultaneously supports antiferromagnetic stripes and d-wave superconductivity. At the unrestricted mean-field level, the various phases of the cuprates, including weak and strong pseudogap phases, and two different types of superconductivity in the underdoped and the overdoped regimes, find a natural interpretation. We argue that on the underdoped side, the superconductor is intrinsically inhomogeneous and global phase coherence is achieved through Josephson-like coupling of the superconducting stripes. On the overdoped side, the state is overall homogeneous and the superconductivity is of a classical BCS type.

Andreev bound states. Some quasiclassical reflections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Y.; Leggett, A. J.

2014-12-01

We discuss a very simple and essentially exactly solvable model problem which illustrates some nice features of Andreev bound states, namely, the trapping of a single Bogoliubov quasiparticle in a neutral s-wave BCS superfluid by a wide and shallow Zeeman trap. In the quasiclassical limit, the ground state is a doublet with a splitting which is proportional to the exponentially small amplitude for "normal" reflection by the edges of the trap. We comment briefly on a prima facie paradox concerning the continuity equation and conjecture a resolution to it.

Full-Wave Based Validation of Stripline Field Applicator For Low Frequency Material Measurements

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-03-01

16 3.3.1 Principal Solution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 3.3.2 Reflected Solution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 3.4 Applying...potential) [ 17 ]. The vector potential BCs are found to be Ax(x, y = ±h, z) = 0 ∀ x, z (3.2) ∂Ay(x, y = ±h, z) ∂y = 0 ∀ x, z (3.3) Az(x, y = ±h, z...solution at y = ±h, an inverse Fourier transform must be performed on the principal contribution 17 ηre ηim x x η-plane −jp jp Figure 3.2

Effects of Magnetic Field and Rotation on 3P2 Superfluidity in Neutron Stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masuda, Kota; Nitta, Muneto

2014-09-01

It is believed that an anisotropic 3P2 superfluid state is realized in the core of neutron stars. Historically, a lot of works (Anderson et al. (1961), Hoffberg et al. (1970) and Tamagaki (1970)) discussed the properties of 3P2 superfluid state. Ginzburg-Landau (GL) equation was derived by Fujita, Tsuneto (1972) and Richardson (1972). After that, Mermin (1974) solved the problem of minimizing GL free energy density for d-wave pairing and showed what ground states are realized. By using these results, Sauls and Serene (1978) concluded that the unitary phase is realized in BCS limit, and Sauls et al. (1982) showed 3P2 vortices have a spontaneous magnetization. In this presentation, we firstly introduce GL equation and show some analogy to that of spin2-BEC. In BCS limit, degenerate ground states are parameterized by one parameter. We show effects of gradient terms, magnetic field and rotation on ground states and half-quantized 3P2 vortices are the most stable states under certain conditions. Next, by using an anisotropic GL equation, we discuss a spontaneous magnetization caused by half-quantized 3P2 vortices and compare results with that of integer vortices. Finally, we comment on possible effects of 3P2 superfluid state on neutron star observables. It is believed that an anisotropic 3P2 superfluid state is realized in the core of neutron stars. Historically, a lot of works (Anderson et al. (1961), Hoffberg et al. (1970) and Tamagaki (1970)) discussed the properties of 3P2 superfluid state. Ginzburg-Landau (GL) equation was derived by Fujita, Tsuneto (1972) and Richardson (1972). After that, Mermin (1974) solved the problem of minimizing GL free energy density for d-wave pairing and showed what ground states are realized. By using these results, Sauls and Serene (1978) concluded that the unitary phase is realized in BCS limit, and Sauls et al. (1982) showed 3P2 vortices have a spontaneous magnetization. In this presentation, we firstly introduce GL equation and show some analogy to that of spin2-BEC. In BCS limit, degenerate ground states are parameterized by one parameter. We show effects of gradient terms, magnetic field and rotation on ground states and half-quantized 3P2 vortices are the most stable states under certain conditions. Next, by using an anisotropic GL equation, we discuss a spontaneous magnetization caused by half-quantized 3P2 vortices and compare results with that of integer vortices. Finally, we comment on possible effects of 3P2 superfluid state on neutron star observables. JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists and Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (No. 25400268 and 25103720) from MEXT of Japan.

Electronic structure of charge-density-wave state in quasi-2D KMo6O17 purple bronze characterized by angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valbuena, M. A.; Avila, J.; Drouard, S.; Guyot, H.; Asensio, M. C.

2006-01-01

We report on an angle-resolved-photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) investigation of layered quasi-two dimensional (2D) Molybdenum purple bronze KMo6O17 in order to study and characterizes the transition to a charge-density-wave (CDW) state. We have performed photoemission temperature dependent measurements cooling down from room temperature (RT) to 32 K, well below the Peierls transition for this material, with CDW transition temperature Tc =110 K. The spectra have been taken at a selected kF point of the Fermi surface (FS) that satisfies the nesting condition of the FS, looking for the characteristic pseudo-gap opening in this kind of materials. The pseudogap has been estimated and it result to be in agreement with our previous works. The shift to lower binding energy of crossing Fermi level ARPES feature have been also confirmed and studied as a function of temperature, showing a rough like BCS behaviour. Finally we have also focused on ARPES measurements along ΓM¯ high symmetry direction for both room and low temperature states finding some insight for ‘shadow’ or back folded bands indicating the new periodicity of real lattice after the CDW lattice distortion.

Ad libitum Pasture Feeding in Late Pregnancy Does Not Improve the Performance of Twin-bearing Ewes and Their Lambs.

PubMed

Corner-Thomas, R A; Back, P J; Kenyon, P R; Hickson, R E; Ridler, A L; Stafford, K J; Morris, S T

2015-03-01

The present study evaluated the effect of controlled ryegrass-white clover herbage availability from day 128 until day 142 of pregnancy in comparison to unrestricted availability, on the performance of twin-bearing ewes of varying body condition score (BCS; 2.0, 2.5, or 3.0) and their lambs. It was hypothesised that under conditions of controlled herbage availability, the performance of lambs born to ewes with a greater BCS would be greater than those born to ewes with a lower BCS. During the period that the nutritional regimens were imposed, the pre- and post-grazing herbage masses of the Control regimen (1,070±69 and 801±30 kg dry matter [DM]/ha) were lower than the ad libitum regimen (1,784±69 and 1,333±33 kg DM/ha; p<0.05). The average herbage masses during lactation were 1,410±31 kg DM/ha. Nutritional regimen had no effect on ewe live weight, BCS and back fat depth or on lamb live weight, indices of colostrum uptake, maximal heat production, total litter weight weaned or survival to weaning (p>0.05). The difference in ewe BCSs and back fats observed among body condition groups was maintained throughout pregnancy (p<0.05). At weaning, ewes from the BCS2.0 group had lower BCS and live weight (2.4±0.2, 74.3±2.6 kg) than both the BCS2.5 (2.6±0.2, 78.6±2.4 kg) and BCS3.0 ewes (2.7±0.2, 79.0±2.6 kg; p<0.05), which did not differ (p>0.05). Ewe BCS group had no effect on lamb live weight at birth or weaning or on maximal heat production (p>0.05). Serum gamma glutamyl transferase concentrations of lambs born to BCS3.0 ewes were higher within 36 hours of birth than lambs born to BCS2.0 ewes and BCS2.5 ewes (51.8±1.9 vs 46.5±1.9 and 45.6±1.9 IU/mL, respectively [p<0.05]). There was, however, no effect of ewe body condition on lamb plasma glucose concentration (p>0.05). Lamb survival was the only lamb parameter that showed an interaction between ewe nutritional regimen and ewe BCS whereby survival of lambs born to BCS2.5 and BCS3.0 ewes differed but only within the Control nutritional regimen ewes (p<0.05). These results indicate farmers can provide twin-bearing ewes with pre- and post-grazing ryegrass-white clover herbage covers of approximately 1,100 and 800 kg DM/ha in late pregnancy, provided that herbage covers are 1400 in lactation, without affecting lamb performance to weaning. The present results also indicate that under these grazing conditions, there is little difference in ewe performance within the BCS range of 2.0 to 3.0 and therefore they do not need to be managed separately.

Ad libitum Pasture Feeding in Late Pregnancy Does Not Improve the Performance of Twin-bearing Ewes and Their Lambs

PubMed Central

Corner-Thomas, R. A.; Back, P. J.; Kenyon, P. R.; Hickson, R. E.; Ridler, A. L.; Stafford, K. J.; Morris, S. T.

2015-01-01

The present study evaluated the effect of controlled ryegrass-white clover herbage availability from day 128 until day 142 of pregnancy in comparison to unrestricted availability, on the performance of twin-bearing ewes of varying body condition score (BCS; 2.0, 2.5, or 3.0) and their lambs. It was hypothesised that under conditions of controlled herbage availability, the performance of lambs born to ewes with a greater BCS would be greater than those born to ewes with a lower BCS. During the period that the nutritional regimens were imposed, the pre- and post-grazing herbage masses of the Control regimen (1,070±69 and 801±30 kg dry matter [DM]/ha) were lower than the ad libitum regimen (1,784±69 and 1,333±33 kg DM/ha; p<0.05). The average herbage masses during lactation were 1,410±31 kg DM/ha. Nutritional regimen had no effect on ewe live weight, BCS and back fat depth or on lamb live weight, indices of colostrum uptake, maximal heat production, total litter weight weaned or survival to weaning (p>0.05). The difference in ewe BCSs and back fats observed among body condition groups was maintained throughout pregnancy (p<0.05). At weaning, ewes from the BCS2.0 group had lower BCS and live weight (2.4±0.2, 74.3±2.6 kg) than both the BCS2.5 (2.6±0.2, 78.6±2.4 kg) and BCS3.0 ewes (2.7±0.2, 79.0±2.6 kg; p<0.05), which did not differ (p>0.05). Ewe BCS group had no effect on lamb live weight at birth or weaning or on maximal heat production (p>0.05). Serum gamma glutamyl transferase concentrations of lambs born to BCS3.0 ewes were higher within 36 hours of birth than lambs born to BCS2.0 ewes and BCS2.5 ewes (51.8±1.9 vs 46.5±1.9 and 45.6±1.9 IU/mL, respectively [p<0.05]). There was, however, no effect of ewe body condition on lamb plasma glucose concentration (p>0.05). Lamb survival was the only lamb parameter that showed an interaction between ewe nutritional regimen and ewe BCS whereby survival of lambs born to BCS2.5 and BCS3.0 ewes differed but only within the Control nutritional regimen ewes (p<0.05). These results indicate farmers can provide twin-bearing ewes with pre- and post-grazing ryegrass-white clover herbage covers of approximately 1,100 and 800 kg DM/ha in late pregnancy, provided that herbage covers are 1400 in lactation, without affecting lamb performance to weaning. The present results also indicate that under these grazing conditions, there is little difference in ewe performance within the BCS range of 2.0 to 3.0 and therefore they do not need to be managed separately. PMID:25656209

The valine and lysine residues in the conserved FxVTxK motif are important for the function of phylogenetically distant plant cellulose synthases.

PubMed

Slabaugh, Erin; Scavuzzo-Duggan, Tess; Chaves, Arielle; Wilson, Liza; Wilson, Carmen; Davis, Jonathan K; Cosgrove, Daniel J; Anderson, Charles T; Roberts, Alison W; Haigler, Candace H

2016-05-01

Cellulose synthases (CESAs) synthesize the β-1,4-glucan chains that coalesce to form cellulose microfibrils in plant cell walls. In addition to a large cytosolic (catalytic) domain, CESAs have eight predicted transmembrane helices (TMHs). However, analogous to the structure of BcsA, a bacterial CESA, predicted TMH5 in CESA may instead be an interfacial helix. This would place the conserved FxVTxK motif in the plant cell cytosol where it could function as a substrate-gating loop as occurs in BcsA. To define the functional importance of the CESA region containing FxVTxK, we tested five parallel mutations in Arabidopsis thaliana CESA1 and Physcomitrella patens CESA5 in complementation assays of the relevant cesa mutants. In both organisms, the substitution of the valine or lysine residues in FxVTxK severely affected CESA function. In Arabidopsis roots, both changes were correlated with lower cellulose anisotropy, as revealed by Pontamine Fast Scarlet. Analysis of hypocotyl inner cell wall layers by atomic force microscopy showed that two altered versions of Atcesa1 could rescue cell wall phenotypes observed in the mutant background line. Overall, the data show that the FxVTxK motif is functionally important in two phylogenetically distant plant CESAs. The results show that Physcomitrella provides an efficient model for assessing the effects of engineered CESA mutations affecting primary cell wall synthesis and that diverse testing systems can lead to nuanced insights into CESA structure-function relationships. Although CESA membrane topology needs to be experimentally determined, the results support the possibility that the FxVTxK region functions similarly in CESA and BcsA. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Unravelling the temporal association between lameness and body condition score in dairy cattle using a multistate modelling approach.

PubMed

Lim, P Y; Huxley, J N; Willshire, J A; Green, M J; Othman, A R; Kaler, J

2015-03-01

Recent studies have reported associations between lameness and body condition score (BCS) in dairy cattle, however the impact of change in the dynamics of BCS on both lameness occurrence and recovery is currently unknown. The aim of this longitudinal study was to investigate the effect of change in BCS on the transitions from the non-lame to lame, and lame to non-lame states. A total of 731 cows with 6889 observations from 4 UK herds were included in the study. Mobility score (MS) and body condition score (BCS) were recorded every 13-15 days from July 2010 until December 2011. A multilevel multistate discrete time event history model was built to investigate the transition of lameness over time. There were 1042 non-lame episodes and 593 lame episodes of which 50% (519/1042) of the non-lame episodes transitioned to the lame state and 81% (483/593) of the lame episodes ended with a transition to the non-lame state. Cows with a lower BCS at calving (BCS Group 1 (1.00-1.75) and Group 2 (2.00-2.25)) had a higher probability of transition from non-lame to lame and a lower probability of transition from lame to non-lame compared to cows with BCS 2.50-2.75, i.e. they were more likely to become lame and if lame, they were less likely to recover. Similarly, cows who suffered a greater decrease in BCS (compared to their BCS at calving) had a higher probability of becoming lame and a lower probability of recovering in the next 15 days. An increase in BCS from calving was associated with the converse effect, i.e. a lower probability of cows moving from the non-lame to the lame state and higher probability of transition from lame to non-lame. Days in lactation, quarters of calving and parity were associated with both lame and non-lame transitions and there was evidence of heterogeneity among cows in lameness occurrence and recovery. This study suggests loss of BCS and increase of BCS could influence the risk of becoming lame and the chance of recovery from lameness. Regular monitoring and maintenance of BCS on farms could be a key tool for reducing lameness. Further work is urgently needed in this area to allow a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms behind these relationships. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Factors that influence awareness of breast cancer screening among Arab women in Qatar: results from a cross sectional survey.

PubMed

Donnelly, Tam Truong; Khater, Al-Hareth Al; Al-Bader, Salha Bujassoum; Al Kuwari, Mohammed Ghaith; Malik, Mariam; Al-Meer, Nabila; Singh, Rajvir; Fung, Tak

2014-01-01

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the State of Qatar. Due to low participation in breast cancer screening (BCS) activities, women in Qatar are often diagnosed with breast cancer at advanced stages of the disease. Findings indicate that low participation rates in BCS activities are significantly related to women's low level of awareness of breast cancer screening. The objectives of this study were to: (1) determine the factors that influence Qatari women's awareness of breast cancer and its screening activities: and (2) to find ways to effectively promote breast cancer screening activities among Arabic speaking women in Qatar. A multicenter, cross-sectional quantitative survey of 1,063 (87.5% response rate) female Qatari citizens and non-Qatari Arabic-speaking residents, 35 years of age or older, was conducted in Qatar from March 2011 to July 2011. Outcome measures included participant awareness levels of the most recent national recommended guidelines of BCS, participation rates in BCS activities, and factors related to awareness of BCS activities. While most participants (90.7%) were aware of breast cancer, less than half had awareness of BCS practices (28.9% were aware of breast self-examination and 41.8% of clinical breast exams, while 26.4% knew that mammography was recommended by national screening guidelines. Only 7.6% had knowledge of all three BCS activities). Regarding BCS practice, less than one-third practiced BCS appropriately (13.9% of participants performed breast self-examination (BSE) monthly, 31.3% had a clinical breast exam (CBE) once a year or once every two years, and 26.9% of women 40 years of age or older had a mammogram once every year or two years). Awareness of BCS was significantly related to BCS practice, education level, and receipt of information about breast cancer and/or BCS from a variety of sources, particularly doctors and the media. The low levels of participation rates in BCS among Arab women in this study indicate a strong need to increase awareness of the importance of breast cancer screening in Qatari women. Without this awareness, compliance with the most recent breast cancer screening recommendations in Qatar will remain low. An increased effort to implement mass media and public health campaigns regarding the impact of breast cancer on women's health and the benefits of early detection of breast cancer must be coupled with an enhanced participation of health care providers in delivering this message to Qatar population.

Thrombophilic Genetic Factors PAI-1, MTHFRC677T, V Leiden 506Q, and Prothrombin 20210A in Noncirrhotic Portal Vein Thrombosis and Budd-Chiari Syndrome in a Caucasian Population

PubMed Central

D'Amico, Mario; Sammarco, Pietro; Pasta, Linda

2013-01-01

Thrombophilic genetic factors PAI-1, MTHFRC677T, V Leiden 506Q, and Prothrombin 20210A were studied as risk factors in 235 Caucasian subjects: 85 patients with abdominal thrombosis (54 with portal vein thrombosis (PVT) and 31 with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) without liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma) and 150 blood bank donors. Seventy-five patients with PVT/BCS showed associated disease or particular clinical status (46 PVT/29 BCS): 37 myeloproliferative neoplasm (20 PVT/17 BCS), 12 abdominal surgery (10 PVT/2 BCS), 10 contraception or pregnancy (6 PVT/4 BCS), 7 abdominal acute disease (6 PVT/1 BCS), and 9 chronic disease (4 PVT/5 BCS); ten patients did not present any association (8 PVT/2 BCS). PAI-14G-4G, MTHFR677TT, and V Leiden 506Q were significantly frequent (OR 95% CI and χ 2 test with P value) in abdominal thrombosis; in these patients PAI-14G-4G and MTHFR677TT distributions deviated from that expected from a population in the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (PAI-1: χ 2 = 13.8, P < 0.001; MTHFR677: χ 2 = 7.1, P < 0.01), whereas the equilibrium was respected in healthy controls. V Leiden Q506 and Prothrombin 20210A were in the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium both in patients with abdominal thrombosis and healthy controls. Our study shows an important role of PAI-14G-4G and MTHFR677TT in abdominal thrombosis without liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. PMID:24455271

Pre-conception energy balance and secondary sex ratio--partial support for the Trivers-Willard hypothesis in dairy cows.

PubMed

Roche, J R; Lee, J M; Berry, D P

2006-06-01

According to the Trivers-Willard hypothesis, maternal condition at or around conception affects the secondary sex ratio in mammals. However, there are little or no data available on indicators of maternal condition in dairy cows on the sex of the resultant offspring. A total of 76,607 body condition score (BCS; scale of 1 to 5) records and 76,611 body weight (BW) records from 3,209 lactations across 1,172 cows were extracted from a research database collated from one research herd between 1986 and 2004, inclusive. Exclusion of multiple births and cows with no information before calving (e.g., nulliparous animals) resulted in 2,029 records with BCS and BW observations from the previous calving, and 2,002 and 1,872 lactations with BCS and BW observations at conception and midgestation, respectively. Change in BCS and BW between calving and conception and between conception and midgestation was calculated per lactation. Generalized estimating equations were used to model the logit of the probability of a male calf, in which cow was included as a repeated effect with a first-order autoregressive correlation structure assumed among records within cow. Of the BCS variables investigated, there was a linear relationship between the logit of the probability of a male calf and BCS change between calving and conception, the rate of BCS change over this period (BCS divided by days in milk), and BCS at the calving event immediately before conception. The birth of a bull calf was 1.85 times more likely in cows that lost no BCS from calving to conception compared with cows that lost one BCS unit from calving to conception. This increase in odds was equivalent to a 14% unit increase in the probability of a male calf (from 54 to 68%). The amount of BW lost between calving and conception and the rate of loss affected the sex of the resultant offspring. Less BW loss or greater BW gain between calving and conception was associated with greater likelihood of a male calf. Results suggested a positive effect of pre-conception BCS and BW change on secondary sex ratio, agreeing with the Trivers-Willard hypothesis that females in good physiological condition are more likely to produce male offspring.

Accounting for energy and protein reserve changes in predicting diet-allowable milk production in cattle.

PubMed

Tedeschi, L O; Seo, S; Fox, D G; Ruiz, R

2006-12-01

Current ration formulation systems used to formulate diets on farms and to evaluate experimental data estimate metabolizable energy (ME)-allowable and metabolizable protein (MP)-allowable milk production from the intake above animal requirements for maintenance, pregnancy, and growth. The changes in body reserves, measured via the body condition score (BCS), are not accounted for in predicting ME and MP balances. This paper presents 2 empirical models developed to adjust predicted diet-allowable milk production based on changes in BCS. Empirical reserves model 1 was based on the reserves model described by the 2001 National Research Council (NRC) Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle, whereas empirical reserves model 2 was developed based on published data of body weight and composition changes in lactating dairy cows. A database containing 134 individually fed lactating dairy cows from 3 trials was used to evaluate these adjustments in milk prediction based on predicted first-limiting ME or MP by the 2001 Dairy NRC and Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System models. The analysis of first-limiting ME or MP milk production without adjustments for BCS changes indicated that the predictions of both models were consistent (r(2) of the regression between observed and model-predicted values of 0.90 and 0.85), had mean biases different from zero (12.3 and 5.34%), and had moderate but different roots of mean square errors of prediction (5.42 and 4.77 kg/d) for the 2001 NRC model and the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System model, respectively. The adjustment of first-limiting ME- or MP-allowable milk to BCS changes improved the precision and accuracy of both models. We further investigated 2 methods of adjustment; the first method used only the first and last BCS values, whereas the second method used the mean of weekly BCS values to adjust ME- and MP-allowable milk production. The adjustment to BCS changes based on first and last BCS values was more accurate than the adjustment to BCS based on the mean of all BCS values, suggesting that adjusting milk production for mean weekly variations in BCS added more variability to model-predicted milk production. We concluded that both models adequately predicted the first-limiting ME- or MP-allowable milk after adjusting for changes in BCS.

Fractionalized Fermi liquid with bosonic chargons as a candidate for the pseudogap metal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chatterjee, Shubhayu; Sachdev, Subir

2016-11-01

Doping a Mott-insulating Z2 spin liquid can lead to a fractionalized Fermi liquid (FL*). Such a phase has several favorable features that make it a candidate for the pseudogap metal for the underdoped cuprates. We focus on a particular, simple Z2-FL* state which can undergo a confinement transition to a spatially uniform superconductor which is smoothly connected to the "plain vanilla" BCS superconductor with d -wave pairing. Such a transition occurs by the condensation of bosonic particles carrying +e charge but no spin ("chargons"). We show that modifying the dispersion of the bosonic chargons can lead to confinement transitions with charge density waves and pair density waves at the same wave vector K , coexisting with d -wave superconductivity. We also compute the evolution of the Hall number in the normal state during the transition from the plain vanilla FL* state to a Fermi liquid, and argue, following Coleman, Marston, and Schofield [Phys. Rev. B 72, 245111 (2005), 10.1103/PhysRevB.72.245111], that it exhibits a discontinuous jump near optimal doping. We note the distinction between these results and those obtained from models of the pseudogap with fermionic chargons.

Genetic parameters for body condition score, body weight, milk yield, and fertility estimated using random regression models.

PubMed

Berry, D P; Buckley, F; Dillon, P; Evans, R D; Rath, M; Veerkamp, R F

2003-11-01

Genetic (co)variances between body condition score (BCS), body weight (BW), milk yield, and fertility were estimated using a random regression animal model extended to multivariate analysis. The data analyzed included 81,313 BCS observations, 91,937 BW observations, and 100,458 milk test-day yields from 8725 multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows. A cubic random regression was sufficient to model the changing genetic variances for BCS, BW, and milk across different days in milk. The genetic correlations between BCS and fertility changed little over the lactation; genetic correlations between BCS and interval to first service and between BCS and pregnancy rate to first service varied from -0.47 to -0.31, and from 0.15 to 0.38, respectively. This suggests that maximum genetic gain in fertility from indirect selection on BCS should be based on measurements taken in midlactation when the genetic variance for BCS is largest. Selection for increased BW resulted in shorter intervals to first service, but more services and poorer pregnancy rates; genetic correlations between BW and pregnancy rate to first service varied from -0.52 to -0.45. Genetic selection for higher lactation milk yield alone through selection on increased milk yield in early lactation is likely to have a more deleterious effect on genetic merit for fertility than selection on higher milk yield in late lactation.

Quantum anharmonic oscillator plus delta-function potential: a molecular view of pairing formation and breaking in the coordinate space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sumaryada, Tony; Maha Putra, Bima; Pramudito, Sidikrubadi

2017-05-01

We propose an alternative way to describe the pairing formation and breaking via a quantum anharmonic oscillator with a delta-function potential model. Unlike BCS theory, which describes the pairing formation in the momentum space, this model works in the coordinate space and is able to give a molecular view of pairing formation and breaking in the coordinate space. By exploring the dynamical interplay between the intrinsic factor (dissociation energy) and external factor (pairing strength) of this system additional information was gained, including the critical pairing strength and critical scattering length, which might relate to the BCS-BEC crossover phenomena and halo state formation. Although only the energetic aspect of pairing is described by this model, its simplicity and pedagogical steps might help undergraduate students to understand the pairing problem in a simple way.

Accelerated loading evaluation of stabilized BCS layers in pavement performance : tech summary.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-03-01

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) began to use blended calcium sulfate (BCS) as : an alternative base material in the 1990s. Raw BCS base without further chemical stabilization can achieve relatively high : strength ...

Biochemical and Electrophysiological Characterization of Two Sea Anemone Type 1 Potassium Toxins from a Geographically Distant Population of Bunodosoma caissarum

PubMed Central

Orts, Diego J. B.; Peigneur, Steve; Madio, Bruno; Cassoli, Juliana S.; Montandon, Gabriela G.; Pimenta, Adriano M. C.; Bicudo, José E. P. W.; Freitas, José C.; Zaharenko, André J.; Tytgat, Jan

2013-01-01

Sea anemone (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) venom is an important source of bioactive compounds used as tools to study the pharmacology and structure-function of voltage-gated K+ channels (KV). These neurotoxins can be divided into four different types, according to their structure and mode of action. In this work, for the first time, two toxins were purified from the venom of Bunodosoma caissarum population from Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago, Brazil. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis reveals that BcsTx1 and BcsTx2 are the newest members of the sea anemone type 1 potassium channel toxins. Their functional characterization was performed by means of a wide electrophysiological screening on 12 different subtypes of KV channels (KV1.1–KV1.6; KV2.1; KV3.1; KV4.2; KV4.3; hERG and Shaker IR). BcsTx1 shows a high affinity for rKv1.2 over rKv1.6, hKv1.3, Shaker IR and rKv1.1, while Bcstx2 potently blocked rKv1.6 over hKv1.3, rKv1.1, Shaker IR and rKv1.2. Furthermore, we also report for the first time a venom composition and biological activity comparison between two geographically distant populations of sea anemones. PMID:23466933

Bacterial cellulose biosynthesis: diversity of operons, subunits, products and functions

PubMed Central

Römling, Ute; Galperin, Michael Y.

2015-01-01

Summary Recent studies of bacterial cellulose biosynthesis, including structural characterization of a functional cellulose synthase complex, provided the first mechanistic insight into this fascinating process. In most studied bacteria, just two subunits, BcsA and BcsB, are necessary and sufficient for the formation of the polysaccharide chain in vitro. Other subunits – which differ among various taxa – affect the enzymatic activity and product yield in vivo by modulating expression of biosynthesis apparatus, export of the nascent β-D-glucan polymer to the cell surface, and the organization of cellulose fibers into a higher-order structure. These auxiliary subunits play key roles in determining the quantity and structure of the resulting biofilm, which is particularly important for interactions of bacteria with higher organisms that lead to rhizosphere colonization and modulate virulence of cellulose-producing bacterial pathogens inside and outside of host cells. Here we review the organization of four principal types of cellulose synthase operons found in various bacterial genomes, identify additional bcs genes that encode likely components of the cellulose biosynthesis and secretion machinery, and propose a unified nomenclature for these genes and subunits. We also discuss the role of cellulose as a key component of biofilms formed by a variety of free-living and pathogenic bacteria and, for the latter, in the choice between acute infection and persistence in the host. PMID:26077867

Superconducting gap symmetry in the superconductor BaFe1.9Ni0.1As2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuzmicheva, T. E.; Kuzmichev, S. A.; Sadakov, A. V.; Gavrilkin, S. Yu.; Tsvetkov, A. Yu.; Lu, X.; Luo, H.; Vasiliev, A. N.; Pudalov, V. M.; Chen, Xiao-Jia; Abdel-Hafiez, Mahmoud

2018-06-01

We report on the Andreev spectroscopy and specific heat of high-quality single crystals of BaFe1.9Ni0.1As2 . The intrinsic multiple Andreev reflection spectroscopy reveals two anisotropic superconducting gaps ΔL≈3.2 -4.5 meV , ΔS≈1.2 -1.6 meV (the ranges correspond to the minimum and maximum value of the coupling energy in the kxky plane). The 25 %-30 % anisotropy shows the absence of nodes in the superconducting gaps. Using a two-band model with s -wave-like gaps ΔL≈3.2 meV and ΔS≈1.6 meV , the temperature dependence of the electronic specific heat can be well described. A linear magnetic field dependence of the low-temperature specific heat offers further support of s -wave type of the order parameter. We find that a d -wave or single-gap BCS theory under the weak-coupling approach cannot describe our experiments.

Emergent loop-nodal s(±)-wave superconductivity in CeCu(2)Si(2): similarities to the iron-based superconductors.

PubMed

Ikeda, Hiroaki; Suzuki, Michi-To; Arita, Ryotaro

2015-04-10

Heavy-fermion superconductors are prime candidates for novel electron-pairing states due to the spin-orbital coupled degrees of freedom and electron correlations. Superconductivity in CeCu_{2}Si_{2} discovered in 1979, which is a prototype of unconventional (non-BCS) superconductors in strongly correlated electron systems, still remains unsolved. Here we provide the first report of superconductivity based on the advanced first-principles theoretical approach. We find that the promising candidate is an s_{±}-wave state with loop-shaped nodes on the Fermi surface, different from the widely expected line-nodal d-wave state. The dominant pairing glue is magnetic but high-rank octupole fluctuations. This system shares the importance of multiorbital degrees of freedom with the iron-based superconductors. Our findings reveal not only the long-standing puzzle in this material, but also urge us to reconsider the pairing states and mechanisms in all heavy-fermion superconductors.

Body condition score, morphometric measurements and estimation of body weight in mature Icelandic horses in Denmark.

PubMed

Jensen, Rasmus B; Danielsen, Signe H; Tauson, Anne-Helene

2016-10-20

Obesity is related to the development of several diseases like insulin resistance and laminitis in horses. The prevalence of obesity among mature Icelandic horses in Denmark has not been investigated previously. This study aimed to find the prevalence of obesity, to compare body condition score (BCS) based on owner perception with that of an experienced person and to correlate the BCS to body weight (BW) and morphometric measures in a group of mature Icelandic horses in Denmark. A total of 254 Icelandic horses (≥4 years; 140 geldings, 105 mares, 9 stallions) from 46 different farms were included. All horses were assigned a BCS on a scale from 1 to 9 (1 is poor, 5 is moderate and 9 is extremely fat) by their owner and by an experienced person. Two weight tapes were used to assess BW. Girth circumference (GC), neck circumference (NC) and height at withers (HW) were measured, and the GC:HW and NC:HW ratios were calculated. Categorising the horses into four groups, 5.9 % were underweight (BCS 3-4), 70.1 % were optimal (BCS 5-6), 13.8 % were overweight (BCS 7) and 10.2 % were obese (BCS 8-9). The GC:HW and NC:HW ratios increased with increasing BCS, as did the BW estimated with the weight tapes. A GC:HW ratio >1.21 might indicate overweight or obesity in Icelandic horses. Horse owners underestimated the BCS of their horses compared to an experienced person. The results from this study show that 24.0 % of mature Icelandic horses in Denmark are overweight or obese, and that owners tend to underestimate the BCS of their Icelandic horses. The GC:HW ratio might indicate overweight or obesity, however, the ratio for Icelandic horses is different than reported for horses and ponies of other breeds.

Do socioeconomic factors influence breast cancer screening practices among Arab women in Qatar?

PubMed

Donnelly, Tam Truong; Al Khater, Al-Hareth; Al Kuwari, Mohamed Ghaith; Al-Bader, Salha Bujassoum; Al-Meer, Nabila; Abdulmalik, Mariam; Singh, Rajvir; Chaudhry, Sofia; Fung, Tak

2015-01-22

Breast cancer incidence rates are rising in Qatar. Although the Qatari government provides subsidised healthcare and screening programmes that reduce cost barriers for residents, breast cancer screening (BCS) practices among women remain low. This study explores the influence of socioeconomic status on BCS among Arab women in Qatar. A multicentre, cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted with 1063 Arab women (87.5% response rate) in Qatar from March 2011 to July 2011. Women who were 35 years or older and had lived in Qatar for at least 10 years were recruited from seven primary healthcare centres and women's health clinics in urban and semiurban regions of Qatar. Associations between socioeconomic factors and BCS practice were estimated using χ(2) tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Findings indicate that less than one-third of the participants practised BCS appropriately, whereas less than half of the participants were familiar with recent BCS guidelines. Married women and women with higher education and income levels were significantly more likely to be aware of and to practise BCS than women who had lower education and income levels. Findings indicate low levels of awareness and low participation rates in BCS among Arab women in Qatar. Socioeconomic factors influence these women's participation in BCS activities. The strongest predictors for BCS practice are higher education and higher income levels. Additional research is needed to explore the impact of economic factors on healthcare seeking behaviours in the Middle Eastern countries that have a high national gross domestic product where healthcare services are free or heavily subsidised by the government; promotion of BCS and intervention strategies in these countries should focus on raising awareness about breast cancer, the cost and benefit of early screening for this disease, particularly among low-income women. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Do socioeconomic factors influence breast cancer screening practices among Arab women in Qatar?

PubMed Central

Donnelly, Tam Truong; Al Khater, Al-Hareth; Al Kuwari, Mohamed Ghaith; Al-Bader, Salha Bujassoum; Al-Meer, Nabila; Abdulmalik, Mariam; Singh, Rajvir; Chaudhry, Sofia; Fung, Tak

2015-01-01

Objectives Breast cancer incidence rates are rising in Qatar. Although the Qatari government provides subsidised healthcare and screening programmes that reduce cost barriers for residents, breast cancer screening (BCS) practices among women remain low. This study explores the influence of socioeconomic status on BCS among Arab women in Qatar. Setting A multicentre, cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted with 1063 Arab women (87.5% response rate) in Qatar from March 2011 to July 2011. Women who were 35 years or older and had lived in Qatar for at least 10 years were recruited from seven primary healthcare centres and women's health clinics in urban and semiurban regions of Qatar. Associations between socioeconomic factors and BCS practice were estimated using χ2 tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results Findings indicate that less than one-third of the participants practised BCS appropriately, whereas less than half of the participants were familiar with recent BCS guidelines. Married women and women with higher education and income levels were significantly more likely to be aware of and to practise BCS than women who had lower education and income levels. Conclusions Findings indicate low levels of awareness and low participation rates in BCS among Arab women in Qatar. Socioeconomic factors influence these women's participation in BCS activities. The strongest predictors for BCS practice are higher education and higher income levels. Recommendations Additional research is needed to explore the impact of economic factors on healthcare seeking behaviours in the Middle Eastern countries that have a high national gross domestic product where healthcare services are free or heavily subsidised by the government; promotion of BCS and intervention strategies in these countries should focus on raising awareness about breast cancer, the cost and benefit of early screening for this disease, particularly among low-income women. PMID:25613951

Impacts of parturition and body condition score on glucose uptake capacity of bovine monocyte subsets.

PubMed

Eger, Melanie; Hussen, Jamal; Drong, Caroline; Meyer, Ulrich; von Soosten, Dirk; Frahm, Jana; Daenicke, Sven; Breves, Gerhard; Schuberth, Hans-Joachim

2015-07-15

The peripartal period of dairy cows is associated with a higher incidence of infectious diseases like mastitis or metritis, particularly in high-yielding animals. The onset of lactation induces a negative energy balance and a shift of glucose distribution toward the udder. Glucose is used as primary fuel by monocytes which give rise to macrophages, key cells in the defense against pathogens. The aim of this study was to analyze whether animals with high or low body condition score (BCS) differ in composition and glucose uptake capacities of bovine monocyte subsets. Blood samples were taken from 27 dairy cows starting 42 days before parturition until day 56 after parturition. The cows were allocated to two groups according to their BCS. A feeding regime was applied, in which the BCS high group received higher amounts of concentrate before parturition and concentrate feeding was more restricted in the BCS high group after parturition compared with the BCS low group, to promote postpartal lipolysis and enhance negative energy balance in the BCS high group. Blood cell counts of classical (cM), intermediate (intM) and nonclassical monocytes (ncM) were increased at day 7 after calving. In the BCS low group intM numbers were significantly higher compared to the BCS high group at day 7 after parturition. Within the BCS low group cows suffering from mastitis or metritis showed significantly higher numbers of cM, intM and ncM at day 7 after parturition. Classical monocytes and intM showed similar glucose uptake capacities while values for ncM were significantly lower. Compared with antepartal capacities and irrespective of BCS and postpartal mastitis or metritis, glucose uptake of all monocyte subsets decreased after parturition. In conclusion, whereas glucose uptake capacity of bovine monocyte subsets is altered by parturition, it is not linked to the energy supply of the animals or to postpartal infectious diseases. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Genetic correlations among body condition score, yield, and fertility in first-parity cows estimated by random regression models.

PubMed

Veerkamp, R F; Koenen, E P; De Jong, G

2001-10-01

Twenty type classifiers scored body condition (BCS) of 91,738 first-parity cows from 601 sires and 5518 maternal grandsires. Fertility data during first lactation were extracted for 177,220 cows, of which 67,278 also had a BCS observation, and first-lactation 305-d milk, fat, and protein yields were added for 180,631 cows. Heritabilities and genetic correlations were estimated using a sire-maternal grandsire model. Heritability of BCS was 0.38. Heritabilities for fertility traits were low (0.01 to 0.07), but genetic standard deviations were substantial, 9 d for days to first service and calving interval, 0.25 for number of services, and 5% for first-service conception. Phenotypic correlations between fertility and yield or BCS were small (-0.15 to 0.20). Genetic correlations between yield and all fertility traits were unfavorable (0.37 to 0.74). Genetic correlations with BCS were between -0.4 and -0.6 for calving interval and days to first service. Random regression analysis (RR) showed that correlations changed with days in milk for BCS. Little agreement was found between variances and correlations from RR, and analysis including a single month (mo 1 to 10) of data for BCS, especially during early and late lactation. However, this was due to excluding data from the conventional analysis, rather than due to the polynomials used. RR and a conventional five-traits model where BCS in mo 1, 4, 7, and 10 was treated as a separate traits (plus yield or fertility) gave similar results. Thus a parsimonious random regression model gave more realistic estimates for the (co)variances than a series of bivariate analysis on subsets of the data for BCS. A higher genetic merit for yield has unfavorable effects on fertility, but the genetic correlation suggests that BCS (at some stages of lactation) might help to alleviate the unfavorable effect of selection for higher yield on fertility.

Facilitators of Survivorship Care Among Underserved Breast Cancer Survivors: a Qualitative Study.

PubMed

Ustjanauskas, Amy E; Quinn, Gwendolyn P; Pan, Tonya M; Rivera, Maria; Vázquez-Otero, Coralia; Ung, Danielle; Roetzheim, Richard G; Laronga, Christine; Johnson, Kenneth; Norton, Marilyn; Carrizosa, Claudia; Muñoz, Dariana; Goldenstein, Marissa; Nuhaily, Sumayah; Wells, Kristen J

2017-12-01

Research investigating facilitators of survivorship care among underserved breast cancer survivors (BCS) is sparse. This study aimed to explore facilitators of survivorship care among underserved BCS within the first 5 years following chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery for breast cancer. In-depth interviews were conducted, using a semi-structured interview guide, with underserved BCS exploring survivorship care experiences. Content analysis of the verbatim transcripts was applied, and results were summarized according to themes related to facilitators of breast cancer survivorship care. Interviews were conducted with 25 BCS. Eight main themes were identified: coordination of care; positive perceptions of health care providers; communication between patient and health care providers; financial and insurance facilitators; information, classes, and programs provided; assistance provided by organizations and health care professionals; transportation facilitators; and job flexibility. This study provides a comprehensive look at facilitators of survivorship care among underserved BCS. BCS endorsed several facilitators of their survivorship care, mainly at the interpersonal, organizational, and societal level. This study adds to the research literature on catalysts of care among underserved BCS. Results from this study are currently being used to inform a patient navigation intervention to facilitate care among this population.

Barriers to breast cancer screening participation among Jordanian and Palestinian American women.

PubMed

Kawar, Lina Najib

2013-02-01

Increasing breast cancer screening (BCS) among diverse women from minority groups is a goal of health care providers and national organizations as a way to help in the early detection and treatment of breast cancer. The purpose of this article is to investigate barriers to BCS encountered by Jordanian and Palestinian women living in the United States (US). Descriptive content analysis of interviews of 107 Jordanian and Palestinian immigrant women provided data on BCS barriers that were thematically analyzed. Data revealed 4 barriers that affect Jordanian and Palestinian immigrant women's participation in BCS: (1) culture-specific barriers such as embarrassment, family relationships, fatalism, and traditional healers consultation; (2) immigration-related barriers (citizenship issues and language); (3) general barriers (including nonparticipation in health screening, stigmatization of cancer, fear, and ignorance about BCS); and (4) irrelevant barriers. Clinicians should be cognizant of the culture, beliefs and practices of Arab Middle Eastern immigrant women and the influence of these factors on their decision to participate in routine BCS. To increase participation in BCS and knowledge of breast cancer, appropriate language and culturally sensitive educational materials should be created and made available to Arab Middle Eastern immigrant women. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A qualitative exploration of the impact of yoga on breast cancer survivors with aromatase inhibitor-associated arthralgias.

PubMed

Galantino, Mary Lou; Greene, Laurie; Archetto, Benjamin; Baumgartner, Melissa; Hassall, Paula; Murphy, Joanna Kluz; Umstetter, Jamie; Desai, Krupali

2012-01-01

Arthralgia affects postmenopausal breast cancer survivors (BCS) receiving aromatase inhibitors (AI), which may result in reduced function and long-term well-being. This is an exploratory, qualitative investigation of BCS who participated in a yoga-based program to understand impact on joint pain and various aspects of quality of life (QOL) through a yoga program. Social cognitive theory was used and provided the foundation for developing a yoga intervention through sources of efficacy information: (1) performance accomplishment, (2) structured experience, (3) verbal support from instructor and group, and (4) physical feedback. Ten postmenopausal women with stage I-III breast cancer and AI associated arthralgia (AIAA) received yoga twice a week for eight weeks for 90 minutes and were instructed to continue in a home-based yoga program. We used social cognitive theory (SCT) to structure a yoga intervention as an ongoing physical activity to manage joint pain and function. Participants completed journal reflections on their experience and received weekly phone calls. Data was collected and analyzed using qualitative methods. Member checks were completed and emergent themes were explored and agreed upon by the research team to ensure reliability and validity of data. Several emergent themes were discovered: Empowerment: Importance of Camaraderie, Community, and Sharing; Pain Relief; Increased Physical Fitness (Energy, Flexibility, and Function); Relieved Stress/Anxiety and Transferability of Yoga through Breathing. These themes were identified through instructor observation, participant observation, and weekly phone call documentation. Participants experienced an eight-week yoga intervention as an effective physical activity and support group that fostered various improvements in quality of life (QOL) and reduction in AIAA. Participants were highly motivated to improve physical fitness levels and reduce pain. This study revealed benefits from alternative forms of exercise such as yoga to provide a structure, which is transferable in other situations. Information, structured physical guidance in yoga postures, support, and feedback are necessary to foster physical activity for BCS experiencing pain. Results of this qualitative analysis indicate that interventions to support BCS with AIAA are warranted. Yoga appears to positively impact these side effects of hormonal therapies. Additional research would aid in the development of other interventions. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Accelerated loading evaluation of stabilized BCS layers in pavement performance.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-03-01

BCS is short for blended calcium sulfate, a recycled fluorogypsum mixture that has been used in Louisiana as a roadway base for more than a decade. : Without further chemical stabilization, the major concern of using raw BCS as a pavement structural ...

Relationships between self-reported sleep quality components and cognitive functioning in breast cancer survivors up to 10 years following chemotherapy.

PubMed

Henneghan, Ashley M; Carter, Patricia; Stuifbergan, Alexa; Parmelee, Brennan; Kesler, Shelli

2018-04-23

Links have been made between aspects of sleep quality and cognitive function in breast cancer survivors (BCS), but findings are heterogeneous. The objective of this study is to examine relationships between specific sleep quality components (latency, duration, efficiency, daytime sleepiness, sleep disturbance, use of sleep aids) and cognitive impairment (performance and perceived), and determine which sleep quality components are the most significant contributors to cognitive impairments in BCS 6 months to 10 years post chemotherapy. Women 21 to 65 years old with a history of non-metastatic breast cancer following chemotherapy completion were recruited. Data collection included surveys to evaluate sleep quality and perceived cognitive impairments, and neuropsychological testing to evaluate verbal fluency and memory. Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and hierarchical multiple regression were calculated. 90 women (mean age 49) completed data collection. Moderate significant correlations were found between daytime dysfunction, sleep efficiency, sleep latency, and sleep disturbance and perceived cognitive impairment (Rs = -0.37 to -0.49, Ps<.00049), but not objective cognitive performance of verbal fluency, memory or attention. After accounting for individual and clinical characteristics, the strongest predictors of perceived cognitive impairments were daytime dysfunction, sleep efficiency, and sleep disturbance. Findings support links between sleep quality and perceived cognitive impairments in BCS and suggest specific components of sleep quality (daytime dysfunction, sleep efficiency, and sleep disturbance) are associated with perceived cognitive functioning in this population. Findings can assist clinicians in guiding survivors to manage sleep and cognitive problems and aid in the design of interventional research. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

In silico prediction of drug dissolution and absorption with variation in intestinal pH for BCS class II weak acid drugs: ibuprofen and ketoprofen.

PubMed

Tsume, Yasuhiro; Langguth, Peter; Garcia-Arieta, Alfredo; Amidon, Gordon L

2012-10-01

The FDA Biopharmaceutical Classification System guidance allows waivers for in vivo bioavailability and bioequivalence studies for immediate-release solid oral dosage forms only for BCS class I. Extensions of the in vivo biowaiver for a number of drugs in BCS class III and BCS class II have been proposed, in particular, BCS class II weak acids. However, a discrepancy between the in vivo BE results and in vitro dissolution results for BCS class II acids was recently observed. The objectives of this study were to determine the oral absorption of BCS class II weak acids via simulation software and to determine if the in vitro dissolution test with various dissolution media could be sufficient for in vitro bioequivalence studies of ibuprofen and ketoprofen as models of carboxylic acid drugs. The oral absorption of these BCS class II acids from the gastrointestinal tract was predicted by GastroPlus™. Ibuprofen did not satisfy the bioequivalence criteria at lower settings of intestinal pH of 6.0. Further the experimental dissolution of ibuprofen tablets in a low concentration phosphate buffer at pH 6.0 (the average buffer capacity 2.2 mmol l (-1) /pH) was dramatically reduced compared with the dissolution in SIF (the average buffer capacity 12.6 mmol l (-1) /pH). Thus these predictions for the oral absorption of BCS class II acids indicate that the absorption patterns depend largely on the intestinal pH and buffer strength and must be considered carefully for a bioequivalence test. Simulation software may be a very useful tool to aid the selection of dissolution media that may be useful in setting an in vitro bioequivalence dissolution standard. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In Silico Prediction of Drug Dissolution and Absorption with variation in Intestinal pH for BCS Class II Weak Acid Drugs: Ibuprofen and Ketoprofen§

PubMed Central

Tsume, Yasuhiro; Langguth, Peter; Garcia-Arieta, Alfredo; Amidon, Gordon L.

2012-01-01

The FDA Biopharmaceutical Classification System guidance allows waivers for in vivo bioavailability and bioequivalence studies for immediate-release solid oral dosage forms only for BCS class I. Extensions of the in vivo biowaiver for a number of drugs in BCS Class III and BCS class II have been proposed, particularly, BCS class II weak acids. However, a discrepancy between the in vivo- BE results and in vitro- dissolution results for a BCS class II acids was recently observed. The objectives of this study were to determine the oral absorption of BCS class II weak acids via simulation software and to determine if the in vitro dissolution test with various dissolution media could be sufficient for in vitro bioequivalence studies of ibuprofen and ketoprofen as models of carboxylic acid drugs. The oral absorption of these BCS class II acids from the gastrointestinal tract was predicted by GastroPlus™. Ibuprofen did not satisfy the bioequivalence criteria at lower settings of intestinal pH=6.0. Further the experimental dissolution of ibuprofen tablets in the low concentration phosphate buffer at pH 6.0 (the average buffer capacity 2.2 mmol L-1/pH) was dramatically reduced compared to the dissolution in SIF (the average buffer capacity 12.6 mmol L -1/pH). Thus these predictions for oral absorption of BCS class II acids indicate that the absorption patterns largely depend on the intestinal pH and buffer strength and must be carefully considered for a bioequivalence test. Simulation software may be very useful tool to aid the selection of dissolution media that may be useful in setting an in vitro bioequivalence dissolution standard. PMID:22815122

'Candidatus Phytoplasma noviguineense', a novel taxon associated with Bogia coconut syndrome and banana wilt disease on the island of New Guinea.

PubMed

Miyazaki, Akio; Shigaki, Toshiro; Koinuma, Hiroaki; Iwabuchi, Nozomu; Rauka, Gou Bue; Kembu, Alfred; Saul, Josephine; Watanabe, Kiyoto; Nijo, Takamichi; Maejima, Kensaku; Yamaji, Yasuyuki; Namba, Shigetou

2018-01-01

Bogia coconut syndrome (BCS) is one of the lethal yellowing (LY)-type diseases associated with phytoplasma presence that are seriously threatening coconut cultivation worldwide. It has recently emerged, and is rapidly spreading in northern parts of the island of New Guinea. BCS-associated phytoplasmas collected in different regions were compared in terms of 16S rRNA gene sequences, revealing high identity among them represented by strain BCS-Bo R . Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that BCS-Bo R shared less than a 97.5 % similarity with other species of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma', with a maximum value of 96.08 % (with strain LY; GenBank accession no. U18747). This result indicates the necessity and propriety of a novel taxon for BCS phytoplasmas according to the recommendations of the IRPCM. Phylogenetic analysis was also conducted on 16S rRNA gene sequences, resulting in a monophyletic cluster composed of BCS-Bo R and other LY-associated phytoplasmas. Other phytoplasmas on the island of New Guinea associated with banana wilt and arecanut yellow leaf diseases showed high similarities to BCS-Bo R and were closely related to BCS phytoplasmas. Based on the uniqueness of their 16S rRNA gene sequences, a novel taxon 'Ca.Phytoplasma noviguineense' is proposed for these phytoplasmas found on the island of New Guinea, with strain BCS-Bo R (GenBank accession no. LC228755) as the reference strain. The novel taxon is described in detail, including information on the symptoms of associated diseases and additional genetic features of the secY gene and rp operon.

Orbitally limited pair-density-wave phase of multilayer superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Möckli, David; Yanase, Youichi; Sigrist, Manfred

2018-04-01

We investigate the magnetic field dependence of an ideal superconducting vortex lattice in the parity-mixed pair-density-wave phase of multilayer superconductors within a circular cell Ginzburg-Landau approach. In multilayer systems, due to local inversion symmetry breaking, a Rashba spin-orbit coupling is induced at the outer layers. This combined with a perpendicular paramagnetic (Pauli) limiting magnetic field stabilizes a staggered layer dependent pair-density-wave phase in the superconducting singlet channel. The high-field pair-density-wave phase is separated from the low-field BCS phase by a first-order phase transition. The motivating guiding question in this paper is: What is the minimal necessary Maki parameter αM for the appearance of the pair-density-wave phase of a superconducting trilayer system? To address this problem we generalize the circular cell method for the regular flux-line lattice of a type-II superconductor to include paramagnetic depairing effects. Then, we apply the model to the trilayer system, where each of the layers are characterized by Ginzburg-Landau parameter κ0 and a Maki parameter αM. We find that when the spin-orbit Rashba interaction compares to the superconducting condensation energy, the orbitally limited pair-density-wave phase stabilizes for Maki parameters αM>10 .

Induced interaction in a Fermi gas with a BEC-BCS crossover

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

Yu Zengqiang; Huang Kun; Yin Lan

2009-05-15

We study the effect of the induced interaction on the superfluid transition temperature of a Fermi gas with a Bose-Einstein condensation-Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BEC-BCS) crossover. The Gorkov-Melik-Barkhudarov theory about the induced interaction is extended from the BCS side to the entire crossover and the pairing fluctuation is treated in the approach by Nozieres and Schmitt-Rink. At unitarity, the induced interaction reduces the transition temperature by about 20%. In the BCS limit, the transition temperature is reduced by a factor of about 2.22, as found by Gorkov and Melik-Barkhudarov. Our result shows that the effect of the induced interaction is important both onmore » the BCS side and in the unitary region.« less

Conductivity predictions for the 5/2 fractional quantum Hall state using the composite fermion superconductor model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Foster, Kerwin Crayton

The fractional quantum Hall effect (FQHE) occurs when a two-dimensional electron gas is placed in a strong magnetic field at low temperatures. When this effect occurs the Hall resistance, RH, defined to be the Hall voltage divided by the current, is quantized, with RH = (1/nu)h/ e2 where nu = p/q is the Landau level filling fraction; and p and q are relatively prime integers. For almost all observed FQHE states, q is odd with one notable exception: the nu = 5/2 FQHE state. Understanding the nature of this incompressible even-denominator state is one of the central questions in the theory of the FQHE and is the subject of this Dissertation. We use a powerful theoretical tool for studying the FQHE: composite fermion theory. Composite fermions can be viewed as electrons bound to an even number of magnetic flux quanta. Jain has shown that the FQHE for electrons can be viewed as an integer quantum Hall effect (p = 1) for composite fermions. More recently, Halperin, Lee and Read developed a successful theory of the compressible nu = 1/2 state using composite fermions. There is now compelling theoretical evidence that the 5/2 state is a so-called Moore-Read state---a state which can be viewed as a spin-polarized p-wave superconductor of composite fermions. We have developed a semi-phenomenological description of this state by modifying the Halperin-Lee-Read theory, adding a p-wave pairing interaction between composite fermions by hand. The electromagnetic response functions for the resulting superconducting state of composite fermions are then calculated. We show that these response functions exhibit the expected BCS 'coherence factor' effects, such as the Hebel-Slichter peak. Using the composite fermion response functions, we then calculate the corresponding electronic response functions using Chern-Simons theory. We find that in the electronic response, the most striking coherence factor effects (e.g., the Hebel-Slichter peak) are strongly suppressed. However, the low-temperature o = 2Delta threshold behavior does show clear coherence factor effects. Finally, we use our model to predict the wave-vector and frequency dependence of the longitudinal conductivity, sigmaxx( q, o), which can be measured in surface-acoustic-wave propagation experiments.

Ethnodrama: An Innovative Knowledge Translation Tool in the Management of Lymphedema.

PubMed

Ahmed, Shahid; Quinlan, Elizabeth; McMullen, Linda; Thomas, Roanne; Fichtner, Pam; Block, Janice

2015-01-01

Lymphedema can cause significant physical impairment and quality-of-life issues. Yet there is a gap in knowledge about lymphedema among breast cancer survivors (BCS), and health care professionals (HCP). Ethnodrama is an innovative knowledge translation strategy that uses theatrical performances for dissemination of research results. We evaluated the impact of live ethnodrama on HCP' and BCS' awareness and attitudes in relation to impact of lymphedema on BCS' lives. Ethnodrama performances were developed by script writers and a theatre director in collaboration with the investigators and BCS using data from published research and pre-performances workshops. Six interactive live performances were given to audiences of BCS, HCP, and community members in four cities across Canada. After watching these live performances, members of the audiences were asked to complete a paper-based questionnaire regarding their knowledge of lymphedema, and their attitudes and practices toward lymphedema. Of 238 audience members who participated in the survey, 55 (23%) were BCS and 85 (37.5%) were HCP. Most members rated the performances as very effective in changing their (84%) or other people's (93%) understanding of lymphedema; 96% reported being motivated to seek additional information on lymphedema, and 72% of HCP anticipated changes in their practices related to lymphedema screening. Overall no significant differences were noted in responses to ethnodrama between BCS and HCP. Open-ended responses were supportive of the findings from the closed-ended questions. Our results indicate that ethnodrama performances effectively convey information and positively affecting changes in HCP' and BCS' attitudes toward lymphedema.

Distinguishing between the Permeability Relationships with Absorption and Metabolism To Improve BCS and BDDCS Predictions in Early Drug Discovery

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

The biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS) and biopharmaceutics drug distribution classification system (BDDCS) are complementary classification systems that can improve, simplify, and accelerate drug discovery, development, and regulatory processes. Drug permeability has been widely accepted as a screening tool for determining intestinal absorption via the BCS during the drug development and regulatory approval processes. Currently, predicting clinically significant drug interactions during drug development is a known challenge for industry and regulatory agencies. The BDDCS, a modification of BCS that utilizes drug metabolism instead of intestinal permeability, predicts drug disposition and potential drug–drug interactions in the intestine, the liver, and most recently the brain. Although correlations between BCS and BDDCS have been observed with drug permeability rates, discrepancies have been noted in drug classifications between the two systems utilizing different permeability models, which are accepted as surrogate models for demonstrating human intestinal permeability by the FDA. Here, we recommend the most applicable permeability models for improving the prediction of BCS and BDDCS classifications. We demonstrate that the passive transcellular permeability rate, characterized by means of permeability models that are deficient in transporter expression and paracellular junctions (e.g., PAMPA and Caco-2), will most accurately predict BDDCS metabolism. These systems will inaccurately predict BCS classifications for drugs that particularly are substrates of highly expressed intestinal transporters. Moreover, in this latter case, a system more representative of complete human intestinal permeability is needed to accurately predict BCS absorption. PMID:24628254

Distinguishing between the permeability relationships with absorption and metabolism to improve BCS and BDDCS predictions in early drug discovery.

PubMed

Larregieu, Caroline A; Benet, Leslie Z

2014-04-07

The biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS) and biopharmaceutics drug distribution classification system (BDDCS) are complementary classification systems that can improve, simplify, and accelerate drug discovery, development, and regulatory processes. Drug permeability has been widely accepted as a screening tool for determining intestinal absorption via the BCS during the drug development and regulatory approval processes. Currently, predicting clinically significant drug interactions during drug development is a known challenge for industry and regulatory agencies. The BDDCS, a modification of BCS that utilizes drug metabolism instead of intestinal permeability, predicts drug disposition and potential drug-drug interactions in the intestine, the liver, and most recently the brain. Although correlations between BCS and BDDCS have been observed with drug permeability rates, discrepancies have been noted in drug classifications between the two systems utilizing different permeability models, which are accepted as surrogate models for demonstrating human intestinal permeability by the FDA. Here, we recommend the most applicable permeability models for improving the prediction of BCS and BDDCS classifications. We demonstrate that the passive transcellular permeability rate, characterized by means of permeability models that are deficient in transporter expression and paracellular junctions (e.g., PAMPA and Caco-2), will most accurately predict BDDCS metabolism. These systems will inaccurately predict BCS classifications for drugs that particularly are substrates of highly expressed intestinal transporters. Moreover, in this latter case, a system more representative of complete human intestinal permeability is needed to accurately predict BCS absorption.

Genetic correlations between body condition scores and fertility in dairy cattle using bivariate random regression models.

PubMed

De Haas, Y; Janss, L L G; Kadarmideen, H N

2007-10-01

Genetic correlations between body condition score (BCS) and fertility traits in dairy cattle were estimated using bivariate random regression models. BCS was recorded by the Swiss Holstein Association on 22,075 lactating heifers (primiparous cows) from 856 sires. Fertility data during first lactation were extracted for 40,736 cows. The fertility traits were days to first service (DFS), days between first and last insemination (DFLI), calving interval (CI), number of services per conception (NSPC) and conception rate to first insemination (CRFI). A bivariate model was used to estimate genetic correlations between BCS as a longitudinal trait by random regression components, and daughter's fertility at the sire level as a single lactation measurement. Heritability of BCS was 0.17, and heritabilities for fertility traits were low (0.01-0.08). Genetic correlations between BCS and fertility over the lactation varied from: -0.45 to -0.14 for DFS; -0.75 to 0.03 for DFLI; from -0.59 to -0.02 for CI; from -0.47 to 0.33 for NSPC and from 0.08 to 0.82 for CRFI. These results show (genetic) interactions between fat reserves and reproduction along the lactation trajectory of modern dairy cows, which can be useful in genetic selection as well as in management. Maximum genetic gain in fertility from indirect selection on BCS should be based on measurements taken in mid lactation when the genetic variance for BCS is largest, and the genetic correlations between BCS and fertility is strongest.

Body condition score of Nellore beef cows: a heritable measure to improve the selection of reproductive and maternal traits.

PubMed

Fernandes, A F A; Neves, H H R; Carvalheiro, R; Oliveira, J A; Queiroz, S A

2015-08-01

Despite the economic importance of beef cattle production in Brazil, female reproductive performance, which is strongly associated with production efficiency, is not included in the selection index of most breeding programmes due to low heritability and difficulty in measure. The body condition score (BCS) could be used as an indicator of these traits. However, so far little is known about the feasibility of using BCS as a selection tool for reproductive performance in beef cattle. In this study, we investigated the sources of variation in the BCS of Nellore beef cows, quantified its association with reproductive and maternal traits and estimated its heritability. BCS was analysed using a logistic model that included the following effects: contemporary group at weaning, cow weight and hip height, calving order, reconception together with the weight and scores of conformation and early finishing assigned to calves at weaning. In the genetic analysis, variance components of BCS were estimated through Bayesian inference by fitting an animal model that also included the aforementioned effects. The results showed that BCS was significantly associated with all of the reproductive and maternal variables analysed. The estimated posterior mean of heritability of BCS was 0.24 (highest posterior density interval at 95%: 0.093 to 0.385), indicating an involvement of additive gene action in its determination. The present findings show that BCS can be used as a selection criterion for Nellore females.

Brittle cornea syndrome ZNF469 mutation carrier phenotype and segregation analysis of rare ZNF469 variants in familial keratoconus.

PubMed

Davidson, Alice E; Borasio, Edmondo; Liskova, Petra; Khan, Arif O; Hassan, Hala; Cheetham, Michael E; Plagnol, Vincent; Alkuraya, Fowzan S; Tuft, Stephen J; Hardcastle, Alison J

2015-01-06

Brittle cornea syndrome 1 (BCS1) is a rare recessive condition characterized by extreme thinning of the cornea and sclera, caused by mutations in ZNF469. Keratoconus is a relatively common disease characterized by progressive thinning and ectasia of the cornea. The etiology of keratoconus is complex and not yet understood, but rare ZNF469 variants have recently been associated with disease. We investigated the phenotype of BCS1 carriers with known pathogenic ZNF469 mutations, and recruited families in which aggregation of keratoconus was observed to establish if rare variants in ZNF469 segregated with disease. Patients and family members were recruited and underwent comprehensive anterior segment examination, including corneal topography. Blood samples were donated and genomic DNA was extracted. The coding sequence and splice sites of ZNF469 were PCR amplified and Sanger sequenced. Four carriers of three BCS1-associated ZNF469 loss-of-function mutations (p.[Glu1392Ter], p.[Gln1930Argfs*6], p.[Gln1930fs*133]) were examined and none had keratoconus. One carrier had partially penetrant features of BCS1, including joint hypermobility. ZNF469 sequencing in 11 keratoconus families identified 9 rare (minor allele frequency [MAF] ≤ 0.025) variants predicted to be potentially damaging. However, in each instance the rare variant(s) identified, including two previously reported as potentially keratoconus-associated, did not segregate with the disease. The presence of heterozygous loss-of-function alleles in the ZNF469 gene did not cause keratoconus in the individuals examined. None of the rare nonsynonymous ZNF469 variants identified in the familial cohort conferred a high risk of keratoconus; therefore, genetic variants contributing to disease pathogenesis in these 11 families remain to be identified. Copyright 2015 The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc.

Late Holocene earthquake history of the Brigham City segment of the Wasatch fault zone at the Hansen Canyon, Kotter Canyon, and Pearsons Canyon trench sites, Box Elder County, Utah

USGS Publications Warehouse

DuRoss, Christopher B.; Personius, Stephen F.; Crone, Anthony J.; McDonald, Greg N.; Briggs, Richard W.

2012-01-01

Of the five central segments of the Wasatch fault zone (WFZ) having evidence of recurrent Holocene surface-faulting earthquakes, the Brigham City segment (BCS) has the longest elapsed time since its most recent surface-faulting event (~2.1 kyr) compared to its mean recurrence time between events (~1.3 kyr). Thus, the BCS has the highest time-dependent earthquake probability of the central WFZ. We excavated trenches at three sites––the Kotter Canyon and Hansen Canyon sites on the north-central BCS and Pearsons Canyon site on the southern BCS––to determine whether a surface-faulting earthquake younger than 2.1 ka occurred on the BCS. Paleoseismic data for Hansen Canyon and Kotter Canyon confirm that the youngest earthquake on the north-central BCS occurred before 2 ka, consistent with previous north-central BCS investigations at Bowden Canyon and Box Elder Canyon. At Hansen Canyon, the most recent earthquake is constrained to 2.1–4.2 ka and had 0.6–2.5 m of vertical displacement. At Kotter Canyon, we found evidence for two events at 2.5 ± 0.3 ka and 3.5 ± 0.3 ka, with an average displacement per event of 1.9–2.3 m. Paleoseismic data from Pearsons Canyon, on the previously unstudied southern BCS, indicate that a post-2 ka earthquake ruptured this part of the segment. The Pearsons Canyon earthquake occurred at 1.2 ± 0.04 ka and had 0.1–0.8 m of vertical displacement, consistent with our observation of continuous, youthful scarps on the southern 9 km of the BCS having 1–2 m of late Holocene(?) surface offset. The 1.2-ka earthquake on the southern BCS likely represents rupture across the Weber–Brigham City segment boundary from the penultimate Weber-segment earthquake at about 1.1 ka. The Pearsons Canyon data result in a revised length of the BCS that has not ruptured since 2 ka (with time-dependent probability implications), and provide compelling evidence of at least one segment-boundary failure and multi-segment rupture on the central WFZ. Our paleoseismic investigations of the BCS clarify the timing, displacement, and extent of late Holocene earthquakes on the segment, and importantly, confirm the long elapsed time since the most recent earthquake on most of the BCS.

Strongly disordered TiN and NbTiN s-wave superconductors probed by microwave electrodynamics.

PubMed

Driessen, E F C; Coumou, P C J J; Tromp, R R; de Visser, P J; Klapwijk, T M

2012-09-07

We probe the effects of strong disorder (2.4

Overview of building energy use and report of analyses - 1985: buildings and community systems

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

Schnader, M.; Lamontagne, J.

1985-10-01

The US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Buildings and Community Systems (BCS) encourages increased efficiency of energy use in the buildings sector through the conduct of a comprehensive research program, the transfer of research results to industry, and the implementation of DOE's statutory responsibilities in the buildings area. This report summarizes the results of data development and analytical activities undertaken on behalf of BCS during 1985. It provides historical data on energy consumption patterns, prices, and building characteristics used in BCS's planning processes, documents BCS's detailed projections of energy use by end use and building type (the Disaggregate Projection),more » and compares this forecast to other forecasts. Summaries of selected recent BCS analyses are also provided.« less

Familial Budd-Chiari Syndrome in China: A Systematic Review of the Literature

PubMed Central

Qi, Xingshun; Wang, Juan; Ren, Weirong; Bai, Ming; Yang, Man; Han, Guohong; Fan, Daiming

2013-01-01

Familial occurrence of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) has been reported in scattered cases, which potentially favors the congenital theory. A review of the literature was conducted to demonstrate this phenomenon in China. PubMed, VIP, and CNKI databases were searched for studies describing at least two Chinese BCS patients from the same one family. In the 18 eligible papers, 30 siblings or first-degree relatives from 14 families were diagnosed with BCS at 9 different centers. Common clinical presentations included varices of abdominal wall and lower limbs, edema of legs, and ascites. Type and location of obstruction were similar among these patients from the same one family. Screening for BCS was conducted in 65 family members from 3 families, demonstrating that 2 asymptomatic siblings from one family were further diagnosed with BCS. Factor V Leiden mutation was found in 3 of 4 patients from one family and in one of 2 patients from another one family. Prothrombin G20210A gene mutation was found in none of the 4 patients from the 2 families. In conclusion, our study showed the possibility of familial aggregation in Chinese BCS patients, but these available data cannot support the previous hypothesis that familial BCS originates from congenital vascular malformation. PMID:27335832

Behavioral and physiological effects of a short-term feed restriction in lactating dairy cattle with different body condition scores at calving.

PubMed

Schütz, K E; Cox, N R; Macdonald, K A; Roche, J R; Verkerk, G A; Rogers, A R; Tucker, C B; Matthews, L R; Meier, S; Webster, J R

2013-07-01

Body condition score (BCS) around calving, and the typical BCS loss for up to 100 d after parturition, is associated with both production and reproductive performance of dairy cattle. In addition, there is public concern that thin cows may have impaired welfare, particularly in early lactation where feed demand exceeds pasture growth, and a lag exists between peak milk energy requirements and intake. The aim of this experiment was to determine how BCS at calving influences behavioral and physiological responses to a short-term feed restriction at 47 DIM. Body condition score (on a 10-point scale) at calving was manipulated by modifying the diets in the previous lactation of healthy dairy cattle to generate 3 treatment groups: low BCS (3.4; n=17), medium BCS (4.6; n=18), or high BCS (5.4; n=20). Cows were tested in 4 groups for 8 consecutive days; testing consisted of different levels of feed allocation (d 1 and 2: 100%; d 3 and 4: 75%; d 5: 50%; d 6 to 8: 125%), where 100% was 15kg of DM/cow per day. All BCS groups had similar and marked behavioral and physiological responses to feed restriction. For example, they increased vocalization, time spent eating silage and grazing, aggressive behavior, and fat metabolism (as measured by concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate and nonesterified fatty acids), and reduced milk production. Body condition affected some of these responses. Fewer cows with low BCS engaged in aggressive interactions in a feed competition test (trough filled with silage that could be consumed in 15 min) on the first day of feed restriction (low: 32%; medium: 74%; high: 64%; standard error of difference=15.4%). High BCS cows had greater concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate and nonesterified fatty acids throughout the experimental period, which suggests more fat mobilization; however, plasma leptin and fecal glucocorticosteroid metabolite concentrations were unaffected by BCS. Whereas cows demonstrated marked responses to feed restriction, the results suggest that a BCS of 3.4, 4.6, or 5.4 in healthy cows at calving does not overwhelmingly influence this response at 47 DIM. Copyright © 2013 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Reduced Cortisol and Metabolic Responses of Thin Ewes to an Acute Cold Challenge in Mid-Pregnancy: Implications for Animal Physiology and Welfare

PubMed Central

Verbeek, Else; Oliver, Mark Hope; Waas, Joseph Rupert; McLeay, Lance Maxwell; Blache, Dominique; Matthews, Lindsay Ross

2012-01-01

Background Low food availability leading to reductions in Body Condition Score (BCS; 0 indicates emaciation and 5 obesity) in sheep often coincides with low temperatures associated with the onset of winter in New Zealand. The ability to adapt to reductions in environmental temperature may be impaired in animals with low BCS, in particular during pregnancy when metabolic demand is higher. Here we assess whether BCS affects a pregnant animal's ability to cope with cold challenges. Methods Eighteen pregnant ewes with a BCS of 2.7±0.1 were fed to attain low (LBC: BCS2.3±0.1), medium (MBC: BCS3.2±0.2) or high BCS (HBC: BCS3.6±0.2). Shorn ewes were exposed to a 6-h acute cold challenge in a climate-controlled room (wet and windy conditions, 4.4±0.1°C) in mid-pregnancy. Blood samples were collected during the BCS change phase, acute cold challenge and recovery phase. Results During the BCS change phase, plasma glucose and leptin concentrations declined while free fatty acids (FFA) increased in LBC compared to MBC (P<0.01, P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively) and HBC ewes (P<0.05, P<0.01 and P<0.01, respectively). During the cold challenge, plasma cortisol concentrations were lower in LBC than MBC (P<0.05) and HBC ewes (P<0.05), and FFA and insulin concentrations were lower in LBC than HBC ewes (P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively). Leptin concentrations declined in MBC and HBC ewes while remaining unchanged in LBC ewes (P<0.01). Glucose concentrations and internal body temperature (Tcore) increased in all treatments, although peak Tcore tended to be higher in HBC ewes (P<0.1). During the recovery phase, T4 concentrations were lower in LBC ewes (P<0.05). Conclusion Even though all ewes were able to increase Tcore and mobilize glucose, low BCS animals had considerably reduced cortisol and metabolic responses to a cold challenge in mid-pregnancy, suggesting that their ability to adapt to cold challenges through some of the expected pathways was reduced. PMID:22662144

Genetic relationships between body condition score and reproduction traits in Canadian Holstein and Ayrshire first-parity cows.

PubMed

Bastin, C; Loker, S; Gengler, N; Sewalem, A; Miglior, F

2010-05-01

The objective of this study was to investigate the genetic relationship between body condition score (BCS) and reproduction traits for first-parity Canadian Ayrshire and Holstein cows. Body condition scores were collected by field staff several times over the lactation in herds from Québec, and reproduction records (including both fertility and calving traits) were extracted from the official database used for the Canadian genetic evaluation of those herds. For each breed, six 2-trait animal models were run; they included random regressions that allowed the estimation of genetic correlations between BCS over the lactation and reproduction traits that are measured as a single lactation record. Analyses were undertaken on data from 108 Ayrshire herds and 342 Holstein herds. Average daily heritabilities of BCS were close to 0.13 for both breeds; these relatively low estimates might be explained by the high variability among herds and BCS evaluators. Genetic correlations between BCS and interval fertility traits (days from calving to first service, days from first service to conception, and days open) were negative and ranged between -0.77 and -0.58 for Ayrshire and between -0.31 and -0.03 for Holstein. Genetic correlations between BCS and 56-d nonreturn rate at first insemination were positive and moderate. The trends of these genetic correlations over the lactation suggest that a genetically low BCS in early lactation would increase the number of days that the primiparous cow was not pregnant and would decrease the chances of the primiparous cow to conceive at first service. Genetic correlations between BCS and calving traits were generally the strongest at calving and decreased with increasing days in milk. The correlation between BCS at calving and maternal calving ease was 0.21 for Holstein and 0.31 for Ayrshire and emphasized the relationship between fat cows around calving and dystocia. Genetic correlations between calving traits and BCS during the subsequent lactation were moderate and favorable, indicating that primiparous cows with a genetically high BCS over the lactation would have a greater chance of producing a calf that survived (maternal calf survival) and would transmit the genes that allowed the calf to be born more easily (maternal calving ease) and to survive (direct calving ease). Copyright 2010 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Beliefs and attitudes about breast cancer and screening practices among Arab women living in Qatar: a cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Donnelly, Tam Truong; Al Khater, Al-Hareth; Al-Bader, Salha Bujassoum; Al Kuwari, Mohamed Ghaith; Al-Meer, Nabila; Malik, Mariam; Singh, Rajvir; Chaudhry, Sofia; Fung, Tak

2013-12-13

Despite rising breast cancer incidence and mortality rates, breast cancer screening (BCS) rates among women in Qatar remain low. Previous studies indicate the need to better understand the many complex beliefs, values, and attitudes that influence Arab women's health seeking behavior for the development of culturally appropriate and effective intervention strategies to address breast cancer in the Middle East. This study investigates beliefs, attitudes, and BCS practices of Arabic-speaking women in Qatar. A multicenter, cross-sectional quantitative survey of 1,063 (87.5% response rate) Arabic-speaking female Qatari citizens and non-Qatari residents, 35 years of age or older, was conducted in Qatar from March 2011 to July 2011. Associations between beliefs and BCS practice were estimated using chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Participants who adhered to BCS guidelines (BCS practice = Yes) were compared to those who did not (BCS practice = No). In addition to low levels of awareness and low participation rates in BCS, one quarter of the participants stated their doctors talked to them about breast cancer, and less than half of the women interviewed believed breast cancer can be prevented. Women who engaged in BCS practice were more likely to have a doctor who talked to them about breast cancer, to believe they were in good-excellent health, that cancer can be prevented, or that cancer might be hereditary. The majority wanted to know if they had cancer and felt their health care needs were being met. The main reasons given for not planning BCS were lack of a doctor's recommendation, fear, and embarrassment. These findings indicate that a variety of channels (health care providers, media, breast cancer survivors, community leaders) should be utilized to create culturally appropriate breast cancer intervention programs and increased awareness of breast cancer, BCS, and the benefits of early detection of breast cancer. Employment of these measures will reduce breast cancer mortality rates among Arabic-speaking women living in the State of Qatar.

Beliefs and attitudes about breast cancer and screening practices among Arab women living in Qatar: a cross-sectional study

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Despite rising breast cancer incidence and mortality rates, breast cancer screening (BCS) rates among women in Qatar remain low. Previous studies indicate the need to better understand the many complex beliefs, values, and attitudes that influence Arab women’s health seeking behavior for the development of culturally appropriate and effective intervention strategies to address breast cancer in the Middle East. This study investigates beliefs, attitudes, and BCS practices of Arabic-speaking women in Qatar. Methods A multicenter, cross-sectional quantitative survey of 1,063 (87.5% response rate) Arabic-speaking female Qatari citizens and non-Qatari residents, 35 years of age or older, was conducted in Qatar from March 2011 to July 2011. Associations between beliefs and BCS practice were estimated using chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Participants who adhered to BCS guidelines (BCS practice = Yes) were compared to those who did not (BCS practice = No). Results In addition to low levels of awareness and low participation rates in BCS, one quarter of the participants stated their doctors talked to them about breast cancer, and less than half of the women interviewed believed breast cancer can be prevented. Women who engaged in BCS practice were more likely to have a doctor who talked to them about breast cancer, to believe they were in good–excellent health, that cancer can be prevented, or that cancer might be hereditary. The majority wanted to know if they had cancer and felt their health care needs were being met. The main reasons given for not planning BCS were lack of a doctor’s recommendation, fear, and embarrassment. Conclusions These findings indicate that a variety of channels (health care providers, media, breast cancer survivors, community leaders) should be utilized to create culturally appropriate breast cancer intervention programs and increased awareness of breast cancer, BCS, and the benefits of early detection of breast cancer. Employment of these measures will reduce breast cancer mortality rates among Arabic-speaking women living in the State of Qatar. PMID:24330708

Ethnodrama: An Innovative Knowledge Translation Tool in the Management of Lymphedema

PubMed Central

Ahmed, Shahid; Quinlan, Elizabeth; McMullen, Linda; Thomas, Roanne; Fichtner, Pam; Block, Janice

2015-01-01

Background: Lymphedema can cause significant physical impairment and quality-of-life issues. Yet there is a gap in knowledge about lymphedema among breast cancer survivors (BCS), and health care professionals (HCP). Ethnodrama is an innovative knowledge translation strategy that uses theatrical performances for dissemination of research results. We evaluated the impact of live ethnodrama on HCP' and BCS' awareness and attitudes in relation to impact of lymphedema on BCS' lives. Methods: Ethnodrama performances were developed by script writers and a theatre director in collaboration with the investigators and BCS using data from published research and pre-performances workshops. Six interactive live performances were given to audiences of BCS, HCP, and community members in four cities across Canada. After watching these live performances, members of the audiences were asked to complete a paper-based questionnaire regarding their knowledge of lymphedema, and their attitudes and practices toward lymphedema. Results: Of 238 audience members who participated in the survey, 55 (23%) were BCS and 85 (37.5%) were HCP. Most members rated the performances as very effective in changing their (84%) or other people's (93%) understanding of lymphedema; 96% reported being motivated to seek additional information on lymphedema, and 72% of HCP anticipated changes in their practices related to lymphedema screening. Overall no significant differences were noted in responses to ethnodrama between BCS and HCP. Open-ended responses were supportive of the findings from the closed-ended questions. Conclusions: Our results indicate that ethnodrama performances effectively convey information and positively affecting changes in HCP' and BCS' attitudes toward lymphedema. PMID:26284137

Primary Budd-Chiari syndrome - a single center experience.

PubMed

Raszeja-Wyszomirska, Joanna; Mieżyńska-Kurtycz, Joanna; Marlicz, Wojciech; Lawniczak, Małgorzata; Wójcicki, Maciej

2012-09-01

Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is recognized as a clinical manifestation of various prothrombotic conditions which may be lethal within 3 years of the onset of symptoms if untreated. This study is a retrospective analysis of patients with BCS managed between 2004 and 2011. The diagnosis was confirmed with contrast CT-angiography and/or Doppler ultrasound. BCS was diagnosed in 20 patients (11 females and 9 males), median age 38 years (ranging from 18 to 56). Twelve patients were referred as acute BCS for the liver transplant (LTx) assessment. Thrombosis of the hepatic veins was caused by myeloproliferative disorders (n=8), end-stage liver disease (n=4), protein C deficiency (n=3), paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) (n=1), antiphospholipid syndrome (n=1) and secondary poliglobulia (n=1). In two patients the origin of BCS could not be established despite appropriate screening. Median follow-up was 29 months. Low molecular heparin with subsequent conversion to vitamin K antagonists was routinely applied in all patients. Two patients underwent TIPS procedure with good long term outcome and 10 subjects received LTx; 1 patient was lost to follow-up and 1 died of chest infection 9 years since the diagnosis of BCS was made; 14 patients, including those who received LTx, were alive and well at least one year after BCS diagnosis. All survivors remain stable and are followed-up on a regular basis. Strict adherence to the diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines plays a crucial role in the management of BCS patients. Our results confirm the efficacy of anticoagulation as well as TIPS and/or OLT in treatment of this rare condition.

Assessment of Body Condition in African (Loxodonta africana) and Asian (Elephas maximus) Elephants in North American Zoos and Management Practices Associated with High Body Condition Scores.

PubMed

Morfeld, Kari A; Meehan, Cheryl L; Hogan, Jennifer N; Brown, Janine L

2016-01-01

Obesity has a negative effect on health and welfare of many species, and has been speculated to be a problem for zoo elephants. To address this concern, we assessed the body condition of 240 elephants housed in North American zoos based on a set of standardized photographs using a 5-point Body Condition Score index (1 = thinnest; 5 = fattest). A multi-variable regression analysis was then used to determine how demographic, management, housing, and social factors were associated with an elevated body condition score in 132 African (Loxodonta africana) and 108 Asian (Elephas maximus) elephants. The highest BCS of 5, suggestive of obesity, was observed in 34% of zoo elephants. In both species, the majority of elephants had elevated BCS, with 74% in the BCS 4 (40%) and 5 (34%) categories. Only 22% of elephants had BCS 3, and less than 5% of the population was assigned the lowest BCS categories (BCS 1 and 2). The strongest multi-variable model demonstrated that staff-directed walking exercise of 14 hours or more per week and highly unpredictable feeding schedules were associated with decreased risk of BCS 4 or 5, while increased diversity in feeding methods and being female was associated with increased risk of BCS 4 or 5. Our data suggest that high body condition is prevalent among North American zoo elephants, and management strategies that help prevent and mitigate obesity may lead to improvements in welfare of zoo elephants.

Assessment of Body Condition in African (Loxodonta africana) and Asian (Elephas maximus) Elephants in North American Zoos and Management Practices Associated with High Body Condition Scores

PubMed Central

Morfeld, Kari A.; Meehan, Cheryl L.; Hogan, Jennifer N.; Brown, Janine L.

2016-01-01

Obesity has a negative effect on health and welfare of many species, and has been speculated to be a problem for zoo elephants. To address this concern, we assessed the body condition of 240 elephants housed in North American zoos based on a set of standardized photographs using a 5-point Body Condition Score index (1 = thinnest; 5 = fattest). A multi-variable regression analysis was then used to determine how demographic, management, housing, and social factors were associated with an elevated body condition score in 132 African (Loxodonta africana) and 108 Asian (Elephas maximus) elephants. The highest BCS of 5, suggestive of obesity, was observed in 34% of zoo elephants. In both species, the majority of elephants had elevated BCS, with 74% in the BCS 4 (40%) and 5 (34%) categories. Only 22% of elephants had BCS 3, and less than 5% of the population was assigned the lowest BCS categories (BCS 1 and 2). The strongest multi-variable model demonstrated that staff-directed walking exercise of 14 hours or more per week and highly unpredictable feeding schedules were associated with decreased risk of BCS 4 or 5, while increased diversity in feeding methods and being female was associated with increased risk of BCS 4 or 5. Our data suggest that high body condition is prevalent among North American zoo elephants, and management strategies that help prevent and mitigate obesity may lead to improvements in welfare of zoo elephants. PMID:27415629

Pairing fluctuations and the superfluid density through the BCS-BEC crossover

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

Taylor, E.; Griffin, A.; Fukushima, N.

2006-12-15

We derive an expression for the superfluid density of a uniform two-component Fermi gas through the BCS-BEC crossover in terms of the thermodynamic potential in the presence of an imposed superfluid flow. Treating the pairing fluctuations in a Gaussian approximation following the approach of Nozieres and Schmitt-Rink, we use this definition of {rho}{sub s} to obtain an explicit result which is valid at finite temperatures and over the full BCS-BEC crossover. It is crucial that the BCS gap {delta}, the chemical potential {mu}, and {rho}{sub s} all include the effect of fluctuations at the same level in a self-consistent manner.more » We show that the normal fluid density {rho}{sub n}{identical_to}n-{rho}{sub s} naturally separates into a sum of contributions from Fermi BCS quasiparticles ({rho}{sub n}{sup F}) and Bose collective modes ({rho}{sub n}{sup B}). The expression for {rho}{sub n}{sup F} is just Landau's formula for a BCS Fermi superfluid but now calculated over the BCS-BEC crossover. The expression for the Bose contribution {rho}{sub n}{sup B} is more complicated and only reduces to Landau's formula for a Bose superfluid in the extreme BEC limit, where all the fermions have formed stable Bose pairs and the Bogoliubov excitations of the associated molecular Bose condensate are undamped. In a companion paper, we present numerical calculations of {rho}{sub s} using an expression equivalent to the one derived in this paper, over the BCS-BEC crossover, including unitarity, and at finite temperatures.« less

Physical exercise, vegetable and fruit intake and health-related quality of life in Chinese breast cancer survivors: a cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Gong, Xiao-Huan; Wang, Ji-Wei; Li, Jiang; Chen, Xue-Fen; Sun, Li; Yuan, Zheng-Ping; Yu, Jin-Ming

2017-06-01

Breast cancer has long-term effects on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of cancer survivors after treatment. Few research studies have focused on the association between health behaviors and HRQOL of Chinese breast cancer survivors (BCS). The aim of this study was to examine the separate and combined influence of physical exercise, vegetable and fruit intake on health-related quality of life of BCS. A cross-sectional study was conducted among BCS from April to July 2013, in Shanghai, China. Data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire, which included questions about basic socio-demographic characteristics, health conditions and treatments, health behaviors and HRQOL. HRQOL was measured using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) simplified Chinese V3.0 version and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) simplified Chinese 4th version. Multiple linear regression models were performed to estimate the effects of physical exercise, vegetable and fruit intake as well as the effects of health behavior patterns on HRQOL adjusting for potential confounding variables. Exercisers reported significantly higher scores in most HRQOL dimensions than non-exercisers. Participants who ate more than 250 g of vegetables reported significantly higher scores in most HRQOL dimensions than participants who ate equal or less than 250 g of vegetables. Participants who ate fruit every day reported significantly higher scores in all HRQOL dimensions than those who did not eat fruit every day (P Adjusted  ≤ 0.032), except symptom subscales. All subscale scores and total scores of HRQOL, except symptom subscales, were positively associated with the number of adopted healthy lifestyle behaviors (P Trend  ≤ 0.003). Compared to participants who adopted only one healthy behavior, participants who adopted two or three healthy behaviors both reported significantly higher HRQOL scores. Physical exercise, enough vegetable and fruit intake are positively associated with HRQOL of BCS. BCS who adopted several healthy behaviors simultaneously had better HRQOL than one healthy behavior alone. Healthy behaviors, including engagement in exercise, proper diet, especially comprehensive lifestyle behavior interventions, should be valued in improving HRQOL of BCS.

Is the full potential of the biopharmaceutics classification system reached?

PubMed

Bergström, Christel A S; Andersson, Sara B E; Fagerberg, Jonas H; Ragnarsson, Gert; Lindahl, Anders

2014-06-16

In this paper we analyse how the biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS) has been used to date. A survey of the literature resulted in a compilation of 242 compounds for which BCS classes were reported. Of these, 183 compounds had been reported to belong to one specific BCS class whereas 59 compounds had been assigned to multiple BCS classes in different papers. Interestingly, a majority of the BCS class 2 compounds had fraction absorbed (FA) values >85%, indicating that they were completely absorbed after oral administration. Solubility was computationally predicted at pH 6.8 for BCS class 2 compounds to explore the impact of the pH of the small intestine, where most of the absorption occurs, on the solubility. In addition, the solubilization capacity of lipid aggregates naturally present in the intestine was studied computationally and experimentally for a subset of 12 compounds. It was found that all acidic compounds with FA>85% were completely dissolved in the pH of the small intestine. Further, lipids at the concentration used in fasted state simulated intestinal fluid (FaSSIF) dissolved the complete dose given of the most lipophilic (logD6.5>3) compounds studied. Overall, biorelevant dissolution media (pure buffer of intestinal pH or FaSSIF) identified that for 20 of the 29 BCS class 2 compounds with FA>85% the complete dose given orally would be dissolved. These results indicate that a more relevant pH restriction for acids and/or dissolution medium with lipids present better forecast solubility-limited absorption in vivo than the presently used BCS solubility criterion. The analysis presented herein further strengthens the discussion on the requirement of more physiologically relevant dissolution media for the in vitro solubility classification performed to reach the full potential of the BCS. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of a model to improve collection of blood cultures in patients with sepsis in the emergency room.

PubMed

Mariani, B; Corbella, M; Seminari, E; Sacco, L; Cambieri, P; Capra Marzani, F; Martino, I F; Bressan, M A; Muzzi, A; Marena, C; Tinelli, C; Marone, P

2018-02-01

Sepsis begins outside of the hospital for nearly 80% of patients and the emergency room (ER) represents the first contact with the health care system. This study evaluates a project to improve collection of blood cultures (BCs) in patients with sepsis in the ER consisting of staff education and completion of the appropriate BC pre-analytical phase. A retrospective observational study performed to analyse the data on BC collection in the ER before and after a three-phase project. The first phase (1 January to 30 June 2015) before the intervention consisted of evaluation of data on BCs routinely collected in the ER. The second phase (1 July to 31 December 2015) was the intervention phase in which educational courses on sepsis recognition and on pre-analytical phase procedures (including direct incubation) were provided to ER staff. The third phase (1 January to 30 June 2016; after the intervention) again consisted of evaluation. Before the intervention, out of 24,738 admissions to the ER, 103 patients (0.4%) were identified as septic and had BCs drawn (359 BC bottles); 19 out of 103 patients (18.4%) had positive BCs. After the intervention, out of 24,702 admissions, 313 patients (1.3%) had BCs drawn (1,242 bottles); of these, 96 (30.7%) had positive BCs. Comparing the first and third periods, an increase in the percentage of patients with BCs collected (from 0.4% to 1.3% respectively, p < 0.0001) and an increase in the percentages of patients with true-positive BCs (from 0.08% to 0.39% of all patients evaluated respectively, p < 0.0001) were observed. The isolation of bacteria by BCs increased 3.25-fold after project implementation. These results can be principally ascribed to an improved awareness of sepsis in the staff associated with improved pre-analytical phase procedures in BC collection.

Superconducting and Normal State Properties of OsB2*

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Yogesh; Niazi, A.; Zong, X.; Suh, B. J.; Vannette, M. W.; Prozorov, R.; Johnston, D. C.

2007-03-01

OsB2 is a layered superhard metallic material that was found to superconduct below Tc= 2.1 K.^1 We report the first detailed measurements of the static and dynamic magnetic susceptibilities χ, electrical resistivity, heat capacity Cp, penetration depth, and ^11B NMR on OsB2 to characterize its superconducting and normal state properties. The results confirm that OsB2 is a bulk superconductor below Tc= 2.1 K@. Its properties can be described by a close to weak-coupling s-wave BCS model with an electron-phonon coupling constant λ= 0.4--0.5, δ(0)/(kBTc) 1.9, a small Ginzburg-Landau parameter κ of order 5 or less, and a small zero-temperature critical magnetic field of roughly 500 Oe. The ^11B NMR measurements in the normal state show a nuclear spin-lattice relaxation time T1= 2.1 s at room temperature and a Korringa law with T1T = 610 s.K at lower T, and a correspondingly small T-independent Knight shift. These results indicate a small s character of the conduction electron wave function at the B site at the Fermi level. Our results will be compared to corresponding data for MgB2.1. J. K. Vandenberg et al., Mater. Res. Bull. 10, 889 (1975).^*Supported by the USDOE under Contract No. W-7405-Eng-82. Permanent address: Dept. Phys., The Catholic Univ. Korea.

Genetic variants of the unsaturated fatty acid receptor GPR120 relating to obesity in dogs.

PubMed

Miyabe, Masahiro; Gin, Azusa; Onozawa, Eri; Daimon, Mana; Yamada, Hana; Oda, Hitomi; Mori, Akihiro; Momota, Yutaka; Azakami, Daigo; Yamamoto, Ichiro; Mochizuki, Mariko; Sako, Toshinori; Tamura, Katsutoshi; Ishioka, Katsumi

2015-10-01

G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 120 is an unsaturated fatty acid receptor, which is associated with various physiological functions. It is reported that the genetic variant of GPR120, p.Arg270His, is detected more in obese people, and this genetic variation functionally relates to obesity in humans. Obesity is a common nutritional disorder also in dogs, but the genetic factors have not ever been identified in dogs. In this study, we investigated the molecular structure of canine GPR120 and searched for candidate genetic variants which may relate to obesity in dogs. Canine GPR120 was highly homologous to those of other species, and seven transmembrane domains and two N-glycosylation sites were conserved. GPR120 mRNA was expressed in lung, jejunum, ileum, colon, hypothalamus, hippocampus, spinal cord, bone marrow, dermis and white adipose tissues in dogs, as those in mice and humans. Genetic variants of GPR120 were explored in client-owned 141 dogs, resulting in that 5 synonymous and 4 non-synonymous variants were found. The variant c.595C>A (p.Pro199Thr) was found in 40 dogs, and the gene frequency was significantly higher in dogs with higher body condition scores, i.e. 0.320 in BCS4-5 dogs, 0.175 in BCS3 dogs and 0.000 in BCS2 dogs. We conclude that c.595C>A (p.Pro199Thr) is a candidate variant relating to obesity, which may be helpful for nutritional management of dogs.

Relationships between fertility and postpartum changes in body condition and body weight in lactating dairy cows

PubMed Central

Carvalho, P. D.; Souza, A. H.; Amundson, M. C.; Hackbart, K. S.; Fuenzalida, M. J.; Herlihy, M. M.; Ayres, H.; Dresch, A. R.; Vieira, L. M.; Guenther, J. N.; Grummer, R. R.; Fricke, P. M.; Shaver, R. D.; Wiltbank, M. C.

2018-01-01

The relationship between energy status and fertility in dairy cattle was retrospectively analyzed by comparing fertility with body condition score (BCS) near artificial insemination (AI; experiment 1), early postpartum changes in BCS (experiment 2), and postpartum changes in body weight (BW; experiment 3). To reduce the effect of cyclicity status, all cows were synchronized with Double-Ovsynch protocol before timed AI. In experiment 1, BCS of lactating dairy cows (n = 1,103) was evaluated near AI. Most cows (93%) were cycling at initiation of the breeding Ovsynch protocol (first GnRH injection). A lower percentage pregnant to AI (P/AI) was found in cows with lower (≤2.50) versus higher (≥2.75) BCS (40.4 vs. 49.2%). In experiment 2, lactating dairy cows on 2 commercial dairies (n = 1,887) were divided by BCS change from calving until the third week postpartum. Overall, P/AI at 70-d pregnancy diagnosis differed dramatically by BCS change and was least for cows that lost BCS, intermediate for cows that maintained BCS, and greatest for cows that gained BCS [22.8% (180/789), 36.0% (243/675), and 78.3% (331/423), respectively]. Surprisingly, a difference existed between farms with BCS change dramatically affecting P/AI on one farm and no effect on the other farm. In experiment 3, lactating dairy cows (n = 71) had BW measured weekly from the first to ninth week postpartum and then had superovulation induced using a modified Double-Ovsynch protocol. Cows were divided into quartiles (Q) by percentage of BW change (Q1 = least change; Q4 = most change) from calving until the third week postpartum. No effect was detected of quartile on number of ovulations, total embryos collected, or percentage of oocytes that were fertilized; however, the percentage of fertilized oocytes that were transferable embryos was greater for cows in Q1, Q2, and Q3 than Q4 (83.8, 75.2, 82.6, and 53.2%, respectively). In addition, percentage of degenerated embryos was least for cows in Q1, Q2, and Q3 and greatest for Q4 (9.6, 14.5, 12.6, and 35.2% respectively). In conclusion, for cows synchronized with a Double-Ovsynch protocol, an effect of low BCS (≤2.50) near AI on fertility was detected, but change in BCS during the first 3 wk postpartum had a more profound effect on P/AI to first timed AI. This effect could be partially explained by the reduction in embryo quality and increase in degenerate embryos by d 7 after AI in cows that lost more BW from the first to third week postpartum. PMID:24731646

Relationships between fertility and postpartum changes in body condition and body weight in lactating dairy cows.

PubMed

Carvalho, P D; Souza, A H; Amundson, M C; Hackbart, K S; Fuenzalida, M J; Herlihy, M M; Ayres, H; Dresch, A R; Vieira, L M; Guenther, J N; Grummer, R R; Fricke, P M; Shaver, R D; Wiltbank, M C

2014-01-01

The relationship between energy status and fertility in dairy cattle was retrospectively analyzed by comparing fertility with body condition score (BCS) near artificial insemination (AI; experiment 1), early postpartum changes in BCS (experiment 2), and postpartum changes in body weight (BW; experiment 3). To reduce the effect of cyclicity status, all cows were synchronized with Double-Ovsynch protocol before timed AI. In experiment 1, BCS of lactating dairy cows (n = 1,103) was evaluated near AI. Most cows (93%) were cycling at initiation of the breeding Ovsynch protocol (first GnRH injection). A lower percentage pregnant to AI (P/AI) was found in cows with lower (≤ 2.50) versus higher (≥ 2.75) BCS (40.4 vs. 49.2%). In experiment 2, lactating dairy cows on 2 commercial dairies (n = 1,887) were divided by BCS change from calving until the third week postpartum. Overall, P/AI at 70-d pregnancy diagnosis differed dramatically by BCS change and was least for cows that lost BCS, intermediate for cows that maintained BCS, and greatest for cows that gained BCS [22.8% (180/789), 36.0% (243/675), and 78.3% (331/423), respectively]. Surprisingly, a difference existed between farms with BCS change dramatically affecting P/AI on one farm and no effect on the other farm. In experiment 3, lactating dairy cows (n = 71) had BW measured weekly from the first to ninth week postpartum and then had superovulation induced using a modified Double-Ovsynch protocol. Cows were divided into quartiles (Q) by percentage of BW change (Q1 = least change; Q4 = most change) from calving until the third week postpartum. No effect was detected of quartile on number of ovulations, total embryos collected, or percentage of oocytes that were fertilized; however, the percentage of fertilized oocytes that were transferable embryos was greater for cows in Q1, Q2, and Q3 than Q4 (83.8, 75.2, 82.6, and 53.2%, respectively). In addition, percentage of degenerated embryos was least for cows in Q1, Q2, and Q3 and greatest for Q4 (9.6, 14.5, 12.6, and 35.2% respectively). In conclusion, for cows synchronized with a Double-Ovsynch protocol, an effect of low BCS (≤ 2.50) near AI on fertility was detected, but change in BCS during the first 3 wk postpartum had a more profound effect on P/AI to first timed AI. This effect could be partially explained by the reduction in embryo quality and increase in degenerate embryos byd 7 after AI in cows that lost more BW from the first to third week postpartum. Copyright © 2014 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Fe XXV temperatures in flares from the Yohkoh Bragg crystal spectrometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sterling, Alphonse C.; Doschek, George A.; Pike, C. David

1994-01-01

Studies by Doschek et al. using P78-1 and Solar Maximum Misson (SMM) data have shown that the ratio of intensities of the Fe XXV and Ca XIX resonance lines can be expressed as a function of Fe XXV temperature. Using a more recent data set consisting of 13 flares observed by the Bragg crystal spectrometer (BCS) experiment on board Yohkoh, we find a nearly identical functional relationship between the same resonance line ratios and Fe XXV temperatures. We use this functional relationship to obtain resonance line ratio temperatures (T(sub RLR)) for each flare in our data set, and compare them with temperatures resulting from application of a simple spectral fitting method. (T(sub SSF)) to individal Fe XXV spectra. We also use a more involved free-parameter spectral fitting method to deduce temperatures (T(sub FSF)) from some of these spectra. On average, agreement between T(sub RLR) and T(sub SSF) improves as a flare progresses in time, with average agreements of 10.0% +/- 5.2%, 6.4% +/- 5.4%, and 5.0% +/- 3.9% over the rise, peak, and decay phases, respectively. Deviations between T(sub RLR) and T(sub FSF) are about the same or smaller. Thus, for most analysis purposes, all three methods yield virtually identical temperatures in flares. The somewhat poorer agreement between T(sub SSF) and T(sub RLR) during the earlier phases may be partially a result of difficulties in obtaining precise values for temperatures from spectral fits when blueshifts and large nonthermal broadenings are present in the spectra. Because of the high sensitivity of the Yohkoh BCS compared to that of BCS experiments on earlier spacecraft, we can for the first time consistently observe the heating phase of flares in Fe XXV.

Advantageous Solubility-Permeability Interplay When Using Amorphous Solid Dispersion (ASD) Formulation for the BCS Class IV P-gp Substrate Rifaximin: Simultaneous Increase of Both the Solubility and the Permeability.

PubMed

Beig, Avital; Fine-Shamir, Noa; Lindley, David; Miller, Jonathan M; Dahan, Arik

2017-05-01

Rifaximin is a BCS class IV (low-solubility, low-permeability) drug and also a P-gp substrate. The aims of this work were to assess the efficiency of different rifaximin amorphous solid dispersion (ASDs) formulations in achieving and maintaining supersaturation and to investigate the consequent solubility-permeability interplay. Spray-dried rifaximin ASDs were prepared with different hydrophilic polymers and their ability to achieve and maintain supersaturation was assessed. Then, rifaximin's apparent intestinal permeability was investigated as a function of increasing supersaturation both in vitro using the parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) and in vivo using the single-pass rat intestinal perfusion (SPIP) model. The efficiency of the different ASDs to achieve and maintain supersaturation of rifaximin was found to be highly polymer dependent, and the copovidone/HPC-SL formulation was found to be superior to the other two, allowing supersaturation of 200× that of the crystalline solubility for 20 h. In vitro, rifaximin flux was increased and the apparent permeability was constant as a function of increasing supersaturation level. In vivo, on the other hand, absorption rate coefficient (k a ) was first constant as a function of increasing supersaturation, but at 250×, the crystalline solubility k a was doubled, similar to the k a in the presence of the strong P-gp inhibitor GF120918. In conclusion, a new and favorable nature of solubility-permeability interplay was revealed in this work: delivering high supersaturation level of the BCS class IV drug rifaximin via ASD, thereby saturating the drugs' P-gp-mediated efflux transport, led to the favorable unique win-win situation, where both the solubility and the permeability increased simultaneously.

Stent Angioplasty of Closed Mesocaval Shunt in a Patient with Budd-Chiari Syndrome

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

Sancak, Tanzer; Karagulle, Ayse Tuba; Bilgic, Sadik

Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is an uncommon disorder caused by hepatic venous outflow obstruction. It is characterized by ascites, hepatomegaly and abdominal pain. Percutaneous intervention shave recently been used for the treatment of BCS. We present a case of BCS with a closed mesocaval shunt which was reopened with a self-expandable metallic stent.

The Craik-Leibovich Vortex Force as a Skin Effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malecha, Ziemowit; Chini, Gregory; Julien, Keith

2013-11-01

The Craik-Leibovich (CL) equations are a surface-wave filtered version of the instantaneous Navier-Stokes equations in which the rectified effects of the surface waves are captured through a so-called ``vortex force'' term: the cross-product of the Stokes, or Lagrangian, mass drift associated with the filtered surface waves and the filtered vorticity vector. For locally generated wind waves, the Stokes drift is very strongly surface confined. In this scenario, the induced body force may be represented as a surface, or skin, effect. Using matched asymptotic analysis in this limit, we derive effective boundary conditions (BCs) for the flow beneath the Stokes drift layer (i.e. in the bulk of the mixed layer). We establish the regime of validity of the resulting formulation by performing linear stability analyses and numerical simulations of both the asymptotic model and the full CL equations for a variety of vertical Stokes drift profiles. The effective BC formulation offers both theoretical and computational advantages, and should be particularly useful for LES of Langmuir turbulence for which the need to resolve very small scale near-surface flow structures imposes severe computational constraints. GPC would like to acknowledge funding from the NSF award 0934827, administered by the Physical Oceanography Program.

Charge-transfer mechanisms for high-T/sub c/ superconductivity

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

Jarrell, M.; Krishnamurthy, H.R.; Cox, D.L.

1988-09-01

We report results from a Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) analysis of the Weber d-d exciton model of the high-temperature superconductors. The pairing between oxygen holes is mediated by localized intrasite charge-transfer excitations between the d/sub x//sub <2/-y/sup =/ and the d/sub 3//sub z//sub <2/-r/sup =/ Cu orbitals. For reasonable oxygen on-site Coulomb energies, we find s-wave superconductivity for low filling fraction (<0.44), and d-wave superconductivity for larger filling. The same symmetry analysis applies to a localized version of the intersite Cu-O charge-transfer model of Varma, Schmitt-Rink, and Abrahams. We explore the limitations imposed by the Weber model symmetry, and interpret optical datamore » based upon the d-d exciton picture. We briefly discuss the suppression of antiferromagnetism of the Cu moments by the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yoshida interaction in the metallic limit.« less

Discovery of an unconventional charge density wave at the surface of K 0.9Mo 6O 17

DOE PAGES

Mou, Daixiang; Sapkota, Aashish; Kung, H. -H.; ...

2016-05-13

In this study, we use angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, low energy electron diffraction, and x-ray scattering to reveal an unusual electronically mediated charge density wave (CDW) in K 0.9Mo 6O 17. Not only does K 0.9Mo 6O 17 lack signatures of electron-phonon coupling, but it also hosts an extraordinary surface CDW, with T S_CDW = 220 K nearly twice that of the bulk CDW, T B_CDW = 115 K. While the bulk CDW has a BCS-like gap of 12 meV, the surface gap is 10 times larger and well in the strong coupling regime. Strong coupling behavior combinedmore » with the absence of signatures of strong electron-phonon coupling indicates that the CDW is likely mediated by electronic interactions enhanced by low dimensionality.« less

Association of Breast Conservation Surgery for Cancer With 90-Day Reoperation Rates in New York State.

PubMed

Isaacs, Abby J; Gemignani, Mary L; Pusic, Andrea; Sedrakyan, Art

2016-07-01

For early-stage breast cancer, breast conservation surgery (BCS) is a conservative option for women and involves removing the tumor with a margin of surrounding breast tissue. If margins are not tumor free, patients undergo additional surgery to avoid local recurrence. To investigate the use of BCS in New York State and to determine rates of reoperation, procedure choice, and the effect of surgeon experience on the odds of a reoperation 90 days after BCS. A population-based sample of 89 448 women undergoing primary BCS for cancer were selected and examined from January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2013, in New York State mandatory reporting databases. All hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers in New York State were included. Data were analyzed from December 15, 2014, to November 1, 2015. Rate of reoperations within 90 days of the initial BCS procedure. During the study period, 89 448 women 20 years or older (mean [SD] age, 61.7 [13.7] years) underwent primary BCS. In 2013, 1416 women in New York aged 20 to 49 years underwent BCS compared with 3068 women aged 50 to 64 years and 3644 women 65 years or older. These numbers represent a significant decrease from 1960 women younger than 50 years in 2003 who underwent BCS (P < .001 for trend) but little change from the 2899 women aged 50 to 64 years and 3270 women 65 years or older who underwent BCS in 2003. Mean overall rate of 90-day reoperation was 30.9% (27 010 of 87 499 patients) and decreased over time from 39.5% (6630 of 16 805 patients) in 2003 to 2004 to 23.1% (5148 of 22 286 patients) in 2011 to 2013. Rates of reoperation were highest in women aged 20 to 49 years (37.7% [6990 of 18 524]) and lowest in women 65 years or older (26.3% [9656 of 36 691]) (P < .001 for trend). Over time, more patients underwent BCS as a subsequent procedure, from 4237 of 6630 patients (63.9%) in 2003 to 2004 to 4258 of 5148 (82.7%) in 2011 to 2013 (P < .001 for trend). Among the 19 466 women who underwent BCS as a second procedure, 2429 (12.5%) required a third intervention (2.7% of all women included). Significant surgeon-level variation was found in the data; 90-day rates of reoperations by surgeon ranged from 0% to 100%. Low-volume surgeons (<14 cases per year) had an unadjusted rate of 35.2% compared with 29.6% in middle-volume (14-33 cases per year) and 27.5% in high-volume (≥34 cases per year) surgeons. The difference persisted in adjusted analyses (odds ratio for low-volume surgeons, 1.49 [95% CI, 1.19-1.87]; for middle-volume surgeons, 1.20 [95% CI, 0.93-1.56]) compared with high-volume surgeons (used as the reference category). Use of BCS has decreased overall, most steeply in younger women. Nearly 1 in 4 women underwent a reoperation within 90 days of BCS across New York State from 2011 to 2013, compared with 2 in 5 from 2003 to 2004. Rates vary significantly by surgeon, and initial BCS performed by high-volume surgeons was associated with a 33% lower risk for a reoperation.

Short communication: effects of serum obtained from dairy cows with low or high body condition score on in vitro embryo development.

PubMed

Oba, M; Miyashita, S; Nishii, R; Koiwa, M; Koyama, H; Ambrose, D J; Dochi, O

2013-03-01

The objective of the study was to determine whether the serum obtained from animals differing in body condition score (BCS) affects in vitro embryo development. After in vitro fertilization, serum obtained from dairy cows of either low (L-BCS; 2.1 ± 0.14 on a scale of 1 to 5) or high BCS (H-BCS; 4.0 ± 0.0), or commercially available bovine serum (control) was added at 5% concentration to the in vitro culture medium. Use of serum obtained from H-BCS cows increased the cleavage rates compared with control serum at both 24 and 48 h after in vitro fertilization (78.3 vs. 71.9% and 79.9 vs. 75.1%, respectively), whereas use of serum obtained from L-BCS cows increased the blastocyst rate compared with control serum at 7d (23.8 vs. 19.1%), but this difference was not evident at 8 or 9 d after in vitro fertilization. As nonesterified fatty acid concentrations were highest in control serum, followed by serum from L-BCS and H-BCS cows (621, 559, and 272 μEq/L, respectively), a high concentration of nonesterified fatty acids might adversely affect the very early stages of embryo development, and its negative effects might be greater immediately after fertilization compared with developmental stages after morula formation. Our findings also indicate that factors promoting early stage embryo development do not necessarily promote blastocyst development. Serum obtained from animals under different physiological conditions may be used for in vitro embryo culture to study the effects of nutritional management of dairy cattle on embryo development. Copyright © 2013 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Patterns of initial management of node-negative breast cancer in two Canadian provinces

PubMed Central

Goel, V; Olivotto, I; Hislop, T G; Sawka, C; Coldman, A; Holowaty, E J

1997-01-01

OBJECTIVE: To describe the patterns of initial management of node-negative breast cancer in Ontario and British Columbia and to compare the characteristics of the patients and tumours and of the physicians and hospitals involved in management. DESIGN: Retrospective, population-based, cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: All 942 newly diagnosed cases of node-negative breast cancer in 1991 in British Columbia and a random sample of 938 newly diagnosed cases in Ontario in the same year. OUTCOME MEASURES: Number and proportion of patients with newly diagnosed node-negative breast cancer who received breast-conserving surgery (BCS) or mastectomy and who received radiation therapy after BCS. RESULTS: BCS was used in 413 cases (43.8%) in British Columbia and in 634 cases (67.6%) in Ontario (p < 0.001). After BCS, radiation therapy was received by 378 patients (91.5% of those who had undergone BCS) in British Columbia and 479 patients (75.6% of those who had undergone BCS) in Ontario (p < 0.001). In both provinces, lower patient age, smaller tumour size, a noncentral unifocal tumour, absence of extensive ductal carcinoma in situ and initial surgery by a surgeon with an academic affiliation were associated with greater use of BCS. Lower patient age and larger tumour size were associated with greater use of radiation therapy after BCS in both provinces. CONCLUSION: Patient, tumour and physician factors are associated with the choice of initial management of breast cancer in these two Canadian provinces. However, the differences in management between the two provinces are only partly explained by these factors. Other possible explanations, such as the presence of provincial guidelines, differences in the organization of the health care system or differences in patient preference, require further research. PMID:9006561

Incidence of hemorrhagic stroke in black Caribbean, black African, and white populations: the South London stroke register, 1995-2004.

PubMed

Smeeton, Nigel C; Heuschmann, Peter U; Rudd, Anthony G; McEvoy, Andrew W; Kitchen, Neil D; Sarker, Shah Jalal; Wolfe, Charles D A

2007-12-01

Data are lacking on the differences in hemorrhagic stroke incidence between black Caribbean (BC), black African (BA), and white ethnic groups. We estimated the incidence for primary intracerebral hemorrhage (PICH) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and the associated risk factors for BCs, BAs, and whites. First-ever stroke patients were drawn from a prospective community stroke register based in a multiethnic population in South London with 9% BCs, 15% BAs, and 63% whites. Incidence rates were standardized to European and world populations and adjusted for age and sex. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) relative to whites were calculated by Poisson regression. Between 1995 and 2004, 566 incident stroke patients were registered: 395 PICHs and 171 SAHs. For PICH, age- and sex-adjusted IRRs were higher in BAs (IRR, 2.80; 95% CI, 2.00 to 3.91) than in BCs (IRR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.99) and were particularly pronounced for patients age 0 to 64 years: IRR=3.95 (95% CI, 2.65 to 5.87) in BAs and 2.38 (95% CI, 1.50 to 3.80) in BCs. For those <65 years, prestroke hypertension was more prevalent in BAs and BCs (P=0.049). For SAH, the IRR was higher in BCs (IRR; 1.62; 95% CI, 1.05 to 2.48) than in BAs (IRR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.43 to 1.46). The higher incidence of PICH observed in BCs and BAs could be explained by prestroke hypertension being more common among young blacks. The different incidences of SAH in BCs and BAs suggest that the baseline risk of stroke for distinct black ethnic groups is not homogeneous.

Revisions of rump fat and body scoring indices for deer, elk, and moose

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cook, Rachel C.; Cook, John G.; Stephenson, Thomas R.; Myers, Woodrow L.; Mccorquodale, Scott M.; Vales, David J.; Irwin, Larry L.; Hall, P. Briggs; Spencer, Rocky D.; Murphie, Shannon L.; Schoenecker, Kathryn A.; Miller, Patrick J.

2010-01-01

Because they do not require sacrificing animals, body condition scores (BCS), thickness of rump fat (MAXFAT), and other similar predictors of body fat have advanced estimating nutritional condition of ungulates and their use has proliferated in North America in the last decade. However, initial testing of these predictors was too limited to assess their reliability among diverse habitats, ecotypes, subspecies, and populations across the continent. With data collected from mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), elk (Cervus elaphus), and moose (Alces alces) during initial model development and data collected subsequently from free-ranging mule deer and elk herds across much of the western United States, we evaluated reliability across a broader range of conditions than were initially available. First, to more rigorously test reliability of the MAXFAT index, we evaluated its robustness across the 3 species, using an allometric scaling function to adjust for differences in animal size. We then evaluated MAXFAT, rump body condition score (rBCS), rLIVINDEX (an arithmetic combination of MAXFAT and rBCS), and our new allometrically scaled rump-fat thickness index using data from 815 free-ranging female Roosevelt and Rocky Mountain elk (C. e. roosevelti and C. e. nelsoni) from 19 populations encompassing 4 geographic regions and 250 free-ranging female mule deer from 7 populations and 2 regions. We tested for effects of subspecies, geographic region, and captive versus free-ranging existence. Rump-fat thickness, when scaled allometrically with body mass, was related to ingesta-free body fat over a 38–522-kg range of body mass (r2 = 0.87; P < 0.001), indicating the technique is remarkably robust among at least the 3 cervid species of our analysis. However, we found an underscoring bias with the rBCS for elk that had >12% body fat. This bias translated into a difference between subspecies, because Rocky Mountain elk tended to be fatter than Roosevelt elk in our sample. Effects of observer error with the rBCS also existed for mule deer with moderate to high levels of body fat, and deer body size significantly affected accuracy of the MAXFAT predictor. Our analyses confirm robustness of the rump-fat index for these 3 species but highlight the potential for bias due to differences in body size and to observer error with BCS scoring. We present alternative LIVINDEX equations where potential bias from rBCS and bias due to body size are eliminated or reduced. These modifications improve the accuracy of estimating body fat for projects intended to monitor nutritional status of herds or to evaluate nutrition's influence on population demographics.

W-007H B Plant Process Condensate Treatment Facility. Revision 3

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

Rippy, G.L.

1995-01-20

B Plant Process Condensate (BCP) liquid effluent stream is the condensed vapors originating from the operation of the B Plant low-level liquid waste concentration system. In the past, the BCP stream was discharged into the soil column under a compliance plan which expired January 1, 1987. Currently, the BCP stream is inactive, awaiting restart of the E-23-3 Concentrator. B Plant Steam Condensate (BCS) liquid effluent stream is the spent steam condensate used to supply heat to the E-23-3 Concentrator. The tube bundles in the E-23-3 Concentrator discharge to the BCS. In the past, the BCS stream was discharged into themore » soil column. Currently, the BCS stream is inactive. This project shall provide liquid effluent systems (BCP/BCS/BCE) capable of operating for a minimum of 20 years, which does not include the anticipated decontamination and decommissioning (D and D) period.« less

Coping with Breast Cancer: Reflections from Chinese-, Korean-, and Mexican-American Women

PubMed Central

Gonzalez, Patricia; Nuñez, Alicia; Wang-Letzkus, Ming; Lim, Jung-Won; Flores, Katrina; Nápoles, Anna María

2015-01-01

Objective The present study identified and compared the coping strategies of Chinese-, Korean-, and Mexican-American breast cancer survivors (BCS). Methods Six focus groups were conducted with Chinese- (n = 21), Korean- (n = 11), and Mexican-American (n = 9) BCS. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and translated for thematic content analysis of coping experiences and strategies. Results Women reported the use of eight coping strategies (religious/spiritual, benefit finding, fatalism, optimism, fighting spirit, information seeking, denial, and self-distraction). Among Chinese-American BCS, benefit finding was the most referenced coping strategy, whereas religious/spiritual coping was most frequently reported among Korean- and Mexican-American BCS. Denial and self-distraction were the least cited strategies. Conclusions Survivors draw upon new found inner strength to successfully integrate their cancer experience into their lives. Coping models must consider the diversity of cancer survivors and the variability in coping strategies among cultural ethnic minority BCS. PMID:26389720

Accelerated Thermal Depolymerization of Cyclic Polyphthalaldehyde with a Polymeric Thermoacid Generator.

PubMed

Lopez Hernandez, Hector; Lee, Olivia P; Possanza, Catherine; Kaitz, Joshua A; Park, Chan Woo; Plantz, Christopher L; Moore, Jeffrey S; White, Scott R

2018-04-30

Thermally triggerable polymer films that degrade at modest temperatures (≈85 °C) are created from a blend of cyclic polyphthalaldehyde (cPPA) and a polymeric thermoacid generator, poly(vinyl tert-butyl carbonate sulfone) (PVtBCS). PVtBCS depolymerizes when heated, generating acid which initiates the depolymerization of cPPA into volatile byproducts. The mass loss onset for 2 wt% PVtBCS/cPPA is 22 °C lower than the onset for neat cPPA alone in dynamic thermogravimetric analysis experiments. Increased concentrations of PVtBCS increase the rate of depolymerization of cPPA. Raman spectroscopy reveals that the monomer, o-phthalaldehyde, is the main depolymerization product of the acid-catalyzed depolymerization of cPPA. The PVtBCS/cPPA blend is a promising material for the design and manufacture of transient electronic packaging and polymers. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Engineering Room-temperature Superconductors Via ab-initio Calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gulian, Mamikon; Melkonyan, Gurgen; Gulian, Armen

The BCS, or bosonic model of superconductivity, as Little and Ginzburg have first argued, can bring in superconductivity at room temperatures in the case of high-enough frequency of bosonic mode. It was further elucidated by Kirzhnitset al., that the condition for existence of high-temperature superconductivity is closely related to negative values of the real part of the dielectric function at finite values of the reciprocal lattice vectors. In view of these findings, the task is to calculate the dielectric function for real materials. Then the poles of this function will indicate the existence of bosonic excitations which can serve as a "glue" for Cooper pairing, and if the frequency is high enough, and the dielectric matrix is simultaneously negative, this material is a good candidate for very high-Tc superconductivity. Thus, our approach is to elaborate a methodology of ab-initio calculation of the dielectric function of various materials, and then point out appropriate candidates. We used the powerful codes (TDDF with the DP package in conjunction with ABINIT) for computing dielectric responses at finite values of the wave vectors in the reciprocal lattice space. Though our report is concerned with the particular problem of superconductivity, the application range of the data processing methodology is much wider. The ability to compute the dielectric function of existing and still non-existing (though being predicted!) materials will have many more repercussions not only in fundamental sciences but also in technology and industry.

Evolution from BCS superconductivity to Bose condensation: Calculation of the zero-temperature phase coherence length

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

Pistolesi, F.; Strinati, G.C.

1996-06-01

We consider a fermionic system at zero temperature interacting through an effective nonretarded potential of the type introduced by Nozi{grave e}res and Schmitt-Rink, and calculate the {ital phase} coherence length {xi}{sub phase} (associated with the spatial fluctuations of the superconducting order parameter) by exploiting a functional-integral formulation for the correlation functions and the associated loop expansion. This formulation is especially suited to follow the evolution of the fermionic system from a BCS-type superconductor for weak coupling to a Bose-condensed system for strong coupling, since in the latter limit a {ital direct} mapping of the original fermionic system onto an effectivemore » system of bosons with a residual boson-boson interaction can be established. Explicit calculations are performed at the one-loop order. The phase coherence length {xi}{sub phase} is compared with the coherence length {xi}{sub pair} for two-electron correlation, which is relevant to distinguish the weak- ({ital k}{sub {ital F}}{xi}{sub pair}{gt}1) from the strong- ({ital k}{sub {ital F}}{xi}{sub pair}{lt}1) coupling limits ({ital k}{sub {ital F}} being the Fermi wave vector) {ital as} {ital well} {ital as} to follow the crossover in between. It is shown that {xi}{sub phase} coincides with {xi}{sub pair} down to {ital k}{sub {ital F}}{xi}{sub pair}{approx_equal}10, {xi}{sub pair} in turn coinciding with the Pippard coherence length. In the strong-coupling limit we find instead that {xi}{sub phase}{gt}{xi}{sub pair}, with {xi}{sub pair} coinciding with the radius of the bound-electron pair. From the mapping onto an effective system of bosons in the strong-coupling limit we further relate {xi}{sub pair} with the {open_quote}{open_quote}range{close_quote}{close_quote} of the residual boson-boson interaction, which is physically the only significant length associated with the dynamics of the bosonic system. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}« less

Higgs amplitude mode in the BCS superconductors Nb1-xTi(x)N induced by terahertz pulse excitation.

PubMed

Matsunaga, Ryusuke; Hamada, Yuki I; Makise, Kazumasa; Uzawa, Yoshinori; Terai, Hirotaka; Wang, Zhen; Shimano, Ryo

2013-08-02

Ultrafast responses of BCS superconductor Nb(1-x)Ti(x)N films in a nonadiabatic excitation regime were investigated by using terahertz (THz) pump-THz probe spectroscopy. After an instantaneous excitation with the monocycle THz pump pulse, a transient oscillation emerges in the electromagnetic response in the BCS gap energy region. The oscillation frequency coincides with the asymptotic value of the BCS gap energy, indicating the appearance of the theoretically anticipated collective amplitude mode of the order parameter, namely the Higgs amplitude mode. Our result opens a new pathway to the ultrafast manipulation of the superconducting order parameter by optical means.

Generalized Bose-Einstein Condensation in Superconductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Llano, Manuel

2011-03-01

Unification of the BCS and the Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) theories is surveyed in detail via a generalized BEC (GBEC) finite-temperature statistical formalism. Its major difference with BCS theory is that it can be diagonalized exactly. Under specified conditions it yields the precise BCS gap equation for all temperatures as well as the precise BCS zero-temperature condensation energy for all couplings, thereby suggesting that a BCS condensate is a BE condensate in a ternary mixture of kinematically independent unpaired electrons coexisting with equally proportioned weakly-bound two-electron and two-hole Cooper pairs. Without abandoning the electron-phonon mechanism in moderately weak coupling it suffices, in principle, to reproduce the unusually high values of Tc (in units of the Fermi temperature TF) of 0.01-0.05 empirically reported in the so-called "exotic" superconductors of the Uemura plot, including cuprates, in contrast to the low values of Tc/TF ≤ 10-3 roughly reproduced by BCS theory for conventional (mostly elemental) superconductors. Replacing the characteristic phonon-exchange Debye temperature by a characteristic magnon-exchange one more than twice in size can lead to a simple interaction model associated with spin-fluctuation-mediated pairing.

Generalized Bose-Einstein Condensation in Superconductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Llano, Manuel

Unification of the BCS and the Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) theories is surveyed in detail via a generalized BEC (GBEC) finite-temperature statistical formalism. Its major difference with BCS theory is that it can be diagonalized exactly. Under specified conditions it yields the precise BCS gap equation for all temperatures as well as the precise BCS zero-temperature condensation energy for all couplings, thereby suggesting that a BCS condensate is a BE condensate in a ternary mixture of kinematically independent unpaired electrons coexisting with equally proportioned weakly-bound two-electron and two-hole Cooper pairs. Without abandoning the electron-phonon mechanism in moderately weak coupling it suffices, in principle, to reproduce the unusually high values of Tc (in units of the Fermi temperature TF) of 0.01-0.05 empirically reported in the so-called "exotic" superconductors of the Uemura plot, including cuprates, in contrast to the low values of Tc/TF ≤ 10-3 roughly reproduced by BCS theory for conventional (mostly elemental) superconductors. Replacing the characteristic phonon-exchange Debye temperature by a characteristic magnon-exchange one more than twice in size can lead to a simple interaction model associated with spin-fluctuation-mediated pairing.

Breast cancer screening among shift workers: a nationwide population-based survey in Korea.

PubMed

Son, Heesook; Kang, Youngmi

2017-04-01

We aimed to examine the association between shift work types and participation in breast cancer screening (BCS) programs by comparing rates of participation for BCS among regular daytime workers and alternative shift workers using data from a nationally representative, population-based survey conducted in Korea. In addition, the results were analyzed according to sociodemographic factors, including occupation, education, income, private health insurance, age, and number of working hours a week. This secondary cross-sectional analysis used data from the 2012 Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey. The target population included women aged ≥ 40 years who responded as to whether they had undergone BCS in the previous year. Accordingly, we analyzed survey data for a total of 1,193 women and used a multivariate logistic regression analysis to evaluate the differences in factors affecting BCS between regular daytime and alternative shift workers. A logistic regression analysis was performed considering private health insurance as a significant sociodemographic factor for BCS among regular daytime shift workers. In contrast, none of the tested variables could significantly predict adherence to BCS among alternative shift workers. The results of this study suggest the need for the development of comprehensive workplace breast cancer prevention programs by considering shift work types. More attention should be given to female workers with low education levels, those who are uninsured, and young workers to improve the participation rate for BCS at the workplace.

The complexity of intestinal permeability: Assigning the correct BCS classification through careful data interpretation.

PubMed

Zur, Moran; Hanson, Allison S; Dahan, Arik

2014-09-30

While the solubility parameter is fairly straightforward when assigning BCS classification, the intestinal permeability (Peff) is more complex than generally recognized. In this paper we emphasize this complexity through the analysis of codeine, a commonly used antitussive/analgesic drug. Codeine was previously classified as a low-permeability compound, based on its lower LogP compared to metoprolol, a marker for the low-high permeability class boundary. In contrast, high fraction of dose absorbed (Fabs) was reported for codeine, which challenges the generally recognized Peff-Fabs correlation. The purpose of this study was to clarify this ambiguity through elucidation of codeine's BCS solubility/permeability class membership. Codeine's BCS solubility class was determined, and its intestinal permeability throughout the small intestine was investigated, both in vitro and in vivo in rats. Codeine was found to be unequivocally a high-solubility compound. All in vitro studies indicated that codeine's permeability is higher than metoprolol's. In vivo studies in rats showed similar permeability for both drugs throughout the entire small-intestine. In conclusion, codeine was found to be a BCS Class I compound. No Peff-Fabs discrepancy is involved in its absorption; rather, it reflects the risk of assigning BCS classification based on merely limited physicochemical characteristics. A thorough investigation using multiple experimental methods is prudent before assigning a BCS classification, to avoid misjudgment in various settings, e.g., drug discovery, formulation design, drug development and regulation. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Considerations for a Pediatric Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS): application to five drugs.

PubMed

Gandhi, Shivani V; Rodriguez, William; Khan, Mansoor; Polli, James E

2014-06-01

It has been advocated that biopharmaceutic risk assessment should be conducted early in pediatric product development and synchronized with the adult product development program. However, we are unaware of efforts to classify drugs into a Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) framework for pediatric patients. The objective was to classify five drugs into a potential BCS. These five drugs were selected since both oral and intravenous pharmacokinetic data were available for each drug, and covered the four BCS classes in adults. Literature searches for each drug were conducted using Medline and applied to classify drugs with respect to solubility and permeability in pediatric subpopulations. Four pediatric subpopulations were considered: neonates, infants, children, and adolescents. Regarding solubility, dose numbers were calculated using a volume for each subpopulation based on body surface area (BSA) relative to 250 ml for a 1.73 m(2) adult. Dose numbers spanned a range of values, depending upon the pediatric dose formula and subpopulation. Regarding permeability, pharmacokinetic literature data required assumptions and decisions about data collection. Using a devised pediatric BCS framework, there was agreement in adult and pediatric BCS class for two drugs, azithromycin (class 3) and ciprofloxacin (class 4). There was discordance for the three drugs that have high adult permeability since all pediatric permeabilities were low: dolasetron (class 3 in pediatric), ketoprofen (class 4 in pediatric), and voriconazole (class 4 in pediatric). A main contribution of this work is the identification of critical factors required for a pediatric BCS.

The Effect of Excipients on the Permeability of BCS Class III Compounds and Implications for Biowaivers.

PubMed

Parr, Alan; Hidalgo, Ismael J; Bode, Chris; Brown, William; Yazdanian, Mehran; Gonzalez, Mario A; Sagawa, Kazuko; Miller, Kevin; Jiang, Wenlei; Stippler, Erika S

2016-01-01

Currently, the FDA allows biowaivers for Class I (high solubility and high permeability) and Class III (high solubility and low permeability) compounds of the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS). Scientific evidence should be provided to support biowaivers for BCS Class I and Class III (high solubility and low permeability) compounds. Data on the effects of excipients on drug permeability are needed to demonstrate that commonly used excipients do not affect the permeability of BCS Class III compounds, which would support the application of biowaivers to Class III compounds. This study was designed to generate such data by assessing the permeability of four BCS Class III compounds and one Class I compound in the presence and absence of five commonly used excipients. The permeability of each of the compounds was assessed, at three to five concentrations, with each excipient in two different models: Caco-2 cell monolayers, and in situ rat intestinal perfusion. No substantial increases in the permeability of any of the compounds were observed in the presence of any of the tested excipients in either of the models, with the exception of disruption of Caco-2 cell monolayer integrity by sodium lauryl sulfate at 0.1 mg/ml and higher. The results suggest that the absorption of these four BCS Class III compounds would not be greatly affected by the tested excipients. This may have implications in supporting biowaivers for BCS Class III compounds in general.

Tail-like regime and BCS-BEC crossover due to hybridization in a two-band superconductor.

PubMed

Reyes, D; Continentino, M A; Deus, F; Thomas, C

2018-05-02

Superconductivity in strongly correlated systems is a remarkable phenomenon that attracts huge interest. The study of this problem is relevant for materials such as the high T c oxides, pnictides and heavy fermions. These systems also have in common the existence of electrons of several orbitals that coexist at a common Fermi surface. In this paper we study the effect of pressure, chemical or applied on multi-band superconductivity. Pressure varies the atomic distances and consequently the overlap of the wave-functions in the crystal. This rearranges the electronic structure that we model including a pressure dependent hybridization between the bands. We consider the case of two-dimensional systems in a square lattice with inverted bands. We study the conditions for obtaining a pressure induced superconductor quantum critical point and show that hybridization, i.e. pressure can induce a Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer-Bose-Einstein condensation crossover in multi-band systems even for moderate interactions. We found a tail-like superconductor regime and briefly discuss the influence of the symmetry of the order parameter in the results.

Tail-like regime and BCS-BEC crossover due to hybridization in a two-band superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reyes, D.; Continentino, M. A.; Deus, F.; Thomas, C.

2018-05-01

Superconductivity in strongly correlated systems is a remarkable phenomenon that attracts huge interest. The study of this problem is relevant for materials such as the high T c oxides, pnictides and heavy fermions. These systems also have in common the existence of electrons of several orbitals that coexist at a common Fermi surface. In this paper we study the effect of pressure, chemical or applied on multi-band superconductivity. Pressure varies the atomic distances and consequently the overlap of the wave-functions in the crystal. This rearranges the electronic structure that we model including a pressure dependent hybridization between the bands. We consider the case of two-dimensional systems in a square lattice with inverted bands. We study the conditions for obtaining a pressure induced superconductor quantum critical point and show that hybridization, i.e. pressure can induce a Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer-Bose–Einstein condensation crossover in multi-band systems even for moderate interactions. We found a tail-like superconductor regime and briefly discuss the influence of the symmetry of the order parameter in the results.

Association of changes among body condition score during the transition period with NEFA and BHBA concentrations, milk production, fertility, and health of Holstein cows.

PubMed

Barletta, R V; Maturana Filho, M; Carvalho, P D; Del Valle, T A; Netto, A S; Rennó, F P; Mingoti, R D; Gandra, J R; Mourão, G B; Fricke, P M; Sartori, R; Madureira, E H; Wiltbank, M C

2017-12-01

Our objective was to evaluate the association between body condition score (BCS) change during the transition period with fertility, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentrations, milk yield, and health problems of Holstein cows in a retrospective cohort study. Holstein cows (n = 232) were assessed for BCS (5 point scale; 0.25 point increments) and had blood collected at 21 and 7 d before, on the day of, and 7 and 21 d after calving. Blood samples were assayed for NEFA and BHBA concentrations. All cows received a timed artificial insemination (TAI) at 65 ± 3 days in milk (DIM) following a Presynch-Ovsynch protocol with a progesterone implant during the Ovsynch protocol. Cows were grouped based on BCS change after calving as to whether they: 1) lost (L), 2) maintained (M), or 3) gained (G) BCS. Data were analyzed by logistic regression with GLIMMIX and ANOVA with repeated measures using the MIXED procedures of SAS. Both NEFA and BHBA concentrations after calving differed (P < 0.01) for cows that lost, maintained, or gained BCS from 21 d before to 21 d after calving (NEFA: 0.51 ± 0.01; 0.45 ± 0.01; 0.42 ± 0.01 mmol/L; BHBA: 0.73 ± 0.02; 0.70 ± 0.02; 0.68 ± 0.02 mmol/L; respectively; mean ± SEM). By design, BCS change after calving differed (P < 0.01) among groups and was -0.38; 0.00; and 0.35 for cows in groups L, M, and G, respectively. At 21 d before and 21 d after calving, BCS differed (P < 0.01) among groups and was [before (2.97, 2.70, and 2.57) and after (2.54, 2.70, and 2.90)] for cows in groups L, M, and G, respectively. Between evaluated days, higher circulating NEFA and BHBA concentrations were observed 7 d after calving. Change in BCS affected (P < 0.01) pregnancy/AI (P/AI), days to first ovulation, and percentage of cyclic cows at 50 DIM. At 32 d after TAI, P/AI differed (P < 0.01) for cows that lost [18% (11/84)], maintained [33% (26/80)], or gained [47% (32/68)] BCS. Cows that lost BCS during the transition period had more health events (P < 0.01), than cows that gained or maintained BCS. In conclusion, changes in BCS during the transition period affected NEFA and BHBA concentrations, fertility, and occurrence of health problems during the lactation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Multicomponent Electron-Hole Superfluidity and the BCS-BEC Crossover in Double Bilayer Graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Conti, S.; Perali, A.; Peeters, F. M.; Neilson, D.

2017-12-01

Superfluidity in coupled electron-hole sheets of bilayer graphene is predicted here to be multicomponent because of the conduction and valence bands. We investigate the superfluid crossover properties as functions of the tunable carrier densities and the tunable energy band gap Eg. For small band gaps there is a significant boost in the two superfluid gaps, but the interaction-driven excitations from the valence to the conduction band can weaken the superfluidity, even blocking the system from entering the Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) regime at low densities. At a given larger density, a band gap Eg˜80 - 120 meV can carry the system into the strong-pairing multiband BCS-BEC crossover regime, the optimal range for realization of high-Tc superfluidity.

Resumption of ovarian function, the metabolic profile and body condition in Brahman cows (Bos indicus) is not affected by the combination of calf separation and progestogen treatment.

PubMed

Díaz, Ramiro; Galina, Carlos S; Rubio, Ivette; Corro, Manuel; Pablos, José Luis; Rodríguez, Ana; Orihuela, Agustín

2017-10-01

To evaluate the effect of different calf separation procedures after a progestogen treatment on the resumption of ovarian function, body condition and metabolic profile, 59 multiparous Brahman cows grazing on a mixed grass pasture were studied. No supplementation was given at any time. Body condition score (BCS), fat thickness (FAT) and blood metabolites were measured fortnightly from the beginning of the last trimester of gestation until 96days postpartum. At 30days postpartum all animals received a progesterone (P4)-releasing device (CIDR) which was withdrawn 9days later when prostaglandin F2α was applied. At this time, treatments TW (n=28), where calves were separated from their dams for 48h; RS (n=21), calves were allowed to suckle once a day for 1h; and continuous suckling (CS; n=10). Ovarian function was assessed by blood concentrations of progesterone on days -14, -9, 10, 13, 30 and 33 after CIDR removal. At the end of the experimental period, an average of 20% of the cows had not initiated estrous cycles. There were no changes of FAT or BCS during the last trimester of pregnancy in all cows (P>0.05). During the postpartum period cows of all groups lost (P<0.05) BCS and FAT with a nadir at 60-80days postpartum, regardless of treatment. At 10days after CIDR withdrawal the percentage of cows having ovulations was 75, 61 and 80 (P>0.05) for TW, RS and CS groups. Blood metabolites follow a similar pattern in the three groups. With the conditions of the present study, the method of calf separation after a progestogen treatment, does not affect the resumption of ovarian function or metabolic profile. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The physics of inhomogeneous striped superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martin, I.; Ortiz, G.; Eroles, J.; Balatsky, A. V.; Bishop, A. R.

2001-05-01

We present a minimal model of a doped Mott insulator that simultaneously supports antiferromagnetic stripes and d-wave superconductivity. At the unrestricted mean-field level, the various phases of the cuprates, including weak and strong pseudogap phases, and two different types of superconductivity in the underdoped and the overdoped regimes, find a natural interpretation. We argue that on the underdoped side, the superconductor is intrinsically inhomogeneous — striped nanoscale coexistence of superconductivity and magnetism — and global phase coherence is achieved through Josephson-like coupling of the superconducting stripes. On the overdoped side, the state is overall homogeneous and the superconductivity is of the classical BCS type.

Deposition and weathering of Asian dust in Korea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeong, G.

2013-12-01

Paleolithic stone artifacts in Korea typically occur in brown clay-silt (BCS) sequences. The origin and depositional environment of these sequences are important for reconstructing the paleoenvironment as well as for establishing chronologies of artifact-bearing stratigraphic units. We investigated four BCS-bearing sections in foothills and river and marine terraces in Korea by applying quantitative mineralogical, geochemical, microtextural, and K-Ar isotopic methods. In all four sections, the lower units are colluvial and fluvial deposits strongly influenced by diverse local lithology, whereas the upper units are characterized by BCS units. Mineralogical/geochemical compositions, grain sizes, and colors converge into common properties in the upper BCS units in all sections. These common properties are consistent with the eastward trends of increasing weathering degree and grain size fining throughout the loess-paleosol sections of the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP). K-Ar detrital ages of the sections also converge upward into a narrow range similar to the age ranges of the loess and paleosols in the CLP. The top BCS unit in the Jeongok section, the thickest section, is underlain by an additionally weathered BCS unit, with strong red chroma indicating a change from warm to cold climate. We did not observe any clear evidence of climatic changes in other thinner sections, which may be due to a superposition of cold-stage accumulation and warm-stage deep weathering. The common properties of the BCSs in Korean sections and their relationship to the CLP loess and paleosols indicate widespread deposition of Asian dust and subsequent weathering in the late Quaternary, forming BCS sequences. In this respect, the BCS sequences investigated here are considered to be the additionally weathered equivalents of the CLP loess-paleosol sequences, having been exposed to the high annual precipitation of the Korean Peninsula. Given the wide distribution of BCS sequences at Paleolithic sites throughout the Peninsula, the findings of this study are important for the ongoing debate surrounding the depositional environments of the Paleolithic deposits, and provide a foundation for the establishment of the chronological framework of the Paleolithic artifact-bearing layers and lithic assemblages.

Deposition and weathering of Asian dust in Paleolithic sites, Korea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeong, Gi Young; Choi, Jeong-Heon; Lim, Hyoun Soo; Seong, Chuntaek; Yi, Seon Bok

2013-10-01

Paleolithic stone artifacts in Korea typically occur in brown clay-silt (BCS) sequences. The origin and depositional environment of these sequences are important for reconstructing the paleoenvironment as well as for establishing chronologies of artifact-bearing stratigraphic units. We investigated four BCS-bearing sections in foothills and river and marine terraces in Korea by applying quantitative mineralogical, geochemical, microtextural, and K-Ar isotopic methods. In all four sections, the lower units are colluvial and fluvial deposits strongly influenced by diverse local lithology, whereas the upper units are characterized by BCS units. Mineralogical/geochemical compositions, grain sizes, and colors converge into common properties in the upper BCS units in all sections. These common properties are consistent with the eastward trends of increasing weathering degree and grain size fining throughout the loess-paleosol sections of the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP). K-Ar detrital ages of the sections also converge upward into a narrow range similar to the age ranges of the loess and paleosols in the CLP. The top BCS unit in the Jeongok section, the thickest section, is underlain by an additionally weathered BCS unit, with strong red chroma indicating a change from warm to cold climate. We did not observe any clear evidence of climatic changes in other thinner sections, which may be due to a superposition of cold-stage accumulation and warm-stage deep weathering. The common properties of the BCSs in Korean sections and their relationship to the CLP loess and paleosols indicate widespread deposition of Asian dust and subsequent weathering in the late Quaternary, forming BCS sequences. In this respect, the BCS sequences investigated here are considered to be the additionally weathered equivalents of the CLP loess-paleosol sequences, having been exposed to the high annual precipitation of the Korean Peninsula. Given the wide distribution of BCS sequences at Paleolithic sites throughout the Peninsula, the findings of this study are important for the ongoing debate surrounding the depositional environments of the Paleolithic deposits, and provide a foundation for the establishment of the chronological framework of the Paleolithic artifact-bearing layers and lithic assemblages.

Rear shape in 3 dimensions summarized by principal component analysis is a good predictor of body condition score in Holstein dairy cows.

PubMed

Fischer, A; Luginbühl, T; Delattre, L; Delouard, J M; Faverdin, P

2015-07-01

Body condition is an indirect estimation of the level of body reserves, and its variation reflects cumulative variation in energy balance. It interacts with reproductive and health performance, which are important to consider in dairy production but not easy to monitor. The commonly used body condition score (BCS) is time consuming, subjective, and not very sensitive. The aim was therefore to develop and validate a method assessing BCS with 3-dimensional (3D) surfaces of the cow's rear. A camera captured 3D shapes 2 m from the floor in a weigh station at the milking parlor exit. The BCS was scored by 3 experts on the same day as 3D imaging. Four anatomical landmarks had to be identified manually on each 3D surface to define a space centered on the cow's rear. A set of 57 3D surfaces from 56 Holstein dairy cows was selected to cover a large BCS range (from 0.5 to 4.75 on a 0 to 5 scale) to calibrate 3D surfaces on BCS. After performing a principal component analysis on this data set, multiple linear regression was fitted on the coordinates of these surfaces in the principal components' space to assess BCS. The validation was performed on 2 external data sets: one with cows used for calibration, but at a different lactation stage, and one with cows not used for calibration. Additionally, 6 cows were scanned once and their surfaces processed 8 times each for repeatability and then these cows were scanned 8 times each the same day for reproducibility. The selected model showed perfect calibration and a good but weaker validation (root mean square error=0.31 for the data set with cows used for calibration; 0.32 for the data set with cows not used for calibration). Assessing BCS with 3D surfaces was 3 times more repeatable (standard error=0.075 versus 0.210 for BCS) and 2.8 times more reproducible than manually scored BCS (standard error=0.103 versus 0.280 for BCS). The prediction error was similar for both validation data sets, indicating that the method is not less efficient for cows not used for calibration. The major part of reproducibility error incorporates repeatability error. An automation of the anatomical landmarks identification is required, first to allow broadband measures of body condition and second to improve repeatability and consequently reproducibility. Assessing BCS using 3D imaging coupled with principal component analysis appears to be a very promising means of improving precision and feasibility of this trait measurement. Copyright © 2015 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Dynamical instability of a driven-dissipative electron-hole condensate in the BCS-BEC crossover region

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

Hanai, Ryo; Littlewood, Peter B.; Ohashi, Yoji

2017-09-01

We present a stability analysis on a driven-dissipative electron-hole condensate in the BCS (Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer)-BEC (Bose-Einstein-condensation)-crossover region. Extending the combined BCS-Leggett theory with the generalized random phase approximation (GRPA) to the non-equilibrium case by employing the Keldysh formalism, we show that the pumping-and-decay of carriers causes a depairing effect on excitons. This phenomenon gives rise to an attractive interaction between excitons in the BEC regime, as well as a supercurrent that anomalously flows anti-parallel to ∇θ(r) (where θ(r) is the phase of the condensate) in the BCS regime, both leading to dynamical instabilities of an exciton-BEC.

Superconductivity in an electron band just above the Fermi level: possible route to BCS-BEC superconductivity.

PubMed

Okazaki, K; Ito, Y; Ota, Y; Kotani, Y; Shimojima, T; Kiss, T; Watanabe, S; Chen, C-T; Niitaka, S; Hanaguri, T; Takagi, H; Chainani, A; Shin, S

2014-02-28

Conventional superconductivity follows Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer(BCS) theory of electrons-pairing in momentum-space, while superfluidity is the Bose-Einstein condensation(BEC) of atoms paired in real-space. These properties of solid metals and ultra-cold gases, respectively, are connected by the BCS-BEC crossover. Here we investigate the band dispersions in FeTe(0.6)Se(0.4)(Tc = 14.5 K ~ 1.2 meV) in an accessible range below and above the Fermi level(EF) using ultra-high resolution laser angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We uncover an electron band lying just 0.7 meV (~8 K) above EF at the Γ-point, which shows a sharp superconducting coherence peak with gap formation below Tc. The estimated superconducting gap Δ and Fermi energy [Symbol: see text]F indicate composite superconductivity in an iron-based superconductor, consisting of strong-coupling BEC in the electron band and weak-coupling BCS-like superconductivity in the hole band. The study identifies the possible route to BCS-BEC superconductivity.

STRUCTURAL ESTIMATES OF TREATMENT EFFECTS ON OUTCOMES USING RETROSPECTIVE DATA: AN APPLICATION TO DUCTAL CARCINOMA IN SITU

PubMed Central

Gold, Heather Taffet; Sorbero, Melony E. S.; Griggs, Jennifer J.; Do, Huong T.; Dick, Andrew W.

2013-01-01

Analysis of observational cohort data is subject to bias from unobservable risk selection. We compared econometric models and treatment effectiveness estimates using the linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare claims data for women diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ. Treatment effectiveness estimates for mastectomy and breast conserving surgery (BCS) with or without radiotherapy were compared using three different models: simultaneous-equations model, discrete-time survival model with unobserved heterogeneity (frailty), and proportional hazards model. Overall trends in disease-free survival (DFS), or time to first subsequent breast event, by treatment are similar regardless of the model, with mastectomy yielding the highest DFS over 8 years of follow-up, followed by BCS with radiotherapy, and then BCS alone. Absolute rates and direction of bias varied substantially by treatment strategy. DFS was underestimated by single-equation and frailty models compared to the simultaneous-equations model and RCT results for BCS with RT and overestimated for BCS alone. PMID:21602195

Phosphoethanolamine cellulose: A naturally produced chemically modified cellulose.

PubMed

Thongsomboon, Wiriya; Serra, Diego O; Possling, Alexandra; Hadjineophytou, Chris; Hengge, Regine; Cegelski, Lynette

2018-01-19

Cellulose is a major contributor to the chemical and mechanical properties of plants and assumes structural roles in bacterial communities termed biofilms. We find that Escherichia coli produces chemically modified cellulose that is required for extracellular matrix assembly and biofilm architecture. Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the intact and insoluble material elucidates the zwitterionic phosphoethanolamine modification that had evaded detection by conventional methods. Installation of the phosphoethanolamine group requires BcsG, a proposed phosphoethanolamine transferase, with biofilm-promoting cyclic diguanylate monophosphate input through a BcsE-BcsF-BcsG transmembrane signaling pathway. The bcsEFG operon is present in many bacteria, including Salmonella species, that also produce the modified cellulose. The discovery of phosphoethanolamine cellulose and the genetic and molecular basis for its production offers opportunities to modulate its production in bacteria and inspires efforts to biosynthetically engineer alternatively modified cellulosic materials. Copyright © 2018 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.

The ROSAT Brightest Cluster Sample - I. The compilation of the sample and the cluster log N-log S distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ebeling, H.; Edge, A. C.; Bohringer, H.; Allen, S. W.; Crawford, C. S.; Fabian, A. C.; Voges, W.; Huchra, J. P.

1998-12-01

We present a 90 per cent flux-complete sample of the 201 X-ray-brightest clusters of galaxies in the northern hemisphere (delta>=0 deg), at high Galactic latitudes (|b|>=20 deg), with measured redshifts z<=0.3 and fluxes higher than 4.4x10^-12 erg cm^-2 s^-1 in the 0.1-2.4 keV band. The sample, called the ROSAT Brightest Cluster Sample (BCS), is selected from ROSAT All-Sky Survey data and is the largest X-ray-selected cluster sample compiled to date. In addition to Abell clusters, which form the bulk of the sample, the BCS also contains the X-ray-brightest Zwicky clusters and other clusters selected from their X-ray properties alone. Effort has been made to ensure the highest possible completeness of the sample and the smallest possible contamination by non-cluster X-ray sources. X-ray fluxes are computed using an algorithm tailored for the detection and characterization of X-ray emission from galaxy clusters. These fluxes are accurate to better than 15 per cent (mean 1sigma error). We find the cumulative logN-logS distribution of clusters to follow a power law kappa S^alpha with alpha=1.31^+0.06_-0.03 (errors are the 10th and 90th percentiles) down to fluxes of 2x10^-12 erg cm^-2 s^-1, i.e. considerably below the BCS flux limit. Although our best-fitting slope disagrees formally with the canonical value of -1.5 for a Euclidean distribution, the BCS logN-logS distribution is consistent with a non-evolving cluster population if cosmological effects are taken into account. Our sample will allow us to examine large-scale structure in the northern hemisphere, determine the spatial cluster-cluster correlation function, investigate correlations between the X-ray and optical properties of the clusters, establish the X-ray luminosity function for galaxy clusters, and discuss the implications of the results for cluster evolution.

Genetic variants of the unsaturated fatty acid receptor GPR120 relating to obesity in dogs

PubMed Central

MIYABE, Masahiro; GIN, Azusa; ONOZAWA, Eri; DAIMON, Mana; YAMADA, Hana; ODA, Hitomi; MORI, Akihiro; MOMOTA, Yutaka; AZAKAMI, Daigo; YAMAMOTO, Ichiro; MOCHIZUKI, Mariko; SAKO, Toshinori; TAMURA, Katsutoshi; ISHIOKA, Katsumi

2015-01-01

G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 120 is an unsaturated fatty acid receptor, which is associated with various physiological functions. It is reported that the genetic variant of GPR120, p.Arg270His, is detected more in obese people, and this genetic variation functionally relates to obesity in humans. Obesity is a common nutritional disorder also in dogs, but the genetic factors have not ever been identified in dogs. In this study, we investigated the molecular structure of canine GPR120 and searched for candidate genetic variants which may relate to obesity in dogs. Canine GPR120 was highly homologous to those of other species, and seven transmembrane domains and two N-glycosylation sites were conserved. GPR120 mRNA was expressed in lung, jejunum, ileum, colon, hypothalamus, hippocampus, spinal cord, bone marrow, dermis and white adipose tissues in dogs, as those in mice and humans. Genetic variants of GPR120 were explored in client-owned 141 dogs, resulting in that 5 synonymous and 4 non-synonymous variants were found. The variant c.595C>A (p.Pro199Thr) was found in 40 dogs, and the gene frequency was significantly higher in dogs with higher body condition scores, i.e. 0.320 in BCS4–5 dogs, 0.175 in BCS3 dogs and 0.000 in BCS2 dogs. We conclude that c.595C>A (p.Pro199Thr) is a candidate variant relating to obesity, which may be helpful for nutritional management of dogs. PMID:25960032

Performance evaluation and multicentre study of a von Willebrand factor activity assay based on GPIb binding in the absence of ristocetin.

PubMed

Patzke, Juergen; Budde, Ulrich; Huber, Andreas; Méndez, Adriana; Muth, Heidrun; Obser, Tobias; Peerschke, Ellinor; Wilkens, Matthias; Schneppenheim, Reinhard

2014-12-01

The functional activity of von Willebrand factor (VWF) is most frequently measured by using the ristocetin cofactor assay (VWF:RCo). However, the method's drawbacks include unsatisfactory precision, sensitivity and availability of automated system applications. We have developed an alternative assay (INNOVANCE VWF Ac) that is based on the binding of VWF to recombinant glycoprotein Ib (GPIb). Two gain-of-function mutations were introduced into a GPIb fragment, allowing an assay format without ristocetin. Fully automated assay applications are available for the BCS/BCS XP systems and the Sysmex CS-2000i, Sysmex CA-7000, Sysmex CA-1500 and Sysmex CA-560 systems.The INNOVANCE VWF Ac assay measuring range extends from 4 to 600% VWF for all systems except the Sysmex CA-560 system. Within-device precision values were found to be between 2 and 7%. The limit of detection was below 2.2% VWF. In a study on the BCS XP system, a total number of 580 sample results yielded a correlation to the VWF:RCo assay of r equal to 0.99 (slope = 0.96). Very similar results were observed when von Willebrand disease samples type 1, 2A, 2B, 2M, 2N and 3 were investigated with the new assay and the VWF:RCo assay. The excellent performance data and comparability to VWF:RCo, together with the ease of use, led us to the conclusion that the ristocetin cofactor assay can be replaced by the new GPIb-binding assay to reliably diagnosing patients with von Willebrand disease.

Concentrate supplementation of a diet based on medium-quality grass silage for 4 weeks prepartum: Effects on cow performance, health, metabolic status, and immune function.

PubMed

Little, M W; O'Connell, N E; Welsh, M D; Mulligan, F J; Ferris, C P

2017-06-01

Because negative energy balance (EB) contributes to transition-period immune dysfunction in dairy cows, dietary management strategies should aim to minimize negative EB during this time. Prepartum diets that oversupply energy may exacerbate negative EB in early lactation, with detrimental effects on immune function. However, with lower body condition score (BCS) cows, it has been shown that offering concentrates in addition to a grass silage-based diet when confined during an 8-wk dry period resulted in increased neutrophil function in early lactation. The aim of this study was to examine if similar benefits occur when concentrate feeding was restricted to a 4-wk period prepartum. Twenty-six multiparous and 22 primiparous Holstein-Friesian cows were offered ad libitum access to medium-quality grass silage until 28 d before their predicted calving dates (actual mean of 32 d prepartum; standard deviation = 6.4). At this time multiparous cows had a mean BCS of 2.9 (standard deviation = 0.12) and primiparous cows a mean BCS of 3.0 (standard deviation = 0.14) on a 1 to 5 scale. Cows were then allocated in a balanced manner to 1 of 2 treatments (13 multiparous cows and 11 primiparous cows on each treatment): silage only (SO) or silage plus concentrates (S+C) until calving. Cows on SO were offered the same grass silage ad libitum. Cows on S+C were offered an ad libitum mixed ration of the same grass silage and additional concentrates in a 60:40 dry matter (DM) ratio, which provided a mean concentrate DM intake (DMI) of 4.5 kg/cow per d. After calving, all cows were offered a common mixed ration (grass silage and concentrates, 40:60 DM ratio) for 70 d postpartum. Offering concentrates in addition to grass silage during the 4 wk prepartum increased prepartum DMI (12.0 versus 10.1 kg/cow per d), EB (+40.0 versus +10.6 MJ/cow per d), and body weight (BW; 640 versus 628 kg), and tended to increase BCS (3.02 versus 2.97). However, postpartum DMI, milk yield, milk composition, BW change, BCS change, serum nonesterified fatty acid, and β-hydroxybutryrate concentrations, health, and corpus luteum measures were unaffected by treatment. The in vitro assays of neutrophil phagocytosis, neutrophil oxidative burst, and interferon gamma production, conducted on blood samples obtained at d 14 prepartum and d 3, 7, 14, and 21 postpartum, were unaffected by treatment. Primiparous cows had higher phagocytic fluorescence intensity at d 14 prepartum and d 3 and 7 postpartum; a higher percentage of neutrophils undergoing oxidative burst at d 3, 7, and 21 postpartum; and a higher oxidative burst fluorescence intensity at d 14 prepartum and d 7, 14, and 21 postpartum compared with multiparous cows. This suggests that neutrophil function of primiparous cows was less sensitive to the changes occurring during the transition period than that of multiparous cows. In conclusion, offering concentrates during the 4-wk period prepartum had no effect on postpartum DMI, milk yield, body tissue mobilization, EB, measures of neutrophil or lymphocyte function, health, or corpus luteum activity. Copyright © 2017 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Relationship of oxidative stress in skeletal muscle with obesity and obesity-associated hyperinsulinemia in horses.

PubMed

Banse, Heidi E; Frank, Nicholas; Kwong, Grace P S; McFarlane, Dianne

2015-10-01

In horses, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance (insulin dysregulation) are associated with the development of laminitis. Although obesity is associated with insulin dysregulation, the mechanism of obesity-associated insulin dysregulation remains to be established. We hypothesized that oxidative stress in skeletal muscle is associated with obesity-associated hyperinsulinemia in horses. Thirty-five light breed horses with body condition scores (BCS) of 3/9 to 9/9 were studied, including 7 obese, normoinsulinemic (BCS ≥ 7, resting serum insulin < 30 μIU/mL) and 6 obese, hyperinsulinemic (resting serum insulin ≥ 30 μIU/mL) horses. Markers of oxidative stress (oxidative damage, mitochondrial function, and antioxidant capacity) were evaluated in skeletal muscle biopsies. A Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to determine relationships between markers of oxidative stress and BCS. Furthermore, to assess the role of oxidative stress in obesity-related hyperinsulinemia, markers of antioxidant capacity and oxidative damage were compared among lean, normoinsulinemic (L-NI); obese, normoinsulinemic (O-NI); and obese, hyperinsulinemic (O-HI) horses. Increasing BCS was associated with an increase in gene expression of a mitochondrial protein responsible for mitochondrial biogenesis (estrogen-related receptor alpha, ERRα) and with increased antioxidant enzyme total superoxide dismutase (TotSOD) activity. When groups (L-NI, O-NI, and O-HI) were compared, TotSOD activity was increased and protein carbonyls, a marker of oxidative damage, decreased in the O-HI compared to the L-NI horses. These findings suggest that a protective antioxidant response occurred in the muscle of obese animals and that obesity-associated oxidative damage in skeletal muscle is not central to the pathogenesis of equine hyperinsulinemia.

Quantifying the Chasm: Exploring the Impact of the BCS on Total Football Revenues for Division One Football Programs from 2002-2012

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Caro, Cary A.

2014-01-01

The Bowl Championship Series served as a collection of bowl games that were designed to crown the national champion in Division One football. The BCS created two classifications of institutions in Division football, those that were granted automatic access (AQ) to the post-season games, and those that were not (non-AQ). The BCS also generated…

The role of a lack of social integration in never having undergone breast cancer screening: results from a population-based, representative survey in the Paris metropolitan area in 2010.

PubMed

Rondet, Claire; Soler, Marion; Ringa, Virginie; Parizot, Isabelle; Chauvin, Pierre

2013-10-01

This study aims to investigate the association between social contact and social support and women's breast cancer screening (BCS) practices, taking their socioeconomic status (SES) into account. The SIRS survey was conducted in 2010 in the Paris metropolitan area among a representative sample of 3000 French-speaking adults. For the 784 women aged 50years or older with no history of breast cancer, multivariate logistic regressions and bootstrap methods were used to analyze the factors associated with never having undergone BCS. 6.5% of these women had never undergone BCS. In multivariate analysis, being older, having a low education level, having poor-quality health insurance, and having one or less than one social contact per 3-day period were significantly associated with never having undergone BCS during their lifetime, but the level of social support was not. The strength of the association with a low frequency of social contact tended to increase with age. This study analyzed the role of social contact in social inequalities in BCS practices in the Paris metropolitan area. Like SES, social integration and social isolation should be taken into consideration by public health professionals and practitioners when planning BCS programs and incentives. © 2013.

Developing spiritually framed breast cancer screening messages in consultation with African American women.

PubMed

Best, Alicia L; Spencer, Mindi; Hall, Ingrid J; Friedman, Daniela B; Billings, Deborah

2015-01-01

Despite efforts to increase breast cancer screening (BCS) among African American women, disparities in breast cancer mortality persist. Culturally framed health communication may provide a useful strategy to address this issue. Spirituality not only represents an integral aspect of African American culture, but it has also been identified as a potential barrier to BCS among this population. Rather than continuing to focus on spirituality as a barrier, there is an opportunity to develop promotional messages that tap into the protective properties of spirituality among this population. The goals of this study were to engage a group of African American women to identify important spiritual elements to be included in health communication materials, and to subsequently develop a spiritually framed BCS message in response to their feedback. Three nominal group sessions were conducted with 15 African American women. Results revealed three important spiritual elements that can be incorporated into BCS health messages: (a) the body as a temple; (b) going to the doctor does not make you faithless; and (c) God did not give us the spirit of fear. These elements were used to draft a spiritually framed BCS message. Next, 20 face-to-face semistructured interviews were conducted to help finalize the spiritually framed BCS message for use in a future study on culturally framed health communication.

The prognostic value of node status in different breast cancer subtypes

PubMed Central

Hou, Xin-Wei; Chi, Jiang-Rui; Ge, Jie; Wang, Xin; Cao, Xu-Chen

2017-01-01

Nodal metastases and breast cancer subtypes (BCS) are both well-recognized prognostic indicators. However, the association between nodal metastases and BCS, and the prognostic value of nodal metastases in different BCS are still remains unclear. Our aim was to investigate the association between nodal metastases and BCS, and the prognostic value of nodal metastases in the different BCS. We found that the breast cancer subtype was closely associated with the pN stage. pN stage and breast cancer subtype were significantly associated with disease-free survival. The subgroup analysis showed that the patients in higher pN stage had a poor outcome than patients in lower pN stage in each breast cancer subtype. Furthermore, when the analysis was stratified by breast cancer subtype, we found that even in the same pN stage (pN0-pN2), there was significant survival difference among patients in different BCS, and Luminal A breast cancer patients had the best survival outcome. However, there were no significant survival difference between Luminal A patients and other breast cancer subtype when patients in pN3 stage. Thus, our study suggested that both lymph node status and molecular subtype played important roles in the outcome of breast cancer patients and they cannot replace each other. PMID:27999188

Causes of Adult Splanchnic Vein Thrombosis in the Mediterranean Area

PubMed Central

De Stefano, Valerio; Za, Tommaso; Ciminello, Angela; Betti, Silvia; Rossi, Elena

2011-01-01

The term splanchnic vein thrombosis encompasses Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS), extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO), and mesenteric vein thrombosis. Risk factors can be local or systemic. A local precipitating factor is rare in BCS, while it is common in patients with portal vein thrombosis. Chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are the leading systemic cause of splanchnic vein thrombosis, and are diagnosed in half BCS patients and one-third of EHPVO patients; the somatic mutation JAK2 V617F is detectable in a large majority of patients with overt MPN, and up to 40% of patients without overt MPN. Inherited thrombophilia is present in at least one-third of patients, and the factor V Leiden or the prothrombin G20210A mutations are the most common mutations found in BCS or EHPVO patients, respectively. Multiple factors are present in approximately one-third of patients with BCS and two- thirds of patients with portal vein thrombosis. In a few patient series from the Southern Mediterranean area the high prevalence of MPN and thrombophilia as underlying cause of BCS is confirmed, although the data should be considered preliminary. Peculiar risk factors present in the area are Behçet’s disease and hydatidosis; moreover, membraneous webs, typically found in Asian patients, are present in a significant portion of cases. PMID:22220260

Evolution of accesses to information on breast cancer and screening on the Brazilian National Cancer Institute website: an exploratory study.

PubMed

Vasconcellos-Silva, Paulo Roberto; Sormunen, Taina; Craftman, Åsa Gransjön

2018-04-01

Delays in diagnosis due to low Breast Cancer awareness are widespread in Brazil maybe owing to ineffective strategies to raise attention on early diagnosis. As a proxy of collective interest in BC screanning (BCS) we studied the monthly accesses to BC and BCS webpages in INCA's website along 48 months. A log analyzer built a time serie (2006-2009) of BC and BCS monthly means, which oscilations were studied by analysis of variance (ANOVA). We found significant increasing accesses to BC and transient "attention peaks". Enlargement in BC/BCS differences along all period were caused by increasing accesses to BC and decreasing/minor/stable oscillations to SBC pages. These results are consistent with previous reports on increasing interest to BC contrasting with indifference on BCS. In the context of an exploratory study, we discussed some aspects: weakness of a "prevention culture"; lack of confidence in health system and screening programs; "celebrity effect" in the context of media framing; collective perception of risks heightened by perception of social vulnerability. Findings suggest that culture-tailored communication strategies would be necessary to inform Brazilian people about BCS. Future research is needed to study social perceptions and constructions on BC topics.

The association of ruminal pH and some metabolic parameters with conception rate at first artificial insemination in Thai dairy cows.

PubMed

Inchaisri, Chaidate; Chanpongsang, Somchai; Noordhuizen, Jos; Hogeveen, Henk

2013-06-01

The objective of this study was to determine the association of metabolic parameters and cow associated factors with the conception rate at first insemination (FCR) in Thai dairy cows. The investigation was performed with 529 lactations from 32 smallholder dairy farms. At 3-6 weeks after parturition, blood samples and ruminal fluid were collected. Body condition scores (BCS) of cows were scored 1 week before expected calving date and at blood sampling date. Ruminal pH was measured at 2-4 h after morning feeding in ruminal fluid collected by ruminocentesis. Serum beta-hydroxybutyrate and serum urea nitrogen were measured by kinetic enzyme method. Cows with first insemination (AI) between 41 and 114 days postpartum were identified after pregnancy diagnosis for FCR. Breed, parity, interval from calving to first AI, BCS before calving, BCS after calving, loss in BCS after calving, SBHB, SUN, ruminal pH, and postpartum problems were selected as independent variables for a model with FCR as a dependent variable. A multivariable logistic regression model was used with farm as a random effect. Overall FCR was 27.2 %. The FCR depended on interval from calving to first AI, BCS before calving, and ruminal pH. The FCR between 69 and 91 days postpartum was significantly highest (45 %). Before calving, a cow with high BCS (≥ 3.5) had significantly greater FCR than a cow with low BCS (≤ 3.25; P<0.01). An increased ruminal pH raised significantly FCR (OR=2.53; P=0.03).

Influences of barriers to cessation and reasons for quitting on substance use among treatment-seeking smokers who report heavy drinking

PubMed Central

Foster, Dawn W.; Schmidt, Norman B.; Zvolensky, Michael J.

2015-01-01

Objectives We examined behavioral and cognitively-based quit processes among concurrent alcohol and tobacco users and assessed whether smoking and drinking were differentially influenced. Methods Participants were 200 treatment-seeking smokers (37.50% female; Mage = 30.72; SD = 12.68) who reported smoking an average of 10 or more cigarettes daily for at least one year. Results Barriers to cessation (BCS) and reasons for quitting (RFQ) were generally correlated with substance use. BCS moderated the relationship between quit methods and cigarette use such that quit methods were negatively associated with smoking, particularly among those with more BCS. RFQ moderated the association between quit methods and cigarette use such that quit methods were negatively linked with smoking among those with fewer RFQ, but positively linked with smoking among those with more RFQ. Two 3-way interactions emerged. The first 3-way indicated that among individuals with fewer RFQ, quit methods was negatively associated with smoking, and this was strongest among those with more BCS. However, among those with more RFQ, smoking and quit methods were positively associated, particularly among those with more BCS. The second 3-way showed that among those with fewer RFQ, quit methods was negatively linked with drinking frequency, and this was strongest among those with more BCS. However, among those with fewer BCS, drinking and quit methods were positively linked. Conclusions The relationship between behavioral and cognitively-based quit processes and substance use is not straightforward. There may be concurrent substance-using individuals for whom these processes might be associated with increased substance use. PMID:26949566

The use of biopharmaceutic classification of drugs in drug discovery and development: current status and future extension.

PubMed

Lennernäs, Hans; Abrahamsson, Bertil

2005-03-01

Bioavailability (BA) and bioequivalence (BE) play a central role in pharmaceutical product development and BE studies are presently being conducted for New Drug Applications (NDAs) of new compounds, in supplementary NDAs for new medical indications and product line extensions, in Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs) of generic products and in applications for scale-up and post-approval changes. The Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) has been developed to provide a scientific approach for classifying drug compounds based on solubility as related to dose and intestinal permeability in combination with the dissolution properties of the oral immediaterelease (IR) dosage form. The aim of the BCS is to provide a regulatory tool for replacing certain BE studies by accurate in-vitro dissolution tests. The aim of this review is to present the status of the BCS and discuss its future application in pharmaceutical product development. The future application of the BCS is most likely increasingly important when the present framework gains increased recognition, which will probably be the case if the BCS borders for certain class II and III drugs are extended. The future revision of the BCS guidelines by the regulatory agencies in communication with academic and industrial scientists is exciting and will hopefully result in an increased applicability in drug development. Finally, we emphasize the great use of the BCS as a simple tool in early drug development to determine the rate-limiting step in the oral absorption process, which has facilitated the information between different experts involved in the overall drug development process. This increased awareness of a proper biopharmaceutical characterization of new drugs may in the future result in drug molecules with a sufficiently high permeability, solubility and dissolution rate, and that will automatically increase the importance of the BCS as a regulatory tool over time.

Surveillance cultures of samples obtained from biopsy channels and automated endoscope reprocessors after high-level disinfection of gastrointestinal endoscopes

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background The instrument channels of gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopes may be heavily contaminated with bacteria even after high-level disinfection (HLD). The British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines emphasize the benefits of manually brushing endoscope channels and using automated endoscope reprocessors (AERs) for disinfecting endoscopes. In this study, we aimed to assess the effectiveness of decontamination using reprocessors after HLD by comparing the cultured samples obtained from biopsy channels (BCs) of GI endoscopes and the internal surfaces of AERs. Methods We conducted a 5-year prospective study. Every month random consecutive sampling was carried out after a complete reprocessing cycle; 420 rinse and swabs samples were collected from BCs and internal surface of AERs, respectively. Of the 420 rinse samples collected from the BC of the GI endoscopes, 300 were obtained from the BCs of gastroscopes and 120 from BCs of colonoscopes. Samples were collected by flushing the BCs with sterile distilled water, and swabbing the residual water from the AERs after reprocessing. These samples were cultured to detect the presence of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and mycobacteria. Results The number of culture-positive samples obtained from BCs (13.6%, 57/420) was significantly higher than that obtained from AERs (1.7%, 7/420). In addition, the number of culture-positive samples obtained from the BCs of gastroscopes (10.7%, 32/300) and colonoscopes (20.8%, 25/120) were significantly higher than that obtained from AER reprocess to gastroscopes (2.0%, 6/300) and AER reprocess to colonoscopes (0.8%, 1/120). Conclusions Culturing rinse samples obtained from BCs provides a better indication of the effectiveness of the decontamination of GI endoscopes after HLD than culturing the swab samples obtained from the inner surfaces of AERs as the swab samples only indicate whether the AERs are free from microbial contamination or not. PMID:22943739

Surveillance cultures of samples obtained from biopsy channels and automated endoscope reprocessors after high-level disinfection of gastrointestinal endoscopes.

PubMed

Chiu, King-Wah; Tsai, Ming-Chao; Wu, Keng-Liang; Chiu, Yi-Chun; Lin, Ming-Tzung; Hu, Tsung-Hui

2012-09-03

The instrument channels of gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopes may be heavily contaminated with bacteria even after high-level disinfection (HLD). The British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines emphasize the benefits of manually brushing endoscope channels and using automated endoscope reprocessors (AERs) for disinfecting endoscopes. In this study, we aimed to assess the effectiveness of decontamination using reprocessors after HLD by comparing the cultured samples obtained from biopsy channels (BCs) of GI endoscopes and the internal surfaces of AERs. We conducted a 5-year prospective study. Every month random consecutive sampling was carried out after a complete reprocessing cycle; 420 rinse and swabs samples were collected from BCs and internal surface of AERs, respectively. Of the 420 rinse samples collected from the BC of the GI endoscopes, 300 were obtained from the BCs of gastroscopes and 120 from BCs of colonoscopes. Samples were collected by flushing the BCs with sterile distilled water, and swabbing the residual water from the AERs after reprocessing. These samples were cultured to detect the presence of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and mycobacteria. The number of culture-positive samples obtained from BCs (13.6%, 57/420) was significantly higher than that obtained from AERs (1.7%, 7/420). In addition, the number of culture-positive samples obtained from the BCs of gastroscopes (10.7%, 32/300) and colonoscopes (20.8%, 25/120) were significantly higher than that obtained from AER reprocess to gastroscopes (2.0%, 6/300) and AER reprocess to colonoscopes (0.8%, 1/120). Culturing rinse samples obtained from BCs provides a better indication of the effectiveness of the decontamination of GI endoscopes after HLD than culturing the swab samples obtained from the inner surfaces of AERs as the swab samples only indicate whether the AERs are free from microbial contamination or not.

Body condition score and plane of nutrition prepartum affect adipose tissue transcriptome regulators of metabolism and inflammation in grazing dairy cows during the transition period.

PubMed

Vailati-Riboni, M; Kanwal, M; Bulgari, O; Meier, S; Priest, N V; Burke, C R; Kay, J K; McDougall, S; Mitchell, M D; Walker, C G; Crookenden, M; Heiser, A; Roche, J R; Loor, J J

2016-01-01

Recent studies demonstrating a higher incidence of metabolic disorders after calving have challenged the management practice of increasing dietary energy density during the last ~3 wk prepartum. Despite our knowledge at the whole-animal level, the tissue-level mechanisms that are altered in response to feeding management prepartum remain unclear. Our hypothesis was that prepartum body condition score (BCS), in combination with feeding management, plays a central role in the peripartum changes associated with energy balance and inflammatory state. Twenty-eight mid-lactation grazing dairy cows of mixed age and breed were randomly allocated to 1 of 4 treatment groups in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement: 2 prepartum BCS categories (4.0 and 5.0, based on a 10-point scale; BCS4, BCS5) obtained via differential feeding management during late-lactation, and 2 levels of energy intake during the 3 wk preceding calving (75 and 125% of estimated requirements). Subcutaneous adipose tissue was harvested via biopsy at -1, 1, and 4 wk relative to parturition. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to measure mRNA and microRNA (miRNA) expression of targets related to fatty acid metabolism (lipogenesis, lipolysis), adipokine synthesis, and inflammation. Both prepartum BCS and feeding management had a significant effect on mRNA and miRNA expression throughout the peripartum period. Overfed BCS5 cows had the greatest prepartum expression of fatty acid synthase (FASN) and an overall greater expression of leptin (LEP); BCS5 was also associated with greater overall adiponectin (ADIPOQ) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG), whereas overfeeding upregulated expression of proadipogenic miRNA. Higher postpartum expression of chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5) and the cytokines interleukin 6 (IL6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was detected in overfed BCS5 cows. Feed-restricted BCS4 cows had the highest overall interleukin 1 (IL1B) expression. Prepartum feed restriction resulted in greater chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) expression. Overall, changes in mRNA expression were consistent with the expression pattern of inflammation-related miRNA. These data shed light on molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of prepartum BCS and feeding management on metabolic and inflammatory status of adipose tissue during the peripartum period. Data support the use of a controlled feed restriction prepartum in optimally conditioned cows, as well as the use of a higher level of dietary energy in under-conditioned cows. Copyright © 2016 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Inkjet Printing of Drug-Loaded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles-A Platform for Drug Development.

PubMed

Wickström, Henrika; Hilgert, Ellen; Nyman, Johan O; Desai, Diti; Şen Karaman, Didem; de Beer, Thomas; Sandler, Niklas; Rosenholm, Jessica M

2017-11-21

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have shown great potential in improving drug delivery of poorly water soluble (BCS class II, IV) and poorly permeable (BCS class III, IV) drugs, as well as facilitating successful delivery of unstable compounds. The nanoparticle technology would allow improved treatment by reducing adverse reactions of currently approved drugs and possibly reintroducing previously discarded compounds from the drug development pipeline. This study aims to highlight important aspects in mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) ink formulation development for digital inkjet printing technology and to advice on choosing a method (2D/3D) for nanoparticle print deposit characterization. The results show that both unfunctionalized and polyethyeleneimine (PEI) surface functionalized MSNs, as well as drug-free and drug-loaded MSN-PEI suspensions, can be successfully inkjet-printed. Furthermore, the model BCS class IV drug remained incorporated in the MSNs and the suspension remained physically stable during the processing time and steps. This proof-of-concept study suggests that inkjet printing technology would be a flexible deposition method of pharmaceutical MSN suspensions to generate patterns according to predefined designs. The concept could be utilized as a versatile drug screening platform in the future due to the possibility of accurately depositing controlled volumes of MSN suspensions on various materials.

Scientific perspectives on extending the provision for waivers of in vivo bioavailability and bioequivalence studies for drug products containing high solubility-low permeability drugs (BCS-Class 3).

PubMed

Stavchansky, Salomon

2008-06-01

Recently, there has been increased interest in extending the provision for waivers of in vivo bioavailability and bioequivalence (BA-BE) studies that appeared in the guidance published by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (1) to pharmaceutical products containing Class 3 drugs (High solubility-Low Permeability). The extension of the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) to Class 3 drugs is meritorious because of its impact on public health policy considerations. The rate limiting step in the absorption of Class 3 drugs is the permeability through the intestinal membrane. This commentary will focus its attention on the scientific considerations which need to be examined to assess the risk and the benefit prior to granting a waiver of in vivo bioavailability and/or bioequivalence studies for Class 3 drugs. It will examine the forces affecting the interconnectivity of the neuronal, immunological and hormonal systems in the gastrointestinal tract that may affect its permeability and functionality. It will also challenge the assumption that in vitro dissolution and in vitro permeability studies in tissue cultures in the presence and absence of excipients are good predictors for in vivo dissolution and in vivo permeability which are at the heart of the BCS.

Complex blood flow patterns in an idealized left ventricle: A numerical study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tagliabue, Anna; Dedè, Luca; Quarteroni, Alfio

2017-09-01

In this paper, we study the blood flow dynamics in a three-dimensional (3D) idealized left ventricle of the human heart whose deformation is driven by muscle contraction and relaxation in coordination with the action of the mitral and aortic valves. We propose a simplified but realistic mathematical treatment of the valves function based on mixed time-varying boundary conditions (BCs) for the Navier-Stokes equations modeling the flow. These switchings in time BCs, from natural to essential and vice versa, model either the open or the closed configurations of the valves. At the numerical level, these BCs are enforced by means of the extended Nitsche's method (Tagliabue et al., Int. J. Numer. Methods Fluids, 2017). Numerical results for the 3D idealized left ventricle obtained by means of Isogeometric Analysis are presented, discussed in terms of both instantaneous and phase-averaged quantities of interest and validated against those available in the literature, both experimental and computational. The complex blood flow patterns are analysed to describe the characteristic fluid properties, to show the transitional nature of the flow, and to highlight its main features inside the left ventricle. The sensitivity of the intraventricular flow patterns to the mitral valve properties is also investigated.

Cooper-pair and Bose-Einstein condensations in two dimensions: A critical analysis based on the Nozieres and Schmitt-Rink formalism

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

Tokumitu, A.; Miyake, K.; Yamada, K.

1993-05-01

The crossover between the Cooper-pair condensation and the Bose-Einstein condensation of di-electronic'' molecules in two-dimensional superconductors is investigated in detail on the basis of the Nozieres and Schmitt-Rink formalism. It is shown that temperature dependence of the chemical potential [mu] so calculated is classified into two classes as decreasing temperatures; i.e., class (a) where [mu] approaches the point of Bose-Einstein condensation of two-dimensional ideal Bose gas of di-electronic'' molecules, and class (b) where [mu] diverges positively along the line of BCS-type mean-field pair condensation. This feature is rather universal irrespective of strength [ital V] of the attractive interaction of themore » [ital s]-wave type. While the former class (a) has been found by Schmitt-Rink, Varma, and Ruckenstein, existence of the latter class (b) is recognized here. In the case where [ital V] is fixed, class (a) is realized for electron number density [ital N] smaller than [ital N][sub cr], which is an increasing function of [ital V], and class (b) is realized for [ital N] larger than [ital N][sub cr]. If [ital N][much gt][ital N][sub cr] in particular, there exists a regime, where the Fermi-liquid-like description is valid, between the BCS-type mean-field transition temperature and the Fermi temperature. In the situation where [ital V] is changed with [ital N] being fixed, low-temperature states for the strong-coupling case belong to class (a) while those for the weak-coupling case belong to class (b). Therefore, with decreasing [ital V], the chemical potential [mu]([ital T]), at temperatures far below the Fermi temperature, shows a discontinuous jump at [ital V]=[ital V][sub cr]([ital N]) corresponding to the transition from class (a) to (b).« less

Relation of Cognitive Measures to Perceived Work Limitations in Cancer Survivors

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-11-30

completed measures of symptom burden, cognitive function and perceived work output. Results: Breast cancer survivors were an average 3.1 years post ... post -treatment. Self report of cognitive function was significantly related to work output (R2 change = 0.298, p < 0.001) while performance measures...Symptom burden: BCS (N=122) and NCCG (N=112) ...................................... 37 Table 5: Relationship between performance test scales and self

A PARAMETRIC STUDY OF BCS RF SURFACE IMPEDANCE WITH MAGNETIC FIELD USING THE XIAO CODE

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

Reece, Charles E.; Xiao, Binping

2013-09-01

A recent new analysis of field-dependent BCS rf surface impedance based on moving Cooper pairs has been presented.[1] Using this analysis coded in Mathematica TM, survey calculations have been completed which examine the sensitivities of this surface impedance to variation of the BCS material parameters and temperature. The results present a refined description of the "best theoretical" performance available to potential applications with corresponding materials.

Late Intrahepatic Hematoma Complicating Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt for Budd-Chiari Syndrome

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

Terreni, Natalia; Vangeli, Marcello; Raimondo, Maria Luisa

Late intrahepatic hematoma is a rare complication of the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure. We describe a patient with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS), who presented with a large inrahepatic hematoma 13 days after TIPS. Review of the literature reveals only two previous cases, both occurring in patients with BCS and presenting after a similar time interval. This potentially serious complication appears to be specific for TIPS in BCS.

The Bellevue Classification System: nursing's voice upon the library shelves*†

PubMed Central

Mages, Keith C

2011-01-01

This article examines the inspiration, construction, and meaning of the Bellevue Classification System (BCS), created during the 1930s for use in the Bellevue School of Nursing Library. Nursing instructor Ann Doyle, with assistance from librarian Mary Casamajor, designed the BCS after consulting with library leaders and examining leading contemporary classification systems, including the Dewey Decimal Classification and Library of Congress, Ballard, and National Health Library classification systems. A close textual reading of the classes, subclasses, and subdivisions of these classification systems against those of the resulting BCS, reveals Doyle's belief that the BCS was created not only to organize the literature, but also to promote the burgeoning intellectualism and professionalism of early twentieth-century American nursing. PMID:21243054

Blind Compressed Sensing Enables 3-Dimensional Dynamic Free Breathing Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Lung Volumes and Diaphragm Motion.

PubMed

Bhave, Sampada; Lingala, Sajan Goud; Newell, John D; Nagle, Scott K; Jacob, Mathews

2016-06-01

The objective of this study was to increase the spatial and temporal resolution of dynamic 3-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of lung volumes and diaphragm motion. To achieve this goal, we evaluate the utility of the proposed blind compressed sensing (BCS) algorithm to recover data from highly undersampled measurements. We evaluated the performance of the BCS scheme to recover dynamic data sets from retrospectively and prospectively undersampled measurements. We also compared its performance against that of view-sharing, the nuclear norm minimization scheme, and the l1 Fourier sparsity regularization scheme. Quantitative experiments were performed on a healthy subject using a fully sampled 2D data set with uniform radial sampling, which was retrospectively undersampled with 16 radial spokes per frame to correspond to an undersampling factor of 8. The images obtained from the 4 reconstruction schemes were compared with the fully sampled data using mean square error and normalized high-frequency error metrics. The schemes were also compared using prospective 3D data acquired on a Siemens 3 T TIM TRIO MRI scanner on 8 healthy subjects during free breathing. Two expert cardiothoracic radiologists (R1 and R2) qualitatively evaluated the reconstructed 3D data sets using a 5-point scale (0-4) on the basis of spatial resolution, temporal resolution, and presence of aliasing artifacts. The BCS scheme gives better reconstructions (mean square error = 0.0232 and normalized high frequency = 0.133) than the other schemes in the 2D retrospective undersampling experiments, producing minimally distorted reconstructions up to an acceleration factor of 8 (16 radial spokes per frame). The prospective 3D experiments show that the BCS scheme provides visually improved reconstructions than the other schemes do. The BCS scheme provides improved qualitative scores over nuclear norm and l1 Fourier sparsity regularization schemes in the temporal blurring and spatial blurring categories. The qualitative scores for aliasing artifacts in the images reconstructed by nuclear norm scheme and BCS scheme are comparable.The comparisons of the tidal volume changes also show that the BCS scheme has less temporal blurring as compared with the nuclear norm minimization scheme and the l1 Fourier sparsity regularization scheme. The minute ventilation estimated by BCS for tidal breathing in supine position (4 L/min) and the measured supine inspiratory capacity (1.5 L) is in good correlation with the literature. The improved performance of BCS can be explained by its ability to efficiently adapt to the data, thus providing a richer representation of the signal. The feasibility of the BCS scheme was demonstrated for dynamic 3D free breathing MRI of lung volumes and diaphragm motion. A temporal resolution of ∼500 milliseconds, spatial resolution of 2.7 × 2.7 × 10 mm, with whole lung coverage (16 slices) was achieved using the BCS scheme.

The effect of body condition at calving and supplementation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae on energy status and some reproductive parameters in early lactation dairy cows.

PubMed

AlIbrahim, R M; Crowe, M A; Duffy, P; O'Grady, L; Beltman, M E; Mulligan, F J

2010-08-01

Improving the energy status of dairy cows during the early post-partum (PP) period by adding a safe dietary supplement such as live yeast culture (YS) may have a positive effect on reproductive function. The objective was to examine potential benefits of YS supplementation on PP energy status and fertility indices of dairy cows managed to have low or high body condition score (BCS, 1-5 scale) at calving. Forty (10 primiparous and 30 multiparous) Holstein/Friesian dairy cows were blocked by yield, parity, BCS, and predicted calving date. Within each block, cows were randomly allocated to a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments which were: BCS at calving (low < or =3.5 or high > or =3.75; n=20) and YS supplementation (2.5g/cow/day for pre-calving and 10g/cow/day for post-calving x 10(8) CFU of Saccharomyces cerevisiae/g) (supplemented or control; n=20). Daily milk yield was recorded and weekly milk composition, BCS and BW were assessed from calving to week 10 PP. Forage (100% grass silage pre-calving; 50% grass silage, 50% maize silage post-calving; ad libitum) intake was recorded individually. Concentrate (2kg of pre-calver nuts+/-YS for pre-calving and 8 kg of lactating nuts+/-YS for post-calving) feeding was controlled individually. Estimated energy balance PP was calculated on a weekly basis individually as the difference between the net energy (NE) intake and the sum of NE for maintenance and milk production. Insulin and IGF-I concentrations were determined on days 14 and 7 pre-calving and 1, 5, 15, 25 and 35 post-calving. Daily ovarian ultrasonography was performed from day 10 PP to monitor the size and development of the first dominant follicle (>10mm in diameter with absence of other large growing follicles), first ovulatory follicle and days to first ovulation PP. Pre-ovulatory peak of serum oestradiol concentration was determined during the 2 days before ovulation day. Cows with high BCS (over-conditioned) at calving ingested less NE, produced more milk NE output, and consequently had a significantly (P<0.05) exacerbated negative energy balance in comparison with low BCS cows (moderately conditioned) during early lactation. Higher (P<0.05) insulin concentrations and a tendency for higher (P=0.06) pre-ovulatory peak oestradiol concentrations in low BCS group were detected in the early PP period. Supplementing the diet with YS had no effect (P>0.10) on NE intake, NE milk output or energy balance. On the other hand it increased (P<0.01) insulin concentration and tended to increase (P=0.07) pre-ovulatory peak oestradiol concentrations and the size of first ovulatory follicle (P=0.09) early PP. Feeding YS had no effect on energy status of lactating dairy cows with high or low BCS at calving, whilst it improved serum insulin concentration, pre-ovulatory peak of oestradiol and the size of first ovulatory follicle in the early PP period. These observed effects of YS supplementation require to be substantiated with further research. Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Superconductivity in the two-dimensional Hubbard model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beenen, J.; Edwards, D. M.

1995-11-01

Quasiparticle bands of the two-dimensional Hubbard model are calculated using the Roth two-pole approximation to the one-particle Green's function. Excellent agreement is obtained with recent Monte Carlo calculations, including an anomalous volume of the Fermi surface near half-filling, which can possibly be explained in terms of a breakdown of Fermi liquid theory. The calculated bands are very flat around the (π,0) points of the Brillouin zone in agreement with photoemission measurements of cuprate superconductors. With doping there is a shift in spectral weight from the upper band to the lower band. The Roth method is extended to deal with superconductivity within a four-pole approximation allowing electron-hole mixing. It is shown that triplet p-wave pairing never occurs. A self-consistent solution with singlet dx2-y2-wave pairing is found and optimal doping occurs when the van Hove singularity, corresponding to the flat band part, lies at the Fermi level. Nearest-neighbor antiferromagnetic correlations play an important role in flattening the bands near the Fermi level and in favoring superconductivity. However, the mechanism for superconductivity is a local one, in contrast to spin-fluctuation exchange models. For reasonable values of the hopping parameter the transition temperature Tc is in the range 10-100 K. The optimum doping δc lies between 0.14 and 0.25, depending on the ratio U/t. The gap equation has a BCS-like form and 2Δmax/kTc~=4.

Elucidating the role of AII amacrine cells in glutamatergic retinal waves.

PubMed

Firl, Alana; Ke, Jiang-Bin; Zhang, Lei; Fuerst, Peter G; Singer, Joshua H; Feller, Marla B

2015-01-28

Spontaneous retinal activity mediated by glutamatergic neurotransmission-so-called "Stage 3" retinal waves-drives anti-correlated spiking in ON and OFF RGCs during the second week of postnatal development of the mouse. In the mature retina, the activity of a retinal interneuron called the AII amacrine cell is responsible for anti-correlated spiking in ON and OFF α-RGCs. In mature AIIs, membrane hyperpolarization elicits bursting behavior. Here, we postulated that bursting in AIIs underlies the initiation of glutamatergic retinal waves. We tested this hypothesis by using two-photon calcium imaging of spontaneous activity in populations of retinal neurons and by making whole-cell recordings from individual AIIs and α-RGCs in in vitro preparations of mouse retina. We found that AIIs participated in retinal waves, and that their activity was correlated with that of ON α-RGCs and anti-correlated with that of OFF α-RGCs. Though immature AIIs lacked the complement of membrane conductances necessary to generate bursting, pharmacological activation of the M-current, a conductance that modulates bursting in mature AIIs, blocked retinal wave generation. Interestingly, blockade of the pacemaker conductance Ih, a conductance absent in AIIs but present in both ON and OFF cone bipolar cells, caused a dramatic loss of spatial coherence of spontaneous activity. We conclude that during glutamatergic waves, AIIs act to coordinate and propagate activity generated by BCs rather than to initiate spontaneous activity. Copyright © 2015 the authors 0270-6474/15/351675-12$15.00/0.

The potential interaction between ewe body condition score and nutrition during very late pregnancy and lactation on the performance of twin-bearing ewes and their lambs

PubMed Central

Cranston, L. M.; Kenyon, P. R.; Corner-Thomas, R. A.; Morris, S. T.

2017-01-01

Objective The present study aimed to determine the impact of ewe body condition score (BCS) (over a range of 2.0 to 3.0) and nutritional treatments (consisting of differing herbage masses) during very late pregnancy and lactation and their potential interaction on the performance of twin-bearing ewes and their lambs to weaning. Methods On day 142 of pregnancy, twin-bearing ewes with a BCS of 2.0, 2.5, or 3.0 were allocated to a “Moderate’ or ‘Unrestricted’ nutritional treatment until day 95 of lactation (weaning). The nutritional treatments aimed to achieve average herbage masses of 1,200 to 1,300 kg dry matter (DM)/ha (Moderate) and 1,500 to 1,800 kg DM/ha (Unrestricted). Results There were no three-way interactions between ewe BCS group, nutritional treatment and time for any ewe or lamb parameter. The nutritional treatments had no effect (p>0.05) on lamb birth or weaning weight. Lambs born to Moderate ewes had greater survival and total litter weight at weaning (p<0.05). Regardless of BCS group, Unrestricted treatment ewes had greater body condition and back-fat depth at weaning than Moderate treatment ewes (p<0.05). Ewes of BCS 2.0 group reared lighter lambs to weaning (p<0.05) and tended to have a lower total litter weight (p = 0.06) than BCS 3.0 group ewes. Conclusion This study suggests farmers should aim to have all ewes with a BCS of 2.5 or 3 in late pregnancy for optimal lamb weaning performance. Furthermore, there is no benefit to lamb production of offering ewes pasture masses >1,200 kg DM/ha during very late pregnancy and lactation. PMID:28231701

The potential interaction between ewe body condition score and nutrition during very late pregnancy and lactation on the performance of twin-bearing ewes and their lambs.

PubMed

Cranston, L M; Kenyon, P R; Corner-Thomas, R A; Morris, S T

2017-09-01

The present study aimed to determine the impact of ewe body condition score (BCS) (over a range of 2.0 to 3.0) and nutritional treatments (consisting of differing herbage masses) during very late pregnancy and lactation and their potential interaction on the performance of twin-bearing ewes and their lambs to weaning. On day 142 of pregnancy, twin-bearing ewes with a BCS of 2.0, 2.5, or 3.0 were allocated to a "Moderate' or 'Unrestricted' nutritional treatment until day 95 of lactation (weaning). The nutritional treatments aimed to achieve average herbage masses of 1,200 to 1,300 kg dry matter (DM)/ha (Moderate) and 1,500 to 1,800 kg DM/ha (Unrestricted). There were no three-way interactions between ewe BCS group, nutritional treatment and time for any ewe or lamb parameter. The nutritional treatments had no effect (p>0.05) on lamb birth or weaning weight. Lambs born to Moderate ewes had greater survival and total litter weight at weaning (p<0.05). Regardless of BCS group, Unrestricted treatment ewes had greater body condition and back-fat depth at weaning than Moderate treatment ewes (p<0.05). Ewes of BCS 2.0 group reared lighter lambs to weaning (p<0.05) and tended to have a lower total litter weight (p = 0.06) than BCS 3.0 group ewes. This study suggests farmers should aim to have all ewes with a BCS of 2.5 or 3 in late pregnancy for optimal lamb weaning performance. Furthermore, there is no benefit to lamb production of offering ewes pasture masses >1,200 kg DM/ha during very late pregnancy and lactation.

Implementation of national body contouring surgery guidelines following massive weight loss: A national cross-sectional survey of commissioning in England.

PubMed

Dunne, Jonathan A; Wormald, Justin C R; Ghedia, Reshma; Soldin, Mark

2017-01-01

National guidelines for commissioning of body contouring surgery (BCS) following massive weight loss (MWL) in England were published in 2014. Nearly three-quarters of patients who have MWL seek BCS; however, access is known to vary according to the region. The aim of national guidelines was to standardise access. The purpose of this study was to determine implementation of the national guidelines by clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in England. A cross-sectional, web-based survey was sent to all CCG chairs in England. Of 211 potential respondents, 108 completed the survey or provided funding guidelines (response rate = 52%). Eight CCGs (7%) had implemented the guidelines. A total of 69 CCGs were aware of the new guidelines (64%), and 66 CCGs stated that they fund BCS after MWL (61%). A total of 81 CCGs (75%) identified local funding guidelines, while 15 CCGs (14%) cited individual funding requests (IFRs) as the means of accessing funding. To improve patient access to BCS; 58 of 65 respondents (89%) stated cost-effectiveness, whereas 56 of 75 respondents (75%) thought patient-reported outcome measures were key. Qualitative data to improve access included an integrated pathway from bariatric surgery to BCS, an improved evidence base and greater CCG finances. One CCG stated that it cannot afford to fund cosmetic procedures. The purpose of national guidelines was to simplify the pathway to BCS after MWL and create fair distribution of funds across the country to needy patients; however, their uptake has been poor. Access to funding for BCS across England varies according to the location. Copyright © 2016 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A modified physiological BCS for prediction of intestinal absorption in drug discovery.

PubMed

Zaki, Noha M; Artursson, Per; Bergström, Christel A S

2010-10-04

In this study, the influence of physiologically relevant media on the compound position in a biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS) which resembled the intestinal absorption was investigated. Both solubility and permeability limited compounds (n = 22) were included to analyze the importance of each of these on the final absorption. Solubility was determined in three different dissolution media, phosphate buffer pH 6.5 (PhB 6.5), fasted state simulated intestinal fluid (FaSSIF), and fed state simulated intestinal fluid (FeSSIF) at 37 °C, and permeability values were determined using the 2/4/A1 cell line. The solubility data and membrane permeability values were used for sorting the compounds into a BCS modified to reflect the fasted and fed state. Three of the seven compounds sorted as BCS II in PhB 6.5 (high permeability, low solubility) changed their position to BCS I when dissolved in FaSSIF and/or FeSSIF (high permeability, high solubility). These were low dosed (20 mg or less) lipophilic molecules displaying solvation limited solubility. In contrast, compounds having solid-state limited solubility had a minor increase in solubility when dissolved in FaSSIF and/or FeSSIF. Although further studies are needed to enable general cutoff values, our study indicates that low dosed BCS Class II compounds which have solubility normally restricted by poor solvation may behave as BCS Class I compounds in vivo. The large series of compounds investigated herein reveals the importance of investigating solubility and dissolution under physiologically relevant conditions in all stages of the drug discovery process to push suitable compounds forward, to select proper formulations, and to reduce the risk of food effects.

Acceptability and characteristics of 124 human bioequivalence studies with active substances classified according to the Biopharmaceutic Classification System

PubMed Central

Ramirez, Elena; Laosa, Olga; Guerra, Pedro; Duque, Blanca; Mosquera, Beatriz; Borobia, Alberto M; Lei, Suhua H; Carcas, Antonio J; Frias, Jesus

2010-01-01

AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate the acceptability of 124 bioequivalence (BE) studies with 80 active substances categorized according to the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) in order to establish if there were different probabilities of proving BE between the different BCS classes. METHODS We evaluated the differences between pharmaceutical products with active substances from different BCS classes in terms of acceptability, number of subjects in the study (n), the point estimates, and intra- and inter-subject coefficients of variation data from BE studies with generic products. RESULTS Out of 124 BE studies 89 (71.77%) were performed with pharmaceutical products containing active substances classified by the BCS. In all BCS classes there were non-bioequivalent pharmaceutical products: 4 out of 26 (15.38%) in class 1, 14 out of 28 (50%) in class 2, 3 out of 22 (13.63%) in class 3 and 1 out of 13 (7.69%) in class 4. When we removed those pharmaceutical products in which intra-subject variability was higher than predicted (2 in class 1 active substances, 9 in class 2 and 2 in class 3) there were still non-BE pharmaceutical products in classes 1, 2 and 3. CONCLUSIONS Comparisons between pharmaceutical products with active substances from the four BCS classes have not allowed us to define differential characteristics of each class in terms of n, inter and intra-subject variability for Cmax or AUC. Despite the usually employed test dissolution methodology proposed as quality control, pharmaceutical products with active substances from the four classes of BCS showed non-BE studies. PMID:21039763

Chemicals or mutations that target mitochondrial translation can rescue the respiratory deficiency of yeast bcs1 mutants.

PubMed

Panozzo, C; Laleve, A; Tribouillard-Tanvier, D; Ostojić, J; Sellem, C H; Friocourt, G; Bourand-Plantefol, A; Burg, A; Delahodde, A; Blondel, M; Dujardin, G

2017-12-01

Bcs1p is a chaperone that is required for the incorporation of the Rieske subunit within complex III of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Mutations in the human gene BCS1L (BCS1-like) are the most frequent nuclear mutations resulting in complex III-related pathologies. In yeast, the mimicking of some pathogenic mutations causes a respiratory deficiency. We have screened chemical libraries and found that two antibiotics, pentamidine and clarithromycin, can compensate two bcs1 point mutations in yeast, one of which is the equivalent of a mutation found in a human patient. As both antibiotics target the large mtrRNA of the mitoribosome, we focused our analysis on mitochondrial translation. We found that the absence of non-essential translation factors Rrf1 or Mif3, which act at the recycling/initiation steps, also compensates for the respiratory deficiency of yeast bcs1 mutations. At compensating concentrations, both antibiotics, as well as the absence of Rrf1, cause an imbalanced synthesis of respiratory subunits which impairs the assembly of the respiratory complexes and especially that of complex IV. Finally, we show that pentamidine also decreases the assembly of complex I in nematode mitochondria. It is well known that complexes III and IV exist within the mitochondrial inner membrane as supramolecular complexes III 2 /IV in yeast or I/III 2 /IV in higher eukaryotes. Therefore, we propose that the changes in mitochondrial translation caused by the drugs or by the absence of translation factors, can compensate for bcs1 mutations by modifying the equilibrium between illegitimate, and thus inactive, and active supercomplexes. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

A Sensitivity Study on Modeling Black Carbon in Snow and its Radiative Forcing over the Arctic and Northern China

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

Qian, Yun; Wang, Hailong; Zhang, Rudong

2014-06-02

Black carbon in snow (BCS) simulated in the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM5) is evaluated against measurements over Northern China and the Arctic, and its sensitivity to atmospheric deposition and two parameters that affect post-depositional enrichment is explored. The BCS concentration is overestimated (underestimated) by a factor of two in Northern China (Arctic) in the default model, but agreement with observations is good over both regions in the simulation with improvements in BC transport and deposition. Sensitivity studies indicate that uncertainty in the melt-water scavenging efficiency (MSE) parameter substantially affects BCS and its radiative forcing (by a factor of 2-7) inmore » the Arctic through post-depositional enrichment. The MSE parameter has a relatively small effect on the magnitude of BCS seasonal cycle but can alter its phase in Northern China. The impact of the snow aging scaling factor (SAF) on BCS, partly through the post-depositional enrichment effect, shows more complex latitudinal and seasonal dependence. Similar to MSE, SAF affects more significantly the magnitude (phase) of BCS season cycle over the Arctic (Northern China). While uncertainty associated with the representation of BC transport and deposition processes in CAM5 is more important than that associated with the two snow model parameters in Northern China, the two uncertainties have comparable effect in the Arctic.« less

Big system: Interactive graphics for the engineer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Quenneville, C. E.

1975-01-01

The BCS Interactive Graphics System (BIG System) approach to graphics was presented, along with several significant engineering applications. The BIG System precompiler, the graphics support library, and the function requirements of graphics applications are discussed. It was concluded that graphics standardization and a device independent code can be developed to assure maximum graphic terminal transferability.

Biowaiver extension potential and IVIVC for BCS Class II drugs by formulation design: Case study for cyclosporine self-microemulsifying formulation.

PubMed

Yang, Su-Geun

2010-11-01

The objective of this work was to suggest the biowaiver potential of biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS) Class II drugs in self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS) which are known to increase the solubility, dissolution and oral absorption of water-insoluble drugs. Cyclosporine was selected as a representative BCS Class II drug. New generic candidate of cyclosporine SMEDDS (test) was applied for the study with brand SMEDDS (reference I) and cyclosporine self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS, reference II). Solubility and dissolution of cyclosporine from SMEDDS were critically enhanced, which were the similar behaviors with BCS class I drug. The test showed the identical dissolution rate and the equivalent bioavailability (0.34, 0.42 and 0.68 of p values for AUC₀(→)₂₄(h), C(max) and T(max), respectively) with the reference I. Based on the results, level A in vitro-in vivo correlation (IVIVC) was established from these two SMEDDS formulations. This study serves as a good example for speculating the biowaiver extension potential of BCS Class II drugs specifically in solubilizing formulation such as SMEDDS.

Superfluid density of states and pseudogap phenomenon in the BCS-BEC crossover regime of a superfluid Fermi gas

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

Watanabe, Ryota; Tsuchiya, Shunji; CREST

2010-10-15

We investigate single-particle excitations and strong-coupling effects in the BCS-BEC crossover regime of a superfluid Fermi gas. Including phase and amplitude fluctuations of the superfluid order parameter within a T-matrix theory, we calculate the superfluid density of states (DOS), as well as single-particle spectral weight, over the entire BCS-BEC crossover region below the superfluid transition temperature T{sub c}. We clarify how the pseudogap in the normal state evolves into the superfluid gap, as one passes through T{sub c}. While the pseudogap in DOS continuously evolves into the superfluid gap in the weak-coupling BCS regime, the superfluid gap in the crossovermore » region is shown to appear in DOS after the pseudogap disappears below T{sub c}. In the phase diagram with respect to the temperature and interaction strength, we determine the region where strong pairing fluctuations dominate over single-particle properties of the system. Our results would be useful for the study of strong-coupling phenomena in the BCS-BEC crossover regime of a superfluid Fermi gas.« less

The Landscape of Somatic Genetic Alterations in Breast Cancers From ATM Germline Mutation Carriers.

PubMed

Weigelt, Britta; Bi, Rui; Kumar, Rahul; Blecua, Pedro; Mandelker, Diana L; Geyer, Felipe C; Pareja, Fresia; James, Paul A; Couch, Fergus J; Eccles, Diana M; Blows, Fiona; Pharoah, Paul; Li, Anqi; Selenica, Pier; Lim, Raymond S; Jayakumaran, Gowtham; Waddell, Nic; Shen, Ronglai; Norton, Larry; Wen, Hannah Y; Powell, Simon N; Riaz, Nadeem; Robson, Mark E; Reis-Filho, Jorge S; Chenevix-Trench, Georgia

2018-02-28

Pathogenic germline variants in ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM), a gene that plays a role in DNA damage response and cell cycle checkpoints, confer an increased breast cancer (BC) risk. Here, we investigated the phenotypic characteristics and landscape of somatic genetic alterations in 24 BCs from ATM germline mutation carriers by whole-exome and targeted sequencing. ATM-associated BCs were consistently hormone receptor positive and largely displayed minimal immune infiltrate. Although 79.2% of these tumors exhibited loss of heterozygosity of the ATM wild-type allele, none displayed high activity of mutational signature 3 associated with defective homologous recombination DNA (HRD) repair. No TP53 mutations were found in the ATM-associated BCs. Analysis of an independent data set confirmed that germline ATM variants and TP53 somatic mutations are mutually exclusive. Our findings indicate that ATM-associated BCs often harbor bi-allelic inactivation of ATM, are phenotypically distinct from BRCA1/2-associated BCs, lack HRD-related mutational signatures, and that TP53 and ATM genetic alterations are likely epistatic.

Quenching characteristics of bathocuproinedisulfonic acid, disodium salt in aqueous solution and copper sulfate plating solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koga, Toshiaki; Hirakawa, Chieko; Takeshita, Michinori; Terasaki, Nao

2018-04-01

Bathocuproinedisulfonic acid, disodium salt (BCS) is generally used to detect Cu(I) through a color reaction. We newly found BCS fluorescence in the visible blue region in an aqueous solution. However, the fluorescence mechanism of BCS is not well known, so we should investigate its fundamental information. We confirmed that the characteristics of fluorescence are highly dependent on the molecular concentration and solvent properties. In particular, owing to the presence of the copper compound, the fluorescence intensity extremely decreases. By fluorescence quenching, we observed that a copper compound concentration of 10-6 mol/L or less could easily be measured in an aqueous solution. We also observed BCS fluorescence in copper sulfate plating solution and the possibility of detecting monovalent copper by fluorescence reabsorption.

A visual system for scoring body condition of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus).

PubMed

Wijeyamohan, Shanmugasundaram; Treiber, Kibby; Schmitt, Dennis; Santiapillai, Charles

2015-01-01

A body condition score (BCS) may provide information on the health or production potential of an animal; it may also reflect the suitability of the environment to maintain an animal population. Thus assessing the BCS of Asian elephants is important for their management. There is a need for a robust BCS applicable to both wild and captive elephants of all age categories based on the minimum and maximum possible subcutaneous body fat and muscle deposits. The visually based system for scoring the body condition of elephants presented here satisfies these criteria and is quick, inexpensive, non-invasive and user-friendly in the field. The BCS scale correlates (P < 0.05) with morphometric indices such as weight, girth, and skin fold measures. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Application of fecal near-infrared spectroscopy and nutritional balance software to monitor diet quality and body condition in beef cows grazing Arizona rangeland.

PubMed

Tolleson, D R; Schafer, D W

2014-01-01

Monitoring the nutritional status of range cows is difficult. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) of feces has been used to predict diet quality in cattle. When fecal NIRS is coupled with decision support software such as the Nutritional Balance Analyzer (NUTBAL PRO), nutritional status and animal performance can be monitored. Approximately 120 Hereford and 90 CGC composite (50% Red Angus, 25% Tarentaise, and 25% Charolais) cows grazing in a single herd were used in a study to determine the ability of fecal NIRS and NutbalPro to project BCS (1 = thin and 9 = fat) under commercial scale rangeland conditions in central Arizona. Cattle were rotated across the 31,000 ha allotment at 10 to 20 d intervals. Cattle BCS and fecal samples (approximately 500 g) composited from 5 to 10 cows were collected in the pasture approximately monthly at the midpoint of each grazing period. Samples were frozen and later analyzed by NIRS for prediction of diet crude protein (CP) and digestible organic matter (DOM). Along with fecal NIRS predicted diet quality, animal breed type, reproductive status, and environmental conditions were input to the software for each fecal sampling and BCS date. Three different evaluations were performed. First, fecal NIRS and NutbalPro derived BCS was projected forward from each sampling as if it were a "one-time only" measurement. Second, BCS was derived from the average predicted weight change between 2 sampling dates for a given period. Third, inputs to the model were adjusted to better represent local animals and conditions. Fecal NIRS predicted diet quality varied from a minimum of approximately 5% CP and 57% DOM in winter to a maximum of approximately 11% CP and 60% DOM in summer. Diet quality correlated with observed seasonal changes and precipitation events. In evaluation 1, differences in observed versus projected BCS were not different (P > 0.1) between breed types but these values ranged from 0.1 to 1.1 BCS in Herefords and 0.0 to 0.9 in CGC. In evaluation 2, differences in observed versus projected BCS were not different (P > 0.1) between breed types but these values ranged from 0.00 to 0.46 in Hereford and 0.00 to 0.67 in CGC. In evaluation 3, the range of differences between observed and projected BCS was 0.04 to 0.28. The greatest difference in projected versus observed BCS occurred during periods of lowest diet quality. Body condition was predicted accurately enough to be useful in monitoring the nutrition of range beef cows under the conditions of this study.

Mean-field description of topological charge 4e superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gabriele, Victoria; Luo, Jing; Teo, Jeffrey C. Y.

BCS superconductors can be understood by a mean-field approximation of two-body interacting Hamiltonians, whose ground states break charge conservation spontaneously by allowing non-vanishing expectation values of charge 2e Cooper pairs. Topological superconductors, such as one-dimensional p-wave wires, have non-trivial ground states that support robust gapless boundary excitations. We construct a four-body Hamiltonian in one dimension and perform a mean-field analysis. The mean-field Hamiltonian is now quartic in fermions but is still exactly solvable. The ground state exhibits 4-fermion expectation values instead of Cooper pair ones. There also exists a topological phase, where the charge 4e superconductor carries exotic zero energy boundary excitations.

Long-Term Follow-Up After Successful Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Placement in a Pediatric Patient with Budd-Chiari Syndrome

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

Carnevale, Francisco Cesar, E-mail: fcarnevale@uol.com.br; Szejnfeld, Denis, E-mail: denis@cura.com.br; Moreira, Airton Mota

Orthotopic liver transplantation is the standard of care in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS), and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) has become an important adjunct procedure while the patient is waiting for a liver. No long-term follow up of TIPS in BCS patients has been published in children. We report successful 10-year follow-up of a child with BCS and iatrogenic TIPS dysfunction caused by oral contraceptive use.

Genetic analysis of efficiency traits in Austrian dairy cattle and their relationships with body condition score and lameness.

PubMed

Köck, A; Ledinek, M; Gruber, L; Steininger, F; Fuerst-Waltl, B; Egger-Danner, C

2018-01-01

This study is part of a larger project whose overall objective was to evaluate the possibilities for genetic improvement of efficiency in Austrian dairy cattle. In 2014, a 1-yr data collection was carried out. Data from 6,519 cows kept on 161 farms were recorded. In addition to routinely recorded data (e.g., milk yield, fertility, disease data), data of novel traits [e.g., body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), lameness score, body measurements] and individual feeding information and feed quality were recorded on each test-day. The specific objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for efficiency (related) traits and to investigate their relationships with BCS and lameness in Austrian Fleckvieh, Brown Swiss, and Holstein cows. The following efficiency (related) traits were considered: energy-corrected milk (ECM), BW, dry matter intake (DMI), energy intake (INEL), ratio of milk output to metabolic BW (ECM/BW 0.75 ), ratio of milk output to DMI (ECM/DMI), and ratio of milk energy output to total energy intake (LE/INEL, LE = energy in milk). For Fleckvieh, the heritability estimates of the efficiency (related) traits ranged from 0.11 for LE/INEL to 0.44 for BW. Heritabilities for BCS and lameness were 0.19 and 0.07, respectively. Repeatabilities were high and ranged from 0.30 for LE/INEL to 0.83 for BW. Heritability estimates were generally lower for Brown Swiss and Holstein, but repeatabilities were in the same range as for Fleckvieh. In all 3 breeds, more-efficient cows were found to have a higher milk yield, lower BW, slightly higher DMI, and lower BCS. Higher efficiency was associated with slightly fewer lameness problems, most likely due to the lower BW (especially in Fleckvieh) and higher DMI of the more-efficient cows. Body weight and BCS were positively correlated. Therefore, when selecting for a lower BW, BCS is required as additional information because, otherwise, no distinction between large animals with low BCS and smaller animals with normal BCS would be possible. Copyright © 2018 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Development of automatic body condition scoring using a low-cost 3-dimensional Kinect camera.

PubMed

Spoliansky, Roii; Edan, Yael; Parmet, Yisrael; Halachmi, Ilan

2016-09-01

Body condition scoring (BCS) is a farm-management tool for estimating dairy cows' energy reserves. Today, BCS is performed manually by experts. This paper presents a 3-dimensional algorithm that provides a topographical understanding of the cow's body to estimate BCS. An automatic BCS system consisting of a Kinect camera (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA) triggered by a passive infrared motion detector was designed and implemented. Image processing and regression algorithms were developed and included the following steps: (1) image restoration, the removal of noise; (2) object recognition and separation, identification and separation of the cows; (3) movie and image selection, selection of movies and frames that include the relevant data; (4) image rotation, alignment of the cow parallel to the x-axis; and (5) image cropping and normalization, removal of irrelevant data, setting the image size to 150×200 pixels, and normalizing image values. All steps were performed automatically, including image selection and classification. Fourteen individual features per cow, derived from the cows' topography, were automatically extracted from the movies and from the farm's herd-management records. These features appear to be measurable in a commercial farm. Manual BCS was performed by a trained expert and compared with the output of the training set. A regression model was developed, correlating the features with the manual BCS references. Data were acquired for 4 d, resulting in a database of 422 movies of 101 cows. Movies containing cows' back ends were automatically selected (389 movies). The data were divided into a training set of 81 cows and a test set of 20 cows; both sets included the identical full range of BCS classes. Accuracy tests gave a mean absolute error of 0.26, median absolute error of 0.19, and coefficient of determination of 0.75, with 100% correct classification within 1 step and 91% correct classification within a half step for BCS classes. Results indicated good repeatability, with all standard deviations under 0.33. The algorithm is independent of the background and requires 10 cows for training with approximately 30 movies of 4 s each. Copyright © 2016 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Thermoelectrokinetic instability in micro/nanoscales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ganchenko, Georgy; Ganchenko, Natalia

2016-11-01

A novel sophisticated type of electro-hydrodynamic instability in an electrolyte solution near ion-selective surfaces in an external electric field is discovered theoretically. The key mechanism of the instability is caused by Joule heating but dramatically differs from the well-known Raleigh-Benard convection. The investigation is based on the Nernst-Planck-Poisson-Navier-Stokes system along with the energy equation and corresponding BCs. The 1D quiescent steady state in microscales can be unstable with respect to either short-wave Rubinstein-Zaltzman or long-wave thermoelectokinenetic instability. The last one prevails in long microchannels and good enough thermal insulation of the system. In addition to the linear stability analysis a direct numerical simulation of the full 3D nonlinear system is fulfilled using a parallel computing. In the final coherent structures salt concentration, temperature and electric current are localized in narrow long fingers normal to the ion-selective surface while space charge forms crown-like micro-patterns. The investigation results can be useful in desalination problem.

Charge density wave transition in single-layer titanium diselenide

DOE PAGES

Chen, P.; Chan, Y. -H.; Fang, X. -Y.; ...

2015-11-16

A single molecular layer of titanium diselenide (TiSe 2) is a promising material for advanced electronics beyond graphene--a strong focus of current research. Such molecular layers are at the quantum limit of device miniaturization and can show enhanced electronic effects not realizable in thick films. We show that single-layer TiSe 2 exhibits a charge density wave (CDW) transition at critical temperature T C=232±5 K, which is higher than the bulk T C=200±5 K. Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements reveal a small absolute bandgap at room temperature, which grows wider with decreasing temperature T below T C in conjunction with the emergencemore » of (2 × 2) ordering. The results are rationalized in terms of first-principles calculations, symmetry breaking and phonon entropy effects. The behavior of the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) gap implies a mean-field CDW order in the single layer and an anisotropic CDW order in the bulk.« less

Theoretical and experimental evidence for a nodal energy gap in MgB2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agassi, Y. Dan; Oates, Daniel E.

2017-11-01

We present a phenomenological model that strongly suggests that the smaller of the two energy gaps in MgB2, the so-called π gap, contains nodal lines with a six-fold symmetry (i-wave). The model also indicates that the larger gap, the so-called σ gap, is conventional s-wave. The model is an extension of the BCS gap equation that accounts for the elastic anisotropy in MgB2 and the Coulomb repulsion. It is based on a phononic pairing mechanism and assumes no coupling between the two energy gaps in MgB2 at zero temperature. All of the parameters of the model, such as sound velocities and masses, are independently determined material constants. The results agree with a previous ad-hoc hypothesis that the π energy gap has six nodal lines. That hypothesis was motivated by low-temperature measurements of the surface impedance and intermodulation distortion in high-quality thin films. We briefly review experimental evidence in the literature that is relevant to the energy-gap symmetry. We find that the evidence from the literature for s-wave is inconclusive. Our finding is that the π gap has six nodal lines.

Pairing in exotic neutron-rich nuclei near the drip line and in the crust of neutron stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pastore, A.; Margueron, J.; Schuck, P.; Viñas, X.

2013-09-01

Exotic and drip-line nuclei as well as nuclei immersed in a low-density gas of neutrons in the inner crust of neutron stars are systematically investigated with respect to their neutron pairing properties. This is done using Skyrme density-functional and different pairing forces such as a density-dependent contact interaction and a separable form of a finite-range Gogny interaction. Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) and Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) theories are compared. It is found that neutron pairing is reduced towards the drip line while overcast by strong shell effects. Furthermore, resonances in the continuum can have an important effect counterbalancing the tendency of reduction and leading to a persistence of pairing at the drip line. It is also shown that in these systems the difference between HFB and BCS approaches can be quantitatively large.

[A report of two Chinese familial Budd-Chiari syndrome].

PubMed

Feng, B; Xu, K; Jiang, H; Fu, W; Li, H; Guo, M; Liu, X; Wang, Z

2000-09-01

To investigate the etiology of two Chinese familial Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). Four patients with familial BCS (from A and B families), and the other 41 family members were detected by angiography, ultrasound Dopler, etiology analysis and Factor V Leiden (FvL) mutation analysis. Four BCS patients were proved by angiography, 2 by ultra sound Dopler in family A. Ten members in family A were varicosis in low extremeties. FvL mutation was detected in 4 of 6 patients and 2 normal family members. A II(2), A III(7, 11, 15,) B II(10) and B III(5) had FvL mutation. The FvL mutations were compatible with Mendel hereditary law. FvL mutation may be one of main risk factors and varicosis in low extremeties may be another risk factors for familial BCS.

Tolerogenic CX3CR1+ B cells suppress food allergy-induced intestinal inflammation in mice.

PubMed

Liu, Z Q; Wu, Y; Song, J P; Liu, X; Liu, Z; Zheng, P Y; Yang, P C

2013-10-01

B lymphocytes are an important cell population of the immune regulation; their role in the regulation of food allergy has not been fully understood yet. This study aims to investigate the role of a subpopulation of tolerogenic B cells (TolBC) in the generation of regulatory T cells (Treg) and in the suppression of food allergy-induced intestinal inflammation in mice. The intestinal mucosa-derived CD5+ CD19+ CX3CR1+ TolBCs were characterized by flow cytometry; a mouse model of intestinal T helper (Th)2 inflammation was established to assess the immune regulatory role of this subpopulation of TolBCs. A subpopulation of CD5+ CD19+ CX3CR1+ B cells was detected in the mouse intestinal mucosa. The cells also expressed transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and carried integrin alpha v beta 6 (αvβ6). Exposure to recombinant αvβ6 and anti-IgM antibody induced naive B cells to differentiate into the TGF-β-producing TolBCs. Coculturing this subpopulation of TolBCs with Th0 cells generated CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Tregs. Adoptive transfer with the TolBCs markedly suppressed the food allergy-induced intestinal Th2 pattern inflammation in mice. CD5+ CD19+ CX3CR1+ TolBCs are capable of inducing Tregs in the intestine and suppress food allergy-related Th2 pattern inflammation in mice. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Quantum fluctuations in the BCS-BEC crossover of two-dimensional Fermi gases

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

He, Lianyi; Lu, Haifeng; Cao, Gaoqing

2015-08-14

We present a theoretical study of the ground state of the BCS-BEC crossover in dilute two-dimensional Fermi gases. While the mean-field theory provides a simple and analytical equation of state, the pressure is equal to that of a noninteracting Fermi gas in the entire BCS-BEC crossover, which is not consistent with the features of a weakly interacting Bose condensate in the BEC limit and a weakly interacting Fermi liquid in the BCS limit. The inadequacy of the two-dimensional mean-field theory indicates that the quantum fluctuations are much more pronounced than those in three dimensions. In this work, we show thatmore » the inclusion of the Gaussian quantum fluctuations naturally recovers the above features in both the BEC and the BCS limits. In the BEC limit, the missing logarithmic dependence on the boson chemical potential is recovered by the quantum fluctuations. Near the quantum phase transition from the vacuum to the BEC phase, we compare our equation of state with the known grand canonical equation of state of two-dimensional Bose gases and determine the ratio of the composite boson scattering length a B to the fermion scattering length a 2D. We find a B ≃ 0.56a 2D, in good agreement with the exact four-body calculation. As a result, we compare our equation of state in the BCS-BEC crossover with recent results from the quantum Monte Carlo simulations and the experimental measurements and find good agreements.« less

Short communication: Genetic relationships of milk coagulation properties with body condition score and linear type traits in Holstein-Friesian cows.

PubMed

Cassandro, M; Battagin, M; Penasa, M; De Marchi, M

2015-01-01

Milk coagulation properties (MCP) are gaining popularity among dairy cattle producers and the improvement of traits associated with MCP is expected to result in a benefit for the dairy industry, especially in countries with a long tradition in cheese production. The objectives of this study were to estimate genetic correlations of MCP with body condition score (BCS) and type traits using data from first-parity Italian Holstein-Friesian cattle. The data analyzed consisted of 18,460 MCP records from 4,036 cows with information on both BCS and conformation traits. The cows were daughters of 246 sires and the pedigree file included a total of 37,559 animals. Genetic relationships of MCP with BCS and type traits were estimated using bivariate animal models. The model for MCP included fixed effects of stage of lactation, and random effects of herd-test-date, cow permanent environment, additive genetic animal, and residual. Fixed factors considered in the model for BCS and type traits were herd-date of evaluation and interaction between age at scoring and stage of lactation of the cow, and random terms were additive genetic animal, cow permanent environment, and residual. Genetic relationships between MCP and BCS, and MCP and type traits were generally low and significant only in a few cases, suggesting that MCP can be selected for without detrimental effects on BCS and linear type traits. Copyright © 2015 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Developing a post-treatment survivorship care plan to help breast cancer survivors understand their fertility.

PubMed

Gorman, Jessica R; Julian, Anne K; Roberts, Samantha A; Romero, Sally A D; Ehren, Jennifer L; Krychman, Michael L; Boles, Sarah G; Mao, Jun; Irene Su, H

2018-02-01

Reproductive-aged breast cancer survivors (BCS) who have completed initial cancer treatment frequently want to know about their future fertility potential. The purpose of this qualitative study was to assess if the fertility-related content presented in the survivorship care plan prototype met the informational needs of post-treatment BCS and to provide an opportunity for the target audience to review and react to the proposed content and design. We conducted and analyzed transcripts from seven focus groups with BCS to evaluate their reactions to the survivorship care plan prototype. We independently coded transcripts for consistent themes and sub-themes and used a consensus-building approach to agree on interpretation of results. We identified five themes that describe the post-treatment BCS' responses to the prototype survivorship care plan in the context of their informational needs and experiences: (1) the prototype's fertility-related information is relevant; (2) desire for clinical parameters to help survivors understand their infertility risk; (3) fertility-related information is important throughout survivorship; (4) evidence-based content from a neutral source is trustworthy; and (5) the recommendation to see a fertility specialist is helpful, but cost is a barrier. BCS have concerns and needs related to their fertility potential after initial breast cancer treatment. The evidence-based information offered in our prototype survivorship care plan was acceptable to BCS and has significant potential to address these needs. Additional primary data that identify post-cancer treatment indicators of fertility would advance this effort.

Genetic relationships among body condition score, body weight, milk yield, and fertility in dairy cows.

PubMed

Berry, D P; Buckley, F; Dillon, P; Evans, R D; Rath, M; Veerkamp, R F

2003-06-01

Genetic (co)variances between body condition score (BCS), body weight (BW), milk production, and fertility-related traits were estimated. The data analyzed included 8591 multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows with records for BCS, BW, milk production, and/or fertility from 78 seasonal calving grass-based farms throughout southern Ireland. Of the cows included in the analysis, 4402 had repeated records across the 2 yr of the study. Genetic correlations between level of BCS at different stages of lactation and total lactation milk production were negative (-0.51 to -0.14). Genetic correlations between BW at different stages of lactation and total lactation milk production were all close to zero but became positive (0.01 to 0.39) after adjusting BW for differences in BCS. Body condition score at different stages of lactation correlated favorably with improved fertility; genetic correlations between BCS and pregnant 63 d after the start of breeding season ranged from 0.29 to 0.42. Both BW at different stages of lactation and milk production tended to exhibit negative genetic correlations with pregnant to first service and pregnant 63 d after the start of the breeding season and positive genetic correlations with number of services and the interval from first service to conception. Selection indexes investigated illustrate the possibility of continued selection for increased milk production without any deleterious effects on fertility or average BCS, albeit, genetic merit for milk production would increase at a slower rate.

Spatial distribution of potentially bioavailable metals in surface soils of a contaminated sports ground in Galway, Ireland.

PubMed

Dao, Ligang; Morrison, Liam; Kiely, Ger; Zhang, Chaosheng

2013-04-01

Assessing the environmental risk of metal contamination in soils requires the determination of both total (TCs) and bioavailable (BCs) element concentrations. A total of 200 surface (0-10 cm) soil samples were collected from an urban sports ground (South Park) in Galway, Ireland, a former landfill and dumping site, which is currently under remediation. The potential BCs of metals were measured using ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) extraction followed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry analysis, while the TCs were determined using portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. It was found that Zn was primarily present in the insoluble residue (EDTA un-extractable) fraction in soils, with the median ratio of BCs/TCs 0.27. However, Pb and Cu had higher ratios of BCs/TCs (median values of 0.60 and 0.39, respectively) suggesting that they are potentially more bioavailable in the soils. The spatial distribution maps showed that both TCs and BCs for Cu, Pb and Zn in the study area were spatially heterogeneous. It was found that the BCs exhibited generally similar spatial patterns as their TCs of Cu, Pb and Zn: high values were mainly located in the west, north-east and south-east portions of the study area, where only a thin layer of topsoil existed. It was recommended that the current remediation action for this site needs to be carried out on an urgent basis.

International genetic evaluation of Holstein bulls for overall type traits and body condition score.

PubMed

Battagin, M; Forabosco, F; Jakobsen, J H; Penasa, M; Lawlor, T J; Cassandro, M

2012-08-01

The study documents the procedures used to estimate genetic correlations among countries for overall conformation (OCS), overall udder (OUS), overall feet and legs (OFL), and body condition score (BCS) of Holstein sires. Major differences in traits definition are discussed, in addition to the use of international breeding values (IBV) among countries involved in international genetic evaluations, and similarities among countries through hierarchical clustering. Data were available for populations from 20 countries for OCS and OUS, 18 populations for OFL, and 11 populations for BCS. The IBV for overall traits and BCS were calculated using a multi-trait across-country evaluation model. Distance measures, obtained from genetic correlations, were used as input values in the cluster analysis. Results from surveys sent to countries participating in international genetic evaluation for conformation traits showed that different ways of defining traits are used: the overall traits were either computed from linear or composite traits or defined as general characteristics. For BCS, populations were divided into 2 groups: one scored and evaluated BCS, and one used a best predictor. In general, populations were well connected except for Estonia and French Red Holstein. The average number of common bulls for the overall traits ranged from 19 (OCS and OUS of French Red Holstein) to 514 (OFL of United States), and for BCS from 17 (French Red Holstein) to 413 (the Netherlands). The average genetic correlation (range) across countries was 0.75 (0.35 to 0.95), 0.80 (0.41 to 0.95), and 0.68 (0.12 to 0.89) for OCS, OUS, and OFL, respectively. Genetic correlations among countries that used angularity as best predictor for BCS and countries that scored BCS were negative. The cluster analysis provided a clear picture of the countries distances; differences were due to trait definition, trait composition, and weights in overall traits, genetic ties, and genotype by environment interactions. Harmonization of trait definition and increasing genetic ties could improve genetic correlations across countries and reduce the distances. In each national selection index, all countries, except Estonia and New Zealand, included at least one overall trait, whereas none included BCS. Out of 18 countries, 9 have started genomic evaluation of conformation traits. The first were Canada, France, New Zealand, and United States in 2009, followed by Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands in 2010, and Australia and Denmark-Finland-Sweden (joint evaluation) in 2011. Six countries are planning to start soon. Copyright © 2012 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Temperature dependence of the superconducting energy gaps in Ca9.35La0.65(Pt3As8)(Fe2As2)5 single crystal.

PubMed

Seo, Yu-Il; Choi, Woo-Jae; Ahmad, D; Kimura, Shin-Ichi; Kwon, Yong Seung

2018-06-05

We measured the optical reflectivity R(ω) for an underdoped (Ca 0.935 La 0.065 ) 10 (Pt 3 As 8 )(Fe 2 As 2 ) 5 single crystal and obtained the optical conductivity [Formula: see text] using the K-K transformation. The normal state [Formula: see text] at 30 K is well fitted by a Drude-Lorentz model with two Drude components (ω p1  = 1446 cm -1 and ω p2  = 6322 cm -1 ) and seven Lorentz components. Relative reflectometry was used to accurately determine the temperature dependence of the superconducting gap at various temperatures below T c . The results clearly show the opening of a superconducting gap with a weaker second gap structure; the magnitudes for the gaps are estimated from the generalized Mattis-Bardeen model to be Δ 1  = 30 and Δ 2  = 50 cm -1 , respectively, at T = 8 K, which both decrease with increasing temperature. The temperature dependence of the gaps was not consistent with one-band BCS theory but was well described by a two-band (hence, two gap) BCS model with interband interactions. The temperature dependence of the superfluid density is flat at low temperatures, indicating an s-wave full-gap superconducting state.

Biofilm formation and cellulose expression by Bordetella avium 197N, the causative agent of bordetellosis in birds and an opportunistic respiratory pathogen in humans.

PubMed

McLaughlin, Kimberley; Folorunso, Ayorinde O; Deeni, Yusuf Y; Foster, Dona; Gorbatiuk, Oksana; Hapca, Simona M; Immoor, Corinna; Koza, Anna; Mohammed, Ibrahim U; Moshynets, Olena; Rogalsky, Sergii; Zawadzki, Kamil; Spiers, Andrew J

2017-06-01

Although bacterial cellulose synthase (bcs) operons are widespread within the Proteobacteria phylum, subunits required for the partial-acetylation of the polymer appear to be restricted to a few γ-group soil, plant-associated and phytopathogenic pseudomonads, including Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25 and several Pseudomonas syringae pathovars. However, a bcs operon with acetylation subunits has also been annotated in the unrelated β-group respiratory pathogen, Bordetella avium 197N. Our comparison of subunit protein sequences and GC content analyses confirms the close similarity between the B. avium 197N and pseudomonad operons and suggests that, in both cases, the cellulose synthase and acetylation subunits were acquired as a single unit. Using static liquid microcosms, we can confirm that B. avium 197N expresses low levels of cellulose in air-liquid interface biofilms and that biofilm strength and attachment levels could be increased by elevating c-di-GMP levels like the pseudomonads, but cellulose was not required for biofilm formation itself. The finding that B. avium 197N is capable of producing cellulose from a highly-conserved, but relatively uncommon bcs operon raises the question of what functional role this modified polymer plays during the infection of the upper respiratory tract or survival between hosts, and what environmental signals control its production. Copyright © 2017 Institut Pasteur. All rights reserved.

Twisting Anderson pseudospins with light: Quench dynamics in THz-pumped BCS superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chou, Yang-Zhi; Liao, Yunxiang; Foster, Matthew

We study the preparation and the detection of coherent far-from-equilibrium BCS superconductor dynamics in THz pump-probe experiments. In a recent experiment, an intense monocycle THz pulse with center frequency ω = Δ was injected into a superconductor with BCS gap Δ the post-pump evolution was detected via the optical conductivity. It was argued that nonlinear coupling of the pump to the Anderson pseudospins of the superconductor induces coherent dynamics of the Higgs mode Δ (t) . We validate this picture in a 2D BCS model with a combination of exact numerics and the Lax reduction, and we compute the dynamical phase diagram. The main effect of the pump is to scramble the orientations of Anderson pseudospins along the Fermi surface by twisting them in the xy-plane. We show that more intense pulses can induce a far-from-equilibrium gapless phase (phase I), originally predicted in the context of interaction quenches. We show that the THz pump can reach phase I at much lower energy densities than an interaction quench, and we demonstrate that Lax reduction provides a quantitative tool for computing coherent BCS dynamics. We also compute the optical conductivity for the states discussed here.

Synthesis, structural and semiconducting properties of Ba(Cu1/3 Sb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 solid solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Chandra Bhal; Kumar, Dinesh; Prashant, Verma, Narendra Kumar; Singh, Akhilesh Kumar

2018-05-01

We report the synthesis and properties of a new solid solution 0.05Ba(Cu1/3Sb2/3)O3-0.95PbTiO3 (BCS-PT) which shows the semiconducting properties. In this study, we have designed new perovskite-type (ABO3) solid solution of BCS-PT that have tunable optical band gap. BCS-PT compounds were prepared by conventional solid-state reaction method and their structural, micro-structural and optical properties were analyzed. The calcination temperature for BCS-PT solid solutions has been optimized to obtain a phase pure system. The Reitveld analysis of X-ray data show that all samples crystallize in tetragonal crystal structure with space group P4mm. X-ray investigation revealed that increase in calcination temperature led to increase of lattice parameter `a' while `c' parameter value lowered. The band gap of PbTiO3 is reduced from 3.2 eV to 2.8 eV with BCS doping and with increasing calcination temperature it further reduces to 2.56 eV. The reduced band gap indicated that the compounds are semiconducting and can be used for photovoltaic device applications.

A new approach on JPSS VIIRS BCS and SVS PRT calibration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Tung R.; Marschke, Steve; Borroto, Michael; Jones, Christopher M.; Chovit, Christopher

2015-05-01

A set of calibrated platinum resistance thermometers (PRT's) was used to monitor the temperature of a Blackbody Calibration Source (BCS) and Space View Source (SVS). BCS is Ground Support Equipment (GSE) used to validate the emissive band calibration of Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) of the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). Another GSE, the SVS was used as an optical simulator to provide zero radiance sources for all VIIRS bands. The required PRT temperature 1 uncertainty is less than 0.030K. A process was developed to calibrate the PRTs in its thermal block by selecting a single thermal bath fluid that is compatible with spaceflight, is easy to clean and supported the entire temperature range. The process involves thermal cycling the PRTs that are installed in an aluminum housing using RTV566A prior to calibration. The PRTs were calibrated thermal cycled again and then calibrated once more to verify repeatability. Once completed these PRTs were installed on both the BCS and SVS. The PRT calibration uncertainty was estimated and deemed sufficient to support the effective temperature requirements for the operating temperature range of the BCS and SVS.

Addressing Factors Associated with Arab Women's Socioeconomic Status May Reduce Breast Cancer Mortality: Report from a Well Resourced Middle Eastern Country.

PubMed

Donnelly, Tam Truong; Al Khater, Al-Hareth; Al Kuwari, Mohamed Ghaith; Al-Bader, Salha Bujassoum; Abdulmalik, Mariam; Al-Meer, Nabila; Singh, Rajvir; Fung, Tak

2015-01-01

Differences in socioeconomic status (SES) such as income levels may partly explain why breast cancer screening (BCS) disparities exist in countries where health care services are free or heavily subsidized. However, factors that contribute to such differences in SES among women living in well resourced Middle East countries are not fully understood. This quantitative study investigated factors that influence SES and BCS of Arab women. Understanding of such factors can be useful for the development of effective intervention strategies that aim to increase BCS uptake among Arab women. Using data from a cross-sectional survey among 1,063 Arabic-speaking women in Qatar, age 35+, additional data analysis was performed to determine the relationship between socioeconomic indicators such as income and other factors in relation to BCS activities. This study found that income is determined and influenced by education level, occupation, nationality, years of residence in the country, level of social activity, self-perceived health status, and living area. Financial stress, unemployment, and unfavorable social conditions may impede women's participation in BCS activities in well resourced Middle East countries.

G.L. Amidon, H. Lennernas, V.P. Shah, and J.R. Crison. A theoretical basis for a biopharmaceutic drug classification: the correlation of in vitro drug product dissolution and in vivo bioavailability, Pharm Res 12, 413-420, 1995--backstory of BCS.

PubMed

Shah, Vinod P; Amidon, Gordon L

2014-09-01

The Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) has become widely accepted today in the academic, industrial, and regulatory world. While the initial application of the BCS was to regulatory science bioequivalence (BE) issues and related implications, it has come to be utilized widely by the pharmaceutical industry in drug discovery and development as well. This brief manuscript will relate the story of the BCS development. While much of the ground work for the BCS goes back to the pharmacokinetic and drug absorption research by Gordon Amidon (GLA) in the 1970s and 1980s, the realization of the need for a classification or categorization of drug and drug products for setting dissolution standards became apparent to GLA during his 1990-1991 sabbatical year at the FDA. Initiated at the invitation of the then CEDR director, Dr. Carl Peck, to become a visiting scientist at the FDA, the goal was to promote regulatory research at the FDA, in my case, in biopharmaceutics, and to develop a science-based system to simplify regulatory requirements.

The BCS-BEC Crossover

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parish, Meera M.

2015-09-01

This chapter presents the crossover from the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) state of weakly correlated pairs of fermions to the Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of diatomic molecules in the atomic Fermi gas. Our aim is to provide a pedagogical review of the BCS-BEC crossover, with an emphasis on the basic concepts, particularly those that are not generally known or are difficult to find in the literature. We shall not attempt to give an exhaustive survey of current research in the limited space here; where possible, we will direct the reader to more extensive reviews.

Optimizing solubility and permeability of a biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS) class 4 antibiotic drug using lipophilic fragments disturbing the crystal lattice.

PubMed

Tehler, Ulrika; Fagerberg, Jonas H; Svensson, Richard; Larhed, Mats; Artursson, Per; Bergström, Christel A S

2013-03-28

Esterification was used to simultaneously increase solubility and permeability of ciprofloxacin, a biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS) class 4 drug (low solubility/low permeability) with solid-state limited solubility. Molecular flexibility was increased to disturb the crystal lattice, lower the melting point, and thereby improve the solubility, whereas lipophilicity was increased to enhance the intestinal permeability. These structural changes resulted in BCS class 1 analogues (high solubility/high permeability) emphasizing that simple medicinal chemistry may improve both these properties.

Evaluation of Antigen-Specific IgM and IgG Production during an In Vitro Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Culture Assay.

PubMed

Matsuda, Yoshiko; Imamura, Ryoichi; Takahara, Shiro

2017-01-01

The recent attention given to diseases associated with memory B-cell (mBC)-produced antibodies (Abs) suggests the need for a similar in vitro assay to evaluate the functions of mBCs. Here, we cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with the intent to collect mBC-derived Abs in vitro and maintain their cell-cell contact-dependent interactions with helper T-cells. PBMCs were cultured with interleukin (IL)-21, CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN), phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), and phytohemagglutinin/leucoagglutinin (PHA-L) in 24-well flat-bottom plates (5 × 10 5  cells/well). A culture supernatant analysis of PBMCs from healthy donors ( n  = 10) indicated that antigen-specific IgM Ab levels in a PBMC culture supernatant might be better able to demonstrate the antigen sensitization status in a smaller peripheral blood sample, compared to IgG because Epstein-Barr virus-specific IgM mBCs circulate peripherally at a significantly higher frequency once antiviral humoral immunity has stabilized. Thus, our in vitro assay demonstrated the potential significance of antigen-specific IgM Ab production in the culture supernatants. Furthermore, an analysis of cultured PBMCs from allograft kidney recipients ( n  = 16) sensitized with de novo donor-specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-specific Abs (DSAs) showed that IgM-type HLA-specific Abs were detected mainly from the culture supernatants from PBMCs of patients with stable graft function, whereas IgG isotype HLA Abs were detectable only from patients with biopsy-proven antibody-mediated rejection. In other words, these IgG isotype Abs also represented an activated humoral immune response in vivo . Additionally, IgM- and IgG-expressing mBCs from healthy donors ( n  = 5) were cultured with IL-21, CpG-ODN, and a supernatant produced by stimulating CD19 + B-cell-depleted PBMCs with PHA-L and PMA in 24-well flat-bottom plates (1 × 10 5  cells/well), and the resulting in vitro analysis provided some information regarding the biological processes of IgG and IgM mBCs in peripheral blood. Taken together, our findings suggest that antigen-specific Ab subtype analyses of supernatants from cultured PBMCs might more effectively and accurately reflect a patient's Ab-associated pathological condition vs. than serum IgG and IgM levels.

Relationship between serum adiponectin concentration, body condition score, and peripheral tissue insulin response of dairy cows during the dry period.

PubMed

De Koster, J; Urh, C; Hostens, M; Van den Broeck, W; Sauerwein, H; Opsomer, G

2017-04-01

The aim of the present study was to describe the relationship between serum adiponectin concentration and peripheral tissue insulin response in dairy cows with a variable body condition score (BCS) during the dry period. Cows were selected at the beginning of the dry period based on BCS (BCS <3.75, n = 4; BCS >3.75, n = 5). Animals were followed from the beginning of the dry period by weekly blood sampling and assessment of BCS and backfat thickness. Weekly blood samples were analyzed for adiponectin concentration using a bovine specific ELISA. Hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp tests were performed at the end of the dry period to measure peripheral tissue insulin response. Insulin dose response curves were established for both glucose and fatty acid metabolism. Regression analysis revealed that the serum concentrations of adiponectin dropped at the end of the dry period (P < 0.05) and were negatively associated with BCS (P < 0.05). At the level of the glucose metabolism, serum concentrations of adiponectin were positively correlated with insulin responsiveness (reflecting the maximal effect of insulin; r = 0.76, P < 0.05), but not with insulin sensitivity (reflecting the insulin concentration needed to achieve halfmaximal effect; r = -0.54, P = 0.13). At the level of the fatty acid metabolism, greater adiponectin concentrations were negatively correlated with lower NEFA levels during the HEC test reflecting the insulin responsiveness of the NEFA metabolism (r = -0.61, P = 0.08), whereas there was no association with the insulin sensitivity of the NEFA metabolism (r = -0.16, P = 0.67). In conclusion, serum concentrations of adiponectin were negatively associated with the BCS of dairy cows during the dry period and positively associated with insulin responsiveness of the glucose and fatty acid metabolism. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Development of a Body Condition Scoring Index for Female African Elephants Validated by Ultrasound Measurements of Subcutaneous Fat

PubMed Central

Morfeld, Kari A.; Lehnhardt, John; Alligood, Christina; Bolling, Jeff; Brown, Janine L.

2014-01-01

Obesity-related health and reproductive problems may be contributing to non-sustainability of zoo African elephant (Loxodonta africana) populations. However, a major constraint in screening for obesity in elephants is lack of a practical method to accurately assess body fat. Body condition scoring (BCS) is the assessment of subcutaneous fat stores based on visual evaluation and provides an immediate appraisal of the degree of obesity of an individual. The objective of this study was to develop a visual BCS index for female African elephants and validate it using ultrasound measures of subcutaneous fat. To develop the index, standardized photographs were collected from zoo (n = 50) and free-ranging (n = 57) female African elephants for identifying key body regions and skeletal features, which were then used to visually determine body fat deposition patterns. This information was used to develop a visual BCS method consisting of a list of body regions and the physical criteria for assigning an overall score on a 5-point scale, with 1 representing the lowest and 5 representing the highest levels of body fat. Results showed that as BCS increased, ultrasound measures of subcutaneous fat thickness also increased (P<0.01), indicating the scores closely coincide with physical measures of fat reserves. The BCS index proved to be reliable and repeatable based on high intra- and inter-assessor agreement across three assessors. In comparing photographs of wild vs. captive African elephants, the median BCS in the free-ranging individuals (BCS = 3, range 1–5) was lower (P<0.001) than that of the zoo population (BCS = 4, range 2–5). In sum, we have developed the first validated BCS index for African elephants. This tool can be used to examine which factors impact body condition in zoo and free-ranging elephants, providing valuable information on how it affects health and reproductive potential of individual elephants. PMID:24718304

Development of a body condition scoring index for female African elephants validated by ultrasound measurements of subcutaneous fat.

PubMed

Morfeld, Kari A; Lehnhardt, John; Alligood, Christina; Bolling, Jeff; Brown, Janine L

2014-01-01

Obesity-related health and reproductive problems may be contributing to non-sustainability of zoo African elephant (Loxodonta africana) populations. However, a major constraint in screening for obesity in elephants is lack of a practical method to accurately assess body fat. Body condition scoring (BCS) is the assessment of subcutaneous fat stores based on visual evaluation and provides an immediate appraisal of the degree of obesity of an individual. The objective of this study was to develop a visual BCS index for female African elephants and validate it using ultrasound measures of subcutaneous fat. To develop the index, standardized photographs were collected from zoo (n = 50) and free-ranging (n = 57) female African elephants for identifying key body regions and skeletal features, which were then used to visually determine body fat deposition patterns. This information was used to develop a visual BCS method consisting of a list of body regions and the physical criteria for assigning an overall score on a 5-point scale, with 1 representing the lowest and 5 representing the highest levels of body fat. Results showed that as BCS increased, ultrasound measures of subcutaneous fat thickness also increased (P<0.01), indicating the scores closely coincide with physical measures of fat reserves. The BCS index proved to be reliable and repeatable based on high intra- and inter-assessor agreement across three assessors. In comparing photographs of wild vs. captive African elephants, the median BCS in the free-ranging individuals (BCS = 3, range 1-5) was lower (P<0.001) than that of the zoo population (BCS = 4, range 2-5). In sum, we have developed the first validated BCS index for African elephants. This tool can be used to examine which factors impact body condition in zoo and free-ranging elephants, providing valuable information on how it affects health and reproductive potential of individual elephants.

The effect of nutrition and body condition of triplet-bearing ewes during late pregnancy on the behaviour of ewes and lambs.

PubMed

Gronqvist, Gabriella V; Corner-Thomas, Rene A; Kenyon, Paul R; Stafford, Kevin J; Morris, Stephen T; Hickson, Rebecca Edith

2018-04-12

Triplet-born lambs are less likely to survive to weaning than twin-born or single-born lambs. Appropriate ewe-lamb bonding behaviours and lamb vigour behaviours are necessary for survival of lambs. The aim of this experiment was to determine whether maternal nutrition during late pregnancy influenced behaviour of the ewe and her lambs soon after birth, and to determine whether mid-pregnancy body condition score (BCS) influenced any behavioural response. The experiments included ewes that were in BCS 2.0, 2.5 or 3.0 in mid-pregnancy and were fed either ad libitum or to pregnancy-maintenance requirements in late-pregnancy (day 115 until 136 in experiment one, and day 128 until 141 in experiment two). The time taken for lambs to stand, contact dam, suck from dam and follow dam was recorded three to 18 hours after birth. The number of high- and low-pitched bleats emitted by the ewe and lambs was recorded, along with maternal behaviour score (MBS) of the ewe. Lambs in experiment two underwent a maternal-recognition test at 12 or 24 h. There were significant effects of feeding treatment on bleating behaviour of ewes and lambs, but these were inconsistent among BCS groups and between experiments. Lamb vigour behaviours were not affected by feeding treatment. In experiment one, there was no effect of feeding treatment or BCS on MBS, but in experiment two, ewes in BCS3 in mid-pregnancy had greater MBS than ewes in BCS2 in mid-pregnancy (MBS 3.1/5 vs MBS 2.1/5; P<0.05). Given there were no repeatable effects on behaviour of ewes and lambs, ad libitum feeding rather than feeding for pregnancy-maintenance requirements can not be used to improve behaviours soon after birth of triplet-bearing ewes in BCS 2 - 3 and their lambs in extensive pastoral conditions.

Prenatal maternal effects on body condition score, female fertility, and milk yield of dairy cows.

PubMed

Banos, G; Brotherstone, S; Coffey, M P

2007-07-01

In this study, maternal effects were described as age of dam at first and second calving, first-lactation body condition score (BCS) of the dam during gestation, and milk yield of the dam. The impact of these effects on first-lactation daughter BCS, fertility, and test-day milk yield was assessed. The effect of milk yield of dam on daughter 305-d yield in the latter's first 3 lactations was also investigated. The proportion of total phenotypic variance in daughter traits accounted for by maternal effects was calculated. Dams calving early for the first time (18 to 23 mo of age) had daughters that produced 4.5% more first-lactation daily milk, had 7% higher BCS, and had their first service 3 d earlier than cows whose dams calved late (30 to 36 mo). However, daughters of dams that calved early had difficulties conceiving as they needed 7% more inseminations and had a 7.5% higher return rate. Cows from second calvings of relatively young (36 to 41 mo) dams produced 6% more first-lactation daily milk, had 2% higher BCS, and showed a significantly better fertility profile than cows whose dams calved at a late age (47 to 55 mo). High maternal BCS during gestation had a favorable effect on daughter BCS, nonreturn rate, and number of inseminations per conception. However, it was also associated with a small decrease in daughter daily milk yield. Changes in dam BCS during gestation did not affect daughter performance significantly. Maternal effects of milk yield of the dam, expressed as her permanent environment during lactation, adversely affected daughter 305-d milk, fat, and protein yield. However, although the effect was significant, it was practically negligible (<0.3% of the mean). Finally, overall maternal effects accounted for a significant proportion of the total phenotypic variance of calving interval (1.4 +/- 0.6%) and nonreturn rate (1.1 +/- 0.5%).

Tuning across the BCS-BEC crossover in superconducting Fe1+ySexTe1-x : An angle-resolved photoemission study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rinott, Shahar; Ribak, Amit; Chashka, Khanan; Randeria, Mohit; Kanigel, Amit

The crossover from Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) superconductivity to Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) was never realized in quantum materials. It is difficult to realize because, unlike in ultra cold atoms, one cannot tune the pairing interaction. We realize the BCS-BEC crossover in a nearly compensated semimetal Fe1+ySexTe1-x by tuning the Fermi energy ɛF via chemical doping, which permits us to systematically change Δ /ɛF from 0 . 16 to 0 . 50 , where Δ is the superconducting (SC) gap. We use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to measure the Fermi energy, the SC gap and characteristic changes in the SC state electronic dispersion as the system evolves from a BCS to a BEC regime. Our results raise important questions about the crossover in multi-band superconductors which go beyond those addressed in the context of cold atoms.

Effect of Education Based on Health Belief Model on the Behavior of Breast Cancer Screening in Women.

PubMed

Masoudiyekta, Leila; Rezaei-Bayatiyani, Hojat; Dashtbozorgi, Bahman; Gheibizadeh, Mahin; Malehi, Amal Saki; Moradi, Mehrnaz

2018-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of education based on health belief model (HBM) on the behavior of breast cancer screening (bCS) in women. This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 226 women who were selected with cluster sampling method from those referred to Dezful health centers. Data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire. Demographic questionnaire bCS- scale, and the Knowledge about questionnaire, all given before and 3 months after the intervention. According to the findings of the study, there was a significant relationship between women's performance and variables of knowledge, perceived sensitivity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, and cues to action. Poor knowledge of women indicates a crucial need for formal educational programs to sensitize women regarding the importance of bCS. These educational programs should consider factors affecting bCS behaviors.

Auger electron spectroscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the biocorrosion of copper by Gum Arabic, BCS and Pseudomonas atlantica exopolymer

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

Jolley, J.G.; Geesey, G.G.; Hankins, M.R.

1987-01-01

Thin films (3.4 nm) of copper on germanium substrates were exposed to 10% Gum Arabic aqueous solution, 1% BCS (aqueous and simulated sea water solutions) and 0.5% Pseudomonas atlantica exopolymer (aqueous and simulated sea water solutions). Pre- and post-exposure characterization were done by Auger electron spectroscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Ancillary graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to monitor the removal process of the copper thin film from the germanium substrate. Results indicate that the copper was oxidized by the Gum Arabic and BCS, and some was removed from the Cu/Ge interface by all three polymers and incorporated intomore » the polymer matrix. Thus biocorrosion of copper was exhibited by the Gum Arabic, BCS and Pseudomonas atlantica exopolymer. 14 refs., 4 figs., 3 tabs.« less

BEC-BCS crossover and the liquid-gas phase transition in hot and dense nuclear matter

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

Jin Meng; Urban, Michael; Schuck, Peter

2010-08-15

The effect of nucleon-nucleon correlations in symmetric nuclear matter at finite temperature is studied beyond BCS theory. Starting from a Hartree-Fock description of nuclear matter with the Gogny effective interaction, we add correlations corresponding to the formation of preformed pairs and scattering states above the superfluid critical temperature within the in-medium T-matrix approach, which is analogous to the Nozieres-Schmitt-Rink theory. We calculate the critical temperature for a BEC superfluid of deuterons, of a BCS superfluid of nucleons, and in the crossover between these limits. The effect of the correlations on thermodynamic properties (equation of state, energy, entropy) and the liquid-gasmore » phase transition is discussed. Our results show that nucleon-nucleon correlations beyond BCS play an important role for the properties of nuclear matter, especially in the low-density region.« less

Specific heat and effects of strong pairing fluctuations in a superfluid Fermi atom gas in the BCS-BEC crossover region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Wyk, Pieter; Inotani, Daisuke; Ohashi, Yoji

2018-03-01

We theoretically investigate the specific heat at constant volume C V in the BCS(Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer)-BEC(Bose-Einstein-condensation)-crossover regime of an ultracold Fermi gas, below the superfluid phase transition temperature T c. Within the strong-coupling framework developed by Nozières and Schmitt-Rink, we show that the temperature dependence of C V drastically changes as one passes through the crossover region, and is sensitive to strong fluctuations in the Cooper channel near the unitarity limit. We also compare our results to a recent experiment on a 6Li unitary Fermi gas. Since fluctuation effects are a crucial key in the BCS-BEC-crossover phenomenon, our results would be helpful in considering how the fermionic BCS superfluid changes into BEC with increasing the interaction strength, from the viewpoint of specific heat.

Hyperpolarization-activated cation channels in fast-spiking interneurons of rat hippocampus

PubMed Central

Aponte, Yexica; Lien, Cheng-Chang; Reisinger, Ellen; Jonas, Peter

2006-01-01

Hyperpolarization-activated channels (Ih or HCN channels) are widely expressed in principal neurons in the central nervous system. However, Ih in inhibitory GABAergic interneurons is less well characterized. We examined the functional properties of Ih in fast-spiking basket cells (BCs) of the dentate gyrus, using hippocampal slices from 17- to 21-day-old rats. Bath application of the Ih channel blocker ZD 7288 at a concentration of 30 μm induced a hyperpolarization of 5.7 ± 1.5 mV, an increase in input resistance and a correlated increase in apparent membrane time constant. ZD 7288 blocked a hyperpolarization-activated current in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50, 1.4 μm). The effects of ZD 7288 were mimicked by external Cs+. The reversal potential of Ih was −27.4 mV, corresponding to a Na+ to K+ permeability ratio (PNa/PK) of 0.36. The midpoint potential of the activation curve of Ih was −83.9 mV, and the activation time constant at −120 mV was 190 ms. Single-cell expression analysis using reverse transcription followed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed that BCs coexpress HCN1 and HCN2 subunit mRNA, suggesting the formation of heteromeric HCN1/2 channels. ZD 7288 increased the current threshold for evoking antidromic action potentials by extracellular stimulation, consistent with the expression of Ih in BC axons. Finally, ZD 7288 decreased the frequency of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) in hippocampal granule cells, the main target cells of BCs, to 70 ± 4% of the control value. In contrast, the amplitude of mIPSCs was unchanged, consistent with the presence of Ih in inhibitory terminals. In conclusion, our results suggest that Ih channels are expressed in the somatodendritic region, axon and presynaptic elements of fast-spiking BCs in the hippocampus. PMID:16690716

Direct and Indirect Effects of Precipitation on Particulate Matter Concentration in the Aburrá Valley

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roldán Henao, N.; Hoyos Ortiz, C. D.; Herrera, L.

2017-12-01

Wet deposition, including in-cloud scavenging (ICS) and below-cloud scavenging (BCS), is one of the most important processes of particulate matter (PM) removal from the atmosphere. ICS mainly refers to the growth of particulates into cloud droplets, whereas BCS consists of collisions and coalescence between raindrops and pollutants. The overall influence of precipitation in the concentration of fine particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in size (PM2.5) in the Medellín metropolitan area located in the narrow Aburrá Valley within the Colombian Andes is assessed using weather radar derived precipitation with 5 minutes resolution and hourly data from air quality monitoring stations from the Medellín Early Warning System ( Sistema de Alerta Temprana de Medellin y el Valle de Aburra -SIATA-) monitoring network. A non-parametric probabilistic analysis is proposed in order to understand the net influence of precipitation within the diurnal cycle. Probability density functions (PDF) of PM2.5 concentration during precipitations events as well as under dry conditions are analyzed for every hour of the day. The overlapping coefficient for these distributions was used, along with the Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney test, in order to summarized the net effect of precipitation in aerosol concentration. Evidence suggests that, while there is a clear and significant role of precipitation in aerosol concentration, the net effect is contrasting and strongly depends on the diurnal cycle of atmospheric stability. During stable conditions in the lower troposphere, typically occurring during the night and before midmorning, evidence suggest that precipitation reduces the near-surface PM2.5 concentration due to an effective BCS resulting in net negative forcing. On the other hand, when a precipitation event takes place during the day, when the lower troposphere is typically unstable, the PM2.5 concentration increases, suggesting an net positive forcing given that the BCS is offset by the atmospheric stabilization effect of precipitation, which in turns results in near-surface PM accumulation.

IMG-ABC: A Knowledge Base To Fuel Discovery of Biosynthetic Gene Clusters and Novel Secondary Metabolites.

PubMed

Hadjithomas, Michalis; Chen, I-Min Amy; Chu, Ken; Ratner, Anna; Palaniappan, Krishna; Szeto, Ernest; Huang, Jinghua; Reddy, T B K; Cimermančič, Peter; Fischbach, Michael A; Ivanova, Natalia N; Markowitz, Victor M; Kyrpides, Nikos C; Pati, Amrita

2015-07-14

In the discovery of secondary metabolites, analysis of sequence data is a promising exploration path that remains largely underutilized due to the lack of computational platforms that enable such a systematic approach on a large scale. In this work, we present IMG-ABC (https://img.jgi.doe.gov/abc), an atlas of biosynthetic gene clusters within the Integrated Microbial Genomes (IMG) system, which is aimed at harnessing the power of "big" genomic data for discovering small molecules. IMG-ABC relies on IMG's comprehensive integrated structural and functional genomic data for the analysis of biosynthetic gene clusters (BCs) and associated secondary metabolites (SMs). SMs and BCs serve as the two main classes of objects in IMG-ABC, each with a rich collection of attributes. A unique feature of IMG-ABC is the incorporation of both experimentally validated and computationally predicted BCs in genomes as well as metagenomes, thus identifying BCs in uncultured populations and rare taxa. We demonstrate the strength of IMG-ABC's focused integrated analysis tools in enabling the exploration of microbial secondary metabolism on a global scale, through the discovery of phenazine-producing clusters for the first time in Alphaproteobacteria. IMG-ABC strives to fill the long-existent void of resources for computational exploration of the secondary metabolism universe; its underlying scalable framework enables traversal of uncovered phylogenetic and chemical structure space, serving as a doorway to a new era in the discovery of novel molecules. IMG-ABC is the largest publicly available database of predicted and experimental biosynthetic gene clusters and the secondary metabolites they produce. The system also includes powerful search and analysis tools that are integrated with IMG's extensive genomic/metagenomic data and analysis tool kits. As new research on biosynthetic gene clusters and secondary metabolites is published and more genomes are sequenced, IMG-ABC will continue to expand, with the goal of becoming an essential component of any bioinformatic exploration of the secondary metabolism world. Copyright © 2015 Hadjithomas et al.

Longitudinal trends with improvement in quality of life after TVT, TVT O and Burch colposuspension procedures.

PubMed

Drahoradova, Petra; Martan, Alois; Svabik, Kamil; Zvara, Karel; Otava, Martin; Masata, Jaromir

2011-02-01

Comparison of the quality of life (QoL) trends after TVT, TVT O and Burch colposuspension (BCS) procedures and comparison of long-term subjective and objective outcomes. The study included 215 women who underwent a TVT, TVT O or BCS procedure. We monitored QoL after each procedure and the effect of complications on the QoL as assessed by the IQOL questionnaire over a 3-year period. The study was completed by 74.5% of women after TVT, 74.5% after TVT O, and 65.2% after BCS procedure. In the long-term, the QoL improved from 46.9 to 88.7 and remained stable after BCS; after TVT and TVT O, it declined, but only after TVT O was the decline statistically significant compared to BCS. The IQOL for women with post-operative complications has a clear descending tendency. The effect of the complications is highly significant (p<0.001). Only the OAB complication had a statistically significant effect on QoL p<0.001. Preexistent OAB does not negatively affect postoperative results of anti-incontinence surgery. There was a statistically significant decline with the longitudinal values of IQOL with TVT O, but not with TVT or BCS. Anti-incontinence operations significantly improve quality of life for women with MI, but compared to the SI group, the quality of life is worse when measured at a longer time interval after the operation. Anti-incontinence operations significantly improve quality of life, and the difference in preoperative status in the long-term follow-up is demonstrable.

Influences of the Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox/Ag interface and interfilamentary bridge connections on AC loss of composite wires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Zhao-Fei; Xue, Feng; Gou, Xiao-Fan

2018-04-01

The microstructure of Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox (Bi2212) filamentary composite round wires (RWs) changes to be extremely complicated after heat treatment, with the interface between Bi2212 filaments and Ag matrix being meandering and a lot of bridge connections (BCs) generating between filaments. The influence of such the unique microstructure on the electromagnetic behavior and especially the AC loss has not been far from completely understanding. In this paper, according to the H formulation and on the nonlinear E-J relationship, we developed a finite element model, and further on this model evaluated the current and AC loss of a Bi2212 multifilamentary wire with the rough Bi2212/Ag interface and several BCs between filaments under the alternating magnetic field (Hex(t) = H0sin2πft). Through the comparative study, we found that the penetration magnetic field Hp is a critical turning point and on this base the influences of such the complex microstructure are quite different when the amplitude of applied magnetic field H0 < Hp and when H0 > Hp. The rough interface impacts the current distribution and causes the local heat concentrated at the concave locations. For BCs between Bi2212 filaments, it is most significant that they can share the current and make the current redistribute between filaments. Further for the wire with various types of BCs, the current distribution and the AC loss relative to the wire without BCs (Q / QmagnoBCs) were comprehensively investigated.

Adverse surgical outcomes in screen-detected ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast.

PubMed

Thomas, Jeremy; Hanby, Andrew; Pinder, Sarah E; Ball, Graham; Lawrence, Gill; Maxwell, Anthony; Wallis, Matthew; Evans, Andrew; Dobson, Hilary; Clements, Karen; Thompson, Alastair

2014-07-01

The Sloane Project is the largest prospective audit of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) worldwide, with over 12,000 patients registered between 2003 and 2012, accounting for 50% of screen-detected DCIS diagnosed in the United Kingdom (UK) over the period of accrual. Complete multidisciplinary data from 8313 patients with screen-detected DCIS were analysed for surgical outcome in relation to key radiological and pathological parameters for the cohort and also by hospital of treatment. Adverse surgical outcomes were defined as either failed breast conservation surgery (BCS) or mastectomy for small lesions (<20mm) (MFSL). Inter-hospital variation was analysed by grouping hospitals into high, medium and low frequency subgroups for these two adverse outcomes. Patients with failed BCS or MFSL together accounted for 49% of all mastectomies. Of 6633 patients embarking on BCS, 799 (12.0%) required mastectomy. MFSL accounted for 510 (21%) of 2479 mastectomy patients. Failed BCS was associated with significant radiological under-estimation of disease extent and MFSL significant radiological over-estimation of disease extent. There was considerable and significant inter-hospital variation in failed BCS (range 3-32%) and MFSL (0-60%) of a hospital's BCS/mastectomy workload respectively. Conversely, there were no differences between the key radiological and pathological parameters in high, medium and low frequency adverse-outcome hospitals. This evidence suggests significant practice variation, not patient factors, is responsible for these adverse surgical outcomes in screen-detected DCIS. The Sloane Project provides an evidence base for future practice benchmarking. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Endoscopic non-technical skills team training: the next step in quality assurance of endoscopy training.

PubMed

Matharoo, Manmeet; Haycock, Adam; Sevdalis, Nick; Thomas-Gibson, Siwan

2014-12-14

To investigate whether novel, non-technical skills training for Bowel Cancer Screening (BCS) endoscopy teams enhanced patient safety knowledge and attitudes. A novel endoscopy team training intervention for BCS teams was developed and evaluated as a pre-post intervention study. Four multi-disciplinary BCS teams constituting BCS endoscopist(s), specialist screening practitioners, endoscopy nurses and administrative staff (A) from English BCS training centres participated. No patients were involved in this study. Expert multidisciplinary faculty delivered a single day's training utilising real clinical examples. Pre and post-course evaluation comprised participants' patient safety awareness, attitudes, and knowledge. Global course evaluations were also collected. Twenty-three participants attended and their patient safety knowledge improved significantly from 43%-55% (P ≤ 0.001) following the training intervention. 12/41 (29%) of the safety attitudes items significantly improved in the areas of perceived patient safety knowledge and awareness. The remaining safety attitude items: perceived influence on patient safety, attitudes towards error management, error management actions and personal views following an error were unchanged following training. Both qualitative and quantitative global course evaluations were positive: 21/23 (91%) participants strongly agreed/agreed that they were satisfied with the course. Qualitative evaluation included mandating such training for endoscopy teams outside BCS and incorporating team training within wider endoscopy training. Limitations of the study include no measure of increased patient safety in clinical practice following training. A novel comprehensive training package addressing patient safety, non-technical skills and adverse event analysis was successful in improving multi-disciplinary teams' knowledge and safety attitudes.

Endoscopic non-technical skills team training: The next step in quality assurance of endoscopy training

PubMed Central

Matharoo, Manmeet; Haycock, Adam; Sevdalis, Nick; Thomas-Gibson, Siwan

2014-01-01

AIM: To investigate whether novel, non-technical skills training for Bowel Cancer Screening (BCS) endoscopy teams enhanced patient safety knowledge and attitudes. METHODS: A novel endoscopy team training intervention for BCS teams was developed and evaluated as a pre-post intervention study. Four multi-disciplinary BCS teams constituting BCS endoscopist(s), specialist screening practitioners, endoscopy nurses and administrative staff (A) from English BCS training centres participated. No patients were involved in this study. Expert multidisciplinary faculty delivered a single day’s training utilising real clinical examples. Pre and post-course evaluation comprised participants’ patient safety awareness, attitudes, and knowledge. Global course evaluations were also collected. RESULTS: Twenty-three participants attended and their patient safety knowledge improved significantly from 43%-55% (P ≤ 0.001) following the training intervention. 12/41 (29%) of the safety attitudes items significantly improved in the areas of perceived patient safety knowledge and awareness. The remaining safety attitude items: perceived influence on patient safety, attitudes towards error management, error management actions and personal views following an error were unchanged following training. Both qualitative and quantitative global course evaluations were positive: 21/23 (91%) participants strongly agreed/agreed that they were satisfied with the course. Qualitative evaluation included mandating such training for endoscopy teams outside BCS and incorporating team training within wider endoscopy training. Limitations of the study include no measure of increased patient safety in clinical practice following training. CONCLUSION: A novel comprehensive training package addressing patient safety, non-technical skills and adverse event analysis was successful in improving multi-disciplinary teams’ knowledge and safety attitudes. PMID:25516665

Cell-cell and cell-surface interactions mediated by cellulose and a novel exopolysaccharide contribute to Pseudomonas putida biofilm formation and fitness under water-limiting conditions.

PubMed

Nielsen, Lindsey; Li, Xiaohong; Halverson, Larry J

2011-05-01

The composition of the exopolysaccharide matrix of Pseudomonas putida mt2 biofilms is relatively undefined as well as the contributions of each polymer to ecological fitness. Here, we describe the role of two putative exopolysaccharide gene clusters, putida exopolysaccharide A (pea) and bacterial cellulose (bcs) in biofilm formation and stability, rhizosphere colonization and matrix hydration under water-limiting conditions. Our findings suggest that pea is involved in the production of a novel glucose, galactose, and mannose-rich polymer that contributes to cell-cell interactions necessary for pellicle and biofilm formation and stability. In contrast, Bcs plays a minor role in biofilm formation and stability, although it does contribute to rhizosphere colonization based on a competition assay. We show that pea expression is highly induced transiently under water-limiting conditions but only slightly by high osmolarity, as determined by qRT-PCR. In contrast, both forms of water stress highly induced bcs expression. Cells deficient in making one or more exopolysaccharide experienced greater dehydration-mediated cell-envelope stress, leading to increased alginate promoter activity. However, this did not lead to increased exopolysaccharide production, except in bcs or pea mutants unable to produce alginate, indicating that P. putida compensates by producing, presumably more Pea or Bcs exopolysaccharides, to facilitate biofilm hydration. Collectively, the data suggest that Pea and Bcs contribute to biofilm formation and in turn their presence contributes to fitness under water-limiting conditions, but not to the extent of alginate. © 2011 Society for Applied Microbiology and Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

BCS-Bose model of exotic superconductors: Generalized coherence length

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

Casas, M.; Getino, J.M.; de Llano, M.

1994-12-01

Analytic expressions are derived for the root-mean-square (rms) radius of a pair of fermions in a BCS many-fermion state in one, two, and three dimensions, in terms of the BCS gap energy and the associated chemical potential. These expressions are valid for any coupling strength of [ital any] pair interaction model implying a momentum-independent gap energy. The latter holds, e.g., for an attractive [delta] pair potential examined in the one-dimensional (1D) case (whose [ital N]-fermion ground state can be determined exactly) or for the BCS (electron-phonon) model interaction in any dimension. Weak-coupling and/or high-density limits for the rms radius aremore » identical in 1D, 2D, and 3D, and reduce to the familiar well-known Pippard result to within a factor of order unity. In contrast, strong-coupling and/or low-density limits coincide in 1D and 3D, but differ by a factor of order unity in the 2D limit, and in each case are essentially the size of a single, isolated pair. The 1D [delta] interaction McGuire-Yang-Gaudin many-fermion model is studied in detail. The interaction renormalization scheme of Miyake and of Randeria, Duan, and Shieh, and the BCS interaction model, both in 2D, are employed to analyze cuprate superconductor empirical results. Reasonable agreement between theoretical rms radii with experimental coherence lengths suggests that cuprates can be described moderately well as [ital weakly] [ital coupled] superconductors within the BCS-Bose formalism.« less

Increased proliferation of late-born retinal progenitor cells by gestational lead exposure delays rod and bipolar cell differentiation.

PubMed

Chaney, Shawnta Y; Mukherjee, Shradha; Giddabasappa, Anand; Rueda, Elda M; Hamilton, W Ryan; Johnson, Jerry E; Fox, Donald A

2016-01-01

Studies of neuronal development in the retina often examine the stages of proliferation, differentiation, and synaptic development, albeit independently. Our goal was to determine if a known neurotoxicant insult to a population of retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) would affect their eventual differentiation and synaptic development. To that end, we used our previously published human equivalent murine model of low-level gestational lead exposure (GLE). Children and animals with GLE exhibit increased scotopic electroretinogram a- and b-waves. Adult mice with GLE exhibit an increased number of late-born RPCs, a prolonged period of RPC proliferation, and an increased number of late-born rod photoreceptors and rod and cone bipolar cells (BCs), with no change in the number of late-born Müller glial cells or early-born neurons. The specific aims of this study were to determine whether increased and prolonged RPC proliferation alters the spatiotemporal differentiation and synaptic development of rods and BCs in early postnatal GLE retinas compared to control retinas. C57BL/6N mouse pups were exposed to lead acetate via drinking water throughout gestation and until postnatal day 10, which is equivalent to the human gestation period for retinal neurogenesis. RT-qPCR, immunohistochemical analysis, and western blots of well-characterized, cell-specific genes and proteins were performed at embryonic and early postnatal ages to assess rod and cone photoreceptor differentiation, rod and BC differentiation and synaptic development, and Müller glial cell differentiation. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) with the rod-specific transcription factors Nrl , Nr2e3 , and Crx and the rod-specific functional gene Rho , along with central retinal confocal studies with anti-recoverin and anti-rhodopsin antibodies, revealed a two-day delay in the differentiation of rod photoreceptors in GLE retinas. Rhodopsin immunoblots supported this conclusion. No changes in glutamine synthetase gene or protein expression, a marker for late-born Müller glial cells, were observed in the developing retinas. In the retinas from the GLE mice, anti-PKCα, - Chx10 (Vsx2) and -secretagogin antibodies revealed a two- to three-day delay in the differentiation of rod and cone BCs, whereas the expression of the proneural and BC genes Otx2 and Chx10 , respectively, increased. In addition, confocal studies of proteins associated with functional synapses (e.g., vesicular glutamate transporter 1 [VGluT1], plasma membrane calcium ATPase [PMCA], transient receptor potential channel M1 [TRPM1], and synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2B [SV2B]) revealed a two-day delay in the formation of the outer and inner plexiform layers of the GLE retinas. Moreover, several markers revealed that the initiation of the differentiation and intensity of the labeling of early-born cells in the retinal ganglion cell and inner plexiform layers were not different in the control retinas. Our combined gene, confocal, and immunoblot findings revealed that the onset of rod and BC differentiation and their subsequent synaptic development is delayed by two to three days in GLE retinas. These results suggest that perturbations during the early proliferative stages of late-born RPCs fated to be rods and BCs ultimately alter the coordinated time-dependent progression of rod and BC differentiation and synaptic development. These GLE effects were selective for late-born neurons. Although the molecular mechanisms are unknown, alterations in soluble neurotrophic factors and/or their receptors are likely to play a role. Since neurodevelopmental delays and altered synaptic connectivity are associated with neuropsychiatric and behavioral disorders as well as cognitive deficits, future work is needed to determine if similar effects occur in the brains of GLE mice and whether children with GLE experience similar delays in retinal and brain neuronal differentiation and synaptic development.

Levels and determinants of breast and cervical cancer screening uptake in HIV-infected women compared with the general population in France.

PubMed

Tron, L; Lert, F; Spire, B; Dray-Spira, R

2017-03-01

Cancer is a growing concern for HIV-infected people, and screening plays a major role in alleviating the burden it causes. We sought to investigate the levels and determinants of breast cancer screening (BCS) and cervical cancer screening (CCS) in HIV-infected women as compared with the general population. The Agence Nationale de Recherche sur le Sida et les Hépatites Virales (ANRS)-Vespa2 study was conducted in 2011 in a national representative sample of 3022 HIV-infected hospital out-patients in France. The rates and correlates of BCS and CCS among HIV-infected women were compared with those in the general population using multivariate Poisson regression models. The BCS rate during the 2 years preceding the survey interview was 80.7% among HIV-infected women vs. 89.1% in the general population (P = 0.146). The CCS rate during the preceding 3 years was 88.1% among HIV-infected women vs. 83.1% in the general population (P = 0.021). During the preceding year, the CCS rate among HIV-infected women was 76.5%. The barriers to BCS and CCS were a low educational level [BCS: adjusted prevalence rate ratio 0.88; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80-0.97; CCS: adjusted prevalence rate ratio 0.91; 95% CI 0.83-0.99], not having supplementary health insurance (CCS: adjusted prevalence rate ratio 0.92; 95% CI 0.86-0.98), an irregular gynaecological follow-up (BCS: adjusted prevalence rate ratio 0.77; 95% CI 0.64-0.92; CCS: adjusted prevalence rate ratio 0.72; 95% CI 0.64-0.81) and a low CD4 count (BCS: adjusted prevalence rate ratio 0.83; 95% CI 0.71-0.97; CCS: adjusted prevalence rate ratio 0.78; 95% CI 0.63-0.98). The disparities in CCS uptake in terms of age, employment and gynaecological follow-up were less pronounced among HIV-infected women than in the general population. BCS and CCS uptake was not lower among HIV-infected women than in the general population, but CCS was suboptimal. Specificities in the profile of barriers to screening emerged. © 2016 British HIV Association.

Fibrinolysis status in the Budd-Chiari syndrome in China.

PubMed

Ke, Zhang; Hao, Xu; Ning, Wei; Zu, Mao-heng; Fun, Yu-fei

2015-10-01

Pathogenesis and clinical characteristics of the Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) in Asia are somewhat different from the ones observed in Western countries. Obstruction of the inferior vena cava (IVC) or of the hepatic veins is caused to a greater extent by membranous webs than by thrombosis. Impaired fibrinolysis has been found in European patients with BCS, but its status in Chinese patients with this condition is still unknown. To explore the characteristics of fibrinolysis in BCS patients in this country, we measured the euglobulin lysis time (ELT) for overall fibrinolysis and the plasma levels of five fibrinolytic components in 65 Chinese patients with BCS and 43 healthy controls. In patients, ELTs were slightly shorter than in controls (mean, 293 vs. 357 min, P < 0.02), tissue type plasminogen activator levels were higher than in controls (mean, 239 vs. 185 pg/ml, P < 0.01), and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 levels were lower than in controls (mean, 1.43 vs. 1.73 ng/ml, P < 0.001). To explore BCS in more detail, we subgrouped the cases according to age, type of venous occlusion, Child-Pugh score, and thrombosis. As a result of this analysis, we found that young patients (age <30 years) had a longer ELT (mean, 440 min) than the older patient groups (30 ≤ age ≤ 44, 45 ≤ age ≤ 54, age>54 years; mean ELT = 242, 198, and 289 min, respectively, all P < 0.05). The independent hepatic vein occlusion subgroup showed a longer ELT (mean, 367 min) than the combined hepatic vein and IVC or the independent IVC occlusion subgroup (mean ELT = 233 and 260 min, both P < 0.05). ELT did not show significant differences between Child-Pugh class A and B subgroups (mean, 267 vs. 333 min, P > 0.05). ELT in the subgroup without thrombosis was shorter than in controls (mean, 288 vs. 358 min, P < 0.05), and in the subgroup with thrombosis, it was also slightly shorter than in controls, without reaching statistical significance (mean, 306 vs. 358 min, P > 0.05). By and large, overall fibrinolytic potential was slightly increased in Chinese patients with BCS in this study, but fibrinolysis differed according to its baseline characteristics. Compared with the one seen in BCS patients from Western countries, BCS in China exhibits certain special changes in fibrinolysis and we were able to explain some of these changes.

Establishing the pharmaceutical quality of Chinese herbal medicine: a provisional BCS classification.

PubMed

Fong, Sophia Y K; Liu, Mary; Wei, Hai; Löbenberg, Raimar; Kanfer, Isadore; Lee, Vincent H L; Amidon, Gordon L; Zuo, Zhong

2013-05-06

The Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS), which is a scientific approach to categorize active drug ingredient based on its solubility and intestinal permeability into one of the four classes, has been used to set the pharmaceutical quality standards for drug products in western society. However, it has received little attention in the area of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM). This is likely, in part, due to the presence of multiple active components as well as lack of standardization of CHM. In this report, we apply BCS classification to CHMs provisionally as a basis for establishing improved in vitro quality standards. Based on a top-200 drugs selling list in China, a total of 31 CHM products comprising 50 official active marker compounds (AMCs) were provisionally classified according to BCS. Information on AMC content and doses of these CHM products were retrieved from the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. BCS parameters including solubility and permeability of the AMCs were predicted in silico (ACD/Laboratories). A BCS classification of CHMs according to biopharmaceutical properties of their AMCs is demonstrated to be feasible in the current study and can be used to provide a minimum set of quality standards. Our provisional results showed that 44% of the included AMCs were classified as Class III (high solubility, low permeability), followed by Class II (26%), Class I (18%), and Class IV (12%). A similar trend was observed when CHMs were classified in accordance with the BCS class of AMCs. Most (45%) of the included CHMs were classified as Class III, followed by Class II (16%), Class I (10%), and Class IV (6%); whereas 23% of the CHMs were of mixed class due to the presence of multiple individual AMCs with different BCS classifications. Moreover, about 60% of the AMCs were classified as high-solubility compounds (Class I and Class III), suggesting an important role for an in vitro dissolution test in setting quality control standards ensuring consistent biopharmaceutical quality for the commercially available CHM products. That is, provisionally, more than half of the AMCs of the top-selling CHMs included in this study would be candidates for a bioequivalence (BE) biowaiver, based on WHO recommendations and EMEA guidelines. Thus a dissolution requirement on these AMCs would represent a significant advance in the pharmaceutical quality of CHM today.

Androgen receptor status is highly conserved during tumor progression of breast cancer.

PubMed

Grogg, André; Trippel, Mafalda; Pfaltz, Katrin; Lädrach, Claudia; Droeser, Raoul A; Cihoric, Nikola; Salhia, Bodour; Zweifel, Martin; Tapia, Coya

2015-11-09

With the advent of new and more efficient anti-androgen drugs targeting androgen receptor (AR) in breast cancer (BC) is becoming an increasingly important area of investigation. This would potentially be most useful in triple negative BC (TNBC), where better therapies are still needed. The assessment of AR status is generally performed on the primary tumor even if the tumor has already metastasized. Very little is known regarding discrepancies of AR status during tumor progression. To determine the prevalence of AR positivity, with emphasis on TNBCs, and to investigate AR status during tumor progression, we evaluated a large series of primary BCs and matching metastases and recurrences. AR status was performed on 356 primary BCs, 135 matching metastases, and 12 recurrences using a next-generation Tissue Microarray (ngTMA). A commercially available AR antibody was used to determine AR-status by immunohistochemistry. AR positivity was defined as any nuclear staining in tumor cells ≥1 %. AR expression was correlated with pathological tumor features of the primary tumor. Additionally, the concordance rate of AR expression between the different tumor sites was determined. AR status was positive in: 87 % (307/353) of primary tumors, 86.1 % (105/122) of metastases, and in 66.7 % (8/12) of recurrences. TNBC tested positive in 11.4 %, (4/35) of BCs. A discrepant result was seen in 4.3 % (5/117) of primary BC and matching lymph node (LN) metastases. Three AR negative primary BCs were positive in the matching LN metastasis, representing 17.6 % of all negative BCs with lymph node metastases (3/17). Two AR positive primary BCs were negative in the matching LN metastasis, representing 2.0 % of all AR positive BCs with LN metastases (2/100). No discrepancies were seen between primary BC and distant metastases or recurrence (n = 17). Most primary (87 %) and metastasized (86.1 %) BCs are AR positive including a significant fraction of TNBCs (11.4 %). Further, AR status is highly conserved during tumor progression and a change only occurs in a small fraction (4.1 %). Our study supports the notion that targeting AR could be effective for many BC patients and that re-testing of AR status in formerly negative or mixed type BC's is recommended.

Effects of excess metabolizable protein on ovarian function and circulating amino acids of beef cows: 2. Excessive supply in varying concentrations from corn gluten meal.

PubMed

Geppert, T C; Meyer, A M; Perry, G A; Gunn, P J

2017-04-01

In the dairy industry, excess dietary CP is consistently correlated with decreased conception rates. However, amount of excess CP effects on reproductive function in beef cattle is largely undefined. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of excess metabolizable protein (MP) supplementation from a moderately abundant rumen undegradable protein (RUP) source (corn gluten meal: 62% RUP) on ovarian function and circulating amino acid (AA) concentrations in beef cows consuming low quality forage. Non-pregnant, non-lactating beef cows (n=16) were allocated by age, BW and body condition score (BCS) to 1 of 2 isocaloric supplements designed to maintain BW for 60 days. Cows had ad libitum access to corn stalks and were individually offered a corn gluten meal-based supplement daily at 125% (MP125) or 150% (MP150) of National Research Council (NRC) MP requirements. After a 20-day supplement adaptation period, cows were synchronized for ovulation. After 10 days of synchronization, follicular growth was reset with gonadotropin releasing hormone. Daily thereafter, transrectal ultrasonography was performed to diagram ovarian follicular waves, and blood samples were collected for hormone, metabolite and AA analyses. After 7 days of observation of estrus, corpus luteum (CL) size was determined via ultrasound. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedures of SAS. No differences (P⩾0.21) in BW and BCS existed throughout the study; however, plasma urea N at ovulation was greater (P=0.04) in MP150. Preovulatory ovarian follicle size at dominance, duration of dominance, size at spontaneous luteolysis, length of proestrus and wavelength were not different (P⩾0.11) between treatments. However, ovulatory follicles were larger (P=0.04) and average antral follicle count was greater (P=0.01) in MP150 than MP125. Estradiol concentration and ratio of estradiol to ovulatory follicle volume were not different due to treatment (P⩾0.25). While CL volume 7 days post-estrus was greater (P<0.01) in MP150 than MP125, circulating progesterone 7 days post-estrus and ratio of progesterone to CL volume were not different (P⩾0.21). Total AA were not different (P⩾0.76) at study initiation or completion; however, as a percent of total AA, branched-chain AA at ovulation were greater (P=0.02) in MP150. In conclusion, supplementation of CP at 150% of NRC MP requirements from a moderately undegradable protein source may enhance growth of the ovulatory follicle and subsequent CL compared with MP supplementation at 125% of NRC MP requirements.

Fluctuation-induced forces in confined ideal and imperfect Bose gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diehl, H. W.; Rutkevich, Sergei B.

2017-06-01

Fluctuation-induced ("Casimir") forces caused by thermal and quantum fluctuations are investigated for ideal and imperfect Bose gases confined to d -dimensional films of size ∞d -1×D under periodic (P), antiperiodic (A), Dirichlet-Dirichlet (DD), Neumann-Neumann (NN), and Robin (R) boundary conditions (BCs). The full scaling functions ΥdBC(xλ=D /λth ,xξ=D /ξ ) of the residual reduced grand potential per area φres,dBC(T ,μ ,D ) =D-(d -1 )ΥdBC(xλ,xξ) are determined for the ideal gas case with these BCs, where λth and ξ are the thermal de Broglie wavelength and the bulk correlation length, respectively. The associated limiting scaling functions ΘdBC(xξ) ≡ΥdBC(∞ ,xξ) describing the critical behavior at the bulk condensation transition are shown to agree with those previously determined from a massive free O (2 ) theory for BC=P,A,DD,DN,NN . For d =3 , they are expressed in closed analytical form in terms of polylogarithms. The analogous scaling functions ΥdBC(xλ,xξ,c1D ,c2D ) and ΘdR(xξ,c1D ,c2D ) under the RBCs (∂z-c1) ϕ |z=0=(∂z+c2) ϕ | z =D=0 with c1≥0 and c2≥0 are also determined. The corresponding scaling functions Υ∞,d P(xλ,xξ) and Θ∞,d P(xξ) for the imperfect Bose gas are shown to agree with those of the interacting Bose gas with n internal degrees of freedom in the limit n →∞ . Hence, for d =3 , Θ∞,d P(xξ) is known exactly in closed analytic form. To account for the breakdown of translation invariance in the direction perpendicular to the boundary planes implied by free BCs such as DDBCs, a modified imperfect Bose gas model is introduced that corresponds to the limit n →∞ of this interacting Bose gas. Numerically and analytically exact results for the scaling function Θ∞,3 DD(xξ) therefore follow from those of the O (2 n ) ϕ4 model for n →∞ .

Fluctuation-induced forces in confined ideal and imperfect Bose gases.

PubMed

Diehl, H W; Rutkevich, Sergei B

2017-06-01

Fluctuation-induced ("Casimir") forces caused by thermal and quantum fluctuations are investigated for ideal and imperfect Bose gases confined to d-dimensional films of size ∞^{d-1}×D under periodic (P), antiperiodic (A), Dirichlet-Dirichlet (DD), Neumann-Neumann (NN), and Robin (R) boundary conditions (BCs). The full scaling functions Υ_{d}^{BC}(x_{λ}=D/λ_{th},x_{ξ}=D/ξ) of the residual reduced grand potential per area φ_{res,d}^{BC}(T,μ,D)=D^{-(d-1)}Υ_{d}^{BC}(x_{λ},x_{ξ}) are determined for the ideal gas case with these BCs, where λ_{th} and ξ are the thermal de Broglie wavelength and the bulk correlation length, respectively. The associated limiting scaling functions Θ_{d}^{BC}(x_{ξ})≡Υ_{d}^{BC}(∞,x_{ξ}) describing the critical behavior at the bulk condensation transition are shown to agree with those previously determined from a massive free O(2) theory for BC=P,A,DD,DN,NN. For d=3, they are expressed in closed analytical form in terms of polylogarithms. The analogous scaling functions Υ_{d}^{BC}(x_{λ},x_{ξ},c_{1}D,c_{2}D) and Θ_{d}^{R}(x_{ξ},c_{1}D,c_{2}D) under the RBCs (∂_{z}-c_{1})ϕ|_{z=0}=(∂_{z}+c_{2})ϕ|_{z=D}=0 with c_{1}≥0 and c_{2}≥0 are also determined. The corresponding scaling functions Υ_{∞,d}^{P}(x_{λ},x_{ξ}) and Θ_{∞,d}^{P}(x_{ξ}) for the imperfect Bose gas are shown to agree with those of the interacting Bose gas with n internal degrees of freedom in the limit n→∞. Hence, for d=3, Θ_{∞,d}^{P}(x_{ξ}) is known exactly in closed analytic form. To account for the breakdown of translation invariance in the direction perpendicular to the boundary planes implied by free BCs such as DDBCs, a modified imperfect Bose gas model is introduced that corresponds to the limit n→∞ of this interacting Bose gas. Numerically and analytically exact results for the scaling function Θ_{∞,3}^{DD}(x_{ξ}) therefore follow from those of the O(2n)ϕ^{4} model for n→∞.

Core structure of two-dimensional Fermi gas vortices in the BEC-BCS crossover region

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

Madeira, Lucas; Gandolfi, Stefano; Schmidt, Kevin E.

2017-05-02

We report T = 0 diffusion Monte Carlo results for the ground-state and vortex excitation of unpolarized spin-1/2 fermions in a two-dimensional disk. We investigate how vortex core structure properties behave over the BEC-BCS crossover. We calculate the vortex excitation energy, density pro les, and vortex core properties related to the current. We nd a density suppression at the vortex core on the BCS side of the crossover and a depleted core on the BEC limit. Size-effect dependencies in the disk geometry were carefully studied.

Application of the BCS biowaiver approach to assessing bioequivalence of orally disintegrating tablets with immediate release formulations.

PubMed

Ono, Asami; Sugano, Kiyohiko

2014-11-20

The aim of this study was to compare the dissolution profiles of oral disintegrating tablets (ODTs) and immediate release (IR) formulations in order to experimentally validate the regulatory biowaiver scheme (BWS) for biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS) class III drugs. We examined six drugs that show clinical bioequivalence between the ODTs and IR formulations: taltirelin, olopatadine, droxidopa, famotidine, fexofenadine, and hydrochlorothiazide. The dissolution profiles of these drugs were evaluated using the compendium paddle apparatus at pH 1.2 and 6.8. Taltirelin and olopatadine showed very rapid dissolution and met the dissolution criteria in the BWS, whereas droxidopa, famotidine, fexofenadine, and hydrochlorothiazide did not. Furthermore, in the case of famotidine, fexofenadine, and hydrochlorothiazide, the ODTs and IR formulations showed dissimilar dissolution profiles. The dose-to-solubility ratio (D:S) of these drugs was larger than that of the other drugs. The results of this study suggest that extension of the BCS-BWS to ODTs and IR formulations of BCS class III drugs is appropriate. Furthermore, for BCS class III drugs with relatively high D:S, clinical bioequivalence would be achievable even when two formulations showed different dissolution profiles in vitro. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Size-dependent bending modulus of nanotubes induced by the imperfect boundary conditions

PubMed Central

Zhang, Jin

2016-01-01

The size-dependent bending modulus of nanotubes, which was widely observed in most existing three-point bending experiments [e.g., J. Phys. Chem. B 117, 4618–4625 (2013)], has been tacitly assumed to originate from the shear effect. In this paper, taking boron nitride nanotubes as an example, we directly measured the shear effect by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and found that the shear effect is not the major factor responsible for the observed size-dependent bending modulus of nanotubes. To further explain the size-dependence phenomenon, we abandoned the assumption of perfect boundary conditions (BCs) utilized in the aforementioned experiments and studied the influence of the BCs on the bending modulus of nanotubes based on MD simulations. The results show that the imperfect BCs also make the bending modulus of nanotubes size-dependent. Moreover, the size-dependence phenomenon induced by the imperfect BCs is much more significant than that induced by the shear effect, which suggests that the imperfect BC is a possible physical origin that leads to the strong size-dependence of the bending modulus found in the aforementioned experiments. To capture the physics behind the MD simulation results, a beam model with the general BCs is proposed and found to fit the experimental data very well. PMID:27941866

Biowaiver Monographs for Immediate Release Solid Oral Dosage Forms: Levetiracetam.

PubMed

Petruševska, Marija; Berglez, Sandra; Krisch, Igor; Legen, Igor; Megušar, Klara; Peternel, Luka; Abrahamsson, Bertil; Cristofoletti, Rodrigo; Groot, D W; Kopp, Sabine; Langguth, Peter; Mehta, Mehul; Polli, James E; Shah, Vinod P; Dressman, Jennifer

2015-09-01

Literature and experimental data relevant for the decision to allow a waiver of in vivo bioequivalence (BE) testing for the approval of immediate release (IR) solid oral dosage forms containing levetiracetam are reviewed. Data on solubility and permeability suggest that levetiracetam belongs to class I of the biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS). Levetiracetam's therapeutic use, its wide therapeutic index, and its favorable pharmacokinetic properties make levetiracetam a valid candidate for the BCS-based biowaiver approach. Further, no BE studies with levetiracetam IR formulations in which the test formulation failed to show BE with the comparator have been reported in the open literature. On the basis of the overall evidence, it appears unlikely that a BCS-based biowaiver approach for levetiracetam IR solid oral dosage forms formulated with established excipients would expose patients to undue risks. Thus, the BCS-based biowaiver approach procedure is recommended for IR solid oral dosage form containing levetiracetam, provided the excipients in the formulation are also present in products that have been approved in countries belonging to or associated with the International Committee on Harmonization and are used in their usual quantities, and provided the dissolution profiles of the test and reference product comply with the current requirements for BCS-based biowaivers. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.

Physicochemical characterisation and investigation of the bonding mechanisms of API-titanate nanotube composites as new drug carrier systems.

PubMed

Sipos, Barbara; Pintye-Hódi, Klára; Kónya, Zoltán; Kelemen, András; Regdon, Géza; Sovány, Tamás

2017-02-25

Titanate nanotube (TNT) has recently been explored as a new carrier material for active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). The aim of the present work was to reveal the physicochemical properties of API-TNT composites, focusing on the interactions between the TNTs and the incorporated APIs. Drugs belonging to different Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS) classes were loaded into TNTs: diltiazem hydrochloride (BCS I.), diclofenac sodium (BCS II.), atenolol (BCS III.) and hydrochlorothiazide (BCS IV.). Experimental results demonstrated that it is feasible for spiral cross-sectioned titanate nanotubes to carry drugs and maintain their bioactivity. The structural properties of the composites were characterized by a range of analytical techniques, including FT-IR, DSC, TG-MS, etc. The interactions between APIs and TNTs were identified as electrostatic attractions, mainly dominated by hydrogen bonds. Based on the results, it can be stated that the strength of the association depends on the hydrogen donor strength of the API. The drug release of incorporated APIs was evaluated from compressed tablets and compared to that of pure APIs. Differences noticed in the dissolution profiles due to incorporation showed a correlation with the strength of interactions between the APIs and the TNTs observed in the above analytical studies. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The BCS-BEC crossover: From ultra-cold Fermi gases to nuclear systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strinati, Giancarlo Calvanese; Pieri, Pierbiagio; Röpke, Gerd; Schuck, Peter; Urban, Michael

2018-04-01

This report addresses topics and questions of common interest in the fields of ultra-cold gases and nuclear physics in the context of the BCS-BEC crossover. By this crossover, the phenomena of Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) superfluidity and Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC), which share the same kind of spontaneous symmetry breaking, are smoothly connected through the progressive reduction of the size of the fermion pairs involved as the fundamental entities in both phenomena. This size ranges, from large values when Cooper pairs are strongly overlapping in the BCS limit of a weak inter-particle attraction, to small values when composite bosons are non-overlapping in the BEC limit of a strong inter-particle attraction, across the intermediate unitarity limit where the size of the pairs is comparable with the average inter-particle distance. The BCS-BEC crossover has recently been realized experimentally, and essentially in all of its aspects, with ultra-cold Fermi gases. This realization, in turn, has raised the interest of the nuclear physics community in the crossover problem, since it represents an unprecedented tool to test fundamental and unanswered questions of nuclear many-body theory. Here, we focus on the several aspects of the BCS-BEC crossover, which are of broad joint interest to both ultra-cold Fermi gases and nuclear matter, and which will likely help to solve in the future some open problems in nuclear physics (concerning, for instance, neutron stars). Similarities and differences occurring in ultra-cold Fermi gases and nuclear matter will then be emphasized, not only about the relative phenomenologies but also about the theoretical approaches to be used in the two contexts. Common to both contexts is the fact that at zero temperature the BCS-BEC crossover can be described at the mean-field level with reasonable accuracy. At finite temperature, on the other hand, inclusion of pairing fluctuations beyond mean field represents an essential ingredient of the theory, especially in the normal phase where they account for precursor pairing effects. After an introduction to present the key concepts of the BCS-BEC crossover, this report discusses the mean-field treatment of the superfluid phase, both for homogeneous and inhomogeneous systems, as well as for symmetric (spin- or isospin-balanced) and asymmetric (spin- or isospin-imbalanced) matter. Pairing fluctuations in the normal phase are then considered, with their manifestations in thermodynamic and dynamic quantities. The last two Sections provide a more specialized discussion of the BCS-BEC crossover in ultra-cold Fermi gases and nuclear matter, respectively. The separate discussion in the two contexts aims at cross communicating to both communities topics and aspects which, albeit arising in one of the two fields, share a strong common interest.

Health and body condition of lactating females on rabbit farms.

PubMed

Sánchez, J P; de la Fuente, L F; Rosell, J M

2012-07-01

The aim was to study relationships between morbidity, defined through prevalence of diseases of rabbit females, and BCS, and to assess the effect of several risk factors on both morbidity and BCS. Our study was based on individual examinations of 18,510 does in lactation on 103 farms. We evaluated BCS on a linear scale from 1 to 9, with 5 being the optimum. Prevalence of major diseases were 22.7%, 4.0%, and 6.4% for coryza, mastitis, and ulcerative pododermatitis, respectively. In addition, prevalence was 3.0% for diseases of minor presentation, including mange, which had a prevalence of 1.9%. The BCS of the R line (selected for growth) was 5.55 ± 0.14, whereas for the A line (selected for litter size) it was 4.40 ± 0.11. Females with more than 20 kindlings had on average a BCS 0.25 ± 0.07 units less than those in the 12th lactation (P = 0.0002). Optimal BCS 4.60 ± 0.11 was reached during the third lactation week. Sick females had a BCS of 0.6 ± 0.01 units less than healthy females. Females with a footrest had on average a BCS 0.19 ± 0.05 units greater than those without. The absence of footrests was an enabling risk factor for ulcerative pododermatitis, the prevalence of which increased by 53%. Ulcerative pododermatitis was associated (P = 0.045) with diet; females consuming a rich energy diet were prone to having this disorder; 1 SD increase in DE (0.32 MJ) determined an increase in ulcerative pododermatitis prevalence of 0.8 percentage points. Diet was not an enabling risk factor for the other diseases. The genetic type to which a female belongs is a predisposing risk factor of disease; P, V and H were also maternal lines, while S group was exclusively formed by maternal lines. With regard to coryza, the S group had the greatest prevalence (44.0%), followed by A, P, R (19.0 to 21.0%); the V line, selected for prolificacy, showed the least prevalence (12.0%). For the case of mastitis although significant (P < 0.05), the magnitude of the differences between disease prevalence was less; R line had a mastitis prevalence of 11.0% while the least prevalence was observed for V does (4.0%). Simultaneous evaluation of both BCS and morbidity on the rabbit farm is recommended for the right assessment of welfare conditions. In this study, the relationships between both variables have been shown, as well as how other intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors modulate these variables; and thus, these factors should be considered during a welfare assessment.

High-Order Accurate Solutions to the Helmholtz Equation in the Presence of Boundary Singularities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Britt, Darrell Steven, Jr.

Problems of time-harmonic wave propagation arise in important fields of study such as geological surveying, radar detection/evasion, and aircraft design. These often involve highfrequency waves, which demand high-order methods to mitigate the dispersion error. We propose a high-order method for computing solutions to the variable-coefficient inhomogeneous Helmholtz equation in two dimensions on domains bounded by piecewise smooth curves of arbitrary shape with a finite number of boundary singularities at known locations. We utilize compact finite difference (FD) schemes on regular structured grids to achieve highorder accuracy due to their efficiency and simplicity, as well as the capability to approximate variable-coefficient differential operators. In this work, a 4th-order compact FD scheme for the variable-coefficient Helmholtz equation on a Cartesian grid in 2D is derived and tested. The well known limitation of finite differences is that they lose accuracy when the boundary curve does not coincide with the discretization grid, which is a severe restriction on the geometry of the computational domain. Therefore, the algorithm presented in this work combines high-order FD schemes with the method of difference potentials (DP), which retains the efficiency of FD while allowing for boundary shapes that are not aligned with the grid without sacrificing the accuracy of the FD scheme. Additionally, the theory of DP allows for the universal treatment of the boundary conditions. One of the significant contributions of this work is the development of an implementation that accommodates general boundary conditions (BCs). In particular, Robin BCs with discontinuous coefficients are studied, for which we introduce a piecewise parameterization of the boundary curve. Problems with discontinuities in the boundary data itself are also studied. We observe that the design convergence rate suffers whenever the solution loses regularity due to the boundary conditions. This is because the FD scheme is only consistent for classical solutions of the PDE. For this reason, we implement the method of singularity subtraction as a means for restoring the design accuracy of the scheme in the presence of singularities at the boundary. While this method is well studied for low order methods and for problems in which singularities arise from the geometry (e.g., corners), we adapt it to our high-order scheme for curved boundaries via a conformal mapping and show that it can also be used to restore accuracy when the singularity arises from the BCs rather than the geometry. Altogether, the proposed methodology for 2D boundary value problems is computationally efficient, easily handles a wide class of boundary conditions and boundary shapes that are not aligned with the discretization grid, and requires little modification for solving new problems.

Omitting radiation therapy after lumpectomy for pure DCIS does not reduce the risk of salvage mastectomy.

PubMed

Rakovitch, Eileen; Nofech-Mozes, Sharon; Hanna, Wedad; Sutradhar, Rinku; Gu, Sumei; Fong, Cindy; Tuck, Alan; Youngson, Bruce; Miller, Naomi; Done, Susan J; Chang, Martin C; Sengupta, Sandip; Elavathil, Leela; Jani, Prashant A; Bonin, Michel; Lalani, Nafisha; Paszat, Lawrence

2018-02-01

Radiation therapy (RT) after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) for Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) halves the risk of local recurrence (LR). The omission of RT is often supported by the paradigm that patients who develop LR can be salvaged with further breast-conserving therapy leading to higher rates of breast preservation and improved quality of life. However, population-based, long-term rates of breast preservation in women treated by upfront BCS ± RT are unknown. Women diagnosed with pure DCIS from 1994 to 2003 treated with BCS ± RT in Ontario were identified. Median follow-up is 12 years. The development and treatment of LR and contralateral breast cancers were determined by administrative databases with validation. The 10-year mastectomy-free survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The impact of RT on breast preservation was determined by propensity-adjusted cox proportional hazards model. The cohort includes 3303 women with DCIS; 1649 (50%) underwent BCS alone, 1654 (50%) underwent BCS + RT. Women treated by BCS alone were more likely to develop a LR compared to those treated by upfront BCS + RT (20.8% versus 15.5%, p < 0.001). Mastectomy was used to treat LR in 57.4% (197/343) of women who recurred after BCS alone and 67.6% (174/257) of those who recurred after BCS + RT. Women treated with upfront BCS + RT had higher rates of bilateral breast preservation at 10 years compared to those treated by BCS alone (87.3% vs.82.7%, p = 0.0096). Local Recurrence after BCS alone does not favor breast preservation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Longitudinal trends with Improvement in Quality of Life after TVT, TVT O and Burch Colposuspension Procedures

PubMed Central

Drahoradova, Petra; Martan, Alois; Svabik, Kamil; Zvara, Karel; Otava, Martin; Masata, Jaromir

2011-01-01

Summary Background Comparison of the quality of life (QoL) trends after TVT, TVT O and Burch colposuspension (BCS) procedures and comparison of long-term subjective and objective outcomes. Material/Methods The study included 215 women who underwent a TVT, TVT O or BCS procedure. We monitored QoL after each procedure and the effect of complications on the QoL as assessed by the IQOL questionnaire over a 3-year period. Results The study was completed by 74.5% of women after TVT, 74.5% after TVT O, and 65.2% after BCS procedure. In the long-term, the QoL improved from 46.9 to 88.7 and remained stable after BCS; after TVT and TVT O, it declined, but only after TVT O was the decline statistically significant compared to BCS. The IQOL for women with post-operative complications has a clear descending tendency. The effect of the complications is highly significant (p<0.001). Only the OAB complication had a statistically significant effect on QoL p<0.001. Preexistent OAB does not negatively affect postoperative results of anti-incontinence surgery. Conclusions There was a statistically significant decline with the longitudinal values of IQOL with TVT O, but not with TVT or BCS. Anti-incontinence operations significantly improve quality of life for women with MI, but compared to the SI group, the quality of life is worse when measured at a longer time interval after the operation. Anti-incontinence operations significantly improve quality of life, and the difference in preoperative status in the long-term follow-up is demonstrable. PMID:21278690

Effects of supervised exercise on motivational outcomes in breast cancer survivors at 5-year follow-up.

PubMed

Trinh, Linda; Mutrie, Nanette; Campbell, Anna M; Crawford, Jennifer J; Courneya, Kerry S

2014-12-01

Short-term physical activity (PA) has beneficial effects on symptom management and quality of life, however, longer-term adherence is likely needed for improved disease outcomes in breast cancer survivors (BCS). This study examined the effects of a supervised group exercise program on motivational outcomes and PA among BCS at 5-year follow-up. The original study was a two-armed, randomized controlled trial comparing a 12-week supervised group exercise program to usual care among 203 BCS. BCS for this follow-up study were contacted at 60 months postintervention and asked to complete assessments of motivational outcomes from the Theory of Planned Behavior and PA behavior using the Scottish Physical Activity Questionnaire. Overall, 87 participants provided 5-year follow-up data with no differences in participation by group. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) revealed that supervised exercise had a significant positive effect on descriptive norm at 5-year follow-up (mean = +0.6; 95% CI = +0.1 to +1.1; d = +0.48; p = 0.021). Small positive effects were also noted for perceived behavioral control (d = +0.18), instrumental attitude (d = +0.26), and injunctive norm (d = +0.35), although they were not statistically significant. Moreover, BCS who were more active at 5-year follow-up also reported more favorable perceived behavioral control (d = +0.16), instrumental attitude (d = +0.28), injunctive norm (d = +0.24), and descriptive norm (d = +0.31), although these differences were not statistically significant. This trial provides suggestive evidence that a supervised exercise program has positive effects on motivational outcomes even after 5 years. Additional intervention strategies during follow-up may further improve long-term adherence and health outcomes in BCS. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Preoperative chemotherapy for T2 breast cancer is associated with improved surgical outcome.

PubMed

Karanlik, H; Ozgur, I; Cabioglu, N; Sen, F; Erturk, K; Kilic, B; Onder, S; Deniz, M; Yavuz, E; Aydiner, A

2015-09-01

The aim of this study is to compare the clinical outcome in T2 breast cancer patients who underwent preoperative chemotherapy (PC) and who did not. The study also tried to define a subgroup of patients, who are more beneficial after PC in terms of lower re-excision rates, better cosmetic results and local recurrence free survival. 251 consecutive patients treated for nonmetastatic T2 invasive breast cancer were analyzed retrospectively. Of those; 141 underwent primary surgery (PS) followed by chemotherapy, whereas 110 were treated with combination of PC and surgery. The patients who were treated with PC had a significantly higher incidence of negative margins and lower rate of re-excision (5% vs. 16%, p = 0.02). Of all patients attempted breast conserving surgery (BCS), patients in the PC group were more likely to undergo BCS as their definitive operation compared to patients with PS group (BCS rates; PC group: 99% vs. PS group: 92%, p = 0.05). Multifocal disease (OR: 7, 95% Cl, 2.7-18.4, p = 0.0001) and PC (OR = 0.2; 95% CI, 0.06-0.72, p = 0.01) were factors associated with margin positivity in patients treated with BCS. There was no statistically significant difference in 5 year local-recurrence free survival rates between 2 groups. Our study shows that PC significantly decreases the re-excision in patients undergoing BCS with primary T2 breast tumors. This data suggests that any patient with a tumor greater than 2 cm might be considered for PC to increase BCS success with final negative margins. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Comparison of breast-conserving surgery with mastectomy in locally advanced breast cancer after good response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Sun, Yixuan; Liao, Mingjuan; He, Liu; Zhu, Chenfang

2017-10-01

The application of breast-conserving surgery (BCS) on patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) with good response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) still remains controversial. The objective in this study is to analyze the safety of BCS in the management of LABC in patients with good response to NACT. We searched the electronic databases of Medline (Pubmed) and Cochrane Library for reports on local recurrence (LR), regional recurrence (RR), distant recurrence (DR), 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) or 5-year overall survival (OS) in patients with LABC receiving BCS or mastectomy (MT) and with good response to NACT. Based on the research results, we conducted a meta-analysis using Review Manager 5.3. Our study showed that 16 studies with a combined total of 3531 patients, of whom 1465 patients underwent BCS, whereas 2066 patients underwent MT. There was no significant heterogeneity among these studies (Q statistic: P = .88; I = 0%). Patients with good response to NACT showed no significant difference in LR and RR [odd ratio (OR) = 0.83; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.60-1.15; P = .26; OR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.33-0.93; P = .03], while we figured out a lower DR (OR = 0.51; 95% CI: 0.42-0.63; P < .01), a higher DFS (OR = 2.35; 95% CI: 1.84 to 3.01, P < .01) and a higher OS (OR = 2.12; 95% CI: 1.51 to 2.98, P < .01) in BCS compared with MT. This meta-analysis concluded that BCS was a safe surgery for patients with LABC and had good response to NACT.

Evaluation of the protective effect of Nigella sativa extract and its primary active component thymoquinone against DMBA-induced breast cancer in female rats

PubMed Central

Linjawi, Sabah A. A.; Hassanane, Mahrosa M.; Ahmed, Ekram S.

2013-01-01

Introduction The historical use of black cumin seed (Nigella sativa) dates back centuries, being embedded in Arabian culture and having a long history of unsurpassed medicinal value with versatility to treat a wide range of ailments. Thymoquinone (TQ) is now known to be the primary active constituent of black cumin seed oil (BCS oil) responsible for its medicinal effects and also showing promise for treatment of cancer. Material and methods In the current study, we have studied the effects of TQ and BCS oil on tumor markers (MDA, LDH, ALP and AST), histopathological alterations and the regulation of several genes (Brca1, Brca2, Id-1 and P53 mutation) related to breast cancer in female rats induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) treatment. Rats received a single dose (65 mg/kg b.w.) of DMBA via an intragastric tube to induce breast cancer. Animals that received DMBA were treated orally with 1, 5, 10 mg/kg of TQ or BCS oil via an intragastric tube three times per week for 4 months. Results We found that TQ and then BCS reduced the rate of tumor markers (levels of MDA and LDH as well as ALP and AST activities), inhibited the histopathological alterations and decreased the expression of the Brca1, Brca2, Id-1 and P53 mutations in mammary tissues of female rats induced by DMBA treatment. Conclusions The results suggest that TQ and BCS oil exert a protective effect against breast carcinogens. The antioxidant property of TQ and BCS oil is mediated by their actions and investigating other underlying mechanisms merits further studies. PMID:25861310

Radiation Therapy After Breast-Conserving Surgery: Does Hospital Surgical Volume Matter? A Population-Based Study in Taiwan

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

Chien, Chun-Ru; Department of Radiation Oncology, China Medical University Hospital, and School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Pan, I-Wen

2012-01-01

Purpose: To examine the association between hospital surgical volume and the use of radiation therapy (RT) after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) in Taiwan. Methods and Materials: We used claims data from the National Health Insurance program in Taiwan (1997-2005) in this retrospective population-based study. We identified patients with breast cancer, receipt of BCS, use of radiation, and the factors that could potentially associated with the use of RT from enrollment records, and the ICD-9 and billing codes in claims. We conducted logistic regression to examine factors associated with RT use after BCS, and performed subgroup analyses to examine whether the associationmore » differs by medical center status or hospital volumes. Results: Among 5,094 patients with newly diagnosed invasive breast cancer who underwent BCS, the rate of RT was significantly lower in low-volume hospitals (74% vs. 82%, p < 0.01). Patients treated in low-volume hospitals were less likely to receive RT after BCS (odds ratio = 0.72, 95% confidence interval = 0.62-0.83). In addition, patients treated after the implementation of the voluntary pay-for-performance policy in 2001 were more likely to receive RT (odds ratio = 1.23; 95% confidence interval = 1.05-1.45). Subgroup analyses indicated that the high-volume effect was limited to hospitals accredited as non-medical centers, and that the effect of the pay-for-performance policy was most pronounced among low-volume hospitals. Conclusions: Using population-based data from Taiwan, our study concluded that hospital surgical volume and pay-for-performance policy are positively associated with RT use after BCS.« less

Comparison of two bioelectrical impedance analysis instruments for determining body composition in adolescent girls

PubMed Central

Nichols, J.; Going, S.; Loftin, M.; Stewart, D.; Nowicki, E.; Pickrel, J.

2007-01-01

The purpose of this study was to compare fat-free mass (FFM) and percent body fat determined by two bio-electrical impedance analysis (BIA) instruments against criterion estimates determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in a multi-racial/ethnic sample of adolescent girls. BIA was assessed in 151 girls (n=51 African-American; n=45 Hispanic; n=55 Caucasian; age 12.2 ± 1.2 yr) using the RJL Quantum II and the American Weights and Measures Body-Comp Scale (BCS). Percent body fat determined by BIA was significantly related to that determined by DXA (R2=0.87, SEE=2.8% for RJL vs DXA, P<0.0001; R2=0.71, SEE=4.4% for BCS vs DXA, P<0.0001). The agreement between DXA and BIA for FFM was also significant (R2=0.91, SEE=0.03 kg for RJL, P <0.0001; R2=0.79, SEE=0.04 kg for BCS, P <0.0001). The BCS overestimated FFM by 2.7 kg (P<0.0001) and underestimated percent body fat by over 4% (P<0.001). There were no differences in percent body fat between DXA and the RJL, and although the RJL significantly overestimated FFM, the absolute difference was <1 kg. Within each ethnic group, the RJL instrument more closely estimated FFM and percent body fat than did the BCS. Although both BIA instruments compared favorably with DXA, the RJL had better stability and accuracy than the BCS, for both the total sample and for the three ethnic groups. Considering its relatively low cost and minimal time required for technical training, BIA is a useful and appropriate technique for assessing body composition in adolescent girls. PMID:17607326

Improved BC method of Compomat G4 for expression of BCs twice from whole blood in top and top bags.

PubMed

Deng, Xiao-Yan; Wu, Xiao-Man; Zhao, Yang; Luo, Hong; Jia, Hong-Yun; Wang, Zhong-Ying; He, Bo; Wang, Chuan-Xi

2011-05-01

The aim of this paper was to evaluate an improved buffy coat (BC) method of Compomat G4 for automated expression of BCs twice from whole blood (WB) in top and top (T&T) bags. WB was separated using hard spin centrifugation (2,988g, 10 min) into layers of blood components by specific gravity, and different components were subsequently expressed into satellite bags in the T&T system using the manual BC method, the conventional BC method of G4, and our improved BC method of G4. In the improved BC method, an accessorial device we have named a 'gravity press' was designed and installed on the top flat of G4 to produce gravitational pressure on the plasma bag so as to exclude air and some of plasma to the upper compartment of the slide after BCs were expressed for the first time. The residual BCs in the upper compartment were expressed a second time by extending the upper press once more. All of the pooled BCs were centrifuged by soft spin (402g, 10 min) and upper platelet-rich supernatant was manually expressed into a platelet container by the plasma extractor. In vitro studies of blood components and pooled platelet concentrates (PCs) revealed no significant differences in BC blood components and platelet recovery of pooled platelets (61 ± 9 vs. 60 ± 7%, n = 12, p > 0.05) between the improved BC method and the conventional BC method; all components met our specifications for blood products. We suggest that the new BC method for use of T&T bags may improve the collection of BCs.

Insights into the attenuated sorption of organic compounds on black carbon aged in soil.

PubMed

Luo, Lei; Lv, Jitao; Chen, Zien; Huang, Rixiang; Zhang, Shuzhen

2017-12-01

Sorption of organic compounds on fresh black carbons (BCs) can be greatly attenuated in soil over time. We examined herein the changes in surface properties of maize straw-derived BCs (biochars) after aged in a black soil and their effects on the sorptive behaviors of naphthalene, phenanthrene and 1,3-dinitrobenzene. Dissolved fulvic and humic acids extracted from the soil were used to explore the role of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the aging of biochars. Chromatography analysis indicated that DOC molecules with relatively large molecular weight were preferentially adsorbed on the biochars during the aging processes. DOC sorption led to blockage of the biochar's micropores according to N 2 and CO 2 adsorption analyses. Surface chemistry of the biochars was also substantially modified, with more O-rich functional groups on the aged biochars compared to the original biochars, as evidenced by Near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. The changes in both the physical and chemical surface properties of biochars by DOC led to significant attenuation of the sorption capacity and nonlinearity of the nonionic organic compounds on the aged biochars. Among the tested organic compounds, phenanthrene was the most attenuated in its sorption by the aging treatments, possibly because of its relatively large molecular size and hydrophobicity. The information can help gain a mechanistic understanding of interactions between BCs and organic compounds in soil environment. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Revealing the magnetic proximity effect in EuS/Al bilayers through superconducting tunneling spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strambini, E.; Golovach, V. N.; De Simoni, G.; Moodera, J. S.; Bergeret, F. S.; Giazotto, F.

2017-10-01

A ferromagnetic insulator in contact with a superconductor is known to induce an exchange splitting of the singularity in the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) density of states (DoS). The magnitude of the splitting is proportional to the exchange field that penetrates into the superconductor to a depth comparable with the superconducting coherence length and which ranges in magnitude from a few to a few tens of tesla. We study this magnetic proximity effect in EuS/Al bilayers and show that the domain structure of the EuS affects the positions and the line shapes of the exchange-split BCS peaks. Remarkably, a clear exchange splitting is observed even in the unmagnetized state of the EuS layer, suggesting that the domain size of the EuS is comparable with the superconducting coherence length. Upon magnetizing the EuS layer, the splitting increases while the peaks change shape. Conductance measurements as a function of bias voltage at the lowest temperatures allowed us to relate the line shape of the split BCS DoS to the characteristic domain structure in the ultrathin EuS layer. These results pave the way to engineering triplet superconducting correlations at domain walls in EuS/Al bilayers. Furthermore, the hard gap and large splitting observed in our tunneling spectroscopy measurements make EuS/Al an excellent candidate for substituting strong magnetic fields in experiments studying Majorana bound states.

zUMIs - A fast and flexible pipeline to process RNA sequencing data with UMIs.

PubMed

Parekh, Swati; Ziegenhain, Christoph; Vieth, Beate; Enard, Wolfgang; Hellmann, Ines

2018-06-01

Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) experiments typically analyze hundreds or thousands of cells after amplification of the cDNA. The high throughput is made possible by the early introduction of sample-specific bar codes (BCs), and the amplification bias is alleviated by unique molecular identifiers (UMIs). Thus, the ideal analysis pipeline for scRNA-seq data needs to efficiently tabulate reads according to both BC and UMI. zUMIs is a pipeline that can handle both known and random BCs and also efficiently collapse UMIs, either just for exon mapping reads or for both exon and intron mapping reads. If BC annotation is missing, zUMIs can accurately detect intact cells from the distribution of sequencing reads. Another unique feature of zUMIs is the adaptive downsampling function that facilitates dealing with hugely varying library sizes but also allows the user to evaluate whether the library has been sequenced to saturation. To illustrate the utility of zUMIs, we analyzed a single-nucleus RNA-seq dataset and show that more than 35% of all reads map to introns. Also, we show that these intronic reads are informative about expression levels, significantly increasing the number of detected genes and improving the cluster resolution. zUMIs flexibility makes if possible to accommodate data generated with any of the major scRNA-seq protocols that use BCs and UMIs and is the most feature-rich, fast, and user-friendly pipeline to process such scRNA-seq data.

Genetics Home Reference: Björnstad syndrome

MedlinePlus

... species, which are harmful molecules that can damage DNA and tissues. BCS1L gene mutations involved in Björnstad syndrome alter the BCS1L protein and impair its ability to aid in complex III formation. The resulting decrease in complex III activity reduces ...

Increased serum leptin and insulin concentrations in canine hypothyroidism.

PubMed

Mazaki-Tovi, Michal; Feuermann, Yonatan; Segev, Gilad; Klement, Eyal; Yas-Natan, Einat; Farkas, Amnon; Kol, Amir; Shamay, Avi

2010-01-01

Serum concentrations of leptin and insulin were compared between gender-matched hypothyroid (n=25) and healthy (n=25) client-owned dogs within comparable age and body condition score (BCS) ranges. Fasted blood samples were collected from each dog and analysed for glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, leptin and insulin concentrations. Leptin and insulin concentrations were significantly higher in the hypothyroid compared to normal dogs (P=0.006 and P=0.001, respectively) following adjustment for potential confounders. A nearly significant (P=0.051) interaction with BCS was found in the association between hypothyroidism and leptin. Leptin concentrations were significantly higher in hypothyroid dogs compared to normal dogs, in separate analyses for BCS 6 (P=0.036) and 7 (P=0.049). There was no significant difference in glucose concentration between the hypothyroid and normal groups (P=0.84) following adjustment for BCS. This study showed that canine hypothyroidism is associated with increased serum leptin and insulin concentrations, neither of which may be attributed to obesity alone. Copyright 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Current and evolving approaches for improving the oral permeability of BCS Class III or analogous molecules.

PubMed

Dave, Vivek S; Gupta, Deepak; Yu, Monica; Nguyen, Phuong; Varghese Gupta, Sheeba

2017-02-01

The Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) classifies pharmaceutical compounds based on their aqueous solubility and intestinal permeability. The BCS Class III compounds are hydrophilic molecules (high aqueous solubility) with low permeability across the biological membranes. While these compounds are pharmacologically effective, poor absorption due to low permeability becomes the rate-limiting step in achieving adequate bioavailability. Several approaches have been explored and utilized for improving the permeability profiles of these compounds. The approaches include traditional methods such as prodrugs, permeation enhancers, ion-pairing, etc., as well as relatively modern approaches such as nanoencapsulation and nanosizing. The most recent approaches include a combination/hybridization of one or more traditional approaches to improve drug permeability. While some of these approaches have been extremely successful, i.e. drug products utilizing the approach have progressed through the USFDA approval for marketing; others require further investigation to be applicable. This article discusses the commonly studied approaches for improving the permeability of BCS Class III compounds.

Comprehensive Evaluation of the MBT STAR-BL Module for Simultaneous Bacterial Identification and β-Lactamase-Mediated Resistance Detection in Gram-Negative Rods from Cultured Isolates and Positive Blood Cultures.

PubMed

Lee, Annie W T; Lam, Johnson K S; Lam, Ricky K W; Ng, Wan H; Lee, Ella N L; Lee, Vicky T Y; Sze, Po P; Rajwani, Rahim; Fung, Kitty S C; To, Wing K; Lee, Rodney A; Tsang, Dominic N C; Siu, Gilman K H

2018-01-01

Objective: This study evaluated the capability of a MALDI Biotyper system equipped with the newly introduced MBT STAR-BL module to simultaneously perform species identification and β-lactamase-mediated resistance detection in bacteremia -causing bacteria isolated from cultured isolates and patient-derived blood cultures (BCs). Methods: Two hundred retrospective cultured isolates and 153 prospective BCs containing Gram-negative rods (GNR) were collected and subjected to direct bacterial identification, followed by the measurement of β-lactamase activities against ampicillin, piperacillin, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, and meropenem using the MBT STAR-BL module. The results and turnaround times were compared with those of routine microbiological processing. All strains were also characterized by beta-lactamase PCR and sequencing. Results: Using the saponin-based extraction method, MALDI-TOF MS correctly identified bacteria in 116/134 (86.6%) monomicrobial BCs. The detection sensitivities for β-lactamase activities against ampicillin, piperacillin, third-generation cephalosporin and meropenem were 91.3, 100, 97.9, and 100% for cultured isolates, and 80.4, 100, 68.8, and 40% for monomicrobial BCs ( n = 134) respectively. The overall specificities ranged from 91.5 to 100%. Furthermore, the MBT STAR-BL and conventional drug susceptibility test results were concordant in 14/19 (73.7%) polymicrobial cultures. Reducing the logRQ cut-off value from 0.4 to 0.2 increased the direct detection sensitivities for β-lactamase activities against ampicillin, cefotaxime and meropenem in BCs to 85.7, 87.5, and 100% respectively. The MBT STAR-BL test enabled the reporting of β-lactamase-producing GNR at 14.16 and 47.64 h before the interim and final reports of routine BCs processing, respectively, were available. Conclusion: The MALDI Biotyper system equipped with the MBT STAR-BL module enables the simultaneous rapid identification of bacterial species and β-lactamase-mediated resistance from BCs and cultured isolates. Adjustment of the logRQ cut-off value to 0.2 significantly increased the detection sensitivities for clinically important drug-resistant pathogens.

Comprehensive Evaluation of the MBT STAR-BL Module for Simultaneous Bacterial Identification and β-Lactamase-Mediated Resistance Detection in Gram-Negative Rods from Cultured Isolates and Positive Blood Cultures

PubMed Central

Lee, Annie W. T.; Lam, Johnson K. S.; Lam, Ricky K. W.; Ng, Wan H.; Lee, Ella N. L.; Lee, Vicky T. Y.; Sze, Po P.; Rajwani, Rahim; Fung, Kitty S. C.; To, Wing K.; Lee, Rodney A.; Tsang, Dominic N. C.; Siu, Gilman K. H.

2018-01-01

Objective: This study evaluated the capability of a MALDI Biotyper system equipped with the newly introduced MBT STAR-BL module to simultaneously perform species identification and β-lactamase-mediated resistance detection in bacteremia -causing bacteria isolated from cultured isolates and patient-derived blood cultures (BCs). Methods: Two hundred retrospective cultured isolates and 153 prospective BCs containing Gram-negative rods (GNR) were collected and subjected to direct bacterial identification, followed by the measurement of β-lactamase activities against ampicillin, piperacillin, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, and meropenem using the MBT STAR-BL module. The results and turnaround times were compared with those of routine microbiological processing. All strains were also characterized by beta-lactamase PCR and sequencing. Results: Using the saponin-based extraction method, MALDI-TOF MS correctly identified bacteria in 116/134 (86.6%) monomicrobial BCs. The detection sensitivities for β-lactamase activities against ampicillin, piperacillin, third-generation cephalosporin and meropenem were 91.3, 100, 97.9, and 100% for cultured isolates, and 80.4, 100, 68.8, and 40% for monomicrobial BCs (n = 134) respectively. The overall specificities ranged from 91.5 to 100%. Furthermore, the MBT STAR-BL and conventional drug susceptibility test results were concordant in 14/19 (73.7%) polymicrobial cultures. Reducing the logRQ cut-off value from 0.4 to 0.2 increased the direct detection sensitivities for β-lactamase activities against ampicillin, cefotaxime and meropenem in BCs to 85.7, 87.5, and 100% respectively. The MBT STAR-BL test enabled the reporting of β-lactamase-producing GNR at 14.16 and 47.64 h before the interim and final reports of routine BCs processing, respectively, were available. Conclusion: The MALDI Biotyper system equipped with the MBT STAR-BL module enables the simultaneous rapid identification of bacterial species and β-lactamase-mediated resistance from BCs and cultured isolates. Adjustment of the logRQ cut-off value to 0.2 significantly increased the detection sensitivities for clinically important drug-resistant pathogens. PMID:29527202

Survival in stage I-III breast cancer patients by surgical treatment in a publicly funded health care system.

PubMed

Fisher, S; Gao, H; Yasui, Y; Dabbs, K; Winget, M

2015-06-01

Recent investigations of breast cancer survival in the United States suggest that patients who receive mastectomy have poorer survival than those who receive breast-conserving surgery (BCS) plus radiotherapy, despite clinically established equivalence. This study investigates breast cancer survival in the publicly funded health care system present in Alberta, Canada. Surgically treated stage I-III breast cancer cases diagnosed in Alberta from 2002 to 2010 were included. Demographic, treatment and mortality information were collected from the Alberta Cancer Registry. Unadjusted overall and breast cancer-specific mortality was assessed using Kaplan-Meier and cumulative incidence curves, respectively. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate stage-specific mortality hazard estimates associated with surgical treatment received. A total of 14 939 cases of breast cancer (14 633 patients) were included in this study. The unadjusted 5-year all-cause survival probabilities for patients treated with BCS plus radiotherapy, mastectomy, and BCS alone were 94% (95% CI 93% to 95%), 83% (95% CI 82% to 84%) and 74% (95% CI 70% to 78%), respectively. Stage II and III patients who received mastectomy had a higher all-cause (stage II HR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.13-1.48; stage III HR = 1.74, 95% CI 1.24-2.45) and breast cancer-specific (stage II HR = 1.39, 95% CI 1.09-1.76; stage III HR = 1.79, 95% CI 1.21-2.65) mortality hazard compared with those who received BCS plus radiotherapy, adjusting for patient and clinical characteristics. BCS alone was consistently associated with poor survival. Stage II and III breast cancer patients diagnosed in Alberta, Canada, who received mastectomy had a significantly higher all-cause and breast cancer-specific mortality hazard compared with those who received BCS plus radiotherapy. We suggest greater efforts toward educating and encouraging patients to receive BCS plus radiotherapy rather than mastectomy when it is medically feasible and appropriate. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society for Medical Oncology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Implementation of Slag Stabilized Blended Calcium Sulfate (BCS) in a Pavement Structure : Research Project Capsule

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-09-01

Blended calcium sulfate (BCS) is fl uorogypsum (FG), an industrial byproduct, : blended with lime or limestone. Approximately 90,000 metric tons (100,000 : tons) of FG are generated annually in the United States, posing a serious : problem for enviro...

Systematic study of fission barriers of excited superheavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheikh, J. A.; Nazarewicz, W.; Pei, J. C.

2009-07-01

A systematic study of fission-barrier dependence on excitation energy has been performed using the self-consistent finite-temperature Hartree-Fock + BCS (FT-HF + BCS) formalism with the SkM* Skyrme energy density functional. The calculations have been carried out for even-even superheavy nuclei with Z ranging between 110 and 124. For an accurate description of fission pathways, the effects of triaxial and reflection-asymmetric degrees of freedom have been fully incorporated. Our survey demonstrates that the dependence of isentropic fission barriers on excitation energy changes rapidly with particle number, pointing to the importance of shell effects even at large excitation energies characteristic of compound nuclei. The fastest decrease of fission barriers with excitation energy is predicted for deformed nuclei around N=164 and spherical nuclei around N=184 that are strongly stabilized by ground-state shell effects. For the nuclei Pu240 and Fm256, which exhibit asymmetric spontaneous fission, our calculations predict a transition to symmetric fission at high excitation energies owing to the thermal quenching of static reflection asymmetric deformations.

Evaluation of Social Support, Quality of Life, and Body Image in Women with Breast Cancer.

PubMed

Spatuzzi, Roberta; Vespa, Anna; Lorenzi, Primo; Miccinesi, Guido; Ricciuti, Marcello; Cifarelli, Wanda; Susi, Marina; Fabrizio, Tommaso; Ferrari, Maria G; Ottaviani, Marica; Giulietti, Maria V; Merico, Fabiana; Aieta, Michele

2016-02-01

This study was aimed at comparing the quality of life, body image, and perceived social support in women with breast cancer surgery. Patients receiving breast-conserving surgery (BCS) (n = 72), mastectomy alone (n = 44), and mastectomy with breast reconstruction (n = 41) were evaluated using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), the EORTC Breast Cancer Module (QLQ-BR23), the Body Image Scale (BIS) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). The results indicated that the BCS group had a better body image compared with the other 2 groups and better role functioning compared with the mastectomy-alone group. In the reconstruction group, body image correlated with perceived social support, especially from family and significant others. These results suggest that a positive perception of a supportive social network can help women with breast reconstruction to better cope with the psychological effects of surgery on their body image.

Geographic proximity to treatment for early stage breast cancer and likelihood of mastectomy.

PubMed

Boscoe, Francis P; Johnson, Christopher J; Henry, Kevin A; Goldberg, Daniel W; Shahabi, Kaveh; Elkin, Elena B; Ballas, Leslie K; Cockburn, Myles

2011-08-01

Women with early stage breast cancer who live far from a radiation therapy facility may be more likely to opt for mastectomy over breast conserving surgery (BCS). The geographic dimensions of this relationship deserve further scrutiny. For over 100,000 breast cancer patients in 10 states who received either mastectomy or BCS, a newly-developed software tool was used to calculate the shortest travel distance to the location of surgery and to the nearest radiation treatment center. The likelihood of receipt of mastectomy was modeled as a function of these distance measures and other demographic variables using multilevel logistic regression. Women traveling over 75 km for treatment are about 1.4 times more likely to receive a mastectomy than those traveling under 15 km. Geographic barriers to optimal breast cancer treatment remain a valid concern, though most women traveling long distances to receive mastectomies are doing so after bypassing local options. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Order, criticality, and excitations in the extended Falicov-Kimball model.

PubMed

Ejima, S; Kaneko, T; Ohta, Y; Fehske, H

2014-01-17

Using exact numerical techniques, we investigate the nature of excitonic (electron-hole) bound states and the development of exciton coherence in the one-dimensional half-filled extended Falicov-Kimball model. The ground-state phase diagram of the model exhibits, besides band-insulator and staggered orbital ordered phases, an excitonic insulator (EI) with power-law correlations. The criticality of the EI state shows up in the von Neumann entropy. The anomalous spectral function and condensation amplitude provide the binding energy and coherence length of the electron-hole pairs which, on their part, point towards a Coulomb interaction driven crossover from BCS-like electron-hole pairing fluctuations to tightly bound excitons. We show that while a mass imbalance between electrons and holes does not affect the location of the BCS-BEC crossover regime, it favors staggered orbital ordering to the disadvantage of the EI. Within the Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) regime, the quasiparticle dispersion develops a flat valence-band top, in accord with the experimental finding for Ta2NiSe5.

Gap Solitons of Superfluid Fermi Gas in FS Optical Lattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yan; Zhang, Ke-Zhi; He, Yong-Lin; Liu, Zhen-Lai; Zhu, Liao

2018-01-01

By employing the mean-field theory and hydrodynamic scheme, we study the gap solitons of superfluid Fermi gas in Fourier-Synthesized(FS) optical lattices. By means of numerical methods and variational approximation, the atomic interaction, the chemical potential, the potential depth of the lattice and relative phase of the Fermi system are derived along the Bose-Enstein condensation(BEC)side to the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS)side. It means that the condition exciting gap solitons is obtained. Moreover, we analyze the fundamental gap soltions of the superfluid Fermi gas. It is found that the relative phase α impacts greatly on the properties of fundamental gap solitons for superfluid Fermi gas. Especially, the nonlinearity interaction term g decreases with α. Add, due to Fermi pressure, curvature changes of g in the BEC limit( γ = 1, here, γ is a function of an interaction parameter) is larger than that at unitary ( γ = 2/3). Spatial distribution of gap solitons exhibit very obvious different when the system transit from the BEC side to BCS side.

Quench dynamics of the spin-imbalanced Fermi-Hubbard model in one dimension

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yin, Xiao; Radzihovsky, Leo

2016-12-01

We study a nonequilibrium dynamics of a one-dimensional spin-imbalanced Fermi-Hubbard model following a quantum quench of on-site interaction, realizable, for example, in Feshbach-resonant atomic Fermi gases. We focus on the post-quench evolution starting from the initial BCS and Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) ground states and analyze the corresponding spin-singlet, spin-triplet, density-density, and magnetization-magnetization correlation functions. We find that beyond a light-cone crossover time, rich post-quench dynamics leads to thermalized and pre-thermalized stationary states that display strong dependence on the initial ground state. For initially gapped BCS state, the long-time stationary state resembles thermalization with the effective temperature set by the initial value of the Hubbard interaction. In contrast, while the initial gapless FFLO state reaches a stationary pre-thermalized form, it remains far from equilibrium. We suggest that such post-quench dynamics can be used as a fingerprint for identification and study of the FFLO phase.

Unconventional superconductivity in the strong-coupling limit for the heavy fermion system CeCoIn5

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fasano, Y.; Szabó, P.; Kačmarčík, J.; Pribulová, Z.; Pedrazzini, P.; Samuely, P.; Correa, V. F.

2018-05-01

We present scanning tunneling spectroscopy measurements of the local quasiparticles' excitation spectra of the heavy fermion CeCoIn5 between 440 mK and 3 K in samples with a bulk Tc = 2.25 K . The spectral shape of our low-temperature tunneling data, quite textbook nodal- Δ conductance, allow us to confidently fit the spectra with a d-wave density of states considering also a shortening of quasiparticles' lifetime term Γ. The Δ (0) value obtained from the fits yields a BCS ratio 2 Δ /kTc = 7.73 suggesting that CeCoIn5 is an unconventional superconductor in the strong coupling limit. The fits also reveal that the height of coherence peaks in CeCoIn5 is reduced with respect to a pure BCS spectra and therefore the coupling of quasiparticles with spin excitations should play a relevant role. The tunneling conductance shows a depletion at energies smaller than Δ for temperatures larger than the bulk Tc, giving further support to the existence of a pseudogap phase that in our samples span up to T* ∼ 1.2Tc . The phenomenological scaling of the pseudogap temperature observed in various families of cuprates, 2 Δ /kT* ∼ 4.3 , is not fulfilled in our measurements. This suggests that in CeCoIn5 the strong magnetic fluctuations might conspire to close the local superconducting gap at a smaller pesudogap temperature-scale than in cuprates.

Thermal transitions, pseudogap behavior, and BCS-BEC crossover in Fermi-Fermi mixtures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karmakar, Madhuparna

2018-03-01

We study the mass imbalanced Fermi-Fermi mixture within the framework of a two-dimensional lattice fermion model. Based on the thermodynamic and species-dependent quasiparticle behavior, we map out the finite-temperature phase diagram of this system and show that unlike the balanced Fermi superfluid, there are now two different pseudogap regimes as PG-I and PG-II. While within the PG-I regime both the fermionic species are pseudogapped, PG-II corresponds to the regime where pseudogap feature survives only in the light species. We believe that the single-particle spectral features that we discuss in this paper are observable through the species-resolved radio-frequency spectroscopy and momentum-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements on systems such as 6Li-40K mixture. We further investigate the interplay between the population and mass imbalances and report that at a fixed population imbalance, the BCS-BEC crossover in a Fermi-Fermi mixture would require a critical interaction (Uc) for the realization of the uniform superfluid state. The effect of imbalance in mass on the exotic Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov superfluid phase has been probed in detail in terms of the thermodynamic and quasiparticle behavior of this phase. It has been observed that in spite of the s -wave symmetry of the pairing field, a nodal superfluid gap is realized in the Larkin-Ovchinnikov regime. Our results on the various thermal scales and regimes are expected to serve as benchmarks for the experimental observations on 6Li-40K mixture.

Ovarian acyclicity in zoo African elephants (Loxodonta africana) is associated with high body condition scores and elevated serum insulin and leptin.

PubMed

Morfeld, Kari A; Brown, Janine L

2016-04-01

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether excessive body fat and altered metabolic hormone concentrations in the circulation were associated with ovarian acyclicity in the world's largest land mammal, the African elephant. We compared body condition, glucose, insulin and leptin concentrations and the glucose-to-insulin ratio (G:I) between cycling (n=23; normal 14-16 week cycles based on serum progestagens for at least 2 years) and non-cycling (n=23; consistent baseline progestagen concentrations for at least 2 years) females. A validated body condition score (BCS) index (five-point scale; 1=thinnest, 5=fattest) was used to assess the degree of fatness of the study elephants. The mean BCS of non-cycling elephants was higher than that of their cycling counterparts. There were differences in concentrations of serum metabolic biomarkers, with non-cycling elephants in the BCS 5 category having higher leptin and insulin concentrations and a lower G:I ratio than cycling BCS 5 females. Using 'non-cycling' as the outcome variable in regression models, high BCS was a strong predictor of a non-cycling status. This study provides the first evidence that ovarian acyclicity in zoo African elephants is associated with body condition indicative of obesity, as well as elevated, perturbed biomarkers of metabolic status.

Influence of dental correction on nociceptive test responses, fecal appearance, body condition score, and apparent digestibility coefficient for dry matter of Zamorano-leones donkeys (Equus asinus).

PubMed

Rodrigues, J B; Ferreira, L M; Bastos, E; San Roman, F; Viegas, C; Santos, A S

2013-10-01

The influence of dental correction on nociceptive (pressure) test responses, fecal appearance, BCS, and apparent digestibility coefficient for DM was studied in 18 Zamorano-Leonés donkeys, an endangered local breed from the Zamora province in Spain. For this purpose, donkeys were divided into 2 homogeneous control and treatment groups, based on age, BCS, and dental findings. On d 1, 45, 90, and 135, BCS and nociceptive test responses were evaluated in all donkeys. Feed and fecal samples were collected from all donkeys for 3 consecutive days, starting at each of the aforementioned days. Apparent digestibility coefficient for DM was estimated, using ADL as an internal marker. A progressive decrease of positive nociceptive test responses was observed from d 1 up to 90 (P < 0.01) in the treatment group. No difference between groups was observed for BCS. However, BCS at d 90 was greater (P = 0.018) than observed on d 1 or 45, indicating a time influence. Concerning apparent digestibility coefficient for DM, there were differences among collection days in apparent digestibility coefficient for DM (P < 0.05). No differences in fecal appearance were observed between treatments or collection days. This study highlighted the importance of regular dental care for not only Zamorano-Leonés donkeys but also the equid population, in general, to improve their welfare.

Modifiable correlates of perceived cognitive function in breast cancer survivors up to 10 years after chemotherapy completion.

PubMed

Henneghan, Ashley; Stuifbergen, Alexa; Becker, Heather; Kesler, Shelli; King, Elisabeth

2018-04-01

Cognitive changes following breast cancer treatment are likely multifactorial and have been linked to emotional factors, biophysiological factors, and fatigue, among others. Little is known about the contributions of modifiable factors such as stress, loneliness, and sleep quality. The purpose of this study was to explore the direct and indirect effects of perceived stress, loneliness, and sleep quality on perceived cognitive function (PCF) in breast cancer survivors (BCS) after chemotherapy completion. In this observational study, BCS 6 months to 10 years post chemotherapy were recruited from the community. We measured perceived stress, loneliness, sleep quality, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and PCF. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, correlations, and mediation analyses utilizing ordinary least square regression. Ninety women who were on average 3 years post chemotherapy completion participated in the study. Moderate to largely negative correlations were found between PCF and the psychosocial and sleep variables (r values ranged from - 0.31 to - 0.70, p values < .0009). Mediation analyses revealed that stress and daytime sleepiness both directly and indirectly impact PCF and that loneliness and sleep quality only have indirect effects (through anxiety and fatigue). Our findings suggest that perceived cognitive changes following breast cancer treatment are multifactorial and that higher stress levels, loneliness, daytime sleepiness, and poorer sleep quality are linked to worse perceived cognitive functioning. Also, stress, loneliness, and sleep quality may affect cognitive functioning through a shared psychobiological pathway. Interventions targeting stress, loneliness, and sleep quality may improve perceived cognitive functioning in breast cancer survivors.

Thermal Pairing in Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dang, Nguyen Dinh

2008-04-01

The modified Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (MHFB) theory at finite temperature is derived for finite nuclei.1 In the limit of constant pairing parameter, the MHFB theory yields the modified BCS (MBCS) theory.2 These are the microscopic theories that can describe the crossover region at temperature T around the critical value Tc of the BCS superfluid-normal (SN) phase transition. By requiring the unitarity conservation of the particle-density matrix, the derivation of these theories is achieved by constructing a modified quasiparticle density matrix, where the fluctuation of the quasiparticle number is microscopically built in. This matrix can be directly obtained from the usual quasiparticle-density matrix by applying the secondary Bogoliubov transformation, which includes the quasiparticle occupation number. The calculations of the thermal pairing gap, total energy, heat capacity, quasiparticle and pairing correlation functions were carried out within MBCS theory for the Richardson model3 as well as realistic single-particle spectra. The Richardson model under consideration has varying Ω equidistant levels and N particles with a level distant equal to 1 MeV. It is shown that the limitation of the configuration space sets a limiting temperature TM up to which the MBCS theory can be applied. Enlarging the space in the half-filled case (Ω = N) by one valence level (Ω = N + 1) extends TM to a much higher temperature so that the predictions by the MBCS theory can be compared directly with the exact results up to T ~ 4 - 5 MeV even for small N. The MBCS gap does not collapse, but decreases monotonously with increasing T. The total energy and heat capacity predicted by the MBCS theory are closer to the exact results than those predicted by the BCS theory, especially in the region of the SN phase transition predicted within the BCS theory. The discontinuity in the BCS heat capacity at the critical temperature Tc is smoothed out within the MBCS theory, especially for small N, showing the disappearance of SN phase transition in very light systems. With increasing N the peak at Tc in the heat capacity becomes more pronounced, showing a phase-transition-like behavior in heavy systems. The effect of approximated particle-number projection using the Lipkin-Nogami method is also discussed. An application of the MBCS theory to the description of the damping of giant dipole resonances (GDR) in hot nuclei shows that, because of the existence of the pseudo gap, the GDR width remains nearly constant at temperatures up to around 1 MeV in tin isotopes in good agreement with the recent experimental systematic.4

Implementation of slag stabilized blended calcium sulfate (BCS) in a pavement structure : tech summary.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-07-01

This research was the eld implementation follow-up to laboratory research conducted at LTRC. It also met a need of District 61 sta by : allowing an alternative to the removal and replacement of the old, non-standard BCS found on site. : The re...

Effect of body weight loss on cardiopulmonary function assessed by 6-minute walk test and arterial blood gas analysis in obese dogs.

PubMed

Manens, J; Ricci, R; Damoiseaux, C; Gault, S; Contiero, B; Diez, M; Clercx, C

2014-01-01

Few studies show the detrimental effect of canine obesity on cardiopulmonary function (CPF). The 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is a noninvasive exercise test easy to perform in clinical settings. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of obesity and body weight loss (BWL) on CPF assessed by the 6MWT and arterial blood gas analysis. Six experimental Beagles and 9 privately owned obese dogs were enrolled in a diet-induced BWL program. Arterial blood gas analysis and 6MWT were repeated in obese subjects (BCS 8-9/9), in the middle of BWL (overweight, BCS 6-7/9), and in lean dogs (BCS 5/9). Heart rate (HRp) and oxygen saturation (SpO2 ) were measured by pulse oximetry before the 6MWT, at midtest, and during a 5-minute recovery period. Twelve dogs completed the BWL program (initial BW, 27.3 ± 2.9 kg; final BW, 20.85 ± 2.9, lsmeans ± SE, P ≤ .001). BWL caused a significant increase in 6MWT walked distance (WD; obese: 509 ± 35 m; overweight: 575 ± 36 m; lean: 589 ± 36 m; P ≤ .05). Resting arterial blood gas results were not influenced by BWL. Including all time points, obese dogs showed higher HRp and lower SpO2 compared to overweight and lean dogs. SpO2 at the end of the walk was significantly lower in obese dogs. Obesity negatively affects 6MWT performances in dogs. The 6MWT may be used to demonstrate the efficacy of BWL to improve CPF and quality of life in obese dogs. Although BWL induced significant improvement of cardiopulmonary parameters before ideal BW, WD improved until the end of the BWL program. Copyright © 2013 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Strategies to gain body condition score in pasture-based dairy cows during late lactation and the far-off nonlactating period and their interaction with close-up dry matter intake.

PubMed

Roche, J R; Heiser, A; Mitchell, M D; Crookenden, M A; Walker, C G; Kay, J K; Riboni, M Vailati; Loor, J J; Meier, S

2017-03-01

In pasture-based systems, cows are generally thinner at the end of lactation than cows fed total mixed rations and, as a result, over-feeding of metabolizable energy (ME) during the far-off nonlactating period is a standard management policy to achieve optimum calving body condition score (BCS). An alternative would be to manage cows to gain BCS through late lactation, such that cows ended lactation close to optimum calving BCS and maintenance of BCS through to calving. We sought to quantify the effect of moderate or excessive ME intakes during the far-off nonlactating period in cows that had been managed to gain or maintain BCS through late lactation and whether the far-off management strategy interacted with close-up level of feeding. Effects on milk production and circulating indicators of energy balance and metabolic health in early lactation were evaluated. A herd of 150 cows was randomly assigned to 1 of 2 feeding levels in late lactation to achieve a low and high BCS at the time of dry-off (approximately 4.25 and 5.0 on a 10-point scale). Following dry-off, both herds were managed to achieve a BCS of 5.0 one month before calving; this involved controlled feeding (i.e., maintenance) and over-feeding of ME during the far-off dry period. Within each far-off feeding-level treatment, cows were offered 65, 90, or 120% of their pre-calving ME requirements for 3 wk pre-calving in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement (i.e., 25 cows/treatment). Body weight and BCS were measured weekly before and after calving, and milk production was measured weekly until wk 7 postcalving. Blood samples were collected weekly for 4 wk pre-calving and 5 wk postcalving, and on d 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 relative to calving, and analyzed for indicators of energy balance (e.g., blood fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate), calcium status, and inflammatory state. No interaction was observed between far-off and close-up feeding levels. Over-feeding of ME to low BCS cows during the far-off nonlactating period reduced blood fatty acid and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations in early lactation, and increased blood albumin to globulin ratio compared with cows that were dried off close to recommended calving BCS and control-fed during the far-off dry period. Cows consuming 65% of their ME requirements during the close-up period had lower fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate in early lactation, but produced less milk, particularly during the first 21 d of lactation, had more than 3-fold greater concentration of haptoglobin immediately postcalving, and had a lower blood cholesterol concentration and albumin to globulin ratio, when compared with cows offered 90 or 120% of their ME requirements. Collectively, these measurements indicate that a severe restriction (<70% of ME requirements) during the close-up nonlactating period increases the risk of disease in early lactation and reduces milk production. In summary, far-off over-feeding of ME to cows that needed to gain BCS did not influence peripartum metabolic health in grazing dairy cows, but restricting cows below 70% ME requirements during the close-up transition period resulted in a blood profile indicative of greater inflammation. The Authors. Published by the Federation of Animal Science Societies and Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the American Dairy Science Association®. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/).

Fully gapped superconductivity in single crystals of noncentrosymmetric Re6Zr with broken time-reversal symmetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pang, G. M.; Nie, Z. Y.; Wang, A.; Singh, D.; Xie, W.; Jiang, W. B.; Chen, Y.; Singh, R. P.; Smidman, M.; Yuan, H. Q.

2018-06-01

The noncentrosymmetric superconductor Re6Zr has attracted much interest due to the observation of broken time-reversal symmetry in the superconducting state. Here we report an investigation of the superconducting gap structure of Re6Zr single crystals by measuring the magnetic penetration depth shift Δ λ (T ) and electronic specific heat Ce(T ) . Δ λ (T ) exhibits an exponential temperature dependence behavior for T ≪Tc , which indicates a fully open superconducting gap. Our analysis shows that a single gap s -wave model is sufficient to describe both the superfluid density ρs(T ) and Ce(T ) results, with a fitted gap magnitude larger than the weak coupling BCS value, providing evidence for fully gapped superconductivity in Re6Zr with moderate coupling.

What is strange about high-temperature superconductivity in cuprates?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Božović, I.; He, X.; Wu, J.; Bollinger, A. T.

2017-10-01

Cuprate superconductors exhibit many features, but the ultimate question is why the critical temperature (Tc) is so high. The fundamental dichotomy is between the weak-pairing, Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) scenario, and Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of strongly-bound pairs. While for underdoped cuprates it is hotly debated which of these pictures is appropriate, it is commonly believed that on the overdoped side strongly-correlated fermion physics evolves smoothly into the conventional BCS behavior. Here, we test this dogma by studying the dependence of key superconducting parameters on doping, temperature, and external fields, in thousands of cuprate samples. The findings do not conform to BCS predictions anywhere in the phase diagram.

Investigation on etiology of hepatic venous obstruction Budd-Chiari syndrome.

PubMed

Tian, Zhi-Long; Jia, Gao-Lei; Xi, Hai-Lin; Feng, Su; Wang, Xiao-Kai; Li, Rui

2014-12-01

Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is an uncommon clinical condition with a complex etiology. Pathogenesis of BCS is still poorly understood. We included hepatic veno-occlusive lesion tissues of 20 patients (patients group) with hepatic venous obstruction BCS and compared with 20 similar tissues with other etiologies (control group). Morphological changes in hepatic veno-occlusive lesion tissues and the positive expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), C-myc, and P-53 were observed by the pathological examination (H&E staining) and immunohistochemistry assay. Our results showed that PCNA and C-myc positive cell densities were significantly higher in patient group than control group. P-53 positive cell density showed increasing trends in patients than control group. Moreover, we observed irregular hyperplasia in intimal tissue, fibrous connective tissue, and smooth muscle cell, accompanied by tissue degeneration (hyaloid degeneration and fibrinoid degeneration) and a large quantity of inflammatory cell infiltration. In conclusion, an overexpression of PCNA, C-myc, and a weak positive expression of P53 might launch the extremely irregular hepatic venous intimal hyperplasia, which is probably one of the etiologies of hepatic venous obstruction BCS.

Methods, systems and apparatus for controlling operation of two alternating current (AC) machines

DOEpatents

Gallegos-Lopez, Gabriel [Torrance, CA; Nagashima, James M [Cerritos, CA; Perisic, Milun [Torrance, CA; Hiti, Silva [Redondo Beach, CA

2012-02-14

A system is provided for controlling two AC machines. The system comprises a DC input voltage source that provides a DC input voltage, a voltage boost command control module (VBCCM), a five-phase PWM inverter module coupled to the two AC machines, and a boost converter coupled to the inverter module and the DC input voltage source. The boost converter is designed to supply a new DC input voltage to the inverter module having a value that is greater than or equal to a value of the DC input voltage. The VBCCM generates a boost command signal (BCS) based on modulation indexes from the two AC machines. The BCS controls the boost converter such that the boost converter generates the new DC input voltage in response to the BCS. When the two AC machines require additional voltage that exceeds the DC input voltage required to meet a combined target mechanical power required by the two AC machines, the BCS controls the boost converter to drive the new DC input voltage generated by the boost converter to a value greater than the DC input voltage.

Factors affecting local recurrence and distant metastases of invasive breast cancer after breast-conserving surgery in Chiang Mai University Hospital.

PubMed

Ditsatham, Chagkrit; Somwangprasert, Areewan; Watcharachan, Kirati; Wongmaneerung, Phanchaporn; Khorana, Jiraporn

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to collect data regarding breast cancer profiles and factors that affect local recurrence and distant metastasis after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) in Chiang Mai University Hospital. This study was a retrospective review in a single institution of newly diagnosed invasive breast cancer patients who were treated with BCS between April 9, 2001 and December 25, 2011. A total of 185 patients treated with BCS were included in this study, with an average age of 46.83 years. The average recurrence age was 41.1 years and the average nonrecurrence age was 47.48 years, with a recurrence rate of 10.27%. Premenopause was significant in recurrence (P=0.047), as well as non-estrogen-expression patients (P=0.001) and patients who did not receive antihormonal treatment (P=0.011). The recurrence rate in our institute was 10.27%. Factors affecting recurrence after BCS included young age, premenopausal status, nonexpression of the estrogen receptor, and patients who had not received antihormonal treatment. The recurrence rate was higher in the first 90 postoperative months.

Transepithelial transport of biperiden hydrochloride in Caco-2 cell monolayers.

PubMed

Abalos, Ivana S; Rodríguez, Yanina I; Lozano, Verónica; Cereseto, Marina; Mussini, Maria V; Spinetto, Marta E; Chiale, Carlos; Pesce, Guido

2012-09-01

The aim of this research has been to determine the biperiden hydrochloride permeability in Caco-2 model, in order to classify it based on the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS). The World Health Organization (WHO) as well as many other authors have provisionally assigned the drug as BCS class I (high solubility-high permeability) or III (high solubility-low permeability), based on different methods. We determined biperiden BCS class by comparing its permeability to 5 pre-defined compounds: atenolol and ranitidine hydrochloride (low permeability group) and metoprolol tartrate, sodium naproxen and theophylline (high permeability group). Since biperiden permeability was higher than those obtained for high permeability drugs, we classified it as a BCS class I compound. On the other hand, as no differences were obtained for permeability values when apical to basolateral and basolateral to apical fluxes were studied, this drug cannot act as a substrate of efflux transporters. As a consequence of our results, we suggest that the widely used antiparkinsonian drug, biperiden, should be candidate for a waiver of in vivo bioequivalence studies. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of pyrolysis temperature on soybean stover- and peanut shell-derived biochar properties and TCE adsorption in water.

PubMed

Ahmad, Mahtab; Lee, Sang Soo; Dou, Xiaomin; Mohan, Dinesh; Sung, Jwa-Kyung; Yang, Jae E; Ok, Yong Sik

2012-08-01

Conversion of crop residues into biochars (BCs) via pyrolysis is beneficial to environment compared to their direct combustion in agricultural field. Biochars developed from soybean stover at 300 and 700 °C (S-BC300 and S-BC700, respectively) and peanut shells at 300 and 700 °C (P-BC300 and P-BC700, respectively) were used for the removal of trichloroethylene (TCE) from water. Batch adsorption experiments showed that the TCE adsorption was strongly dependent on the BCs properties. Linear relationships were obtained between sorption parameters (K(M) and S(M)) and molar elemental ratios as well as surface area of the BCs. The high adsorption capacity of BCs produced at 700 °C was attributed to their high aromaticity and low polarity. The efficacy of S-BC700 and P-BC700 for removing TCE from water was comparable to that of activated carbon (AC). Pyrolysis temperature influencing the BC properties was a critical factor to assess the removal efficiency of TCE from water. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Basolateral junctions are sufficient to suppress epithelial invasion during Drosophila oogenesis.

PubMed

Szafranski, Przemyslaw; Goode, Scott

2007-02-01

Epithelial junctions play crucial roles during metazoan evolution and development by facilitating tissue formation, maintenance, and function. Little is known about the role of distinct types of junctions in controlling epithelial transformations leading to invasion of neighboring tissues. Discovering the key junction complexes that control these processes and how they function may also provide mechanistic insight into carcinoma cell invasion. Here, using the Drosophila ovary as a model, we show that four proteins of the basolateral junction (BLJ), Fasciclin-2, Neuroglian, Discs-large, and Lethal-giant-larvae, but not proteins of other epithelial junctions, directly suppress epithelial tumorigenesis and invasion. Remarkably, the expression pattern of Fasciclin-2 predicts which cells will invade. We compared the apicobasal polarity of BLJ tumor cells to border cells (BCs), an epithelium-derived cluster that normally migrates during mid-oogenesis. Both tumor cells and BCs differentiate a lateralized membrane pattern that is necessary but not sufficient for invasion. Independent of lateralization, derepression of motility pathways is also necessary, as indicated by a strong linear correlation between faster BC migration and an increased incidence of tumor invasion. However, without membrane lateralization, derepression of motility pathways is also not sufficient for invasion. Our results demonstrate that spatiotemporal patterns of basolateral junction activity directly suppress epithelial invasion by organizing the cooperative activity of distinct polarity and motility pathways.

The influence of black carbon on the sorption and desorption of two model PAHs in natural soils.

PubMed

Chi, Fung-Hwa

2014-01-01

Black carbons (BC) which result from the incomplete combustion of farm waste [man-made (burned) BC] are highly absorbent. In Taiwan, the burning of farm waste known as slash and burn is common. The BCs from the burning may present an environmental challenge. Little is known about the effect of BCs on the transport of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOC). This study investigates the sorption of anthracene and naphthalene to BCs in soil and efficiency of the surfactants Tween 80 and Triton X-100 in their removal. Both surfactants demonstrated 2-6 times increased solubility in the soils with the addiction of BC. Column experiments were performed to imitate the transportation of these contaminants in groundwater through soils before and after adding BC produced by burning farm waste in the lab. We found significantly increased sorption of anthracene in soil added with BCs produced in the lab, suggesting that fraction of organic carbon (foc) can contribute to sorption of such HOCs. Sorption of naphthalene was increased but not significantly. Comparing the concentrations of contaminants, we found the soil containing BC from burned farm waste absorbed HOC more efficiently than the organic BC (naturally-occurring) in the original soil. Therefore, sorption capacity and influence on the transport of HOC cannot be estimated simply by the foc of the soil because the two BCs differ greatly in their sorption ability. BC from farm waste absorbs more contaminants than naturally occurring BC in the soil.

Balloon catheter sinuplasty and adenoidectomy in children with chronic rhinosinusitis.

PubMed

Ramadan, Hassan H; Terrell, Andrew M

2010-09-01

Adenoidectomy is the first step in the surgical management of children with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Adenoidectomy, however, is only effective in half of these children. Although endoscopic sinus surgery is effective for CRS, there is concern for facial growth retardation and major complications. We propose that balloon catheter sinuplasty (BCS) is a minimally invasive, effective procedure in the treatment of pediatric CRS. We undertook a nonrandomized, controlled, prospective review of children with failed medical management of CRS who underwent BCS or adenoidectomy. Outcomes were assessed at 1 year of follow-up and were based on SN-5 scores and the need for revision surgery. Forty-nine children who satisfied the inclusion criteria were reviewed. Thirty of the children had BCS. The age range was 4 to 11 years (mean, 7.7 years), and the mean computed tomography score (Lund-Mackay system) was 7.5. Twenty-four of the 30 patients (80%) who underwent BCS showed improvement of their symptoms after 12 months of follow-up, compared with 10 of the 19 patients (52.6%) who underwent adenoidectomy (p < 0.05). A multivariate analysis using logistic regression analysis with age, sex, asthma, and computed tomography score as covariables showed that BCS was also more effective than adenoidectomy in older children. None of the other variables showed statistical significance. Balloon catheter sinuplasty offers a procedure that is more effective than adenoidectomy and less invasive than endoscopic sinus surgery in the treatment of pediatric CRS.

Are immigrants and nationals born to immigrants at higher risk for delayed or no lifetime breast and cervical cancer screening? The results from a population-based survey in Paris metropolitan area in 2010.

PubMed

Rondet, Claire; Lapostolle, Annabelle; Soler, Marion; Grillo, Francesca; Parizot, Isabelle; Chauvin, Pierre

2014-01-01

This study aims to compare breast cancer screening (BCS) and cervical cancer screening (CCS) practices of French women born to French parents with those of immigrants and nationals born to immigrants, taking their socioeconomic status into account. The study is based on data collected in 2010 in the Paris metropolitan area among a representative sample of 3000 French-speaking adults. For women with no history of breast or cervical cancer, multivariate logistic regressions and structural equation models were used to investigate the factors associated with never having undergone BCS or CCS. We confirmed the existence of a strong gradient, with respect to migration origin, for delaying or never having undergone BCS or CCS. Thus, being a foreign immigrant or being French of immigrant parentage were risk factors for delayed and no lifetime screening. Interestingly, we found that this gradient persisted (at least partially) after adjusting for the women's socioeconomic characteristics. Only the level of income seemed to play a mediating role, but only partially. We observed differences between BCS and CCS which suggest that organized CCS could be effective in reducing socioeconomic and/or ethnic inequities. Socioeconomic status partially explained the screening nonparticipation on the part of French women of immigrant origin and foreign immigrants. This was more so the case with CCS than with BCS, which suggests that organized prevention programs might reduce social inequalities.

Associations of prepartum body condition score with occurrence of clinical endometritis and resumption of postpartum ovarian activity in dairy cattle.

PubMed

Kadivar, Ali; Ahmadi, Mohammad Rahim; Vatankhah, Mahmood

2014-01-01

This study was performed to investigate the effect of periparturient body condition score on the occurrence of clinical endometritis and postpartum resumption of ovarian activity in dairy cows. Eighty-seven lactating Holstein cows, fed with a total mixed ration diet, were included into the study. Body condition scoring (using a 5-point scale with quarter-point divisions) was performed by the same investigator using the visual technique every 2 weeks, from 2 weeks before until 6 weeks after calving. Palpation of the reproductive tract and ultrasonographic assessment of ovaries for detection of corpus luteum using a rectal linear probe was also performed at 2, 4, and 6 weeks after calving. Cows with clinical endometritis had significantly lower body condition score (BCS) than normal cows at all weeks pre- and postcalving, and cows that did not ovulate until 45 days after calving had a significantly lower BCS pre- and postpartum. Cows that did not ovulate until 45 days after calving also lost more BCS from 2 weeks before to 4 weeks after calving. Besides, first ovulation after calving take occurred later in cows with clinical endometritis compared to normal cows (P < 0.05). In conclusion, low BCS is a risk factor for postpartum endometritis and delayed cyclicity in dairy cows. BCS loss from dry-off to early lactation and occurrence of clinical endometritis can significantly affect postpartum ovarian activity.

Assessment of effects of a Cordia salicifolia extract on the radiolabeling of blood constituents and on the morphology of red blood cells.

PubMed

Frydman, Jacques Natan Grinapel; Rocha, Vanessa Camara; Benarroz, Monica Oliveira; Rocha, Gabrielle Souza; Pereira, Márcia Oliveira; de Souza da Fonseca, Adenilson; Bernardo-Filho, Mario

2008-12-01

Effects of a Cordia salicifolia (porangaba) extract on the labeling of blood cells (BCs) with technetium-99m ((99m)Tc) and on the morphology of red BCs were evaluated. Labeling of cellular and molecular structures with (99m)Tc depends on a reducing agent. Some physical characteristics, as visible absorbance spectrum, electric conductivity, and refractive index of this porangaba extract, were also determined. Blood samples from Wistar rats were incubated with porangaba extract or with 0.9% NaCl (control). Labeling of blood constituents with (99m)Tc was performed. Plasma (P) and BCs, both soluble (SF-P and SF-BC) and insoluble (IF-P and IF-BC) fractions, were separated. The radioactivity in each fraction was counted, and the percentage of radioactivity incorporated (%ATI) was calculated. Blood smears were prepared, fixed, and stained, and the morphology of the red BCs was evaluated. Data showed an absorbance peak at 480 nm and electric conductibility and refractive index concentration-dependent. Porangaba extract decreased significantly (P < .05) the BC, IF-P, and IF-BC %ATI, and no modifications were verified on the shape of red BCs. Analysis of the results reveals that some physical parameters could be useful to aid in characterizing the extract studied. Moreover, it is possible that chemical compounds of this extract could have chelating/redox actions or be capable of binding to plasma and/or cellular proteins.

Financial aspects of sentinel lymph node biopsy in early breast cancer.

PubMed

Severi, S; Gazzoni, E; Pellegrini, A; Sansovini, M; Raulli, G; Corbelli, C; Altini, M; Paganelli, G

2012-02-01

At present, early breast cancer is treated with conservative surgery of the primary lesion (BCS) along with axillary staging by sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). Although the scintigraphic method is standardized, its surgical application is different for patient compliance, work organization, costs, and diagnosis related group (DRG) reimbursements. We compared four surgical protocols presently used in our region: (A) traditional BCS with axillary lymph node dissection (ALND); (B) BCS with SLNB and concomitant ALND for positive sentinel nodes (SN); (C) BCS and SLNB under local anaesthesia with subsequent ALND under general anaesthesia according to the SN result; (D) SLNB under local anaesthesia with subsequent BCS under local anaesthesia for negative SN, or ALND under general anaesthesia for positive SN. For each protocol, patient compliance, use of consumables, resources and time spent by various dedicated professionals, were analyzed. Furthermore, a detailed breakdown of 1-/2-day hospitalization costs was calculated using specific DRGs. We reported a mean costs variation that ranged from 1,634 to 2,221 Euros (protocols C and D). The number of procedures performed and the pathologists' results are the most significant variables affecting the rate of DRG reimbursements, that were the highest for protocol D and the lowest for protocol B. In our experience protocol C is the most suitable in terms of patient compliance, impact of surgical procedures, and work organization, and is granted by an appropriate DRG. We observed that a multidisciplinary approach enhances overall patient care and that a revaluation of DRG reimbursements is opportune.

Short communication: Feed utilization and its associations with fertility and productive life in 11 commercial Pennsylvania tie-stall herds.

PubMed

Vallimont, J E; Dechow, C D; Daubert, J M; Dekleva, M W; Blum, J W; Liu, W; Varga, G A; Heinrichs, A J; Baumrucker, C R

2013-02-01

The objectives of this study were to quantify the relationships of various definitions of feed utilization with both fertility and productive life. Intake and body measurement data were collected monthly on 970 cows in 11 tie-stall herds for 6 consecutive months. Measures of feed utilization for this study were dry matter intake (DMI), dry matter intake efficiency (DME, defined as 305-d fat-corrected milk/305-d DMI), DME with intake adjusted for maintenance requirements (DMEM), crude protein efficiency (defined as 305-d protein yield/305-d crude protein intake), and 2 definitions of residual feed intake (RFI). The first, RFI(reg), was calculated by regressing daily DMI on daily milk, fat, and protein yields, body weight (BW), daily body condition score (BCS) gain or loss, the interaction between BW and BCS gain or loss, and days in milk. The second, RFI(NRC), was estimated by subtracting 305-d DMI predicted according to their fat-corrected milk and BW from actual 305-d DMI. Data were analyzed with 8-trait animal models and included one measure of feed utilization and milk, fat, and protein yields, BW, BCS, days open (DO), and productive life (PL). The genetic correlation between DME and DO was 0.53 (± 0.19) and that between DME and PL was 0.66 (± 0.10). These results show that cows who had higher feed efficiency had greater DO (undesirable) and greater PL (desirable). Results were similar for the genetic correlation between DO and crude protein efficiency (0.42). Productive life had genetic correlations of -0.22 with BW and -0.48 with BCS, suggesting that larger, fatter cows in this study had shorter PL. Correlations between estimated breeding values for feed utilization and official sire genetic evaluations for fertility were in agreement with the results from the multiple-trait models. Selection programs intended to enhance feed efficiency should factor relationships with functional traits to avoid unfavorable effects on cow fertility. Copyright © 2013 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Short communication: The association of adiponectin and leptin concentrations with prepartum dietary energy supply, parity, body condition, and postpartum hyperketonemia in transition dairy cows.

PubMed

Mann, S; Urh, C; Sauerwein, H; Wakshlag, J J; Yepes, F A Leal; Overton, T R; Nydam, D V

2018-01-01

Adipokines-hormones produced by adipose tissue-have important regulatory functions, and their concentrations can change around the time of calving when energy balance rapidly decreases. Hence, energy balance may be an important factor in determining the circulating concentrations of adipokines, particularly adiponectin and leptin. The objective of our study was to investigate the association between the level of energy fed to prepartum Holstein cows and circulating concentrations of adiponectin and leptin before and after calving. Holstein dairy cows entering second or greater lactation were fed either a controlled-energy diet formulated to supply approximately 100% of energy requirements (n = 28) or a high-energy diet formulated to supply approximately 150% of energy requirements throughout the entire dry period (n = 28). Serum samples were analyzed for adiponectin and leptin concentrations at 56, 28, 10, and 1 d prepartum as well as on d 1, 10, 21, and 42 postpartum using ELISA. Parity was dichotomized into cows entering second versus higher parity. Average peripartum body condition score (BCS) was computed from weekly measurements and dichotomized into animals with an average BCS of ≤3.25 and >3.25. In addition, cows were classified according to the occurrence of hyperketonemia (β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations ≥1.2 mmol/L at any time between 3 and 21 d in milk). Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. Serum leptin but not adiponectin concentrations were associated with prepartum feeding level such that leptin concentrations increased transiently during the dry period in cows overfed energy, but concentrations were not different postpartum. Cows entering second parity had higher adiponectin and lower leptin concentrations compared with cows in higher parities. Cows that developed hyperketonemia postpartum had consistently lower adiponectin concentrations during the study period. Cows with average BCS >3.25 had higher leptin concentrations during the dry period only, but adiponectin concentrations were not associated with BCS. In conclusion, prepartum energy level had only transient effects on leptin concentrations and did not lead to changes in adiponectin concentrations. Copyright © 2018 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

IMG-ABC. A knowledge base to fuel discovery of biosynthetic gene clusters and novel secondary metabolites

DOE PAGES

Hadjithomas, Michalis; Chen, I-Min Amy; Chu, Ken; ...

2015-07-14

In the discovery of secondary metabolites, analysis of sequence data is a promising exploration path that remains largely underutilized due to the lack of computational platforms that enable such a systematic approach on a large scale. In this work, we present IMG-ABC (https://img.jgi.doe.gov/abc), an atlas of biosynthetic gene clusters within the Integrated Microbial Genomes (IMG) system, which is aimed at harnessing the power of “big” genomic data for discovering small molecules. IMG-ABC relies on IMG’s comprehensive integrated structural and functional genomic data for the analysis of biosynthetic gene clusters (BCs) and associated secondary metabolites (SMs). SMs and BCs serve asmore » the two main classes of objects in IMG-ABC, each with a rich collection of attributes. A unique feature of IMG-ABC is the incorporation of both experimentally validated and computationally predicted BCs in genomes as well as metagenomes, thus identifying BCs in uncultured populations and rare taxa. We demonstrate the strength of IMG-ABC’s focused integrated analysis tools in enabling the exploration of microbial secondary metabolism on a global scale, through the discovery of phenazine-producing clusters for the first time in lphaproteobacteria. IMG-ABC strives to fill the long-existent void of resources for computational exploration of the secondary metabolism universe; its underlying scalable framework enables traversal of uncovered phylogenetic and chemical structure space, serving as a doorway to a new era in the discovery of novel molecules. IMG-ABC is the largest publicly available database of predicted and experimental biosynthetic gene clusters and the secondary metabolites they produce. The system also includes powerful search and analysis tools that are integrated with IMG’s extensive genomic/metagenomic data and analysis tool kits. As new research on biosynthetic gene clusters and secondary metabolites is published and more genomes are sequenced, IMG-ABC will continue to expand, with the goal of becoming an essential component of any bioinformatic exploration of the secondary metabolism world.« less

Relationships between luteal activity, fertility, blood metabolites and body condition score in multiparous Estonian Holstein dairy cows under different management.

PubMed

Samarütel, Jaak; Waldmann, Andres; Ling, Katri; Jaakson, Hanno; Kaart, Tanel; Leesmäe, Andres; Kärt, Olav

2008-11-01

The objective was to compare the relationships between luteal activity and fertility, and relate these parameters to metabolic indices and body condition changes in multiparous Estonian Holstein cows on two commercial dairy farms under different management and levels of production and nutrition (higher, H, n=54 (71 lactations) and lower, L, n=39 (39 lactations)). For statistical analysis cows were categorized according to their milk progesterone (P4) profiles as follows: normal ovarian function; delayed start of cyclicity (DC) (interval from calving to first luteal response (P45 ng/ml up to and more than 50 d respectively, followed by regular cyclicity); cessation of luteal activity (prolonged interluteal interval, P4<5 ng/ml, with a duration of 14 d between two adjacent luteal phases); prolonged luteal activity (P4 levels 5 ng/ml for 20 d without preceding insemination). The Mixed procedure of the SAS system was used to compare milk production traits, blood metabolites (ketone bodies, non-esterified fatty acids, total cholesterol) and aspartate aminotransferase, body condition scores (BCS) and fertility parameters between the two farms, and also fertility parameters between the farms within P4 categories. Differences in milk fat/protein ratio, ketone body levels and BCS indicated a deeper negative energy balance (NEB) during the first month after calving on farm L. On both farms nearly 50% of the recently calved dairy cows suffered from ovarian dysfunction during the post-partum period. Delayed start of cyclicity was the most prevalent abnormal P4 profile, 25% and 28% on farms H and L, respectively. Prolonged luteal activity accounted for one-third of atypical ovarian patterns on farm H, and cessation of luteal activity on farm L. On farm L, DC cows had lower BCS values from day 10 to day 90 after calving compared with normal cows (P<0.01) and cows lost more BCS (1.2 units) during the 40 d after calving than normal resumption cows (0.75 units; P<0.05). On farm H with moderate NEB the delayed start of ovulation post partum did not impair subsequent reproductive performance.

Abnormal intra-aural pressure waves associated with death in African children with acute nontraumatic coma.

PubMed

Gwer, Samson; Kazungu, Michael; Chengo, Eddie; Ohuma, Eric O; Idro, Richard; Birch, Tony; Marchbanks, Robert; Kirkham, Fenella J; Newton, Charles R

2015-07-01

We explored the relationship between tympanic membrane displacement (TMD) measurements, a tool to monitor intracranial pressure noninvasively, and clinical features and death in children with acute coma in Kilifi, Kenya. Between November 2007 and September 2009, we made serial TMD measurements and clinical observations on children with acute coma (Blantyre coma score (BCS) ≤ 2) on the pediatric high dependency unit of Kilifi District Hospital, and on well children presenting to the hospital's outpatient department for routine follow-up. We examined middle ear function using tympanometry and measured cardiac pulse (CPA) and respiratory pulse pressure amplitudes (RPA) using the TMD analyzer. We recruited 75 children (32 (43%) females; median age 3.3 (IQR: 2.0, 4.3) years). Twenty-one (28%) children died. Higher TMD measurements predicted death. Adjusting for diagnosis, every 50 nl rise in both semirecumbent and recumbent CPA was associated with increased odds of death associated with intracranial herniation (OR: 1.61, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07, 2.41; P = 0.02 and OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.66; P ≤ 0.01 respectively). Raised TMD pulse pressure measurements are associated with death and may be useful in detecting and monitoring risk of intracranial herniation and intracranial pressure in childhood coma.

Pharmaceuticals, hormones, pesticides, and other bioactive contaminants in water, sediment, and tissue from Rocky Mountain National Park, 2012–2013

USGS Publications Warehouse

Battaglin, William A.; Bradley, Paul M.; Iwanowicz, Luke R.; Journey, Celeste A.; Walsh, Heather L.; Blazer, Vicki S.

2018-01-01

Pharmaceuticals, hormones, pesticides, and other bioactive contaminants (BCs) are commonly detected in surface water and bed sediment in urban and suburban areas, but these contaminants are understudied in remote locations. In Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), Colorado, USA, BCs may threaten the reproductive success and survival of native aquatic species, benthic communities, and pelagic food webs. In 2012–2013, 67 water, 57 sediment, 63 fish, 10 frog, and 12 quality-control samples (8 water and 4 sediment) were collected from 20 sites in RMNP. Samples were analyzed for 369 parameters including 149 pharmaceuticals, 22 hormones, 137 pesticides, and 61 other chemicals or conditions to provide a representative assessment of BC occurrence within RMNP. Results indicate that BCs were detected in water and/or sediment from both remote and more accessible locations in RMNP. The most commonly detected BCs in water were caffeine, camphor, para-cresol, and DEET; and the most commonly detected BCs in sediment were indole, 3-methyl-1H-indole, para-cresol, and 2,6-dimethyl-naphthalene. Some detected contaminants, including carbaryl, caffeine, and oxycodone, are clearly attributable to direct local human input, whereas others may be transported into the park atmospherically (e.g., atrazine) or have local natural sources (e.g., para-cresol). One or more pharmaceuticals were detected in at least 1 sample from 15 of 20 sites. Most of the 29 detected pharmaceuticals are excreted primarily in human urine, not feces. Elevated net estrogenicity was observed in 18% of water samples, and elevated vitellogenin in blood was observed in 12% of male trout, both evidence of potential endocrine disruption. Hormone concentrations in sediment tended to be greater than concentrations in water. Most BCs were observed at concentrations below those not expected to pose adverse effects to aquatic life. Results indicate that even in remote locations aquatic wildlife can be exposed to pharmaceuticals, hormones, pesticides, and other bioactive contaminants.

Effects of long-term, near-term, and real-time energy balance, and blood progesterone concentrations, on the pregnancy rate of contemporary dairy cows.

PubMed

Gomez, N A; Conley, A J; Robinson, P H

2018-02-01

This study aimed to contribute to understanding the interface between reproductive and nutritional energetic physiology in contemporary dairy cattle. Multiparous Holstein cows (n = 32) between 70 and 180 days in milk were used in a study starting 10 d prior to the artificial insemination (AI) date and were estrous synchronized using a hormonal regimen. Fourteen cows were determined pregnant on day 39 post-AI. Coccygeal blood samples of all cows were collected on d -10 and -3 prior to AI to determine estrous cyclicity, as well as at AI and at 6, 13 and 20 d post-AI. Milk progesterone was measured 20 d post-AI, and body condition was scored (BCS; 1-5 scale) on days -10, 0, 13 and 27 relative to AI. Blood non-esterified fatty acid concentrations, measured on the same days as BCS, and changes of BCS from d -10 to AI were not predictive of pregnancy outcome. The BCS of cows on the day of AI was greater (P = 0.02) for pregnant cows with an approximate minimum BCS for a high probability of conception being 2.50. Serum progesterone concentrations of pregnant cows were greater (P < 0.05) on days 6, 13 and 20 post-AI, as was milk progesterone at day 20 post-AI (P < 0.01). Pregnant cows had greater (P = 0.02) net energy output (NE L ), which is inconsistent with a common belief that low pregnancy rates in contemporary dairy cows are due to excessive milk production, but is consistent with published studies in this study area. The present research indicates that current low pregnancy rates in commercial high-producing multiparous dairy cattle may be partly due to breeding cows that have insufficient BCS to support pregnancy. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Effects of biochars and MWNTs on biodegradation behavior of atrazine by Acinetobacter lwoffii DNS32.

PubMed

Yang, Fan; Jiang, Qun; Zhu, Moran; Zhao, Lulu; Zhang, Ying

2017-01-15

Whether the biodegradation of atrazine by Acinetobacter lwoffii DNS32 can have a difference in the presence of two representative carbon materials (CMs), namely, biochars (BCs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is explored, through investigating the influence of CMs on the biodegradation rate, the viability of bacteria and the expression of atrazine genes in aqueous medium. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), biochars resulted from corn straws (C-BCs) and that made from banana peels (B-BCs) were chosen as the examples. Compared to the control in the absence of C-BCs, B-BCs and MWNTs, the biodegradation efficiencies decrease from 95.3%, 101.8% and 94.8% to 82.6%, 41.8% and 31.1% as the concentrations of these materials increase from 10 to 100mg/L, indicating that BCs have relatively lower toxicity on the biodegradation of atrazine than CNTs, which are agreement with the results of bacterial viability. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images of Acinetobacter lwoffii DNS32 cells exposure to CMs at 50mg/L show that the cell membrane can be destroyed at different levels after being exposed to various CMs, suggesting that the damage to the cell membrane induced by CMs is a substantial factor leading to the inactivation of bacteria, further decreasing the degradation rate and efficiency of bacteria. The enhanced bacterial growth and the up-regulation of degradation genes can stimulate the degradation rate to pre-adsorbed atrazine on the CMs. This study suggests that biodegradation of atrazine associated with CMs may depend on the carbon composition, structure and CM concentrations. The innovation point of this report is to compare the effects of biochars and CNTs on the degradation rate and activity of Acinetobacter lwoffii DNS32 and may help to further understand the environment effects of CMs. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effectiveness of Combined Smartwatch and Social Media Intervention on Breast Cancer Survivor Health Outcomes: A 10-Week Pilot Randomized Trial.

PubMed

Pope, Zachary C; Zeng, Nan; Zhang, Rui; Lee, Hee Yun; Gao, Zan

2018-06-07

Physical activity (PA) among breast cancer survivors (BCS) can improve this population's health and quality of life (QoL). This study evaluated the effectiveness of a combined smartwatch- and social media-based health education intervention on BCS's health outcomes. Thirty BCS ( X ¯ age = 52.6 ± 9.3 years; X ¯ Wt = 80.2 ± 19.6 kg) participated in this 10-week, 2-arm randomized trial, with BCS randomized into: (1) experimental group ( n = 16): received Polar M400 smartwatches for daily PA tracking and joined a Facebook group wherein Social Cognitive Theory-related PA tips were provided twice weekly; and (2) comparison group ( n = 14): only joined separate, but content-identical Facebook group. Outcomes included PA, physiological, psychosocial, and QoL variables. Specifically, PA and energy expenditure (EE) was assessed by ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers while physiological, psychosocial, and QoL were examined via validated instruments at baseline and post-intervention. No baseline group differences were observed for any variable. Ten BCS dropped out of the study (experimental: 4; comparison: 6). Compared to completers, dropouts differed significantly on several outcomes. Thus, a per-protocol analysis was performed, revealing significant group differences for changes in social support ( t = -2.1, p = 0.05) and barriers ( t = -2.2, p = 0.04). Interestingly, the comparison group demonstrated improvements for both variables while the intervention group demonstrated slightly decreased social support and no change in barriers. Notably, both groups demonstrated similarly increased daily light PA, moderate-to-vigorous PA, EE, and steps of 7.7 min, 5.1 min, 25.1 kcals, and 339 steps, respectively, over time. Despite extensive user training, several experimental BCS found the Polar M400 use difficult-possibly decreasing intervention adherence. Future interventions should utilize simpler smartwatches to promote PA among middle-aged clinical/non-clinical populations.

Evaluation of serum insulin-like growth factor-1 and 26S proteasome concentrations in healthy dogs and dogs with chronic diseases depending on body condition score.

PubMed

Gerke, Ingrid; Kaup, Franz-Josef; Neumann, Stephan

2018-06-01

In patients suffering from chronic diseases, the objective assessment of metabolic states could be of interest for disease prognosis and therapeutic options. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and 26S proteasome (26SP) in healthy dogs and dogs suffering from chronic diseases depending on their body condition score (BCS) and to examine their potential for objective assessment of anabolic and catabolic states. Serum concentrations of IGF-1, an anabolic hormone, and 26SP, a multiprotein complex which is part of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, by which the majority of endogenous proteins including the muscle proteins are degraded, were measured in 21 healthy dogs and 20 dogs with chronic diseases by canine ELISA. The concentrations of IGF-1, 26SP and their ratio (IGF-1/26SP) were set in relationship to the BCS of the dogs. When examining healthy and chronically diseased dogs separately, a positive correlation between IGF-1 and the BCS was observed in the healthy group and a negative correlation between 26SP and the BCS was noted in dogs with chronic diseases. Further, dogs suffering from chronic diseases showed higher 26SP concentrations and lower values for IGF-1/26SP than the healthy dogs. Overall, we detected a negative correlation between 26SP and the BCS and a positive correlation between IGF-1/26SP and the BCS. The results of our study indicate usability of IGF-1 for description of anabolic states, while 26SP could be useful for detection and description of catabolic states. Finally, the ratio IGF-1/26SP seems to be promising for assessment of metabolic states. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of dietary medium-chain triglycerides on plasma lipids and lipoprotein distribution and food aversion in cats.

PubMed

Trevizan, Luciano; de Mello Kessler, Alexandre; Bigley, Karen E; Anderson, Wendy H; Waldron, Mark K; Bauer, John E

2010-04-01

To determine possible diet aversion and lipid and lipoprotein alterations in cats fed diets containing medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). 19 clinically normal adult female cats. Cats were assigned to 2 groups (low MCT diet [n = 10] and high MCT diet [9]) and fed the diets for 9 weeks according to metabolic body weight (100 kcal of metabolizable energy [ME] x kg(-0.67)/d). Daily consumption records and weekly body weight and body condition score (BCS) were used to adjust amounts fed and calculate daily ME factors for each cat to maintain ideal BCS. Blood samples were obtained after withholding food on days 0, 14, 28, and 56 for measurement of plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations and lipoprotein-cholesterol distributions. Repeated-measures ANOVA and Tukey multiple comparison tests were performed. No diet differences were found for food consumption, body weight, BCS, and ME factors. A significant increase in plasma triglyceride concentration was detected for the high MCT diet; however, values were within the reference ranges. No diet effects were observed for total cholesterol concentrations or lipoprotein-cholesterol distributions, although increases over time were observed. Inclusion of MCT in diets of cats did not result in feed refusal and had minimal effects on lipid metabolism. Such diets may be useful for both clinically normal cats and cats with metabolic disorders. The MCT oils are an example of a bioactive dietary lipid that may benefit feline metabolism and can serve as a useful functional food ingredient for cats.

The effect of claw horn disruption lesions and body condition score at dry-off on survivability, reproductive performance, and milk production in the subsequent lactation.

PubMed

Machado, V S; Caixeta, L S; McArt, J A A; Bicalho, R C

2010-09-01

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of claw horn disruption lesions (CHDL; sole ulcers and white line disease) and body condition score (BCS) at dry-off on survivability, milk production, and reproductive performance during the subsequent lactation. An observational prospective cohort study was conducted on a large commercial dairy in Cayuga County, New York, from September 2008 until January 2009. A total of 573 cows enrolled at dry-off were scored for body condition and hoof trimmed; digits were visually inspected for the presence of CHDL. The BCS data were recategorized into a 3-level variable BCS group (BCSG), with cows with BCS<3 placed in BCSG 1 (n=113), cows with BCS=3 placed in BCSG 2 (n=254), and cows with BCS>3 placed in BCSG 3 (n=206). Cows in BCSG 2 were 1.35 and 1.02 times more likely to conceive than cows in BCSG 1 and 3, respectively. The cull/death hazard for BCSG 1 cows was 1.55 and 1.47 times higher than for cows in BCSG 2 and BCSG 3, respectively. Milk yield for cows in BCSG 2 (44.6 kg/d, 95% CI 43.4-45.8) was significantly greater than that for cows in BCSG 1 (41.5 kg/d, 95% CI 39.8-43.3). Cows with previous lactation days open14,054 kg had a similar 1.6 times higher odds of being classified into BCSG 1. Claw horn disruption lesions were found in 24.4% of the cows (n=140) at dry-off. Cows without CHDL were 1.4 times more likely to conceive than cows with CHDL. Additionally, lesion cows were 1.7 times more likely to die or be culled than nonlesion cows. Absence of CHDL did not have a significant effect on milk yield. These findings highlight the importance of claw health and BCS at the end of lactation on future survival and performance. Copyright (c) 2010 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A dynamic model to predict fat and protein fluxes and dry matter intake associated with body reserve changes in cattle.

PubMed

Tedeschi, Luis O; Fox, Danny G; Kononoff, Paul J

2013-04-01

The objective of this paper was to develop the structure and concepts of a dynamic model to simulate dry matter intake (DMI) pattern and the fluxes of fat and protein in the body reserves of cattle associated with changes in body condition score (BCS) for application within the structure of applied nutrition models. This model was developed to add the capability of evaluating the effects of factors affecting pre- and postcalving DMI, daily energy and protein balances, and changes in BCS over a reproductive cycle. Input variables are average DMI, diet metabolizable energy, and animal information (body weight, BCS, milk production, and calf birth body weight) from each diet fed over the reproductive cycle. Because the depletion and repletion of body reserves in cattle is a complex system of coordinated metabolic processes that reflect hormonal and physiological changes caused by negative or positive energy balances, the system dynamics modeling methodology was used to develop this model. The model was used to evaluate the effect of the dynamic interactions between dietary supply and animal requirements for energy and protein on the fluxes of body fat and body protein of dairy cows over the reproductive cycle and Monte Carlo simulations were used to assess the sensitivity of the parameters. The main long-term factor affecting DMI pattern was the growth of the gravid uterus causing an increase in the volume of abdominal organs and a compression of the rumen, consequentially reducing feed intake. Changes in body reserves (fat and protein) were computed based on metabolizable energy balance, assuming different efficiency of utilization coefficients for fat and protein during repletion and mobilization. The model was evaluated with data from 37 dairy cows individually fed 3 different diets over the lactation and dry periods. The model was successful in simulating the observed pattern of DMI (mean square error was 3.59, 3.97, and 3.66 for diets A, B, and C, respectively), but it tended to underpredict DMI during late lactation [around 200 to 285 d in milk (DIM)] for all diets, suggesting changes in the model structure might be needed. The predicted BCS pattern had a trend similar to the observed values. Assuming that observed BCS represents actual body fat, the model tended to overpredict observed BCS during early lactation (0.125 BCS for 0 to 120 DIM) and underpredict it during late lactation (0.06 BCS for 180 to 270 DIM). A long-term simulation (5 lactations and 4 dry periods) with diet A indicated that the cows on this diet would have a net loss of body fat if all conditions were constant. Copyright © 2013 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Quantum phase transition in strongly correlated systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Longhua

In this thesis, we investigated the strongly correlated phenomena in bilayer quantum Hall effect, inhomogeneous superconductivity and Boson Hubbard model. Bilayer quantum Hall system is studied in chapter 2. By using the Composite Boson (CB) theory developed by J. Ye, we derive the ground state, quasihole and a quasihole-pair wave functions from the CB theory and its dual action. We find that the ground state wave function is the product of two parts, one in the charge sector which is the well known Halperin's (111) wave function and the other in the spin sector which is non-trivial at any finite d due to the gapless mode. So the total groundstate wave function differs from the well known (111) wave function at any finite d. In addition to commonly known multiplicative factors, the quasihole and quasihole-pair wave functions also contain non-trivial normalization factors multiplying the correct ground state wave function. Then we continue to study the quantum phase transition from the excitonic superfluid (ESF) to a possible pseudo-spin density wave (PSDW) at some intermediate distances driven by the magneto-roton minimum collapsing at a finite wavevector. We analyze the properties of the PSDW and explicitly show that a square lattice is the favored lattice. We suggest that correlated hopping of vacancies in the active and passive layers in the PSDW state leads to very large and temperature-dependent drag, consistent with the experimental data. Comparisons with previous microscopic numerical calculations are made. Further experimental implications are given. In chapter 3, we investigate inhomogeneous superconductivity. Starting from the Ginzburg-Landau free energy describing the normal state to Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) state transition, we evaluate the free energy of seven most common lattice structures: stripe, square, triangular, Simple Cubic (SC), Face centered Cubic (FCC), Body centered Cubic (BCC) and Quasicrystal (QC). We find that the stripe phase, which is the original LO state, is the most stable phase. This result may be relevant to the detection of the FFLO state in some heavy fermion compounds and the pairing lattice structure of fermions with unequal populations on the BCS side of the Feshbach resonance in ultra-cold atoms. In chapter 4, the Boson Hubbard model is studied by duality transformation. Interacting bosons at filling factor f = p/q hopping on a lattice can be mapped to interacting vortices hopping on the dual lattice subject to a fluctuating dual " magnetic field" whose average strength through a dual plaquette is equal to the boson density f = p/q. So the kinetic term of the vortices is the same as the Hofstadter problem of electrons moving in a lattice in the presence of f = p/q flux per plaquette. Motivated by this mapping, we study the Hofstadter bands of vortices hopping in the presence of magnetic flux f = p/q per plaquette on the 5 most common bipartite and frustrated lattices namely square, honeycomb, triangular, dice and kagome lattices. We count the total number of bands and determine the number of minima in the lowest band and their locations. We also numerically calculate the bandwidths of the lowest Hofstadter bands in these lattices, which directly measure the mobility of the dual vortices. The less mobile the dual vortices are, the more likely the bosons are in a superfluid state. We find that, except for the kagome lattice at odd q, they all satisfy the exponential decay law W = Ae-cq even at the smallest q. At given q, the bandwidth W decreases in the order: triangle, square and honeycomb lattice. This indicates that the domain of the superfluid state of the original bosons increases in the order of the corresponding direct lattices: honeycome, square and triangular. When q = 2, we find that the lowest Hofstadter band is completely flat for both kagome and dice lattices. There is a gap on the kagome lattice, but no gap on dice lattice. This indicates that the boson ground state at half filling with nearest neighbor hopping on kagome lattice is always a superfluid state. The superfluid state remains stable slightly away from half filling. Our results show that the behaviors of bosons at or near half filling on kagome lattice are quite distinct from those on square, honeycomb and triangular lattices studied previously.

Chemical Modification and Structure-property Relationships of Acrylic and Ionomeric Thermoplastic Elastomer Gels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vargantwar, Pruthesh Hariharrao

Block copolymers (BCs) have remained at the forefront of materials research due to their versatility in applications ranging from hot-melt/pressure-sensitive adhesives and impact modifiers to compatibilizing agents and vibration-dampening/nanotemplating media. Of particular interest are macromolecules composed of two or more chemically dissimilar blocks covalently linked together to form triblock or pentablock copolymers. If the blocks are sufficiently incompatible and the copolymer behaves as a thermoplastic elastomer, the molecules can spontaneously self-assemble to form nanostructured materials that exhibit shape memory due to the formation of a supramolecular network. The BCs of these types are termed as conventional. When BCs contain blocks having ionic moieties such as sulfonic acid groups, they are termed as block ionomers. Designing new systems based on either conventional or ionic BCs, characterizing their structure-property relationships and later using them as electroacive polymers form the essential objectives of this work. Electroactive polymers (EAPs) exhibit electromechanical actuation when stimulated by an external electric field. In the first part of this work, it is shown that BCs resolve some of the outstanding problems presently encountered in the design of two different classes of EAP actuators: dielectric elastomers (DEs) and ionic polymer metal composites (IPMCs). All-acrylic triblock copolymer gels used as DEs actuate with high efficacy without any requirement of mechanical prestrain and, thus, eliminate the need for bulky and heavy hardware essential with prestrained dielectric actuators, as well as material problems associated with stress relaxation. The dependence of actuation behavior on gel morphology as evaluated from mechanical and microstructure studies is observed. In the case of IPMCs, ionic BCs employed in this study greatly facilitate processing compared to other contenders such as NafionRTM, which is commonly used in this class of EAPs. The unique copolymer investigated here (i) retains its mechanical integrity when highly solvated by polar solvents, (ii) demonstrates a high degree of actuation when tested in a cantilever configuration, and (iii) avoids the shortcomings of back-relaxation/overshoot within the testing conditions when used in combination with an appropriate solvent. In the second part of this work, two chemical strategies to design midblock sulfonated block ionomers are explored. In one case, selective sulfonation of the midblocks in triblock copolymers is achieved via a dioxane:sulfur trioxide chemistry, while in the other acetyl sulfate is used for the same purpose. Excellent control on the degree of sulfonation (DOS) is achieved. The block ionomers swell in different solvents while retaining their mechanical integrity. They show disorder-order, order-order, and order-reduced order morphological transitions as DOS varies. These transitions in morphologies are reflected in their thermal behavior as well. The microstructures show periodicity, which is, again, a function of DOS. The transitions are explained in terms of the molar volume expansion and volume densification of the blocks on sulfonation. The ionic levels, morphology and periodicity in microstructure are important for applications such as actuators, sensors and fuel cell membranes. The ability to tune these aspects in the ionomers designed in this work make them potential candidates for these applications.

Development and Validation of the Calling and Vocation Questionnaire (CVQ) and Brief Calling Scale (BCS)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dik, Bryan J.; Eldridge, Brandy M.; Steger, Michael F.; Duffy, Ryan D.

2012-01-01

Research on work as a calling is limited by measurement concerns. In response, the authors introduce the multidimensional Calling and Vocation Questionnaire (CVQ) and the Brief Calling scale (BCS), instruments assessing presence of, and search for, a calling. Study 1 describes CVQ development using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis…

Budd-Chiari Syndrome Complicating Hydatid Cyst of the Liver Managed by Venoplasty and Stenting

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

Sarawagi, Radha, E-mail: sarawagi_r@yahoo.co.uk; Keshava, Shyamkumar N., E-mail: aparna_shyam@yahoo.com; Surendrababu, Narayanam R. S., E-mail: nrssbabu@yahoo.com

Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) and portal hypertension is an uncommon complication of hydatid cyst of the liver. Previous reports describe cyst excision or portosystemic shunt surgery for such patients. Here we present a case of hydatid cyst of the liver with BCS that was treated successfully with hepatic venoplasty and transjugular stent placement.

Diverse profiles of N-acyl-homoserine lactones in biofilm forming strains of Cronobacter sakazakii.

PubMed

Singh, Niharika; Patil, Amrita; Prabhune, Asmita A; Raghav, Mamta; Goel, Gunjan

2017-04-03

The present study investigates the role of quorum sensing (QS) molecules expressed by C. sakazakii in biofilm formation and extracellular polysaccharide expression. The QS signaling was detected using Chromobacterium violaceum 026 and Agrobacterium tumefaciens NTL4(pZLR4) based bioassay. Long chain N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) with C6- C18 chain length were identified using High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry. A higher Specific Biofilm Formation (SBF) index (p < 0.05) with the presence of genes associated with cellulose biosynthesis (bcsA, bcsC and bcsG) was observed in the strains. AHLs and their mechanisms can serve as novel targets for developing technologies to eradicate and prevent biofilm formation by C. sakazakii.

An electrochemical investigation of TMJ implant metal alloys in an artificial joint fluid environment: the influence of pH variation.

PubMed

Royhman, Dmitry; Radhakrishnan, Rashmi; Yuan, Judy Chia-Chun; Mathew, Mathew T; Mercuri, Louis G; Sukotjo, Cortino

2014-10-01

To investigate the corrosion behaviour of commonly used TMJ implants alloys (CoCrMo and Ti6Al4V) under simulated physiological conditions. Corrosion behaviour was evaluated using standard electrochemical corrosion techniques and galvanic corrosion techniques as per ASTM standards. Standard electrochemical tests (E(corr), I(corr), R(p) and C(f)) were conducted in bovine calf serum (BCS), as a function of alloys type and different pHs. Galvanic corrosion tests were conducted in BCS at a pH of 7.6. Alloy surfaces were characterized using white-light interferometry (WLI) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The potentiodynamic test results exhibited the enhanced passive layer growth and a better corrosion resistance of Ti6Al4V compared to CoCrMo. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements demonstrated the influence of protein as a function of pH on corrosion mechanisms/kinetics. Galvanic coupling was not a major contributor to corrosion. SEM and WLI images demonstrated a significantly higher in surface roughness in CoCrMo after corrosion. The results of this study suggest that Ti6Al4V shows superior corrosion behaviour to CoCrMo due to its strong passive layer, simulated joint fluid components can affect the electrochemical nature of the metal/electrolyte interface as a function of pH, and the galvanic effect of coupling CoCrMo and Ti6Al4V in a single joint is weak. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Ultrasonic Attenuation of Surface Acoustic Waves in Thin Films of High Transition Temperature Superconducting Niobium-Tin and Niobium-Nitride

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fredricksen, Hans Peter

The ultrasonic attenuation of 600-700 MHz surface acoustic waves by two high T(,c), cubic crystal structure, superconducting thin films has been investigated. The films studied were two, 0.5 (mu) thin, Nb(,3)Sn samples, electron-beam codeposited on LiNbO(,3) and Quartz, and eleven NbN samples from 3 x 10('3) (ANGSTROM) to <(, )200 (ANGSTROM) thin, sputter deposited on LiNbO(,3). The Nb(,3)Sn (Al5 structure) film on Quartz was difficult to measure due to defects in the Quartz caused by the high deposition temperature ((DBLTURN)700(DEGREES)C) used to make the high T(,c) form of the compound. The Nb(,3)Sn film on LiNbO(,3), however, provided information about the transition temperature and energy gap at T = 0 K when the attenuation was measured as a function of temperature in zero magnetic field. A theory is developed to predict the electron-phonon produced normal state attenuation of surface acoustic waves by a thin, loss producing film on a nonattenuating substrate. Using a viscous drag model for the attenuation, the predictions of the theory are compared to the measured normal state attenuation to find the electron mean-free-path for the Nb(,3)Sn film on LiNbO(,3). The attenuation measured for this film as a function of applied magnetic field for four temperatures below T(,c) showed the sample to be an impurity rich type II superconductor with H(,c(,2)) (T = 0 K) = 85 KG, having GLAG theory constants: (kappa)(,2)(t=1) = 28.5 and (kappa)(t=1) = 29.2. The attenuation curves of the nine thickest NbN samples were non-BCS-like and very similar. Measured as a function of temperature only, because we could not reach the high critical fields of the samples, the attenuation showed an initial drop at T(,c) of about 1-2 dB which then leveled off until the temperature was below 0.5 T(,c), where the rate of decrease was much slower than the initial drop. A qualitative description of this behavior is derived from the Kosterlitz-Thouless vortex-antivortex theory. Although the thinnest NbN film did not show an attenuation change at T(,c), the next thinnest did. In this case, the measured decrease of nearly 40 dB is explained by the change in boundary condition when the substrate surface changes from "open" to "shortened" when the film becomes superconducting.

Modern Trends in the Surgical Management of Paget's Disease.

PubMed

Wong, Stephanie M; Freedman, Rachel A; Stamell, Emily; Sagara, Yasuaki; Brock, Jane E; Desantis, Stephen D; Golshan, Mehra

2015-10-01

We examined the incidence and modern national trends in the management of Paget's disease (PD), including the use of breast-conserving surgery (BCS), mastectomy, axillary surgery, and receipt of radiotherapy. Using surveillance, epidemiology and end results (SEER) data, we identified 2631 patients diagnosed with PD during 2000-2011. Of these patients, 185 (7%) had PD of the nipple only, 953 (36.2%) had PD with ductal carcinoma in situ (PD-DCIS), and 1493 (56.7%) had PD with invasive ductal carcinoma (PD-IDC). Trends in age-adjusted incidence, primary surgery, sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), and axillary lymph node dissection were examined. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated with receipt of BCS and radiotherapy. A decrease in the age-adjusted incidence of PD occurred from 2000 to 2011 (-4.3% per year, p < 0.05). The overall rates of mastectomy in the PD only, PD-DCIS, and PD-IDC groups were 47, 69, and 88.9%, respectively. Only in the PD-IDC group did the proportion of patients undergoing BCS increase significantly, from 8.5% in 2000 to 15.7% in 2011 (p = 0.01). Of those who underwent axillary surgery, the proportion of patients undergoing SLNB increased from 2000 to 2011. In adjusted analyses, Paget's subgroup, older age, central tumor location, low/intermediate grade, tumor size <2.0 cm, SEER region, and year of diagnosis after 2006 were significantly associated with receipt of BCS. The incidence of Paget's disease has decreased over time while modern trends in local therapy suggest that BCS, SLNB, and adjuvant radiotherapy remain underutilized.

Regional-dependent intestinal permeability and BCS classification: elucidation of pH-related complexity in rats using pseudoephedrine.

PubMed

Fairstein, Moran; Swissa, Rotem; Dahan, Arik

2013-04-01

Based on its lower Log P value relative to metoprolol, a marker for the low/high-permeability (P(eff)) class boundary, pseudoephedrine was provisionally classified as BCS low-permeability compound. On the other hand, following oral administration, pseudoephedrine fraction dose absorbed (F(abs)) and systemic bioavailability approaches 100%. This represents a challenge to the generally recognized P(eff)-F(abs) correlation. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the underlying mechanisms behind the confusion in pseudoephedrine's BCS classification. Pseudoephedrine's BCS solubility class was determined, and its physicochemical properties and intestinal permeability were thoroughly investigated, both in vitro and in vivo in rats, considering the complexity of the whole of the small intestine. Pseudoephedrine was found to be unequivocally a high-solubility compound. All of the permeability studies revealed similar phenomenon; at any given intestinal segment/pH, the permeability of metoprolol was higher than that of pseudoephedrine, however, as the intestinal region becomes progressively distal, and the pH gradually increases, pseudoephedrine's permeability rises above that of metoprolol in the former segment. This unique permeability pattern likely explains pseudoephedrine's complete absorption. In conclusion, pseudoephedrine is a BCS Class I compound; no discrepancy between P(eff) and F(abs) is involved in its absorption. Rather, it reflects the complexity behind P(eff) when considering the whole of the intestine. We propose to allow high-permeability classification to drugs with P(eff) that matches/exceeds the low/high class benchmark anywhere throughout the intestinal tract and not restricted necessarily to the jejunum.

Bond Coat Engineering Influence on the Evolution of the Microstructure, Bond Strength, and Failure of TBCs Subjected to Thermal Cycling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lima, R. S.; Nagy, D.; Marple, B. R.

2015-01-01

Different types of thermal spray systems, including HVOF (JP5000 and DJ2600-hybrid), APS (F4-MB and Axial III), and LPPS (Oerlikon Metco system) were employed to spray CoNiCrAlY bond coats (BCs) onto Inconel 625 substrates. The chemical composition of the BC powder was the same in all cases; however, the particle size distribution of the powder employed with each torch was that specifically recommended for the torch. For optimization purposes, these BCs were screened based on initial evaluations of roughness, porosity, residual stress, relative oxidation, and isothermal TGO growth. A single type of standard YSZ top coat was deposited via APS (F4MB) on all the optimized BCs. The TBCs were thermally cycled by employing a furnace cycle test (FCT) (1080 °C-1 h—followed by forced air cooling). Samples were submitted to 10, 100, 400, and 1400 cycles as well as being cycled to failure. The behavior of the microstructures, bond strength values (ASTM 633), and the TGO evolution of these TBCs, were investigated for the as-sprayed and thermally cycled samples. During FCT, the TBCs found to be both the best and poorest performing and had their BCs deposited via HVOF. The results showed that engineering low-oxidized BCs does not necessarily lead to an optimal TBC performance. Moreover, the bond strength values decrease significantly only when the TBC is about to fail (top coat spall off) and the as-sprayed bond strength values cannot be used as an indicator of TBC performance.

Investigating the Discriminatory Power of BCS-Biowaiver in Vitro Methodology to Detect Bioavailability Differences between Immediate Release Products Containing a Class I Drug.

PubMed

Colón-Useche, Sarin; González-Álvarez, Isabel; Mangas-Sanjuan, Victor; González-Álvarez, Marta; Pastoriza, Pilar; Molina-Martínez, Irene; Bermejo, Marival; García-Arieta, Alfredo

2015-09-08

The purpose of this work is to investigate the discriminatory power of the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS)-biowaiver in vitro methodology, i.e., to investigate if a BCS-biowaiver approach would have detected the Cmax differences observed between two zolpidem tablets and to identify the cause of the in vivo difference. Several dissolution conditions were tested with three zolpidem formulations: the reference (Stilnox), a bioequivalent formulation (BE), and a nonbioequivalent formulation (N-BE). Zolpidem is highly soluble at pH 1.2, 4.5, and 6.8. Its permeability in Caco-2 cells is higher than that of metoprolol and its transport mechanism is passive diffusion. None of the excipients (alone or in combination) showed any effect on permeability. All formulations dissolved more than 85% in 15 min in the paddle apparatus at 50 rpm in all dissolution media. However, at 30 rpm the nonbioequivalent formulation exhibited a slower dissolution rate. A slower gastric emptying rate was also observed in rats for the nonbioequivalent formulation. A slower disintegration and dissolution or a delay in gastric emptying might explain the Cmax infra-bioavailability for a highly permeable drug with short half-life. The BCS-biowaiver approach would have declared bioequivalence, although the in vivo study was not conclusive but detected a 14% mean difference in Cmax that precluded the bioequivalence demonstration. Nonetheless, these findings suggest that a slower dissolution rate is more discriminatory and that rotation speeds higher than 50 rpm should not be used in BCS-biowaivers, even if a coning effect occurs.

Effect of local therapy on locoregional recurrence in postmenopausal women with breast cancer in the Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational (TEAM) trial.

PubMed

van Hezewijk, Marjan; Bastiaannet, Esther; Putter, Hein; Scholten, Astrid N; Liefers, Gerrit-Jan; Rea, Daniel; Hasenburg, Annette; Paridaens, Robert; Hozumi, Yasuo; Markopoulos, Christos; Seynaeve, Caroline; Jones, Stephen E; Marijnen, Corrie A M; van de Velde, Cornelis J H

2013-08-01

The TEAM trial investigated the efficacy and safety of adjuvant endocrine therapy consisting of either exemestane or the sequence of tamoxifen followed by exemestane in postmenopausal hormone-sensitive breast cancer. The present analyses explored the association between locoregional therapy and recurrence (LRR) in this population. Between 2001 and 2006, 9779 patients were randomized. Local treatment was breast conserving surgery plus radiotherapy (BCS+RT), mastectomy without radiotherapy (MST-only), or mastectomy plus radiotherapy (MST+RT). Patients with unknown data on surgery, radiotherapy, tumor or nodal stage (n=199), and patients treated by lumpectomy without radiotherapy (n=349) were excluded. After a median follow-up of 5.2 years, 270 LRRs occurred (2.9%) among 9231 patients. The 5-years actuarial incidence of LRR was 4.2% (95% CI 3.3-4.9%) for MST-only, 3.4% (95% CI 2.4-4.2%) for MST+RT and 1.9% (95% CI 1.5-2.3%) for BCS+RT. After adjustment for prognostic factors, the hazard ratio (HR, reference BCS+RT) for LRR remained significantly higher for MST-only (HR 1.53; 95% CI 1.10-2.11), not for MST+RT (HR 0.78; 95% CI 0.50-1.22). This explorative analysis showed a higher LRR risk after MST-only than after BCS+RT, even after adjustment for prognostic factors. As this effect was not seen for MST+RT versus BCS+RT, it might be explained by the beneficial effects of radiation treatment. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Association between Body Condition Score and Cancer Prognosis in Dogs with Lymphoma and Osteosarcoma.

PubMed

Romano, F R; Heinze, C R; Barber, L G; Mason, J B; Freeman, L M

2016-07-01

In humans and rodents obesity appears to promote some cancers by increasing incidence, tumor aggressiveness, recurrence, and fatality. However, the relationship between obesity and cancer in dogs has not been thoroughly evaluated. Whether body condition score (BCS) at the time of lymphoma (LSA) or osteosarcoma (OSA) diagnosis in dogs is predictive of survival time (ST) or progression-free interval (PFI). We hypothesized that an overweight body state at the time of cancer diagnosis would be associated with negative outcomes. Dogs with LSA (n = 270) and OSA (n = 54) diagnosed and treated between 2000 and 2010. Retrospective case review. Signalment, body weight, BCS, cancer diagnosis and treatment, relevant clinicopathologic values, and survival data were collected. Dogs were grouped by BCS (underweight, ideal, and overweight) and ST and PFI were compared. Overall, 5.5% of dogs were underweight, 54.0% were ideal weight, and 40.4% were overweight at diagnosis. Underweight dogs with LSA had shorter ST (P = .017) than ideal or overweight dogs. BCS was not associated with ST for OSA (P = .474). Progression-free interval did not differ among BCS categories for either cancer. Obesity was not associated with adverse outcomes among dogs with LSA or OSA in this retrospective study; however, being underweight at the time of diagnosis of LSA was associated with shorter survival. More research is needed to elucidate the relationship between excessive body weight and cancer development and progression in dogs. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Application of the Hands-On Donkey Tool for Assessing the Welfare of Working Equids at Tuliman, Mexico.

PubMed

Galindo, F; de Aluja, A; Cagigas, R; Huerta, L A; Tadich, T A

2018-01-01

Equids are still used for diverse chores in Mexico and are essential for the livelihoods of numerous families. Appropriate health and behavior are prerequisites for performing work without affecting welfare. This study aimed to assess the welfare of working equids in Tuliman, applying the hands-on donkey tool. This tool evaluates five dimensions (behavior, body condition score [BCS], wounds, lameness, and other health issues) and was applied to 438 working equids (horses, mules, and donkeys). The Kruskall-Wallis test was applied to investigate differences between species and sex. Donkeys were more common; they also presented more positive behaviors and less lameness (p < 0.05). No differences were found for BCS among species on a scale ranging from 1 to 5 (mean BCS for donkeys = 1.9; mules = 2; and horses = 1.8). Mares had significantly lower BCS (mean = 1.5) than stallions (p < 0.05) and geldings (mean = 1.9). Overall mules had better welfare evaluations. The tool allowed detection of welfare issues in working equids; a practical outcome would be implementing local welfare strategies according to its results.

Creep analysis of solid oxide fuel cell with bonded compliant seal design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Wenchun; Zhang, Yucai; Luo, Yun; Gong, J. M.; Tu, S. T.

2013-12-01

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) requires good sealant because it works in harsh conditions (high temperature, thermal cycle, oxidative and reducing gas environments). Bonded compliant seal (BCS) is a new sealing method for planar SOFC. It uses a thin foil metal to bond the window frame and cell, achieving the seal between window frame and cell. At high temperature, a comprehensive evaluation of its creep strength is essential for the adoption of BCS design. In order to characterize the creep behavior, the creep induced by thermal stresses in SOFC with BCS design is simulated by finite element method. The results show that the foil is compressed and large thermal stresses are generated. The initial peak thermal stress is located in the thin foil because the foil acts as a spring stores the thermal stresses by elastic and plastic deformation in itself. Serving at high temperature, initial thermal displacement is partially recovered because of the creep relaxation, which becomes a new discovered advantage for BCS design. It predicts that the failures are likely to happen in the middle of the cell edge and BNi-2 filler metal, because the maximum residual displacement and creep strain are located.

Shear viscosity and imperfect fluidity in bosonic and fermionic superfluids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boyack, Rufus; Guo, Hao; Levin, K.

2014-12-01

In this paper we address the ratio of the shear viscosity to entropy density η /s in bosonic and fermionic superfluids. A small η /s is associated with nearly perfect fluidity, and more general measures of the fluidity perfection/imperfection are of wide interest to a number of communities. We use a Kubo approach to concretely address this ratio via low-temperature transport associated with the quasiparticles. Our analysis for bosonic superfluids utilizes the framework of the one-loop Bogoliubov approximation, whereas for fermionic superfluids we apply BCS theory and its BCS-BEC extension. Interestingly, we find that the transport properties of strict BCS and Bogoliubov superfluids have very similar structures, albeit with different quasiparticle dispersion relations. While there is a dramatic contrast between the power law and exponential temperature dependence for η alone, the ratio η /s for both systems is more similar. Specifically, we find the same linear dependence (on the ratio of temperature T to inverse lifetime γ (T ) ) with η /s ∝T /γ (T ) , corresponding to imperfect fluidity. By contrast, near the unitary limit of BCS-BEC superfluids a very different behavior results, which is more consistent with near-perfect fluidity.

Effect of body condition score at mating on the reproductive performance of Kivircik sheep under an extensive production system.

PubMed

Yilmaz, Murat; Altin, Tufan; Karaca, Orhan; Cemal, Ibrahim; Bardakcioglu, Husnu Erbay; Yilmaz, Onur; Taskin, Turgay

2011-12-01

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the body condition score (BCS) of ewes before and during the mating season on their reproductive performance under an extensive production system. In this study, 240 Kivircik sheep from the flocks of two breeders were used for over a 2-year period. The flocks were fed under extensive conditions on natural pastures throughout the year. The ewes were synchronized in two different periods, one of which was 45 days before the other. Before the introduction of rams to the ewes, the ewes were weighed after measuring their BCS. Detailed records were kept for every flock in each year. We found significant effects of BCS on pregnancy rate, lambing rate (P < 0.05) and fecundity (P < 0.05). The BCS for the highest pregnancy, lambing rate, and fecundity was determined between 2.01 and 3.00, while the lowest rates for these traits were ≤ 1.50. The highest rates of the pregnancy rate, lambing rate, and fecundity and gestation productivity were 75.9%, 70.9%, 1.11 and 3.34 kg, respectively.

Cloning of the Escherichia coli endo-1,4-D-glucanase gene and identification of its product.

PubMed

Park, Y W; Yun, H D

1999-03-01

A plasmid (pYP17) containing a genomic DNA insert from Escherichia coli K-12 that confers the ability to hydrolyze carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) was isolated from a genomic library constructed in the cosmid vector pLAFR3 in E. coli DH5alpha. A small 1.65-kb fragment, designated bcsC (pYP300), was sequenced and found to contain an ORF of 1,104 bp encoding a protein of 368 amino acid residues, with a calculated molecular weight of 41,700 Da. BcsC carries a typical prokaryotic signal peptide of 21 amino acid residues. The predicted amino acid sequence of the BcsC protein is similar to that of CelY of Erwinia chrysanthemi, CMCase of Cellulomonas uda, EngX of Acetobacter xylinum, and CelC of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Based on these sequence similarities, we propose that the bcsC gene is a member of glycosyl hydrolase family 8. The apparent molecular mass of the protein, when expressed in E. coli, is approximately 40 kDa, and the CMCase activity is found mainly in the extracellular space. The enzyme is optimally active at pH 7 and a temperature of 40 degrees C.

The biocorrosion of copper by biopolymers as examined in situ, in real time FT-IR/CIR/ATR in conjunction with pre and post XPS/AES

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

Gianotto, A.K.; Wichlacz, P.L.; Jolley, J.G.

1989-01-01

Thin films of copper (2.0 nm on germanium internal reflection elements (IREs) and 3.4 nm on germanium discs) were exposed to 10% gum arabic (aqueous solution), 2% alginic acid (aqueous solution), 1% bacterial culture supernatant (BCS, simulated seawater solution) and 0.5% Pseudomonas atlantica exopolymer (simulated seawater solution). The IREs were monitored in situ, in real time using fourier transform infrared/cylindrical internal reflection/attenuated total reflection spectroscopy as a function of time at ambient conditions. The discs were characterized (pre- and post-exposure) by x-ray photoelectron and Auger electron spectroscopies. Ancillary graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to monitor the removal processmore » of the copper thin film from the germanium substrates. Results indicate that Cu was oxidized by gum arabic, alginic acid and BCS. Furthermore, Cu was removed from the Cu/Ge interface by all four polymers. The Cu was found associated with the polymer solutions. 20 refs., 6 figs., 1 tab.« less

Bassoon-disruption slows vesicle replenishment and induces homeostatic plasticity at a CNS synapse

PubMed Central

Mendoza Schulz, Alejandro; Jing, Zhizi; María Sánchez Caro, Juan; Wetzel, Friederike; Dresbach, Thomas; Strenzke, Nicola; Wichmann, Carolin; Moser, Tobias

2014-01-01

Endbulb of Held terminals of auditory nerve fibers (ANF) transmit auditory information at hundreds per second to bushy cells (BCs) in the anteroventral cochlear nucleus (AVCN). Here, we studied the structure and function of endbulb synapses in mice that lack the presynaptic scaffold bassoon and exhibit reduced ANF input into the AVCN. Endbulb terminals and active zones were normal in number and vesicle complement. Postsynaptic densities, quantal size and vesicular release probability were increased while vesicle replenishment and the standing pool of readily releasable vesicles were reduced. These opposing effects canceled each other out for the first evoked EPSC, which showed unaltered amplitude. We propose that ANF activity deprivation drives homeostatic plasticity in the AVCN involving synaptic upscaling and increased intrinsic BC excitability. In vivo recordings from individual mutant BCs demonstrated a slightly improved response at sound onset compared to ANF, likely reflecting the combined effects of ANF convergence and homeostatic plasticity. Further, we conclude that bassoon promotes vesicular replenishment and, consequently, a large standing pool of readily releasable synaptic vesicles at the endbulb synapse. PMID:24442636

Effects of Interfacial Translation-rotation Coupling for Confined Ferrofluids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fang, Angbo

2011-03-01

Ferrofluids have wide applications ranging from semiconductor fabrications to biomedical processes. The hydrodynamic spin diffusion theory for ferrofluids has been successful in explaining many experimental data, but it suffers from some fatal flaws. For example, it fails to predict the incorrect flow direction for a ferrofluid confined in a concentric cylinder channel in the presence of a rotating magnetic field. In this work we develop a method to establish the general hydrodynamic boundary conditions (BCs) for micro-polar fluids such as ferrofluids. Through a dynamic generalization of the mesoscopic diffuse interface model, we are able to obtain the surface dissipation functional, in which the interfacial translation-rotation coupling plays a significant role. The generalized hydrodynamic BCs can be obtained straightforwardly by using Onsager's variational approach. The resulted velocity profile and other quantities compares well with the experimental data, strikingly different from traditional theories. The methodology can be applied to study the hydrodynamic behavior of other structured fluids in confined channels or multi-phase flows. The work is supported by a research award made by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.

The role of taxanes in triple-negative breast cancer: literature review

PubMed Central

Mustacchi, Giorgio; De Laurentiis, Michelino

2015-01-01

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent tumor worldwide. Triple-negative BCs are characterized by the negative estrogen and progesterone receptors and negative HER2, and represent 15% of all BCs. In this review, data on the use of taxanes in triple-negative BCs are analyzed, concluding they are effective in any clinical setting (neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and metastatic). Further, the role of nab-paclitaxel (formulation of albumin-bound paclitaxel) in these tumors is also evaluated. The available data show the clinical potential of nab-paclitaxel based combinations in terms of long-duration response, increased survival, and better quality of life of patients with triple-negative metastatic BC. The ongoing trials will give further information on the better management of this type of tumor. PMID:26273192

Quality defects in market beef and dairy cows and bulls sold through livestock auction markets in the Western United States: II. Relative effects on selling price.

PubMed

Ahola, J K; Foster, H A; Vanoverbeke, D L; Jensen, K S; Wilson, R L; Glaze, J B; Fife, T E; Gray, C W; Nash, S A; Panting, R R; Rimbey, N R

2011-05-01

Relative effects of Beef Quality Assurance (BQA)-related defects in market beef and dairy cows and bulls on selling price at auction was evaluated during 2008. The presence and severity of 23 BQA-related traits were determined during sales in Idaho, California, and Utah. Overall, 18,949 unique lots consisting of 23,479 animals were assessed during 125 dairy sales and 79 beef sales. Mean sale price ± SD (per 45.5 kg) for market beef cows, beef bulls, dairy cows, and dairy bulls was $45.15 ± 9.42, $56.30 ± 9.21, $42.23 ± 12.26, and $55.10 ± 9.07, respectively. When combined, all recorded traits explained 36% of the variation in selling price in beef cows, 35% in beef bulls, 61% in dairy cows, and 56% in dairy bulls. Premiums and discounts were determined in comparison with a "par" or "base" animal. Compared with a base BCS 5 beef cow (on a 9-point beef scale), BCS 1 to 4 cows were discounted (P < 0.0001), whereas premiums (P < 0.05) were estimated for BCS 6 to 8. Compared with a base BCS 3.0 dairy cow (on a 5-point dairy scale), more body condition resulted in a premium (P ≤ 0.001), whereas a less-than-desirable BCS of 2.0 or 2.5 was discounted (P < 0.0001). Emaciated or near-emaciated cows (beef BCS 1 or 2; dairy BCS 1.0 or 1.5) were discounted (P < 0.0001). Compared with base cows weighing 545 to 635 kg, lighter BW beef cows were discounted (P < 0.0001), whereas heavier beef cows received (P < 0.05) a premium. Compared with a base dairy cow weighing 636 to 727 kg, lighter BW cows were discounted (P < 0.0001), whereas heavier cows (727 to 909 kg) received a premium (P < 0.01). Beef and dairy cows with any evidence of lameness were discounted (P < 0.0001). Presence of ocular neoplasia in the precancerous stage discounted (P = 0.05) beef cows and discounted (P < 0.01) dairy cows, whereas at the cancerous stage, it discounted (P < 0.0001) all cows. Hide color influenced (P < 0.0001) selling price in beef cattle but had no effect (P = 0.17) in dairy cows. Animals that were visibly sick were discounted (P < 0.0001). Results suggest that improving BCS and BW, which producers can do at the farm or ranch level, positively affects sale price. Furthermore, animals that are visibly sick or have a defect associated with a possible antibiotic risk will be discounted. Ultimately, animals with minor quality defects should be sold in a timely manner before the defect advances and the discount increases.

Effects of dry period length and concentrate protein content in late lactation on body condition score change and subsequent lactation performance of thin high genetic merit dairy cows.

PubMed

Dale, A J; Purcell, P J; Wylie, A R G; Gordon, A W; Ferris, C P

2017-03-01

Improving body condition score of thin cows in late lactation is necessary, because cows that are thin at drying off exhibit decreased fertility postpartum and are at increased risk of disease and of being culled in the subsequent lactation. Offering a diet low in crude protein (CP) content in late lactation may help to improve body condition score (BCS) at drying off, whereas imposing an extended dry period (EDP) has been advocated as another way to increase BCS at calving. To test these hypotheses, 65 thin cows (mean BCS 2.25 at 14 wk precalving) were managed on 1 of 3 treatments between 13 and 9 wk prepartum: normal protein control {NP; grass silage + 5 kg/d of a normal protein concentrate [228 g of CP/kg of dry matter (DM)]}, low protein [LP; grass silage + 5 kg/d of a low-protein concentrate (153 g of CP/kg of DM)], or EDP (cows dried off at 13 wk precalving and offered a grass silage-only diet). Both NP and LP cows were dried off at wk 8 prepartum, after which all cows were offered a grass silage-only diet until calving. After calving, all cows were offered a common diet (supplying 11.1 kg of concentrate DM/cow per day) for 19 wk. Between 13 and 9 wk prepartum, LP cows had lower DM intake, milk yield, and body weight than NP cows. Whereas EDP cows had lower serum β-hydroxybutyrate and fatty acid concentrations than those of NP cows, BCS at wk 9 prepartum did not differ between treatments. Cows on the LP treatment continued to have lower DMI and BW than those of NP and EDP cows between 8 wk prepartum and calving, but only EDP cows had a higher BCS at calving. Treatment did not affect calving difficulty score or calf birth weight. Although all cows were offered a common diet postpartum, cows on the LP treatment had lower DM intake and milk fat + plus protein yield than cows on any other treatment during the 19-wk period postpartum, but we found no differences in any postpartum indicator of body tissue reserves. The treatments imposed from wk 13 to 9 prepartum had no effect on any fertility or health parameters examined postpartum. Extending the dry period for thin cows improved their BCS at calving but did not allow these cows to achieve the target BCS of 2.75, and we found no beneficial effects of this treatment on cow performance postpartum. Offering a lower-protein diet to thin cows in late lactation did not improve BCS at calving above that of cows on a normal protein diet, but had unexplained long-term negative effects on cow performance. Copyright © 2017 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Study of five-dimensional potential-energy surfaces for actinide isotopes by the macroscopic-microscopic method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, T. S.; Wang, Z. M.; Zhu, X.; Zhu, W. J.; Zhong, C. L.

2017-09-01

In this work, the nuclear potential-energy of the deformed nuclei as a function of shape coordinates is calculated in a five-dimensional (5D) parameter space of the axially symmetric generalized Lawrence shapes, on the basis of the macroscopic-microscopic method. The liquid-drop part of the nuclear energy is calculated according to the Myers-Swiatecki model and the Lublin-Strasbourg-drop (LSD) formula. The Woods-Saxon and the folded-Yukawa potentials for deformed nuclei are used for the shell and pairing corrections of the Strutinsky-type. The pairing corrections are calculated at zero temperature, T, related to the excitation energy. The eigenvalues of Hamiltonians for protons and neutrons are found by expanding the eigen-functions in terms of harmonic-oscillator wave functions of a spheroid. Then the BCS pair is applied on the smeared-out single-particle spectrum. By comparing the results obtained by different models, the most favorable combination of the macroscopic-microscopic model is known as the LSD formula with the folded-Yukawa potential. Potential-energy landscapes for actinide isotopes are investigated based on a grid of more than 4,000,000 deformation points and the heights of static fission barriers are obtained in terms of a double-humped structure on the full 5D parameter space. In order to locate the ground state shapes, saddle points, scission points and optimal fission path on the calculated 5D potential-energy surface, the falling rain algorithm and immersion method are designed and implemented. The comparison of our results with available experimental data and others' theoretical results confirms the reliability of our calculations.

Prognostic Significance of Clinicopathologic Features in Patients With Breast Ductal Carcinoma-in-Situ Who Received Breast-Conserving Surgery.

PubMed

Kuo, Sung-Hsin; Lo, Chiao; Chen, Yu-Hsuan; Lien, Huang-Chun; Kuo, Wen-Hung; Wang, Ming-Yang; Lee, Yi-Hsuan; Huang, Chiun-Sheng

2018-04-10

To identify whether a certain group of breast ductal carcinoma-in-situ (DCIS) patients can be treated with breast-conserving surgery (BCS) alone; to analyze the clinicopathologic features of DCIS and tamoxifen administration in patients treated with BCS who developed ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR). Data for 375 women with breast DCIS who underwent BCS at our institute between June 2003 and October 2010 were analyzed. The patients were divided into different categories according to the recurrence risk predicted using the California/Van Nuys Prognostic Index (USC/VNPI) score (4-6, 7-9, and 10-12), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) E5194 criteria, or combined risk features with USC/VNPI score and ECOG E5194 criteria. The IBTR and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. The prognostic effects of age, tumor size, tumor grade, margin width, estrogen receptor status, USC/VNPI score, low-risk characteristics, and tamoxifen use were evaluated by log-rank tests. Of the patients, 168 were treated with breast irradiation after BCS and 207 were not. The patients who were treated with radiotherapy (RT) tended to be younger (< 40 years), to have higher USC/VNPI scores (7-9), and to meet the ECOG E5194 non-cohort 1 criteria. The 7-year risk of IBTR was 6.2% (n = 11) in the patients who received irradiation and 9.0% (n = 22) in those who did not. DFS rates were better in the patients who underwent RT than in those who did not (93.3% vs. 88.5%, P = .056). Among the patients who underwent BCS alone, age ≥ 40 years, margin width > 10 mm, USC/VNPI scores 4-6, ECOG E5194 cohort 1 criteria, estrogen receptor-positive status, and tamoxifen use predicted lower IBTR and better DFS rates. In the multivariate analysis, combined low-risk characteristics (USC/VNPI scores 4-6 and meeting the ECOG E5194 cohort 1 criteria) were identified as an independent prognostic factor of lower IBTR (P = .028) and better DFS (P = .005). RT reduces the risk of IBTR after BCS for DCIS of the breast. Patients with combined low-risk characteristics (USC/VNPI scores 4-6 and meeting the ECOG E5194 cohort 1 criteria) may be adequately treated with BCS alone. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Millimeter wave transmission studies of YBa2Cu3O7-delta thin films in the 26.5 to 40.0 GHz frequency range

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miranda, F. A.; Gordon, W. L.; Bhasin, K. B.; Heinen, V. O.; Warner, J. D.; Valco, G. J.

1989-01-01

Millimeter wave transmission measurements through YBa2Cu3O(7-delta) thin films on MgO, ZrO2 and LaAlO3 substrates, are reported. The films (approx. 1 micron) were deposited by sequential evaporation and laser ablation techniques. Transition temperatures T sub c, ranging from 89.7 K for the Laser Ablated film on LaAlO3 to approximately 72 K for the sequentially evaporated film on MgO, were obtained. The values of the real and imaginary parts of the complex conductivity, sigma 1 and sigma 2, are obtained from the transmission data, assuming a two fluid model. The BCS approach is used to calculate values for an effective energy gap from the obtained values of sigma sub 1. A range of gap values from 2 DELTA o/K sub B T sub c = 4.19 to 4.35 was obtained. The magnetic penetration depth is evaluated from the deduced values of sigma 2. These results are discussed together with the frequency dependence of the normalized transmission amplitude, P/P sub c, below and above T sub c.

Is Breast Conserving Therapy a Safe Modality for Early-Stage Male Breast Cancer?

PubMed

Zaenger, David; Rabatic, Bryan M; Dasher, Byron; Mourad, Waleed F

2016-04-01

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare disease and lacks data-based treatment guidelines. Most men are currently treated with modified radical mastectomy (MRM) or simple mastectomy (SM). We compared the oncologic treatment outcomes of early-stage MBC to determine whether breast conservation therapy (BCT) is appropriate. We searched the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database for MBC cases. That cohort was narrowed to cases of stage I-II, T1-T2N0 MBC with surgical and radiation therapy (RT) data available. The patients had undergone MRM, SM, or breast conservation surgery (BCS) with or without postoperative RT. We calculated the actuarial 5-year cause-specific survival (CSS). We identified 6263 MBC cases and included 1777 men with stage I or II, T1-T2, node-negative disease, who had the required treatment information available. MRM without RT was the most common treatment (43%). Only 17% underwent BCS. Of the BCS patients, 46% received adjuvant RT to complete the traditional BCT. No deaths were recorded in the BCT group, regardless of stage, or in the 3 stage I surgical groups if the men had received RT. The actuarial 5-year CSS was 100% in each BCT group. MRM alone resulted in an actuarial 5-year CSS of 97.3% for stage 1% and 91.2% for stage 2. The results from our study suggest that BCT for early-stage MBC yields comparable survival compared with more invasive treatment modalities (ie, MRM or SM alone). This could shift the treatment paradigm to less-invasive interventions and might have the added benefit of increased functional and psychological outcomes. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm our conclusions. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Superfluid transition temperature in a trapped gas of Fermi atoms with a Feshbach resonance

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

Ohashi, Y.; Institute of Physics, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305; Griffin, A.

2003-03-01

We investigate strong-coupling effects on the superfluid phase transition in a gas of Fermi atoms with a Feshbach resonance. The Feshbach resonance describes a composite quasiboson that can give rise to an additional pairing interaction between the Fermi atoms. This attractive interaction becomes stronger as the threshold energy 2{nu} of the Feshbach resonance two-particle bound state is lowered. In a recent paper, we showed that in the uniform Fermi gas, this tunable pairing interaction naturally leads to a crossover from a BCS state to a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of the Nozieres and Schmitt-Rink kind, in which the BCS-type superfluid phasemore » transition continuously changes into the BEC type as the threshold energy is decreased. In this paper, we extend our previous work by including the effect of a harmonic trap potential, treated within the local-density approximation. We also give results for both weak and strong coupling to the Feshbach resonance. We show that the BCS-BEC crossover phenomenon strongly modifies the shape of the atomic density profile at the superfluid phase-transition temperature T{sub c}, reflecting the change of the dominant particles going from Fermi atoms to composite bosons. In the BEC regime, these composite bosons are shown to first appear well above T{sub c}. We also discuss the 'phase diagram' above T{sub c} as a function of the tunable threshold energy 2{nu}. We introduce a characteristic temperature T*(2{nu}) describing the effective crossover in the normal phase from a Fermi gas of atoms to a gas of stable molecules.« less

Gradient free energy in the axially anisotropic superfluid phases of /sup 3/He in the BCS approximation

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

Brand, H.; Doerfle, M.

1981-02-01

We present the gradient free energy in the BCS approximation for the A phase in high magnetic fields and the A/sub 1/ phase. The A phase without external magnetic field, which has been considered previously by Blount and Cross, emerges as a special case of the result for the A phase in high magnetic fields.

Dynamical description of the fission process using the TD-BCS theory

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

Scamps, Guillaume, E-mail: scamps@nucl.phys.tohoku.ac.jp; Simenel, Cédric; Lacroix, Denis

2015-10-15

The description of fission remains a challenge for nuclear microscopic theories. The time-dependent Hartree-Fock approach with BCS pairing is applied to study the last stage of the fission process. A good agreement is found for the one-body observables: the total kinetic energy and the average mass asymmetry. The non-physical dependence of two-body observables with the initial shape is discussed.

Long-term infusions of ghrelin and obestatin in early lactation dairy cows.

PubMed

Roche, J R; Sheahan, A J; Chagas, L M; Blache, D; Berry, D P; Kay, J K

2008-12-01

Ghrelin is an endogenous ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor and a potential orexigenic agent in monogastrics and ruminants. Obestatin has been reported to have the opposite (anorexigenic) effect. Fifty one multiparous cows were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 groups (n = 17): a control group and 2 groups with cows continuously infused with 0.74 mumol/d of ghrelin (GHR group) or obestatin (OBE group) subcutaneously. Infusions began 21 d in milk, and treatments continued for 8 wk. Generalized linear models were used to determine the treatment effect on average daily and cumulative milk production and composition, and plasma ghrelin, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, leptin, nonesterified fatty acids, and glucose. Mixed models, with cow included as a repeated effect, were used to determine if treatment effects differed by week postcalving for milk production, body weight, and body condition score (BCS; scale 1 to 10). Parity, breed, week of the year at calving, treatment, week postcalving, and the 2 wk preexperimental average of each measure (covariate) were included as fixed effects. Treatment did not affect dry matter intake. Cows infused with GHR lost more BCS (-0.71 units) over the 8-wk study period than the control (-0.23 BCS units) cows, and on average were thinner than cows in either of the other 2 treatments (0.2 BCS units). Consistent with the extra BCS loss in GHR cows, plasma IGF-1, glucose, and leptin concentrations were reduced and plasma nonesterified fatty acid concentrations were greater in GHR cows. Despite a numerical tendency for GHR cows to produce more milk (1,779 kg) than control (1,681 kg) or OBE (1,714 kg) cows during the 8-wk period, milk production differences were not statistically different. However, the timing of the numerical separation of the lactation curves coincided with the significant changes in BCS, IGF-1, and leptin. Results indicate a positive effect of ghrelin infusion on lipolysis. Further research is required to determine if the numerical increase in milk production, which coincides with the increased negative energy balance, is real.

Detecting Infections Rapidly and Easily for Candidemia Trial, Part 2 (DIRECT2): A Prospective, Multicenter Study of the T2Candida Panel.

PubMed

Clancy, Cornelius J; Pappas, Peter G; Vazquez, Jose; Judson, Marc A; Kontoyiannis, Dimitrios P; Thompson, George R; Garey, Kevin W; Reboli, Annette; Greenberg, Richard N; Apewokin, Senu; Lyon, G Marshall; Ostrosky-Zeichner, Luis; Wu, Alan H B; Tobin, Ellis; Nguyen, M Hong; Caliendo, Angela M

2018-02-09

Blood cultures are approximately 50% sensitive for diagnosing invasive candidiasis. The T2Candida nanodiagnostic panel uses T2 magnetic resonance and a dedicated instrument to detect Candida directly within whole blood samples. Patients with Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, or Candida krusei candidemia were identified at 14 centers using diagnostic blood cultures (dBCs). Follow-up blood samples were collected concurrently for testing by T2Candida and companion cultures (cBCs). T2Candida results are reported qualitatively for C. albicans/C. tropicalis, C. glabrata/C. krusei, and C. parapsilosis. T2Candida and cBCs were positive if they detected a species present in the dBC. Median time between collection of dBC and T2Candida/cBC samples in 152 patients was 55.5 hours (range, 16.4-148.4). T2Candida and cBCs were positive in 45% (69/152) and 24% (36/152) of patients, respectively (P < .0001). T2Candida clinical sensitivity was 89%, as positive results were obtained in 32/36 patients with positive cBCs. Combined test results were both positive (T2+/cBC+), 21% (32/152); T2+/cBC-, 24% (37/152); T2-/cBC+, 3% (4/152); and T2-/cBC-, 52% (79/152). Prior antifungal therapy, neutropenia, and C. albicans candidemia were independently associated with T2Candida positivity and T2+/cBC- results (P values < .05). T2Candida was sensitive for diagnosing candidemia at the time of positive blood cultures. In patients receiving antifungal therapy, T2Candida identified bloodstream infections that were missed by cBCs. T2Candida may improve care by shortening times to Candida detection and species identification compared to blood cultures, retaining sensitivity during antifungal therapy and rendering active candidemia unlikely if results are negative. NCT01525095. © The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for severe jaundice in patients with acute Budd-Chiari syndrome.

PubMed

He, Fu-Liang; Wang, Lei; Zhao, Hong-Wei; Fan, Zhen-Hua; Zhao, Meng-Fei; Dai, Shan; Yue, Zhen-Dong; Liu, Fu-Quan

2015-02-28

To evaluate the feasibility of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for severe jaundice secondary to acute Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). From February 2009 to March 2013, 37 patients with severe jaundice secondary to acute BCS were treated. Sixteen patients without hepatic venule, hepatic veins (HV) obstruction underwent percutaneous angioplasty of the inferior vena cava (IVC) and/or HVs. Twenty-one patients with HV occlusion underwent TIPS. Serum bilirubin, liver function, demographic data and operative data of the two groups of patients were analyzed. Twenty-one patients underwent TIPS and the technical success rate was 100%, with no technical complications. Sixteen patients underwent recanalization of the IVC and/or HVs and the technical success rate was 100%. The mean procedure time for TIPS was 84.0±12.11 min and angioplasty was 44.11±5.12 min (P<0.01). The mean portosystemic pressure in the TIPS group decreased significantly from 40.50±4.32 to 16.05±3.50 mmHg (P<0.01). The mean portosystemic pressure gradient decreased significantly from 33.60±2.62 to 7.30±2.21 mmHg (P<0.01). At 8 wk after the procedures, in the TIPS group, total bilirubin (TBIL) decreased significantly from 266.24±122.03 before surgery to 40.11±3.52 μmol/L (P<0.01) and direct bilirubin (DBIL) decreased significantly from 194.22±69.82 μmol/L to 29.82±3.10 μmol/L (P<0.01). In the angioplasty group, bilirubin returned to the normal range, with TBIL decreased significantly from 258.22±72.71 μmol/L to 13.33±3.54 μmol/L (P<0.01) and DBIL from 175.08±39.27 to 4.03±1.74 μmol/L (P<0.01). Liver function improved faster than TBIL. After 2 wk, in the TIPS group, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) decreased significantly from 50.33±40.61 U/L to 28.67±7.02 U/L (P<0.01) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) from 49.46±34.33 U/L to 26.89±8.68 U/L (P<0.01). In the angioplasty group, ALT decreased significantly from 51.56±27.90 to 14.22±2.59 μmol/L (P<0.01) and AST from 60.66±39.89 μmol/L to 8.18±1.89 μmol/L (P<0.01). After mean follow-up of 12.6 mo, there was no recurrence of jaundice in either group. Severe jaundice is not a contraindication for TIPS in patients with acute BCS and TIPS is appropriate for severe jaundice due to BCS.

Crossover from BCS to Bose superconductivity: A functional integral approach

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

Randeria, M.; Sa de Melo, C.A.R.; Engelbrecht, J.R.

1993-04-01

We use a functional integral formulation to study the crossover from cooperative Cooper pairing to the formation and condensation of tightly bound pairs in a 3D continuum model of fermions with attractive interactions. The inadequacy of a saddle point approximation with increasing coupling is pointed out, and the importance of temporal (quantum) fluctuations for normal state properties at intermediate and strong coupling is emphasized. In addition to recovering the Nozieres-Schmitt-Pink interpolation scheme for T{sub c}, and the Leggett variational results for T = 0, we also present results for evolution of the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equation and collective mode spectrum asmore » a function of the coupling.« less

Receipt of surgical treatment in US women with early stage breast cancer: does place of birth matter?

PubMed

Chavan, Saurabh; Goodman, Michael; Jemal, Ahmedin; Fedewa, Stacey A

2014-01-01

While effects of age, race, place of residence, and marital status on receipt of treatment among female breast cancer patients have been well documented, place of birth is a relatively less studied factor. The purpose of our study was to assess the relationship between birth place and type of surgery performed for early-stage breast cancer among US women of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. Eligible cases (n=119,560) were selected from the SEER registries for the period 2004-2009. US-born and foreign-born patients of different racial/ethnic groups were compared to US-born non-Hispanic Whites (NHW) with respect to receipt of breast conserving surgery (BCS) or mastectomy. Results of multivariable logistic regression analyses were expressed as adjusted odds ratios (OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). The proportion of BCS was highest in foreign-born Whites (62.5%) and lowest in foreign-born Asians (50.3%). Relative to US-born NHW, BCS was more common in foreign-born Whites (OR=1.21. 95% CI: 1.15-1.28) and foreign-born Blacks (OR=1.21. 95% CI: 1.15-1.28). In contrast, foreign-born Asians received less BCS compared to both US-born NHW (OR=.76, 95% CI: .72-0.80) and US-born Asians (OR=.74, 95% CI: .64-.86). Foreign-born Asian breast cancer patients are less likely to receive BSC compared to US-born Whites or Asian-Americans, whereas foreign-born Whites and foreign-born Blacks are more likely to receive BCS than US-born Whites. Further studies are needed to understand cultural and or health systems factors that may explain these observations.

Patient, hospital, and neighborhood factors associated with treatment of early-stage breast cancer among Asian American women in California

PubMed Central

Gomez, Scarlett Lin; Press, David J.; Lichtensztajn, Daphne; Keegan, Theresa H. M.; Shema, Sarah J.; Le, Gem M.; Kurian, Allison W.

2012-01-01

Background Clinical guidelines recommend breast conserving surgery (BCS) with radiation as a viable alternative to mastectomy for treatment of early-stage breast cancer. Yet, Asian Americans (AA) are more likely than other groups to have mastectomy or omit radiation after BCS. Methods We applied polytomous logistic regression and recursive partitioning (RP) to analyze factors associated with mastectomy, or BCS without radiation, among 20,987 California AAs diagnosed with stage 0–II breast cancer from 1990–2007. Results The percentage receiving mastectomy ranged from 40% among US-born Chinese to 58% among foreign-born Vietnamese. Factors associated with mastectomy included tumor characteristics such as larger tumor size, patient characteristics such as older age and foreign birthplace among some AA ethnicities, and additional factors including hospital (smaller hospital size, not NCI cancer center, low socioeconomic status (SES) patient composition, and high hospital AA patient composition) and neighborhood characteristics (ethnic enclaves of low SES). These hospital and neighborhood characteristics were also associated with BCS without radiation. Through RP, the highest mastectomy subgroups were defined by tumor characteristics such as size and anatomic location, in combination with diagnosis year and nativity. Conclusions Tumor characteristics and, secondarily, patient, hospital and neighborhood factors, are predictors of mastectomy and omission of radiation following BCS among AAs. Impact By focusing on interactions among patient, hospital, and neighborhood factors in the differential receipt of breast cancer treatment, our study identifies subgroups of interest for further study, and translation into public health and patient-focused initiatives to ensure that all women are fully informed about treatment options. PMID:22402290

Evaluation of Body Weight, Body Condition, and Muscle Condition in Cats with Hyperthyroidism.

PubMed

Peterson, M E; Castellano, C A; Rishniw, M

2016-11-01

The contribution of fat loss versus muscle wasting to the loss of body weight seen in hyperthyroid cats is unknown. To investigate body weight, body condition score (BCS), and muscle condition score (MCS) in hyperthyroid cats. Four hundred sixty-two cats with untreated hyperthyroidism, 117 of which were reevaluated after treatment. Prospective cross-sectional and before-after studies. Untreated hyperthyroid cats had body composition evaluated (body weight, BCS, and MCS). A subset of these cats were reevaluated 3-12 months after treatment when euthyroid. Pretreatment body weight (median, 4.36 kg; IQR, 3.5 to 5.2 kg) was lower than premorbid weight (5.45 kg; IQR, 4.6 to 6.4 kg, P < .0001) recorded 1-2 years before diagnosis. 154 (35.3%) cats were thin or emaciated; 357 (77.3%) had loss of muscle mass. Cats showed increases in body weight (median, 4.1 kg to 5.0 kg), BCS (median, 3/5 to 3.5/5), and MCS (2/3 to 3/3) after treatment (P < .001), but mild-to-moderate muscle wasting persisted in 45% of treated cats. Most hyperthyroid cats lose body weight but maintain an ideal or overweight BCS, with only a third being underweight. As in human hyperthyroid patients, this weight loss is associated with muscle wasting, which affects >75% of hyperthyroid cats. Successful treatment leads to weight gain and increase of BCS in most cats, but almost half fail to regain normal muscle mass. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Hair coat characteristics and thermophysiological stress response of Nguni and Boran cows raised under hot environmental conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Katiyatiya, C. L. F.; Muchenje, V.

2017-12-01

Breed, age, coat colour, month and temperature humidity index (THI) influence on body weight (W), body condition score (BCS), thermophysiological variables (rectal temperature (Tr), skin temperature (Tsk)) and hair length was studied in Nguni ( n = 19) and Boran ( n = 16). As a result of this study, breed influenced W, BCS and Tsk on the neck and belly ( P < 0.05). The BCS and W of Nguni cows were higher than the Boran cows. Hair length of both breeds increased from February to August. The THI influenced thermophysiological variables ( P < 0.05). Increased Tr for both breeds was recorded in February and April, respectively ( P < 0.05). Month influenced Tsk and June recorded lower values ( P < 0.05). Younger cows (3-8 years) had lower weight and high Tr and Tsk ( P < 0.05). Nguni cows had high neck and thurl temperatures in June while Boran cows had the highest in August ( P < 0.05). Red, dun and white-black Boran cows had increased BCS. Nguni cows with red, fawn and white cows had high BCS. Fawn-coloured Nguni cows and white-brown Boran cows had the more weight than cows with other colours compared in the study. White-red Nguni and Boran cows recorded the highest Tr. For Nguni cows, neck and belly temperatures were significantly ( P < 0.001) correlated to thurl temperature. Boran cows had significant ( P < 0.001) correlations for THI and neck, belly and thurl temperatures. The current study found that Nguni cows were more adapted to the prevailing bioclimatic changes. However, Boran cows have the potential of performing well under heat stress conditions over time.

Divergence for residual feed intake of Holstein-Friesian cattle during growth did not affect production and reproduction during lactation.

PubMed

Macdonald, K A; Thomson, B P; Waghorn, G C

2016-11-01

Residual feed intake (RFI) is the difference between actual and predicted dry matter intake (DMI) of individual animals. Recent studies with Holstein-Friesian calves have identified an ~20% difference in RFI during growth (calf RFI) and these groups remained divergent in RFI during lactation. The objective of the experiment described here was to determine if cows selected for divergent RFI as calves differed in milk production, reproduction or in the profiles of BW and body condition score (BCS) change during lactation, when grazing pasture. The cows used in the experiment (n=126) had an RFI of -0.88 and +0.75 kg DM intake/day for growth as calves (efficient and inefficient calf RFI groups, respectively) and were intensively grazed at four stocking rates (SR) of 2.2, 2.6, 3.1 and 3.6 cows/ha on self-contained farmlets, over 3 years. Each SR treatment had equal number of cows identified as low and high calf RFI, with 24, 28, 34 and 40/11 ha farmlet. The cows divergent for calf RFI were randomly allocated to each SR. Although SR affected production, calf RFI group (low or high) did not affect milk production, reproduction, BW, BCS or changes in these parameters throughout lactation. The most efficient animals (low calf RFI) lost similar BW and BCS as the least efficient (high calf RFI) immediately post-calving, and regained similar BW and BCS before their next calving. These results indicate that selection for RFI as calves to increase efficiency of feed utilisation did not negatively affect farm productivity variables (milk production, BCS, BW and reproduction) as adults when managed under an intensive pastoral grazing system.

Simulating Black Carbon and Dust and their Radiative Forcing in Seasonal Snow: A Case Study over North China with Field Campaign Measurements

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

Zhao, Chun; Hu, Zhiyuan; Qian, Yun

2014-10-30

A state-of-the-art regional model, WRF-Chem, is coupled with the SNICAR model that includes the sophisticated representation of snow metamorphism processes available for climate study. The coupled model is used to simulate the black carbon (BC) and dust concentrations and their radiative forcing in seasonal snow over North China in January-February of 2010, with extensive field measurements used to evaluate the model performance. In general, the model simulated spatial variability of BC and dust mass concentrations in the top snow layer (hereafter BCS and DSTS, respectively) are quantitatively or qualitatively consistent with observations. The model generally moderately underestimates BCS in themore » clean regions but significantly overestimates BCS in some polluted regions. Most model results fall into the uncertainty ranges of observations. The simulated BCS and DSTS are highest with >5000 ng g-1 and up to 5 mg g-1, respectively, over the source regions and reduce to <50 ng g-1 and <1 μg g-1, respectively, in the remote regions. BCS and DSTS introduce similar magnitude of radiative warming (~10 W m-2) in snowpack, which is comparable to the magnitude of surface radiative cooling due to BC and dust in the atmosphere. This study represents the first effort in using a regional modeling framework to simulate BC and dust and their direct radiative forcing in snow. Although a variety of observational datasets have been used to attribute model biases, some uncertainties in the results remain, which highlights the need for more observations, particularly concurrent measurements of atmospheric and snow aerosols and the deposition fluxes of aerosols, in future campaigns.« less

The effective elastic properties of human trabecular bone may be approximated using micro-finite element analyses of embedded volume elements.

PubMed

Daszkiewicz, Karol; Maquer, Ghislain; Zysset, Philippe K

2017-06-01

Boundary conditions (BCs) and sample size affect the measured elastic properties of cancellous bone. Samples too small to be representative appear stiffer under kinematic uniform BCs (KUBCs) than under periodicity-compatible mixed uniform BCs (PMUBCs). To avoid those effects, we propose to determine the effective properties of trabecular bone using an embedded configuration. Cubic samples of various sizes (2.63, 5.29, 7.96, 10.58 and 15.87 mm) were cropped from [Formula: see text] scans of femoral heads and vertebral bodies. They were converted into [Formula: see text] models and their stiffness tensor was established via six uniaxial and shear load cases. PMUBCs- and KUBCs-based tensors were determined for each sample. "In situ" stiffness tensors were also evaluated for the embedded configuration, i.e. when the loads were transmitted to the samples via a layer of trabecular bone. The Zysset-Curnier model accounting for bone volume fraction and fabric anisotropy was fitted to those stiffness tensors, and model parameters [Formula: see text] (Poisson's ratio) [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] (elastic and shear moduli) were compared between sizes. BCs and sample size had little impact on [Formula: see text]. However, KUBCs- and PMUBCs-based [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively, decreased and increased with growing size, though convergence was not reached even for our largest samples. Both BCs produced upper and lower bounds for the in situ values that were almost constant across samples dimensions, thus appearing as an approximation of the effective properties. PMUBCs seem also appropriate for mimicking the trabecular core, but they still underestimate its elastic properties (especially in shear) even for nearly orthotropic samples.

Factors associated with patients in the Scottish Highlands who chose mastectomy when suitable for breast conservation.

PubMed

Shearer, Rosalyn; Rashid, Majid; Hubbard, Gill; Abbott, Nick; Daltrey, Ian; Mullen, Russell

2016-08-01

Despite being suitable for breast conservation surgery (BCS) a proportion of women choose mastectomy. This study aimed to assess the pre-operative pathological and geographic factors associated with choosing mastectomy rather than BCS in a single centre that serves a large geographical area encompassing urban, rural and remote island populations. A retrospective analysis of all patients suitable for BCS between January 2011 and December 2013 was undertaken. Pre-operative pathological features were compared using the Pearson chi squared test as was distance to the treatment centre from the patient's home. A questionnaire was sent to all those who chose mastectomy to identify the factors that influenced their decision. A total of 446 patients suitable for BCS were identified of which 46 (11%) chose to undergo mastectomy. Patients choosing mastectomy were more likely to present symptomatically (P=0.009), have tumours larger than 20 mm at diagnostic imaging (P=0.001) and have positive axillary staging (P=0.004). Patients choosing mastectomy were more likely to live remotely (P=0.051). Those patients who chose mastectomy felt this gave a better long-term outcome (18 patients, 44%) and peace of mind (14 patients, 34%). Adverse pre-operative pathological features were associated with patients choosing mastectomy rather than BCS. There was a trend for patients who chose mastectomy to live remotely from the treatment centre. Patients choosing mastectomy most commonly cited a better long-term outcome and peace of mind as the reason behind their decision. Understanding what influences a patient's surgical choice will allow clinicians and patients to engage in a fully informed pre-operative decision making process.

Plan of production of MeV laser electron photons at SPring-8

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arimoto, Y.; Ohkuma, H.; Suzuki, S.; Tamura, K.; Kumagai, N.; Okajima, S.; Fujiwara, M.

2001-10-01

MeV photons at SPring-8 are produced by backward Compton scattering (BCS) of far infrared (FIR) laser photons from a 8 GeV electron beam. The MeV photons are a powerful probe to study nuclear physics, astro-nuclear physics, nuclear engineering, condensed matter physics, etc. owing to their attractive properties such as small emittance, high intensity, high polarization, etc. The 10 MeV photons which can be produced by the BCS process between the 8 GeV electron of SPring-8 storage ring and FIR laser photons with a wavelength of ~100 μm have a great advantage. Since energy loss of the electron due to the BCS process is smaller than energy acceptance of the storage ring (±160 MeV), the stored electron beam is not lost. A stable CO_2-pumped FIR laser with the wavelength of ~100 μm is practically using as a probe of plasma diagnostics at a nuclear fusion reactor. Furthermore, since the laser has many oscillations in wide wavelength region, the BCS photons in wide range can be obtained. We plan to produce the MeV laser electron photons by the BCS at SPring-8. For these purpose, we are now developing a high power CO_2-pumped FIR laser. Up to now ~1.5 watts CW laser action at a wavelength of 118.8 μm has been achieved. In this meeting, we will present a current status of the FIR laser system, a plan of construction of the test beam-line for the production of MeV photons at SPring-8, and future plan of this project.

Can time-averaged flow boundary conditions be used to meet the clinical timeline for Fontan surgical planning?

PubMed

Wei, Zhenglun Alan; Trusty, Phillip M; Tree, Mike; Haggerty, Christopher M; Tang, Elaine; Fogel, Mark; Yoganathan, Ajit P

2017-01-04

Cardiovascular simulations have great potential as a clinical tool for planning and evaluating patient-specific treatment strategies for those suffering from congenital heart diseases, specifically Fontan patients. However, several bottlenecks have delayed wider deployment of the simulations for clinical use; the main obstacle is simulation cost. Currently, time-averaged clinical flow measurements are utilized as numerical boundary conditions (BCs) in order to reduce the computational power and time needed to offer surgical planning within a clinical time frame. Nevertheless, pulsatile blood flow is observed in vivo, and its significant impact on numerical simulations has been demonstrated. Therefore, it is imperative to carry out a comprehensive study analyzing the sensitivity of using time-averaged BCs. In this study, sensitivity is evaluated based on the discrepancies between hemodynamic metrics calculated using time-averaged and pulsatile BCs; smaller discrepancies indicate less sensitivity. The current study incorporates a comparison between 3D patient-specific CFD simulations using both the time-averaged and pulsatile BCs for 101 Fontan patients. The sensitivity analysis involves two clinically important hemodynamic metrics: hepatic flow distribution (HFD) and indexed power loss (iPL). Paired demographic group comparisons revealed that HFD sensitivity is significantly different between single and bilateral superior vena cava cohorts but no other demographic discrepancies were observed for HFD or iPL. Multivariate regression analyses show that the best predictors for sensitivity involve flow pulsatilities, time-averaged flow rates, and geometric characteristics of the Fontan connection. These predictors provide patient-specific guidelines to determine the effectiveness of analyzing patient-specific surgical options with time-averaged BCs within a clinical time frame. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A prospective study comparing endoscopic subcutaneous mastectomy plus immediate reconstruction with implants and breast conserving surgery for breast cancer.

PubMed

Fan, Lin-Jun; Jiang, Jun; Yang, Xin-Hua; Zhang, Yi; Li, Xing-Gang; Chen, Xian-Chun; Zhong, Ling

2009-12-20

Breast conserving surgery (BCS) has been the standard surgical procedure for the treatment of early breast cancer. Endoscopic subcutaneous mastectomy (ESM) plus immediate reconstruction with implants is an emerging procedure. The objective of this prospective study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of these two surgical procedures in our clinical setting. From March 2004 to October 2007, 43 patients with breast cancer underwent ESM plus axillary lymph node dissection and immediate reconstruction with implants, while 54 patients underwent BCS. The clinical and pathological characteristics, surgical safety, and therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups. There were no significant differences in the age, clinical stage, histopathologic type of tumor, operative blood loss, postoperative drainage time, and postoperative complications between the two groups (P > 0.05). The postoperative complications were partial necrosis of the nipple and superficial skin flap in the ESM patients, and hydrops in the axilla and residual cavity in the BCS patients. There was no significant difference in the rate of satisfactory postoperative cosmetic outcomes between the ESM (88.4%, 38/43) and BCS (92.6%, 50/54) patients (P > 0.05). During follow-up of 6 months to 4 years, all patients treated with ESM were disease-free, but 3 patients who underwent BCS had metastasis or recurrence -one of these patients died of multiple organ metastasis. After considering the wide indications for use, high surgical safety, and favorable cosmetic outcomes, we conclude that ESM plus axillary lymph node dissection and immediate reconstruction with implants - the new surgery of choice for breast cancer - warrants serious consideration as the prospective next standard surgical procedure.

Present and changing trends in surgical modalities and neoadjuvant chemotherapy administration for female breast cancer in Beijing, China: A 10-year (2006-2015) retrospective hospitalization summary report-based study.

PubMed

Bao, Xiaoyuan; Sun, Kexin; Tian, Xin; Yin, Qiongzhou; Jin, Meng; Yu, Na; Jiang, Hanfang; Zhang, Jun; Hu, Yonghua

2018-06-01

This study was conducted to describe present and changing trends in surgical modalities and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in female breast cancer patients in China from 2006 to 2015. Data of 44 299 female breast cancer patients from 15 tertiary hospitals in Beijing were extracted from hospitalization summary reports. Surgeries were categorized into five modalities: breast-conserving surgery (BCS), simple mastectomy (SM), modified radical mastectomy (MRM), radical mastectomy (RM), and extensive radical mastectomy (ERM). In total, 38 471 (86.84%) breast cancer patients underwent surgery: 22.64% BCS, 8.22% SM, 63.97% MRM, 4.24% RM, and 0.93% ERM. Older patients (> 60) underwent surgery more frequently than younger patients (< 60). The proportion of patients who underwent BCS was highest in the age ≥ 80 (39.24%) and < 40 (28.69%) subgroups and in patients with papillary carcinoma (35.48%), and lowest in the age 60- subgroup (18.17%) and in patients with Paget's disease (19.05%). SM was most frequently performed in patients with Paget's disease (29.00%), and MRM for ductal (64.99%), and lobular (63.78%) carcinomas. During the study period, the proportion of patients who underwent MRM dropped by 29.04%, SM and BCS increased from 15.78% and 30.83%, respectively, and NACT increased in all subgroups, particularly in patients with lymph node involvement (26.72%). Surgical modalities varied significantly by age and histologic group. The use of BCS and SM increased dramatically, while MRM declined significantly. The proportion of patients treated with NACT has increased significantly, especially in patients with lymph node involvement. © 2018 The Authors. Thoracic Cancer published by China Lung Oncology Group and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Theory of BCS-BEC Crossover in Ultracold Fermi Gases: Insights into Thermodynamical and Spectroscopic Experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Levin, Kathryn

2009-05-01

In this talk we summarize our theoretical understanding of the atomic Fermi superfluids with an emphasis on understanding current experiments. We compare and contrast different theoretical approaches for dealing with finite temperature, and discuss their respective implications for these trapped gases. Armed with a basic picture of the thermodynamics we turn to a variety of different measurements based on radio frequency spectroscopy, including both momentum integrated and momentum resolved experiments. As recently reviewed in arXiv 0810.1940 and 0810.1938, we show how a broad range of experimental phenomena can be accomodated within our natural extension of the BCS-Leggett ground state to finite temperature, and briefly touch on the applicability of BCS-BEC crossover theory to the high temperature superconductors. Co-authors: Qijin Chen, Yan He and Chih-Chun Chien

Interplay of Phonon and Exciton-Mediated Superconductivity in Hybrid Semiconductor-Superconductor Structures.

PubMed

Skopelitis, Petros; Cherotchenko, Evgenia D; Kavokin, Alexey V; Posazhennikova, Anna

2018-03-09

We predict a strong enhancement of the critical temperature in a conventional Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) superconductor in the presence of a bosonic condensate of exciton polaritons. The effect depends strongly on the ratio of the cutoff frequencies for phonon and exciton-polariton mediated BCS superconductivity, respectively. We also discuss a possible design of hybrid semiconductor-superconductor structures suitable for the experimental observation of such an effect.

Numerical modeling of sediment transport and its effect on algal biomass distribution in Lake Pontchartrain due to flood release from Bonnet Carré Spillway

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

In order to protect the city of New Orleans from the Mississippi River flooding, the Bonnet Carré Spillway (BCS) was constructed from 1929 to 1936 to divert flood water from the river into Lake Pontchartrain and then into the Gulf of Mexico. During the BCS opening for flood release, large amount of ...

Interplay of Phonon and Exciton-Mediated Superconductivity in Hybrid Semiconductor-Superconductor Structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skopelitis, Petros; Cherotchenko, Evgenia D.; Kavokin, Alexey V.; Posazhennikova, Anna

2018-03-01

We predict a strong enhancement of the critical temperature in a conventional Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) superconductor in the presence of a bosonic condensate of exciton polaritons. The effect depends strongly on the ratio of the cutoff frequencies for phonon and exciton-polariton mediated BCS superconductivity, respectively. We also discuss a possible design of hybrid semiconductor-superconductor structures suitable for the experimental observation of such an effect.

Parkinson's disease: diagnostic potential of high-resolution phase difference enhanced MR imaging at 3 T.

PubMed

Kakeda, Shingo; Korogi, Yukunori; Yoneda, Tetsuya; Watanabe, Keita; Moriya, Junji; Murakami, Yu; Sato, Toru; Hiai, Yasuhiro; Ohnari, Norihiro; Ide, Satoru; Okada, Kazumasa; Uozumi, Takenori; Tsuji, Sadatoshi; Hirai, Toshinori; Yamashita, Yasuyuki

2013-04-01

To determine whether it is possible to diagnose patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) on an individual basis using magnetic resonance imaging with phase difference enhanced imaging (PADRE). PADRE delineated the crural fibres as a layer of low signal intensity and the substantia nigra as a layer of medium signal intensity in a healthy volunteer, and showed a clear boundary between the crural fibres and the substantia nigra (BCS). Twenty-four PD patients and 24 control subjects were enrolled. Contrast ratios between the substantia nigra and occipital white matter were calculated, and two radiologists independently reviewed the PADRE findings regarding BCS obscuration. Mean contrast ratio in PD patients was significantly higher than in control subjects (0.56 vs 0.39, P < 0.01). The BCS on PADRE was obscured significantly more frequently in any subgroups with PD patients compared with control subjects (P < 0.01). The observation of BCS obscuration had a sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for the diagnosis of PD of 92 %, 88 % and 90 % for radiologist 1 and 83 %, 88 % and 85 % for radiologist 2, respectively. PADRE is able to identify PD in patients as a loss of delineation between the crural fibres and the substantia nigra on an individual basis.

The Influence of Spiritual Framing on African American Women’s Mammography Intentions: A Randomized Trial

PubMed Central

BEST, ALICIA L.; SPENCER, S. MELINDA; FRIEDMAN, DANIELA B.; HALL, INGRID J.; BILLINGS, DEBORAH

2016-01-01

Spiritual framing of breast cancer communication may provide a useful strategy for addressing disparate rates of breast cancer mortality among African American women. The efficacy of a spiritually framed breast cancer screening (BCS) message was compared with that of a traditional BCS message. Specifically, 200 African American women were randomly assigned to review either a spiritually framed or traditional BCS message and complete a self-administered survey, including a thought-listing form. Message efficacy was measured by number of thoughts generated (elaboration), ratio of positive to negative thoughts (polarity), and intention to obtain and/or recommend a mammogram. Multiple linear regression and structural equation modeling were used to assess direct and indirect (mediated) associations among variables. Spiritual framing was positively associated with greater elaboration (β = .265, SE = .36, p < .001) and more positive polarity (β = .237, SE = .04, p < .001). Spiritual framing also had a significant indirect effect on mammography intentions through polarity (standardized indirect effect = .057, 95% confidence interval [.024, .106], p < .001). These results indicate that spiritual framing may improve the efficacy of BCS messages among African American women by eliciting more positive thoughts about screening. Interventions targeting African American women might consider the role of spirituality when tailoring messages to encourage regular mammography use. PMID:27142231

A Regression Model for Predicting Shape Deformation after Breast Conserving Surgery

PubMed Central

Zolfagharnasab, Hooshiar; Bessa, Sílvia; Oliveira, Sara P.; Faria, Pedro; Teixeira, João F.; Cardoso, Jaime S.

2018-01-01

Breast cancer treatments can have a negative impact on breast aesthetics, in case when surgery is intended to intersect tumor. For many years mastectomy was the only surgical option, but more recently breast conserving surgery (BCS) has been promoted as a liable alternative to treat cancer while preserving most part of the breast. However, there is still a significant number of BCS intervened patients who are unpleasant with the result of the treatment, which leads to self-image issues and emotional overloads. Surgeons recognize the value of a tool to predict the breast shape after BCS to facilitate surgeon/patient communication and allow more educated decisions; however, no such tool is available that is suited for clinical usage. These tools could serve as a way of visually sensing the aesthetic consequences of the treatment. In this research, it is intended to propose a methodology for predict the deformation after BCS by using machine learning techniques. Nonetheless, there is no appropriate dataset containing breast data before and after surgery in order to train a learning model. Therefore, an in-house semi-synthetic dataset is proposed to fulfill the requirement of this research. Using the proposed dataset, several learning methodologies were investigated, and promising outcomes are obtained. PMID:29315279

Body Condition Scores and Evaluation of Feeding Habits of Dogs and Cats at a Low Cost Veterinary Clinic and a General Practice

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

This study assessed body condition scores (BCS) and feeding habits for dogs and cats. Eighty-six cats and 229 dogs (and their owners) were enrolled from 2 clinics: a low cost clinic (n = 149) and a general practice (n = 166). BCS and body weight were recorded. Owners completed a survey which included animal age, sex, and breed; owner demographics; and feeding practices (e.g., diet, rationale for feeding practices). Owners from the low cost clinic had a significantly lower income (P < 0.001) and education (P < 0.001) compared to those from the general practice. Animals from the low cost clinic were younger (P < 0.001) and dogs were less likely to be neutered (P < 0.001). Overweight prevalence was 55% overall (P = 0.083), with a significantly higher prevalence in the general practice for cats (44% versus 66%; P = 0.046), but not for dogs (58% versus 53%; P = 0.230). Multivariate analysis showed that only neuter status was significantly associated with BCS (P = 0.004). Veterinarians were the most common source of nutritional information, though lack of accurate nutrition knowledge was common among all participants. These findings support the need for enhanced communication about optimal BCS and nutrition regardless of socioeconomic status. PMID:27722198

Effect of cyclodextrin complexation on the aqueous solubility and solubility/dose ratio of praziquantel.

PubMed

Maragos, Stratos; Archontaki, Helen; Macheras, Panos; Valsami, Georgia

2009-01-01

Praziquantel (PZQ), the primary drug of choice in the treatment of schistosomiasis, is a highly lipophilic drug that possesses high permeability and low aqueous solubility and is, therefore, classified as a Class II drug according to the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS). In this work, beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) were used in order to determine whether increasing the aqueous solubility of a drug by complexation with CDs, a BCS-Class II compound like PZQ could behave as BCS-Class I (highly soluble/highly permeable) drug. Phase solubility and the kneading and lyophilization techniques were used for inclusion complex preparation; solubility was determined by UV spectroscopy. The ability of the water soluble polymer polyvinylpyrolidone (PVP) to increase the complexation and solubilization efficiency of beta-CD and HP-beta-CD for PZQ was examined. Results showed significant improvement of PZQ solubility in the presence of both cyclodextrins but no additional effect in the presence of PVP. The solubility/dose ratios values of PZQ-cyclodextrin complexes calculated considering the low (150 mg) and the high dose (600 mg) of PZQ, used in practice, indicate that PZQ complexation with CDs may result in drug dosage forms that would behave as a BCS-Class I depending on the administered dose.

Biowaiver Monographs for Immediate Release Solid Oral Dosage Forms: Proguanil Hydrochloride.

PubMed

Plöger, Gerlinde F; Abrahamsson, Bertil; Cristofoletti, Rodrigo; Groot, Dirk W; Langguth, Peter; Mehta, Mehul U; Parr, Alan; Polli, James E; Shah, Vinod P; Tajiri, Tomokazu; Dressman, Jennifer B

2018-07-01

Literature data relevant to the decision to waive in vivo bioequivalence testing for the approval of generic immediate release solid oral dosage forms of proguanil hydrochloride are reviewed. To elucidate the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) classification, experimental solubility and dissolution studies were also carried out. The antimalarial proguanil hydrochloride, effective via the parent compound proguanil and the metabolite cycloguanil, is not considered to be a narrow therapeutic index drug. Proguanil hydrochloride salt was shown to be highly soluble according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, World Health Organization, and European Medicines Agency guidelines, but data for permeability are inconclusive. Therefore, proguanil hydrochloride is conservatively classified as a BCS class 3 substance. In view of this information and the assessment of risks associated with a false positive decision, a BCS-based biowaiver approval procedure can be recommended for orally administered solid immediate release products containing proguanil hydrochloride, provided well-known excipients are used in usual amounts and provided the in vitro dissolution of the test and reference products is very rapid (85% or more are dissolved in 15 min at pH 1.2, 4.5, and 6.8) and is performed according to the current requirements for BCS-based biowaivers. Copyright © 2018 American Pharmacists Association®. All rights reserved.

Restoration of visual function by expression of a light-gated mammalian ion channel in retinal ganglion cells or ON-bipolar cells

PubMed Central

Gaub, Benjamin M.; Berry, Michael H.; Holt, Amy E.; Reiner, Andreas; Kienzler, Michael A.; Dolgova, Natalia; Nikonov, Sergei; Aguirre, Gustavo D.; Beltran, William A.; Flannery, John G.; Isacoff, Ehud Y.

2014-01-01

Most inherited forms of blindness are caused by mutations that lead to photoreceptor cell death but spare second- and third-order retinal neurons. Expression of the light-gated excitatory mammalian ion channel light-gated ionotropic glutamate receptor (LiGluR) in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) of the retina degeneration (rd1) mouse model of blindness was previously shown to restore some visual functions when stimulated by UV light. Here, we report restored retinal function in visible light in rodent and canine models of blindness through the use of a second-generation photoswitch for LiGluR, maleimide-azobenzene-glutamate 0 with peak efficiency at 460 nm (MAG0460). In the blind rd1 mouse, multielectrode array recordings of retinal explants revealed robust and uniform light-evoked firing when LiGluR-MAG0460 was targeted to RGCs and robust but diverse activity patterns in RGCs when LiGluR-MAG0460 was targeted to ON-bipolar cells (ON-BCs). LiGluR-MAG0460 in either RGCs or ON-BCs of the rd1 mouse reinstated innate light-avoidance behavior and enabled mice to distinguish between different temporal patterns of light in an associative learning task. In the rod-cone dystrophy dog model of blindness, LiGluR-MAG0460 in RGCs restored robust light responses to retinal explants and intravitreal delivery of LiGluR and MAG0460 was well tolerated in vivo. The results in both large and small animal models of photoreceptor degeneration provide a path to clinical translation. PMID:25489083

Associations among serum pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, metabolic mediators, body condition, and uterine disease in postpartum dairy cows.

PubMed

Kasimanickam, Ramanathan K; Kasimanickam, Vanmathy R; Olsen, Jesse R; Jeffress, Erin J; Moore, Dale A; Kastelic, John P

2013-11-09

Adipose tissue is an active endocrine organ which secretes a wide range of hormones and protein factors, collectively termed adipokines. Adipokines affect appetite and satiety, glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammation and immune functions. The objectives were to evaluate serum concentrations of adipokines (adiponectin, leptin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6) in lactating dairy cows with postpartum uterine inflammatory conditions (metritis, clinical endometritis or subclinical endometritis) and in cows experiencing loss of body condition, and to assess the relationship of adipokines and body condition loss in the establishment of persistent uterine inflammatory conditions. Lactating multiparous Holstein cows (N = 40), with body condition scores (BCS) from 2 to 4 (eight cows for each 0.5 score increment) were enrolled. Body condition was monitored for all cows weekly for 7 weeks post calving; cows with uterine inflammatory conditions were also re-evaluated 2 weeks later. Blood samples were collected from 1 week prior to calving to 7 weeks after calving for determination of serum concentrations of adipokines, insulin and insulin like growth factor (IGF)-1. Cows with metritis or clinical endometritis had higher serum concentrations of adiponectin, leptin, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 compared to normal cows (P < 0.05). Furthermore, serum leptin, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 were higher in cows with subclinical endometritis compared to normal cows (P < 0.05), and insulin and IGF-1 concentrations were lower in cows with metritis or clinical endometritis. Cows with low BCS (2 and 2.5) had significantly higher adiponectin, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 than those with high BCS (3 to 4). Cows with persistent uterine inflammatory conditions had higher adiponectin, leptin TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 and insulin compared to normal and spontaneously recovered cows, except for IGF-1 (P < 0.05). Serum concentrations of adipokines, insulin, and IGF-1 had significant associations with BCS categories (low vs. high) and postpartum uterine inflammatory conditions. Perhaps loss of body condition mediated increases in anti- and pro-inflammatory cytokines, whereas increased pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines concentrations mediated body condition loss and thereby prolonged persistence of uterine inflammation in dairy cows.

Associations among serum pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, metabolic mediators, body condition, and uterine disease in postpartum dairy cows

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Adipose tissue is an active endocrine organ which secretes a wide range of hormones and protein factors, collectively termed adipokines. Adipokines affect appetite and satiety, glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammation and immune functions. The objectives were to evaluate serum concentrations of adipokines (adiponectin, leptin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6) in lactating dairy cows with postpartum uterine inflammatory conditions (metritis, clinical endometritis or subclinical endometritis) and in cows experiencing loss of body condition, and to assess the relationship of adipokines and body condition loss in the establishment of persistent uterine inflammatory conditions. Methods Lactating multiparous Holstein cows (N = 40), with body condition scores (BCS) from 2 to 4 (eight cows for each 0.5 score increment) were enrolled. Body condition was monitored for all cows weekly for 7 weeks post calving; cows with uterine inflammatory conditions were also re-evaluated 2 weeks later. Blood samples were collected from 1 week prior to calving to 7 weeks after calving for determination of serum concentrations of adipokines, insulin and insulin like growth factor (IGF)-1. Results Cows with metritis or clinical endometritis had higher serum concentrations of adiponectin, leptin, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 compared to normal cows (P < 0.05). Furthermore, serum leptin, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 were higher in cows with subclinical endometritis compared to normal cows (P < 0.05), and insulin and IGF-1 concentrations were lower in cows with metritis or clinical endometritis. Cows with low BCS (2 and 2.5) had significantly higher adiponectin, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 than those with high BCS (3 to 4). Cows with persistent uterine inflammatory conditions had higher adiponectin, leptin TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 and insulin compared to normal and spontaneously recovered cows, except for IGF-1 (P < 0.05). Conclusions Serum concentrations of adipokines, insulin, and IGF-1 had significant associations with BCS categories (low vs. high) and postpartum uterine inflammatory conditions. Perhaps loss of body condition mediated increases in anti- and pro-inflammatory cytokines, whereas increased pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines concentrations mediated body condition loss and thereby prolonged persistence of uterine inflammation in dairy cows. PMID:24209779

The rate of quasiparticle recombination probes the onset of coherence in cuprate superconductors.

PubMed

Hinton, J P; Thewalt, E; Alpichshev, Z; Mahmood, F; Koralek, J D; Chan, M K; Veit, M J; Dorow, C J; Barišić, N; Kemper, A F; Bonn, D A; Hardy, W N; Liang, Ruixing; Gedik, N; Greven, M; Lanzara, A; Orenstein, J

2016-04-13

In the underdoped copper-oxides, high-temperature superconductivity condenses from a nonconventional metallic "pseudogap" phase that exhibits a variety of non-Fermi liquid properties. Recently, it has become clear that a charge density wave (CDW) phase exists within the pseudogap regime. This CDW coexists and competes with superconductivity (SC) below the transition temperature Tc, suggesting that these two orders are intimately related. Here we show that the condensation of the superfluid from this unconventional precursor is reflected in deviations from the predictions of BSC theory regarding the recombination rate of quasiparticles. We report a detailed investigation of the quasiparticle (QP) recombination lifetime, τqp, as a function of temperature and magnetic field in underdoped HgBa2CuO(4+δ) (Hg-1201) and YBa2Cu3O(6+x) (YBCO) single crystals by ultrafast time-resolved reflectivity. We find that τqp(T) exhibits a local maximum in a small temperature window near Tc that is prominent in underdoped samples with coexisting charge order and vanishes with application of a small magnetic field. We explain this unusual, non-BCS behavior by positing that Tc marks a transition from phase-fluctuating SC/CDW composite order above to a SC/CDW condensate below. Our results suggest that the superfluid in underdoped cuprates is a condensate of coherently-mixed particle-particle and particle-hole pairs.

The rate of quasiparticle recombination probes the onset of coherence in cuprate superconductors

PubMed Central

Hinton, J. P.; Thewalt, E.; Alpichshev, Z.; Mahmood, F.; Koralek, J. D.; Chan, M. K.; Veit, M. J.; Dorow, C. J.; Barišić, N.; Kemper, A. F.; Bonn, D. A.; Hardy, W. N.; Liang, Ruixing; Gedik, N.; Greven, M.; Lanzara, A.; Orenstein, J.

2016-01-01

In the underdoped copper-oxides, high-temperature superconductivity condenses from a nonconventional metallic ”pseudogap” phase that exhibits a variety of non-Fermi liquid properties. Recently, it has become clear that a charge density wave (CDW) phase exists within the pseudogap regime. This CDW coexists and competes with superconductivity (SC) below the transition temperature Tc, suggesting that these two orders are intimately related. Here we show that the condensation of the superfluid from this unconventional precursor is reflected in deviations from the predictions of BSC theory regarding the recombination rate of quasiparticles. We report a detailed investigation of the quasiparticle (QP) recombination lifetime, τqp, as a function of temperature and magnetic field in underdoped HgBa2CuO4+δ (Hg-1201) and YBa2Cu3O6+x (YBCO) single crystals by ultrafast time-resolved reflectivity. We find that τqp(T ) exhibits a local maximum in a small temperature window near Tc that is prominent in underdoped samples with coexisting charge order and vanishes with application of a small magnetic field. We explain this unusual, non-BCS behavior by positing that Tc marks a transition from phase-fluctuating SC/CDW composite order above to a SC/CDW condensate below. Our results suggest that the superfluid in underdoped cuprates is a condensate of coherently-mixed particle-particle and particle-hole pairs. PMID:27071712

Spatially resolved vacuum tunneling spectroscopy on Bi 2Sr 2CaCu 2O 8 by STM at 4.8K

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Renner, Ch.; Fischer, Ø.; Kent, A. D.; Mitzi, D. B.; Kapitulnik, A.

1994-02-01

We report scanning tunneling spectroscopy investigations on in-situ cleaved superconducting Bi 2Sr 2CaCu 2O 8 single crystals. Although many investigators report reproducible tunneling studies on high temperature superconductors, there nevertheless remains uncertainties about the correct intrinsic shape of the tunneling spectra. We have been able to obtain higly reproducible spectra while scanning single crystal surfaces in many different areas and taking a spectra every 5Å along lines of several hundred Ångstroms. Furthermore, we show that the spectra are independent of modifacations of the barrier obtained by changing the tip/sample distance. The experimental density of states clearly shows some filling of the gap which does not fit with a BCS-like s-wave prediction, even if some scattering in the tunneling process is accounted for.

Momentum dependence of the superconducting gap and in-gap states in MgB 2 multiband superconductor

DOE PAGES

Mou, Daixiang; Jiang, Rui; Taufour, Valentin; ...

2015-06-29

We use tunable laser-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to study the electronic structure of the multiband superconductor MgB 2. These results form the baseline for detailed studies of superconductivity in multiband systems. We find that the magnitude of the superconducting gap on both σ bands follows a BCS-like variation with temperature with Δ 0 ~ 7meV. Furthermore, the value of the gap is isotropic within experimental uncertainty and in agreement with a pure s-wave pairing symmetry. We observe in-gap states confined to k F of the σ band that occur at some locations of the sample surface. As a result, themore » energy of this excitation, ~ 3 meV, was found to be somewhat larger than the previously reported gap on π Fermi sheet and therefore we cannot exclude the possibility of interband scattering as its origin.« less

Electron-phonon interaction in the binary superconductor lutetium carbide LuC2 via first-principles calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dilmi, S.; Saib, S.; Bouarissa, N.

2018-06-01

Structural, electronic, electron-phonon coupling and superconducting properties of the intermetallic compound LuC2 are investigated by means of ab initio pseudopotential plane wave method within the generalized gradient approximation. The calculated equilibrium lattice parameters yielded a very good accord with experiment. There is no imaginary phonon frequency in the whole Brillouin zone supporting thus the dynamical stability in the material of interest. The average electron-phonon coupling parameter is found to be 0.59 indicating thus a weak-coupling BCS superconductor. Using a reasonable value of μ* = 0.12 for the effective Coulomb repulsion parameter, the superconducting critical temperature Tc is found to be 3.324 which is in excellent agreement with the experimental value of 3.33 K. The effect of the spin-orbit coupling on the superconducting properties of the material of interest has been examined and found to be weak.

Superconducting Properties of CeIr3 Single Crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sato, Yoshiki J.; Nakamura, Ai; Shimizu, Yusei; Maurya, Arvind; Homma, Yoshiya; Li, Dexin; Honda, Fuminori; Aoki, Dai

2018-05-01

Superconducting properties of CeIr3 single crystal with rhombohedral structure were examined for the first time using DC magnetization, specific heat, and electrical resistivity measurements. A bulk type-II superconductivity was clearly detected at Tc = 3.4 K, which is the second highest Tc among Ce-based intermetallic compounds. The thermodynamic properties as well as an upper critical field Hc2(0) ˜ 46.5 kOe for the H || c-axis are fully consistent with the weak-coupling BCS regime. The observed √{H} variation of C(H)/T becomes less pronounced upon cooling, possibly suggesting a suppression of low-energy quasiparticle excitations in an anisotropic s-wave gap in CeIr3, as observed in CeRu2. The origin of superconductivity is discussed from the viewpoints of the valence of Ce atom and Ir 5d-electron with a strong spin-orbit coupling.

Microscopic model of quasiparticle wave packets in superfluids, superconductors, and paired Hall states.

PubMed

Parameswaran, S A; Kivelson, S A; Shankar, R; Sondhi, S L; Spivak, B Z

2012-12-07

We study the structure of Bogoliubov quasiparticles, bogolons, the fermionic excitations of paired superfluids that arise from fermion (BCS) pairing, including neutral superfluids, superconductors, and paired quantum Hall states. The naive construction of a stationary quasiparticle in which the deformation of the pair field is neglected leads to a contradiction: it carries a net electrical current even though it does not move. However, treating the pair field self-consistently resolves this problem: in a neutral superfluid, a dipolar current pattern is associated with the quasiparticle for which the total current vanishes. When Maxwell electrodynamics is included, as appropriate to a superconductor, this pattern is confined over a penetration depth. For paired quantum Hall states of composite fermions, the Maxwell term is replaced by a Chern-Simons term, which leads to a dipolar charge distribution and consequently to a dipolar current pattern.

Shape coexistence and shape transition in light nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saxena, G.; Kumawat, M.; Singh, U. K.; Kaushik, M.; Jain, S. K.

2018-05-01

A systematic study has been performed to investigate the shape coexistence and shape transition for even-even nuclei between Z = 10-20 by employing Relativistic Mean-Filed plus BCS (RMF+BCS) approach. We calculate ground state properties viz. binding energy, deformation etc. for even-even nuclei to find the shape coexistence and shape transition. These results are found in agreement of recent experiments and consistent with other parameters of RMF and other theories.

Simple preparation of Fenton catalyst@bacterial cellulose for waste water treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wibowo, Arie; Febi Indrawan, Radian; Triadhi, Untung; Hasdi Aimon, Akfiny; Iskandar, Ferry; Ardy, Husaini

2018-02-01

Heterogeneous fenton catalyst is one of the attractive technologies for destruction of persistent and non-biodegradable pollutant in wastewater, because it can be used in wide range of pH and recyclable. Herein, commercial bacterial celluloses (BCs) were used as an alternative support of fenton catalyst to improve their catalytic activity. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) observations indicated that the presence of BCs and decreasing precursor concentration might promote formation of smaller particle sizes of catalyst from 3.5 μm of bare catalyst to 0.7 μm of catalyst@BC. UV-vis measurement showed that fast degradation of dyes with half-time degradation at around 25 min was observed in sample using catalyst@BCs with precursor concentration of 0.01 M. Successful preparation of heterogeneous fenton catalyst with smaller particle size and better catalytic activity is important for their application in wastewater treatment.

Cognitive Deficits in Breast Cancer Survivors After Chemotherapy and Hormonal Therapy.

PubMed

Frank, Jennifer Sandson; Vance, David E; Triebel, Kristen L; Meneses, Karen M

2015-12-01

Adjuvant treatments, specifically chemotherapy and hormonal therapy, have dramatically increased breast cancer survival, resulting in increased attention to the residual effects of treatment. Breast cancer survivors (BCS) frequently report that cognitive deficits are a particular source of distress, interfering with many aspects of quality of life. The literature on neuropsychological performance measures in BCS supports the reality of subtle cognitive deficits after both chemotherapy and hormonal therapy. This premise is supported by recent imaging studies, which reveal anatomical changes after chemotherapy as well as changes in patterns of neural activation while performing cognitive tasks. This review suggests that, even when performance on neuropsychological performance measures is within normal limits, BCS may be using increased cognitive resources in the face of reduced cognitive reserve. Potential interventions for cognitive deficits after adjuvant therapy include prescriptions for healthy living, pharmacotherapy, complementary therapy, and cognitive remediation therapy directed toward specific cognitive deficits or a combination of several strategies.

Vortex Lattices in the Bose-Fermi Superfluid Mixture.

PubMed

Jiang, Yuzhu; Qi, Ran; Shi, Zhe-Yu; Zhai, Hui

2017-02-24

In this Letter we show that the vortex lattice structure in the Bose-Fermi superfluid mixture can undergo a sequence of structure transitions when the Fermi superfluid is tuned from the BCS regime to the BEC regime. This is due to the difference in the vortex core structure of a Fermi superfluid in the BCS regime and in the BEC regime. In the BCS regime the vortex core is nearly filled, while the density at the vortex core gradually decreases until it empties out in the BEC regime. Therefore, with the density-density interaction between the Bose and the Fermi superfluids, interaction between the two sets of vortex lattices gets stronger in the BEC regime, which yields the structure transition of vortex lattices. In view of the recent realization of this superfluid mixture and vortices therein, our theoretical predication can be verified experimentally in the near future.

Salmonella promotes virulence by repressing cellulose production

PubMed Central

Pontes, Mauricio H.; Lee, Eun-Jin; Choi, Jeongjoon; Groisman, Eduardo A.

2015-01-01

Cellulose is the most abundant organic polymer on Earth. In bacteria, cellulose confers protection against environmental insults and is a constituent of biofilms typically formed on abiotic surfaces. We report that, surprisingly, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium makes cellulose when inside macrophages. We determine that preventing cellulose synthesis increases virulence, whereas stimulation of cellulose synthesis inside macrophages decreases virulence. An attenuated mutant lacking the mgtC gene exhibited increased cellulose levels due to increased expression of the cellulose synthase gene bcsA and of cyclic diguanylate, the allosteric activator of the BcsA protein. Inactivation of bcsA restored wild-type virulence to the Salmonella mgtC mutant, but not to other attenuated mutants displaying a wild-type phenotype regarding cellulose. Our findings indicate that a virulence determinant can promote pathogenicity by repressing a pathogen's antivirulence trait. Moreover, they suggest that controlling antivirulence traits increases long-term pathogen fitness by mediating a trade-off between acute virulence and transmission. PMID:25848006

Investigation of surface boundary conditions for continuum modeling of RF plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilson, A.; Shotorban, B.

2018-05-01

This work was motivated by a lacking general consensus in the exact form of the boundary conditions (BCs) required on the solid surfaces for the continuum modeling of Radiofrequency (RF) plasmas. Various kinds of number and energy density BCs on solid surfaces were surveyed, and how they interacted with the electric potential BC to affect the plasma was examined in two fundamental RF plasma reactor configurations. A second-order local mean energy approximation with equations governing the electron and ion number densities and the electron energy density was used to model the plasmas. Zero densities and various combinations of drift, diffusion, and thermal fluxes were considered to set up BCs. It was shown that the choice of BC can have a significant impact on the sheath and bulk plasma. The thermal and diffusion fluxes to the surface were found to be important. A pure drift BC for dielectric walls failed to produce a sheath.

Pairing induced superconductivity in holography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bagrov, Andrey; Meszena, Balazs; Schalm, Koenraad

2014-09-01

We study pairing induced superconductivity in large N strongly coupled systems at finite density using holography. In the weakly coupled dual gravitational theory the mechanism is conventional BCS theory. An IR hard wall cut-off is included to ensure that we can controllably address the dynamics of a single confined Fermi surface. We address in detail the interplay between the scalar order parameter field and fermion pairing. Adding an explicitly dynamical scalar operator with the same quantum numbers as the fermion-pair, the theory experiences a BCS/BEC crossover controlled by the relative scaling dimensions. We find the novel result that this BCS/BEC crossover exposes resonances in the canonical expectation value of the scalar operator. This occurs not only when the scaling dimension is degenerate with the Cooper pair, but also with that of higher derivative paired operators. We speculate that a proper definition of the order parameter which takes mixing with these operators into account stays finite nevertheless.

Breast Cancer Cause Beliefs: Chinese, Korean, and Mexican American Breast Cancer Survivors

PubMed Central

Gonzalez, Patricia; Lim, Jung-Won; Wang-Letzkus, Ming; Flores, Katrina F.; Allen, Kristi M.; Castañeda, Sheila F.; Talavera, Gregory A.

2014-01-01

This study examined causal attribution beliefs about breast cancer and the influence that these beliefs exert on health behavior change among breast cancer survivors (BCS). Focus groups with Chinese (n = 21), Korean (n = 11), and Mexican American (n = 9) BCS recruited through community- and hospital-based support groups were conducted. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and translated into English for thematic content analysis. Three themes concerning beliefs about breast cancer cause common to all three groups included (a) stress, (b) diet, and (c) fatalism. Causal beliefs corresponded to behavioral changes with women describing efforts to improve their diet and manage their stress. Ethnic minority BCS adhere to beliefs about what caused their cancer that influence their health behaviors. Providing quality health care to ethnically diverse cancer survivors requires cultural sensitivity to patients’ beliefs about the causes of their cancer and awareness of how beliefs influence patients’ health behaviors post diagnosis. PMID:25001237

Understanding the Stress Process of Chinese- and Korean-American Breast Cancer Survivors.

PubMed

Paek, Min-So; Lim, Jung-Won

2016-10-01

Guided by the stress process model (SPM), this study investigated the direct and indirect pathways of primary (negative self-image and life stress), secondary stressors (family communication strain) and family coping (external and internal) on mental health outcomes among Chinese- and Korean-American breast cancer survivors (BCS). A total of 156 Chinese- and Korean-American BCS were surveyed. Results showed primary and secondary stressors had a negative effect on better mental health outcomes. External coping was associated with better mental health. Family communication strain mediated the relationship between life stress and mental health outcomes. External coping mediated the relationship between family communication strain and mental health outcomes. Multi-group analysis revealed the stress process did not differ across ethnic groups. Findings suggest the SPM may be applicable to understand the stress process of Chinese- and Korean-American BCS and provide valuable insight into the role of family communication and external coping on mental health outcomes.

Quasiparticle lifetime in a mixture of Bose and Fermi superfluids.

PubMed

Zheng, Wei; Zhai, Hui

2014-12-31

In this Letter, we study the effect of quasiparticle interactions in a Bose-Fermi superfluid mixture. We consider the lifetime of a quasiparticle of the Bose superfluid due to its interaction with quasiparticles in the Fermi superfluid. We find that this damping rate, i.e., the inverse of the lifetime, has quite a different threshold behavior at the BCS and the BEC side of the Fermi superfluid. The damping rate is a constant near the threshold momentum in the BCS side, while it increases rapidly in the BEC side. This is because, in the BCS side, the decay process is restricted by the constraint that the fermion quasiparticle is located near the Fermi surface, while such a restriction does not exist in the BEC side where the damping process is dominated by bosonic quasiparticles of the Fermi superfluid. Our results are related to the collective mode experiment in the recently realized Bose-Fermi superfluid mixture.

Once-daily milking during late lactation in pasture-fed dairy cows has minor effects on feed intake, body condition score gain, and hepatic gene expression.

PubMed

Grala, T M; Handley, R R; Roche, J R; Walker, C G; Phyn, C V C; Kay, J K

2016-04-01

Milking cows once daily (1×) is a management practice occasionally used during mid/late lactation in pasture-based systems. It has been postulated that 1× milking will reduce dry matter intake (DMI) and increase body condition score (BCS) gain; however, this has not been quantified. Lactating, pregnant Holstein-Friesian dairy cows (n=52) were allocated to either 1× or twice-daily (2×) milking in mid-January (summer, 175d in milk). To obtain accurate DMI measurements, cows underwent 4 periods in a Calan gate indoor feeding facility, interspersed with grazing outdoors. Milk production, body weight (BW), and BCS were recorded 2 wk before treatment start (-2 wk) and weekly thereafter. Blood variables were recorded at -2 wk and weekly when indoors. Liver was biopsied at -2, 2, and 10 wk, and hepatic gene expression measured using quantitative PCR. Milking cows 1× tended to lower DMI (17.8 vs. 18.2 kg of dry matter), but increased BCS gain (0.36 vs. 0.13 BCS units) and BW (546 vs. 533 kg) at wk 12 relative to 2×. The greater BCS and BW of cows milked 1× compared with 2× were reflected in lower plasma concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids and lower transcription of genes involved in the oxidation of fatty acids, indicating reduced release and processing of fatty acids. Cows milked 1× produced 20% less milk, and although milk fat and protein concentrations were increased relative to cows milked 2×, yields of fat and protein were 14 and 17% less, respectively. The reduction in milk production with 1× milking (14.1 vs. 16.8 kg/cow per d energy-corrected milk) was accompanied by increases in blood concentrations of glucose and insulin, with a concurrent decrease in the transcription of the insulin receptor and gluconeogenic genes. These results indicate a coordinated response to reduce glucose production due to decreased mammary demand. Expression of 2 genes linked to inflammation and adipokine signaling was reduced in cows milked 1× and may indicate a lower inflammatory state in the liver of cows milked 1× in late lactation. No effect was found of milking frequency during late lactation on milk production in the subsequent lactation. In summary, although 1× milking tended to reduce DMI and increase BCS in late lactation, these effects were lower than what is commonly supposed in pasture-based dairy systems. The modest BCS gains need to be considered with the reduced milk production when adopting 1× milking as a management strategy. Copyright © 2016 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Preliminary evaluation of magnetic resonance fresh blood imaging for diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome.

PubMed

Ren, Ke; Xu, Ke; Sun, Wen-ge; Chen, Yu-shuai; Qi, Xi-xun; Li, Ran-liang; Jin, An-yu

2007-01-20

Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a rare disease with portal hypertension caused by the blockage of the hepatic vein and/or the inferior vena cava (IVC). Angiography is the "golden standard" for diagnosis, but it is an invasive examination. To assess the diagnostic value of a fresh blood imaging (FBI) relative to BCS, we used a magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) with an FBI sequence for a preoperative evaluation of the BCS patients in this study. Fifty patients who were suspected of having BCS after they had been checked by a B-ultrasound were studied. 2D and 3D FBI were performed on a 1.5T superconductive MR scanner. Original images were rebuilt using a maximal intensity projection (MIP) method on the console. Two doctors reviewed all images before they learned of the angiography results. We then compared the diagnoses obtained from the FBI and angiography results to evaluate the diagnostic value of the FBI. Forty-one patients were diagnosed as BCS and 9 as non-BCS based on an angiography. The FBI correctly diagnosed 38 patients, incorrectly diagnosed 1 patient, and missed diagnosis in 3 patients. Thus, the diagnostic sensitivity of the FBI is 93% (38/41), the specificity is 89% (8/9) and the accuracy is 92% (46/50). The FBI images of the 13 membranous stenoses of the IVC showed a sudden stenosis of the post-liver segment of the IVC. The Images of the 5 patients with a membranous obstruction of the IVC showed IVC thickening and an absence of blood signals in the post-hepatic segment of the IVC. The images of the 4 patients with the segmental thrombosis of the IVC showed abnormal and intermittent signals in the IVC. The images of the 6 patients with a simple hepatic vein obstruction showed obstructive hepatic veins. The images of the 6 patients with the stenosis of both the IVC and the hepatic veins showed the stenosis of the IVC, the thickening of the hepatic veins and the formation of a compensatory circulation within the liver. Lastly, the images of the 7 patients showed a combination of the IVC thrombosis with stenosis or with the obstruction of one or two hepatic veins. An FBI can show a membranous stenosis, and an obstruction and thrombosis of the IVC. In addition, it can also demonstrate the thickening of the flexural hepatic vein and the development of intra-hepatic compensatory branches with slow blood flow. Thus, it can guide the puncturing and opening of the hepatic vein involved in an interventional therapy for BCS patients.