Modifying exchange bias effects of Mn/NiFe bilayers by in-situ Ar+ bombardment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Causer, G. L.; Manna, P. K.; Chiu, C.-C.; van Lierop, J.; Ionescu, M.; Lin, K.-W.; Klose, F.

2017-10-01

In this work, we present a procedure to modify the exchange bias (EB) properties of antiferromagnetic Mn/ferromagnetic NiFe bilayers by in-situ low energy Ar+ bombardment of the Mn layer during sample deposition. We present structural and magnetic results for unassisted and Ar+ assisted Mn/NiFe bilayers. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction results establish different preferred Mn orientation directions between the two samples as a result of the Ar+ bombardment process. Hysteresis loops taken over several temperatures reveal that samples assisted with Ar+ ions during the Mn layer deposition had suppressed EB properties at low temperature as compared to samples grown without Ar+ assistance.

Competing exchange bias and field-induced ferromagnetism in La-doped BaFe O3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fita, I.; Wisniewski, A.; Puzniak, R.; Iwanowski, P.; Markovich, V.; Kolesnik, S.; Dabrowski, B.

2017-04-01

An exchange bias (EB) effect was observed in mixed valent L axB a1 -xFe O3 (x =0.125 , 0.25, 0.33) perovskites exhibiting the antiferromagnetic (AFM) helical order among F e4 + ions coexisting with the ferromagnetic (FM) cluster phase in the ground state. The L a3 + ions for B a2 + site substitution, associated with increase in number of the AFM coupled F e3 + - F e4 + pairs as well as some F e3 + - F e3 + pairs, leads to strengthening of the AFM phase and consequently to the alteration of the EB characteristics, which depend on level of the La doping x . At low doping x ≤0.25 , an abnormal dependence of the EB field, HEB, on the cooling field, Hcool, was found. The HEB increases rapidly with increasing cooling field at low Hcool, but it falls suddenly at cooling fields higher than 20 kOe, reducing by an order of magnitude at 90 kOe. The suppression of EB is caused by the field-induced increased volume of the FM phase, due to the transformation of the AFM helical spin structure into the FM one. Thus, low-doped L axB a1 -xFe O3 demonstrates a competition of two alternate cooling-field-induced effects, one of which leads to the EB anisotropy and another one to the enhanced ferromagnetism. In contrast, the x =0.33 sample, having a strong AFM constituent, shows no field-induced FM and no drop in the EB field. Accordingly, the HEB vs Hcool dependence was found to be well explained in the framework of a model describing phase-separated AFM-FM systems, namely, the model assuming isolated FM clusters of size ˜4 nm embedded in the AFM matrix.

Exchange bias in multiferroic Ca3Mn2O7 effected by Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahlot, Pooja; Jana, Anupam; Awasthi, A. M.

2018-04-01

Ruddlesden-Popper manganite Ca3Mn2O7 has been synthesized in single phase orthorhombic structure with Cmcm space group. Temperature dependent magnetization M(T) shows that Ca3Mn2O7 undergoes long range antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition below 123 K, with weak ferromagnetism (WFM) at lower temperatures. Field dependent magnetization M(H) confirms WFM character below ˜110 K in the AFM-base magnetic structure. Detailed analysis of the zero field cooled magnetic hysteresis loops reveals a measurable exchange bias (EB) effect in the sample. EB is attributed to the high anisotropy in the sample and the presence of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (D-M) interaction, responsible for the canted interfacial-spins that couple "FM-clusters" with the "AFM-matrix". Temperature dependence of horizontal shifts of the M(H) loops in terms of the coercive fields (Hc±) and vertical shifts in terms of the remnant magnetizations (Mr±) is presented.

Exchange bias effect in L10-ordered FePt and FeCo-based bilayer structure: effect of increasing applied field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Sadhana; Kumar, Dileep; Bhagat, Babli; Choudhary, R. J.; Reddy, V. R.; Gupta, Ajay

2018-02-01

The applied magnetic field (H APP) dependence of the exchange bias (EB) is studied in an exchange-coupled thin-film bilayer composed of a hard ferromagnetic FePt layer in the proximity of a soft ferromagnetic FeCo layer. FePt/FeCo structure is deposited in an ultra-high vacuum chamber, where the FePt layer was first annealed at 823 K for 30 min and subsequently cooled to room temperature in the presence of an in-plane magnetic field, H MAX ~ 1.5 kOe to promote L10-ordered hard magnetic phase with magnetic moments aligned in one of the in-plane directions in the FePt layer. In-situ magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements during different stages of bilayer growth and detailed ex-situ superconducting quantum interference device-vibrating sample magnetometer measurements jointly revealed that due to the interplay between exchange coupling at the interface and dipolar energies of the saturated hard FePt layer, a hysteresis loop of FeCo layer shifts along the magnetic field axis. A clear dependence of EB field (H EB) on increasing maximum value of the H APP during the hysteresis loop measurement is understood in terms of the magnetic state of soft and hard magnetic layers, where EB increases with increasing H APP until the hard layer moment remains undisturbed in its remanence state. As soon as the field was sufficient to rotate the spins of the FePt layer, the loop became symmetric with respect to the field axis.

Effect of L1{sub 2} ordering in antiferromagnetic Ir-Mn epitaxial layer on exchange bias of FePd films

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

Chang, Y. C.; Duh, J. G., E-mail: pmami.hsiao@gmail.com, E-mail: lin.yg@nsrrc.org.tw, E-mail: jgd@mx.nthu.edu.tw; Hsiao, S. N., E-mail: pmami.hsiao@gmail.com, E-mail: lin.yg@nsrrc.org.tw, E-mail: jgd@mx.nthu.edu.tw

2015-05-07

Two series of samples of single-layer IrMn and IrMn/FePd bilayer films, deposited on a single-crystal MgO substrate at different IrMn deposition temperatures (T{sub s} = 300–700 °C), were investigated using magnetron sputtering. L1{sub 2} ordering was revealed for the 30 nm-thick IrMn epitaxial (001) films with T{sub s} ≥ 400 °C, determined by synchrotron radiation x-ray diffractometry (XRD). XRD results also provide evidence of the epitaxial growth of the IrMn films on MgO substrate. Increasing T{sub s} from 400 to 700 °C monotonically increases the ordering parameter of L1{sub 2} phases from 0.17 to 0.81. An in-plane exchange bias field (H{sub eb}) of 22 Oe is obtained in amore » 10 nm-thick FePd film that is deposited on the disordered IrMn films. As the L1{sub 2} ordering of the IrMn layers increases, the H{sub eb} gradually decreases to 0 Oe, meaning that the exchange bias behavior vanishes. The increased surface roughness, revealed by atomic force microscopy, of the epitaxial IrMn layers with increasing T{sub s} cannot be the main cause of the decrease in H{sub eb} due to the compensated surface spins regardless of the disordered and ordered (001) IrMn layers. The change of antiferromagnetic structure from the A1 to the L1{sub 2} phase was correlated with the evolution of H{sub eb}.« less

Empirical Bayes Gaussian likelihood estimation of exposure distributions from pooled samples in human biomonitoring.

PubMed

Li, Xiang; Kuk, Anthony Y C; Xu, Jinfeng

2014-12-10

Human biomonitoring of exposure to environmental chemicals is important. Individual monitoring is not viable because of low individual exposure level or insufficient volume of materials and the prohibitive cost of taking measurements from many subjects. Pooling of samples is an efficient and cost-effective way to collect data. Estimation is, however, complicated as individual values within each pool are not observed but are only known up to their average or weighted average. The distribution of such averages is intractable when the individual measurements are lognormally distributed, which is a common assumption. We propose to replace the intractable distribution of the pool averages by a Gaussian likelihood to obtain parameter estimates. If the pool size is large, this method produces statistically efficient estimates, but regardless of pool size, the method yields consistent estimates as the number of pools increases. An empirical Bayes (EB) Gaussian likelihood approach, as well as its Bayesian analog, is developed to pool information from various demographic groups by using a mixed-effect formulation. We also discuss methods to estimate the underlying mean-variance relationship and to select a good model for the means, which can be incorporated into the proposed EB or Bayes framework. By borrowing strength across groups, the EB estimator is more efficient than the individual group-specific estimator. Simulation results show that the EB Gaussian likelihood estimates outperform a previous method proposed for the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys with much smaller bias and better coverage in interval estimation, especially after correction of bias. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Magnetic and exchange bias properties of YCo thin films and IrMn/YCo bilayers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Venkat Narayana, M.; Manivel Raja, M.; Jammalamadaka, S. Narayana

2018-02-01

We report on the structural and magnetic properties of YCo thin films and IrMn/YCo bilayers. X-ray diffraction infer that all the films are amorphous in nature. Magnetization versus magnetic field measurements reveal room temperature soft ferromagnetism in all the YCo films. Thin films which were grown at 100 W sputter power with growth rates of 0.677, 0.694 and 0.711 Å/sec show better morphology and composition than 50 W (0.333, 0.444 and 0.277 Å/sec) grown films. Perpendicular exchange bias in as deposited bilayers is evident for IrMn/YCo bilayers. Exchange bias (EB) decreases in case of in plane measurements and enhances for out of plane measurements after perpendicular field annealing. EB is more in case of out of plane direction due to large perpendicular anisotropy in comparison with in plane direction. Above the critical thickness, EB variation is explained on the basis of random field model in the Heisenberg regime, which has been proposed by Malozemoff. Indeed there exists an inverse relationship between EB and IrMn layer thickness. Evidenced vertical shift apart from the horizontal shift for magnetization loops is attributed to frozen magnetic moments in one of the layers at the interface. Present results would prove to be helpful in spintronic device applications.

Exchange bias training relaxation in spin glass/ferromagnet bilayers

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

Chi, Xiaodan; Du, An; Rui, Wenbin

2016-04-25

A canonical spin glass (SG) FeAu layer is fabricated to couple to a soft ferromagnet (FM) FeNi layer. Below the SG freezing temperature, exchange bias (EB) and training are observed. Training in SG/FM bilayers is insensitive to cooling field and may suppress the EB or change the sign of the EB field from negative to positive at specific temperatures, violating from the simple power-law or the single exponential function derived from the antiferromagnet based systems. In view of the SG nature, we employ a double decay model to distinguish the contributions from the SG bulk and the SG/FM interface tomore » training. Dynamical properties during training under different cooling fields and at different temperatures are discussed, and the nonzero shifting coefficient in the time index as a signature of slowing-down decay for SG based systems is interpreted by means of a modified Monte Carlo Metropolis algorithm.« less

Hidden Interface Driven Exchange Coupling in Oxide Heterostructures

DOE PAGES

Chen, Aiping; Wang, Qiang; Fitzsimmons, Michael R.; ...

2017-05-02

In a variety of emergent phenomena have been enabled by interface engineering in complex oxides. The existence of an intrinsic interfacial layer has often been found at oxide heterointerfaces. But, the role of such an interlayerin controlling functionalities is not fully explored. Here, we report the control of the exchange bias (EB) in single-phase manganite thin films with nominallyuniform chemical composition across the interfaces. The sign of EB depends on the magnitude of the cooling field. A pinned layer, confirmed by polarized neutron reflectometry, provides the source of unidirectional anisotropy. The origin of the exchange bias coupling is discussed inmore » terms of magnetic interactions between the interfacial ferromagnetically reduced layer and the bulk ferromagnetic region. The sign of EB is related to the frustration of antiferromagnetic coupling between the ferromagnetic region and the pinned layer. These results shed new light on using oxide interfaces to design functional spintronic devices.« less

A High Proliferation Rate is Critical for Reproducible and Standardized Embryoid Body Formation from Laminin-521-Based Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Cultures.

PubMed

Dziedzicka, Dominika; Markouli, Christina; Barbé, Lise; Spits, Claudia; Sermon, Karen; Geens, Mieke

2016-12-01

When aiming for homogenous embryoid body (EB) differentiation, the use of equal-sized EBs is required to avoid a size-induced differentiation bias. In this study we developed an efficient and standardized EB formation protocol for human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) cultured in a laminin-521-based xeno-free system. As the cell proliferation rate of the cells growing on laminin-521 strongly affected the efficiency of aggregate formation, we found that recently passaged cells, as well as the addition of ROCK inhibitor, were essential for reproducible EB formation from hPSC single-cell suspensions. EBs could be obtained in a variety of differentiation media, in 96-well round-bottom plates and in hanging drops. Gene expression studies on differentially sized EBs from three individual human embryonic stem cell lines demonstrated that the medium used for differentiation influenced the differentiation outcome to a much greater extent than the number of cells used for the initial EB formation. Our findings give a new insight into factors that influence the EB formation and differentiation process. This optimized method allows us to easily manipulate EB formation and provide an excellent starting point for downstream EB-based differentiation protocols.

Manipulation of Superparamagnetic Beads on Patterned Exchange-Bias Layer Systems for Biosensing Applications.

PubMed

Ehresmann, Arno; Koch, Iris; Holzinger, Dennis

2015-11-13

A technology platform based on a remotely controlled and stepwise transport of an array arrangement of superparamagnetic beads (SPB) for efficient molecular uptake, delivery and accumulation in the context of highly specific and sensitive analyte molecule detection for the application in lab-on-a-chip devices is presented. The near-surface transport of SPBs is realized via the dynamic transformation of the SPBs' magnetic potential energy landscape above a magnetically stripe patterned Exchange-Bias (EB) thin film layer systems due to the application of sub-mT external magnetic field pulses. In this concept, the SPB velocity is dramatically influenced by the magnitude and gradient of the magnetic field landscape (MFL) above the magnetically stripe patterned EB substrate, the SPB to substrate distance, the magnetic properties of both the SPBs and the EB layer system, respectively, as well as by the properties of the external magnetic field pulses and the surrounding fluid. The focus of this review is laid on the specific MFL design in EB layer systems via light-ion bombardment induced magnetic patterning (IBMP). A numerical approach is introduced for the theoretical description of the MFL in comparison to experimental characterization via scanning Hall probe microscopy. The SPB transport mechanism will be outlined in terms of the dynamic interplay between the EB substrate's MFL and the pulse scheme of the external magnetic field.

Manipulation of Superparamagnetic Beads on Patterned Exchange-Bias Layer Systems for Biosensing Applications

PubMed Central

Ehresmann, Arno; Koch, Iris; Holzinger, Dennis

2015-01-01

A technology platform based on a remotely controlled and stepwise transport of an array arrangement of superparamagnetic beads (SPB) for efficient molecular uptake, delivery and accumulation in the context of highly specific and sensitive analyte molecule detection for the application in lab-on-a-chip devices is presented. The near-surface transport of SPBs is realized via the dynamic transformation of the SPBs’ magnetic potential energy landscape above a magnetically stripe patterned Exchange-Bias (EB) thin film layer systems due to the application of sub-mT external magnetic field pulses. In this concept, the SPB velocity is dramatically influenced by the magnitude and gradient of the magnetic field landscape (MFL) above the magnetically stripe patterned EB substrate, the SPB to substrate distance, the magnetic properties of both the SPBs and the EB layer system, respectively, as well as by the properties of the external magnetic field pulses and the surrounding fluid. The focus of this review is laid on the specific MFL design in EB layer systems via light-ion bombardment induced magnetic patterning (IBMP). A numerical approach is introduced for the theoretical description of the MFL in comparison to experimental characterization via scanning Hall probe microscopy. The SPB transport mechanism will be outlined in terms of the dynamic interplay between the EB substrate’s MFL and the pulse scheme of the external magnetic field. PMID:26580625

The Spatial Distribution of Adult Obesity Prevalence in Denver County, Colorado: An Empirical Bayes Approach to Adjust EHR-Derived Small Area Estimates.

PubMed

Tabano, David C; Bol, Kirk; Newcomer, Sophia R; Barrow, Jennifer C; Daley, Matthew F

2017-12-06

Measuring obesity prevalence across geographic areas should account for environmental and socioeconomic factors that contribute to spatial autocorrelation, the dependency of values in estimates across neighboring areas, to mitigate the bias in measures and risk of type I errors in hypothesis testing. Dependency among observations across geographic areas violates statistical independence assumptions and may result in biased estimates. Empirical Bayes (EB) estimators reduce the variability of estimates with spatial autocorrelation, which limits the overall mean square-error and controls for sample bias. Using the Colorado Body Mass Index (BMI) Monitoring System, we modeled the spatial autocorrelation of adult (≥ 18 years old) obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg m 2 ) measurements using patient-level electronic health record data from encounters between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2011. Obesity prevalence was estimated among census tracts with >=10 observations in Denver County census tracts during the study period. We calculated the Moran's I statistic to test for spatial autocorrelation across census tracts, and mapped crude and EB obesity prevalence across geographic areas. In Denver County, there were 143 census tracts with 10 or more observations, representing a total of 97,710 adults with a valid BMI. The crude obesity prevalence for adults in Denver County was 29.8 percent (95% CI 28.4-31.1%) and ranged from 12.8 to 45.2 percent across individual census tracts. EB obesity prevalence was 30.2 percent (95% CI 28.9-31.5%) and ranged from 15.3 to 44.3 percent across census tracts. Statistical tests using the Moran's I statistic suggest adult obesity prevalence in Denver County was distributed in a non-random pattern. Clusters of EB obesity estimates were highly significant (alpha=0.05) in neighboring census tracts. Concentrations of obesity estimates were primarily in the west and north in Denver County. Statistical tests reveal adult obesity prevalence exhibit spatial autocorrelation in Denver County at the census tract level. EB estimates for obesity prevalence can be used to control for spatial autocorrelation between neighboring census tracts and may produce less biased estimates of obesity prevalence.

Origin of the enhanced exchange bias in polycrystalline-BiFeO3/Co bilayers by X-ray absorption Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, J. D.; Yang, W. B.; Kumar, A.; Zhao, H. H.; Lai, Y. J.; Feng, L. S.; Xu, Q. Y.; Zhang, Y. Q.; Du, J.; Li, Q.

2018-04-01

Polycrystalline-BiFeO3(BFO)/Co bilayers were grown by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and magnetron sputtering, with fast laser annealing under magnetic field. The enhanced exchange bias (EB) had been found in the BFO/Co bilayers (Appl. Surf. Sci. 367 (2016) 418). In order to reveal the origin of the enhanced EB in the samples, X-ray absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) of Fe 2p, Co 2p and O 1s were performed. The Co 2p XAS indicated the increase of Co oxidation state and the Fe 2p XAS of sample A and B under laser annealing processes showed that crystal field splitting energy decreased and led to the weakening of spin-orbit coupling with the increasing of the laser fluence. It was considered that the appearance of the oxidation state of Co and Fe2+ ions and the existence of the unidirectional anisotropy due to the laser fluence was responsible for the results and also for the enhanced EB.

Effect of electrode biasing on m/n  =  2/1 tearing modes in J-TEXT experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Hai; Hu, Qiming; Chen, Zhipeng; Yu, Q.; Zhu, Lizhi; Cheng, Zhifeng; Zhuang, Ge; Chen, Zhongyong

2017-01-01

The effects of electrode biasing (EB) on the m/n  =  2/1 tearing mode have been experimentally studied in J-TEXT tokamak discharges, where m and n are the poloidal and toroidal mode numbers. It is found that for a negative bias voltage, the mode amplitude is reduced, and the mode frequency is increased accompanied by the increased toroidal plasma rotation speed in the counter-I p direction. For a positive bias voltage, the mode frequency is decreased together with the change of the rotation velocity towards the co-I p direction, and the mode amplitude is increased. Statistic results show that the variations in the toroidal rotation speed, the 2/1 mode frequency and its amplitude linearly depend on the bias voltage. The threshold voltages for complete suppression and locking of the mode are found. The experimental results suggest that applied electrode biasing is a possible method for the avoidance of mode locking and disruption.

Self-Calibration of BICEP1 Three-Year Data and Constraints on Astrophysical Polarization Rotation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kaufman, J. P.; Miller, N. J.; Shimon, M.; Barkats, D.; Bischoff, C.; Buder, I.; Keating, B. G.; Kovac, J. M.; Ade, P. A. R.; Aikin, R.;

On-farm estimation of energy balance in dairy cows using only frequent body weight measurements and body condition score.

PubMed

Thorup, V M; Edwards, D; Friggens, N C

2012-04-01

Precise energy balance estimates for individual cows are of great importance to monitor health, reproduction, and feed management. Energy balance is usually calculated as energy input minus output (EB(inout)), requiring measurements of feed intake and energy output sources (milk, maintenance, activity, growth, and pregnancy). Except for milk yield, direct measurements of the other sources are difficult to obtain in practice, and estimates contain considerable error sources, limiting on-farm use. Alternatively, energy balance can be estimated from body reserve changes (EB(body)) using body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS). Automated weighing systems exist and new technology performing semi-automated body condition scoring has emerged, so frequent automated BW and BCS measurements are feasible. We present a method to derive individual EB(body) estimates from frequently measured BW and BCS and evaluate the performance of the estimated EB(body) against the traditional EB(inout) method. From 76 Danish Holstein and Jersey cows, parity 1 or 2+, on a glycerol-rich or a whole grain-rich total mixed ration, BW was measured automatically at each milking. The BW was corrected for the weight of milk produced and for gutfill. Changes in BW and BCS were used to calculate changes in body protein, body lipid, and EB(body) during the first 150 d in milk. The EB(body) was compared with the traditional EB(inout) by isolating the term within EB(inout) associated with most uncertainty; that is, feed energy content (FEC); FEC=(EB(body)+EMilk+EMaintenance+Eactivity)/dry matter intake, where the energy requirements are for milk produced (EMilk), maintenance (EMaintenance), and activity (EActivity). Estimated FEC agreed well with FEC values derived from tables (the mean estimate was 0.21 MJ of effective energy/kg of dry matter or 2.2% higher than the mean table value). Further, the FEC profile did not suggest systematic bias in EB(body) with stage of lactation. The EB(body) estimated from daily BW, adjusted for milk and meal-related gutfill and combined with frequent BCS, can provide a successful tool. This offers a pragmatic solution to on-farm calculation of energy balance with the perspective of improved precision under commercial conditions. Copyright © 2012 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Differentiating Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells into Embryoid Bodies by Hanging-Drop Cultures.

PubMed

Behringer, Richard; Gertsenstein, Marina; Nagy, Kristina Vintersten; Nagy, Andras

2016-12-01

Embryonic stem (ES) cells can develop into many types of differentiated tissues if they are placed into a differentiating environment. This can occur in vivo when the ES cells are injected into or aggregated with an embryo, or in vitro if their culture conditions are modified to induce differentiation. There are an increasing number of differentiating culture conditions that can bias the differentiation of ES cells into desired cell types. Determining the mechanisms that control ES cell differentiation into therapeutically important cell types is a quickly growing area of research. Knowledge gained from these studies may eventually lead to the use of stem cells to repair specific damaged tissues. Many times ES cell differentiation proceeds through an intermediate stage called the embryoid body (EB). EBs are round structures composed of ES cells that have undergone some of the initial stages of differentiation. EBs can then be manipulated further to generate more specific cell types. This protocol describes a method to differentiate ES cells into EBs. It produces EBs of comparable size. This aspect is important because the differentiation processes taking place inside an EB are influenced by its size. © 2016 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

Positive Response Distortion by Police Officer Applicants: Association of Paulhus Deception Scales with MMPI-2 and Inwald Personality Inventory Validity Scales

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Detrick, Paul; Chibnall, John T.

2008-01-01

Interpretation of positive response distortion (socially desirable responding) in employment evaluations is an important validity issue. This study of police officer applicants examined the construct validity of the Paulhus Deception Scales (PDS)--Moralistic Bias (MB; exaggerated adjustment/agreeableness) and Egoistic Bias (EB; exaggerated…

Psychology in Action: Sex Bias in Language Use: "Neutral" Pronouns That Aren't.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moulton, Janice; And Others

1978-01-01

An argument is presented with a supportive experiment which suggests that the use of male terms such as he, his, and man sometimes fail to be gender-neutral, even in explicitly gender-neutral contexts, and may therefore be a cause of sex bias and a vestige of past inequality. (Author/EB)

Reversed exchange-bias effect associated with magnetization reversal in the weak ferrimagnet LuF e0.5C r0.5O3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fita, I.; Markovich, V.; Moskvin, A. S.; Wisniewski, A.; Puzniak, R.; Iwanowski, P.; Martin, C.; Maignan, A.; Carbonio, Raúl E.; Gutowska, M. U.; Szewczyk, A.; Gorodetsky, G.

2018-03-01

The exchange-bias (EB) effect with sign reversal was found in LuF e0.5C r0.5O3 ferrite-chromite, which is a weak ferrimagnet below TN=265 K , exhibiting antiparallel orientation of the ferromagnetic (FM) moments of the Fe and Cr sublattices due to opposite sign of the Fe-Cr Dzyaloshinskii vector, as compared to that of the Fe-Fe and Cr-Cr. The weak FM moments of the studied compound compensate each other at temperature Tcomp=23 0 K , leading to the net magnetic moment reversal and to observed negative magnetization, at moderate applied fields, below Tcomp. Both vertical and horizontal shifts from the origin were gotten in the field-cooled magnetization hysteresis loops. The EB sign was found to be positive below Tcomp and negative above Tcomp, with nonmonotonic dependence on cooling field Hcool. It sharply increases at small values of magnetic fields up to Hcool˜1 kOe , then remains almost unchanged in the range 1-30 kOe and strongly decreases with further increase of Hcool. This unusual behavior results from the competition of various Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions between F e3 + and C r3 + ions.

Controllable Interfacial Coupling Effects on the Magnetic Dynamic Properties of Perpendicular [Co/Ni]5/Cu/TbCo Composite Thin Films.

PubMed

Tang, Minghong; Zhao, Bingcheng; Zhu, Weihua; Zhu, Zhendong; Jin, Q Y; Zhang, Zongzhi

2018-02-07

Dynamic magnetic properties in perpendicularly exchange-coupled [Co/Ni] 5 /Cu (t Cu = 0-2 nm)/TbCo structures show strong dependences on the interfacial antiferromagnetic strength J ex , which is controlled by the Cu interlayer thickness. The precession frequency f and effective damping constant α eff of a [Co/Ni] 5 multilayer differ distinctly for parallel (P) and antiparallel (AP) magnetization orientation states. For samples with a thin t Cu , f of the AP state is apparently higher, whereas α eff is lower than that in the P state, owing to the unidirectional exchange bias effect (H EB ) from the TbCo layer. The differences in f and α eff between the two states gradually decrease with increasing t Cu . By using a uniform precession model including an additional H EB term, the field-dependent frequency curves can be well-fitted, and the fitted H EB value is in good agreement with the experimental data. Moreover, the saturation damping constant α 0 displays a nearly linear correlation with J ex . It decreases significantly with J ex and eventually approaches a constant value of 0.027 at t Cu = 2 nm where J ex vanishes. These results provide a better understanding and effective control of magnetization dynamics in exchange-coupled composite structures for spintronic applications.

Room temperature magnetic ordering, enhanced magnetization and exchange bias of GdMnO3 nanoparticles in (GdMnO3)0.70(CoFe2O4)0.30

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitra, A.; Mahapatra, A. S.; Mallick, A.; Chakrabarti, P. K.

2017-02-01

Nanoparticles of GdMnO3 (GMO) are prepared by sol-gel method. To enhance the magnetic property and also to obtain the magnetic ordering at room temperature (RT), nanoparticles of GMO are incorporated in the matrix of CoFe2O4 (CFO). Desired crystallographic phases of CFO, GMO and GMO-CFO are confirmed by analyzing X-ray diffractrograms (XRD) using Rietveld method. The average size of nanoparticles and their distribution, crystallographic phase, nanocrystallinity etc. are studied by high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM). Magnetic hysteresis loops (M-H) of GMO-CFO under zero field cooled (ZFC) and field cooled (FC) conditions are observed at different temperatures down to 5 K. Magnetization vs. temperature (M-T) under ZFC and FC conditions are also recorded. Interestingly, exchange bias (EB) is found at low temperature which suggests the encapsulation of the ferromagnetic (FM) nanoparticles of GMO by the ferrimagnetic nanoparticles of CFO below 100 K. Enhanced magnetization, EB effect and RT magnetic ordering of GMO-CFO would be interesting for both theoretical and experimental investigations.

The empirical Bayes estimators of fine-scale population structure in high gene flow species.

PubMed

Kitada, Shuichi; Nakamichi, Reiichiro; Kishino, Hirohisa

2017-11-01

An empirical Bayes (EB) pairwise F ST estimator was previously introduced and evaluated for its performance by numerical simulation. In this study, we conducted coalescent simulations and generated genetic population structure mechanistically, and compared the performance of the EBF ST with Nei's G ST , Nei and Chesser's bias-corrected G ST (G ST_NC ), Weir and Cockerham's θ (θ WC ) and θ with finite sample correction (θ WC_F ). We also introduced EB estimators for Hedrick' G' ST and Jost' D. We applied these estimators to publicly available SNP genotypes of Atlantic herring. We also examined the power to detect the environmental factors causing the population structure. Our coalescent simulations revealed that the finite sample correction of θ WC is necessary to assess population structure using pairwise F ST values. For microsatellite markers, EBF ST performed the best among the present estimators regarding both bias and precision under high gene flow scenarios (FST≤0.032). For 300 SNPs, EBF ST had the highest precision in all cases, but the bias was negative and greater than those for G ST_NC and θ WC_F in all cases. G ST_NC and θ WC_F performed very similarly at all levels of F ST . As the number of loci increased up to 10 000, the precision of G ST_NC and θ WC_F became slightly better than for EBF ST for cases with FST≥0.004, even though the size of the bias remained constant. The EB estimators described the fine-scale population structure of the herring and revealed that ~56% of the genetic differentiation was caused by sea surface temperature and salinity. The R package finepop for implementing all estimators used here is available on CRAN. © 2017 The Authors. Molecular Ecology Resources Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Brillouin Light Scattering study of the rotatable magnetic anisotropy in exchange biased bilayers of Ni81 Fe19 Ir20 Mn80

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodríguez, Roberto; Oliveira, Alexandre; Estrada, Francisco; Santos, Obed; Azevedo, Antonio; Rezende, Sergio

It is known that when a ferromagnet (FM) is in atomic contact with an antiferromagnet (AF) the exchange coupling between the FM and AF spins at the interface induces a unidirectional anisotropy in the ferromagnetic film. This effect is known as exchange bias (EB). Despite the large amount of research on this topic there are still several aspects of the EB mechanism that are not well understood. One of this aspects is the origin of the rotatable anisotropy in polycrystalline AFs. By means of Brillouin Light Scattering (BLS) measurements, we investigated the dependence of the rotatable anisotropy field HRA and exchange field HE with the magnitude of the external magnetic field (Ho) in FM/AM bilayers of Ni81Fe19(10nm)/Ir20Mn80(tAF) . We developed an algorithm to numerically fit the in-plane angular dependence of the magnon frequency, at a fixed value of Ho measured by BLS. From the fit parameters we were able to investigate HRA and HE dependency on Ho. The results reveal that HRA value depends on Ho, so we argue that AF grain distribution at the interface is partially modified by the applied field strength. Contrary to this, the relation between HE and Ho is not straightforward, remaining constant at high values of Ho.

Diagnostic accuracy of fractional exhaled nitric oxide measurement in predicting cough-variant asthma and eosinophilic bronchitis in adults with chronic cough: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Song, Woo-Jung; Kim, Hyun Jung; Shim, Ji-Su; Won, Ha-Kyeong; Kang, Sung-Yoon; Sohn, Kyoung-Hee; Kim, Byung-Keun; Jo, Eun-Jung; Kim, Min-Hye; Kim, Sang-Heon; Park, Heung-Woo; Kim, Sun-Sin; Chang, Yoon-Seok; Morice, Alyn H; Lee, Byung-Jae; Cho, Sang-Heon

2017-09-01

Individual studies have suggested the utility of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (Feno) measurement in detecting cough-variant asthma (CVA) and eosinophilic bronchitis (EB) in patients with chronic cough. We sought to obtain summary estimates of diagnostic test accuracy of Feno measurement in predicting CVA, EB, or both in adults with chronic cough. Electronic databases were searched for studies published until January 2016, without language restriction. Cross-sectional studies that reported the diagnostic accuracy of Feno measurement for detecting CVA or EB were included. Risk of bias was assessed with Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2. Random effects meta-analyses were performed to obtain summary estimates of the diagnostic accuracy of Feno measurement. A total of 15 studies involving 2187 adults with chronic cough were identified. Feno measurement had a moderate diagnostic accuracy in predicting CVA in patients with chronic cough, showing the summary area under the curve to be 0.87 (95% CI, 0.83-0.89). Specificity was higher and more consistent than sensitivity (0.85 [95% CI, 0.81-0.88] and 0.72 [95% CI, 0.61-0.81], respectively). However, in the nonasthmatic population with chronic cough, the diagnostic accuracy to predict EB was found to be relatively lower (summary area under the curve, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.77-0.84]), and specificity was inconsistent. The present meta-analyses indicated the diagnostic potential of Feno measurement as a rule-in test for detecting CVA in adult patients with chronic cough. However, Feno measurement may not be useful to predict EB in nonasthmatic subjects with chronic cough. These findings warrant further studies to validate the roles of Feno measurement in clinical practice of patients with chronic cough. Copyright © 2017 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Evidence-based safety (EBS) management: A new approach to teaching the practice of safety management (SM).

PubMed

Wang, Bing; Wu, Chao; Shi, Bo; Huang, Lang

2017-12-01

In safety management (SM), it is important to make an effective safety decision based on the reliable and sufficient safety-related information. However, many SM failures in organizations occur for a lack of the necessary safety-related information for safety decision-making. Since facts are the important basis and foundation for decision-making, more efforts to seek the best evidence relevant to a particular SM problem would lead to a more effective SM solution. Therefore, the new paradigm for decision-making named "evidence-based practice (EBP)" can hold important implications for SM, because it uses the current best evidence for effective decision-making. Based on a systematic review of existing SM approaches and an analysis of reasons why we need new SM approaches, we created a new SM approach called evidence-based safety (EBS) management by introducing evidence-based practice into SM. It was necessary to create new SM approaches. A new SM approach called EBS was put forward, and the basic questions of EBS such as its definition and core were analyzed in detail. Moreover, the determinants of EBS included manager's attitudes towards EBS; evidence-based consciousness in SM; evidence sources; technical support; EBS human resources; organizational culture; and individual attributes. EBS is a new and effective approach to teaching the practice of SM. Of course, further research on EBS should be carried out to make EBS a reality. Practical applications: Our work can provide a new and effective idea and method to teach the practice of SM. Specifically, EBS proposed in our study can help safety professionals make an effective safety decision based on a firm foundation of high-grade evidence. Copyright © 2017 National Safety Council and Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Proximity Effect Correction by Pattern Modified Stencil Mask in Large-Field Projection Electron-Beam Lithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kobinata, Hideo; Yamashita, Hiroshi; Nomura, Eiichi; Nakajima, Ken; Kuroki, Yukinori

1998-12-01

A new method for proximity effect correction, suitable for large-field electron-beam (EB) projection lithography with high accelerating voltage, such as SCALPEL and PREVAIL in the case where a stencil mask is used, is discussed. In this lithography, a large-field is exposed by the same dose, and thus, the dose modification method, which is used in the variable-shaped beam and the cell projection methods, cannot be used in this case. In this study, we report on development of a new proximity effect correction method which uses a pattern modified stencil mask suitable for high accelerating voltage and large-field EB projection lithography. In order to obtain the mask bias value, we have investigated linewidth reduction, due to the proximity effect, in the peripheral memory cell area, and found that it could be expressed by a simple function and all the correction parameters were easily determined from only the mask pattern data. The proximity effect for the peripheral array pattern could also be corrected by considering the pattern density. Calculated linewidth deviation was 3% or less for a 0.07-µm-L/S memory cell pattern and 5% or less for a 0.14-µm-line and 0.42-µm-space peripheral array pattern, simultaneously.

Robust Tests for Additive Gene-Environment Interaction in Case-Control Studies Using Gene-Environment Independence.

PubMed

Liu, Gang; Mukherjee, Bhramar; Lee, Seunggeun; Lee, Alice W; Wu, Anna H; Bandera, Elisa V; Jensen, Allan; Rossing, Mary Anne; Moysich, Kirsten B; Chang-Claude, Jenny; Doherty, Jennifer A; Gentry-Maharaj, Aleksandra; Kiemeney, Lambertus; Gayther, Simon A; Modugno, Francesmary; Massuger, Leon; Goode, Ellen L; Fridley, Brooke L; Terry, Kathryn L; Cramer, Daniel W; Ramus, Susan J; Anton-Culver, Hoda; Ziogas, Argyrios; Tyrer, Jonathan P; Schildkraut, Joellen M; Kjaer, Susanne K; Webb, Penelope M; Ness, Roberta B; Menon, Usha; Berchuck, Andrew; Pharoah, Paul D; Risch, Harvey; Pearce, Celeste Leigh

2018-02-01

There have been recent proposals advocating the use of additive gene-environment interaction instead of the widely used multiplicative scale, as a more relevant public health measure. Using gene-environment independence enhances statistical power for testing multiplicative interaction in case-control studies. However, under departure from this assumption, substantial bias in the estimates and inflated type I error in the corresponding tests can occur. In this paper, we extend the empirical Bayes (EB) approach previously developed for multiplicative interaction, which trades off between bias and efficiency in a data-adaptive way, to the additive scale. An EB estimator of the relative excess risk due to interaction is derived, and the corresponding Wald test is proposed with a general regression setting under a retrospective likelihood framework. We study the impact of gene-environment association on the resultant test with case-control data. Our simulation studies suggest that the EB approach uses the gene-environment independence assumption in a data-adaptive way and provides a gain in power compared with the standard logistic regression analysis and better control of type I error when compared with the analysis assuming gene-environment independence. We illustrate the methods with data from the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium. © The Author(s) 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Toxic effects of sub-chronic exposure of male albino rats to emamectin benzoate and possible ameliorative role of Foeniculum vulgare essential oil.

PubMed

El-Sheikh, El-Sayed A; Galal, Azza A A

2015-05-01

Emamectin benzoate (EB) is an avermectin insecticide used extensively in pest control on vegetable and field crops. Few studies have been done for evaluating adverse effects of EB. In the current study, we evaluated the toxic effects of EB on male rats and the possible ameliorative role of fennel essential oil (FEO). Thirty two male rats were randomly divided into 4 equal groups. All groups were treated orally with distilled water (control group), 0.5mlFEOkg(-1) BW (FEO group), 2.5mgEBkg(-1) BW (EB group), and 0.5mlFEOkg(-1) BW+2.5mgEBkg(-1) BW (FEO+EB group) for 28 days. The obtained results showed that EB treatment resulted in a significant decrease in body weight, body weight gain, RBC count, Hb concentration, % PCV, MCV and MCHC. Moreover, EB significantly decreased total leukocyte, lymphocyte, monocyte and platelet count but significantly increased granulocyte count. EB markedly decreased total protein, albumin, globulin, IgG and IgM concentrations with a significant increase in TNF-α secretion. EB had a negative impact on the liver as it significantly increased ALT, ALP, and MDA, while decreasing SOD activity. Regarding to the histopathological examination, EB treatment induced coagulative necrosis and blood vessels congestion of the liver in treated rats. Furthermore, it resulted in depletion and necrosis of the white pulp of the spleen in treated rats. The co-administration of FEO with EB, however, improved the majority of parameters studied, suggesting that FEO is an important substance in decreasing toxic effects of EB. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Investigating the effects of the fixed and varying dispersion parameters of Poisson-gamma models on empirical Bayes estimates.

PubMed

Lord, Dominique; Park, Peter Young-Jin

2008-07-01

Traditionally, transportation safety analysts have used the empirical Bayes (EB) method to improve the estimate of the long-term mean of individual sites; to correct for the regression-to-the-mean (RTM) bias in before-after studies; and to identify hotspots or high risk locations. The EB method combines two different sources of information: (1) the expected number of crashes estimated via crash prediction models, and (2) the observed number of crashes at individual sites. Crash prediction models have traditionally been estimated using a negative binomial (NB) (or Poisson-gamma) modeling framework due to the over-dispersion commonly found in crash data. A weight factor is used to assign the relative influence of each source of information on the EB estimate. This factor is estimated using the mean and variance functions of the NB model. With recent trends that illustrated the dispersion parameter to be dependent upon the covariates of NB models, especially for traffic flow-only models, as well as varying as a function of different time-periods, there is a need to determine how these models may affect EB estimates. The objectives of this study are to examine how commonly used functional forms as well as fixed and time-varying dispersion parameters affect the EB estimates. To accomplish the study objectives, several traffic flow-only crash prediction models were estimated using a sample of rural three-legged intersections located in California. Two types of aggregated and time-specific models were produced: (1) the traditional NB model with a fixed dispersion parameter and (2) the generalized NB model (GNB) with a time-varying dispersion parameter, which is also dependent upon the covariates of the model. Several statistical methods were used to compare the fitting performance of the various functional forms. The results of the study show that the selection of the functional form of NB models has an important effect on EB estimates both in terms of estimated values, weight factors, and dispersion parameters. Time-specific models with a varying dispersion parameter provide better statistical performance in terms of goodness-of-fit (GOF) than aggregated multi-year models. Furthermore, the identification of hazardous sites, using the EB method, can be significantly affected when a GNB model with a time-varying dispersion parameter is used. Thus, erroneously selecting a functional form may lead to select the wrong sites for treatment. The study concludes that transportation safety analysts should not automatically use an existing functional form for modeling motor vehicle crashes without conducting rigorous analyses to estimate the most appropriate functional form linking crashes with traffic flow.

A pseudospectra-based approach to non-normal stability of embedded boundary methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rapaka, Narsimha; Samtaney, Ravi

2017-11-01

We present non-normal linear stability of embedded boundary (EB) methods employing pseudospectra and resolvent norms. Stability of the discrete linear wave equation is characterized in terms of the normalized distance of the EB to the nearest ghost node (α) in one and two dimensions. An important objective is that the CFL condition based on the Cartesian grid spacing remains unaffected by the EB. We consider various discretization methods including both central and upwind-biased schemes. Stability is guaranteed when α <=αmax ranges between 0.5 and 0.77 depending on the discretization scheme. Also, the stability characteristics remain the same in both one and two dimensions. Sharper limits on the sufficient conditions for stability are obtained based on the pseudospectral radius (the Kreiss constant) than the restrictive limits based on the usual singular value decomposition analysis. We present a simple and robust reclassification scheme for the ghost cells (``hybrid ghost cells'') to ensure Lax stability of the discrete systems. This has been tested successfully for both low and high order discretization schemes with transient growth of at most O (1). Moreover, we present a stable, fourth order EB reconstruction scheme. Supported by the KAUST Office of Competitive Research Funds under Award No. URF/1/1394-01.

Magnetization reversal in epitaxial exchange-biased IrMn/FeGa bilayers with anisotropy geometries controlled by oblique deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yao; Zhan, Qingfeng; Zuo, Zhenghu; Yang, Huali; Zhang, Xiaoshan; Dai, Guohong; Liu, Yiwei; Yu, Ying; Wang, Jun; Wang, Baomin; Li, Run-Wei

2015-05-01

We fabricated epitaxial exchange biased (EB) IrMn/FeGa bilayers by oblique deposition and systematically investigated their magnetization reversal. Two different configurations with the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy Ku parallel and perpendicular to the unidirectional anisotropy Ke b were obtained by controlling the orientation of the incident FeGa beam during deposition. A large ratio of Ku/Ke b was obtained by obliquely depositing the FeGa layer to achieve a large Ku while reducing the IrMn thickness to obtain a small Ke b. Besides the previously reported square loops, conventional asymmetrically shaped loops, and one-sided and two-sided two-step loops, unusual asymmetrically shaped loops with a three-step magnetic transition for the descending branch and a two-step transition for the ascending branch and biased three-step loops were observed at various field orientations in the films of both IrMn (tIrMn=1.5 to 20 nm)/FeGa (10 nm) with Ku⊥ Ke b and IrMn (tIrMn≤2 nm)/FeGa (10 nm) with Ku|| Ke b . Considering the geometries of anisotropies, a model based on domain wall nucleation and propagation was employed to quantitatively describe the angular dependent behaviors of IrMn/FeGa bilayers. The biased three-step magnetic switching was predicted to take place when | Ku|> ɛ90°+Ke b , where ɛ90° is the 90° domain wall nucleation energy, and the EB leads to the appearance of the unusual asymmetrically shaped hysteresis loops.

Enterovirus Species B Bias of RD Cell Line and Its Influence on Enterovirus Diversity Landscape.

PubMed

Faleye, Temitope Oluwasegun Cephas; Adeniji, Johnson Adekunle

2015-12-01

Despite its widespread use in poliovirus isolation, studies show that most RD cell line isolates are species B enteroviruses (EB), it was therefore employed to further catalogue the EB diversity in two different regions of Nigeria. Concentrates of 18 environmental samples were inoculated into RD cell line. Isolates were subjected to PCR assays to detect enteroviruses, species C and B members and partial VP1 gene which was subsequently sequenced and used for identification and phylogenetic analysis. Isolates were further passaged in L20B cell line to detect polioviruses. Sixty-eight isolates were recovered from the 18 concentrates, all of which were positive for the enterovirus 5'-UTR screen. Thirteen of the 68 isolates were positive for the species C screen and replicated in L20B cell line, eleven of which also contained species B enteroviruses. Some of the mixed isolates were successfully typed, but as species B members. In all, isolates recovered in this study were identified as CVB5, E6, E7, E11, E13, E19, E20, E33, EVB75 and WPV3, while some could not be typed. Alongside the ten different enterovirus serotypes confirmed, results of this study document for the first time in Nigeria, EVB75. It showed the EB bias of RD cell line might indicate something much more fundamental in its biology. Finally, the finding of WPV3 in a region considered low risk for poliovirus emphasizes the need to expand poliovirus environmental surveillance to enable early detection of poliovirus silent circulation before occurrence of clinical manifestations.

CLASPs are required for proper microtubule localization of End-binding proteins

PubMed Central

Grimaldi, Ashley D.; Maki, Takahisa; Fitton, Benjamin P.; Roth, Daniel; Yampolsky, Dmitry; Davidson, Michael W.; Svitkina, Tatyana; Straube, Anne; Hayashi, Ikuko; Kaverina, Irina

2014-01-01

Summary Microtubule (MT) plus-end tracking proteins (+TIPs) preferentially localize to MT plus-ends. End-binding proteins (EBs) are master regulators of the +TIP complex; however, it is unknown whether EBs are regulated by other +TIPs. Here, we show that Cytoplasmic linker associated proteins (CLASPs) modulate EB localization at MTs. In CLASP-depleted cells, EBs localized along the MT lattice in addition to plus-ends. The MT-binding region of CLASP was sufficient for restoring normal EB localization, while neither EB-CLASP interactions nor EB tail-binding proteins are involved. In vitro assays revealed that CLASP directly functions to remove EB from MTs. Importantly, this effect occurs specifically during MT polymerization, but not at pre-formed MTs. Increased GTP-tubulin content within MTs in CLASP-depleted cells suggests that CLASPs facilitate GTP-hydrolysis to reduce EB lattice binding. Together, these findings suggest that CLASPs influence the MT lattice itself to regulate EB and determine exclusive plus-end localization of EBs in cells. PMID:25117684

Investigation of electron beam irradiation effects on anti-nutritional factors, chemical composition and digestion kinetics of whole cottonseed, soybean and canola seeds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ebrahimi-Mahmoudabad, S. R.; Taghinejad-Roudbaneh, M.

2011-12-01

This study was completed to determine effects of electron beam (EB) irradiation at doses of 15, 30 and 45 kGy on anti-nutritional factors, ruminal degradation and in vitro crude protein (CP) digestibility of whole cottonseed (WCS), soybean (SB) and canola seeds (CS). EB-irradiation eliminated completely ( P<0.001) phytic acid of WCS, SB and CS at a dose of 30 kGy. EB-irradiation decreased linearly ( P<0.001) the total glucosinolate content of CS. Trypsin inhibitor activity of 15, 30 and 45 kGy EB-irradiated SB was decreased by 19, 73 and 88%, respectively. Free gossypol content of WCS was reduced linearly ( P<0.001) by irradiation. EB-irradiation increased linearly ( P<0.001) CP digestibility of feeds. In conclusion, EB-irradiation was an effective processing method for improving the nutritive value of WCS, SB and CS.

Inhibition of Vaccinia virus entry by a broad spectrum antiviral peptide

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

Altmann, S.E.; Jones, J.C.; Schultz-Cherry, S.

2009-06-05

Concerns about the possible use of Variola virus, the causative agent of smallpox, as a weapon for bioterrorism have led to renewed efforts to identify new antivirals against orthopoxviruses. We identified a peptide, EB, which inhibited infection by Vaccinia virus with an EC{sub 50} of 15 muM. A control peptide, EBX, identical in composition to EB but differing in sequence, was inactive (EC{sub 50} > 200 muM), indicating sequence specificity. The inhibition was reversed upon removal of the peptide, and EB treatment had no effect on the physical integrity of virus particles as determined by electron microscopy. Viral adsorption wasmore » unaffected by the presence of EB, and the addition of EB post-entry had no effect on viral titers or on early gene expression. The addition of EB post-adsorption resulted in the inhibition of beta-galactosidase expression from an early viral promoter with an EC{sub 50} of 45 muM. A significant reduction in virus entry was detected in the presence of the peptide when the number of viral cores released into the cytoplasm was quantified. Electron microscopy indicated that 88% of the virions remained on the surface of cells in the presence of EB, compared to 37% in the control (p < 0.001). EB also blocked fusion-from-within, suggesting that virus infection is inhibited at the fusion step. Analysis of EB derivatives suggested that peptide length may be important for the activity of EB. The EB peptide is, to our knowledge, the first known small molecule inhibitor of Vaccinia virus entry.« less

Comparison of the decomposition characteristics of aromatic VOCs using an electron beam hybrid system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Son, Youn-Suk; Kim, Ki-Joon; Kim, Ji-Yong; Kim, Jo-Chun

2010-12-01

We applied a hybrid technique to assess the decomposition characteristics of ethylbenzene and toluene that annexed the catalyst technique with existing electron beam (EB) technology. The removal efficiency of ethylbenzene in the EB-catalyst hybrid turned out to be 30% greater than that of EB-only treatment. We concluded that ethylbenzene was decomposed more easily than toluene by EB irradiation. We compared the independent effects of the EB-catalyst hybrid and catalyst-only methods, and observed that the efficiency of the EB-catalyst hybrid demonstrated approximately 6% improvement for decomposing toluene and 20% improvement for decomposing ethylbenzene. The G-values for ethylbenzene increased with initial concentration and reactor type: for example, the G-values by reactor type at 2800 ppmC were 7.5-10.9 (EB-only) and 12.9-25.7 (EB-catalyst hybrid). We also observed a significant decrease in by-products as well as in the removal efficiencies associated with the EB-catalyst hybrid technique.

Magnetic behaviors in melt spun Fe{sub 52−x}Mn{sub 23+x}Ga{sub 25} (x = 0–3) ribbons

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

Shih, C. W.; Lee, Y. I.; Chang, W. C., E-mail: phywcc@ccu.edu.tw

2014-05-07

The effect of volume fraction of B2-type ferromagnetic (FM) phase on magnetic behavior of melt-spun Fe{sub 52−x}Mn{sub 23+x}Ga{sub 25} (x = 0, 1, 2, and 3) ribbons has been investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results show that the volume fraction of the B2 phase is decreased, accompanied by the increased antiferromagnetic (AFM) fcc phase, with increasing x. The magnetization isotherms of these ribbons at different temperatures demonstrate that there exists a critical field H{sub CR} from AFM to FM state, and the H{sub CR} decreases and vanishes finally with increasing temperature. High exchange bias field (H{sub EB}) at 10 K through a cooling fieldmore » at H{sub CR} from 300 K could be found and correlated to the volume fraction of B2-type FM phase. Both H{sub CR} and H{sub EB} are increased with decreasing the amount of B2-type FM phase. The H{sub CR} is increased from 20 kOe for x = 0 to 50 kOe for x = 3, and H{sub EB} is increased from 0.9 kOe for x = 0 to 2.5 kOe for x = 2. The latter phenomenon might be attributed to the change of exchange interactions at FM/AFM interfaces due to the change of proportion of FM and AFM phase at low temperature.« less

VEGF and IHH rescue definitive hematopoiesis in Gata-4 and Gata-6-deficient murine embryoid bodies.

PubMed

Pierre, Monique; Yoshimoto, Momoko; Huang, Lan; Richardson, Matthew; Yoder, Mervin C

2009-09-01

Murine embryonic stem cells can be differentiated into embryoid bodies (EBs), which serve as an in vitro model recapitulating many aspects of embryonic yolk sac hematopoiesis. Differentiation of embryonic stem cells deficient in either Gata-4 or Gata-6 results in EBs with disrupted visceral endoderm (VE). While lack of VE has detrimental effects on hematopoiesis in vivo, it is unclear whether lack of VE affects hematopoiesis in EBs. Therefore, we compared Gata-4 null (G4N) and Gata-6 null (G6N) EBs with wild-type EBs to assess their ability to commit to hematopoietic cells. EB VE formation was examined using cell-sorting techniques and analysis visceral endoderm gene expression. Hematopoietic progenitor potential of EBs cultured under various conditions was assessed using colony-forming assays. Definitive erythroid, granulocyte-macrophage, and mixed colonies were significantly reduced in G4N and G6N EBs compared to wild-type EBs. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and secretion were also reduced in both G4N and G6N EBs, consistent with VE serving as a site of VEGF production. Addition of exogenous VEGF(165), to EB cultures completely rescued definitive colony-forming cells in G4N and G6N EBs. This rescue response could be blocked by addition of soluble Flk-1 Fc to EB cultures. Similarly, addition of exogenous Indian hedgehog to EB cultures also recovers the diminishment in definitive hematopoiesis in a reversible manner. These results suggest that the absence of VE in G4N and G6N EBs does not prevent emergence of definitive progenitors from EBs. However, the decreased level of VEGF and Indian hedgehog production in VE devoid G4N and G6N EBs attenuates definitive hematopoietic progenitor cell expansion.

Biological effects of the anti-parasitic chemotherapeutant emamectin benzoate on a non-target crustacean, the spot prawn (Pandalus platyceros Brandt, 1851) under laboratory conditions.

PubMed

Veldhoen, Nik; Ikonomou, Michael G; Buday, Craig; Jordan, Jameson; Rehaume, Vicki; Cabecinha, Melissa; Dubetz, Cory; Chamberlain, Jon; Pittroff, Sabrina; Vallée, Kurtis; van Aggelen, Graham; Helbing, Caren C

2012-02-01

The potential impact of commercial salmon aquaculture along the coast of British Columbia on the health of non-target marine wildlife is of growing concern. In the current initiative, the biological effects on gene expression within spot prawn (Pandalus platyceros) exposed to the sea lice controlling agent, emamectin benzoate (EB; 0.1-4.8 mg/kg sediment), were investigated. A mean sediment/water partitioning coefficient (K(p)) was determined to be 21.81 and significant levels of EB were detected in the tail muscle tissue in all exposed animals. Animals selected for the experiment did not have eggs and were of similar weight. Significant mortality was observed within 8 days of EB treatment at concentrations between 0.1 and 0.8 mg/kg and there was no effect of EB on molting. Twelve spot prawn cDNA sequences were isolated from the tail muscle either by directed cloning or subtractive hybridization of control versus EB exposed tissues. Three of the transcripts most affected by EB exposure matched sequences encoding the 60S ribosomal protein L22, spliceosome RNA helicase WM6/UAP56, and the intracellular signal mediator histidine triad nucleotide binding protein 1 suggesting that translation, transcription regulation, and apoptosis pathways were impacted. The mRNA encoding the molting enzyme, β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, was not affected by EB treatment. However, the expression of this transcript was extremely variable making it unsuitable for effects assessment. The results suggest that short-term exposure to EB can impact biological processes within this non-target crustacean. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Protective effects of ebselen (Ebs) and para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS) against manganese (Mn)-induced neurotoxicity

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

Marreilha dos Santos, A.P., E-mail: apsantos@ff.ul.pt; Lucas, Rui L.; Andrade, Vanda

2012-02-01

Chronic, excessive exposure to manganese (Mn) may induce neurotoxicity and cause an irreversible brain disease, referred to as manganism. Efficacious therapies for the treatment of Mn are lacking, mandating the development of new interventions. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of ebselen (Ebs) and para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS) in attenuating the neurotoxic effects of Mn in an in vivo rat model. Exposure biomarkers, inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers, as well as behavioral parameters were evaluated. Co-treatment with Mn plus Ebs or Mn plus PAS caused a significant decrease in blood and brain Mn concentrations (compared tomore » rats treated with Mn alone), concomitant with reduced brain E{sub 2} prostaglandin (PGE{sub 2}) and enhanced brain glutathione (GSH) levels, decreased serum prolactin (PRL) levels, and increased ambulation and rearing activities. Taken together, these results establish that both PAS and Ebs are efficacious in reducing Mn body burden, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and locomotor activity impairments in a rat model of Mn-induced toxicity. -- Highlights: ► The manuscript is unique in its approach to the neurotoxicity of Mn. ► The manuscript incorporates molecular, cellular and functional (behavioral) analyses. ► Both PAS and Ebs are effective in restoring Mn behavioral function. ► Both PAS and Ebs are effective in reducing Mn-induced oxidative stress. ► Both PAS and Ebs led to a decrease in Mn-induced neuro-inflammation.« less

Application of a non-hazardous vital dye for cell counting with automated cell counters.

PubMed

Kim, Soo In; Kim, Hyun Jeong; Lee, Ho-Jae; Lee, Kiwon; Hong, Dongpyo; Lim, Hyunchang; Cho, Keunchang; Jung, Neoncheol; Yi, Yong Weon

2016-01-01

Recent advances in automated cell counters enable us to count cells more easily with consistency. However, the wide use of the traditional vital dye trypan blue (TB) raises environmental and health concerns due to its potential teratogenic effects. To avoid this chemical hazard, it is of importance to introduce an alternative non-hazardous vital dye that is compatible with automated cell counters. Erythrosin B (EB) is a vital dye that is impermeable to biological membranes and is used as a food additive. Similarly to TB, EB stains only nonviable cells with disintegrated membranes. However, EB is less popular than TB and is seldom used with automated cell counters. We found that cell counting accuracy with EB was comparable to that with TB. EB was found to be an effective dye for accurate counting of cells with different viabilities across three different automated cell counters. In contrast to TB, EB was less toxic to cultured HL-60 cells during the cell counting process. These results indicate that replacing TB with EB for use with automated cell counters will significantly reduce the hazardous risk while producing comparable results. Copyright © 2015 Logos Biosystems, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Endoscopic Biliary Stenting Versus Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Stenting in Advanced Malignant Biliary Obstruction: Cost-effectiveness Analysis.

PubMed

Sun, Xin Rong; Tang, Cheng Wu; Lu, Wen Ming; Xu, Yong Qiang; Feng, Wen Ming; Bao, Yin; Zheng, Yin Yuan

2014-05-01

This study aims to compare the clinical outcomes and costs between endoscopic biliary stenting (EBS) and percutaneous transhepatic biliary stenting (PTBS). We randomly assigned 112 patients with unresectable malignant biliary obstruction 2006 and 2011 to receive EBS or PTBS with self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) as palliative treatment. PTBS was successfully performed in 55 patients who formed the PTBS group (failed in 2 patients). EBS was successfully performed in 52 patients who formed the EBS group (failed in 3 patients). The effectiveness of biliary drainage, hospital stay, complications, cost, survival time and mortality were compared. Patients in PTBS group had shorter hospital stay and lower initial and overall expense than the BBS group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in effectiveness of biliary drainage (P = 0.9357) or survival time between two groups (P = 0.6733). Early complications occurred in PTBS group was significantly lower than in EBS group (3/55 vs 11/52, P = 0.0343). Late complications in the EBS group did not differ significantly from PTBS group (7/55 vs 9/52, P = 0.6922). The survival curves in the two groups showed no significant difference (P = 0.5294). Conclusions: 3.

Current Status of Early Blight Resistance in Tomato: An Update

PubMed Central

Adhikari, Pragya; Oh, Yeonyee; Panthee, Dilip R.

2017-01-01

Early blight (EB) is one of the dreadful diseases of tomato caused by several species of Alternaria including Alternaria linariae (which includes A. solani and A. tomatophila), as well as A. alternata. In some instances, annual economic yield losses due to EB have been estimated at 79%. Alternaria are known only to reproduce asexually, but a highly-virulent isolate has the potential to overcome existing resistance genes. Currently, cultural practices and fungicide applications are employed for the management of EB due to the lack of strong resistant cultivars. Resistance sources have been identified in wild species of tomato; some breeding lines and cultivars with moderate resistance have been developed through conventional breeding methods. Polygenic inheritance of EB resistance, insufficient resistance in cultivated species and the association of EB resistance with undesirable horticultural traits have thwarted the effective breeding of EB resistance in tomato. Several quantitative trait loci (QTL) conferring EB resistance have been detected in the populations derived from different wild species including Solanum habrochaites, Solanum arcanum and S. pimpinellifolium, but none of them could be used in EB resistance breeding due to low individual QTL effects. Pyramiding of those QTLs would provide strong resistance. More research is needed to identify additional sources of useful resistance, to incorporate resistant QTLs into breeding lines through marker-assisted selection (MAS) and to develop resistant cultivars with desirable horticultural traits including high yielding potential and early maturity. This paper will review the current understanding of causal agents of EB of tomato, resistance genetics and breeding, problems associated with breeding and future prospects. PMID:28934121

SED-dependent galactic extinction prescription for Euclid and future cosmological surveys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galametz, Audrey; Saglia, Roberto; Paltani, Stéphane; Apostolakos, Nikolaos; Dubath, Pierre

2017-02-01

The outcome of upcoming cosmological surveys will depend on the accurate estimates of photometric redshifts. In the framework of the implementation of the photometric redshift algorithm for the ESA Euclid mission, we are exploring new avenues to improve current template-fitting methods. This paper focusses in particular on the prescription of the extinction of a source light by dust in the Milky Way. Since Galactic extinction strongly correlates with wavelength and photometry is commonly obtained through broad-band filters, the amount of absorption depends on the source intrinsic spectral energy distribution (SED), a point however neglected as the source SED is not known a-priori. A consequence of this dependence is that the observed EB-V (=AB-AV) will in general be different from the EB-V used to normalise the Galactic absorption law kλ (=Aλ/EB-V). Band-pass corrections are thus required to adequately renormalise the law for a given SED. In this work, we assess the band-pass corrections of a range of SEDs and find they vary by up to 20%. We have investigated how neglecting these corrections biases the calibration of dust into reddening map and how the scaling of the map depends of the sources used for its calibration. We derive dust-to-reddening scaling factors from the colour excesses of z< 0.4 SDSS red galaxies and show that band-pass corrections predict the observed differences. Extinction corrections are then estimated for a range of SEDs and a set of optical to near-infrared filters relevant to Euclid and upcoming cosmological ground-based surveys. For high extinction line-of-sights (EB-V> 0.1, 8% of the Euclid Wide survey), the variations in corrections can be up to 0.1 mag in the "bluer" optical filters (ugr) and up to 0.04 mag in the near-infrared filters. We find that an inaccurate correction of Galactic extinction critically affects photometric redshift estimates. In particular, for high extinction lines of sights and z < 0.5, the bias (I.e. the mean Δz = zphot-zreal) exceeds 0.2%(1 + z), the precision required for weak-lensing analyses. Additional uncertainty on the parametrisation of the Milky Way extinction curve itself further reduces the photometric redshift precision. We propose a new prescription of Galactic absorption for template-fitting algorithms which takes into consideration the dependence of extinction with SED.

Early blindness alters the spatial organization of verbal working memory.

PubMed

Bottini, Roberto; Mattioni, Stefania; Collignon, Olivier

2016-10-01

Several studies suggest that serial order in working memory (WM) is grounded on space. For a list of ordered items held in WM, items at the beginning of the list are associated with the left side of space and items at the end of the list with the right side. This suggests that maintaining items in verbal WM is performed in strong analogy to writing these items down on a physical whiteboard for later consultation (The Mental Whiteboard Hypothesis). What drives this spatial mapping of ordered series in WM remains poorly understood. In the present study we tested whether visual experience is instrumental in establishing the link between serial order in WM and spatial processing. We tested early blind (EB), late blind (LB) and sighted individuals in an auditory WM task. Replicating previous studies, left-key responses were faster for early items in the list whereas later items facilitated right-key responses in the sighted group. The same effect was observed in LB individuals. In contrast, EB participants did not show any association between space and serial position in WM. These results suggest that early visual experience plays a critical role in linking ordered items in WM and spatial representations. The analogical spatial structure of WM may depend in part on the actual experience of using spatially organized devices (e.g., notes, whiteboards) to offload WM. These practices are largely precluded to EB individuals, who instead rely to mnemonic devices that are less spatially organized (e.g., recordings, vocal notes). The way we habitually organize information in the external world may bias the way we organize information in our WM. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Applied socio-hydrology using volunteer geographic information (VGI) to integrate ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mendiondo, Eduardo; Taffarello, Denise; Mohor, Guilherme; Guzmán, Diego; Câmara de Freitas, Clarissa; Fava, Maria Clara; Restrepo, Camilo; Abreu, Fernando; Batalini, Marina; Lago, Cesar; Abe, Narumi; Rosa, Altair

2017-04-01

Socio-hydrology proposes to understand coupled human-water systems by conceptualizing its components to be dynamically connected by bi-directional feedbacks. For practical purposes, especially in developing countries of South America, socio-hydrology does integrate practical, empirical and theoretical fundamentals from citizens' knowledge and culture. This contribution shows South American examples of how volunteer geographic information (VGI) can help socio-hydrology to integrate emerging aspects with heavy feedbacks, exploding uncertainties and relevant scales of socio-hydrological scales. Here we select examples at different scales of using VGI to link aspects of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR). On the one hand, we show some learning cases of EbA/VGI linked to socio-hydrology also related with water valuation, both monetary and non-monetary, under scenarios of changing conditions of land-use and land cover changes of strategic water supply systems in subtropical biomes. This example brings a bridge of VGI and EbA towards Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) through water topics of securitization, insurance, smart cities and sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS). Thus, on the other hand, we also depict how VGI support applied elements for socio-hydrology on South American urban areas, capable of policy actions for DRR through SUDS at human-impacted biomes under extremes of droughts, floods and pollution. We here recommend yardsticks of learning conditions from these real examples of using VGI's knowledge and culture biases for a more resilient socio-hydrology, in order to create opportunities for theoretical, conceptual and applied nature of EbA and DRR with viable alliances from IAHS/Panta Rhei with UN/Sendai/DRR Framework and UN/Sustainable Development Goals. From these examples, however, seem plausible co-evolutionary dynamics with stakeholders if local-scale constraints, from sociopolitical nature, institutions' policies and approaches, were robustly addressed.

Comparison of early morphological and molecular changes induced by 17-alpha-methyltestosterone and estradiol benzoate in the rat ovary.

PubMed

Ferre, Céline; Belluco, Sara; Tinwell, Helen; Bars, Rémi; Benahmed, Mohamed; Rouquie, David; Schorsch, Frédéric

2013-05-01

Repeated exposure to 17-α-methyltestosterone (17MT) and estradiol benzoate (EB) for 28 or 90 days in rats induce similar ovarian atrophy. The objective of the present work was to identify and compare the early effects induced by 17MT and EB on the ovary using molecular and histopathological tools. Female rats were evaluated after 1, 3 or 7 days following an oral exposure by gavage at a daily dose of 600 mg/kg/day for 17MT and 5 mg/kg/day for EB. All animals were found to be acyclic after 3 or 7 days of treatment with 17MT and EB. Histopathological changes were present in the ovary, uterus, vagina and mammary gland after both treatments. Ovarian atrophy known as the long term effect of 17MT and EB was not yet detected after 7 days of treatment. But non regressive corpora lutea and cystic follicles were identically observed in the ovary of 17MT and EB treated females. Both compounds induced a decrease of LH transcripts together with an increase of plasma progesterone and prolactin levels. Differences in the profile of regulation of the aromatase were noted after 1 and 3 days of treatment in 17MT treated animals (upregulated) when compared to EB treated animals (downregulated). In summary, we have shown that despite the different nature of hormonal activity, EB and 17MT induce very early endocrine perturbation which presents several similarities. Our work indicated that the detection of early key hormonal markers in short term studies can help to predict the adverse long term effects on target tissues. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Diversity of Endophytic Bacteria in a Fern Species Dryopteris uniformis (Makino) Makino and Evaluation of Their Antibacterial Potential Against Five Foodborne Pathogenic Bacteria.

PubMed

Das, Gitishree; Park, Seonjoo; Baek, Kwang-Hyun

2017-05-01

The fern plant Dryopteris uniformis has traditionally been used in herbal medicine and possesses many biological activities. This study was conducted to explore the endophytic bacterial diversity associated with D. uniformis and evaluate their antibacterial potential against foodborne pathogenic bacteria (FPB). Among 51 isolated endophytic bacteria (EB), 26 EB were selected based on their morphological characteristics and identified by 16S rRNA gene analysis. The distribution of EB was diverse in the leaf and the stem/root tissues. When the EB were screened for antibacterial activity against five FPB, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli O157:H7, four EB Bacillus sp. cryopeg, Paenibacillus sp. rif200865, Staphylococcus warneri, and Bacillus psychrodurans had a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity (9.58 ± 0.66 to 21.47 ± 0.27 mm inhibition zone). The butanol solvent extract of B. sp. cryopeg and P. sp. rif200865 displayed effective antibacterial activity against the five FPB, which was evident from the scanning electron microscopy with irregular or burst cell morphology in the EB-treated bacteria compared to smooth and regular cells in case of the control bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values ranged between 250-500 μg/mL and 500-100 μg/mL, respectively. The above outcomes signify the huge prospective of the selected EB in the food industry. Overall, the above results suggested that D. uniformis contains several culturable EB that possess effective antibacterial compounds, and that EB can be utilized as a source of natural antibacterial agents for their practical application in food industry to control the spread of FPB as a natural antibacterial agent.

Icariin promotes expression of junctophilin 2 and Ca2+ related function during cardiomyocyte differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells.

PubMed

Liang, Xingguang; Hong, Dongsheng; Huang, Yujie; Rao, Yuefeng; Ma, Kuifen; Huang, Mingzhu; Zhang, Xingguo; Lou, Yijia; Zhao, Qingwei

2015-12-01

Junctophilin2 (JP2) is a critical protein associated with cardiogenesis. Icariin (ICA) facilitated the directional differentiation of murine embryonic stem (ES) cells into cardiomyocytes. However, little is known about the effects of ICA on JP2 during cardiac differentiation. Here, we explored whether ICA has effects on the expression and Ca2+ related function of JP2 during cardiomyocyte differentiation of ES cells in vitro. Embryonid bodies (EBs) formed by hanging drop were treated with 10(-7) mol/L ICA from day 5 to promote the cardiac differentiation. Percentage of beating EBs and number of beating area within EBs were monitored. Cardiomyocytes were purified by discontinuous percoll gradient centrifugation from EBs. The expression of JP2, α-actinin and troponin-T within EBs or isolated cardiomyocytes were analyzed by immunocytochemistry, western blot and flow cytometry. The transient Ca2+ release was characterized in cardiomyocytes treated with/without 10 mmol/L caffeine and 8 mmol/L Ca2+. Our results showed that ES cell-derived cardiomyocytes were well characterized with JP2 proteins. ICA promoted cardiomyocyte differentiation as indicated by an increased percentage of beating EBs and number of beating area within EBs. The expression of JP2, α-actinin and troponin-T were up-regulated both in EBs and isolated cardiomyocytes from EBs. Furthermore, ICA-induced JP2 expression was accompanied by a remarkable increase of the amplitude of Ca2+ transients in cardiomyocytes before/after caffeine and Ca2+ stimulating. In conclusion, ICA promotes in cardiac differentiation partly through regulating JP2 and improved the Ca2+ modulatory function of cardiomyocytes.

Persistence of blood changes associated with alteration of the dietary electrolyte balance in commercial pigs after feed withdrawal, transportation, and lairage, and the effects on performance and carcass quality.

PubMed

Edwards, L N; Engle, T E; Paradis, M A; Correa, J A; Anderson, D B

2010-12-01

Increasing dietary electrolyte balance (dEB) has previously been shown to reduce the incidence of nonambulatory and noninjured swine, improve meat quality, and reduce the incidence of gastric ulcers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dEB under commercial conditions. Due to the variability in feed withdrawal, transport, and lairage conditions in the swine industry, it was necessary to determine first the persistence of blood changes during the marketing process after alteration of dEB. Sixteen pens of 8 crossbred barrows were assigned to a low (121 mEq/kg) or high (375 mEq/kg) dEB diet, calculated as Na(+) + K(+) - Cl(-), to determine the persistence of blood changes associated with the alteration of dEB. Diets were formulated to meet or exceed NRC (1998) requirements for energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Dietary treatments were provided for ad libitum intake for 3 d before slaughter. Before transport, animals were fasted in the barn for approximately 10 h. After fasting, animals were shipped to the packing plant, rested for 8 h, and subsequently slaughtered. Initial and final BW of the animals were obtained. Blood was sampled at baseline (2 d before administration of diets), before feed withdrawal (0 h), after feed withdrawal (10 h), and at exsanguination (20 h). Consumption of the high dEB diet for 3 d resulted in an increase in blood TCO(2) (P = 0.001), HCO(3)(-) (P = 0.001), and base excess (P = 0.0003) and a decrease in Cl(-) (P = 0.0002) and anion gap (P = 0.01). These differences, however, were not maintained for any of the blood components after the 10-h feed withdrawal (P > 0.22). Increasing dEB had no adverse effects (P > 0.18) on growth performance, meat quality, or carcass yield and did not decrease pars esophageal ulcer scores. This study demonstrated that the effect of dEB on blood components was not maintained after a 10-h feed withdrawal. Therefore, it is likely that the ability of the animal to withstand any increased metabolic acid load associated with the stress of transport was lost after feed withdrawal. Further research is needed to determine the effects of dEB alteration in animals that have not been fasted before shipment and using diets with a larger difference in dEB.

Electron beam irradiated polymer electrolyte film: Morphology, dielectric and AC conductivity studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yesappa, L.; Niranjana, M.; Ashokkumar, S. P.; Vijeth, H.; Ganesh, S.; Devendrappa, H.

2018-05-01

The polymer (PVdF-co-HFP: LiClO4=90:10, PHL10) electrolyte films prepared by solution casting method and studied morphology, dielectric properties and ac conductivity before and after electron beam (EB) irradiation. The polarized optical micrographs reveals size of spherulite reduced with increasing EB dose represents increase in amorphousity. The dielectric measurements were studied at different temperatures and observed increase with frequency at different temperatures upon EB irradiation. The ac conductivity increases with frequency due to effect of EB dose.

Apparent isotropic electrical property for electrical brain stimulation (EBS) using magnetic resonance diffusion weighted imaging (MR-DWI)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Mun Bae; Kwon, Oh-In

2018-04-01

Electrical brain stimulation (EBS) is an invasive electrotherapy and technique used in brain neurological disorders through direct or indirect stimulation using a small electric current. EBS has relied on computational modeling to achieve optimal stimulation effects and investigate the internal activations. Magnetic resonance diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) is commonly useful for diagnosis and investigation of tissue functions in various organs. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measures the intensity of water diffusion within biological tissues using DWI. By measuring trace ADC and magnetic flux density induced by the EBS, we propose a method to extract electrical properties including the effective extracellular ion-concentration (EEIC) and the apparent isotropic conductivity without any auxiliary additional current injection. First, the internal current density due to EBS is recovered using the measured one component of magnetic flux density. We update the EEIC by introducing a repetitive scheme called the diffusion weighting J-substitution algorithm using the recovered current density and the trace ADC. To verify the proposed method, we study an anesthetized canine brain to visualize electrical properties including electrical current density, effective extracellular ion-concentration, and effective isotropic conductivity by applying electrical stimulation of the brain.

Evaluation of fatigue crack behavior in electron beam irradiated polyethylene pipes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pokharel, Pashupati; Jian, Wei; Choi, Sunwoong

2016-09-01

A cracked round bar (CRB) fatigue test was employed to determine the slow crack growth (SCG) behavior of samples from high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes using PE4710 resin. The structure property relationships of fatigue failure of polyethylene CRB specimens which have undergone various degree of electron beam (EB) irradiation were investigated by observing fatigue failure strength and the corresponding fracture surface morphology. Tensile test of these HDPE specimens showed improvements in modulus and yield strength while the failure strain decreased with increasing EB irradiation. The CRB fatigue test of HDPE pipe showed remarkable effect of EB irradiation on number of cycles to failure. The slopes of the stress-cycles to failure curve were similar for 0-100 kGy; however, significantly higher slope was observed for 500 kGy EB irradiated pipe. Also, the cycle to fatigue failure was seen to decrease as with EB irradiation in the high stress range, ∆σ=(16 MPa to 10.8 MPa); however, 500 kGy EB irradiated samples showed longer cycles to failure than the un-irradiated specimens at the stress range below 9.9 MPa and the corresponding initial stress intensity factor (∆KI,0)=0.712 MPa m1/2. The fracture surface morphology indicated that the cross-linked network in 500 kGy EB irradiated PE pipe can endure low dynamic load more effectively than the parent pipe.

Pharmacokinetics and transcriptional effects of the anti-salmon lice drug emamectin benzoate in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

PubMed Central

Olsvik, Pål A; Lie, Kai K; Mykkeltvedt, Eva; Samuelsen, Ole B; Petersen, Kjell; Stavrum, Anne-Kristin; Lunestad, Bjørn T

2008-01-01

Background Emamectin benzoate (EB) is a dominating pharmaceutical drug used for the treatment and control of infections by sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L). Fish with an initial mean weight of 132 g were experimentally medicated by a standard seven-day EB treatment, and the concentrations of drug in liver, muscle and skin were examined. To investigate how EB affects Atlantic salmon transcription in liver, tissues were assessed by microarray and qPCR at 7, 14 and 35 days after the initiation of medication. Results The pharmacokinetic examination revealed highest EB concentrations in all three tissues at day 14, seven days after the end of the medication period. Only modest effects were seen on the transcriptional levels in liver, with small fold-change alterations in transcription throughout the experimental period. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) indicated that EB treatment induced oxidative stress at day 7 and inflammation at day 14. The qPCR examinations showed that medication by EB significantly increased the transcription of both HSP70 and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in liver during a period of 35 days, compared to un-treated fish, possibly via activation of enzymes involved in phase II conjugation of metabolism in the liver. Conclusion This study has shown that a standard seven-day EB treatment has only a modest effect on the transcription of genes in liver of Atlantic salmon. Based on GSEA, the medication seems to have produced a temporary oxidative stress response that might have affected protein stability and folding, followed by a secondary inflammatory response. PMID:18786259

Pharmacokinetics and transcriptional effects of the anti-salmon lice drug emamectin benzoate in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.).

PubMed

Olsvik, Pål A; Lie, Kai K; Mykkeltvedt, Eva; Samuelsen, Ole B; Petersen, Kjell; Stavrum, Anne-Kristin; Lunestad, Bjørn T

2008-09-11

Emamectin benzoate (EB) is a dominating pharmaceutical drug used for the treatment and control of infections by sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L). Fish with an initial mean weight of 132 g were experimentally medicated by a standard seven-day EB treatment, and the concentrations of drug in liver, muscle and skin were examined. To investigate how EB affects Atlantic salmon transcription in liver, tissues were assessed by microarray and qPCR at 7, 14 and 35 days after the initiation of medication. The pharmacokinetic examination revealed highest EB concentrations in all three tissues at day 14, seven days after the end of the medication period. Only modest effects were seen on the transcriptional levels in liver, with small fold-change alterations in transcription throughout the experimental period. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) indicated that EB treatment induced oxidative stress at day 7 and inflammation at day 14. The qPCR examinations showed that medication by EB significantly increased the transcription of both HSP70 and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in liver during a period of 35 days, compared to un-treated fish, possibly via activation of enzymes involved in phase II conjugation of metabolism in the liver. This study has shown that a standard seven-day EB treatment has only a modest effect on the transcription of genes in liver of Atlantic salmon. Based on GSEA, the medication seems to have produced a temporary oxidative stress response that might have affected protein stability and folding, followed by a secondary inflammatory response.

Housing accessibility for senior citizens in Sweden: Estimation of the effects of targeted elimination of environmental barriers.

PubMed

Pettersson, Cecilia; Slaug, Björn; Granbom, Marianne; Kylberg, Marianne; Iwarsson, Susanne

2017-01-24

To estimate the effects of targeted elimination of environmental barriers (EB) in the ordinary housing stock in Sweden, and to explore the estimated effects on accessibility at a population level in relation to (a) residents with different functional profiles, (b) different housing types and (c) building periods. Data on dwellings from existing Swedish research databases were utilized. EB and accessibility were assessed by means of the Housing Enabler instrument. In simulations of EB removal, five items that correspond to the most common housing adaptations were selected. The simulations were applied to four functional profiles of different complexity. EB known to be commonly removed by housing adaptations exist in large proportions of the existing ordinary housing stock. Estimated targeted elimination of selected barriers would have the largest accessibility effects for the more complex functional profiles. The effects would be consistently larger for one-family houses, and for all types of dwellings built before 1960. The elimination of the EB most commonly addressed by housing adaptations could result in a reduction of the housing accessibility problems that community-living older people are facing. For society to solve the housing situation for the ageing population well-informed and efficient upgrading of ordinary housing is imperative.

Production of double repeated B subunit of Shiga toxin 2e at high levels in transgenic lettuce plants as vaccine material for porcine edema disease.

PubMed

Matsui, Takeshi; Takita, Eiji; Sato, Toshio; Aizawa, Michie; Ki, Misa; Kadoyama, Yumiko; Hirano, Kenji; Kinjo, Satoko; Asao, Hiroshi; Kawamoto, Keiko; Kariya, Haruko; Makino, Sou-Ichi; Hamabata, Takashi; Sawada, Kazutoshi; Kato, Ko

2011-08-01

Pig edema disease is a bacterial disease caused by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. E. coli produces Shiga toxin 2e (Stx2e), which is composed of one A subunit (Stx2eA) and five B subunits (Stx2eB). We previously reported production of Stx2eB in lettuce plants as a potential edible vaccine (Matsui et al. in Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 73:1628-1634, 2009). However, the accumulation level was very low, and it was necessary to improve expression of Stx2eB for potential use of this plant-based vaccine. Therefore, in this study, we optimized the Stx2eB expression cassette and found that a double repeated Stx2eB (2× Stx2eB) accumulates to higher levels than a single Stx2eB in cultured tobacco cells. Furthermore, a linker peptide between the two Stx2eB moieties played an important role in maximizing the effects of the double repeat. Finally, we generated transgenic lettuce plants expressing 2× Stx2eB with a suitable linker peptide that accumulate as much as 80 mg per 100 g fresh weight, a level that will allow us to use these transgenic lettuce plants practically to generate vaccine material.

Progress Towards Treatment and Cure of Epidermolysis Bullosa: Summary of the DEBRA International Research Symposium EB2015

PubMed Central

Uitto, Jouni; Tuderman, Leena Bruckner; Christiano, Angela M.; McGrath, John A.; Has, Cristina; South, Andrew P.; Kopelan, Brett; Robinson, E. Clare

2015-01-01

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a group of complex heritable blistering diseases, is the topic of triennial research meetings organized by DEBRA International, the umbrella of patient advocacy organizations. The DEBRA 2015 Research Conference, held in May 2015, brought together investigators and clinicians from around the world working at the forefront of EB research. Discussing the state-of-the-art approaches from a wide range of disciplines, there was a palpable excitement at this conference brought about by the optimism about applying new sequencing techniques, genome editing, protein replacement, autologous and allogeneic stem cell therapy, innovations in cancer biology, revertant mosaicism and iPSC techniques, all of which are aimed at developing new therapies for EB. Many in the field who have participated in EB research for many years were especially enthusiastic and felt that, possibly for the first time, the field seems uniquely poised to bring these new tools to effectively tackle EB using multiple complementary approaches towards improved quality of life and eventually a cure for patients suffering from EB, a currently intractable disease. PMID:26802230

An experimental investigation of wastewater treatment using electron beam irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Emami-Meibodi, M.; Parsaeian, M. R.; Amraei, R.; Banaei, M.; Anvari, F.; Tahami, S. M. R.; Vakhshoor, B.; Mehdizadeh, A.; Fallah Nejad, N.; Shirmardi, S. P.; Mostafavi, S. J.; Mousavi, S. M. J.

2016-08-01

Electron beam (EB) is used for disinfection and treatment of different types of sewage and industrial wastewater. However, high capital investment required and the abundant energy consumed by this process raise doubts about its cost-effectiveness. In this paper, different wastewaters, including two textile sewages and one municipal wastewater are experimentally studied under different irradiation strategies (i.e. batch, 60 l/min and 1000 m3/day) in order to establish the reliability and the optimum conditions for the treatment process. According to the results, EB improves the efficiency of traditional wastewater treatment methods, but, for textile samples, coagulation before EB irradiation is recommended. The cost estimation of EB treatment compared to conventional methods shows that EB has been more expensive than chlorination and less expensive than activated sludge. Therefore, EB irradiation is advisable if and only if conventional methods of textile wastewater treatment are insufficient or chlorination of municipal wastewater is not allowed for health reasons. Nevertheless, among the advanced oxidation processes (AOP), EB irradiation process may be the most suitable one in industrial scale operations.

Impact of inherited epidermolysis bullosa on parental interpersonal relationships, marital status and family size.

PubMed

Fine, J-D; Johnson, L B; Weiner, M; Suchindran, C

2005-05-01

The presence in a family of a child or children with epidermolysis bullosa (EB) may have profound psychological implications for other family members. To assess the impact of the presence of EB in one or more children on the personal relationships between their parents. Standardized questionnaires were used. In general, the presence of a child severely affected with EB had profound effects on many aspects of marriage. This included a lack of interest in participating in activities as couples [junctional EB (JEB), 45%; recessive dystrophic EB (RDEB), 25%], a lack of energy to invest in such pursuits (JEB, 82%; RDEB, 50%), limitations in opportunities for sharing nonintimate physical activities (reported by most parents having children with some type of generalized EB), and negatively altered parental sex life (JEB, 55%; RDEB, 39%). This is consistent with the fact that 10%, 64%, 25% and 36% of parents of an affected child with EB simplex (EBS), JEB, dominant dystrophic EB (DDEB) and RDEB, respectively, characterized their relationships as couples as revolving almost exclusively around the day-to-day care of their affected children. The severity of disease in an affected child clearly influenced parental decisions about having more children: 24% and 64% of parents of children with JEB and RDEB, respectively, chose not to have additional children, compared with 26% and 54% of parents with children having EBS or DDEB. This choice was most often pursued via tubal ligation; less often, alternative means of surgical sterilization were chosen. Divorce was common among parents of children with EB (range: 17% in EBS to 31% in JEB) and, with the exception of parents of children with EBS, was usually directly attributed by one or both parents to the profound impact that this disease had exerted on their marriage. Physicians caring for children with EB need to give more consideration to the many psychological factors that may contribute to their patients' well being. They may need to assist these children's parents in seeking support and counselling to prevent destruction of the family unit.

EB welding of launch vehicles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szabo, Attila

While large structural components can be electron beam (EB) welded, equipment and operating costs increase with the requisite vacuum chamber's size. Attention is presently given to cost-effective ways of EB welding launch-vehicle assemblies without compromise of weld quality in such alloys as 2219, 2090, Weldalite, and HP9-4-30/20. Weld strengths at both room and cryogenic temperatures that were 50 percent higher than those obtainable for such materials with arc welding have been demonstrated. Fracture toughnesses were also 40-50 percent higher than arc-welded values. Attention is given to EB joint fit-up allowables for 2219-T87 Al alloy.

Pain care for patients with epidermolysis bullosa: best care practice guidelines.

PubMed

Goldschneider, Kenneth R; Good, Julie; Harrop, Emily; Liossi, Christina; Lynch-Jordan, Anne; Martinez, Anna E; Maxwell, Lynne G; Stanko-Lopp, Danette

2014-10-09

Inherited epidermolysis bullosa (EB) comprises a group of rare disorders that have multi-system effects and patients present with a number of both acute and chronic pain care needs. Effects on quality of life are substantial. Pain and itching are burdensome daily problems. Experience with, and knowledge of, the best pain and itch care for these patients is minimal. Evidence-based best care practice guidelines are needed to establish a base of knowledge and practice for practitioners of many disciplines to improve the quality of life for both adult and pediatric patients with EB. The process was begun at the request of Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association International (DEBRA International), an organization dedicated to improvement of care, research and dissemination of knowledge for EB patients worldwide. An international panel of experts in pain and palliative care who have extensive experience caring for patients with EB was assembled. Literature was reviewed and systematically evaluated. For areas of care without direct evidence, clinically relevant literature was assessed, and rounds of consensus building were conducted. The process involved a face-to-face consensus meeting that involved a family representative and methodologist, as well as the panel of clinical experts. During development, EB family input was obtained and the document was reviewed by a wide variety of experts representing several disciplines related to the care of patients with EB. The first evidence-based care guidelines for the care of pain in EB were produced. The guidelines are clinically relevant for care of patients of all subtypes and ages, and apply to practitioners of all disciplines involved in the care of patients with EB. When the evidence suggests that the diagnosis or treatment of painful conditions differs between adults and children, it will be so noted. Evidence-based care guidelines are a means of standardizing optimal care for EB patients, whose disease is often times horrific in its effects on quality of life, and whose care is resource-intensive and difficult. The guideline development process also highlighted areas for research in order to improve further the evidence base for future care.

Effect of antioxidants on the dentin interface bond stability of adhesives exposed to hydrolytic degradation.

PubMed

Gotti, Valéria B; Feitosa, Victor P; Sauro, Salvatore; Correr-Sobrinho, Lourenço; Leal, Fernanda B; Stansbury, Jeffrey W; Correr, Américo B

2015-02-01

This study assessed the effect of antioxidants vitamin C (Vit. C), vitamin E (Vit. E) and quercetin (Querc) on the dentin bonding performance, degree of conversion, and rate of polymerization of three commercial adhesive systems (Adper Single Bond 2 [SB], Clearfil SE Bond [CSE], Adper Easy Bond [EB]). Human premolars were restored using antioxidant-doped adhesives. The samples were stored for 24 h in distilled water or 6 months under simulated pulpal pressure. Teeth were cut into sticks and the microtensile bond strength (μTBS) to dentin was tested in a universal testing machine. Qualitative nanoleakage analysis was performed from a central stick of each restored tooth. Degree of conversion and rate of polymerization of adhesive systems were evaluated in triplicate using real-time FT-IR. Although the inclusion of the antioxidants negatively affected the μTBS over 24 h, the antioxidant-doped adhesives maintained (SB-Vit. C, SB-Vit. E, CSE-Vit. C, EB-Querc) or increased (SB-Querc, CSE-Vit. E, CSE-Querc, EB-Vit. E, and EB-Vit. C) their μTBS during 6 months of storage. Only the μTBS of Adper Single Bond 2 dropped significantly after 6 months among the control groups. Slight changes in the nanoleakage pattern after aging were observed in all groups, except for the EB-control group, which showed a noteworthy increase in nanoleakage after 6 months, and for EB-Vit. C, which presented a remarkable decrease. A lower degree of conversion was obtained with all antioxidants in SB and EB, except for the EB-Vit. E group. Similar degrees of conversion were attained in control and experimental groups for CSE. The rate of polymerization was reduced in antioxidant-doped adhesives. The performance of antioxidants changed according to the adhesive system to which they were added, and antioxidant-doped adhesives appear to have a positive effect on the adhesive interface durability, since their bond strength obtained after 24 h was maintained or increased over time.

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

Gaul, Alexander; Holzinger, Dennis; Müglich, Nicolas David

A magnetic domain texture has been deterministically engineered in a topographically flat exchange-biased (EB) thin film system. The texture consists of long-range periodically arranged unit cells of four individual domains, characterized by individual anisotropies, individual geometry, and with non-collinear remanent magnetizations. The texture has been engineered by a sequence of light-ion bombardment induced magnetic patterning of the EB layer system. The magnetic texture's in-plane spatial magnetization distribution and the corresponding domain walls have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis (SEMPA). The influence of magnetic stray fields emerging from neighboring domain walls and the influence of the differentmore » anisotropies of the adjacent domains on the Néel type domain wall core's magnetization rotation sense and widths were investigated. It is shown that the usual energy degeneracy of clockwise and counterclockwise rotating magnetization through the walls is revoked, suppressing Bloch lines along the domain wall. Estimates of the domain wall widths for different domain configurations based on material parameters determined by vibrating sample magnetometry were quantitatively compared to the SEMPA data.« less

A novel single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) functionalization agent facilitating in vivo combined chemo/thermo therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Liwen; Rong, Pengfei; Chen, Minglong; Gao, Shi; Zhu, Lei

2015-10-01

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have shown intriguing applications in biotechnological and biomedical fields due to their unique shape and properties. However, the fact that unmodified CNTs are prone to aggregation, stunts CNTs applications under physiological conditions. In this research, we found that as little as 1/5th the single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) weight of Evans Blue (EB) is capable of dispersing SWCNT as well as facilitating SWCNT functionalization. In view of the binding between EB and albumin, the yielding product (SWCNT/EB) demonstrated extreme stability for weeks under physiological conditions and it can be endowed with a therapeutic ability by simply mixing SWCNT/EB with an albumin based drug. Specifically, the formed SWCNT/EB/albumin/PTX nanocomplex exhibits strong near-infrared (NIR) absorbance, and can serve as an agent for chemo/thermal therapeutic purposes. Our in vivo result reveals that SWCNT/EB/albumin/PTX after being administered into the MDA-MB-435 tumor would effectively ablate the tumor by chemo and photothermal therapy. Such a combined treatment strategy provides remarkable therapeutic outcomes in restraining tumor growth compared to chemo or photothermal therapy alone. Overall, our strategy of dispersing SWCNTs by EB can be used as a platform for carrying other drugs or functional genes with the aid of albumin to treat diseases. The present study opens new opportunities in surface modification of SWCNTs for future clinical disease treatment.Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have shown intriguing applications in biotechnological and biomedical fields due to their unique shape and properties. However, the fact that unmodified CNTs are prone to aggregation, stunts CNTs applications under physiological conditions. In this research, we found that as little as 1/5th the single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) weight of Evans Blue (EB) is capable of dispersing SWCNT as well as facilitating SWCNT functionalization. In view of the binding between EB and albumin, the yielding product (SWCNT/EB) demonstrated extreme stability for weeks under physiological conditions and it can be endowed with a therapeutic ability by simply mixing SWCNT/EB with an albumin based drug. Specifically, the formed SWCNT/EB/albumin/PTX nanocomplex exhibits strong near-infrared (NIR) absorbance, and can serve as an agent for chemo/thermal therapeutic purposes. Our in vivo result reveals that SWCNT/EB/albumin/PTX after being administered into the MDA-MB-435 tumor would effectively ablate the tumor by chemo and photothermal therapy. Such a combined treatment strategy provides remarkable therapeutic outcomes in restraining tumor growth compared to chemo or photothermal therapy alone. Overall, our strategy of dispersing SWCNTs by EB can be used as a platform for carrying other drugs or functional genes with the aid of albumin to treat diseases. The present study opens new opportunities in surface modification of SWCNTs for future clinical disease treatment. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Characterization of EB dispersed SWCNT; chemical structures of dyes applied for SWCNT dispersion; spectrum of EB/albumin; PTX loading efficiency onto albumin at different ratios. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr03752b

Differential skeletal responses of hindlimb unloaded rats on a vitamin D-deficient diet to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and its analog, seocalcitol (EB1089)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Narayanan, Ramesh; Allen, Matthew R.; Gaddy, Dana; Bloomfield, Susan A.; Smith, Carolyn L.; Weigel, Nancy L.

2004-01-01

Conditions of disuse in bed rest patients, as well as microgravity experienced by astronauts are accompanied by reduced mechanical loading, reduced calcium absorption, and lower serum levels of 1,25(OH)2D3 (1,25-D), the active metabolite of vitamin D, all contributing to bone loss. To determine whether 1,25-D or a less calcemic analog, Seocalcitol or EB1089 (1 alpha,25-dihydroxy-22,24-diene-24,26,27-trihomovitamin D3) can alleviate bone loss in a rat hindlimb unloading model of disuse osteopenia, mature male rats originally on a vitamin D replete diet containing 1.01% calcium were transferred to a vitamin D-deficient diet containing 0.48% calcium and then tail suspended and treated for 28 days with vehicle, 0.05 microg/kg 1,25-D, or 0.05 microg/kg EB1089. The vitamin D-deficient diet caused a substantial decrease in bone mineral density (-8%), which may be compounded by hindlimb unloading (-10%). Exogenous 1,25-D not only prevented the bone loss but also increased the bone mineral density to greater than the baseline level (+7%). EB1089 was less effective in preventing bone loss. Analysis of site and cell-specific effects of 1,25-D and EB1089 revealed that 1,25-D was more active than EB1089 in the intestine, the site of calcium absorption, and in inducing osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption whereas EB1089 was more effective in inducing osteoblast differentiation. These studies suggest that elevating circulating 1,25-D levels presumably increasing calcium absorption can counteract bone loss induced by disuse or microgravity with its associated reductions in circulating 1,25-D and decreased calcium absorption.

Propentofylline treatment on open field behavior in rats with focal ethidium bromide-induced demyelination in the ventral surface of the brainstem.

PubMed

Martins-Júnior, J L; Bernardi, M M; Bondan, E F

2016-03-01

Propentofylline (PPF) is a xanthine derivative with pharmacological effects that are distinct from those of classic methylxanthines. It depresses the activation of microglial cells and astrocytes, which is associated with neuronal damage during neural inflammation and hypoxia. Our previous studies showed that PPF improved remyelination following gliotoxic lesions that were induced by ethidium bromide (EB). In the present study, the long-term effects of PPF on open field behavior in rats with EB-induced focal demyelination were examined. The effects of PPF were first evaluated in naive rats that were not subjected to EB lesions. Behavior in the beam walking test was also evaluated during chronic PPF treatment because impairments in motor coordination can interfere with behavior in the open field. The results showed that PPF treatment in unlesioned rats decreased general activity and caused motor impairment in the beam walking test. Gliotoxic EB injections increased general activity in rats that were treated with PPF compared with rats that received saline solution. Motor incoordination was also attenuated in PPF-treated rats. These results indicate that PPF reversed the effects of EB lesions on behavior in the open field and beam walking test. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of substituted ebselen derivatives as potential trypanocidal agents.

PubMed

Gordhan, Heeren M; Patrick, Stephen L; Swasy, Maria I; Hackler, Amber L; Anayee, Mark; Golden, Jennifer E; Morris, James C; Whitehead, Daniel C

2017-02-01

Human African trypanosomiasis is a disease of sub-Saharan Africa, where millions are at risk for the illness. The disease, commonly referred to as African sleeping sickness, is caused by an infection by the eukaryotic pathogen, Trypanosoma brucei. Previously, a target-based high throughput screen revealed ebselen (EbSe), and its sulfur analog, EbS, to be potent in vitro inhibitors of the T. brucei hexokinase 1 (TbHK1). These molecules also exhibited potent trypanocidal activity in vivo. In this manuscript, we synthesized a series of sixteen EbSe and EbS derivatives bearing electron-withdrawing carboxylic acid and methyl ester functional groups, and evaluated the influence of these substituents on the biological efficacy of the parent scaffold. With the exception of one methyl ester derivative, these modifications ablated or blunted the potent TbHK1 inhibition of the parent scaffold. Nonetheless, a few of the methyl ester derivatives still exhibited trypanocidal effects with single-digit micromolar or high nanomolar EC 50 values. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Vertically aligned double wall carbon nanotube arrays adsorbent for pure and mixture adsorption of H2S, ethylbenzene and carbon monoxide, grand canonical Monte Carlo simulation.

PubMed

Tasharrofi, Saeideh; Taghdisian, Hossein; Golchoobi, Abdollah

2018-05-01

In this study, pure and ternary adsorption of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), ethylbenzene (EB), and carbon monoxide (CO) on different arrays of zigzag double wall carbon nanotube was investigated using grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations. The internal diameters of nanotube were fixed at 2r = 50.17 Å while nanotube wall distances were different values from d = 0 Å to d = 150 Å. Pure simulation results indicated that adsorption quantity of H 2 S and EB in low pressure ranges of P = 1.9 bar to P = 3.1 bar was at least 100% more than CO adsorption quantities. At high pressure ranges of P = 23.1 bar to P = 38.2 bar H 2 S adsorption was greater than EB and CO by about 200 molecules per unit cell (UC) at low nanotube distances. This was related to smaller kinetic diameter and greater dipole moment of H 2 S compared to EB and CO. At higher nanotube distance the effect of size however disappears and all three gases approach to adsorption quantity of about 800 molecules/UC. Graphical representation of adsorption areas showed that H 2 S and CO form multilayer adsorption around nanotube inner and outer walls while EB fill the whole space uniformly without any congestion around the walls. Ternary adsorption results EB/CO and H 2 S/CO selectivity are greater than EB/H 2 S selectivity. In addition, at smaller nanotube distances H 2 S/CO selectivity is generally higher than EB/CO selectivity, which at higher nanotube distance the order becomes revers suggesting that size dependent effects on adsorption vanishes. Isosteric heat of adsorption shows that the order of EB > H 2 S > CO suggesting that ethylbenzene interaction with nanotube arrays was strongest. Although H 2 S has a greater dipole moment and smaller molecular dimension, EB adsorption at higher nanotube distance is greater than H 2 S by at least 50% probably because EB is less volatile. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

International Collaborations on Engineered Barrier Systems: Brief Overview of SKB-EBS Activities.

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

Jove-Colon, Carlos F.

2015-10-01

Research collaborations with international partners on the behavior and performance of engineered barrier systems (EBS) are an important aspect of the DOE-NE Used Fuel Disposition Campaign strategy in the evaluation of disposal design concepts. These international partnerships are a cost-effective way of engaging in key R&D activities with common goals resulting in effective scientific knowledge exchanges thus enhancing existing and future research programs in the USA. This report provides a brief description of the activities covered by the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company (SKB) EBS Task Force (TF) (referred hereafter as SKB EBS TF) and potential future directionsmore » for engagement of the DOE-NE UFDC program in relevant R&D activities. Emphasis is given to SKB EBS TF activities that are still ongoing and aligned to the UFDC R&D program. This include utilization of data collected in the bentonite rock interaction experiment (BRIE) and data sets from benchmark experiments produced by the chemistry or “C” part of the SKB EBS TF. Potential applications of information generated by this program include comparisons/tests between model and data (e.g., reactive diffusion), development and implementation of coupled-process models (e.g., HM), and code/model benchmarking.« less

Analysis of Hydrogen Atom Abstraction from Ethylbenzene by an FeVO(TAML) Complex.

PubMed

Shen, Longzhu Q; Kundu, Soumen; Collins, Terrence J; Bominaar, Emile L

2017-04-17

It was shown previously (Chem. Eur. J. 2015, 21, 1803) that the rate of hydrogen atom abstraction, k, from ethylbenzene (EB) by TAML complex [Fe V (O)B*] - (1) in acetonitrile exhibits a large kinetic isotope effect (KIE ∼ 26) in the experimental range 233-243 K. The extrapolated tangents of ln(k/T) vs T -1 plots for EB-d 10 and EB gave a large, negative intercept difference, Int(EB) - Int(EB-d 10 ) = -34.5 J mol -1 K -1 for T -1 → 0, which is shown to be exclusively due to an isotopic mass effect on tunneling. A decomposition of the apparent activation barrier in terms of electronic, ZPE, thermal enthalpic, tunneling, and entropic contributions is presented. Tunneling corrections to ΔH ⧧ and ΔS ⧧ are estimated to be large. The DFT prediction, using functional B3LYP and basis set 6-311G, for the electronic contribution is significantly smaller than suggested by experiment. However, the agreement improves after correction for the basis set superposition error in the interaction between EB and 1. The kinetic model employed has been used to predict rate constants outside the experimental temperature range, which enabled us to compare the reactivity of 1 with those of other hydrogen abstracting complexes.

Full Bayesian evaluation of the safety effects of reducing the posted speed limit in urban residential area.

PubMed

Islam, Md Tazul; El-Basyouny, Karim

2015-07-01

Full Bayesian (FB) before-after evaluation is a newer approach than the empirical Bayesian (EB) evaluation in traffic safety research. While a number of earlier studies have conducted univariate and multivariate FB before-after safety evaluations and compared the results with the EB method, often contradictory conclusions have been drawn. To this end, the objectives of the current study were to (i) perform a before-after safety evaluation using both the univariate and multivariate FB methods in order to enhance our understanding of these methodologies, (ii) perform the EB evaluation and compare the results with those of the FB methods and (iii) apply the FB and EB methods to evaluate the safety effects of reducing the urban residential posted speed limit (PSL) for policy recommendation. In addition to three years of crash data for both the before and after periods, traffic volume, road geometry and other relevant data for both the treated and reference sites were collected and used. According to the model goodness-of-fit criteria, the current study found that the multivariate FB model for crash severities outperformed the univariate FB models. Moreover, in terms of statistical significance of the safety effects, the EB and FB methods led to opposite conclusions when the safety effects were relatively small with high standard deviation. Therefore, caution should be taken in drawing conclusions from the EB method. Based on the FB method, the PSL reduction was found effective in reducing crashes of all severities and thus is recommended for improving safety on urban residential collector roads. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The role of exclusive breastfeeding and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption on preschool children's weight gain.

PubMed

Silveira, J A C; Colugnati, F A B; Poblacion, A P; Taddei, J A A C

2015-04-01

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and breastfeeding practices have been recognized as important factors linked to children's weight status. However, no other studies have simultaneously investigated the role of each factor on children's conditional weight gain (CWG). To evaluate the role of exclusive breastfeeding (EB) and the SSBs consumption on CWG from birth to the survey date among Brazilian preschool children (24-59 months old). A nationally represented cross-sectional survey with complex probability sampling (n = 2421) was conducted. The outcome variable - CWG - represents how much an individual has deviated from its expected weight gain, given his or her prior weight. The multivariate linear regression to analyse the effects of EB and the consumption of SSBs on CWG were adjusted for economic status and maternal variables. There was a significantly protective effect of EB duration during the first year of life on CWG from birth to the survey date (-0.02 [-0.03; 0.00 95% confidence interval]); however, the SSBs intake promoted an effect on the weight gain that was 2.5-fold higher (0.05 [0.02; 0.08 95% confidence interval]) than the EB. As hypothesized, the exposure variables acted in opposite directions, but the harmful effect of SSBs intake had greater magnitude than the beneficial effect of EB on children's CWG. © 2014 The Authors. Pediatric Obesity © 2014 World Obesity.

Induction of cytoplasmic petite in yeast by guanidine hydrochloride: combined treatment with other inducing agents.

PubMed

Villa, L L; Juliani, M H

1980-06-01

We have studied the induction of rho- mutants by guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) in combination with other known inducers: ethidium bromide (EB), berenil and ultraviolet light. Competition was observed when cells were simultaneously treated with optimal concentrations of EB and GuHCl; on the other hand, treatment of cells with EB in the presence of non-inducing concentrations of GuHCl resulted in the stimulation of rho- induction of EB. Furthermore, using a strain which upon treatment with high EB concentrations shows recovery of respiratory competence, the presence of GuHCl did not interfere either with the early phase of induction or with the recovery phase, but it did interfere in a competitive fashion with the final irreversible phase of EB induction. In the case of berenil, a synergistic effect was seen when cells were pretreated with GuHCl. A synergistic induction was also observed when cells were submitted to UV prior to GuHCl treatment. These results suggest that GuHCl, EB and berenil act via some common step in their rho- induction pathways. Moreover, GuHCl may somehow be decreasing the efficiency of dark repair of ultraviolet lesions on mitochondrial DNA.

Enrichment of cardiac differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells by optimizing the hanging drop method.

PubMed

Chen, Ming; Lin, Yong-Qing; Xie, Shuang-Lun; Wu, Hong-Fu; Wang, Jing-Feng

2011-04-01

Hanging drop (HD) culture is used to induce differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into other cell types including cardiomyocytes. However, the factors affecting cardiac differentiation of ESCs with this method remain incompletely understood. We have investigated the effects of the starting number of ESCs in embryoid bodies (EBs) and the time of EB adherence to gelatin-coated plates on cardiac differentiation: cardiac differentiation was increased in the EBs by a larger number of ESCs and was decreased by plating EBs at day 4 or earlier. These two factors can thus be optimized to enrich the cardiac differentiation in ESCs using the HD method.

A rapid enhancement of locomotor sensitization to amphetamine by estradiol in female rats.

PubMed

Zovkic, Iva B; McCormick, Cheryl M

2017-11-14

Estradiol moderates the effects of drugs of abuse in both humans and rodents. Estradiol's enhancement of behavioral effects resulting from high (>2.5mg/kg) doses of amphetamine is established in rats; there is less evidence for the role of estradiol in locomotor effects elicited by lower doses, which are less aversive, increase incentive motivation, involve different neural mechanisms than higher doses, and often more readily reveal group differences than do higher doses. Further, the extent to which estradiol is required for the induction versus the expression of sensitization is unknown. To establish a protocol, we replicated the effects of estradiol on locomotor sensitization to amphetamine reported in a previous study that involved a high locomotor-activating dose (1.5mg/kg) of amphetamine, but with a lower dose. Ovariectomized female rats received 5μg of estradiol benzoate (EB) or OIL 30min before each of 5 treatments of 1.0mg/kg amphetamine or saline; all received a 0.5mg/kg challenge dose three days later. Compared with results for OIL, EB enhanced the locomotor-activating effects of repeated 1.0mg/kg amphetamine across treatment days. In contrast, on challenge day, there was no difference between EB-saline and EB-amphetamine to the lower dose (i.e., no sensitization). Experiments 2 and 3 involved a shorter induction (2days) and a lengthier withdrawal (9days) before the challenge test for the expression of sensitization to better differentiate the induction phase from the expression phase. In Expt2, EB-, and not OIL-, treated rats showed sensitization to 0.5mg/kg amphetamine; neither group showed sensitization to 1.5mg/kg amphetamine (ceiling effect?). In Expt3, rats were treated with EB either in both the induction and expression phases, in one of the phases only, or in neither phase. There was an effect of hormone treatment on challenge day and not on induction day; rats given EB on Challenge day showed sensitization to 0.5mg/kg amphetamine; OIL rats did not. The results suggest rapid effects of estradiol on amphetamine sensitization consistent with rapid effects of estradiol reported for other behaviours. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Effects of electron beam irradiation on chemical composition, antinutritional factors, ruminal degradation and in vitro protein digestibility of canola meal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taghinejad-Roudbaneh, M.; Ebrahimi, S. R.; Azizi, S.; Shawrang, P.

2010-12-01

The aim of the present study was to determine the impact of electron beam (EB) irradiation at doses of 15, 30 and 45 kGy on the nutritional value of canola meal. The phytic acid and total glucosinolate content of EB-irradiated canola meal decreased as irradiation doses increased ( P<0.01). From in situ results, irradiation of canola meal at doses of 45 kGy decreased ( P<0.05) the effective degradibility of crude protein (CP) by 14%, compared with an untreated sample. In vitro CP digestibility of EB-irradiated canola meal at doses of 15 and 30 kGy was improved ( P<0.05). Electrophoresis results showed that napin and cruciferin sub-units of 30 and 45 kGy EB-irradiated canola meal were more resistant to degradation, compared with an untreated sample. Electron beam irradiation was effective in protecting CP from ruminal degradation and reducing antinutritional factors of irradiated canola meal.

Diphenyl diselenide attenuates oxidative stress and inflammatory parameters in ulcerative colitis: A comparison with ebselen.

PubMed

Petronilho, Fabricia; Michels, Monique; Danielski, Lucinéia G; Goldim, Mariana Pereira; Florentino, Drielly; Vieira, Andriele; Mendonça, Mariana G; Tournier, Moema; Piacentini, Bárbara; Giustina, Amanda Della; Leffa, Daniela D; Pereira, Gregório W; Pereira, Volnei D; Rocha, João Batista Teixeira Da

2016-09-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of diphenyl diselenide (PhSe)2 and ebselen (EB) in ulcerative colitis (UC) induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in rats. The effects of (PhSe)2 and EB in rats submitted to DSS-induced colitis were determined by measurement of oxidative stress parameters, inflammatory response and bowel histopathological alterations. Animals developed moderate to severe neutrophil infiltration in histopathology assay in DSS rats and (PhSe)2 improved this response. Moreover, the treatment with (PhSe)2 decreased the oxidative damage in lipids and proteins, as well as reversed the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels in rats treated with DSS. EB was able only to reverse damage in lipids and the low levels of SOD in this animal model. The organoselenium compounds tested demonstrated an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity reducing the colon damage, being (PhSe)2 more effective than EB. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

The addition of calcitriol or its synthetic analog EB1089 to lapatinib and neratinib treatment inhibits cell growth and promotes apoptosis in breast cancer cells.

PubMed

Segovia-Mendoza, Mariana; Díaz, Lorenza; Prado-Garcia, Heriberto; Reginato, Mauricio J; Larrea, Fernando; García-Becerra, Rocío

2017-01-01

In breast cancer the use of small molecule inhibitors of tyrosine kinase activity of the ERBB family members improves survival thus represents a valuable therapeutic strategy. The addition of calcitriol, the most active metabolite of vitamin D, or some of its analogs, to conventional anticancer drugs, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), has shown an increased effect on the inhibition of cancer cell growth. In this work, we have evaluated the effects and the mechanism of action of the combination of calcitriol or its analog EB1089 with lapatinib or neratinib on EGFR and/or HER2 positive breast cancer cell lines. Lapatinib, neratinib, calcitriol and EB1089 inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. Addition of calcitriol or EB1089 to TKIs treatment induced more effective inhibiting effect on cell growth and AKT and MAPK phosphorylation than all compounds alone. The combined treatments incremented also the expression of active caspase 3 and induced cell death in two and three-dimensional cell culture and significantly inhibited anchorage-independent colony formation. Our results suggest that the addition of calcitriol or its analog EB1089 to conventional targeted therapies, including lapatinib or neratinib might be of benefit to patients with breast cancer, particularly those with an EGFR and/or HER2 positive phenotype.

The addition of calcitriol or its synthetic analog EB1089 to lapatinib and neratinib treatment inhibits cell growth and promotes apoptosis in breast cancer cells

PubMed Central

Segovia-Mendoza, Mariana; Díaz, Lorenza; Prado-Garcia, Heriberto; Reginato, Mauricio J; Larrea, Fernando; García-Becerra, Rocío

2017-01-01

In breast cancer the use of small molecule inhibitors of tyrosine kinase activity of the ERBB family members improves survival thus represents a valuable therapeutic strategy. The addition of calcitriol, the most active metabolite of vitamin D, or some of its analogs, to conventional anticancer drugs, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), has shown an increased effect on the inhibition of cancer cell growth. In this work, we have evaluated the effects and the mechanism of action of the combination of calcitriol or its analog EB1089 with lapatinib or neratinib on EGFR and/or HER2 positive breast cancer cell lines. Lapatinib, neratinib, calcitriol and EB1089 inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. Addition of calcitriol or EB1089 to TKIs treatment induced more effective inhibiting effect on cell growth and AKT and MAPK phosphorylation than all compounds alone. The combined treatments incremented also the expression of active caspase 3 and induced cell death in two and three-dimensional cell culture and significantly inhibited anchorage-independent colony formation. Our results suggest that the addition of calcitriol or its analog EB1089 to conventional targeted therapies, including lapatinib or neratinib might be of benefit to patients with breast cancer, particularly those with an EGFR and/or HER2 positive phenotype. PMID:28744399

pKWmEB: integration of Kruskal-Wallis test with empirical Bayes under polygenic background control for multi-locus genome-wide association study.

PubMed

Ren, Wen-Long; Wen, Yang-Jun; Dunwell, Jim M; Zhang, Yuan-Ming

2018-03-01

Although nonparametric methods in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are robust in quantitative trait nucleotide (QTN) detection, the absence of polygenic background control in single-marker association in genome-wide scans results in a high false positive rate. To overcome this issue, we proposed an integrated nonparametric method for multi-locus GWAS. First, a new model transformation was used to whiten the covariance matrix of polygenic matrix K and environmental noise. Using the transferred model, Kruskal-Wallis test along with least angle regression was then used to select all the markers that were potentially associated with the trait. Finally, all the selected markers were placed into multi-locus model, these effects were estimated by empirical Bayes, and all the nonzero effects were further identified by a likelihood ratio test for true QTN detection. This method, named pKWmEB, was validated by a series of Monte Carlo simulation studies. As a result, pKWmEB effectively controlled false positive rate, although a less stringent significance criterion was adopted. More importantly, pKWmEB retained the high power of Kruskal-Wallis test, and provided QTN effect estimates. To further validate pKWmEB, we re-analyzed four flowering time related traits in Arabidopsis thaliana, and detected some previously reported genes that were not identified by the other methods.

Use of the mouse ear vesicant model to evaluate the effectiveness of ebselen as a countermeasure to the nitrogen mustard mechlorethamine.

PubMed

Lulla, Anju; Reznik, Sandra; Trombetta, Louis; Billack, Blase

2014-12-01

Previous studies in this and other laboratories have demonstrated that ebselen (EB-1), an organoselenium compound, spares cells from mechlorethamine (HN2) toxicity in vitro. In the present study, the hypothesis that EB-1 will reduce dermal toxicity of HN2 in vivo is put forward and found to have merit. Using the mouse ear vesicant model (MEVM), HN2, applied topically, showed a dose-dependent effect upon ear swelling and thickness 24 h after treatment; whereas tissue injury consistent with vesication was observed at the higher test doses of HN2 (≥ 0.250 µmol per ear). To examine HN2 countermeasure activity using the MEVM, either hydrocortisone (HC), as a positive control, or EB-1, the test countermeasure, was administered as three topical treatments 15 min, 4 and 8 h after HN2 exposure. Using this approach, both HC and EB-1 were found to reduce tissue swelling associated with HN2 toxicity 24 h after exposure to the vesicant. Taken together, these data demonstrate for the first time the effectiveness of EB-1 as a vesicant countermeasure in a relevant in vivo model. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Pharmacovigilance of herbal medicines: the potential contributions of ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological studies.

PubMed

Rodrigues, Eliana; Barnes, Joanne

2013-01-01

Typically, ethnobotanical/ethnopharmacological (EB/EP) surveys are used to describe uses, doses/dosages, sources and methods of preparation of traditional herbal medicines; their application to date in examining the adverse effects, contraindications and other safety aspects of these preparations is limited. From a pharmacovigilance perspective, numerous challenges exist in applying its existing methods to studying the safety profile of herbal medicines, particularly where used by indigenous cultures. This paper aims to contribute to the methodological aspects of EB/EP field work, and to extend the reach of pharmacovigilance, by proposing a tool comprising a list of questions that could be applied during interview and observational studies. The questions focus on the collection of information on the safety profile of traditional herbal medicines as it is embedded in traditional knowledge, as well as on identifying personal experiences (spontaneous reports) of adverse or undesirable effects associated with the use of traditional herbal medicines. Questions on the precise composition of traditional prescriptions or 'recipes', their preparation, storage, administration and dosing are also included. Strengths and limitations of the tool are discussed. From this interweaving of EB/EP and pharmacovigilance arises a concept of ethnopharmacovigilance for traditional herbal medicines: the scope of EB/EP is extended to include exploration of the potential harmful effects of medicinal plants, and the incorporation of pharmacovigilance questions into EB/EP studies provides a new opportunity for collection of 'general' traditional knowledge on the safety of traditional herbal medicines and, importantly, a conduit for collection of spontaneous reports of suspected adverse effects. Whether the proposed tool can yield data sufficiently rich and of an appropriate quality for application of EB/EP (e.g. data verification and quantitative analysis tools) and pharmacovigilance techniques (e.g. causality assessment and data mining) requires field testing.

Effect of endometrial biopsy on intrauterine insemination outcome in controlled ovarian stimulation cycle.

PubMed

Wadhwa, Leena; Pritam, Amrita; Gupta, Taru; Gupta, Sangeeta; Arora, Sarika; Chandoke, Rajkumar

2015-01-01

The objective was to evaluate the effect of endometrial biopsy (EB) on intrauterine insemination (IUI) outcome in controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) cycle. Prospective randomized control study. Tertiary care center. A total of 251 subjects were enrolled in the study. Subjects undergoing COS with IUI were randomly allocated into three groups. Group A: EB was taken between D19 and 24 of the spontaneous menstrual cycles that precedes the fertility treatment and IUI, which was done in next cycle (n = 86). Group B: EB was taken before D6 of the menstrual cycle, and fertility treatment and IUI was done in the same cycle (n = 90). Group C: (control group) no EB in previous 3 cycle (n = 75). Clinical pregnancy rate (CPR). Clinical pregnancy rate was 19.77%, 31.11%, and 9.3% for Group A, Group B, and Group C, respectively. The results show a highly significant value for the paired t-test of intervention Group B and control Group C of the cases (P = 0.000957). CPR was maximum after first cycle of ovulation induction and IUI following EB scratch in both Groups A and in Group B (P < 0.001). Endometrial biopsy done in early follicular phase in the same cycle of stimulation with IUI gives better CPR as compared with EB done in the luteal phase of the previous cycle.

Control of natural microorganisms in chamomile (Chamomilla recutita L.) by gamma ray and electron beam irradiation.

PubMed

Al-Bachir, Mahfouz

2017-01-01

Microbial contamination levels and corresponding sensitivities to gamma rays (GR) and elec- tron beam (EB) irradiation were tested in chamomile (Chamomile recutta L.). Chamomile powders were treated with 10 and 20 kGy by GR and EB, respectively. Microbiological and chemical analyses were performed on controls and treated samples immediately after irradiation, and after 12 months of storage. The control samples of chamomile exhibited rather high microbiological contamination, exceeding the levels of 4 log10 CFU g-1   (CFU - colony forming units) reported by national and international authorities as the maximum permissible total count level. Irradiation with GR and EB was found to cause a reduction in microbial contamination proportionate to the dose delivered. The sterilizing effect of EB on microorganisms was higher than the GR one. A dose of 10 kGy of GR and EB significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the total bacte- rial, total coliform and total fungal contamination. A dose of 20 kGy of GR significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the total bacterial and total fungal contamination, while a 20 kGy dose of EB reduced the initial bacterial, total coliform and total fungal contamination to below detection level when the analysis was carried out im- mediately after irradiation treatment or after 12 months of storage. The comparative study demonstrated that electron beam was more effective for decontamination of chamomile powder than gamma irradiation.

Synergistic effect of Ebselen and gamma radiation on breast cancer cells.

PubMed

Thabet, Noura M; Moustafa, Enas M

2017-08-01

To explore the synergistic effect of a seleno-organic compound Ebselen (Ebs) and/or γ-radiation to exert antitumor effects on human breast cancer (MCF-7) cell line in vitro. Ebs cytotoxicity at various concentrations (10, 25, 50 and 75 μg), cell proliferation and clonogenic assay of Ebs and/or γ-radiation (at 1, 3 and 6 Gy), expression of p-IκBα and NF-κB, inflammatory cytokines levels (TNF-α, IL-2, INF-γ, IL-10 and TGF-β), apoptotic factors (Caspase-3, Granzyme-B and TRAIL) and angiogenic factor (VEGF) were investigated. The results showed that the effective dosage of this combination was observed at 25 μg/ml of Ebs with γ-radiation at 6 Gy. Data displayed a significant reduction in NF-κB mRNA along with an elevation in granzyme-B mRNA and TRAIL mRNA expression. Furthermore, protein expression of caspase-3 was elevated, whereas p-IκBα and p-NF-κB(p65) protein expression was reduced significantly. Also, a significant decline in TNF-α, IL-2, INF-γ, TGF-β with a significant increase in IL-10 levels were revealed. Meanwhile, a significant decrease in VEGF level and proliferation capacity were observed. We conclude that a combination of Ebs with radiotherapy has a major antitumor efficiency in inducing apoptosis and inhibiting cancer cell progression, due to the synergistic effect in regulating gene and protein expression, and in a modulating response of pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Low-coherence enhanced backscattering of light: characteristics and applications for colon cancer screening

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Young L.; Pradhan, Prabhakar; Turzhitsky, Vladimir M.; Subramanian, Hariharan; Liu, Yang; Wali, Ramesh K.; Roy, Hemant K.; Backman, Vadim

2007-02-01

The phenomenon of enhanced backscattering (EBS) of light, also known as coherent backscattering (CBS) of light, is a spectacular manifestation of self-interference effects in elastic light scattering, which gives rise to an enhanced scattered intensity in the backward direction. Although EBS has been the object of intensive investigation in non-biological media over the last two decades, there have been only a few attempts to explore EBS for tissue characterization and diagnosis. We have recently made progress in the EBS measurements of biological tissue by taking advantage of lowcoherence (or partially coherent) illumination, which is referred to as low-coherence EBS (LEBS) of light. LEBS possess novel and intriguing properties such as speckle reduction, self-averaging effect, broadening of the EBS width, depth-selectivity, double scattering, and circular polarization memory effect. After we review the current state of research on LEBS, we discuss how these characteristics apply for early cancer detection, especially in colorectal cancer (CRC), which is the second leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States. Although colonoscopy remains the gold standard for CRC screening, resource constraints and potential complications make it impractical to perform colonoscopy on the entire population at risk (age > 50). Thus, identifying patients who are most likely to benefit from colonoscopy is of paramount importance. We demonstrate that LEBS measurements in easily accessible colonoscopically normal mucosa (e.g., in the rectum of the colon) can be used for predicting the risk of CRC, and thus LEBS has the potential to serve as accurate markers of the risk of neoplasia elsewhere in the colon.

47 CFR 27.5 - Frequencies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

...-2560 MHz EBS Channel C2: 2560-2566 MHz EBS Channel D2: 2566-2572 MHz EBS Channel C3: 2572-2578 MHz EBS... MHz EBS Channel D1: 2551.5-2557 MHz EBS Channel D2: 2557-2562.5 MHz EBS Channel D3: 2562.5-2568 MHz...

[Chromogranin A derived peptide CGA47-66 inhibits hyper-permeability of blood brain barrier in mice with sepsis].

PubMed

Zeng, Yan; Zhang, Dan; Jiang, Liping; Wei, Fu; Xu, Shan

2016-02-01

To explore the effect of chromofungin (CHR), a chromogranin A (CGA) derived peptide CGA47-66, on hyper-permeability of blood brain barrier in septic mice. 120 healthy male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into groups, with 12 mice in each group. Seventy-two mice were used for dynamic observation of the contents of water and Evan blue (EB) in brain tissue after being treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Another 48 mice were divided into normal saline control group (NS group), LPS induced sepsis model group (LPS group), low-dose CHR pretreatment group (CL+LPS group), and high-dose CHR pretreatment group (CH+LPS group). The septic model was reproduced by intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg LPS 0.1 mL, and the mice in NS group was given equal volume of normal saline. The mice in CL+LPS group and CH+LPS group were intraperitoneally injected with 15.5 μg/kg and 77.5 μg/kg CHR 10 minutes before LPS injection. Six hours after LPS injection, 4 mL/kg of 2% EB was injected via caudal vein, the contents of water and EB in brain tissue were determined, and EB immune fluorescence in brain tissue was determined to assess the changes in permeability of blood brain barrier. Brain pathology was observed with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. With the extension of time after LPS injection, the contents of water and EB in brain tissue were gradually increased, and the time of difference with statistical significance appeared earlier when compared with that of control group in the contents of water than that in EB contents (3 hours and 6 hours, respectively). The contents of water and EB in brain tissue in LPS group were significantly increased as compared with NS group [water content: (79.77±0.62)% vs. (78.28±0.44)%, P < 0.01; EB content (μg/g): 13.87±4.50 vs. 7.13±1.76, P < 0.05]. CHR pretreatment with either of two dosages could reverse the increase in water and EB contents in brain tissue induced by LPS, and the effect was more significant in CH+LPS group [water content: (78.15±0.73)% vs. (79.77±0.62)%, EB (μg/g): 7.09±2.59 vs. 13.87±4.50, both P < 0.05]. It was shown by EB fluorescence observation that the fluorescence signal displayed only in the meninges in NS group, and EB fluorescence was widely distributed in brain parenchyma in LPS group, indicating that the EB leakage in LPS group was more marked than that of NS group. In CHR pretreatment groups, EB fluorescence was decreased in brain parenchyma, indicating that EB leakage was significantly less marked, while it was more obvious in high dose CHR group. It was shown by HE staining that cerebral blood vessel structure was intact in NS group, and the gap around blood vessel was not significant increased. On the other hand, brain structure in LPS group appeared loose, with widening of small perivascular spaces and obvious edema. Brain edema in CHR pretreatment groups was improved as compared with that of the LPS group, and it was more apparent in high dose CHR group. LPS induced change in blood brain barrier permeability in mice in a time-dependent manner. Exogenous CGA derived peptides CHR can inhibit LPS induced hyper-permeability of blood brain barrier in septic mice, thus reduces brain edema, protects the brain tissue, and the effect is more obvious with a high dose of CHR (77.5 μg/kg).

Characteristics of the NASA Lewis bumpy torus plasma generated with high positive or negative applied potentials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roth, J. R.; Gerdin, G. A.

1976-01-01

The toroidal ring of plasma contained in the NASA Lewis bumpy-torus superconducting magnet facility may be biased to positive or negative potentials approaching 50 kilovolts by applying direct-current voltages of the respective polarity to 12 or fewer of the midplane electrode rings. The electric fields which are responsible for heating the ions by E/B drift then point radially outward or inward. The low-frequency fluctuations below the ion cyclotron frequency appeared to be dominated by rotating spokes.

Quantitation of DNA Adducts Induced by 1,3-Butadiene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sangaraju, Dewakar; Villalta, Peter W.; Wickramaratne, Susith; Swenberg, James; Tretyakova, Natalia

2014-07-01

Human exposure to 1,3-butadiene (BD) present in automobile exhaust, cigarette smoke, and forest fires is of great concern because of its potent carcinogenicity. The adverse health effects of BD are mediated by its epoxide metabolites such as 3,4-epoxy-1-butene (EB), which covalently modify genomic DNA to form promutagenic nucleobase adducts. Because of their direct role in cancer, BD-DNA adducts can be used as mechanism-based biomarkers of BD exposure. In the present work, a mass spectrometry-based methodology was developed for accurate, sensitive, and precise quantification of EB-induced N-7-(1-hydroxy-3-buten-2-yl) guanine (EB-GII) DNA adducts in vivo. In our approach, EB-GII adducts are selectively released from DNA backbone by neutral thermal hydrolysis, followed by ultrafiltration, offline HPLC purification, and isotope dilution nanoLC/ESI+-HRMS3 analysis on an Orbitrap Velos mass spectrometer. Following method validation, EB-GII lesions were quantified in human fibrosarcoma (HT1080) cells treated with micromolar concentrations of EB and in liver tissues of rats exposed to sub-ppm concentrations of BD (0.5-1.5 ppm). EB-GII concentrations increased linearly from 1.15 ± 0.23 to 10.11 ± 0.45 adducts per 106 nucleotides in HT1080 cells treated with 0.5-10 μM DEB. EB-GII concentrations in DNA of laboratory rats exposed to 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 ppm BD were 0.17 ± 0.05, 0.33 ± 0.08, and 0.50 ± 0.04 adducts per 106 nucleotides, respectively. We also used the new method to determine the in vivo half-life of EB-GII adducts in rat liver DNA (2.20 ± 0.12 d) and to detect EB-GII in human blood DNA. To our knowledge, this is the first application of nanoLC/ESI+-HRMS3 Orbitrap methodology to quantitative analysis of DNA adducts in vivo.

Nanoplasmonic Phenomena at Electronic Boundaries in Graphene

DOE PAGES

Fei, Zhe; Ni, Guang -Xin; Jiang, Bor -Yuan; ...

2017-06-30

Here, we review recent discoveries of the intriguing plasmonic phenomena at a variety of electronic boundaries (EBs) in graphene including a line of charges in graphene induced by a carbon nanotube gate, grain boundaries in chemical vapor deposited graphene films, an interface between graphene and moiré patterned graphene, an interface between graphene and bilayer graphene, and others. All these and other EBs cause plasmonic impedance mismatch at the two sides of the boundaries. Manifestations of this effect include plasmonic fringes that stem from plasmon reflections and interference. Quantitative analysis and modeling of these plasmonic fringes uncovered intriguing properties and underlyingmore » physics of the EBs. Potential plasmonic applications associated with these EBs are also briefly discussed.« less

Nanoplasmonic Phenomena at Electronic Boundaries in Graphene

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

Fei, Zhe; Ni, Guang -Xin; Jiang, Bor -Yuan

Here, we review recent discoveries of the intriguing plasmonic phenomena at a variety of electronic boundaries (EBs) in graphene including a line of charges in graphene induced by a carbon nanotube gate, grain boundaries in chemical vapor deposited graphene films, an interface between graphene and moiré patterned graphene, an interface between graphene and bilayer graphene, and others. All these and other EBs cause plasmonic impedance mismatch at the two sides of the boundaries. Manifestations of this effect include plasmonic fringes that stem from plasmon reflections and interference. Quantitative analysis and modeling of these plasmonic fringes uncovered intriguing properties and underlyingmore » physics of the EBs. Potential plasmonic applications associated with these EBs are also briefly discussed.« less

Impurity segregation behavior in polycrystalline silicon ingot grown with variation of electron-beam power

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Jun-Kyu; Lee, Jin-Seok; Jang, Bo-Yun; Kim, Joon-Soo; Ahn, Young-Soo; Cho, Churl-Hee

2014-08-01

Electron beam melting (EBM) systems have been used to improve the purity of metallurgical grade silicon feedstock for photovoltaic application. Our advanced EBM system is able to effectively remove volatile impurities using a heat source with high energy from an electron gun and to continuously allow impurities to segregate at the top of an ingot solidified in a directional solidification (DS) zone in a vacuum chamber. Heat in the silicon melt should move toward the ingot bottom for the desired DS. However, heat flux though the ingot is changed as the ingot becomes longer due to low thermal conductivity of silicon. This causes a non-uniform microstructure of the ingot, finally leading to impurity segregation at its middle. In this research, EB power irradiated on the silicon melt was controlled during the ingot growth in order to suppress the change of heat flux. EB power was reduced from 12 to 6.6 kW during the growth period of 45 min with a drop rate of 0.125 kW/min. Also, the silicon ingot was grown under a constant EB power of 12 kW to estimate the effect of the drop rate of EB power. When the EB power was reduced, the grains with columnar shape were much larger at the middle of the ingot compared to the case of constant EB power. Also, the present research reports a possible reason for the improvement of ingot purity by considering heat flux behaviors.

Effect of endometrial biopsy on intrauterine insemination outcome in controlled ovarian stimulation cycle

PubMed Central

Wadhwa, Leena; Pritam, Amrita; Gupta, Taru; Gupta, Sangeeta; Arora, Sarika; Chandoke, Rajkumar

2015-01-01

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate the effect of endometrial biopsy (EB) on intrauterine insemination (IUI) outcome in controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) cycle. DESIGN: Prospective randomized control study. SETTING: Tertiary care center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 251 subjects were enrolled in the study. Subjects undergoing COS with IUI were randomly allocated into three groups. Group A: EB was taken between D19 and 24 of the spontaneous menstrual cycles that precedes the fertility treatment and IUI, which was done in next cycle (n = 86). Group B: EB was taken before D6 of the menstrual cycle, and fertility treatment and IUI was done in the same cycle (n = 90). Group C: (control group) no EB in previous 3 cycle (n = 75). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Clinical pregnancy rate (CPR). RESULTS: Clinical pregnancy rate was 19.77%, 31.11%, and 9.3% for Group A, Group B, and Group C, respectively. The results show a highly significant value for the paired t-test of intervention Group B and control Group C of the cases (P = 0.000957). CPR was maximum after first cycle of ovulation induction and IUI following EB scratch in both Groups A and in Group B (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Endometrial biopsy done in early follicular phase in the same cycle of stimulation with IUI gives better CPR as compared with EB done in the luteal phase of the previous cycle. PMID:26538858

An Evaluation of Treatments for Pruritus in Epidermolysis Bullosa

PubMed Central

Danial, Christina; Adeduntan, Rasidat; Gorell, Emily S.; Lucky, Anne W.; Paller, Amy S.; Bruckner, Anna L.; Pope, Elena; Morel, Kimberly D.; Levy, Moise L.; Li, Shufeng; Gilmore, Elaine S.; Lane, Alfred T

2016-01-01

Background Pruritus is a common complication in patients with epidermolysis bullosa (EB) and can be problematic. Objective data about the treatments used by EB patients for pruritus have not been reported and recommendations are limited. Objective To quantitatively determine which treatments have been used by EB patients for pruritus and to evaluate the perceived effectiveness of these treatments in pruritus relief. Methods A questionnaire was developed to evaluate which treatments and therapies have been used for pruritus in patients of all ages and types of EB. Questions about bathing products, moisturizers, topical products, oral medications, dressings, and alternative therapies were included. A 5-point Likert scale (-2=relieves itch a lot, -1=relieves itch a little, 0=no change, 1=increases itch a little, 2=increases itch a lot) was used to evaluate the perceived effectiveness of different treatments on pruritus relief. Patients from seven North American EB centers were invited to participate. Results Greasy ointments (53.4%), lotions (45.2%), creams (40.4%), and oral hydroxyzine (39.0%) were the most frequently used treatments for pruritus. Treatments that were used frequently and perceived to be the most effective included creams (mean=-1.1), topical prescription corticosteroids (mean=-1.0), oils (mean=-0.9), oral hydroxyzine (mean=-0.9), topical diphenhydramine (mean=-0.9), and vaporizing rub (menthol/camphor/eucalyptus) (mean=-0.9). Patients that used creams (p=0.05) or lotions (p=0.04) more often experienced significantly less pruritus. Systemic opioids (mean=0.3), adherent bandages (mean=0.3), and bleach baths (mean=0.2) slightly increased pruritus. Conclusions Randomized-controlled trials of therapies will be necessary to develop evidence-based recommendations for control of pruritus in EB patients. PMID:25557557

In vitro assessment of the growth and plasma membrane H+ -ATPase inhibitory activity of ebselen and structurally related selenium- and sulfur-containing compounds in Candida albicans.

PubMed

Orie, Natalie N; Warren, Andrew R; Basaric, Jovana; Lau-Cam, Cesar; Piętka-Ottlik, Magdalena; Młochowski, Jacek; Billack, Blase

2017-06-01

Ebselen (EB, compound 1) is an investigational organoselenium compound that reduces fungal growth, in part, through inhibition of the fungal plasma membrane H + -ATPase (Pma1p). In the present study, the growth inhibitory activity of EB and of five structural analogs was assessed in a fluconazole (FLU)-resistant strain of Candida albicans (S2). While none of the compounds were more effective than EB at inhibiting fungal growth (IC 50  ∼ 18 μM), two compounds, compounds 5 and 6, were similar in potency. Medium acidification assays performed with S2 yeast cells revealed that compounds 4 and 6, but not compounds 2, 3, or 5, exerted an inhibitory activity comparable to EB (IC 50  ∼ 14 μM). Using a partially purified Pma1p preparation obtained from S2 yeast cells, EB and all the analogs demonstrated a similar inhibitory activity. Taken together, these results indicate that EB analogs are worth exploring further for use as growth inhibitors of FLU-resistant fungi. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Combined effects of microwaves, electron beams and polyfunctional monomers on rubber vulcanization.

PubMed

Manaila, Elena; Martin, Diana; Stelescu, Daniela Zuga; Craciun, Gabriela; Ighigeanu, Daniel; Matei, Constantin

2009-01-01

This paper presents comparative results obtained by conventional vulcanization with benzoyl peroxide (CV-BP), separate electron beam vulcanization (EB-V) and simultaneous electron beam and microwave vulcanization (EB+MW-V) applied to two kind of rubber samples: EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) rubber-sample (EVA-sample) and EPDM (ethylene-propylene terpolymer) rubber-sample (EPDM-sample). The EVA-samples contain 61.54% EVA Elvax 260, 30.77% carbon black, 1.85% TAC (triallylcyanurate) polyfunctional monomer and 5.84% filler (zinc oxide, stearic acid, polyethylene glycol and antioxidant). The EPDM-samples contain 61.54% EPDM Nordel 4760, 30.77% carbon black, 1.85% TMPT (trimethylopropane trimethacrylate) polyfunctional monomer and 5.84% filler (zinc oxide, stearic acid, polyethylene glycol and antioxidant). The rubber samples designed for different vulcanization methods were obtained from raw rubber mixtures, as compressed sheets of 2 mm in the polyethylene foils to minimize oxidation. For EB and EB + MW treatments the sheets were cut in rectangular shape 0.15 x 0.15 m2. The physical properties of samples obtained by CV-BP EV-Vand EB + MW-V methods were evaluated by measuring the tearing strength, residual elongation, elongation at break, tensile strength, 300% modulus, 100% modulus, elasticity and hardness. The obtained results demonstrate an improvement of rubber several properties obtained by EB and EB + MW processing as compared to classical procedure using benzoyl peroxide.

Suppression of the PI3K subunit p85α delays embryoid body development and inhibits cell adhesion.

PubMed

Gurney, Susan M R; Forster, Peter; Just, Ursula; Schwanbeck, Ralf

2011-12-01

Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases (PI3Ks) exert a variety of signaling functions in eukaryotes. We suppressed the PI3K regulatory subunit p85α using a small interfering RNA (Pik3r1 siRNA) and examined the effects on embryoid body (EB) development in hanging drop culture. We observed a 150% increase in the volume of the treated EBs within 24 h, compared to the negative controls. Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) assays showed that this increase in volume is not due to increased cellular proliferation. Instead, the increase in volume appears to be due to reduced cellular aggregation and adherence. This is further shown by our observation that 40% of treated EBs form twin instead of single EBs, and that they have a significantly reduced ability to adhere to culture dishes when plated. A time course over the first 96 h reveals that the impaired adherence is transient and explained by an initial 12-hour delay in EB development. Quantitative PCR expression analysis suggests that the adhesion molecule integrin-β1 (ITGB1) is transiently downregulated by the p85α suppression. In conclusion we found that suppressing p85α leads to a delay in forming compact EBs, accompanied by a transient inability of the EBs to undergo normal cell-cell and cell-substrate adhesion. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Diagnosis of Inherited Epidermolysis Bullosa in Resource-Limited Settings: Immunohistochemistry Revisited.

PubMed

Yenamandra, Vamsi Krishna; Bhari, Neetu; Ray, Subrata Basu; Sreenivas, Vishnubhatla; Dinda, Amit Kumar; Scaria, Vinod; Sharma, Vinod Kumar; Sethuraman, Gomathy

2017-01-01

Immunofluorescence (IFM) antigen mapping is the most commonly used technique to diagnose and differentiate epidermolysis bullosa (EB). In India, IFM is limited to few research laboratories and is not readily available, making the diagnosis largely clinical and often inaccurate. Ob jective of the Study: To examine the diagnostic usefulness of immunohistochemistry (IHC) as compared to IFM in resource-limited settings. Forty-four consecutive EB patients were included in this study. IHC and IFM were performed on 7-µm frozen tissue sections using standard laboratory protocols with a limited panel of antibodies. The kappa coefficient of agreement was calculated with genetic analysis as the gold standard. IFM and IHC accurately identified the subtype of EB in 80.9% (p < 0.001) of the cases, when a clear blister cavity was evident on biopsy. The sensitivities and specificities of IHC and IFM for diagnosing EB simplex, junctional EB, and dystrophic EB were 100, 100, and 60% and 82.4, 100, and 100%, respectively. IHC was equally effective (p < 0.001) in establishing the type of EB as IFM. IHC staining and its interpretation were simple and comparable to IFM. IHC had an advantage of showing subtle changes in the epidermal architecture that could not be appreciated on IFM and hence can be considered useful in resource-limited settings. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

ELLERMAN BOMBS WITH JETS: CAUSE AND EFFECT

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

Reid, A.; Mathioudakis, M.; Scullion, E.

2015-05-20

Ellerman Bombs (EBs) are thought to arise as a result of photospheric magnetic reconnection. We use data from the Swedish 1 m Solar Telescope to study EB events on the solar disk and at the limb. Both data sets show that EBs are connected to the foot points of forming chromospheric jets. The limb observations show that a bright structure in the Hα blue wing connects to the EB initially fueling it, leading to the ejection of material upwards. The material moves along a loop structure where a newly formed jet is subsequently observed in the red wing of Hα.more » In the disk data set, an EB initiates a jet which propagates away from the apparent reconnection site within the EB flame. The EB then splits into two, with associated brightenings in the inter-granular lanes. Micro-jets are then observed, extending to 500 km with a lifetime of a few minutes. Observed velocities of the micro-jets are approximately 5–10 km s{sup −1}, while their chromospheric counterparts range from 50 to 80 km s{sup −1}. MURaM simulations of quiet Sun reconnection show that micro-jets with properties similar to those of the observations follow the line of reconnection in the photosphere, with associated Hα brightening at the location of increased temperature.« less

Comparison of endoscopic papillary balloon dilation and sphincterotomy in young patients with CBD stones and gallstones.

PubMed

Seo, Yu Ri; Moon, Jong Ho; Choi, Hyun Jong; Kim, Dong Choon; Ha, Ji Su; Lee, Tae Hoon; Cha, Sang-Woo; Cho, Young Deok; Park, Sang-Heum; Kim, Sun-Joo

2014-05-01

Endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy (EBS) results in permanent loss of sphincter function and its long-term complications are unknown. Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) is an alternative procedure that preserves sphincter function, although it is associated with a higher risk of pancreatitis than is EBS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and outcomes of EPBD with limited indications for removal of common bile duct (CBD) stones combined with gallstones in patients younger than 40 years. Young (age < 40 years) patients who had CBD stones combined with gallstones on imaging studies were enrolled in this study. A total of 132 patients were randomly divided into the EPBD group (n = 62) or the EBS group (n = 70) for extraction of CBD stones. The ballooning size of EPBD ranged from 6 to 10 mm. Complete bile duct clearance was achieved in 98.4 % (61/62) of the EPBD group and 100 % (70/70) of the EBS group. Mechanical lithotripsy was required in 8.1 % (5/62) of the EPBD group and 8.6 % (6/70) of the EBS group. The early complication rates were 8.1 % (5/62) (five pancreatitis) in the EPBD group and 11.4 % (8/70) (five [7.1 %] pancreatitis, two bleeding and one perforation) in the EBS group. The recurrence rates of CBD stones were 1.6 % (1/62) in the EPBD group and 5.7 % (4/70) in the EBS group. EPBD with limited indications was safe and effective as EBS for removal of CBD stones combined with gallstones in young patients who had a longer life expectancy.

An efficient empirical Bayes method for genomewide association studies.

PubMed

Wang, Q; Wei, J; Pan, Y; Xu, S

2016-08-01

Linear mixed model (LMM) is one of the most popular methods for genomewide association studies (GWAS). Numerous forms of LMM have been developed; however, there are two major issues in GWAS that have not been fully addressed before. The two issues are (i) the genomic background noise and (ii) low statistical power after Bonferroni correction. We proposed an empirical Bayes (EB) method by assigning each marker effect a normal prior distribution, resulting in shrinkage estimates of marker effects. We found that such a shrinkage approach can selectively shrink marker effects and reduce the noise level to zero for majority of non-associated markers. In the meantime, the EB method allows us to use an 'effective number of tests' to perform Bonferroni correction for multiple tests. Simulation studies for both human and pig data showed that EB method can significantly increase statistical power compared with the widely used exact GWAS methods, such as GEMMA and FaST-LMM-Select. Real data analyses in human breast cancer identified improved detection signals for markers previously known to be associated with breast cancer. We therefore believe that EB method is a valuable tool for identifying the genetic basis of complex traits. © 2015 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Monetary Incentive Effects on Event-Based Prospective Memory Three Months after Traumatic Brain Injury in Children

PubMed Central

Pedroza, Claudia; Chapman, Sandra B.; Cook, Lori G.; Vásquez, Ana C.; Levin, Harvey S.

2011-01-01

Information regarding the remediation of event-based prospective memory (EB-PM) impairments following pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) is scarce. Addressing this, two levels of monetary incentives were used to improve EB-PM in children ages 7 to 16 years with orthopedic injuries (OI, n = 51), or moderate (n = 25), and severe (n = 39) TBI at approximately three months postinjury. The EB-PM task consisted of the child giving a specific verbal response to a verbal cue from the examiner while performing a battery of neuropsychological measures (ongoing task). Significant effects were found for Age-at-Test, Motivation Condition, Period, and Group. Within-group analyses indicated OI and moderate TBI groups performed significantly better under the high-versus low-incentive condition, but the severe TBI group demonstrated no significant improvement. These results indicate EB-PM can be significantly improved at three months postinjury in children with moderate, but not severe, TBI. PMID:21347945

Short-Term Effects of the Anti-sea Lice Therapeutant Emamectin Benzoate on Clam Worms (Nereis virens).

PubMed

McBriarty, G J; Kidd, K A; Burridge, L E

2018-05-01

The polychaete Nereis virens occurs commonly in marine sediments, is widely distributed, and is a popular bait species, as well as a potential replacement for wild-caught fish in commercial fish feed preparations. It is being considered as a potential co-extractive species for culture in integrated multi-trophic aquaculture operations. However, it is not known whether pesticides or drugs used to treat sea lice on farmed salmon, such as emamectin benzoate (EB), would adversely affect cultured or wild worms, because these compounds may persist in the environment. To determine the potential effects of EB to N. virens, bioassays were performed wherein worms were exposed in sand for 30 days to a concentration of 400 µg/kg dw (nominal). While no treatment-related mortality occurred, significant decreases in worm mass and marked behavioral changes (lack of burrowing) were observed in EB-treated sand compared with controls. These lab-based observations suggest a potential hazard to worms at sites where EB treatments have occurred.

Effects of chlorogenic acid on adenine nucleotides hydrolyzing enzyme activities and expression in platelets of rats experimentally demyelinated with ethidium bromide.

PubMed

Leal, Claudio A M; Leal, Daniela B R; Adefegha, Stephen A; Morsch, Vera M; Beckmann, Diego V; Castilhos, Lívia G; Thorstenberg, Maria L P; Jaques, Jeandre A Dos S; Souza, Viviane do C G; Farias, Júlia G; Martins, Caroline C; Schetinger, Maria R C

2016-07-01

The effects of chlorogenic acid (one of the major phenolic acid found in human diets) were investigated on the adenine nucleotides hydrolyzing enzymes; ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phophodiesterase (E-NPP), ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (E-NTPDase), E-5'- nucleotidase and ecto-adenosine deaminase (E-ADA) activities and expression in platelets of rats experimentally demyelinated with ethidium bromide. Rats were divided into four groups of eight animals each. Group I rats were control rats; injected with saline (CT), group II rats were injected with saline and treated with chlorogenic acid (AC), group III rats were injected with 0.1% ethidium bromide (EB) and group IV rats were injected with 0.1% EB and treated with chlorogenic acid (EB+AC). The activities of the enzymes were analyzed using colorimetric methods, and the gene expression of NTPDase 1, 2 and 3 were analyzed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results revealed that there was a significant (P<0.01) reduction in E-NPP activity in EB group (1.63±0.10nmol p-nitrophenol released/min/mg protein) when compared to CT group (2.33±0.14nmol p-nitrophenol released/min/mg protein). However, treatment with chlorogenic acid significantly (P<0.05) increased E-NPP activity in EB group. Furthermore, no significant (P>0.05) change was observed in the E-NPP activity of EB+AC group (2.19±0.08nmol p-nitrophenol released/min/mg protein) when compared to CT group (2.33±0.14nmol p-nitrophenol released/min/mg protein). In addition, there was a significant (P<0.05) increase in AMP hydrolysis in EB rat group when compared to CT group. No significant (P>0.05) difference was observed in AMP hydrolysis between AC, AC+EB and CT groups. Conversely, there were no significant (P>0.05) differences in ATP and ADP hydrolyses between all the groups (AC, EB, AC+EB and CT groups). Likewise, there were no significant (P>0.05) changes in E-ADA activity and percentage platelet aggregation among all groups studied. Similarly, no significant (P>0.05) change was observed in the expression of E-NTPDase 1, 2 and 3 in all the groups tested. Our study revealed that chlorogenic acid may modulate the hydrolysis of adenine nucleotides in platelets of rats demyelinated and treated with chlorogenic acid via alteration of E-NPP and ecto-5'-nucleotidase activities. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Development and preventative effect against pine wilt disease of a novel liquid formulation of emamectin benzoate.

PubMed

Takai, Kazuya; Suzuki, Toshio; Kawazu, Kazuyoshi

2003-03-01

Injection of the poorly water-soluble emamectin benzoate (EB) into pine trunks required the development of an efficient liquid formulation. For injection into big trees in forests a good rate of injection and a high active content were required. Tests on the viscosity and EB-solubilizing ability of 14 various solubilizers in diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (DGMBE) led to the selection of Sorpol SM-100PM as the solubilizer of the formulation. Relationships between the solubilizing ability and amounts of Sorpol SM-100PM and DGMBE relative to that of EB, and between the concentration of the latter and the viscosity or the injection rate of the formulation led to a novel 40 g litre(-1) emamectin benzoate formulation (Shot Wan Liquid Formulation), which was composed of EB (40), Sorpol SM-100PM (120), DGMBE (160) and distilled water (50 g litre(-1)) in methanol. Injection of this formulation at a dose of 10 g EB per unit volume of pine tree prevented over 90% of the trees from wilting caused by pine wood nematode, and this preventative effect continued for 3 years. Neither discolouration of the leaves nor injury around the injection hole on the trees was observed after injection of the formulation.

The microtubule end-binding protein EB2 is a central regulator of microtubule reorganisation in apico-basal epithelial differentiation.

PubMed

Goldspink, Deborah A; Gadsby, Jonathan R; Bellett, Gemma; Keynton, Jennifer; Tyrrell, Benjamin J; Lund, Elizabeth K; Powell, Penny P; Thomas, Paul; Mogensen, Mette M

2013-09-01

Microtubule end-binding (EB) proteins influence microtubule dynamic instability, a process that is essential for microtubule reorganisation during apico-basal epithelial differentiation. Here, we establish for the first time that expression of EB2, but not that of EB1, is crucial for initial microtubule reorganisation during apico-basal epithelial differentiation, and that EB2 downregulation promotes bundle formation. EB2 siRNA knockdown during early stages of apico-basal differentiation prevented microtubule reorganisation, whereas its downregulation at later stages promoted microtubule stability and bundle formation. Interestingly, although EB1 is not essential for microtubule reorganisation, its knockdown prevented apico-basal bundle formation and epithelial elongation. siRNA depletion of EB2 in undifferentiated epithelial cells induced the formation of straight, less dynamic microtubules with EB1 and ACF7 lattice association and co-alignment with actin filaments, a phenotype that could be rescued by inhibition with formin. Importantly, in situ inner ear and intestinal crypt epithelial tissue revealed direct correlations between a low level of EB2 expression and the presence of apico-basal microtubule bundles, which were absent where EB2 was elevated. EB2 is evidently important for initial microtubule reorganisation during epithelial polarisation, whereas its downregulation facilitates EB1 and ACF7 microtubule lattice association, microtubule-actin filament co-alignment and bundle formation. The spatiotemporal expression of EB2 thus dramatically influences microtubule organisation, EB1 and ACF7 deployment and epithelial differentiation.

A Cross-Cultural Study of Environmental Values and Their Effect on the Environmental Behavior of Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boeve-de Pauw, Jelle; Van Petegem, Peter

2013-01-01

Environmental values (EV) are regarded as significant precursors for environmental behavior (EB) by many scholars. The present study addresses the issue of the invariance of EV (tapped by the two-dimensional model of ecological values), and their effect on EB, across cultural contexts. In all, a total of 1,833 ten- to thirteen-year-old children…

Potential effects of fat mass and fat-free mass on energy intake in different states of energy balance.

PubMed

Stubbs, R James; Hopkins, M; Finlayson, G S; Duarte, C; Gibbons, C; Blundell, J E

2018-05-01

Recently models have attempted to integrate the functional relationships of fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) with the control of human energy intake (EI). Cross-sectional evidence suggests that at or close to EB, FFM is positively related to hunger and EI, whereas FM either shows a weak negative or no association with ad libitum EI. Further analysis suggests that the effects of FFM and FM on EI may be mediated by resting metabolic rate (RMR). These studies suggest that energy turnover is associated with EI and the largest determinant of energy requirements in most humans is FFM. During chronic positive EBs both FM and FFM expand (but disproportionately so), increasing energy demands. There is little evidence that an expanding FM exerts strong negative feedback on longer term EI. However, during chronic negative EBs FM, FFM and RMR all decrease but appetite increases. Some studies suggest that proportionate loss of FFM during weight loss predicts subsequent weight regain. Taken together these lines of evidence suggest that changes in the size and functional integrity of FFM may influence appetite and EI. Increases in FFM associated with either weight gain or high levels of exercise may 'pull' EI upwards but energy deficits that decrease FFM may exert a distinct drive on appetite. The current paper discusses how FM and FFM relationships influence appetite regulation, and how size, structure and functional integrity of FFM may drive EI in humans (i) at EB (ii) during positive EB and (iii) during negative EB.

Vaginocervical stimulation attenuates the sensitization of appetitive sexual behaviors by estradiol benzoate in the ovariectomized rat.

PubMed

Jones, Sherri Lee; Germé, Katuschia; Graham, M Dean; Roy, Patrick; Gardner Gregory, James; Rosenbaum, Stephanie; Parada, Mayte; Pfaus, James G

2015-09-01

The acute administration of estradiol benzoate (EB) to the ovariectomized (OVX) rat induces low levels of lordosis while sexually appetitive behaviors (e.g., hops, darts, solicitations) are absent, yet the repeated administration of EB results in a behavioral sensitization in which lordosis is potentiated and sexually appetitive behaviors are induced. We have shown that repeated copulation attenuates the sensitization of appetitive sexual behaviors. Here, we assessed which component of male stimulation during copulation is involved in the attenuation. On 8 occasions, sexually experienced OVX Long-Evans rats were treated with 10μgEB and 48h later assigned to one of six groups that differed in their experience on intermediates tests (2-7). One was given repeated access to a male (EB/Male), and another was placed in the copulation chamber alone (EB/Alone) on intermediate tests. Three groups were given one of three somatosensory stimuli by the experimenter: manual flank stimulation (FLS), clitoral stimulation (CLS), or vaginocervical stimulation (VCS). Finally, the control group was left undisturbed in the animal care facility (ACF). Sexual behaviors were measured on Tests 1 and 8. VCS received from the experimenter (VCS) or from the male during copulation (EB/Male) attenuated the magnitude of the sensitization of appetitive sexual behaviors compared with those that were not brought to the testing rooms (ACF), and the effect was most pronounced on sexual solicitations. These results suggest that VCS received during penile intromission inhibits the sensitization of sexually appetitive behaviors by repeated administration of EB. As such, repeated administration of EB may oppose those mechanisms that induce estrous termination, perhaps by sensitizing inhibitory processes within the ventromedial hypothalamus that typically prevent the display of sexual behaviors (i.e., by facilitating disinhibition). Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Imprinted expression in cystic embryoid bodies shows an embryonic and not an extra-embryonic pattern

PubMed Central

Kulinski, Tomasz M.; Casari, M. Rita T.; Guenzl, Philipp M.; Wenzel, Daniel; Andergassen, Daniel; Hladik, Anastasiya; Datlinger, Paul; Farlik, Matthias; Theussl, H. -Christian; Penninger, Josef M.; Knapp, Sylvia; Bock, Christoph; Barlow, Denise P.; Hudson, Quanah J.

2015-01-01

A large subset of mammalian imprinted genes show extra-embryonic lineage (EXEL) specific imprinted expression that is restricted to placental trophectoderm lineages and to visceral yolk sac endoderm (ysE). Isolated ysE provides a homogenous in vivo model of a mid-gestation extra-embryonic tissue to examine the mechanism of EXEL-specific imprinted gene silencing, but an in vitro model of ysE to facilitate more rapid and cost-effective experiments is not available. Reports indicate that ES cells differentiated into cystic embryoid bodies (EBs) contain ysE, so here we investigate if cystic EBs model ysE imprinted expression. The imprinted expression pattern of cystic EBs is shown to resemble fetal liver and not ysE. To investigate the reason for this we characterized the methylome and transcriptome of cystic EBs in comparison to fetal liver and ysE, by whole genome bisulphite sequencing and RNA-seq. Cystic EBs show a fetal liver pattern of global hypermethylation and low expression of repeats, while ysE shows global hypomethylation and high expression of IAPEz retroviral repeats, as reported for placenta. Transcriptome analysis confirmed that cystic EBs are more similar to fetal liver than ysE and express markers of early embryonic endoderm. Genome-wide analysis shows that ysE shares epigenetic and repeat expression features with placenta. Contrary to previous reports, we show that cystic EBs do not contain ysE, but are more similar to the embryonic endoderm of fetal liver. This explains why cystic EBs reproduce the imprinted expression seen in the embryo but not that seen in the ysE. PMID:25912690

Genetic parameter estimation for milk β-hydroxybutyrate and acetone in early lactation and its association with fat to protein ratio and energy balance in Korean Holstein cattle.

PubMed

Ranaraja, Umanthi; Cho, KwangHyun; Park, MiNa; Kim, SiDong; Lee, SeokHyun; Do, ChangHee

2018-06-01

The objective of this study was to estimate the genetic parameters for milk β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), acetone (Ac), fat protein ratio (FPR), and energy balance (EB) using milk test day records and investigate the effect of early lactation FPR and EB on milk ketone body concentrations. Total 262,940 test-day records collected from Korea Animal Improvement Association during the period of 2012 to 2016 were used in this study. BHBA and Ac concentrations in milk were measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). FPR values were obtained using test day records of fat and protein percentage. EB was calculated using previously developed equation based on parity, lactation week, and milk composition data. Genetic parameters were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood procedure based on repeatability model using Wombat program. Elevated milk BHBA and Ac concentrations were observed during the early lactation under the negative energy balance. Milk FPR tends to decrease with the decreasing ketone body concentrations. Heritability estimates for milk BHBA, Ac, EB, and FPR ranged from 0.09 to 0.14, 0.23 to 0.31, 0.19 to 0.52, and 0.16 to 0.42 respectively at parity 1, 2, 3, and 4. The overall heritability for BHBA, Ac, EB and FPR were 0.29, 0.32, 0.58, and 0.38 respectively. A common pattern was observed in heritability of EB and FPR along with parities. FPR and EB can be suggested as potential predictors for risk of hyperketonemia. The heritability estimates of milk BHBA, Ac, EB, and FPR indicate that the selective breeding may contribute to maintaining the milk ketone bodies at optimum level during early lactation.

Efficiency of Core Biopsy for BI-RADS-5 Breast Lesions.

PubMed

Wolf, Ronald; Quan, Glenda; Calhoun, Kris; Soot, Laurel; Skokan, Laurie

2008-01-01

Stereotactic biopsy has proven more cost effective for biopsy of lesions associated with moderately suspicious mammograms. Data regarding selection of stereotactic biopsy (CORE) instead of excisional biopsy (EB) as the first diagnostic procedure in patients with nonpalpable breast lesions and highest suspicion breast imaging-reporting and data system (BI-RADS)-5 mammograms are sparse. Records from a regional health system radiology database were screened for mammograms associated with image-guided biopsy. A total of 182 nonpalpable BI-RADS-5 lesions were sampled in 178 patients over 5 years, using CORE or EB. Initial surgical margins, number of surgeries, time from initial procedure to last related surgical procedure, and hospital and professional charges for related admissions were compared using chi-squared, t-test, and Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney tests. A total of 108 CORE and 74 EB were performed as the first diagnostic procedure. Invasive or in situ carcinoma was diagnosed in 156 (86%) of all biopsies, 95 in CORE and 61 in EB groups. Negative margins of the first surgical procedure were more frequent in CORE (n = 70, 74%) versus EB (n = 17, 28%), p < 0.05. Use of CORE was associated with fewer total surgical procedures per lesion (1.29 +/- 0.05 versus 1.8 +/- 0.05, p < 0.05). Time of initial diagnostic procedure to final treatment did not vary significantly according to group (27 +/- 2 days versus 22 +/- 2 days, CORE versus EB). Mean charges including the diagnostic procedure and all subsequent surgeries were not different between CORE and EB groups ($10,500 +/- 300 versus $11,500 +/- 500, p = 0.08). Use of CORE as the first procedure in patients with highly suspicious mammograms is associated with improved pathologic margins and need for fewer surgical procedures than EB, and should be considered the preferred initial diagnostic approach.

Collagen-IV supported embryoid bodies formation and differentiation from buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) embryonic stem cells

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

Taru Sharma, G., E-mail: gts553@gmail.com; Dubey, Pawan K.; Verma, Om Prakash

Graphical abstract: EBs formation, characterization and expression of germinal layers marker genes of in vivo developed teratoma using four different types of extracellular matrices. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Collagen-IV matrix is found cytocompatible for EBs formation and differentiation. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Established 3D microenvironment for ES cells development and differentiation into three germ layers. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Collagen-IV may be useful as promising candidate for ES cells based therapeutic applications. -- Abstract: Embryoid bodies (EBs) are used as in vitro model to study early extraembryonic tissue formation and differentiation. In this study, a novel method using three dimensional extracellular matrices for in vitro generation of EBsmore » from buffalo embryonic stem (ES) cells and its differentiation potential by teratoma formation was successfully established. In vitro derived inner cell masses (ICMs) of hatched buffalo blastocyst were cultured on buffalo fetal fibroblast feeder layer for primary cell colony formation. For generation of EBs, pluripotent ES cells were seeded onto four different types of extracellular matrices viz; collagen-IV, laminin, fibronectin and matrigel using undifferentiating ES cell culture medium. After 5 days of culture, ESCs gradually grew into aggregates and formed simple EBs having circular structures. Twenty-six days later, they formed cystic EBs over collagen matrix with higher EBs formation and greater proliferation rate as compared to other extracellular matrices. Studies involving histological observations, fluorescence microscopy and RT-PCR analysis of the in vivo developed teratoma revealed that presence of all the three germ layer derivatives viz. ectoderm (NCAM), mesoderm (Flk-1) and endoderm (AFP). In conclusion, the method described here demonstrates a simple and cost-effective way of generating EBs from buffalo ES cells. Collagen-IV matrix was found cytocompatible as it supported buffalo EBs formation, their subsequent differentiation could prove to be useful as promising candidate for ES cells based therapeutic applications.« less

Generating size-controlled embryoid bodies using laser direct-write.

PubMed

Dias, A D; Unser, A M; Xie, Y; Chrisey, D B; Corr, D T

2014-06-01

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have the potential to self-renew and differentiate into any specialized cell type. One common method to differentiate ESCs in vitro is through embryoid bodies (EBs), three-dimensional cellular aggregates that spontaneously self-assemble and generally express markers for the three germ layers, endoderm, ectoderm, and mesoderm. It has been previously shown that both EB size and 2D colony size each influence differentiation. We hypothesized that we could control the size of the EB formed by mouse ESCs (mESCs) by using a cell printing method, laser direct-write (LDW), to control both the size of the initial printed colony and the local cell density in printed colonies. After printing mESCs at various printed colony sizes and printing densities, two-way ANOVAs indicated that the EB diameter was influenced by printing density after three days (p = 0.0002), while there was no effect of the printed colony diameter on the EB diameter at the same timepoint (p = 0.74). There was no significant interaction between these two factors. Tukey's honestly significant difference test showed that high-density colonies formed significantly larger EBs, suggesting that printed mESCs quickly aggregate with nearby cells. Thus, EBs can be engineered to a desired size by controlling printing density, which will influence the design of future differentiation studies. Herein, we highlight the capacity of LDW to control the local cell density and colony size independently, at prescribed spatial locations, potentially leading to better stem cell maintenance and directed differentiation.

Systemic ICI 182,780 alters the display of sexual behaviors in the female rat.

PubMed

Gardener, H E; Clark, A S

2001-03-01

The present study investigates the effects of the antiestrogen ICI 182,780 (ICI) on the display of sexual behaviors in female rats. ICI 182,780 is a pure anti-estrogen and when given systemically, ICI is thought to act only in the periphery, and is not believed to cross the blood brain barrier. The present study examines the effects of ICI on sexual receptivity and on paced mating behavior following treatment with estradiol benzoate (EB) and progesterone (P) (Experiment 1) or with EB alone (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, ICI (250.0 microg) did not affect the display of receptivity or paced mating behavior induced by EB and P. In contrast, in Experiment 2 female rats receiving EB alone displayed a decrease in the level of sexual receptivity following treatment with 500.0 and 750.0 microg ICI (but not 250.0 microg ICI). In addition, in Experiment 2 EB-treated female rats receiving 250.0 microg ICI spent more time away from the male rat following an intromission and were more likely to exit from the male compartment following a mount. Last, ICI had potent antiestrogenic effects on vaginal cytology (Experiment 2) and on the uterus (Experiments 1 and 2). The present study supports a role for peripheral estrogen receptors in sexual receptivity and paced mating behavior and suggests that estrogen receptor activation may decrease the aversive sensation associated with sexual stimulation. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

The display of sexual behaviors by female rats administered ICI 182,780.

PubMed

Clark, Ann S; Guarraci, Fay A; Megroz, Alison B; Porter, Donna M; Henderson, Leslie P

2003-04-01

ICI 182,780 (ICI) is a pure antiestrogen that when administered systemically does not cross the blood-brain barrier, thus its actions are limited to the periphery. Four experiments were conducted to test the effects of ICI on the display of sexual behaviors in ovariectomized rats. Experiment 1 examined the effects of three doses of ICI (250, 500, and 750 micro g/rat) on sexual receptivity and paced mating behavior in rats primed with estradiol benzoate (EB) in combination with progesterone (P). Experiments 2 and 3 compared the display of sexual behaviors in rats primed with EB+P or EB alone and administered either 250 micro g ICI (Experiment 2) or 500 micro g ICI (Experiment 3). Experiment 4 tested the effects of ICI (250 and 500 micro g) on the expression of estrogen-induced progestin receptors in the uterus. ICI did not affect the display of sexual receptivity in any experiment. In rats primed with EB+P, paced mating behavior was altered by the 500 and 750 micro g, but not the 250 micro g, doses of ICI. The lowest (250 micro g) dose of ICI did alter paced mating behavior in rats primed with EB alone. The effects of ICI on paced mating behavior were manifested by a substantial lengthening of contact-return latencies following intromissions and ejaculations. The percentage of exits were not affected by ICI. Estrogen stimulation of uterine weight and induction of uterine progestin receptors was suppressed by ICI (250 and 500 micro g). ICI effects on paced mating behavior in hormone-primed female rats are likely to reflect antiestrogenic actions in the periphery, including interference with the estrogen induction of progestin receptors.

Influences of specific ions in groundwater on concrete degradation in subsurface engineered barrier system.

PubMed

Lin, Wen-Sheng; Liu, Chen-Wuing; Li, Ming-Hsu

2016-01-01

Many disposal concepts currently show that concrete is an effective confinement material used in engineered barrier systems (EBS) at a number of low-level radioactive waste (LLW) disposal sites. Cement-based materials have properties for the encapsulation, isolation, or retardation of a variety of hazardous contaminants. The reactive chemical transport model of HYDROGEOCHEM 5.0 was applied to simulate the effect of hydrogeochemical processes on concrete barrier degradation in an EBS which has been proposed to use in the LLW disposal site in Taiwan. The simulated results indicated that the main processes that are responsible for concrete degradation are the species induced from hydrogen ion, sulfate, and chloride. The EBS with the side ditch drainage system effectively discharges the infiltrated water and lowers the solute concentrations that may induce concrete degradation. The redox processes markedly influence the formations of the degradation materials. The reductive environment in the EBS reduces the formation of ettringite in concrete degradation processes. Moreover, the chemical conditions in the concrete barriers maintain an alkaline condition after 300 years in the proposed LLW repository. This study provides a detailed picture of the long-term evolution of the hydrogeochemical environment in the proposed LLW disposal site in Taiwan.

Electron Beam Technology for Environmental Pollution Control.

PubMed

Chmielewski, Andrzej G; Han, Bumsoo

2016-10-01

Worldwide, there are over 1700 electron beam (EB) units in commercial use, providing an estimated added value to numerous products, amounting to 100 billion USD or more. High-current electron accelerators are used in diverse industries to enhance the physical and chemical properties of materials and to reduce undesirable contaminants such as pathogens, toxic byproducts, or emissions. Over the past few decades, EB technologies have been developed aimed at ensuring the safety of gaseous and liquid effluents discharged to the environment. It has been demonstrated that EB technologies for flue gas treatment (SO x and NO x removal), wastewater purification, and sludge hygienization can be effectively deployed to mitigate environmental degradation. Recently, extensive work has been carried out on the use of EB for environmental remediation, which also includes the removal of emerging contaminants such as VOCs, endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), and potential EDCs.

Seafood-like flavour obtained from the enzymatic hydrolysis of the protein by-products of seaweed (Gracilaria sp.).

PubMed

Laohakunjit, Natta; Selamassakul, Orrapun; Kerdchoechuen, Orapin

2014-09-01

An enzymatic bromelain seaweed protein hydrolysate (eb-SWPH) was characterised as the precursor for thermally processed seafood flavour. Seaweed (Gracilaria fisheri) protein after agar extraction was hydrolysed using bromelain (enzyme activity=119,325 U/g) at 0-20% (w/w) for 0.5-24 h. Optimal hydrolysis conditions were determined using response surface methodology. The proposed model took into account the interaction effect of the enzyme concentration and hydrolysis time on the physicochemical properties and volatile components of eb-SWPH. The optimal hydrolysis conditions for the production of eb-SWPH were 10% bromelain for 3h, which resulted in a 38.15% yield and a 62.91% degree of hydrolysis value. Three free amino acids, arginine, lysine, and leucine, were abundant in the best hydrolysate. Ten volatile flavours of the best eb-SWPH were identified using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The predominant odourants were hexanal, hexanoic acid, nonanoic acid, and dihydroactinidiolide. The thermally processed seafood flavour produced from eb-SWPH exhibited a roasted seafood-like flavouring. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Parent Attachment, Childrearing Behavior, and Child Attachment: Mediated Effects Predicting Preschoolers' Externalizing Behavior

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roskam, Isabelle; Meunier, Jean-Christophe; Stievenart, Marie

2011-01-01

Attachment theory provides an interesting background for thinking about externalizing behavior (EB) in early childhood and for understanding how parenting influences the child's outcomes. The study examined how attachment and parenting could be combined to explain preschoolers' EB. Data were collected from 117 preschoolers aged from 4 to 6…

Baicalin maintains late-stage functional cardiomyocytes in embryoid bodies derived from murine embryonic stem cells.

PubMed

Tang, Meilin; Yin, Mengmeng; Tang, Ming; Liang, Huamin; Yu, Chong; Hu, Xinwu; Luo, Hongyan; Baudis, Birte; Haustein, Moritz; Khalil, Markus; Sarić, Tomo; Hescheler, Jürgen; Xi, Jiaoya

2013-01-01

Low efficiency of cardiomyocyte (CM) differentiation from embryonic stem (ES) cells limits their therapeutic use. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of baicalin, a natural flavonoid compound, on the in vitro cardiac differentiation of murine ES cells. The induction of ES cells into cardiac-like cells was performed by embryoid body (EB)-based differentiation method. The electrophysiological properties of the ES cell-derived CMs (ES-CMs) were measured by patch-clamp. The biomarkers of ES-CMs were determined by quantitative RT-PCR and immunofluorescence. Continuous baicalin treatment decreased the size of EBs, and increased the proportion of α-actinin-positive CMs and transcript level of cardiac specific markers in beating EBs by inducing cell death of non-CMs. Baicalin increased the percentage of working ES-CMs which had typical responses to β-adrenergic and muscarinic stimulations. Baicalin maintains the late-stage functional CMs in EBs derived from murine ES cells. This study describes a new insight into the various biological effects of baicalin on cardiac differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Integrated traffic conflict model for estimating crash modification factors.

PubMed

Shahdah, Usama; Saccomanno, Frank; Persaud, Bhagwant

2014-10-01

Crash modification factors (CMFs) for road safety treatments are usually obtained through observational models based on reported crashes. Observational Bayesian before-and-after methods have been applied to obtain more precise estimates of CMFs by accounting for the regression-to-the-mean bias inherent in naive methods. However, sufficient crash data reported over an extended period of time are needed to provide reliable estimates of treatment effects, a requirement that can be a challenge for certain types of treatment. In addition, these studies require that sites analyzed actually receive the treatment to which the CMF pertains. Another key issue with observational approaches is that they are not causal in nature, and as such, cannot provide a sound "behavioral" rationale for the treatment effect. Surrogate safety measures based on high risk vehicle interactions and traffic conflicts have been proposed to address this issue by providing a more "causal perspective" on lack of safety for different road and traffic conditions. The traffic conflict approach has been criticized, however, for lacking a formal link to observed and verified crashes, a difficulty that this paper attempts to resolve by presenting and investigating an alternative approach for estimating CMFs using simulated conflicts that are linked formally to observed crashes. The integrated CMF estimates are compared to estimates from an empirical Bayes (EB) crash-based before-and-after analysis for the same sample of treatment sites. The treatment considered involves changing left turn signal priority at Toronto signalized intersections from permissive to protected-permissive. The results are promising in that the proposed integrated method yields CMFs that closely match those obtained from the crash-based EB before-and-after analysis. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Recruitment variation of eastern Bering Sea crabs: Climate-forcing or top-down effects?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Jie; Kruse, Gordon H.

2006-02-01

During the last three decades, population abundances of eastern Bering Sea (EBS) crab stocks fluctuated greatly, driven by highly variable recruitment. In recent years, abundances of these stocks have been very low compared to historical levels. This study aims to understand recruitment variation of six stocks of red king ( Paralithodes camtschaticus), blue king ( P. platypus), Tanner ( Chionoecetes bairdi), and snow ( C. opilio) crabs in the EBS. Most crab recruitment time series are not significantly correlated with each other. Spatial distributions of three broadly distributed crab stocks (EBS snow and Tanner crabs and Bristol Bay red king crab) have changed considerably over time, possibly related in part to the regime shift in climate and physical oceanography in 1976-1977. Three climate-forcing hypotheses on larval survival have been proposed to explain crab recruitment variation of Bristol Bay red king crab and EBS Tanner and snow crabs. Some empirical evidence supports speculation that groundfish predation may play an important role in crab recruitment success in the EBS. However, spatial dynamics in the geographic distributions of groundfish and crabs over time make it difficult to relate crab recruitment strength to groundfish biomass. Comprehensive field and spatially explicit modeling studies are needed to test the hypotheses and better understand the relative importance and compound effects of bottom-up and top-down controls on crab recruitment.

Electrical Stimulation Promotes Cardiac Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

PubMed Central

Hernández, Damián; Millard, Rodney; Sivakumaran, Priyadharshini; Wong, Raymond C. B.; Crombie, Duncan E.; Hewitt, Alex W.; Liang, Helena; Hung, Sandy S. C.; Pébay, Alice; Shepherd, Robert K.; Dusting, Gregory J.; Lim, Shiang Y.

2016-01-01

Background. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are an attractive source of cardiomyocytes for cardiac repair and regeneration. In this study, we aim to determine whether acute electrical stimulation of human iPSCs can promote their differentiation to cardiomyocytes. Methods. Human iPSCs were differentiated to cardiac cells by forming embryoid bodies (EBs) for 5 days. EBs were then subjected to brief electrical stimulation and plated down for 14 days. Results. In iPS(Foreskin)-2 cell line, brief electrical stimulation at 65 mV/mm or 200 mV/mm for 5 min significantly increased the percentage of beating EBs present by day 14 after plating. Acute electrical stimulation also significantly increased the cardiac gene expression of ACTC1, TNNT2, MYH7, and MYL7. However, the cardiogenic effect of electrical stimulation was not reproducible in another iPS cell line, CERA007c6. Beating EBs from control and electrically stimulated groups expressed various cardiac-specific transcription factors and contractile muscle markers. Beating EBs were also shown to cycle calcium and were responsive to the chronotropic agents, isoproterenol and carbamylcholine, in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusions. Our results demonstrate that brief electrical stimulation can promote cardiac differentiation of human iPS cells. The cardiogenic effect of brief electrical stimulation is dependent on the cell line used. PMID:26788064

Ethylbenzene induces microsomal oxygen free radical generation: antibody-directed characterization of the responsible cytochrome P450 enzymes.

PubMed

Serron, S C; Dwivedi, N; Backes, W L

2000-05-01

Small aromatic hydrocarbons cause changes in oxidative metabolism by modulating the levels of cytochrome P450 enzymes, with the changes in these enzymes being responsible for qualitative changes in aromatic hydrocarbon metabolism. The goal of this study was to determine if exposure to the small alkylbenzene ethylbenzene (EB) leads to an increase in hepatic free radical production. Male F344 rats were treated with ip injections of EB (10 mmol/kg) and compared to corn oil controls. Hepatic free radical production was examined by measuring the conversion of 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) to its fluorescent product 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein (DCF). A significant elevation of fluorescent DCF production was observed after treatment with EB, despite the lack of effect on overall cytochrome P450 levels. This process was shown to be inhibitable by metyrapone, an inhibitor of P450. DCF production was also inhibited by catalase, suggesting that hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) is one of the reactive oxygen intermediates involved in EB-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. Interestingly, superoxide dismutase (SOD) did not inhibit DCF production in corn oil-treated rats but was an effective inhibitor in the EB-treated groups. In an effort to determine if the increase in ROS production was related to changes in specific P450 enzymes, DCF production was measured in the presence of anti-CYP2B, anti-CYP2C11, anti-CYP2E1, and anti-CYP3A2 inhibitory antibodies. Anti-CYP2B antibodies inhibited DCF production in EB-treated, but not corn oil groups, which is consistent with the low constitutive levels of this enzyme and its induction by EB. The data also demonstrate that CYP2B contributes to ROS production. Anti-CYP2C11 did not influence DCF production in either group. ROS formation in corn oil-treated rats as well as in ethylbenzene-treated rats was also inhibited with antibodies to anti-CYP2E1 and anti-CYP3A2. These results suggest that CYP2C11 does not appear to influence free radical production and that the increase in free radical production in EB treated rats is consistent with the EB-mediated elevation of CYP2B, CYP 2E1, and CYP3A2. Such alterations in free radical generation in response to hydrocarbon treatment may contribute to the toxicity of these compounds. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

pLARmEB: integration of least angle regression with empirical Bayes for multilocus genome-wide association studies.

PubMed

Zhang, J; Feng, J-Y; Ni, Y-L; Wen, Y-J; Niu, Y; Tamba, C L; Yue, C; Song, Q; Zhang, Y-M

2017-06-01

Multilocus genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have become the state-of-the-art procedure to identify quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) associated with complex traits. However, implementation of multilocus model in GWAS is still difficult. In this study, we integrated least angle regression with empirical Bayes to perform multilocus GWAS under polygenic background control. We used an algorithm of model transformation that whitened the covariance matrix of the polygenic matrix K and environmental noise. Markers on one chromosome were included simultaneously in a multilocus model and least angle regression was used to select the most potentially associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), whereas the markers on the other chromosomes were used to calculate kinship matrix as polygenic background control. The selected SNPs in multilocus model were further detected for their association with the trait by empirical Bayes and likelihood ratio test. We herein refer to this method as the pLARmEB (polygenic-background-control-based least angle regression plus empirical Bayes). Results from simulation studies showed that pLARmEB was more powerful in QTN detection and more accurate in QTN effect estimation, had less false positive rate and required less computing time than Bayesian hierarchical generalized linear model, efficient mixed model association (EMMA) and least angle regression plus empirical Bayes. pLARmEB, multilocus random-SNP-effect mixed linear model and fast multilocus random-SNP-effect EMMA methods had almost equal power of QTN detection in simulation experiments. However, only pLARmEB identified 48 previously reported genes for 7 flowering time-related traits in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Significance of two distinct types of tryptophan synthase beta chain in Bacteria, Archaea and higher plants.

PubMed

Xie, Gary; Forst, Christian; Bonner, Carol; Jensen, Roy A

2002-01-01

Tryptophan synthase consists of two subunits, alpha and beta. Two distinct subgroups of beta chain exist. The major group (TrpEb_1) includes the well-studied beta chain of Salmonella typhimurium. The minor group of beta chain (TrpEb_2) is most frequently found in the Archaea. Most of the amino-acid residues important for catalysis are highly conserved between both TrpE subfamilies. Conserved amino-acid residues of TrpEb_1 that make allosteric contact with the TrpEa subunit (the alpha chain) are absent in TrpEb_2. Representatives of Archaea, Bacteria and higher plants all exist that possess both TrpEb_1 and TrpEb_2. In those prokaryotes where two trpEb genes coexist, one is usually trpEb_1 and is adjacent to trpEa, whereas the second is trpEb_2 and is usually unlinked with other tryptophan-pathway genes. TrpEb_1 is nearly always partnered with TrpEa in the tryptophan synthase reaction. However, by default at least six lineages of the Archaea are likely to use TrpEb_2 as the functional beta chain, as TrpEb_1 is absent. The six lineages show a distinctive divergence within the overall TrpEa phylogenetic tree, consistent with the lack of selection for amino-acid residues in TrpEa that are otherwise conserved for interfacing with TrpEb_1. We suggest that the standalone function of TrpEb_2 might be to catalyze the serine deaminase reaction, an established catalytic capability of tryptophan synthase beta chains. A coincident finding of interest is that the Archaea seem to use the citramalate pathway, rather than threonine deaminase (IlvA), to initiate the pathway of isoleucine biosynthesis.

Evaluation of the Health Protection Event-Based Surveillance for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

PubMed

Severi, E; Kitching, A; Crook, P

2014-06-19

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) (currently Public Health England) implemented the Health Protection Event-Based Surveillance (EBS) to provide additional national epidemic intelligence for the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games (the Games). We describe EBS and evaluate the system attributes. EBS aimed at identifying, assessing and reporting to the HPA Olympic Coordination Centre (OCC) possible national infectious disease threats that may significantly impact the Games. EBS reported events in England from 2 July to 12 September 2012. EBS sourced events from reports from local health protection units and from screening an electronic application 'HPZone Dashboard' (DB). During this period, 147 new events were reported to EBS, mostly food-borne and vaccine-preventable diseases: 79 from regional units, 144 from DB (76 from both). EBS reported 61 events to the OCC: 21 of these were reported onwards. EBS sensitivity was 95.2%; positive predictive value was 32.8%; reports were timely (median one day; 10th percentile: 0 days - same day; 90th percentile: 3.6 days); completeness was 99.7%; stability was 100%; EBS simplicity was assessed as good; the daily time per regional or national unit dedicated to EBS was approximately 4 hours (weekdays) and 3 hours (weekends). OCC directors judged EBS as efficient, fast and responsive. EBS provided reliable, reassuring, timely, simple and stable national epidemic intelligence for the Games.

ELMO Bumpy Square proposal

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

Dory, R.A.; Uckan, N.A.; Ard, W.B.

The ELMO Bumpy Square (EBS) concept consists of four straight magnetic mirror arrays linked by four high-field corner coils. Extensive calculations show that this configuration offers major improvements over the ELMO Bumpy Torus (EBT) in particle confinement, heating, transport, ring production, and stability. The components of the EBT device at Oak Ridge National Laboratory can be reconfigured into a square arrangement having straight sides composed of EBT coils, with new microwave cavities and high-field corners designed and built for this application. The elimination of neoclassical convection, identified as the dominant mechanism for the limited confinement in EBT, will give themore » EBS device substantially improved confinement and the flexibility to explore the concepts that produce this improvement. The primary goals of the EBS program are twofold: first, to improve the physics of confinement in toroidal systems by developing the concepts of plasma stabilization using the effects of energetic electrons and confinement optimization using magnetic field shaping and electrostatic potential control to limit particle drift, and second, to develop bumpy toroid devices as attractive candidates for fusion reactors. This report presents a brief review of the physics analyses that support the EBS concept, discussions of the design and expected performance of the EBS device, a description of the EBS experimental program, and a review of the reactor potential of bumpy toroid configurations. Detailed information is presented in the appendices.« less

Cardiomyopathy in Patients With Hereditary Bullous Epidermolysis.

PubMed

Batalla, A; Vicente, A; Bartrons, J; Prada, F; Fortuny, C; González-Enseñat, M A

In recent decades, an association has been reported between epidermolysis bullosa (EB) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DC). DC is typically in an advanced phase when detected, leading to a poorer prognosis. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of DC in patients with EB seen in Hospital San Joan de Déu in Barcelona, Spain, between May 1986 and April 2015. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional chart-review study in which we recorded the type and main subtypes of EB and the presence or absence of DC. Fifty-seven patients with EB were found, 19 with EB simplex, 10 with junctional EB, 27 with dystrophic EB (14 dominant dystrophic and 13 recessive dystrophic), and just 1 with Kindler syndrome. DC was detected in only 2 patients with recessive dystrophic EB. Twenty-three patients had presented factors that could have had a causal relationship with the potential onset of DC. DC is a possible complication of EB, particularly in recessive dystrophic EB. Periodic follow-up should be performed to make an early diagnosis and start treatment. Copyright © 2017 AEDV. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Impact of Short-Term Training in Social Cognition in Preschoolers with Externalizing Behavior

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Houssa, Marine; Jacobs, Emilie; Nader-Grosbois, Nathalie

2017-01-01

In two experimental and exploratory studies, we wanted to test the differentiated effects on preschoolers with externalizing behavior (EB) of two short-term social information processing (SIP) and Theory of Mind (ToM) training sessions, in comparison with typically developing (TD) preschoolers or with preschoolers with EB whom didn't receive…

Enhancing Energy Balance Education through Physical Education and Self-Monitoring Technology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen, Senlin; Zhu, Xihe; Kim, Youngwon; Welk, Gregory; Lanningham-Foster, Lorraine

2016-01-01

Schools are positioned to play a key role in nurturing students with knowledge and behaviours associated with healthful living. Our study examined the effects of an intervention on energy balance (EB) knowledge. Twelve 6th and 7th grade classrooms (n = 140) were assigned to receive either two standardised lessons on EB or a combined intervention…

Tilt engineering of exchange coupling at G-type SrMnO3/(La,Sr)MnO3 interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, F.; Song, C.; Wang, Y. Y.; Cui, B.; Mao, H. J.; Peng, J. J.; Li, S. N.; Wang, G. Y.; Pan, F.

2015-11-01

With the recent realization of hybrid improper ferroelectricity and room-temperature multiferroic by tilt engineering, “functional” octahedral tilting has become a novel concept in multifunctional perovskite oxides, showing great potential for property manipulation and device design. However, the control of magnetism by octahedral tilting has remained a challenging issue. Here a qualitative and quantitative tilt engineering of exchange coupling, one of the magnetic properties, is demonstrated at compensated G-type antiferromagnetic/ferromagnetic (SrMnO3/La2/3Sr1/3MnO3) interfaces. According to interfacial Hamiltonian, exchange bias (EB) in this system originates from an in-plane antiphase rotation (a-) in G-type antiferromagnetic layer. Based on first-principles calculation, tilt patterns in SrMnO3 are artificially designed in experiment with different epitaxial strain and a much stronger EB is attained in the tensile heterostructure than the compressive counterpart. By controlling the magnitude of octahedral tilting, the manipulation of exchange coupling is even performed in a quantitative manner, as expected in the theoretical estimation. This work realized the combination of tilt engineering and exchange coupling, which might be significant for the development of multifunctional materials and antiferromagnetic spintronics.

The microwell control of embryoid body size in order to regulate cardiac differentiation of human embryonic stem cells.

PubMed

Mohr, Jeffrey C; Zhang, Jianhua; Azarin, Samira M; Soerens, Andrew G; de Pablo, Juan J; Thomson, James A; Lyons, Gary E; Palecek, Sean P; Kamp, Timothy J

2010-03-01

The differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into cardiomyocytes (CMs) using embryoid bodies (EBs) is relatively inefficient and highly variable. Formation of EBs using standard enzymatic disaggregation techniques results in a wide range of sizes and geometries of EBs. Use of a 3-D cuboidal microwell system to culture hESCs in colonies of defined dimensions, 100-500 microm in lateral dimensions and 120 microm in depth, enabled formation of more uniform-sized EBs. The 300 microm microwells produced highest percentage of contracting EBs, but flow cytometry for myosin light chain 2A (MLC2a) expressing cells revealed a similar percentage (approximately 3%) of cardiomyocytes formed in EBs from 100 microm to 300 microm microwells. These data, and immunolabeling with anti-MF20 and MLC2a, suggest that the smaller EBs are less likely to form contracting EBs, but those contracting EBs are relatively enriched in cardiomyocytes compared to larger EB sizes where CMs make up a proportionately smaller fraction of the total cells. We conclude that microwell-engineered EB size regulates cardiogenesis and can be used for more efficient and reproducible formation of hESC-CMs needed for research and therapeutic applications. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Graphene induces spontaneous cardiac differentiation in embryoid bodies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahadian, Samad; Zhou, Yuanshu; Yamada, Shukuyo; Estili, Mehdi; Liang, Xiaobin; Nakajima, Ken; Shiku, Hitoshi; Matsue, Tomokazu

2016-03-01

Graphene was embedded into the structure of mouse embryoid bodies (EBs) using the hanging drop technique. The inclusion of 0.2 mg per mL graphene in the EBs did not affect the viability of the stem cells. However, the graphene decreased the stem cell proliferation, probably by accelerating cell differentiation. The graphene also enhanced the mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of the EBs. Interestingly, the cardiac differentiation of the EB-graphene was significantly greater than that of the EBs at day 5 of culture, as confirmed by high-throughput gene analysis. Electrical stimulation (voltage, 4 V; frequency, 1 Hz; and duration, 10 ms for 2 continuous days) further enhanced the cardiac differentiation of the EBs, as demonstrated by analyses of the cardiac protein and gene expression and the beating activity of the EBs. Taken together, the results demonstrated that graphene played a major role in directing the cardiac differentiation of EBs, which has potential cell therapy and tissue regeneration applications.Graphene was embedded into the structure of mouse embryoid bodies (EBs) using the hanging drop technique. The inclusion of 0.2 mg per mL graphene in the EBs did not affect the viability of the stem cells. However, the graphene decreased the stem cell proliferation, probably by accelerating cell differentiation. The graphene also enhanced the mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of the EBs. Interestingly, the cardiac differentiation of the EB-graphene was significantly greater than that of the EBs at day 5 of culture, as confirmed by high-throughput gene analysis. Electrical stimulation (voltage, 4 V; frequency, 1 Hz; and duration, 10 ms for 2 continuous days) further enhanced the cardiac differentiation of the EBs, as demonstrated by analyses of the cardiac protein and gene expression and the beating activity of the EBs. Taken together, the results demonstrated that graphene played a major role in directing the cardiac differentiation of EBs, which has potential cell therapy and tissue regeneration applications. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Fig. S1-S3, Tables S1-S4, and Movies S1-S4. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr07059g

TIP maker and TIP marker; EB1 as a master controller of microtubule plus ends.

PubMed

Vaughan, Kevin T

2005-10-24

The EB1 protein is a member of the exciting and enigmatic family of microtubule (MT) tip-tracking proteins. EB1 acts as an exquisite marker of dynamic MT plus ends in some cases, whereas in others EB1 is thought to directly dictate the behavior of the plus ends. How EB1 differentiates between these two roles remains unclear; however, a growing list of interactions between EB1 and other MT binding proteins suggests there may be a single mechanism. Adding another layer of complexity to these interactions, two studies published in this issue implicate EB1 in cross-talk between mitotic MTs and between MTs and actin filaments (Goshima et al., p. 229; Wu et al., p. 201). These results raise the possibility that EB1 is a central player in MT-based transport, and that the activity of MT-binding proteins depends on their ability or inability to interact with EB1.

A common-garden experiment to quantify evolutionary processes in copepods: the case of emamectin benzoate resistance in the parasitic sea louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis.

PubMed

Ljungfeldt, Lina Eva Robin; Espedal, Per Gunnar; Nilsen, Frank; Skern-Mauritzen, Mette; Glover, Kevin Alan

2014-05-19

The development of pesticide resistance represents a global challenge to food production. Specifically for the Atlantic salmon aquaculture industry, parasitic sea lice and their developing resistance to delousing chemicals is challenging production. In this study, seventeen full sibling families, established from three strains of Lepeophtheirus salmonis displaying differing backgrounds in emamectin benzoate (EB) tolerance were produced and quantitatively compared under a common-garden experimental design. Lice surviving to the preadult stage were then exposed to EB and finally identified through the application of DNA parentage testing. With the exception of two families (19 and 29%), survival from the infectious copepod to preadult stage was very similar among families (40-50%). In contrast, very large differences in survival following EB exposure were observed among the families (7.9-74%). Family survival post EB exposure was consistent with the EB tolerance characteristics of the strains from which they were established and no negative effect on infection success were detected in association with increased EB tolerance. Two of the lice families that displayed reduced sensitivity to EB were established from a commercial farm that had previously used this chemical. This demonstrates that resistant alleles were present on this farm even though the farm had not reported treatment failure. To our knowledge, this represents the first study where families of any multi-cellular parasite have been established and compared in performance under communal rearing conditions in a common-garden experiment. The system performed in a predictable manner and permitted, for the first time, elucidation of quantitative traits among sea lice families. While this experiment concentrated on, and provided a unique insight into EB sensitivity among lice families, the experimental design represents a novel methodology to experimentally address both resistance development and other evolutionary questions in parasitic copepods.

A common-garden experiment to quantify evolutionary processes in copepods: the case of emamectin benzoate resistance in the parasitic sea louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background The development of pesticide resistance represents a global challenge to food production. Specifically for the Atlantic salmon aquaculture industry, parasitic sea lice and their developing resistance to delousing chemicals is challenging production. In this study, seventeen full sibling families, established from three strains of Lepeophtheirus salmonis displaying differing backgrounds in emamectin benzoate (EB) tolerance were produced and quantitatively compared under a common-garden experimental design. Lice surviving to the preadult stage were then exposed to EB and finally identified through the application of DNA parentage testing. Results With the exception of two families (19 and 29%), survival from the infectious copepod to preadult stage was very similar among families (40-50%). In contrast, very large differences in survival following EB exposure were observed among the families (7.9-74%). Family survival post EB exposure was consistent with the EB tolerance characteristics of the strains from which they were established and no negative effect on infection success were detected in association with increased EB tolerance. Two of the lice families that displayed reduced sensitivity to EB were established from a commercial farm that had previously used this chemical. This demonstrates that resistant alleles were present on this farm even though the farm had not reported treatment failure. Conclusions To our knowledge, this represents the first study where families of any multi-cellular parasite have been established and compared in performance under communal rearing conditions in a common-garden experiment. The system performed in a predictable manner and permitted, for the first time, elucidation of quantitative traits among sea lice families. While this experiment concentrated on, and provided a unique insight into EB sensitivity among lice families, the experimental design represents a novel methodology to experimentally address both resistance development and other evolutionary questions in parasitic copepods. PMID:24885085

Different effects of bisphenol-A on memory behavior and synaptic modification in intact and estrogen-deprived female mice.

PubMed

Xu, Xiaohong; Gu, Ting; Shen, Qiaoqiao

2015-03-01

Bisphenol-A (BPA) has the capability of interfering with the effects of estrogens on modulating brain function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of BPA on memory and synaptic modification in the hippocampus of female mice under different levels of cycling estrogen. BPA exposure (40, 400 μg/kg/day) for 8 weeks did not affect spatial memory and passive avoidance task of gonadally intact mice but improved ovariectomy (Ovx)-induced memory impairment, whereas co-exposure of BPA with estradiol benzoate (EB) diminished the rescue effect of EB on memory behavior of Ovx mice. The results of morphometric measurement showed that BPA positively modified the synaptic interface structure and increased the synaptic density of CA1 pyramidal cell in the hippocampus of Ovx females, but inhibited the enhancement of EB on synaptic modification and synaptogenesis of Ovx mice. Furthermore, BPA up-regulated synaptic proteins synapsin I and PSD-95 and NMDA receptor NR2B but inhibited EB-induced increase in PSD-95 and NR2B in the hippocampus of Ovx mice. These results suggest that BPA interfered with normal hormonal regulation in synaptic plasticity and memory of female mice as a potent estrogen mimetic and as a disruptor of estrogen under various concentrations of cycling estrogen. © 2014 International Society for Neurochemistry.

RNA Sequencing Reveals the Alteration of the Expression of Novel Genes in Ethanol-Treated Embryoid Bodies.

PubMed

Mandal, Chanchal; Kim, Sun Hwa; Chai, Jin Choul; Oh, Seon Mi; Lee, Young Seek; Jung, Kyoung Hwa; Chai, Young Gyu

2016-01-01

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is a collective term representing fetal abnormalities associated with maternal alcohol consumption. Prenatal alcohol exposure and related anomalies are well characterized, but the molecular mechanism behind this phenomenon is not well characterized. In this present study, our aim is to profile important genes that regulate cellular development during fetal development. Human embryonic carcinoma cells (NCCIT) are cultured to form embryoid bodies and then treated in the presence and absence of ethanol (50 mM). We employed RNA sequencing to profile differentially expressed genes in the ethanol-treated embryoid bodies from NCCIT vs. EB, NCCIT vs. EB+EtOH and EB vs. EB+EtOH data sets. A total of 632, 205 and 517 differentially expressed genes were identified from NCCIT vs. EB, NCCIT vs. EB+EtOH and EB vs. EB+EtOH, respectively. Functional annotation using bioinformatics tools reveal significant enrichment of differential cellular development and developmental disorders. Furthermore, a group of 42, 15 and 35 transcription factor-encoding genes are screened from all of the differentially expressed genes obtained from NCCIT vs. EB, NCCIT vs. EB+EtOH and EB vs. EB+EtOH, respectively. We validated relative gene expression levels of several transcription factors from these lists by quantitative real-time PCR. We hope that our study substantially contributes to the understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying the pathology of alcohol-mediated anomalies and ease further research.

Diffusion Tensor Imaging of Incentive Effects in Prospective Memory after Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury

PubMed Central

Wilde, Elisabeth A.; Bigler, Erin D.; Chu, Zili; Yallampalli, Ragini; Oni, Margaret B.; Wu, Trevor C.; Ramos, Marco A.; Pedroza, Claudia; Vásquez, Ana C.; Hunter, Jill V.; Levin, Harvey S.

2011-01-01

Abstract Few studies exist investigating the brain-behavior relations of event-based prospective memory (EB-PM) impairments following traumatic brain injury (TBI). To address this, children with moderate-to-severe TBI performed an EB-PM test with two motivational enhancement conditions and underwent concurrent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) at 3 months post-injury. Children with orthopedic injuries (OI; n = 37) or moderate-to-severe TBI (n = 40) were contrasted. Significant group differences were found for fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient for orbitofrontal white matter (WM), cingulum bundles, and uncinate fasciculi. The FA of these WM structures in children with TBI significantly correlated with EB-PM performance in the high, but not the low motivation condition. Regression analyses within the TBI group indicated that the FA of the left cingulum bundle (p = 0.003), left orbitofrontal WM (p < 0.02), and left (p < 0.02) and right (p < 0.008) uncinate fasciculi significantly predicted EB-PM performance in the high motivation condition. We infer that the cingulum bundles, orbitofrontal WM, and uncinate fasciculi are important WM structures mediating motivation-based EB-PM responses following moderate-to-severe TBI in children. PMID:21250917

The effect of matrix composition of 3D constructs on embryonic stem cell differentiation.

PubMed

Battista, Sabrina; Guarnieri, Daniela; Borselli, Cristina; Zeppetelli, Stefania; Borzacchiello, Assunta; Mayol, Laura; Gerbasio, Diego; Keene, Douglas R; Ambrosio, Luigi; Netti, Paolo A

2005-11-01

The use of embryonic stem (ES) cells as unlimited cell source in tissue engineering has ignited the hope of regenerating any kind of tissue in vitro. However, the role of the material in control and guidance of their development and commitment into complex and viable three-dimensional (3D) tissues is still poorly understood. In this work, we investigate the role of material composition and structure on promoting ES cells growth and differentiation, by culturing mouse ES cell-derived embryoid bodies (EBs) in various semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (SIPNs), made of collagen, fibronectin (FN) and laminin (LM). We show that both composition and strength of the supportive matrix play an important role in EBs development. High collagen concentrations inhibit EBs cavitation and hence the following EBs differentiation, by inhibiting apoptosis. The presence of FN in 3D collagen constructs strongly stimulates endothelial cell differentiation and vascularization. Conversely, LM increases the ability of ES cells to differentiate into beating cardiomyocytes. Our data suggest that matrix composition has an important role in EBs development and that it is possible to influence stem cell differentiation toward preferential pattern, by modulating the physical and biochemical properties of the scaffold.

EB-promoted recycling of waste tire rubber with polyolefins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mészáros, László; Bárány, Tamás; Czvikovszky, Tibor

2012-09-01

Despite the fact that more and more methods and solutions are used in the recycling of polymers, there are still some problems, especially in the recycling of cross-linked materials such as rubber. Usually the biggest problem is the lack of compatibility between the cross-linked rubber and the thermoplastic matrix. In this study we applied ground tire rubber (GTR) as recycled material. The GTR was embedded into polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene/ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (PE/EVA) matrices. In order to increase the compatibility of the components electron beam (EB) irradiation was applied. The results showed that the irradiation has a beneficial effect on the polymer-GTR interfacial connection. The EB treatment increased not only the tensile strength but also the elongation at break. The irradiation had also positive effect on the impact strength properties.

An Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Model for Ovarian Granulosa Cell Development and Steroidogenesis.

PubMed

Lipskind, Shane; Lindsey, Jennifer S; Gerami-Naini, Behzad; Eaton, Jennifer L; O'Connell, Daniel; Kiezun, Adam; Ho, Joshua W K; Ng, Nicholas; Parasar, Parveen; Ng, Michelle; Nickerson, Michael; Demirci, Utkan; Maas, Richard; Anchan, Raymond M

2018-05-01

Embryoid bodies (EBs) can serve as a system for evaluating pluripotency, cellular differentiation, and tissue morphogenesis. In this study, we use EBs derived from mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and human amniocyte-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (hAdiPSCs) as a model for ovarian granulosa cell (GC) development and steroidogenic cell commitment. We demonstrated that spontaneously differentiated murine EBs (mEBs) and human EBs (hEBs) displayed ovarian GC markers, such as aromatase (CYP19A1), FOXL2, AMHR2, FSHR, and GJA1. Comparative microarray analysis identified both shared and unique gene expression between mEBs and the maturing mouse ovary. Gene sets related to gonadogenesis, lipid metabolism, and ovarian development were significantly overrepresented in EBs. Of the 29 genes, 15 that were differentially regulated in steroidogenic mEBs displayed temporal expression changes between embryonic, postnatal, and mature ovarian tissues by polymerase chain reaction. Importantly, both mEBs and hEBs were capable of gonadotropin-responsive estradiol (E2) synthesis in vitro (217-759 pg/mL). Live fluorescence-activated cell sorting-sorted AMHR2 + granulosa-like cells from mEBs continued to produce E2 after purification (15.3 pg/mL) and secreted significantly more E2 than AMHR2 - cells (8.6 pg/mL, P < .05). We conclude that spontaneously differentiated EBs of both mESC and hAdiPSC origin can serve as a biologically relevant model for ovarian GC differentiation and steroidogenic cell commitment. These cells should be further investigated for therapeutic uses, such as stem cell-based hormone replacement therapy and in vitro maturation of oocytes.

Magnolol inhibits angiogenesis by regulating ROS-mediated apoptosis and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in mES/EB-derived endothelial-like cells.

PubMed

Kim, Gi Dae; Oh, Jedo; Park, Hyen-Joo; Bae, Kihwan; Lee, Sang Kook

2013-08-01

Magnolol, a neolignan from the traditional medicinal plant Magnolia obovata, has been shown to possess neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and anti-angiogenic activities. However, the precise mechanism of the anti-angiogenic activity of magnolol remains to be elucidated. In the present study, the anti-angiogenic effect of magnolol was evaluated in mouse embryonic stem (mES)/embryoid body (EB)-derived endothelial-like cells. The endothelial-like cells were obtained by differentiation from mES/EB cells. Magnolol (20 µM) significantly suppressed the transcriptional and translational expression of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM), an endothelial biomarker, in mES/EB-derived endothelial-like cells. To further understand the molecular mechanism of the suppression of PECAM expression, signaling pathways were analyzed in the mES/EB-derived endothelial-like cells. Magnolol induced the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by mitochondria, a process that was associated with the induction of apoptosis as determined by positive Annexin V staining and the activation of cleaved caspase-3. The involvement of ROS generation by magnolol was confirmed by treatment with an antioxidant, N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC). NAC inhibited the magnolol-mediated induction of ROS generation and suppression of PECAM expression. In addition, magnolol suppressed the activation of MAPKs (ERK, JNK and p38) and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in mES/EB-derived endothelial-like cells. Taken together, these findings demonstrate for the first time that the anti-angiogenic activity of magnolol may be associated with ROS-mediated apoptosis and the suppression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in mES/EB-derived endothelial-like cells.

Effect of dietary manipulation on substrate flux and energy balance in obese women taking the appetite suppressant dexfenfluramine.

PubMed

Poppitt, S D; Swann, D L; Murgatroyd, P R; Elia, M; McDevitt, R M; Prentice, A M

1998-11-01

Studies in lean men show poor regulation of energy (EB) and fat balance (FB) during manipulation of dietary ratios of fat to carbohydrate. High-fat (HF), high-energy diets cause hyperphagia and a positive EB and FB. The protocol was designed to measure substrate flux and EB in obese women taking dexfenfluramine (DF) or placebo (PL) during an HF (50% of energy) or low-fat (25% of energy; LF) diet. We hypothesized that alterations in dietary fat would not be regulated and would lead to a positive EB and FB. The study was double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled, with 4 treatments (LF/DF, HF/DF, LF/PL, and HF/PL) and a crossover. Five days of continuous, whole-body calorimetry measurements were made in 6 subjects after 8 d of home DF/PL treatment. Macronutrient balance and EB were measured within the chamber as the cumulative difference between ad libitum intake and oxidation. The HF diet increased energy (HF, 10.50 MJ/d; LF, 8.13 MJ/d; P < 0.0001) and fat intakes (HF, 5.34 MJ/d; LF, 2.06 MJ/d; P < 0.0001), leading to a positive EB (delta = 2.37 MJ/d) and FB (delta = 2.31 MJ/d). DF reduced energy (DF, 8.96 MJ/d; PL, 9.66 MJ/d; P < 0.01) and macronutrient intakes, but did not increase energy expenditure (delta = -0.31 MJ/d; P < 0.01), or 24-h fat oxidation (delta = 0.03 MJ/d; P = 0.46). EB and FB are poorly regulated with HF, energy-dense diets in obese women, which leads to fat deposition and weight gain.

Free-Weight Augmentation With Elastic Bands Improves Bench Press Kinematics in Professional Rugby Players.

PubMed

García-López, David; Hernández-Sánchez, Sonsoles; Martín, Esperanza; Marín, Pedro J; Zarzosa, Fernando; Herrero, Azael J

2016-09-01

García-López, D, Hernández-Sánchez, S, Martín, E, Marín, PJ, Zarzosa, F, and Herrero, AJ. Free-weight augmentation with elastic bands improves bench press kinematics in professional rugby players. J Strength Cond Res 30(9): 2493-2499, 2016-This study aimed to investigate the effects of combining elastic bands to free weight resistance (EB + FWR) on the acceleration-deceleration and velocity profiles of the bench press in professional rugby players and recreationally trained subjects. Sixteen male subjects (8 rugby players and 8 recreationally trained subjects) were randomly assigned to complete 2 experimental conditions in a crossover fashion: EB + FWR and FWR. In both conditions, subjects performed 1 bench press set to volitional exhaustion with a load equivalent to the 85% of 1 repetition maximum (1RM). In the EB + FWR condition, the contribution of elastic resistance was approximately 20% of the selected load (85% 1RM). Results indicate that EB + FWR condition increased significantly the range of concentric movement in which the barbell is accelerated. This increase was significantly higher in rugby players (35%) in comparison with recreationally trained subjects (13%). Maximal velocity was also increased in EB + FWR (17%), when compared with FWR condition. These results suggest that when combined with variable resistance (i.e., EB), the external resistance seems to be more evenly distributed over the full range of motion, decreasing the need for dramatic deceleration at the end of the concentric phase. The present data also indicate that the kinematic benefits of an EB + FWR approach seems to be more prominent in athletes from modalities in which high level of strength and power are required (i.e., rugby players).

Use of a novel laparoscopic gastrostomy technique in children with severe epidermolysis bullosa.

PubMed

Patel, Kamlesh; Wells, Jonathan; Jones, Rosie; Browne, Fiona; Moss, Celia; Parikh, Dakshesh

2014-05-01

Supplementing nutrition in children with severe epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is challenging because of skin and mucosal fragility. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is contraindicated in EB, whereas more invasive open surgical gastrostomy placement can be complicated by chronic leakage. The aim of the study was to review the efficacy and acceptability, in children with severe EB, of our modified 2-port laparoscopic approach using the Seldinger technique with serial dilatation and tube insertion through a peel-away sheath. Retrospective review of children with EB who underwent laparoscopic feeding gastrostomy at our centre since 2009. Seven children (6 severe generalised recessive dystrophic EB, 1 non-Herlitz junctional EB; 2 girls, 5 boys) underwent modified laparoscopic gastrostomy placement at median age 4.85 years (range 1.0-8.8), with fundoplication for gastro-oesophageal reflux in 1 case, with follow-up for 0.3 to 3.9 years. The procedure was well tolerated with oral feeds usually given after 4 hours and whole protein gastrostomy feeds within 24 hours in 6 patients. Improved growth was reflected in mean weight and height z scores: -1.36 (range -2.6 to 0.5) to -0.61 (range -2.34 to 2.0) and -1.09 (range -2.42 to 1.0) to 0.71 (range -1.86 to 1.0), respectively. Postoperatively, 5 patients experienced minor local complications: minimal leakage without skin damage in 3 and transient peristomal granulation rapidly responsive to topical treatment in 2; this followed acute gastrostomy site infection in 1. There was no leakage after the immediate postoperative period. We conclude that our less-invasive laparoscopic gastrostomy technique is effective and better tolerated in children with severe EB, at least in the medium term, than open gastrostomy placement. Longer follow-up is required.

Estrogen alters gonadal soma-derived factor (Gsdf)/Foxl2 expression levels in the testes associated with testis-ova differentiation in adult medaka, Oryzias latipes.

PubMed

Kobayashi, Tohru; Chiba, Ayaka; Sato, Tadashi; Myosho, Taijun; Yamamoto, Jun; Okamura, Tetsuro; Onishi, Yuta; Sakaizumi, Mitsuru; Hamaguchi, Satoshi; Iguchi, Taisen; Horie, Yoshifumi

2017-10-01

Testis-ova differentiation in sexually mature male medaka (Oryzias latipes) is easily induced by estrogenic chemicals, indicating that spermatogonia persist in sexual bipotentiality, even in mature testes in medaka. By contrast, the effects of estrogen on testicular somatic cells associated with testis-ova differentiation in medaka remain unclear. In this study, we focused on the dynamics of sex-related genes (Gsdf, Dmrt1, and Foxl2) expressed in Sertoli cells in the mature testes of adult medaka during estrogen-induced testis-ova differentiation. When mature male medaka were exposed to estradiol benzoate (EB; 800ng/L), testis-ova first appeared after EB treatment for 14days (observed as the first oocytes of the leptotene-zygotene stage). However, the testis remained structurally unchanged, even after EB treatment for 28days. Although Foxl2 is a female-specific sex gene, EB treatment for 7days induced Foxl2/FOXL2 expression in all Sertoli cell-enclosed spermatogonia before testis-ova first appeared; however, Foxl2 was not detected in somatic cells in control testes. Conversely, Sertoli-cell-specific Gsdf mRNA expression levels significantly decreased after EB treatment for 14days, and no changes were observed in DMRT1 localization following EB treatment, whereas Dmrt1 mRNA levels increased significantly. Furthermore, after EB exposure, FOXl2 and DMRT1 were co-localized in Sertoli cells during testis-ova differentiation, although FOXL2 localization was undetectable in Sertoli-cell-enclosed apoptotic testis-ova, whereas DMRT1 remained localized in Sertoli cells. These results indicated for the first time that based on the expression of female-specific sex genes, feminization of Sertoli cells precedes testis-ova differentiation induced by estrogen in mature testes in medaka; however, complete feminization of Sertoli cells was not induced in this study. Additionally, it is suggested strongly that Foxl2 and Gsdf expression constitute potential molecular markers for evaluating the effects of estrogenic chemicals on testicular somatic cells associated with estrogen-induced testis-ova differentiation in mature male medaka. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Dissecting EB1-microtubule interactions from every direction: using single-molecule visualization and static and dynamic binding measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lopez, Benjamin

2015-03-01

EB1 is an important microtubule associating protein (MAP) that acts as a master coordinator of protein activity at the growing plus-end of the microtubule. We can recapitulate the plus-end binding behavior of EB1 along the entire length of a static microtubule using microtubules polymerized in the presence of the nonhydrolyzable GTP analogs GMPCPP and GTP γS instead of GTP. Through the use of single-molecule TIRF imaging we find that EB1 is highly dynamic (with a sub-second characteristic binding lifetime) and continuously diffusive while bound to the microtubule. We measure the diffusion coefficient, D, through linear fitting to mean-squared displacement of individually labeled proteins, and the binding lifetime, τ, by fitting a single exponential decay to the probability distribution of trajectory lifetimes. In agreement with measurements of other diffusive MAPs, we find that D increases and τ decreases with increasing ionic strength. We also find that D is sensitive to the choice of GTP analog: EB1 proteins bound to GTP γS polymerized microtubules have a D half of that found with GMPCPP polymerized microtubules. To compare these single-molecule measurements to the bulk binding behavior of EB1, we use TIRF imaging to measure the intensity of microtubules coated with EB1-GFP as a function of EB1 concentration. We find that EB1 binding is cooperative and both the quantity of EB1 bound and the dissociation constant are sensitive to GTP analog and ionic concentration. The correlation between binding affinity and D and the cooperative nature of EB1-microtubule binding leads to a decrease in D with increasing EB1 concentration. Interestingly, we also find an increase in τ at high EB1 concentrations, consistent with attractive EB1-microtubule interactions driving the cooperativity. To further understand the nature of the cooperativity we estimate the interaction energy by measuring the association and dissociation rates (kon and koff respectively) at different concentrations of EB1.

Mitochondrial-DNA phylogeny of deer (Cervidae)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cronin, M.A.

1991-01-01

Birds have extremely varied reproductive strategies. As such, the impact of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can greatly differ across avian species. Precocial species, such as Japanese quail appear to be most sensitive to EDC effects during embryonic development, particularly sexual differentiation. A great deal is known about the ontogeny of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) relative to endocrine, neuro-endocrine, and behavioral components of reproduction. Therefore, this species provides an excellent model for understanding effects of EDCs on reproductive biology with exposure at specific stages of the life cycle. The purpose of these experiments was to conduct a 1- or 2- generation experiment with positive or negative control chemicals and to determine changes in selected end points. Japanese quail embryos were exposed to estradiol benzoate (EB; positive control) in a 2-generation design or to fadrozole (FAD; negative control) in a 1-generation design. Embryonic EB treatment resulted in significant reductions (p< 0.5) in hen day production (90.2 vs 54.1; control vs EB, resp.) and fertility (85.3 vs 33.4%, control vs EB, resp.). Males showed sharply reduced courtship and mating behaviors as well as increased lag time (26 vs 148 sec; control vs EB) in behavioral tests. Fadrozole exposure resulted in reduced hatchability of fertile eggs, particularly at higher doses. There were no significant effects on courtship and mating behavior of males although males showed an increased lag time in their responses, nally, a behavioral test for studying motor and fear responses in young chicks was used; chicks exposed to an estrogenic pesticide (methoxychlor) showed some deficits. In summary, the use of appropriate and reliable end points that are responsive to endocrine disruption are critical for assessment of EDCs. Supported in part by EPA grant R826134.

The Japanese Quail as an avian model for testing endocrine disrupting chemicals: endocrine and behavioral end points

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ottinger, M.A.; Abdelnabi, M.A.; Thompson, N.; Wu, J.; Henry, K.; Humphries, E.; Henry, P.F.P.

2000-01-01

Birds have extremely varied reproductive strategies. As such, the impact of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can greatly differ across avian species. Precocial species, such as Japanese quail appear to be most sensitive to EDC effects during embryonic development, particularly sexual differentiation. A great deal is known about the ontogeny of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) relative to endocrine, neuro-endocrine, and behavioral components of reproduction. Therefore, this species provides an excellent model for understanding effects of EDCs on reproductive biology with exposure at specific stages of the life cycle. The purpose of these experiments was to conduct a 1- or 2- generation experiment with positive or negative control chemicals and to determine changes in selected end points. Japanese quail embryos were exposed to estradiol benzoate (EB; positive control) in a 2-generation design or to fadrozole (FAD; negative control) in a 1-generation design. Embryonic EB treatment resulted in significant reductions (p< 0.5) in hen day production (90.2 vs 54.1; control vs EB, resp.) and fertility (85.3 vs 33.4%, control vs EB, resp.). Males showed sharply reduced courtship and mating behaviors as well as increased lag time (26 vs 148 sec; control vs EB) in behavioral tests. Fadrozole exposure resulted in reduced hatchability of fertile eggs, particularly at higher doses. There were no significant effects on courtship and mating behavior of males although males showed an increased lag time in their responses, nally, a behavioral test for studying motor and fear responses in young chicks was used; chicks exposed to an estrogenic pesticide (methoxychlor) showed some deficits. In summary, the use of appropriate and reliable end points that are responsive to endocrine disruption are critical for assessment of EDCs. Supported in part by EPA grant R826134.

Eckols reduce dental pulp inflammation through the ERK1/2 pathway independent of COX-2 inhibition.

PubMed

Paudel, U; Lee, Y H; Kwon, T H; Park, N H; Yun, B S; Hwang, P H; Yi, H K

2014-11-01

The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of 6-6 bieckol (EB1) and pholorofucofuroeckol-A (EB5) from brown seaweed marine algae (Eisenia bicyclis) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in human dental pulp cells (HDPCs). The cytotoxicity of EB1 and EB5 was examined by MTT assay on LPS-induced human dental pulp cells. Their role on expression of inflammatory, odontogenic, and osteogenic molecules was determined by Western blot analysis. The dentin mineralization was checked by alkaline phosphatase activity. The five compounds from E. bicyclis have different structure with non-cytotoxic in HDPCs. EB1 and EB5 showed anti-inflammatory properties and inhibited phosphorylated-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK1/2) and phosphorylated-c-jun N-terminal kinases (p-JNK) without any cytotoxicity. In particular, EB1 inhibited cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and p-ERK1/2 signaling, and EB5 inhibited only p-ERK1/2 signaling but not COX-2. Both compounds inhibited nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) translocation. Furthermore, EB1 and EB5 increased dentinogenic and osteogenic molecules, and dentin mineralized via alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) in LPS-induced HDPCs. This study elucidates that EB1 and EB5 have different types of anti-inflammatory property and help in dentin formation. Therefore, these compounds derived from marine algae of E. bicyclis may be used as selective therapeutic strategies for pulpitis and oral diseases. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Clearance of chlamydial elementary bodies from the conjunctival sac

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

Taylor, H.R.; Velez, V.L.

1987-07-01

The rate of disappearance of inactivated Chlamydia trachomatis elementary body (EB) preparations from the conjunctival sac was studied in monkeys. Direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) cytology showed that the majority of EB had been cleared from the eye within 24 hr of the inoculation of 1 X 10(6) inactivated EB, although small numbers of EB could be detected for up to 144 hr. The rate of clearance in normal and ocular immune animals did not differ, and formalin-killed and UV-inactivated EBs disappeared at a comparable rate. These studies suggest that chlamydial EB are cleared relatively quickly from the eye and supportmore » the notion that EBs detected by DFA cytology indicate the presence of current infection.« less

Studies on the diagnostic value of an immunofluorescence test for EB virus-specific IgM.

PubMed

Edwards, J M; McSwiggan, D A

1974-08-01

A modification of the test for EB virus/IgM introduced by Schmitz and Scherer (1972) is described. It is simple and gives reproducible results.EB virus/IgM was demonstrated in all but one case of infectious mononucleosis and in students with minor illness shown to have acquired EB virus/IgG recently. Unlike the EB virus/IgG, the IgM disappears within a few months. Although the Paul-Bunnell-Davidsohn test is still the test of choice for the diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis, the EB virus/IgM test could be useful to establish a diagnosis of current or recent EB virus infection where the Paul-Bunnell-Davidsohn test was negative or equivocal.

The application of exhaled breath analysis in racing Thoroughbreds and the influence of high intensity exercise and ambient temperature on the concentration of carbon monoxide and pH in exhaled breath.

PubMed

Cathcart, Michael P; Love, Sandy; Sutton, David G M; Reardon, Richard J M; Hughes, Kristopher J

2013-08-01

Analyses of exhaled breath (EB) and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) are non-invasive modalities for assessing the lower airways but these methods have not been applied to Thoroughbred racehorses in training. The aims of this study were to determine whether EB and EBC could be obtained from Thoroughbred racehorses in the field and to investigate the effects of exercise per se and during different ambient temperatures and humidity on exhaled concentrations of nitric oxide (eNO), carbon monoxide (eCO) and EBC pH. EB and EBC samples were obtained from 28 Thoroughbred racehorses pre- and post-exercise during warm (n=23) and/or cold (n=19) ambient temperatures. eNO was detected in 19/84 EB samples. eCO was measured in 39/42 EB samples pre-exercise (median 1.3 ppm) and concentrations decreased significantly post-exercise (median 0.8 ppm, P<0.005) and were associated with ambient temperature. EBC pH was 4.51 ± 0.23 pre-exercise and increased significantly post-exercise (4.79 ± 0.59, P=0.003). The study documented the collection of EB and EBC from Thoroughbred racehorses in a field setting. Alterations in concentrations of volatile gases and EBC pH occurred in response to exercise, and were likely to have been influenced by environmental factors. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cell responses to titanium treated by a sandblast-free method for implant applications.

PubMed

Zhang, Jie; Xie, Youneng; Zuo, Jun; Li, Jiaxin; Wei, Qiuping; Yu, Zhiming; Tang, Zhangui

2017-09-01

Sandblast and acid-etching (SLA) is the most prevalent treatment to titanium implants, while residual sand particles are inevitably introduced on SLA titanium surfaces. NH 4 OH and H 2 O 2 mixture was used to etch titanium plates (E) and titanium bars (EB), aiming at substituting sandblast procedure. To study the effects of different scale rough structures on cell response of Human osteoblast-like cells (MG63), traditional H 2 SO 4 and HCl mixture was also used to further etch the titanium plates above (DE). Holes of 10-20μm were obtained on E and DE surfaces, which are very close to the size of osteoblasts. Surfaces with micro/nano and micro/submicro hierarchical structures were obtained on the treated titanium. As-prepared E, DE and EB surfaces are hydrophilic, while only EB stayed hydrophilic after 5days' exposure to air. MG63 cultured on E and EB surfaces showed higher proliferation rate and attachment area than on DE and P surfaces. E and DE showed higher alkaline phosphatases (ALP) activity after 7 and 14days of osteoinduction, while EB showed the highest osteopontin (OPN) and bone sialoprotein (BSP) production after 21days of osteoinduction. These results indicate that E and EB surfaces boost the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of MG63 without introducing sand particles. This is a promising treatment to titanium implant. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Improved i.p. drug delivery with bioadhesive nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Deng, Yang; Yang, Fan; Cocco, Emiliano; Song, Eric; Zhang, Junwei; Cui, Jiajia; Mohideen, Muneeb; Bellone, Stefania; Santin, Alessandro D.; Saltzman, W. Mark

2016-01-01

The i.p. administration of chemotherapy in ovarian and uterine serous carcinoma patients by biodegradable nanoparticles may represent a highly effective way to suppress peritoneal carcinomatosis. However, the efficacy of nanoparticles loaded with chemotherapeutic agents is currently hampered by their fast clearance by lymphatic drainage. Here, we show that a unique formulation of bioadhesive nanoparticles (BNPs) can interact with mesothelial cells in the abdominal cavity and significantly extend the retention of the nanoparticles in the peritoneal space. BNPs loaded with a potent chemotherapeutic agent [epothilone B (EB)] showed significantly lower systemic toxicity and higher therapeutic efficacy against i.p. chemotherapy-resistant uterine serous carcinoma-derived xenografts compared with free EB and non-BNPs loaded with EB. PMID:27663731

Time course for the modulation of hepatic cytochrome P450 after administration of ethylbenzene and its correlation with toluene metabolism.

PubMed

Yuan, W; Sequeira, D J; Cawley, G F; Eyer, C S; Backes, W L

1997-03-01

The goal of the present study was to examine the time course for changes in P450 expression and hydrocarbon metabolism after acute treatment with the simple aromatic hydrocarbon ethylbenzene (EB) and to correlate these alterations with the changes observed in alkylbenzene metabolism. Male Holtzman rats were treated with a single intraperitoneal injection of EB, and the effects on specific P450-dependent activities, immunoreactive P450 isozyme levels, and RNA levels were measured at various times after injection. Toluene was used as the test alkylbenzene for examination of the EB-mediated changes on in vitro hydrocarbon metabolism. In untreated rats, toluene was metabolized almost entirely by aliphatic hydroxylation (to benzyl alcohol); however, in EB-treated rats, significant quantities of benzyl alcohol, o-cresol, and p-cresol were produced. Interestingly, 5-10 h after EB treatment, there was a 40% decrease in benzyl alcohol production. By 24 h, rates of benzyl alcohol formation returned to control levels, whereas there was a 7-fold increase in o-cresol and a greater that 50-fold increase in p-cresol production. The changes in the disposition of toluene were then correlated with changes in particular P450 isozymes. Several P450 isozymes were induced after EB administration. P450 2B1/2-dependent testosterone 16 beta-hydroxylation and P450 2B1/2-immunoreactive protein were elevated 30-fold after EB administration, reaching maxima by 24 h and remaining elevated 48 h after exposure. Changes in P450 2B1 and 2B2 RNA preceded those of the proteins. Similar results were observed with P450 1A1. P450 2E1 RNA levels were elevated after a single EB injection. However, the elevation in P450 2E1-dependent activities and immunoreactive protein levels preceded the changes in RNA, suggesting that multiple steps are affected by EB exposure. In contrast to the increases in some isozymes, P450 2C11 protein was rapidly suppressed (within the first 2-10 h) after hydrocarbon exposure, suggestive of a destabilization of the protein. When comparing the changes in P450 isozymes to alterations in toluene metabolism, the immediate suppression in aliphatic hydroxylation of toluene (in the first 5-10 h) was consistent with the decrease in P450 2C11. Subsequent to this effect, P450 2B1/2 and 2E1 were induced, which elevated production of this metabolite to control levels. The increase in the aromatic hydroxylation of toluene to both o, and p-cresol was consistent with the induction of P450s 2B1/2, 2E1, and 1A1.

Insights into EB1 structure and the role of its C-terminal domain for discriminating microtubule tips from the lattice

PubMed Central

Buey, Rubén M.; Mohan, Renu; Leslie, Kris; Walzthoeni, Thomas; Missimer, John H.; Menzel, Andreas; Bjelić, Saša; Bargsten, Katja; Grigoriev, Ilya; Smal, Ihor; Meijering, Erik; Aebersold, Ruedi; Akhmanova, Anna; Steinmetz, Michel O.

2011-01-01

End-binding proteins (EBs) comprise a conserved family of microtubule plus end–tracking proteins. The concerted action of calponin homology (CH), linker, and C-terminal domains of EBs is important for their autonomous microtubule tip tracking, regulation of microtubule dynamics, and recruitment of numerous partners to microtubule ends. Here we report the detailed structural and biochemical analysis of mammalian EBs. Small-angle X-ray scattering, electron microscopy, and chemical cross-linking in combination with mass spectrometry indicate that EBs are elongated molecules with two interacting CH domains, an arrangement reminiscent of that seen in other microtubule- and actin-binding proteins. Removal of the negatively charged C-terminal tail did not affect the overall conformation of EBs; however, it increased the dwell times of EBs on the microtubule lattice in microtubule tip–tracking reconstitution experiments. An even more stable association with the microtubule lattice was observed when the entire negatively charged C-terminal domain of EBs was replaced by a neutral coiled-coil motif. In contrast, the interaction of EBs with growing microtubule tips was not significantly affected by these C-terminal domain mutations. Our data indicate that long-range electrostatic repulsive interactions between the C-terminus and the microtubule lattice drive the specificity of EBs for growing microtubule ends. PMID:21737692

[Role played by the adrenal cortex on the luteotrophic action of estrogens during the rat estrus cycle].

PubMed

Hassani, M

1978-01-01

Estrogen-induced changes in peripheral blood progesterone concentration have been studied in dexamethasone (DEX) and metopyrone (MET) treated 4-day cyclic female rats. Estradiol benzoate (EB) was injected at 10--11 h on diestrus I and peripheral blood was collected at 16--17 h on diestrus II for progesterone radioimmunoassay. The EB induced-increase in blood progesterone concentration was more pronounced, compared to non-injected females in intact DEX-treated females and in adrenalectomized females treated or not with DEX than in their intact counterparts. The adrenal cortex was then supposed to inhibit the luteotrophic action of EB. When injected for 10--12 days, MET caused an increase in blood progesterone concentration compared to uninjected control animals. No cumulative effects of EB and MET were observed. These results are discussed in the light of knowledge, on the feed-back mechanisms which are involved in the action of estrogen on the pituitary-ovarian-adrenocortical system.

Anaerobic Degradation of Ethylbenzene by a New Type of Marine Sulfate-Reducing Bacterium

PubMed Central

Kniemeyer, Olaf; Fischer, Thomas; Wilkes, Heinz; Glöckner, Frank Oliver; Widdel, Friedrich

2003-01-01

Anaerobic degradation of the aromatic hydrocarbon ethylbenzene was studied with sulfate as the electron acceptor. Enrichment cultures prepared with marine sediment samples from different locations showed ethylbenzene-dependent reduction of sulfate to sulfide and always contained a characteristic cell type that formed gas vesicles towards the end of growth. A pure culture of this cell type, strain EbS7, was isolated from sediment from Guaymas Basin (Gulf of California). Complete mineralization of ethylbenzene coupled to sulfate reduction was demonstrated in growth experiments with strain EbS7. Sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed a close relationship between strain EbS7 and the previously described marine sulfate-reducing strains NaphS2 and mXyS1 (similarity values, 97.6 and 96.2%, respectively), which grow anaerobically with naphthalene and m-xylene, respectively. However, strain EbS7 did not oxidize naphthalene, m-xylene, or toluene. Other compounds utilized by strain EbS7 were phenylacetate, 3-phenylpropionate, formate, n-hexanoate, lactate, and pyruvate. 1-Phenylethanol and acetophenone, the characteristic intermediates in anaerobic ethylbenzene degradation by denitrifying bacteria, neither served as growth substrates nor were detectable as metabolites by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in ethylbenzene-grown cultures of strain EbS7. Rather, (1-phenylethyl)succinate and 4-phenylpentanoate were detected as specific metabolites in such cultures. Formation of these intermediates can be explained by a reaction sequence involving addition of the benzyl carbon atom of ethylbenzene to fumarate, carbon skeleton rearrangement of the succinate moiety (as a thioester), and loss of one carboxyl group. Such reactions are analogous to those suggested for anaerobic n-alkane degradation and thus differ from the initial reactions in anaerobic ethylbenzene degradation by denitrifying bacteria which employ dehydrogenations. PMID:12570993

The EB Factory: Fundamental Stellar Astrophysics with Eclipsing Binary Stars Discovered by Kepler

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stassun, Keivan

Eclipsing binaries (EBs) are key laboratories for determining the fundamental properties of stars. EBs are therefore foundational objects for constraining stellar evolution models, which in turn are central to determinations of stellar mass functions, of exoplanet properties, and many other areas. The primary goal of this proposal is to mine the Kepler mission light curves for: (1) EBs that include a subgiant star, from which precise ages can be derived and which can thus serve as critically needed age benchmarks; and within these, (2) long-period EBs that include low-mass M stars or brown dwarfs, which are increa-singly becoming the focus of exoplanet searches, but for which there are the fewest available fundamental mass- radius-age benchmarks. A secondary goal of this proposal is to develop an end-to-end computational pipeline -- the Kepler EB Factory -- that allows automatic processing of Kepler light curves for EBs, from period finding, to object classification, to determination of EB physical properties for the most scientifically interesting EBs, and finally to accurate modeling of these EBs for detailed tests and benchmarking of theoretical stellar evolution models. We will integrate the most successful algorithms into a single, cohesive workflow environment, and apply this 'Kepler EB Factory' to the full public Kepler dataset to find and characterize new "benchmark grade" EBs, and will disseminate both the enhanced data products from this pipeline and the pipeline itself to the broader NASA science community. The proposed work responds directly to two of the defined Research Areas of the NASA Astrophysics Data Analysis Program (ADAP), specifically Research Area #2 (Stellar Astrophysics) and Research Area #9 (Astrophysical Databases). To be clear, our primary goal is the fundamental stellar astrophysics that will be enabled by the discovery and analysis of relatively rare, benchmark-grade EBs in the Kepler dataset. At the same time, to enable this goal will require bringing a suite of extant and new custom algorithms to bear on the Kepler data, and thus our development of the Kepler EB Factory represents a value-added product that will allow the widest scientific impact of the in-formation locked within the vast reservoir of the Kepler light curves.

Worldwide U.S. Active Duty Military Deaths: Alphabetical Index by Name, (Aakhus Daniel Joseph - Zysk Carol Rose), October 1, 1979 thru September 30, 1993

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-03-01

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MAGNETIC FLUX CANCELLATION IN ELLERMAN BOMBS

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

Reid, A.; Mathioudakis, M.; Nelson, C. J.

2016-06-01

Ellerman Bombs (EBs) are often found to be co-spatial with bipolar photospheric magnetic fields. We use H α imaging spectroscopy along with Fe i 6302.5 Å spectropolarimetry from the Swedish 1 m Solar Telescope (SST), combined with data from the Solar Dynamic Observatory , to study EBs and the evolution of the local magnetic fields at EB locations. EBs are found via an EB detection and tracking algorithm. Using NICOLE inversions of the spectropolarimetric data, we find that, on average, (3.43 ± 0.49) × 10{sup 24} erg of stored magnetic energy disappears from the bipolar region during EB burning. Themore » inversions also show flux cancellation rates of 10{sup 14}–10{sup 15} Mx s{sup −1} and temperature enhancements of 200 K at the detection footpoints. We investigate the near-simultaneous flaring of EBs due to co-temporal flux emergence from a sunspot, which shows a decrease in transverse velocity when interacting with an existing, stationary area of opposite polarity magnetic flux, resulting in the formation of the EBs. We also show that these EBs can be fueled further by additional, faster moving, negative magnetic flux regions.« less

Co-liquefaction with acetone and GC analysis of volatile compounds in exhaled breath as lung cancer biomarkers

PubMed Central

Jouyban, Abolghasem; Djozan, Djavanshir; Mohammadandashti, Parastou; Alizadeh-Nabil, Aliakbar; Ghorbanpour, Hooshangh; Khoubnasabjafari, Maryam; Mohammadzadeh, Mohammad

2017-01-01

Introduction: A simple, rapid and low cost method for enrichment of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from exhaled breath (EB) is presented. Methods: A 1000 mL home-made extraction device was filled with EB. The VOCs were extracted and condensed in 0.5 mL acetone. Recognition of volatiles in the real studied EB samples was performed by a GC-MS. Results: The method displays an extraction efficiency of >86% with the enrichment factor of 1929 for octanal. Limits of detection and quantification, and linear dynamic range were 0.008, 0.026 and 0.026-400 ng/mL respectively. Analysis of real samples showed the existence of more than 100 compounds in EB of healthy volunteers and patients with lung cancer before and after treatment. Exhaled octanal concentration was significantly higher in lung cancer patient than in healthy volunteers and lung cancer patient after treatment. Conclusion: Having used the proposed approach, high extraction recovery (up to 86%) was attained for the lung cancer marker, octanal, as an important biomarker. Our findings on smaples of EB of healthy controls and patients with lung cancer before and after treatment provide complelling evidence upon the effectiveness of the developed method. PMID:28752074

Attribution style as a factor in psychosis and symptom resolution.

PubMed

Mizrahi, Romina; Addington, Jean; Remington, Gary; Kapur, Shitij

2008-09-01

Attribution (AT) style theory provides a framework for understanding the causal explanations that individuals give for their own behaviour and the behaviour of others. It has been suggested that patients with persecutory delusions excessively attribute hypothetical positive events to internal causes (self) and hypothetical negative events to external personal causes. Despite this, how AT associates with psychotic symptoms (not only persecutory delusions) and how it changes with the resolution of psychosis has never been investigated. We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate how AT is associated with psychopathology and a longitudinal study to examine the change of AT during the first 6 weeks of antipsychotic treatment and the relationship with psychopathology improvement. 86 patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders were included in the cross-sectional study, and 17 patients in the longitudinal study. The longitudinal group were free of antipsychotic drugs at baseline and followed for 6 weeks after being started on antipsychotic medication by their psychiatrist. We used the Internal, Personal and Situational Attributions Questionnaire (IPSAQ) as a measure of AT. Patients that tend to internalize (i.e. less self-serving bias), showed greater overall psychopathology, as measured by PANSS-Total (F(2,83)=6.59, p=0.002), with a trend toward significance for PANSS-Positive (F(2,83)=2.62 p=0.07). Longitudinally, having a low self-serving bias was associated with poorer response to antipsychotic treatment. Further, externalizing bias seems to change early on in treatment (F=9.65 df=1,15 p=0.007) and reach ceiling effects thereafter. AT is related to overall symptom severity, with internalizing style linked to higher global psychopathology. Antipsychotic treatment has little effect on AT, at least within 6 weeks of antipsychotic exposure, and only a modest effect is on EB which plateaus within 2 weeks. Finally, internalizing style appears associated with poorer response to antipsychotic treatment.

Effects of chronic ammonium sulfate treatment on the forest at the Bear Brook Watershed in Maine.

PubMed

Elvir, Jose Alexander; Wiersma, G Bruce; Bethers, Suzanne; Kenlan, Peter

2010-12-01

At the Bear Brook Watershed in Maine (BBWM), the forest tree composition was characterized and the effects of the chronic ammonium sulfate ((NH(4))(2)SO(4)) treatment on basal area growth, foliar chemistry, and gas exchange were investigated on forest species. The BBWM is a paired watershed forest ecosystem study with one watershed, West Bear (WB), treated since 1989 with 26.6 kg N ha(-1) year(-1) and 30 kg S ha(-1) year(-1)applied bimonthly as (NH(4))(2)SO(4), while the other watershed, East Bear (EB), serves as a reference. Tree species richness, density, and mortality were found to be similar between watersheds. Basal area increment was estimated from red spruce and sugar maple, showing that, for the first 7 years of treatment, it was significantly higher for sugar maple growing in WB compared to EB, but no differences were observed for red spruce between watersheds. However, the initial higher sugar maple basal area growth in WB subsequently decreased after 8 years of treatment. Foliar chemical analysis performed in trees, saplings, and ground flora showed higher N concentrations in the treated WB compared to the reference EB. But, foliar cation concentrations, especially Ca and Mg, were significantly lower for most of the species growing in WB compared with those growing in EB. For sugar maple, foliar N was higher on WB, but there were no differences in foliar Ca and Mg concentrations between treated and reference watersheds. In addition, only sugar maple trees in the treated WB showed significantly higher photosynthetic rates compared to reference EB trees.

Efficacy and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Evidence-Based Nursing Interventions to Maintain Tissue Integrity to Prevent Pressure Ulcers and Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis.

PubMed

Avşar, Pınar; Karadağ, Ayişe

2018-02-01

A reduction in tissue tolerance promotes the development of pressure ulcers (PUs) and incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD). To determine the cost-effectiveness and efficacy of evidence-based (EB) nursing interventions on increasing tissue tolerance by maintaining tissue integrity. The study involved 154 patients in two intensive care units (77 patients, control group; 77 patients, intervention group). Data were collected using the following: patient characteristics form, Braden PU risk assessment scale, tissue integrity monitoring form, PU identification form, IAD and severity scale, and a cost table of the interventions. Patients in the intervention group were cared for by nurses trained in the use of the data collection tools and in EB practices to improve tissue tolerance. Routine nursing care was given to the patients in the control group. The researcher observed all patients in terms of tissue integrity and recorded the care-related costs. Deterioration of tissue integrity was observed in 18.2% patients in the intervention group compared to 54.5% in the control group (p < .05). The average cost to increase tissue tolerance prevention in the intervention and control groups was X¯ = $204.34 ± 41.07 and X¯ = $138.90 ± 1.70, respectively. It is recommended that EB policies and procedures are developed to improve tissue tolerance by maintaining tissue integrity. Although the cost of EB preventive initiatives is relatively high compared to those that are not EB, the former provide a significant reduction in the prevalence of tissue integrity deterioration. © 2017 Sigma Theta Tau International.

Genomic Prediction of Genotype × Environment Interaction Kernel Regression Models.

PubMed

Cuevas, Jaime; Crossa, José; Soberanis, Víctor; Pérez-Elizalde, Sergio; Pérez-Rodríguez, Paulino; Campos, Gustavo de Los; Montesinos-López, O A; Burgueño, Juan

2016-11-01

In genomic selection (GS), genotype × environment interaction (G × E) can be modeled by a marker × environment interaction (M × E). The G × E may be modeled through a linear kernel or a nonlinear (Gaussian) kernel. In this study, we propose using two nonlinear Gaussian kernels: the reproducing kernel Hilbert space with kernel averaging (RKHS KA) and the Gaussian kernel with the bandwidth estimated through an empirical Bayesian method (RKHS EB). We performed single-environment analyses and extended to account for G × E interaction (GBLUP-G × E, RKHS KA-G × E and RKHS EB-G × E) in wheat ( L.) and maize ( L.) data sets. For single-environment analyses of wheat and maize data sets, RKHS EB and RKHS KA had higher prediction accuracy than GBLUP for all environments. For the wheat data, the RKHS KA-G × E and RKHS EB-G × E models did show up to 60 to 68% superiority over the corresponding single environment for pairs of environments with positive correlations. For the wheat data set, the models with Gaussian kernels had accuracies up to 17% higher than that of GBLUP-G × E. For the maize data set, the prediction accuracy of RKHS EB-G × E and RKHS KA-G × E was, on average, 5 to 6% higher than that of GBLUP-G × E. The superiority of the Gaussian kernel models over the linear kernel is due to more flexible kernels that accounts for small, more complex marker main effects and marker-specific interaction effects. Copyright © 2016 Crop Science Society of America.

Electrical Stimulation of the Left and Right Human Fusiform Gyrus Causes Different Effects in Conscious Face Perception

PubMed Central

Rangarajan, Vinitha; Hermes, Dora; Foster, Brett L.; Weiner, Kevin S.; Jacques, Corentin; Grill-Spector, Kalanit

2014-01-01

Neuroimaging and electrophysiological studies across species have confirmed bilateral face-selective responses in the ventral temporal cortex (VTC) and prosopagnosia is reported in patients with lesions in the VTC including the fusiform gyrus (FG). As imaging and electrophysiological studies provide correlative evidence, and brain lesions often comprise both white and gray matter structures beyond the FG, we designed the current study to explore the link between face-related electrophysiological responses in the FG and the causal effects of electrical stimulation of the left or right FG in face perception. We used a combination of electrocorticography (ECoG) and electrical brain stimulation (EBS) in 10 human subjects implanted with intracranial electrodes in either the left (5 participants, 30 FG sites) or right (5 participants, 26 FG sites) hemispheres. We identified FG sites with face-selective ECoG responses, and recorded perceptual reports during EBS of these sites. In line with existing literature, face-selective ECoG responses were present in both left and right FG sites. However, when the same sites were stimulated, we observed a striking difference between hemispheres. Only EBS of the right FG caused changes in the conscious perception of faces, whereas EBS of strongly face-selective regions in the left FG produced non-face-related visual changes, such as phosphenes. This study examines the relationship between correlative versus causal nature of ECoG and EBS, respectively, and provides important insight into the differential roles of the right versus left FG in conscious face perception. PMID:25232118

Cervical spinal demyelination with ethidium bromide impairs respiratory (phrenic) activity and forelimb motor behavior in rats

PubMed Central

Nichols, Nicole L.; Punzo, Antonio M.; Duncan, Ian D.; Mitchell, Gordon S.; Johnson, Rebecca A.

2012-01-01

Although respiratory complications are a major cause of morbidity/mortality in many neural injuries or diseases, little is known concerning mechanisms whereby deficient myelin impairs breathing, or how patients compensate for such changes. Here, we tested the hypothesis that respiratory and forelimb motor function are impaired in a rat model of focal dorsolateral spinal demyelination (ethidium bromide, EB). Ventilation, phrenic nerve activity and horizontal ladder walking were performed 7-14 days post-C2 injection of EB or vehicle (SHAM). EB caused dorsolateral demyelination at C2-C3 followed by signficant spontaneous remyelination at 14 days post-EB. Although ventilation did not differ between groups, ipsilateral integrated phrenic nerve burst amplitude was significantly reduced versus SHAM during chemoreceptor activation at 7 days post-EB but recovered by 14 days. The ratio of ipsi- to contralateral phrenic nerve amplitude correlated with cross-sectional lesion area. This ratio was significantly reduced 7 days post-EB versus SHAM during baseline conditions, and versus SHAM and 14 day groups during chemoreceptor activation. Limb function ipsilateral to EB was impaired 7 days post-EB and partially recovered by 14 days post-EB. EB provides a reversible model of focal, spinal demyelination, and may be a useful model to study mechanisms of functional impairment and recovery via motor plasticity, or the efficacy of new therapeutic interventions to reduce severity or duration of disease. PMID:23159317

The PHD-containing protein EARLY BOLTING IN SHORT DAYS regulates seed dormancy in Arabidopsis.

PubMed

Narro-Diego, Laura; López-González, Leticia; Jarillo, Jose A; Piñeiro, Manuel

2017-10-01

The Arabidopsis protein EARLY BOLTING IN SHORT DAYS (EBS), a plant-specific transcriptional regulator, is involved in the control of flowering time by repressing the floral integrator FT. The EBS protein binds the H3K4me3 histone mark and interacts with histone deacetylases to modulate gene expression. Here, we show that EBS also participates in the regulation of seed dormancy. ebs mutations cause a reduction in seed dormancy, and the concurrent loss of function of the EBS homologue SHORT LIFE (SHL) enhances this dormancy alteration. Transcriptomic analyses in ebs mutant seeds uncovered the misregulation of several regulators of seed dormancy including the MADS box gene AGAMOUS-LIKE67 (AGL67). AGL67 interacts genetically with EBS in seed dormancy regulation, indicating that both loci act in the same pathway. Interestingly, EBS functions independently of the master regulator gene of dormancy DELAY OF GERMINATION 1 (DOG1) and other genes encoding chromatin remodelling factors involved in the control of seed dormancy. Altogether, these data show that EBS is a central repressor of germination during seed dormancy and that SHL acts redundantly with EBS in the control of this developmental process. Our observations suggest that a tightly regulated crosstalk among histone modifications is necessary for a proper control of seed dormancy. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

47 CFR 27.1214 - EBS spectrum leasing arrangements and grandfathered leases.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 2 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false EBS spectrum leasing arrangements and... Educational Broadband Service § 27.1214 EBS spectrum leasing arrangements and grandfathered leases. (a) A licensee in the EBS that is solely utilizing analog transmissions may enter into a spectrum leasing...

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

Tan, Yi, E-mail: tanyi@dlut.edu.cn; You, Xiaogang; You, Qifan

Electron beam smelting (EBS) has been used to fabricate the Inconel 740 superalloy. Microstructures, hardness, and deformation characteristics of the alloy are studied. It is observed that carbides and fine secondary phase nuclei are distributed in the hot worked EBS 740 superalloy. The Ostwald ripening occurs during solution treatment and leads to aggregation of the γ′ precipitates, the size of γ′ precipitates varies from several nanometers to more than one hundred nanometers as a result. The average size of the secondary phase is < 30 nm after aging treatment and the average Vickers hardness is measured to be about 370.more » The critical shear stress is calculated to be 0.627 GPa with governing mechanism of shearing, causing a stronger strengthening effect than the traditionally prepared Inconel 740 superalloy. The compression behavior indicates that the EBS 740 superalloy shows higher flow stress than 740H at low Zener-Hollomon parameter, which may arise from the undissolved γ′ precipitates and higher activation energy Q. The tensile results show that the fracture surface exhibits a ductile fracture pattern, in contrast to no obvious plastic deformation on the macroscopic fracture. Crack propagation proceeds in a transgranular fracture mode with facets and voids presented on the fracture surface. - Graphical abstract: Electron beam smelting (EBS) has been used to fabricate the Inconel 740 superalloy. Microstructures, hardness, and deformation characteristics of the alloy are studied. The average size of the secondary phase is < 30 nm after aging treatment and the average Vickers hardness is measured to be about 370. The critical shear stress is calculated to be 0.627 GPa with governing mechanism of shearing, causing a stronger strengthening effect than the traditionally prepared Inconel 740 superalloy. The EBS 740 superalloy shows higher flow stress than 740H at low Zener-Hollomon parameter, which may arise from the undissolved γ′ precipitates and higher activation energy Q. The EBS technology shows encouraging potential in preparation of nickel-based superalloys. Morphologies of γ′ precipitates and Vickers hardness as well as hot compression curves for electron beam smelting 740 superalloy. - Highlights: • Electron beam smelting, a novel method, was used to prepare the Inconel 740 superalloy. • The average size of the γ′ precipitates after aging treatment is < 30 nm. • The shearing mode generates a stronger strengthening effect than the traditional 740. • At low Zener-Hollomon parameter, the EBS 740 shows higher flow stress than 740H.« less

TGF-β1 induces the formation of vascular-like structures in embryoid bodies derived from human embryonic stem cells.

PubMed

Wang, Yan; Qian, DE-Jian; Zhong, Wen-Yu; Lu, Jun-Hong; Guo, Xiang-Kai; Cao, Yi-Lin; Liu, Ju

2014-07-01

Human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can differentiate into endothelial cells in response to stimuli from extracellular cytokines. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 signaling is involved in stem cell renewal and vascular development. Previously, human ESCs were isolated from inner cell mass and a stable ESC line was developed. In the present study, the effects of extracellular TGF-β1 were investigated on human ESC-derived embryoid bodies (EB) in suspension. The structures of the EBs were analyzed with light and electron microscopy, while the cellular composition of the EBs was examined via the expression levels of specific markers. Vascular-like tubular structures and cardiomyocyte-like beating cells were observed in the EBs at day 3 and 8, respectively. The frequencies of vascular-like structures and beating cells in the TGF-β1 treated group were significantly higher compared with the control group (84.31 vs. 12.77%; P<0.001; 37.25 vs. 8.51%; P<0.001, respectively). Electron microscopy revealed the presence of lumens and gap junctions in the sections of the tubular structures. Semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed elevated expression levels of CD31 and fetal liver kinase-1 in EBs cultured with TGF-β1. In addition, extensive staining of von Willebrand factor was observed in the vascular-like structures of TGF-β1-treated EBs. Therefore, the results of the present study may aid the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of human ESC differentiation and improve the methods of propagating specific cell types for the clinical therapy of cardiovascular diseases.

Effects of interface morphology and TGO thickness on residual stress of EB-PVD thermal barrier coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Jianwei; Zhao, Yang; Ma, Jian

2015-04-01

The residual stress of electron beam-physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD) thermal barrier coatings (TBC) is complex and difficult to be obtained. In this paper, the interface morphology of TBCs subjected to cyclic heating and cooling was observed by SEM. Based on the thermal elastic-plastic finite method, corresponding interface model of TBCs was established. The residual stress of EB-PVD TBCs with different interface morphologies and TGO thicknesses was calculated using the FE method without regard to the presence of cracks and defects. The result shows that the distribution of residual stress is significantly affected by the interface morphology, and the growth of TGO also has influence on the residual stress of TC and TGO.

Effect of alkali on the structure of cell envelopes of Chlamydia psittaci elementary bodies.

PubMed Central

Narita, T; Wyrick, P B; Manire, G P

1976-01-01

Suspensions of isolated cell envelopes of infectious elementary bodies (EB) of Chlamydia psittaci at alkaline pH showed a rapid, extensive decrease in absorbance, accompanied by the release of a cell envelope component in a sedimentable form. This phenomenon was observed both at 0 C and with envelopes which had been previously heated to 100 C. Monovalent and divalent cations effectively inhibited the turbidity loss, whereas ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) caused an accelerated decrease in turbidity. The turbidity loss observed after incubation of the envelopes at alkaline pH could be reversed to the level of the initial value by dialysis against distilled water containing Mg2+. Thin-section electron photomicrographs of purified EB exposed to alkaline buffer with EDTA revealed the loss of the internal contents of cells, but these cells still maintained their round shapes. The cell surface of treated EB appeared pitted in negatively stained preparations, whereas intact EB had a smooth surface. Electron microscopic studies on negatively stained preparations of the clear supernatant obtained after the treatment of the envelope with alkaline buffer containing EDTA demonstrated the presence of spherical particles, approximately 6 to 7 nm in diameter, and rodlike particles, which appeared to be made up of two or more spherical particles. Images PMID:1375

Precision Stellar and Planetary Astrophysics with TESS and Gaia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stevens, Daniel J.; KELT Collaboration

2018-01-01

There is an ever-present need for precise and accurate stellar parameters, particularly for low-mass stars. For example, some fraction of measured M dwarf radii are inflated and have effective temperatures that are suppressed relative to predictions from models, but the physical cause of these effects is still uncertain. This is exacerbated by the fact that only a handful of M dwarfs -- all from double-lined eclipsing binaries (EBs) -- have both masses and radii measured to 3% or better. In the Gaia era, we can now measure model-independent masses and radii for single-lined EBs, thus expanding the sample of stars with precisely measured parameters by at least an order of magnitude, in principle. I will illustrate how one can combine Gaia parallaxes and broad-band stellar fluxes with the eclipse and radial velocity data to provide model-independent masses and radii. I will present our expected achievable constraints on the masses and radii of single-lined EBs. I will discuss both our current effort to turn several dozens of single-lined EBs discovered by the KELT and HATNet surveys into a catalog of exquisitely characterized stars and exoplanets as well as the prospects for achieving similar science for a much larger number of systems with TESS.

[Chronic active EB virus infection and granular lymphocytes proliferative disorders in Japan].

PubMed

Ishihara, S; Hara, J; Tawa, A; Kawa, K

1996-04-01

To clarify the characteristics of chronic active EB virus infection (CAEBV) in Japan, and to investigate the relation between granular lymphocytes proliferative disorder (GLPD) and EB virus, we conducted a survey through a questionnaire conducted throughout Japan. Among 17 registered patients with CAEBV, 9 developed various types of lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs), and 6 patients died of LPD. Among 72 cases of GLPD, 43 were CD3-positive and 27 were CD3-negative. EB viral DNA was detected in the peripheral mononuclear cells in 6 of 7 CD3-negative and 1 of 4 CD3-positive cases. These data suggest that EB virus-associated LPDs frequently derive from patients with CAEBV. However, some GLPD patients without CAEBV, especially for CD3-negative GLPD, are associated with EB virus infection. Therefore detection of EB viral DNA is very important to understand the pathogenesis of GLPD.

Effective vortex pinning in MgB2 thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bugoslavsky, Y.; Cowey, L.; Tate, T. J.; Perkins, G. K.; Moore, J.; Lockman, Z.; Berenov, A.; MacManus-Driscoll, J. L.; Caplin, A. D.; Cohen, L. F.; Zhai, H. Y.; Christen, H. M.; Paranthaman, M. P.; Lowndes, D. H.; Jo, M. H.; Blamire, M. G.

2002-10-01

We discuss the pinning properties of MgB2 thin films grown by pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) and by electron-beam (EB) evaporation. Two mechanisms are identified that contribute most effectively to the pinning of vortices in randomly oriented films. The EB process produces low defected crystallites with a small grain size providing enhanced pinning at grain boundaries without any degradation of Tc. The PLD process produces films with structural disorder on a scale less than the coherence length that further improves pinning, but also depresses Tc.

First report on the pharmacokinetics of tramadol and O-desmethyltramadol in exhaled breath compared to plasma and oral fluid after a single oral dose.

PubMed

Meyer, Markus R; Rosenborg, Staffan; Stenberg, Marta; Beck, Olof

2015-12-01

Exhaled breath (EB) is a promising matrix for bioanalysis of non-volatiles and has been routinely implemented for drugs of abuse analysis. Nothing is known regarding the pharmacokinetics of therapeutics and their metabolites in EB. Therefore, we used tramadol as a model drug. Twelve volunteers received a single oral dose of tramadol and repeated sampling of EB, plasma, and oral fluid (OF) was done for 48 h using a particle filter device for EB and the Quantisal-device for OF. Samples were analyzed with LC-MS/MS and the pharmacokinetic correlations between matrices were investigated. The initial tramadol half-life in EB was shorter than in plasma but it reappeared in EB after 8-24 h. The ratio of O-desmethyltramadol to tramadol was considerably lower in EB and OF compared to plasma. This pilot study compared for the first time the pharmacokinetics of a therapeutic drug and active metabolite in different biomatrices including EB and demonstrated its potential for bioanalysis. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Targeted Proteolysis of Plectin Isoform 1a Accounts for Hemidesmosome Dysfunction in Mice Mimicking the Dominant Skin Blistering Disease EBS-Ogna

PubMed Central

Walko, Gernot; Vukasinovic, Nevena; Gross, Karin; Fischer, Irmgard; Sibitz, Sabrina; Fuchs, Peter; Reipert, Siegfried; Jungwirth, Ute; Berger, Walter; Salzer, Ulrich; Carugo, Oliviero; Castañón, Maria J.; Wiche, Gerhard

2011-01-01

Autosomal recessive mutations in the cytolinker protein plectin account for the multisystem disorders epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) associated with muscular dystrophy (EBS-MD), pyloric atresia (EBS-PA), and congenital myasthenia (EBS-CMS). In contrast, a dominant missense mutation leads to the disease EBS-Ogna, manifesting exclusively as skin fragility. We have exploited this trait to study the molecular basis of hemidesmosome failure in EBS-Ogna and to reveal the contribution of plectin to hemidesmosome homeostasis. We generated EBS-Ogna knock-in mice mimicking the human phenotype and show that blistering reflects insufficient protein levels of the hemidesmosome-associated plectin isoform 1a. We found that plectin 1a, in contrast to plectin 1c, the major isoform expressed in epidermal keratinocytes, is proteolytically degraded, supporting the notion that degradation of hemidesmosome-anchored plectin is spatially controlled. Using recombinant proteins, we show that the mutation renders plectin's 190-nm-long coiled-coil rod domain more vulnerable to cleavage by calpains and other proteases activated in the epidermis but not in skeletal muscle. Accordingly, treatment of cultured EBS-Ogna keratinocytes as well as of EBS-Ogna mouse skin with calpain inhibitors resulted in increased plectin 1a protein expression levels. Moreover, we report that plectin's rod domain forms dimeric structures that can further associate laterally into remarkably stable (paracrystalline) polymers. We propose focal self-association of plectin molecules as a novel mechanism contributing to hemidesmosome homeostasis and stabilization. PMID:22144912

High Frequency of Programmed Death-ligand 1 Expression in Emphysematous Bullae-associated Lung Adenocarcinomas.

PubMed

Toyokawa, Gouji; Takada, Kazuki; Okamoto, Tatsuro; Kozuma, Yuka; Matsubara, Taichi; Haratake, Naoki; Takamori, Shinkichi; Akamine, Takaki; Katsura, Masakazu; Shoji, Fumihiro; Oda, Yoshinao; Maehara, Yoshihiko

2017-09-01

Emphysematous bullae (EB) are known to be associated with a high incidence of lung cancer; however, the reason for this has yet to be elucidated. The objective of the present study was to clarify the prevalence of programmed death-ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression in EB-associated lung adenocarcinomas. A total of 369 patients with resected lung adenocarcinoma whose preoperative computed tomography findings were available for the examination of EB were analyzed for PD-L1 expression by immunohistochemistry and evaluated to determine the association between PD-L1 expression and EB-related adenocarcinomas. Among 369 patients, EB and cancer adjoining EB (Ca-ADJ) were identified in 81 (22.0%) and 50 (13.6%) patients, respectively. EB and Ca-ADJ were significantly associated with male gender, a smoking habit, a decreased forced expiratory volume in 1 second, a relatively higher tumor grade, advanced T status and stage, the presence of pleural and vessel invasion, invasive pathologic subtypes, and wild-type epidermal growth factor receptor. Seventy patients (19.0%) were positive for PD-L1 expression, whereas the remaining 299 patients (81.0%) were negative. Thirty-six (44.4%) and 29 (58.0%) of 81 and 50 patients with EB and Ca-ADJ, respectively, were positive for PD-L1 expression, which was shown to be significant by the Fisher exact test (P < .001 and P < .001, respectively). Among the 81 lung adenocarcinomas with EB, Ca-ADJ was significantly associated with PD-L1 expression (P = .021). In a multivariate analysis, the presence of Ca-ADJ was found to be an independent predictor of PD-L1 expression. EB-associated lung adenocarcinomas express PD-L1 protein more frequently than those without EB. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Tau regulates the localization and function of End-binding proteins 1 and 3 in developing neuronal cells.

PubMed

Sayas, Carmen Laura; Tortosa, Elena; Bollati, Flavia; Ramírez-Ríos, Sacnicte; Arnal, Isabelle; Avila, Jesús

2015-06-01

The axonal microtubule-associated protein tau is a well-known regulator of microtubule stability in neurons. However, the putative interplay between tau and End-binding proteins 1 and 3 (EB1/3), the core microtubule plus-end tracking proteins, has not been elucidated yet. Here, we show that a cross-talk between tau and EB1/3 exists in developing neuronal cells. Tau and EBs partially colocalize at extending neurites of N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells and axons of primary hippocampal neurons, as shown by confocal immunofluorescence analyses. Tau down-regulation leads to a reduction of EB1/3 comet length, as observed in shRNA-stably depleted neuroblastoma cells and TAU-/- neurons. EB1/3 localization depends on the expression levels and localization of tau protein. Over-expression of tau at high levels induces EBs relocalization to microtubule bundles at extending neurites of N1E-115 cells. In differentiating primary neurons, tau is required for the proper accumulation of EBs at stretches of microtubule bundles at the medial and distal regions of the axon. Tau interacts with EB proteins, as shown by immunoprecipitation in different non-neuronal and neuronal cells and in whole brain lysates. A tau/EB1 direct interaction was corroborated by in vitro pull-down assays. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching assays performed in neuroblastoma cells confirmed that tau modulates EB3 cellular mobility. In summary, we provide evidence of a new function of tau as a direct regulator of EB proteins in developing neuronal cells. This cross-talk between a classical microtubule-associated protein and a core microtubule plus-end tracking protein may contribute to the fine-tuned regulation of microtubule dynamics and stability during neuronal differentiation. We describe here a novel function for tau as a direct regulator of End binding (EB) proteins in differentiating neuronal cells. EB1/3 cellular mobility and localization in extending neurites and axons is modulated by tau levels and localization. We provide new evidence of the interplay between classical microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) and "core" microtubule plus-end tracking proteins (+TIPs) during neuronal development. © 2015 International Society for Neurochemistry.

Inhibition of Cardiomyocytes Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells by CD38/cADPR/Ca2+ Signaling Pathway*

PubMed Central

Wei, Wen-Jie; Sun, Hai-Ying; Ting, Kai Yiu; Zhang, Li-He; Lee, Hon-Cheung; Li, Gui-Rong; Yue, Jianbo

2012-01-01

Cyclic adenosine diphosphoribose (cADPR) is an endogenous Ca2+ mobilizing messenger that is formed by ADP-ribosyl cyclases from nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). The main ADP-ribosyl cyclase in mammals is CD38, a multi-functional enzyme and a type II membrane protein. Here we explored the role of CD38-cADPR-Ca2+ in the cardiomyogenesis of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. We found that the mouse ES cells are responsive to cADPR and possess the key components of the cADPR signaling pathway. In vitro cardiomyocyte (CM) differentiation of mouse ES cells was initiated by embryoid body (EB) formation. Interestingly, beating cells appeared earlier and were more abundant in CD38 knockdown EBs than in control EBs. Real-time RT-PCR and Western blot analyses further showed that the expression of several cardiac markers, including GATA4, MEF2C, NKX2.5, and α-MLC, were increased markedly in CD38 knockdown EBs than those in control EBs. Similarly, FACS analysis showed that more cardiac Troponin T-positive CMs existed in CD38 knockdown or 8-Br-cADPR, a cADPR antagonist, treated EBs compared with that in control EBs. On the other hand, overexpression of CD38 in mouse ES cells significantly inhibited CM differentiation. Moreover, CD38 knockdown ES cell-derived CMs possess the functional properties characteristic of normal ES cell-derived CMs. Last, we showed that the CD38-cADPR pathway negatively modulated the FGF4-Erks1/2 cascade during CM differentiation of ES cells, and transiently inhibition of Erk1/2 blocked the enhanced effects of CD38 knockdown on the differentiation of CM from ES cells. Taken together, our data indicate that the CD38-cADPR-Ca2+ signaling pathway antagonizes the CM differentiation of mouse ES cells. PMID:22908234

Modeling of Coupled Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical-Chemical Processes for Bentonite in a Clay-rock Repository for Heat-generating Nuclear Waste

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, H.; Rutqvist, J.; Zheng, L.; Birkholzer, J. T.

2016-12-01

Engineered Barrier Systems (EBS) that include a bentonite-based buffer are designed to isolate the high-level radioactive waste emplaced in tunnels in deep geological formations. The heat emanated from the waste can drive the moisture flow transport and induce strongly coupled Thermal (T), Hydrological (H), Mechanical (M) and Chemical (C) processes within the bentonite buffer and may also impact the evolution of the excavation disturbed zone and the sealing between the buffer and walls of an emplacement tunnel The flow and contaminant transport potential along the disturbed zone can be minimized by backfilling the tunnels with bentonite, if it provides enough swelling stress when hydrated by the host rock. The swelling capability of clay minerals within the bentonite is important for sealing gaps between bentonite block, and between the EBS and the surrounding host rock. However, a high temperature could result in chemical alteration of bentonite-based buffer and backfill materials through illitization, which may compromise the function of these EBS components by reducing their plasticity and capability to swell under wetting. Therefore, an adequate THMC coupling scheme is required to understand and to predict the changes of bentonite for identifying whether EBS bentonite can sustain higher temperatures. More comprehensive links between chemistry and mechanics, taking advantage of the framework provided by a dual-structure model, named Barcelona Expansive Model (BExM), was implemented in TOUGHREACT-FLAC3D and is used to simulate the response of EBS bentonite in in clay formation for a generic case. The current work is to evaluate the chemical changes in EBS bentonite and the effects on the bentonite swelling stress under high temperature. This work sheds light on the interaction between THMC processes, evaluates the potential deterioration of EBS bentonite and supports the decision making in the design of a nuclear waste repository in light of the maximum allowance temperature.

Fertility following CIDR based synchronization regimens in anoestrous Nili-Ravi buffaloes.

PubMed

Naseer, Z; Ahmad, E; Singh, J; Ahmad, N

2011-10-01

The objective of this study was to compare oestrus expression and fertility rate in used and new controlled internal drug releasing (CIDR) device treated anoestrous buffaloes. Furthermore, to determine the timing of ovulation, and fertility rate in estradiol benzoate (EB) and GnRH-administered CIDR-treated anoestrous Nili-Ravi buffaloes. In experiment 1, buffaloes received either a used CIDR (UCIDR, n = 35) or a new CIDR (NCIDR, n = 36) for 7 day and PGF2α on day 6. Oestrous expression was similar (p > 0.05) between UCIDR (88.5%) and NCIDR (96.6%) buffaloes. The pregnancy rate did not differ (p > 0.05) because of treatment (37.1% in UCIDR vs 36.6% in NCIDR). In experiment 2, buffaloes (n = 55) received CIDR device for 7 days and PGF2α, on day 6 and randomly assigned into three treatment groups: (i) CIDR-EB (n = 17) received EB on day 8, (ii) CIDR-GnRH (n = 18) received GnRH on day 9 and (iii) control (n = 20) received no further treatment. Mean interval from CIDR removal to ovulation in CIDR-EB, CIDR-GnRH and CIDR group were 61.3 ± 0.8, 64.9 ± 1.8 and 65.1 ± 16.7 h, respectively. However, the buffaloes in the CIDR-EB and CIDR-GnRH group had lesser variability in the timing of ovulation compared to control. The pregnancy rate of both CIDR-EB group (58%) and CIDR-GnRH group (61%) were tended to be higher (p < 0.1) than control (30%). In conclusion, compared to NCIDR devices, previously UCIDR devices are equally effective to induce oestrus in anoestrous buffaloes resulting optimal pregnancy rate. Administration of EB and GnRH after CIDR removal results in tighter synchrony (less variability) and improved fertility in anoestrous buffaloes. CIDR based synchronization regimens have great potential in fertility improvement in anoestrous buffaloes. © 2011 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Probing cytotoxicity of nanoparticles and organic compounds using scanning proton microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tong, Yongpeng; Li, Changming; Liang, Feng; Chen, Jianmin; Zhang, Hong; Liu, Guoqing; Sun, Huibin; Luong, John H. T.

2008-12-01

Scanning proton microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fluorescence microscopy have been used to probe the cytotoxicity effect of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), ethidium bromide (EB) and nanoparticles (ZnO, Al 2O 3 and TiO 2) on a T lymphoblastic leukemia Jurkat cell line. The increased calcium ion (from CaCl 2) in the culture medium stimulated the accumulation of BaP and EB inside the cell, leading to cell death. ZnO, Al 2O 3 and TiO 2 nanoparticles, however, showed a protective effect against these two organic compounds. Such inorganic nanoparticles complexed with BaP or EB which became less toxic to the cell. Fe 2O 3 nanoparticles as an insoluble particle model scavenged by macrophage were investigated in rats. They were scavenged out of the lung tissue about 48 h after infection. This result suggest that some insoluble inorganic nanoparticles of PM (particulate matters) showed protective effects on organic toxins induced acute toxic effects as they can be scavenged by macrophage cells. Whereas, some inorganic ions such as calcium ion in PM may help environmental organic toxins to penetrate cell membrane and induce higher toxic effect.

Keratin gel in the management of Epidermolysis bullosa.

PubMed

Denyer, J; Marsh, C; Kirsner, R S

2015-10-01

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) describes a number of genetically inherited conditions which cause skin fragility and minor trauma leading to skin damage, skin loss and wounding. Owing to the fragility of the skin and requirement for frequent dressing changes, at present, the optimal dressing(s) is not clear. Our objective was to assess the use of a keratin gel in the management of wounds in patients with different forms of EB. We treated patients with different types of EB and a range of wounds with a novel keratin gel. In a convenience sample of consecutive patients, we introduced the keratin gel into their treatment regimen maintaining other aspects of their care. Patients reported faster healing and more resilient healed skin. Of the ten patients treated in this pilot study, six found the gel effective; two found it ineffective; and in two patients, it caused itching leading to discontinuation of the treatment. The results of this case study series suggest that keratin gel can be useful in the management of EB and are consistent with previous published experiences.

Uniform Embryoid Body Production and Enhanced Mesendoderm Differentiation with Murine Embryonic Stem Cells in a Rotary Suspension Bioreactor.

PubMed

Lei, Xiaohua; Deng, Zhili; Duan, Enkui

2016-01-01

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are capable of differentiating into almost all cell types in vitro and hold great promise for drug screening, developmental studies and have a huge potential in many therapeutic areas. ESCs can aggregate to form embryoid body (EB) in static suspension culture by spontaneous differentiation, which resembles an intact embryo; while static suspension culture cannot prevent agglomeration of cells and offers little control over the size and shape of EBs, it results in aggregation of EBs into large, irregular masses, which prejudice the efficiency of differentiation of cells. Recently, bioreactor-based platforms have been shown to not only offer a beneficial effect on increasing diffusion of nutrients and oxygen which promotes cell viability and proliferation but also display local biomechanical properties (e.g., low fluid shear stresses and hydrodynamic force) in tissue development and organogenesis. This chapter describes a protocol for using a rotary suspension bioreactor to produce embryoid bodies and process the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), and to assess the efficiency of EB differentiation in the bioreactor by real-time PCR and immunostaining.

New Low-mass Eclipsing Binary Systems in Praesepe Discovered by K2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gillen, Edward; Hillenbrand, Lynne A.; David, Trevor J.; Aigrain, Suzanne; Rebull, Luisa; Stauffer, John; Cody, Ann Marie; Queloz, Didier

2017-11-01

We present the discovery and characterization of four low-mass (M< 0.6 {M}⊙ ) eclipsing binary (EB) systems in the sub-Gyr old Praesepe open cluster using Kepler/K2 time series photometry and Keck/HIRES spectroscopy. We present a new Gaussian process EB model, GP-EBOP, as well as a method of simultaneously determining effective temperatures and distances for EBs. Three of the reported systems (AD 3814, AD 2615 and AD 1508) are detached and double-lined, and precise solutions are presented for the first two. We determine masses and radii to 1%-3% precision for AD 3814 and to 5%-6% for AD 2615. Together with effective temperatures determined to ˜50 K precision, we test the PARSEC v1.2 and BHAC15 stellar evolution models. Our EB parameters are more consistent with the PARSEC models, primarily because the BHAC15 temperature scale is hotter than our data over the mid-M-dwarf mass range probed. Both ADs 3814 and 2615, which have orbital periods of 6.0 and 11.6 days, are circularized but not synchronized. This suggests that either synchronization proceeds more slowly in fully convective stars than the theory of equilibrium tides predicts, or magnetic braking is currently playing a more important role than tidal forces in the spin evolution of these binaries. The fourth system (AD 3116) comprises a brown dwarf transiting a mid-M-dwarf, which is the first such system discovered in a sub-Gyr open cluster. Finally, these new discoveries increase the number of characterized EBs in sub-Gyr open clusters by 20% (40%) below M< 1.5 M ⊙ (M< 0.6 M ⊙).

Biochemical and morphological effects of hypoxic environment on human embryonic stem cells in long-term culture and differentiating embryoid bodies.

PubMed

Lim, Hee-Joung; Han, Jiyou; Woo, Dong-Hun; Kim, Sung-Eun; Kim, Suel-Kee; Kang, Hee-Gyoo; Kim, Jong-Hoon

2011-02-01

The mammalian reproductive tract is known to contain 1.5-5.3% oxygen (O(2)), but human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) derived from preimplantation embryos are typically cultured under 21% O(2) tension. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of O(2) tension on the long-term culture of hESCs and on cell-fate determination during early differentiation. hESCs and embryoid bodies (EBs) were grown under different O(2) tensions (3, 12, and 21% O(2)). The expression of markers associated with pluripotency, embryonic germ layers, and hypoxia was analyzed using RTPCR, immunostaining, and Western blotting. Proliferation, apoptosis, and chromosomal aberrations were examined using BrdU incorporation, caspase-3 immunostaining, and karyotype analysis, respectively. Structural and morphological changes of EBs under different O(2) tensions were comparatively examined using azan- and hematoxylineosin staining, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Mild hypoxia (12% O(2)) increased the number of cells expressing Oct4/Nanog and reduced BrdU incorporation and aneuploidy. The percentage of cells positive for active caspase-3, which was high during normoxia (21% O(2)), gradually decreased when hESCs were continuously cultured under mild hypoxia. EBs subjected to hypoxia (3% O(2)) exhibited well-differentiated microvilli on their surface, secreted high levels of collagen, and showed enhanced differentiation into primitive endoderm. These changes were associated with increased expression of Foxa2, Sox17, AFP, and GATA4 on the EB periphery. Our data suggest that mild hypoxia facilitates the slow mitotic division of hESCs in long-term culture and reduces the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities and apoptosis. In addition, hypoxia promotes the differentiation of EBs into extraembryonic endoderm.

Electric bicycle-related injuries presenting to a provincial hospital in China: A retrospective study.

PubMed

Zhou, Sheng Ang; Ho, Andrew Fu Wah; Ong, Marcus Eng Hock; Liu, Nan; Pek, Pin Pin; Wang, Yi Qing; Jin, Tao; Yan, Guang Zhao; Han, Nan Nan; Li, Gang; Xu, Li Ming; Cai, Wen Wei

2017-06-01

The use of electric bicycles (EBs) in China is growing. In the present study, we aimed to characterize the pattern and outcomes of EB-related injuries presenting to a major general hospital in China.This was a retrospective review of EB-related injuries presenting to Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital from 2008 to 2011. Cases were identified from medical records according to diagnosis codes. Data captured included demographics, injury characteristics, and outcomes.A total of 3156 cases were reviewed in the present study. There were 1460 cases of traffic accidents, of which 482 cases were EB-related (32.7%). In addition, most of EB-related cases (44.6%) belonged to the 41- to 60-year-old age group. Median injury severity score was 10. Moreover, 34.9% underwent surgery and 24.7% were admitted to intensive care unit. The median hospitalization cost was 14,269 USD. Fracture (56.5%) was the most frequently diagnosed injury type, and head was the most commonly injured body region (31.1%).EB-related injuries have become a major health concern, making up a sizeable proportion of injuries presenting to the emergency department. Therefore, it is necessary to establish injury prevention and strategies for EB road safety. Implementation of policy such as compulsory helmet use, as well as popularization of EB road safety education should be considered to improve the current situation of EB-related injuries in China.

Evans Blue Dye: A Revisit of Its Applications in Biomedicine.

PubMed

Yao, Linpeng; Xue, Xing; Yu, Peipei; Ni, Yicheng; Chen, Feng

2018-01-01

Evans blue (EB) dye has owned a long history as a biological dye and diagnostic agent since its first staining application by Herbert McLean Evans in 1914. Due to its high water solubility and slow excretion, as well as its tight binding to serum albumin, EB has been widely used in biomedicine, including its use in estimating blood volume and vascular permeability, detecting lymph nodes, and localizing the tumor lesions. Recently, a series of EB derivatives have been labeled with PET isotopes and can be used as theranostics with a broad potential due to their improved half-life in the blood and reduced release. Some of EB derivatives have even been used in translational applications in clinics. In addition, a novel necrosis-avid feature of EB has recently been reported in some preclinical animal studies. Given all these interesting and important advances in EB study, a comprehensive revisiting of EB has been made in its biomedical applications in the review.

DDA3 associates with microtubule plus ends and orchestrates microtubule dynamics and directional cell migration

PubMed Central

Zhang, Liangyu; Shao, Hengyi; Zhu, Tongge; Xia, Peng; Wang, Zhikai; Liu, Lifang; Yan, Maomao; Hill, Donald L.; Fang, Guowei; Chen, Zhengjun; Wang, Dongmei; Yao, Xuebiao

2013-01-01

Cell motility and adhesion involve orchestrated interaction of microtubules (MTs) with their plus-end tracking proteins (+TIPs). However, the mechanisms underlying regulations of MT dynamics and directional cell migration are still elusive. Here, we show that DDA3-EB1 interaction orchestrates MT plus-end dynamics and facilitates directional cell migration. Biochemical characterizations reveal that DDA3 interacts with EB1 via its SxIP motif within the C-terminal Pro/Ser-rich region. Time-lapse and total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopic assays demonstrate that DDA3 exhibits EB1-dependent, MT plus-end loading and tracking. The EB1-based loading of DDA3 is responsible for MT plus-ends stabilization at the cell cortex, which in turn orchestrates directional cell migration. Interestingly, the DDA3-EB1 interaction is potentially regulated by EB1 acetylation, which may account for physiological regulation underlying EGF-elicited cell migration. Thus, the EB1-based function of DDA3 links MT dynamics to directional cell migration. PMID:23652583

EB1 contributes to microtubule bundling and organization, along with root growth, in Arabidopsis thaliana.

PubMed

Molines, Arthur T; Marion, Jessica; Chabout, Salem; Besse, Laetitia; Dompierre, Jim P; Mouille, Grégory; Coquelle, Frédéric M

2018-06-26

Microtubules are involved in plant development and adaptation to their environment, but the sustaining molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Microtubule-End-Binding 1 (EB1) proteins participate in directional root growth in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, a connection to the underlying microtubule array has not been established yet. We show here that EB1 proteins contribute to the organization of cortical microtubules in growing epidermal plant cells, without significant modulation of microtubule dynamics. Using super-resolution STED microscopy and an original quantification approach, we also demonstrate a significant reduction of apparent microtubule bundling in cytoplasmic-EB1-deficient plants, suggesting a function for EB1 in the interaction between adjacent microtubules. Furthermore, we observed root growth defects in EB1-deficient plants, which are not related to cell division impairment. Altogether, our results support a role for EB1 proteins in root development, in part by maintaining the organization of cortical microtubules. © 2018. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Epidermolysis bullosa, dental and anesthetic management: a case report.

PubMed

Esfahanizade, Katayoun; Mahdavi, Ali Reza; Ansari, Ghassem; Fallahinejad Ghajari, Masoud; Esfahanizadeh, Abdolreza

2014-09-01

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of rare inherited skin and mucous membrane disorders in which blister formation may arise spontaneously or following a minor friction. Various patterns of inheritance are explicated for the disease. The disease has a profound effect on oral mucosa and may result in high prevalence of dental caries. General anesthesia is sometimes the only choice for dental treatments in patients with EB. The following case report describes the dental and anesthetic management of an 12.5 -year-old girl with dystrophic type of EB. The patient was followed up every 6 months. New carious lesions were detected one year after the treatment, on the last visit. Presenting a perfect dental care to children with this disorder can be challenging for the in charge specialist, both pediatric dentist and anesthesiologist.

Single vs dual (en bloc) kidney transplants from donors ≤ 5 years of age: A single center experience

PubMed Central

Al-Shraideh, Yousef; Farooq, Umar; El-Hennawy, Hany; Farney, Alan C; Palanisamy, Amudha; Rogers, Jeffrey; Orlando, Giuseppe; Khan, Muhammad; Reeves-Daniel, Amber; Doares, William; Kaczmorski, Scott; Gautreaux, Michael D; Iskandar, Samy S; Hairston, Gloria; Brim, Elizabeth; Mangus, Margaret; Stratta, Robert J

2016-01-01

AIM: To compare outcomes between single and dual en bloc (EB) kidney transplants (KT) from small pediatric donors. METHODS: Monocentric nonprospective review of KTs from pediatric donors ≤ 5 years of age. Dual EB KT was defined as keeping both donor kidneys attached to the inferior vena cava and aorta, which were then used as venous and arterial conduits for the subsequent transplant into a single recipient. Donor age was less useful than either donor weight or kidney size in decision-making for kidney utilization as kidneys from donors < 8 kg or kidneys < 6 cm in length were not transplanted. Post-transplant management strategies were standardized in all patients. RESULTS: From 2002-2015, 59 KTs were performed including 34 dual EB and 25 single KTs. Mean age of donors (17 mo vs 38 mo, P < 0.001), mean weight (11.0 kg vs 17.4 kg, P = 0.046) and male donors (50% vs 84%, P = 0.01) were lower in the dual EB compared to the single KT group, respectively. Mean cold ischemia time (21 h), kidney donor profile index (KDPI; 73% vs 62%) and levels of serum creatinine (SCr, 0.37 mg/dL vs 0.49 mg/dL, all P = NS) were comparable in the dual EB and single KT groups, respectively. Actuarial graft and patient survival rates at 5-years follow-up were comparable. There was one case of thrombosis resulting in graft loss in each group. Delayed graft function incidence (12% dual EB vs 20% single KT, P = NS) was slightly lower in dual EB KT recipients. Initial duration of hospital stay (mean 5.4 d vs 5.6 d) and the one-year incidences of acute rejection (6% vs 16%), operative complications (3% vs 4%), and major infection were comparable in the dual EB and single KT groups, respectively (all P = NS). Mean 12 mo SCr and abbreviated MDRD levels were 1.17 mg/dL vs 1.35 mg/dL and 72.5 mL/min per 1.73 m2 vs 60.5 mL/min per 1.73 m2 (both P = NS) in the dual EB and single KT groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: By transplanting kidneys from young pediatric donors into adult recipients, one can effectively expand the limited donor pool and achieve excellent medium-term outcomes. PMID:27011923

New Pleiades Eclipsing Binaries and a Hyades Transiting System Identified by K2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

David, Trevor J.; Conroy, Kyle E.; Hillenbrand, Lynne A.; Stassun, Keivan G.; Stauffer, John; Rebull, Luisa M.; Cody, Ann Marie; Isaacson, Howard; Howard, Andrew W.; Aigrain, Suzanne

2016-05-01

We present the discovery in Kepler’s K2 mission observations and our follow-up radial velocity (RV) observations from Keck/HIRES for four eclipsing binary (EB) star systems in the young benchmark Pleiades and Hyades clusters. Based on our modeling results, we announce two new low mass ({M}{tot}\\lt 0.6 {M}⊙ ) EBs among Pleiades members (HCG 76 and MHO 9) and we report on two previously known Pleiades binaries that are also found to be EB systems (HII 2407 and HD 23642). We measured the masses of the binary HCG 76 to ≲2.5% precision, and the radii to ≲4.5% precision, which together with the precise effective temperatures yield an independent Pleiades distance of 132 ± 5 pc. We discuss another EB toward the Pleiades that is a possible but unlikely Pleiades cluster member (AK II 465). The two new confirmed Pleiades systems extend the mass range of Pleiades EB components to 0.2-2 {M}⊙ . Our initial measurements of the fundamental stellar parameters for the Pleiades EBs are discussed in the context of the current stellar models and the nominal cluster isochrone, finding good agreement with the stellar models of Baraffe et al. at the nominal Pleiades age of 120 Myr. Finally, in the Hyades, we report a new low mass eclipsing system (vA 50) that was concurrently discovered and studied by Mann et al. We confirm that the eclipse is likely caused by a Neptune-sized transiting planet, and with the additional RV constraints presented here we improve the constraint on the maximum mass of the planet to be ≲1.2 MJup.

Deleterious effects of omitting breakfast on insulin sensitivity and fasting lipid profiles in healthy lean women.

PubMed

Farshchi, Hamid R; Taylor, Moira A; Macdonald, Ian A

2005-02-01

Breakfast consumption is recommended, despite inconclusive evidence of health benefits. The study's aim was to ascertain whether eating breakfast (EB) or omitting breakfast (OB) affects energy intake, energy expenditure, and circulating insulin, glucose, and lipid concentrations in healthy women. In a randomized crossover trial, 10 women [x+/-SD body mass index (BMI; in kg/m2): 23.2+/-1.4] underwent two 14-d EB or OB interventions separated by a 2-wk interval. In the EB period, subjects consumed breakfast cereal with 2%-fat milk before 0800 and a chocolate-covered cookie between 1030 and 1100. In the OB period, subjects consumed the cookie between 1030 and 1100 and the cereal and milk between 1200 and 1330. Subjects then consumed 4 additional meals with content similar to usual at predetermined times later in the day and recorded food intake on 3 d during each period. Fasting and posttest meal glucose, lipid, and insulin concentrations and resting energy expenditure were measured before and after each period. Reported energy intake was significantly lower in the EB period (P=0.001), and resting energy expenditure did not differ significantly between the 2 periods. OB was associated with significantly higher fasting total and LDL cholesterol than was EB (3.14 and 3.43 mmol/L and 1.55 and 1.82 mmol/L, respectively; P=0.001). The area under the curve of insulin response to the test meal was significantly lower after EB than after OB (P<0.01). OB impairs fasting lipids and postprandial insulin sensitivity and could lead to weight gain if the observed higher energy intake was sustained.

IR and NMR spectroscopic correlation of enterobactin by DFT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moreno, M.; Zacarias, A.; Porzel, A.; Velasquez, L.; Gonzalez, G.; Alegría-Arcos, M.; Gonzalez-Nilo, F.; Gross, E. K. U.

2018-06-01

Emerging and re-emerging epidemic diseases pose an ongoing threat to global health. Currently, Enterobactin and Enterobactin derivatives have gained interest, owing to their potential application in the pharmaceutical field. As it is known [J. Am. Chem. Soc (1979) 101, 20, 6097-6104], Enterobactin (H6EB) is an efficient iron carrier synthesized and secreted by many microbial species. In order to facilitate the elucidation of enterobactin and its analogues, here we propose the creation of a H6EB standard set using Density Functional Theory Infrared (IR) and NMR spectra. We used two exchange-correlation (xc) functionals (PBE including long-range corrections sbnd LC-PBEsbnd and mPW1), 2 basis sets (QZVP and 6-31G(d)) and 2 grids (fine and ultrafine) for most of the H6EB structures dependent of dihedral angles. The results show a significant difference between the Osbnd H and Nsbnd H bands, while the Cdbnd O amide and Osbnd (Cdbnd O)sbnd IR bands are often found on top of each other. The NMR DFT calculations show a strong dependence on the xc functional, basis set, and grid used for the H6EB structure. Calculated 1H and 13C NMR spectra enable the effect of the solvent to be understood in the context of the experimental measurements. The good agreement between the experimental and the calculated spectra using LC-PBE/QZVP and ultrafine grid suggest the possibility of the systems reported here to be considered as a standard set. The dependence of electrostatic potential and frontier orbitals with the catecholamide dihedral angles of H6EB is described. The matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of the flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) of H6EB is also reported of manner to enrich the knowledge about its reactivity.

The endocannabinoid system expression in the female reproductive tract is modulated by estrogen.

PubMed

Maia, J; Almada, M; Silva, A; Correia-da-Silva, G; Teixeira, N; Sá, S I; Fonseca, B M

2017-11-01

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is involved in several physiological events that resulted in a growing interest in its modulation. Moreover, the uterine levels of anandamide (AEA), the major endocannabinoid, must be tightly regulated to create proper embryo implantation conditions. However, there are no evidences about the regulation of AEA in uterus by estrogen. Thus, the aim of this study is to elucidate whether estradiol benzoate (EB) and tamoxifen (TAM) administration to ovariectomized (OVX) rats can induce changes in the expression of cannabinoid receptors and AEA-metabolic enzymes in uterus by evaluating gene transcription and protein levels by qPCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Moreover, the plasmatic and uterine levels of AEA and of prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) and prostaglandin F 2 α (PGF 2α ), the major cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) products, were determined by UPLC-MS/MS. The immunohistochemistry showed that cannabinoid receptors, as well as AEA-metabolic enzymes are mainly located in the epithelial cells of both lumen and glands and, to a lesser extent, in the muscle cells. Moreover, EB administration to OVX rats significantly increased CB1, CB2, NAPE-PLD, FAAH and COX-2 expression and transcription. These effects were absent in TAM and TAM+EB treatments showing that this response is estrogen receptor dependent. Additionally, although uterine levels of AEA remained unchanged in EB or TAM treated animals, they showed a rise with EB treatment in plasma. The latter also produced a decrease in uterine PGE 2 levels. In summary, these data collectively indicate that the expression of ECS components, as well as, the AEA and PGE 2 levels in rat uterus is modulated by EB. Thus, estradiol may have a direct regulatory role in the modulation of ECS in female reproductive tissues. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Use of technology to facilitate physical activity in children with autism spectrum disorders: A pilot study.

PubMed

Bittner, Melissa D; Rigby, B Rhett; Silliman-French, Lisa; Nichols, David L; Dillon, Suzanna R

2017-08-01

Deficits in social behavior and communication skills are correlated with reduced gross motor skills in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The ExerciseBuddy application (EB app) was designed to communicate these motor skills to those with ASD and integrates evidence-based practices such as visual support and video modeling supported by The National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the EB app in facilitating increased physiologic responses to physical activity via a continuous measurement of energy expenditure and heart rate versus practice-style teaching methods in children with ASD. Six children, ages 5 to 10years, diagnosed with ASD were recruited. Each participant performed a variety of locomotor or object control skills as defined by the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 once per week for 4weeks. Motor skills were communicated and demonstrated using either practice-style teaching methods or the instructional section of the EB app. Energy expenditure and heart rate were measured continuously during each 12-minute session. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed to assess any differences between the use of the app and practice-style teaching methods. The use of the EB app elicited greater values for peak energy expenditure (p=0.043) and peak heart rate response (p=0.028) while performing locomotor skills but no differences were observed while performing object control skills. Similarities were observed with average physiologic responses between the use of the EB app and practice-style teaching methods. The use of the EB app may allow for a greater peak physiologic response during more dynamic movements and a similar average cardiovascular and metabolic response when compared to practice-style teaching methods in children with ASD. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Liquid marble as microbioreactor for bioengineering applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarvi, Fatemeh; Jain, Kanika; Alhasan, Layla; Arbatan, Tina; Shen, Wei; Chan, Peggy P. Y.

2015-12-01

This paper reports the use of liquid marbles (LMs) as miniature bioreactors to produce three-dimensional (3D) spheroids including tumor-like spheriods from cancer cells and embryoid bodies (EBs) from stem cells. A liquid marble microbioreactor is prepared by placing a drop of cell suspension onto a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) particle bed. Without the addition of growth factors, suspended EBs from liquid marbles exhibit spontaneous contraction. These results indicate that the liquid marble provides a suitable microenvironment to induce EB formation and spontaneous cardiac differentiation. The EBs were further plated onto gelatin-coated tissue culture dishes. Plated EBs express mature cardiomyocyte marker cardiac troponinT (cTnT), indicating that these EBs have differentiated into functional cardiomyocytes. The cardiomyocytes generated using this liquid marble approach could be useful for transplantation.

Observations and NLTE modeling of Ellerman bombs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berlicki, A.; Heinzel, P.

2014-07-01

Context. Ellerman bombs (EBs) are short-lived, compact, and spatially well localized emission structures that are observed well in the wings of the hydrogen Hα line. EBs are also observed in the chromospheric CaII lines and in UV continua as bright points located within active regions. Hα line profiles of EBs show a deep absorption at the line center and enhanced emission in the line wings with maxima around ±1 Å from the line center. Similar shapes of the line profiles are observed for the CaII IR line at 8542 Å. In CaII H and K lines the emission peaks are much stronger, and EBs emission is also enhanced in the line center. Aims: It is generally accepted that EBs may be considered as compact microflares located in lower solar atmosphere that contribute to the heating of these low-lying regions, close to the temperature minimum of the atmosphere. However, it is still not clear where exactly the emission of EBs is formed in the solar atmosphere. High-resolution spectrophotometric observations of EBs were used for determining of their physical parameters and construction of semi-empirical models. Obtained models allow us to determine the position of EBs in the solar atmosphere, as well as the vertical structure of the activated EB atmosphere Methods: In our analysis we used observations of EBs obtained in the Hα and CaII H lines with the Dutch Open Telescope (DOT). These one-hour long simultaneous sequences obtained with high temporal and spatial resolution were used to determine the line emissions. To analyze them, we used NLTE numerical codes for the construction of grids of 243 semi-empirical models simulating EBs structures. In this way, the observed emission could be compared with the synthetic line spectra calculated for all such models. Results: For a specific model we found reasonable agreement between the observed and theoretical emission and thus we consider such model as a good approximation to EBs atmospheres. This model is characterized by an enhanced temperature in the lower chromosphere and can be considered as a compact structure (hot spot), which is responsible for the emission observed in the wings of chromospheric lines, in particular in the Hα and CaII H lines. Conclusions: For the first time the set of two lines Hα and CaII H was used to construct semi-empirical models of EBs. Our analysis shows that EBs can be described by a "hot spot" model, with the temperature and/or density increase through a few hundred km atmospheric structure. We confirmed that EBs are located close to the temperature minimum or in the lower chromosphere. Two spectral features (lines in our case), observed simultaneously, significantly strengthen the constraints on a realistic model.

Impact of Active Metabolism on Chlamydia trachomatis Elementary Body Transcript Profile and Infectivity.

PubMed

Grieshaber, Scott; Grieshaber, Nicole; Yang, Hong; Baxter, Briana; Hackstadt, Ted; Omsland, Anders

2018-07-15

Bacteria of the genus Chlamydia include the significant human pathogens Chlamydia trachomatis and C. pneumoniae All chlamydiae are obligate intracellular parasites that depend on infection of a host cell and transition through a biphasic developmental cycle. Following host cell invasion by the infectious elementary body (EB), the pathogen transitions to the replicative but noninfectious reticulate body (RB). Differentiation of the RB back to the EB is essential to generate infectious progeny. While the EB form has historically been regarded as metabolically inert, maintenance of infectivity during incubation with specific nutrients has revealed active maintenance of the infectious phenotype. Using transcriptome sequencing, we show that the transcriptome of extracellular EBs incubated under metabolically stimulating conditions does not cluster with germinating EBs but rather with the transcriptome of EBs isolated directly from infected cells. In addition, the transcriptional profile of the extracellular metabolizing EBs more closely resembled that of EB production than germination. Maintenance of infectivity of extracellular EBs was achieved by metabolizing chemically diverse compounds, including glucose 6-phosphate, ATP, and amino acids, all of which can be found in extracellular environments, including mucosal secretions. We further show that the EB cell type actively maintains infectivity in the inclusion after terminal differentiation. Overall, these findings contribute to the emerging understanding that the EB cell form is actively maintained through metabolic processes after terminal differentiation to facilitate prolonged infectivity within the inclusion and under host cell free conditions, for example, following deposition at mucosal surfaces. IMPORTANCE Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria that are responsible for a wide range of diseases in both animal and human hosts. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, C. trachomatis is the most frequently reported sexually transmitted infection in the United States, costing the American health care system nearly $2.4 billion annually. Every year, there are over 4 million new cases of Chlamydia infections in the United States and an estimated 100 million cases worldwide. To cause disease, Chlamydia must successfully complete its complex biphasic developmental cycle, alternating between an infectious cell form (EB) specialized for initiating entry into target cells and a replicative form (RB) specialized for creating and maintaining the intracellular replication niche. The EB cell form has historically been considered metabolically quiescent, a passive entity simply waiting for contact with a host cell to initiate the next round of infection. Recent studies and data presented here demonstrate that the EB maintains its infectious phenotype by actively metabolizing a variety of nutrients. Therefore, the EB appears to have an active role in chlamydial biology, possibly within multiple environments, such as mucosal surfaces, fomites, and inside the host cell after formation. Copyright © 2018 American Society for Microbiology.

The EB factory project. II. Validation with the Kepler field in preparation for K2 and TESS

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

Parvizi, Mahmoud; Paegert, Martin; Stassun, Keivan G., E-mail: mahmoud.parvizi@vanderbilt.edu

Large repositories of high precision light curve data, such as the Kepler data set, provide the opportunity to identify astrophysically important eclipsing binary (EB) systems in large quantities. However, the rate of classical “by eye” human analysis restricts complete and efficient mining of EBs from these data using classical techniques. To prepare for mining EBs from the upcoming K2 mission as well as other current missions, we developed an automated end-to-end computational pipeline—the Eclipsing Binary Factory (EBF)—that automatically identifies EBs and classifies them into morphological types. The EBF has been previously tested on ground-based light curves. To assess the performancemore » of the EBF in the context of space-based data, we apply the EBF to the full set of light curves in the Kepler “Q3” Data Release. We compare the EBs identified from this automated approach against the human generated Kepler EB Catalog of ∼2600 EBs. When we require EB classification with ⩾90% confidence, we find that the EBF correctly identifies and classifies eclipsing contact (EC), eclipsing semi-detached (ESD), and eclipsing detached (ED) systems with a false positive rate of only 4%, 4%, and 8%, while complete to 64%, 46%, and 32%, respectively. When classification confidence is relaxed, the EBF identifies and classifies ECs, ESDs, and EDs with a slightly higher false positive rate of 6%, 16%, and 8%, while much more complete to 86%, 74%, and 62%, respectively. Through our processing of the entire Kepler “Q3” data set, we also identify 68 new candidate EBs that may have been missed by the human generated Kepler EB Catalog. We discuss the EBF's potential application to light curve classification for periodic variable stars more generally for current and upcoming surveys like K2 and the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite.« less

The Eb Factory Project. Ii. Validation With the Kepler Field in Preparation for K2 and Tess

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parvizi, Mahmoud; Paegert, Martin; Stassun, Keivan G.

2014-12-01

Large repositories of high precision light curve data, such as the Kepler data set, provide the opportunity to identify astrophysically important eclipsing binary (EB) systems in large quantities. However, the rate of classical “by eye” human analysis restricts complete and efficient mining of EBs from these data using classical techniques. To prepare for mining EBs from the upcoming K2 mission as well as other current missions, we developed an automated end-to-end computational pipeline—the Eclipsing Binary Factory (EBF)—that automatically identifies EBs and classifies them into morphological types. The EBF has been previously tested on ground-based light curves. To assess the performance of the EBF in the context of space-based data, we apply the EBF to the full set of light curves in the Kepler “Q3” Data Release. We compare the EBs identified from this automated approach against the human generated Kepler EB Catalog of ˜ 2600 EBs. When we require EB classification with ≥slant 90% confidence, we find that the EBF correctly identifies and classifies eclipsing contact (EC), eclipsing semi-detached (ESD), and eclipsing detached (ED) systems with a false positive rate of only 4%, 4%, and 8%, while complete to 64%, 46%, and 32%, respectively. When classification confidence is relaxed, the EBF identifies and classifies ECs, ESDs, and EDs with a slightly higher false positive rate of 6%, 16%, and 8%, while much more complete to 86%, 74%, and 62%, respectively. Through our processing of the entire Kepler “Q3” data set, we also identify 68 new candidate EBs that may have been missed by the human generated Kepler EB Catalog. We discuss the EBF's potential application to light curve classification for periodic variable stars more generally for current and upcoming surveys like K2 and the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite.

Dosimetric impact of tumor bed delineation variability based on 4DCT scan for external-beam partial breast irradiation.

PubMed

Guo, Bing; Li, Jianbin; Wang, Wei; Li, Fengxiang; Guo, Yanluan; Li, Yankang; Liu, Tonghai

2015-01-01

This study sought to evaluate the dosimetric impact of tumor bed delineation variability (based on clips, seroma or both clips and seroma) during external-beam partial breast irradiation (EB-PBI) planned utilizing four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) scans. 4DCT scans of 20 patients with a seroma clarity score (SCS) 3~5 and ≥5 surgical clips were included in this study. The combined volume of the tumor bed formed using clips, seroma, or both clips and seroma on the 10 phases of 4DCT was defined as the internal gross target volume (termed IGTVC, IGTVS and IGTVC+S, respectively). A 1.5-cm margin was added by defining the planning target volume (termed PTVC, PTVS and PTVC+S, respectively). Three treatment plans were established using the 4DCT images (termed EB-PBIC, EB-PBIS, EB-PBIC+S, respectively). The results showed that the volume of IGTVC+S was significantly larger than that of IGTVCand IGTVS. Similarly, the volume of PTVC+S was markedly larger than that of PTVC and PTVS. However, the PTV coverage for EB-PBIC+S was similar to that of EB-PBIC and EB-PBIS, and there were no significant differences in the homogeneity index or conformity index between the three treatment plans (P=0.878, 0.086). The EB-PBIS plan resulted in the lowest ipsilateral normal breast and ipsilateral lung doses compared with the EB-PBIC and EB-PBIC+S plans. To conclude, the volume variability delineated based on clips, seroma or both clips and seroma resulted in dosimetric variability for organs at risk, but did not show a marked influence on the dosimetric distribution.

Dosimetric impact of tumor bed delineation variability based on 4DCT scan for external-beam partial breast irradiation

PubMed Central

Guo, Bing; Li, Jianbin; Wang, Wei; Li, Fengxiang; Guo, Yanluan; Li, Yankang; Liu, Tonghai

2015-01-01

This study sought to evaluate the dosimetric impact of tumor bed delineation variability (based on clips, seroma or both clips and seroma) during external-beam partial breast irradiation (EB-PBI) planned utilizing four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) scans. 4DCT scans of 20 patients with a seroma clarity score (SCS) 3~5 and ≥5 surgical clips were included in this study. The combined volume of the tumor bed formed using clips, seroma, or both clips and seroma on the 10 phases of 4DCT was defined as the internal gross target volume (termed IGTVC, IGTVS and IGTVC+S, respectively). A 1.5-cm margin was added by defining the planning target volume (termed PTVC, PTVS and PTVC+S, respectively). Three treatment plans were established using the 4DCT images (termed EB-PBIC, EB-PBIS, EB-PBIC+S, respectively). The results showed that the volume of IGTVC+S was significantly larger than that of IGTVCand IGTVS. Similarly, the volume of PTVC+S was markedly larger than that of PTVC and PTVS. However, the PTV coverage for EB-PBIC+S was similar to that of EB-PBIC and EB-PBIS, and there were no significant differences in the homogeneity index or conformity index between the three treatment plans (P=0.878, 0.086). The EB-PBIS plan resulted in the lowest ipsilateral normal breast and ipsilateral lung doses compared with the EB-PBIC and EB-PBIC+S plans. To conclude, the volume variability delineated based on clips, seroma or both clips and seroma resulted in dosimetric variability for organs at risk, but did not show a marked influence on the dosimetric distribution. PMID:26885108

Observations of Ellerman bomb emission features in He I D3 and He I 10 830 Å

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Libbrecht, Tine; Joshi, Jayant; Rodríguez, Jaime de la Cruz; Leenaarts, Jorrit; Ramos, Andrés Asensio

2017-02-01

Context. Ellerman bombs (EBs) are short-lived emission features, characterised by extended wing emission in hydrogen Balmer lines. Until now, no distinct signature of EBs has been found in the He I 10 830 Å line, and conclusive observations of EBs in He I D3 have never been reported. Aims: We aim to study the signature of EBs in neutral helium triplet lines. Methods: The observations consisted of ten consecutive SST/TRIPPEL raster scans close to the limb, featuring the Hβ, He I D3 and He I 10 830 Å spectral regions. We also obtained raster scans with IRIS and made use of the SDO/AIA 1700 Å channel. We used Hazel to invert the neutral helium triplet lines. Results: Three EBs in our data show distinct emission signatures in neutral helium triplet lines, most prominently visible in the He I D3 line. The helium lines have two components: a broad and blueshifted emission component associated with the EB, and a narrower absorption component formed in the overlying chromosphere. One of the EBs in our data shows evidence of strong velocity gradients in its emission component. The emission component of the other two EBs could be fitted using a constant slab. Our analysis hints towards thermal Doppler motions having a large contribution to the broadening for helium and IRIS lines. We conclude that the EBs must have high temperatures to exhibit emission signals in neutral helium triplet lines. An order of magnitude estimate places our observed EBs in the range of T 2 × 104-105 K. Movies associated to Figs. 3-5 are available at http://www.aanda.org

[Establishment of sprouting embryoid body model mimicking early embryonic vasculogenesis in human embryo].

PubMed

Jiang, Hua; Feng, You-Ji; Xie, Yi; Han, Jin-Lan; Wang, Zack; Chen, Tong

2008-10-14

To establish a sprouting embryoid body model mimicking early embryonic vasculogenesis in human embryo. Human embryonic stem were (hESCs) were cultured on the mouse embryo fibroblasts and then were induced to differentiate to form three-dimensional EB. The hEBs were cultured in media containing various angiogenesis-related factors: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), endostatin, angiostatin, and platelet factor (PF)-4 of different concentrations for 3 days to observe the sprouting of the hEBs. 3, 3, 3', 3'-tetramethylindo-carbocyanine perchlorate labeled acetylated low density lipoprotein (Dil-AcLDL) was added onto the hEBs foe 4 h Immunofluorescence assay was used to observe if Dil-AcLDL was absorbed and if CD31 was expressed so as to determine the existence of embryonic endothelial cells in the sprouting structures. The ideal culturing condition was analyzed. The differentiated EBs formed sprouting structures in the collagen I matrix containing VEGF and FGF. The sprouts among individual EBs were able to link to each other and form vascular network-like structures. In the presence of VEGF and FGF, the sprouts branching from the EBs assimilated Dil-AcLDL, expressed CD31 and formed a 3-dimensional cylindrical organization. The concentrations of growth factors ideally stimulating sprouting growth were 100 ng/ml of VEGF and 50 ng/ml of FGF. The networks among the EBs were abolished by the angiostatin, endostatin, and PF4. The sprouting from hEBs accumulates embryonic endothelial cells and the sprouting network-like structures are indeed endothelial in nature. Inducing of sprouting EBs is an ideal model that mimics early embryonic vasculogenesis in humans.

Epiberberine, a natural protoberberine alkaloid, inhibits urease of Helicobacter pylori and jack bean: Susceptibility and mechanism.

PubMed

Tan, Lihua; Li, Cailan; Chen, Hanbin; Mo, Zhizhun; Zhou, Jiangtao; Liu, Yuhong; Ma, Zhilin; Xu, Yuyao; Yang, Xiaobo; Xie, Jianhui; Su, Ziren

2017-12-15

In our previous study, Rhizoma Coptidis extract was found to exert more potent inhibitory effect than its major component berberine towards urease from Helicobacter pylori (HPU) and jack bean (JBU). In continuation of our work, the present study was designed to further comparatively investigate the urease inhibitory activities of five major protoberberine alkaloids in Rhizoma Coptidis, namely berberine, palmatine, coptisine, epiberberine, jateorhizine to identify the bioactive constituent, and illuminate the potential mechanism of action. Results indicated that the five protoberberine alkaloids acted as concentration-dependent inactivators of urease with IC 50 values ranging between 3.0 and 5087μM for HPU and 2.3->10,000μM for JBU, respectively. Notably, epiberberine (EB) was found to be the most potent inhibitor against both ureases with IC 50 values of 3.0±0.01μM for HPU and 2.3±0.01μM for JBU, which was more effective than the standard urease inhibitor, acetohydroxamic acid (83±0.01μM for HPU and 22±0.01μM for JBU, respectively). Further kinetic analysis revealed that the type of EB inhibition against HPU was slow-binding and uncompetitive, with K i of 10.6±0.01μM, while slow-binding and competitive against JBU with K i of 4.6±0.01μM. Addition of thiol reagents, such as l-cysteine, glutathione and dithiothreitol, significantly abolished the inhibition, while Ni 2+ competitive inhibitors, boric acid and sodium fluoride, synergetically inhibited urease with EB, indicating the obligatory role of the active site sulfhydryl group for the inhibition. In addition, binding of EB with the urease proved to be reversible, as about 65% and 90% enzymatic activity of HPU and JBU, respectively, could be restored by dithiothreitol application. These findings highlighted the potential role of Rhizoma Coptidis protoberberine alkaloids, especially EB, as a lead urease inhibitor in the treatment of diseases associated with ureolytic bacteria. Thus, EB had good potential for further development into a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of urease-related diseases. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An innovative intervention for the treatment of cognitive impairment–Emisymmetric bilateral stimulation improves cognitive functions in Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment: an open-label study

PubMed Central

Guerriero, Fabio; Botarelli, Emanuele; Mele, Gianni; Polo, Lorenzo; Zoncu, Daniele; Renati, Paolo; Sgarlata, Carmelo; Rollone, Marco; Ricevuti, Giovanni; Maurizi, Niccolo; Francis, Matthew; Rondanelli, Mariangela; Perna, Simone; Guido, Davide; Mannu, Piero

2015-01-01

Background and aims In the last decade, the development of different methods of brain stimulation by electromagnetic fields (EMF) provides a promising therapeutic tool for subjects with impaired cognitive functions. Emisymmetric bilateral stimulation (EBS) is a novel and innovative EMF brain stimulation, whose working principle is to introduce very weak noise-like stimuli through EMF to trigger self-arrangements in the cortex of treated subjects, thereby improving cognitive faculties. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate in patients with cognitive impairment the effectiveness of EBS treatment with respect to global cognitive function, episodic memory, and executive functions. Methods Fourteen patients with cognitive decline (six with mild cognitive impairment and eight with Alzheimer’s disease) underwent three EBS applications per week to both the cerebral cortex and auricular-specific sites for a total of 5 weeks. At baseline, after 2 weeks and 5 weeks, a neuropsychological assessment was performed through mini–mental state examination, free and cued selective reminding tests, and trail making test. As secondary outcomes, changes in behavior, functionality, and quality of life were also evaluated. Results After 5 weeks of standardized EBS therapy, significant improvements were observed in all neurocognitive assessments. Mini–mental state examination score significantly increased from baseline to end treatment (+3.19, P=0.002). Assessment of episodic memory showed an improvement both in immediate and delayed recalls (immediate recall =+7.57, P=0.003; delayed recall =+4.78, P<0.001). Executive functions significantly improved from baseline to end stimulation (trail making test A −53.35 seconds; P=0.001). Of note, behavioral disorders assessed through neuropsychiatric inventory significantly decreased (−28.78, P<0.001). The analysis concerning the Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment group confirmed a significant improvement of cognitive functions and behavior after EBS treatment. Conclusion This pilot study has shown EBS to be a promising, effective, and safe tool to treat cognitive impairment, in addition to the drugs presently available. Further investigations and controlled clinical trials are warranted. PMID:26425094

Epidermolysis bullosa care in Germany.

PubMed

Bruckner-Tuderman, Leena

2010-04-01

Until 2003, no structures existed in Germany for special care of patients with rare diseases, such as epidermolysis bullosa (EB). At that point, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research announced a clinical research program-networks for rare diseases. The Network Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB Network), coordinated from the Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Freiburg, has operated since October 2003 with the goal of improving diagnostics and clinical management, elucidating disease mechanisms, and development of novel therapies for EB (www.netzwerk-eb.de). Future goals of the EB Network include securing the clinical-diagnostic and IT structures established with grant support and focusing research on molecular disease mechanisms in EB and novel biologically valid therapies. Intensive collaborations with other networks for rare genetic diseases will generate durable structures in Germany and form a basis for future international consortia. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Ellerman bombs observed with the new vacuum solar telescope and the atmospheric imaging assembly onboard the solar dynamics observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yajie; Tian, Hui; Xu, Zhi; Xiang, Yongyuan; Fang, Yuliang; Yang, Zihao

2017-12-01

Ellerman bombs (EBs) are believed to be small-scale reconnection events occurring around the temperature minimum region in the solar atmosphere. They are often identified as significant enhancements in the extended Hα wings without obvious signatures in the Hα core. Here we explore the possibility of using the 1700 Å images taken by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) to study EBs. From the Hα wing images obtained with the New Vacuum Solar Telescope (NVST) on 2015 May 2, we have identified 145 EBs and 51% of them clearly correspond to the bright points (BPs) in the AIA 1700 Å images. If we resize the NVST images using a linear interpolation to make the pixel sizes of the AIA and NVST images the same, some previously identified EBs disappear and about 71% of the remaining EBs are associated with BPs. Meanwhile, 66% of the compact brightenings in the AIA 1700 Å images can be identified as EBs in the Hα wings. The intensity enhancements of the EBs in the Hα wing images reveal a linear correlation with those of the BPs in the AIA 1700 Å images. Our study suggests that a significant fraction of EBs can be observed with the AIA 1700 Å filter, which is promising for large-sample statistical study of EBs as the seeing-free and full-disk SDO/AIA data are routinely available.

Electric bicycle cost calculation models and analysis based on the social perspective in China.

PubMed

Yan, Xuetong; He, Jie; King, Mark; Hang, Wen; Zhou, Bojian

2018-05-10

Electric bicycles (EBs) are increasingly popular around the world. In April 2014, EB ownership in China reached 181 million. While some aspects of the impact of EBs have been studied, most of the literature analyzing the cost of EBs has been conducted from the buyer's point of view and the perspective of social cost has not been covered, which is therefore the focus of this paper. From the consumer's point of view, only the costs paid from purchase until retirement are included in the cost of EBs, i.e., the EB acquisition cost, battery replacement cost, charging cost, and repair and maintenance cost are included. Considered from the perspective of the social cost (including impact on the environment), costs that are not paid directly by consumers should also be included in the cost of EBs, i.e., the lead-acid battery scrap processing cost, the cost of pollution caused by wastewater, and the traffic-related costs. Data are obtained from secondary sources and surveys, and calculations demonstrate that in the life cycle of an EB, the consumer cost is 6386.2 CNY, the social cost is 10,771.2 CNY, and the ratio of consumer to social cost is 1:1.69. By comparison, the ratio for motor vehicles is 1:1.06, so that the share of the life cycle cost of EBs that is not borne by the consumer is much higher than that for motor vehicles, which needs to be addressed.

Thermal barrier coating life prediction model development, phase 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meier, Susan Manning; Sheffler, Keith D.; Nissley, David M.

1991-01-01

The objective of this program was to generate a life prediction model for electron-beam-physical vapor deposited (EB-PVD) zirconia thermal barrier coating (TBC) on gas turbine engine components. Specific activities involved in development of the EB-PVD life prediction model included measurement of EB-PVD ceramic physical and mechanical properties and adherence strength, measurement of the thermally grown oxide (TGO) growth kinetics, generation of quantitative cyclic thermal spallation life data, and development of a spallation life prediction model. Life data useful for model development was obtained by exposing instrumented, EB-PVD ceramic coated cylindrical specimens in a jet fueled burner rig. Monotonic compression and tensile mechanical tests and physical property tests were conducted to obtain the EB-PVD ceramic behavior required for burner rig specimen analysis. As part of that effort, a nonlinear constitutive model was developed for the EB-PVD ceramic. Spallation failure of the EB-PVD TBC system consistently occurred at the TGO-metal interface. Calculated out-of-plane stresses were a small fraction of that required to statically fail the TGO. Thus, EB-PVD spallation was attributed to the interfacial cracking caused by in-plane TGO strains. Since TGO mechanical properties were not measured in this program, calculation of the burner rig specimen TGO in-plane strains was performed by using alumina properties. A life model based on maximum in-plane TGO tensile mechanical strain and TGO thickness correlated the burner rig specimen EB-PVD ceramic spallation lives within a factor of about plus or minus 2X.

Prior minimal endoscopic sphincterotomy to prevent pancreatitis related to endoscopic balloon sphincteroplasty

PubMed Central

Kanazawa, Ryo; Sai, Jin Kan; Ito, Tomoyasu; Miura, Hiroko; Ishii, Shigeto; Saito, Hiroaki; Tomishima, Ko; Shimizu, Ryo; Sato, Koki; Hayashi, Manabu; Watanabe, Sumio; Shiina, Shuichiro

2016-01-01

AIM To investigate the efficacy of prior minimal endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) to prevent pancreatitis related to endoscopic balloon sphincteroplasty (EBS). METHODS After bile duct access was gained and cholangiogram confirmed the presence of stones < 8 mm in the common bile duct at endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, patients were subjected to minimal EST (up to one-third of the size the papilla) plus 8 mm EBS (EST-EBS group). The incidence of pancreatitis and the difference in serum amylase level after the procedure were examined and compared with those associated with 8-mm EBS alone in 32 patients of historical control (control group). RESULTS One hundred and five patients were included in the EST-EBS group, and complete stone removal was accomplished in all of them. The difference in serum amylase level after the procedure was - 25.0 (217.9) IU/L in the EST-EBS group and this value was significantly lower than the 365.5 (576.3) IU/L observed in the control group (P < 0.001). The incidence of post-procedure pancreatitis was 0% (0/105) in the EST-EBS group and 15.6% (5/32) in the control group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Prior minimal EST might be useful to prevent the elevation of serum amylase level and the occurrence of pancreatitis related to EBS. PMID:27803773

Ethidium bromide as a marker of mtDNA replication in living cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Villa, Anna Maria; Fusi, Paola; Pastori, Valentina; Amicarelli, Giulia; Pozzi, Chiara; Adlerstein, Daniel; Doglia, Silvia Maria

2012-04-01

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in tumor cells was found to play an important role in maintaining the malignant phenotype. Using laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy (LSCFM) in a recent work, we reported a variable fluorescence intensity of ethidium bromide (EB) in mitochondria nucleoids of living carcinoma cells. Since when EB is bound to nucleic acids its fluorescence is intensified; a higher EB fluorescence intensity could reflect a higher DNA accessibility to EB, suggesting a higher mtDNA replication activity. To prove this hypothesis, in the present work we studied, by LSCFM, the EB fluorescence in mitochondria nucleoids of living neuroblastoma cells, a model system in which differentiation affects the level of mtDNA replication. A drastic decrease of fluorescence was observed after differentiation. To correlate EB fluorescence intensity to the mtDNA replication state, we evaluated the mtDNA nascent strands content by ligation-mediated real-time PCR, and we found a halved amount of replicating mtDNA molecules in differentiating cells. A similar result was obtained by BrdU incorporation. These results indicate that the low EB fluorescence of nucleoids in differentiated cells is correlated to a low content of replicating mtDNA, suggesting that EB may be used as a marker of mtDNA replication in living cells.

The microtubule-associated protein EB1 maintains cell polarity through activation of protein kinase C.

PubMed

Schober, Joseph M; Kwon, Guim; Jayne, Debbie; Cain, Jeanine M

2012-01-06

The plus-ends of microtubules target the cell cortex to modulate actin protrusion dynamics and polarity, but little is known of the molecular mechanism that couples the interaction. EB1 protein associates with the plus-ends of microtubules, placing EB1 in an ideal spatial position to mediate microtubule-actin cross talk. The objective of the current study was to further understand intracellular signaling involved in EB1-dependent cell polarity and motility. B16F10 mouse melanoma cells were depleted of EB1 protein using short hair-pin RNA interference. Correlative live cell-immunofluorescence microscopy was performed to determine localization of WAVE2 and IQGAP1 to protruding versus retracting edges. EB1 knock down caused poor subcellular separation of WAVE2 and IQGAP1, and overall decreased localization. Activation of PKC corrected defects in WAVE2 and IQGAP1 localization, cell spreading and cell shape to levels observed in control cells, but did not correct defects in cell migration. Consistent with these findings, decreased PKC phosphorylation was observed in EB1 knock down cells. These findings support a model where EB1 protein links microtubules to actin protrusion and cell polarity through signaling pathways involving PKC. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Searching for Components of Conceptual Ecology That Mediate Development of Epistemological Beliefs in Science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deniz, Hasan

2011-12-01

This paper articulates the importance of epistemological beliefs (EBs) and draws a parallel between EBs literature in educational psychology and nature of science (NOS) literature in science education. The paper stresses that EBs in science and NOS ideas have common ground and they can be best improved through explicit-reflective instruction informed by conceptual change theory. The paper concludes that future studies should explore the factors that mediate the development of EBs in science and NOS ideas rather than documenting the changes in students' and teachers' EBs in science and NOS ideas after explicit-reflective instruction through pre- and post assessments.

Studies of interaction of emodin and DNA in the presence of ethidium bromide by spectroscopic method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bi, Shuyun; Zhang, Hanqi; Qiao, Chunyu; Sun, Ying; Liu, Chunming

2008-01-01

Emodin interacting with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) has been studied by different spectroscopic techniques, such as fluorescence, ultraviolet and visible (UV-vis), and fourier transform infared (FT-IR) spectroscopies, using ethidium bromide (EB) as a fluorescence probe of DNA. The decrease in the fluorescence of DNA-EB system on addition of emodin shows that the fluorescence quenching of DNA-EB complex by emodin occurs. The binding constants of emodin with DNA in the presence of EB are 6.02 × 10 4, 9.20 × 10 4 and 1.17 × 10 5 L mol -1 at 20, 35 and 50 °C, respectively. FT-IR spectrum further suggests that both the phosphate groups and the bases of DNA react with emodin. The reaction of DNA with emodin in the presence of EB is affected by ionic strength and temperature. The values of melting temperature ( Tm) of DNA-EB complex and emodin-DNA-EB complexes were determined, respectively. From the experiment evidences, the major binding mode of emodin with DNA should be the groove binding.

Engineered Barrier System performance requirements systems study report. Revision 02

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

Balady, M.A.

This study evaluates the current design concept for the Engineered Barrier System (EBS), in concert with the current understanding of the geologic setting to assess whether enhancements to the required performance of the EBS are necessary. The performance assessment calculations are performed by coupling the EBS with the geologic setting based on the models (some of which were updated for this study) and assumptions used for the 1995 Total System Performance Assessment (TSPA). The need for enhancements is determined by comparing the performance assessment results against the EBS related performance requirements. Subsystem quantitative performance requirements related to the EBS includemore » the requirement to allow no more than 1% of the waste packages (WPs) to fail before 1,000 years after permanent closure of the repository, as well as a requirement to control the release rate of radionuclides from the EBS. The EBS performance enhancements considered included additional engineered components as well as evaluating additional performance available from existing design features but for which no performance credit is currently being taken.« less

ROCK inhibitor is not required for embryoid body formation from singularized human embryonic stem cells.

PubMed

Pettinato, Giuseppe; Vanden Berg-Foels, Wendy S; Zhang, Ning; Wen, Xuejun

2014-01-01

We report a technology to form human embryoid bodies (hEBs) from singularized human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) without the use of the p160 rho-associated coiled-coil kinase inhibitor (ROCKi) or centrifugation (spin). hEB formation was tested under four conditions: +ROCKi/+spin, +ROCKi/-spin, -ROCKi/+spin, and -ROCKi/-spin. Cell suspensions of BG01V/hOG and H9 hESC lines were pipetted into non-adherent hydrogel substrates containing defined microwell arrays. hEBs of consistent size and spherical geometry can be formed in each of the four conditions, including the -ROCKi/-spin condition. The hEBs formed under the -ROCKi/-spin condition differentiated to develop the three embryonic germ layers and tissues derived from each of the germ layers. This simplified hEB production technique offers homogeneity in hEB size and shape to support synchronous differentiation, elimination of the ROCKi xeno-factor and rate-limiting centrifugation treatment, and low-cost scalability, which will directly support automated, large-scale production of hEBs and hESC-derived cells needed for clinical, research, or therapeutic applications.

The laminar organization of the Drosophila ellipsoid body is semaphorin-dependent and prevents the formation of ectopic synaptic connections

PubMed Central

Xie, Xiaojun; Tabuchi, Masashi; Brown, Matthew P; Mitchell, Sarah P; Wu, Mark N; Kolodkin, Alex L

2017-01-01

The ellipsoid body (EB) in the Drosophila brain is a central complex (CX) substructure that harbors circumferentially laminated ring (R) neuron axons and mediates multifaceted sensory integration and motor coordination functions. However, what regulates R axon lamination and how lamination affects R neuron function remain unknown. We show here that the EB is sequentially innervated by small-field and large-field neurons and that early developing EB neurons play an important regulatory role in EB laminae formation. The transmembrane proteins semaphorin-1a (Sema-1a) and plexin A function together to regulate R axon lamination. R neurons recruit both GABA and GABA-A receptors to their axon terminals in the EB, and optogenetic stimulation coupled with electrophysiological recordings show that Sema-1a-dependent R axon lamination is required for preventing the spread of synaptic inhibition between adjacent EB lamina. These results provide direct evidence that EB lamination is critical for local pre-synaptic inhibitory circuit organization. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.25328.001 PMID:28632130

Enlarging effects of estradiol on the nuclear volume of neurons in the hypothalamus during aging.

PubMed

Hsu, C; Yang, S L; Hsieh, Y L; Lue, S I; Hsu, H K; Peng, M T

1998-01-01

Neuronal nuclear volumes (NNVs) were measured in the medial preoptic nucleus (MPN), anterior hypothalamic area (AHA) and arcuate nucleus (ARN) of young adult, middle-aged, and old rats of both sexes. The NNVs in the darkly stained sexual-dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (SDN-POA) and the lighter staining surrounding area (non-SDN-POA) within the MPN were measured separately. Intact young and middle-aged female rats had larger NNVs than those of the males in SDN-POA, non-SDN-POA and AHA but not in ARN. During aging, only intact old female rats manifested significant NNV shrinkage in all the measured areas. Long-term treatment with estradiol benzoate (EB) caused a significant enlargement of the NNVs in non-SDN-POA and ARN of middle-aged and old male rats as well as the NNVs in SDN-POA, non-SDN-POA and ARN of old female rats. The enlarging effect of EB on NNVs in both SDN-POA and non-SDN-POA of female rats could be prevented by ovariectomy. Furthermore, NNVs in SDN-POA and non-SDN-POA of ovariectomized female rats were even smaller than those of the age-matched intact female rats. These results indicate that: (1) the NNVs of MPN and ARN in male and female rats were enlarged after long-term exposure of physiological dose of estradiol; (2) the enlarging effects of EB on NNV in MPN can explain why the NNV of intact female rats is larger than that of males, and (3) during aging, the sex-specific shrinkage of NNVs in MPN, AHA and ARN of female rats may be due to an intrinsic aging process rather than long-term effects of EB.

Activation of Estrogen Response Element–Independent ERα Signaling Protects Female Mice From Diet-Induced Obesity

PubMed Central

Yasrebi, Ali; Rivera, Janelle A.; Krumm, Elizabeth A.; Yang, Jennifer A.

2017-01-01

17β-estradiol (E2) regulates central and peripheral mechanisms that control energy and glucose homeostasis predominantly through estrogen receptor α (ERα) acting via receptor binding to estrogen response elements (EREs). ERα signaling is also involved in mediating the effects of E2 on diet-induced obesity (DIO), although the roles of ERE-dependent and -independent ERα signaling in reducing the effects of DIO remain largely unknown. We hypothesize that ERE-dependent ERα signaling is necessary to ameliorate the effects of DIO. We addressed this question using ERα knockout (KO) and ERα knockin/knockout (KIKO) female mice, the latter expressing an ERα that lacks a functional ERE binding domain. Female mice were ovariectomized, fed a low-fat diet (LFD) or a high-fat diet (HFD), and orally dosed with vehicle or estradiol benzoate (EB) (300 μg/kg). After 9 weeks, body composition, glucose and insulin tolerance, peptide hormone and inflammatory cytokine levels, and hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and liver gene expression were assessed. EB reduced body weight and body fat in wild-type (WT) female mice, regardless of diet, and in HFD-fed KIKO female mice, in part by reducing energy intake and feeding efficiency. EB reduced fasting glucose levels in KIKO mice fed both diets but augmented glucose tolerance only in HFD-fed KIKO female mice. Plasma insulin and interleukin 6 were elevated in KIKO and KO female mice compared with LFD-fed WT female mice. Expression of arcuate neuropeptide and receptor genes and liver fatty acid biosynthesis genes was altered by HFD and by EB through ERE-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Therefore, ERE-independent signaling mechanisms in both the brain and peripheral organs mediate, in part, the effects of E2 during DIO. PMID:27901601

Effects of a one-week vacation with various activity programs on cardiovascular parameters.

PubMed

Neumayr, Günther; Lechleitner, Peter

2018-03-01

A vacation is considered essential to achieve recovery from the stress of work. Knowledge about the potential health effects of holidays is scarce. The East Tyrolean Health Tourism Study is an open comparative study to investigate the cardiovascular effects of a one- week vacation with different activities on healthy vacationers. Fifty-two healthy vacationers spending one week in East Tyrol participated in two types of vacation activities (golf vs. Nordic walking or e-biking [nw&eb]). In the former group 30 subjects played golf for 33.5 hours per week, and in the nw&eb group 22 engaged in Nordic walking or e-biking for 14.2 hours per week. Cardiovascular parameters such as performance capacity, blood pressure, heart rate profiles and cardiac diastolic function were measured by a cardiopulmonary exercise test, holter ECG and echocardiography performed one day before and after the stay. There was a significant decrease in body weight of 1.0 kg in the nw&eb-group but not in the golf group. In both groups we noted a reduction of blood pressure and heart rate, which was marked and significant only in the golf group. We observed no significant changes in performance capacity, but did note an improvement of cardiac diastolic function in both groups; the improvement was more pronounced in the nw&eb group. A one-week vacation with an activity program for several hours per week is well tolerated by healthy vacationers and improves cardiovascular parameters. The cardiovascular benefits were homogeneous but differed in their magnitude, depending on the activity group. The benefits were probably due to the enhanced physical activity rather than purely a holiday effect.

Evaluation of Effects of Topical Estradiol Benzoate Application on Cutaneous Wound Healing in Ovariectomized Female Mice

PubMed Central

Mukai, Kanae; Urai, Tamae; Asano, Kimi; Nakajima, Yukari; Nakatani, Toshio

2016-01-01

Estrogen promotes cutaneous wound healing in ovariectomized (OVX) female mice. However, the effects of topical estrogen application on wounds remain unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effects of topical estrogen application on wounds with standard treatment methods. Eight-week-old C57BL/6J female mice underwent OVX and received two full-thickness wounds four weeks later. Mice were divided into three groups: topical estradiol benzoate (EB) (0.75 μg/g/day) wound treatment, subcutaneous estradiol (E2) pellets (0.05 mg, 21 days), and topical E2 (0.01 g/day) skin application. Wound healing was observed until day 14. Wound area ratios were significantly smaller in the topical EB wound treatment group than in the subcutaneous E2 pellet group on days 1–14 (p < 0.05) and topical E2 skin application group on days 1–9 (p < 0.05). Neutrophil and macrophage numbers were significantly smaller in the topical EB wound treatment group than in the subcutaneous E2 pellet and topical E2 skin application groups on day 7 (p < 0.05). Moreover, the number of new blood vessels and ratio of myofibroblasts were significantly larger in the topical EB wound treatment group than in the subcutaneous E2 pellet and topical E2 application skin groups on day 7 (p < 0.05). These results demonstrate that the application of estrogen to wounds reduced inflammatory responses and promoted angiogenesis and wound contraction more than the two other standard treatment methods. PMID:27658263

Molecular dynamics simulation aiming at interfacial characteristics of polymer chains on nanotubes with different layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Kun; Gu, Boqin; Zhu, Wanfu

2017-03-01

A molecular dynamics (MD) simulations study is performed on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)/acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) composites. The physisorption and interfacial characteristics between the various MWNTs and polymer macromolecular chains are identified. The effects of nanotube layers on the nanotubes/polymer interactions are examined. Each of the situation result and surface features is characterized by binding energy (Eb). It is shown that the binding energy (Eb) increase with the number of layers.

Effect of electron beam irradiation on the properties of crosslinked rubbers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banik, Indranil; Bhowmick, Anil K.

2000-05-01

Influence of electron beam (EB) irradiation on the mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of crosslinked fluorocarbon (FKM) rubber, natural rubber (NR), ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber and nitrile rubber (NBR) has been investigated. The modulus, gel fraction, glass transition temperature ( Tg) and storage modulus increased, while the elongation at the break and the loss tangent (tan δ) Tg decreased. FKM and NBR vulcanizates have been shown to have EB radiation resistance up to 1500 kGy.

Identification and characterization of OsEBS, a gene involved in enhanced plant biomass and spikelet number in rice.

PubMed

Dong, Xianxin; Wang, Xiaoyan; Zhang, Liangsheng; Yang, Zhengting; Xin, Xiaoyun; Wu, Shuang; Sun, Chuanqing; Liu, Jianxiang; Yang, Jinshui; Luo, Xiaojin

2013-12-01

Common wild rice (Oryza rufipogon Griff.) is an important genetic reservoir for rice improvement. We investigated a quantitative trait locus (QTL), qGP5-1, which is related to plant height, leaf size and panicle architecture, using a set of introgression lines of O. rufipogon in the background of the Indica cultivar Guichao2 (Oryza sativa L.). We cloned and characterized qGP5-1 and confirmed that the newly identified gene OsEBS (enhancing biomass and spikelet number) increased plant height, leaf size and spikelet number per panicle, leading to an increase in total grain yield per plant. Our results showed that the increased size of vegetative organs in OsEBS-expressed plants was enormously caused by increasing cell number. Sequence alignment showed that OsEBS protein contains a region with high similarity to the N-terminal conserved ATPase domain of Hsp70, but it lacks the C-terminal regions of the peptide-binding domain and the C-terminal lid. More results indicated that OsEBS gene did not have typical characteristics of Hsp70 in this study. Furthermore, Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) transformed with OsEBS showed a similar phenotype to OsEBS-transgenic rice, indicating a conserved function of OsEBS among plant species. Together, we report the cloning and characterization of OsEBS, a new QTL that controls rice biomass and spikelet number, through map-based cloning, and it may have utility in improving grain yield in rice. © 2013 Society for Experimental Biology, Association of Applied Biologists and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Preparation and characterization of nanostructured Pt/TiO2 thin films treated using electron beam.

PubMed

Shin, Joong-Hyeok; Woo, Hee-Gweon; Kim, Bo-Hye; Lee, Byung Cheol; Jun, Jin

2010-05-01

Pt nanoparticle-doped titanium dioxide (Pt/TiO2) thin films were prepared on a silicon wafer substrate by sol-gel spin coating process. The prepared thin films were treated with electron beam (EB at 1.1 MeV, 100, 200, 300 kGy) at air atmosphere. The effect of EB-irradiation on the composition of the treated thin films, optical properties and morphology of thin films were investigated by various analytical techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The crystal structure of the TiO2 layer was found to be an anatase phase and the size of TiO2 particles was determined to be about 13 nm. Pt nanoparticles with diameter of 5 nm were observed on surface of the films. A new layer (presumed to be Pt-Ti complex and/or PtO2 compound) was created in the Pt/TiO2 thin film treated with EB (300 kGy). The transmittance of thin film decreased with EB treatment whereas the refractive index increased.

1H NMR study of the hetero-association of flavin-mononucleotide with mutagenic dyes: ethidium bromide and proflavine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Evstigneev, M. P.; Mukhina, Yu. V.; Davies, D. B.

The hetero-association of the vitamin B2 derivative, flavin-mononucleotide (FMN), with a mutagenic dye, ethidium bromide (EB) or proflavine (PF), has been studied by 1D and 2D 500 MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy. The variations of proton chemical shifts of both the vitamin and dye as a function of concentration and temperature were analysed in terms of the structural and thermodynamical properties of the FMN-EB and FMN-PF complexes in solution. The structures of the complexes were also investigated by observed intermolecular ROE contacts and molecular mechanics calculations. The results show that the 1 : 1 hetero-association complexes in solution are more stable than the self-association complexes, which is consistent with formation of an intermolecular hydrogen-bond in the hetero-complexes of FMN-EB and FMN-PF. Hence it is possible that the toxicity of aromatic molecules such as EB and PF may be reduced in vitro by the presence of FMN, partly because of the known antimutagenic action of FMN and partly because it has been shown in this work that there is an effective intermolecular association between the mutagens and the vitamin.

Volatile compounds and odor traits of dry-cured ham (Prosciutto crudo) irradiated by electron beam and gamma rays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kong, Qiulian; Yan, Weiqiang; Yue, Ling; Chen, Zhijun; Wang, Haihong; Qi, Wenyuan; He, Xiaohua

2017-01-01

Prosciutto crudo samples were irradiated at 0, 3 and 6 kGy by gamma rays (GR) and electron beam (EB), respectively. The odor scores and volatile compounds were examined after 7 days storage at 4 °C. Volatile compounds from samples without and with irradiation at 6 kGy were analyzed by GC-MS. Fifty-nine compounds were identified, including terpenes, aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, alkanes, esters, aromatic hydrocarbons and acids. Both GR and EB irradiation resulted in formation of (Z)-7-Hexadecenal, cis-9-hexadecenal, tetradecane, E-9-tetradecen-1-ol formate, and losing of hexadecamethyl-heptasiloxane and decanoic acid-ethyl ester in hams. However, GR irradiation caused additional changes, such as formation of undecane and phthalic acid-2-cyclohexylethyl butyl ester, significantly higher level of 1-pentadecene, and losing of (E, E)-2,4-decadienal and octadecane. EB was shown to be better in maintaining ham's original odor than GR. Our results suggest that EB irradiation is a promising method for treatment of ready to eat hams as it exerts much less negative effect on the flavor of hams compared to GR irradiation.

Enhanced backscatter of optical beams reflected in atmospheric turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nelson, W.; Palastro, J. P.; Wu, C.; Davis, C. C.

2014-10-01

Optical beams propagating through the atmosphere acquire phase distortions from turbulent fluctuations in the refractive index. While these distortions are usually deleterious to propagation, beams reflected in a turbulent medium can undergo a local recovery of spatial coherence and intensity enhancement referred to as enhanced backscatter (EBS). Using simulations, we investigate the EBS of optical beams reflected from mirrors, corner cubes, and rough surfaces, and identify the regimes in which EBS is most distinctly observed. Standard EBS detection requires averaging the reflected intensity over many passes through uncorrelated turbulence. Here we present an algorithm called the "tilt-shift method" which allows detection of EBS in static turbulence, improving its suitability for potential applications.

Photometric analysis of Ellerman bombs .

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berlicki, A.; Heinzel, P.; Avrett, E. H.

Observations of Ellerman bombs (EBs) show them as short-lived, compact, and spatially localized emissions that are well observable in the wings of the Halpha hydrogen line. The Halpha line profiles of EBs are characterized by deep absorption at the line center and enhanced emission in the wings with maximum around ± 1 Å from the line center, fading beyond ± 5 Å. EBs may also be observed in the chromospheric Ca II lines and in the UV as bright points often located within active regions. Previous work suggests that EBs may be considered as micro-flares and may contribute significantly to the heating of the lower chromosphere in newly emerging magnetic flux regions. However, it is still not clear at what height in the solar atmosphere the emission of EBs originates. In our analysis we used observations of EBs obtained in the Halpha line with the Dutch Open Telescope (DOT) and in the UV range with the TRACE 1600 Å channel. These one-hour long simultaneous sequences obtained with high temporal and spatial resolution were used to analyze the relation between the emission in the Halpha line and at 1600 Å. The observations show fast variations of EB emission in both channels. Comparison between the observed emission in Halpha and at 1600 Å and theoretical calculations allowed us to draw conclusions about the vertical structure of EBs.

Akap350 Recruits Eb1 to The Spindle Poles, Ensuring Proper Spindle Orientation and Lumen Formation in 3d Epithelial Cell Cultures.

PubMed

Almada, Evangelina; Tonucci, Facundo M; Hidalgo, Florencia; Ferretti, Anabela; Ibarra, Solange; Pariani, Alejandro; Vena, Rodrigo; Favre, Cristián; Girardini, Javier; Kierbel, Arlinet; Larocca, M Cecilia

2017-11-02

The organization of epithelial cells to form hollow organs with a single lumen requires the accurate three-dimensional arrangement of cell divisions. Mitotic spindle orientation is defined by signaling pathways that provide molecular links between specific spots at the cell cortex and astral microtubules, which have not been fully elucidated. AKAP350 is a centrosomal/Golgi scaffold protein, implicated in the regulation of microtubule dynamics. Using 3D epithelial cell cultures, we found that cells with decreased AKAP350 expression (AKAP350KD) formed polarized cysts with abnormal lumen morphology. Analysis of mitotic cells in AKAP350KD cysts indicated defective spindle alignment. We established that AKAP350 interacts with EB1, a microtubule associated protein that regulates spindle orientation, at the spindle poles. Decrease of AKAP350 expression lead to a significant reduction of EB1 levels at spindle poles and astral microtubules. Conversely, overexpression of EB1 rescued the defective spindle orientation induced by deficient AKAP350 expression. The specific delocalization of the AKAP350/EB1complex from the centrosome decreased EB1 levels at astral microtubules and lead to the formation of 3D-organotypic structures which resembled AKAP350KD cysts. We conclude that AKAP350 recruits EB1 to the spindle poles, ensuring EB1 presence at astral microtubules and proper spindle orientation during epithelial morphogenesis.

A review of scoring systems for ocular involvement in chronic cutaneous bullous diseases.

PubMed

Lee, Brendon W H; Tan, Jeremy C K; Radjenovic, Melissa; Coroneo, Minas T; Murrell, Dedee F

2018-05-22

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) and autoimmune blistering diseases (AIBD) describe a group of rare chronic dermatoses characterized by cutaneous fragility and blistering. Although uncommon, significant ocular surface disease (OSD) may occur in both and require ophthalmological assessment. Disease scoring systems have a critical role in providing objective and accurate assessment of disease severity. The objectives of this report were, firstly, to document the prevalence and severity of ocular involvement in EB/AIBD. Secondly, to review and evaluate existing ocular and systemic scoring systems for EB/AIBD. Finally, to identify areas where further development of ocular specific tools in EB/AIBD could be pursued. A literature search was performed in October 2017 utilising Medline, Embase, and Scopus databases. The results were restricted by date of publication, between 01.01.1950 and 31.10.2017. The reference lists of these articles were then reviewed for additional relevant publications. Articles of all languages were included if an English translation was available. Articles were excluded if they were duplicates, had no reference to ocular involvement in EB/AIBD or described ocular involvement in other diseases. Descriptions of ocular involvement in EB/AIBD were identified in 88 peer-reviewed journal articles. Findings reported include but are not limited to: cicatrising conjunctivitis, meibomian gland dysfunction, dry eye disease, trichiasis, symblepharon, fornix fibrosis, keratopathy, ectropion/entropion, ankyloblepharon, corneal ulceration, visual impairment and blindness. Although scoring systems exist for assessment of OSD in mucous membrane pemphigoid, no such tools exist for the other AIBD subtypes or for EB. Several systemic scoring systems exist in the dermatological literature that are efficacious in grading overall EB/AIBD severity, but have limited inclusion of ocular features. To the best of our knowledge, there is no recognised or validated scoring systems which comprehensively stages or grades the spectrum of ocular manifestations in EB/AIBD. There are a range of ocular complications documented in EB and AIBD. Development of a comprehensive ocular scoring system for EB/AIBD which incorporates the delineation between 'activity' and 'damage' would facilitate more objective patient assessment, improved longitudinal monitoring, comparison of intervention outcomes, and provide commonality for discussion of these patients due to the multidisciplinary nature of their care.

High dietary calcium intake does not counteract disuse-induced bone loss

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baecker, N.; Boese, A.; Smith, S. M.; Heer, M.

Reduction of mechanical stress on bone inhibits osteoblast-mediated bone formation, increases osteoclast-mediated bone resorption, and leads to what has been called disuse osteoporosis. Prolonged therapeutic bed rest, immobilization and space flight are common causes of disuse osteoporosis. There are sufficient data supporting the use of calcium in combination with vitamin D in the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. In our study we examined the potential of high dietary calcium intake as a nutrition therapy for disuse-induced bone loss during head-down bed rest in healthy young men. In 2 identical metabolic ward, head-down bed rest (HDBR) experiments (crossover design), we studied the effect of high dietary calcium intake (2000 mg/d) in comparison to the recommended calcium intake of 1000 mg/d on markers of bone turnover. Experiment A (EA) was a 6-day randomized, controlled HDBR study. Experiment B (EB) was a 14-day randomized, controlled HDBR study. In both experiments, the test subjects stayed under well-controlled environmental conditions in our metabolic ward. Subjects' diets in the relevant study phases (HDBR versus Ambulatory Control) of EA and EB were identical except for the calcium intake. The subjects obtained 2000 mg/d Calcium in EA and 2000 mg/d in EB. Blood was drawn at baseline, before entering the relevant intervention period, on day 5 in study EA, and on days 6, 11 and 14 in study EB. Serum calcium, bone formation markers - Procollagen-I-C-Propeptide (PICP) and bone alkaline phosphatase (bAP) were analyzed in serum. 24h-urine was collected throughout the studies for determination of the excretion of calcium (UCaV) and a bone resorption marker, C-terminal telopeptide of collagen type I (UCTX). In both studies, serum calcium levels were unchanged. PICP tended to decrease in EA (p=0.08). In EB PICP decreased significantly over time (p=0.003) in both the control and HDBR periods, and tended to further decrease in the HDBR period (p=0.06). While HDBR did not affect bAP in both EA and EB, bAP decreased significantly over time in both groups of EB (p<0.001). UCaV significantly increased during HDBR in EA (p=0.002) and EB (p=0.004) compared to the ambulatory controls. UCTX significantly increased on the second day of HDBR by 18% (p<0.001) in EA and by 27% (p=0.03) in EB. We conclude from these results that doubling dietary calcium intake from the recommended level of 1000 mg/d to 2000 mg/d does not prevent the decrease in bone formation activity and the increase of bone resorption activity in disuse-induced bone loss.

47 CFR 27.1203 - EBS programming requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 2 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false EBS programming requirements. 27.1203 Section 27.1203 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED) COMMON CARRIER SERVICES....1203 EBS programming requirements. (a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this...

Shewanella canadensis sp. nov. and Shewanella atlantica sp. nov., manganese dioxide- and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine-reducing, psychrophilic marine bacteria.

PubMed

Zhao, Jian-Shen; Manno, Dominic; Thiboutot, Sonia; Ampleman, Guy; Hawari, Jalal

2007-09-01

Two strains belonging to the genus Shewanella, HAW-EB2(T) and HAW-EB5(T), were isolated previously from marine sediment sampled from the Atlantic Ocean, near Halifax harbour in Canada, for their potential to degrade explosive hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX). In the present study, strains HAW-EB2(T) and HAW-EB5(T) were found to display high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (90-99.5 %) to species of Shewanella, but their gyrB sequences were significantly different from each other and from species of Shewanella (79-87.6 %). Furthermore, DNA-DNA hybridization showed that the genomic DNA of the two strains was only 22 % related and showed less than 41 % relatedness to closely related species of Shewanella. In comparison to other species of Shewanella, strains HAW-EB2(T) and HAW-EB5(T) were also unique in some phenotypic properties such as activities of beta-galactosidase and tyrosine arylamidase and the ability to metabolize certain organic acids and sugars. Both strains HAW-EB2(T) and HAW-EB5(T) utilize malate, valerate, peptone and yeast extract as sole carbon and energy sources. The major membrane fatty acids of the two strains were C(14 : 0), iso-C(15 : 0), C(16 : 0), C(16 : 1)omega7, C(18 : 1)omega7 and C(20 : 5)omega3 and their major quinones were Q-7, Q-8 and MK-7. On the basis of these results, strain HAW-EB2(T) (=NCIMB 14238(T) =CCUG 54553(T)) is proposed as the type strain of Shewanella canadensis sp. nov. and strain HAW-EB5(T) (=NCIMB 14239(T) =CCUG 54554(T)) is proposed as the type strain of Shewanella atlantica sp. nov.

Restrictions in oral functions caused by oral manifestations of epidermolysis bullosa.

PubMed

Stellingsma, Cornelis; Dijkstra, Pieter U; Dijkstra, Janke; Duipmans, José C; Jonkman, Marcel F; Dekker, Rienk

2011-01-01

Several forms of epidermolysis bullosa (EB) present oral manifestations. Blistering of the (peri)oral mucosa affects the opening of the mouth, the mobility of the tongue and lips, thereby restricting oral functions. We describe the prevalence and characteristics of oral manifestations of EB in relation to loss of oral functions in a cross-sectional study of different types of EB patients using standardized measurement techniques. Twenty-two patients were included. The mobility of the mandible, lips and tongue was measured, the mandibular function impairment questionnaire (MFIQ) was filled out and additional questions regarding hindrance of EB during oral hygiene and intelligibility of speech (being understood) were asked in structured interviews. The median age was 11.8 yrs. Mobility of the mandible, tongue and lip was restricted, oral hygiene procedures were hindered in most patients. A data comparison was made between the recessive dystrophic EB (RDEB) and junctional EB (JEB) groups. Mandibular function was impaired in both groups but more severely in the RDEB-population. Intelligibility in both groups was almost unaffected. Restrictions in mobility of the mouth, tongue and lips are frequently present in EB patients. These are most severe in the RDEB group and support the clinical relevance of optimizing symptomatic treatment.

Large enhancement of Blocking temperature by control of interfacial structures in Pt/NiFe/IrMn/MgO/Pt multilayers

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

Chen, Xi; Wang, Shouguo, E-mail: sgwang@ustb.edu.cn; Han, Gang

2015-09-15

The Blocking temperature (T{sub B}) of Pt/NiFe/IrMn/MgO/Pt multilayers was greatly enhanced from far below room temperature (RT) to above RT by inserting 1 nm thick Mg layer at IrMn/MgO interface. Furthermore, the exchange bias field (H{sub eb}) was increased as well by the control of interfacial structures. The evidence for a significant fraction of Mn-O bonding at IrMn/MgO interface without Mg insertion layer was provided by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The bonding between Mn and O can decrease the antiferromagnetism of IrMn film, leading to lower value of T{sub B} in Pt/NiFe/IrMn/MgO/Pt multilayers. Ultrathin Mg film inserted at IrMn/MgO interface actingmore » as an oxygen sinking layer can suppress the oxidation reactions between Mn and O and reduce the formation of Mn-O bonding greatly. The oxidation suppression results in the recovery of the antiferromagnetism of IrMn film, which can enhance T{sub B} and H{sub eb}. Furthermore, the high resolution transmission electron microscopy demonstrates that the Mg insertion layer can efficiently promote a high-quality MgO (200) texture. This study will enhance the understanding of physics in antiferromagnet-based spintronic devices.« less

Spatial analysis on human brucellosis incidence in mainland China: 2004–2010

PubMed Central

Zhang, Junhui; Yin, Fei; Zhang, Tao; Yang, Chao; Zhang, Xingyu; Feng, Zijian; Li, Xiaosong

2014-01-01

Objectives China has experienced a sharply increasing rate of human brucellosis in recent years. Effective spatial monitoring of human brucellosis incidence is very important for successful implementation of control and prevention programmes. The purpose of this paper is to apply exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) methods and the empirical Bayes (EB) smoothing technique to monitor county-level incidence rates for human brucellosis in mainland China from 2004 to 2010 by examining spatial patterns. Methods ESDA methods were used to characterise spatial patterns of EB smoothed incidence rates for human brucellosis based on county-level data obtained from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention (CISDCP) in mainland China from 2004 to 2010. Results EB smoothed incidence rates for human brucellosis were spatially dependent during 2004–2010. The local Moran test identified significantly high-risk clusters of human brucellosis (all p values <0.01), which persisted during the 7-year study period. High-risk counties were centred in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and other Northern provinces (ie, Hebei, Shanxi, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces) around the border with the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region where animal husbandry was highly developed. The number of high-risk counties increased from 25 in 2004 to 54 in 2010. Conclusions ESDA methods and the EB smoothing technique can assist public health officials in identifying high-risk areas. Allocating more resources to high-risk areas is an effective way to reduce human brucellosis incidence. PMID:24713215

Distinct retroelement classes define evolutionary breakpoints demarcating sites of evolutionary novelty

PubMed Central

Longo, Mark S; Carone, Dawn M; Green, Eric D; O'Neill, Michael J; O'Neill, Rachel J

2009-01-01

Background Large-scale genome rearrangements brought about by chromosome breaks underlie numerous inherited diseases, initiate or promote many cancers and are also associated with karyotype diversification during species evolution. Recent research has shown that these breakpoints are nonrandomly distributed throughout the mammalian genome and many, termed "evolutionary breakpoints" (EB), are specific genomic locations that are "reused" during karyotypic evolution. When the phylogenetic trajectory of orthologous chromosome segments is considered, many of these EB are coincident with ancient centromere activity as well as new centromere formation. While EB have been characterized as repeat-rich regions, it has not been determined whether specific sequences have been retained during evolution that would indicate previous centromere activity or a propensity for new centromere formation. Likewise, the conservation of specific sequence motifs or classes at EBs among divergent mammalian taxa has not been determined. Results To define conserved sequence features of EBs associated with centromere evolution, we performed comparative sequence analysis of more than 4.8 Mb within the tammar wallaby, Macropus eugenii, derived from centromeric regions (CEN), euchromatic regions (EU), and an evolutionary breakpoint (EB) that has undergone convergent breakpoint reuse and past centromere activity in marsupials. We found a dramatic enrichment for long interspersed nucleotide elements (LINE1s) and endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) and a depletion of short interspersed nucleotide elements (SINEs) shared between CEN and EBs. We analyzed the orthologous human EB (14q32.33), known to be associated with translocations in many cancers including multiple myelomas and plasma cell leukemias, and found a conserved distribution of similar repetitive elements. Conclusion Our data indicate that EBs tracked within the class Mammalia harbor sequence features retained since the divergence of marsupials and eutherians that may have predisposed these genomic regions to large-scale chromosomal instability. PMID:19630942

Producing and marketing a specialty egg.

PubMed

Michella, S M; Slaugh, B T

2000-07-01

Eggland's Best, Inc. markets premium quality shell eggs under the Eggland's Best (EB) brand name. The company, started in 1988, is comprised of a franchise network of established egg producers and covers most of the United States. Eggland's Best provides its franchisees with marketing and technical support. The franchisees produce, process, and distribute EB eggs according to the strict program established and monitored by EB. Production follows the all-natural vegetarian feed program in accordance with the company's US patent entitled "Eggs Compatible with a Cholesterol Reducing Diet and Method of Producing the Same." The EB program excludes animal fat and other animal byproducts. Eggland's Best eggs have seven times the generic level of vitamin E, nearly three times more omega-3 fatty acids and iodine, and 25% less saturated fat than regular generic eggs. Eggland's Best has one of the finest shell egg quality assurance programs anywhere. Eggland's Best franchisees submit weekly egg samples that are analyzed for shell quality, interior quality, vitamin E, iodine, cholesterol and fatty acids. Samples of feed and the EB-patented feed supplement are also analyzed. Approximately 28,000 total laboratory tests are conducted annually. Nationwide product and display retail evaluations are contracted through an outside audit company (40 to 50 cities evaluated four times per year). All EB eggs are USDA graded according to EB's strict quality standards. Producers must follow a food safety quality assurance program (United Egg Producers Association 5-Star or equivalent state or company program). Each egg is stamped "EB" as assurance of meeting EB's highest standards of flavor, quality, and nutrition. Eggland's Best has enjoyed record sales growth for the past 3 yr.

Self-organization phenomena in embryonic stem cell-derived embryoid bodies: axis formation and breaking of symmetry during cardiomyogenesis.

PubMed

Fuchs, Christiane; Scheinast, Matthias; Pasteiner, Waltraud; Lagger, Sabine; Hofner, Manuela; Hoellrigl, Alexandra; Schultheis, Martina; Weitzer, Georg

2012-01-01

Aggregation of embryonic stem cells gives rise to embryoid bodies (EBs) which undergo developmental processes reminiscent of early eutherian embryonic development. Development of the three germ layers suggests that gastrulation takes place. In vivo, gastrulation is a highly ordered process but in EBs only few data support the hypothesis that self-organization of differentiating cells leads to morphology, reminiscent of the early gastrula. Here we demonstrate that a timely implantation-like process is a prerequisite for the breaking of the radial symmetry of suspended EBs. Attached to a surface, EBs develop a bilateral symmetry and presumptive mesodermal cells emerge between the center of the EBs and a horseshoe-shaped ridge of cells. The development of an epithelial sheet of cells on one side of the EBs allows us to define an 'anterior' and a 'posterior' end of the EBs. In the mesodermal area, first cardiomyocytes (CMCs) develop mainly next to this epithelial sheet of cells. Development of twice as many CMCs at the 'left' side of the EBs breaks the bilateral symmetry and suggests that cardiomyogenesis reflects a local or temporal asymmetry in EBs. The asymmetric appearance of CMCs but not the development of mesoderm can be disturbed by ectopic expression of the muscle-specific protein Desmin. Later, the bilateral morphology becomes blurred by an apparently chaotic differentiation of many cell types. The absence of comparable structures in aggregates of cardiovascular progenitor cells isolated from the heart demonstrates that the self-organization of cells during a gastrulation-like process is a unique feature of embryonic stem cells. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Photoacoustic imaging of intravenously injected photosensitizer in rat burn models for efficient antibacterial photodynamic therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsunoi, Yasuyuki; Sato, Shunichi; Ashida, Hiroshi; Terakawa, Mitsuhiro

2012-02-01

For efficient photodynamic treatment of wound infection, a photosensitizer must be distributed in the whole infected tissue region. To ensure this, depth profiling of a photosensitizer is necessary in vivo. In this study, we applied photoacoustic (PA) imaging to visualize the depth profile of an intravenously injected photosensitizer in rat burn models. In burned tissue, pharmacokinetics is complicated; vascular occlusion takes place in the injured tissue, while vascular permeability increases due to thermal invasion. In this study, we first used Evans Blue (EB) as a test drug to examine the feasibility of photosensitizer dosimetry based on PA imaging. On the basis of the results, an actual photosensitizer, talaporfin sodium was used. An EB solution was intravenously injected into a rat deep dermal burn model. PA imaging was performed on the wound with 532 nm and 610 nm nanosecond light pulses for visualizing vasculatures (blood) and EB, respectively. Two hours after injection, the distribution of EB-originated signal spatially coincided well with that of blood-originated signal measured after injury, indicating that EB molecules leaked out from the blood vessels due to increased permeability. Afterwards, the distribution of EB signal was broadened in the depth direction due to diffusion. At 12 hours after injection, clear EB signals were observed even in the zone of stasis, demonstrating that the leaked EB molecules were delivered to the injured tissue layer. The level and time course of talaporfin sodium-originated signals were different compared with those of EB-originated signals, showing animal-dependent and/or drug-dependent permeabilization and diffusion in the tissue. Thus, photosensitizer dosimetry should be needed before every treatment to achieve desirable outcome of photodynamic treatment, for which PA imaging can be concluded to be valid and useful.

Electron beam for preservation of biodeteriorated cultural heritage paper-based objects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chmielewska-Śmietanko, Dagmara; Gryczka, Urszula; Migdał, Wojciech; Kopeć, Kamil

2018-02-01

Unsuitable storage conditions or accidents such as floods can present a serious threat for large quantities of book making them prone to attack by harmful microorganisms. The microbiological degradation of archives and book collections can be efficiently inhibited with irradiation processing. Application of EB irradiation to book and archive collections can also be a very effective alternative to the commonly used ethylene oxide treatment, which is toxic to the human and natural environment. In this study was evaluated the influence of EB irradiation used for microbiological decontamination process on paper-based objects. Three different kinds of paper (Whatman CHR 1, office paper and newsprint paper) were treated with 0.4, 1, 2, 5, 10 and 25 kGy electron beam irradiation. Optical and mechanical properties of different sorts of paper treated with e-beam, before and after the radiation process were studied. These results, which correlated with absorbed radiation doses effective for the elimination of Aspergillus niger (A. niger) allowed to determine that EB irradiation with absorbed radiation dose of 5 kGy ensures safe decontamination of different sorts of paper-based objects.

Evans blue dye-enhanced capillary-resolution photoacoustic microscopy in vivo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Junjie; Maslov, Konstantin; Hu, Song; Wang, Lihong V.

2009-09-01

Complete and continuous imaging of microvascular networks is crucial for a wide variety of biomedical applications. Photoacoustic tomography can provide high resolution microvascular imaging using hemoglobin within red blood cells (RBCs) as an endogenic contrast agent. However, intermittent RBC flow in capillaries results in discontinuous and fragmentary capillary images. To overcome this problem, we use Evans blue (EB) dye as a contrast agent for in vivo photoacoustic imaging. EB has strong optical absorption and distributes uniformly in the blood stream by chemically binding to albumin. With the help of EB, complete and continuous microvascular networks--especially capillaries--are imaged. The diffusion dynamics of EB leaving the blood stream and the clearance dynamics of the EB-albumin complex are also quantitatively investigated.

47 CFR 27.58 - Interference to BRS/EBS receivers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 2 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Interference to BRS/EBS receivers. 27.58 Section 27.58 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED) COMMON CARRIER SERVICES MISCELLANEOUS WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES Technical Standards § 27.58 Interference to BRS/EBS receivers. (a...

PSD-95 alters microtubule dynamics via an association with EB3

PubMed Central

Sweet, Eric S.; Previtera, Michelle L.; Fernández, Jose R.; Charych, Erik I.; Tseng, Chia-Yi; Kwon, Munjin; Starovoytov, Valentin; Zheng, James Q.; Firestein, Bonnie L.

2011-01-01

Little is known about how the neuronal cytoskeleton is regulated when a dendrite decides whether to branch or not. Previously, we reported that postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95) acts as a stop signal for dendrite branching. It is yet to be elucidated how PSD-95 affects the cytoskeleton and how this regulation relates to the dendritic arbor. Here, we show that the SH3 (src homology 3) domain of PSD-95 interacts with a proline-rich region within the microtubule end-binding protein EB3. Overexpression of PSD-95 or mutant EB3 results in a decreased lifetime of EB3 comets in dendrites. In line with these data, transfected rat neurons show that overexpression of PSD-95 results in less organized microtubules at dendritic branch points and decreased dendritogensis. The interaction between PSD-95 and EB3 elucidates a function for a novel region of EB3 and provides a new and important mechanism for the regulation of microtubules in determining dendritic morphology. PMID:21248129

Etched beam splitters in InP/InGaAsP.

PubMed

Norberg, Erik J; Parker, John S; Nicholes, Steven C; Kim, Byungchae; Krishnamachari, Uppiliappan; Coldren, Larry A

2011-01-17

An etched beam splitter (EBS) photonic coupler based on frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR) is designed, fabricated and characterized in the InP/InGaAsP material system. The EBS offers an ultra compact footprint (8x11 μm) and a complete range of bar/cross coupling ratio designs. A novel pre-etching process is developed to achieve sufficient depth of the etched coupling gaps. Fabricated EBS couplers demonstrate insertion loss between 1 and 2.6 dB with transmission (cross-coupling) ≤ 10%. The results show excellent agreement with 3D finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) modeling. The coupling of EBS has weak wavelength dependence in the C-band, making it suitable for wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) or other wide bandwidth applications. Finally, the EBS is integrated with active semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and phase-modulator components; using a flattened ring resonator structure, a channelizing filter tunable in both amplitude and center frequency is demonstrated, as well as an EBS coupled ring laser.

Photoacoustic microscopy using Evans Blue dye as a contrast agent

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Junjie; Maslov, Konstantin I.; Hu, Song; Wang, Lihong V.

2010-02-01

Complete and continuous imaging of microvascular networks is crucial for a wide variety of biomedical applications. Photoacoustic tomography can provide high resolution microvascular imaging using hemoglobin within red blood cells (RBC) as an endogenous contrast agent. However, intermittent RBC flow in capillaries results in discontinuous and fragmentary capillary images. To overcome this problem, we used Evans Blue (EB) dye as a contrast agent for in vivo photoacoustic imaging. EB has strong optical absorption at 610 nm and distributes uniformly in the blood stream by chemically binding to albumin. By intravenous injection of EB (6%, 200 μL), complete and continuous microvascular networks-especially capillaries-of the ears of nude mice were imaged. The diffusion of EB (3%, 100 μL) leaving the blood stream was monitored for 2 hours. At lower administration dose of EB (3%, 50 μL), the clearance of the EB-albumin complex was imaged for 10 days and quantitatively investigated using a two-compartment model.

Safety, Pharmacokinetics and Dosimetry of a Long-Acting Radiolabeled Somatostatin Analogue 177Lu-DOTA-EB-TATE in Patients with Advanced Metastatic Neuroendocrine Tumors.

PubMed

Zhang, Jingjing; Wang, Hao; Jacobson Weiss, Orit; Cheng, Yuejuan; Niu, Gang; Li, Fang; Bai, Chunmei; Zhu, Zhaohui; Chen, Xiaoyuan

2018-04-13

Radiolabeled somatostatin analogue therapy has become an established treatment method for patients with well to moderately differentiated unresectable or metastatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). The most frequently used somatostatin analogues in clinical practice are octreotide and octreotate. However, both peptides showed suboptimal retention within tumors. The aim of this first-in-human study is to explore the safety and dosimetry of a long-acting radiolabeled somatostatin analogue, lutetium-177-1, 4, 7, 10-tetra-azacyclododecane-1, 4, 7, 10-tetraacetic acid-Evans blue-octreotate ( 177 Lu-DOTA-EB-TATE). Methods: Eight patients (6 males and 2 females; age range, 27-61 y) with advanced metastatic neuroendocrine tumors were recruited. Five patients received a single dose 0.35-0.70 GBq (9.5-18.9 mCi) of 177 Lu-DOTA-EB-TATE and underwent serial whole body planar and single-photon emission computed tomography-computed tomography (SPECT-CT) scans at 2, 24, 72, 120 and 168 h after injection. The other 3 patients received intravenous injection of 0.28-0.41 GBq (7.5-11.1 mCi) of 177 Lu-DOTATATE for the same imaging acquisition procedures at 1, 3, 4, 24 and 72 h after injection. The dosimetry was calculated using the OLINDA/EXM 1.1 software. Results: Administration of 177 Lu-DOTA-EB-TATE was well tolerated, with no adverse symptoms being noticed or reported in any of the patients. Compared with 177 Lu-DOTATATE, 177 Lu-DOTA-EB-TATE showed extended circulation in the blood and achieved 7.9-fold increase of tumor dose delivery. The total body effective doses were 0.205 ± 0.161 mSv/MBq for 177 Lu-DOTA-EB-TATE and 0.174 ± 0.072 mSv/MBq for 177 Lu-DOTATATE. Significant dose delivery increases to the kidneys and bone marrow were also observed in patients receiving 177 Lu-DOTA-EB-TATE than those receiving 177 Lu-DOTATATE (3.2 and 18.2-fold, respectively). Conclusion: By introducing an albumin binding moiety, 177 Lu-DOTA-EB-TATE showed remarkably higher uptake and retention in NET tumors as well as significantly increased accumulation in the kidneys and red marrow. It has great potential to be used in PRRT for NET tumors with lower dose and less frequency of administration. Copyright © 2018 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Inc.

Wasp waist or beer belly? Modeling food web structure and energetic control in Alaskan marine ecosystems, with implications for fishing and environmental forcing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaichas, Sarah; Aydin, Kerim; Francis, Robert C.

2015-11-01

The Eastern Bering Sea (EBS) and Gulf of Alaska (GOA) continental shelf ecosystems show some similar and some distinctive groundfish biomass dynamics. Given that similar species occupy these regions and fisheries management is also comparable, similarities might be expected, but to what can we attribute the differences? Different types of ecosystem structure and control (e.g. top-down, bottom-up, mixed) can imply different ecosystem dynamics and climate interactions. Further, the structural type identified for a given ecosystem may suggest optimal management for sustainable fishing. Here, we use information on the current system state derived from food web models of both the EBS and the GOA combined with dynamic ecosystem models incorporating uncertainty to classify each ecosystem by its structural type. We then suggest how this structure might be generally related to dynamics and predictability. We find that the EBS and GOA have fundamentally different food web structures both overall, and when viewed from the perspective of the same commercially and ecologically important species in each system, walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus). EBS food web structure centers on a large mass of pollock, which appears to contribute to relative system stability and predictability. In contrast, GOA food web structure features high predator biomass, which contributes to a more dynamic, less predictable ecosystem. Mechanisms for climate influence on pollock production in the EBS are increasingly understood, while climate forcing mechanisms contributing to the potentially destabilizing high predator biomass in the GOA remain enigmatic. We present results of identical pollock fishing and climate-driven pollock recruitment simulations in the EBS and GOA which show different system responses, again with less predictable response in the GOA. Overall, our results suggest that identifying structural properties of fished food webs is as important for sustainable fisheries management as attempting to predict climate and fisheries effects within each ecosystem.

IR and NMR spectroscopic correlation of enterobactin by DFT.

PubMed

Moreno, M; Zacarias, A; Porzel, A; Velasquez, L; Gonzalez, G; Alegría-Arcos, M; Gonzalez-Nilo, F; Gross, E K U

2018-06-05

Emerging and re-emerging epidemic diseases pose an ongoing threat to global health. Currently, Enterobactin and Enterobactin derivatives have gained interest, owing to their potential application in the pharmaceutical field. As it is known [J. Am. Chem. Soc (1979) 101, 20, 6097-6104], Enterobactin (H 6 EB) is an efficient iron carrier synthesized and secreted by many microbial species. In order to facilitate the elucidation of enterobactin and its analogues, here we propose the creation of a H 6 EB standard set using Density Functional Theory Infrared (IR) and NMR spectra. We used two exchange-correlation (xc) functionals (PBE including long-range corrections LC-PBE and mPW1), 2 basis sets (QZVP and 6-31G(d)) and 2 grids (fine and ultrafine) for most of the H 6 EB structures dependent of dihedral angles. The results show a significant difference between the OH and NH bands, while the CO amide and O(CO) IR bands are often found on top of each other. The NMR DFT calculations show a strong dependence on the xc functional, basis set, and grid used for the H 6 EB structure. Calculated 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra enable the effect of the solvent to be understood in the context of the experimental measurements. The good agreement between the experimental and the calculated spectra using LC-PBE/QZVP and ultrafine grid suggest the possibility of the systems reported here to be considered as a standard set. The dependence of electrostatic potential and frontier orbitals with the catecholamide dihedral angles of H 6 EB is described. The matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of the flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) of H 6 EB is also reported of manner to enrich the knowledge about its reactivity. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Study of two different thin film coating methods in transmission laser micro-joining of thin Ti-film coated glass and polyimide for biomedical applications.

PubMed

Sultana, T; Georgiev, G L; Baird, R J; Auner, G W; Newaz, G; Patwa, R; Herfurth, H J

2009-07-01

Biomedical devices and implants require precision joining for hermetic sealing which can be achieved with low power lasers. The effect of two different thin metal film coating methods was studied in transmission laser micro-joints of titanium-coated glass and polyimide. The coating methods were cathodic arc physical vapor deposition (CA-PVD) and electron beam evaporation (EB-PVD). Titanium-coated glass joined to polyimide film can have neural electrode application. The improvement of the joint quality will be essential for robust performance of the device. Low power fiber laser (wave length = 1100 nm) was used for transmission laser micro-joining of thin titanium (Ti) film (approximately 200 nm) coated Pyrex borosilicate 7740 glass wafer (0.5 mm thick) and polyimide (Imidex) film (0.2 mm thick). Ti film acts as the coupling agent in the joining process. The Ti film deposition rate in the CA-PVD was 5-10 A/s and in the EB-PVD 1.5 A/s. The laser joint strength was measured by a lap shear test, the Ti film surfaces were analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and the lap shear tested joints were analyzed by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The film properties and the failure modes of the joints were correlated to joint strength. The CA-PVD produced around 4 times stronger laser joints than EB-PVD. The adhesion of the Ti film on glass by CA-PVD is better than that of the EB-PVD method. This is likely to be due to a higher film deposition rate and consequently higher adhesion or sticking coefficient for the CA-PVD particles arriving on the substrate compared to that of the EB-PVD film. EB-PVD shows poor laser bonding properties due to the development of thermal hotspots which occurs from film decohesion.

Application of the unified mask data format based on OASIS for VSB EB writers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suzuki, Toshio; Hirumi, Junji; Suga, Osamu

2005-11-01

Mask data preparation (MDP) for modern mask manufacturing becomes a complex process because many kinds of EB data formats are used in mask makers and EB data files continue to become bigger by the application of RET. Therefore we developed a unified mask pattern data format named "OASIS.VSB1" and a job deck format named "MALY2" for Variable-Shaped-Beam (VSB) EB writers. OASIS.VSB is the mask pattern data format based on OASISTM 3 (Open Artwork System Interchange Standard) released as a successive format to GDSII by SEMI. We defined restrictions on OASIS for VSB EB writers to input OASIS.VSB data directly to VSB EB writers just like the native EB data. OASIS.VSB specification and MALY specification have been disclosed to the public and will become a SEMI standard in the near future. We started to promote the spread activities of OASIS.VSB and MALY. For practical use of OASIS.VSB and MALY, we are discussing the infrastructure system of MDP processing using OASIS.VSB and MALY with mask makers, VSB EB makers, and device makers. We are also discussing the tools for the infrastructure system with EDA vendors. The infrastructure system will enable TAT, the man-hour, and the cost in MDP to be reduced. In this paper, we propose the plan of the infrastructure system of MDP processing using OASIS.VSB and MALY as an application of OASIS.VSB and MALY.

Comparison of voiding function and nociceptive behavior in two rat models of cystitis induced by cyclophosphamide or acetone

PubMed Central

Saitoh, Chikashi; Yokoyama, Hitoshi; Chancellor, Michael B.; de Groat, William C.; Yoshimura, Naoki

2009-01-01

Aims Nociceptive behavior and its relationship with bladder dysfunction were investigated in two cystitis models, which were induced by intraperitoneal (ip) injection of cyclophosphamide (CYP) or intravesical instillation of acetone, using freely moving, non-catheterized conscious rats. Methods Female Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Cystitis was induced by ip injection of CYP (100 and 200mg/kg) or intravesical instillation of acetone (10, 30 and 50%) via a polyethylene catheter temporarily inserted into the bladder through the urethra. Then the incidence of nociceptive behavior (immobility with decreased breathing rates) was scored. Voided urine was collected simultaneously and continuously to measure bladder capacity. The plasma extravasation in the bladder was quantified by an evans blue (EB) dye leakage technique. Results CYP (100mg/kg, ip) induced nociceptive behavior without affecting bladder capacity or EB concentration in the bladder. A higher dose of CYP (200mg/kg, ip) decreased bladder capacity and increased EB levels as well as nociceptive behavior. In contrast, intravesical instillation of acetone (30%) decreased bladder capacity and increased EB levels, but evoked nociceptive behavior less frequently compared with CYP-treated animals. In capsaicin pretreated rats, nociceptive behavior induced by CYP or acetone was reduced; however, the overall effects of CYP or acetone on bladder capacity and bladder EB levels were unaffected. Conclusions These results suggest that there is a difference in the induction process of nociceptive behavior and small bladder capacity after two different types of bladder irritation and that C-fiber sensitization is more directly involved in pain sensation than reduced bladder capacity. PMID:19618450

Genetic interrelationships among phosphorus, nitrogen, calcium, and energy bioavailability in a growing chicken population.

PubMed

Ankra-Badu, G A; Pesti, G M; Aggrey, S E

2010-11-01

A random-mating population was used to study the genetic interrelationship between phytate P (PPB), Ca (CaB), N (NB), and energy bioavailability (EB), BW at 4 wk of age, relative growth (RG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Heritability estimates for PPB, CaB, NB, and EB were 0.09, 0.13, 0.16, and 0.10, respectively, and those of BW, RG, and FCR were 0.66, 0.15, and 0.10, respectively. Genetic correlations between PPB and BW, and FCR were moderate and negative, suggesting that improvement in PPB will impair growth. The genetic correlations between PPB and CaB, and EB and RG were positive and moderate, indicating that improvement in PPB would also lead to improved CaB, EB, and RG. Energy bioavailability was positively correlated with CaB, NB, PPB, and BW. Even though the genetic correlation between EB and the other traits measured, except RG and FCR, ranged from low to moderate, improving the ability of birds to utilize caloric energy in the feed would consequently improve PPB as well as growth. Improving PPB would reduce the amount of P in excreta and provide an additional savings if exogenous phytase were not added to poultry feed. The genetic correlation between PPB and NB was low but positive, whereas NB had a positive genetic correlation with BW. Therefore, selecting on NB will result in positive correlated responses in BW and PPB. Improving PPB and NB will not only improve productivity, but also reduce the polluting effects of P and N on the environment.

Altered Appetite-Mediating Hormone Concentrations Precede Compensatory Overeating After Severe, Short-Term Energy Deprivation in Healthy Adults.

PubMed

O'Connor, Kristie L; Scisco, Jenna L; Smith, Tracey J; Young, Andrew J; Montain, Scott J; Price, Lori Lyn; Lieberman, Harris R; Karl, J Philip

2016-02-01

Adaptive responses of appetite-mediating hormones to negative energy balance are thought to contribute to a counterregulatory response that drives weight regain, but they have not been studied while controlling for reduced diet volume. In this secondary analysis, we aimed to determine the effects of short-term, severe energy deprivation (ED) on appetite and appetite-mediating hormone concentrations. Twenty-one adults with a mean ± SD age of 21 ± 3 y and body mass index of 25 ± 3 kg/m(2) consumed isovolumetric diets provided over separate 48-h periods while increasing habitual energy expenditure by 1683 ± 329 kcal/d through light- and moderate-intensity exercise. Energy intake was matched to energy expenditure to maintain energy balance (EB) (-44 ± 92 kcal/d) or was <10% of energy expenditure to generate a -3696 ± 742-kcal/d energy deficit. Postprandial appetite, glucose, insulin, acyl ghrelin, peptide YY, pancreatic polypeptide (PP), and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) responses and ad libitum energy intake were measured as secondary outcomes after both experimental periods. Fasting insulin (-56% ± 42%) and acyl ghrelin (-60% ± 17%) concentrations decreased during ED but not during EB (condition-by-time interaction; P-interaction ≤ 0.01), whereas fasting leptin concentrations decreased more during ED compared with during EB (-47% ± 27% compared with -20% ± 27%; P-interaction = 0.05). Postprandial insulin (57% ± 63%; P < 0.001), GLP-1 (14% ± 28%; P = 0.04), and PP (54% ± 52%; P < 0.001) areas under the curve (AUCs) were higher, whereas the acyl ghrelin AUC was lower (-56% ± 13%; P < 0.001) after ED compared with after EB. After ED, self-rated appetite was greater, and ad libitum energy intake was 811 kcal/36 h (95% CI: 184, 1439 kcal/36 h) higher relative to after EB (P = 0.01). Short-term, severe ED suppressed acyl ghrelin concentrations and increased postprandial anorexigenic hormone concentrations. These effects preceded compensatory overeating, suggesting that in adults without obesity, altered sensitivity to appetite-mediating hormones may contribute to an adaptive counterregulatory response during the initial stages of negative EB. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01603550. © 2016 American Society for Nutrition.

47 CFR 27.1214 - EBS spectrum leasing arrangements and grandfathered leases.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... not employ channel loading technology. (3) The licensee may shift its requisite EBS educational usage... educational use requirements in light of changes in educational needs, technology, and other relevant factors... Educational Broadband Service § 27.1214 EBS spectrum leasing arrangements and grandfathered leases. (a) A...

Teacher Preparation for Emergent Bilingual Students: Implications of Evidence for Policy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

López, Francesca; Santibañez, Lucrecia

2018-01-01

Failure to adequately prepare teachers of emergent bilingual (EB) students could have devastating consequences for student achievement, EB reclassification, and eventually, high school and college completion. To enhance the policy discourse, we explore how teacher certification requirements relate to both EB student achievement and teacher…

The Beaverdam Group: Archaeological Investigations at 9EB92, 9EB207, 9EB208 and 9EB219 Richard B. Russell Multiple Resource Area, Elbert County, Georgia.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-01-01

soapstone (steatite) for both vessels and 0 cooking stones, basin mortars, phyllite and slate knives, round or stemmed scrapers, three-quarter or full...gneissic rock, and soapstone . During sub- sequent review, it was pointed out that the use of quartzite for tool manufacture is without precedent in the...fashioned from non-local materials. Quartz, meta-igneous rock and soapstone could be found within 10 km of the Beaverdain Group, whereas other lithic

End-binding protein 1 controls signal propagation from the T cell receptor

PubMed Central

Martín-Cófreces, Noa B; Baixauli, Francesc; López, María J; Gil, Diana; Monjas, Alicia; Alarcón, Balbino; Sánchez-Madrid, Francisco

2012-01-01

The role of microtubules (MTs) in the control and dynamics of the immune synapse (IS) remains unresolved. Here, we show that T cell activation requires the growth of MTs mediated by the plus-end specific protein end-binding 1 (EB1). A direct interaction of the T cell receptor (TCR) complex with EB1 provides the molecular basis for EB1 activity promoting TCR encounter with signalling vesicles at the IS. EB1 knockdown alters TCR dynamics at the IS and prevents propagation of the TCR activation signal to LAT, thus inhibiting activation of PLCγ1 and its localization to the IS. These results identify a role for EB1 interaction with the TCR in controlling TCR sorting and its connection with the LAT/PLCγ1 signalosome. PMID:22922463

Evaluation of emamectin benzoate and substance EX against salmon lice in sea-ranched Atlantic salmon smolts.

PubMed

Skilbrei, Ove Tommy; Espedal, Per Gunnar; Nilsen, Frank; Garcia, Enrique Perez; Glover, Kevin A

2015-04-08

Experimental releases of Atlantic salmon smolts treated with emamectin benzoate (EB) against salmon lice have previously been used to estimate the significance of salmon lice on the survival of migrating smolts. In recent years, the salmon louse has developed reduced sensitivity to EB, which may influence the results of such release experiments. We therefore tested the use of 2 anti-lice drugs: EB was administered to salmon smolts in high doses by intra-peritoneal injection and the prophylactic substance EX (SubEX) was administered by bathing. A third, untreated control group was also established. Salmon were challenged with copepodids of 2 strains of salmon lice (1 EB-sensitive strain and 1 with reduced EB-sensitivity) in mixed-group experimental tanks. At 31 d post-challenge, the numbers of pre-adult lice on treated fish were around 20% compared with the control fish, with minor or no differences between the 2 treatments and lice strains. Both treatments therefore appeared to give the smolts a high degree of protection against infestation of copepodids of salmon lice. However, significantly lower growth of the EB-treatment group indicates that bathing the fish in SubEX is less stressful for smolts than intra-peritoneal injection of EB.

FINE-SCALE PHOTOSPHERIC CONNECTIONS OF ELLERMAN BOMBS

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

Yang, Heesu; Chae, Jongchul; Song, Donguk

2016-10-01

We investigate the photospheric and magnetic field structures associated with Ellerman bombs (EBs) using the 1.6 m New Solar Telescope at Big Bear Solar Observatory. The nine observed EBs were accompanied by elongated granule-like features (EGFs) that showed transverse motions prior to the EBs with an average speed of about 3.8 km s{sup −1}. Each EGF consisted of a sub-arcsecond bright core encircled by a dark lane around its moving front. The bright core appeared in the TiO broadband filter images and in the far wings of the H α and Ca ii 8542 Å lines. In four EBs, themore » bi-directional expanding motion of the EGFs was identified in the TiO images. In those cases, the EGFs were found to be accompanied by an emerging flux (EF). In four other EBs, the EGF developed at the edge of a penumbra and traveled in the sunspot’s radial direction. The EGFs in these cases were identified as a moving magnetic feature (MMF). Our results show a clear connection among the magnetic elements, photospheric features, and EBs. This result suggests that the EBs result from magnetic reconnection forced by EFs or MMFs that are frequently manifested by EGFs.« less

Isotope Dilution nanoLC/ESI+-HRMS3 Quantitation of Urinary N7-(1-Hydroxy-3-buten-2-yl) Guanine Adducts in Humans and Their Use as Biomarkers of Exposure to 1,3-Butadiene.

PubMed

Sangaraju, Dewakar; Boldry, Emily J; Patel, Yesha M; Walker, Vernon; Stepanov, Irina; Stram, Daniel; Hatsukami, Dorothy; Tretyakova, Natalia

2017-02-20

1,3-Butadiene (BD) is an important industrial and environmental chemical classified as a known human carcinogen. Occupational exposure to BD in the polymer and monomer industries is associated with an increased incidence of lymphoma. BD is present in automobile exhaust, cigarette smoke, and forest fires, raising concern about potential exposure of the general population to this carcinogen. Following inhalation exposure, BD is bioactivated to 3,4-epoxy-1-butene (EB). If not detoxified, EB is capable of modifying guanine and adenine bases of DNA to form nucleobase adducts, which interfere with accurate DNA replication and cause cancer-initiating mutations. We have developed a nanoLC/ESI + -HRMS 3 methodology for N7-(1-hydroxy-3-buten-2-yl) guanine (EB-GII) adducts in human urine (limit of detection: 0.25 fmol/mL urine; limit of quantitation: 1.0 fmol/mL urine). This new method was successfully used to quantify EB-GII in urine of F344 rats treated with 0-200 ppm of BD, occupationally exposed workers, and smokers belonging to two different ethnic groups. EB-GII amounts increased in a dose-dependent manner in urine of laboratory rats exposed to 0, 62.5, or 200 ppm of BD. Urinary EB-GII levels were significantly increased in workers occupationally exposed to 0.1-2.2 ppm of BD (1.25 ± 0.51 pg/mg of creatinine) as compared to administrative controls exposed to <0.01 ppm of BD (0.22 ± 0.08 and pg/mg of creatinine) (p = 0.0024), validating the use of EB-GII as a biomarker of human exposure to BD. EB-GII was also detected in smokers' urine with European American smokers excreting significantly higher amounts of EB-GII than African American smokers (0.48 ± 0.09 vs 0.12 ± 0.02 pg/mg of creatinine, p = 3.1 × 10 -7 ). Interestingly, small amounts of EB-GII were observed in animals and humans with no known exposure to BD, providing preliminary evidence for its endogenous formation. Urinary EB-GII adduct levels and urinary mercapturic acids of BD (MHBMA, DHBMA) were compared in a genotyped multiethnic smoker cohort.

Contouring and Constraining Bowel on a Full-Bladder Computed Tomography Scan May Not Reflect Treatment Bowel Position and Dose Certainty in Gynecologic External Beam Radiation Therapy

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

Yaparpalvi, Ravindra, E-mail: ryaparpa@montefiore.org; Mehta, Keyur J.; Bernstein, Michael B.

Purpose: To evaluate, in a gynecologic cancer setting, changes in bowel position, dose-volume parameters, and biological indices that arise between full-bladder (FB) and empty-bladder (EB) treatment situations; and to evaluate, using cone beam computed tomography (CT), the validity of FB treatment presumption. Methods and Materials: Seventeen gynecologic cancer patients were retrospectively analyzed. Empty-bladder and FB CTs were obtained. Full-bladder CTs were used for planning and dose optimization. Patients were given FB instructions for treatment. For the study purpose, bowel was contoured on the EB CTs for all patients. Bowel position and volume changes between FB and EB states were determined.more » Full-bladder plans were applied on EB CTs for determining bowel dose-volume changes in EB state. Biological indices (generalized equivalent uniform dose and normal tissue complication probability) were calculated and compared between FB and EB. Weekly cone beam CT data were available in 6 patients to assess bladder volume at treatment. Results: Average (±SD) planned bladder volume was 299.7 ± 68.5 cm{sup 3}. Median bowel shift in the craniocaudal direction between FB and EB was 12.5 mm (range, 3-30 mm), and corresponding increase in exposed bowel volume was 151.3 cm{sup 3} (range, 74.3-251.4 cm{sup 3}). Absolute bowel volumes receiving 45 Gy were higher for EB compared with FB (mean 328.0 ± 174.8 vs 176.0 ± 87.5 cm{sup 3}; P=.0038). Bowel normal tissue complication probability increased 1.5× to 23.5× when FB planned treatments were applied in the EB state. For the study, the mean percentage value of relative bladder volume at treatment was 32%. Conclusions: Full-bladder planning does not necessarily translate into FB treatments, with a patient tendency toward EB. Given the uncertainty in daily control over bladder volume for treatment, we strongly recommend a “planning-at-risk volume bowel” (PRV{sub B}owel) concept to account for bowel motion between FB and EB that can be tailored for the individual patient.« less

Development of an epitope-blocking-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to differentiate between animals infected with and vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease virus.

PubMed

Oem, Jae Ku; Chang, Byung Sik; Joo, Hoo Don; Yang, Mi Young; Kim, Gwang Jae; Park, Jee Yong; Ko, Young Joon; Kim, Yong Ju; Park, Jong Hyeon; Joo, Yi Seok

2007-06-01

An epitope-blocking ELISA (EB-ELISA) was developed to distinguish animals infected with foot-and-mouth-disease (FMDV) from those immunized with commercial vaccines. The assay used monoclonal antibodies to target the 3B core repeat motif (QKPLK) and purified recombinant 3AB proteins from the major B cell line epitopes of FMDV. Sera from uninfected and regularly vaccinated cattle, pigs, goats, and sheep (raised in FMDV free areas) were screened to evaluate the specificity of the EB-ELISA. The specificity scores of the assays were 99.8-100% and 100%, respectively. Reference sera from cattle, pigs, goats, and sheep experimentally infected with FMDV tested positive, with only a single exception. Antibodies formed in response to FMDV 3B appeared 1 week after infection and persisted at high levels for more than 8 weeks within the sera collected from serial bleeding of animals infected with FMDV O/SKR/2000. The EB-ELISA was used to differentiate between farms vaccinated against and those infected with FMDV (FMDV Asia serotype) during the 2005 epidemic in Mongolia by detecting antibodies against the FMDV Asia serotype in outbreak farms. This EB-ELISA method shows promise as an effective tool for FMDV control and eradication.

Electron and ion Bernstein waves in Saturnian Magnetosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bashir, M. F.; Waheed, A.; Ilie, R.; Naeem, I.; Maqsood, U.; Yoon, P. H.

2017-12-01

The study of Bernstein mode is presented in order to interpret the observed micro-structures (MIS) and banded emission (BEM) in the Saturnian magnetosphere. The general dispersion relation of Bernstein wave is derived using the Lerche-NewBerger sum rule for the kappa distribution function and further analyzed the both electron Bernstein (EB) and ion Bernstein (IB) waves. The observational data of particle measurements is obtained from the electron spectrometer (ELS) and the ion mass spectrometer (IMS), which are part of the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) instrument suite on board the Cassini spacecraft. For additional electron data, the measurements of Low Energy Magnetospheric Measurements System of the Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument (LEMMS /MIMI) are also utilized. The effect of kappa spectral index, density ratio (nohe/noce for EB and nohe/noi for IB) and the temperature ratio (The/Tce for EB and The/T(h,c)i for IB) on the dispersion properties are discussed employing the exact numerical analysis to explain the appearing of additional maxima/minima (points where the perpendicular group velocity vanishes, i.e., ∂w/∂k = 0) above/below the lower (for IB) and upper hybrid (EB) bands in the observation and their relation to the MIS and BED. The results of these waves may also be compared with the simulation results of Space Weather Modeling Framework (SWMF) .

Composite of PAH-degrading endophytic bacteria reduces contamination and health risks caused by PAHs in vegetables.

PubMed

Wang, Jian; Liu, Juan; Ling, Wanting; Huang, Qingguo; Gao, Yanzheng

2017-11-15

Vegetables accumulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at high concentrations when grown in contaminated sites. Inoculation with PAH-degrading endophytic bacteria (EB PAH ) has been recognized as one of the most promising ways to remove PAHs from plant bodies; however, the performance of single endophytic bacteria is generally limited. This investigation used a composite of eight EB PAH to reduce the contamination and health risk posed by 16 EPA priority PAHs in vegetables including Chinese cabbage (Brassica chinensis L.) and pakchoi (Brassica campestris L.). Composite EB PAH have strong PAH degradation abilities, and more than 65% of ∑PAH were degraded after 10-day insuspension with composite EB PAH . Vegetable were contacted with composite EB PAH by seed soaking (SS) and leaf painting (LP) with an EB PAH cell incubation at OD 600nm =0.2-1.5. Compared with those in non-inoculated controls, the ∑PAH concentrations in edible parts of Chinese cabbage and pakchoi colonized by composite EB PAH via SS and LP with bacterial suspension at OD 600nm =0.2-1.5 were 42.07-70.77% and 15.79-53.20% lower, and the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) values for males and females were 31.78-84.08% and 26.60-83.40% smaller, respectively. SS was the optimal inoculation method for reducing PAH concentrations and ILCR values. Our results indicate that inoculating plants with composite EB PAH can lower the health risk posed by vegetables contaminated with PAHs, and may be used to mitigate plant PAH contamination. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

77 FR 7603 - Notice of a Change in Status of an Extended Benefit (EB) Period for Alaska

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-13

... Extended Benefit (EB) Period for Alaska AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor. ACTION... Extended Benefits program began January 22, 2012. The trigger notice covering state eligibility for the EB... governed by the Federal- State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970, as amended, and the...

Trends for Electron Beam Accelerator Applications in Industry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Machi, Sueo

2011-02-01

Electron beam (EB) accelerators are major pieces of industrial equipment used for many commercial radiation processing applications. The industrial use of EB accelerators has a history of more than 50 years and is still growing in terms of both its economic scale and new applications. Major applications involve the modification of polymeric materials to create value-added products, such as heat-resistant wires, heat-shrinkable sheets, automobile tires, foamed plastics, battery separators and hydrogel wound dressing. The surface curing of coatings and printing inks is a growing application for low energy electron accelerators, resulting in an environmentally friendly and an energy-saving process. Recently there has been the acceptance of the use of EB accelerators in lieu of the radioactive isotope cobalt-60 as a source for sterilizing disposable medical products. Environmental protection by the use of EB accelerators is a new and important field of application. A commercial plant for the cleaning flue gases from a coal-burning power plant is in operation in Poland, employing high power EB accelerators. In Korea, a commercial plant uses EB to clean waste water from a dye factory.

Cresting the wave: proper motions of the Eastern Banded Structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deason, Alis J.; Belokurov, Vasily; Koposov, Sergey E.

2018-01-01

We study the kinematic properties of the Eastern Banded Structure (EBS) and Hydra I overdensity using exquisite proper motions derived from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and Gaia source catalogue. Main sequence turn-off stars in the vicinity of the EBS are identified from SDSS photometry; we use the proper motions and, where applicable, spectroscopic measurements of these stars to probe the kinematics of this apparent stream. We find that the EBS and Hydra I share common kinematic and chemical properties with the nearby Monoceros Ring. In particular, the proper motions of the EBS, like Monoceros, are indicative of prograde rotation (Vϕ ∼ 180-220 km s-1), which is similar to the Galactic thick disc. The kinematic structure of stars in the vicinity of the EBS suggests that it is not a distinct stellar stream, but rather marks the 'edge' of the Monoceros Ring. The EBS and Hydra I are the latest substructures to be linked with Monoceros, leaving the Galactic anti-centre a mess of interlinked overdensities which likely share a unified, Galactic disc origin.

A rare case of skin blistering and esophageal stenosis in the course of epidermolysis bullosa - case report and literature review.

PubMed

Michalak, Agata; Cichoż-Lach, Halina; Prozorow-Król, Beata; Buk, Leszek; Dzida, Monika

2018-04-13

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) constitutes a heterogenous group of rare multisystem genetically transmitted disorders comprising several blistering muco-cutaneous diseases with a monogenic basis and either autosomal dominant or autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. EB manifestation is not only limited to the skin. Systemic signs might involve the nose, ear, eye, genitourinary tract and upper gastrointestinal tract. The presence of particular symptoms is directly determined by a type of altered skin protein. Gastrointestinal manifestation of EB is most commonly reflected by esophageal stenosis due to recurrent esophageal blistering, followed by consequent scarring. Here we present a case of a man with dystrophic EB and dysphagia, skin blistering, joints contractures and missing nails. To our knowledge, the presented man is the oldest one diagnosed with EB living in Poland. Management of an esophageal stricture in such circumstances is based on endoscopic dilatation. However, in most severe cases, placement of a gastrostomy tube is required. Despite great advances in medicine, a targeted therapy in the course of EB has not been established yet.

Memory scrutinized through electrical brain stimulation: A review of 80 years of experiential phenomena.

PubMed

Curot, Jonathan; Busigny, Thomas; Valton, Luc; Denuelle, Marie; Vignal, Jean-Pierre; Maillard, Louis; Chauvel, Patrick; Pariente, Jérémie; Trebuchon, Agnès; Bartolomei, Fabrice; Barbeau, Emmanuel J

2017-07-01

Electrical brain stimulations (EBS) sometimes induce reminiscences, but it is largely unknown what type of memories they can trigger. We reviewed 80 years of literature on reminiscences induced by EBS and added our own database. We classified them according to modern conceptions of memory. We observed a surprisingly large variety of reminiscences covering all aspects of declarative memory. However, most were poorly detailed and only a few were episodic. This result does not support theories of a highly stable and detailed memory, as initially postulated, and still widely believed as true by the general public. Moreover, memory networks could only be activated by some of their nodes: 94.1% of EBS were temporal, although the parietal and frontal lobes, also involved in memory networks, were stimulated. The qualitative nature of memories largely depended on the site of stimulation: EBS to rhinal cortex mostly induced personal semantic reminiscences, while only hippocampal EBS induced episodic memories. This result supports the view that EBS can activate memory in predictable ways in humans. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Nurses' Perceptions of Implementing Fall Prevention Interventions to Mitigate Patient-Specific Fall Risk Factors.

PubMed

Wilson, Deleise S; Montie, Mary; Conlon, Paul; Reynolds, Margaret; Ripley, Robert; Titler, Marita G

2016-08-01

Evidence-based (EB) fall prevention interventions to mitigate patient-specific fall risk factors are readily available but not routinely used in practice. Few studies have examined nurses' perceptions about both the use of these EB interventions and implementation strategies designed to promote their adoption. This article reports qualitative findings of nurses' perceptions about use of EB fall prevention interventions to mitigate patient-specific fall risks, and implementation strategies to promote use of these interventions. The findings revealed five major themes: before-study fall prevention practices, use of EB fall prevention interventions tailored to patient-specific fall risk factors, beneficial implementation strategies, overall impact on approach to fall prevention, and challenges These findings are useful to guide nurses' engagement and use of EB fall prevention practices tailored to patient-specific fall risk factors. © The Author(s) 2016.

Multi-wavelength analysis of Ellerman Bomb Light Curves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herlender, M.; Berlicki, A.

We present the results of a multi-wavelength photometric analysis of Ellerman Bomb (EB) observations obtained from the Dutch Open Telescope. In our data we have found 6 EBs located in the super-penumbra of the main spot in the active region NOAA 10781. We present light curves of EB observed in the Hα line centre and wing +0.7 Å, in the Ca II H line centre and wing~+2.35 Å, in the G-band and in the TRACE 1600 Å filter. We have shown that EBs were visible in the G-band and moreover, there was a good correlation between the light curves in the G-band and in the Hα line wings. We also found quasi-periodic oscillations of EBs brightness in the G-band, CaII H line and TRACE 1600 Å filter.

Esophageal Sensorimotor Function and Psychological Factors Each Contribute to Symptom Severity in Globus Patients.

PubMed

Rommel, Nathalie; Van Oudenhove, Lukas; Arts, Joris; Caenepeel, Philip; Tack, Jan; Pauwels, Ans

2016-10-01

Altered upper esophageal sphincter (UES) and esophageal body (EB) sensorimotor function and psychosocial factors may both be involved in symptom generation in globus, but their common impact is not yet assessed. The aim of the study is (1) to compare UES and EB sensitivity and compliance of globus patients with healthy controls (HC); (2) to study the association of globus symptom severity (GSS) with UES and EB sensitivity and compliance, UES motor function and psychosocial factors. In 58 globus patients, GSS, somatization, and anxiety disorders were determined using validated questionnaires. In 26 HC and 42/58 patients, UES and EB sensitivity and compliance were assessed twice using barostat measurements. UES function of 27 globus patients was evaluated using high-resolution manometry. Bivariate correlations and a general linear model tested the association of these factors with GSS. UES and EB compliance did not differ between globus patients and HC. Upon repeated distension, UES habituation was seen in both groups, whereas EB sensitization (23.3±1.3 vs. 19.5±1.5 mm Hg, P<0.0001) only occurred in globus patients, (P=0.038). UES compliance (ρ=0.37, P=0.04), change in EB compliance upon repeated distension (ρ=0.45, P=0.007), somatization (ρ=0.43, P=0.003), panic disorder (t=3.04, P=0.004), and post-traumatic stress severity (ρ=0.40, P=0.005) were associated with GSS. UES compliance and somatization were independently associated with GSS. A trend (P=0.061) was found for the association of GSS with change in EB compliance. UES compliance, change in EB compliance, and somatization explain 40% of the variance in GSS. This indicates that globus is a complex disorder of the brain-gut axis rather than a "psychosomatic" disorder or a peripheral esophageal disorder.

Can ill-structured problems reveal beliefs about medical knowledge and knowing? A focus-group approach

PubMed Central

Roex, Ann; Clarebout, Geraldine; Dory, Valerie; Degryse, Jan

2009-01-01

Background Epistemological beliefs (EB) are an individual's cognitions about knowledge and knowing. In several non-medical domains, EB have been found to contribute to the way individuals reason when faced with ill-structured problems (i.e. problems with no clear-cut, right or wrong solutions). Such problems are very common in medical practice. Determining whether EB are also influential in reasoning processes with regard to medical issues to which there is no straightforward answer, could have implications for medical education. This study focused on 2 research questions: 1. Can ill-structured problems be used to elicit general practice trainees' and trainers' EB? and 2. What are the views of general practice trainees and trainers about knowledge and how do they justify knowing? Methods 2 focus groups of trainees (n = 18) were convened on 3 occasions during their 1st year of postgraduate GP training. 2 groups of GP trainers (n = 11) met on one occasion. Based on the methodology of the Reflective Judgement Interview (RJI), participants were asked to comment on 11 ill-structured problems. The sessions were audio taped and transcribed and an adapted version of the RJI scoring rules was used to assess the trainees' reasoning about ill-structured problems. Results Participants made a number of statements illustrating their EB and their importance in clinical reasoning. The level of EB varied widely form one meeting to another and depending on the problem addressed. Overall, the EB expressed by trainees did not differ from those of trainers except on a particular ill-structured problem regarding shoulder pain. Conclusion The use of focus groups has entailed some difficulties in the interpretation of the results, but a number of preliminary conclusions can be drawn. Ill-structured medical problems can be used to elicit EB. Most trainees and trainers displayed pre-reflective and quasi-reflective EB. The way trainees and doctors view and justify knowledge are likely to be involved in medical reasoning processes. PMID:19775425

SMALL-SCALE STRUCTURING OF ELLERMAN BOMBS AT THE SOLAR LIMB

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

Nelson, C. J.; Doyle, J. G.; Scullion, E. M.

2015-01-01

Ellerman bombs (EBs) have been widely studied in recent years due to their dynamic, explosive nature and apparent links to the underlying photospheric magnetic field implying that they may be formed by magnetic reconnection in the photosphere. Despite a plethora of researches discussing the morphologies of EBs, there has been a limited investigation of how these events appear at the limb, specifically, whether they manifest as vertical extensions away from the disk. In this article, we make use of high-resolution, high-cadence observations of an Active Region at the solar limb, collected by the CRisp Imaging SpectroPolarimeter (CRISP) instrument, to identifymore » EBs and infer their physical properties. The upper atmosphere is also probed using the Solar Dynamic Observatory's Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (SDO/AIA). We analyze 22 EB events evident within these data, finding that 20 appear to follow a parabolic path away from the solar surface at an average speed of 9 km s{sup –1}, extending away from their source by 580 km, before retreating back at a similar speed. These results show strong evidence of vertical motions associated with EBs, possibly explaining the dynamical ''flaring'' (changing in area and intensity) observed in on-disk events. Two in-depth case studies are also presented that highlight the unique dynamical nature of EBs within the lower solar atmosphere. The viewing angle of these observations allows for a direct linkage between these EBs and other small-scale events in the Hα line wings, including a potential flux emergence scenario. The findings presented here suggest that EBs could have a wider-reaching influence on the solar atmosphere than previously thought, as we reveal a direct linkage between EBs and an emerging small-scale loop, and other near-by small-scale explosive events. However, as previous research found, these extensions do not appear to impact upon the Hα line core, and are not observed by the SDO/AIA EUV filters.« less

Multiwavelength spectropolarimetric observations of an Ellerman bomb

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rezaei, R.; Beck, C.

2015-10-01

Context. Ellerman bombs (EBs) are enhanced emission in the wings of the Hα line in the solar spectrum. Aims: We study the structure of an EB in the photosphere and chromosphere. Methods: We analyze simultaneous observations of four chromospheric lines (Hα, Ca ii H, Ca ii IR 854 nm, and He i 1083 nm) as well as two photospheric lines (Fe i 630 and Si i 1082.7 nm) along with high-cadence 160 and 170 nm ultraviolet (UV) continuum filtergrams. Full Stokes data from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) are used to trace the temporal evolution of the magnetic structure. Results: We identify the EB by excess emission in the wings of the Hα line, a brightening in the UV continuum, and large emission peaks in the core of the two Ca ii lines. The EB shows a blueshift in all chromospheric lines, while no shifts are observed in the photospheric lines. The blueshift in the chromospheric layer causes very asymmetric emission peaks in the Ca ii H line. The photospheric Si i spectral line shows a shallower line depth at the location of the EB. The UV continuum maps show that the EB was substantially brighter than its surroundings for about 30 min. The continuum contrast of the EB from 170 nm to 1080 nm shows a power-law dependency on the wavelength. The temperature enhancement amounts to 130 K in the low photosphere and 400 K at the temperature minimum level. This temperature excess is also seen in an LTE inversion of the Ca ii spectra. The total thermal and radiative energy content of the EB is about 1020 J and 1018 J in the photosphere and chromosphere, respectively. The HMI data hints at a photospheric magnetic flux cancellation as the driver of the EB. Conclusions: Ellerman bombs release the energy in a height range of several pressure scale heights around the temperature minimum such that they affect both the photosphere and the lower chromosphere.

Microtubule plus-end tracking of end-binding protein 1 (EB1) is regulated by CDK5 regulatory subunit-associated protein 2

PubMed Central

Fong, Ka-Wing; Au, Franco K. C.; Jia, Yue; Yang, Shaozhong; Zhou, Liying; Qi, Robert Z.

2017-01-01

Microtubules are polar cytoskeleton filaments that extend via growth at their plus ends. Microtubule plus-end-tracking proteins (+TIPs) accumulate at these growing plus ends to control microtubule dynamics and attachment. The +TIP end-binding protein 1 (EB1) and its homologs possess an autonomous plus-end-tracking mechanism and interact with other known +TIPs, which then recruit those +TIPs to the growing plus ends. A major +TIP class contains the SXIP (Ser-X-Ile-Pro, with X denoting any amino acid residue) motif, known to interact with EB1 and its homologs for plus-end tracking, but the role of SXIP in regulating EB1 activities is unclear. We show here that an interaction of EB1 with the SXIP-containing +TIP CDK5 regulatory subunit-associated protein 2 (CDK5RAP2) regulates several EB1 activities, including microtubule plus-end tracking, dynamics at microtubule plus ends, microtubule and α/β-tubulin binding, and microtubule polymerization. The SXIP motif fused with a dimerization domain from CDK5RAP2 significantly enhanced EB1 plus-end-tracking and microtubule-polymerizing and bundling activities, but the SXIP motif alone failed to do so. An SXIP-binding-deficient EB1 mutant displayed significantly lower microtubule plus-end tracking than the wild-type protein in transfected cells. These results suggest that EB1 cooperates with CDK5RAP2 and perhaps other SXIP-containing +TIPs in tracking growing microtubule tips. We also generated plus-end-tracking chimeras of CDK5RAP2 and the adenomatous polyposis coli protein (APC) and found that overexpression of the dimerization domains interfered with microtubule plus-end tracking of their respective SXIP-containing chimeras. Our results suggest that disruption of SXIP dimerization enables detailed investigations of microtubule plus-end-associated functions of individual SXIP-containing +TIPs. PMID:28320860

Quality of Cardiac Care in Canada: Recommendations for Building a Sustainable Future.

PubMed

Young, Courtney; Lambert, Laurie; Abel, James; O'Neill, Blair J

2018-06-01

Cardiovascular (CV) disease continues to present a significant disease and economic burden in Canada. To improve the quality of care and ensure sustainability of services, a national quality improvement initiative is required. The purpose of this analysis was to review the evidence for public reporting (PR) and external benchmarking (EB) to improve patient outcomes, and to recommend a strategy to improve CV care in Canada. To incorporate recent literature, the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) commissioned the Institute of Health Economics to provide a rapid update on the literature of PR and EB. The review showed that EB is more likely to promote positive effects, such as improved mortality, morbidity, and evidence-based clinical practice, and to limit negative effects, such as access restrictions or unintended provider behaviour associated with some forms of "top-down" PR. On the basis of these findings, this we recommend the following: (1) secure funding for the provincial collection of CV quality indicators and the creation of annual National CV Quality Reports; (2) enhance the culture of using CV quality indicator data for continuous quality improvement and opportunities for national or regional EB and sharing best practices; and (3) implement ongoing evaluation and revision of CCS clinical practice guidelines incorporating key quality indicators. This is already under way to a limited extent by the CCS with its Quality Project, but intentional, sustained support needs to be secured to enhance this ongoing effort and improve the quality of CV care for all Canadians. Copyright © 2018 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of non-parabolicity and confinement potential on exciton binding energy in a quantum well

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vignesh, G.; Nithiananthi, P.

2018-04-01

The effect of non-parabolicity(NP) (both conduction and valance band) on the binding energy(EB) of a ground state exciton in GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs single Quantum Well(QW) has been calculated using variational method. Confinement of a light hole(LH-CB1-X) and heavy hole(HH-CB1-X) exciton have been numerically evaluated as a function of well width and barrier heights by imposing three different confinement potentials such as square(SQW), parabolic(PQW) and triangular(TQW). Due to NP effects, EB of exciton is increasedin the narrow well region irrespective of the type of exciton, barrier height and nature of the confinement potentials applied. Non-parabolicity effect is prominent in abrupt(SQW) and linearlyvarying(TQW) confinement potentials. All these effects are attributed to be an inter-play between the Coulombic interaction and NP effects among the subband structures.

Reorientation-effect measurement of the first 2+ state in 12C: Confirmation of oblate deformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar Raju, M.; Orce, J. N.; Navrátil, P.; Ball, G. C.; Drake, T. E.; Triambak, S.; Hackman, G.; Pearson, C. J.; Abrahams, K. J.; Akakpo, E. H.; Al Falou, H.; Churchman, R.; Cross, D. S.; Djongolov, M. K.; Erasmus, N.; Finlay, P.; Garnsworthy, A. B.; Garrett, P. E.; Jenkins, D. G.; Kshetri, R.; Leach, K. G.; Masango, S.; Mavela, D. L.; Mehl, C. V.; Mokgolobotho, M. J.; Ngwetsheni, C.; O'Neill, G. G.; Rand, E. T.; Sjue, S. K. L.; Sumithrarachchi, C. S.; Svensson, C. E.; Tardiff, E. R.; Williams, S. J.; Wong, J.

2018-02-01

A Coulomb-excitation reorientation-effect measurement using the TIGRESS γ-ray spectrometer at the TRIUMF/ISAC II facility has permitted the determination of the 〈 21+ ‖ E 2 ˆ ‖21+ 〉 diagonal matrix element in 12C from particle-γ coincidence data and state-of-the-art no-core shell model calculations of the nuclear polarizability. The nuclear polarizability for the ground and first-excited (21+) states in 12C have been calculated using chiral NN N4LO500 and NN+3NF350 interactions, which show convergence and agreement with photo-absorption cross-section data. Predictions show a change in the nuclear polarizability with a substantial increase between the ground state and first excited 21+ state at 4.439 MeV. The polarizability of the 21+ state is introduced into the current and previous Coulomb-excitation reorientation-effect analyses of 12C. Spectroscopic quadrupole moments of QS (21+) = + 0.053 (44) eb and QS (21+) = + 0.08 (3) eb are determined, respectively, yielding a weighted average of QS (21+) = + 0.071 (25) eb, in agreement with recent ab initio calculations. The present measurement confirms that the 21+ state of 12C is oblate and emphasizes the important role played by the nuclear polarizability in Coulomb-excitation studies of light nuclei.

Influence of Ionic Liquids on Thermodynamics of Small Molecule-DNA Interaction: The Binding of Ethidium Bromide to Calf Thymus DNA.

PubMed

Mishra, Arpit; Ekka, Mary Krishna; Maiti, Souvik

2016-03-17

Ionic liquids (ILs) are salts with poor ionic coordination, resultantly remaining in liquid state below 100 °C and some may retain liquid state even at room temperature. ILs are known to provide a conducive environment for many biological enzymatic reactions, but their interaction with biomacromolecules are poorly understood. In the present study, we investigate the effect of various ionic liquids on DNA-small molecule interaction using calf thymus DNA (ctDNA)-ethidium bromide (EB) as a model system. The effect of various ionic liquids on these interactions is studied by an array of techniques such as circular dichroism (CD), UV melting, fluorescence exclusion and isothermal titration calorimetry. Interestingly, we observed that presence of IL increased the stability of ctDNA without altering its structure. The binding affinities Kbs for EB binding to ctDNA in the presence of 300 mM ILs are about half order of magnitude smaller than the Kbs in absence of ILs and correspond to a less favorable free energy. We noted that, when adjusted to corresponding buffer condition, the unfavorable shift in ΔG of ctDNA-EB interaction is attributed to decreased entropy in the case of ILs, whereas the same effect by NaCl was due to increased enthalpy.

Multi-wavelength Spectral Analysis of Ellerman Bombs Observed by FISS and IRIS

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

Hong, Jie; Ding, M. D.; Cao, Wenda, E-mail: dmd@nju.edu.cn

Ellerman bombs (EBs) are a kind of solar activity that is suggested to occur in the lower solar atmosphere. Recent observations using the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) show connections between EBs and IRIS bombs (IBs), which imply that EBs might be heated to a much higher temperature (8 × 10{sup 4} K) than previous results. Here we perform a spectral analysis of EBs simultaneously observed by the Fast Imaging Solar Spectrograph and IRIS. The observational results show clear evidence of heating in the lower atmosphere, indicated by the wing enhancement in H α , Ca ii 8542 Å, andmore » Mg ii triplet lines and also by brightenings in images of the 1700 Å and 2832 Å ultraviolet continuum channels. Additionally, the intensity of the Mg ii triplet line is correlated with that of H α when an EB occurs, suggesting the possibility of using the triplet as an alternative way to identify EBs. However, we do not find any signal in IRIS hotter lines (C ii and Si iv). For further analysis, we employ a two-cloud model to fit the two chromospheric lines (H α and Ca ii 8542 Å) simultaneously, and obtain a temperature enhancement of 2300 K for a strong EB. This temperature is among the highest of previous modeling results, albeit still insufficient to produce IB signatures at ultraviolet wavelengths.« less

Amygdalar activation of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors produces anti- and pro-conflict effects depending upon animal sex in a sexually dimorphic conditioned conflict-based anxiety model.

PubMed

De Jesús-Burgos, María I; González-García, Stephanie; Cruz-Santa, Yanira; Pérez-Acevedo, Nivia L

2016-04-01

Women are more susceptible than men to develop anxiety disorders, however, the mechanisms involved are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), a target for anxiety disorders, and whether estradiol may modulate conflict-based anxiety in female rats by using the Vogel Conflict Test (VCT). We used ovariectomized female rats with high (OVX+EB) and low (OVX) estradiol levels and intact male rats to evaluate sex differences. Infusion of (S)-3,5-Dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG), a group I mGluR agonist, into the basolateral amygdala, a region involved in anxiety-responses, statistically increased the number of shocks in OVX, but not OVX+EB female rats at 0.1, nor at 1.0 μM. In contrast, DHPG statistically decreased the number of shocks in male rats at 1.0 μM only. DHPG (0.1 μM) increased the number of recoveries in OVX, but not OVX+EB or male rats. Sex differences were detected for the number of shocks, recoveries and punished licks, where female rats displayed more conflict than male rats. Western blot analyses showed that protein expression of mGluR1, but not mGluR5 was higher in OVX+EB>OVX>male rats in the amygdala, whereas no significant differences were detected in the hippocampus, olfactory bulb and/or the periaqueductal gray. Therefore, DHPG produced paradoxical effects that are sex dependent; producing anxiolytic-like effects in female rats, while anxiogenic-like effects in male rats according to the VCT. These results highlight the importance of including female experimental models to underpin the neural circuitry of anxiety according to sex and for the screening of novel anxiolytic compounds. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electron beam technologies in Poland state of the art and possibilities of development

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

Wojcicki, S.

1994-12-31

The recent state of high energy electron beam /EB/ used for metals melting and welding in Poland has been presented. Some typical construction of EB furnaces and EB welding machines designed and constructed in Institute of Vacuum Technology in Warsaw are shown. The examples of their application has also been described.

Error-Based Simulation for Error-Awareness in Learning Mechanics: An Evaluation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Horiguchi, Tomoya; Imai, Isao; Toumoto, Takahito; Hirashima, Tsukasa

2014-01-01

Error-based simulation (EBS) has been developed to generate phenomena by using students' erroneous ideas and also offers promise for promoting students' awareness of errors. In this paper, we report the evaluation of EBS used in learning "normal reaction" in a junior high school. An EBS class, where students learned the concept…

77 FR 8901 - Notice of a Change in Status of an Extended Benefit (EB) Period for New Mexico

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-15

... Extended Benefit (EB) Period for New Mexico AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor. ACTION... State's EB status: The Federal authorization to have a three year look-back was recently extended to... governed by the Federal- State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970, as amended, and the...

24 CFR 954.4 - Other Federal requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... Section 7(b) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450e(b)). Section 7...) Definitions. (i) The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450e(b)) defines... Section 7(b) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450e(b)) (Indian Act...

Collateral Information for Equating in Small Samples: A Preliminary Investigation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kim, Sooyeon; Livingston, Samuel A.; Lewis, Charles

2011-01-01

This article describes a preliminary investigation of an empirical Bayes (EB) procedure for using collateral information to improve equating of scores on test forms taken by small numbers of examinees. Resampling studies were done on two different forms of the same test. In each study, EB and non-EB versions of two equating methods--chained linear…

Vascular Hyperpermeability Response in Animals Systemically Exposed to Arsenic.

PubMed

Chen, Shih-Chieh; Chang, Chao-Yuah; Lin, Ming-Lu

2018-01-01

The mechanisms underlying cardiovascular diseases induced by chronic exposure to arsenic remain unclarified. The objectives of this study were to investigate whether increased vascular leakage is induced by inflammatory mustard oil in mice systemically exposed to various doses of arsenic and whether an increased vascular leakage response is still present in arsenic-fed mice after arsenic discontinuation for 2 or 6 months. ICR mice were fed water or various doses of sodium arsenite (10, 15, or 20 mg/kg/day; 5 days/week) for 8 weeks. In separate experiments, the mice were treated with sodium arsenite (20 mg/kg) for 2 or 8 weeks, followed by arsenic discontinuation for 2 or 6 months. Vascular permeability to inflammatory mustard oil was quantified using Evans blue (EB) techniques. Both arsenic-exposed and water-fed (control) mice displayed similar basal levels of EB leakage in the ears brushed with mineral oil, a vehicle of mustard oil. The levels of EB leakage induced by mustard oil in the arsenic groups fed with sodium arsenite (10 or 15 mg/kg) were similar to those of water-fed mice. However, increased levels of EB leakage in response to mustard oil stimulation were significantly higher in mice treated with sodium arsenite (20 mg/kg; high dose) than in arsenic-fed (10 or 15 mg/kg; low and middle doses) or control mice. After arsenic discontinuation for 2 or 6 months, mustard oil-induced vascular EB leakage in arsenic-fed (20 mg/kg) mice was similar to that in control mice. Dramatic increases in mustard oil-induced vascular leakage were only present in mice systemically exposed to the high arsenic dose, indicating the synergistic effects of the high arsenic dose and mustard oil.

Effects of electroacupuncture and the retinoid X receptor (RXR) signalling pathway on oligodendrocyte differentiation in the demyelinated spinal cord of rats

PubMed Central

Yang, Xiao-Hua; Ding, Ying; Li, Wen; Zhang, Rong-Yi; Wu, Jin-Lang; Ling, Eng-Ang; Wu, Wutian

2017-01-01

Objectives In spinal cord demyelination, some oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) remain in the demyelinated region but have a reduced capacity to differentiate into oligodendrocytes. This study investigated whether ‘Governor Vessel’ (GV) electroacupuncture (EA) would promote the differentiation of endogenous OPCs into oligodendrocytes by activating the retinoid X receptor γ (RXR-γ)-mediated signalling pathway. Methods Adult rats were microinjected with ethidium bromide (EB) into the T10 spinal cord to establish a model of spinal cord demyelination. EB-injected rats remained untreated (EB group, n=26) or received EA treatment (EB+EA group, n=26). A control group (n=26) was also included that underwent dural exposure without EB injection. After euthanasia at 7 days (n=5 per group), 15 days (n=8 per group) or 30 days (n=13 per group), protein expression of RXR-γ in the demyelinated spinal cord was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. In addition, OPCs derived from rat embryonic spinal cord were cultured in vitro, and exogenous 9-cis-RA (retinoic acid) and RXR-γ antagonist HX531 were administered to determine whether RA could activate RXR-γ and promote OPC differentiation. Results EA was found to increase the numbers of both OPCs and oligodendrocytes expressing RXR-γ and RALDH2, and promote remyelination in the remyelinated spinal cord. Exogenous 9-cis-RA enhanced the differentiation of OPCs into mature oligodendrocytes by activating RXR-γ. Conclusions The results suggest that EA may activate RXR signalling to promote the differentiation of OPCs into oligodendrocytes in spinal cord demyelination. PMID:27841975

Calcium sensitization in human esophageal muscle: role for RhoA kinase in maintenance of lower esophageal sphincter tone.

PubMed

Sims, Stephen M; Chrones, Tom; Preiksaitis, Harold G

2008-10-01

A rise in intracellular-free calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) concentration is important for initiating contraction of smooth muscles, and Ca(2+) sensitization involving RhoA kinase can sustain tension. We previously found that [Ca(2+)](i) was comparable in cells from the esophageal body (EB) and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscles, despite the fact that the LES maintains resting tone. We hypothesized that Ca(2+) sensitization contributes to contraction in human esophageal muscle. Tension and [Ca(2+)](i) were measured simultaneously in intact human EB and LES muscles using the ratiometric Ca(2+)-sensitive dye fura-2. Spontaneous oscillations in EB muscle tension were associated with transient elevations of [Ca(2+)](i). Carbachol caused a large increase in tension, compared with spontaneous oscillations, although the rise of [Ca(2+)](i) was similar, suggesting Ca(2+) sensitization. The RhoA-kinase blockers (R)-(+)-trans-4-(1-aminoethyl)-N-(4-pyridyl) cyclohexanecarboxamide dihydrochloride monohydrate (Y-27632) and 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-homopiperazine hydrochloride (HA-1077) reduced carbachol- and nerve-evoked contraction of the EB, accompanied by smaller reduction in the rise of [Ca(2+)](i). Protein kinase C inhibitors reduced force to a lesser extent. RhoA-kinase blockers caused concentration-dependent reduction of tension in spontaneously contracted LES muscles. Moreover, RhoA-kinase blockers reduced intrinsic nerve-evoked and carbachol-evoked contraction. However, there was no effect on nerve- or nitric oxide-mediated relaxation of LES. Ca(2+) sensitization mediated by the RhoA-kinase pathway has an important role in contraction of human EB muscles and LES tonic contraction, a feature not previously recognized.

Secure fixation of femoral bone plug with a suspensory button in anatomical anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with bone-patellar tendon-bone graft

PubMed Central

TAKETOMI, SHUJI; INUI, HIROSHI; NAKAMURA, KENSUKE; YAMAGAMI, RYOTA; TAHARA, KEITARO; SANADA, TAKAKI; MASUDA, HIRONARI; TANAKA, SAKAE; NAKAGAWA, TAKUMI

2015-01-01

Purpose the efficacy and safety of using a suspensory button for femoral fixation in anatomical anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) graft have not been established. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate bone plug integration onto the femoral socket and migration of the bone plug and the EndoButton (EB) (Smith & Nephew, Andover, MA, USA) after rectangular tunnel ACL reconstruction with BPTB autograft. Methods thirty-four patients who underwent anatomical rectangular ACL reconstruction with BPTB graft using EB for femoral fixation and in whom three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) was performed one week and one year after surgery were included in this study. Bone plug integration onto the femoral socket, bone plug migration, soft tissue interposition, EB migration and EB rotation were evaluated on 3D CT. The clinical outcome was also assessed and correlated with the imaging outcomes. Results the bone plug was integrated onto the femoral socket in all cases. The incidence of bone plug migration, soft tissue interposition, EB migration and EB rotation was 15, 15, 9 and 56%, respectively. No significant association was observed between the imaging outcomes. The postoperative mean Lysholm score was 97.1 ± 5.0 points. The postoperative side-to-side difference, evaluated using a KT-2000 arthrometer, averaged 0.5 ± 1.3 mm. There were no complications associated with EB use. Imaging outcomes did not affect the postoperative KT side-to-side difference. Conclusions the EB is considered a reliable device for femoral fixation in anatomical rectangular tunnel ACL reconstruction with BPTB autograft. Level of evidence Level IV, therapeutic case series. PMID:26889465

High-sensitivity green resist material with organic solvent-free spin-coating and tetramethylammonium hydroxide-free water-developable processes for EB and EUV lithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takei, Satoshi; Hanabata, Makoto; Oshima, Akihiro; Kashiwakura, Miki; Kozawa, Takahiro; Tagawa, Seiichi

2015-03-01

We investigated the eco-friendly electron beam (EB) and extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) lithography using a high-sensitive negative type of green resist material derived from biomass to take advantage of organic solvent-free water spin-coating and tetramethylammonium hydroxide(TMAH)-free water-developable techniques. A water developable, non-chemically amplified, high sensitive, and negative tone resist material in EB lithography was developed for environmental affair, safety, easiness of handling, and health of the working people, instead of the common developable process of TMAH. The material design concept to use the water-soluble resist material with acceptable properties such as pillar patterns with less than 100 nm in high EB sensitivity of 10 μC/cm2 and etch selectivity with a silicon-based middle layer in CF4 plasma treatment was demonstrated for EB and EUV lithography.

Modeling electric bicycle's lane-changing and retrograde behaviors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Tie-Qiao; Luo, Xiao-Feng; Zhang, Jian; Chen, Liang

2018-01-01

Recently, electric bicycle (EB) has been one important traffic tool due to its own merits. However, EB's motion behaviors (especially at a signalized/non-signalized intersection) are more complex than those of vehicle since it always has lane-changing and retrograde behaviors. In this paper, we propose a model to explore EB's lane-changing and retrograde behaviors on a road with a signalized intersection. The numerical results indicate that the proposed model can qualitatively describe each EB's lane-changing and retrograde behaviors near a signalized intersection, and that lane-changing and retrograde behaviors have prominent impacts on the signalized intersection (i.e., prominent jams and congestions occur). The above results show that EB should be controlled as a vehicle, i.e., lane-changing and retrograde behaviors at a signalized intersection should strictly be prohibited to improve the operational efficiency and traffic safety at the signalized intersection.

Evidence-Based Programs for Older Adults: A Disconnect Between U.S. National Strategy and Local Senior Center Implementation.

PubMed

Bobitt, Julie; Schwingel, Andiara

2017-01-01

While U.S. national policies have been developed to support evidence-based (EB) lifestyle programs for older adults, there has been limited research to determine the extent to which these programs actually reach local communities. This study sought to identify factors that impact the implementation of EB physical activity, nutrition, and chronic disease management programs at regional (Area Agencies on Aging [AAAs]) and community levels (senior Centers [SCs]). Interviews were conducted with directors of four AAAs and 12 SCs to understand their perspectives on EB program implementation. Narratives revealed differences between AAAs and SCs regarding knowledge about EB programs and reasons to promote and adopt these programs. The only agreement occurred when discussing concerns about funding and program inflexibility. Substantial gaps exist between how EB lifestyle programs are promoted and implemented at the regional and community levels.

Decomposition of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid by ozonation, ionizing radiation as well as ozonation combined with ionizing radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drzewicz, Przemyslaw; Trojanowicz, Marek; Zona, Robert; Solar, Sonja; Gehringer, Peter

2004-03-01

Electron beam (EB), ozone (O 3) and the combination EB/O 3 were used to study the oxidative decomposition of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in local tap water. Using an EB treatment, a dose of 10 kGy was required for complete 2,4-D degradation, and a 90% conversion of organic chlorine into chloride ions. Using additionally 1.33 mmol dm -3 O 3 during irradiation, the same result was achieved with a dose of 2.7 kGy. The yields of products acetate and formate were almost doubled by the combined EB/O 3 treatment, compared to those obtained with the same dose by EB irradiation. Gamma radiolysis showed that the degradation dose was proportional to the initial concentration of 2,4-D in the range of 50-2260 μmol dm -3.

Edge roughness evaluation method for quantifying at-size beam blur in electron-beam lithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoshizawa, Masaki; Moriya, Shigeru

2000-07-01

At-size beam blur at any given pattern size of an electron beam (EB) direct writer, HL800D, was quantified using the new edge roughness evaluation (ERE) method to optimize the electron-optical system. We characterized the two-dimensional beam-blur dependence on the electron deflection length of the EB direct writer. The results indicate that the beam blur ranged from 45 nm to 56 nm in a deflection field 2520 micrometer square. The new ERE method is based on the experimental finding that line edge roughness of a resist pattern is inversely proportional to the slope of the Gaussian-distributed quasi-beam-profile (QBP) proposed in this paper. The QBP includes effects of the beam blur, electron forward scattering, acid diffusion in chemically amplified resist (CAR), the development process, and aperture mask quality. The application the ERE method to investigating the beam-blur fluctuation demonstrates the validity of the ERE method in characterizing the electron-optical column conditions of EB projections such as SCALPEL and PREVAIL.

Coevality in Young Eclipsing Binaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simon, M.; Toraskar, Jayashree

2017-06-01

The ages of the components in very short period pre-main-sequence (PMS) binaries are essential to an understanding of their formation. We considered a sample of seven PMS eclipsing binaries (EBs) with ages 1-6.3 MY and component masses 0.2-1.4 {M}⊙ . The very high precision with which their masses and radii have been measured and the capability provided by the Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics to calculate their evolutionary tracks at exactly the measured masses allows the determination of age differences of the components independent of their luminosities and effective temperatures. We found that the components of five EBs, ASAS J052821+0338.5, Parenago 1802, JW 380, CoRoT 223992193, and UScoCTIO 5, formed within 0.3 MY of each other. The parameters for the components of V1174 Ori imply an implausible large age difference of 2.7 MY and should be reconsidered. The seventh EB in our sample, RX J0529.4+0041 fell outside the applicability of our analysis.

Effects of hanging drop culture conditions on embryoid body formation and neuronal cell differentiation using mouse embryonic stem cells: optimization of culture conditions for the formation of well-controlled embryoid bodies.

PubMed

Ohnuki, Yoshitsugu; Kurosawa, Hiroshi

2013-05-01

Hanging drop (HD) cultures were carried out with a drop volume of either 20 or 30 μl. An incubation period of 3 days was determined to be appropriate for the formation of well-controlled embryoid bodies (EBs), and the initial cell number was identified as the most critical factor in the growth and neuronal cell differentiation of EBs. Copyright © 2012 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Triggering of spin-flipping-modulated exchange bias in FeCo nanoparticles by electronic excitation

PubMed Central

Sarker, Debalaya; Bhattacharya, Saswata; Srivastava, Pankaj; Ghosh, Santanu

2016-01-01

The exchange coupling between ferromagnetic (FM)-antiferromagnetic (AF) interfaces is a key element of modern spintronic devices. We here introduce a new way of triggering exchange bias (EB) in swift heavy ion (SHI) irradiated FeCo-SiO2 films, which is a manifestation of spin-flipping at high irradiation fluence. The elongation of FeCo nanoparticles (NPs) in SiO2 matrix gives rise to perpendicular magnetic anisotropy at intermediate fluence. However, a clear shift in hysteresis loop is evident at the highest fluence. This reveals the existence of an AF exchange pinning domain in the NPs, which is identified not to be oxide shell from XANES analysis. Thermal spike calculations along with first-principles based simulations under the framework of density functional theory (DFT) demonstrate that spin flipping of 3d valence electrons is responsible for formation of these AF domains inside the FM NPs. EXAFS experiments at Fe and Co K-edges further unravel that spin-flipping in highest fluence irradiated film results in reduced bond lengths. The results highlight the possibility of miniaturization of magnetic storage devices by using irradiated NPs instead of conventionally used FM-AF multilayers. PMID:27991552

An Evaluation of Empirical Bayes's Estimation of Value-Added Teacher Performance Measures

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Guarino, Cassandra M.; Maxfield, Michelle; Reckase, Mark D.; Thompson, Paul N.; Wooldridge, Jeffrey M.

2015-01-01

Empirical Bayes's (EB) estimation has become a popular procedure used to calculate teacher value added, often as a way to make imprecise estimates more reliable. In this article, we review the theory of EB estimation and use simulated and real student achievement data to study the ability of EB estimators to properly rank teachers. We compare the…

Enhanced backscatter of optical beams reflected in turbulent air.

PubMed

Nelson, W; Palastro, J P; Wu, C; Davis, C C

2015-07-01

Optical beams propagating through air acquire phase distortions from turbulent fluctuations in the refractive index. While these distortions are usually deleterious to propagation, beams reflected in a turbulent medium can undergo a local recovery of spatial coherence and intensity enhancement referred to as enhanced backscatter (EBS). Here we validate the commonly used phase screen simulation with experimental results obtained from lab-scale experiments. We also verify theoretical predictions of the dependence of the turbulence strength on EBS. Finally, we present a novel algorithm called the "tilt-shift method" which allows detection of EBS in frozen turbulence, reducing the time required to detect the EBS signal.

A novel KRT5 mutation associated with generalized severe epidermolysis bullosa simplex in a 2-year-old Chinese boy

PubMed Central

Zhang, Jia; Yan, Ming; Liang, Jianying; Li, Ming; Yao, Zhirong

2016-01-01

Mutations in keratin 5 (KRT5) or KRT14 genes are responsible for the most severe form of epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS), which is EBS generalized severe (EBS-gen sev). To date, only four pathogenic mutations (p.Arg165Ser and p.Lys199Asn in KRT5; p.Arg125Cys and p.Arg125His in KRT14) have been reported to be responsible for EBS-gen sev in the Chinese population. In the present study, a 2-year-old Chinese boy was clinically suspected to suffer from EBS, and thus Sanger sequencing was performed in the extracted genomic DNA samples from the patient, his parents and 100 healthy controls. A novel de novo heterozygous missense mutation c.503A>G (p.Glu168Gly) located at the N-terminal end segment of the 1A domain in KRT5 was identified by molecular analysis. In silico analysis tools were used to predict the pathogenicity of the novel missense mutation. A diagnosis of EBS-gen sev was thus confirmed according to the clinical presentations and molecular results. PMID:27882080

Ebselen induces mitochondrial permeability transition because of its interaction with adenine nucleotide translocase.

PubMed

Pavón, Natalia; Correa, Francisco; Buelna-Chontal, Mabel; Hernández-Esquivel, Luz; Chávez, Edmundo

2015-10-15

Mitochondrial permeability transition is a process established through massive Ca(2+) load in addition to an inducer reagent. Ebselen (Ebs), an antioxidant seleno compound, has been introduced as a reagent which inhibits mitochondrial dysfunction induced by permeability transition. Paradoxically enough, it has been shown that Ebs may also be able to induce the opening of the mitochondrial non-selective pores. This study was performed with the purpose of establishing the membrane system involved in Ebs-induced pore opening. Permeability transition was appraised by analyzing the following: i) matrix Ca(2+) release, and mitochondrial swelling, ii) efflux of cytochrome c, and iii) the inhibition of superoxide dismutase. All of these adverse reactions were inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide and cyclosporin A. At concentrations from 5 to 20 μM, we found that Ebs induces non-specific membrane permeability. Remarkably, Ebs blocks the binding of the fluorescent reagent eosin-5-maleimide to the thiol groups of the adenine nucleotide translocase. Based on the above, it is tempting to hypothesize that Ebs induces pore opening through its binding to the ADP/ATP carrier. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Electron-Beam Atomic Spectroscopy for In Situ Measurements of Melt Composition for Refractory Metals: Analysis of Fundamental Physics and Plasma Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gasper, Paul Joseph; Apelian, Diran

2015-04-01

Electron-beam (EB) melting is used for the processing of refractory metals, such as Ta, Nb, Mo, and W. These metals have high value and are critical to many industries, including the semiconductor, aerospace, and nuclear industries. EB melting can also purify secondary feedstock, enabling the recovery and recycling of these materials. Currently, there is no method for measuring melt composition in situ during EB melting. Optical emission spectroscopy of the plasma generated by EB impact with vapor above the melt, a technique here termed electron-beam atomic spectroscopy, can be used to measure melt composition in situ, allowing for analysis of melt dynamics, facilitating improvement of EB melting processes and aiding recycling and recovery of these critical and high-value metals. This paper reviews the physics of the plasma generation by EB impact by characterizing the densities and energies of electrons, ions, and neutrals, and describing the interactions between them. Then several plasma models are introduced and their suitability to this application analyzed. Lastly, a potential method for calibration-free composition measurement is described and the challenges for implementation addressed.

Distribution and permeability of capillaries at the skin of the conception vessel and the governor vessel in healthy rabbits.

PubMed

Zhou, Dan; Guo, Yi; Guo, Yong-Ming; Zhang, Sai; Pan, Ping

2011-12-01

To investigate the distribution and permeability of blood vessels on the Conception Vessel and the Governor Vessel in the physiological state. Evans blue (EB) solution was injected into the marginal ear vein of healthy rabbits. Three hours after injection, the rabbits were sacrificed and the skin on the Conception Vessel and the Governor Vessel and the corresponding bilateral non-channels was collected. EB was extracted with 7:3 acetone: physiological saline, and the absorbance of EB at each skin tissue was measured with a spectrophotometer. The A value of EB absorbance at the Conception Vessel on the abdominal skin was lower than that of the corresponding bilateral non-channels with a statistically significant difference (P< 0.01). The A value of EB absorbance at the Governor Vessel on the back was higher than that of the corresponding bilateral non-channels (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the A value of EB absorbance between the bilateral non-channels of the abdomen and the back (P > 0.05). There were differences in capillary distribution and permeability between the Conception Vessel, the Governor Vessel and the corresponding bilateral non-meridians.

Evaluation of different methods to detect microbial hygiene indicators relevant in the dairy industry.

PubMed

Hervert, C J; Alles, A S; Martin, N H; Boor, K J; Wiedmann, M

2016-09-01

It is estimated that 19% of the total food loss from retail, food service, and households comes from dairy products. A portion of this loss may be attributed to premature spoilage of products due to lapses in sanitation and postpasteurization contamination at the processing level. Bacterial groups including coliforms, Enterobacteriaceae (EB), and total gram-negative organisms represent indicators of poor sanitation or postpasteurization contamination in dairy products worldwide. Although Petrifilms (3M, St. Paul, MN) and traditional selective media are commonly used for the testing of these indicator organism groups throughout the US dairy industry, new rapid methods are also being developed. This project was designed to evaluate the ability of different methods to detect coliforms, EB, and other gram-negative organisms isolated from various dairy products and dairy processing environments. Using the Food Microbe Tracker database, a collection of 211 coliform, EB, and gram-negative bacterial isolates representing 25 genera associated with dairy products was assembled for this study. We tested the selected isolates in pure culture (at levels of approximately 15 to 300 cells/test) to evaluate the ability of 3M Coliform Petrifilm to detect coliforms, 3M Enterobacteriaceae Petrifilm, violet red bile glucose agar, and an alternative flow cytometry-based method (bioMérieux D-Count, Marcy-l'Étoile, France) to detect EB, and crystal violet tetrazolium agar to detect total gram-negative organisms. Of the 211 gram-negative isolates tested, 82% (174/211) had characteristic growth on crystal violet tetrazolium agar. Within this set of 211 gram-negative organisms, 175 isolates representing 19 EB genera were screened for detection using EB selective/differential testing methods. We observed positive results for 96% (168/175), 90% (158/175), and 86% (151/175) of EB isolates when tested on EB Petrifilm, violet red bile glucose agar, and D-Count, respectively; optimization of the cut-off thresholds for the D-Count may further improve its sensitivity and specificity, but will require additional data and may vary in food matrices. Additionally, 74% (129/175) of the EB isolates tested positive as coliforms. The data obtained from this study identify differences in detection between 5 microbial hygiene indicator tests and highlight the benefits of EB and total gram-negative testing methods. Copyright © 2016 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Ethambutol neutralizes lysosomes and causes lysosomal zinc accumulation.

PubMed

Yamada, Daisuke; Saiki, Shinji; Furuya, Norihiko; Ishikawa, Kei-Ichi; Imamichi, Yoko; Kambe, Taiho; Fujimura, Tsutomu; Ueno, Takashi; Koike, Masato; Sumiyoshi, Katsuhiko; Hattori, Nobutaka

2016-02-26

Ethambutol is a common medicine used for the treatment of tuberculosis, which can have serious side effects, such as retinal and liver dysfunction. Although ethambutol has been reported to impair autophagic flux in rat retinal cells, the precise molecular mechanism remains unclear. Using various mammalian cell lines, we showed that ethambutol accumulated in autophagosomes and vacuolated lysosomes, with marked Zn(2+) accumulation. The enlarged lysosomes were neutralized and were infiltrated with Zn(2+) accumulations in the lysosomes, with simultaneous loss of acidification. These results suggest that EB neutralizes lysosomes leading to insufficient autophagy, implying that some of the adverse effects associated with EB in various organs may be of this mechanism. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of dry period length and dietary energy source on milk yield, energy balance, and metabolic status of dairy cows over 2 consecutive years: Effects in the second year.

PubMed

Chen, J; Remmelink, G J; Gross, J J; Bruckmaier, R M; Kemp, B; van Knegsel, A T M

2016-06-01

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effect of dry period (DP) length on milk yield, energy balance (EB), and metabolic status in cows fed a lipogenic or glucogenic diet in the second year after implementation of DP and dietary treatments. Holstein-Friesian dairy cows (n=167) were assigned randomly to 1 of 3 DP lengths (0, 30, or 60d) and 1 of 2 early lactation diets (glucogenic or lipogenic) for 2 consecutive years. Results of the first year were reported previously. In the second year, 19 cows in the 0-d DP group were attributed to a new group (0→67d DP) because these cows had a milk yield of <4kg/d at least 30d before expected calving date and were dried off. Milk yield was recorded and EB was calculated from wk -8 to 9 relative to calving. Blood samples were taken weekly from wk -3 to 8 relative to calving. Liver samples were taken in wk -2, 2, and 4 relative to calving. At the onset of lactation, cows with a 0-d or 0→67-d DP had greater body condition score (BCS) than cows with a 60-d DP. During the first 9wk, cows with a 0- or 30-d DP produced 5.0 and 4.3kg less milk per day, respectively, but had similar EB compared with cows with a 60-d DP. Cows with a 0- or 30-d DP produced additional milk precalving, which could compensate milk yield losses in the first 9wk postcalving. Cows with a 0-d DP did not have milk yield losses or improve EB in the second year as much as in the first year. Cows with a 0-d DP had greater plasma insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and lower liver triacylglycerol concentrations than cows with other DP lengths. Cows with a 0→67-d DP had lower EB, and greater plasma free fatty acids (FFA) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentrations than cows with other DP lengths. Feeding a glucogenic diet increased plasma glucose, IGF-I, and insulin concentrations, and decreased plasma FFA, BHB, and urea concentrations compared with a lipogenic diet, independent of DP length. In conclusion, omitting the DP or feeding a glucogenic diet improved metabolic status in early lactation of the second year after implementation of DP length and dietary treatments, although effects of omitting the DP were less pronounced in the second year than in the first year. The less pronounced improvement of EB in the second year was related to the high BCS at the onset of lactation and reduced milk yield losses in cows with a 0-d DP. Copyright © 2016 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Fgf3 and Fgf10a work in concert to promote maturation of the epibranchial placodes in zebrafish.

PubMed

McCarroll, Matthew N; Nechiporuk, Alex V

2013-01-01

Essential cellular components of the paired sensory organs of the vertebrate head are derived from transient thickenings of embryonic ectoderm known as cranial placodes. The epibranchial (EB) placodes give rise to sensory neurons of the EB ganglia that are responsible for relaying visceral sensations form the periphery to the central nervous system. Development of EB placodes and subsequent formation of EB ganglia is a multistep process regulated by various extrinsic factors, including fibroblast growth factors (Fgfs). We discovered that two Fgf ligands, Fgf3 and Fgf10a, cooperate to promote EB placode development. Whereas EB placodes are induced in the absence of Fgf3 and Fgf10a, they fail to express placode specific markers Pax2a and Sox3. Expression analysis and mosaic rescue experiments demonstrate that Fgf3 signal is derived from the endoderm, whereas Fgf10a is emitted from the lateral line system and the otic placode. Further analyses revealed that Fgf3 and Fgf10a activities are not required for cell proliferation or survival, but are required for placodal cells to undergo neurogenesis. Based on these data, we conclude that a combined loss of these Fgf factors results in a failure of the EB placode precursors to initiate a transcriptional program needed for maturation and subsequent neurogenesis. These findings highlight the importance and complexity of reiterated Fgf signaling during cranial placode formation and subsequent sensory organ development.

Fgf3 and Fgf10a Work in Concert to Promote Maturation of the Epibranchial Placodes in Zebrafish

PubMed Central

McCarroll, Matthew N.; Nechiporuk, Alex V.

2013-01-01

Essential cellular components of the paired sensory organs of the vertebrate head are derived from transient thickenings of embryonic ectoderm known as cranial placodes. The epibranchial (EB) placodes give rise to sensory neurons of the EB ganglia that are responsible for relaying visceral sensations form the periphery to the central nervous system. Development of EB placodes and subsequent formation of EB ganglia is a multistep process regulated by various extrinsic factors, including fibroblast growth factors (Fgfs). We discovered that two Fgf ligands, Fgf3 and Fgf10a, cooperate to promote EB placode development. Whereas EB placodes are induced in the absence of Fgf3 and Fgf10a, they fail to express placode specific markers Pax2a and Sox3. Expression analysis and mosaic rescue experiments demonstrate that Fgf3 signal is derived from the endoderm, whereas Fgf10a is emitted from the lateral line system and the otic placode. Further analyses revealed that Fgf3 and Fgf10a activities are not required for cell proliferation or survival, but are required for placodal cells to undergo neurogenesis. Based on these data, we conclude that a combined loss of these Fgf factors results in a failure of the EB placode precursors to initiate a transcriptional program needed for maturation and subsequent neurogenesis. These findings highlight the importance and complexity of reiterated Fgf signaling during cranial placode formation and subsequent sensory organ development. PMID:24358375

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

Caporuscio, Florie Andre; Norskog, Katherine Elizabeth; Maner, James

Over the past five years the Used Fuel Campaign has investigated Engineered Barrier Systems (EBS) at higher heat loads (up to 300°C) and pressure (150 bar). This past year experimental work was hindered due to a revamping of the hydrothermal lab. Regardless, two experiments were run this past year, EBS-18 and EBS-19. EBS-18 was run using Low Carbon Steel (LCS) and opalinus clay in addition to the bentonite and opalinus brine. Many of the past results were confirmed in EBS-18, such as the restriction of illite formation due to the bulk chemistry, pyrite degradation, and zeolite formation dependent on themore » bentonite and opalinus clay. The LCS show vast amounts of pit corrosion (over 100μm of corrosion in six weeks), leading a corrosion rate of 1083 μm/year. In addition, a mineral goethite, an iron-bearing hydroxide, formed in the pits of the LCS. Preliminary results from EBS-19 water chemistry are included but SEM imaging, micro probe and XRD are still needed for further results. Copper corrosion was investigated further and over 850 measurements were taken. It was concluded that pitting and pyrite degradation drastically increase the corrosion rate from 0.12 to 0.39 μm/day. However, the growth of a layer of the mineral chalcocite is thought to subdue the corrosion rate to 0.024 μm/day as observed in the EBS-13, a sixth month experiment. This document presents the findings of this past year.« less

Ultrastructural characteristics of three undifferentiated mouse embryonic stem cell lines and their differentiated three-dimensional derivatives: a comparative study.

PubMed

Alharbi, Suzan; Elsafadi, Mona; Mobarak, Mohammed; Alrwili, Ali; Vishnubalaji, Radhakrishnan; Manikandan, Muthurangan; Al-Qudsi, Fatma; Karim, Saleh; Al-Nabaheen, May; Aldahmash, Abdullah; Mahmood, Amer

2014-04-01

The fine structures of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) grown as colonies and differentiated in three-dimensional (3D) culture as embryoid bodies (EBs) were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. Undifferentiated mESCs expressed markers that proved their pluripotency. Differentiated EBs expressed different differentiation marker proteins from the three germ layers. The ultrastructure of mESCs revealed the presence of microvilli on the cell surfaces, large and deep infolded nuclei, low cytoplasm-to-nuclear ratios, frequent lipid droplets, nonprominent Golgi apparatus, and smooth endoplasmic reticulum. In addition, we found prominent juvenile mitochondria and free ribosomes-rich cytoplasm in mESCs. Ultrastructure of the differentiated mESCs as EBs showed different cell arrangements, which indicate the different stages of EB development and differentiation. The morphologies of BALB/c and 129 W9.5 EBs were very similar at day 4, whereas C57BL/6 EBs were distinct from the others at day 4. This finding suggested that differentiation of EBs from different cell lines occurs in the same pattern but not at the same rate. Conversely, the ultrastructure results of BALB/c and 129 W9.5 ESCs revealed differentiating features, such as the dilated profile of a rough endoplasmic reticulum. In addition, we found low expression levels of undifferentiated markers on the outer cells of BALB/c and 129 W9.5 mESC colonies, which suggests a faster differentiation potential.

The microtubule associated protein END BINDING 1 represses root responses to mechanical cues.

PubMed

Gleeson, Laura; Squires, Shannon; Bisgrove, Sherryl R

2012-05-01

The ability of roots to navigate around rocks and other debris as they grow through the soil requires a mechanism for detecting and responding to input from both touch and gravity sensing systems. The microtubule associated protein END BINDING 1b (EB1b) is involved in this process as mutants have defects responding to combinations of touch and gravity cues. This study investigates the role of EB1b in root responses to mechanical cues. We find that eb1b-1 mutant roots exhibit an increase over wild type in their response to touch and that the expression of EB1b genes in transgenic mutants restores the response to wild type levels, indicating that EB1b is an inhibitor of the response. Mutant roots are also hypersensitive to increased levels of mechanical stimulation, revealing the presence of another process that activates the response. These findings are supported by analyses of double mutants between eb1b-1 and seedlings carrying mutations in PHOSPHOGLUCOMUTASE (PGM), ALTERED RESPONSE TO GRAVITY1 (ARG1), or TOUCH3 (TCH3), genes that encode proteins involved in gravity sensing, signaling, or touch responses, respectively. A model is proposed in which root responses to mechanical cues are modulated by at least two competing regulatory processes, one that promotes touch-mediated growth and another, regulated by EB1b, which dampens root responses to touch and enhances gravitropism. © 2012. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

A novel Salmonella strain inactivated by a regulated autolysis system and expressing the B subunit of Shiga toxin 2e efficiently elicits immune responses and confers protection against virulent Stx2e-producing Escherichia coli.

PubMed

Won, Gayeon; Kim, Tae Hoon; Lee, John Hwa

2017-02-01

Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) inactivated by a regulated autolysis system was genetically engineered to express the homo-pentameric B subunit of Shiga toxin 2e (Stx2eB) on its surface. To prepare a strain able to yield autolyzed Salmonella bearing Stx2eB, the plasmid pJHL184 harboring stx 2eB gene was transformed into the attenuated S. Typhimurium strain, JOL1454. Stx2eB subcloned into the antigen delivery cassette of the plasmid was expressed as fusion protein with the outer membrane protein RESULTS: The expression of Stx2eB fused to the signal peptide in JOL1454 was validated by immunoblot analysis. To determine the immunogenicity of JOL1454, female BALB/c mice were intramuscularly injected with 1 × 10 8  CFU of the inactivated cells at weeks 0 and 2. Significantly elevated levels of IgG and IgA specific to Stx2eB was observed at weeks 4 and 6 post-immunization (PI) (P <0.05). Proportion of CD3 + CD4 + T lymphocyte subpopulation was also significantly augmented in in vivo stimulated splenocytes relative to that in the control group. The increased titers of IgG1 and IgG2a, and of immunomodulatory cytokines indicated that the immunization elicited Th1 and Th2 immune responses. Further, immunomodulatory cytokine genes (IL-6, IL-17A, IL21 and JOL1454) efficiently upregulated in naïve porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) pulsed with JOL1454. At week 6 PI, following the challenge with a virulent Stx2e-producing Escherichia coli in the mice, all immunized mice survived whereas approximately 30% of the mice in the control group died. JOL1454 provided superior immunogenicity and effective protection against challenge with a sublethal dose, which demonstrates its potential as a candidate vaccine against edema disease.

One or many? Which and how many parenting variables should be targeted in interventions to reduce children's externalizing behavior?

PubMed

Loop, Laurie; Mouton, Bénédicte; Stievenart, Marie; Roskam, Isabelle

2017-05-01

This research compared the efficacy of two parenting interventions that vary according to the number and the nature of variables in reducing preschoolers' externalizing behavior (EB). The goal was to identify which parenting intervention format (one-variable versus two-variable) caused higher behavioral adjustment in children. The first was a one-variable intervention manipulating parental self-efficacy beliefs. The second was a two-variable intervention manipulating both parents' self-efficacy beliefs and emotion coaching practices. The two interventions shared exactly the same design, consisting of eight parent group sessions. Effect on children's EB and observed behaviors were evaluated through a multi-method assessment at three points (pre-test, post-test and follow-up). The results highlighted that compared to the waitlist condition, the two intervention formats tended to cause a significant reduction in children's EB reported by their parent. However, the one-variable intervention was found to lead to a greater decrease in children's EB at follow-up. The opposite was reported for children's observed behavior, which was improved to a greater extent in the two-variable intervention at post-test and follow-up. The results illustrated that interventions' format cannot be considered as purely interchangeable since their impact on children's behavior modification is different. The results are discussed for their research and clinical implications. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Enhancing the oxidation resistance of graphite by applying an SiC coat with crack healing at an elevated temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Jae-Won; Kim, Eung-Seon; Kim, Jae-Un; Kim, Yootaek; Windes, William E.

2016-08-01

The potential of reducing the oxidation of the supporting graphite components during normal and/or accident conditions in the Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) design has been studied. In this work efforts have been made to slow the oxidation process of the graphite with a thin SiC coating (∼ 10 μm). Upon heating at ≥ 1173 K in air, the spallations and cracks were formed in the dense columnar structured SiC coating layer grown on the graphite with a functionally gradient electron beam physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD. In accordance with the formations of these defects, the sample was vigorously oxidized, leaving only the SiC coating layer. Then, efforts were made to heal the surface defects using additional EB-PVD with ion beam bombardment and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The EB-PVD did not effectively heal the cracks. But, the CVD was more appropriate for crack healing, likely due to its excellent crack line filling capability with a high density and high aspect ratio. It took ∼ 34 min for the 20% weight loss of the CVD crack healed sample in the oxidation test with annealing at 1173 K, while it took ∼ 8 min for the EB-PVD coated sample, which means it took ∼4 times longer at 1173 K for the same weight reduction in this experimental set-up.

The role of the estrogen receptor α in the medial preoptic area in sexual incentive motivation, proceptivity and receptivity, anxiety, and wheel running in female rats.

PubMed

Spiteri, Thierry; Ogawa, Sonoko; Musatov, Sergei; Pfaff, Donald W; Agmo, Anders

2012-04-21

Ovariectomized females were given an infusion in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) of a viral vector carrying either a shRNA directed against the estrogen receptor α (ERα) or luciferase. The females were subjected to a test for sexual incentive motivation immediately followed by a test for receptivity and proceptive behaviors. Two weeks later they were tested in the light/dark choice procedure, and after another 2 weeks they were subjected to a test in a brightly lit open field. Finally, the females were given free access to a running wheel for 88h. The females were treated with estradiol benzoate (EB), 18 or 1.5μg/kg, in randomized order 52h before each test except the running wheel. In that experiment, they were given EB 48h after introduction into the wheel cage. They were given progesterone, 1mg/rat, about 4h before all tests, except the running wheel. The shRNA reduced the number of ERα with 83%. Females with few ERα in the MPOA showed increased lordosis quotient after the 1.5μg/kg dose of EB. There was no effect on proceptive behaviors or on rejections. When given the 18μg/kg EB dose, there was no difference between females with few preoptic ERα and controls. In the test for sexual incentive motivation, females with few preoptic ERα approached the castrated male incentive more than controls, regardless of EB dose. They also moved a shorter distance. In the light/dark choice test as well as in the open field, females with few ERα in the MPOA showed signs of reduced fear/anxiety, since they spent more time in the light part of the dark/light box and in the center of the open field. Finally, the data from the running wheel showed that females with few preoptic ERα failed to show enhanced activity after treatment with EB. These data show that the preoptic ERα inhibits lordosis in females with an intermediate level of receptivity while it fails to do so in fully receptive females. The ERα in the MPOA seems to be necessary for selective approach to a sexual incentive. Finally, activation of this receptor appears to have anxiogenic effects in the procedures employed here. A hypothesis for how all these actions of the preoptic ERα contributes to efficient reproductive behavior is outlined. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

76 FR 73684 - Notice of a Change in Status of an Extended Benefit (EB) Period for New York and Maryland

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-29

... the last notice regarding the States EB status: Based on the data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on September 16, 2011, the seasonally-adjusted total unemployment rate for New York rose to meet... began October 2. The trigger notice covering state eligibility for the EB program can be found at: http...

Distinct associations between energy balance and the sleep characteristics slow wave sleep and rapid eye movement sleep.

PubMed

Rutters, F; Gonnissen, H K; Hursel, R; Lemmens, S G; Martens, E A; Westerterp-Plantenga, M S

2012-10-01

Epidemiologically, an inverse relationship between body mass index (BMI) and sleep duration is observed. Intra-individual variance in the amount of slow wave sleep (SWS) or rapid eye movement (REM) sleep has been related to variance of metabolic and endocrine parameters, which are risk factors for the disturbance of energy balance (EB). To investigate inter-individual relationships between EB (EB= energy intake-energy expenditure∣, MJ/24 h), SWS or REM sleep, and relevant parameters in normal-weight men during two 48 h stays in the controlled environment of a respiration chamber. A total of 16 men (age 23±3.7 years, BMI 23.9±1.9 kg m(-2)) stayed in the respiration chamber twice for 48 h to assure EB. Electroencephalography was used to monitor sleep (2330-0730 hrs). Hunger and fullness were scored by visual analog scales; mood was determined by State Trait Anxiety Index-state and food reward by liking and wanting. Baseline blood and salivary samples were collected before breakfast. Subjects were fed in EB, except for the last dinner, when energy intake was ad libitum. The subjects slept on average 441.8±49 min per night, and showed high within-subject reliability for the amount of SWS and REM sleep. Linear regression analyses showed that EB was inversely related to the amount of SWS (r=-0.43, P<0.03), and positively related to the amount of REM sleep (r=0.40, P<0.05). Relevant parameters such as hunger, reward, stress and orexigenic hormone concentrations were related to overeating, as well as to the amount of SWS and REM sleep, however, after inclusion of these parameters in a multiple regression, the amount of SWS and REM sleep did not add to the explained variance of EB, which suggests that due to their individual associations, these EB parameters are mediator variables. A positive EB due to overeating, was explained by a smaller amount of SWS and higher amount of REM sleep, mediated by hunger, fullness, State Trait Anxiety Index-state scores, glucose/insulin ratio, and ghrelin and cortisol concentrations.

Strategic plant choices can alleviate climate change impacts: A review.

PubMed

Espeland, Erin K; Kettenring, Karin M

2018-09-15

Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) uses biodiversity and ecosystem services to reduce climate change impacts to local communities. Because plants can alleviate the abiotic and biotic stresses of climate change, purposeful plant choices could improve adaptation. However, there has been no systematic review of how plants can be applied to alleviate effects of climate change. Here we describe how plants can modify climate change effects by altering biological and physical processes. Plant effects range from increasing soil stabilization to reducing the impact of flooding and storm surges. Given the global scale of plant-related activities such as farming, landscaping, forestry, conservation, and restoration, plants can be selected strategically-i.e., planting and maintaining particular species with desired impacts-to simultaneously restore degraded ecosystems, conserve ecosystem function, and help alleviate effects of climate change. Plants are a tool for EbA that should be more broadly and strategically utilized. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Effects of LEO Environment on Tensile Properties of PEEK Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakamura, Takashi; Nakamura, Hiroshi; Shimamura, Hiroyuki

2009-01-01

To clarify the effects of space environment on mechanical properties of polymer, exposure experiments were conducted utilizing the International Space Station Russian Service Module. Poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) films under tensile stress were exposed to low Earth orbit (LEO) environment, and reference samples were irradiated with atomic oxygen (AO), electron beam (EB), and ultraviolet light (UV) in ground facilities. By comparing the results of flight and ground tests, the degradation behavior and the influential factors in LEO were investigated. The following results were obtained. (1) UV was found to be the harshest factor in LEO on tensile properties, since it decreased elongation to 15% of pristine sample after 46-months exposure. (2) AO in LEO eroded the specimen surface with a cone-like morphology and reduced the thickness; however, it had no significant effect on tensile properties. (3) EB irradiation in LEO had no measurable effects on the material properties.

Substance P Antagonist CP-96345 Blocks Lung Vascular Leakage and Inflammation More Effectively than its Stereoisomer CP-96344 in a Mouse Model of Smoke Inhalation and Burn Injury

PubMed Central

Jacob, Sam; Deyo, Donald J.; Cox, Robert A.; Jacob, Reuben K; Herndon, David N.; Traber, Daniel L.; Hawkins, Hal K.

2010-01-01

The recently developed murine model of smoke inhalation and burn (SB) injury was used to study the effect of the substance-P antagonist CP96345. C57BL/6 mice were pretreated with an i.v. dose of a specific NK-1 receptor antagonist, CP9635, or its inactive enantiomer, CP96344, (10 mg/Kg) 1 hr prior to SB injury per protocol (n = 5). Mice were anesthetized and exposed to cooled cotton smoke, 2X 30 sec, followed by a 40% total body surface area flame burn per protocol. At 48 hr after SB injury Evans Blue (EB) dye and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured in lung after vascular perfusion. Lungs were also analyzed for hemoglobin (Hb) and wet/dry weight ratio. In the current study, CP96345 pretreatment caused a significant decrease in wet/dry weight ratio (23%, *p = 0.048), EB (31%, *p = 0.047), Hb (46%, *p = 0.002) and MPO (54%, *p = 0.037) levels following SB injury compared to animals with SB injury alone. CP-96344 pretreatment caused an insignificant decrease in wet/dry weight ratio (14%, p=0.18), EB (16%, p = 0.134), Hb (9%, p = 0.39) and an insignificant increase in MPO (4%, p =0.79) as compared to mice that received SB injury alone. As expected, levels of EB, Hb, MPO, and wet/dry weight ratios were all significantly (p < 0.05) increased 48 hr following SB injury alone compared to respective sham animals. In conclusion, the current study indicates that pretreatment with specific NK-1R antagonist CP-96345 attenuates the lung injury and inflammation induced by SB injury in mice. PMID:20201741

Early Life Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals Causes Lifelong Molecular Reprogramming of the Hypothalamus and Premature Reproductive Aging

PubMed Central

Walker, Deena M.; Zama, Aparna M.; Armenti, AnnMarie E.; Uzumcu, Mehmet

2011-01-01

Gestational exposure to the estrogenic endocrine disruptor methoxychlor (MXC) disrupts the female reproductive system at the molecular, physiological, and behavioral levels in adulthood. The current study addressed whether perinatal exposure to endocrine disruptors reprograms expression of a suite of genes expressed in the hypothalamus that control reproductive function and related these molecular changes to premature reproductive aging. Fischer rats were exposed daily for 12 consecutive days to vehicle (dimethylsulfoxide), estradiol benzoate (EB) (1 mg/kg), and MXC (low dose, 20 μg/kg or high dose, 100 mg/kg), beginning on embryonic d 19 through postnatal d 7. The perinatally exposed females were aged to 16–17 months and monitored for reproductive senescence. After euthanasia, hypothalamic regions [preoptic area (POA) and medial basal hypothalamus] were dissected for real-time PCR of gene expression or pyrosequencing to assess DNA methylation of the Esr1 gene. Using a 48-gene PCR platform, two genes (Kiss1 and Esr1) were significantly different in the POA of endocrine-disrupting chemical-exposed rats compared with vehicle-exposed rats after Bonferroni correction. Fifteen POA genes were up-regulated by at least 50% in EB or high-dose MXC compared with vehicle. To understand the epigenetic basis of the increased Esr1 gene expression, we performed bisulfite conversion and pyrosequencing of the Esr1 promoter. EB-treated rats had significantly higher percentage of methylation at three CpG sites in the Esr1 promoter compared with control rats. Together with these molecular effects, perinatal MXC and EB altered estrous cyclicity and advanced reproductive senescence. Thus, early life exposure to endocrine disruptors has lifelong effects on neuroendocrine gene expression and DNA methylation, together with causing the advancement of reproductive senescence. PMID:22016562

The orexigenic effect of melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is influenced by sex and stage of the estrous cycle

PubMed Central

Santollo, Jessica; Eckel, Lisa A.

2008-01-01

Recently, it was shown that that the orexigenic effect of melanin concentrating hormone (MCH) is attenuated by estradiol treatment in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. This suggests that female rats may be less responsive than male rats to the behavioral effects of MCH. To investigate this hypothesis, the effects of lateral ventricular infusions of MCH on food intake, water intake, meal patterns, and running wheel activity were examined in male and female rats. To further characterize the impact of estradiol on MCH-induced food intake, female rats were OVX and tested with and without 17-β-estradiol benzoate (EB) replacement. In support of our hypothesis, food and water intakes following MCH treatment were greater in male rats, relative to female rats. Specifically, the orexigenic effect of MCH was maximal in male rats and minimal in EB-treated OVX rats. In both sexes, the orexigenic effect of MCH was mediated by a selective increase in meal size, which was attenuated in EB-treated OVX rats. MCH induced a short-term (2 h) decrease in wheel running that, unlike its effects on ingestive behavior, was similar in males and females. Thus, estradiol decreases some, but not all, of the behavioral effects of MCH. To examine the influence of endogenous estradiol, food intake was monitored following MCH treatment in ovarian-intact, cycling rats. As predicted by our findings in OVX rats, the orexigenic effect of MCH was attenuated in estrous rats, relative to diestrous rats. We conclude that the female rat’s reduced sensitivity to the orexigenic effect of MCH may contribute to sex- and estrous cycle-related differences in food intake. PMID:18191424

Photometric Follow-up of Eclipsing Binary Candidates from KELT and Kepler

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garcia Soto, Aylin; Rodriguez, Joseph E.; Bieryla, Allyson; KELT survey

2018-01-01

Eclipsing binaries (EBs) are incredibly valuable, as they provide the opportunity to precisely measure fundamental stellar parameters without the need for stellar models. Therefore, we can use EBs to directly test stellar evolution models. Constraining the stellar properties of stars is important since they directly influence our understanding of any planets orbiting them. Using the Harvard University's Clay 0.4m telescope and Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory’s 1.2m telescope on Mount Hopkins, Arizona, we conducted follow-up multi-band photometric observations of EB candidates from the Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescope (KELT) survey and the Kepler mission. We will present our follow-up observations and AstroImageJ analysis on these 5 EB systems.

Dexamethasone facilitates erythropoiesis in murine embryonic stem cells differentiating into hematopoietic cells in vitro

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

Srivastava, Anand S.; Kaushal, Sharmeela; Mishra, Rangnath

2006-07-28

Differentiating embryonic stem (ES) cells are increasingly emerging as an important source of hematopoietic progenitors with a potential to be useful for both basic and clinical research applications. It has been suggested that dexamethasone facilitates differentiation of ES cells towards erythrocytes but the mechanism responsible for sequential expression of genes regulating this process are not well-understood. Therefore, we in vitro induced differentiation of murine ES cells towards erythropoiesis and studied the sequential expression of a set of genes during the process. We hypothesized that dexamethasone-activates its cognate nuclear receptors inducing up-regulation of erythropoietic genes such as GATA-1, Flk-1, Epo-R, andmore » direct ES cells towards erythropoietic differentiation. ES cells were cultured in primary hematopoietic differentiation media containing methyl-cellulose, IMDM, IL-3, IL-6, and SCF to promote embryoid body (EB) formation. Total RNA of day 3, 5, and 9-old EBs was isolated for gene expression studies using RT-PCR. Cells from day 9 EBs were subjected to secondary differentiation using three different cytokines and growth factors combinations: (1) SCF, EPO, dexamethasone, and IGF; (2) SCF, IL-3, IL-6, and TPO; and (3) SCF IL-3, IL-6, TPO, and EPO. Total RNA from day 12 of secondary differentiated ES cells was isolated to study the gene expression pattern during this process. Our results demonstrate an up-regulation of GATA-1, Flk-1, HoxB-4, Epo-R, and globin genes ({alpha}-globin, {beta}H-1 globin, {beta}-major globin, {epsilon} -globin, and {zeta}-globin) in the 9-day-old EBs, whereas, RNA from 5-day-old EBs showed expression of HoxB-4, {epsilon}-globin, {gamma}-globin, {beta}H1-globin, and Flk-1. Three-day-old EBs showed only HoxB-4 and Flk-1 gene expression and lacked expression of all globin genes. These findings indicate that erythropoiesis-specific genes are activated later in the course of differentiation. Gene expression studies on the ES cells of secondary EB origin cultured in media containing dexamethasone showed a down-regulation of GATA-3 and an up-regulation of GATA-1, Flk-1, and Epo-R in comparison to the two other cytokines and growth factor combinations containing media. The secondary differentiation also showed an enhanced production of erythrocytic precursors in dexamethasone containing media in comparison to that in the control media. Our results indicate that dexamethasone can prove to be an effective agent which can be employed to enhance differentiation towards erythrocytic progenitors from ES cells.« less

Phosphorescent quantum dots/ethidium bromide nanohybrids based on photoinduced electron transfer for DNA detection.

PubMed

Bi, Lin; Yu, Yuan-Hua

2015-04-05

Mercaptopropionic acid-capped Mn-doped ZnS quantum dots/ethidium bromide (EB) nanohybrids were constructed for photoinduced electron transfer (PIET) and then used as a room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) probe for DNA detection. EB could quench the RTP of Mn-doped ZnS QDs by PIET, thereby forming Mn-doped ZnS QDs/EB nanohybrids and storing RTP. Meanwhile, EB could be inserted into DNA and EB could be competitively desorbed from the surface of Mn-doped ZnS QDs by DNA, thereby releasing the RTP of Mn-doped ZnS QDs. Based on this mechanism, a RTP sensor for DNA detection was developed. Under optimal conditions, the detection limit for DNA was 0.045 mg L(-1), the relative standard deviation was 1.7%, and the method linear ranged from 0.2 to 20 mg L(-1). The proposed method was applied to biological fluids, in which satisfactory results were obtained. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

EB and EUV lithography using inedible cellulose-based biomass resist material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takei, Satoshi; Hanabata, Makoto; Oshima, Akihiro; Kashiwakura, Miki; Kozawa, Takahiro; Tagawa, Seiichi

2016-03-01

The validity of our approach of inedible cellulose-based resist material derived from woody biomass has been confirmed experimentally for the use of pure water in organic solvent-free water spin-coating and tetramethylammonium hydroxide(TMAH)-free water-developable techniques of eco-conscious electron beam (EB) and extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. The water developable, non-chemically amplified, high sensitive, and negative tone resist material in EB and EUV lithography was developed for environmental affair, safety, easiness of handling, and health of the working people. The inedible cellulose-based biomass resist material was developed by replacing the hydroxyl groups in the beta-linked disaccharides with EB and EUV sensitive groups. The 50-100 nm line and space width, and little footing profiles of cellulose-based biomass resist material on hardmask and layer were resolved at the doses of 10-30 μC/cm2. The eco-conscious lithography techniques was referred to as green EB and EUV lithography using inedible cellulose-based biomass resist material.

Perioperative care of patients with epidermolysis bullosa: proceedings of the 5th international symposium on epidermolysis bullosa, Santiago Chile, December 4-6, 2008.

PubMed

Goldschneider, Kenneth; Lucky, Anne W; Mellerio, Jemima E; Palisson, Francis; del Carmen Viñuela Miranda, Maria; Azizkhan, Richard G

2010-09-01

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) has become recognized as a multisystem disorder that poses a number of pre-, intra-, and postoperative challenges. While anesthesiologists have long appreciated the potential difficult intubation in patients with EB, other systems can be affected by this disorder. Hematologic, cardiac, skeletal, gastrointestinal, nutritional, and metabolic deficiencies are foci of preoperative medical care, in addition to the airway concerns. Therefore, multidisciplinary planning for operative care is imperative. A multinational, interdisciplinary panel of experts assembled in Santiagio, Chile to review the best practices for perioperative care of patients with EB. This paper presents guidelines that represent a synthesis of evidence-based approaches and the expert consensus of this panel and are intended to aid physicians new to caring for patients with EB when operative management is indicated. With proper medical optimization and attention to detail in the operating room, patients with EB can have an uneventful perioperative course.

Microstructural, mechanical and oxidation features of NiCoCrAlY coating produced by plasma activated EB-PVD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Jian; Guo, Hongbo; Peng, Hui; Gong, Shengkai

2013-06-01

NiCoCrAlY coatings produced by electron beam-physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD) have been extensively used as the oxidation resistance coatings or suitable bond coats in thermal barrier coating (TBC) system. However, the inherent imperfections caused by EB-PVD process degrade the oxidation resistance of the coatings. In the present work, NiCoCrAlY coatings were creatively produced by plasma activated electron beam-physical vapor deposition (PA EB-PVD). The novel coatings showed a terraced substructure on the surface of each grain due to the increased energy of metal ions and enhanced mobility of adatoms. Also a strong (1 1 1) crystallographic texture of γ/γ' grains was observed. The toughness of the coatings got remarkably improved compared with the coatings deposited by conventional EB-PVD and the oxidation behavior at 1373 K showed that the novel coatings had excellent oxidation resistance. The possible mechanism was finally discussed.

Characterization of electrolyte-binder mixes for use in thermal batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guidotti, R. A.; Reinhardt, F. W.

1991-03-01

A number of metal oxides were evaluated for their ability to immobilize molten LiCl-KCl eutectic in electrolyte-binder (EB) mixes used in thermally activated batteries. These metal oxides included fumed silicas, alumina, and a titania (all prepared by steam hydrolysis of the halides), floated silicas, MgO, and an alumina molecular sieve. The characteristics of the EB powders that were used as metrics were flow properties, homogeneity, BET surface area, particle-size distribution, and moisture content. The characteristics of EB pellets used as metrics were deformation at 530 C under an applied pressure and tendency for electrolyte leakage at 400 C. Many of the same characterization techniques used for EB powders were applied to the LiCl-KCl eutectic, its component halides, and the metal oxides as well. The reproducibility of the properties of several of the standard Sandia EB mixes was evaluated for materials prepared at a number of thermal-battery manufacturing facilities following the same processing procedures.

Neuronal populations in the occipital cortex of the blind synchronize to the temporal dynamics of speech

PubMed Central

Van Ackeren, Markus Johannes; Barbero, Francesca M; Mattioni, Stefania; Bottini, Roberto

2018-01-01

The occipital cortex of early blind individuals (EB) activates during speech processing, challenging the notion of a hard-wired neurobiology of language. But, at what stage of speech processing do occipital regions participate in EB? Here we demonstrate that parieto-occipital regions in EB enhance their synchronization to acoustic fluctuations in human speech in the theta-range (corresponding to syllabic rate), irrespective of speech intelligibility. Crucially, enhanced synchronization to the intelligibility of speech was selectively observed in primary visual cortex in EB, suggesting that this region is at the interface between speech perception and comprehension. Moreover, EB showed overall enhanced functional connectivity between temporal and occipital cortices that are sensitive to speech intelligibility and altered directionality when compared to the sighted group. These findings suggest that the occipital cortex of the blind adopts an architecture that allows the tracking of speech material, and therefore does not fully abstract from the reorganized sensory inputs it receives. PMID:29338838

Toxic effects of antiparasitic pesticides used by the salmon industry in the marine amphipod Monocorophium insidiosum.

PubMed

Tucca, Felipe; Díaz-Jaramillo, Mauricio; Cruz, Gabriel; Silva, Jeannette; Bay-Schmith, Enrique; Chiang, Gustavo; Barra, Ricardo

2014-08-01

The use of antiparasitic pesticides (APs) has been widely required by the salmon industry to treat diseases. The direct emission of chemicals in the seawater has produced uncertainty about the potential effects on nontarget organisms, such as crustaceans. The aim of this study was to assess the toxicity of three APs used by the salmon farm industry, such as emamectin benzoate (EB), cypermethrin (CP), and deltamethrin (DE), in the amphipod Monocorophium insidiosum during 10 days through whole-sediment bioassay tests. Lethal concentration by 50 % (LC50-10d) and biochemical responses, such as glutathione S-transferase (GST) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), were measured as exposure and effects end points, respectively. Acute assays for DE (7.8 μg kg(-1), confidence interval, CI95% 5-11) and CP (57 μg kg(-1), CI95% 41-77) showed more mortality than EB (890 μg kg(-1), CI95% 672-1,171). In this study, it was possible to observe sublethal responses in amphipods after 2 days of exposure to APs. Significant induction in GST and TBARS (p < 0.05) were measured for CP and EB. Lower DE concentrations showed no significant biochemical responses. M. insidiosum was sensitive to AP concentrations at μg kg(-1) in sediments. This information would allow considering the possible consequences of detected concentrations for APs in areas with intensive salmon farming activity.

Degradation and decoloration of textiles wastewater by electron beam irradiation: Effect of energy, current and absorbed dose

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

Bakar, Khomsaton Abu; Zulkafli,; Hashim, Siti A'aisah

2014-09-03

In this study, electron beam accelerator (EB) was used to treat textiles wastewater from Rawang Industrial Park, Selangor. The objectives were to determine effective energy, beam current and absorbed dose required for decoloration and degradation of the textiles effluent. The textiles effluent was irradiated in a batch with various energy of 1MeV to 3MeV at constant beam current of 30mA. It was observed that removal of color and COD increases with higher beam energy. The EB energy of 1MeV effectively to removed 58% color and 19% COD. For textile effluent sample irradiated at fix energy of 1MeV and 3Mev butmore » at different beam current 10mA, 20mA and 30mA. It was observed that removal of color and COD increases with the increased of beam current at each energy. However removal of color was significantly better at 1Mev as compared to 3Mev. In the case of textiles effluent, irradiated at doses of 17, 20,25,30, 35, 100 and 200kGy using 30 kW power of EB (1Mev, 30mA), results shows removal of BOD{sub 5}, COD and color were in the range 9%-33%, 14%-38% and 43%-78% respectively.« less

Application of Poisson random effect models for highway network screening.

PubMed

Jiang, Ximiao; Abdel-Aty, Mohamed; Alamili, Samer

2014-02-01

In recent years, Bayesian random effect models that account for the temporal and spatial correlations of crash data became popular in traffic safety research. This study employs random effect Poisson Log-Normal models for crash risk hotspot identification. Both the temporal and spatial correlations of crash data were considered. Potential for Safety Improvement (PSI) were adopted as a measure of the crash risk. Using the fatal and injury crashes that occurred on urban 4-lane divided arterials from 2006 to 2009 in the Central Florida area, the random effect approaches were compared to the traditional Empirical Bayesian (EB) method and the conventional Bayesian Poisson Log-Normal model. A series of method examination tests were conducted to evaluate the performance of different approaches. These tests include the previously developed site consistence test, method consistence test, total rank difference test, and the modified total score test, as well as the newly proposed total safety performance measure difference test. Results show that the Bayesian Poisson model accounting for both temporal and spatial random effects (PTSRE) outperforms the model that with only temporal random effect, and both are superior to the conventional Poisson Log-Normal model (PLN) and the EB model in the fitting of crash data. Additionally, the method evaluation tests indicate that the PTSRE model is significantly superior to the PLN model and the EB model in consistently identifying hotspots during successive time periods. The results suggest that the PTSRE model is a superior alternative for road site crash risk hotspot identification. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chronic high-dose creatine has opposing effects on depression-related gene expression and behavior in intact and sex hormone-treated gonadectomized male and female rats

PubMed Central

Allen, Patricia J.; DeBold, Joseph F.; Rios, Maribel; Kanarek, Robin B.

2015-01-01

Creatine is an antioxidant, neuromodulator and key regulator of energy metabolism shown to improve depressive symptoms in humans and animals, especially in females. To better understand the pharmacological effects of creatine, we examined its influence on depression-related hippocampal gene expression and behaviors in the presence and absence of sex steroids. Sham-operated and gonadectomized male and female rats were fed chow alone or chow blended with either 2% or 4% w/w creatine monohydrate for five weeks before forced swim, open field, and wire suspension tests, or seven weeks total. Before supplementation, males were chronically implanted with an empty or a testosterone-filled (T) capsule (10-mm surface release), and females were administered progesterone (P, 250 μg), estradiol benzoate (EB, 2.5 μg), EB+P, or sesame oil vehicle weekly. Relative to non-supplemented shams, all hippocampal plasticity-related mRNAs measured, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tyrosine kinase B, doublecortin, calretinin, and calbindin, were downregulated in sham males given 4% creatine, and BDNF, doublecortin, and calbindin mRNAs were downregulated in sham females given 4% creatine. In contrast, combined 4% creatine + T in castrates prevented downregulation of BDNF, doublecortin, and calretinin mRNAs. Similarly, combined 4% creatine + EB+P in ovariectomized females attenuated downregulation of BDNF and calbindin mRNA levels. Moderate antidepressant and anxiolytic-like behaviors were observed in EB+P-treated ovariectomized females fed creatine, with similar trends in T-treated castrates fed creatine. Altogether, these data show that chronic, high-dose creatine has opposing effects on neuroplasticity-related genes and depressive behavior in intact and gonadectomized male and female rats. The dose and schedule of creatine used negatively impacted hippocampal neuronal integrity in otherwise healthy brains, possibly through negative compensatory changes in energy metabolism, whereas combined creatine and sex steroids acted in a neuroprotective manner in gonadectomized rats, potentially by reducing metabolic complications associated with castration or ovariectomy. PMID:25560941

An Evaluation of Empirical Bayes' Estimation of Value- Added Teacher Performance Measures. Working Paper #31. Revised

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Guarino, Cassandra M.; Maxfield, Michelle; Reckase, Mark D.; Thompson, Paul; Wooldridge, Jeffrey M.

2014-01-01

Empirical Bayes' (EB) estimation is a widely used procedure to calculate teacher value-added. It is primarily viewed as a way to make imprecise estimates more reliable. In this paper we review the theory of EB estimation and use simulated data to study its ability to properly rank teachers. We compare the performance of EB estimators with that of…

The influence of double-credit evidence-based continuing medical education on presenters and learners.

PubMed

Lawrence, Steven L; Morzinski, Jeffrey A; Radjenovich, Mary Ellen

2008-07-01

Medical specialties are adopting methods to improve continuing medical education (CME). A "double credit" option, sponsored by the American Academy of Family Physicians, is now available for presentations submitted and approved as evidence based (EB). To compare usual and double-credit CME presentations to determine differences in preparation resources and time, and to compare conference attendees' satisfaction. Those not submitting double-credit applications were asked about perceived barriers. Three pretested, written surveys were administered at a 2.5 day CME conference held annually in Southeastern Wisconsin. Subjects were 38 presenters and 172 attendees, mostly primary care physicians. Twelve presentations were approved for double-credit; these presenters used a greater percentage of on-line EB resources to prepare their talks (64% versus 23%), and preparation required an additional 4.75 hours on average. Over 90% of attendees perceived greater conference quality due to the EB emphasis. Top barriers to double-credit EB applications were time limits and perceptions that topics were inappropriate. Double-credit presenters use a greater percentage of EB resources, while their counterparts used more professional experience to prepare CME presentations. Attendees reported improved quality and value with increased EB CME. Time is a perceived and real factor in preparing double-credit applications.

Breath Analysis as a Potential and Non-Invasive Frontier in Disease Diagnosis: An Overview

PubMed Central

Pereira, Jorge; Porto-Figueira, Priscilla; Cavaco, Carina; Taunk, Khushman; Rapole, Srikanth; Dhakne, Rahul; Nagarajaram, Hampapathalu; Câmara, José S.

2015-01-01

Currently, a small number of diseases, particularly cardiovascular (CVDs), oncologic (ODs), neurodegenerative (NDDs), chronic respiratory diseases, as well as diabetes, form a severe burden to most of the countries worldwide. Hence, there is an urgent need for development of efficient diagnostic tools, particularly those enabling reliable detection of diseases, at their early stages, preferably using non-invasive approaches. Breath analysis is a non-invasive approach relying only on the characterisation of volatile composition of the exhaled breath (EB) that in turn reflects the volatile composition of the bloodstream and airways and therefore the status and condition of the whole organism metabolism. Advanced sampling procedures (solid-phase and needle traps microextraction) coupled with modern analytical technologies (proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry, selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry, ion mobility spectrometry, e-noses, etc.) allow the characterisation of EB composition to an unprecedented level. However, a key challenge in EB analysis is the proper statistical analysis and interpretation of the large and heterogeneous datasets obtained from EB research. There is no standard statistical framework/protocol yet available in literature that can be used for EB data analysis towards discovery of biomarkers for use in a typical clinical setup. Nevertheless, EB analysis has immense potential towards development of biomarkers for the early disease diagnosis of diseases. PMID:25584743

[Epidermolysis bullosa in peru: clinical and epidemiological study of patients treated in a national reference pediatric hospital, 1993-2015].

PubMed

Torres-Iberico, Rosario; Palomo-Luck, Patricia; Torres-Ramos, Gilmer; Lipa-Chancolla, Roxana

2017-01-01

To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients diagnosed with epidermolysis bullosa (EB) at the Instituto Nacional de Salud (INSN) in Lima, Peru; a National Reference Center for this disease. Observational, descriptive and transversal study. We reviewed the clinical histories and laboratory tests of patients diagnosed with EB treated in INSN from 1993 to 2015. 93 patients were registered. The average age was 7.9 ± 5.6 years; 53.8% (n = 50) were boys. Clinical forms corresponded to dystrophic EB with 41 (44.1%) cases, simple EB with 39 (41.9%), union EB cases with 8 (8.6%) and Kindler syndrome with 4 (4.3%) cases. The clinical form could not be identified in a case. A total of 48 cases (51.6%) came from Lima and Callao, and 45 cases (48.4%) from other provinces of the country. Extracutaneous manifestations involved gastrointestinal (44.1%), ocular (37.6%), odontogenic (87.1%), and nutritional (79.6%) involvement, as well as pseudosindactilia (16.1%). Chronic malnutrition (71.6%), acute malnutrition (17.6%) and anemia (62.4%) were found. Mortality corresponded to 6 cases (6.5%). 93 cases of EB were reported in INSN, the predominant clinical presentation was the dystrophic form.

In Vivo and In Vitro Nitinol Corrosion Properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lonn, Melissa K.; Metcalf, Justin M.; Choules, Brian D.

2015-09-01

Regulatory authorities often require in vitro testing on medical devices prior to approval. Current standardized corrosion testing methods (ASTM F2129) require testing in a non-physiologic, de-oxygenated solution for a pre-exposure time of ≤1 h; however, no correlations between the prescribed simulated environment and whole blood conditions have been elucidated. This study compared open circuit potential (OCP), breakdown potentials (Eb), Eb - OCP, and cyclic polarization curves tested in vivo (OCP only) and in vitro in whole blood to those tested in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Two oxide thicknesses of Nitinol, two solution oxygen contents (deaerated and aerated solutions), and two pre-exposure durations (acute and chronic) were investigated. The in vitro OCP in whole blood was not significantly different than the in vivo OCP, suggesting that whole blood in vitro can be used to determine baseline corrosion behavior of medical implants. Eb - OCP tested per ASTM F2129 was comparable to acute whole blood and was conservative compared to chronic whole blood for both oxide thicknesses. However, OCP, Eb, and cyclic polarization curves were not always comparable to whole blood. Testing in aerated PBS achieved Eb, Eb - OCP, and cyclic polarization curves that were comparable to or more conservative than whole blood testing, regardless of pre-exposure duration and oxide thickness.

Embryoid bodies formation and differentiation from mouse embryonic stem cells in collagen/Matrigel scaffolds.

PubMed

Zhou, Jin; Zhang, Ye; Lin, Qiuxia; Liu, Zhiqiang; Wang, Haibin; Duan, Cuimi; Wang, Yanmeng; Hao, Tong; Wu, Kuiwu; Wang, Changyong

2010-07-01

Embryonic stem (ES) cells have the potential to develop into any type of tissue and are considered as a promising source of seeding cells for tissue engineering and transplantation therapy. The main catalyst for ES cells differentiation is the growth into embryoid bodies (EBs), which are utilized widely as the trigger of in vitro differentiation. In this study, a novel method for generating EBs from mouse ES cells through culture in collagen/Matrigel scaffolds was successfully established. When single ES cells were seeded in three dimensional collagen/Matrigel scaffolds, they grew into aggregates gradually and formed simple EBs with circular structures. After 7 days' culture, they formed into cystic EBs that would eventually differentiate into the three embryonic germ layers. Evaluation of the EBs in terms of morphology and potential to differentiate indicated that they were typical in structure and could generate various cell types; they were also able to form into tissue-like structures. Moreover, with introduction of ascorbic acid, ES cells differentiated into cardiomyocytes efficiently and started contracting synchronously at day 19. The results demonstrated that collagen/Matrigel scaffolds supported EBs formation and their subsequent differentiation in a single three dimensional environment. Copyright 2010 Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology and the Genetics Society of China. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Annealing behavior of the EB-centers and M-center in low-energy electron irradiated n-type 4H-SiC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beyer, F. C.; Hemmingsson, C.; Pedersen, H.; Henry, A.; Janzén, E.; Isoya, J.; Morishita, N.; Ohshima, T.

2011-05-01

After low-energy electron irradiation of epitaxial n-type 4H-SiC with a dose of 5×1016 cm-2, the bistable M-center, previously reported in high-energy proton implanted 4H-SiC, is detected in the deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) spectrum. The annealing behavior of the M-center is confirmed, and an enhanced recombination process is suggested. The annihilation process is coincidental with the evolvement of the bistable EB-centers in the low temperature range of the DLTS spectrum. The annealing energy of the M-center is similar to the generation energy of the EB-centers, thus partial transformation of the M-center to the EB-centers is suggested. The EB-centers completely disappeared after annealing temperatures higher than 700 ∘C without the formation of new defects in the observed DLTS scanning range. The threshold energy for moving Si atom in SiC is higher than the applied irradiation energy, and the annihilation temperatures are relatively low, therefore the M-center, EH1 and EH3, as well as the EB-centers are attributed to defects related to the C atom in SiC, most probably to carbon interstitials and their complexes.

Tidal Synchronization and Differential Rotation of Kepler Eclipsing Binaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lurie, John C.; Vyhmeister, Karl; Hawley, Suzanne L.; Adilia, Jamel; Chen, Andrea; Davenport, James R. A.; Jurić, Mario; Puig-Holzman, Michael; Weisenburger, Kolby L.

2017-12-01

Few observational constraints exist for the tidal synchronization rate of late-type stars, despite its fundamental role in binary evolution. We visually inspected the light curves of 2278 eclipsing binaries (EBs) from the Kepler Eclipsing Binary Catalog to identify those with starspot modulations, as well as other types of out-of-eclipse variability. We report rotation periods for 816 EBs with starspot modulations, and find that 79% of EBs with orbital periods of less than 10 days are synchronized. However, a population of short-period EBs exists, with rotation periods typically 13% slower than synchronous, which we attribute to the differential rotation of high-latitude starspots. At 10 days, there is a transition from predominantly circular, synchronized EBs to predominantly eccentric, pseudosynchronized EBs. This transition period is in good agreement with the predicted and observed circularization period for Milky Way field binaries. At orbital periods greater than about 30 days, the amount of tidal synchronization decreases. We also report 12 previously unidentified candidate δ Scuti and γ Doradus pulsators, as well as a candidate RS CVn system with an evolved primary that exhibits starspot occultations. For short-period contact binaries, we observe a period-color relation and compare it to previous studies. As a whole, these results represent the largest homogeneous study of tidal synchronization of late-type stars.

Breath analysis as a potential and non-invasive frontier in disease diagnosis: an overview.

PubMed

Pereira, Jorge; Porto-Figueira, Priscilla; Cavaco, Carina; Taunk, Khushman; Rapole, Srikanth; Dhakne, Rahul; Nagarajaram, Hampapathalu; Câmara, José S

2015-01-09

Currently, a small number of diseases, particularly cardiovascular (CVDs), oncologic (ODs), neurodegenerative (NDDs), chronic respiratory diseases, as well as diabetes, form a severe burden to most of the countries worldwide. Hence, there is an urgent need for development of efficient diagnostic tools, particularly those enabling reliable detection of diseases, at their early stages, preferably using non-invasive approaches. Breath analysis is a non-invasive approach relying only on the characterisation of volatile composition of the exhaled breath (EB) that in turn reflects the volatile composition of the bloodstream and airways and therefore the status and condition of the whole organism metabolism. Advanced sampling procedures (solid-phase and needle traps microextraction) coupled with modern analytical technologies (proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry, selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry, ion mobility spectrometry, e-noses, etc.) allow the characterisation of EB composition to an unprecedented level. However, a key challenge in EB analysis is the proper statistical analysis and interpretation of the large and heterogeneous datasets obtained from EB research. There is no standard statistical framework/protocol yet available in literature that can be used for EB data analysis towards discovery of biomarkers for use in a typical clinical setup. Nevertheless, EB analysis has immense potential towards development of biomarkers for the early disease diagnosis of diseases.

Polymorphism of the MHC class II Eb gene determines the protection against collagen-induced arthritis

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

Gonzalez-Gay, M.A.; Zanelli, E.; Krco, C.J.

1995-05-01

Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) is an animal model of auto immune polyarthritis, sharing similarities with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Paradoxally, susceptibility to mouse CIA is controlled by the H2A loci (DQ homologous) while RA is linked to HLA.DR genes (H2E homologous). We recently showed that the E{beta}{sup d} molecule prevents CIA development in susceptible H2{sup q} mice. We addressed the question of whether H2Eb polymorphism will influence CIA incidence as HLA.DRB1 polymorphism does in RA. In F{sub 1} mice, only H2Eb{sup d} and H2Eb{sup s} molecules showed protection. Using recombinant B10.RDD (Eb{sup d/b}) mice, we found that CIA protection was mediated bymore » the first domain of the E{beta}{sup d} molecule. Using peptides covering the third hypervariable region of the E{beta} chain, we found a perfect correlation between presentation of E{beta} peptides by the H2A{sup q} molecule and protection on CIA. Therefore, the mechanism by which H2Eb protects against CIA seems to rely on the affinity of E{beta} peptides for the H2A{sup q} molecule. 35 refs., 2 figs., 3 tabs.« less

Treatment of toluene and its by-products using an electron beam/ultra-fine bubble hybrid system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Son, Youn-Suk; Kim, Tae-Hun; Choi, Chang Yong; Park, Jun-Hyeong; Ahn, Ji-Won; Dinh, Trieu-Vuong

2018-03-01

Although, until quite recently, many technologies (electron beam (EB), plasma, and ultraviolet) have been studied to overcome disadvantages of conventional methods (such as absorption, adsorption, biofiltration and incineration) for treatment of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), their techniques still have some problems such as formation of a by-product. Generally, it is reported that various by-products are generated from the EB irradiation process to remove VOCs. Therefore, we developed an electron beam/ultra-fine bubble (EB/UB) hybrid system to enhance removal efficiency of a VOC (toluene) and to reduce its by-products formed by electron beam irradiation. As a result, the removal efficiency of toluene (30 ppm) by only EB (10 kGy) was 80.1%. However, the removal efficiency of toluene using the hybrid system (water temperature: 5 ℃) was increased up to 17% when compared to only EB (10 kGy). Additionally, the 65.2% of ozone formed from the EB process was removed in UB reactor. In case of other trace by-products such as undesired VOCs and aldehydes, the levels were lowered down to the below detection limit by the subsequent UB reactor. We also found that the amount of toluene collected and solubilized into water is affected by the water temperature in the UB reactor.

Emotional burnout, perceived sources of job stress, professional fulfillment, and engagement among medical residents in Malaysia.

PubMed

Al-Dubai, Sami Abdo Radman; Ganasegeran, Kurubaran; Perianayagam, Wilson; Rampal, Krishna Gopal

2013-01-01

This study was the first to explore factors associated with emotional burnout (EB) among medical residents in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a universal sample of 205 medical residents in a Malaysian general hospital. The self-administered questionnaire used consisted of questions on sociodemographics and work characteristics, sources of job stress, professional fulfillment, engagement, and EB. EB was measured using the emotional exhaustion subscale, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Mean (±SD) age of the respondents was 26.5 (±1.6). The most common source of job stress was "fear of making mistakes." Most of the participants were dissatisfied with the increase of residentship period from one year to two years. A high level of EB was reported by 36.6% of the respondents. In multivariate analysis, the most important correlates of EB were sources of job stress, professional fulfillment, and engagement. A high prevalence of EB was found among medical residents. Sociodemographic characteristics, performance pressure, and satisfaction with policies were significantly associated with EB. Although this study was limited by its cross-sectional design, its findings posit a sufficient foundation to relevant authorities to construct, amend, and amalgamate existing and future policies. Nothing will sustain you more potently than the power to recognize in your humdrum routine, as perhaps it may be thought, the true poetry of life-the poetry of the common place, of the common man, of the plain, toil-worn woman, with their loves and their joys, their sorrows and their grief.SirWilliam Osler, Aphorisms from the Student Life (Aequanimitas, 1952).

Purification and partial characterization of the major outer membrane protein of Chlamydia trachomatis

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

Caldwell, H.D.; Kromhout, J.; Schachter, J.

1981-03-01

Elementary bodies (EB) of Chlamydia trachomatis serotypes C, E, and L2 were extrinsically radioiodinated, and whole-cell lysates of these serotypes were compared by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Autoradiography of the polypeptide profiles identified a major surface protein with an apparent subunit molecular weight of 39,500 that was common to each C. trachomatis serotype. The abilities of nonionic (Triton X-100), dipolar ionic (Zwittergent TM-314), mild (sodium deoxycholate and sodium N-lauroyl sarcosine), and strongly anionic (SDS) detergents to extract this protein from intact EB of the L2 serotype were investigated by SDS-PAGE analysis of the soluble and insoluble fractions obtainedmore » after each detergent treatment. Only SDS readily extracted this protein from intact EB. Sarkosyl treatment selectively solubilized the majority of other EB proteins, leaving the 39,500-dalton protein associated with the Sarkosyl-insoluble fraction. Ultrastructural studies of the Sarkosyl-insoluble EB pellet showed it to consist of empty EB particles possessing an apparently intact outer membrane. No structural evidence for a peptidoglycan-like cell wall was found. Morphologically these chlamydial outer membrane complexes (COMC) resembled intact chlamydial EB outer membranes. The 39,500-dalton outer membrane protein was quantitatively extracted from COMC by treating them with 2% SDS at 60 degrees C. This protein accounted for 61% of the total COMC-associated protein, and its extraction resulted in a concomitant loss of the COMC membrane structure and morphology. The 39,500-dalton major outer membrane protein is a serogroup antigen of C. trachomatis organisms.« less

Mouse embryonic stem cell-derived cells reveal niches that support neuronal differentiation in the adult rat brain.

PubMed

Maya-Espinosa, Guadalupe; Collazo-Navarrete, Omar; Millán-Aldaco, Diana; Palomero-Rivero, Marcela; Guerrero-Flores, Gilda; Drucker-Colín, René; Covarrubias, Luis; Guerra-Crespo, Magdalena

2015-02-01

A neurogenic niche can be identified by the proliferation and differentiation of its naturally residing neural stem cells. However, it remains unclear whether "silent" neurogenic niches or regions suitable for neural differentiation, other than the areas of active neurogenesis, exist in the adult brain. Embryoid body (EB) cells derived from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are endowed with a high potential to respond to specification and neuralization signals of the embryo. Hence, to identify microenvironments in the postnatal and adult rat brain with the capacity to support neuronal differentiation, we transplanted dissociated EB cells to conventional neurogenic and non-neurogenic regions. Our results show a neuronal differentiation pattern of EB cells that was dependent on the host region. Efficient neuronal differentiation of EB cells occurred within an adjacent region to the rostral migratory stream. EB cell differentiation was initially patchy and progressed toward an even distribution along the graft by 15-21 days post-transplantation, giving rise mostly to GABAergic neurons. EB cells in the striatum displayed a lower level of neuronal differentiation and derived into a significant number of astrocytes. Remarkably, when EB cells were transplanted to the striatum of adult rats after a local ischemic stroke, increased number of neuroblasts and neurons were observed. Unexpectedly, we determined that the adult substantia nigra pars compacta, considered a non-neurogenic area, harbors a robust neurogenic environment. Therefore, neurally uncommitted cells derived from ESCs can detect regions that support neuronal differentiation within the adult brain, a fundamental step for the development of stem cell-based replacement therapies. © 2014 AlphaMed Press.

Development of a clinical diagnostic matrix for characterizing inherited epidermolysis bullosa.

PubMed

Yenamandra, V K; Moss, C; Sreenivas, V; Khan, M; Sivasubbu, S; Sharma, V K; Sethuraman, G

2017-06-01

Accurately diagnosing the subtype of epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is critical for management and genetic counselling. Modern laboratory techniques are largely inaccessible in developing countries, where the diagnosis remains clinical and often inaccurate. To develop a simple clinical diagnostic tool to aid in the diagnosis and subtyping of EB. We developed a matrix indicating presence or absence of a set of distinctive clinical features (as rows) for the nine most prevalent EB subtypes (as columns). To test an individual patient, presence or absence of these features was compared with the findings expected in each of the nine subtypes to see which corresponded best. If two or more diagnoses scored equally, the diagnosis with the greatest number of specific features was selected. The matrix was tested using findings from 74 genetically characterized patients with EB aged > 6 months by an investigator blinded to molecular diagnosis. For concordance, matrix diagnoses were compared with molecular diagnoses. Overall, concordance between the matrix and molecular diagnoses for the four major types of EB was 91·9%, with a kappa coefficient of 0·88 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0·81-0·95; P < 0·001]. The matrix achieved a 75·7% agreement in classifying EB into its nine subtypes, with a kappa coefficient of 0·73 (95% CI 0·69-0·77; P < 0·001). The matrix appears to be simple, valid and useful in predicting the type and subtype of EB. An electronic version will facilitate further testing. © 2016 British Association of Dermatologists.

Characterization of the biochemical, physiological, and medicinal properties of Streptomyces hygroscopicus ACTMS-9H isolated from the Amazon (Brazil).

PubMed

Lima, Sandrine M A; Melo, Janaína G S; Militão, Gardênia C G; Lima, Gláucia M S; do Carmo A Lima, Maria; Aguiar, Jaciana S; Araújo, Renata M; Braz-Filho, Raimundo; Marchand, Pascal; Araújo, Janete M; Silva, Teresinha G

2017-01-01

Actinomycetes are known to produce numerous secondary bioactive metabolites of pharmaceutical interest. The purpose of this study was to isolate, characterize, and investigate the antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities of metabolites produced by Actinobacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of Paullinia cupana. The Actinobacteria was identified as Streptomyces hygroscopicus ACTMS-9H. Based on a bioguided study, the methanolic biomass extract obtained from submerged cultivation had the most potent antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic activities. This extract was partitioned with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and 2-butanol. Elaiophylin was isolated from the methanolic biomass extract, and its molecular formula was determined (C 54 H 88 O 18 ) based on 1 H and 13 C NMR, IR and MS analyses. The 2-butanol phase was fractionated into four fractions (EB1, EB2A, EB2B, and EB3M). Chemical prospecting indicated the presence of alkaloids, saponins, and reducing sugars in the methanolic extract and 2-butanol phase. The elaiophylin displayed anticancer activity in HEp-2 and HL-60 cells with an IC 50 of 1 μg/mL. The EB1 fraction was selectively toxic to HL-60 cells with IC 50 of 9 ng/mL. Bioautography showed that the EB1 fraction contained an alkaloid with antibacterial and antifungal activities (MIC values ≤1.9 and <3.9 μg/mL, respectively). In conclusion, the EB1 fraction and elaiophylin of S. hygroscopicus have potent antimicrobial, antifungal, and anticancer activities.

Solubility and disintegration of new calcium aluminate cement (EndoBinder) containing different radiopacifying agents.

PubMed

Garcia, Lucas da Fonseca Roberti; Chinelatti, Michelle Alexandra; Rossetto, Hebert Luis; Pires-de-Souza, Fernanda de Carvalho Panzeri

2014-02-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the solubility and disintegration of EndoBinder (EB) containing 3 different radiopacifying agents, bismuth oxide (Bi2O3), zinc oxide (ZnO), or zirconium oxide (ZrO2), in comparison with gray mineral trioxide aggregate (GMTA) and white MTA (WMTA). Ten specimens of each cement were made in a stainless steel matrix (20 × 1.5 mm) according to Specification no. 57 of American National Standards Institute/American Dental Association: EB + Bi2O3, EB + ZrO, EB + ZnO, WMTA, and GMTA. The specimens were weighed on an accurate analytical scale and immersed in 50 mL distilled and deionized water at 37°C for 7 days. Afterwards, specimens were dried and weighed again to determine mass loss (%). Resulting solutions were analyzed in an atomic absorption spectrophotometer for identification and quantification of chemical elements released. All cements presented mean values of solubility and disintegration above the American National Standards Institute/American Dental Association Specification no. 57. EB + Bi2O3 presented the lowest mass loss (5.08%) and WMTA (6.65%) the highest, with no statistically significant difference (P > .05). The release of several chemical elements was observed, mostly metal ions. Only GMTA and EB + Bi2O3 showed the presence of Cr, with significant difference (P < .05). EB + ZnO presented the highest levels of Pb, followed by WMTA (P < .05). For As, the cements presented different release levels, with EB + ZnO showing the highest and GMTA the lowest levels (P < .05). However, the amounts of As and Pb released were lower than the safe limit proposed by ISO 9917-1. Irrespective of the radiopacifying agents used, EndoBinder presented similar behavior to MTA. Copyright © 2014 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Evidence-based medicine in daily surgical decision making: a survey-based comparison between the UK and Germany.

PubMed

Schnitzbauer, Andreas A; Proneth, Andrea; Pengel, Liset; Ansorg, Jörg; Anthuber, Matthias; Bechstein, Wolf O; Schlitt, Hans J; Geissler, Edward K

2015-01-01

Evidence-based medicine (EbM) is a vital part of reasonable and conclusive decision making for clinicians in daily clinical work. To analyze the knowledge and the attitude of surgeons towards EbM, a survey was performed in the UK and Germany. A web-based questionnaire was distributed via mailing lists from the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCSE) and the Berufsverband Deutscher Chirurgen (BDC). Our primary aim was to get information about knowledge of EbM amongst German and British surgeons. A total of 549 individuals opened the questionnaire, but only 198 questionnaires were complete and valid for analysis. In total, 40,000 recipients were approached via the mailing lists of the BDC and RCSE. The response rate was equally low in both countries. On a scale from 1 (unimportant) to 10 (very important), all participants rated EbM as very important for daily clinical decision making (7.3 ± 1.9) as well as for patients (7.8 ± 1.9) and the national health system (7.8 ± 1.9). On a scale from 1 (unimportant) to 5 (very important), systematic reviews (4.6 ± 0.6) and randomized controlled trials (4.6 ± 0.6) were identified as the highest levels of study designs to enhance evidence in medicine. British surgeons considered EbM to be more important in daily clinical work when compared to data from German surgeons (7.9 ± 1.6 vs. 6.7 ± 2.1, p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed different results in some categories; however, a pattern to explain the differences was not evident. Personal requirements expressed in a free text field emphasized the results and reflected concerns such as broad unwillingness and lack of interdisciplinary approaches for patients (n = 59: 25 in the UK and 34 in Germany). The overall results show that EbM is believed to be important by surgeons in the UK and Germany. However, perception of EbM in the respective health system (UK vs. Germany) may be different. Nonetheless, EbM is an important tool to navigate through daily clinical problems although a discrepancy between the knowledge of theoretical abstract terms and difficulties in implementing EbM in daily clinical work has been detected. The provision of infrastructure, courses and structured education as a permanent instrument will advance the knowledge, application and improvement of EbM in the future. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Towards Environmentally-benign Nanoengineering: Antimicrobial Nanoparticles Based on Silver-infused Lignin Cores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Richter, Alexander Philipp

Engineered nanomaterials are capable of solving challenges in industries important to society such as energy, agriculture, and health care. Antimicrobial silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are the most widely used nanoparticles by number of commercial products in commerce today. However, the increased introduction of AgNPs in industrial applications may lead to discharge of persistent nanoparticles in the environment and undesired impacts on living organisms. This dissertation will present a new class of antimicrobial environmentallybenign nanoparticles (EbNPs) designed with green chemistry principles, which can serve as highly efficient microbicide substitutes of the AgNPs. The EbNP core is made of biodegradable lignin, and is infused with an optimal amount of silver ions. We report on the fabrication of environmentally benign nanoparticles (EbNPs) using two types of lignin precursors with simple, inexpensive, and non-toxic processes, (i) by employing a solvent exchange precipitation method at room temperature and (ii) by applying an environmentally friendly water-based acid precipitation method. The synthesis of Organosolv (High Purity Lignin) nanoparticles via antisolvent flash precipitation method in water resulted in particles in the size range of 45 to 250 nm in diameter. We investigate the synthesis parameters of Kraft (Indulin AT) lignin nanoparticles by flash precipitation induced by pH drop in ethylene glycol. Furthermore, we evaluate the ionic strength and pH stability of both lignin nanoparticle suspensions and highlight differences in the systems. After silver ion infusion of Indulin AT nanoparticles followed by surface modification, we show that the EbNPs exhibit higher antimicrobial activity towards Gram-negative human pathogens Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Gram-positive human pathogens Staphylococcus epidermidis in direct comparison with silver nanoparticles and silver nitrate solution, and that the particles are effective against quaternary ammonium resistant Ralstonia bacteria. The enhanced antimicrobial action is due to highly-biocidal silver ions released from the EbNP matrix at the cell. High-throughput bioactivity screening using mammalian cell and zebrafish embryo assays performed in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency did not reveal increased safety concerns of the EbNPs, when compared to equivalent amount of AgNPs or AgNO3 solution. The silver ion functionalized EbNPs exhibit broad spectrum microbicide action and are capable of neutralizing common gram-negative human pathogens as well as quaternary amineresistant bacteria, while using ten times less silver when compared with conventional AgNPs and AgNO3 aqueous solution. We envisage that the overall environmental impact of silver ion functionalized EbNPs is likely to be significantly smaller when compared to AgNPs. As more general impact, the approach of engineering environmentally-benign lignin-core nanoparticles with matching functionality to persistent nanoparticles illustrates how green chemistry principles including atom economy, use of renewable feedstocks, and design for degradation can be applied to design more sustainable nanomaterials with increased functionality and decreased environmental footprint.

Influence of Ongoing Task Difficulty and Motivation Level on Children's Prospective Memory in a Chinese Sample.

PubMed

Han, Pi-Guo; Han, Lei; Bian, Yu-Long; Tian, Yu; Xu, Min-Xia; Gao, Feng-Qiang

2017-01-01

Prospective memory (PM) is the process associated with the task of realizing delayed intentions in the future. Researchers distinguish two types of PM, namely time-based PM (tbPM) and event-based PM (ebPM). Experiment 1 investigated the developmental trajectory of 3- to 5-year-old preschool children's PM ability, and the occurrence of delayed retrieval (children execute the PM task in a larger window of opportunity) in both tbPM and ebPM tasks. Results revealed that the 5-year-old children outperformed the 3- and 4-year-old children in PM. Moreover, delayed retrieval was more likely to occur in tbPM task than in ebPM task. In Experiment 2, the influence of ongoing task (OT) difficulty on PM performance was investigated with a sample of 5-year-old children. Results revealed no significant effect of OT difficulty on PM performance. In Experiment 3, we improved children's motivation level to complete the OT, then explored the influence of OT difficulty on children's PM performance. Results revealed that the effect of OT difficulty on PM performance became significant after increasing the children's motivation to complete the OT. These results provide insights into the mechanism of attentional resource allocation in PM tasks and have crucial educational and social implications.

A comparative evaluation of a novel vaccine in APP/PS1 mouse models of Alzheimer's disease.

PubMed

Carrera, Iván; Etcheverría, Ignacio; Fernández-Novoa, Lucía; Lombardi, Valter Ruggero Maria; Lakshmana, Madepalli Krishnappa; Cacabelos, Ramón; Vigo, Carmen

2015-01-01

Immunization against amyloid-beta-peptide (Aβ) has been widely investigated as a potential immunotherapeutic approach for Alzheimer's disease (AD). With the aim of developing an active immunogenic vaccine without need of coadjuvant modification for human trials and therefore avoiding such side effects, we designed the Aβ 1-42 vaccine (EB101), delivered in a liposomal matrix, that based on our previous studies significantly prevents and reverses the AD neuropathology, clearing Aβ plaques while markedly reducing neuronal degeneration, behavioral deficits, and minimizing neuroinflammation in APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Here, the efficacy of our immunogenic vaccine EB101 was compared with the original immunization vaccine cocktail Aβ 42 + CFA/IFA (Freund's adjuvant), in order to characterize the effect of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) in the immunotherapeutic response. Quantitative analysis of amyloid burden showed a notable decrease in the neuroinflammation reaction against Aβ plaques when S1P was compared with other treatments, suggesting that S1P plays a key role as a neuroprotective agent. Moreover, EB101 immunized mice presented a protective immunogenic reaction resulting in the increase of Aβ-specific antibody response and decrease of reactive glia in the affected brain areas, leading to a Th2 immunological reaction.

Defense Logistics Agency Did Not Fully Implement the Business Enterprise Architecture Procure-to-Pay Business Process in the Enterprise Business System

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-10-28

change. Enterprise Business System In August 2000, DLA began developing its Enterprise Resource Planning ( ERP ) system by initiating the Business...the EBS core system. EBS became the ERP system solution supporting DLA nonenergy commodity activities. DLA subsequently enhanced its EBS...capabilities by adding SAP software that supported DLA Enterprise Operational Accounting, real property, and inventory management functions. As part of the

Supramolecular Assembly of Tripodal Trisamides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, Li

2010-03-01

A series of tripodal trisamide compounds have been synthesized from tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TREN) by condensation with different acid chlorides. Gelation of organic solvents with these compounds was investigated as a function of concentration and solvent solubility parameter. Compounds made with linear acid chlorides were poor gelators. A gelator made with 2-ethylbutyryl chloride (TREN-EB) was an excellent gelator for many organic solvents. It was found that the minimum gelation concentration of TREN-EB increased with increasing solubility parameter of the solvent. Thin films samples were prepared by spin-coating mixtures of TREN-EB and a poly(acrylate). Scanning force microscopy measurements showed that TREN-EB formed nanofibrillar network structures. In addition a dependence of the network morphology on the casting solvent was found.

Application of nonlocal models to nano beams. Part II: Thickness length scale effect.

PubMed

Kim, Jun-Sik

2014-10-01

Applicability of nonlocal models to nano-beams is discussed in terms of the Eringen's nonlocal Euler-Bernoulli (EB) beam model. In literature, most work has taken the axial coordinate derivative in the Laplacian operator presented in nonlocal elasticity. This causes that the non-locality always makes the beam soften as compared to the local counterpart. In this paper, the thickness scale effect is solely considered to investigate if the nonlocal model can simulate stiffening effect. Taking the thickness derivative in the Laplacian operator leads to the presence of a surface stress state. The governing equation derived is compared to that of the EB model with the surface stress. The results obtained reveal that the nonlocality tends to decrease the bending moment stiffness whereas to increase the bending rigidity in the governing equation. This tendency also depends on the surface conditions.

A search for tight hierarchical triple systems amongst the eclipsing binaries in the CoRoT fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hajdu, T.; Borkovits, T.; Forgács-Dajka, E.; Sztakovics, J.; Marschalkó, G.; Benkő, J. M.; Klagyivik, P.; Sallai, M. J.

2017-10-01

We report a comprehensive search for hierarchical triple stellar system candidates amongst eclipsing binaries (EBs) observed by the CoRoT spacecraft. We calculate and check eclipse timing variation (ETV) diagrams for almost 1500 EBs in an automated manner. We identify five relatively short period Algol systems for which our combined light-curve and complex ETV analyses (including both the light-travel time effect and short-term dynamical third-body perturbations) resulted in consistent third-body solutions. The computed periods of the outer bodies are between 82 and 272 d (with an alternative solution of 831 d for one of the targets). We find that the inner and outer orbits are near coplanar in all but one case. The dynamical masses of the outer subsystems determined from the ETV analyses are consistent with both the results of our light-curve analyses and the spectroscopic information available in the literature. One of our candidate systems exhibits outer eclipsing events as well, the locations of which are in good agreement with the ETV solution. We also report another certain triply eclipsing triple system that, however, is lacking a reliable ETV solution due to the very short time range of the data, and four new blended systems (composite light curves of two EBs each), where we cannot decide whether the components are gravitationally bounded or not. Amongst these blended systems, we identify the longest period and highest eccentricity EB in the entire CoRoT sample.

Polyurethane acrylate networks including cellulose nanocrystals: a comparison between UV and EB- curing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furtak-Wrona, K.; Kozik-Ostrówka, P.; Jadwiszczak, K.; Maigret, J. E.; Aguié-Béghin, V.; Coqueret, X.

2018-01-01

A water-based polyurethane (PUR) acrylate water emulsion was selected as a radiation curable matrix for preparing nanocomposites including cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) prepared by controlled hydrolysis of Ramie fibers. Cross-linking polymerization of samples prepared in the form of films or of 1 mm-thick bars was either initiated by exposure to the 395 nm light of a high intensity LED lamp or by treatment with low energy electron beam (EB). The conversion level of acrylate functions in samples submitted to increasing radiation doses was monitored by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) were used to characterize changes in the glass transition temperature of the PUR-CNC nanocomposites as a function of acrylate conversion and of CNC content. Micromechanical testing indicates the positive effect of 1 wt% CNC on Young's modulus and on the tensile strength at break (σ) of cured nanocomposites. The presence of CNC in the PUR acrylate matrix was shown to double the σ value of the nanocomposite cured to an acrylate conversion level of 85% by treatment with a 25 kGy dose under EB, whereas no increase of σ was observed in UV-cured samples exhibiting the same acrylate conversion level. The occurrence of grafting reactions inducing covalent linkages between the polysaccharide nanofiller and the PUR acrylate matrix during the EB treatment is advanced as an explanation to account for the improvement observed in samples cured under ionizing radiation.

Monitoring undergraduate student needs and activities at Experimental Biology: APS pilot survey.

PubMed

Nichols, Nicole L; Ilatovskaya, Daria V; Matyas, Marsha L

2017-06-01

Life science professional societies play important roles for undergraduates in their fields and increasingly offer membership, fellowships, and awards for undergraduate students. However, the overall impacts of society-student interactions have not been well studied. Here, we sought to develop and test a pilot survey of undergraduate students to determine how they got involved in research and in presenting at the Experimental Biology (EB) meeting, what they gained from the scientific and career development sessions at the meeting, and how the American Physiological Society (APS) can best support and engage undergraduate students. This survey was administered in 2014 and 2015 to undergraduate students who submitted physiology abstracts for and attended EB. More than 150 students responded (38% response rate). Respondents were demographically representative of undergraduate students majoring in life sciences in the United States. Most students (72%) became involved in research through a summer research program or college course. They attended a variety of EB sessions, including poster sessions and symposia, and found them useful. Undergraduate students interacted with established researchers at multiple venues. Students recommended that APS provide more research fellowships (25%) and keep in touch with students via both e-mail (46%) and social media (37%). Our results indicate that APS' EB undergraduate activities are valued by students and are effective in helping them have a positive scientific meeting experience. These results also guided the development of a more streamlined survey for use in future years. Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.

Tuberin and PRAS40 are anti-apoptotic gatekeepers during early human amniotic fluid stem-cell differentiation.

PubMed

Fuchs, Christiane; Rosner, Margit; Dolznig, Helmut; Mikula, Mario; Kramer, Nina; Hengstschläger, Markus

2012-03-01

Embryoid bodies (EBs) are three-dimensional multicellular aggregates allowing the in vitro investigation of stem-cell differentiation processes mimicking early embryogenesis. Human amniotic fluid stem (AFS) cells harbor high proliferation potential, do not raise the ethical issues of embryonic stem cells, have a lower risk for tumor development, do not need exogenic induction of pluripotency and are chromosomal stable. Starting from a single human AFS cell, EBs can be formed accompanied by the differentiation into cells of all three embryonic germ layers. Here, we report that siRNA-mediated knockdown of the endogenous tuberous sclerosis complex-2 (TSC2) gene product tuberin or of proline-rich Akt substrate of 40 kDa (PRAS40), the two major negative regulators of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), leads to massive apoptotic cell death during EB development of human AFS cells without affecting the endodermal, mesodermal and ectodermal cell differentiation spectrum. Co-knockdown of endogenous mTOR demonstrated these effects to be mTOR-dependent. Our findings prove this enzyme cascade to be an essential anti-apoptotic gatekeeper of stem-cell differentiation during EB formation. These data allow new insights into the regulation of early stem-cell maintenance and differentiation and identify a new role of the tumor suppressor tuberin and the oncogenic protein PRAS40 with the relevance for a more detailed understanding of the pathogenesis of diseases associated with altered activities of these gene products.

A novel autosomal partially dominant mutation designated G476D in the keratin 5 gene causing epidermolysis bullosa simplex Weber-Cockayne type: a family study with a genetic twist.

PubMed

Kowalewski, Cezary; Hamada, Takahiro; Wozniak, Katarzyna; Kawano, Yuko; Szczecinska, Weronika; Yasumoto, Shinichiro; Schwartz, Robert A; Hashimoto, Takashi

2007-07-01

Epidermolysis bullosa simplex Weber-Cockayne type (EBS-WC) is a genetically inherited skin disease characterized by blistering restricted to the palms and soles. Its inheritance in nearly all kindreds is caused by a dominant-negative mutation in either KRT5 or KRT14, the genes encoding keratin 5 and keratin 14 proteins, respectively. Rarely, recessive mutations have also been found. We described a family with EBS-WC caused by a novel autosomal dominant mutation (G476D) in the keratin 5 gene. One family member was first seen with mucosal erosions and generalized blisters localized on the anogenital area, trunk, face and sites of mechanical trauma. Molecular analysis in this patient showed the presence of an additional mutation, an autosomal recessive (G183E) one, in the same gene. This observation suggests an additional effect of a recessively inherited mutation modulating the phenotypic expression of EBS caused by a partially dominant mutation and is important for accurate genetic counseling.

Suitability of the hydrocarbon-hydroxylating molybdenum-enzyme ethylbenzene dehydrogenase for industrial chiral alcohol production.

PubMed

Tataruch, M; Heider, J; Bryjak, J; Nowak, P; Knack, D; Czerniak, A; Liesiene, J; Szaleniec, M

2014-12-20

The molybdenum/iron-sulfur/heme protein ethylbenzene dehydrogenase (EbDH) was successfully applied to catalyze enantiospecific hydroxylation of alkylaromatic and alkylheterocyclic compounds. The optimization of the synthetic procedure involves use of the enzyme in a crude purification state that saves significant preparation effort and is more stable than purified EbDH without exhibiting unwanted side reactions. Moreover, immobilization of the enzyme on a crystalline cellulose support and changes in reaction conditions were introduced in order to increase the amounts of product formed (anaerobic atmosphere, electrochemical electron acceptor recycling or utilization of ferricyanide as alternative electron acceptor in high concentrations). We report here on an extension of effective enzyme activity from 4h to more than 10 days and final product yields of up to 0.4-0.5g/l, which represent a decent starting point for further optimization. Therefore, we expect that the hydrocarbon-hydroxylation capabilities of EbDH may be developed into a new process of industrial production of chiral alcohols. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Epistemological beliefs and therapeutic health concepts of physiotherapy students and professionals.

PubMed

Bientzle, Martina; Cress, Ulrike; Kimmerle, Joachim

2014-10-01

Health knowledge develops fast and includes a lot of ambiguous or tentative information. In their daily routine, both health care students and professionals continuously have to make judgments about the viability of health knowledge. People's epistemological beliefs (EBs) and their therapeutic health concepts are factors that influence how they deal with health knowledge. However, very little is known about the occurrence of these factors at different stages of people's career. The present study examines the EBs and therapeutic health concepts of physiotherapy students in their vocational training and the EBs and therapeutic health concepts of professionals. In a cross-sectional study physiotherapy students and professional physiotherapists filled in a questionnaire that measured their personal EBs about physiotherapy and medicine, as well as their biomedical and biopsychosocial therapeutic health concepts. We compared the participants' EBs regarding both knowledge domains, and their therapeutic health concepts using paired samples t-tests. We also examined the differences between first-year students, advanced students, and professionals regarding their EBs and their therapeutic health concepts using ANOVAs. Eighty-three students and 84 professionals participated in this study, 114/167 (68%) participants were female. EBs as well as therapeutic health concepts differed depending upon the participants' training status. Professionals had more sophisticated EBs than students regarding both knowledge in physiotherapy (F(2, 164) = 6.74, P = 0.002, η(2)(p) = 0.08) and knowledge in medicine (F(2, 164) = 5.93, P = 0.003, η(2)(p) = 0.07). In addition, high values in a biopsychosocial therapeutic health concept already occurred in an early phase of training (F(2, 164) = 5.39, P = 0.005, η(2)(p) = 0.06), whereas increased values in a biomedical concept did not occur until people's professional life (F(2, 164) = 10.99, P < 0.001, η(2)(p) = 0.12). The specificities of personal EBs and therapeutic health concepts in different stages of health care training have so far been insufficiently considered in medical education research. The current study has aimed to shed light on the occurrence of these concepts in students as compared to professionals. We point out implications of our findings for educational practice and make suggestions for future research.

Integrating clinicians, knowledge and data: expert-based cooperative analysis in healthcare decision support

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Decision support in health systems is a highly difficult task, due to the inherent complexity of the process and structures involved. Method This paper introduces a new hybrid methodology Expert-based Cooperative Analysis (EbCA), which incorporates explicit prior expert knowledge in data analysis methods, and elicits implicit or tacit expert knowledge (IK) to improve decision support in healthcare systems. EbCA has been applied to two different case studies, showing its usability and versatility: 1) Bench-marking of small mental health areas based on technical efficiency estimated by EbCA-Data Envelopment Analysis (EbCA-DEA), and 2) Case-mix of schizophrenia based on functional dependency using Clustering Based on Rules (ClBR). In both cases comparisons towards classical procedures using qualitative explicit prior knowledge were made. Bayesian predictive validity measures were used for comparison with expert panels results. Overall agreement was tested by Intraclass Correlation Coefficient in case "1" and kappa in both cases. Results EbCA is a new methodology composed by 6 steps:. 1) Data collection and data preparation; 2) acquisition of "Prior Expert Knowledge" (PEK) and design of the "Prior Knowledge Base" (PKB); 3) PKB-guided analysis; 4) support-interpretation tools to evaluate results and detect inconsistencies (here Implicit Knowledg -IK- might be elicited); 5) incorporation of elicited IK in PKB and repeat till a satisfactory solution; 6) post-processing results for decision support. EbCA has been useful for incorporating PEK in two different analysis methods (DEA and Clustering), applied respectively to assess technical efficiency of small mental health areas and for case-mix of schizophrenia based on functional dependency. Differences in results obtained with classical approaches were mainly related to the IK which could be elicited by using EbCA and had major implications for the decision making in both cases. Discussion This paper presents EbCA and shows the convenience of completing classical data analysis with PEK as a mean to extract relevant knowledge in complex health domains. One of the major benefits of EbCA is iterative elicitation of IK.. Both explicit and tacit or implicit expert knowledge are critical to guide the scientific analysis of very complex decisional problems as those found in health system research. PMID:20920289

Integrating clinicians, knowledge and data: expert-based cooperative analysis in healthcare decision support.

PubMed

Gibert, Karina; García-Alonso, Carlos; Salvador-Carulla, Luis

2010-09-30

Decision support in health systems is a highly difficult task, due to the inherent complexity of the process and structures involved. This paper introduces a new hybrid methodology Expert-based Cooperative Analysis (EbCA), which incorporates explicit prior expert knowledge in data analysis methods, and elicits implicit or tacit expert knowledge (IK) to improve decision support in healthcare systems. EbCA has been applied to two different case studies, showing its usability and versatility: 1) Bench-marking of small mental health areas based on technical efficiency estimated by EbCA-Data Envelopment Analysis (EbCA-DEA), and 2) Case-mix of schizophrenia based on functional dependency using Clustering Based on Rules (ClBR). In both cases comparisons towards classical procedures using qualitative explicit prior knowledge were made. Bayesian predictive validity measures were used for comparison with expert panels results. Overall agreement was tested by Intraclass Correlation Coefficient in case "1" and kappa in both cases. EbCA is a new methodology composed by 6 steps:. 1) Data collection and data preparation; 2) acquisition of "Prior Expert Knowledge" (PEK) and design of the "Prior Knowledge Base" (PKB); 3) PKB-guided analysis; 4) support-interpretation tools to evaluate results and detect inconsistencies (here Implicit Knowledg -IK- might be elicited); 5) incorporation of elicited IK in PKB and repeat till a satisfactory solution; 6) post-processing results for decision support. EbCA has been useful for incorporating PEK in two different analysis methods (DEA and Clustering), applied respectively to assess technical efficiency of small mental health areas and for case-mix of schizophrenia based on functional dependency. Differences in results obtained with classical approaches were mainly related to the IK which could be elicited by using EbCA and had major implications for the decision making in both cases. This paper presents EbCA and shows the convenience of completing classical data analysis with PEK as a mean to extract relevant knowledge in complex health domains. One of the major benefits of EbCA is iterative elicitation of IK.. Both explicit and tacit or implicit expert knowledge are critical to guide the scientific analysis of very complex decisional problems as those found in health system research.

Discovery of room-temperature spin-glass behaviors in two-dimensional oriented attached single crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Ji; Chen, Kezheng

2016-05-01

In this study, room-temperature spin-glass behaviors were observed in flake-like oriented attached hematite (α-Fe2O3) and iron phosphate hydroxide hydrate (Fe5(PO4)4(OH)3·2H2O) single crystals. Remarkably, their coercivity (HC) values were found to be almost invariable at various given temperatures from 5 to 300 K. The spin topographic map in these flakes was assumed as superparamagnetic (SPM) "islands" isolated by spin glass (SG)-like "bridges". A spin-glass model was then proposed to demonstrate the spin frustration within these "bridges", which were formed by the staggered atomic planes in the uneven surfaces belonging to different attached nanoparticles. Under the spatial limitation and coupling shield of these "bridges", the SPM "islands" were found to be collectively frozen to form a superspin glass (SSG) state below 80 K in weak applied magnetic fields; whereas, when strong magnetic fields were applied, the magnetic coupling of these "islands" would become superferromagnetic (SFM) through tunneling superexchange, so that, these SFM spins could antiferromagnetically couple with the SG-like "bridges" to yield pronounced exchange bias (EB) effect.

Emotional Burnout, Perceived Sources of Job Stress, Professional Fulfillment, and Engagement among Medical Residents in Malaysia

PubMed Central

Al-Dubai, Sami Abdo Radman; Perianayagam, Wilson; Rampal, Krishna Gopal

2013-01-01

This study was the first to explore factors associated with emotional burnout (EB) among medical residents in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a universal sample of 205 medical residents in a Malaysian general hospital. The self-administered questionnaire used consisted of questions on sociodemographics and work characteristics, sources of job stress, professional fulfillment, engagement, and EB. EB was measured using the emotional exhaustion subscale, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Mean (±SD) age of the respondents was 26.5 (±1.6). The most common source of job stress was “fear of making mistakes.” Most of the participants were dissatisfied with the increase of residentship period from one year to two years. A high level of EB was reported by 36.6% of the respondents. In multivariate analysis, the most important correlates of EB were sources of job stress, professional fulfillment, and engagement. A high prevalence of EB was found among medical residents. Sociodemographic characteristics, performance pressure, and satisfaction with policies were significantly associated with EB. Although this study was limited by its cross-sectional design, its findings posit a sufficient foundation to relevant authorities to construct, amend, and amalgamate existing and future policies. Nothing will sustain you more potently than the power to recognize in your humdrum routine, as perhaps it may be thought, the true poetry of life—the poetry of the common place, of the common man, of the plain, toil-worn woman, with their loves and their joys, their sorrows and their grief. SirWilliam Osler, Aphorisms from the Student Life (Aequanimitas, 1952) PMID:24367238

A case of IgG4-related lung disease complicated by asymptomatic chronic Epstein-Barr virus infection.

PubMed

Kotetsu, Yasuaki; Ikegame, Satoshi; Takebe-Akazawa, Keiko; Koga, Takaomi; Okabayashi, Kan; Takata, Shohei

2017-11-01

IgG4-related disease is characterized by IgG4-positive plasmacyte infiltration into various organs, but its etiology is not unknown. To elucidate the etiology of IgG4-related disease. We experienced an interesting case of IgG4-related lung disease complicated by chronic EB virus infection. A 70-year-old male visited our hospital due to failure of pneumonia treatment. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed consolidation in the right middle field and slight mediastinal lymphadenopathy in the subcarinal region. Lung consolidation improved with antibiotics; subcarinal lymphadenopathy progressed after 4 months. Malignant lymphoma was suspected given elevated sIL2-R levels (1862 U/mL). Patchy ground glass opacities appeared in the bilateral lung field just before surgical biopsy. He was diagnosed with IgG4-related lung disease after inspection of a pathological specimen obtained from the right upper lung and right hilar lymph node. EB virus-infected cells were also detected in the lymph node. Blood examination revealed EB virus viremia, but the patient did not present with symptoms or organ involvement. This led to a diagnosis of asymptomatic chronic EB virus infection. Recent studies have suggested an association between EB virus infection and IgG4-related diseases in the pathological exploration of surgically resected lymph nodes. Our case is the first case of IgG4-related lung disease in which EB virus infection was both pathologically and clinically proved. The present case is of particular interest in view of this newly reported association, and may serve as a fundamental report for future studies connecting EB virus infection with IgG4-related diseases. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Neuroprotective role of quercetin in locomotor activities and cholinergic neurotransmission in rats experimentally demyelinated with ethidium bromide.

PubMed

Beckmann, Diego V; Carvalho, Fabiano B; Mazzanti, Cinthia M; Dos Santos, Rosmarini P; Andrades, Amanda O; Aiello, Graciane; Rippilinger, Angel; Graça, Dominguita L; Abdalla, Fátima H; Oliveira, Lizielle S; Gutierres, Jessié M; Schetinger, Maria Rosa C; Mazzanti, Alexandre

2014-05-17

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the flavonoid quercetin can prevent alterations in the behavioral tests and of cholinergic neurotransmission in rats submitted to the ethidium bromide (EB) experimental demyelination model during events of demyelination and remyelination. Wistar rats were randomly distributed into four groups (20 animals per group): Control (pontine saline injection and treatment with ethanol), Querc (pontine saline injection and treatment with quercetin), EB (pontine 0.1% EB injection and treatment with ethanol), and EB+Querc (pontine 0.1% EB injection and treatment with quercetin). The groups Querc and Querc+EB were treated once daily with quercetin (50mg/kg) diluted in 25% ethanol solution (1ml/kg) and the animals of the control and EB groups were treated once daily with 25% ethanol solution (1ml/kg). Two stages were observed: phase of demyelination (peak on day 7) and phase of remyelination (peak on day 21 post-injection). Behavioral tests (beam walking, foot fault and inclined plane test), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and lipid peroxidation in pons, cerebellum, hippocampus, hypothalamus, striatum and cerebral cortex were measured. The quercetin promoted earlier locomotor recovery, suggesting that there was demyelination prevention or further remyelination velocity as well as it was able to prevent the inhibition of AChE activity and the increase of lipidic peroxidation, suggesting that this compound can protect cholinergic neurotransmission. These results may contribute to a better understanding of the neuroprotective role of quercetin and the importance of an antioxidant diet in humans to provide benefits in neurodegenerative diseases such as MS. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Inc.

The interaction between temperament and the family environment in adolescent substance use and externalizing behaviors: Support for diathesis–stress or differential susceptibility?

PubMed Central

Rioux, Charlie; Castellanos-Ryan, Natalie; Parent, Sophie; Séguin, Jean R.

2016-01-01

Both individual and environmental factors predict externalizing behaviors and substance use (EB-SU); however, different patterns of interaction among these factors may have different implications. This review first examines how temperament and the family environment interact in the prediction of adolescent EB-SU. Second, studies are reviewed according to two theoretical models: (1) diathesis–stress, i.e., certain individual characteristics are linked to vulnerability and later problems in adverse environments; (2) differential susceptibility, i.e., these characteristics are linked to susceptibility, predicting problems in adverse environments, but also better than average outcomes in good environments. Fourteen studies focusing on the prediction of EB-SU at ages 12–18 were selected through a literature search. Results showed that certain temperament traits (high levels of impulsivity and disinhibition; low levels of effortful control, negative affect, fearfulness and shyness), hereby designated as “adventurous” disposition, were associated with higher levels of EB-SU in adverse family environments. Some studies also showed that children with “adventurous” temperament traits in positive environments had the lowest levels of EB-SU. This suggests that prevention of EB-SU might target family factors such as parenting and focus on children with “adventurous” temperament traits. Further, studies that supported the differential susceptibility model were those assessing temperament and the family environment in childhood and studies that supported the diathesis–stress model assessed these variables in adolescence. It is thus possible that some of these “adventurous” temperament traits, with regard to EB-SU, would be indicators of susceptibility to both enriched and adverse environments in childhood but no longer in adolescence, when they would only be indicators of vulnerability to adverse environments. PMID:27413247

The evolution of and challenges for industrial radiation processing—2012

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berejka, A. J.; Cleland, M. R.; Walo, M.

2014-01-01

The evolution of industrial radiation processing is traced from Roentgen's discovery of X-radiation in 1895 by following the development of high current, electron beam accelerators (EB) throughout the twentieth century. Although Becquerel soon followed Roentgen with his discovery of what became to be known as radioactivity, electrical sources for ionizing radiation dominate industrial processing with there being more than ten times as many industrial installations using high current EB equipment than the facilities relying upon large concentrations of radioactive isotopes. In the 1950s, the discovery that ionizing radiation would enhance the value of what has become the world's largest volume commodity plastic, polyethylene (PE), opened the way for full scale commercial use of high current EB equipment. While the crosslinking of the PE insulation on wire became one of the first major industrial applications, other uses of EB processing soon followed. In the 1970s, low-energy, self-shielded EB equipment made the surface curing of inks, coatings and adhesives more industrially viable. In the early part of the twenty-first century, new market applications involving the low-energy EB surface decontamination of packaging materials emerged. This new area poses challenges for the metrology needed to control industrial processes, in that there is limited EB penetration into what have been used as dosimeters by industry. Major industrial use of radiation process is now over 50 years old. Because of the diversity of end-uses and the fact that the use of ionizing radiation in industry is a process technique, it is hard to quantify the value-added to numerous commercial products that benefit from this energy efficient process. It may be in excess of a trillion Euros in value-added to articles of commerce. In this milieu, there are some broad-based opportunities for research which are noted.

Adopting a Sustainable Community of Practice Model when Developing a Service to Support Patients with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB): A Stakeholder-Centered Approach.

PubMed

Gowran, Rosemary Joan; Kennan, Avril; Marshall, Siobhán; Mulcahy, Irene; Ní Mhaille, Sile; Beasley, Sarah; Devlin, Mark

2015-02-01

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a rare, genetic skin condition that is complicated, distressing, and painful and permeates every aspect of patients' lives. Support services are essential for meeting the primary needs of patients and families living with EB; however, provision is challenged by many complex issues. In collaboration with the patient organization DEBRA Ireland, this research conducted an in-depth analysis of Irish healthcare support services for EB, with a view to moving towards an improved and sustainable care pathway. A sustainable community of practice model (SCOP), as a core construct provided a simplified framework when studying this complex system. The research utilized mixed methods, comprising individual interviews, questionnaires, and a participatory action research workshop based on a soft systems approach. The study engaged patients, family members, service providers, and policy developers. Findings emphasized that the complexities of life with EB are more than 'skin deep'. The lived experience of stakeholders revealed many levels of emotion, both positive and heart-rending. Despite the positive efforts of specialists in this field, inadequacies to meet the primary needs of people with EB, such as bandages-fundamental for survival-were highlighted. Participants reported challenges relating to understanding patients' needs, access to consistent services within hospitals and the community, time constraints, and the strong emotions evoked by this severe and rare disease. The study identified several areas that can be targeted to bring about improvements in meeting primary needs. Education and research at public, policy, and practice levels need to be prioritized. It is imperative that citizens move beyond an awareness that EB exists and demonstrate a consciousness about the importance of advocating and enabling seamless and sustainable support services through collective action.

Radioligand Therapy of Prostate Cancer with a Long-Lasting Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Targeting Agent 90Y-DOTA-EB-MCG.

PubMed

Wang, Zhantong; Jacobson, Orit; Tian, Rui; Mease, Ronnie C; Kiesewetter, Dale O; Niu, Gang; Pomper, Martin G; Chen, Xiaoyuan

2018-06-15

Several radioligands targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) have been clinically introduced as a new class of radiotheranostics for the treatment of prostate cancer. Among them, ((( R)-1-carboxy-2-mcercaptoethyl)carbamoyl)-l-glutamic acid (MCG) has been successfully labeled with radioisotopes for prostate cancer imaging. The aim of this study is to conjugate MCG with an albumin binding moiety to further improve the in vivo pharmacokinetics. MCG was conjugated with an Evans blue (EB) derivative for albumin binding and a DOTA chelator. PSMA positive (PC3-PIP) and PSMA negative (PC3) cells were used for both in vitro and in vivo studies. Longitudinal PET imaging was performed at 1, 4, 24, and 48 h post-injection to evaluate the biodistribution and tumor uptake of 86 Y-DOTA-EB-MCG. DOTA-EB-MCG was also labeled with 90 Y for radionuclide therapy. Besides tumor growth measurement, tumor response to escalating therapeutic doses were also evaluated by immunohistochemistry and fluorescence microscopy. Based on quantification from 86 Y-DOTA-EB-MCG PET images, the tracer uptake in PC3-PIP tumors increased from 22.33 ± 2.39%ID/g at 1 h post-injection (p.i.), to the peak of 40.40 ± 4.79%ID/g at 24 h p.i. Administration of 7.4 MBq of 90 Y-DOTA-EB-MCG resulted in significant regression of tumor growth in PSMA positive xenografts. No apparent toxicity or body weight loss was observed in all treated mice. Modification of MCG with an Evans blue derivative resulted in a highly efficient prostate cancer targeting agent (EB-MCG), which showed great potential in prostate cancer treatment after being labeled with therapeutic radioisotopes.

The Functional Role of eL19 and eB12 Intersubunit Bridge in the Eukaryotic Ribosome.

PubMed

Kisly, Ivan; Gulay, Suna P; Mäeorg, Uno; Dinman, Jonathan D; Remme, Jaanus; Tamm, Tiina

2016-05-22

During translation, the two eukaryotic ribosomal subunits remain associated through 17 intersubunit bridges, five of which are eukaryote specific. These are mainly localized to the peripheral regions and are believed to stabilize the structure of the ribosome. The functional importance of these bridges remains largely unknown. Here, the essentiality of the eukaryote-specific bridge eB12 has been investigated. The main component of this bridge is ribosomal protein eL19 that is composed of an N-terminal globular domain, a middle region, and a long C-terminal α-helix. The analysis of deletion mutants demonstrated that the globular domain and middle region of eL19 are essential for cell viability, most likely functioning in ribosome assembly. The eB12 bridge, formed by contacts between the C-terminal α-helix of eL19 and 18S rRNA in concert with additional stabilizing interactions involving either eS7 or uS17, is dispensable for viability. Nevertheless, eL19 mutants impaired in eB12 bridge formation displayed slow growth phenotypes, altered sensitivity/resistance to translational inhibitors, and enhanced hyperosmotic stress tolerance. Biochemical analyses determined that the eB12 bridge contributes to the stability of ribosome subunit interactions in vitro. 60S subunits containing eL19 variants defective in eB12 bridge formation failed to form 80S ribosomes regardless of Mg(2+) concentration. The reassociation of 40S and mutant 60S subunits was markedly improved in the presence of deacetylated tRNA, emphasizing the importance of tRNAs during the subunit association. We propose that the eB12 bridge plays an important role in subunit joining and in optimizing ribosome functionality. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nonsense variant in COL7A1 causes recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa in Central Asian Shepherd dogs.

PubMed

Niskanen, Julia; Dillard, Kati; Arumilli, Meharji; Salmela, Elina; Anttila, Marjukka; Lohi, Hannes; Hytönen, Marjo K

2017-01-01

A rare hereditary mechanobullous disorder called epidermolysis bullosa (EB) causes blistering in the skin and the mucosal membranes. To date, nineteen EB-related genes have been discovered in human and other species. We describe here a novel EB variant in dogs. Two newborn littermates of Central Asian Shepherd dogs with severe signs of skin blistering were brought to a veterinary clinic and euthanized due to poor prognosis. In post-mortem examination, the puppies were shown to have findings in the skin and the mucosal membranes characteristic of EB. A whole-genome sequencing of one of the affected puppies was performed to identify the genetic cause. The resequencing data were filtered under a recessive model against variants from 31 other dog genomes, revealing a homozygous case-specific nonsense variant in one of the known EB-causing genes, COL7A1 (c.4579C>T, p.R1527*). The variant results in a premature stop codon and likely absence of the functional protein in the basement membrane of the skin in the affected dogs. This was confirmed by immunohistochemistry using a COL7A1 antibody. Additional screening of the variant indicated full penetrance and breed specificity at ~28% carrier frequency. In summary, this study reveals a novel COL7A1 variant causing recessive dystrophic EB and provides a genetic test for the eradication of the disease from the breed.

Internal Fine Structure of Ellerman Bombs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hashimoto, Yuki; Kitai, Reizaburo; Ichimoto, Kiyoshi; Ueno, Satoru; Nagata, Shin'ichi; Ishii, Takako T.; Hagino, Masaoki; Komori, Hiroyuki; Nishida, Keisuke; Matsumoto, Takuma; Otsuji, Kenichi; Nakamura, Tahei; Kawate, Tomoko; Watanabe, Hiroko; Shibata, Kazunari

2010-08-01

We conducted coordinated observations of Ellerman bombs (EBs) between Hinode Satellite and Hida Observatory (HOP12). CaII H broad-band filter images of NOAA 10966 on 2007 August 9 and 10 were obtained with the Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) aboard the Hinode Satellite, and many bright points were observed. We identified a total of 4 bright points as EBs, and studied the temporal variation of their morphological fine structures and spectroscopic characteristics. With high-resolution CaII H images of SOT, we found that the EBs, thus far thought of as single bright features, are composed of a few of fine subcomponents. Also, by using Stokes I/V filtergrams with Hinode/SOT, and CaII H spectroheliograms with Hida/Domeless Solar Telescope (DST), our observation showed: (1) The mean duration, the mean width, the mean length, and the mean aspect ratio of the subcomponents were 390 s, 170 km, 450 km, and 2.7, respectively. (2) Subcomponents started to appear on the magnetic neutral lines, and extended their lengths from the original locations. (3) When the CaII H line of EBs showed the characteristic blue asymmetry, they are associated with the appearance or re-brightening of subcomponents. Summarizing our results, we obtained an observational view that elementary magnetic reconnections take place one by one successively and intermittently in EBs, and that their manifestation is the fine subcomponents of the EB phenomena.

[Prevalence of factors associated with the duration of exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life in the INMA birth cohort in Gipuzkoa].

PubMed

Oribe, Madalen; Lertxundi, Aitana; Basterrechea, Mikel; Begiristain, Haizea; Santa Marina, Loreto; Villar, María; Dorronsoro, Miren; Amiano, Pilar; Ibarluzea, Jesús

2015-01-01

To estimate the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding (EB) during the first 6 months of life in the Gipuzkoa birth cohort, identify the reasons for abandonment of EB, and establish the associated factors. The study population consisted of 638 pregnant women from the INMA-Gipuzkoa (Infancia y Medio Ambiente, www.proyectoinma.org) birth cohort, who were followed up from the third trimester of pregnancy until the child was aged 14 months. To determine the factors related to abandonment of EB, logistic regression models were used in two different stages (4 months or early stage and 6 months or late stage). The prevalence of EB within the Gipuzkoa cohort was 84.8% after hospital discharge, 53.7% at 4 months of life and 15.4% at 6 months of life. The reasons given by the mothers for early EB cessation were: breastfeeding problems, low weight gain and hypogalactia. Other factors influencing the early phase were the intention to provide EB, parity, area of residence and social class. Abandonment in the late stage was influenced by the length of maternity leave. From a public health perspective, the results of this study could help health professionals to develop strategies to support breastfeeding mothers, taking into account the main reasons for early and late abandonment. Copyright © 2014 SESPAS. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Metabolic Features of Protochlamydia amoebophila Elementary Bodies – A Link between Activity and Infectivity in Chlamydiae

PubMed Central

Watzka, Margarete; Wultsch, Anna; Tziotis, Dimitrios; Montanaro, Jacqueline; Richter, Andreas; Schmitt-Kopplin, Philippe; Horn, Matthias

2013-01-01

The Chlamydiae are a highly successful group of obligate intracellular bacteria, whose members are remarkably diverse, ranging from major pathogens of humans and animals to symbionts of ubiquitous protozoa. While their infective developmental stage, the elementary body (EB), has long been accepted to be completely metabolically inert, it has recently been shown to sustain some activities, including uptake of amino acids and protein biosynthesis. In the current study, we performed an in-depth characterization of the metabolic capabilities of EBs of the amoeba symbiont Protochlamydia amoebophila. A combined metabolomics approach, including fluorescence microscopy-based assays, isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS), ion cyclotron resonance Fourier transform mass spectrometry (ICR/FT-MS), and ultra-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) was conducted, with a particular focus on the central carbon metabolism. In addition, the effect of nutrient deprivation on chlamydial infectivity was analyzed. Our investigations revealed that host-free P. amoebophila EBs maintain respiratory activity and metabolize D-glucose, including substrate uptake as well as host-free synthesis of labeled metabolites and release of labeled CO2 from 13C-labeled D-glucose. The pentose phosphate pathway was identified as major route of D-glucose catabolism and host-independent activity of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle was observed. Our data strongly suggest anabolic reactions in P. amoebophila EBs and demonstrate that under the applied conditions D-glucose availability is essential to sustain metabolic activity. Replacement of this substrate by L-glucose, a non-metabolizable sugar, led to a rapid decline in the number of infectious particles. Likewise, infectivity of Chlamydia trachomatis, a major human pathogen, also declined more rapidly in the absence of nutrients. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that D-glucose is utilized by P. amoebophila EBs and provide evidence that metabolic activity in the extracellular stage of chlamydiae is of major biological relevance as it is a critical factor affecting maintenance of infectivity. PMID:23950718

Effect of Suspension Plasma-Sprayed YSZ Columnar Microstructure and Bond Coat Surface Preparation on Thermal Barrier Coating Properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bernard, Benjamin; Quet, Aurélie; Bianchi, Luc; Schick, Vincent; Joulia, Aurélien; Malié, André; Rémy, Benjamin

2017-08-01

Suspension plasma spraying (SPS) is identified as promising for the enhancement of thermal barrier coating (TBC) systems used in gas turbines. Particularly, the emerging columnar microstructure enabled by the SPS process is likely to bring about an interesting TBC lifetime. At the same time, the SPS process opens the way to a decrease in thermal conductivity, one of the main issues for the next generation of gas turbines, compared to the state-of-the-art deposition technique, so-called electron beam physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD). In this paper, yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) coatings presenting columnar structures, performed using both SPS and EB-PVD processes, were studied. Depending on the columnar microstructure readily adaptable in the SPS process, low thermal conductivities can be obtained. At 1100 °C, a decrease from 1.3 W m-1 K-1 for EB-PVD YSZ coatings to about 0.7 W m-1 K-1 for SPS coatings was shown. The higher content of porosity in the case of SPS coatings increases the thermal resistance through the thickness and decreases thermal conductivity. The lifetime of SPS YSZ coatings was studied by isothermal cyclic tests, showing equivalent or even higher performances compared to EB-PVD ones. Tests were performed using classical bond coats used for EB-PVD TBC coatings. Thermal cyclic fatigue performance of the best SPS coating reached 1000 cycles to failure on AM1 substrates with a β-(Ni,Pt)Al bond coat. Tests were also performed on AM1 substrates with a Pt-diffused γ-Ni/γ'-Ni3Al bond coat for which more than 2000 cycles to failure were observed for columnar SPS YSZ coatings. The high thermal compliance offered by both the columnar structure and the porosity allowed the reaching of a high lifetime, promising for a TBC application.

Intermediate-term emotional bookkeeping is necessary for long-term reciprocal grooming partner preferences in an agent-based model of macaque groups

PubMed Central

Evers, Ellen; de Vries, Han; Spruijt, Berry M.

2016-01-01

Whether and how primates are able to maintain long-term affiliative relationships is still under debate. Emotional bookkeeping (EB), the partner-specific accumulation of emotional responses to earlier interactions, is a candidate mechanism that does not require high cognitive abilities. EB is difficult to study in real animals, due to the complexity of primate social life. Therefore, we developed an agent-based model based on macaque behavior, the EMO-model, that implements arousal and two emotional dimensions, anxiety-FEAR and satisfaction-LIKE, which regulate social behavior. To implement EB, model individuals assign dynamic LIKE attitudes towards their group members, integrating partner-specific emotional responses to earlier received grooming episodes. Two key parameters in the model were varied to explore their effects on long-term affiliative relationships: (1) the timeframe over which earlier affiliation is accumulated into the LIKE attitudes; and (2) the degree of partner selectivity. EB over short and long timeframes gave rise to low variation in LIKE attitudes, and grooming partner preferences were only maintained over one to two months. Only EB over intermediate-term timeframes resulted in enough variation in LIKE attitudes, which, in combination with high partner selectivity, enables individuals to differentiate between regular and incidental grooming partners. These specific settings resulted in a strong feedback between differentiated LIKE attitudes and the distribution of grooming, giving rise to strongly reciprocated partner preferences that could be maintained for longer periods, occasionally up to one or two years. Moreover, at these settings the individual’s internal, socio-emotional memory of earlier affiliative episodes (LIKE attitudes) corresponded best to observable behavior (grooming partner preferences). In sum, our model suggests that intermediate-term LIKE dynamics and high partner selectivity seem most plausible for primates relying on emotional bookkeeping to maintain their social bonds. PMID:26839737

Intermediate-term emotional bookkeeping is necessary for long-term reciprocal grooming partner preferences in an agent-based model of macaque groups.

PubMed

Evers, Ellen; de Vries, Han; Spruijt, Berry M; Sterck, Elisabeth H M

2016-01-01

Whether and how primates are able to maintain long-term affiliative relationships is still under debate. Emotional bookkeeping (EB), the partner-specific accumulation of emotional responses to earlier interactions, is a candidate mechanism that does not require high cognitive abilities. EB is difficult to study in real animals, due to the complexity of primate social life. Therefore, we developed an agent-based model based on macaque behavior, the EMO-model, that implements arousal and two emotional dimensions, anxiety-FEAR and satisfaction-LIKE, which regulate social behavior. To implement EB, model individuals assign dynamic LIKE attitudes towards their group members, integrating partner-specific emotional responses to earlier received grooming episodes. Two key parameters in the model were varied to explore their effects on long-term affiliative relationships: (1) the timeframe over which earlier affiliation is accumulated into the LIKE attitudes; and (2) the degree of partner selectivity. EB over short and long timeframes gave rise to low variation in LIKE attitudes, and grooming partner preferences were only maintained over one to two months. Only EB over intermediate-term timeframes resulted in enough variation in LIKE attitudes, which, in combination with high partner selectivity, enables individuals to differentiate between regular and incidental grooming partners. These specific settings resulted in a strong feedback between differentiated LIKE attitudes and the distribution of grooming, giving rise to strongly reciprocated partner preferences that could be maintained for longer periods, occasionally up to one or two years. Moreover, at these settings the individual's internal, socio-emotional memory of earlier affiliative episodes (LIKE attitudes) corresponded best to observable behavior (grooming partner preferences). In sum, our model suggests that intermediate-term LIKE dynamics and high partner selectivity seem most plausible for primates relying on emotional bookkeeping to maintain their social bonds.

Eclipsing Binaries in the OGLE Variable Star Catalogs. V. Long-Period EB-Type Light Curve Systems in the Small Magellanic Cloud and the PLC-β Relation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rucinski, Slavek M.; Maceroni, Carla

2001-01-01

Thirty-eight long-period (P>10 days) apparently contact binary stars discovered by the OGLE-II project in the SMC show EB-type light curves and an ``inverted'' period-color relation with longer orbital periods for redder systems. The strong light variations between eclipses can be explained within a semidetached model in which ellipsoidal variations of a large, evolved, Roche lobe-filling component dominates over eclipse effects in the systemic light changes. The model requires further spectroscopic and color-curve support before it can be fully accepted. It is noted that the dominant role of the Roche lobe-filling component in the total systemic luminosity can explain the new period-luminosity-color (PLC) relation, which has been established for the long-period EB (LP-EB) systems. We call it the PLC-β relation, to distinguish it from the Cepheid relation. Two versions of the PLC-β relation-based on the (B-V)0 or (V-I)0 color indices-have been calibrated for 33 systems with (V-I)0>0.25 spanning the orbital period range of 11 to 181 days (it was found that blue systems with (V-I)0<=0.25 do not follow the same calibration). The relations can provide maximum-light, absolute-magnitude estimates accurate to ɛMV~=0.35 mag within the approximate range -3

Inversion polymorphism and extra bristles in Indian natural populations of Drosophila ananassae: joint variation.

PubMed

Das, A; Mohanty, S; Parida, B B

1994-10-01

Five Indian natural populations of Drosophila ananassae were analysed for chromosome inversions and the presence of individuals with extra scutellar bristles in the F1 progeny of isofemale lines initiated from naturally impregnated females. Three commonly occurring inversions were found in these populations with varying frequencies as was the number of individuals with extra bristles (e.b.). Female individuals were more often found to carry extra scutellar bristles than were males. This result reveals that polygenic loci responsible for the determination of e.b. are widespread in Indian natural populations of D. ananassae. A significant positive correlation between the inversion frequency and the number of individuals with e.b. was detected in the isofemale lines of all the five populations. The 2L inversion, alpha, was found to be closely associated with individuals with the e.b. phenotype. The observed results are compared with earlier results obtained for D. melanogaster. The association of the alpha inversion with the e.b. phenotype is discussed in relation to chromosomal evolution in the melanogaster species group.

Measurement of oxytetracycline and emamectin benzoate in freshwater sediments downstream of land based aquaculture facilities in the Atlantic Region of Canada.

PubMed

Lalonde, Benoit A; Ernst, William; Greenwood, Lyndsay

2012-09-01

This study investigated the occurrence of oxytetracycline (OTC) and emamectin benzoate (EB) in sediments located near the effluent outfall from four freshwater aquaculture facilities in Atlantic Canada. While two facilities had no detectable concentrations of EB or OTC, two facilities had detectable concentrations of one or both of these chemicals. Concentrations ranged from <0.05-18 mg/kg to <0.01-2.5 mg/kg for OTC and EB respectively. Although these values could not be compared with freshwater toxicant values, some of the concentrations of EB and OTC detected were higher than LC(50) values calculated for marine invertebrates. OTC concentrations measured in this study are also of a magnitude which has been known to produce resistant bacteria.

Radiation curing progress in Hungary

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Czvikovszky, T.

Radiation chemistry and radiation processing is an actively cultivated field of chemical technology and of applied research in several Central/Eastern European countries. Hungary, with his synthetic polymer production over 50 kg/capita/year, with his strong commitment in nuclear power production /almost 40 % of total electric power/, with his pioneering activity in food irradiation, radiation sterilization as well as EB processing of polymer — performs an iniciating role in this region. Actually four industrial EB machines are working in Hungary on plastics converting. Two of these accelerators, manufactured in SU are producing heat-shrinkable products. Two other, low-energy EB machines from FRG are working on industrial-scale surface-coating. An ELECTROCURTAIN /USA/ is serving R/D. Some actual problems of the applied radiation chemistry of EB-curing will be discussed.

The effect of water bolus temperature on esophageal motor function as measured by high-resolution manometry.

PubMed

Choi, Y J; Park, M I; Park, S J; Moon, W; Kim, S E; Kwon, H J; Kim, J H; Jeon, W S

2014-11-01

Ingestion of cold fluids may induce pain in patients with esophageal motility disorders. Hot fluids, on the other hand, may help to relieve pain. We studied changes in esophageal motility as a variable of water bolus temperature using high-resolution manometry (HRM) in healthy human. Thirty-two healthy subjects were recruited at Kosin University Hospital. HRM was performed in a sitting position, with room temperature (RT, 25 °C), hot (45 °C), and cold (2 °C) water swallowed in that order. This exam included single swallowing (10 swallows of 5 mL water, 30 s intervals) and multiple water swallows (MWS; 100 mL water within 30 s). In the single swallowing, hot water caused a decrease in lower esophageal sphincter (LES) residual pressure (5.87 ± 4.20 mmHg vs 7.45 ± 4.17 mmHg (RT), p = 0.001) and duration of esophageal body (EB) contraction (3.01 ± 0.80 s vs 3.15 ± 1.16 s (RT), p = 0.009). Cold water caused an increase in the duration of EB contraction (3.52 ± 0.87 s vs 3.15 ± 1.16 s (RT), p = 0.001) and a decrease in contractile front velocity (CFV) (4.43 ± 1.50 cm/s vs 4.90 ± 2.53 cm/s (RT), p = 0.007). Similarly, in the MWS, hot water caused a decrease in the duration of EB contraction (12.95 ± 5.02 s vs 16.33 ± 5.94 s (RT), p = 0.024) and an increase in the amplitude of EB contraction (114.27 ± 83.36 mmHg vs 82.70 ± 46.77 mmHg (RT), p = 0.007). Cold water caused an increase in the duration of EB contraction (27.38 ± 2.89 s vs 16.33 ± 5.94 s (RT), p = 0.03) and a decrease in the amplitude of EB contraction (51.68 ± 33.94 mmHg vs 82.70 ± 46.77 mmHg (RT), p = 0.001). This study showed changes in esophageal motility to be dependent on water temperature. Especially, MWS showed clear changes in esophageal motility at different temperatures of water. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Agricultural burning smoke in Eastern Washington: Part II. Exposure assessment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Chang-Fu; Jimenez, Jorge; Claiborn, Candis; Gould, Tim; Simpson, Christopher D.; Larson, Tim; Sally Liu, L.-J.

Several studies have documented potential health effects due to agricultural burning smoke. However, there is a paucity of literature characterizing community residents' exposure to agricultural burning smoke. This study assesses personal exposures to particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameters <2.5 μm (PM 2.5) from agriculture burning smoke ( Eb) for 33 asthmatic adults in Pullman, WA. PM 2.5 concentrations were measured on 16 subjects, inside of all but four residences, outside of 6 residences, and at a central site. The mean±standard deviation of personal exposure to PM 2.5 was 13.8±11.1 μg m -3, which was on average 8.0 μg m -3 higher during the agricultural burning episodes (19.0±11.8 μg m -3) than non-episodes (11.0±9.7 μg m -3). The levoglucosan (LG, a unique marker for biomass burning PM) on personal filter samples also was higher during the episodes than non-episodes (0.026±0.030 vs. 0.010±0.012 μg m -3). We applied the random component superposition model on central-site and home indoor PM measurements, and estimated a central-site infiltration factor between 0.21 and 2.05 for residences with good modeling performance. We combined the source apportionment and total exposure modeling results to estimate individual Eb, which ranged from 1.2 to 6.7 μg m -3 and correlated with personal LG with an r of 0.51. The sensitivity analysis of applying the infiltration efficiency estimated from the recursive model showed that the Eb (range: 1.3-4.3 μg m -3) obtained from this approach have a higher correlation with personal LG ( r=0.75). Nevertheless, the small sample size of personal LG measurements prevents a comparative and conclusive assessment of the model performance. We found a significant between-subject variation between episodes and non-episodes in both the Eb estimates and subjects' activity patterns. This suggests that the LG measurements at the central site may not always represent individual exposures to agricultural burning smoke. We recommend collecting more microenvironmental samples to model the Eb and more personal samples to validate the Eb estimates.

Biased Brownian motion as a mechanism to facilitate nanometer-scale exploration of the microtubule plus end by a kinesin-8.

PubMed

Shin, Yongdae; Du, Yaqing; Collier, Scott E; Ohi, Melanie D; Lang, Matthew J; Ohi, Ryoma

2015-07-21

Kinesin-8s are plus-end-directed motors that negatively regulate microtubule (MT) length. Well-characterized members of this subfamily (Kip3, Kif18A) exhibit two important properties: (i) They are "ultraprocessive," a feature enabled by a second MT-binding site that tethers the motors to a MT track, and (ii) they dissociate infrequently from the plus end. Together, these characteristics combined with their plus-end motility cause Kip3 and Kif18A to enrich preferentially at the plus ends of long MTs, promoting MT catastrophes or pausing. Kif18B, an understudied human kinesin-8, also limits MT growth during mitosis. In contrast to Kif18A and Kip3, localization of Kif18B to plus ends relies on binding to the plus-end tracking protein EB1, making the relationship between its potential plus-end-directed motility and plus-end accumulation unclear. Using single-molecule assays, we show that Kif18B is only modestly processive and that the motor switches frequently between directed and diffusive modes of motility. Diffusion is promoted by the tail domain, which also contains a second MT-binding site that decreases the off rate of the motor from the MT lattice. In cells, Kif18B concentrates at the extreme tip of a subset of MTs, superseding EB1. Our data demonstrate that kinesin-8 motors use diverse design principles to target MT plus ends, which likely target them to the plus ends of distinct MT subpopulations in the mitotic spindle.

Biased Brownian motion as a mechanism to facilitate nanometer-scale exploration of the microtubule plus end by a kinesin-8

PubMed Central

Shin, Yongdae; Du, Yaqing; Collier, Scott E.; Ohi, Melanie D.; Lang, Matthew J.; Ohi, Ryoma

2015-01-01

Kinesin-8s are plus-end–directed motors that negatively regulate microtubule (MT) length. Well-characterized members of this subfamily (Kip3, Kif18A) exhibit two important properties: (i) They are “ultraprocessive,” a feature enabled by a second MT-binding site that tethers the motors to a MT track, and (ii) they dissociate infrequently from the plus end. Together, these characteristics combined with their plus-end motility cause Kip3 and Kif18A to enrich preferentially at the plus ends of long MTs, promoting MT catastrophes or pausing. Kif18B, an understudied human kinesin-8, also limits MT growth during mitosis. In contrast to Kif18A and Kip3, localization of Kif18B to plus ends relies on binding to the plus-end tracking protein EB1, making the relationship between its potential plus-end–directed motility and plus-end accumulation unclear. Using single-molecule assays, we show that Kif18B is only modestly processive and that the motor switches frequently between directed and diffusive modes of motility. Diffusion is promoted by the tail domain, which also contains a second MT-binding site that decreases the off rate of the motor from the MT lattice. In cells, Kif18B concentrates at the extreme tip of a subset of MTs, superseding EB1. Our data demonstrate that kinesin-8 motors use diverse design principles to target MT plus ends, which likely target them to the plus ends of distinct MT subpopulations in the mitotic spindle. PMID:26150501

Recognition memory for vibrotactile rhythms: an fMRI study in blind and sighted individuals.

PubMed

Sinclair, Robert J; Dixit, Sachin; Burton, Harold

2011-01-01

Calcarine sulcal cortex possibly contributes to semantic recognition memory in early blind (EB). We assessed a recognition memory role using vibrotactile rhythms and a retrieval success paradigm involving learned "old" and "new" rhythms in EB and sighted. EB showed no activation differences in occipital cortex indicating retrieval success but replicated findings of somatosensory processing. Both groups showed retrieval success in primary somatosensory, precuneus, and orbitofrontal cortex. The S1 activity might indicate generic sensory memory processes.

Recognition memory for vibrotactile rhythms: An fMRI study in blind and sighted individuals

PubMed Central

SINCLAIR, ROBERT J.; DIXIT, SACHIN; BURTON, HAROLD

2014-01-01

Calcarine sulcal cortex possibly contributes to semantic recognition memory in early blind (EB). We assessed a recognition memory role using vibrotactile rhythms and a retrieval success paradigm involving learned “old” and “new” rhythms in EB and sighted. EB showed no activation differences in occipital cortex indicating retrieval success but replicated findings of somatosensory processing. Both groups showed retrieval success in primary somatosensory, precuneus, and orbitofrontal cortex. The S1 activity might indicate generic sensory memory processes. PMID:21846300

Enhanced backscatter of optical beams reflected in turbulent air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nelson, W.; Palastro, J. P.; Wu, C.; Davis, C. C.

2015-07-01

Optical beams propagating through air acquire phase distortions from turbulent fluctuations in the refractive index. While these distortions are usually deleterious to propagation, beams reflected in a turbulent medium can undergo a local recovery of spatial coherence and intensity enhancement referred to as enhanced backscatter (EBS). Using a combination of lab-scale experiments and simulations, we investigate the EBS of optical beams reflected from corner cubes and rough surfaces, and identify the regimes in which EBS is most distinctly observed.

Toward Safer Use of Pesticides

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moats, Sheila; Moats, William A.

1970-01-01

Gives information on costs and benefits of pesticides, and on specific injurious effects on humans and fish and wild life. Suggests restriction of use of certain pesticides and acceleration of research on biological control. (EB)

Effect of different hormonal combinations on follicular wave emergence and superovulatory response in sheep.

PubMed

Souza-Fabjan, Joanna Maria Gonçalves; da Rosa, Rômulo Mendonça; Balaro, Mário Felipe Alvarez; Pinto, Pedro Henrique Nicolau; Dos Santos, Gustavo Bervian; Arashiro, Eduardo Kenji Nunes; da Fonseca, Jeferson Ferreira; Ungerfeld, Rodolfo; Brandão, Felipe Zandonadi

2017-11-01

The aim of the present study was to compare hormonal treatments to induce and synchronize follicular wave emergence to improve the results of superovulatory (SOV) treatments in ewes. In Experiment 1 (n = 66), ewes were treated with a progesterone intravaginal implant plus a PGF 2α analogue (group G P4 ), or with the same treatment plus estradiol benzoate (G P4+EB ), a GnRH agonist (G P4+GnRH ), or both, estradiol benzoate and a GnRH agonist (G P4+EB+GnRH ) in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Follicular wave emergence was determined by ultrasound. Follicular wave did not emerge during the studied period in 10 females (one from G P4 , six from G P4+EB and three from G P4+EB+GnRH ). Follicular emergence was less synchronized (P = 0.007) when estradiol was administered (G P4+EB : 103.6 ± 22.0 h), without any interaction with GnRH treatment (G P4+EB+GnRH : 80.1 ± 21.4 h, G P4+GnRH : 52.5 ± 8.7 h, G P4 : 56.6 ± 10.4 h). Estradiol administration delayed the moment of follicular emergence (P = 0.007) and the follicular wave emergence moment in which follicular dominance was achieved (P = 0.009), without interactions between estradiol and GnRH in the moment of follicular wave emergence or dominance. In Experiment 2 (n = 22), two SOV protocols were compared: the best treatment of Experiment 1 (G P4 ) was used to synchronize follicular wave emergence, initiating the SOV treatment 2.5 days later; in the control treatment, SOV treatment started 80 h after a short-term protocol to synchronize ovulation (G control ). The number of corpora lutea (CL) and the evaluation of the collected embryos were performed six days after estrus. Blood samples were collected daily for plasma progesterone determination. Although the number of CL was similar in G control (7.1 ± 1.0) and G P4 (6.9 ± 5.1), the number of structures and viable embryos recovered were greater in G control (P < 0.05). The occurrence of luteal premature regression was significantly greater in G P4 (60%) than in G control (8.3%). The use of GnRH agonist alone did not improve synchronization of follicular wave emergence. When EB was used (alone or associated) follicular wave emergence was less synchronized. The SOV protocol proposed had a similar ovarian response; however, it resulted in less transferable embryos. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[The effect of fluoride on electrochemical corrosion of the dental pure titanium before and after adhesion of Streptococcus mutans].

PubMed

Geng, Li; Qiao, Guang-yan; Gu, Kai-ka

2016-04-01

To investigate the effect of fluoride on electrochemical corrosion of the dental pure titanium before and after adhesion of Streptococcus mutans. The dental pure titanium specimens were tested by electrochemical measurement system including electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization curve (PD) methods in artificial saliva with 0 g/L and 1.0 g/L sodium fluoride before and after dipped into culture medium with Streptococcus mutans for 24 h. The corrosion parameters, including the polarization resistance (R(ct)), corrosion potential (E(corr)), pitting breakdown potential (E(b)), and the difference between E(corr) and E(b) representing the "pseudo-passivation" (ΔE) obtained from the electrochemical tests were used to evaluate the corrosion resistance of dental pure titanium. The data were statistically analyzed by 2×2 factorial statistical analysis to examine the effect of sodium fluoride and adhesion of Streptococcus mutans using SPSS 12.0 software package. The results showed that the corrosion parameters including R(ct), Ecorr, E(b), and ΔE of pure titanium had significant difference between before and after adhesion of Streptococcus mutans in the same solution(P<0.05), and in artificial saliva with 0 g/L and 1.0 g/L sodium fluoride(P<0.05). The dental pure titanium was prone to corrosion in artificial saliva with sodium fluoride. The corrosion resistance of pure titanium decreased distinctly after immersed in culture medium with Streptococcus mutans.

Evaluation of the accuracy of estimated baseline serum creatinine for acute kidney injury diagnosis.

PubMed

Hatakeyama, Yutaka; Horino, Taro; Nagata, Keitaro; Kataoka, Hiromi; Matsumoto, Tatsuki; Terada, Yoshio; Okuhara, Yoshiyasu

2018-04-01

Modern epidemiologic studies of acute kidney injury (AKI) have been facilitated by the increasing availability of electronic medical records. However, pre-morbid reference serum creatinine (SCr) data are often unavailable in such records. Investigators substitute estimated baseline SCr with the eGFR 75 approach, instead of using actually measured baseline SCr. Here, we evaluated the accuracy of estimated baseline SCr for AKI diagnosis in the Japanese population. Inpatients and outpatients aged 18-80 years were retrospectively enrolled. AKI was diagnosed according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria, using SCr levels. The non-AKI and AKI groups were selected using the following criteria: increase 1.5 times greater than baseline SCr ("baseline SCr") or increase 0.3 mg/dL greater than baseline SCr in 48 h ("increase in 48 h"). AKI accuracy defined by the estimated reference SCr, the average SCr value of the non-AKI population (eb-GFR-A approach), or the back-calculated SCr from fixed eGFR = 75 mL/min/1.73 m 2 (eGFR 75 approach, or, eb-GFR-B approach in this study), was evaluated. We analyzed data from 131,358 Japanese patients. The number of patients with reference baseline SCr in the non-AKI and AKI patients were 29,834 and 8952, respectively. For AKI patients diagnosed using "baseline SCr", the AKI diagnostic accuracy rates as defined by eb-GFR-A and eb-GFR-B were 63.5 and 57.7%, respectively, while in AKI diagnosed using "increase in 48 h", the AKI diagnostic accuracy rates as defined by eb-GFR-A and eb-GFR-B were 78.7 and 75.1%, respectively. In non-AKI patients, false-positive rates of AKI misdiagnosed via eb-GFR-A and eb-GFR-B were 7.4 and 6.8%, respectively. AKI diagnosis using the average SCr value of the general population may yield more accurate results than diagnosis using the eGFR 75 approach when the reference SCr is unavailable.

Epidemiology of Inherited Epidermolysis Bullosa Based on Incidence and Prevalence Estimates From the National Epidermolysis Bullosa Registry.

PubMed

Fine, Jo-David

2016-11-01

Accurate estimation of the incidence and prevalence of each subtype of epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is essential before clinical trials can be designed and sufficient funding allocated by government agencies and third-party insurers for the care of these individuals. To determine the incidence and prevalence of inherited EB stratified by subtype in the United States during a 16-year period. Prospective cross-sectional and longitudinal study. Data were obtained from 3271 patients consecutively enrolled in the National Epidermolysis Bullosa Registry from January 1, 1986, through December 31, 2002, using a detailed instrument created with the assistance of the National Institutes of Health. Analyses were performed in January 1999 and April 2015. Participants were patients of all ages with EB. Extensive clinical and laboratory data were collected on patients who were subclassified and serially revalidated based on published diagnostic recommendations by an international panel of experts. Pertinent to this report, estimates were made of the incidence and prevalence during 2 time frames. During the first 5 years of funding of the registry, the overall incidence and prevalence of inherited EB were 19.60 and 8.22 per 1 million live births, respectively. When reassessed over the entire 16 years of the study, the prevalence rose to 11.07, whereas the overall incidence remained unchanged at 19.57 cases. Changes were also observed within some disease subsets as increased numbers of patients were identified, recruited, followed up longitudinally, and resubclassified as needed over time. For example, in 2002, the prevalence of EBS overall and localized EBS had increased considerably by 30.4% and 25.5%, respectively, whereas the prevalence of generalized intermediate EBS declined by 76.7% as a result of later subclassification of some of those patients into other subtypes. In contrast, no significant change was noted in the overall prevalence of JEB or generalized severe JEB, although there was a 73.0% decline in the prevalence of generalized intermediate JEB. Precise estimates of the incidence and prevalence of each major subtype of inherited EB in the United States are now available that should assist investigators in choosing which subtypes are amenable to properly designed, large-scale, clinical trials.

Characteristics of feed efficiency within and across lactation in dairy cows and the effect of genetic selection.

PubMed

Hurley, A M; Lopez-Villalobos, N; McParland, S; Lewis, E; Kennedy, E; O'Donovan, M; Burke, J L; Berry, D P

2018-02-01

The objective of the present study was to investigate the phenotypic inter- and intra-relationships within and among alternative feed efficiency metrics across different stages of lactation and parities; the expected effect of genetic selection for feed efficiency on the resulting phenotypic lactation profiles was also quantified. A total of 8,199 net energy intake (NE I ) test-day records from 2,505 lactations on 1,290 cows were used. Derived efficiency traits were either ratio based or residual based; the latter were derived from least squares regression models. Residual energy intake (REI) was defined as NE I minus predicted energy requirements based on lactation performance; residual energy production (REP) was defined as net energy for lactation minus predicted energy requirements based on lactation performance. Energy conversion efficiency was defined as net energy for lactation divided by NE I . Pearson phenotypic correlations among traits were computed across lactation stages and parities, and the significance of the differences was determined using the Fisher r-to-z transformation. Sources of variation in the feed efficiency metrics were investigated using linear mixed models, which included the fixed effects of contemporary group, breed, parity, stage of lactation, and the 2-way interaction of parity by stage of lactation. With the exception of REI, parity was associated with all efficiency and production traits. Stage of lactation, as well as the 2-way interaction of parity by stage of lactation, were associated with all efficiency and production traits. Phenotypic correlations among the efficiency and production traits differed not only by stage of lactation but also by parity. For example, the strong phenotypic correlation between REI and energy balance (EB; 0.89) for cows in parity 3 or greater and early lactation was weaker for parity 1 cows at the same lactation stage (0.81), suggesting primiparous cows use the ingested energy for both milk production and growth. Nonetheless, these strong phenotypic correlations between REI and EB suggested negative REI animals (i.e., more efficient) are also in more negative EB. These correlations were further supported when assessing the effect on phenotypic performance of animals genetically divergent for feed intake and efficiency based on parental average. Animals genetically selected to have lower REI resulted in cows who consumed less NE I but were also in negative EB throughout the entire lactation. Nonetheless, such repercussions of negative EB do not imply that selection for negative REI (as defined here) should not be practiced, but instead should be undertaken within the framework of a balanced breeding objective, which includes traits such as reproduction and health. Copyright © 2018 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) gate: a time-resolved study.

PubMed

Xu, Qing-Hua; Wang, Shu; Korystov, Dmitry; Mikhailovsky, Alexander; Bazan, Guillermo C; Moses, Daniel; Heeger, Alan J

2005-01-18

The two-step energy-transfer process in a self-assembled complex comprising a cationic conjugated polymer (CCP) and a dsDNA is investigated by using pump-dump-emission spectroscopy and time-correlated single-photon counting; energy is transferred from the CCP to an ethidium bromide (EB) molecule intercalated into the dsDNA through a fluorescein molecule linked to one terminus of the DNA. Time-dependent anisotropy measurements indicate that the inefficient direct energy transfer from the CCP to the intercalated EB results from the near orthogonality of their transition moments. These measurements also show that the transition moment of the fluorescein spans a range of angular distributions and lies between that of the CCP and EB. Consequently, the fluorescein acts as a fluorescence resonance energy-transfer gate to relay the excitation energy from the CCP to the EB.

The fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) gate: A time-resolved study

PubMed Central

Xu, Qing-Hua; Wang, Shu; Korystov, Dmitry; Mikhailovsky, Alexander; Bazan, Guillermo C.; Moses, Daniel; Heeger, Alan J.

2005-01-01

The two-step energy-transfer process in a self-assembled complex comprising a cationic conjugated polymer (CCP) and a dsDNA is investigated by using pump-dump-emission spectroscopy and time-correlated single-photon counting; energy is transferred from the CCP to an ethidium bromide (EB) molecule intercalated into the dsDNA through a fluorescein molecule linked to one terminus of the DNA. Time-dependent anisotropy measurements indicate that the inefficient direct energy transfer from the CCP to the intercalated EB results from the near orthogonality of their transition moments. These measurements also show that the transition moment of the fluorescein spans a range of angular distributions and lies between that of the CCP and EB. Consequently, the fluorescein acts as a fluorescence resonance energy-transfer gate to relay the excitation energy from the CCP to the EB. PMID:15642946

A mutation in the LAMC2 gene causes the Herlitz junctional epidermolysis bullosa (H-JEB) in two French draft horse breeds.

PubMed

Milenkovic, Dragan; Chaffaux, Stéphane; Taourit, Sead; Guérin, Gérard

2003-01-01

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a heterogeneous group of inherited diseases characterised by skin blistering and fragility. In humans, one of the most severe forms of EB known as Herlitz-junctional EB (H-JEB), is caused by mutations in the laminin 5 genes. EB has been described in several species, like cattle, sheep, dogs, cats and horses where the mutation, a cytosine insertion in exon 10 of the LAMC2 gene, was very recently identified in Belgian horses as the mutation responsible for JEB. In this study, the same mutation was found to be totally associated with the JEB phenotype in two French draft horse breeds, Trait Breton and Trait Comtois. This result provides breeders a molecular test to better manage their breeding strategies by genetic counselling.

Optimal Battery Charging, Part 1: Minimizing Time-to-Charge, Energy Loss, and Temperature Rise for OCV-Resistance Battery Model

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-02-18

vi½k ¼ 0 (17) l½k ¼ vH½k vs ½k (18) s½kþ 1 ¼ vH½k vl½kþ 1 (19) From (17) we have i½k ¼ chl½kþ 1 2R0D k ¼ 0;1;…k1 1 (20) From (18), we...resistance R0 in model I. The batteries are Samsung EB575152 (four cells), Samsung EB504465 (four cells), Samsung AB463651 (two cells), Nokia BP-4L (four cells...commercial batteries. Make Model Cell# R0 (mU) R1 (mU) C1 (F) a Cbatt (Ah) Samsung EB575152 1 253 106 4581 0.997934 1.1875 Samsung EB575152 2 209 94 5203

Cells differentiated from mouse embryonic stem cells via embryoid bodies express renal marker molecules.

PubMed

Kramer, Jan; Steinhoff, Jürgen; Klinger, Matthias; Fricke, Lutz; Rohwedel, Jürgen

2006-03-01

Differentiation of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells via embryoid bodies (EB) is established as a suitable model to study cellular processes of development in vitro. ES cells are known to be pluripotent because of their capability to differentiate into cell types of all three germ layers including germ cells. Here, we show that ES cells differentiate into renal cell types in vitro. We found that genes were expressed during EB cultivation, which have been previously described to be involved in renal development. Marker molecules characteristic for terminally differentiated renal cell types were found to be expressed predominantly during late stages of EB cultivation, while marker molecules involved in the initiation of nephrogenesis were already expressed during early steps of EB development. On the cellular level--using immunostaining--we detected cells expressing podocin, nephrin and wt-1, characteristic for differentiated podocytes and other cells, which expressed Tamm-Horsfall protein, a marker for distal tubule epithelial cells of kidney tissue. Furthermore, the proximal tubule marker molecules renal-specific oxido reductase, kidney androgen-related protein and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3alpha-hydroxylase were found to be expressed in EBs. In particular, we could demonstrate that cells expressing podocyte marker molecules assemble to distinct ring-like structures within the EBs. Because the differentiation efficiency into these cell types is still relatively low, application of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 in combination with leukaemia inhibitory factor was tested for induction, but did not enhance ES cell-derived renal differentiation in vitro.

Superior Red Blood Cell Generation from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Through a Novel Microcarrier-Based Embryoid Body Platform.

PubMed

Sivalingam, Jaichandran; Lam, Alan Tin-Lun; Chen, Hong Yu; Yang, Bin Xia; Chen, Allen Kuan-Liang; Reuveny, Shaul; Loh, Yuin-Han; Oh, Steve Kah-Weng

2016-08-01

In vitro generation of red blood cells (RBCs) from human embryonic stem cells and human induced pluripotent stem cells appears to be a promising alternate approach to circumvent shortages in donor-derived blood supplies for clinical applications. Conventional methods for hematopoietic differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) rely on embryoid body (EB) formation and/or coculture with xenogeneic cell lines. However, most current methods for hPSC expansion and EB formation are not amenable for scale-up to levels required for large-scale RBC generation. Moreover, differentiation methods that rely on xenogenic cell lines would face obstacles for future clinical translation. In this study, we report the development of a serum-free and chemically defined microcarrier-based suspension culture platform for scalable hPSC expansion and EB formation. Improved survival and better quality EBs generated with the microcarrier-based method resulted in significantly improved mesoderm induction and, when combined with hematopoietic differentiation, resulted in at least a 6-fold improvement in hematopoietic precursor expansion, potentially culminating in a 80-fold improvement in the yield of RBC generation compared to a conventional EB-based differentiation method. In addition, we report efficient terminal maturation and generation of mature enucleated RBCs using a coculture system that comprised primary human mesenchymal stromal cells. The microcarrier-based platform could prove to be an appealing strategy for future scale-up of hPSC culture, EB generation, and large-scale generation of RBCs under defined and xeno-free conditions.

EBS7 is a plant-specific component of a highly conserved endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation system in Arabidopsis

PubMed Central

Liu, Yidan; Zhang, Congcong; Wang, Dinghe; Su, Wei; Liu, Linchuan; Wang, Muyang; Li, Jianming

2015-01-01

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation (ERAD) is an essential part of an ER-localized protein quality-control system for eliminating terminally misfolded proteins. Recent studies have demonstrated that the ERAD machinery is conserved among yeast, animals, and plants; however, it remains unknown if the plant ERAD system involves plant-specific components. Here we report that the Arabidopsis ethyl methanesulfonate-mutagenized brassinosteroid-insensitive 1 suppressor 7 (EBS7) gene encodes an ER membrane-localized ERAD component that is highly conserved in land plants. Loss-of-function ebs7 mutations prevent ERAD of brassinosteroid insensitive 1-9 (bri1-9) and bri1-5, two ER-retained mutant variants of the cell-surface receptor for brassinosteroids (BRs). As a result, the two mutant receptors accumulate in the ER and consequently leak to the plasma membrane, resulting in the restoration of BR sensitivity and phenotypic suppression of the bri1-9 and bri1-5 mutants. EBS7 accumulates under ER stress, and its mutations lead to hypersensitivity to ER and salt stresses. EBS7 interacts with the ER membrane-anchored ubiquitin ligase Arabidopsis thaliana HMG-CoA reductase degradation 1a (AtHrd1a), one of the central components of the Arabidopsis ERAD machinery, and an ebs7 mutation destabilizes AtHrd1a to reduce polyubiquitination of bri1-9. Taken together, our results uncover a plant-specific component of a plant ERAD pathway and also suggest its likely biochemical function. PMID:26371323

Disease characterization using LQTS-specific induced pluripotent stem cells.

PubMed

Egashira, Toru; Yuasa, Shinsuke; Suzuki, Tomoyuki; Aizawa, Yoshiyasu; Yamakawa, Hiroyuki; Matsuhashi, Tomohiro; Ohno, Yohei; Tohyama, Shugo; Okata, Shinichiro; Seki, Tomohisa; Kuroda, Yusuke; Yae, Kojiro; Hashimoto, Hisayuki; Tanaka, Tomofumi; Hattori, Fumiyuki; Sato, Toshiaki; Miyoshi, Shunichiro; Takatsuki, Seiji; Murata, Mitsushige; Kurokawa, Junko; Furukawa, Tetsushi; Makita, Naomasa; Aiba, Takeshi; Shimizu, Wataru; Horie, Minoru; Kamiya, Kaichiro; Kodama, Itsuo; Ogawa, Satoshi; Fukuda, Keiichi

2012-09-01

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is an inheritable and life-threatening disease; however, it is often difficult to determine disease characteristics in sporadic cases with novel mutations, and more precise analysis is necessary for the successful development of evidence-based clinical therapies. This study thus sought to better characterize ion channel cardiac disorders using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). We reprogrammed somatic cells from a patient with sporadic LQTS and from controls, and differentiated them into cardiomyocytes through embryoid body (EB) formation. Electrophysiological analysis of the LQTS-iPSC-derived EBs using a multi-electrode array (MEA) system revealed a markedly prolonged field potential duration (FPD). The IKr blocker E4031 significantly prolonged FPD in control- and LQTS-iPSC-derived EBs and induced frequent severe arrhythmia only in LQTS-iPSC-derived EBs. The IKs blocker chromanol 293B did not prolong FPD in the LQTS-iPSC-derived EBs, but significantly prolonged FPD in the control EBs, suggesting the involvement of IKs disturbance in the patient. Patch-clamp analysis and immunostaining confirmed a dominant-negative role for 1893delC in IKs channels due to a trafficking deficiency in iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells. This study demonstrated that iPSCs could be useful to characterize LQTS disease as well as drug responses in the LQTS patient with a novel mutation. Such analyses may in turn lead to future progress in personalized medicine.

Spectraplakins promote microtubule-mediated axonal growth by functioning as structural MAPs and EB1-dependent +TIPs

PubMed Central

Alves-Silva, J.; Sánchez-Soriano, N.; Beaven, R.; Klein, M.; Parkin, J.; Millard, T.H.; Bellen, H. J; Venken, K. J.T.; Ballestrem, C.; Kammerer, R.A.; Prokop, A.

2013-01-01

The correct outgrowth of axons is essential for the development and regeneration of nervous systems. Axon growth is primarily driven by microtubules. Key regulators of microtubules in this context are the spectraplakins, a family of evolutionarily conserved actin-microtubule linkers. Loss of function of the mouse spectraplakin ACF7 or of its close Drosophila homologue Short stop/Shot similarly cause severe axon shortening and microtubule disorganisation. How spectraplakins perform these functions is not known. Here we show that axonal growth promoting roles of Shot require interaction with EB1 (End binding protein) at polymerising plus ends of microtubules. We show that binding of Shot to EB1 requires SxIP motifs in Shot’s carboxyterminal tail (Ctail), mutations of these motifs abolish Shot functions in axonal growth, loss of EB1 function phenocopies Shot loss, and genetic interaction studies reveal strong functional links between Shot and EB1 in axonal growth and microtubule organisation. In addition, we report that Shot localises along microtubule shafts and stabilises them against pharmacologically induced depolymerisation. This function is EB1-independent but requires net positive charges within Ctail which essentially contribute to the microtubule shaft association of Shot. Therefore, spectraplakins are true members of two important classes of neuronal microtubule regulating proteins: +TIPs (plus end regulators) and structural MAPs (microtubule associated proteins). From our data we deduce a model that relates the different features of the spectraplakin carboxy-terminus to the two functions of Shot during axonal growth. PMID:22764224

Distributed Wireless Power Transfer With Energy Feedback

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Seunghyun; Zhang, Rui

2017-04-01

Energy beamforming (EB) is a key technique for achieving efficient radio-frequency (RF) transmission enabled wireless energy transfer (WET). By optimally designing the waveforms from multiple energy transmitters (ETs) over the wireless channels, they can be constructively combined at the energy receiver (ER) to achieve an EB gain that scales with the number of ETs. However, the optimal design of EB waveforms requires accurate channel state information (CSI) at the ETs, which is challenging to obtain practically, especially in a distributed system with ETs at separate locations. In this paper, we study practical and efficient channel training methods to achieve optimal EB in a distributed WET system. We propose two protocols with and without centralized coordination, respectively, where distributed ETs either sequentially or in parallel adapt their transmit phases based on a low-complexity energy feedback from the ER. The energy feedback only depends on the received power level at the ER, where each feedback indicates one particular transmit phase that results in the maximum harvested power over a set of previously used phases. Simulation results show that the two proposed training protocols converge very fast in practical WET systems even with a large number of distributed ETs, while the protocol with sequential ET phase adaptation is also analytically shown to converge to the optimal EB design with perfect CSI by increasing the training time. Numerical results are also provided to evaluate the performance of the proposed distributed EB and training designs as compared to other benchmark schemes.

Fusion welding of a modern borated stainless steel

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

Robino, C.V.; Cieslak, M.J.

1997-01-01

Experiments designed to assess the fabrication and service weldability of 304B4A borated stainless steel were conducted. Welding procedures and parameters for manual gas tungsten arc (GTA) welding, autogenous electron beam (EB) welding and filler-added EB welding were developed and found to be similar to those for austenitic stainless steels. Following the procedure development, four test welds were produced and evaluated by microstructural analysis and Charpy impact testing. Further samples were used for determination of the postweld heat treatment (PWHT) response of the welds. The fusion zone structure of welds in this alloy consists of primary austenite dendrites with an interdendriticmore » eutectic-like austenite/boride constituent. Welds also show an appreciable partially molten zone that consists of the austenite/boride eutectic surrounding unmelted austenite islands. The microstructure of the EB welds was substantially finer than that of the GTA welds, and boride coarsening was not observed in the solid state heat-affected zone (HAZ) of either weld type. The impact toughness of as-welded samples was found to be relatively poor, averaging less than 10 J for both GTA and EB welds. For fusion zone notched GTA and EB samples and centerline notched EB samples, fracture generally occurred along the boundary between the partially molten and solid-state regions of the HAZ. The results of the PWHT study were very encouraging, with typical values of the impact energy for HAZ notched samples approaching 40 J, or twice the minimum code-acceptable value.« less

On the structure and dynamics of Ellerman bombs. Detailed study of three events and modelling of Hα

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bello González, N.; Danilovic, S.; Kneer, F.

2013-09-01

Aims: We study the structure and dynamics of three Ellerman bombs (EBs) observed in an evolving active region. Methods: The active region NOAA 11271 was observed with the Vacuum Tower Telescope at Observatorio del Teide/Tenerife on August 18, 2011. We used the two-dimensional Triple Etalon SOlar Spectrometer (TESOS) to obtain time sequences of the active region and of EBs in Hα at a cadence of 15 s. Simultaneously, we obtained full Stokes profiles with the Tenerife Infrared Polarimeter (TIP II) in the two magnetically sensitive Fe i infrared lines (IR) at 1.56 μ, scanning spatial sections of the area with cadences of 28-46 s. The Hα data were reconstructed with speckle methods to study the evolution of the atmospheric stratification. Two methods were used to extract magnetic field information from the IR Stokes profiles: 1) fitting of the (Q,U,V) profiles by Gaussians; and 2) applying the Milne-Eddington approximation, assuming two separate magnetic structures in the resolution element and fitting by trial and error some profiles from the EB areas. Data from SDO-HMI and -AIA were also used. We performed two-dimensional (2D) non-LTE radiative transfer calculations of Hα in parameterised models of EBs. Results: The three EBs studied in detail occurred in a complex active region near sunspots. They were very bright with a factor of 1.5-2.8 brighter than the nearby area. They lived for 1/2 h and longer. They were related to broadband faculae, but the latter were not the brightest features in the field of view. The EBs occurred in magnetic field configurations with opposite polarity close together. One EB was located at the outskirts of a penumbra of a complex sunspot and showed repeated "flaring" in SDO-AIA data. Another was close to a strong field patch and moved into this during the end of its lifetime. The third EB showed clear changes of field structure during the time it was observed. We obtained from the 2D modelling that heating and increase in Hα opacity are likely to occur at heights of 300-800 km. Line shifts and asymmetries can well be reproduced by velocities at these heights and also at much larger heights. Conclusions: The three EBs occurred at sites with magnetic fields of opposite polarity, which were likely the cause of the Hα brightening upon reconnection.

Influence of Ongoing Task Difficulty and Motivation Level on Children’s Prospective Memory in a Chinese Sample

PubMed Central

Han, Pi-guo; Han, Lei; Bian, Yu-long; Tian, Yu; Xu, Min-xia; Gao, Feng-qiang

2017-01-01

Prospective memory (PM) is the process associated with the task of realizing delayed intentions in the future. Researchers distinguish two types of PM, namely time-based PM (tbPM) and event-based PM (ebPM). Experiment 1 investigated the developmental trajectory of 3- to 5-year-old preschool children’s PM ability, and the occurrence of delayed retrieval (children execute the PM task in a larger window of opportunity) in both tbPM and ebPM tasks. Results revealed that the 5-year-old children outperformed the 3- and 4-year-old children in PM. Moreover, delayed retrieval was more likely to occur in tbPM task than in ebPM task. In Experiment 2, the influence of ongoing task (OT) difficulty on PM performance was investigated with a sample of 5-year-old children. Results revealed no significant effect of OT difficulty on PM performance. In Experiment 3, we improved children’s motivation level to complete the OT, then explored the influence of OT difficulty on children’s PM performance. Results revealed that the effect of OT difficulty on PM performance became significant after increasing the children’s motivation to complete the OT. These results provide insights into the mechanism of attentional resource allocation in PM tasks and have crucial educational and social implications. PMID:28203212

Sorption and Diffusion of Water Vapor and Carbon Dioxide in Sulfonated Polyaniline as Chemical Sensing Materials.

PubMed

Liang, Qiuhua; Jiang, Junke; Ye, Huaiyu; Yang, Ning; Cai, Miao; Xiao, Jing; Chen, Xianping

2016-04-27

A hybrid quantum mechanics (QM)/molecular dynamics (MD) simulation is performed to investigate the effect of an ionizable group (-SO₃(-)Na⁺) on polyaniline as gas sensing materials. Polymers considered for this work include emeraldine base of polyaniline (EB-PANI) and its derivatives (Na-SPANI (I), (II) and (III)) whose rings are partly monosubstituted by -SO₃(-)Na⁺. The hybrid simulation results show that the adsorption energy, Mulliken charge and band gap of analytes (CO₂ and H₂O) in polyaniline are relatively sensitive to the position and the amounts of -SO₃(-)Na⁺, and these parameters would affect the sensitivity of Na-SPANI/EB-PANI towards CO₂. The sensitivity of Na-SPANI (III)/EB-PANI towards CO₂ can be greatly improved by two orders of magnitude, which is in agreement with the experimental study. In addition, we also demonstrate that introducing -SO₃(-)Na⁺ groups at the rings can notably affect the gas transport properties of polyaniline. Comparative studies indicate that the effect of ionizable group on polyaniline as gas sensing materials for the polar gas molecule (H₂O) is more significant than that for the nonpolar gas molecule (CO₂). These findings contribute in the functionalization-induced variations of the material properties of polyaniline for CO₂ sensing and the design of new polyaniline with desired sensing properties.

E-beam direct write is free

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Glasser, Lance A.

2007-10-01

In this paper we discuss four business concepts that will impact the adoption of e-beam direct write (EbDW). They are: (1) The economically advantageous region for EbDW. At what costs and volumes EbDW is economically advantageous is controlled by a two-sided constraint involving the cost of reticles on one hand and the cost of design on the other. (2) The important role of product derivatives and other markets that can be satisfied by designs with heavy IP reuse. The natural long tail in demand for differentiated products is today chopped off by the high costs of reticles. We show data on the elasticity of the product derivative market with respect to certain costs. (3) That because reticle prices typically decline at a 30% per year for the first few years after a new node is introduced, delaying the fabrication of that first reticle set for a new product can save millions, more than paying for EbDW. The applicability of this technique is, however, limited by the need for product requalifaction. (4) Finally, we introduce the business concept of the virtual reticle as a possible component in EbDW pricing.

Neonatal agonism of ERβ impairs male reproductive behavior and attractiveness

PubMed Central

Sullivan, Alana W.; Hamilton, Peter; Patisaul, Heather B.

2011-01-01

The organization of the developing male rodent brain is profoundly influenced by endogenous steroids, most notably estrogen. This process may be disrupted by estrogenic endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) resulting in altered sex behavior and the capacity to attract a mate in adulthood. To better understand the relative role each estrogen receptor (ER) subtype (ERα and ERβ) plays in mediating these effects, we exposed male Long Evans rats to estradiol benzoate (EB, 10 μg), vehicle, or agonists specific for ERβ (DPN, 1 mg/kg) or ERα (PPT, 1 mg/kg) daily for the first four days of life, and then assessed adult male reproductive behavior and attractiveness via a partner preference paradigm. DPN had a greater adverse impact than PPT on reproductive behavior, suggesting a functional role for ERβ in the organization of these male-specific behaviors. Therefore the impact of neonatal ERβ agonism was further investigated by repeating the experiment using vehicle, EB and additional DPN doses (0.5 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, and 2 mg/kg bw). Exposure to DPN suppressed male reproductive behavior and attractiveness in a dose dependent manner. Finally, males were exposed to EB or an environmentally relevant dose of genistein (GEN, 10 mg/kg), a naturally occurring xenoestrogen, which has a higher relative binding affinity for ERβ than ERα. Sexual performance was impaired by GEN but not attractiveness. In addition to suppressing reproductive behavior and attractiveness, EB exposure significantly lowered the testis to body weight ratio, and circulating testosterone levels. DPN and GEN exposure only impaired behavior, suggesting that disrupted androgen secretion does not underlie the impairment. PMID:21554883

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

Saunders, C.B.; Carmichael, A.A.; Kremers, W.

The mechanical and physical properties of electron-beam (EB) curable carbon-fiber-reinforced composites were investigated, using a resin matrix made from a mixture of 50 percent of an epoxy diacrylate oligomer, 30 percent of a polybutadiene diacrylate oligomer, and 20 percent of dipentaerythritol monohydroxypentaacrylate monomer, and applying varying EB doses for curing the mixture. It was found that the gel content in the cured prepreg polymer depended upon the total EB dose below 50 kGy, the dose rate, and, at a low dose of 16 kGy/hr, on the atmosphere and pressure during irradiation. 14 refs.

Chronic high-dose creatine has opposing effects on depression-related gene expression and behavior in intact and sex hormone-treated gonadectomized male and female rats.

PubMed

Allen, Patricia J; DeBold, Joseph F; Rios, Maribel; Kanarek, Robin B

2015-03-01

Creatine is an antioxidant, neuromodulator and key regulator of energy metabolism shown to improve depressive symptoms in humans and animals, especially in females. To better understand the pharmacological effects of creatine, we examined its influence on depression-related hippocampal gene expression and behaviors in the presence and absence of sex steroids. Sham-operated and gonadectomized male and female rats were fed chow alone or chow blended with either 2% or 4% w/w creatine monohydrate for five weeks before forced swim, open field, and wire suspension tests, or seven weeks total. Before supplementation, males were chronically implanted with an empty or a testosterone-filled (T) capsule (10-mm surface release), and females were administered progesterone (P, 250 μg), estradiol benzoate (EB, 2.5 μg), EB+P, or sesame oil vehicle weekly. Relative to non-supplemented shams, all hippocampal plasticity-related mRNAs measured, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tyrosine kinase B, doublecortin, calretinin, and calbindin, were downregulated in sham males given 4% creatine, and BDNF, doublecortin, and calbindin mRNAs were downregulated in sham females given 4% creatine. In contrast, combined 4% creatine+T in castrates prevented downregulation of BDNF, doublecortin, and calretinin mRNAs. Similarly, combined 4% creatine+EB+P in ovariectomized females attenuated downregulation of BDNF and calbindin mRNA levels. Moderate antidepressant and anxiolytic-like behaviors were observed in EB+P-treated ovariectomized females fed creatine, with similar trends in T-treated castrates fed creatine. Altogether, these data show that chronic, high-dose creatine has opposing effects on neuroplasticity-related genes and depressive behavior in intact and gonadectomized male and female rats. The dose and schedule of creatine used negatively impacted hippocampal neuronal integrity in otherwise healthy brains, possibly through negative compensatory changes in energy metabolism, whereas combined creatine and sex steroids acted in a neuroprotective manner in gonadectomized rats, potentially by reducing metabolic complications associated with castration or ovariectomy. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Three New Pierce's Disease Pathogenicity Effectors Identified Using Xylella fastidiosa Biocontrol Strain EB92-1.

PubMed

Zhang, Shujian; Chakrabarty, Pranjib K; Fleites, Laura A; Rayside, Patricia A; Hopkins, Donald L; Gabriel, Dean W

2015-01-01

Xylella fastidiosa (X. fastidiosa) infects a wide range of plant hosts and causes economically serious diseases, including Pierce's Disease (PD) of grapevines. X. fastidiosa biocontrol strain EB92-1 was isolated from elderberry and is infectious and persistent in grapevines but causes only very slight symptoms under ideal conditions. The draft genome of EB92-1 revealed that it appeared to be missing genes encoding 10 potential PD pathogenicity effectors found in Temecula1. Subsequent PCR and sequencing analyses confirmed that EB92-1 was missing the following predicted effectors found in Temecula1: two type II secreted enzymes, including a lipase (LipA; PD1703) and a serine protease (PD0956); two identical genes encoding proteins similar to Zonula occludens toxins (Zot; PD0915 and PD0928), and at least one relatively short, hemagglutinin-like protein (PD0986). Leaves of tobacco and citrus inoculated with cell-free, crude protein extracts of E. coli BL21(DE3) overexpressing PD1703 exhibited a hypersensitive response (HR) in less than 24 hours. When cloned into shuttle vector pBBR1MCS-5, PD1703 conferred strong secreted lipase activity to Xanthomonas citri, E. coli and X. fastidiosa EB92-1 in plate assays. EB92-1/PD1703 transformants also showed significantly increased disease symptoms on grapevines, characteristic of PD. Genes predicted to encode PD0928 (Zot) and a PD0986 (hemagglutinin) were also cloned into pBBR1MCS-5 and moved into EB92-1; both transformants also showed significantly increased symptoms on V. vinifera vines, characteristic of PD. Together, these results reveal that PD effectors include at least a lipase, two Zot-like toxins and a possibly redundant hemagglutinin, none of which are necessary for parasitic survival of X. fastidiosa populations in grapevines or elderberry.

Three New Pierce's Disease Pathogenicity Effectors Identified Using Xylella fastidiosa Biocontrol Strain EB92-1

PubMed Central

Zhang, Shujian; Chakrabarty, Pranjib K.; Fleites, Laura A.; Rayside, Patricia A.; Hopkins, Donald L.; Gabriel, Dean W.

2015-01-01

Xylella fastidiosa (X. fastidiosa) infects a wide range of plant hosts and causes economically serious diseases, including Pierce's Disease (PD) of grapevines. X. fastidiosa biocontrol strain EB92-1 was isolated from elderberry and is infectious and persistent in grapevines but causes only very slight symptoms under ideal conditions. The draft genome of EB92-1 revealed that it appeared to be missing genes encoding 10 potential PD pathogenicity effectors found in Temecula1. Subsequent PCR and sequencing analyses confirmed that EB92-1 was missing the following predicted effectors found in Temecula1: two type II secreted enzymes, including a lipase (LipA; PD1703) and a serine protease (PD0956); two identical genes encoding proteins similar to Zonula occludens toxins (Zot; PD0915 and PD0928), and at least one relatively short, hemagglutinin-like protein (PD0986). Leaves of tobacco and citrus inoculated with cell-free, crude protein extracts of E. coli BL21(DE3) overexpressing PD1703 exhibited a hypersensitive response (HR) in less than 24 hours. When cloned into shuttle vector pBBR1MCS-5, PD1703 conferred strong secreted lipase activity to Xanthomonas citri, E. coli and X. fastidiosa EB92-1 in plate assays. EB92-1/PD1703 transformants also showed significantly increased disease symptoms on grapevines, characteristic of PD. Genes predicted to encode PD0928 (Zot) and a PD0986 (hemagglutinin) were also cloned into pBBR1MCS-5 and moved into EB92-1; both transformants also showed significantly increased symptoms on V. vinifera vines, characteristic of PD. Together, these results reveal that PD effectors include at least a lipase, two Zot-like toxins and a possibly redundant hemagglutinin, none of which are necessary for parasitic survival of X. fastidiosa populations in grapevines or elderberry. PMID:26218423

Cooperative Interactions between 480 kDa Ankyrin-G and EB Proteins Assemble the Axon Initial Segment.

PubMed

Fréal, Amélie; Fassier, Coralie; Le Bras, Barbara; Bullier, Erika; De Gois, Stéphanie; Hazan, Jamilé; Hoogenraad, Casper C; Couraud, François

2016-04-20

The axon initial segment (AIS) is required for generating action potentials and maintaining neuronal polarity. Significant progress has been made in deciphering the basic building blocks composing the AIS, but the underlying mechanisms required for AIS formation remains unclear. The scaffolding protein ankyrin-G is the master-organizer of the AIS. Microtubules and their interactors, particularly end-binding proteins (EBs), have emerged as potential key players in AIS formation. Here, we show that the longest isoform of ankyrin-G (480AnkG) selectively associates with EBs via its specific tail domain and that this interaction is crucial for AIS formation and neuronal polarity in cultured rodent hippocampal neurons. EBs are essential for 480AnkG localization and stabilization at the AIS, whereas 480AnkG is required for the specific accumulation of EBs in the proximal axon. Our findings thus provide a conceptual framework for understanding how the cooperative relationship between 480AnkG and EBs induces the assembly of microtubule-AIS structures in the proximal axon. Neuronal polarity is crucial for the proper function of neurons. The assembly of the axon initial segment (AIS), which is the hallmark of early neuronal polarization, relies on the longest 480 kDa ankyrin-G isoform. The microtubule cytoskeleton and its interacting proteins were suggested to be early key players in the process of AIS formation. In this study, we show that the crosstalk between 480 kDa ankyrin-G and the microtubule plus-end tracking proteins, EBs, at the proximal axon is decisive for AIS assembly and neuronal polarity. Our work thus provides insight into the functional mechanisms used by 480 kDa ankyrin-G to drive the AIS formation and thereby to establish neuronal polarity. Copyright © 2016 the authors 0270-6474/16/364421-13$15.00/0.

Electric bus systems.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-04-01

Pure electric buses (EBs) offer an alternative fuel for the nations transit bus systems. To : evaluate EBs in a transit setting, this project investigated the five electric bus fleet of the : StarMetro transit system of the city of Tallahassee, FL...

Low-coherence enhanced backscattering: review of principles and applications for colon cancer screening

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Young L.; Liu, Yang; Turzhitsky, Vladimir M.; Roy, Hemant K.; Wali, Ramesh K.; Subramanian, Hariharan; Pradhan, Prabhakar; Backman, Vadim

2006-07-01

The phenomenon of enhanced backscattering (EBS) of light, also known as coherent backscattering (CBS) of light, has been the object of intensive investigation in nonbiological media over the last two decades. However, there have been only a few attempts to explore EBS for tissue characterization and diagnosis. We have recently made progress in the EBS measurements in tissue by taking advantage of low spatial coherence illumination, which has led us to the development of low-coherence enhanced backscattering (LEBS) spectroscopy. In this work, we review the current state of research on LEBS. After a brief discussion of the basic principle of EBS and LEBS, we present an overview of the unique features of LEBS for tissue characterization, and show that LEBS enables depth-selective spectroscopic assessment of mucosal tissue. Then, we demonstrate the potential of LEBS spectroscopy for predicting the risk of colon carcinogenesis and colonoscopy-free screening for colorectal cancer (CRC).

A PDMS-Based Microfluidic Hanging Drop Chip for Embryoid Body Formation.

PubMed

Wu, Huei-Wen; Hsiao, Yi-Hsing; Chen, Chih-Chen; Yet, Shaw-Fang; Hsu, Chia-Hsien

2016-07-06

The conventional hanging drop technique is the most widely used method for embryoid body (EB) formation. However, this method is labor intensive and limited by the difficulty in exchanging the medium. Here, we report a microfluidic chip-based approach for high-throughput formation of EBs. The device consists of microfluidic channels with 6 × 12 opening wells in PDMS supported by a glass substrate. The PDMS channels were fabricated by replicating polydimethyl-siloxane (PDMS) from SU-8 mold. The droplet formation in the chip was tested with different hydrostatic pressures to obtain optimal operation pressures for the wells with 1000 μm diameter openings. The droplets formed at the opening wells were used to culture mouse embryonic stem cells which could subsequently developed into EBs in the hanging droplets. This device also allows for medium exchange of the hanging droplets making it possible to perform immunochemistry staining and characterize EBs on chip.

Analysis of Intrinsic Stability Criteria for Isotropic Third-Order Green Elastic and Compressible Neo-Hookean Solids

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-03-01

components with increasing pressure. At high pressures, this tendency may lead to the onset of instability and subsequent amor - phization (Chen et al...C0IJKLMNEIJEKLEMN ¼ 1 2 C0abEaEb þ 1 6 C0abvEaEbEv: ð2:28Þ Stress S and tangent modulus C are Sa ¼ C0abEb þ 1 2 C0abvEbEv; Cab ¼ C 0 ab þ C 0 abvEv: ð2:29Þ Second...123Þ: ð2:33Þ Second-order compliance components M0ab ¼ ½C 0 ab 1 are M011 ¼ C011 þ C 0 12 ðC011 C 0 12ÞðC 0 11 þ 2C 0 12Þ ; M012 ¼ C012 ðC011 C 0

Dental management of patients with epidermolysis bullosa.

PubMed

Dağ, Canan; Bezgin, Tuğba; Özalp, Nurhan

2014-09-01

Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is a group of rare, genetic skin disorders characterized by fragility and blistering to minimal trauma. All oral surfaces may be involved, including the tongue, buccal mucosa, palate, floor of the mouth and gingiva. Common oral findings of the disease include microstomia, intraoral ulcerations and bullae formation, ankyloglossia, tongue atrophy, elimination of buccal and vestibular sulci, lingual depapillation and atrophy of the palatal folds. In these case reports; systemic findings, oral manifestations and preventive measures are described for 3 patients with EB, all of whom required extensive oral management. Early dental management and preventive care to minimize caries development and improve oral health is very important for patients with EB. Pediatric dentists play an especially important role in early intervention. In describing the dental management of three EB cases, this article stresses the importance of an aggressive dental preventive programme with strict oral hygiene instructions for patients and parents along with frequent professional cleaning and fluoride therapy.

Enthalpy By Energy Balance for Aerodynamic Heating Facility at NASA Ames Research Center Arc Jet Complex

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hightower, T. Mark; MacDonald, Christine L.; Martinez, Edward R.; Balboni, John A.; Anderson, Karl F.; Arnold, Jim O. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

The NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) Arc Jet Facilities' Aerodynamic Heating Facility (AHF) has been instrumented for the Enthalpy By Energy Balance (EB2) method. Diagnostic EB2 data is routinely taken for all AHF runs. This paper provides an overview of the EB2 method implemented in the AHF. The chief advantage of the AHF implementation over earlier versions is the non-intrusiveness of the instruments used. For example, to measure the change in cooling water temperature, thin film 1000 ohm Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTDs) are used with an Anderson Current Loop (ACL) as the signal conditioner. The ACL with 1000 ohm RTDs allows for very sensitive measurement of the increase in temperature (Delta T) of the cooling water to the arc heater, which is a critical element of the EB2 method. Cooling water flow rates are measured with non-intrusive ultrasonic flow meters.

A protocol describing the use of a recombinant protein-based, animal product-free medium (APEL) for human embryonic stem cell differentiation as spin embryoid bodies.

PubMed

Ng, Elizabeth S; Davis, Richard; Stanley, Edouard G; Elefanty, Andrew G

2008-01-01

In order to promote the uniform and reproducible differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (HESCs) in response to exogenously added growth factors, we have developed a method (spin embryoid bodies (EBs)) that uses a recombinant protein-based, animal product-free medium in which HESCs are aggregated by centrifugation to form EBs. In this protocol we describe the formulation of this medium, denoted APEL (Albumin Polyvinylalcohol Essential Lipids), and its use in spin EB differentiation of HESCs. We also describe a more economical variant, BPEL (Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) Polyvinylalchohol Essential Lipids), in which BSA replaces the recombinant human albumin. The integration of a medium that includes only defined and recombinant components with a defined number of cells to initiate EB formation results in a generally applicable, robust platform for growth factor-directed HESC differentiation.

Impact of Breakfasts (with or without Eggs) on Body Weight Regulation and Blood Lipids in University Students over a 14-Week Semester

PubMed Central

Rueda, Janice M.; Khosla, Pramod

2013-01-01

The effects of breakfast type on body weight and blood lipids were evaluated in university freshman. Seventy-three subjects were instructed to consume a breakfast with eggs (Egg Breakfast, EB, n = 39) or without (Non-Egg Breakfast, NEB, n = 34), five times/week for 14 weeks. Breakfast composition, anthropometric measurements and blood lipids were measured at multiple times. During the study, mean weight change was 1.6 ± 5.3 lbs (0.73 ± 2.41 kg), but there was no difference between groups. Both groups consumed similar calories for breakfast at all time-points. The EB group consumed significantly more calories at breakfast from protein, total fat and saturated fat, but significantly fewer calories from carbohydrate at every time-point. Cholesterol consumption at breakfast in the EB group was significantly higher than the NEB group at all time points. Breakfast food choices (other than eggs) were similar between groups. Blood lipids were similar between groups at all time points, indicating that the additional 400 mg/day of dietary cholesterol did not negatively impact blood lipids. PMID:24352089

Urban community empowerment: context on supply chain collaboration in the SMEs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masnita, Y.; Triyowati, H.; Rasyawal, M.

2018-01-01

The purpose of this research is to analyze the effect of EB application to operational performance through buyer-supplier collaboration, as well as the influence of buyer-supplier collaboration on operational performance. The context of small industries that ultimately by empowering the community will increase business competitiveness. Community empowerment is a process of creating a community and control over its environment. One concept that is considered as a new paradigm today is e-business (EB), which continues to grow. Data analysis method used is Structural Equation Model (SEM) by the use of PLS program. Based on the analysis from various industries such small garment manufacture, furniture and food, showed that all companies have a supply chain patterns are almost the same. Each company has associated premises supplier, manufacturing and enterprise users of the product. One way to empower the environment is to improve business competitiveness. The development of information and communication technology has been developing very fast and it has brought a significant impact for many aspects of life, including in the business world. EB existence of a significant impact on business practices, at least in terms of the improvement of direct marketing, and organizational transformation.

Effective data compaction algorithm for vector scan EB writing system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ueki, Shinichi; Ashida, Isao; Kawahira, Hiroichi

2001-01-01

We have developed a new mask data compaction algorithm dedicated to vector scan electron beam (EB) writing systems for 0.13 μm device generation. Large mask data size has become a significant problem at mask data processing for which data compaction is an important technique. In our new mask data compaction, 'array' representation and 'cell' representation are used. The mask data format for the EB writing system with vector scan supports these representations. The array representation has a pitch and a number of repetitions in both X and Y direction. The cell representation has a definition of figure group and its reference. The new data compaction method has the following three steps. (1) Search arrays of figures by selecting pitches of array so that a number of figures are included. (2) Find out same arrays that have same repetitive pitch and number of figures. (3) Search cells of figures, where the figures in each cell take identical positional relationship. By this new method for the mask data of a 4M-DRAM block gate layer with peripheral circuits, 202 Mbytes without compaction was highly compacted to 6.7 Mbytes in 20 minutes on a 500 MHz PC.

ZEP520A cold-development technique and tool for ultimate resolution to fabricate 1Xnm bit pattern EB master mold for nano-imprinting lithography for HDD/BPM development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kobayashi, Hideo; Iyama, Hiromasa

2012-06-01

Poor solvent developers are effective for resolution enhancement on a polymer-type EB resist such as ZEP520A. Another way is to utilize "cold-development" technique which was accomplished by a dip-development technique usually. We then designed and successfully built a single-wafer spin-development tool for the cold-development down to -10degC in order to dissolve difficulties of the dip-development. The cold-development certainly helped improve ZEP520A resolution and hole CD size uniformity, and achieved 35nm pitch BPM patterns with the standard developer ZED-N50, but not 25nm pitch yet. By employing a poor solvent mixture of iso-Propyl Alcohol (IPA) and Fluoro-Carbon (FC), 25nm pitch BPM patterns were accomplished. However, the cold-development showed almost no improvement on the IPA/FC mixture developer solvent. This paper describes cold-development technique and a tool, as well as its results, for ZEP520A resolution enhancement to fabricate 1Xnm bits (holes) for EB master-mold for Nano-Imprinting Lithography for 1Tbit/inch2 and 25nm pitch Bit Patterned Media development.

Do π-conjugative effects facilitate SN2 reactions?

PubMed

Wu, Chia-Hua; Galabov, Boris; Wu, Judy I-Chia; Ilieva, Sonia; Schleyer, Paul von R; Allen, Wesley D

2014-02-26

Rigorous quantum chemical investigations of the SN2 identity exchange reactions of methyl, ethyl, propyl, allyl, benzyl, propargyl, and acetonitrile halides (X = F(-), Cl(-)) refute the traditional view that the acceleration of SN2 reactions for substrates with a multiple bond at Cβ (carbon adjacent to the reacting Cα center) is primarily due to π-conjugation in the SN2 transition state (TS). Instead, substrate-nucleophile electrostatic interactions dictate SN2 reaction rate trends. Regardless of the presence or absence of a Cβ multiple bond in the SN2 reactant in a series of analogues, attractive Cβ(δ(+))···X(δ(-)) interactions in the SN2 TS lower net activation barriers (E(b)) and enhance reaction rates, whereas repulsive Cβ(δ(-))···X(δ(-)) interactions increase E(b) barriers and retard SN2 rates. Block-localized wave function (BLW) computations confirm that π-conjugation lowers the net activation barriers of SN2 allyl (1t, coplanar), benzyl, propargyl, and acetonitrile halide identity exchange reactions, but does so to nearly the same extent. Therefore, such orbital interactions cannot account for the large range of E(b) values in these systems.

Effect of concentration of polyfunctional monomers on physical properties of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber under electron-beam irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yasin, Tariq; Ahmed, Shamshad; Ahmed, Munir; Yoshii, Fumio

2005-06-01

An investigation has been undertaken to find out the effect of concentration of different polyfunctional monomers (PFMs) on the physical properties of the acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) crosslinked by electron beam (EB). The PFMs used were diethylene glycol dimethacrylate, trimethylol propane trimethacrylate and trimethylol propane triacrylate. The physical properties of EB-irradiated NBR sheets were evaluated by measuring the tensile strength, elongation percent at break, hardness and gel fraction. The results showed a remarkable increase in tensile strength, hardness and gel fraction as the concentration of PFMs was increased from 1 part per hundred (phr) to 5 phr in the NBR samples whereas elongation percent decreased in a steady manner. The improvement in physical properties of radiation crosslinked NBR in the presence of PFMs may be attributed to its increased crosslinking density as observed by the corresponding increase in gel content.

TU-EF-204-11: Impact of Using Multi-Slice Training Sets On the Performance of a Channelized Hotelling Observer in a Low-Contrast Detection Task in CT

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

Favazza, C; Yu, L; Leng, S

2015-06-15

Purpose: To investigate using multiple CT image slices from a single acquisition as independent training images for a channelized Hotelling observer (CHO) model to reduce the number of repeated scans for CHO-based CT image quality assessment. Methods: We applied a previously validated CHO model to detect low contrast disk objects formed from cross-sectional images of three epoxy-resin-based rods (diameters: 3, 5, and 9 mm; length: ∼5cm). The rods were submerged in a 35x 25 cm2 iodine-doped water filled phantom, yielding-15 HU object contrast. The phantom was scanned 100 times with and without the rods present. Scan and reconstruction parameters include:more » 5 mm slice thickness at 0.5 mm intervals, 120 kV, 480 Quality Reference mAs, and a 128-slice scanner. The CHO’s detectability index was evaluated as a function of factors related to incorporating multi-slice image data: object misalignment along the z-axis, inter-slice pixel correlation, and number of unique slice locations. In each case, the CHO training set was fixed to 100 images. Results: Artificially shifting the object’s center position by as much as 3 pixels in any direction relative to the Gabor channel filters had insignificant impact on object detectability. An inter-slice pixel correlation of >∼0.2 yielded positive bias in the model’s performance. Incorporating multi-slice image data yielded slight negative bias in detectability with increasing number of slices, likely due to physical variations in the objects. However, inclusion of image data from up to 5 slice locations yielded detectability indices within measurement error of the single slice value. Conclusion: For the investigated model and task, incorporating image data from 5 different slice locations of at least 5 mm intervals into the CHO model yielded detectability indices within measurement error of the single slice value. Consequently, this methodology would Result in a 5-fold reduction in number of image acquisitions. This project was supported by National Institutes of Health grants R01 EB017095 and U01 EB017185 from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering.« less

Spectraplakins promote microtubule-mediated axonal growth by functioning as structural microtubule-associated proteins and EB1-dependent +TIPs (tip interacting proteins).

PubMed

Alves-Silva, Juliana; Sánchez-Soriano, Natalia; Beaven, Robin; Klein, Melanie; Parkin, Jill; Millard, Thomas H; Bellen, Hugo J; Venken, Koen J T; Ballestrem, Christoph; Kammerer, Richard A; Prokop, Andreas

2012-07-04

The correct outgrowth of axons is essential for the development and regeneration of nervous systems. Axon growth is primarily driven by microtubules. Key regulators of microtubules in this context are the spectraplakins, a family of evolutionarily conserved actin-microtubule linkers. Loss of function of the mouse spectraplakin ACF7 or of its close Drosophila homolog Short stop/Shot similarly cause severe axon shortening and microtubule disorganization. How spectraplakins perform these functions is not known. Here we show that axonal growth-promoting roles of Shot require interaction with EB1 (End binding protein) at polymerizing plus ends of microtubules. We show that binding of Shot to EB1 requires SxIP motifs in Shot's C-terminal tail (Ctail), mutations of these motifs abolish Shot functions in axonal growth, loss of EB1 function phenocopies Shot loss, and genetic interaction studies reveal strong functional links between Shot and EB1 in axonal growth and microtubule organization. In addition, we report that Shot localizes along microtubule shafts and stabilizes them against pharmacologically induced depolymerization. This function is EB1-independent but requires net positive charges within Ctail which essentially contribute to the microtubule shaft association of Shot. Therefore, spectraplakins are true members of two important classes of neuronal microtubule regulating proteins: +TIPs (tip interacting proteins; plus end regulators) and structural MAPs (microtubule-associated proteins). From our data we deduce a model that relates the different features of the spectraplakin C terminus to the two functions of Shot during axonal growth.

Analysis of microtubule growth dynamics arising from altered actin network structure and contractility in breast tumor cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ory, Eleanor C.; Bhandary, Lekhana; E Boggs, Amanda; Chakrabarti, Kristi R.; Parker, Joshua; Losert, Wolfgang; Martin, Stuart S.

2017-04-01

The periphery of epithelial cells is shaped by opposing cytoskeletal physical forces generated predominately by two dynamic force generating systems—growing microtubule ends push against the boundary from the cell center, and the actin cortex contracts the attached plasma membrane. Here we investigate how changes to the structure and dynamics of the actin cortex alter the dynamics of microtubules. Current drugs target actin polymerization and contraction to reduce cell division and invasiveness; however, the impacts on microtubule dynamics remain incompletely understood. Using human MCF-7 breast tumor cells expressing GFP-tagged microtubule end-binding-protein-1 (EB1) and coexpression of cytoplasmic fluorescent protein mCherry, we map the trajectories of growing microtubule ends and cytoplasmic boundary respectively. Based on EB1 tracks and cytoplasmic boundary outlines, we calculate the speed, distance from cytoplasmic boundary, and straightness of microtubule growth. Actin depolymerization with Latrunculin-A reduces EB1 growth speed as well as allows the trajectories to extend beyond the cytoplasmic boundary. Blebbistatin, a direct myosin-II inhibitor, reduced EB1 speed and yielded less straight EB1 trajectories. Inhibiting signaling upstream of myosin-II contractility via the Rho-kinase inhibitor, Y-27632, altered EB1 dynamics differently from Blebbistatin. These results indicate that reduced actin cortex integrity can induce distinct alterations in microtubule dynamics. Given recent findings that tumor stem cell characteristics are increased by drugs which reduce actin contractility or stabilize microtubules, it remains important to clearly define how cytoskeletal drugs alter the interactions between these two filament systems in tumor cells.

Rethinking chemisorption: New insights into the factors controlling the binding energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alcantara Ortigoza, Marisol; Stolbov, Sergey

2015-03-01

Chemisorption of atomic and molecular species on a substrate induces electronic charge redistribution upon which substrate nuclei respond by adjusting their positions. This lattice distortion has been linked to the binding energy EB of the adsorbed species and attached to the so-called surface relaxation energy, Erx. We have found, however, that for transition metals the energy associated with the mere charge redistribution Eelec is much larger than Erx and thus both contributions must be considered [1]. In this work, we quantify the electronic and structural perturbation energy EP brought by various adsorbates on surfaces to understand anomalous adsorbate binding energies, i.e., those in which EP strongly influences the magnitude of EB. For example, for O adsorption on Au(111), while Erx is only 0.25 eV, the overall perturbation energy EP affecting EB(O) is ~ 1 eV [1]. This indicates that EP cannot be ignored but also that local bonds may not be as weak as portrayed by EB, even though EB is significantly reduced. We expose cases in which EP is really dominated by the lattice distortion energy, as well as a rationale for its trends as a function of the substrate and adsorbate. We discuss the implications of the fact that EB is not always predominately controlled by the bond-strength on heterogeneous catalysis, as well as the applications of the same fact. M. Alcántara Ortigoza and S. Stolbov; ``The Perturbation Energy: The missing key to understand gold `nobleness.' '' Submitted in October 2014 This work was supported the NSF under Grant CBET-1249134.

Undoped Polyaniline/Surfactant Complex for the Corrosion Prevention

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liu, Lo-Min; Levon, Kalle

1998-01-01

Due to the strict regulations on the usage of heavy metals as the additives in the coating industries, the search for effective organic corrosion inhibitors in replace of those metal additives has become essential. Electrically conducting polymers have been shown to be effective for corrosion prevention but the poor solubility of these intractable polymers has been a problem. We have explored a polyaniline/4-dodecylphenol complex (PANi/DDPh) to improve the dissolution and it has been shown to be an effective organic corrosion inhibitor. With the surfactant, DDPh, PANi could be diluted into the coatings and the properties of the coatings were affected. Emeraldine base (EB) form of PANi was also found to be oxidized by the hardener. The oxidized form of polyaniline provides improved corrosion protection of metals than that of emeraldine base since the value of the standard electrode potential for the oxidized form of PANi is higher than that of EB. Additionally, the surfactant improves the wet adhesion property between the coating and the metal surface.

Influence of contrast agent dose and ultrasound exposure on cardiomyocyte injury induced by myocardial contrast echocardiography in rats.

PubMed

Miller, Douglas L; Li, Peng; Dou, Chunyan; Gordon, David; Edwards, Chris A; Armstrong, William F

2005-10-01

To detect specific cardiomyocyte injury induced by myocardial contrast material-enhanced echocardiography (ie, myocardial contrast echocardiography) in rats and to ascertain the influences of contrast material dose and ultrasound exposure on this injury. All animal procedures were approved by the university committee for the use and care of animals. Myocardial contrast echocardiography with 1:4 electrocardiographic (ECG) triggering was performed at 1.5 MHz in 61 anesthetized rats. Evans blue (EB) dye was injected as the vital stain for cardiomyocyte injury. At the start of myocardial contrast echocardiography, which lasted 10 minutes, perflutren lipid microsphere-based contrast material was infused through the tail vein for 5 minutes. Premature heartbeats were counted from the ECG record. The numbers of EB-stained cells counted on sections of heart specimens obtained 24 hours after myocardial contrast echocardiography and then either fresh frozen or embedded in paraffin were determined by using fluorescence microscopy. Results were compared statistically by using t tests and Mann-Whitney rank sum tests. EB-stained cells were concentrated in the anterior region of the myocardium. In the paraffin-embedded specimens, EB-stained cells were often accompanied by but largely separate from areas of inflammatory cell infiltration. At end-systolic triggering with a 50 microL/kg dose of microsphere contrast material, the EB-stained cell count increased with increasing peak rarefactional pressure amplitude, with significantly increased cell counts at 1.6 MPa (P < .02) and 2.0 MPa (P < .005) relative to the cell counts at sham myocardial contrast echocardiography. Premature heartbeats had a similar exposure-response relationship; however, number of premature heartbeats and EB-stained cell count did not appear to be directly related (coefficient of determination r2 = 0.03). The EB-stained cell counts at end-diastolic triggering were not significantly different from those at end-systolic triggering (P > .1). EB-stained cell counts increased with increasing contrast material dose, from 10 to 50 microL/kg, at 2.0 MPa. Cardiomyocyte injury was induced by the interaction of ultrasound pulses with contrast agent microbubbles during myocardial contrast echocardiography in rats, and the numbers of injured cells increased with increasing contrast agent dose and ultrasound exposure. RSNA, 2005

Estradiol increases choice of cocaine over food in male rats.

PubMed

Bagley, Jared R; Adams, Julia; Bozadjian, Rachel V; Bubalo, Lana; Ploense, Kyle L; Kippin, Tod E

2017-10-19

Estradiol modulates the rewarding and reinforcing properties of cocaine in females, including an increase in selection of cocaine over alternative reinforcers. However, the effects of estradiol on male cocaine self-administration behavior are less studied despite equivalent levels of estradiol in the brains of adult males and females, estradiol effects on motivated behaviors in males that share underlying neural substrates with cocaine reinforcement as well as expression of estrogen receptors in the male brain. Therefore, we sought to characterize the effects of estradiol in males on choice between concurrently-available cocaine and food reinforcement as well as responding for cocaine or food in isolation. Male castrated rats (n=46) were treated daily with estradiol benzoate (EB) (5μg/0.1, S.C.) or vehicle (peanut oil) throughout operant acquisition of cocaine (1mg/kg, IV; FI20 sec) and food (3×45mg; FI20 sec) responding, choice during concurrent access and cocaine and food reinforcement under progressive ratio (PR) schedules. EB increased cocaine choice, both in terms of percent of trials on which cocaine was selected and the proportion of rats exhibiting a cocaine preference as well as increased cocaine, but not food, intake under PR. Additionally, within the EB treated group, cocaine-preferring rats exhibited enhanced acquisition of cocaine, but not food, reinforcement whereas no acquisition differences were observed across preferences in the vehicle treated group. These findings demonstrate that estradiol increases cocaine choice in males similarly to what is observed in females. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Exposure to increased levels of estradiol during development can have long-term effects on the response to undernutrition in female rats.

PubMed

Carrillo, B; Collado, P; Díaz, F; Chowen, J A; Pinos, H

2016-11-01

Undernutrition during development alters the expression of peptides that control energy expenditure and feeding behavior. Estrogens can also modulate these peptides. Here, we analyze whether the early postnatal administration of estradiol modulates the effects of undernutrition on neuroendocrine parameters in adult female Wistar rats. Control rats were fed a control diet. Undernourished pups were submitted to a restricted diet with half of the undernourished rats receiving 0.4 mg/kg s.c. of estradiol benzoate (EB) from postnatal day (P) 6 until P13. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine expression in the hypothalamus of agouti-related peptide (AgRP), proopiomelanocortin (POMC), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript. Plasma estradiol, testosterone, and adiponectin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Total and acylated ghrelin levels were measured in plasma by radioimmunoassay. Insulin and leptin were measured by mulitplex immunoassays. Undernourishment decreased body weight, fat mass, plasma leptin and insulin levels, and hypothalamic POMC mRNA levels. An increase in orexigenic signals AgRP and NPY mRNA levels, and in plasma adiponectin levels were found in undernourished animals. Early postnatal treatment with EB to undernourished female rats reversed the effects of undernutrition on adult hypothalamic POMC mRNA levels. In addition, neonatal EB treatment to undernourished females significantly decreased adult plasma testosterone, estradiol, and acylated ghrelin levels. Our results suggest that increased estradiol during a critical period of development has the capacity to modulate the alterations that undernutrition produces on energy metabolism.

Synovex Plus implants coated with a polymeric, porous film improve performance of beef steers and heifers fed in confinement for up to 200 days.

PubMed

Cleale, R M; Bechtol, D T; Drouillard, J S; Edmonds, J D; Edmonds, M; Hunsaker, B D; Kraft, L A; Lawrence, T E; Brewbaker, S; Waite, A R

2012-12-01

Synovex Plus (SP) is a product that delivers 28 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB) and 200 mg of trenbolone acetate (TBA). We studied the impact of a polymeric, porous coating on SP implants (CSP) to prolong release of EB and TBA, and stimulate feedlot performance of feedlot cattle for an extended period. In an explant study, 30 steers were implanted with SP in one ear and CSP in the contralateral ear. Cattle (n = 6/d) were necropsied 40, 81, 120, 160, and 200 d after treatment, and remaining EB and TBA were quantified. Linear regression of EB and TBA remaining as a function of time for each treatment were computed. Rates of EB and TBA depletion from SP were -0.1980 (r(2) = 0.9994) and -1.7073 mg/d (r(2) = 0.9644), respectively, and for CSP rates of EB and TBA depletion were -0.1049 (r(2) = 0.9123) and -0.9466 mg/d (r(2) = 0.9297), respectively. The effect of treatment on depletion rates of each analyte were significant (P < 0.05). Data also showed EB and TBA were delivered from CSP at least 200 d but were delivered from SP about 120 d. Multisite trials with beef-type steers (4 sites) and heifers (4 sites) evaluated feedlot performance and carcass characteristics in response to a CSP implant or when sham implanted (SC). A randomized complete block design with 9 blocks and 2 treatments was used per site within animal gender. Across sites, steers (n = 342, BW = 297 kg) were fed finishing rations for 190 to 202 d (mean 198 d) and heifers (n = 342, BW = 289 kg) were fed finishing rations for 191 to 201 d (mean 198 d). Cattle were harvested and carcasses evaluated. Data were pooled across sites within gender for statistical analysis. Steers and heifers treated with CSP yielded greater (P ≤ 0.003) ADG, DMI, and G:F than SC steers and heifers. Mean BW differences between CSP and SC continued to increase throughout the study, indicating CSP stimulated growth of steers and heifers for 198 d. Mean carcass weights of CSP steers (P = 0.005) and heifers (P = 0.004) were greater than those of SP steers and heifers by 26.2 and 20.6 kg, respectively. The LM area was larger (P < 0.001) in CSP steers and heifers than SC cattle. Marbling decreased with CSP treatment (P ≤ 0.031), which caused reductions (P ≤ 0.006) in proportions of carcasses grading Prime or Choice. Evidence from these studies showed that a single administration of CSP increased feedlot cattle performance for at least 198 d, compared with SC, and may reduce the need to reimplant cattle.

The Modified Selenenyl Amide, M-hydroxy Ebselen, Attenuates Diabetic Nephropathy and Diabetes-Associated Atherosclerosis in ApoE/GPx1 Double Knockout Mice

PubMed Central

Tan, Sih Min; Sharma, Arpeeta; Yuen, Derek Y. C.; Stefanovic, Nada; Krippner, Guy; Mugesh, Govindasamy; Chai, Zhonglin; de Haan, Judy B.

2013-01-01

Seleno-organic glutathione peroxidase (GPx) mimetics, including ebselen (Eb), have been tested in in vitro studies for their ability to scavenge reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, including hydrogen peroxide and peroxynitrite. In this study, we investigated the efficacies of two Eb analogues, m-hydroxy ebselen (ME) and ethanol-ebselen (EtE) and compared these with Eb in cell based assays. We found that ME is superior in attenuating the activation of hydrogen peroxide-induced pro-inflammatory mediators, ERK and P38 in human aortic endothelial cells. Consequently, we investigated the effects of ME in an in vivo model of diabetes, the ApoE/GPx1 double knockout (dKO) mouse. We found that ME attenuates plaque formation in the aorta and lesion deposition within the aortic sinus of diabetic dKO mice. Oxidative stress as assessed by 8-OHdG in urine and nitrotyrosine immunostaining in the aortic sinus and kidney tubules, was reduced by ME in diabetic dKO mice. ME also attenuated diabetes-associated renal injury which included tubulointerstitial fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis. Furthermore, the bioactivity of the pro-fibrotic cytokine transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) as assessed by phospho-Smad2/3 immunostaining was attenuated after treatment with ME. TGF-β-stimulated increases in collagen I and IV gene expression and protein levels were attenuated by ME in rat kidney tubular cells. However, in contrast to the superior activity of ME in in vitro and cell based assays, ME did not further augment the attenuation of diabetes-associated atherosclerosis and renal injury in our in vivo model when compared with Eb. In conclusion, this study strengthens the notion that bolstering GPx-like activity using synthetic mimetics may be a useful therapeutic strategy in lessening the burden of diabetic complications. However, these studies highlight the importance of in vivo analyses to test the efficacies of novel Eb analogues, as in vitro and cell based assays are only partly predictive of the in vivo situation. PMID:23874911

E.B. White: Aspects of Style.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Neumeyer, Peter F.

1987-01-01

Assesses the writing style of a famous author of children's books, concluding that E.B. White's informal tone uses anaphora, simple sentences, doubling and redundancy, and mixes colloquial with standard English. Provides examples of his style, from 10 years old to maturity. (NKA)

[Emotional burnout syndrome and pedagogical styles in teachers of a medical high school].

PubMed

Ivanova, E I; Ivanov, I V; Serdakova, K G

2011-01-01

The study involved 20 teachers of medical institutions who gave consent to be examined for emotional burnout syndrome (EBS). Diagnosis of moderate EBS was confirmed by relevant clinical tests and analysis of pedagogical communication style in 30% of the participants. The pedagogical style of teachers exhibiting no signs of burnout is characterized by personality-oriented model of communication with differential attitudes toward students and active interaction with them. Teachers presenting with EBS relied on the disciplinary model of communication prevailed by authoritarian and dictatorial behaviour lacking communicability and flexibility; these persons showed pronounced hyperreflexia.

Kindler syndrome.

PubMed

Lai-Cheong, Joey E; McGrath, John A

2010-01-01

Kindler syndrome (MIM173650) is an autosomal recessive genodermatosis characterized by poikiloderma, trauma-induced skin blistering, mucosal inflammation, and photosensitivity. Loss-of-function mutations in the FERMT1 gene are the cause of Kindler syndrome. Kindler syndrome is categorized as a subtype of epidermolysis bullosa (EB). During infancy and childhood, there is clinical overlap between Kindler syndrome and dystrophic EB. Unlike other forms of EB, Kindler syndrome is characterized by impaired actin cytoskeleton-extracellular matrix interactions and a variable plane of blister formation at or close to the dermal-epidermal junction. This article reviews clinicopathologic and molecular features of Kindler syndrome and discusses patient management.

Electron beam curing — taking good ideas to the manufacturing floor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saunders, C.; Lopata, V.; Barnard, J.; Stepanik, T.

2000-03-01

Acsion is exploiting several emerging electron beam EB applications ranging from composite curing and repair to viscose manufacturing. EB curing of composite structures offers several advantages: significantly reduced curing times; improvements in part quality and performance; reduced environmental and health concerns; improvements in material handling; and reduced overall manufacturing costs compared to thermal curing. The aerospace industry is developing EB technology in all of their market sectors, including military aviation and space products. Some specific products include cryogenic fuel tanks, improved canopy frames for jet aircraft, and the all-composite military aircraft. This paper discusses each of these opportunities.

On the involvement of progesterone in sexually rewarded choice behavior of the female rat.

PubMed

de Jonge, F H; van de Poll, N E

1986-01-01

The present experiment was designed to investigate the role of Progesterone in the regulation of two aspects of the female's appetitive sexual behavior. Ovariectomized females were tested for partner preference using either a test in which sexual interaction was not possible ("sexual orientation") or a test which included the possibility of sexual interaction ("sexually rewarded choice behavior"). The females were either primed with OIL, Estradiol benzoate (EB) or with Testosterone propionate (TP). Additional groups of females which were primed with EB or TP were treated with Progesterone (P) four hours prior to testing. The results indicate that females which are either treated with EB or with TP, show a male-directed orientation, while OIL-treated females do not. Sexually rewarded choice behavior however, was not affected by hormonal treatment with EB or TP. Additional treatment with P did not further increase the female's male-directed sexual orientation. Sexually rewarded choices for males, in contrast, were drastically increased. EB + P- or TP + P-treated females also showed a significant increase in heterosexual interactions with males in the goal box. The present results support the hypothesis that P plays a role in the female's appetitive sexual behavior, only when the possibility for interaction with a male is present.

Reduction of Interhemispheric Functional Brain Connectivity in Early Blindness: A Resting-State fMRI Study

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the resting-state interhemispheric functional connectivity in early blindness by using voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC). Materials and Methods Sixteen early blind patients (EB group) and sixteen age- and gender-matched sighted control volunteers (SC group) were recruited in this study. We used VMHC to identify brain areas with significant differences in functional connectivity between different groups and used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to calculate the individual gray matter volume (GMV). Results VMHC analysis showed a significantly lower connectivity in primary visual cortex, visual association cortex, and somatosensory association cortex in EB group compared to sighted controls. Additionally, VBM analysis revealed that GMV was reduced in the left lateral calcarine cortices in EB group compared to sighted controls, while it was increased in the left lateral middle occipital gyri. Statistical analysis showed the duration of blindness negatively correlated with VMHC in the bilateral middle frontal gyri, middle temporal gyri, and inferior temporal gyri. Conclusions Our findings help elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms of EB. The interhemispheric functional connectivity was impaired in EB patients. Additionally, the middle frontal gyri, middle temporal gyri, and inferior temporal gyri may be potential target regions for rehabilitation. PMID:28656145

A newly discovered bacterium associated with parthenogenesis and a change in host selection behavior in parasitoid wasps.

PubMed

Zchori-Fein, E; Gottlieb, Y; Kelly, S E; Brown, J K; Wilson, J M; Karr, T L; Hunter, M S

2001-10-23

The symbiotic bacterium Wolbachia pipientis has been considered unique in its ability to cause multiple reproductive anomalies in its arthropod hosts. Here we report that an undescribed bacterium is vertically transmitted and associated with thelytokous parthenogenetic reproduction in Encarsia, a genus of parasitoid wasps. Although Wolbachia was found in only one of seven parthenogenetic Encarsia populations examined, the "Encarsia bacterium" (EB) was found in the other six. Among seven sexually reproducing populations screened, EB was present in one, and none harbored Wolbachia. Antibiotic treatment did not induce male production in Encarsia pergandiella but changed the oviposition behavior of females. Cured females accepted one host type at the same rate as control females but parasitized significantly fewer of the other host type. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rDNA gene sequence places the EB in a unique clade within the Cytophaga-Flexibacter-Bacteroid group and shows EB is unrelated to the Proteobacteria, where Wolbachia and most other insect symbionts are found. These results imply evolution of the induction of parthenogenesis in a lineage other than Wolbachia. Importantly, these results also suggest that EB may modify the behavior of its wasp carrier in a way that enhances its transmission.

Obstructive sleep apnea and energy balance regulation: A systematic review.

PubMed

Shechter, Ari

2017-08-01

Obesity and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have a reciprocal relationship. Sleep disruptions characteristic of OSA may promote behavioral, metabolic, and/or hormonal changes favoring weight gain and/or difficulty losing weight. The regulation of energy balance (EB), i.e., the relationship between energy intake (EI) and energy expenditure (EE), is complex and multi-factorial, involving food intake, hormonal regulation of hunger/satiety/appetite, and EE via metabolism and physical activity (PA). The current systematic review describes the literature on how OSA affects EB-related parameters. OSA is associated with a hormonal profile characterized by abnormally high leptin and ghrelin levels, which may encourage excess EI. Data on actual measures of food intake are lacking, and not sufficient to make conclusions. Resting metabolic rate appears elevated in OSA vs. Findings on PA are inconsistent, but may indicate a negative relationship with OSA severity that is modulated by daytime sleepiness and body weight. A speculative explanation for the positive EB in OSA is that the increased EE via metabolism induces an overcompensation in the drive for hunger/food intake, which is larger in magnitude than the rise in EI required to re-establish EB. Understanding how OSA affects EB-related parameters can help improve weight loss efforts in these patients. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Electron-beam lithography with character projection technique for high-throughput exposure with line-edge quality control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ikeno, Rimon; Maruyama, Satoshi; Mita, Yoshio; Ikeda, Makoto; Asada, Kunihiro

2016-07-01

The high throughput of character projection (CP) electron-beam (EB) lithography makes it a promising technique for low-to-medium volume device fabrication with regularly arranged layouts, such as for standard-cell logics and memory arrays. However, non-VLSI applications such as MEMS and MOEMS may not be able to fully utilize the benefits of the CP method due to the wide variety of layout figures including curved and oblique edges. In addition, the stepwise shapes that appear because of the EB exposure process often result in intolerable edge roughness, which degrades device performances. In this study, we propose a general EB lithography methodology for such applications utilizing a combination of the CP and variable-shaped beam methods. In the process of layout data conversion with CP character instantiation, several control parameters were optimized to minimize the shot count, improve the edge quality, and enhance the overall device performance. We have demonstrated EB shot reduction and edge-quality improvement with our methodology by using a leading-edge EB exposure tool, ADVANTEST F7000S-VD02, and a high-resolution hydrogen silsesquioxane resist. Atomic force microscope observations were used to analyze the resist edge profiles' quality to determine the influence of the control parameters used in the data conversion process.

EB1 protein alteration characterizes sporadic but not ulcerative colitis associated colorectal cancer.

PubMed

Gemoll, Timo; Kollbeck, Sophie L; Karstens, Karl F; Hò, Gia G; Hartwig, Sonja; Strohkamp, Sarah; Schillo, Katharina; Thorns, Christoph; Oberländer, Martina; Kalies, Kathrin; Lehr, Stefan; Habermann, Jens K

2017-08-15

While carcinogenesis in Sporadic Colorectal Cancer (SCC) has been thoroughly studied, less is known about Ulcerative Colitis associated Colorectal Cancer (UCC). This study aimed to identify and validate differentially expressed proteins between clinical samples of SCC and UCC to elucidate new insights of UCC/SCC carcinogenesis and progression. Multiplex-fluorescence two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-D DIGE) and mass spectrometry identified 67 proteoforms representing 43 distinct proteins. After analysis by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis ® (IPA), subsequent Western blot validation proofed the differential expression of Heat shock 27 kDA protein 1 (HSPB1) and Microtubule-associated protein R/EB family, member 1 (EB1) while the latter one showed also expression differences by immunohistochemistry. Fresh frozen tissue of UCC ( n = 10) matched with SCC ( n = 10) was investigated. Proteins of cancerous intestinal mucosal cells were obtained by Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM) and compared by 2-D DIGE. Significant spots were identified by mass spectrometry. After IPA, three proteins [EB1, HSPB1, and Annexin 5 (ANXA5)] were chosen for further validation by Western blotting and tissue microarray-based immunohistochemistry. This study identified significant differences in protein expression of colorectal carcinoma cells from UCC patients compared to patients with SCC. Particularly, EB1 was validated in an independent clinical cohort.

Evidence-based Practices Addressed in Community-based Children’s Mental Health Clinical Supervision

PubMed Central

Accurso, Erin C.; Taylor, Robin M.; Garland, Ann F.

2013-01-01

Context Clinical supervision is the principal method of training for psychotherapeutic practice, however there is virtually no research on supervision practice in community settings. Of particular interest is the role supervision might play in facilitating implementation of evidence-based (EB) care in routine care settings. Objective This study examines the format and functions of clinical supervision sessions in routine care, as well as the extent to which supervision addresses psychotherapeutic practice elements common to EB care for children with disruptive behavior problems, who represent the majority of patients served in publicly-funded routine care settings. Methods Supervisors (n=7) and supervisees (n=12) from four publicly-funded community-based child mental health clinics reported on 130 supervision sessions. Results Supervision sessions were primarily individual in-person meetings lasting one hour. The most common functions included case conceptualization and therapy interventions. Coverage of practice elements common to EB treatments was brief. Discussion Despite the fact that most children presenting to public mental health services are referred for disruptive behavior problems, supervision sessions are infrequently focused on practice elements consistent with EB treatments for this population. Supervision is a promising avenue through which training in EB practices could be supported to improve the quality of care for children in community-based “usual care” clinics. PMID:24761163

Characterization of the Microstructures and the Cryogenic Mechanical Properties of Electron Beam Welded Inconel 718

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kwon, Soon Il; Bae, Sang Hyun; Do, Jeong Hyeon; Jo, Chang Yong; Hong, Hyun Uk

2016-02-01

The microstructures and the cryogenic mechanical properties of electron beam (EB) welds between cast and forged Inconel 718 superalloys with a thickness of 10 mm were investigated in comparison with gas tungsten arc (GTA) welds. EB welding with a heat input lower than 250 J/mm caused the formation of liquation microfissuring in the cast-side heat-affected-zone (HAZ) of the EB welds. HAZ liquation microfissuring appeared to be associated with the constitutional liquation of primary NbC carbides at the grain boundaries. Compared with the GTA welding process, the EB welding produced welds with superior microstructure, exhibiting fine dendritic structure associated with the reduction in size and fraction of the Laves phase due to the rapid cooling rate. This result was responsible for the superior mechanical properties of the EB welds at 77 K (-196 °C). Laves particles in both welds were found to provide the preferential site for the crack initiation and propagation, leading to a significant decrease in the Charpy impact toughness at 77 K (-196 °C). Crack initiation and propagation induced by Charpy impact testing were discussed in terms of the dendrite arm spacing, the Laves size and the dislocation structure ahead of the crack arisen from the fractured Laves phase in the two welds.

Implementation of a multi-professional standardized care plan in electronic health records for the care of stroke patients.

PubMed

Pöder, Ulrika; Fogelberg-Dahm, Marie; Wadensten, Barbro

2011-09-01

To compare staff opinions about standardized care plans and self-reported habits with regard to documentation, and their perceived knowledge about the evidence-based guidelines in stroke care before and after implementation of an evidence-based-standardized care plan (EB-SCP) and quality standard for stroke care. The aim was also to describe staff opinions about, and their use of, the implemented EB-SCP. To facilitate evidence-based practice (EBP), a multi-professional EB-SCP and quality standard for stroke care was implemented in the electronic health record (EHR). Quantitative, descriptive and comparative, based on questionnaires completed before and after implementation. Perceived knowledge about evidence-based guidelines in stroke care increased after implementation of the EB-SCP. The majority agreed that the EB-SCP is useful and facilitates their work. There was no change between before and after implementation with regard to opinions about standardized care plans, self-reported documentation habits or time spent on documentation. An evidence-based SCP seems to be useful in patient care and improves perceived knowledge about evidence-based guidelines in stroke care. For nursing managers, introduction of evidence-based SCP in the EHR may improve the prerequisites for promoting high-quality EBP in multi-professional care. 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Measurement of heterophil antibody and antibodies to EB viral capsid antigen IgG and IgM in suspected cases of infectious mononucleosis.

PubMed

Blake, J M; Edwards, J M; Fletcher, W; McSwiggan, D A; Pereira, M S

1976-09-01

The EBV IgG titres in acute and convalescent specimens from 97 cases of infectious mononucleosis were compared with titres from acute and convalescent sera from 96 students with illnesses resembling infectious mononucleosis but without heterophil antibody, EB IgM or EB IgG seroconversion; and also with titres from 91 healthy students known to have had EB IgG antibody for at least six months. These titres were related to the titre of the Research Standard A.66/235 for infectious mononucleosis serum prepared by the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control. Serial sera were tested for heterophil antibody and EBVCA specific IgG and IgM from 61 university students with infectious mononucleosis. The period of persistence of heterophil antibody and EBV IgM after illness was outlined from the results of the tests. Single sera from 406 patients in hospital or general practice sent to the diagnostic laboratory for heterophil antibody tests were also tested for EBV antibodies without prior knowledge of the heterophil antibody result. The close agreement between heterophil antibody and EBV IgM results is shown. False positive EB IgM results were correlated with the presence of rheumatoid factor.

Comparison of Four Protocols to Generate Chondrocyte-Like Cells from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSCs).

PubMed

Suchorska, Wiktoria Maria; Augustyniak, Ewelina; Richter, Magdalena; Trzeciak, Tomasz

2017-04-01

Stem cells (SCs) are a promising approach to regenerative medicine, with the potential to treat numerous orthopedic disorders, including osteo-degenerative diseases. The development of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) has increased the potential of SCs for new treatments. However, current methods of differentiating hiPSCs into chondrocyte-like cells are suboptimal and better methods are needed. The aim of the present study was to assess four different chondrogenic differentiation protocols to identify the most efficient method of generating hiPSC-derived chondrocytes. For this study, hiPSCs were obtained from primary human dermal fibroblasts (PHDFs) and differentiated into chondrocyte-like cells using four different protocols: 1) monolayer culture with defined growth factors (GF); 2) embryoid bodies (EBs) in a chondrogenic medium with TGF-β3 cells; 3) EBs in chondrogenic medium conditioned with human chondrocytes (HC-402-05a cell line) and 4) EBs in chondrogenic medium conditioned with human chondrocytes and supplemented with TGF-β3. The cells obtained through these four protocols were evaluated and compared at the mRNA and protein levels. Although chondrogenic differentiation of hiPSCs was successfully achieved with all of these protocols, the two fastest and most cost-effective methods were the monolayer culture with GFs and the medium conditioned with human chondrocytes. Both of these methods are superior to other available techniques. The main advantage of the conditioned medium is that the technique is relatively simple and inexpensive while the directed method (i.e., monolayer culture with GFs) is faster than any protocol described to date because it is does not require additional steps such as EB formation.

Daily rhythms in locomotor circuits in Drosophila involve PDF

PubMed Central

Pírez, Nicolás; Christmann, Bethany L.

2013-01-01

The neuropeptide pigment-dispersing factor (PDF) has been studied extensively in Drosophila, and its role in circadian time-keeping has been firmly established. The role of PDF outside of the clock circuit, however, is poorly understood. A recent study suggested that PDF may act on the ellipsoid body (EB) to link the clock and sleep/activity circuits. We performed whole brain optical imaging with the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based cAMP sensor Epac1-camps expressed under control of the pdfR promoter to address how the clock and sleep deprivation affect the physiology of these cells. Basal cAMP levels in EB were regulated both by PDF and synaptic inputs that are controlled by the circadian clock. Acute application of PDF to the brain caused a significant, and PDF-receptor-dependent, increase in cAMP in EB cells. Application of TTX to block circuit-mediated effects of PDF increased the morning response but not the response at night, implying the existence of a temporally regulated, PDF-stimulated input that blocks cAMP generation. ACh produced both direct (TTX-insensitive) and indirect (TTX-sensitive) increases in cAMP during the day but was totally TTX-insensitive at night, indicating that ACh-stimulated inputs to the EB are suppressed at night. Sleep deprivation did not affect the cAMP responses of these cells to either PDF or ACh. These results suggest a novel role for PDF as a modulator of activity outside of the clock circuit. By elucidating the mechanisms by which the neuropeptide PDF act on its target cells, our work contributes to our understating of how the central clock coordinates activity and sleep. PMID:23678016

Daily rhythms in locomotor circuits in Drosophila involve PDF.

PubMed

Pírez, Nicolás; Christmann, Bethany L; Griffith, Leslie C

2013-08-01

The neuropeptide pigment-dispersing factor (PDF) has been studied extensively in Drosophila, and its role in circadian time-keeping has been firmly established. The role of PDF outside of the clock circuit, however, is poorly understood. A recent study suggested that PDF may act on the ellipsoid body (EB) to link the clock and sleep/activity circuits. We performed whole brain optical imaging with the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based cAMP sensor Epac1-camps expressed under control of the pdfR promoter to address how the clock and sleep deprivation affect the physiology of these cells. Basal cAMP levels in EB were regulated both by PDF and synaptic inputs that are controlled by the circadian clock. Acute application of PDF to the brain caused a significant, and PDF-receptor-dependent, increase in cAMP in EB cells. Application of TTX to block circuit-mediated effects of PDF increased the morning response but not the response at night, implying the existence of a temporally regulated, PDF-stimulated input that blocks cAMP generation. ACh produced both direct (TTX-insensitive) and indirect (TTX-sensitive) increases in cAMP during the day but was totally TTX-insensitive at night, indicating that ACh-stimulated inputs to the EB are suppressed at night. Sleep deprivation did not affect the cAMP responses of these cells to either PDF or ACh. These results suggest a novel role for PDF as a modulator of activity outside of the clock circuit. By elucidating the mechanisms by which the neuropeptide PDF act on its target cells, our work contributes to our understating of how the central clock coordinates activity and sleep.

A mutation of the fission yeast EB1 overcomes negative regulation by phosphorylation and stabilizes microtubules

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

Iimori, Makoto; Ozaki, Kanako; Chikashige, Yuji

2012-02-01

Mal3 is a fission yeast homolog of EB1, a plus-end tracking protein (+ TIP). We have generated a mutation (89R) replacing glutamine with arginine in the calponin homology (CH) domain of Mal3. Analysis of the 89R mutant in vitro has revealed that the mutation confers a higher affinity to microtubules and enhances the intrinsic activity to promote the microtubule-assembly. The mutant Mal3 is no longer a + TIP, but binds strongly the microtubule lattice. Live cell imaging has revealed that while the wild type Mal3 proteins dissociate from the tip of the growing microtubules before the onset of shrinkage, themore » mutant Mal3 proteins persist on microtubules and reduces a rate of shrinkage after a longer pausing period. Consequently, the mutant Mal3 proteins cause abnormal elongation of microtubules composing the spindle and aster. Mal3 is phosphorylated at a cluster of serine/threonine residues in the linker connecting the CH and EB1-like C-terminal motif domains. The phosphorylation occurs in a microtubule-dependent manner and reduces the affinity of Mal3 to microtubules. We propose that because the 89R mutation is resistant to the effect of phosphorylation, it can associate persistently with microtubules and confers a stronger stability of microtubules likely by reinforcing the cylindrical structure. -- Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We characterize a mutation (mal3-89R) in fission yeast homolog of EB1. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The mutation enhances the activity to assemble microtubules. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Mal3 is phosphorylated in a microtubule-dependent manner. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The phosphorylation negatively regulates the Mal3 activity.« less