Effective Light Directed Assembly of Building Blocks with Microscale Control.

PubMed

Dinh, Ngoc-Duy; Luo, Rongcong; Christine, Maria Tankeh Asuncion; Lin, Weikang Nicholas; Shih, Wei-Chuan; Goh, James Cho-Hong; Chen, Chia-Hung

2017-06-01

Light-directed forces have been widely used to pattern micro/nanoscale objects with precise control, forming functional assemblies. However, a substantial laser intensity is required to generate sufficient optical gradient forces to move a small object in a certain direction, causing limited throughput for applications. A high-throughput light-directed assembly is demonstrated as a printing technology by introducing gold nanorods to induce thermal convection flows that move microparticles (diameter = 40 µm to several hundreds of micrometers) to specific light-guided locations, forming desired patterns. With the advantage of effective light-directed assembly, the microfluidic-fabricated monodispersed biocompatible microparticles are used as building blocks to construct a structured assembly (≈10 cm scale) in ≈2 min. The control with microscale precision is approached by changing the size of the laser light spot. After crosslinking assembly of building blocks, a novel soft material with wanted pattern is approached. To demonstrate its application, the mesenchymal stem-cell-seeded hydrogel microparticles are prepared as functional building blocks to construct scaffold-free tissues with desired structures. This light-directed fabrication method can be applied to integrate different building units, enabling the bottom-up formation of materials with precise control over their internal structure for bioprinting, tissue engineering, and advanced manufacturing. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Increased prevalence of third-degree atrioventricular block in patients with type II diabetes mellitus.

PubMed

Movahed, Mohammad-Reza; Hashemzadeh, Mehrtash; Jamal, M Mazen

2005-10-01

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major risk for cardiovascular disease and mortality. There is some evidence that third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block occurs more commonly in patients with DM. In this study, we evaluated any possible association between DM and third-degree AV block using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes in a very large inpatient database. We used patient treatment files containing discharge diagnoses using ICD-9 codes of inpatient treatment from all Veterans Health Administration hospitals. The cohort was stratified using the ICD-9-CM code for DM (n = 293,124), a control group with hypertension but no DM (n = 552,623), and the ICD-9 code for third-degree AV block (426.0) and smoking (305.1, V15.82). We performed multivariate analysis adjusting for coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, smoking, and hyperlipidemia. Continuous and binary variables were analyzed using chi2 and Fisher exact tests. Third-degree AV block diagnosis was present in 3,240 of DM patients (1.1%) vs 3,367 patients (0.6%) in the control group. Using multivariate analysis, DM remained strongly associated with third-degree AV block (odds ratio, 3.1; 95% confidential interval, 3.0 to 3.3; p < 0.0001). Third-degree AV block occurs significantly more in patients with DM. This finding may, in part, explain the high cardiovascular mortality in DM patients.

Hydrogen ion block of the sodium pore in squid giant axons

PubMed Central

1983-01-01

The block of squid axon sodium channels by H ions was studied using voltage-clamp and internal perfusion techniques. An increase in the concentration of internal permeant ions decreased the block produced by external H ions. The voltage dependence of the block was found to be nonmonotonic: it was reduced by both large positive and large negative potentials. The ability of internal ions to modify the block by external H+ is explained by a competition among these ions for a binding site within the pore. The nonmonotonic voltage dependence is consistent with this picture if the hydrogen ions are allowed to be permeant. PMID:6315859

Costa Rica’s implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: Overcoming decades of industry dominance

PubMed Central

Crosbie, Eric; Sosa, Patricia; Glantz, Stanton A

2016-01-01

Objective To analyze the passage of Costa Rica’s 2012 tobacco control law. Materials and methods Review of legislation, newspaper articles, and key informant interviews. Results Tobacco control advocates, in close collaboration with international health groups, recruited national, regional and international experts to testify in the Legislative Assembly, implemented grassroots advocacy campaigns, and generated media coverage to enact strong legislation in March 2012 consistent with the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, despite tobacco industry lobbying efforts that for decades blocked effective tobacco control legislation. Conclusion Costa Rica’s experience illustrates how with resources, good strategic planning, aggressive tactics and perseverance tobacco control advocates can overcome tobacco industry opposition in the Legislative Assembly and Executive Branch. This determined approach has positioned Costa Rica to become a regional leader in tobacco control. PMID:26879509

Reiter during maintenance tasks in the FGB

NASA Image and Video Library

2006-08-10

ISS013-E-65721 (10 Aug. 2006) --- European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Thomas Reiter, Expedition 13 flight engineer, replaces the number two replaceable pump panel (SPN) in the number one loop (VGK1) of the International Space Station's Zarya functional cargo block (FGB) thermal control system with a new spare from stowage.

Transport and Depositional Model for Large Country Rock Blocks Within the Searchlight Pluton, Southern Nevada

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perrault, D. S.; Furbish, D. J.; Miller, C. F.

2006-05-01

Searchlight pluton, a steeply tilted, 10 km thick Miocene intrusion in the Colorado River Extensional Corridor, exposes a zone with abundant, 5-400 m long blocks of Proterozoic gneiss. Blocks are present within a pair of subparallel horizons that make up a 2 km-thick zone and extend about 6 km laterally away from the pluton's north margin slightly oblique to the initially subhorizontal boundary between the pluton's middle unit (granite) and lower unit (qtz monzonite). Blocks are a variety of Precambrian metasedimentary gneisses, granitic gneisses, and mylonites. Blocks are commonly polylithologic and well foliated, with long and intermediate dimensions parallel to both their own foliation and that of the granitic host. Their average aspect ratio is ~ 4:1. Blocks within these horizons are interpreted as stoped (detached country rock that experience gravity- induced displacement) based on several lines of evidence. First, the distribution and abundances of blocks are not consistent with an isolated panel of wall rock (screen). The zone is laterally discontinuous (local abundances vary from ~ 0-40 %); transects a gradational (cm-m scale) internal contact at a slightly oblique angle; and tapers away from the pluton's margin. Second, while block foliations are homoclinal and show fairly consistent attitudes from block to block, block foliations are discordant with wall rock foliations at the same stratigraphic level (adjacent north wall). Third, mush disturbance features such as schlieren and enhanced feldspar foliation beneath blocks suggest a downward compaction. We interpret the blocks to have been emplaced after wall collapse events. We are using scaled settling experiments to clarify how blocks move within viscous fluids and interact with crystal mushes. The experiments, involving tabular ceramic blocks with density ρ = 1.75-2.20 g cm-3 settling in shampoo (ρ = 1.02 g cm-3) with viscosity μ = 20.35 Pa s, are scaled to order-of-magnitude by the particle Reynolds number (Re ~ 10-2) based on a prototype spherical block of diameter ~ 50 m settling through a crystal free magma with the density (~ 2.25 g cm-3) and viscosity (~ 105 Pa s) of a granitic melt. With low Reynolds number settling, tabular blocks starting from arbitrary orientation tend to become aligned with their long dimension vertical. During alignment fluid shear is focused on the trailing part of the downward facing surface of the block, inducing a torque that tends to upright the block. Settling experiments also provide insights regarding how blocks might interact with mush/melt interfaces. Mushes at sufficiently high crystal content (>50%) stiffen rheologically. Stoped blocks settling on these interfaces may impart stresses that result in localized deformation of the mush (forming schlieren and/or compaction features). We moreover suggest that tabular blocks are deposited with their long axes horizontal at these interfaces; blocks with a geometry controlled by internal structures (e.g. foliation) would on average possess a subparallel alignment of both their geometric shape and internal structure. At sufficiently low Re, this realignment of a tabular block begins as it approaches a semi-rigid surface or interface and the leading fluid boundary layer interacts with the interface; the vertical speed of the block decreases and it begins to deflect and take on a lateral motion.

New paleomagnetic data from the Wadi Abyad crustal section and their implications for the rotation history of the Oman ophiolite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meyer, Matthew; Morris, Antony; Anderson, Mark; MacLeod, Chris

2015-04-01

The Oman ophiolite is an important natural laboratory for understanding the construction of oceanic crust at fast spreading axes and its subsequent tectonic evolution. Previous paleomagnetic research in lavas of the northern ophiolitic blocks (Perrin et al., 2000) has demonstrated substantial clockwise intraoceanic tectonic rotations. Paleomagnetic data from lower crustal sequences in the southern blocks, however, have been more equivocal due to complications arising from remagnetization, and have been used to infer that clockwise rotations seen in the north are internal to the ophiolite rather than regionally significant (Weiler, 2000). Here we demonstrate the importance and advantages of sampling crustal transects in the ophiolite in order to understand the nature and variability in magnetization directions. By systematically sampling the lower crustal sequence exposed in Wadi Abyad (Rustaq block) we resolve for the first time in a single section a pattern of remagnetized lowermost gabbros and retention of earlier magnetizations by uppermost gabbros and the overlying dyke-rooting zone. Results are supported by a positive fold test that shows that remagnetization of lower gabbros occurred prior to the Campanian structural disruption of the Moho. NW-directed remagnetized remanences in the lower units are consistent with those used by Weiler (2000) to infer lack of significant rotation of the southern blocks and to argue, therefore, that rotation of the northern blocks was internal to the ophiolite. In contrast, E/ENE-directed remanences in the uppermost levels of Wadi Abyad imply large, clockwise rotation of the Rustaq block, of a sense and magnitude consistent with intraoceanic rotations inferred from extrusive sections in the northern blocks. We conclude that without the control provided by systematic crustal sampling, the potential for different remanence directions being acquired at different times may lead to erroneous tectonic interpretation.

Supramolecular guests in solvent driven block copolymer assembly: From internally structured nanoparticles to micelles

PubMed Central

Klinger, Daniel; Robb, Maxwell J.; Spruell, Jason M.; Lynd, Nathaniel A.; Hawker, Craig J.

2014-01-01

Supramolecular interactions between different hydrogen-bonding guests and poly(2-vinyl pyridine)-block-poly (styrene) can be exploited to prepare remarkably diverse self-assembled nanostructures in dispersion from a single block copolymer (BCP). The characteristics of the BCP can be efficiently controlled by tailoring the properties of a guest which preferentially binds to the P2VP block. For example, the incorporation of a hydrophobic guest creates a hydrophobic BCP complex that forms phase separated nanoparticles upon self-assembly. Conversely, the incorporation of a hydrophilic guest results in an amphiphilic BCP complex that forms spherical micelles in water. The ability to tune the self-assembly behavior and access dramatically different nanostructures from a single BCP substrate demonstrates the exceptional versatility of the self-assembly of BCPs driven by supramolecular interactions. This approach represents a new methodology that will enable the further design of complex, responsive self-assembled nanostructures. PMID:25525473

77 FR 44717 - Unblocking of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons Pursuant to the Foreign...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-30

... Foreign Assets Control (``OFAC'') is publishing the names of ten individuals and nine entities whose... ten individuals and nine entities identified in this notice whose property and interests in property... international narcotics trafficking. On July 24, 2012, the Director of OFAC removed from the SDN List the ten...

Tactile feedback is an effective instrument for the training of grasping with a prosthesis at low- and medium-force levels.

PubMed

De Nunzio, Alessandro Marco; Dosen, Strahinja; Lemling, Sabrina; Markovic, Marko; Schweisfurth, Meike Annika; Ge, Nan; Graimann, Bernhard; Falla, Deborah; Farina, Dario

2017-08-01

Grasping is a complex task routinely performed in an anticipatory (feedforward) manner, where sensory feedback is responsible for learning and updating the internal model of grasp dynamics. This study aims at evaluating whether providing a proportional tactile force feedback during the myoelectric control of a prosthesis facilitates learning a stable internal model of the prosthesis force control. Ten able-bodied subjects controlled a sensorized myoelectric prosthesis performing four blocks of consecutive grasps at three levels of target force (30, 50, and 70%), repeatedly closing the fully opened hand. In the first and third block, the subjects received tactile and visual feedback, respectively, while during the second and fourth block, the feedback was removed. The subjects also performed an additional block with no feedback 1 day after the training (Retest). The median and interquartile range of the generated forces was computed to assess the accuracy and precision of force control. The results demonstrated that the feedback was indeed an effective instrument for the training of prosthesis control. After the training, the subjects were still able to accurately generate the desired force for the low and medium target (30 and 50% of maximum force available in a prosthesis), despite the feedback being removed within the session and during the retest (low target force). However, the training was substantially less successful for high forces (70% of prosthesis maximum force), where subjects exhibited a substantial loss of accuracy as soon as the feedback was removed. The precision of control decreased with higher forces and it was consistent across conditions, determined by an intrinsic variability of repeated myoelectric grasping. This study demonstrated that the subject could rely on the tactile feedback to adjust the motor command to the prosthesis across trials. The subjects adjusted the mean level of muscle activation (accuracy), whereas the precision could not be modulated as it depends on the intrinsic myoelectric variability. They were also able to maintain the feedforward command even after the feedback was removed, demonstrating thereby a stable learning, but the retention depended on the level of the target force. This is an important insight into the role of feedback as an instrument for learning of anticipatory prosthesis force control.

Individual Differences Influencing Immediate Effects of Internal and External Focus Instructions on Children's Motor Performance.

PubMed

van Abswoude, Femke; Nuijen, Nienke B; van der Kamp, John; Steenbergen, Bert

2018-06-01

A large pool of evidence supports the beneficial effect of an external focus of attention on motor skill performance in adults. In children, this effect has been studied less and results are inconclusive. Importantly, individual differences are often not taken into account. We investigated the role of working memory, conscious motor control, and task-specific focus preferences on performance with an internal and external focus of attention in children. Twenty-five children practiced a golf putting task in both an internal focus condition and external focus condition. Performance was defined as the average distance toward the hole in 3 blocks of 10 trials. Task-specific focus preference was determined by asking how much effort it took to apply the instruction in each condition. In addition, working memory capacity and conscious motor control were assessed. Children improved performance in both the internal focus condition and external focus condition (ŋ p 2  = .47), with no difference between conditions (ŋ p 2  = .01). Task-specific focus preference was the only factor moderately related to the difference between performance with an internal focus and performance with an external focus (r = .56), indicating better performance for the preferred instruction in Block 3. Children can benefit from instruction with both an internal and external focus of attention to improve short-term motor performance. Individual, task-specific focus preference influenced the effect of the instructions, with children performing better with their preferred focus. The results highlight that individual differences are a key factor in the effectiveness in children's motor performance. The precise mechanisms underpinning this effect warrant further research.

Does Focus of Attention Improve Snatch Lift Kinematics?

PubMed

Schutts, Kyle S; Wu, Will F W; Vidal, Anthony D; Hiegel, Jamie; Becker, James

2017-10-01

Recent motor control literature has demonstrated that using verbal instructions to direct a performer's attention externally (i.e., toward the movement outcome) enhances motor skill performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate how an athlete's focus of attention impacts kinematic performance of the snatch. Using a counterbalanced within-participant design, 12 competitively trained athletes (8 male and 4 female athletes) performed 2 instructional blocks of 3 snatch repetitions at 80% of their most recent training 1 repetition maximum. Blocks of internal and external instructions were given to the athlete in a random fashion. Results showed that, when focusing internally, athletes significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased elbow velocity relative to focusing externally, whereas the external instructions significantly increased horizontal barbell velocity, relative to internal instructions. Additionally, an internal focus resulted in significantly larger barbell-cervical-hip angles at maximum height of the barbell compared with an external focus, indicating that the athletes squatted under the barbell too soon. This information adds to the literature suggesting small changes in coaching instructions can impact performance significantly. It is recommended that coaches use instructions that direct an athlete's attention externally, toward the movement outcome, rather than the action itself.

Biomimetic block copolymer particles with gated nanopores and ultrahigh protein sorption capacity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Haizhou; Qiu, Xiaoyan; Nunes, Suzana P.; Peinemann, Klaus-Viktor

2014-06-01

The design of micro- or nanoparticles that can encapsulate sensitive molecules such as drugs, hormones, proteins or peptides is of increasing importance for applications in biotechnology and medicine. Examples are micelles, liposomes and vesicles. The tiny and, in most cases, hollow spheres are used as vehicles for transport and controlled administration of pharmaceutical drugs or nutrients. Here we report a simple strategy to fabricate microspheres by block copolymer self-assembly. The microsphere particles have monodispersed nanopores that can act as pH-responsive gates. They contain a highly porous internal structure, which is analogous to the Schwarz P structure. The internal porosity of the particles contributes to their high sorption capacity and sustained release behaviour. We successfully separated similarly sized proteins using these particles. The ease of particle fabrication by macrophase separation and self-assembly, and the robustness of the particles makes them ideal for sorption, separation, transport and sustained delivery of pharmaceutical substances.

Pudendal nerve stimulation and block by a wireless-controlled implantable stimulator in cats.

PubMed

Yang, Guangning; Wang, Jicheng; Shen, Bing; Roppolo, James R; de Groat, William C; Tai, Changfeng

2014-07-01

The study aims to determine the functionality of a wireless-controlled implantable stimulator designed for stimulation and block of the pudendal nerve. In five cats under α-chloralose anesthesia, the stimulator was implanted underneath the skin on the left side in the lower back along the sacral spine. Two tripolar cuff electrodes were implanted bilaterally on the pudendal nerves in addition to one bipolar cuff electrode that was implanted on the left side central to the tripolar cuff electrode. The stimulator provided high-frequency (5-20 kHz) biphasic stimulation waveforms to the two tripolar electrodes and low-frequency (1-100 Hz) rectangular pulses to the bipolar electrode. Bladder and urethral pressures were measured to determine the effects of pudendal nerve stimulation (PNS) or block. The maximal (70-100 cmH2O) urethral pressure generated by 20-Hz PNS applied via the bipolar electrode was completely eliminated by the pudendal nerve block induced by the high-frequency stimulation (6-15 kHz, 6-10 V) applied via the two tripolar electrodes. In a partially filled bladder, 20-30 Hz PNS (2-8 V, 0.2 ms) but not 5 Hz stimulation applied via the bipolar electrode elicited a large sustained bladder contraction (45.9 ± 13.4 to 52.0 ± 22 cmH2O). During cystometry, the 5 Hz PNS significantly (p < 0.05) increased bladder capacity to 176.5 ± 27.1% of control capacity. The wireless-controlled implantable stimulator successfully generated the required waveforms for stimulation and block of pudendal nerve, which will be useful for restoring bladder functions after spinal cord injury. © 2013 International Neuromodulation Society.

Tempering Proactive Cognitive Control by Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Right (but Not the Left) Lateral Prefrontal Cortex

PubMed Central

Gómez-Ariza, Carlos J.; Martín, María C.; Morales, Julia

2017-01-01

Behavioral and neuroimaging data support the distinction of two different modes of cognitive control: proactive, which involves the active and sustained maintenance of task-relevant information to bias behavior in accordance with internal goals; and reactive, which entails the detection and resolution of interference at the time it occurs. Both control modes may be flexibly deployed depending on a variety of conditions (i.e., age, brain alterations, motivational factors, prior experience). Critically, and in line with specific predictions derived from the dual mechanisms of control account (Braver, 2012), findings from neuroimaging studies indicate that the same lateral prefrontal regions (i.e., left dorsolateral cortex and right inferior frontal junction) may implement different control modes on the basis of temporal dynamics of activity, which would be modulated in response to external or internal conditions. In the present study, we aimed to explore whether transcraneal direct current stimulation over either the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or the right inferior frontal junction would differentially modulate performance on the AX-CPT, a well-validated task that provides sensitive and reliable behavioral indices of proactive/reactive control. The study comprised six conditions of real stimulation [3 (site: left dorsolateral, right dorsolateral and right inferior frontal junction) × 2 (polarity: anodal and cathodal)], and one sham condition. The reference electrode was always placed extracephalically. Performance on the AX-CPT was assessed through two blocks of trials. The first block took place while stimulation was being delivered, whereas the second block was administered after stimulation completion. The results indicate that both offline cathodal stimulation of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and online anodal stimulation of the right inferior frontal junction led participants to be much less proactive, with such a dissociation suggesting that both prefrontal regions differentially contribute to the adjustment of cognitive control modes. tDCS of the left-DLPFC failed to modulate cognitive control. These results partially support the predictions derived from the dual mechanisms of control account. PMID:28588441

Enhanced resistance in Theobroma cacao against oomycete and fungal pathogens by secretion of phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate-binding proteins

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The internalization of oomycete and fungal pathogen effectors into host plant cells has been reported to be blocked by proteins that bind to the effectors’ cell entry receptor, phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PI3P). This finding suggested a novel strategy for disease control by engineering plants ...

Government Actions to Control Terrorist Violence: A Case Study on Northern Ireland

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-03-01

Continue on reverse if necessary and identify by block number) E~~0! G~P I -OP ITerrorism; Government Legislation to Control Terrorism; Irish Re...of the British government’s efforts to legislate improvements in Northern Ireland. It appears that only through this process can peace and...international attention and has been the focus of much of the British government’s efforts to legislate improvements in Northern Ireland. It appears that

Synthesis of carboxylic block copolymers via reversible addition fragmentation transfer polymerization for tooth erosion prevention.

PubMed

Lei, Y; Wang, T; Mitchell, J W; Qiu, J; Kilpatrick-Liverman, L

2014-12-01

Dental professionals are seeing a growing population of patients with visible signs of dental erosion. The approach currently being used to address the problem typically leverages the enamel protection benefits of fluoride. In this report, an alternative new block copolymer with a hydrophilic polyacrylic acid (PAA) block and a hydrophobic poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) block was developed to similarly reduce the mineral loss from enamel under acidic conditions. This series of PMMA-b-PAA block copolymers was synthesized by reversible addition fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Their structures were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra. The molar fractions of acrylic acid (AA) in the final block copolymer were finely controlled from 0.25 to 0.94, and the molecular weight (Mn) of PMMA-b-PAA was controlled from 10 kDa to 90 kDa. The binding capability of the block copolymer with hydroxyapatite (HAP) was investigated by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. FTIR spectra confirmed that the PMMA-b-PAA block copolymer could bind to HAP via bridging bidentate bonds. Both UV-Vis and FTIR spectra additionally indicated that a high polymer concentration and low solution pH favored the polymer binding to HAP. The erosion-preventing efficacy of the PMMA-b-PAA block copolymer in inhibiting HAP mineral loss was quantitatively evaluated by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Based on the results, polymer treatment reduced the amount of calcium released by 27% to 30% in comparison with the unprotected samples. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations indicated that PMMA-b-PAA polymer treatment protected enamel from acid erosion. This new amphiphilic block copolymer has significant potential to be integrated into dentifrices or mouthrinses as an alternative non-fluoride ingredient to reduce tooth erosion. © International & American Associations for Dental Research.

Marginal and internal fit of nano-composite CAD/CAM restorations.

PubMed

Park, So-Hyun; Yoo, Yeon-Jee; Shin, Yoo-Jin; Cho, Byeong-Hoon; Baek, Seung-Ho

2016-02-01

The purpose of this study was to compare the marginal and internal fit of nano-composite CAD-CAM restorations. A full veneer crown and an mesio-occluso-distal (MOD) inlay cavity, which were prepared on extracted human molars, were used as templates of epoxy resin replicas. The prepared teeth were scanned and CAD-CAM restorations were milled using Lava Ultimate (LU) and experimental nano-composite CAD/CAM blocks (EB) under the same milling parameters. To assess the marginal and internal fit, the restorations were cemented to replicas and were embedded in an acrylic mold for sectioning at 0.5 mm intervals. The measured gap data were pooled according to the block types and measuring points for statistical analysis. Both the block type and measuring point significantly affected gap values, and their interaction was significant (p = 0.000). In crowns and inlays made from the two blocks, gap values were significantly larger in the occlusal area than in the axial area, while gap values in the marginal area were smallest (p < 0.001). Among the blocks, the restorations milled from EB had a significantly larger gap at all measuring points than those milled from LU (p = 0.000). The marginal and internal gaps of the two nano-composite CAD/CAM blocks differed according to the measuring points. Among the internal area of the two nano-composite CAD/CAM restorations, occlusal gap data were significantly larger than axial gap data. The EB crowns and inlays had significantly larger gaps than LU restorations.

New Paleomagnetic Data from the Wadi Abyad Crustal Section and their Implications for the Rotation History of the Oman Ophiolite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meyer, M.; Morris, A.; Anderson, M.; MacLeod, C. J.

2014-12-01

The Oman ophiolite is an important natural laboratory for understanding the construction of oceanic crust at fast spreading axes and its subsequent tectonic evolution. Previous paleomagnetic research in lavas of the northern ophiolitic blocks (Perrin et al., 2000, Mar. Geophys. Res.) has demonstrated substantial clockwise intraoceanic tectonic rotations. Paleomagnetic data from lower crustal sequences in the southern blocks, however, have been more equivocal due to complications arising from remagnetization, and have been used to infer that clockwise rotations seen in the north are internal to the ophiolite rather than regionally significant (Weiler, 2000, Mar. Geophys. Res.). Here we demonstrate the importance and advantages of sampling crustal transects in the ophiolite in order to understand the nature and variability in magnetization directions. By systematically sampling the lower crustal sequence exposed in Wadi Abyad (Rustaq block) we resolve for the first time in a single section a pattern of remagnetized lowermost gabbros and retention of earlier magnetizations by uppermost gabbros and the overlying dyke-rooting zone. Results are supported by a positive fold test that shows that remagnetization of lower gabbros occurred prior to the Campanian structural disruption of the Moho. NW-directed remagnetized remanences in the lower units are consistent with those used by Weiler (2000, Mar. Geophys. Res.) to infer lack of significant rotation of the southern blocks and to argue, therefore, that rotation of the northern blocks was internal to the ophiolite. In contrast, E/ENE-directed remanences in the uppermost levels of Wadi Abyad imply a large, clockwise rotation of the Rustaq block, of a sense and magnitude consistent with intraoceanic rotations inferred from extrusive sections in the northern blocks. We conclude that without the control provided by systematic crustal sampling, the potential for different remanence directions being acquired at different times may lead to erroneous tectonic interpretation.

Weight shifting operators and conformal blocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karateev, Denis; Kravchuk, Petr; Simmons-Duffin, David

2018-02-01

We introduce a large class of conformally-covariant differential operators and a crossing equation that they obey. Together, these tools dramatically simplify calculations involving operators with spin in conformal field theories. As an application, we derive a formula for a general conformal block (with arbitrary internal and external representations) in terms of derivatives of blocks for external scalars. In particular, our formula gives new expressions for "seed conformal blocks" in 3d and 4d CFTs. We also find simple derivations of identities between external-scalar blocks with different dimensions and internal spins. We comment on additional applications, including deriving recursion relations for general conformal blocks, reducing inversion formulae for spinning operators to inversion formulae for scalars, and deriving identities between general 6 j symbols (Racah-Wigner coefficients/"crossing kernels") of the conformal group.

Geoscience Laser Altimetry System (GLAS) On-Orbit Flight Report on the Propylene Loop Heat Pipes (LHPs)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baker, Charles L.; Grob, Eric W.; McCarthy, Thomas V.; Nikitkin, Michael N.; Ancarrow, Walter C.

2003-01-01

The Geoscience Laser Altimetry System (GLAS) instrument which is the sole instrument on ICESat was launched on January 12, 2003. GLAS utilizes two actively controlled propylene Loop Heat Pipes (LHPs) as the core of its thermal system. The LHPs started quickly when the Dale Ohm starter heaters were powered and have as designed. The low control heater power and on-orbit tight temperature control appear independent of gravity effects when comparing ground testing to flight data. The use of coupling blocks was also unique to these LHPs. Their application reduced control heater power by reducing the subcooling from the radiator. The effectiveness in reducing subcooling of the coupler blocks decreased during flight from ground testing, but internal thermal isolation in the compensation chamber between the subcooled returning liquid increased in flight resulting in no net increase in control heater power versus ground measurements. Overall the application of LHPs in the thermal system for GLAS met instrument requirements and provided flexibility for the overall system as last minute requirements became known.

Colloidal inverse bicontinuous cubic membranes of block copolymers with tunable surface functional groups

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

La, Yunju; Park, Chiyoung; Shin, Tae Joo; Joo, Sang Hoon; Kang, Sebyung; Kim, Kyoung Taek

2014-06-01

Analogous to the complex membranes found in cellular organelles, such as the endoplasmic reticulum, the inverse cubic mesophases of lipids and their colloidal forms (cubosomes) possess internal networks of water channels arranged in crystalline order, which provide a unique nanospace for membrane-protein crystallization and guest encapsulation. Polymeric analogues of cubosomes formed by the direct self-assembly of block copolymers in solution could provide new polymeric mesoporous materials with a three-dimensionally organized internal maze of large water channels. Here we report the self-assembly of amphiphilic dendritic-linear block copolymers into polymer cubosomes in aqueous solution. The presence of precisely defined bulky dendritic blocks drives the block copolymers to form spontaneously highly curved bilayers in aqueous solution. This results in the formation of colloidal inverse bicontinuous cubic mesophases. The internal networks of water channels provide a high surface area with tunable surface functional groups that can serve as anchoring points for large guests such as proteins and enzymes.

Insects, vegetation, and the control of laughing gulls (Larus atricilla) at Kennedy International Airport, New York

USGS Publications Warehouse

Buckley, P.A.; McCarthy, M.

1994-01-01

1. In response to a purported 'bird-strike problem' at J.F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, we examined short (5 cm) and long (45 cm) grass heights as gull deterrents, in a randomized-block experiment. 2. Vegetative cover, numbers of adult insects and of larval beetles (suspected on-airport food of the gulls) were sampled in the six-block, 36-plot study area, as well as gut contents of adult and downy young gulls in the immediately adjacent colony in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. 3. We found that (i) Oriental beetle larvae were the most numerous and concentrated in one experimental block; (ii) beetle larvae numbers were uncorrelated with grass height; (iii) adult beetles were also uncorrelated with grass height; (iv) laughing gulls were distributed across blocks irrespective of percentage cover; (v) within blocks, laughing gulls were selecting short grass and avoiding long grass plots; (vi) laughing gull numbers were positively associated with numbers of Oriental beetle larvae; (vii) adult laughing gulls on the airport were eating lower-nutrition food of terrestrial origin (74-83% adult beetles, mostly Oriental plus green June and ground beetles); (viii) on the other hand, gull chicks in the adjacent breeding colony were being fed more easily digested, higher-protein food of marine origin (86-88% fishes, crustacea and molluscs); (ix) laughing gulls on the airport were taking their adult beetles only in short-grass plots, ignoring large numbers in adjacent long grass; (x) during the summer, on-airport gulls shifted from performing largely maintenance activities on pavement to feeding actively for beetles on newly mown short grass, the change coinciding with adult beetle emergence; (xi) standing water on the airport attracted significantly more gulls than dry areas all summer long. 4. We recommend a series of ecologically compatible, but aggressive habitat management actions for controlling laughing gulls on Kennedy Airport by rendering the airport unattractive to them, notably by implementing an airport-wide programme of long-grass encouragement, draining standing water and improving runoff in water-collecting areas, and controlling beetles. 5. We conclude by outlining the necessity for airport-wide bird, vegetation and habitat management programmes fully integrated into airport operation and planning activities.

Marginal and internal fit of nano-composite CAD/CAM restorations

PubMed Central

Park, So-Hyun; Shin, Yoo-Jin

2016-01-01

Objectives The purpose of this study was to compare the marginal and internal fit of nano-composite CAD-CAM restorations. Materials and Methods A full veneer crown and an mesio-occluso-distal (MOD) inlay cavity, which were prepared on extracted human molars, were used as templates of epoxy resin replicas. The prepared teeth were scanned and CAD-CAM restorations were milled using Lava Ultimate (LU) and experimental nano-composite CAD/CAM blocks (EB) under the same milling parameters. To assess the marginal and internal fit, the restorations were cemented to replicas and were embedded in an acrylic mold for sectioning at 0.5 mm intervals. The measured gap data were pooled according to the block types and measuring points for statistical analysis. Results Both the block type and measuring point significantly affected gap values, and their interaction was significant (p = 0.000). In crowns and inlays made from the two blocks, gap values were significantly larger in the occlusal area than in the axial area, while gap values in the marginal area were smallest (p < 0.001). Among the blocks, the restorations milled from EB had a significantly larger gap at all measuring points than those milled from LU (p = 0.000). Conclusions The marginal and internal gaps of the two nano-composite CAD/CAM blocks differed according to the measuring points. Among the internal area of the two nano-composite CAD/CAM restorations, occlusal gap data were significantly larger than axial gap data. The EB crowns and inlays had significantly larger gaps than LU restorations. PMID:26877989

Characterization of low loss microstrip resonators as a building block for circuit QED in a 3D waveguide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zoepfl, D.; Muppalla, P. R.; Schneider, C. M. F.; Kasemann, S.; Partel, S.; Kirchmair, G.

2017-08-01

Here we present the microwave characterization of microstrip resonators, made from aluminum and niobium, inside a 3D microwave waveguide. In the low temperature, low power limit internal quality factors of up to one million were reached. We found a good agreement to models predicting conductive losses and losses to two level systems for increasing temperature. The setup presented here is appealing for testing materials and structures, as it is free of wire bonds and offers a well controlled microwave environment. In combination with transmon qubits, these resonators serve as a building block for a novel circuit QED architecture inside a rectangular waveguide.

Surgical excision of the breast giant fibroadenoma under regional anesthesia by Pecs II and internal intercostal plane block: a case report and brief technical description: a case report.

PubMed

Kim, Hyungtae; Shim, Junho; Kim, Ikthae

2017-02-01

A 22-years-old female patient at 171 cm and 67 kg visited the Department of Breast Surgery of the hospital with a mass accompanied with pain on the left side breast as chief complaints. Since physical examination revealed a suspected huge mass, breast surgeon decided to perform surgical excision and requested anesthesia to our department. Surgery of breast tumor is often under local anesthesia. However, in case of big size tumor, surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia. The patient feared general anesthesia. Unlike abdominal surgery, there is no need to control visceral pain for breast and anterior thoracic wall surgery. Therefore, we decided to perform resection under regional anesthesia. Herein, we report a successful anesthetic and pain management of the patient undergoing excision of a huge breast fibroadenoma under regional anesthesia using Pecs II and internal intercostal plane block.

Self-Assembly of Diblock Molecular Polymer Brushes in the Spherical Confinement of Nanoemulsion Droplets.

PubMed

Steinhaus, Andrea; Pelras, Théophile; Chakroun, Ramzi; Gröschel, André H; Müllner, Markus

2018-05-02

Understanding the self-assembly behavior of polymers of various topologies is key to a reliable design of functional polymer materials. Self-assembly under confinement conditions emerges as a versatile avenue to design polymer particles with complex internal morphologies while simultaneously facilitating scale-up. However, only linear block copolymers have been studied to date, despite the increasing control over macromolecule composition and architecture available. This study extends the investigation of polymer self-assembly in confinement from regular diblock copolymers to diblock molecular polymer brushes (MPBs). Block-type MPBs with polystyrene (PS) and polylactide (PLA) compartments of different sizes are incorporated into surfactant-stabilized oil-in-water (chloroform/water) emulsions. The increasing confinement in the nanoemulsion droplets during solvent evaporation directs the MPBs to form solid nano/microparticles. Microscopy studies reveal an intricate internal particle structure, including interpenetrating networks and axially stacked lamellae of PS and PLA, depending on the PS/PLA ratio of the brushes. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Optical Control of Internal Electric Fields in Band Gap-Graded InGaN Nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Erhard, N.; Sarwar, A. T. M. Golam; Yang, F.; McComb, D. W.; Myers, R. C.; Holleitner, A. W.

2015-01-01

InGaN nanowires are suitable building blocks for many future optoelectronic devices. We show that a linear grading of the indium content along the nanowire axis from GaN to InN introduces an internal electric field evoking a photocurrent. Consistent with quantitative band structure simulations we observe a sign change in the measured photocurrent as a function of photon flux. This negative differential photocurrent opens the path to a new type of nanowire-based photodetector. We demonstrate that the photocurrent response of the nanowires is as fast as 1.5 ps.

Technology Insertion-Engineering Services Process Characterization, Task Order Number 1 (Block 1) Database Documentation Book, MANPGB

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-08-14

General Information > MANPGB is a Resource Control Center under the MANPG section of the Industrial W Products Division (MAN) at WR-ALC/ MANPGB is located...zo a N 1 I- I- LU ~a U) La ~ca LU P- 1= .: - "~0. ujN La7N LU 0 U 1I. DATE WORK CONTROL DOCUMENT . . . * ~:0IA~ r JOB ORDER NUMBER. 31J~ANTITY 4. N...30834A ---1.-- Cicleappropriate control number Clean iniao-xenlsrae. 02. Functional analysis - B- f 3 Deseal -Mt___ 04 Internal cleaning & visual. 05

Ground standoff mine detection system (GSTAMIDS) engineering, manufacturing, and development (EMD) Block 0

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pressley, Jackson R.; Pabst, Donald; Sower, Gary D.; Nee, Larry; Green, Brian; Howard, Peter

2001-10-01

The United States Army has contracted EG&G Technical Services to build the GSTAMIDS EMD Block 0. This system autonomously detects and marks buried anti-tank land mines from an unmanned vehicle. It consists of a remotely operated host vehicle, standard teleoperation system (STS) control, mine detection system (MDS) and a control vehicle. Two complete systems are being fabricated, along with a third MDS. The host vehicle for Block 0 is the South African Meerkat that has overpass capability for anti-tank mines, as well as armor anti-mine blast protection and ballistic protection. It is operated via the STS radio link from within the control vehicle. The Main Computer System (MCS), located in the control vehicle, receives sensor data from the MDS via a high speed radio link, processes and fuses the data to make a decision of a mine detection, and sends the information back to the host vehicle for a mark to be placed on the mine location. The MCS also has the capability to interface into the FBCB2 system via SINGARS radio. The GSTAMIDS operator station and the control vehicle communications system also connect to the MCS. The MDS sensors are mounted on the host vehicle and include Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), Pulsed Magnetic Induction (PMI) metal detector, and (as an option) long-wave infrared (LWIR). A distributed processing architecture is used so that pre-processing is performed on data at the sensor level before transmission to the MCS, minimizing required throughput. Nine (9) channels each of GPR and PMI are mounted underneath the meerkat to provide a three-meter detection swath. Two IR cameras are mounted on the upper sides of the Meerkat, providing a field of view of the required swath with overlap underneath the vehicle. Also included on the host vehicle are an Internal Navigation System (INS), Global Positioning System (GPS), and radio communications for remote control and data transmission. The GSTAMIDS Block 0 is designed as a modular, expandable system with sufficient bandwidth and processing capability for incorporation of additional sensor systems in future Blocks. It is also designed to operate in adverse weather conditions and to be transportable around the world.

High pressure electrical insulated feed thru connector

DOEpatents

Oeschger, Joseph E.; Berkeland, James E.

1979-11-13

A feed-thru type hermetic electrical connector including at least one connector pin feeding through an insulator block within the metallic body of the connector shell. A compression stop arrangement coaxially disposed about the insulator body is brazed to the shell, and the shoulder on the insulator block bears against this top in a compression mode, the high pressure or internal connector being at the opposite end of the shell. Seals between the pin and an internal bore at the high pressure end of the insulator block and between the insulator block and the metallic shell at the high pressure end are hermetically brazed in place, the first of these also functioning to transfer the axial compressive load without permitting appreciable shear action between the pin and insulator block.

The Plasma Membrane Sialidase NEU3 Regulates the Malignancy of Renal Carcinoma Cells by Controlling β1 Integrin Internalization and Recycling*

PubMed Central

Tringali, Cristina; Lupo, Barbara; Silvestri, Ilaria; Papini, Nadia; Anastasia, Luigi; Tettamanti, Guido; Venerando, Bruno

2012-01-01

The human plasma membrane sialidase NEU3 is a key enzyme in the catabolism of membrane gangliosides, is crucial in the regulation of cell surface processes, and has been demonstrated to be significantly up-regulated in renal cell carcinomas (RCCs). In this report, we show that NEU3 regulates β1 integrin trafficking in RCC cells by controlling β1 integrin recycling to the plasma membrane and controlling activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling. NEU3 silencing in RCC cells increased the membrane ganglioside content, in particular the GD1a content, and changed the expression of key regulators of the integrin recycling pathway. In addition, NEU3 silencing up-regulated the Ras-related protein RAB25, which directs internalized integrins to lysosomes, and down-regulated the chloride intracellular channel protein 3 (CLIC3), which induces the recycling of internalized integrins to the plasma membrane. In this manner, NEU3 silencing enhanced the caveolar endocytosis of β1 integrin, blocked its recycling and reduced its levels at the plasma membrane, and, consequently, inhibited EGFR and FAK/AKT. These events had the following effects on the behavior of RCC cells: they (a) decreased drug resistance mediated by the block of autophagy and the induction of apoptosis; (b) decreased metastatic potential mediated by down-regulation of the metalloproteinases MMP1 and MMP7; and (c) decreased adhesion to collagen and fibronectin. Therefore, our data identify NEU3 as a key regulator of the β1 integrin-recycling pathway and FAK/AKT signaling and demonstrate its crucial role in RCC malignancy. PMID:23139422

A Dedicated Microprocessor Controller for a Bound Document Scanner.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-06-01

focused onto the CCD which converts the image into 2048 pixels. After the pixel data are processed by the scanner hardware, they are sent to the display...data in real time after the data on each of the 2048 pixel elements .-.- .---.; . has been transferred out of the device. Display-control commands and...05 06 07 Fig. 4.9 2716 EPROM Block D~iagram and Pin Assignment HE-E 64 BYTES RA ’ FFF 4095 INTERNAL I FCO 4032 EXECUTABLE FBP 4031 RA Soo0 2048 _ _7FF

Acidity-promoted cellular uptake and drug release mediated by amine-functionalized block polycarbonates prepared via one-shot ring-opening copolymerization.

PubMed

Wang, Hua-Fen; Jia, Hui-Zhen; Chu, Yan-Feng; Feng, Jun; Zhang, Xian-Zheng; Zhuo, Ren-Xi

2014-04-01

This paper reports a drug nanovehicle self-assembled from an amine-functionalized block copolymer poly(6,14-dimethyl-1,3,9,11-tetraoxa-6,14-diaza-cyclohexadecane-2,10-dione)-block-poly(1,3-dioxepan-2-one) (PADMC-b-PTeMC), which is prepared by controlable ring-opening block copolymerization attractively in a "one-shot feeding" pathway. The copolymers display high cell-biocompatibility with no apparent cytotoxicities detected in 293T and HeLa cells. Due to their amphiphilic nature, PADMC-b-PTeMC copolymers can self-assemble into nanosized micelles capable of loading anticancer drugs such as camptothecin (CPT) and doxorubicin (DOX). In particular, the outer PADMC shell endows the PADMC-b-PTeMC nanomicelles with pH-dependent control over the micellar morphology, cell uptake efficiency, and the drug release pattern. Confocal inspection reveals the remarkably enhanced cellular internalization of drug loaded micelles by cancerous HeLa cells at relatively lower pH 5.8 simulating the mildly acid microenvironment in tumors. Along with the acidity-triggered volume expansion of micelles, an accelerated CPT release in vitro occurs. The obtained results adumbrate the possibility of completely biodegradable PADMC-b-PTeMC as pH-sensitive drug carriers for tumor chemotherapy. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Nitrosative stress uncovers potent β2-adrenergic receptor-linked vasodilation further enhanced by blockade of clathrin endosome formation.

PubMed

Frame, Mary D; Dewar, Anthony M; Calizo, Rhodora C; Qifti, Androniqi; Scarlata, Suzanne F

2018-06-01

This study investigated the effect of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) preexposure on vasodilation via the β-adrenergic receptor (BAR) system. SNP was used as a nitrosative/oxidative proinflammatory insult. Small arterioles were visualized by intravital microscopy in the hamster cheek pouch tissue (isoflurane, n = 45). Control dilation to isoproterenol (EC 50 : 10 -7 mol/l) became biphasic as a function of concentration after 2 min of exposure to SNP (10 -4 M), with increased potency at picomolar dilation uncovered and decreased efficacy at the micromolar dilation. Control dilation to curcumin was likewise altered after SNP, but only the increased potency at a low dose was uncovered, whereas micromolar dilation was eliminated. The picomolar dilations were blocked by the potent BAR-2 inverse agonist carazolol (10 -9 mol/l). Dynamin inhibition with dynasore mimicked this effect, suggesting that SNP preexposure prevented BAR agonist internalization. Using HeLa cells transfected with BAR-2 tagged with monomeric red fluorescent protein, exposure to 10 -8 -10 -6 mol/l curcumin resulted in internalization and colocalization of BAR-2 and curcumin (FRET) that was prevented by oxidative stress (10 -3 mol/l CoCl 2 ), supporting that stress prevented internalization of the BAR agonist with the micromolar agonist. This study presents novel data supporting that distinct pools of BARs are differentially available after inflammatory insult. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Preexposure to an oxidative/nitrosative proinflammatory insult provides a "protective preconditioning" against future oxidative damage. We examined immediate vasoactive and molecular consequences of a brief preexposure via β-adrenergic receptor signaling in small arterioles. Blocked receptor internalization with elevated reactive oxygen levels coincides with a significant and unexpected vasodilation to β-adrenergic agonists at picomolar doses.

Association Between Initial Age of Exposure to Childhood Abuse and Cognitive Control: Preliminary Evidence.

PubMed

Mackiewicz Seghete, Kristen L; DePrince, Anne P; Banich, Marie T

2018-05-22

Cognitive control, which relies on the protracted development of frontal-parietal regions into adolescence, is a brain process that may be particularly vulnerable to the impact of childhood abuse. In this study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine associations between the age of onset of childhood abuse and alterations to the neural mechanisms supporting cognitive control in early adulthood, which have not been previously examined. During fMRI scanning, participants completed hybrid block/event-related versions of a classic color-word Stroop task as well as emotional Stroop tasks (threat and positive words). Participants were young adult women (N = 15; age range: 23-30 years) who had a history of childhood physical or sexual abuse that began prior to 13 years of age. Results indicated that earlier age of onset of childhood abuse was robustly associated with increased transient (i.e., event-related) recruitment of medial cognitive control regions in the classic color-word paradigm as well as with less suppression of medial frontal regions that are part of the default mode network, βs = -.16 to -.87. In comparison, increased activation in dorsolateral prefrontal regions was associated with earlier age of abuse onset under conditions of sustained (i.e., blocked) cognitive control in the emotional Stroop task for blocks of positive distracting words versus fixation, βs = -.50 to -.60. These results provide preliminary evidence that earlier age of exposure to childhood abuse impacts the functional activation of neural systems involved in cognitive control in adulthood. Copyright © 2018 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

Structured Ionomer Thin Films at Water Interface: Molecular Dynamics Simulation Insight

DOE PAGES

Aryal, Dipak; Agrawal, Anupriya; Perahia, Dvora; ...

2017-08-23

Controlling the structure and dynamics of thin films of ionizable polymers at water interfaces is critical to their many applications. As the chemical diversity within one polymer is increased, controlling the structure and dynamics of the polymer, which is a key to their use, becomes a challenge. Here molecular dynamics simulations (MD) are used to obtain molecular insight into the structure and dynamics of thin films of one such macromolecule at the interface with water. The polymer consists of an ABCBA topology with randomly sulfonated polystyrene (C), tethered symmetrically to flexible poly(ethylene- r-propylene) blocks (B), and end-capped by a poly(more » t-butylstyrene) block (A). The compositions of the interfacial and bulk regions of thin films of the ABCBA polymers are followed as a function of exposure time to water. We find that interfacial rearrangements take place where buried ionic segments migrate toward the water interface. The hydrophobic blocks collapse and rearrange to minimize their exposure to water. In conclusion, the water that initially drives interfacial reengagements breaks the ionic clusters within the film, forming a dynamic hydrophilic internal network within the hydrophobic segments.« less

The Cellular Building Blocks of Breathing

PubMed Central

Ramirez, J.M.; Doi, A.; Garcia, A.J.; Elsen, F.P.; Koch, H.; Wei, A.D.

2013-01-01

Respiratory brainstem neurons fulfill critical roles in controlling breathing: they generate the activity patterns for breathing and contribute to various sensory responses including changes in O2 and CO2. These complex sensorimotor tasks depend on the dynamic interplay between numerous cellular building blocks that consist of voltage-, calcium-, and ATP-dependent ionic conductances, various ionotropic and metabotropic synaptic mechanisms, as well as neuromodulators acting on G-protein coupled receptors and second messenger systems. As described in this review, the sensorimotor responses of the respiratory network emerge through the state-dependent integration of all these building blocks. There is no known respiratory function that involves only a small number of intrinsic, synaptic, or modulatory properties. Because of the complex integration of numerous intrinsic, synaptic, and modulatory mechanisms, the respiratory network is capable of continuously adapting to changes in the external and internal environment, which makes breathing one of the most integrated behaviors. Not surprisingly, inspiration is critical not only in the control of ventilation, but also in the context of “inspiring behaviors” such as arousal of the mind and even creativity. Far-reaching implications apply also to the underlying network mechanisms, as lessons learned from the respiratory network apply to network functions in general. PMID:23720262

Rapid Production of Internally Structured Colloids by Flash Nanoprecipitation of Block Copolymer Blends.

PubMed

Grundy, Lorena S; Lee, Victoria E; Li, Nannan; Sosa, Chris; Mulhearn, William D; Liu, Rui; Register, Richard A; Nikoubashman, Arash; Prud'homme, Robert K; Panagiotopoulos, Athanassios Z; Priestley, Rodney D

2018-05-08

Colloids with internally structured geometries have shown great promise in applications ranging from biosensors to optics to drug delivery, where the internal particle structure is paramount to performance. The growing demand for such nanomaterials necessitates the development of a scalable processing platform for their production. Flash nanoprecipitation (FNP), a rapid and inherently scalable colloid precipitation technology, is used to prepare internally structured colloids from blends of block copolymers and homopolymers. As revealed by a combination of experiments and simulations, colloids prepared from different molecular weight diblock copolymers adopt either an ordered lamellar morphology consisting of concentric shells or a disordered lamellar morphology when chain dynamics are sufficiently slow to prevent defect annealing during solvent exchange. Blends of homopolymer and block copolymer in the feed stream generate more complex internally structured colloids, such as those with hierarchically structured Janus and patchy morphologies, due to additional phase separation and kinetic trapping effects. The ability of the FNP process to generate such a wide range of morphologies using a simple and scalable setup provides a pathway to manufacturing internally structured colloids on an industrial scale.

A multiple choice testing program coupled with a year-long elective experience is associated with improved performance on the internal medicine in-training examination.

PubMed

Mathis, Bradley R; Warm, Eric J; Schauer, Daniel P; Holmboe, Eric; Rouan, Gregory W

2011-11-01

The Internal Medicine In-Training Exam (IM-ITE) assesses the content knowledge of internal medicine trainees. Many programs use the IM-ITE to counsel residents, to create individual remediation plans, and to make fundamental programmatic and curricular modifications. To assess the association between a multiple-choice testing program administered during 12 consecutive months of ambulatory and inpatient elective experience and IM-ITE percentile scores in third post-graduate year (PGY-3) categorical residents. Retrospective cohort study. One hundred and four categorical internal medicine residents. Forty-five residents in the 2008 and 2009 classes participated in the study group, and the 59 residents in the three classes that preceded the use of the testing program, 2005-2007, served as controls. A comprehensive, elective rotation specific, multiple-choice testing program and a separate board review program, both administered during a continuous long-block elective experience during the twelve months between the second post-graduate year (PGY-2) and PGY-3 in-training examinations. We analyzed the change in median individual percent correct and percentile scores between the PGY-1 and PGY-2 IM-ITE and between the PGY-2 and PGY-3 IM-ITE in both control and study cohorts. For our main outcome measure, we compared the change in median individual percentile rank between the control and study cohorts between the PGY-2 and the PGY-3 IM-ITE testing opportunities. After experiencing the educational intervention, the study group demonstrated a significant increase in median individual IM-ITE percentile score between PGY-2 and PGY-3 examinations of 8.5 percentile points (p < 0.01). This is significantly better than the increase of 1.0 percentile point seen in the control group between its PGY-2 and PGY-3 examination (p < 0.01). A comprehensive multiple-choice testing program aimed at PGY-2 residents during a 12-month continuous long-block elective experience is associated with improved PGY-3 IM-ITE performance.

ICAM-1 Targeting of Doxorubicin-Loaded PLGA Nanoparticles to Lung Epithelial Cells

PubMed Central

Chuda, Chittasupho; Sheng-Xue, Xie; Abdulgader, Baoum; Tatyana, Yakovleva; Teruna, Siahaan J.; Cory, Berkland

2009-01-01

Interaction of leukocyte function associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) on T-lymphoctytes and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on epithelial cells controls leukocyte adhesion, spreading, and extravasation. This process plays an important role in leukocyte recruitment to a specific site of inflammation and has been indentified as a biomarker for certain types of carcinomas. Cyclo-(1,12)-PenITDGEATDSGC (cLABL) has been shown to inhibit LFA-1 and ICAM-1 interaction via binding to ICAM-1. In addition, cLABL has been shown to internalize after binding ICAM-1. The possibility of using cLABL conjugated nanoparticles (cLABL-NP) as a targeted and controlled release drug delivery system has been investigated in this study. The cLABL peptide was conjugated to a modified Pluronic® surfactant on poly (DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles. The cLABL-NP showed more rapid cellular uptake by A549 lung epithelial cells compared to nanoparticles without peptide. The specificity of ICAM-1 mediated internalization was confirmed by blocking the uptake of cLABL-NP to ICAM-1 using free cLABL peptide to block the binding of cLABL-NP to ICAM-1 on the cell surface. Cell studies suggested that cLABL-NPs targeted encapsulated doxorubicin to ICAM-1 expressing cells. Cytotoxicity assay confirmed the activity of the drug incorporated in nanoparticles. Sustained release of doxorubicin afforded by PLGA nanoparticles may enable cLABL-NP as a targeted, controlled release drug delivery system. PMID:19429421

47 CFR 90.663 - MTA-based SMR system operations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... stations using any frequency identified in their spectrum block anywhere within their authorized MTA... rules and international agreements that restrict use of frequencies identified in their spectrum block... for a previously authorized co-channel station within the MTA licensee's authorized spectrum block is...

47 CFR 90.663 - MTA-based SMR system operations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... stations using any frequency identified in their spectrum block anywhere within their authorized MTA... rules and international agreements that restrict use of frequencies identified in their spectrum block... for a previously authorized co-channel station within the MTA licensee's authorized spectrum block is...

47 CFR 90.663 - MTA-based SMR system operations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... stations using any frequency identified in their spectrum block anywhere within their authorized MTA... rules and international agreements that restrict use of frequencies identified in their spectrum block... for a previously authorized co-channel station within the MTA licensee's authorized spectrum block is...

47 CFR 90.663 - MTA-based SMR system operations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... stations using any frequency identified in their spectrum block anywhere within their authorized MTA... rules and international agreements that restrict use of frequencies identified in their spectrum block... for a previously authorized co-channel station within the MTA licensee's authorized spectrum block is...

The Soviet Union and Iraq Since 1968.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-07-01

had outlived its usefulness and had itself become a threat to the regime’s authority. Kassem turned on it and attempted to restrict its political ... Kassem had studiously avoided: They began to eliminate the ICP physically as a political force. By one estimate 3,000 party members were killed.IlJ This...ide It mne@*aip and identir by block uwober) USSR Foreign Aid IRAQ Political Science Arms Control Foreign Policy Military Assistance International

Punishment Learning in U.S. Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

PubMed

Sawyer, Alice T; Liverant, Gabrielle I; Jun, Janie J; Lee, Daniel J; Cohen, Andrew L; Dutra, Sunny J; Pizzagalli, Diego A; Sloan, Denise M

2016-08-01

Learning processes have been implicated in the development and course of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, little is currently known about punishment-based learning in PTSD. The current study investigated impairments in punishment-based learning in U.S. veterans. We expected that veterans with PTSD would demonstrate greater punishment-based learning compared to a non-PTSD control group. We compared a PTSD group with and without co-occurring depression (n = 27) to a control group (with and without trauma exposure) without PTSD or depression (n = 29). Participants completed a computerized probabilistic punishment-based learning task. Compared to the non-PTSD control group, veterans with PTSD showed significantly greater punishment-based learning. Specifically, there was a significant Block × Group interaction, F(1, 54) = 4.12, p = .047, η(2) = .07. Veterans with PTSD demonstrated greater change in response bias for responding toward a less frequently punished stimulus across blocks. The observed hypersensitivity to punishment in individuals with PTSD may contribute to avoidant responses that are not specific to trauma cues. Copyright © 2016 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies No claim to original US government works.

Heat Shield Employing Cured Thermal Protection Material Blocks Bonded in a Large-Cell Honeycomb Matrix

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zell, Peter

2012-01-01

A document describes a new way to integrate thermal protection materials on external surfaces of vehicles that experience the severe heating environments of atmospheric entry from space. Cured blocks of thermal protection materials are bonded into a compatible, large-cell honeycomb matrix that can be applied on the external surfaces of the vehicles. The honeycomb matrix cell size, and corresponding thermal protection material block size, is envisioned to be between 1 and 4 in. (.2.5 and 10 cm) on a side, with a depth required to protect the vehicle. The cell wall thickness is thin, between 0.01 and 0.10 in. (.0.025 and 0.25 cm). A key feature is that the honeycomb matrix is attached to the vehicle fs unprotected external surface prior to insertion of the thermal protection material blocks. The attachment integrity of the honeycomb can then be confirmed over the full range of temperature and loads that the vehicle will experience. Another key feature of the innovation is the use of uniform-sized thermal protection material blocks. This feature allows for the mass production of these blocks at a size that is convenient for quality control inspection. The honeycomb that receives the blocks must have cells with a compatible set of internal dimensions. The innovation involves the use of a faceted subsurface under the honeycomb. This provides a predictable surface with perpendicular cell walls for the majority of the blocks. Some cells will have positive tapers to accommodate mitered joints between honeycomb panels on each facet of the subsurface. These tapered cells have dimensions that may fall within the boundaries of the uniform-sized blocks.

Modeling trial by trial and block feedback in perceptual learning

PubMed Central

Liu, Jiajuan; Dosher, Barbara; Lu, Zhong-Lin

2014-01-01

Feedback has been shown to play a complex role in visual perceptual learning. It is necessary for performance improvement in some conditions while not others. Different forms of feedback, such as trial-by-trial feedback or block feedback, may both facilitate learning, but with different mechanisms. False feedback can abolish learning. We account for all these results with the Augmented Hebbian Reweight Model (AHRM). Specifically, three major factors in the model advance performance improvement: the external trial-by-trial feedback when available, the self-generated output as an internal feedback when no external feedback is available, and the adaptive criterion control based on the block feedback. Through simulating a comprehensive feedback study (Herzog & Fahle 1997, Vision Research, 37 (15), 2133–2141), we show that the model predictions account for the pattern of learning in seven major feedback conditions. The AHRM can fully explain the complex empirical results on the role of feedback in visual perceptual learning. PMID:24423783

Morphology-Controlled Synthesis and Metalation of Porphyrin Nanoparticles with Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance

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

Wang, Jiefei; Zhong, Yong; Wang, Liang

The design and engineering of the size, shape, and chemistry of photoactive building blocks enables the fabrication of functional nanoparticles for applications in light harvesting, photocatalytic synthesis, water splitting, phototherapy, and photodegradation. Here, we report the synthesis of such nanoparticles through a surfactant-assisted interfacial self-assembly process using optically active porphyrin as a functional building block. The self-assembly process relies on specific interactions such as π–π stacking and metalation (metal atoms and ligand coordination) between individual porphyrin building blocks. Depending on the kinetic conditions and type of surfactants, resulting structures exhibit well-defined one- to three-dimensional morphologies such as nanowires, nanooctahedra, andmore » hierarchically ordered internal architectures. Specifically, electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction results indicate that these nanoparticles exhibit stable single-crystalline and nanoporous frameworks. In conclusion, due to the hierarchical ordering of the porphyrins, the nanoparticles exhibit collective optical properties resulted from coupling of molecular porphyrins and photocatalytic activities such as photodegradation of methyl orange (MO) pollutants and hydrogen production.« less

Morphology-Controlled Synthesis and Metalation of Porphyrin Nanoparticles with Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance

DOE PAGES

Wang, Jiefei; Zhong, Yong; Wang, Liang; ...

2016-09-12

The design and engineering of the size, shape, and chemistry of photoactive building blocks enables the fabrication of functional nanoparticles for applications in light harvesting, photocatalytic synthesis, water splitting, phototherapy, and photodegradation. Here, we report the synthesis of such nanoparticles through a surfactant-assisted interfacial self-assembly process using optically active porphyrin as a functional building block. The self-assembly process relies on specific interactions such as π–π stacking and metalation (metal atoms and ligand coordination) between individual porphyrin building blocks. Depending on the kinetic conditions and type of surfactants, resulting structures exhibit well-defined one- to three-dimensional morphologies such as nanowires, nanooctahedra, andmore » hierarchically ordered internal architectures. Specifically, electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction results indicate that these nanoparticles exhibit stable single-crystalline and nanoporous frameworks. In conclusion, due to the hierarchical ordering of the porphyrins, the nanoparticles exhibit collective optical properties resulted from coupling of molecular porphyrins and photocatalytic activities such as photodegradation of methyl orange (MO) pollutants and hydrogen production.« less

Designer amphiphilic proteins as building blocks for the intracellular formation of organelle-like compartments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huber, Matthias C.; Schreiber, Andreas; von Olshausen, Philipp; Varga, Balázs R.; Kretz, Oliver; Joch, Barbara; Barnert, Sabine; Schubert, Rolf; Eimer, Stefan; Kele, Péter; Schiller, Stefan M.

2015-01-01

Nanoscale biological materials formed by the assembly of defined block-domain proteins control the formation of cellular compartments such as organelles. Here, we introduce an approach to intentionally ‘program’ the de novo synthesis and self-assembly of genetically encoded amphiphilic proteins to form cellular compartments, or organelles, in Escherichia coli. These proteins serve as building blocks for the formation of artificial compartments in vivo in a similar way to lipid-based organelles. We investigated the formation of these organelles using epifluorescence microscopy, total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The in vivo modification of these protein-based de novo organelles, by means of site-specific incorporation of unnatural amino acids, allows the introduction of artificial chemical functionalities. Co-localization of membrane proteins results in the formation of functionalized artificial organelles combining artificial and natural cellular function. Adding these protein structures to the cellular machinery may have consequences in nanobiotechnology, synthetic biology and materials science, including the constitution of artificial cells and bio-based metamaterials.

The evolution of health warning labels on cigarette packs: the role of precedents, and tobacco industry strategies to block diffusion

PubMed Central

Hiilamo, Heikki; Crosbie, Eric; Glantz, Stanton A

2013-01-01

Objective To analyse the evolution and diffusion of health warnings on cigarette packs around the world, including tobacco industry attempts to block this diffusion. Methods We analysed tobacco industry documents and public sources to construct a database on the global evolution and diffusion of health warning labels from 1966 to 2012, and also analysed industry strategies. Results Health warning labels, especially labels with graphic elements, threaten the tobacco industry because they are a low-cost, effective measure to reduce smoking. Multinational tobacco companies did not object to voluntary innocuous warnings with ambiguous health messages, in part because they saw them as offering protection from lawsuits and local packaging regulations. The companies worked systematically at the international level to block or weaken warnings once stronger more specific warnings began to appear in the 1970s. Since 1985 in Iceland, the tobacco industry has been aware of the effectiveness of graphic health warning labels (GWHL). The industry launched an all-out attack in the early 1990s to prevent GHWLs, and was successful in delaying GHWLs internationally for nearly 10 years. Conclusions Beginning in 2005, as a result of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), GHWLs began to spread. Effective implementation of FCTC labelling provisions has stimulated diffusion of strong health warning labels despite industry opposition. PMID:23092884

The evolution of health warning labels on cigarette packs: the role of precedents, and tobacco industry strategies to block diffusion.

PubMed

Hiilamo, Heikki; Crosbie, Eric; Glantz, Stanton A

2014-01-01

To analyse the evolution and diffusion of health warnings on cigarette packs around the world, including tobacco industry attempts to block this diffusion. We analysed tobacco industry documents and public sources to construct a database on the global evolution and diffusion of health warning labels from 1966 to 2012, and also analysed industry strategies. Health warning labels, especially labels with graphic elements, threaten the tobacco industry because they are a low-cost, effective measure to reduce smoking. Multinational tobacco companies did not object to voluntary innocuous warnings with ambiguous health messages, in part because they saw them as offering protection from lawsuits and local packaging regulations. The companies worked systematically at the international level to block or weaken warnings once stronger more specific warnings began to appear in the 1970s. Since 1985 in Iceland, the tobacco industry has been aware of the effectiveness of graphic health warning labels (GWHL). The industry launched an all-out attack in the early 1990s to prevent GHWLs, and was successful in delaying GHWLs internationally for nearly 10 years. Beginning in 2005, as a result of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), GHWLs began to spread. Effective implementation of FCTC labelling provisions has stimulated diffusion of strong health warning labels despite industry opposition.

U.S. Arms Control Objectives and the Implications for Ballistic Missile Defense. Proceedings of a Symposium Held at the Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University, November 1-2, 1979.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-06-30

are no firm indications that the Soviet Union in- tends to expand this sytem to the full 100 launchers permitted under the ABM Treaty. Although the...Ballistic Missile Defense; Arms Control; ABM Treaty; SALT ABSTRACT (Continue on reverse eid@ If necessary and Identify by block number) IvOn November 1-2...the significance of constraints imposed by the ABM Treaty on the implementation of current and planned BMD R&D programs; (4) to explore the status of

New insights on the voltage dependence of the KCa3.1 channel block by internal TBA.

PubMed

Banderali, Umberto; Klein, Hélène; Garneau, Line; Simoes, Manuel; Parent, Lucie; Sauvé, Rémy

2004-10-01

We present in this work a structural model of the open IKCa (KCa3.1) channel derived by homology modeling from the MthK channel structure, and used this model to compute the transmembrane potential profile along the channel pore. This analysis showed that the selectivity filter and the region extending from the channel inner cavity to the internal medium should respectively account for 81% and 16% of the transmembrane potential difference. We found however that the voltage dependence of the IKCa block by the quaternary ammonium ion TBA applied internally is compatible with an apparent electrical distance delta of 0.49 +/- 0.02 (n = 6) for negative potentials. To reconcile this observation with the electrostatic potential profile predicted for the channel pore, we modeled the IKCa block by TBA assuming that the voltage dependence of the block is governed by both the difference in potential between the channel cavity and the internal medium, and the potential profile along the selectivity filter region through an effect on the filter ion occupancy states. The resulting model predicts that delta should be voltage dependent, being larger at negative than positive potentials. The model also indicates that raising the internal K+ concentration should decrease the value of delta measured at negative potentials independently of the external K+ concentration, whereas raising the external K+ concentration should minimally affect delta for concentrations >50 mM. All these predictions are born out by our current experimental results. Finally, we found that the substitutions V275C and V275A increased the voltage sensitivity of the TBA block, suggesting that TBA could move further into the pore, thus leading to stronger interactions between TBA and the ions in the selectivity filter. Globally, these results support a model whereby the voltage dependence of the TBA block in IKCa is mainly governed by the voltage dependence of the ion occupancy states of the selectivity filter.

77 FR 76336 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange, LLC; Notice of Filing of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-27

... Reduce the Response Times in the Block Mechanism, Facilitation Mechanism, Solicited Order Mechanism and... Change The Exchange proposes to amend Rules 716 (Block Trades) and 723 (Price Improvement Mechanism for Crossing Transactions) to reduce the response times in the Block Mechanism, Facilitation Mechanism...

78 FR 9973 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange, LLC; Order Approving a Proposed...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-12

... Reduce the Response Times in the Block Mechanism, Facilitation Mechanism, Solicited Order Mechanism and... ISE Rules 716 (Block Trades) and 723 (Price Improvement Mechanism for Crossing Transactions) to reduce the response times in the Block Mechanism, Facilitation Mechanism, Solicited Order Mechanism and Price...

22 CFR 121.11 - Military demolition blocks and blasting caps.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 22 Foreign Relations 1 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Military demolition blocks and blasting caps. 121.11 Section 121.11 Foreign Relations DEPARTMENT OF STATE INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC IN ARMS REGULATIONS THE UNITED STATES MUNITIONS LIST Enumeration of Articles § 121.11 Military demolition blocks and...

22 CFR 121.11 - Military demolition blocks and blasting caps.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 22 Foreign Relations 1 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Military demolition blocks and blasting caps. 121.11 Section 121.11 Foreign Relations DEPARTMENT OF STATE INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC IN ARMS REGULATIONS THE UNITED STATES MUNITIONS LIST Enumeration of Articles § 121.11 Military demolition blocks and...

22 CFR 121.11 - Military demolition blocks and blasting caps.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 22 Foreign Relations 1 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Military demolition blocks and blasting caps. 121.11 Section 121.11 Foreign Relations DEPARTMENT OF STATE INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC IN ARMS REGULATIONS THE UNITED STATES MUNITIONS LIST Enumeration of Articles § 121.11 Military demolition blocks and...

22 CFR 121.11 - Military demolition blocks and blasting caps.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 22 Foreign Relations 1 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Military demolition blocks and blasting caps. 121.11 Section 121.11 Foreign Relations DEPARTMENT OF STATE INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC IN ARMS REGULATIONS THE UNITED STATES MUNITIONS LIST Enumeration of Articles § 121.11 Military demolition blocks and...

26 CFR 1.1248-2 - Earnings and profits attributable to a block of stock in simple cases.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 11 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 true Earnings and profits attributable to a block of... Gains and Losses § 1.1248-2 Earnings and profits attributable to a block of stock in simple cases. (a... person sells or exchanges a block of stock (as defined in paragraph (b) of this section) in a foreign...

The effect of blue-blocking intraocular lenses on circadian biological rhythm: protocol for a randomised controlled trial (CLOCK-IOL colour study).

PubMed

Nishi, Tomo; Saeki, Keigo; Obayashi, Kenji; Miyata, Kimie; Tone, Nobuhiro; Tsujinaka, Hiroki; Yamashita, Mariko; Masuda, Naonori; Mizusawa, Yutarou; Okamoto, Masahiro; Hasegawa, Taiji; Maruoka, Shinji; Ueda, Tetsuo; Kojima, Masashi; Matsuura, Toyoaki; Kurumatani, Norio; Ogata, Nahoko

2015-05-12

Blue light information plays an important role in synchronising internal biological rhythm within the external environment. Circadian misalignment is associated with the increased risk of sleep disturbance, obesity, diabetes mellitus, depression, ischaemic heart disease, stroke and cancer. Meanwhile, blue light causes photochemical damage to the retina, and may be associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). At present, clear intraocular lenses (IOLs) and blue-blocking IOLs are both widely used for cataract surgery; there is currently a lack of randomised controlled trials to determine whether clear or blue-blocking IOLs should be used. This randomised controlled trial will recruit 1000 cataract patients and randomly allocate them to receive clear IOLs or blue-blocking IOLs in a ratio of 1:1. The primary outcomes are mortality and the incidence of cardiovascular disease, cancer and AMD. Secondary outcomes are fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, glycated haemoglobin, sleep quality, daytime sleepiness depressive symptoms, light sensitivity, the circadian rhythm of physical activity, wrist skin temperature and urinary melatonin metabolite. Primary outcomes will be followed until 20 years after surgery, and secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline and 1 year after surgery. Ethical approval has been obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Nara Medical University (No. 13-032). The findings of this study will be communicated to healthcare professionals, participants and the public through peer-reviewed publications, scientific conferences and the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR) home page. UMIN000014680. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

MAS1 Receptor Trafficking Involves ERK1/2 Activation Through a β-Arrestin2-Dependent Pathway.

PubMed

Cerniello, Flavia M; Carretero, Oscar A; Longo Carbajosa, Nadia A; Cerrato, Bruno D; Santos, Robson A; Grecco, Hernán E; Gironacci, Mariela M

2017-11-01

The MAS1 receptor (R) exerts protective effects in the brain, heart, vessels, and kidney. R trafficking plays a critical function in signal termination and propagation and in R resensitization. We examined MAS1R internalization and trafficking on agonist stimulation and the role of β-arrestin2 in the activation of ERK1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2) and Akt after MAS1R stimulation. Human embryonic kidney 293T cells were transfected with the coding sequence for MAS1R-YFP (MAS1R fused to yellow fluorescent protein). MAS1R internalization was evaluated by measuring the MAS1R present in the plasma membrane after agonist stimulation using a ligand-binding assay. MAS1R trafficking was evaluated by its colocalization with trafficking markers. MAS1R internalization was blocked in the presence of shRNAcaveolin-1 and with dominant negatives for Eps15 (a protein involved in endocytosed Rs by clathrin-coated pits) and for dynamin. After stimulation, MAS1R colocalized with Rab11-a slow recycling vesicle marker-and not with Rab4-a fast recycling vesicle marker-or LysoTracker-a lysosome marker. Cells transfected with MAS1R showed an increase in Akt and ERK1/2 activation on angiotensin-(1-7) stimulation, which was blocked when the clathrin-coated pits pathway was blocked. Suppression of β-arrestin2 by shRNA reduced the angiotensin-(1-7)-induced ERK1/2 activation, whereas Akt activation was not modified. We conclude that on agonist stimulation, MAS1R is internalized through clathrin-coated pits and caveolae in a dynamin-dependent manner and is then slowly recycled back to the plasma membrane. MAS1R induced Akt and ERK1/2 activation from early endosomes, and the activation of ERK1/2 was mediated by β-arrestin2. Thus, MAS1R activity and density may be tightly controlled by the cell. © 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.

Mechanism of uptake of ZnO nanoparticles and inflammatory responses in macrophages require PI3K mediated MAPKs signaling.

PubMed

Roy, Ruchi; Parashar, Vyom; Chauhan, L K S; Shanker, Rishi; Das, Mukul; Tripathi, Anurag; Dwivedi, Premendra Dhar

2014-04-01

The inflammatory responses after exposure to zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZNPs) are known, however, the molecular mechanisms and direct consequences of particle uptake are still unclear. Dose and time-dependent increase in the uptake of ZNPs by macrophages has been observed by flow cytometry. Macrophages treated with ZNPs showed a significantly enhanced phagocytic activity. Inhibition of different internalization receptors caused a reduction in uptake of ZNPs in macrophages. The strongest inhibition in internalization was observed by blocking clathrin, caveolae and scavenger receptor mediated endocytic pathways. However, FcR and complement receptor-mediated phagocytic pathways also contributed significantly to control. Further, exposure of primary macrophages to ZNPs (2.5 μg/ml) caused (i) significant enhancement of Ras, PI3K, (ii) enhanced phosphorylation and subsequent activation of its downstream signaling pathways via ERK1/2, p38 and JNK MAPKs (iii) overexpression of c-Jun, c-Fos and NF-κB. Our results demonstrate that ZNPs induce the generation of reactive nitrogen species and overexpression of Cox-2, iNOS, pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-17 and regulatory cytokine IL-10) and MAPKs which were found to be inhibited after blocking internalization of ZNPs through caveolae receptor pathway. These results indicate that ZNPs are internalized through caveolae pathway and the inflammatory responses involve PI3K mediated MAPKs signaling cascade. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Efficacy of ultrasound and nerve stimulation guidance in peripheral nerve block: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Wang, Zhi-Xue; Zhang, De-Li; Liu, Xin-Wei; Li, Yan; Zhang, Xiao-Xia; Li, Ru-Hong

2017-09-01

Evidence was controversial about whether nerve stimulation (NS) can optimize ultrasound guidance (US)-guided nerve blockade for peripheral nerve block. This review aims to explore the effects of the two combined techniques. We searched EMBASE (from 1974 to March 2015), PubMed (from 1966 to Mar 2015), Medline (from 1966 to Mar 2015), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and clinicaltrials.gov. Finally, 15 randomized trials were included into analysis involving 1,019 lower limb and 696 upper limb surgery cases. Meta-analysis indicated that, compared with US alone, USNS combination had favorable effects on overall block success rate (risk ratio [RR] 1.17; confidence interval [CI] 1.05 to 1.30, P = 0.004), sensory block success rate (RR 1.56; CI 1.29 to 1.89, P < 0.00001), and block onset time (mean difference [MD] -3.84; CI -5.59 to -2.08, P < 0.0001). USNS guidance had a longer procedure time in both upper and lower limb nerve block (MD 1.67; CI 1.32 to 2.02, P < 0.00001; MD 1.17; CI 0.95 to 1.39, P < 0.00001) and more patients with anesthesia supplementation (RR 2.5; CI 1.02 to 6.13, P = 0.05). USNS guidance trends to result in a shorter block onset time than US alone as well as higher block success rate, but no statistical difference was demonstrated, as more data are required. © 2017 IUBMB Life, 69(9):720-734, 2017. © 2017 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Emulsion Solvent Evaporation-Induced Self-Assembly of Block Copolymers Containing pH-Sensitive Block.

PubMed

Wu, Yuqing; Wang, Ke; Tan, Haiying; Xu, Jiangping; Zhu, Jintao

2017-09-26

A simple yet efficient method is developed to manipulate the self-assembly of pH-sensitive block copolymers (BCPs) confined in emulsion droplets. Addition of acid induces significant variation in morphological transition (e.g., structure and surface composition changes) of the polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP) assemblies, due to the hydrophobic-hydrophilic transition of the pH-sensitive P4VP block via protonation. In the case of pH > pKa (P4VP) (pKa (P4VP) = 4.8), the BCPs can self-assemble into pupa-like particles because of the nearly neutral wetting of PS and P4VP blocks at the oil/water interface. As expected, onion-like particles obtained when pH is slightly lower than pKa (P4VP) (e.g., pH = 3.00), due to the interfacial affinity to the weakly hydrophilic P4VP block. Interestingly, when pH was further decreased to ∼2.5, interfacial instability of the emulsion droplets was observed, and each emulsion droplet generated nanoscale assemblies including vesicles, worm-like and/or spherical micelles rather than a nanostructured microparticle. Furthermore, homopolymer with different molecular weights and addition ratio are employed to adjust the interactions among copolymer blocks. By this means, particles with hierarchical structures can be obtained. Moreover, owing to the kinetically controlled processing, we found that temperature and stirring speed, which can significantly affect the kinetics of the evaporation of organic solvent and the formation of particles, played a key role in the morphology of the assemblies. We believe that manipulation of the property for the aqueous phase is a promising strategy to rationally design and fabricate polymeric assemblies with desirable shapes and internal structures.

Evaluation of marginal and internal adaptation of hybrid and nanoceramic systems with microcomputed tomography: An in vitro study.

PubMed

Yildirim, Güler; Uzun, Ismail H; Keles, Ali

2017-08-01

The accuracy of recently introduced chairside computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) blocks is not well established, and marginal integrity and internal adaptation are not known. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the marginal and internal adaptation of hybrid and nanoceramics using microcomputed tomography (μ-CT). The marginal and internal adaptation of 3 polymer-infiltrated ceramic-network (PICN) materials (Vita Enamic [VE]; Lava Ultimate [LU]; Vita Suprinity [VS]) were compared with lithium disilicate (IPS e.max.CAD, IPS). Ninety-six specimens (48 dies and 48 crowns) were prepared (n=12 each group) using a chairside CAD-CAM system. The restorations were scanned with μ-CT, with 160 measurements made for each crown, and used in 2-dimensional (2D) analysis. The marginal adaptation of marginal discrepancy (MD), absolute marginal discrepancy (AMD), internal adaptation of shoulder area (SA), axial space (AS), and occlusal space (OS) were compared using appropriate statistical analysis methods (α=.05). Cement volumes were compared using 3D analysis. The IPS blocks showed higher MD (130 μm), AMD (156 μm), SA (111 μm) (P<.05), AS (52 μm), and OS (192 μm) than the other blocks (P<.01). The adaptation values of VS were significantly lower than those of the IPS block (P<.05). The adaption values of the LU and VE blocks were significantly lower than those of others (P<.01) but were statistically similar to one another (P>.05). IPS had the largest cement space at 18 mm 3 (P<.01). The marginal and internal adaptation values were within a clinically acceptable range for all 3 hybrids and nanoceramics tested. Copyright © 2016 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Causes and Cures of Writing Blocks: An Annotated Bibliography.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boice, Robert

To provide a broad view of writer's block and the composing process, this annotated bibliography includes 100 sources that discuss (1) early views of blocking, e.g., Freud's warning about internal critics; (2) contemporary curatives, e.g., cognitive therapies that purport to change a writer's inhibitory self-talk; (3) successful writers' accounts…

Fuel control for gas turbine engines

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

Stearns, C.F.; Tutherly, H.W.

1983-12-27

The basic gas turbine engine hydromechanical fuel control is adaptable to different engine configurations such as turbofan, turboprop and turboshaft engines by incorporating in the main housing those elements having a commonality to all engine configurations and providing a removable block for each configuration having the necessary control elements and flow passages required for that particular configuration. That is to say, a block with the elements peculiar to a turbofan engine could be replaced by a mating block that includes those elements peculiar to a turboshaft engine in adapting the control for a turboshaft configuration. Similarly another block with thosemore » elements peculiar to a turboprop engine could replace any of the other blocks in adapting the control to a turboprop configuration. Obviously the basic control has the necessary flow passages terminating at the interface with the block and these flow passages mate with corresponding passages in the block.« less

Online testable concept maps: benefits for learning about the pathogenesis of disease.

PubMed

Ho, Veronica; Kumar, Rakesh K; Velan, Gary

2014-07-01

Concept maps have been used to promote meaningful learning and critical thinking. Although these are crucially important in all disciplines, evidence for the benefits of concept mapping for learning in medicine is limited. We performed a randomised crossover study to assess the benefits of online testable concept maps for learning in pathology by volunteer junior medical students. Participants (n = 65) were randomly allocated to either of two groups with equivalent mean prior academic performance, in which they were given access to either online maps or existing online resources for a 2-week block on renal disease. Groups then crossed over for a 2-week block on hepatic disease. Outcomes were assessed using timed online quizzes, which included questions unrelated to topics in the pathogenesis maps as an internal control. Questionnaires were administered to evaluate students' acceptance of the maps. In both blocks, the group with access to pathogenesis maps achieved significantly higher average scores than the control group on quiz questions related to topics covered by the maps (Block 1: p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.9; Block 2: p = 0.008, Cohen's d = 0.7). However, mean scores on unrelated questions did not differ significantly between the groups. In a third block on pancreatic disease, both groups received pathogenesis maps and collectively performed significantly better on quiz topics related to the maps than on unrelated topics (p < 0.01, Cohen's d = 0.5). Regression analysis revealed that access to pathogenesis maps was the dominant contributor to variance in performance on map-related quiz questions. Responses to questionnaire items on pathogenesis maps were overwhelmingly positive in both groups. These results indicate that online testable pathogenesis maps are well accepted and can improve learning of concepts in pathology by medical students. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Low-affinity spermine block mediating outward currents through Kir2.1 and Kir2.2 inward rectifier potassium channels

PubMed Central

Ishihara, Keiko; Yan, Ding-Hong

2007-01-01

The outward component of the strong inward rectifier K+ current (IKir) plays a pivotal role in polarizing the membranes of excitable and non-excitable cells and is regulated by voltage-dependent channel block by internal cations. Using the Kir2.1 channel, we previously showed that a small fraction of the conductance susceptible only to a low-affinity mode of block likely carries a large portion of the outward current. To further examine the relevance of the low-affinity block to outward IKir and to explore its molecular mechanism, we studied the block of the Kir2.1 and Kir2.2 channels by spermine, which is the principal Kir2 channel blocker. Current–voltage relations of outward Kir2.2 currents showed a peak, a plateau and two peaks in the presence of 10, 1 and 0.1 μm spermine, respectively, which was explained by the presence of two conductances that differ in their susceptibility to spermine block. When the current–voltage relations showed one peak, like those of native IKir, outward Kir2.2 currents were mediated mostly by the conductance susceptible to the low-affinity block. They also flowed in a narrower range than the corresponding Kir2.1 currents, because of 3- to 4-fold greater susceptibility to the low-affinity block than in Kir2.1. Reducing external [K+] shifted the voltage dependences of both the high- and low-affinity block of Kir2.1 in parallel with the shift in the reversal potential, confirming the importance of the low-affinity block in mediating outward IKir. When Kir2.1 mutants known to have reduced sensitivity to internal blockers were examined, the D172N mutation in the transmembrane pore region made almost all of the conductance susceptible only to low-affinity block, while the E224G mutation in the cytoplasmic pore region reduced the sensitivity to low-affinity block without markedly altering that to the high-affinity block or the high/low conductance ratio. The effects of these mutations support the hypothesis that Kir2 channels exist in two states having different susceptibilities to internal cationic blockers. PMID:17640933

Effects of carbamazepine and lamotrigine on functional magnetic resonance imaging cognitive networks.

PubMed

Xiao, Fenglai; Caciagli, Lorenzo; Wandschneider, Britta; Sander, Josemir W; Sidhu, Meneka; Winston, Gavin; Burdett, Jane; Trimmel, Karin; Hill, Andrea; Vollmar, Christian; Vos, Sjoerd B; Ourselin, Sebastien; Thompson, Pamela J; Zhou, Dong; Duncan, John S; Koepp, Matthias J

2018-06-13

To investigate the effects of sodium channel-blocking antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) language network activations in patients with focal epilepsy. In a retrospective study, we identified patients who were treated at the time of language fMRI scanning with either carbamazepine (CBZ; n = 42) or lamotrigine (LTG; n = 42), but not another sodium channel-blocking AED. We propensity-matched 42 patients taking levetiracetam (LEV) as "patient-controls" and included further 42 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. After controlling for age, age at onset of epilepsy, gender, and antiepileptic comedications, we compared verbal fluency fMRI activations between groups and out-of-scanner psychometric measures of verbal fluency. Patients on CBZ performed less well on a verbal fluency tests than those taking LTG or LEV. Compared to either LEV-treated patients or controls, patients taking CBZ showed decreased activations in left inferior frontal gyrus and patients on LTG showed abnormal deactivations in frontal and parietal default mode areas. All patient groups showed fewer activations in the putamen bilaterally compared to controls. In a post hoc analysis, out-of-scanner fluency scores correlated positively with left putamen activation. Our study provides evidence of AED effects on the functional neuroanatomy of language, which might explain subtle language deficits in patients taking otherwise well-tolerated sodium channel-blocking agents. Patients on CBZ showed dysfunctional frontal activation and more pronounced impairment of performance than patients taking LTG, which was associated only with failure to deactivate task-negative networks. As previously shown for working memory, LEV treatment did not affect functional language networks. © 2018 The Authors. Epilepsia published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International League Against Epilepsy.

The predictability of frequency-altered auditory feedback changes the weighting of feedback and feedforward input for speech motor control.

PubMed

Scheerer, Nichole E; Jones, Jeffery A

2014-12-01

Speech production requires the combined effort of a feedback control system driven by sensory feedback, and a feedforward control system driven by internal models. However, the factors that dictate the relative weighting of these feedback and feedforward control systems are unclear. In this event-related potential (ERP) study, participants produced vocalisations while being exposed to blocks of frequency-altered feedback (FAF) perturbations that were either predictable in magnitude (consistently either 50 or 100 cents) or unpredictable in magnitude (50- and 100-cent perturbations varying randomly within each vocalisation). Vocal and P1-N1-P2 ERP responses revealed decreases in the magnitude and trial-to-trial variability of vocal responses, smaller N1 amplitudes, and shorter vocal, P1 and N1 response latencies following predictable FAF perturbation magnitudes. In addition, vocal response magnitudes correlated with N1 amplitudes, vocal response latencies, and P2 latencies. This pattern of results suggests that after repeated exposure to predictable FAF perturbations, the contribution of the feedforward control system increases. Examination of the presentation order of the FAF perturbations revealed smaller compensatory responses, smaller P1 and P2 amplitudes, and shorter N1 latencies when the block of predictable 100-cent perturbations occurred prior to the block of predictable 50-cent perturbations. These results suggest that exposure to large perturbations modulates responses to subsequent perturbations of equal or smaller size. Similarly, exposure to a 100-cent perturbation prior to a 50-cent perturbation within a vocalisation decreased the magnitude of vocal and N1 responses, but increased P1 and P2 latencies. Thus, exposure to a single perturbation can affect responses to subsequent perturbations. © 2014 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Health Preemption Behind Closed Doors: Trade Agreements and Fast-Track Authority

PubMed Central

Crosbie, Eric; Gonzalez, Mariaelena

2014-01-01

Noncommunicable diseases result from consuming unhealthy products, including tobacco, which are promoted by transnational corporations. The tobacco industry uses preemption to block or reverse tobacco control policies. Preemption removes authority from jurisdictions where tobacco companies’ influence is weak and transfers it to jurisdictions where they have an advantage. International trade agreements relocate decisions about tobacco control policy to venues where there is little opportunity for public scrutiny, participation, and debate. Tobacco companies are using these agreements to preempt domestic authority over tobacco policy. Other transnational corporations that profit by promoting unhealthy foods could do the same. “Fast-track authority,” in which Congress cedes ongoing oversight authority to the President, further distances the public from the debate. With international agreements binding governments to prioritize trade over health, transparency and public oversight of the trade negotiation process is necessary to safeguard public health interests. PMID:25033124

Health preemption behind closed doors: trade agreements and fast-track authority.

PubMed

Crosbie, Eric; Gonzalez, Mariaelena; Glantz, Stanton A

2014-09-01

Noncommunicable diseases result from consuming unhealthy products, including tobacco, which are promoted by transnational corporations. The tobacco industry uses preemption to block or reverse tobacco control policies. Preemption removes authority from jurisdictions where tobacco companies' influence is weak and transfers it to jurisdictions where they have an advantage. International trade agreements relocate decisions about tobacco control policy to venues where there is little opportunity for public scrutiny, participation, and debate. Tobacco companies are using these agreements to preempt domestic authority over tobacco policy. Other transnational corporations that profit by promoting unhealthy foods could do the same. "Fast-track authority," in which Congress cedes ongoing oversight authority to the President, further distances the public from the debate. With international agreements binding governments to prioritize trade over health, transparency and public oversight of the trade negotiation process is necessary to safeguard public health interests.

Development and validation of a protocol for optimizing the use of paraffin blocks in molecular epidemiological studies: The example from the HPV-AHEAD study.

PubMed

Mena, Marisa; Lloveras, Belen; Tous, Sara; Bogers, Johannes; Maffini, Fausto; Gangane, Nitin; Kumar, Rekha Vijay; Somanathan, Thara; Lucas, Eric; Anantharaman, Devasena; Gheit, Tarik; Castellsagué, Xavier; Pawlita, Michael; de Sanjosé, Silvia; Alemany, Laia; Tommasino, Massimo

2017-01-01

Worldwide use of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks (FFPE) is extensive in diagnosis and research. Yet, there is a lack of optimized/standardized protocols to process the blocks and verify the quality and presence of the targeted tissue. In the context of an international study on head and neck cancer (HNC)-HPV-AHEAD, a standardized protocol for optimizing the use of FFPEs in molecular epidemiology was developed and validated. First, a protocol for sectioning the FFPE was developed to prevent cross-contamination and distributed between participating centers. Before processing blocks, all sectioning centers underwent a quality control to guarantee a satisfactory training process. The first and last sections of the FFPEs were used for histopathological assessment. A consensus histopathology evaluation form was developed by an international panel of pathologists and evaluated for four indicators in a pilot analysis in order to validate it: 1) presence/type of tumor tissue, 2) identification of other tissue components that could affect the molecular diagnosis and 3) quality of the tissue. No HPV DNA was found in sections from empty FFPE generated in any histology laboratories of HPV-AHEAD consortium and all centers passed quality assurance for processing after quality control. The pilot analysis to validate the histopathology form included 355 HNC cases. The form was filled by six pathologists and each case was randomly assigned to two of them. Most samples (86%) were considered satisfactory. Presence of >50% of invasive carcinoma was observed in all sections of 66% of cases. Substantial necrosis (>50%) was present in <2% of samples. The concordance for the indicators targeted to validate the histopathology form was very high (kappa > 0.85) between first and last sections and fair to high between pathologists (kappa/pabak 0.21-0.72). The protocol allowed to correctly process without signs of contamination all FFPE of the study. The histopathology evaluation of the cases assured the presence of the targeted tissue, identified the presence of other tissues that could disturb the molecular diagnosis and allowed the assessment of tissue quality.

Improving Ambulatory Training in Internal Medicine: X + Y (or Why Not?).

PubMed

Ray, Alaka; Jones, Danielle; Palamara, Kerri; Overland, Maryann; Steinberg, Kenneth P

2016-12-01

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requirement that internal medicine residents spend one-third of their training in an ambulatory setting has resulted in programmatic innovation across the country. The traditional weekly half-day clinic model has lost ground to the block or "X + Y" clinic model, which has gained in popularity for many reasons. Several disadvantages of the block model have been reported, however, and residency programs are caught between the threat of old and new challenges. We offer the perspectives of three large residency programs (University of Washington, Emory University, and Massachusetts General Hospital) that have successfully navigated scheduling challenges in our individual settings without implementing the block model. By sharing our innovative non-block models, we hope to demonstrate that programs can and should create the solution that fits their individual needs.

An experimental investigation of internal area ruling for transonic and supersonic channel flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roberts, W. B.; Vanrintel, H. L.; Rizvi, G.

1982-01-01

A simulated transonic rotor channel model was examined experimentally to verify the flow physics of internal area ruling. Pressure measurements were performed in the high speed wind tunnel at transonic speeds with Mach 1.5 and Mach 2 nozzle blocks to get an indication of the approximate shock losses. The results showed a reduction in losses due to internal area ruling with the Mach 1.5 nozzle blocks. The reduction in total loss coefficient was of the order of 17 percent for a high blockage model and 7 percent for a cut-down model.

Arms Control Verification Is No Longer a Stumbling Block to True Disarmament

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-05-01

that they had had sirce 1945.17 The Atomoic Energy Cormission failed to reach an agreeriment due to the deadlock between the two plans. The Soviet...the Soviets exploding their first nuclear device on September 2", 149 ’ 13 The talks or general and complete disarmament had failed. The failure to...and by the general state of international arid do,mestic toolitics at the time. 7 Adequate verificat ion involves the acceptance of a. degree of

Metabolic control analysis of developing oilseed rape (Brassica napus cv Westar) embryos shows that lipid assembly exerts significant control over oil accumulation.

PubMed

Tang, Mingguo; Guschina, Irina A; O'Hara, Paul; Slabas, Antoni R; Quant, Patti A; Fawcett, Tony; Harwood, John L

2012-10-01

Metabolic control analysis allows the study of metabolic regulation. We applied both single- and double-manipulation top-down control analysis to examine the control of lipid accumulation in developing oilseed rape (Brassica napus) embryos. The biosynthetic pathway was conceptually divided into two blocks of reactions (fatty acid biosynthesis (Block A), lipid assembly (Block B)) connected by a single system intermediate, the acyl-coenzyme A (acyl-CoA) pool. Single manipulation used exogenous oleate. Triclosan was used to inhibit specifically Block A, whereas diazepam selectively manipulated flux through Block B. Exogenous oleate inhibited the radiolabelling of fatty acids from [1-(14)C]acetate, but stimulated that from [U-14C]glycerol into acyl lipids. The calculation of group flux control coefficients showed that c. 70% of the metabolic control was in the lipid assembly block of reactions. Monte Carlo simulations gave an estimation of the error of the resulting group flux control coefficients as 0.27±0.06 for Block A and 0.73±0.06 for Block B. The two methods of control analysis gave very similar results and showed that Block B reactions were more important under our conditions. This contrasts notably with data from oil palm or olive fruit cultures and is important for efforts to increase oilseed rape lipid yields. © 2012 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2012 New Phytologist Trust.

Relationship Between Final Performance and Block Times with the Traditional and the New Starting Platforms with A Back Plate in International Swimming Championship 50-M and 100-M Freestyle Events

PubMed Central

Garcia-Hermoso, Antonio; Escalante, Yolanda; Arellano, Raul; Navarro, Fernando; Domínguez, Ana M.; Saavedra, Jose M.

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between block time and final performance for each sex in 50-m and 100-m individual freestyle, distinguishing between classification (1st to 3rd, 4th to 8th, 9th to 16th) and type of starting platform (old and new) in international competitions. Twenty-six international competitions covering a 13-year period (2000-2012) were analysed retrospectively. The data corresponded to a total of 1657 swimmers’ competition histories. A two-way ANOVA (sex x classification) was performed for each event and starting platform with the Bonferroni post-hoc test, and another two-way ANOVA for sex and starting platform (sex x starting platform). Pearson’s simple correlation coefficient was used to determine correlations between the block time and the final performance. Finally, a simple linear regression analysis was done between the final time and the block time for each sex and platform. The men had shorter starting block times than the women in both events and from both platforms. For 50-m event, medalists had shorter block times than semi- finalists with the old starting platforms. Block times were directly related to performance with the old starting platforms. With the new starting platforms, however, the relationship was inverse, notably in the women’s 50-m event. The block time was related for final performance in the men’s 50- m event with the old starting platform, but with the new platform it was critical only for the women’s 50-m event. Key Points The men had shorter block times than the women in both events and with both platforms. For both distances, the swimmers had shorter block times in their starts from the new starting platform with a back plate than with the old platform. For the 50-m event with the old starting platform, the medalists had shorter block times than the semi-finalists. The new starting platform block time was only determinant in the women’s 50-m event. In order to improve performance, specific training with the new platform with a back plate should be considered. PMID:24421729

Evaluation of Normalization Methods to Pave the Way Towards Large-Scale LC-MS-Based Metabolomics Profiling Experiments

PubMed Central

Valkenborg, Dirk; Baggerman, Geert; Vanaerschot, Manu; Witters, Erwin; Dujardin, Jean-Claude; Burzykowski, Tomasz; Berg, Maya

2013-01-01

Abstract Combining liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based metabolomics experiments that were collected over a long period of time remains problematic due to systematic variability between LC-MS measurements. Until now, most normalization methods for LC-MS data are model-driven, based on internal standards or intermediate quality control runs, where an external model is extrapolated to the dataset of interest. In the first part of this article, we evaluate several existing data-driven normalization approaches on LC-MS metabolomics experiments, which do not require the use of internal standards. According to variability measures, each normalization method performs relatively well, showing that the use of any normalization method will greatly improve data-analysis originating from multiple experimental runs. In the second part, we apply cyclic-Loess normalization to a Leishmania sample. This normalization method allows the removal of systematic variability between two measurement blocks over time and maintains the differential metabolites. In conclusion, normalization allows for pooling datasets from different measurement blocks over time and increases the statistical power of the analysis, hence paving the way to increase the scale of LC-MS metabolomics experiments. From our investigation, we recommend data-driven normalization methods over model-driven normalization methods, if only a few internal standards were used. Moreover, data-driven normalization methods are the best option to normalize datasets from untargeted LC-MS experiments. PMID:23808607

Space Acceleration Measurement System-II: Microgravity Instrumentation for the International Space Station Research Community

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sutliff, Thomas J.

1999-01-01

The International Space Station opens for business in the year 2000, and with the opening, science investigations will take advantage of the unique conditions it provides as an on-orbit laboratory for research. With initiation of scientific studies comes a need to understand the environment present during research. The Space Acceleration Measurement System-II provides researchers a consistent means to understand the vibratory conditions present during experimentation on the International Space Station. The Space Acceleration Measurement System-II, or SAMS-II, detects vibrations present while the space station is operating. SAMS-II on-orbit hardware is comprised of two basic building block elements: a centralized control unit and multiple Remote Triaxial Sensors deployed to measure the acceleration environment at the point of scientific research, generally within a research rack. Ground Operations Equipment is deployed to complete the command, control and data telemetry elements of the SAMS-II implementation. Initially, operations consist of user requirements development, measurement sensor deployment and use, and data recovery on the ground. Future system enhancements will provide additional user functionality and support more simultaneous users.

Treatment Options for Extrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer

MedlinePlus

... caused by a blocked bile duct and improve quality of life : Biliary bypass : If cancer is blocking the bile ... as palliative treatment to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life . External or internal radiation therapy as palliative treatment ...

Stages of Extrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer

MedlinePlus

... caused by a blocked bile duct and improve quality of life : Biliary bypass : If cancer is blocking the bile ... as palliative treatment to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life . External or internal radiation therapy as palliative treatment ...

Treatment Option Overview (Extrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer)

MedlinePlus

... caused by a blocked bile duct and improve quality of life : Biliary bypass : If cancer is blocking the bile ... as palliative treatment to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life . External or internal radiation therapy as palliative treatment ...

The effect of morphine added to bupivacaine in ultrasound guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block for postoperative analgesia following lower abdominal cancer surgery, a randomized controlled study.

PubMed

El Sherif, Fatma Adel; Mohamed, Sahar Abdel-Baky; Kamal, Shereen Mamdouh

2017-06-01

Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block used for management of surgical abdominal pain by injecting local anesthetics into the plane between the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles. We aimed to explore the effect of adding morphine to bupivacaine in ultrasound guided TAP-block in patients undergoing lower abdominal cancer surgery. Randomized, double-blind, prospective study. Clinical trial identifier: NCT02566096. Academic medical center. Sixty patients were enrolled in this study after ethical committee approval. Patients divided into 2 groups (30 each): Bupivacaine group (GB): given ultrasound guided TAP-block 20ml 0.5% bupivacaine diluted in 20ml saline; Morphine group (GM): given ultrasound guided TAP-block with 20ml 0.5% bupivacaine+10mg morphine sulphate diluted in 20ml saline. Patients were observed for total morphine consumption, time for first request of rescue analgesia, sedation scores, hemodynamics and side effects for 24h postoperatively. Morphine added to bupivacaine in TAP block compared to bupivacaine alone reduced total morphine consumption (5.33±1.28mg) (10.70±3.09mg) respectively (p<0.001), prolonged the time to first request of analgesia (10.40±4.96h) (6.97±3.26h) respectively (p<0.008), with a statistically significant decrease in (VAS-M) in GM compared with GB at 12h postoperatively (p<0.002). No significant differences in hemodynamics, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, sedation score, and side effects except for nausea were observed (p>0.05). Addition of morphine to bupivacaine in TAP block is effective method for pain management in patients undergoing major abdominal cancer surgery without serious side effects. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Comparing the effectiveness of ropivacaine 0.5% versus ropivacaine 0.2% for transabdominis plane block in providing postoperative analgesia after appendectomy.

PubMed

Abdul Jalil, Reymi Marseela; Yahya, Nurlia; Sulaiman, Omar; Wan Mat, Wan Rahiza; Teo, Rufinah; Izaham, Azarinah; Rahman, Raha Abdul

2014-06-01

The basis for the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block involves infiltration of a local anesthetic into the neurofascial plane between the internal oblique and the transversus abdominis muscles, causing a regional block that spreads between the L1 and T10 dermatomes. Thus, the TAP block is said to be suitable for lower abdominal surgery. This study was designed to compare the analgesic efficacy of two different concentrations of ropivacaine for TAP block in patients undergoing appendectomy. Fifty-six patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II, aged 18 years and above, undergoing appendectomy were recruited in this prospective, randomized, double-blind study. They were divided into two groups: Group A patients who received 0.5 mL/kg of ropivacaine 0.5% and Group B patients who received 0.5 mL/kg of ropivacaine 0.2% via TAP block under ultrasound guidance. Postoperative pain was assessed using the visual analog scale upon arrival at the recovery room in the operating theatre, just prior to being discharged to the ward, and at 6 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours, and 24 hours postoperatively to compare the effectiveness of analgesia. Intraoperatively, patients in Group B required a significantly greater amount of additional intravenous fentanyl than those in Group A. There were no significant statistical differences in pain scores at rest and on movement at all assessment times as well as in the dose of 24-hour intravenous morphine consumption given via patient-controlled analgesia postoperatively between the two groups. The effectiveness of two different concentrations of ropivacaine (0.5% versus 0.2%) given via TAP block was comparable in providing postoperative analgesia for patients undergoing appendectomy. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Multi-purpose greenhouse of changeable geometry (MGCG)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kordium, V.; Kornejchuk, A.

In the frames of scientific program of National Cosmic Agency of Ukraine the multipurpose greenhouse is being developed. It is destined for the performance of biological and biotechnological experiments as well as for planting of fast growing vegetable cultures for crew ration enrichment and positive psychological influence under the conditions of long-term flight in the international space station or in other cosmic flying objects. Main principle of greenhouse arrangement is the existence of unified modules. Their sets and combinations permit to form executively different space greenhouse configurations. The minimal structural greenhouse unit suitable either for construction of total configuration or for autonomous functioning, is a carrying composite platform (CCP). The experimental vegetative module (EVM) and the module, supporting microclimate needed inside EVM, are launched to CCP. The amount of these modules and their configuration depend on quantity and complexity of tasks to be solved as well as on duration of their performance. These modules form the experimental block. Four modules of much larger sizes, which form experimentally technological block, are used for further studies of objectives approved in the experimental block. The technologies developed for growing plants are used in the third, technological block, which is a one large vegetative module. All three greenhouse blocks can be changed in their sizes in three dimensions, and function either in a complete greenhouse structure, or autonomously. The control is performed from a board computer, or, if necessary, it is governed with automation devices placed on a front panel of blocks. All three blocks are pulled out along the directing base into the station passage, and this makes free access to the base modules, convenient work with them, and à good survey.

26 CFR 1.1248-2 - Earnings and profits attributable to a block of stock in simple cases.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... earnings and profits of the corporation accumulated for the taxable year (computed without any reduction... 26 Internal Revenue 11 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Earnings and profits attributable to a block of... Determining Capital Gains and Losses § 1.1248-2 Earnings and profits attributable to a block of stock in...

An efficient blocking M2L translation for low-frequency fast multipole method in three dimensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takahashi, Toru; Shimba, Yuta; Isakari, Hiroshi; Matsumoto, Toshiro

2016-05-01

We propose an efficient scheme to perform the multipole-to-local (M2L) translation in the three-dimensional low-frequency fast multipole method (LFFMM). Our strategy is to combine a group of matrix-vector products associated with M2L translation into a matrix-matrix product in order to diminish the memory traffic. For this purpose, we first developed a grouping method (termed as internal blocking) based on the congruent transformations (rotational and reflectional symmetries) of M2L-translators for each target box in the FMM hierarchy (adaptive octree). Next, we considered another method of grouping (termed as external blocking) that was able to handle M2L translations for multiple target boxes collectively by using the translational invariance of the M2L translation. By combining these internal and external blockings, the M2L translation can be performed efficiently whilst preservingthe numerical accuracy exactly. We assessed the proposed blocking scheme numerically and applied it to the boundary integral equation method to solve electromagnetic scattering problems for perfectly electrical conductor. From the numerical results, it was found that the proposed M2L scheme achieved a few times speedup compared to the non-blocking scheme.

Study on turbulent flow and heat transfer performance of tubes with internal fins in EGR cooler

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Lin; Ling, Xiang; Peng, Hao

2015-07-01

In this paper, flow and heat transfer performances of the tubes with internal longitudinal fins in Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR ) cooler were investigated by three-dimension computation and experiment . Each test tube was a single-pipe structure, without inner tube. Three-dimension computation was performed to determine the thermal characteristics difference between the two kinds of tubes, that is, the tube with an inner solid staff as a blocked structure and the tube without the blocked structure. The effects of fin width and fin height on heat transfer and flow are examined. For proving the validity of numerical method, the calculated results were compared with corresponding experimental data. The tube-side friction factor and heat transfer coefficient were examined. As a result, the maximum deviations between the numerical results and the experimental data are approximately 5.4 % for friction factor and 8.6 % for heat transfer coefficient, respectively. It is found that two types of internally finned tubes enhance significantly heat transfer. The heat transfer of the tube with blocked structure is better, while the pressure drop of the tube without blocked structure is lower. The comprehensive performance of the unblocked tube is better to applied in EGR cooler.

Effects of tetraethylammonium on potassium currents in a molluscan neurons

PubMed Central

1981-01-01

The effects of tetraethylammonium (TEA) on the delayed K+ current and on the Ca2+-activated K+ current of the Aplysia pacemaker neurons R-15 and L-6 were studied. The delayed outward K+ current was measured in Ca2+-free ASW containing tetrodotoxin (TTX), using brief depolarizing clamp pulses. External TEA blocks the delayed K+ current reversibly in a dose-dependent manner. The experimental results are well fitted with a Michaelis-Menten expression, assuming a one-to-one reaction between TEA and a receptor site, with an apparent dissociation constant of 6.0 mM. The block depends on membrane voltage and is reduced at positive membrane potentials. The Ca2+-activated K+ current was measured in Ca2+- free artificial seawater (ASW) containing TTX, using internal Ca2+ ion injection to directly activate the K+ conductance. External TEA and a number of other quaternary ammonium ions block the Ca2+-activated K+ current reversibly in a dose-dependent manner. TEA is the most effective blocker, with an apparent dissociation constant, for a one-to- one reaction with a receptor site, of 0.4 mM. The block decreases with depolarization. The Ca2+-activated K+ current was also measured after intracellular iontophoretic TEA injection. Internal TEA blocks the Ca2+- activated K+ current (but the block is only apparent at positive membrane potentials), is increased by depolarization, and is irreversible. The effects of external and internal TEA can be seen in measurements of the total outward K+ current at different membrane potentials in normal ASW. PMID:6265594

Identification and Reconfigurable Control of Impaired Multi-Rotor Drones

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stepanyan, Vahram; Krishnakumar, Kalmanje; Bencomo, Alfredo

2016-01-01

The paper presents an algorithm for control and safe landing of impaired multi-rotor drones when one or more motors fail simultaneously or in any sequence. It includes three main components: an identification block, a reconfigurable control block, and a decisions making block. The identification block monitors each motor load characteristics and the current drawn, based on which the failures are detected. The control block generates the required total thrust and three axis torques for the altitude, horizontal position and/or orientation control of the drone based on the time scale separation and nonlinear dynamic inversion. The horizontal displacement is controlled by modulating the roll and pitch angles. The decision making algorithm maps the total thrust and three torques into the individual motor thrusts based on the information provided by the identification block. The drone continues the mission execution as long as the number of functioning motors provide controllability of it. Otherwise, the controller is switched to the safe mode, which gives up the yaw control, commands a safe landing spot and descent rate while maintaining the horizontal attitude.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticle-based substrates for cell directed delivery of Notch signalling modulators to control myoblast differentiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Böcking, Dominique; Wiltschka, Oliver; Niinimäki, Jenni; Shokry, Hussein; Brenner, Rolf; Lindén, Mika; Sahlgren, Cecilia

2014-01-01

Biochemical cues are critical to control stem cell function and can be utilized to develop smart biomaterials for stem cell engineering. The challenge is to deliver these cues in a restricted manner with spatial and temporal control. Here we have developed bilayer films of mesoporous silica nanoparticles for delayed cellular delivery of Notch modulators to promote muscle stem cell differentiation. We demonstrate that drug-loaded particles are internalized from the particle-covered surface, which allows for direct delivery of the drug into the cell and a delayed and confined drug release. Substrates of particles loaded with γ-secretase-inhibitors, which block the Notch signalling pathway, promoted efficient differentiation of myoblasts. The particle substrates were fully biocompatible and did not interfere with the inherent differentiation process. We further demonstrate that impregnating commercially available, biocompatible polymer scaffolds with MSNs allows for a free standing substrate for cell directed drug delivery.Biochemical cues are critical to control stem cell function and can be utilized to develop smart biomaterials for stem cell engineering. The challenge is to deliver these cues in a restricted manner with spatial and temporal control. Here we have developed bilayer films of mesoporous silica nanoparticles for delayed cellular delivery of Notch modulators to promote muscle stem cell differentiation. We demonstrate that drug-loaded particles are internalized from the particle-covered surface, which allows for direct delivery of the drug into the cell and a delayed and confined drug release. Substrates of particles loaded with γ-secretase-inhibitors, which block the Notch signalling pathway, promoted efficient differentiation of myoblasts. The particle substrates were fully biocompatible and did not interfere with the inherent differentiation process. We further demonstrate that impregnating commercially available, biocompatible polymer scaffolds with MSNs allows for a free standing substrate for cell directed drug delivery. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: (1) Particle characterization. (2) Immunohistochemistry and SEM analyses of C2C12 cells grown on films for 3, 6, 24 and 72 h. Light microscopy and WST1 analyses of cells grown on cover slips and films for 6, 24 and 72 h (3) Quantification of protein levels of C2C12 cells differentiating on cover slips versus MSN films. (4) Stability of MSN films in biological solution and the influence on cell viability. (5) Cell internalization of particles from MSN films and intracellular drug release at 12 and 24 h (6) Cell internalization and intracellular DiI release of MSNs from (3Dtro®) fiber scaffolds impregnated with MSNs. See DOI: 10.1039/c3nr04022d

The use of blocking screws with internal lengthening nail and reverse rule of thumb for blocking screws in limb lengthening and deformity correction surgery.

PubMed

Muthusamy, Saravanaraja; Rozbruch, S Robert; Fragomen, Austin T

2016-11-01

Internal lengthening nail (ILN) is a recent development in limb lengthening and deformity correction specialty. The ILN has the distinct advantage of combining acute deformity correction with gradual lengthening of bone. While using ILN, the short metaphyseal bone fragment may develop a deformity at the time of osteotomy and nail insertion or during bone lengthening because of the wide medullary canal. These deformities are typically predictable, and blocking screws (Poller screws) are helpful in these situations. This manuscript describes the common deformities that occur in femur and tibia with osteotomies at different locations while using ILN in antegrade and retrograde nailing technique. Also, a systematic approach to the appropriate use of blocking screws in these deformities is described. In addition, the "reverse rule of thumb" is introduced as a quick reference to determine the ideal location(s) and number of blocking screws. These principles are applicable to limb lengthening and deformity correction as well as fracture fixation using intramedullary nails.

An International Round-Robin Test of NDE Reliability for PWSCC

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

Schuster, George J.; Cumblidge, Stephen E.; Doctor, Steven R.

2007-12-01

In this paper we describe the round robin tests that have been designed and are being conducted in the international program. Participants in the PINC have offered more than 30 test blocks for use in round-robin tests of NDE effectiveness. The test blocks have more than 130 flaws in nickel-base weld metal that are intended to simulate PWSCC in a variety of component geometries. NDE techniques representative of current in-service inspections are being applied, along with emerging NDE approaches.

Evaluation of a Blocked-Trials Procedure to Establish Complex Stimulus Control over Intraverbal Responses in Children with Autism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ingvarsson, Einar T.; Kramer, Rachel L.; Carp, Charlotte L.; Pétursdóttir, Anna I.; Macias, Heather

2016-01-01

We evaluated the use of a blocked-trials procedure to establish complex stimulus control over intraverbal responses. The participants were four young boys with a diagnosis of autism who had struggled to master intraverbals. The blocked-trials procedures involved presentation of stimuli in separate trial blocks. The trial blocks gradually reduced…

Stroke

MedlinePlus Videos and Cool Tools

... body and lodges within an artery in the brain. When an internal arterial wall becomes damaged, various ... internal carotid artery, breaks loose, travels towards the brain and lodges in a cerebral artery. The blocked ...

Tarelin uses Liulin-5 Electronic Block in the MRM-1

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-01-10

ISS034-E-021230 (10 Jan. 2013) --- Russian cosmonaut Evgeny Tarelkin, Expedition 34 flight engineer, uses the Liulin-5 Electronic Block behind a panel in the Rassvet Mini-Research Module 1 (MRM1) of the International Space Station.

Block copolymers from ionic liquids for the preparation of thin carbonaceous shells

PubMed Central

Hanif, Sadaf; Oschmann, Bernd; Spetter, Dmitri; Tahir, Muhammad Nawaz; Tremel, Wolfgang

2017-01-01

This paper describes the controlled radical polymerization of an ionic-liquid monomer by RAFT polymerization. This allows the control over the molecular weight of ionic liquid blocks in the range of 8000 and 22000 and of the block-copolymer synthesis. In this work we focus on block copolymers with an anchor block. They can be used to control the formation of TiO2 nanoparticles, which are functionalized thereafter with a block of ionic-liquid polymer. Pyrolysis of these polymer functionalized inorganic nanoparticles leads to TiO2 nanoparticles coated with a thin carbonaceous shell. Such materials may, e.g., be interesting as battery materials. PMID:28904612

Block copolymers from ionic liquids for the preparation of thin carbonaceous shells.

PubMed

Hanif, Sadaf; Oschmann, Bernd; Spetter, Dmitri; Tahir, Muhammad Nawaz; Tremel, Wolfgang; Zentel, Rudolf

2017-01-01

This paper describes the controlled radical polymerization of an ionic-liquid monomer by RAFT polymerization. This allows the control over the molecular weight of ionic liquid blocks in the range of 8000 and 22000 and of the block-copolymer synthesis. In this work we focus on block copolymers with an anchor block. They can be used to control the formation of TiO 2 nanoparticles, which are functionalized thereafter with a block of ionic-liquid polymer. Pyrolysis of these polymer functionalized inorganic nanoparticles leads to TiO 2 nanoparticles coated with a thin carbonaceous shell. Such materials may, e.g., be interesting as battery materials.

Catalytic allylic oxidation of internal alkenes to a multifunctional chiral building block

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bayeh, Liela; Le, Phong Q.; Tambar, Uttam K.

2017-07-01

The stereoselective oxidation of hydrocarbons is one of the most notable advances in synthetic chemistry over the past fifty years. Inspired by nature, enantioselective dihydroxylations, epoxidations and other oxidations of unsaturated hydrocarbons have been developed. More recently, the catalytic enantioselective allylic carbon-hydrogen oxidation of alkenes has streamlined the production of pharmaceuticals, natural products, fine chemicals and other functional materials. Allylic functionalization provides a direct path to chiral building blocks with a newly formed stereocentre from petrochemical feedstocks while preserving the olefin functionality as a handle for further chemical elaboration. Various metal-based catalysts have been discovered for the enantioselective allylic carbon-hydrogen oxidation of simple alkenes with cyclic or terminal double bonds. However, a general and selective allylic oxidation using the more common internal alkenes remains elusive. Here we report the enantioselective, regioselective and E/Z-selective allylic oxidation of unactivated internal alkenes via a catalytic hetero-ene reaction with a chalcogen-based oxidant. Our method enables non-symmetric internal alkenes to be selectively converted into allylic functionalized products with high stereoselectivity and regioselectivity. Stereospecific transformations of the resulting multifunctional chiral building blocks highlight the potential for rapidly converting internal alkenes into a broad range of enantioenriched structures that can be used in the synthesis of complex target molecules.

Self-assembly assisted polymerization (SAAP): approaching long multi-block copolymers with an ordered chain sequence and controllable block length.

PubMed

Wu, Chi; Xie, Zuowei; Zhang, Guangzhao; Zi, Guofu; Tu, Yingfeng; Yang, Yali; Cai, Ping; Nie, Ting

2002-12-07

A combination of polymer physics and synthetic chemistry has enabled us to develop self-assembly assisted polymerization (SAAP), leading to the preparation of long multi-block copolymers with an ordered chain sequence and controllable block lengths.

A randomized trial of a three-hour protected nap period in a medicine training program: sleep, alertness, and patient outcomes.

PubMed

Shea, Judy A; Dinges, David F; Small, Dylan S; Basner, Mathias; Zhu, Jingsan; Norton, Laurie; Ecker, Adrian J; Novak, Cristina; Bellini, Lisa M; Dine, C Jessica; Mollicone, Daniel J; Volpp, Kevin G

2014-03-01

Protected sleep periods for internal medicine interns have previously resulted in increased amount slept and improved cognitive alertness but required supplemental personnel. The authors evaluated intern and patient outcomes associated with protected nocturnal nap periods of three hours that are personnel neutral. Randomized trial at Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center (PVAMC) Medical Service and Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) Oncology Unit. During 2010-2011, four-week blocks were randomly assigned to a standard intern schedule (extended duty overnight shifts of up to 30 hours), or sequential protected sleep periods (phone sign-out midnight to 3:00 AM [early shift] intern 1; 3:00 to 6:00 AM [late shift] intern 2). Participants wore wrist Actiwatches, completed sleep diaries, and performed daily assessments of behavioral alertness. Between-group comparisons of means and proportions controlled for within-person correlations. HUP interns had significantly longer sleep durations during both early (2.40 hours) and late (2.44 hours) protected periods compared with controls (1.55 hours, P < .0001). At PVAMC sleep duration was longer only for the late shift group (2.40 versus 1.90 hours, P < .036). Interns assigned to either protected period were significantly less likely to have call nights with no sleep and had fewer attentional lapses on the Psychomotor Vigilance Test. Differences in patient outcomes between standard schedule months versus intervention months were not observed. Protected sleep periods of three hours resulted in more sleep during call and reductions in periods of prolonged wakefulness, providing a plausible alternative to 16-hour shifts.

Protease-activated Receptor-4 Signaling and Trafficking Is Regulated by the Clathrin Adaptor Protein Complex-2 Independent of β-Arrestins*

PubMed Central

Smith, Thomas H.; Coronel, Luisa J.; Li, Julia G.; Dores, Michael R.; Nieman, Marvin T.; Trejo, JoAnn

2016-01-01

Protease-activated receptor-4 (PAR4) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) for thrombin and is proteolytically activated, similar to the prototypical PAR1. Due to the irreversible activation of PAR1, receptor trafficking is intimately linked to signal regulation. However, unlike PAR1, the mechanisms that control PAR4 trafficking are not known. Here, we sought to define the mechanisms that control PAR4 trafficking and signaling. In HeLa cells depleted of clathrin by siRNA, activated PAR4 failed to internalize. Consistent with clathrin-mediated endocytosis, expression of a dynamin dominant-negative K44A mutant also blocked activated PAR4 internalization. However, unlike most GPCRs, PAR4 internalization occurred independently of β-arrestins and the receptor's C-tail domain. Rather, we discovered a highly conserved tyrosine-based motif in the third intracellular loop of PAR4 and found that the clathrin adaptor protein complex-2 (AP-2) is important for internalization. Depletion of AP-2 inhibited PAR4 internalization induced by agonist. In addition, mutation of the critical residues of the tyrosine-based motif disrupted agonist-induced PAR4 internalization. Using Dami megakaryocytic cells, we confirmed that AP-2 is required for agonist-induced internalization of endogenous PAR4. Moreover, inhibition of activated PAR4 internalization enhanced ERK1/2 signaling, whereas Akt signaling was markedly diminished. These findings indicate that activated PAR4 internalization requires AP-2 and a tyrosine-based motif and occurs independent of β-arrestins, unlike most classical GPCRs. Moreover, these findings are the first to show that internalization of activated PAR4 is linked to proper ERK1/2 and Akt activation. PMID:27402844

Modulating the internalization of bacille Calmette-Guérin by cathelicidin in bladder cancer cells.

PubMed

Choi, Se Young; Kim, Soon-Ja; Chi, Byung Hoon; Kwon, Jong Kyou; Chang, In Ho

2015-04-01

To confirm the role of cathelicidin (LL-37) in the internalization of bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) into bladder cancer cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis evaluated the changes in protein and messenger ribonucleic acid (RNA) expression with BCG incubation after LL-37 pretreatment in 5637 and T24 human bladder cancer cells. The internalization rate was evaluated by a double immunofluorescence assay, and confocal microscopy confirmed the function of LL-37 in BCG internalization. We also investigated the difference in internalization rates and cell viability between LL-37, anti-LL-37 antibody, and LL-37 plus anti-LL-37 antibody. The levels of LL-37 increased after BCG exposure in bladder cancer cells in dose- and time-dependent manners. Increasing LL-37 levels using recombinant LL-37 protein further dose dependently decreased BCG internalization in both cell lines. The internalization rates of BCG after LL-37 instillation were lower compared with the controls, and the internalization rate of BCG after anti-LL-37 antibody instillation was significantly higher compared with the controls in both cell lines (P <.05). Viability of LL-37 plus BCG group was higher compared with the BCG-alone group. The anti-LL-37 antibody plus BCG group had decreased cell viability compared with the BCG-alone group in both cell lines. Bladder cancer cells produce cathelicidin when infected with BCG and upregulate cathelicidin to defend against BCG by inhibiting its internalization. Blocking the action of cathelicidin may increase the internalization and effectiveness of BCG in reducing bladder cancer cell proliferation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Face to face: blocking facial mimicry can selectively impair recognition of emotional expressions.

PubMed

Oberman, Lindsay M; Winkielman, Piotr; Ramachandran, Vilayanur S

2007-01-01

People spontaneously mimic a variety of behaviors, including emotional facial expressions. Embodied cognition theories suggest that mimicry reflects internal simulation of perceived emotion in order to facilitate its understanding. If so, blocking facial mimicry should impair recognition of expressions, especially of emotions that are simulated using facial musculature. The current research tested this hypothesis using four expressions (happy, disgust, fear, and sad) and two mimicry-interfering manipulations (1) biting on a pen and (2) chewing gum, as well as two control conditions. Experiment 1 used electromyography over cheek, mouth, and nose regions. The bite manipulation consistently activated assessed muscles, whereas the chew manipulation activated muscles only intermittently. Further, expressing happiness generated most facial action. Experiment 2 found that the bite manipulation interfered most with recognition of happiness. These findings suggest that facial mimicry differentially contributes to recognition of specific facial expressions, thus allowing for more refined predictions from embodied cognition theories.

International Space Station (ISS)

NASA Image and Video Library

2001-09-16

Aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Cosmonaut and Expedition Three flight engineer Vladimir N. Dezhurov, representing Rosaviakosmos, talks with flight controllers from the Zvezda Service Module. Russian-built Zvezda is linked to the Functional Cargo Block (FGB), or Zarya, the first component of the ISS. Zarya was launched on a Russian Proton rocket prior to the launch of Unity. The third component of the ISS, Zvezda (Russian word for star), the primary Russian contribution to the ISS, was launched by a three-stage Proton rocket on July 12, 2000. Zvezda serves as the cornerstone for early human habitation of the Station, providing living quarters, a life support system, electrical power distribution, a data processing system, flight control system, and propulsion system. It also provides a communications system that includes remote command capabilities from ground flight controllers. The 42,000-pound module measures 43 feet in length and has a wing span of 98 feet. Similar in layout to the core module of Russia's Mir space station, it contains 3 pressurized compartments and 13 windows that allow ultimate viewing of Earth and space.

Exosomes derived from human macrophages suppress endothelial cell migration by controlling integrin trafficking.

PubMed

Lee, Hee Doo; Kim, Yeon Hyang; Kim, Doo-Sik

2014-04-01

Integrin trafficking, including internalization, recycling, and lysosomal degradation, is crucial for the regulation of cellular functions. Exosomes, nano-sized extracellular vesicles, are believed to play important roles in intercellular communications. This study demonstrates that exosomes released from human macrophages negatively regulate endothelial cell migration through control of integrin trafficking. Macrophage-derived exosomes promote internalization of integrin β1 in primary HUVECs. The internalized integrin β1 persistently accumulates in the perinuclear region and is not recycled back to the plasma membrane. Experimental results indicate that macrophage-derived exosomes stimulate trafficking of internalized integrin β1 to lysosomal compartments with a corresponding decrease in the integrin destined for recycling endosomes, resulting in proteolytic degradation of the integrin. Moreover, ubiquitination of HUVEC integrin β1 is enhanced by the exosomes, and exosome-mediated integrin degradation is blocked by bafilomycin A, a lysosomal degradation inhibitor. Macrophage-derived exosomes were also shown to effectively suppress collagen-induced activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway and HUVEC migration, which are both dependent on integrin β1. These observations provide new insight into the functional significance of exosomes in the regulation of integrin trafficking. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

RoBlock: a prototype autonomous manufacturing cell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baekdal, Lars K.; Balslev, Ivar; Eriksen, Rene D.; Jensen, Soren P.; Jorgensen, Bo N.; Kirstein, Brian; Kristensen, Bent B.; Olsen, Martin M.; Perram, John W.; Petersen, Henrik G.; Petersen, Morten L.; Ruhoff, Peter T.; Skjolstrup, Carl E.; Sorensen, Anders S.; Wagenaar, Jeroen M.

2000-10-01

RoBlock is the first phase of an internally financed project at the Institute aimed at building a system in which two industrial robots suspended from a gantry, as shown below, cooperate to perform a task specified by an external user, in this case, assembling an unstructured collection of colored wooden blocks into a specified 3D pattern. The blocks are identified and localized using computer vision and grasped with a suction cup mechanism. Future phases of the project will involve other processes such as grasping and lifting, as well as other types of robot such as autonomous vehicles or variable geometry trusses. Innovative features of the control software system include: The use of an advanced trajectory planning system which ensures collision avoidance based on a generalization of the method of artificial potential fields, the use of a generic model-based controller which learns the values of parameters, including static and kinetic friction, of a detailed mechanical model of itself by comparing actual with planned movements, the use of fast, flexible, and robust pattern recognition and 3D-interpretation strategies, integration of trajectory planning and control with the sensor systems in a distributed Java application running on a network of PC's attached to the individual physical components. In designing this first stage, the aim was to build in the minimum complexity necessary to make the system non-trivially autonomous and to minimize the technological risks. The aims of this project, which is planned to be operational during 2000, are as follows: To provide a platform for carrying out experimental research in multi-agent systems and autonomous manufacturing systems, to test the interdisciplinary cooperation architecture of the Maersk Institute, in which researchers in the fields of applied mathematics (modeling the physical world), software engineering (modeling the system) and sensor/actuator technology (relating the virtual and real worlds) could collaborate with systems integrators to construct intelligent, autonomous systems, and to provide a showpiece demonstrator in the entrance hall of the Institute's new building.

Optimization of block-floating-point realizations for digital controllers with finite-word-length considerations.

PubMed

Wu, Jun; Hu, Xie-he; Chen, Sheng; Chu, Jian

2003-01-01

The closed-loop stability issue of finite-precision realizations was investigated for digital controllers implemented in block-floating-point format. The controller coefficient perturbation was analyzed resulting from using finite word length (FWL) block-floating-point representation scheme. A block-floating-point FWL closed-loop stability measure was derived which considers both the dynamic range and precision. To facilitate the design of optimal finite-precision controller realizations, a computationally tractable block-floating-point FWL closed-loop stability measure was then introduced and the method of computing the value of this measure for a given controller realization was developed. The optimal controller realization is defined as the solution that maximizes the corresponding measure, and a numerical optimization approach was adopted to solve the resulting optimal realization problem. A numerical example was used to illustrate the design procedure and to compare the optimal controller realization with the initial realization.

Controlled self-assembly of conjugated rod-coil block copolymers for applications in organic optoelectronics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tao, Yuefei

Organic electronics are of great interest in manufacturing light weight, mechanical flexible, and inexpensive large area devices. While significant improvements have been made over the last several years and it is now clear that morphology on the lengthscale of exciton diffusion (10nm) is of crucial importance, a clear relationship between structure and device properties has not emerged. This lack of understanding largely emerges from an inability to control morphology on this lengthscale. This thesis will center around an approach, based on block copolymer self-assembly, to generate equilibrium nanostructures on the 10 nm lengthscale of exciton diffusion and study their effects on device performance. Self-assembly of semiconducting block copolymers is complicated by the non-classical chain shape of conjugated polymers. Unlike classical polymers, the chains do not assume a Gaussian coil shape which is stretched near block copolymer interfaces, instead the chains are elongated and liquid crystalline. Previous work has demonstrated how these new molecular interactions and shapes control the phase diagram of so-called rod-coil block copolymers. Here, we will focus on controlling domain size, orientation, and chemical structure. While domain size can be controlled directly through molecular weight, this requires significant additional synthesis of domain size is to be varied. Here, the domain size is controlled by blending homopolymers into a self-assembling rod-coil block copolymer. When coil-like blocks are incorporated, the domains swell, as expected. When rod-like blocks are incorporated, they interdigitate with the rods of the block copolymers. This results in an increase in interfacial area which forces the coils to rearrange and an overall decrease in domain size with increasing rod content. Control over lamellar orientation is crucial in order to design and control charge transport pathways and exciton recombination or separation interfaces. While numerous techniques have been demonstrated for classical block copolymers, the pi conjugation in the rod blocks allow for additional control mechanisms. Liquid crystals are traditionally aligned in magnetic fields. Here, it is demonstrated that if the rod-like blocks are aligned unidirectionally, the block copolymer interfaces follow to create macroscopic alignment of the nanostructures. Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) are generally composed of electron transporting and hole transporting moieties to balance charge recombination. Here, a new multifunctional bipolar rod-coil block copolymer containing the hole transporting and electron transporting materials is synthesized. Self-assembly of this new block copolymer results in 15nm lamellae oriented in grains both parallel and perpendicula to the anode. The self-assembled block copolymer shows superior device performance to controls consisting of a luminescent, analogous homopolymer, and a blend of the two component homopolymers. The effects of the morphologies and chemical structure on photovoltaics is explored with a rod-coil block copolymer, (poly(3-hexylthiophene-b-acrylic perylene)). By varying the kinetics of self-assembly through processing, the block copolymer can be disordered, ordered with only short range registry between the nanodomains, or with long-range order. The short range ordered samples showed the best device performance suggesting that the connectivity that is a biproduct of poor order is beneficial for device performance.

31 CFR 547.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... THE CONGO SANCTIONS REGULATIONS Prohibitions § 547.201 Prohibited transactions involving blocked... the Democratic Republic of the Congo that impedes the disarmament, repatriation, or resettlement of... children in armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in violation of applicable international...

31 CFR 547.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... THE CONGO SANCTIONS REGULATIONS Prohibitions § 547.201 Prohibited transactions involving blocked... the Democratic Republic of the Congo that impedes the disarmament, repatriation, or resettlement of... children in armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in violation of applicable international...

31 CFR 547.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... THE CONGO SANCTIONS REGULATIONS Prohibitions § 547.201 Prohibited transactions involving blocked... the Democratic Republic of the Congo that impedes the disarmament, repatriation, or resettlement of... children in armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in violation of applicable international...

31 CFR 547.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... THE CONGO SANCTIONS REGULATIONS Prohibitions § 547.201 Prohibited transactions involving blocked... the Democratic Republic of the Congo that impedes the disarmament, repatriation, or resettlement of... children in armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in violation of applicable international...

31 CFR 547.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... THE CONGO SANCTIONS REGULATIONS Prohibitions § 547.201 Prohibited transactions involving blocked... the Democratic Republic of the Congo that impedes the disarmament, repatriation, or resettlement of... children in armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in violation of applicable international...

Water Polo Game-Related Statistics in Women’s International Championships: Differences and Discriminatory Power

PubMed Central

Escalante, Yolanda; Saavedra, Jose M.; Tella, Victor; Mansilla, Mirella; García-Hermoso, Antonio; Dominguez, Ana M.

2012-01-01

The aims of this study were (i) to compare women’s water polo game-related statistics by match outcome (winning and losing teams) and phase (preliminary, classificatory, and semi-final/bronze medal/gold medal), and (ii) identify characteristics that discriminate performances for each phase. The game-related statistics of the 124 women’s matches played in five International Championships (World and European Championships) were analyzed. Differences between winning and losing teams in each phase were determined using the chi-squared. A discriminant analysis was then performed according to context in each of the three phases. It was found that the game-related statistics differentiate the winning from the losing teams in each phase of an international championship. The differentiating variables were both offensive (centre goals, power-play goals, counterattack goal, assists, offensive fouls, steals, blocked shots, and won sprints) and defensive (goalkeeper-blocked shots, goalkeeper-blocked inferiority shots, and goalkeeper-blocked 5-m shots). The discriminant analysis showed the game-related statistics to discriminate performance in all phases: preliminary, classificatory, and final phases (92%, 90%, and 83%, respectively). Two variables were discriminatory by match outcome (winning or losing teams) in all three phases: goals and goalkeeper-blocked shots. Key pointsThe preliminary phase that more than one variable was involved in this differentiation, including both offensive and defensive aspects of the game.The game-related statistics were found to have a high discriminatory power in predicting the result of matches with shots and goalkeeper-blocked shots being discriminatory variables in all three phases.Knowledge of the characteristics of women’s water polo game-related statistics of the winning teams and their power to predict match outcomes will allow coaches to take these characteristics into account when planning training and match preparation. PMID:24149356

Ultrafast Transient Absorption Spectroscopy Investigation of Photoinduced Dynamics in POLY(3-HEXYLTHIOPHENE)-BLOCK-OLIGO(ANTHRACENE-9,10-DIYL)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strain, Jacob; Rathnayake, Hemali; Liu, Jinjun

2017-06-01

Semiconducting polymer nanostructures featuring bulk heterojunction (BHJ) architecture are promising light harvesters in photovoltaic (PV) devices because they allow control of individual domain sizes, internal structure and ordering, as well as well-defined contact between the electron donor and acceptor. Power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PV devices strongly depends on photoinduced dynamics. Understanding and optimizing photoinduced charge transfer processes in BHJ's hence help improve the performance of PV devices and increase their PCE in particular. We have investigated the photoinduced dynamics of a block polymer containing moieties of poly-3-hexylthiophene (P3HT) and polyanthracene (PANT) in solution and in solid state with femtosecond transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy. The dynamics of the polymer PANT alone are also studied as a control. The TA spectra of PANT includes a strong excited state absorption centered at 610 (nm) along with a stimulated emission signal stretching past the detection limit into the UV region which is absent in the monomer's spectra in the detection window. The block polymer's TA spectra strongly resembles that of P3HT but a noticeable positive pull on P3HT's stimulated emission signal residing at 575-620 (nm) is indicative of the excited state absorption of PANT in the adjacent spectral region. The doubling of the lifetime exciton delocalization on the block polymer versus P3HT alone have alluded that the lifetime of P3HT is extended by the covalent addition of PANT. The current spectroscopic investigation represents an interesting example of photoinduced processes in systems with complex energy level structure. Studies of dependence of change generation and separation on composition, dimension, and morphology of the heterojunctions are in process.

Effects of redox and sulfhydryl reagents on the bioelectric properties of the giant axon of the squid.

PubMed

Huneeus-Cox, F; Fernandez, H L; Smith, B H

1966-09-01

The effects of internally and externally applied sulfhydryl reagents on the bioelectric properties of the giant axon of the squid Loligo pealeii and Dosidicus gigas were studied. Cysteine-HCl (400 mM, pH 7.3) was used to remove axoplasm from the perfusion channel. Oxidizing agents (1 to 60 mM) tended to increase the duration of the action potential and had a slow, irreversible blocking effect when perfused internally; the membrane potential was little affected. Reducing agents applied internally caused a decrease in the spike duration without affecting its height or the membrane potential, although at high concentrations there was reversible deterioration of the action potential. Both external and internal perfusion of mercaptide-forming reagents caused deterioration in the action and membrane potentials with conduction block occurring in 5 to 45 min. 2-mercaptoethanol reversed the effects. Thiol alkylating reagents, iodoacetate and iodoacetamide, were without effect. N-ethylmaleimide did, however, block. Tests with chelating agents for nonheme iron in the membrane brought about no change in the electrical parameters. The implications of the present findings with regard to the macromolecular mechanism of excitation are discussed.

Effects of Redox and Sulfhydryl Reagents on the Bioelectric Properties of the Giant Axon of the Squid

PubMed Central

Huneeus-Cox, F.; Fernandez, H. L.; Smith, B. H.

1966-01-01

The effects of internally and externally applied sulfhydryl reagents on the bioelectric properties of the giant axon of the squid Loligo pealeii and Dosidicus gigas were studied. Cysteine-HCl (400 mM, pH 7.3) was used to remove axoplasm from the perfusion channel. Oxidizing agents (1 to 60 mM) tended to increase the duration of the action potential and had a slow, irreversible blocking effect when perfused internally; the membrane potential was little affected. Reducing agents applied internally caused a decrease in the spike duration without affecting its height or the membrane potential, although at high concentrations there was reversible deterioration of the action potential. Both external and internal perfusion of mercaptide-forming reagents caused deterioration in the action and membrane potentials with conduction block occurring in 5 to 45 min. 2-mercaptoethanol reversed the effects. Thiol alkylating reagents, iodoacetate and iodoacetamide, were without effect. N-ethylmaleimide did, however, block. Tests with chelating agents for nonheme iron in the membrane brought about no change in the electrical parameters. The implications of the present findings with regard to the macromolecular mechanism of excitation are discussed. ImagesFigure 1 PMID:5970570

A New Built-in Self Test Scheme for Phase-Locked Loops Using Internal Digital Signals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Youbean; Kim, Kicheol; Kim, Incheol; Kang, Sungho

Testing PLLs (phase-locked loops) is becoming an important issue that affects both time-to-market and production cost of electronic systems. Though a PLL is the most common mixed-signal building block, it is very difficult to test due to internal analog blocks and signals. In this paper, we propose a new PLL BIST (built-in self test) using the distorted frequency detector that uses only internal digital signals. The proposed BIST does not need to load any analog nodes of the PLL. Therefore, it provides an efficient defect-oriented structural test scheme, reduced area overhead, and improved test quality compared with previous approaches.

n-Alkanols potentiate sodium channel inactivation in squid giant axons.

PubMed Central

Oxford, G S; Swenson, R P

1979-01-01

The effects of n-octanol and n-decanol on nerve membrane sodium channels were examined in internally perfused, voltage-clamped squid giant axons. Both n-octanol and n-decanol almost completely eliminated the residual sodium conductance at the end of 8-ms voltage steps. In contrast, peak sodium conductance was only partially reduced. This block of peak and residual sodium conductance was very reversible and seen with both internal and external alkanol application. The differential sensitivity of peak and residual conductance to alkanol treatment was eliminated after internal pronase treatment, suggesting that n-octanol and n-decanol enhance the normal inactivation mechanism rather than directly blocking channels in a time-dependent manner. PMID:233577

Systems and methods for dismantling a nuclear reactor

DOEpatents

Heim, Robert R; Adams, Scott Ryan; Cole, Matthew Denver; Kirby, William E; Linnebur, Paul Damon

2014-10-28

Systems and methods for dismantling a nuclear reactor are described. In one aspect the system includes a remotely controlled heavy manipulator ("manipulator") operatively coupled to a support structure, and a control station in a non-contaminated portion of a workspace. The support structure provides the manipulator with top down access into a bioshield of a nuclear reactor. At least one computing device in the control station provides remote control to perform operations including: (a) dismantling, using the manipulator, a graphite moderator, concrete walls, and a ceiling of the bioshield, the manipulator being provided with automated access to all internal portions of the bioshield; (b) loading, using the manipulator, contaminated graphite blocks from the graphite core and other components from the bioshield into one or more waste containers; and (c) dispersing, using the manipulator, dust suppression and contamination fixing spray to contaminated matter.

The Prevalence of Human Papilloma Virus in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

PubMed Central

Noori, Sadat; Monabati, Ahmad; Ghaderi, Abbasali

2012-01-01

Background: Carcinomas of esophagus, mostly squamous cell carcinomas, occur throughout the world. There are a number of suspected genetic or environmental etiologies. Human papilloma virus (HPV) is said to be a major etiology in areas with high incidence of esophageal carcinoma, while it is hardly detectable in low incidence regions. This study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of HPV in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cases diagnosed in Pathology Department, Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Methods: DNA material for PCR amplification of HPV genome was extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of 92 cases of ESCC, diagnosed during 20 years from 1982 to 2002. Polymerase chain reaction was performed for amplification and detection of common HPV and type specific HPV-16 and HPV-18 genomic sequences in the presence of positive control (HPV-18 and HPV positive biopsies of uterine exocervix) and additional internal controls i.e. beta-globin and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4). Result: Good amplification of positive control and internal controls was observed. However, no amplification of HPV genome was observed. Conclusion: There is no association between HPV infection and the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in the cases evaluated. PMID:23115442

Total Internal Reflection Ultrasonic Sensor for Detection of Subsurface Flaws: Research into Underlying Physics

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-11-24

layere, which was a thin plate bonded to a solid block of fused quartz. The plate was also made of fused quartz so the entire “assembly” may be... thin plate and a block of fused quartz. Residues of the lacquer Quartz plate Metal strip Epoxy layer Block of quartz Fig. 2.4.4. Specimen...depth therefore it was made as a combination of two pieces of fused quartz, a block and a thin plate , and a foreign inclusion between them. The plate was

49 CFR 236.401 - Automatic block signal system and interlocking standards applicable to traffic control systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 49 Transportation 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Automatic block signal system and interlocking standards applicable to traffic control systems. 236.401 Section 236.401 Transportation Other Regulations... block signal system and interlocking standards applicable to traffic control systems. The standards...

Loss of Proliferation and Antigen Presentation Activity following Internalization of Polydispersed Carbon Nanotubes by Primary Lung Epithelial Cells

PubMed Central

Kumari, Mandavi; Sachar, Sumedha; Saxena, Rajiv K.

2012-01-01

Interactions between poly-dispersed acid functionalized single walled carbon nanotubes (AF-SWCNTs) and primary lung epithelial (PLE) cells were studied. Peritoneal macrophages (PMs, known phagocytic cells) were used as positive controls in this study. Recovery of live cells from cultures of PLE cells and PMs was significantly reduced in the presence of AF-SWCNTs, in a time and dose dependent manner. Both PLE cells as well as PMs could take up fluorescence tagged AF-SWCNTs in a time dependent manner and this uptake was significantly blocked by cytochalasin D, an agent that blocks the activity of acto-myosin fibers and therefore the phagocytic activity of cells. Confocal microscopic studies confirmed that AF-SWCNTs were internalized by both PLE cells and PMs. Intra-trachially instilled AF-SWCNTs could also be taken up by lung epithelial cells as well as alveolar macrophages. Freshly isolated PLE cells had significant cell division activity and cell cycling studies indicated that treatment with AF-SWCNTs resulted in a marked reduction in S-phase of the cell cycle. In a previously standardized system to study BCG antigen presentation by PLE cells and PMs to sensitized T helper cells, AF-SWCNTs could significantly lower the antigen presentation ability of both cell types. These results show that mouse primary lung epithelial cells can efficiently internalize AF-SWCNTs and the uptake of nanotubes interfered with biological functions of PLE cells including their ability to present BCG antigens to sensitized T helper cells. PMID:22384094

Self-organizing layers from complex molecular anions

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

Warneke, Jonas; McBriarty, Martin E.; Riechers, Shawn L.

Ions are promising building blocks for tunable self-organizing materials with advanced technological applications. However, because of strong Coulomb attraction with counterions, the intrinsic properties of ions are difficult to exploit for preparation of bulk materials. Here, we report the precisely-controlled preparation of macroscopic surface layers by soft landing of mass selected complex anions which determine the self organization of the layers with their molecular properties. The family of halogenated dodecaborates [B12X12]2- (X = F, Cl, Br, I), in which the internal charge distribution between core and shell regions of the molecular ions systematically vary, was deposited on different self assembledmore » monolayer surfaces (SAMs) on gold at high coverage. Layers of anions were found to be stabilized by accumulation of neutral molecules. Different phases, self-organization mechanisms and optical properties were observed to depend upon the internal charge distribution of the deposited anions, the underlying surface and the coadsorbed molecules. This demonstrates rational control of the properties of anion based layers.« less

Entering the New Millennium: Dilemmas in Arms Control

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

BROWN,JAMES

The end of the Cold War finds the international community no longer divided into two opposing blocks. The concerns that the community now faces are becoming more fluid, less focused, and, in many ways, much less predictable. Issues of religion, ethnicity, and nationalism; the possible proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction; and the diffusion of technology and information processing throughout the world community have greatly changed the international security landscape in the last decade. Although our challenges appear formidable, the United Nations, State Parties, nongovernmental organizations, and the arms control community are moving to address and lessen these concerns throughmore » both formal and informal efforts. Many of the multilateral agreements (e.g., NPT, BWC, CWC, CTBT, MTCR), as well as the bilateral efforts that are taking place between Washington and Moscow employ confidence-building and transparency measures. These measures along with on-site inspection and other verification procedures lessen suspicion and distrust and reduce uncertainty, thus enhancing stability, confidence, and cooperation.« less

Tarelin uses Liulin-5 Electronic Block in the MRM-1

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-01-10

ISS034-E-021232 (10 Jan. 2013) --- Russian cosmonaut Evgeny Tarelkin, Expedition 34 flight engineer, looks at his watch while using the Liulin-5 Electronic Block behind a panel in the Rassvet Mini-Research Module 1 (MRM1) of the International Space Station.

Similarities in transcription factor IIIC subunits that bind to the posterior regions of internal promoters for RNA polymerase III.

PubMed

Matsutani, Sachiko

2004-08-09

In eukaryotes, RNA polymerase III (RNAP III) transcribes the genes for small RNAs like tRNAs, 5S rRNA, and several viral RNAs, and short interspersed repetitive elements (SINEs). The genes for these RNAs and SINEs have internal promoters that consist of two regions. These two regions are called the A and B blocks. The multisubunit transcription factor TFIIIC is required for transcription initiation of RNAP III; in transcription of tRNAs, the B-block binding subunit of TFIIIC recognizes a promoter. Although internal promoter sequences are conserved in eukaryotes, no evidence of homology between the B-block binding subunits of vertebrates and yeasts has been reported previously. Here, I reported the results of PSI-BLAST searches using the B-block binding subunits of human and Shizosacchromyces pombe as queries, showing that the same Arabidopsis proteins were hit with low E-values in both searches. Comparison of the convergent iterative alignments obtained by these PSI-BLAST searches revealed that the vertebrate, yeast, and Arabidopsis proteins have similarities in their N-terminal one-third regions. In these regions, there were three domains with conserved sequence similarities, one located in the N-terminal end region. The N-terminal end region of the B-block binding subunit of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is tentatively identified as a HMG box, which is the DNA binding motif. Although I compared the alignment of the N-terminal end regions of the B-block binding subunits, and their homologs, with that of the HMG boxes, it is not clear whether they are related. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using the small subunit rRNA and ubiquitous proteins like actin and alpha-tubulin, show that fungi are more closely related to animals than either is to plants. Interestingly, the results obtained in this study show that, with respect to the B-block binding subunits of TFIIICs, animals appear to be evolutionarily closer to plants than to fungi.

On the late-time behavior of Virasoro blocks and a classification of semiclassical saddles

DOE PAGES

Fitzpatrick, A. Liam; Kaplan, Jared

2017-04-12

Recent work has demonstrated that black hole thermodynamics and information loss/restoration in AdS 3/CFT 2 can be derived almost entirely from the behavior of the Virasoro conformal blocks at large central charge, with relatively little dependence on the precise details of the CFT spectrum or OPE coefficients. Here, we elaborate on the non-perturbative behavior of Virasoro blocks by classifying all ‘saddles’ that can contribute for arbitrary values of external and internal operator dimensions in the semiclassical large central charge limit. The leading saddles, which determine the naive semiclassical behavior of the Virasoro blocks, all decay exponentially at late times, andmore » at a rate that is independent of internal operator dimensions. Consequently, the semiclassical contribution of a finite number of high-energy states cannot resolve a well-known version of the information loss problem in AdS 3. Furthermore, we identify two infinite classes of sub-leading saddles, and one of these classes does not decay at late times.« less

On the late-time behavior of Virasoro blocks and a classification of semiclassical saddles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fitzpatrick, A. Liam; Kaplan, Jared

2017-04-01

Recent work has demonstrated that black hole thermodynamics and information loss/restoration in AdS3/CFT2 can be derived almost entirely from the behavior of the Virasoro conformal blocks at large central charge, with relatively little dependence on the precise details of the CFT spectrum or OPE coefficients. Here, we elaborate on the non-perturbative behavior of Virasoro blocks by classifying all `saddles' that can contribute for arbitrary values of external and internal operator dimensions in the semiclassical large central charge limit. The leading saddles, which determine the naive semiclassical behavior of the Virasoro blocks, all decay exponentially at late times, and at a rate that is independent of internal operator dimensions. Consequently, the semiclassical contribution of a finite number of high-energy states cannot resolve a well-known version of the information loss problem in AdS3. However, we identify two infinite classes of sub-leading saddles, and one of these classes does not decay at late times.

Modeling haplotype block variation using Markov chains.

PubMed

Greenspan, G; Geiger, D

2006-04-01

Models of background variation in genomic regions form the basis of linkage disequilibrium mapping methods. In this work we analyze a background model that groups SNPs into haplotype blocks and represents the dependencies between blocks by a Markov chain. We develop an error measure to compare the performance of this model against the common model that assumes that blocks are independent. By examining data from the International Haplotype Mapping project, we show how the Markov model over haplotype blocks is most accurate when representing blocks in strong linkage disequilibrium. This contrasts with the independent model, which is rendered less accurate by linkage disequilibrium. We provide a theoretical explanation for this surprising property of the Markov model and relate its behavior to allele diversity.

Modeling Haplotype Block Variation Using Markov Chains

PubMed Central

Greenspan, G.; Geiger, D.

2006-01-01

Models of background variation in genomic regions form the basis of linkage disequilibrium mapping methods. In this work we analyze a background model that groups SNPs into haplotype blocks and represents the dependencies between blocks by a Markov chain. We develop an error measure to compare the performance of this model against the common model that assumes that blocks are independent. By examining data from the International Haplotype Mapping project, we show how the Markov model over haplotype blocks is most accurate when representing blocks in strong linkage disequilibrium. This contrasts with the independent model, which is rendered less accurate by linkage disequilibrium. We provide a theoretical explanation for this surprising property of the Markov model and relate its behavior to allele diversity. PMID:16361244

Analysis of Full-Test tools and their limitations as applied to terminal junction blocks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, J. L.

1983-01-01

Discovery of unlocked contacts in Deutsch Block terminal junctions in Solid Rocket Booster flight hardware prompted an investigation into pull test techniques to help insure against possible failures. Internal frictional forces between socket and pin and between wire and grommet were examined. Pull test force must be greater than internal friction yet less than the crimp strength of the pin or socket. For this reason, a 100 percent accurate test is impossible. Test tools were evaluated. Available tools are adequate for pull testing.

Entangling spin-spin interactions of ions in individually controlled potential wells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilson, Andrew; Colombe, Yves; Brown, Kenton; Knill, Emanuel; Leibfried, Dietrich; Wineland, David

2014-03-01

Physical systems that cannot be modeled with classical computers appear in many different branches of science, including condensed-matter physics, statistical mechanics, high-energy physics, atomic physics and quantum chemistry. Despite impressive progress on the control and manipulation of various quantum systems, implementation of scalable devices for quantum simulation remains a formidable challenge. As one approach to scalability in simulation, here we demonstrate an elementary building-block of a configurable quantum simulator based on atomic ions. Two ions are trapped in separate potential wells that can individually be tailored to emulate a number of different spin-spin couplings mediated by the ions' Coulomb interaction together with classical laser and microwave fields. We demonstrate deterministic tuning of this interaction by independent control of the local wells and emulate a particular spin-spin interaction to entangle the internal states of the two ions with 0.81(2) fidelity. Extension of the building-block demonstrated here to a 2D-network, which ion-trap micro-fabrication processes enable, may provide a new quantum simulator architecture with broad flexibility in designing and scaling the arrangement of ions and their mutual interactions. This research was funded by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), ONR, and the NIST Quantum Information Program.

Blocked versus randomized presentation modes differentially modulate feedback-related negativity and P3b amplitudes.

PubMed

Pfabigan, Daniela M; Zeiler, Michael; Lamm, Claus; Sailer, Uta

2014-04-01

Electrophysiological studies on feedback processing typically use a wide range of feedback stimuli which might not always be comparable. The current study investigated whether two indicators of feedback processing - feedback-related negativity (FRN) and P3b - differ for feedback stimuli with explicit (facial expressions) or assigned valence information (symbols). In addition, we assessed whether presenting feedback in either a trial-by-trial or a block-wise fashion affected these ERPs. EEG was recorded in three experiments while participants performed a time estimation task and received two different types of performance feedback. Only P3b amplitudes varied consistently in response to feedback type for both presentation types. Moreover, the blocked feedback type presentation yielded more distinct FRN peaks, higher effect sizes, and a significant relation between FRN amplitudes and behavioral task performance measures. Both stimulus type and presentation mode may provoke systematic changes in feedback-related ERPs. The current findings point at important potential confounds that need to be controlled for when designing FRN or P3b studies. Studies investigating P3b amplitudes using mixed types of stimuli have to be interpreted with caution. Furthermore, we suggest implementing a blocked presentation format when presenting different feedback types within the same experiment. Copyright © 2013 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Randomized Trial of Displaying Paid Price Information on Imaging Study and Procedure Ordering Rates.

PubMed

Chien, Alyna T; Lehmann, Lisa Soleymani; Hatfield, Laura A; Koplan, Kate E; Petty, Carter R; Sinaiko, Anna D; Rosenthal, Meredith B; Sequist, Thomas D

2017-04-01

Prior studies have demonstrated how price transparency lowers the test-ordering rates of trainees in hospitals, and physician-targeted price transparency efforts have been viewed as a promising cost-controlling strategy. To examine the effect of displaying paid-price information on test-ordering rates for common imaging studies and procedures within an accountable care organization (ACO). Block randomized controlled trial for 1 year. A total of 1205 fully licensed clinicians (728 primary care, 477 specialists). Starting January 2014, clinicians in the Control arm received no price display; those in the intervention arms received Single or Paired Internal/External Median Prices in the test-ordering screen of their electronic health record. Internal prices were the amounts paid by insurers for the ACO's services; external paid prices were the amounts paid by insurers for the same services when delivered by unaffiliated providers. Ordering rates (orders per 100 face-to-face encounters with adult patients): overall, designated to be completed internally within the ACO, considered "inappropriate" (e.g., MRI for simple headache), and thought to be "appropriate" (e.g., screening colonoscopy). We found no significant difference in overall ordering rates across the Control, Single Median Price, or Paired Internal/External Median Prices study arms. For every 100 encounters, clinicians in the Control arm ordered 15.0 (SD 31.1) tests, those in the Single Median Price arm ordered 15.0 (SD 16.2) tests, and those in the Paired Prices arms ordered 15.7 (SD 20.5) tests (one-way ANOVA p-value 0.88). There was no difference in ordering rates for tests designated to be completed internally or considered to be inappropriate or appropriate. Displaying paid-price information did not alter how frequently primary care and specialist clinicians ordered imaging studies and procedures within an ACO. Those with a particular interest in removing waste from the health care system may want to consider a variety of contextual factors that can affect physician-targeted price transparency.

Mosquito larvicidal effectiveness of EcoBio-Block S: a novel integrated water-purifying concrete block formulation containing insect growth regulator pyriproxyfen.

PubMed

Kawada, Hitoshi; Saita, Susumu; Shimabukuro, Kozue; Hirano, Masachika; Koga, Masayuki; Iwashita, Toshiaki; Takagi, Masahiro

2006-09-01

EcoBio-Block S, a novel controlled release system (CRS) for the insect growth regulator pyriproxyfen, uses a water-purifying concrete block system (EcoBio-Block) composed of a porous volcanic rock and cement, and it incorporates the aerobic bacterial groups of Bacillus subtilis natto. EcoBio-Block S showed high inhibitory activity against mosquito emergence as well as a water-purifying effect. Chemical analysis and bioassay showed that EcoBio-Block S provides a high-performance CRS that controls the release of pyriproxyfen at low levels according to "zero order kinetics".

75 FR 12000 - Unblocking of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-12

... alia, of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706) (``IEEPA''), issued... of State: (a) To play a significant role in international narcotics trafficking centered in Colombia...

Update on GPS Modernization Efforts

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-06-11

International Committee On Global Navigation Satellite Systems ( GNSS ) Department of Transportation • Federal Aviation Administration Satellite Block...90 for GNSS International Cooperation • 57 Authorized Allied Users - 25+ Years of Cooperation • GNSS - Europe - Galilee - China - COMPASS

Control analysis of lipid biosynthesis in tissue cultures from oil crops shows that flux control is shared between fatty acid synthesis and lipid assembly.

PubMed Central

Ramli, Umi S; Baker, Darren S; Quant, Patti A; Harwood, John L

2002-01-01

Top-Down (Metabolic) Control Analysis (TDCA) was used to examine, quantitatively, lipid biosynthesis in tissue cultures from two commercially important oil crops, olive (Olea europaea L.) and oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.). A conceptually simplified system was defined comprising two blocks of reactions: fatty acid synthesis (Block A) and lipid assembly (Block B), which produced and consumed, respectively, a common and unique system intermediate, cytosolic acyl-CoA. We manipulated the steady-state levels of the system intermediate by adding exogenous oleic acid and, using two independent assays, measured the effect of the addition on the system fluxes (J(A) and J(B)). These were the rate of incorporation of radioactivity: (i) through Block A from [1-(14)C]acetate into fatty acids and (ii) via Block B from [U-(14)C]glycerol into complex lipids respectively. The data showed that fatty acid formation (Block A) exerted higher control than lipid assembly (Block B) in both tissues with the following group flux control coefficients (C):(i) Oil palm: *C(J(TL))(BlkA)=0.64+/-0.05 and *C(J(TL))(BlkB)=0.36+/-0.05(ii) Olive: *C(J(TL))(BlkA)=0.57+/-0.10 and *C(J(TL))(BlkB)=0.43+/-0.10where *C indicates the group flux control coefficient over the lipid biosynthesis flux (J(TL)) and the subscripts BlkA and BlkB refer to defined blocks of the system, Block A and Block B. Nevertheless, because both parts of the lipid biosynthetic pathway exert significant flux control, we suggest strongly that manipulation of single enzyme steps will not affect product yield appreciably. The present study represents the first use of TDCA to examine the overall lipid biosynthetic pathway in any tissue, and its findings are of immediate academic and economic relevance to the yield and nutritional quality of oil crops. PMID:12023882

49 CFR 236.511 - Cab signals controlled in accordance with block conditions stopping distance in advance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 49 Transportation 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Cab signals controlled in accordance with block conditions stopping distance in advance. 236.511 Section 236.511 Transportation Other Regulations Relating to... § 236.511 Cab signals controlled in accordance with block conditions stopping distance in advance. The...

Method for Making a Carbon-Carbon Cylinder Block

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ransone, Phillip O. (Inventor)

1997-01-01

A method for making a lightweight cylinder block composed of carbon-carbon is disclosed. The use of carbon-carbon over conventional materials. such as cast iron or aluminum, reduces the weight of the cylinder block and improves thermal efficiency of the internal combustion reciprocating engine. Due to the negligible coefficient of thermal expansion and unique strength at elevated temperatures of carbon-carbon, the piston-to-cylinder wall clearance can be small, especially when the carbon-carbon cylinder block is used in conjunction with a carbon-carbon piston. Use of the carbon-carbon cylinder block has the effect of reducing the weight of other reciprocating engine components allowing the piston to run at higher speeds and improving specific engine performance.

Assembly of RNA nanostructures on supported lipid bilayers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dabkowska, Aleksandra P.; Michanek, Agnes; Jaeger, Luc; Rabe, Michael; Chworos, Arkadiusz; Höök, Fredrik; Nylander, Tommy; Sparr, Emma

2014-12-01

The assembly of nucleic acid nanostructures with controlled size and shape has large impact in the fields of nanotechnology, nanomedicine and synthetic biology. The directed arrangement of nano-structures at interfaces is important for many applications. In spite of this, the use of laterally mobile lipid bilayers to control RNA three-dimensional nanostructure formation on surfaces remains largely unexplored. Here, we direct the self-assembly of RNA building blocks into three-dimensional structures of RNA on fluid lipid bilayers composed of cationic 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP) or mixtures of zwitterionic 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DOPC) and cationic sphingosine. We demonstrate the stepwise supramolecular assembly of discrete building blocks through specific and selective RNA-RNA interactions, based on results from quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D), ellipsometry, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRF) experiments. The assembly can be controlled to give a densely packed single layer of RNA polyhedrons at the fluid lipid bilayer surface. We show that assembly of the 3D structure can be modulated by sequence specific interactions, surface charge and changes in the salt composition and concentration. In addition, the tertiary structure of the RNA polyhedron can be controllably switched from an extended structure to one that is dense and compact. The versatile approach to building up three-dimensional structures of RNA does not require modification of the surface or the RNA molecules, and can be used as a bottom-up means of nanofabrication of functionalized bio-mimicking surfaces.The assembly of nucleic acid nanostructures with controlled size and shape has large impact in the fields of nanotechnology, nanomedicine and synthetic biology. The directed arrangement of nano-structures at interfaces is important for many applications. In spite of this, the use of laterally mobile lipid bilayers to control RNA three-dimensional nanostructure formation on surfaces remains largely unexplored. Here, we direct the self-assembly of RNA building blocks into three-dimensional structures of RNA on fluid lipid bilayers composed of cationic 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP) or mixtures of zwitterionic 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DOPC) and cationic sphingosine. We demonstrate the stepwise supramolecular assembly of discrete building blocks through specific and selective RNA-RNA interactions, based on results from quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D), ellipsometry, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRF) experiments. The assembly can be controlled to give a densely packed single layer of RNA polyhedrons at the fluid lipid bilayer surface. We show that assembly of the 3D structure can be modulated by sequence specific interactions, surface charge and changes in the salt composition and concentration. In addition, the tertiary structure of the RNA polyhedron can be controllably switched from an extended structure to one that is dense and compact. The versatile approach to building up three-dimensional structures of RNA does not require modification of the surface or the RNA molecules, and can be used as a bottom-up means of nanofabrication of functionalized bio-mimicking surfaces. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Table with sequences of tRNA units used in this study; schematic structures of the RNA polyhedron and its building blocks; gel electrophoresis characterization of the RNA polyhedron and squares; AFM characterization of RNA tectosquare; schematic structures of RNA-9 and RNA-10 and their association with lipid bilayers; QCM-D frequency and dissipation data (as function of time) for adsorption of RNA polyhedrons, RNA squares and RNA9-10 TIRF images of RNA with Gelstar after photobleaching with analysis; Correlation plot in change of shear viscosity for TS3 and TO3-4 models for the stoichiometry of TS; QCM-D dissipation data for the sequential experiment in Fig. 5a; QCM-D and for the assembly of building blocks at the bilayer scaffold at varying bulk concentrations; QCM-D of adsorption of TS3. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr05968a

Nuclear reactor internals alignment configuration

DOEpatents

Gilmore, Charles B [Greensburg, PA; Singleton, Norman R [Murrysville, PA

2009-11-10

An alignment system that employs jacking block assemblies and alignment posts around the periphery of the top plate of a nuclear reactor lower internals core shroud to align an upper core plate with the lower internals and the core shroud with the core barrel. The distal ends of the alignment posts are chamfered and are closely received within notches machined in the upper core plate at spaced locations around the outer circumference of the upper core plate. The jacking block assemblies are used to center the core shroud in the core barrel and the alignment posts assure the proper orientation of the upper core plate. The alignment posts may alternately be formed in the upper core plate and the notches may be formed in top plate.

Seismic responses and controlling factors of Miocene deepwater gravity-flow deposits in Block A, Lower Congo Basin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Linlin; Wang, Zhenqi; Yu, Shui; Ngia, Ngong Roger

2016-08-01

The Miocene deepwater gravity-flow sedimentary system in Block A of the southwestern part of the Lower Congo Basin was identified and interpreted using high-resolution 3-D seismic, drilling and logging data to reveal development characteristics and main controlling factors. Five types of deepwater gravity-flow sedimentary units have been identified in the Miocene section of Block A, including mass transport, deepwater channel, levee, abandoned channel and sedimentary lobe deposits. Each type of sedimentary unit has distinct external features, internal structures and lateral characteristics in seismic profiles. Mass transport deposits (MTDs) in particular correspond to chaotic low-amplitude reflections in contact with mutants on both sides. The cross section of deepwater channel deposits in the seismic profile is in U- or V-shape. The channel deposits change in ascending order from low-amplitude, poor-continuity, chaotic filling reflections at the bottom, to high-amplitude, moderate to poor continuity, chaotic or sub-parallel reflections in the middle section and to moderate-weak amplitude, good continuity, parallel or sub-parallel reflections in the upper section. The sedimentary lobes are laterally lobate, which corresponds to high-amplitude, good-continuity, moundy reflection signatures in the seismic profile. Due to sediment flux, faults, and inherited terrain, few mass transport deposits occur in the northeastern part of the study area. The front of MTDs is mainly composed of channel-levee complex deposits, while abandoned-channel and lobe-deposits are usually developed in high-curvature channel sections and the channel terminals, respectively. The distribution of deepwater channel, levee, abandoned channel and sedimentary lobe deposits is predominantly controlled by relative sea level fluctuations and to a lesser extent by tectonism and inherited terrain.

Measuring strategic control in artificial grammar learning.

PubMed

Norman, Elisabeth; Price, Mark C; Jones, Emma

2011-12-01

In response to concerns with existing procedures for measuring strategic control over implicit knowledge in artificial grammar learning (AGL), we introduce a more stringent measurement procedure. After two separate training blocks which each consisted of letter strings derived from a different grammar, participants either judged the grammaticality of novel letter strings with respect to only one of these two grammars (pure-block condition), or had the target grammar varying randomly from trial to trial (novel mixed-block condition) which required a higher degree of conscious flexible control. Random variation in the colour and font of letters was introduced to disguise the nature of the rule and reduce explicit learning. Strategic control was observed both in the pure-block and mixed-block conditions, and even among participants who did not realise the rule was based on letter identity. This indicated detailed strategic control in the absence of explicit learning. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Percussive arc welding apparatus

DOEpatents

Hollar, Jr., Donald L.

2002-01-01

A percussive arc welding apparatus includes a generally cylindrical actuator body having front and rear end portions and defining an internal recess. The front end of the body includes an opening. A solenoid assembly is provided in the rear end portion in the internal recess of the body, and an actuator shaft assembly is provided in the front end portion in the internal recess of the actuator body. The actuator shaft assembly includes a generally cylindrical actuator block having first and second end portions, and an actuator shaft having a front end extending through the opening in the actuator body, and the rear end connected to the first end portion of the actuator block. The second end portion of the actuator block is in operational engagement with the solenoid shaft by a non-rigid connection to reduce the adverse rebound effects of the actuator shaft. A generally transversely extending pin is rigidly secured to the rear end of the shaft. One end of the pin is received in a slot in the nose housing sleeve to prevent rotation of the actuator shaft during operation of the apparatus.

Protein based Block Copolymers

PubMed Central

Rabotyagova, Olena S.; Cebe, Peggy; Kaplan, David L.

2011-01-01

Advances in genetic engineering have led to the synthesis of protein-based block copolymers with control of chemistry and molecular weight, resulting in unique physical and biological properties. The benefits from incorporating peptide blocks into copolymer designs arise from the fundamental properties of proteins to adopt ordered conformations and to undergo self-assembly, providing control over structure formation at various length scales when compared to conventional block copolymers. This review covers the synthesis, structure, assembly, properties, and applications of protein-based block copolymers. PMID:21235251

Simultaneous optimisation of earwig hindwings for flight and folding

PubMed Central

Deiters, Julia; Kowalczyk, Wojciech; Seidl, Tobias

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Earwig wings are highly foldable structures that lack internal muscles. The behaviour and shape changes of the wings during flight are yet unknown. We assume that they meet a great structural challenge to control the occurring deformations and prevent the wing from collapsing. At the folding structures especially, the wing could easily yield to the pressure. Detailed microscopy studies reveal adaptions in the structure and material which are not relevant for folding purposes. The wing is parted into two structurally different areas with, for example, a different trend or stiffness of the wing veins. The storage of stiff or more flexible material shows critical areas which undergo great changes or stress during flight. We verified this with high-speed video recordings. These reveal the extent of the occurring deformations and their locations, and support our assumptions. The video recordings reveal a dynamical change of a concave flexion line. In the static unfolded state, this flexion line blocks a folding line, so that the wing stays unfolded. However, during flight it extends and blocks a second critical folding line and prevents the wing from collapsing. With these results, more insight in passive wing control, especially within high foldable structures, is gained. PMID:27113958

Receptor-mediated internalization of [3H]-neurotensin in synaptosomal preparations from rat neostriatum.

PubMed

Nguyen, Ha Minh Ky; Cahill, Catherine M; McPherson, Peter S; Beaudet, Alain

2002-06-01

Following its binding to somatodendritic receptors, the neuropeptide neurotensin (NT) internalizes via a clathrin-mediated process. In the present study, we investigated whether NT also internalizes presynaptically using synaptosomes from rat neostriatum, a region in which NT1 receptors are virtually all presynaptic. Binding of [(3)H]-NT to striatal synaptosomes in the presence of levocabastine to block NT2 receptors is specific, saturable, and has NT1 binding properties. A significant fraction of the bound radioactivity is resistant to hypertonic acid wash indicating that it is internalized. Internalization of [(3)H]-NT, like that of [(125)I]-transferrin, is blocked by sucrose and low temperature, consistent with endocytosis occurring via a clathrin-dependent pathway. However, contrary to what was reported at the somatodendritic level, neither [(3)H]-NT nor [(125)I]-transferrin internalization in synaptosomes is sensitive to the endocytosis inhibitor phenylarsine oxide. Moreover, treatment of synaptosomes with monensin, which prevents internalized receptors from recycling to the plasma membrane, reduces [(3)H]-NT binding and internalization, suggesting that presynaptic NT1 receptors, in contrast to somatodendritic ones, are recycled back to the plasma membrane. Taken together, these results suggest that NT internalizes in nerve terminals via an endocytic pathway that is related to, but is mechanistically distinct from that responsible for NT internalization in nerve cell bodies.

A time-domain decomposition iterative method for the solution of distributed linear quadratic optimal control problems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heinkenschloss, Matthias

2005-01-01

We study a class of time-domain decomposition-based methods for the numerical solution of large-scale linear quadratic optimal control problems. Our methods are based on a multiple shooting reformulation of the linear quadratic optimal control problem as a discrete-time optimal control (DTOC) problem. The optimality conditions for this DTOC problem lead to a linear block tridiagonal system. The diagonal blocks are invertible and are related to the original linear quadratic optimal control problem restricted to smaller time-subintervals. This motivates the application of block Gauss-Seidel (GS)-type methods for the solution of the block tridiagonal systems. Numerical experiments show that the spectral radii of the block GS iteration matrices are larger than one for typical applications, but that the eigenvalues of the iteration matrices decay to zero fast. Hence, while the GS method is not expected to convergence for typical applications, it can be effective as a preconditioner for Krylov-subspace methods. This is confirmed by our numerical tests.A byproduct of this research is the insight that certain instantaneous control techniques can be viewed as the application of one step of the forward block GS method applied to the DTOC optimality system.

The lysosome as a command-and-control center for cellular metabolism

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Lysosomes are membrane-bound organelles found in every eukaryotic cell. They are widely known as terminal catabolic stations that rid cells of waste products and scavenge metabolic building blocks that sustain essential biosynthetic reactions during starvation. In recent years, this classical view has been dramatically expanded by the discovery of new roles of the lysosome in nutrient sensing, transcriptional regulation, and metabolic homeostasis. These discoveries have elevated the lysosome to a decision-making center involved in the control of cellular growth and survival. Here we review these recently discovered properties of the lysosome, with a focus on how lysosomal signaling pathways respond to external and internal cues and how they ultimately enable metabolic homeostasis and cellular adaptation. PMID:27621362

Ultrasound-guided Combined Fascial Plane Blocks as an Intervention for Pain Management after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Control Study

PubMed Central

Ramkiran, Seshadri; Jacob, Mathews; Honwad, Manish; Vivekanand, Desiraju; Krishnakumar, Mathangi; Patrikar, Seema

2018-01-01

Background: Pain associated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy is most severe during the first 24 h and the port sites are the most painful. Recent multimodal approaches target incisional pain instead of visceral pain which has led to the emergence of abdominal fascial plane blocks. This study embraces a novel combination of two independently effective fascial plane blocks, namely rectus sheath block and subcostal transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block to alleviate postoperative pain. Study Objective: The aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of the combination of rectus sheath block and subcostal TAP block, to compare its efficacy with that of subcostal TAP block alone and with conventional port site infiltration (PSI) in alleviating postoperative pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methodology: This prospective, randomized control, pilot study included 61 patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy and distributed among three groups, namely Group 1: Combined subcostal TAP block with rectus sheath block (n = 20); Group 2: Oblique subcostal TAP block alone (n = 21); and Group 3: PSI group as an active control (n = 20). Results: Combined group had significantly lower pain scores, higher satisfaction scores, and reduced rescue analgesia both in early and late postoperative periods than the conventional PSI group. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided combined fascial plane blocks is a novel intervention in pain management of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy and should become the standard of care. PMID:29628547

Controlling the crystalline three-dimensional order in bulk materials by single-wall carbon nanotubes.

PubMed

López-Andarias, Javier; López, Juan Luis; Atienza, Carmen; Brunetti, Fulvio G; Romero-Nieto, Carlos; Guldi, Dirk M; Martín, Nazario

2014-04-29

The construction of ordered single-wall carbon nanotube soft-materials at the nanoscale is currently an important challenge in science. Here we use single-wall carbon nanotubes as a tool to gain control over the crystalline ordering of three-dimensional bulk materials composed of suitably functionalized molecular building blocks. We prepare p-type nanofibres from tripeptide and pentapeptide-containing small molecules, which are covalently connected to both carboxylic and electron-donating 9,10-di(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)-9,10-dihydroanthracene termini. Adding small amounts of single-wall carbon nanotubes to the so-prepared p-nanofibres together with the externally controlled self assembly by charge screening by means of Ca(2+) results in new and stable single-wall carbon nanotube-based supramolecular gels featuring remarkably long-range internal order.

Mechanical properties and internal fit of 4 CAD-CAM block materials.

PubMed

Goujat, Alexis; Abouelleil, Hazem; Colon, Pierre; Jeannin, Christophe; Pradelle, Nelly; Seux, Dominique; Grosgogeat, Brigitte

2018-03-01

Recent polymer-based computer-assisted design and computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD-CAM) materials have been commercialized for inlay restorations, a polymer-infiltrated ceramic-network (PICN) and composite resin nanoceramics. Little independent evidence regarding their mechanical properties exists. Internal adaptation is an important factor for the clinical success and longevity of a restoration, and data concerning this parameter for inlays made with these blocks are scarce. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate and compare the mechanical properties (flexural strength, flexural modulus, Vickers hardness, fracture toughness) and the internal adaptation of these recent polymer-based blocks with a lithium disilicate glass-ceramic block. The materials tested in this study were a PICN material (Vita Enamic), 2 composite resin nanoceramics (Lava Ultimate; 3M ESPE and Cerasmart; GCDental Products), and a lithium disilicate glass-ceramic (IPS e.max CAD). Mechanical properties were evaluated according to ISO norm DIS 6872:2013. Bar-shaped specimens (18×3×3 mm) were prepared and submitted to a 3-point bend test using a universal testing machine at a cross-head speed of 0.5 mm/min. In addition, identical cavities were prepared in 60 human mandibular extracted molars (n=15) and optically scanned to receive mesioocclusodistal inlays milled with the 4 materials tested in a CEREC Inlab milling machine. The replica technique and a stereomicroscope (×20) were used to measure the internal fit of the inlays at 9 preselected locations. All data were statistically analyzed using 1-way ANOVA and the post hoc Tukey multiple comparison or Games-Howell test (α=.05). The mean flexural strength of the tested blocks ranged from 148.7 ±9.5 MPa (Vita Enamic) to 216.5 ±28.3 MPa (Cerasmart). The mean flexural modulus ranged from 23.3 ±6.4 GPa (Vita Enamic) to 52.8 ±10.5 GPa (IPS e.max CAD). The mean Vickers hardness ranged from 0.66 ±0.02 GPa (Cerasmart) to 5.98 ±0.69 GPa (IPS e.max CAD). The mean fracture toughness ranged from 1.2 ±0.17 MPa.m 1/2 (Cerasmart) to 1.8 ±0.29 MPa.m 1/2 (IPS e.max CAD). The values for internal discrepancy ranged from 119 ±55 μm to 234 ±51 μm. The mean internal discrepancy was significantly higher for Lava Ultimate (P<.05) than IPS e.max CAD and Cerasmart but not for Vita Enamic. The factor ''material'' was statistically significant in relation to the mechanical properties evaluated in this study (P<.05). The Pearson correlation was negative between the flexural strength results and the internal discrepancy of the materials tested (R 2 =0.941; P<.05). The mechanical properties of the CAD-CAM block materials tested were within the acceptable range for fabrication of single restorations according to the ISO standard for ceramics (ISO 6872:2008). IPS e.max CAD and Cerasmart were observed to have superior flexural strength and better internal fit. Copyright © 2017 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Comparison of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Parasternal Block for Postoperative Pain Management after Cardiac Surgery

PubMed Central

Ozturk, Nilgun Kavrut; Baki, Elif Dogan; Kavakli, Ali Sait; Sahin, Ayca Sultan; Ayoglu, Raif Umut; Karaveli, Arzu; Emmiler, Mustafa; Inanoglu, Kerem; Karsli, Bilge

2016-01-01

Background. Parasternal block and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) have been demonstrated to produce effective analgesia and reduce postoperative opioid requirements in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Objectives. To compare the effectiveness of TENS and parasternal block on early postoperative pain after cardiac surgery. Methods. One hundred twenty patients undergoing cardiac surgery were enrolled in the present randomized, controlled prospective study. Patients were assigned to three treatment groups: parasternal block, intermittent TENS application, or a control group. Results. Pain scores recorded 4 h, 5 h, 6 h, 7 h, and 8 h postoperatively were lower in the parasternal block group than in the TENS and control groups. Total morphine consumption was also lower in the parasternal block group than in the TENS and control groups. It was also significantly lower in the TENS group than in the control group. There were no statistical differences among the groups regarding the extubation time, rescue analgesic medication, length of intensive care unit stay, or length of hospital stay. Conclusions. Parasternal block was more effective than TENS in the management of early postoperative pain and the reduction of opioid requirements in patients who underwent cardiac surgery through median sternotomy. This trial is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov number NCT02725229. PMID:27445610

Something's Wrong Here and It's Not Me: Challenging the Dilemmas that Block Girls' Success.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bell, Lee Anne

1989-01-01

A group of high-potential girls in grades three-six met with researchers to discuss internal barriers to female achievement. Dilemmas identified as blocking girls' success in school included: smart versus social, silence versus bragging, failure versus perfection, media beauty versus marginality, passive versus aggressive, conforming versus being…

Action of CMG with strand-specific DNA blocks supports an internal unwinding mode for the eukaryotic replicative helicase

PubMed Central

Langston, Lance; O’Donnell, Mike

2017-01-01

Replicative helicases are ring-shaped hexamers that encircle DNA for duplex unwinding. The currently accepted view of hexameric helicase function is by steric exclusion, where the helicase encircles one DNA strand and excludes the other, acting as a wedge with an external DNA unwinding point during translocation. Accordingly, strand-specific blocks only affect these helicases when placed on the tracking strand, not the excluded strand. We examined the effect of blocks on the eukaryotic CMG and, contrary to expectations, blocks on either strand inhibit CMG unwinding. A recent cryoEM structure of yeast CMG shows that duplex DNA enters the helicase and unwinding occurs in the central channel. The results of this report inform important aspects of the structure, and we propose that CMG functions by a modified steric exclusion process in which both strands enter the helicase and the duplex unwinding point is internal, followed by exclusion of the non-tracking strand. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.23449.001 PMID:28346143

Final Technical Report DE-FG02-02ER45999

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

Dunbar, Kim

Over the course of this period of funding, the PI published 62 papers and graduated 15 Ph.D. students supported by the grant. In addition 17 undergraduate students, 10 postdocs and 16 Visiting Scholars were also involved in this research. Over 150 talks at national and international conferences on the topic were given by the PI and her research group. Research topics included the following: geometrical and electronic control of anisotropy in mononuclear complexes, incorporation of titanium ions into magnetic materials, trans-dicyanide building blocks for chains, cyanometallate chemistry of highly anisotropic metal ions, and compounds with dianionic organocyanide ligands.

Impact of a Video-Based Interactive Workshop on Unprofessional Behaviors Among Internal Medicine Residents.

PubMed

Didwania, Aashish; Farnan, Jeanne M; Icayan, Liza; O'Leary, Kevin J; Saathoff, Mark; Bellam, Shashi; Humphrey, Holly J; Wayne, Diane B; Arora, Vineet M

2017-04-01

Unprofessional behaviors undermine the hospital learning environment and the quality of patient care. To assess the impact of an interactive workshop on the perceptions of and self-reported participation in unprofessional behaviors. We conducted a pre-post survey study at 3 internal medicine residency programs. For the workshop we identified unprofessional behaviors related to on-call etiquette: "blocking" an admission, disparaging a colleague, and misrepresenting a test as urgent. Formal debriefing tools were utilized to guide the discussion. We fielded an internally developed 20-item survey on perception and participation in unprofessional behaviors prior to the workshop. An online "booster" quiz was delivered at 4 months postworkshop, and the 20-item survey was repeated at 9 months postworkshop. Results were compared to a previously published control from the same institutions, which showed that perceptions of unprofessional behavior did not change and participation in the behaviors worsened over the internship. Of 237 eligible residents, 181 (76%) completed both pre- and postsurvey. Residents perceived blocking an admission and the misrepresentation of a test as urgent to be more unprofessional at a 9-month follow-up (2.0 versus 1.74 and 2.63 versus 2.28, respectively; P  < .05), with no change in perception for disparaging a colleague. Participation in unprofessional behaviors did not decrease after the workshop, with the exception of misrepresenting a test as urgent (61% versus 50%, P  = .019). The results of this multi-site study indicate that an interactive workshop can change perception and may lower participation in some unprofessional behaviors.

On optimizing the blocking step of indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for Epstein-Barr virus serology.

PubMed

Lim, Chun Shen; Krishnan, Gopala; Sam, Choon Kook; Ng, Ching Ching

2013-01-16

Because blocking agent occupies most binding surface of a solid phase, its ability to prevent nonspecific binding determines the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and reliability of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We demonstrate a stepwise approach to seek a compatible blocking buffer for indirect ELISA, via a case-control study (n=176) of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Regardless of case-control status, we found that synthetic polymer blocking agents, mainly Ficoll and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were able to provide homogeneous backgrounds among samples, as opposed to commonly used blocking agents, notably nonfat dry milk (NFDM). The SNRs for NPC samples that correspond to blocking using PVA were approximately 3-fold, on average, higher than those blocking using NFDM. Both intra- and inter-assay precisions of PVA-based assays were <14%. A blocking agent of choice should have tolerable sample backgrounds from both cases and controls to ensure the reliability of an immunoassay. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Tunable Encapsulation Structure of Block Copolymer Coated Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Aqueous Solution

DOE PAGES

Han, Youngkyu; Ahn, Suk-Kyun; Zhang, Zhe; ...

2015-05-15

The nano-sized and shape-tunable molecular building blocks can provide great opportunities for the fabrication of precisely controlled nanostructures. In this work, we have fabricated a molecular building block of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) coated by PPO-PEO-PPO block copolymers whose encapsulation structure can be controlled via temperature or addition of small molecules. The structure and optical properties of SWNT-block copolymers have been investigated by small angle neutron scattering (SANS), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The structure of the hydrated block copolymer layer surrounding SWNT can be controlled reversibly by varying temperature as well asmore » by irreversibly adding 5-methylsalicylic acid (5MS). Increasing hydrophobicity of the polymers with temperature and strong tendency of 5MS to interact with both block copolymers and orbitals of the SWNTs are likely to be responsible for the significant structural change of the block copolymer encapsulation layer, from loose corona shell to tightly encapsulating compact shell. These result shows an efficient and simple way to fabricate and manipulate carbon-based nano building blocks in aqueous systems with tunable structure.« less

Comparing the effects of single shot sciatic nerve block versus posterior capsule local anesthetic infiltration on analgesia and functional outcome after total knee arthroplasty: a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial.

PubMed

Safa, Ben; Gollish, Jeffrey; Haslam, Lynn; McCartney, Colin J L

2014-06-01

Peripheral nerve blocks appear to provide effective analgesia for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. Although the literature supports the use of femoral nerve block, addition of sciatic nerve block is controversial. In this study we investigated the value of sciatic nerve block and an alternative technique of posterior capsule local anesthetic infiltration analgesia. 100 patients were prospectively randomized into three groups. Group 1: sciatic nerve block; Group 2: posterior local anesthetic infiltration; Group 3: control. All patients received a femoral nerve block and spinal anesthesia. There were no differences in pain scores between groups. Sciatic nerve block provided a brief clinically insignificant opioid sparing effect. We conclude that sciatic nerve block and posterior local anesthetic infiltration do not provide significant analgesic benefits. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Preparation and development of block copolypeptide vesicles and hydrogels for biological and medical applications.

PubMed

Deming, Timothy J

2014-01-01

There have been many recent advances in the controlled polymerization of α-amino acid-N-carboxyanhydride (NCA) monomers into well-defined block copolypeptides. Transition metal initiating systems allow block copolypeptide synthesis with excellent control over number and lengths of block segments, chain length distribution, and chain-end functionality. Using this and other methods, block copolypeptides of controlled dimensions have been prepared and their self-assembly into organized structures studied by many research groups. The ability of well-defined block copolypeptides to assemble into supramolecular copolypeptide vesicles and hydrogels has led to the development of these materials for use in biological and medical applications. These assemblies have been found to possess unique properties that are derived from the amino acid building blocks and ordered conformations of the polypeptide segments. Recent work on the incorporation of active and stimulus-responsive functionality in these materials has tremendously increased their potential for use in biological and medical studies. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effect of vibratory soldier alarm signals on the foraging behavior of subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae).

PubMed

Inta, R; Evans, T A; Lai, J C S

2009-02-01

Termite soldiers produce a vibratory alarm signal to warn conspecific workers. This study recorded and characterized the alarm signals of Coptotermes acinaciformis (Froggatt) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) and then investigated the effect of playing these recorded alarm signals on C. acinaciformis feeding activity. Foraging groups of termites were offered paired wooden blocks: either one block, continuously stimulated with a vibratory alarm signal, paired with a nonstimulated block (the alarm treatment), continuously stimulated with a pink noise signal, paired with a nonstimulated block (control for nonspecific vibrations) or two nonstimulated blocks (control for environmental effects), for 4 wk. The amount of wood eaten in the blocks stimulated by the alarm signals was significantly less than the paired nonstimulated blocks, while there seemed to be no preference in the case of the pink noise playback or control for direction. Importantly, the termites seemed not to have adapted to the recorded alarm signal over the 4-wk duration of the experiment, unlike previous studies using nonbiologically derived signals.

Internal-Modified Dithiol DNA-Directed Au Nanoassemblies: Geometrically Controlled Self-Assembly and Quantitative Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Yuan; Shan, Hangyong; Li, Min; Chen, Shu; Liu, Jianyu; Cheng, Yanfang; Ye, Cui; Yang, Zhilin; Lai, Xuandi; Hu, Jianqiang

2015-11-01

In this work, a hierarchical DNA-directed self-assembly strategy to construct structure-controlled Au nanoassemblies (NAs) has been demonstrated by conjugating Au nanoparticles (NPs) with internal-modified dithiol single-strand DNA (ssDNA) (Au-B-A or A-B-Au-B-A). It is found that the dithiol-ssDNA-modified Au NPs and molecule quantity of thiol-modified ssDNA grafted to Au NPs play critical roles in the assembly of geometrically controlled Au NAs. Through matching Au-DNA self-assembly units, geometrical structures of the Au NAs can be tailored from one-dimensional (1D) to quasi-2D and 2D. Au-B-A conjugates readily give 1D and quasi-2D Au NAs while 2D Au NAs can be formed by A-B-Au-B-A building blocks. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) measurements and 3D finite-difference time domain (3D-FDTD) calculation results indicate that the geometrically controllable Au NAs have regular and linearly “hot spots”-number-depended SERS properties. For a certain number of NPs, the number of “hot spots” and accordingly enhancement factor of Au NAs can be quantitatively evaluated, which open a new avenue for quantitative analysis based on SERS technique.

Carbon-carbon cylinder block

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ransone, Philip O. (Inventor)

1995-01-01

A lightweight cylinder block composed of carbon-carbon is disclosed. The use of carbon-carbon over conventional materials, such as cast iron or aluminum, reduces the weight of the cylinder block and improves thermal efficiency of the internal combustion reciprocating engine. Due to the negligible coefficient of thermal expansion and unique strength at elevated temperatures of carbon-carbon, the piston-to-cylinder wall clearance can be small, especially when the carbon-carbon cylinder block is used in conjunction with a carbon-carbon piston. Use of the carbon-carbon cylinder has the effect of reducing the weight of other reciprocating engine components allowing the piston to run at higher speeds and improving specific engine performance.

Method for solidification of radioactive and other hazardous waste

DOEpatents

Anshits, Alexander G.; Vereshchagina, Tatiana A.; Voskresenskaya, Elena N.; Kostin, Eduard M.; Pavlov, Vyacheslav F.; Revenko, Yurii A.; Tretyakov, Alexander A.; Sharonova, Olga M.; Aloy, Albert S.; Sapozhnikova, Natalia V.; Knecht, Dieter A.; Tranter, Troy J.; Macheret, Yevgeny

2002-01-01

Solidification of liquid radioactive waste, and other hazardous wastes, is accomplished by the method of the invention by incorporating the waste into a porous glass crystalline molded block. The porous block is first loaded with the liquid waste and then dehydrated and exposed to thermal treatment at 50-1,000.degree. C. The porous glass crystalline molded block consists of glass crystalline hollow microspheres separated from fly ash (cenospheres), resulting from incineration of fossil plant coals. In a preferred embodiment, the porous glass crystalline blocks are formed from perforated cenospheres of grain size -400+50, wherein the selected cenospheres are consolidated into the porous molded block with a binder, such as liquid silicate glass. The porous blocks are then subjected to repeated cycles of saturating with liquid waste, and drying, and after the last cycle the blocks are subjected to calcination to transform the dried salts to more stable oxides. Radioactive liquid waste can be further stabilized in the porous blocks by coating the internal surface of the block with metal oxides prior to adding the liquid waste, and by coating the outside of the block with a low-melting glass or a ceramic after the waste is loaded into the block.

Incorporating engine health monitoring capability into the SSME Block II controller

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clarke, James W.; Copa, Roderick J.

An account is given of the architecture of the SSME's Block II controller's architecture, its incorporation of smart input electronics (SIE), and the potential benefits of this technology in SSME health-monitoring capabilities. SIE allows the Block II controller to conduct its control functions while simultaneously furnishing the computational capabilities and sensor input interface for any newly defined health-monitoring functions. It is expected that the SIE technology may be directly transferred to any follow-on engine design.

75 FR 30110 - Unblocking of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons Pursuant to Executive Order 12978

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-28

..., invoking the authority, inter alia, of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706... Attorney General and Secretary of State: (a) To play a significant role in international narcotics...

Studies on aircraft disinsection at ”blocks away”

PubMed Central

Sullivan, W. N.; Keiding, J.; Wright, J. W.

1962-01-01

With a view to expediting as much as possible the disinsection of aircraft required under the International Sanitary Convention for Aerial Navigation, experiments were performed under operating conditions on the disinsection of passenger cabins after the closing of the aircraft doors following embarkation but before take-off (designated ”blocks away” disinsection) with single-use, disposable aerosol dispensers. A formulation containing 1.6% by weight pyrethrum extract (25% pyrethrins) and 3% DDT at a dosage of 10 g per 1000 cubic feet (35 g/100 m3) gave satisfactory control of non-resistant mosquitos and created no passenger reaction. A formulation containing 3.40% pyrethrum extract (20% pyrethrins) and 1.17% DDT at a dosage of 14-19 g per 1000 cubic feet (48-64 g/100 m3) was biologically effective for both resistant and non-resistant mosquitos but was markedly irritant to some passengers. The authors suggest lines along which further research might be conducted. ImagesFIG. 1FIG. 2 PMID:13979213

Selective polymerization catalysis: controlling the metal chain end group to prepare block copolyesters.

PubMed

Zhu, Yunqing; Romain, Charles; Williams, Charlotte K

2015-09-30

Selective catalysis is used to prepare block copolyesters by combining ring-opening polymerization of lactones and ring-opening copolymerization of epoxides/anhydrides. By using a dizinc complex with mixtures of up to three different monomers and controlling the chemistry of the Zn-O(polymer chain) it is possible to select for a particular polymerization route and thereby control the composition of block copolyesters.

Viking Orbiter 1975 articulation control subsystem design analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Horiuchi, H. H.; Vallas, L. J.

1973-01-01

The articulation control subsystem, developed for the Viking Orbiter 1975 spacecraft, is a digital, multiplexed, closed-loop servo system used to control the pointing and positioning of the science scan platform and the high-gain communication antenna, and to position the solar-energy controller louver blades for the thermal control of the propellant tanks. The development, design, and anlaysis of the subsystem is preliminary. The subsystem consists of a block-redundant control electronics multiplexed among eight control actuators. Each electronics block is capable of operating either individually or simultaneously with the second block. This provides the subsystem the capability of simultaneous two-actuator control or a single actuator control with the second block in a stand-by redundant mode. The result of the preliminary design and analysis indicates that the subsystem will perform satisfactorily in the Viking Orbiter 1975 mission. Some of the parameter values used, particularly those in the subsystem dynamics and the error estimates, are preliminary and the results will be updated as more accurate parameter values become available.

Perceptual control models of pursuit manual tracking demonstrate individual specificity and parameter consistency.

PubMed

Parker, Maximilian G; Tyson, Sarah F; Weightman, Andrew P; Abbott, Bruce; Emsley, Richard; Mansell, Warren

2017-11-01

Computational models that simulate individuals' movements in pursuit-tracking tasks have been used to elucidate mechanisms of human motor control. Whilst there is evidence that individuals demonstrate idiosyncratic control-tracking strategies, it remains unclear whether models can be sensitive to these idiosyncrasies. Perceptual control theory (PCT) provides a unique model architecture with an internally set reference value parameter, and can be optimized to fit an individual's tracking behavior. The current study investigated whether PCT models could show temporal stability and individual specificity over time. Twenty adults completed three blocks of 15 1-min, pursuit-tracking trials. Two blocks (training and post-training) were completed in one session and the third was completed after 1 week (follow-up). The target moved in a one-dimensional, pseudorandom pattern. PCT models were optimized to the training data using a least-mean-squares algorithm, and validated with data from post-training and follow-up. We found significant inter-individual variability (partial η 2 : .464-.697) and intra-individual consistency (Cronbach's α: .880-.976) in parameter estimates. Polynomial regression revealed that all model parameters, including the reference value parameter, contribute to simulation accuracy. Participants' tracking performances were significantly more accurately simulated by models developed from their own tracking data than by models developed from other participants' data. We conclude that PCT models can be optimized to simulate the performance of an individual and that the test-retest reliability of individual models is a necessary criterion for evaluating computational models of human performance.

Sex differences in neural responses to disgusting visual stimuli: implications for disgust-related psychiatric disorders.

PubMed

Caseras, Xavier; Mataix-Cols, David; An, Suk Kyoon; Lawrence, Natalia S; Speckens, Anne; Giampietro, Vincent; Brammer, Michael J; Phillips, Mary L

2007-09-01

A majority of patients with disgust-related psychiatric disorders such as animal phobias and contamination-related obsessive-compulsive disorder are women. The aim of this functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study was to examine possible sex differences in neural responses to disgust-inducing stimuli that might help explain this female predominance. Thirty-four healthy adult volunteers (17 women, all right-handed) were scanned while viewing alternating blocks of disgusting and neutral pictures from the International Affective Picture System. Using a partially-silent fMRI sequence, the participants rated their level of discomfort after each block of pictures. Skin conductance responses (SCR) were measured throughout the experiment. All participants completed the Disgust Scale. Both women and men reported greater subjective discomfort and showed more SCR fluctuations during the disgusting picture blocks than during the neutral picture blocks. Women and men also demonstrated a similar pattern of brain response to disgusting compared with neutral pictures, showing activation in the anterior insula, ventrolateral and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices, and visual regions. Compared with men, women had significantly higher disgust sensitivity scores, experienced more subjective discomfort, and demonstrated greater activity in left ventrolateral prefrontal regions. However, these differences were no longer significant when disgust sensitivity scores were controlled for. In healthy adult volunteers, there are significant sex-related differences in brain responses to disgusting stimuli that are irrevocably linked to greater disgust sensitivity scores in women. The implications for disgust-related psychiatric disorders are discussed.

Thermoluminescence dosimetry applied to in vivo dose measurements for total body irradiation techniques.

PubMed

Duch, M A; Ginjaume, M; Chakkor, H; Ortega, X; Jornet, N; Ribas, M

1998-06-01

In total body irradiation (TBI) treatments in vivo dosimetry is recommended because it makes it possible to ensure the accuracy and quality control of dose delivery. The aim of this work is to set up an in vivo thermoluminescence dosimetry (TLD) system to measure the dose distribution during the TBI technique used prior to bone marrow transplant. Some technical problems due to the presence of lung shielding blocks are discussed. Irradiations were performed in the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau by means of a Varian Clinac-1800 linear accelerator with 18 MV X-ray beams. Different TLD calibration experiments were set up to optimize in vivo dose assessment and to analyze the influence on dose measurement of shielding blocks. An algorithm to estimate midplane doses from entrance and exit doses is proposed and the estimated dose in critical organs is compared to internal dose measurements performed in an Alderson anthropomorphic phantom. The predictions of the dose algorithm, even in heterogeneous zones of the body such as the lungs, are in good agreement with the experimental results obtained with and without shielding blocks. The differences between measured and predicted values are in all cases lower than 2%. The TLD system described in this work has been proven to be appropriate for in vivo dosimetry in TBI irradiations. The described calibration experiments point out the difficulty of calibrating an in vivo dosimetry system when lung shielding blocks are used.

Rework and workarounds in nurse medication administration process: implications for work processes and patient safety.

PubMed

Halbesleben, Jonathon R B; Savage, Grant T; Wakefield, Douglas S; Wakefield, Bonnie J

2010-01-01

Health care organizations have redesigned existing and implemented new work processes intended to improve patient safety. As a consequence of these process changes, there are now intentionally designed "blocks" or barriers that limit how specific work actions, such as ordering and administering medication, are to be carried out. Health care professionals encountering these designed barriers can choose to either follow the new process, engage in workarounds to get past the block, or potentially repeat work (rework). Unfortunately, these workarounds and rework may lead to other safety concerns. The aim of this study was to examine rework and workarounds in hospital medication administration processes. Observations and semistructured interviews were conducted with 58 nurses from four hospital intensive care units focusing on the medication administration process. Using the constant comparative method, we analyzed the observation and interview data to develop themes regarding rework and workarounds. From this analysis, we developed an integrated process map of the medication administration process depicting blocks. A total of 12 blocks were reported by the participants. Based on the analysis, we categorized them as related to information exchange, information entry, and internal supply chain issues. Whereas information exchange and entry blocks tended to lead to rework, internal supply chain issues were more likely to lead to workarounds. A decentralized pharmacist on the unit may reduce work flow blocks (and, thus, workarounds and rework). Work process redesign may further address the problems of workarounds and rework.

26 CFR 1.964-2 - Treatment of blocked earnings and profits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... property of a type normally owned by such corporation in the operation of its business or other money which... 26 Internal Revenue 10 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Treatment of blocked earnings and profits. 1... earnings and profits. (a) General rule. If, in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section, it is...

Long-term use of nerve block catheters in paediatric patients with cancer related pathologic fractures

PubMed Central

BURGOYNE, L. L.; PEREIRAS, L. A.; BERTANI, L. A.; KADDOUM, R. N.; NEEL, M.; FAUGHNAN, L. G.; ANGHELESCU, D. L.

2013-01-01

SUMMARY We report three cases of children with osteosarcoma and pathologic fractures treated with long-term continuous nerve blocks for preoperative pain control. One patient with a left distal femoral diaphysis fracture had a femoral continuous nerve block catheter for 41 days without complications. Another with a fractured left proximal femoral shaft had three femoral continuous nerve block catheters for 33, 26 and 22 days respectively. The third patient, whose right proximal humerus was fractured, had a brachial plexus continuous nerve block catheter for 36 days without complication. In our experience, prolonged use of continuous nerve block is safe and effective in children with pathologic fractures for preoperative pain control. PMID:22813501

International Space Station (ISS)

NASA Image and Video Library

2001-12-12

Astronauts Frank L. Culbertson, Jr. (left), Expedition Three mission commander, and Daniel W. Bursch, Expedition Four flight engineer, work in the Russian Zvezda Service Module on the International Space Station (ISS). Zvezda is linked to the Russian built Functional Cargo Block (FGB), or Zarya, the first component of the ISS. Zarya was launched on a Russian Proton rocket prior to the launch of Unity. The third component of the ISS, Zvezda (Russian word for star), the primary Russian contribution to the ISS, was launched by a three-stage Proton rocket on July 12, 2000. Zvezda serves as the cornerstone for early human habitation of the Station, providing living quarters, a life support system, electrical power distribution, a data processing system, a flight control system, and a propulsion system. It also provides a communications system that includes remote command capabilities from ground flight controllers. The 42,000 pound module measures 43 feet in length and has a wing span of 98 feet. Similar in layout to the core module of Russia's Mir space station, it contains 3 pressurized compartments and 13 windows that allow ultimate viewing of Earth and space.

International Space Station (ISS)

NASA Image and Video Library

2001-03-30

Astronaut James S. Voss, Expedition Two flight engineer, performs an electronics task in the Russian Zvezda Service Module on the International Space Station (ISS). Zvezda is linked to the Russian-built Functional Cargo Block (FGB), or Zarya, the first component of the ISS. Zarya was launched on a Russian Proton rocket prior to the launch of Unity, the first U.S.-built component to the ISS. Zvezda (Russian word for star), the third component of the ISS and the primary Russian contribution to the ISS, was launched by a three-stage Proton rocket on July 12, 2000. Zvezda serves as the cornerstone for early human habitation of the station, providing living quarters, a life support system, electrical power distribution, a data processing system, a flight control system, and a propulsion system. It also provides a communications system that includes remote command capabilities from ground flight controllers. The 42,000-pound module measures 43 feet in length and has a wing span of 98 feet. Similar in layout to the core module of Russia's Mir space station, it contains 3 pressurized compartments and 13 windows that allow ultimate viewing of Earth and space.

International Space Station (ISS)

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-03-25

Cosmonaut Yury I. Onufrienko, Expedition Four mission commander, uses a communication system in the Russian Zvezda Service Module on the International Space Station (ISS). The Zvezda is linked to the Russian-built Functional Cargo Block (FGB) or Zarya, the first component of the ISS. Zarya was launched on a Russian Proton rocket prior to the launch of Unity. The third component of the ISS, Zvezda (Russian word for star), the primary Russian contribution to the ISS, was launched by a three-stage Proton rocket on July 12, 2000. Zvezda serves as the cornerstone for early human habitation of the station, providing living quarters, a life support system, electrical power distribution, a data processing system, flight control system, and propulsion system. It also provides a communications system that includes remote command capabilities from ground flight controllers. The 42,000-pound module measures 43 feet in length and has a wing span of 98 feet. Similar in layout to the core module of Russia's Mir space station, it contains 3 pressurized compartments and 13 windows that allow ultimate viewing of Earth and space.

International Space Station (ISS)

NASA Image and Video Library

1997-10-01

The Zvezda Service Module, the first Russian contribution and third element to the International Space Station (ISS), is shown under construction in the Krunichev State Research and Production Facility (KhSC) in Moscow. Russian technicians work on the module shortly after it completed a pressurization test. In the foreground is the forward portion of the module, including the spherical transfer compartment and its three docking ports. The forward port docked with the cornected Functional Cargo Block, followed by Node 1. Launched via a three-stage Proton rocket on July 12, 2000, the Zvezda Service Module serves as the cornerstone for early human habitation of the Station, providing living quarters, life support system, electrical power distribution, data processing system, flight control system, and propulsion system. It also provides a communications system that includes remote command capabilities from ground flight controllers. The 42,000-pound module measures 43 feet in length and has a wing span of 98 feet. Similar in layout to the core module of Russia's Mir space station, it contains 3 pressurized compartments and 13 windows that allow ultimate viewing of Earth and space.

Skin aging parameters: A window to heart block.

PubMed

Roshdy, Hisham Samir; Soliman, Mohammad Hassan; El-Dosouky, Ibtesam Ibrahim; Ghonemy, Soheir

2018-01-01

Skin acts as a mirror to the internal state of the body. We tried to find the relation between skin aging parameters and the incidence of degenerative AV block. This study included 97 patients divided into 2 groups; group D comprised 49 patients with advanced-degree AV block, and group C comprised the 48 matched control group. All were subjected to full history taking, thorough clinical examination, calculation of intrinsic skin aging score, and resting 12-lead surface electrocardiography (ECG). ECG for all patients assessed left ventricular end-systolic diameter, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, ejection fraction, left atrium (LA) diameter, aortic root diameter, mitral annular calcification, aortic sclerosis. Coronary angiography was also performed when indicated for patients in group D. Patients in group D had a higher percentages of uneven pigmentation, fine skin wrinkles, lax appearance, seborrheic keratosis, total score > 7 (38 [77.55%] vs 10 [20.83%]), mitral annular calcification score of 33 (67.34%) vs 5 (10.41%), aortic sclerosis score of 21 (42.85%) vs 4 (8.33%), and mean LA diameter of 39.98 ± 5.52 vs 36.21 ± 3 mm (P < 0.001). Total score > 6 is the best cutoff value to predict advanced-degree heart block with 89.79% sensitivity and 64.58% specificity. Seborrheic keratosis was the strongest independent predictor. Any population with a total intrinsic skin aging score of >6 is at high risk for developing advanced-degree AV block and should undergo periodic ECG follow-up for early detection of any conduction disturbance in the early asymptomatic stages to minimize sudden cardiac death. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A Randomized Controlled Trial Examining the Effect of the Addition of the Mandibular Block to Cervical Plexus Block for Carotid Endarterectomy.

PubMed

Kavrut Ozturk, Nilgun; Kavakli, Ali Sait; Sagdic, Kadir; Inanoglu, Kerem; Umot Ayoglu, Raif

2018-04-01

Although the cervical plexus block generally provides adequate analgesia for carotid endarterectomy, pain caused by metal retractors on the inferior surface of the mandible is not prevented by the cervical block. Different pain relief methods can be performed for patients who experience discomfort in these areas. In this study, the authors evaluated the effect of mandibular block in addition to cervical plexus block on pain scores in carotid endarterectomy. A prospective, randomized, controlled trial. Training and research hospital. Patients who underwent a carotid endarterectomy. Patients scheduled for carotid endarterectomy under cervical plexus block were randomized into 2 groups: group 1 (those who did not receive a mandibular block) and group 2 (those who received a mandibular block). The main purpose of the study was to evaluate the mandibular block in addition to cervical plexus block in terms of intraoperative pain scores. Intraoperative visual analog scale scores were significantly higher in group 1 (p = 0.001). The amounts of supplemental 1% lidocaine and intraoperative intravenous analgesic used were significantly higher in group 1 (p = 0.001 and p = 0.035, respectively). Patient satisfaction scores were significantly lower in group 1 (p = 0.044). The amount of postoperative analgesic used, time to first analgesic requirement, postoperative visual analog scale scores, and surgeon satisfaction scores were similar in both groups. There was no significant difference between the groups with respect to complications. No major neurologic deficits or perioperative mortality were observed. Mandibular block in addition to cervical plexus block provides better intraoperative pain control and greater patient satisfaction than cervical plexus block alone. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Programmable chemical controllers made from DNA.

PubMed

Chen, Yuan-Jyue; Dalchau, Neil; Srinivas, Niranjan; Phillips, Andrew; Cardelli, Luca; Soloveichik, David; Seelig, Georg

2013-10-01

Biological organisms use complex molecular networks to navigate their environment and regulate their internal state. The development of synthetic systems with similar capabilities could lead to applications such as smart therapeutics or fabrication methods based on self-organization. To achieve this, molecular control circuits need to be engineered to perform integrated sensing, computation and actuation. Here we report a DNA-based technology for implementing the computational core of such controllers. We use the formalism of chemical reaction networks as a 'programming language' and our DNA architecture can, in principle, implement any behaviour that can be mathematically expressed as such. Unlike logic circuits, our formulation naturally allows complex signal processing of intrinsically analogue biological and chemical inputs. Controller components can be derived from biologically synthesized (plasmid) DNA, which reduces errors associated with chemically synthesized DNA. We implement several building-block reaction types and then combine them into a network that realizes, at the molecular level, an algorithm used in distributed control systems for achieving consensus between multiple agents.

Programmable chemical controllers made from DNA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yuan-Jyue; Dalchau, Neil; Srinivas, Niranjan; Phillips, Andrew; Cardelli, Luca; Soloveichik, David; Seelig, Georg

2013-10-01

Biological organisms use complex molecular networks to navigate their environment and regulate their internal state. The development of synthetic systems with similar capabilities could lead to applications such as smart therapeutics or fabrication methods based on self-organization. To achieve this, molecular control circuits need to be engineered to perform integrated sensing, computation and actuation. Here we report a DNA-based technology for implementing the computational core of such controllers. We use the formalism of chemical reaction networks as a 'programming language' and our DNA architecture can, in principle, implement any behaviour that can be mathematically expressed as such. Unlike logic circuits, our formulation naturally allows complex signal processing of intrinsically analogue biological and chemical inputs. Controller components can be derived from biologically synthesized (plasmid) DNA, which reduces errors associated with chemically synthesized DNA. We implement several building-block reaction types and then combine them into a network that realizes, at the molecular level, an algorithm used in distributed control systems for achieving consensus between multiple agents.

Programmable chemical controllers made from DNA

PubMed Central

Chen, Yuan-Jyue; Dalchau, Neil; Srinivas, Niranjan; Phillips, Andrew; Cardelli, Luca; Soloveichik, David; Seelig, Georg

2014-01-01

Biological organisms use complex molecular networks to navigate their environment and regulate their internal state. The development of synthetic systems with similar capabilities could lead to applications such as smart therapeutics or fabrication methods based on self-organization. To achieve this, molecular control circuits need to be engineered to perform integrated sensing, computation and actuation. Here we report a DNA-based technology for implementing the computational core of such controllers. We use the formalism of chemical reaction networks as a 'programming language', and our DNA architecture can, in principle, implement any behaviour that can be mathematically expressed as such. Unlike logic circuits, our formulation naturally allows complex signal processing of intrinsically analogue biological and chemical inputs. Controller components can be derived from biologically synthesized (plasmid) DNA, which reduces errors associated with chemically synthesized DNA. We implement several building-block reaction types and then combine them into a network that realizes, at the molecular level, an algorithm used in distributed control systems for achieving consensus between multiple agents. PMID:24077029

Upper limb robot-assisted therapy in cerebral palsy: a single-blind randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Gilliaux, Maxime; Renders, Anne; Dispa, Delphine; Holvoet, Dominique; Sapin, Julien; Dehez, Bruno; Detrembleur, Christine; Lejeune, Thierry M; Stoquart, Gaëtan

2015-02-01

Several pilot studies have evoked interest in robot-assisted therapy (RAT) in children with cerebral palsy (CP). To assess the effectiveness of RAT in children with CP through a single-blind randomized controlled trial. Sixteen children with CP were randomized into 2 groups. Eight children performed 5 conventional therapy sessions per week over 8 weeks (control group). Eight children completed 3 conventional therapy sessions and 2 robot-assisted sessions per week over 8 weeks (robotic group). For both groups, each therapy session lasted 45 minutes. Throughout each RAT session, the patient attempted to reach several targets consecutively with the REAPlan. The REAPlan is a distal effector robot that allows for displacements of the upper limb in the horizontal plane. A blinded assessment was performed before and after the intervention with respect to the International Classification of Functioning framework: body structure and function (upper limb kinematics, Box and Block test, Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test, strength, and spasticity), activities (Abilhand-Kids, Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory), and participation (Life Habits). During each RAT session, patients performed 744 movements on average with the REAPlan. Among the variables assessed, the smoothness of movement (P < .01) and manual dexterity assessed by the Box and Block test (P = .04) improved significantly more in the robotic group than in the control group. This single-blind randomized controlled trial provides the first evidence that RAT is effective in children with CP. Future studies should investigate the long-term effects of this therapy. © The Author(s) 2014.

Transverse zones controlling the structural evolution of the Zipaquira Anticline (Eastern Cordillera, Colombia): Regional implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

García, Helbert; Jiménez, Giovanny

2016-08-01

We report paleomagnetic, magnetic fabric and structural results from 21 sites collected in Cretaceous marine mudstones and Paleogene continental sandstones from the limbs, hinge and transverse zones of the Zipaquira Anticline (ZA). The ZA is an asymmetrical fold with one limb completely overturned by processes like gravity and salt tectonics, and marked by several axis curvatures. The ZA is controlled by at least two (2) transverse zones known as the Neusa and Zipaquira Transverse Zones (NTZ and ZTZ, respectively). Magnetic mineralogy methods were applied at different sites and the main carriers of the magnetic properties are paramagnetic components with some sites being controlled by hematite and magnetite. Magnetic fabric analysis shows rigid-body rotation for the back-limb in the ZA, while the forelimb is subjected to internal deformation. Structural and paleomagnetic data shows the influence of the NTZ and ZTZ in the evolution of the different structures like the ZA and the Zipaquira, Carupa, Rio Guandoque, Las Margaritas and Neusa faults, controlling several factors as vergence, extension, fold axis curvature and stratigraphic detatchment. Clockwise rotations unraveled a block segmentation following a discontinuos model caused by transverse zones and one site reported a counter clockwise rotation associated with a left-lateral strike slip component for transverse faults (e.g. the Neusa Fault). We propose that diverse transverse zones have been active since Paleogene times, playing an important role in the tectonic evolution of the Cundinamarca sub-basin and controlling the structural evolution of folds and faults with block segmentation and rotations.

Biosafety, biosecurity and internationally mandated regulatory regimes: compliance mechanisms for education and global health security

PubMed Central

Sture, Judi; Whitby, Simon; Perkins, Dana

2015-01-01

This paper highlights the biosafety and biosecurity training obligations that three international regulatory regimes place upon states parties. The duty to report upon the existence of such provisions as evidence of compliance is discussed in relation to each regime. We argue that such mechanisms can be regarded as building blocks for the development and delivery of complementary biosafety and biosecurity teaching and training materials. We show that such building blocks represent foundations upon which life and associated scientists – through greater awareness of biosecurity concerns – can better fulfil their responsibilities to guard their work from misuse in the future. PMID:24494580

Epiretinal membrane negative staining and double peeling in a single block with Brilliant Blue G.

PubMed

Martins, David; Neves, Pedro

2018-01-01

To describe a surgical technique for combined peeling of epiretinal and internal limiting membranes. The authors present their procedure of choice for epiretinal membrane surgery: negative staining effect using Brilliant Blue G and single block removal of the epiretinal and internal limiting membranes in a single step. A total of 26 eyes were operated with the described technique. In all cases, the peeling was performed successfully and with no complications. Minimum postoperative follow-up was 12 months. There were no recurrences of epiretinal membranes. The ideal surgical approach for epiretinal membranes should attempt to reduce mechanical trauma, light exposure, and dye toxicity.

Thermoelectric system

DOEpatents

Reiners, Eric A.; Taher, Mahmoud A.; Fei, Dong; McGilvray, Andrew N.

2007-10-30

In one particular embodiment, an internal combustion engine is provided. The engine comprises a block, a head, a piston, a combustion chamber defined by the block, the piston, and the head, and at least one thermoelectric device positioned between the combustion chamber and the head. In this particular embodiment, the thermoelectric device is in direct contact with the combustion chamber. In another particular embodiment, a cylinder head configured to sit atop a cylinder bank of an internal combustion engine is provided. The cylinder head comprises a cooling channel configured to receive cooling fluid, valve seats configured for receiving intake and exhaust valves, and thermoelectric devices positioned around the valve seats.

Internal Structure and Morphology Profile in Optimizing Filter Membrane Performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanaei, Pejman; Cummings, Linda J.

Membrane filters are in widespread use, and manufacturers have considerable interest in improving their performance, in terms of particle retention properties, and total throughput over the filter lifetime. A good question to ask is therefore: what is the optimal configuration of filter membranes, in terms of internal morphology (pore size and shape), to achieve the most efficient filtration? To answer this question, we must first propose a robust measure of filtration performance. As filtration occurs the membrane becomes blocked, or fouled, by the impurities in the feed solution, and any performance measure must take account of this. For example, one performance measure might be the total throughput (the volume of filtered feed solution) at the end of the filtration process, when the membrane is so badly blocked that it is deemed no longer functional. Here we present a simplified mathematical model, which (i) characterizes membrane internal pore structure via pore or permeability profiles in the depth of the membrane; (ii) accounts for various membrane fouling mechanisms (adsorption, blocking and cake formation); and (iv) predicts the optimum pore profile for our chosen performance measure. NSF DMS-1261596 and NSF DMS-1615719.

Clinical Results and Problems of Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty and Stenting for Extracranial Internal Carotid Stenoses

PubMed Central

Tsuura, M.; Terada, T.; Masuo, O.; Matsumoto, H.; Itakura, T.; Hyoutani, G.; Nakamura, Y.; Moriwaki, H.; Hayashi, S.

2001-01-01

Summary 110 patients with extracranial ICA stenosis were treated by PTA or stenting. In 21 of 55 cases of only PTA and in 40 of 55 cases of stenting, we used our blocking balloon systems to prevent distal embolism. The morbidity and the mortality rates were 5.4% and 0%, respectively. There was only one embolic complication in cases of PTA or stenting where blocking balloon systems were used. In contrast, distal embolism occurred in 3 of 34 cases of PTA without blocking balloon systems (one symptomatic case) and in 4 of 15 cases of stenting without blocking balloon systems (3 symptomatic cases). Our blocking balloon catheter system is a useful device to reduce the risk of symptomatic distal embolism. PMID:20663375

A Hybrid Program for Fitting Rotationally Resolved Spectra of Floppy Molecules with One Large-Amplitude Rotatory Motion and One Large-Amplitude Oscillatory Motion

PubMed Central

Kleiner, Isabelle; Hougen, Jon T.

2015-01-01

A new hybrid-model fitting program for methylamine-like molecules has been developed, based on an effective Hamiltonian in which the ammonia-like inversion motion is treated using a tunneling formalism, while the internal-rotation motion is treated using an explicit kinetic energy operator and potential energy function. The Hamiltonian in the computer program is set up as a 2×2 partitioned matrix, where each diagonal block contains a traditional torsion-rotation Hamiltonian (as in the earlier program BELGI), and the two off-diagonal blocks contain tunneling terms. This hybrid formulation permits the use of the permutation-inversion group G6 (isomorphic to C3v) for terms in the two diagonal blocks, but requires G12 for terms in the off-diagonal blocks. The first application of the new program is to 2-methylmalonaldehyde. Microwave data for this molecule were previously fit using an all-tunneling Hamiltonian formalism to treat both large-amplitude-motions. For 2-methylmalonaldehyde, the hybrid program achieves the same quality of fit as was obtained with the all-tunneling program, but fits with the hybrid program eliminate a large discrepancy between internal rotation barriers in the OH and OD isotopologs of 2-methylmalonaldehyde that arose in fits with the all-tunneling program. This large isotopic shift in internal rotation barrier is thus almost certainly an artifact of the all-tunneling model. Other molecules for application of the hybrid program are mentioned. PMID:26439709

49 CFR 236.824 - System, automatic block signal.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 49 Transportation 4 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false System, automatic block signal. 236.824 Section..., INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIR OF SIGNAL AND TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND APPLIANCES Definitions § 236.824 System, automatic block signal. A block signal system wherein the use of each block is...

49 CFR 236.824 - System, automatic block signal.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 49 Transportation 4 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false System, automatic block signal. 236.824 Section..., INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIR OF SIGNAL AND TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND APPLIANCES Definitions § 236.824 System, automatic block signal. A block signal system wherein the use of each block is...

49 CFR 236.824 - System, automatic block signal.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 49 Transportation 4 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false System, automatic block signal. 236.824 Section..., INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIR OF SIGNAL AND TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND APPLIANCES Definitions § 236.824 System, automatic block signal. A block signal system wherein the use of each block is...

The modeling of an automotive electronic control system and the application of optimizing methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yansheng; Yang, Zhigang; Zhang, Xiang

2005-12-01

Now, MATLAB/SIMULINK software is popularly used by automotive electronic control designers to develop automotive electronic control systems and perform numerical simulations. But they will face problems, such as value initialization in the "integrator" block, conversion among different data types, selection of "if" block and "switch" block, realization of the "if-clause" under multiple options and the auto-switching control, etc. Taking as an example the designing of an Automated Mechanical Transmission (AMT) system, this paper discusses some techniques and methods for modeling the automotive electronic control system with MATLAB/SIMULINK, offering designers some successful examples.

Strategies for Controlled Placement of Nanoscale Building Blocks

PubMed Central

2007-01-01

The capability of placing individual nanoscale building blocks on exact substrate locations in a controlled manner is one of the key requirements to realize future electronic, optical, and magnetic devices and sensors that are composed of such blocks. This article reviews some important advances in the strategies for controlled placement of nanoscale building blocks. In particular, we will overview template assisted placement that utilizes physical, molecular, or electrostatic templates, DNA-programmed assembly, placement using dielectrophoresis, approaches for non-close-packed assembly of spherical particles, and recent development of focused placement schemes including electrostatic funneling, focused placement via molecular gradient patterns, electrodynamic focusing of charged aerosols, and others. PMID:21794185

RNA signal amplifier circuit with integrated fluorescence output.

PubMed

Akter, Farhima; Yokobayashi, Yohei

2015-05-15

We designed an in vitro signal amplification circuit that takes a short RNA input that catalytically activates the Spinach RNA aptamer to produce a fluorescent output. The circuit consists of three RNA strands: an internally blocked Spinach aptamer, a fuel strand, and an input strand (catalyst), as well as the Spinach aptamer ligand 3,5-difluoro-4-hydroxylbenzylidene imidazolinone (DFHBI). The input strand initially displaces the internal inhibitory strand to activate the fluorescent aptamer while exposing a toehold to which the fuel strand can bind to further displace and recycle the input strand. Under a favorable condition, one input strand was able to activate up to five molecules of the internally blocked Spinach aptamer in 185 min at 30 °C. The simple RNA circuit reported here serves as a model for catalytic activation of arbitrary RNA effectors by chemical triggers.

International Space Station (ISS)

NASA Image and Video Library

1998-11-08

Designed by the STS-88 crew members, this patch commemorates the first assembly flight to carry United States-built hardware for constructing the International Space Station (ISS). This flight's primary task was to assemble the cornerstone of the Space Station: the Node with the Functional Cargo Block (FGB). The rising sun symbolizes the dawning of a new era of international cooperation in space and the beginning of a new program: the International Space Station. The Earth scene outlines the countries of the Station Partners: the United States, Russia, those of the European Space Agency (ESA), Japan, and Canada. Along with the Pressurized Mating Adapters (PMA) and the Functional Cargo Block, the Node is shown in the final mated configuration while berthed to the Space Shuttle during the STS-88/2A mission. The Big Dipper Constellation points the way to the North Star, a guiding light for pioneers and explorers for generations. In the words of the crew, These stars symbolize the efforts of everyone, including all the countries involved in the design and construction of the International Space Station, guiding us into the future.

Charting a Course for Change: Acquisition Theory and Practice for a Transforming Defense

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-09-30

for public release; distribution unlimited 13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 14 . ABSTRACT 15. SUBJECT TERMS 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION...a = ^Åèìáëáíáçå=oÉëÉ~êÅÜ= do^ar^qb=p`elli=lc=_rpfkbpp=C=mr_if`=mlif`v= = = - 5 - k^s^i=mlpqdo^ar^qb=p`elli= block one, a block two, a block three...3) the changing nature of warfare and its associated technology; 4) new acquisition practices; 5 ) globalization’s impact (including inter-national

A new neural net approach to robot 3D perception and visuo-motor coordination

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, Sukhan

1992-01-01

A novel neural network approach to robot hand-eye coordination is presented. The approach provides a true sense of visual error servoing, redundant arm configuration control for collision avoidance, and invariant visuo-motor learning under gazing control. A 3-D perception network is introduced to represent the robot internal 3-D metric space in which visual error servoing and arm configuration control are performed. The arm kinematic network performs the bidirectional association between 3-D space arm configurations and joint angles, and enforces the legitimate arm configurations. The arm kinematic net is structured by a radial-based competitive and cooperative network with hierarchical self-organizing learning. The main goal of the present work is to demonstrate that the neural net representation of the robot 3-D perception net serves as an important intermediate functional block connecting robot eyes and arms.

Bicomponent Block Copolymers Derived from One or More Random Copolymers as an Alternative Route to Controllable Phase Behavior

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

Ashraf, Arman R.; Ryan, Justin J.; Satkowski, Michael M.

Block copolymers have been extensively studied due to their ability to spontaneously self-organize into a wide variety of morphologies that are valuable in energy-, medical- and conservation-related (nano)technologies. While the phase behavior of bicomponent diblock and triblock copolymers is conventionally governed by temperature and individual block masses, we demonstrate that their phase behavior can alternatively be controlled through the use of blocks with random monomer sequencing. Block random copolymers (BRCs), i.e., diblock copolymers wherein one or both blocks is a random copolymer comprised of A and B repeat units, have been synthesized, and their phase behavior, expressed in terms ofmore » the order-disorder transition (ODT), has been investigated. Our results establish that, depending on the block composition contrast and molecular weight, BRCs can microphase-separate. We also report that the predicted ODT can be generated at relatively constant molecular weight and temperature with these new soft materials. This sequence-controlled synthetic strategy is extended to thermoplastic elastomeric triblock copolymers differing in chemistry and possessing a random-copolymer midblock.« less

Paracervical Block for Laminaria Insertion Before Second-Trimester Abortion: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PubMed

Soon, Reni; Tschann, Mary; Salcedo, Jennifer; Stevens, Katelyn; Ahn, Hyeong Jun; Kaneshiro, Bliss

2017-08-01

To evaluate the efficacy of a paracervical block to decrease pain during osmotic dilator insertion before second-trimester abortion. In this double-blind, randomized trial, 41 women undergoing Laminaria insertion before a second-trimester abortion received either a paracervical block with 18 mL 1% lidocaine and 2 mL sodium bicarbonate or a sham block. Women were between 14 and 23 6/7 weeks of gestation. The primary outcome was pain immediately after insertion of Laminaria. Women assessed their pain on a 100-mm visual analog scale. Secondary outcomes included assessment of pain at other times during the insertion procedure and overall satisfaction with pain control. To detect a 25-mm difference in pain immediately after Laminaria insertion, at an α of 0.05 and 80% power, we aimed to enroll 20 patients in each arm. From May 2015 to December 2015, 20 women received a paracervical block and 21 received a sham block. Groups were similar in demographics, including parity, history of surgical abortion, and number of Laminaria placed. The paracervical block reduced pain after Laminaria insertion (median scores 13 mm [interquartile range 2-39] compared with 54 mm [interquartile range 27-61], P=.01, 95% CI -47.0 to -4.0). Women who received a paracervical block also reported higher satisfaction with overall pain control throughout the entire Laminaria insertion procedure (median scores 95 mm [interquartile range 78-100] compared with 70 mm [interquartile range 44-90], P=.05, 95% CI 0.0-37.0). Paracervical block is effective at reducing the pain of Laminaria insertion. Additionally, a paracervical block increases overall patient satisfaction with pain control during Laminaria placement. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02454296.

Earth Observing System (EOS)/Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A): Instrument logic diagrams

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1994-01-01

This report contains all of the block diagrams and internal logic diagrams for the Earth Observation System Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A). These diagrams show the signal inputs, outputs, and internal signal flow for the AMSU-A.

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart Sssss of... - Emission Limits

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... that are controlled with a thermal or catalytic oxidizer a. The 3-hour block average THC concentration... the outlet of the control device; or b. The 3-hour block average THC mass emissions rate must be... than a thermal or catalytic oxidizer a. The 3-hour block average THC concentration must not exceed 20...

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart Sssss of... - Emission Limits

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... that are controlled with a thermal or catalytic oxidizer a. The 3-hour block average THC concentration... the outlet of the control device; or b. The 3-hour block average THC mass emissions rate must be... than a thermal or catalytic oxidizer a. The 3-hour block average THC concentration must not exceed 20...

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart Sssss of... - Emission Limits

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... that are controlled with a thermal or catalytic oxidizer a. The 3-hour block average THC concentration... the outlet of the control device; or b. The 3-hour block average THC mass emissions rate must be... than a thermal or catalytic oxidizer a. The 3-hour block average THC concentration must not exceed 20...

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart Sssss of... - Emission Limits

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... that are controlled with a thermal or catalytic oxidizer a. The 3-hour block average THC concentration... the outlet of the control device; or b. The 3-hour block average THC mass emissions rate must be... than a thermal or catalytic oxidizer a. The 3-hour block average THC concentration must not exceed 20...

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart Sssss of... - Emission Limits

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... that are controlled with a thermal or catalytic oxidizer a. The 3-hour block average THC concentration... the outlet of the control device; or b. The 3-hour block average THC mass emissions rate must be... than a thermal or catalytic oxidizer a. The 3-hour block average THC concentration must not exceed 20...

15 CFR Supplement No. 2 to Part 752 - Instructions for Completing Form BIS-748P-A, “Item Annex”

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... within the lines for each block or box. Block 1: Application Control No. Enter the application control... or reexport a computer or equipment that contains a computer. Instructions on calculating the APP are... processing of your application. Block 24: Continuation of Additional Information. Enter any identifying...

15 CFR Supplement No. 2 to Part 752 - Instructions for Completing Form BIS-748P-B, “Item Annex”

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... within the lines for each block or box. Block 1: Application Control No. Enter the application control... or reexport a computer or equipment that contains a computer. Instructions on calculating the APP are... processing of your application. Block 24: Continuation of Additional Information. Enter any identifying...

15 CFR Supplement No. 2 to Part 752 - Instructions for Completing Form BIS-748P-B, “Item Annex”

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... within the lines for each block or box. Block 1: Application Control No. Enter the application control... or reexport a computer or equipment that contains a computer. Instructions on calculating the APP are... processing of your application. Block 24: Continuation of Additional Information. Enter any identifying...

15 CFR Supplement No. 2 to Part 752 - Instructions for Completing Form BIS-748P-B, “Item Annex”

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... within the lines for each block or box. Block 1: Application Control No. Enter the application control... or reexport a computer or equipment that contains a computer. Instructions on calculating the APP are... processing of your application. Block 24: Continuation of Additional Information. Enter any identifying...

Comparison of the Effect of Continuous Femoral Nerve Block and Adductor Canal Block after Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty.

PubMed

Seo, Seung Suk; Kim, Ok Gul; Seo, Jin Hyeok; Kim, Do Hoon; Kim, Youn Gu; Park, Beyoung Yun

2017-09-01

This study aimed to compare the effects of femoral nerve block and adductor canal block on postoperative pain, quadriceps strength, and walking ability after primary total knee arthroplasty. Between November 2014 and February 2015, 60 patients underwent primary total knee arthroplasty. Thirty patients received femoral nerve block and the other 30 received adductor canal block for postoperative pain control. Before spinal anesthesia, the patients received nerve block via a catheter (20 mL 0.75% ropivacaine was administered initially, followed by intermittent bolus injection of 10 mL 0.2% ropivacaine every 6 hours for 3 days). The catheters were maintained in the exact location of nerve block in 24 patients in the femoral nerve block group and in 19 patients in the adductor canal block group. Data collection was carried out from these 43 patients. To evaluate postoperative pain control, the numerical rating scale scores at rest and 45° flexion of the knee were recorded. To evaluate quadriceps strength, manual muscle testing was performed. Walking ability was assessed using the Timed Up and Go test. We also evaluated analgesic consumption and complications of peripheral nerve block. No significant intergroup difference was observed in the numerical rating scale scores at rest and 45° flexion of the knee on postoperative days 1, 2, 3, and 7. The adductor canal block group had significantly greater quadriceps strength than did the femoral nerve block group, as assessed by manual muscle testing on postoperative days 1, 2, and 3. The 2 groups showed no difference in walking ability on postoperative day 1, but on postoperative days 2, 3, walking ability was significantly better in the adductor canal block group than in the femoral nerve block group. No significant intergroup difference was observed in analgesic consumption. The groups showed no difference in postoperative pain control. Adductor canal block was superior to femoral nerve block in preserving quadriceps strength and walking ability. However, adductor canal block was inferior to femoral nerve block in maintaining the exact location of the catheter.

Caveolin-1 regulates chemokine receptor 5-mediated contribution of bone marrow-derived cells to dermal fibrosis

PubMed Central

Lee, Rebecca; Perry, Beth; Heywood, Jonathan; Reese, Charles; Bonner, Michael; Hatfield, Corey M.; Silver, Richard M.; Visconti, Richard P.; Hoffman, Stanley; Tourkina, Elena

2014-01-01

In fibrotic diseases caveolin-1 underexpression in fibroblasts results in collagen overexpression and in monocytes leads to hypermigration. These profibrotic behaviors are blocked by the caveolin-1 scaffolding domain peptide (CSD) which compensates for caveolin-1 deficiency. Monocytes and fibroblasts are related in that monocytes are the progenitors of fibrocytes (CD45+/Collagen I+ cells) that, in turn, are the progenitors of many fibroblasts in fibrotic tissues. In an additional anti-fibrotic activity, CSD blocks monocyte differentiation into fibrocytes. We studied a mouse fibrosis model (Pump Model) involving systemic bleomycin delivery that closely models scleroderma (SSc) in several ways, the most important of which for this study is that fibrosis is observed in the lungs, skin, and internal organs. We show here that dermal thickness is increased 2-fold in the Pump Model and that this effect is almost completely blocked by CSD (p < 0.001). Concomitantly, the subcutaneous fat layer becomes >80% thinner. This effect is also blocked by CSD (p < 0.001). Even in mice receiving vehicle instead of bleomycin, CSD increases the thickness of the fat layer. To study the mechanisms of action of bleomycin and CSD, we examined the accumulation of the chemokine receptor CCR5 and its ligands MIP1α and MIP1β in fibrotic tissue and their roles in monocyte migration. Fibrocytes and other leukocytes expressing CCR5 and its ligands were present at high levels in the fibrotic dermis of SSc patients and Pump Model mice while CSD blocked their accumulation in mouse dermis. Migration toward CCR5 ligands of SSc monocytes and Pump Model bone marrow cells was 3-fold greater than cells from control subjects. This enhanced migration was almost completely blocked by CSD. These results suggest that low monocyte caveolin-1 promotes fibrosis by enhancing the recruitment of fibrocytes and their progenitors into affected tissue. PMID:24966836

Accelerating to Zero: Strategies to Eliminate Malaria in the Peruvian Amazon

PubMed Central

Quispe, Antonio M.; Llanos-Cuentas, Alejandro; Rodriguez, Hugo; Clendenes, Martin; Cabezas, Cesar; Leon, Luis M.; Chuquiyauri, Raul; Moreno, Marta; Kaslow, David C.; Grogl, Max; Herrera, Sócrates; Magill, Alan J.; Kosek, Margaret; Vinetz, Joseph M.; Lescano, Andres G.; Gotuzzo, Eduardo

2016-01-01

In February 2014, the Malaria Elimination Working Group, in partnership with the Peruvian Ministry of Health (MoH), hosted its first international conference on malaria elimination in Iquitos, Peru. The 2-day meeting gathered 85 malaria experts, including 18 international panelists, 23 stakeholders from different malaria-endemic regions of Peru, and 11 MoH authorities. The main outcome was consensus that implementing a malaria elimination project in the Amazon region is achievable, but would require: 1) a comprehensive strategic plan, 2) the altering of current programmatic guidelines from control toward elimination by including symptomatic as well as asymptomatic individuals for antimalarial therapy and transmission-blocking interventions, and 3) the prioritization of community-based active case detection with proper rapid diagnostic tests to interrupt transmission. Elimination efforts must involve key stakeholders and experts at every level of government and include integrated research activities to evaluate, implement, and tailor sustainable interventions appropriate to the region.

Microstructure synthesis control of biological polyhydroxyalkanoates with mass spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pederson, Erik Norman

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA's) are a class of biologically produced polymers, or plastic, that is synthesized by various microorganisms. PHA's are made from biorenewable resources and are fully biodegradable and biocompatible, making them an environmentally friendly green polymer. A method of incorporating polymer microstructure into the PHA synthesized in Ralstonia eutropha was developed. These microstructures were synthesized with polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) as the polymer domains. To synthesize the PHB V copolymer, the additional presence of valerate was required. To control valerate substrate additions to the bioreactor, an off-gas mass spectrometry (MS) feedback control system was developed. Important process information including the cell physiology, growth kinetics, and product formation kinetics in the bioreactor was obtained with MS and used to control microstructure synthesis. The two polymer microstructures synthesized were core-shell granules and block copolymers. Block copolymers control the structure of the individual polymer chains while core-shell granules control the organization of many polymer chains. Both these microstructures result in properties unattainable by blending the two polymers together. The core-shell structures were synthesized with controlled domain thickness based on a developed model. Different block copolymers compositions were synthesized by varying the switching time of the substrate pulses responsible for block copolymer synthesis. The block copolymers were tested to determine their chemical properties and cast into films to determine the materials properties. These block copolymer films possessed new properties not achieved by copolymers or blends of the two polymers.

V-type multicylinder internal combustion engine

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

Tsuboi, M.

1986-05-20

A V-type multicylinder internal combustion engine is described for vehicles comprising front and rear cylinder blocks arrayed in V shape longitudinally of a vehicle body, front and rear cylinder heads fixed on each cylinder block, pistons sliding in the cylinder blocks, a crank and transmission case formed uniformly on the cylinder blocks, a crankshaft extending transversely of the vehicle body borne rotatably on both side walls of the crank and transmission case at journals on both sides, the crankshaft being coupled to the pistons at a crank pin through connecting rods and provided with front and rear driving sprockets, frontmore » and rear cam shafts mounted rotatably on the cylinder heads with driven sprockets fixed thereon, a front timing chain laid between the front driving sprocket and the front driven sprocket and constituting together with the front driving and driven sprockets a front cam driving means, a rear timing chain laid between the rear driving sprocket and the rear driven sprocket and constituting together with the rear driving and driven sprockets a rear cam driving means, and a speed change gear coupled to the crankshaft by way of a primary reduction gear and a clutch.« less

Transversus abdominal plane block for postoperative analgesia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials.

PubMed

Brogi, Etrusca; Kazan, Roy; Cyr, Shantale; Giunta, Francesco; Hemmerling, Thomas M

2016-10-01

The transversus abdominal plane (TAP) block has been described as an effective pain control technique after abdominal surgery. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) to account for the increasing number of TAP block studies appearing in the literature. The primary outcome we examined was the effect of TAP block on the postoperative pain score at six, 12, and 24 hr. The secondary outcome was 24-hr morphine consumption. We searched the United States National Library of Medicine database, the Excerpta Medica database, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Clinical Studies and identified RCTs focusing on the analgesic efficacy of TAP block compared with a control group [i.e., placebo, epidural analgesia, intrathecal morphine (ITM), and ilioinguinal nerve block after abdominal surgery]. Meta-analyses were performed on postoperative pain scores at rest at six, 12, and 24 hr (visual analogue scale, 0-10) and on 24-hr opioid consumption. In the 51 trials identified, compared with placebo, TAP block reduced the VAS for pain at six hours by 1.4 (95% confidence interval [CI], -1.9 to -0.8; P < 0.001), at 12 hr by 2.0 (95% CI, -2.7 to -1.4; P < 0.001), and at 24 hr by 1.2 (95% CI, -1.6 to -0.8; P < 0.001). Similarly, compared with placebo, TAP block reduced morphine consumption at 24 hr after surgery (mean difference, -14.7 mg; 95% CI, -18.4 to -11.0; P < 0.001). We observed this reduction in pain scores and morphine consumption in the TAP block group after gynecological surgery, appendectomy, inguinal surgery, bariatric surgery, and urological surgery. Nevertheless, separate analysis of the studies comparing ITM with TAP block revealed that ITM seemed to have a greater analgesic efficacy. The TAP block can play an important role in the management of pain after abdominal surgery by reducing both pain scores and 24-hr morphine consumption. It may have particular utility when neuraxial techniques or opioids are contraindicated.

Sintering behavior and mechanical properties of zirconia compacts fabricated by uniaxial press forming.

PubMed

Oh, Gye-Jeong; Yun, Kwi-Dug; Lee, Kwang-Min; Lim, Hyun-Pil; Park, Sang-Won

2010-09-01

The purpose of this study was to compare the linear sintering behavior of presintered zirconia blocks of various densities. The mechanical properties of the resulting sintered zirconia blocks were then analyzed. Three experimental groups of dental zirconia blocks, with a different presintering density each, were designed in the present study. Kavo Everest® ZS blanks (Kavo, Biberach, Germany) were used as a control group. The experimental group blocks were fabricated from commercial yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia powder (KZ-3YF (SD) Type A, KCM. Corporation, Nagoya, Japan). The biaxial flexural strengths, microhardnesses, and microstructures of the sintered blocks were then investigated. The linear sintering shrinkages of blocks were calculated and compared. Despite their different presintered densities, the sintered blocks of the control and experimental groups showed similar mechanical properties. However, the sintered block had different linear sintering shrinkage rate depending on the density of the presintered block. As the density of the presintered block increased, the linear sintering shrinkage decreased. In the experimental blocks, the three sectioned pieces of each block showed the different linear shrinkage depending on the area. The tops of the experimental blocks showed the lowest linear sintering shrinkage, whereas the bottoms of the experimental blocks showed the highest linear sintering shrinkage. Within the limitations of this study, the density difference of the presintered zirconia block did not affect the mechanical properties of the sintered zirconia block, but affected the linear sintering shrinkage of the zirconia block.

Sintering behavior and mechanical properties of zirconia compacts fabricated by uniaxial press forming

PubMed Central

Oh, Gye-Jeong; Yun, Kwi-Dug; Lee, Kwang-Min; Lim, Hyun-Pil

2010-01-01

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to compare the linear sintering behavior of presintered zirconia blocks of various densities. The mechanical properties of the resulting sintered zirconia blocks were then analyzed. MATERIALS AND METHODS Three experimental groups of dental zirconia blocks, with a different presintering density each, were designed in the present study. Kavo Everest® ZS blanks (Kavo, Biberach, Germany) were used as a control group. The experimental group blocks were fabricated from commercial yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia powder (KZ-3YF (SD) Type A, KCM. Corporation, Nagoya, Japan). The biaxial flexural strengths, microhardnesses, and microstructures of the sintered blocks were then investigated. The linear sintering shrinkages of blocks were calculated and compared. RESULTS Despite their different presintered densities, the sintered blocks of the control and experimental groups showed similar mechanical properties. However, the sintered block had different linear sintering shrinkage rate depending on the density of the presintered block. As the density of the presintered block increased, the linear sintering shrinkage decreased. In the experimental blocks, the three sectioned pieces of each block showed the different linear shrinkage depending on the area. The tops of the experimental blocks showed the lowest linear sintering shrinkage, whereas the bottoms of the experimental blocks showed the highest linear sintering shrinkage. CONCLUSION Within the limitations of this study, the density difference of the presintered zirconia block did not affect the mechanical properties of the sintered zirconia block, but affected the linear sintering shrinkage of the zirconia block. PMID:21165274

Effect of acute psychological stress on response inhibition: An event-related potential study.

PubMed

Qi, Mingming; Gao, Heming; Liu, Guangyuan

2017-04-14

This study aimed to investigate the effect of acute psychological stress on response inhibition and its electrophysiological correlates using a dual-task paradigm. Acute stress was induced by a primary task (mental arithmetic task), which consisted of a stress block and a control block. Response inhibition was measured using a secondary task (Go/NoGo task). In each trial, a Go/NoGo stimulus was presented immediately after the mental arithmetic task. The results revealed increased subjective stress and negative affect for the stress relative to control block, suggesting that the mental arithmetic task triggered a reliable stress response. ERPs locked to the Go/NoGo stimuli revealed that decreased P2 and increased N2 components were evoked for the stress block compared to the control block. These results demonstrated that acute psychological stress alters the response inhibition process by reducing the early selective attention process and enhancing the cognitive control process. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

F-16 Simulator for Man-in-the-Loop Testing of Aircraft Control Systems (SIMTACS).

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-12-01

Figures Figure Page 2.1. General Hardware Arrangement..................... 12 3.1. DFCS Longitudinal Control Block Diagram .... 21 3.2. DFCS Gain...Functions for Longitudinal Control 22 3.3. DFCS Lateral-Directional Control Block Diagram........................................... 23 3.4. DFCS Gain...Functions for Lateral-Directional Control........................................... 24 3.5. DFCS Control Surface Mixer....................... 25 3.6

Black dimensional stones: Geology, technical properties and deposit characterization of the dolerites from Uruguay

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morales Demarco, M.; Oyhantçabal, P.; Stein, K.-J.; Siegesmund, S.

2012-04-01

Dimensional stones with a black color occupy a prominent place on the international market. Uruguayan dolerite dikes of andesitic and andesitic-basaltic composition are mined for commercial blocks of black dimensional stones. A total of 16 dikes of both compositions were studied and samples collected for geochemical and petrographical analysis. Color measurements were performed on different black dimensional stones in order to compare them with the Uruguayan dolerites. Samples of the two commercial varieties (Absolute Black and Moderate Black) were obtained for petrophysical analysis (e.g. density, porosity, uniaxial compressive strength, tensile strength, etc.). Detailed structural analyses were performed in several quarries. Geochemistry and petrography determines the intensity of the black color. When compared with commercial samples from China, Brazil, India and South Africa, among others, the Uruguayan dolerite Absolute Black is the darkest black dimensional stone analyzed. In addition, the petrophysical properties of the Uruguayan dolerites make them one of the highest quality black dimensional stones. Structural analyses show that five joint sets have been recognized: two sub-vertical joints, one horizontal and two diagonal. These joint sets are one of the most important factors that control the deposits, since they control the block size distribution and the amount of waste material.

Thermally-induced transition of lamellae orientation in block-copolymer films on ‘neutral’ nanoparticle-coated substrates

DOE PAGES

Yager, Kevin G.; Forrey, Christopher; Singh, Gurpreet; ...

2015-06-01

Block-copolymer orientation in thin films is controlled by the complex balance between interfacial free energies, including the inter-block segregation strength, the surface tensions of the blocks, and the relative substrate interactions. While block-copolymer lamellae orient horizontally when there is any preferential affinity of one block for the substrate, we recently described how nanoparticle-roughened substrates can be used to modify substrate interactions. We demonstrate how such ‘neutral’ substrates can be combined with control of annealing temperature to generate vertical lamellae orientations throughout a sample, at all thicknesses. We observe an orientational transition from vertical to horizontal lamellae upon heating, as confirmedmore » using a combination of atomic force microscopy (AFM), neutron reflectometry (NR) and rotational small-angle neutron scattering (RSANS). Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we identify substrate-localized distortions to the lamellar morphology as the physical basis of the novel behavior. In particular, under strong segregation conditions, bending of horizontal lamellae induce a large energetic cost. At higher temperatures, the energetic cost of conformal deformations of lamellae over the rough substrate is reduced, returning lamellae to the typical horizontal orientation. Thus, we find that both surface interactions and temperature play a crucial role in dictating block-copolymer lamellae orientation. As a result, our combined experimental and simulation findings suggest that controlling substrate roughness should provide a useful and robust platform for controlling block-copolymer orientation in applications of these materials.« less

Assessing delay and lag in sagittal trunk control using a tracking task.

PubMed

Reeves, N Peter; Luis, Abraham; Chan, Elizabeth C; Sal Y Rosas, Victor G; Tanaka, Martin L

2018-05-17

Slower trunk muscle responses are linked to back pain and injury. Unfortunately, clinical assessments of spine function do not objectively evaluate this important attribute, which reflects speed of trunk control. Speed of trunk control can be parsed into two components: (1) delay, the time it takes to initiate a movement, and (2) lag, the time it takes to execute a movement once initiated. The goal of this study is to demonstrate a new approach to assess delay and lag in trunk control using a simple tracking task. Ten healthy subjects performed four blocks of six trials of trunk tracking in the sagittal plane. Delay and lag were estimated by modeling trunk control for predictable and unpredictable (control mode) trunk movements in flexion and extension (control direction) at movement amplitudes of 2°, 4°, and 6° (control amplitude). The main effect of control mode, direction, and amplitude of movement were compared between trial blocks to assess secondary influencers (e.g., fatigue). Only control mode was consistent across trial blocks with predictable movements being faster than unpredictable for both delay and lag. Control direction and amplitude effects on delay and lag were consistent across the first two trial blocks and less consistent in later blocks. Given the heterogeneity in the presentation of back pain, clinical assessment of trunk control should include different control modes, directions, and amplitudes. To reduce testing time and the influence of fatigue, we recommend six trials to assess trunk control. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Receiver-exciter controller design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jansma, P. A.

1982-01-01

A description of the general design of both the block 3 and block 4 receiver-exciter controllers for the Deep Space Network (DSN) Mark IV-A System is presented along with the design approach. The controllers are designed to enable the receiver-exciter subsystem (RCV) to be configured, calibrated, initialized and operated from a central location via high level instructions. The RECs are designed to be operated under the control of the DMC subsystem. The instructions are in the form of standard subsystem blocks (SSBs) received via the local area network (LAN). The centralized control provided by RECs and other DSCC controllers in Mark IV-A is intended to reduce DSN operations costs from the Mark III era.

Quadratus Lumborum Block Versus Transversus Abdominis Plane Block for Postoperative Pain After Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PubMed

Blanco, Rafael; Ansari, Tarek; Riad, Waleed; Shetty, Nanda

Effective postoperative analgesia after cesarean delivery enhances early recovery, ambulation, and breastfeeding. In a previous study, we established the effectiveness of the quadratus lumborum block in providing pain relief after cesarean delivery compared with patient-controlled analgesia (morphine). In the current study, we hypothesized that this method would be equal to or better than the transversus abdominis plane block with regard to pain relief and its duration of action after cesarean delivery. Between April 2015 and August 2015, we randomized 76 patients scheduled for elective cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia to receive the quadratus lumborum block or the transversus abdominis plane block for postoperative pain relief. This trial was registered prospectively (NCT 02489851) [corrected]. Patients in the quadratus lumborum block group used significantly less morphine than the transversus abdominis plane block group (P < 0.05) at 12, 24, and 48 hours but not at 4 and 6 hours after cesarean delivery. This group also had significantly fewer morphine demands than the control group (P < 0.05) at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after cesarean delivery. No significant differences in visual analog scale results were shown between the 2 groups at rest or with movement. Calculated total pain relief at rest and with movement were similar (P < 0.001) in both groups. The quadratus lumborum block was more effective in reducing morphine consumption and demands than transversus abdominis plane blocks after cesarean section. This effect was observed up to 48 hours postoperatively.

Defining and refining international donor support for combating the AIDS pandemic.

PubMed

Attaran, A; Sachs, J

2001-01-06

The international aid effort against AIDS is greatly incommensurate with the severity of the epidemic. Drawing on the data that international aid donors self-reported to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), we find that, between 1996 and 1998, finance from all rich countries to sub-Saharan Africa for projects designated as AIDS control averaged US $69 million annually, and, assuming a safe margin for under-reporting and misreporting, we estimate that total donor spending on HIV/AIDS control was perhaps twice that at most. Since the late 1980s, aid levels have dropped relative to the prevalence of HIV infection, and stood recently at about $3 per HIV-infected person. Lack of finance is now the primary constraint on progress against AIDS, notwithstanding the widespread belief that a lack of interest from the goveements of poor countries is limiting. We argue that to produce a meaningful response to the pandemic, international assistance must be based on grants, not loans, for the poorest countries; be increased within the next 3 years to a minimum of $7.5 billion or more; be directed toward funding projects which are proposed and desired by the affected countries themselves, and which are judged as having epidemiological merit against the pandemic by a panel of independent scientific experts; and fund concurrent needs, including prevention, drug treatment (such as highly active antiretroviral therapy), and blocking mother-to-child HIV transmission. An effort of this scope and scale will both radically alter the prospects for intervention against AIDS in poor countries, and together with comparable efforts to control other infectious diseases, is easily afforded by the OECD donor economies, whose aggregate national income recently surpassed $21 trillion annually.

Light-controlled endosomal escape of the novel CD133-targeting immunotoxin AC133-saporin by photochemical internalization - A minimally invasive cancer stem cell-targeting strategy.

PubMed

Bostad, Monica; Olsen, Cathrine Elisabeth; Peng, Qian; Berg, Kristian; Høgset, Anders; Selbo, Pål Kristian

2015-05-28

The cancer stem cell (CSC) marker CD133 is an attractive target to improve antitumor therapy. We have used photochemical internalization (PCI) for the endosomal escape of the novel CD133-targeting immunotoxin AC133-saporin (PCIAC133-saporin). PCI employs an endocytic vesicle-localizing photosensitizer, which generates reactive oxygen species upon light-activation causing a rupture of the vesicle membranes and endosomal escape of entrapped drugs. Here we show that AC133-saporin co-localizes with the PCI-photosensitizer TPCS2a, which upon light exposure induces cytosolic release of AC133-saporin. PCI of picomolar levels of AC133-saporin in colorectal adenocarcinoma WiDr cells blocked cell proliferation and induced 100% inhibition of cell viability and colony forming ability at the highest light doses, whereas no cytotoxicity was obtained in the absence of light. Efficient PCI-based CD133-targeting was in addition demonstrated in the stem-cell-like, triple negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 and in the aggressive malignant melanoma cell line FEMX-1, whereas no enhanced targeting was obtained in the CD133-negative breast cancer cell line MCF-7. PCIAC133-saporin induced mainly necrosis and a minimal apoptotic response based on assessing cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP, and the TUNEL assay. PCIAC133-saporin resulted in S phase arrest and reduced LC3-II conversion compared to control treatments. Notably, co-treatment with Bafilomycin A1 and PCIAC133-saporin blocked LC3-II conversion, indicating a termination of the autophagic flux in WiDr cells. For the first time, we demonstrate laser-controlled targeting of CD133 in vivo. After only one systemic injection of AC133-saporin and TPCS2a, a strong anti-tumor response was observed after PCIAC133-saporin. The present PCI-based endosomal escape technology represents a minimally invasive strategy for spatio-temporal, light-controlled targeting of CD133+ cells in localized primary tumors or metastasis. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of general anesthetics on substance P release and c-Fos expression in the spinal dorsal horn

PubMed Central

Takasusuki, Toshifumi; Yamaguchi, Shigeki; Hamaguchi, Shinsuke; Yaksh, Tony L.

2013-01-01

Background We examined in vivo the effects of general anesthetics on evoked substance P release (primary afferent excitability) and c-Fos expression (neuronal activation) in superficial dorsal horn. Methods Rats received saline, propofol (100mg/kg), pentobarbital (50mg/kg), isoflurane (2 minimum alveolar concentration), nitrous oxide (66%) or fentanyl (30μg/kg). During anesthesia, rats received intraplantar 5% formalin (50μl) to left hindpaw. Ten min later, rats underwent transcardial perfusion with 4% paraformaldehyde. Substance P release from small primary afferents was assessed by incidence of Neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1r) internalization in the superficial dorsal horn. In separate studies, rats were sacrificed after 2 hrs and c-Fos expression measured. Results Intraplantar formalin induced robust NK1r internalization in ipsilateral dorsal horn (ipsilateral: 54±6% [mean±SEM], contralateral: 12±2%, P<0.05, n=4). Fentanyl, but not propofol, pentobarbital, isoflurane nor nitrous oxide alone inhibited NK1r internalization. However, 2 minimum alveolar concentration isoflurane + nitrous oxide reduced NK1r internalization (27±3%, P<0.05, n=5). All agents reduced c-Fos expression (control: 34±4, fentanyl: 8±2, isoflurane: 12±3, nitrous oxide: 11±2, isoflurane + nitrous oxide: 12±1, pentobarbital: 11±2, propofol: 13±3, P<0.05, n=3). Conclusion General anesthetics at anesthetic concentrations block spinal neuron activation through a mechanism which is independent of an effect upon small primary afferent peptide release. The effect of fentanyl alone and the synergistic effect of isoflurane and nitrous oxide on substance P release suggests a correlative rationale for the therapeutic use of these anesthetic protocol by blocking nociceptive afferent transmitter release and preventing the initiation of cascade which are immediately postsynaptic to the primary afferent. PMID:23708866

49 CFR 236.401 - Automatic block signal system and interlocking standards applicable to traffic control systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND APPLIANCES Traffic Control Systems Standards § 236.401 Automatic... 49 Transportation 4 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Automatic block signal system and interlocking standards applicable to traffic control systems. 236.401 Section 236.401 Transportation Other Regulations...

Optimized collectives using a DMA on a parallel computer

DOEpatents

Chen, Dong [Croton On Hudson, NY; Gabor, Dozsa [Ardsley, NY; Giampapa, Mark E [Irvington, NY; Heidelberger,; Phillip, [Cortlandt Manor, NY

2011-02-08

Optimizing collective operations using direct memory access controller on a parallel computer, in one aspect, may comprise establishing a byte counter associated with a direct memory access controller for each submessage in a message. The byte counter includes at least a base address of memory and a byte count associated with a submessage. A byte counter associated with a submessage is monitored to determine whether at least a block of data of the submessage has been received. The block of data has a predetermined size, for example, a number of bytes. The block is processed when the block has been fully received, for example, when the byte count indicates all bytes of the block have been received. The monitoring and processing may continue for all blocks in all submessages in the message.

31 CFR 594.301 - Blocked account; blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Blocked account; blocked property. 594.301 Section 594.301 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY GLOBAL TERRORISM SANCTIONS...

31 CFR 545.301 - Blocked account; blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Blocked account; blocked property. 545.301 Section 545.301 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY TALIBAN (AFGHANISTAN) SANCTIONS...

31 CFR 551.301 - Blocked account; blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Blocked account; blocked property. 551.301 Section 551.301 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY SOMALIA SANCTIONS REGULATIONS...

Kinetic control of block copolymer self-assembly into multicompartment and novel geometry nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yingchao; Wang, Xiaojun; Zhang, Ke; Wooley, Karen; Mays, Jimmy; Percec, Virgil; Pochan, Darrin

2012-02-01

Micelles with the segregation of hydrophobic blocks trapped in the same nanoparticle core have been produced through co-self-assembly of two block copolymers in THF/water dilute solution. The dissolution of two block copolymer sharing the same polyacrylic acid PAA blocks in THF undergoes consequent aggregation and phase separation through either slow water titration or quick water addition that triggers the micellar formation. The combination and comparison of the two water addition kinetic pathways are the keys of forming multicompartment structures at high water content. Importantly, the addition of organic diamine provides for acid-base complexation with the PAA side chains which, in turn, plays the key role of trapping unlike hydrophobic blocks from different block copolymers into one nanoparticle core. The kinetic control of solution assembly can be applied to other molecular systems such as dendrimers as well as other block copolymer molecules. Transmission electron microscopy, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, light scattering have been applied to characterize the micelle structures.

Synthetic polymer nanoparticles conjugated with FimH(A) from E. coli pili to emulate the bacterial mode of epithelial internalization.

PubMed

Lin, Lily Yun; Tiemann, Kristin M; Li, Yali; Pinkner, Jerome S; Walker, Jennifer N; Hultgren, Scott J; Hunstad, David A; Wooley, Karen L

2012-03-07

Amphiphilic block copolymer nanoparticles are conjugated with uropathogenic Escherichia coli type 1 pilus adhesin FimH(A) through amidation chemistry to enable bladder epithelial cell binding and internalization of the nanoparticles in vitro. © 2012 American Chemical Society

How to Clear a Block: A Theory of Plans

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-12-01

International Business Machines Corporation. Pre1h:o.inary versions of parts of this paper were presented at the Eighth lnterna~ tiona/ Conference on Automated...84-C-0706, by United States Army Research under Contract DAJA-45-84-C-0040, and by a contract from the International Business Machines Corporation

Flexible Fabrication of Shape-Controlled Collagen Building Blocks for Self-Assembly of 3D Microtissues.

PubMed

Zhang, Xu; Meng, Zhaoxu; Ma, Jingyun; Shi, Yang; Xu, Hui; Lykkemark, Simon; Qin, Jianhua

2015-08-12

Creating artificial tissue-like structures that possess the functionality, specificity, and architecture of native tissues remains a big challenge. A new and straightforward strategy for generating shape-controlled collagen building blocks with a well-defined architecture is presented, which can be used for self-assembly of complex 3D microtissues. Collagen blocks with tunable geometries are controllably produced and released via a membrane-templated microdevice. The formation of functional microtissues by embedding tissue-specific cells into collagen blocks with expression of specific proteins is described. The spontaneous self-assembly of cell-laden collagen blocks into organized tissue constructs with predetermined configurations is demonstrated, which are largely driven by the synergistic effects of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. This new strategy would open up new avenues for the study of tissue/organ morphogenesis, and tissue engineering applications. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Universal block diagram based modeling and simulation schemes for fractional-order control systems.

PubMed

Bai, Lu; Xue, Dingyü

2017-05-08

Universal block diagram based schemes are proposed for modeling and simulating the fractional-order control systems in this paper. A fractional operator block in Simulink is designed to evaluate the fractional-order derivative and integral. Based on the block, the fractional-order control systems with zero initial conditions can be modeled conveniently. For modeling the system with nonzero initial conditions, the auxiliary signal is constructed in the compensation scheme. Since the compensation scheme is very complicated, therefore the integrator chain scheme is further proposed to simplify the modeling procedures. The accuracy and effectiveness of the schemes are assessed in the examples, the computation results testify the block diagram scheme is efficient for all Caputo fractional-order ordinary differential equations (FODEs) of any complexity, including the implicit Caputo FODEs. Copyright © 2017 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

In Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats, subclinical diabetic neuropathy increases in vivo lidocaine block duration but not in vitro neurotoxicity

PubMed Central

Lirk, Philipp; Flatz, Magdalena; Haller, Ingrid; Hausott, Barbara; Blumenthal, Stephan; Stevens, Markus F.; Suzuki, Suzuko; Klimaschewski, Lars; Gerner, Peter

2012-01-01

Background and Objectives Application of local anesthetics may lead to nerve damage. Increasing evidence suggests that risk of neurotoxicity is higher in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Additionally, block duration may be prolonged in neuropathy. We sought to investigate neurotoxicity in vitro and block duration in vivo in a genetic animal model of diabetes mellitus type II. Methods In the first experiments, neurons harvested from control Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rats were exposed to acute (24 hours) or chronic (72 hours) hyperglycemia, followed by incubation with lidocaine 40 mM (approximately 1%). In a second experiment, neurons harvested from control ZDF rats, or diabetic ZDF rats, were incubated with lidocaine, with or without SB203580, an inhibitor of the p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase. Finally, we performed sciatic nerve block (lidocaine 2%, 0.2 mL) in control or diabetic ZDF rats, and measured motor and nociceptive block duration. Results In vitro, neither acute nor chronic hyperglycemia altered neurotoxic properties of lidocaine. In vitro, incubation of neurons with lidocaine resulted in a slightly decreased survival ratio when neurons were harvested from diabetic (57 ± 19) as compared to control (64 ± 9 %) rats. The addition of SB203580 partly reversed this enhanced neurotoxic effect and raised survival to 71 ± 12 in diabetic and 66 ± 9 % in control rats, respectively. In vivo, even though no difference was detected at baseline testing, motor block was significantly prolonged in diabetic as compared to control rats (137 ± 16 min versus 86 ± 17 min). Conclusions In vitro, local anesthetic neurotoxicity was more pronounced on neurons from diabetic animals, but the survival difference was small. In vivo, subclinical neuropathy leads to substantial prolongation of block duration. We conclude that early diabetic neuropathy increases block duration, while the observed increase in toxicity was small. PMID:23011115

26 CFR 1.883-1 - Exclusion of income from the international operation of ships or aircraft.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... charter), space, slot, or block-seat charter, or dry lease, as those terms are defined in paragraph (e)(5... connection with passenger aircraft this sort of charter may be referred to as the sale of block seats. (ix... how the ship or aircraft is used by the lowest-tier lessee in the chain of lessees (as provided in...

26 CFR 1.883-1 - Exclusion of income from the international operation of ships or aircraft.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... charter), space, slot, or block-seat charter, or dry lease, as those terms are defined in paragraph (e)(5... connection with passenger aircraft this sort of charter may be referred to as the sale of block seats. (ix... how the ship or aircraft is used by the lowest-tier lessee in the chain of lessees (as provided in...

26 CFR 1.883-1 - Exclusion of income from the international operation of ships or aircraft.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... charter), space, slot, or block-seat charter, or dry lease, as those terms are defined in paragraph (e)(5... connection with passenger aircraft this sort of charter may be referred to as the sale of block seats. (ix... how the ship or aircraft is used by the lowest-tier lessee in the chain of lessees (as provided in...

26 CFR 1.883-1 - Exclusion of income from the international operation of ships or aircraft.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... charter), space, slot, or block-seat charter, or dry lease, as those terms are defined in paragraph (e)(5... connection with passenger aircraft this sort of charter may be referred to as the sale of block seats. (ix... how the ship or aircraft is used by the lowest-tier lessee in the chain of lessees (as provided in...

Cell Penetrating Polymers Containing Guanidinium Trigger Apoptosis in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells unless Conjugated to a Targeting N-Acetyl-Galactosamine Block.

PubMed

Tan, Zhe; Dhande, Yogesh K; Reineke, Theresa M

2017-12-20

A series of 3-guanidinopropyl methacrylamide (GPMA)-based polymeric gene delivery vehicles were developed via aqueous reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The polymers have been evaluated for their cellular internalization ability, transfection efficiency, and cytotoxicity. Two homopolymers: P(GPMA 20 ), P(GPMA 34 ), were synthesized to study the effect of guanidium polymer length on delivery efficiency and toxicity. In addition, an N-acetyl-d-galactosamine (GalNAc)-based hydrophilic block was incorporated to produce diblock polymers, which provides a neutral hydrophilic block that sterically protects plasmid-polymer complexes (polyplexes) from colloidal aggregation and aids polyplex targeting to hepatocytes via binding to asialoglycoprotein receptors (ASGPRs). Polyplexes formed with P(GPMA x ) (x = 20, 34) homopolymers were shown to be internalized via both energy-dependent and independent pathways, whereas polyplexes formed with block polymers were internalized through endocytosis. Notably, P(GPMA x ) polyplexes enter cells very efficiently but are also very toxic to human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells and triggered cell apoptosis. In comparison, the presence of a carbohydrate block in the polymer structures reduced the cytotoxicity of the polyplex formulations and increased gene delivery efficiency with HepG2 cells. Transfection efficiency and toxicity studies were also carried out with HEK 293T (human embryonic kidney) cells for comparison. Results showed that polyplexes formed with the P(GPMA x ) homopolymers exhibit much higher transfection efficiency and lower toxicity with HEK 293T cells. The presence of the carbohydrate block did not further increase transfection efficiency in comparison to the homopolymers with HEK 293T cells, likely due to the lack of ASGPRs on the HEK 293T cell line. This study revealed that although guanidinium-based polymers have high membrane permeability, their application as plasmid delivery vehicles may be limited by their high cytotoxicity to certain cell types. Thus, the use of cell penetrating structures in polyplex formulations should be used with caution and carefully tailored toward individual cell/tissue types.

Hemicellulose block copolymers made from woods for wide-range directed self-assembly lithography enabling wider range of applicable patterning size

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morita, Kazuyo; Yamamoto, Kimiko

2017-03-01

Xylan, one of hemicellulose family, block copolymer was newly developed for wide-range directed self-assembly lithography (DSA). Xylan is higher hydrophilic material because of having many hydroxy groups in one molecule. It means that xylan block copolymer has a possibility of high-chi block copolymer. Generally, DSA is focused on microphase separation for smaller size with high-chi block copolymer and not well known for larger size. In this study, xylan block copolymer was confirmed enabling wider range of patterning size, from smaller size to larger size. The key of xylan block copolymer is a new molecular structure of block copolymer and sugar chain control technology. Sugar content is the important parameter for not only micro-phase separation property but also line edge roughness (LER) and defects. Based on the sugar control technology, wide-range (hp 8.3nm to 26nm L/S and CD 10nm to 51nm hole) DSA patterning was demonstrated. Additionally it was confirmed that xylan block copolymer is suitable for sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) process.

Unusual seismogenic soft-sediment deformation structures in Cambrian epicratonic carbonate deposits, western Colorado, U.S.A

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Myrow, P.; Chen, J.

2013-12-01

A wide variety of unusual penecontemporaneous deformation structures exist in grainstone and flat-pebble conglomerate beds of the Upper Cambrian strata, western Colorado, including slide scarps, thrusted beds, irregular blocks and internally deformed beds. Slide scarps are characterized by concave-up, sharp surfaces that truncate one or more underlying beds. Thrusted beds record movement of a part of a bed onto itself along a moderate to steeply inclined (generally 25°-40°) ramp. The hanging wall lenses in cases show fault-bend geometries, with either intact or mildly deformed bedding. Irregular bedded to internally deformed blocks isolated on generally flat upper bedding surfaces are similar in composition to the underlying beds. These features represent parts of beds that were detached, moved up onto, and some distances across, the laterally adjacent undisturbed bed surfaces. The blocks moved either at the sediment-water interface or intrastratally at shallow depths within overlying muddy deposits. Finally, internally deformed beds have large blocks, fitted fabrics of highly irregular fragments, and contorted lamination, which represent heterogeneous deformation, such as brecciation and liquefaction. The various deformation structures were most probably triggered by earthquakes, considering the nature of deformation (regional distribution of liquefaction structures, and the brittle segmentation and subsequent transportation of semi-consolidated beds) and the reactivation of Mesoproterozoic, crustal-scale shear zones in the central Rockies during the Late Cambrian. Features produced by initial brittle deformation are unusual relative to most reported seismites, and may represent poorly recognized to unrecognized seismogenic structures in the rock record.

Serum from the Human Fracture Hematoma Contains a Potent Inducer of Neutrophil Chemotaxis.

PubMed

Bastian, Okan W; Mrozek, Mikolaj H; Raaben, Marco; Leenen, Luke P H; Koenderman, Leo; Blokhuis, Taco J

2018-06-01

A controlled local inflammatory response is essential for adequate fracture healing. However, the current literature suggests that local and systemic hyper-inflammatory conditions after major trauma induce increased influx of neutrophils into the fracture hematoma (FH) and impair bone regeneration. Inhibiting neutrophil chemotaxis towards the FH without compromising the hosts' defense may therefore be a target of future therapies that prevent impairment of fracture healing after major trauma. We investigated whether chemotaxis of neutrophils towards the FH could be studied in vitro. Moreover, we determined whether chemotaxis of neutrophils towards the FH was mediated by the CXCR1, CXCR2, FPR, and C5aR receptors. Human FHs were isolated during an open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) procedure within 3 days after trauma and spun down to obtain the fracture hematoma serum. Neutrophil migration towards the FH was studied using Ibidi™ Chemotaxis 3D μ-Slides and image analysis of individual neutrophil tracks was performed. Our study showed that the human FH induces significant neutrophil chemotaxis, which was not affected by blocking CXCR1 and CXCR2. In contrast, neutrophil chemotaxis towards the FH was significantly inhibited by chemotaxis inhibitory protein of Staphylococcus aureus (CHIPS), which blocks FPR and C5aR. Blocking only C5aR with CHIPSΔ1F also significantly inhibited neutrophil chemotaxis towards the FH. Our finding that neutrophil chemotaxis towards the human FH can be blocked in vitro using CHIPS may aid the development of therapies that prevent impairment of fracture healing after major trauma.

Carbachol induces burst firing of dopamine cells in the ventral tegmental area by promoting calcium entry through L-type channels in the rat

PubMed Central

Zhang, Lei; Liu, Yudan; Chen, Xihua

2005-01-01

Enhanced activity of the central dopamine system has been implicated in many psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and addiction. Besides terminal mechanisms that boost dopamine levels at the synapse, the cell body of dopamine cells enhances terminal dopamine concentration through encoding action potentials in bursts. This paper presents evidence that burst firing of dopamine cells in the ventral tegmental area was under cholinergic control using nystatin-perforated patch clamp recording from slice preparations. The non-selective cholinergic agonist carbachol excited the majority of recorded neurones, an action that was not affected by blocking glutamate and GABA ionotropic receptors. Twenty per cent of dopamine cells responded to carbachol with robust bursting, an effect mediated by both muscarinic and nicotinic cholinoceptors postsynaptically. Burst firing induced as such was completely dependent on calcium entry as it could be blocked by cadmium and more specifically the L-type blocker nifedipine. In the presence of the sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin, carbachol induced membrane potential oscillation that had similar kinetics and frequency as burst firing cycles and could also be blocked by cadmium and nifedipine. Direct activation of the L-type channel with Bay K8644 induced strong bursting which could be blocked by nifedipine but not by depleting internal calcium stores. These results indicate that carbachol increases calcium entry into the postsynaptic cell through L-type channels to generate calcium-dependent membrane potential oscillation and burst firing. This could establish the L-type channel as a target for modulating the function of the central dopamine system in disease conditions. PMID:16081481

Acceptability of a herd immunity-focused, transmission-blocking malaria vaccine in malaria-endemic communities in the Peruvian Amazon: an exploratory study.

PubMed

White, Sara E; Harvey, Steven A; Meza, Graciela; Llanos, Alejandro; Guzman, Mitchel; Gamboa, Dionicia; Vinetz, Joseph M

2018-04-27

A transmission-blocking vaccine (TBV) to prevent malaria-infected humans from infecting mosquitoes has been increasingly considered as a tool for malaria control and elimination. This study tested the hypothesis that a malaria TBV would be acceptable among residents of a malaria-hypoendemic region. The study was carried out in six Spanish-speaking rural villages in the Department of Loreto in the Peruvian Amazon. These villages comprise a cohort of 430 households associated with the Peru-Brazil International Centre for Excellence in Malaria Research. Individuals from one-third (143) of enrolled households in an ongoing longitudinal, prospective cohort study in 6 communities in Loreto, Peru, were randomly selected to participate by answering a pre-validated questionnaire. All 143 participants expressed desire for a malaria vaccine in general; only 1 (0.7%) expressed unwillingness to receive a transmission-blocking malaria vaccine. Injection was considered most acceptable for adults (97.2%); for children drops in the mouth were preferred (96.8%). Acceptability waned marginally with the prospect of multiple injections (83.8%) and different projected efficacies at 70 and 50% (90.1 and 71.8%, respectively). Respondents demonstrated clear understanding that the vaccine was for community, rather than personal, protection against malaria infection. In this setting of the Peruvian Amazon, a transmission-blocking malaria vaccine was found to be almost universally acceptable. This study is the first to report that residents of a malaria-endemic region have been queried regarding a malaria vaccine strategy that policy-makers in the industrialized world often dismiss as altruistic.

Assembly of RNA nanostructures on supported lipid bilayers

PubMed Central

Dabkowska, Aleksandra P.; Michanek, Agnes; Jaeger, Luc; Rabe, Michael; Chworos, Arkadiusz; Höök, Fredrik; Nylander, Tommy; Sparr, Emma

2014-01-01

The assembly of nucleic acid nanostructures with controlled size and shape has large impact in the fields of nanotechnology, nanomedicine and synthetic biology. The directed arrangement of nanostructures at interfaces is important for many applications. In spite of this, the use of laterally mobile lipid bilayers to control RNA three-dimensional nanostructure formation on surfaces remains largely unexplored. Here, we direct the self-assembly of RNA building blocks into three-dimensional structures of RNA on fluid lipid bilayers composed of cationic 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP) or mixtures of zwitterionic 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DOPC) and cationic sphingosine. We demonstrate the stepwise supramolecular assembly of discrete building blocks through specific and selective RNA-RNA interactions, based on results from quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D), ellipsometry, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRF) experiments. The assembly can be controlled to give a densely packed single layer of RNA polyhedrons at the fluid lipid bilayer surface. We show that assembly of the 3D structure can be modulated by sequence specific interactions, surface charge and changes in the salt composition and concentration. In addition, the tertiary structure of the RNA polyhedron can be controllably switched from an extended structure to one that is dense and compact. The versatile approach to building up three-dimensional structures of RNA does not require modification of the surface or the RNA molecules, and can be used as a bottom-up means of nanofabrication of functionalized bio-mimicking surfaces. PMID:25417592

Voluntary attendance of small-group brainstorming tutoring courses intensify new clerk's "excellence in clinical care": a pilot study.

PubMed

Yang, Ling-Yu; Huang, Chia-Chang; Hsu, Hui-Chi; Yang, Ying-Ying; Chang, Ching-Chi; Chuang, Chiao-Lin; Lee, Wei-Shin; Liang, Jen-Feng; Cheng, Hao Min; Huang, Chin-Chou; Lee, Fa-Yauh; Ho, Shung-Tai; Kirby, Ralph

2017-01-06

Clerkship provides a unique way of transferring the knowledge and skills gathered during medical school's curriculum into real-ward clinical care environment. The annual program evaluation has indicated that the training of clerks in diagnostic and clinical reasoning skills needed to be enhanced. Recently, "clinical excellence" program have been promoted in our institution to augment the excellence in clinical care of new clerks. Current study aims to evaluate whether this pilot program improve the "clinical excellence" of new clerks. In a pilot study, groups of new clerks in years 2013 and 2014 voluntarily attended either a small-group brainstorming course or a didactic classroom tutoring courses as part of their 3-month internal medicine clinical rotation block. A third group of new clerks did not join either of the above courses and this group served as the control group. Pre-block/post-block self-assessment and post-block 5-station mini-Objective Subjective Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) were used to evaluate the effectiveness of these two additional courses that trained diagnostic and clinical reasoning skills. Overtime, the percentages of new clerks that attended voluntarily either the small-group brainstorming or classroom tutoring courses were increased. Higher post-block self-assessed diagnostic and clinical reasoning skill scores were found among individuals who attended the small-group brainstorming courses compared to either the didactic group or the control group. In a corresponding manner, the small-group brainstorming group obtained higher summary OSCE diag and OSCE reason scores than either the didactic group or control group. For all basic images/laboratory OSCE stations, the individual diagnostic skill (OSCE diag ) scores of the small-group brainstorming group were higher than those of the didactic group. By way of contrast, only the clinical reasoning skill (OSCE reason ) scores of the basic electrocardiogram and complete blood count + biochemistry OSCE station of thesmall-group brainstorming group were higher than those of the didactic group. Among the small-group brainstorming group, clerks with higher cumulative learning hours (>30-h) had significant higher OSCE diag and OSCE reason scores (>400) than those with less cumulative learning hours. Our pilot study provides a successful example of the use of a small-group tutoring courses for augmenting the diagnostic and clinical reasoning skills of new clerks. The positive results obtained during the initial 2-year long pilot "clinical excellence" program have encouraged the formal implementation of this course as part of the clerkship curriculum.

31 CFR 594.301 - Blocked account; blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Blocked account; blocked property. 594.301 Section 594.301 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY GLOBAL TERRORISM SANCTIONS REGULATIONS...

31 CFR 594.301 - Blocked account; blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Blocked account; blocked property. 594.301 Section 594.301 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY GLOBAL TERRORISM SANCTIONS REGULATIONS...

31 CFR 594.301 - Blocked account; blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Blocked account; blocked property. 594.301 Section 594.301 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY GLOBAL TERRORISM SANCTIONS REGULATIONS...

49 CFR 236.804 - Signal, block.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 49 Transportation 4 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Signal, block. 236.804 Section 236.804..., MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIR OF SIGNAL AND TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND APPLIANCES Definitions § 236.804 Signal, block. A roadway signal operated either automatically or manually at the entrance to a block. ...

31 CFR 546.302 - Blocked account; blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Blocked account; blocked property. 546.302 Section 546.302 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY DARFUR SANCTIONS REGULATIONS General...

31 CFR 593.301 - Blocked account; blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Blocked account; blocked property. 593.301 Section 593.301 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY FORMER LIBERIAN REGIME OF CHARLES...

31 CFR 510.301 - Blocked account; blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Blocked account; blocked property. 510.301 Section 510.301 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY NORTH KOREA SANCTIONS REGULATIONS General...

49 CFR 236.804 - Signal, block.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 49 Transportation 4 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Signal, block. 236.804 Section 236.804..., MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIR OF SIGNAL AND TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND APPLIANCES Definitions § 236.804 Signal, block. A roadway signal operated either automatically or manually at the entrance to a block. ...

49 CFR 236.804 - Signal, block.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 49 Transportation 4 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Signal, block. 236.804 Section 236.804..., MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIR OF SIGNAL AND TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND APPLIANCES Definitions § 236.804 Signal, block. A roadway signal operated either automatically or manually at the entrance to a block. ...

49 CFR 236.804 - Signal, block.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 49 Transportation 4 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Signal, block. 236.804 Section 236.804..., MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIR OF SIGNAL AND TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND APPLIANCES Definitions § 236.804 Signal, block. A roadway signal operated either automatically or manually at the entrance to a block. ...

31 CFR 547.302 - Blocked account; blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Blocked account; blocked property. 547.302 Section 547.302 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO...

Electrocardiographic features of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.

PubMed

Chyou, Janice Y; Friedman, Daniel; Cerrone, Marina; Slater, William; Guo, Yu; Taupin, Daniel; O'Rourke, Sean; Priori, Silvia G; Devinsky, Orrin

2016-07-01

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the most common cause of epilepsy-related mortality. We hypothesized that electrocardiography (ECG) features may distinguish SUDEP cases from living subjects with epilepsy. Using a matched case-control design, we compared ECG studies of 12 consecutive cases of SUDEP over 10 years and 22 epilepsy controls matched for age, sex, epilepsy type (focal, generalized, or unknown/mixed type), concomitant antiepileptic, and psychotropic drug classes. Conduction intervals and prevalence of abnormal ventricular conduction diagnosis (QRS ≥110 msec), abnormal ventricular conduction pattern (QRS <110 msec, morphology of incomplete right or left bundle branch block or intraventricular conduction delay), early repolarization, and features of inherited cardiac channelopathies were assessed. Abnormal ventricular conduction diagnosis and pattern distinguished SUDEP cases from matched controls. Abnormal ventricular conduction diagnosis was present in two cases and no controls. Abnormal ventricular conduction pattern was more common in cases than controls (58% vs. 18%, p = 0.04). Early repolarization was similarly prevalent in cases and controls, but the overall prevalence exceeded that of published community-based cohorts. Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 International League Against Epilepsy.

User Manual for Beta Version of TURBO-GRD: A Software System for Interactive Two-Dimensional Boundary/ Field Grid Generation, Modification, and Refinement

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Choo, Yung K.; Slater, John W.; Henderson, Todd L.; Bidwell, Colin S.; Braun, Donald C.; Chung, Joongkee

1998-01-01

TURBO-GRD is a software system for interactive two-dimensional boundary/field grid generation. modification, and refinement. Its features allow users to explicitly control grid quality locally and globally. The grid control can be achieved interactively by using control points that the user picks and moves on the workstation monitor or by direct stretching and refining. The techniques used in the code are the control point form of algebraic grid generation, a damped cubic spline for edge meshing and parametric mapping between physical and computational domains. It also performs elliptic grid smoothing and free-form boundary control for boundary geometry manipulation. Internal block boundaries are constructed and shaped by using Bezier curve. Because TURBO-GRD is a highly interactive code, users can read in an initial solution, display its solution contour in the background of the grid and control net, and exercise grid modification using the solution contour as a guide. This process can be called an interactive solution-adaptive grid generation.

The efficacy of conventional radiofrequency denervation in patients with chronic low back pain originating from the facet joints: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

PubMed

Lee, Chang-Hyun; Chung, Chun Kee; Kim, Chi Heon

2017-11-01

Radiofrequency denervation is commonly used for the treatment of chronic facet joint pain that has been refractory to more conservative treatments, although the evidence supporting this treatment has been controversial. We aimed to elucidate the precise effects of radiofrequency denervation in patients with low back pain originating from the facet joints relative to those obtained using control treatments, with particular attention to consistency in the denervation protocol. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was carried out. Adult patients undergoing radiofrequency denervation or control treatments (sham or epidural block) for facet joint disease of the lumbar spine comprised the patient sample. Visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores were measured and stratified by response of diagnostic block procedures. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Database for randomized controlled trials regarding radiofrequency denervation and control treatments for back pain. Changes in VAS pain scores of the radiofrequency group were compared with those of the control group as well as the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for back pain VAS. Meta-regression model was developed to evaluate the effect of radiofrequency treatment according to responses of diagnostic block while controlling for other variables. We then calculated mean differences and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using random-effects models. We included data from seven trials involving 454 patients who had undergone radiofrequency denervation (231 patients) and control treatments such as sham or epidural block procedures (223 patients). The radiofrequency group exhibited significantly greater improvements in back pain score when compared with the control group for 1-year follow-up. Although the average improvement in VAS scores exceeded the MCID, the lower limit of the 95% CI encompassed the MCID. A subgroup of patients who responded very well to diagnostic block procedures demonstrated significant improvements in back pain relative to the control group at all times. When placed into our meta-regression model, the response to diagnostic block procedure was responsible for a statistically significant portion of treatment effect. Studies published over the last two decades revealed that radiofrequency denervation reduced back pain significantly in patients with facet joint disease compared with the MCID and control treatments. Conventional radiofrequency denervation resulted in significant reductions in low back pain originating from the facet joints in patients showing the best response to diagnostic block over the first 12 months when compared with sham procedures or epidural nerve blocks. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Modernization of Koesters interferometer and high accuracy calibration gauge blocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

França, R. S.; Silva, I. L. M.; Couceiro, I. B.; Torres, M. A. C.; Bessa, M. S.; Costa, P. A.; Oliveira, W., Jr.; Grieneisen, H. P. H.

2016-07-01

The Optical Metrology Division (Diopt) of Inmetro is responsible for maintaining the national reference of the length unit according to International System of Units (SI) definitions. The length unit is realized by interferometric techniques and is disseminated to the dimensional community through calibrations of gauge blocks. Calibration of large gauge blocks from 100 mm to 1000 mm has been performed by Diopt with a Koesters interferometer with reference to spectral lines of a krypton discharge lamp. Replacement of this lamp by frequency stabilized lasers, traceable now to the time and frequency scale, is described and the first results are reported.

Postoperative Analgesic Efficacy of Bilateral Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in Patients Undergoing Midline Colorectal Surgeries Using Ropivacaine: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial.

PubMed

Qazi, Nahida; Bhat, Wasim Mohammad; Iqbal, Malik Zaffar; Wani, Anisur Rehman; Gurcoo, Showkat A; Rasool, Sahir

2017-01-01

Ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is done as a part of multimodal analgesia for pain relief after abdominal surgeries. This prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the postoperative analgesic efficacy of bilateral TAP block in patients undergoing midline colorectal surgeries using ropivacaine. Eighty patients scheduled for elective colorectal surgeries involving midline abdominal wall incision under general anesthesia were enrolled in this prospective randomized controlled trial. Group A received TAP block with 20 ml of 0.2% ropivacaine on either side of the abdominal wall, and Group B received 20 ml of normal saline. The time to request for rescue analgesia, total analgesic consumption in 24 h, and satisfaction with the anesthetic technique were assessed. The mean visual analog scale scores at rest and on coughing were higher in control group ( P > 0.05). Time (min) to request for the first rescue analgesia was prolonged in study group compared to control group ( P < 0.001). The total tramadol consumption in 24 h postoperatively was significantly high in control group ( P < 0.001). Nausea/vomiting was more common in control group ( P > 0.05). The level of satisfaction concerning postoperative pain control/anesthetic technique was higher in study group ( P < 0.001). TAP block produces effective and prolonged postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing midline colorectal surgery. It is a technically simple block to perform with a high margin of safety. It produces a considerable reduction in mean intravenous postoperative tramadol requirements, reduction in postoperative pain scores, and increased time to first request for further analgesia, both at rest and on movement.

Postoperative Analgesic Efficacy of Bilateral Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in Patients Undergoing Midline Colorectal Surgeries Using Ropivacaine: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial

PubMed Central

Qazi, Nahida; Bhat, Wasim Mohammad; Iqbal, Malik Zaffar; Wani, Anisur Rehman; Gurcoo, Showkat A.; Rasool, Sahir

2017-01-01

Background: Ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is done as a part of multimodal analgesia for pain relief after abdominal surgeries. This prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the postoperative analgesic efficacy of bilateral TAP block in patients undergoing midline colorectal surgeries using ropivacaine. Materials and Methods: Eighty patients scheduled for elective colorectal surgeries involving midline abdominal wall incision under general anesthesia were enrolled in this prospective randomized controlled trial. Group A received TAP block with 20 ml of 0.2% ropivacaine on either side of the abdominal wall, and Group B received 20 ml of normal saline. The time to request for rescue analgesia, total analgesic consumption in 24 h, and satisfaction with the anesthetic technique were assessed. Results: The mean visual analog scale scores at rest and on coughing were higher in control group (P > 0.05). Time (min) to request for the first rescue analgesia was prolonged in study group compared to control group (P < 0.001). The total tramadol consumption in 24 h postoperatively was significantly high in control group (P < 0.001). Nausea/vomiting was more common in control group (P > 0.05). The level of satisfaction concerning postoperative pain control/anesthetic technique was higher in study group (P < 0.001). Conclusion: TAP block produces effective and prolonged postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing midline colorectal surgery. It is a technically simple block to perform with a high margin of safety. It produces a considerable reduction in mean intravenous postoperative tramadol requirements, reduction in postoperative pain scores, and increased time to first request for further analgesia, both at rest and on movement. PMID:28928585

75 FR 26889 - Airworthiness Directives; Arrow Falcon Exporters, Inc. (previously Utah State University) et al...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-13

... the forward tip weight retention block (tip block) or aft tip closure (tip closure), loss of the blade...) forward tip weight retention block (tip block) and the aft tip closure (tip closure) for adhesive bond... prevent loss of a tip block or tip closure, loss of a blade, and subsequent loss of control of the...

Detection of combustion start in the controlled auto ignition engine by wavelet transform of the engine block vibration signal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Seonguk; Min, Kyoungdoug

2008-08-01

The CAI (controlled auto ignition) engine ignites fuel and air mixture by trapping high temperature burnt gas using a negative valve overlap. Due to auto ignition in CAI combustion, efficiency improvements and low level NOx emission can be obtained. Meanwhile, the CAI combustion regime is restricted and control parameters are limited. The start of combustion data in the compressed ignition engine are most critical for controlling the overall combustion. In this research, the engine block vibration signal is transformed by the Meyer wavelet to analyze CAI combustion more easily and accurately. Signal acquisition of the engine block vibration is a more suitable method for practical use than measurement of in-cylinder pressure. A new method for detecting combustion start in CAI engines through wavelet transformation of the engine block vibration signal was developed and results indicate that it is accurate enough to analyze the start of combustion. Experimental results show that wavelet transformation of engine block vibration can track the start of combustion in each cycle. From this newly developed method, the start of combustion data in CAI engines can be detected more easily and used as input data for controlling CAI combustion.

Present-day crustal deformation and strain transfer in northeastern Tibetan Plateau

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yuhang; Liu, Mian; Wang, Qingliang; Cui, Duxin

2018-04-01

The three-dimensional present-day crustal deformation and strain partitioning in northeastern Tibetan Plateau are analyzed using available GPS and precise leveling data. We used the multi-scale wavelet method to analyze strain rates, and the elastic block model to estimate slip rates on the major faults and internal strain within each block. Our results show that shear strain is strongly localized along major strike-slip faults, as expected in the tectonic extrusion model. However, extrusion ends and transfers to crustal contraction near the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. The strain transfer is abrupt along the Haiyuan Fault and diffusive along the East Kunlun Fault. Crustal contraction is spatially correlated with active uplifting. The present-day strain is concentrated along major fault zones; however, within many terranes bounded by these faults, intra-block strain is detectable. Terranes having high intra-block strain rates also show strong seismicity. On average the Ordos and Sichuan blocks show no intra-block strain, but localized strain on the southwestern corner of the Ordos block indicates tectonic encroachment.

49 CFR 236.504 - Operation interconnected with automatic block-signal system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 49 Transportation 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Operation interconnected with automatic block... Operation interconnected with automatic block-signal system. (a) A continuous inductive automatic train stop or train control system shall operate in connection with an automatic block signal system and shall...

49 CFR 236.708 - Block.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 49 Transportation 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Block. 236.708 Section 236.708 Transportation... OF SIGNAL AND TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND APPLIANCES Definitions § 236.708 Block. A length of track of defined limits, the use of which by trains is governed by block signals, cab signals, or both. ...

31 CFR 593.301 - Blocked account; blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Blocked account; blocked property. 593.301 Section 593.301 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY FORMER LIBERIAN REGIME OF CHARLES TAYLOR...

31 CFR 593.301 - Blocked account; blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Blocked account; blocked property. 593.301 Section 593.301 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY FORMER LIBERIAN REGIME OF CHARLES TAYLOR...

31 CFR 593.301 - Blocked account; blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Blocked account; blocked property. 593.301 Section 593.301 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY FORMER LIBERIAN REGIME OF CHARLES TAYLOR...

31 CFR 593.301 - Blocked account; blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Blocked account; blocked property. 593.301 Section 593.301 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY FORMER LIBERIAN REGIME OF CHARLES TAYLOR...

31 CFR 547.302 - Blocked account; blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Blocked account; blocked property. 547.302 Section 547.302 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO SANCTIONS...

31 CFR 547.302 - Blocked account; blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Blocked account; blocked property. 547.302 Section 547.302 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO SANCTIONS...

31 CFR 547.302 - Blocked account; blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Blocked account; blocked property. 547.302 Section 547.302 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO SANCTIONS...

31 CFR 547.302 - Blocked account; blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Blocked account; blocked property. 547.302 Section 547.302 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO SANCTIONS...

49 CFR 236.504 - Operation interconnected with automatic block-signal system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... GOVERNING THE INSTALLATION, INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIR OF SIGNAL AND TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND APPLIANCES Automatic Train Stop, Train Control and Cab Signal Systems Standards § 236.504... or train control system shall operate in connection with an automatic block signal system and shall...

Endocytosis of collagen by hepatic stellate cells regulates extracellular matrix dynamics

PubMed Central

Bi, Yan; Mukhopadhyay, Dhriti; Drinane, Mary; Ji, Baoan; Li, Xing; Cao, Sheng

2014-01-01

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) generate matrix, which in turn may also regulate HSCs function during liver fibrosis. We hypothesized that HSCs may endocytose matrix proteins to sense and respond to changes in microenvironment. Primary human HSCs, LX2, or mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) [wild-type; c-abl−/−; or Yes, Src, and Fyn knockout mice (YSF−/−)] were incubated with fluorescent-labeled collagen or gelatin. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis and confocal microscopy were used for measuring cellular internalization of matrix proteins. Targeted PCR array and quantitative real-time PCR were used to evaluate gene expression changes. HSCs and LX2 cells endocytose collagens in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Endocytosed collagen colocalized with Dextran 10K, a marker of macropinocytosis, and 5-ethylisopropyl amiloride, an inhibitor of macropinocytosis, reduced collagen internalization by 46%. Cytochalasin D and ML7 blocked collagen internalization by 47% and 45%, respectively, indicating that actin and myosin are critical for collagen endocytosis. Wortmannin and AKT inhibitor blocked collagen internalization by 70% and 89%, respectively, indicating that matrix macropinocytosis requires phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling. Overexpression of dominant-negative dynamin-2 K44A blocked matrix internalization by 77%, indicating a role for dynamin-2 in matrix macropinocytosis. Whereas c-abl−/− MEF showed impaired matrix endocytosis, YSF−/− MEF surprisingly showed increased matrix endocytosis. It was also associated with complex gene regulations that related with matrix dynamics, including increased matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) mRNA levels and zymographic activity. HSCs endocytose matrix proteins through macropinocytosis that requires a signaling network composed of PI3K/AKT, dynamin-2, and c-abl. Interaction with extracellular matrix regulates matrix dynamics through modulating multiple gene expressions including MMP-9. PMID:25080486

Endocytosis of collagen by hepatic stellate cells regulates extracellular matrix dynamics.

PubMed

Bi, Yan; Mukhopadhyay, Dhriti; Drinane, Mary; Ji, Baoan; Li, Xing; Cao, Sheng; Shah, Vijay H

2014-10-01

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) generate matrix, which in turn may also regulate HSCs function during liver fibrosis. We hypothesized that HSCs may endocytose matrix proteins to sense and respond to changes in microenvironment. Primary human HSCs, LX2, or mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) [wild-type; c-abl(-/-); or Yes, Src, and Fyn knockout mice (YSF(-/-))] were incubated with fluorescent-labeled collagen or gelatin. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis and confocal microscopy were used for measuring cellular internalization of matrix proteins. Targeted PCR array and quantitative real-time PCR were used to evaluate gene expression changes. HSCs and LX2 cells endocytose collagens in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Endocytosed collagen colocalized with Dextran 10K, a marker of macropinocytosis, and 5-ethylisopropyl amiloride, an inhibitor of macropinocytosis, reduced collagen internalization by 46%. Cytochalasin D and ML7 blocked collagen internalization by 47% and 45%, respectively, indicating that actin and myosin are critical for collagen endocytosis. Wortmannin and AKT inhibitor blocked collagen internalization by 70% and 89%, respectively, indicating that matrix macropinocytosis requires phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling. Overexpression of dominant-negative dynamin-2 K44A blocked matrix internalization by 77%, indicating a role for dynamin-2 in matrix macropinocytosis. Whereas c-abl(-/-) MEF showed impaired matrix endocytosis, YSF(-/-) MEF surprisingly showed increased matrix endocytosis. It was also associated with complex gene regulations that related with matrix dynamics, including increased matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) mRNA levels and zymographic activity. HSCs endocytose matrix proteins through macropinocytosis that requires a signaling network composed of PI3K/AKT, dynamin-2, and c-abl. Interaction with extracellular matrix regulates matrix dynamics through modulating multiple gene expressions including MMP-9. Copyright © 2014 the American Physiological Society.

A review on "A Novel Technique for Image Steganography Based on Block-DCT and Huffman Encoding"

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Rig; Tuithung, Themrichon

2013-03-01

This paper reviews the embedding and extraction algorithm proposed by "A. Nag, S. Biswas, D. Sarkar and P. P. Sarkar" on "A Novel Technique for Image Steganography based on Block-DCT and Huffman Encoding" in "International Journal of Computer Science and Information Technology, Volume 2, Number 3, June 2010" [3] and shows that the Extraction of Secret Image is Not Possible for the algorithm proposed in [3]. 8 bit Cover Image of size is divided into non joint blocks and a two dimensional Discrete Cosine Transformation (2-D DCT) is performed on each of the blocks. Huffman Encoding is performed on an 8 bit Secret Image of size and each bit of the Huffman Encoded Bit Stream is embedded in the frequency domain by altering the LSB of the DCT coefficients of Cover Image blocks. The Huffman Encoded Bit Stream and Huffman Table

Modification of cutaneous vasodilator response to heat stress by daytime exogenous melatonin administration.

PubMed

Aoki, Ken; Stephens, Dan P; Zhao, Kun; Kosiba, Wojciech A; Johnson, John M

2006-09-01

In humans, the nocturnal fall in internal temperature is associated with increased endogenous melatonin and with a shift in the thermoregulatory control of skin blood flow (SkBF), suggesting a role for melatonin in the control of SkBF. The purpose of this study was to test whether daytime exogenous melatonin would shift control of SkBF to lower internal temperatures during heat stress, as is seen at night. Healthy male subjects (n = 8) underwent body heating with melatonin administration (Mel) or without (control), in random order at least 1 wk apart. SkBF was monitored at sites pretreated with bretylium to block vasoconstrictor nerve function and at untreated sites. Cutaneous vascular conductance, calculated from SkBF and arterial pressure, sweating rate (SR), and heart rate (HR) were monitored. Skin temperature was elevated to 38 degrees C for 35-50 min. Baseline esophageal temperature (Tes) was lower in Mel than in control (P < 0.01). The Tes threshold for cutaneous vasodilation and the slope of cutaneous vascular conductance with respect to Tes were also lower in Mel at both untreated and bretylium-treated sites (P < 0.05). The Tes threshold for the onset of sweating and the Tes for a standard HR were reduced in Mel. The slope of the relationship of HR, but not SR, to Tes was lower in Mel (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that melatonin affects the thermoregulatory control of SkBF during hyperthermia via the cutaneous active vasodilator system. Because control of SR and HR are also modified, a central action of melatonin is suggested.

Liposomal bupivacaine versus interscalene nerve block for pain control after shoulder arthroplasty: A meta-analysis.

PubMed

Yan, Zeng; Chen, Zong; Ma, Chuangen

2017-07-01

Postoperative pain control after total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) can be challenging. Liposomal bupivacaine and interscalene nerve block are 2 common pain control protocol for TSA patients. However, whether liposomal bupivacaine was superior than interscalene nerve block was unknown. This meta-analysis aimed to illustrate the efficacy liposomal bupivacaine versus interscalene nerve block for pain control in patients undergoing TSA. In May 2017, a systematic computer-based search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Google database. Data on patients prepared for TSA in studies that compared liposomal bupivacaine versus interscalene nerve block were retrieved. The endpoints were the visual analogue scale (VAS) at 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, and 2 weeks, total morphine consumption at 24 hours, and the length of hospital stay. Software of Stata 12.0 was used for pooling the final outcomes. Five clinical studies with 573 patients (liposomal bupivacaine group = 239, interscalene nerve block group = 334) were ultimately included in the meta-analysis. There was no significant difference between the VAS at 4 hours, 8 hours, and 2 weeks between liposomal bupivacaine group and interscalene nerve block group (P > .05). Compared with interscalene nerve block group, liposomal bupivacaine was associated with a reduction of VAS score at 12 hours, 24 hours by appropriately 3.31 points and 6.42 points respectively on a 100-point VAS. Furthermore, liposomal bupivacaine was associated with a significantly reduction of the length of hospital stay by appropriately by 0.16 days compared with interscalene nerve block group. Current meta-analysis indicates that compared with interscalene nerve block, liposomal bupivacaine had comparative effectiveness on reducing both pain scores and the length of hospital stay. However, studies with more patients and better-designed methods are needed to establish the optimal regimen and the safety of liposomal bupivacaine in TSA patients.

Liposomal bupivacaine versus interscalene nerve block for pain control after shoulder arthroplasty

PubMed Central

Yan, Zeng; Chen, Zong; Ma, Chuangen

2017-01-01

Abstract Background: Postoperative pain control after total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) can be challenging. Liposomal bupivacaine and interscalene nerve block are 2 common pain control protocol for TSA patients. However, whether liposomal bupivacaine was superior than interscalene nerve block was unknown. This meta-analysis aimed to illustrate the efficacy liposomal bupivacaine versus interscalene nerve block for pain control in patients undergoing TSA. Methods: In May 2017, a systematic computer-based search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Google database. Data on patients prepared for TSA in studies that compared liposomal bupivacaine versus interscalene nerve block were retrieved. The endpoints were the visual analogue scale (VAS) at 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, and 2 weeks, total morphine consumption at 24 hours, and the length of hospital stay. Software of Stata 12.0 was used for pooling the final outcomes. Results: Five clinical studies with 573 patients (liposomal bupivacaine group = 239, interscalene nerve block group = 334) were ultimately included in the meta-analysis. There was no significant difference between the VAS at 4 hours, 8 hours, and 2 weeks between liposomal bupivacaine group and interscalene nerve block group (P > .05). Compared with interscalene nerve block group, liposomal bupivacaine was associated with a reduction of VAS score at 12 hours, 24 hours by appropriately 3.31 points and 6.42 points respectively on a 100-point VAS. Furthermore, liposomal bupivacaine was associated with a significantly reduction of the length of hospital stay by appropriately by 0.16 days compared with interscalene nerve block group. Conclusion: Current meta-analysis indicates that compared with interscalene nerve block, liposomal bupivacaine had comparative effectiveness on reducing both pain scores and the length of hospital stay. However, studies with more patients and better-designed methods are needed to establish the optimal regimen and the safety of liposomal bupivacaine in TSA patients. PMID:28682872

Effect of the anti-receptor ligand-blocking 225 monoclonal antibody on EGF receptor endocytosis and sorting

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

Jaramillo, Maria L.; Leon, Zully; Grothe, Suzanne

The anti-receptor antibody, 225 mAb, is known to block binding of ligand to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). However, the effect of this neutralizing antibody on EGFR endocytosis, trafficking and degradation remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that endocytosis of {sup 125}I-225 mAb occurs, albeit with a slower rate than that of EGF. Using pulse chase assays, we show that internalized {sup 125}I-225 mAb is recycled to the surface much more efficiently than internalized {sup 125}I-EGF. Also, we found that internalization of {sup 125}I-225 mAb, in contrast to that of EGF, is independent of receptor tyrosine kinase activity, as evidencedmore » by its insensitivity to AG1478, a specific EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Analysis of the levels of cell surface and total EGFR showed that treatment with 225 mAb results in a 30-40% decrease in surface EGFR and a relatively slow downregulation of total EGFR. Taken together, these data indicate that 225 mAb induces internalization and downregulation of EGFR via a mechanism distinct from that underlying EGF-induced EGFR internalization and downregulation.« less

Comparison of ultrasound-guided posterior transversus abdominis plane block and lateral transversus abdominis plane block for postoperative pain management in patients undergoing cesarean section: a randomized double-blind clinical trial study.

PubMed

Faiz, Seyed Hamid Reza; Alebouyeh, Mahmoud Reza; Derakhshan, Pooya; Imani, Farnad; Rahimzadeh, Poupak; Ghaderi Ashtiani, Maryam

2018-01-01

Due to the importance of pain control after abdominal surgery, several methods such as transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block are used to reduce the pain after surgery. TAP blocks can be performed using various ultrasound-guided approaches. Two important approaches to do this are ultrasound-guided lateral and posterior approaches. This study aimed to compare the two approaches of ultrasound-guided lateral and posterior TAP blocks to control pain after cesarean section. In this double-blind clinical trial study, 76 patients scheduled for elective cesarean section were selected and randomly divided into two groups of 38 and underwent spinal anesthesia. For pain management after the surgery, one group underwent lateral TAP block and the other group underwent posterior TAP block using 20cc of ropivacaine 0.2% on both sides. Pain intensity was evaluated based on Numerical Analog Scale (NAS) at rest and when coughing, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24 and 36 hours after surgery. The pain at rest in the posterior group at all hours post surgery was lower than the lateral group, especially at 6, 12 and 24 hours after the surgery and the difference was statistically significant ( p =0.03, p <0.004, p =0.001). The results of this study show that ultrasound-guided posterior TAP block compared with the lateral TAP block was more effective in pain control after cesarean section.

Anatomy of a Silicon Compiler

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-10-04

Recognition 321 Anton StOWz*e 21.1. ALGORITHM AND ARCHITECTURE ............... 322 21.2. SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE .................... 325 213. CHIP ARCHiTECTURES...age controlled switch. The second is a linear model where each transistor is mod- eled by a voltage controlled switch in series with a resistor, and...the blocks being co- linear . Routing channels separate blocks which are adjacent. Channels are also placed along the top edge of each block in order to

Effects of antibacterial primers with quaternary ammonium and nano-silver on S. mutans impregnated in human dentin blocks

PubMed Central

Cheng, Lei; Zhang, Ke; Weir, Michael D.; Liu, Huaibing; Zhou, Xuedong; Xu, Hockin H. K.

2013-01-01

Objectives Recent studies developed antibacterial bonding agents and composites containing a quaternary ammonium dimethacrylate (QADM) and nanoparticles of silver (NAg). The objectives of this study were to investigate: (1) the effect of antibacterial primers containing QADM and NAg on the inhibition of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) impregnated into dentin blocks for the first time, and (2) the effect of QADM or NAg alone or in combination, and the effect of NAg mass fraction, on S. mutans viability in dentin. Methods Scotchbond Multi-Purpose (SBMP) bonding agent was used. QADM and NAg were incorporated into SBMP primer. Six primers were tested: SBMP primer control, control + 10% QADM (mass %), control + 0.05% NAg, control + 10% QADM + 0.05% NAg, control + 0.1% NAg, and control + 10% QADM + 0.1% NAg. S. mutans were impregnated into dentin blocks, then a primer was applied. The viable colony-forming units (CFU) were then measured by harvesting the bacteria in dentin using a sonication method. Results Control + 10% QADM + 0.1% NAg had bacteria inhibition zone 8-fold that of control (p < 0.05). The sonication method successfully harvested bacteria from dentin blocks. Control + 10% QADM + 0.1% NAg inhibited S. mutans in dentin blocks, reducing the viable CFU in dentin by three orders of magnitude, compared to control dentin without primer. Using QADM+NAg was more effective than QADM alone. Higher NAg content increased the potency. Dentin shear bond strength was similar for all groups (p > 0.1). Significance Antibacterial primer with QADM and NAg were shown to inhibit the S. mutans impregnated into dentin blocks for the first time. Bonding agent containing QADM and NAg is promising to eradicate bacteria in tooth cavity and inhibit caries. The QADM and NAg may have applicability to other adhesives, cements, sealants and composites. PMID:23422420

Coastal protection using topological interlocking blocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pasternak, Elena; Dyskin, Arcady; Pattiaratchi, Charitha; Pelinovsky, Efim

2013-04-01

The coastal protection systems mainly rely on the self-weight of armour blocks to ensure its stability. We propose a system of interlocking armour blocks, which form plate-shape assemblies. The shape and the position of the blocks are chosen in such a way as to impose kinematic constraints that prevent the blocks from being removed from the assembly. The topological interlocking shapes include simple convex blocks such as platonic solids, the most practical being tetrahedra, cubes and octahedra. Another class of topological interlocking blocks is so-called osteomorphic blocks, which form plate-like assemblies tolerant to random block removal (almost 25% of blocks need to be removed for the assembly to loose integrity). Both classes require peripheral constraint, which can be provided either by the weight of the blocks or post-tensioned internal cables. The interlocking assemblies provide increased stability because lifting one block involves lifting (and bending) the whole assembly. We model the effect of interlocking by introducing an equivalent additional self-weight of the armour blocks. This additional self-weight is proportional to the critical pressure needed to cause bending of the interlocking assembly when it loses stability. Using beam approximation we find an equivalent stability coefficient for interlocking. It is found to be greater than the stability coefficient of a structure with similar blocks without interlocking. In the case when the peripheral constraint is provided by the weight of the blocks and for the slope angle of 45o, the effective stability coefficient for a structure of 100 blocks is 33% higher than the one for a similar structure without interlocking. Further increase in the stability coefficient can be reached by a specially constructed peripheral constraint system, for instance by using post-tension cables.

ISS EPS Orbital Replacement Unit Block Diagrams

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schmitz, Gregory V.

2001-01-01

The attached documents are being provided to Switching Power Magazine for information purposes. This magazine is writing a feature article on the International Space Station Electrical Power System, focusing on the switching power processors. These units include the DC-DC Converter Unit (DDCU), the Bi-directional Charge/Discharge Unit (BCDU), and the Sequential Shunt Unit (SSU). These diagrams are high-level schematics/block diagrams depicting the overall functionality of each unit.

Acute inflammation induces segmental, bilateral, supraspinally mediated opioid release in the rat spinal cord, as measured by μ-opioid receptor internalization

PubMed Central

Chen, Wenling; Marvizón, Juan Carlos G.

2009-01-01

The objective of this study was to measure opioid release in the spinal cord during acute and long-term inflammation using μ-opioid receptor (MOR) internalization. In particular, we determined whether opioid release occurs in the segments receiving the noxious signals or in the entire spinal cord, and whether it involves supraspinal signals. Internalization of neurokinin 1 receptors (NK1Rs) was measured to track the intensity of the noxious stimulus. Rats received peptidase inhibitors intrathecally to protect opioids from degradation. Acute inflammation of the hindpaw with formalin induced moderate MOR internalization in the L5 segment bilaterally, whereas NK1R internalization occurred only ipsilaterally. MOR internalization was restricted to the lumbar spinal cord, regardless of whether the peptidase inhibitors were injected in a lumbar or thoracic site. Formalin-induced MOR internalization was substantially reduced by isoflurane anesthesia. It was also markedly reduced by a lidocaine block of the cervical-thoracic spinal cord (which did not affect the evoked NK1R internalization) indicating that spinal opioid release is mediated supraspinally. In the absence of peptidase inhibitors, formalin and hindpaw clamp induced a small amount of MOR internalization, which was significantly higher than in controls. To study spinal opioid release during chronic inflammation, we injected Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) in the hindpaw and peptidase inhibitors intrathecally. Two days later, no MOR or NK1R internalization was detected. Furthermore, CFA inflammation decreased MOR internalization induced by clamping the inflamed hindpaw. These results show that acute inflammation, but not chronic inflammation, induce segmental opioid release in the spinal cord that involves supraspinal signals. PMID:19298846

Acute inflammation induces segmental, bilateral, supraspinally mediated opioid release in the rat spinal cord, as measured by mu-opioid receptor internalization.

PubMed

Chen, W; Marvizón, J C G

2009-06-16

The objective of this study was to measure opioid release in the spinal cord during acute and long-term inflammation using mu-opioid receptor (MOR) internalization. In particular, we determined whether opioid release occurs in the segments receiving the noxious signals or in the entire spinal cord, and whether it involves supraspinal signals. Internalization of neurokinin 1 receptors (NK1Rs) was measured to track the intensity of the noxious stimulus. Rats received peptidase inhibitors intrathecally to protect opioids from degradation. Acute inflammation of the hind paw with formalin induced moderate MOR internalization in the L5 segment bilaterally, whereas NK1R internalization occurred only ipsilaterally. MOR internalization was restricted to the lumbar spinal cord, regardless of whether the peptidase inhibitors were injected in a lumbar or thoracic site. Formalin-induced MOR internalization was substantially reduced by isoflurane anesthesia. It was also markedly reduced by a lidocaine block of the cervical-thoracic spinal cord (which did not affect the evoked NK1R internalization) indicating that spinal opioid release is mediated supraspinally. In the absence of peptidase inhibitors, formalin and hind paw clamp induced a small amount of MOR internalization, which was significantly higher than in controls. To study spinal opioid release during chronic inflammation, we injected complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in the hind paw and peptidase inhibitors intrathecally. Two days later, no MOR or NK1R internalization was detected. Furthermore, CFA inflammation decreased MOR internalization induced by clamping the inflamed hind paw. These results show that acute inflammation, but not chronic inflammation, induces segmental opioid release in the spinal cord that involves supraspinal signals.

Properties of Single K+ and Cl− Channels in Asclepias tuberosa Protoplasts 1

PubMed Central

Schauf, Charles L.; Wilson, Kathryn J.

1987-01-01

Potassium and chloride channels were characterized in Asclepias tuberosa suspension cell derived protoplasts by patch voltage-clamp. Whole-cell currents and single channels in excised patches had linear instantaneous current-voltage relations, reversing at the Nernst potentials for K+ and Cl−, respectively. Whole cell K+ currents activated exponentially during step depolarizations, while voltage-dependent Cl− channels were activated by hyperpolarizations. Single K+ channel conductance was 40 ± 5 pS with a mean open time of 4.5 milliseconds at 100 millivolts. Potassium channels were blocked by Cs+ and tetraethylammonium, but were insensitive to 4-aminopyridine. Chloride channels had a single-channel conductance of 100 ± 17 picosiemens, mean open time of 8.8 milliseconds, and were blocked by Zn2+ and ethacrynic acid. Whole-cell Cl− currents were inhibited by abscisic acid, and were unaffected by indole-3-acetic acid and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Since internal and external composition can be controlled, patch-clamped protoplasts are ideal systems for studying the role of ion channels in plant physiology and development. Images Fig. 5 PMID:16665712

[Case of Leriche's syndrome treated with safe and effective analgesia after laparotomy by transversus abdominis plane block, rectus sheath block, and continuous wound infusion with ropivacaine].

PubMed

Hotta, Arisa; Yagi, Yuuki; Hakata, Saaya; Tsumura, Yae; Shimizu, Motoko; Kukida, Ayako; Nakamoto, Ai; Yoshikawa, Noriko; Oohira, Naoko; Tatekawa, Shigeki

2013-12-01

Ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks in the abdominal wall, such as transversus abdominis plane block (TAP block) and rectus sheath block, are now widely used. We report a case of Leriche's syndrome treated with safe and effective analgesia after laparotomy by abdominal wall block and continuous infusion. A 61-year-old man diagnosed with Leriche's syndrome underwent Y-graft replacement for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Preoperative enhanced and 3-dimensional CTs showed many collateral arterial systems, especially in the right abdominal wall. It was suggested that the right internal iliac artery had been completely occluded, and the left one showed severe stenosis. After the induction of general anesthesia, we recognized collateral arteries through an ultrasound view as on preoperative CTs. We lowered the pulse repetition frequency more than usual in order not to injure them. We injected 0.1875% ropivacaine 60 ml as TAP block, and 20 ml as rectus sheath block. When the wound was closed, a catheter was passed through an 18-gauge Tuohy needle placed above the fascia along the supraumbilical site. After the operation, 0.2% ropivacaine was continuously delivered at a rate of 6 ml hr-1 through the catheter. We could provide the patient with effective analgesia after surgery.

International Children's Trade Books: Building Blocks for Character Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Young, Terrell A.; Hadaway, Nancy L.; Ward, Barbara A.

2013-01-01

The importance of character education has been emphasized since ancient times across cultures and religions as a way to develop morals and values of the younger generations. In this article, the authors highlight several award-winning international children's trade books that reflect the core values recurring in literature and scriptures…

31 CFR 585.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property; transactions with respect to securities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... existence of any rights or obligations conferred or imposed by any international agreement or any contract... rights or obligations conferred or imposed by any international agreementor any contract entered into or... authorized, and notwithstanding the existence of any rights or obligations conferred or imposed by any...

Studies of the Reflection, Refraction and Internal Reflection of Light

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lanchester, P. C.

2014-01-01

An inexpensive apparatus and associated experiments are described for studying the basic laws of reflection and refraction of light at an air-glass interface, and multiple internal reflections within a glass block. In order to motivate students and encourage their active participation, a novel technique is described for determining the refractive…

The Serial Effect on Internal and External Variables.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scherre, Maria Marta Pereira; Naro, Anthony J.

1992-01-01

A study of concord phenomena in Rio de Janeiro spoken Portuguese found that, in the serial context, the linguistic system is so highly constrained that external, and even internal, influences are blocked. Authors conclude that strong constraints should be identified and further studies undertaken to understand the interplay of the diverse forces…

STS-88 Mission Insignia

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1998-01-01

Designed by the STS-88 crew members, this patch commemorates the first assembly flight to carry United States-built hardware for constructing the International Space Station (ISS). This flight's primary task was to assemble the cornerstone of the Space Station: the Node with the Functional Cargo Block (FGB). The rising sun symbolizes the dawning of a new era of international cooperation in space and the beginning of a new program: the International Space Station. The Earth scene outlines the countries of the Station Partners: the United States, Russia, those of the European Space Agency (ESA), Japan, and Canada. Along with the Pressurized Mating Adapters (PMA) and the Functional Cargo Block, the Node is shown in the final mated configuration while berthed to the Space Shuttle during the STS-88/2A mission. The Big Dipper Constellation points the way to the North Star, a guiding light for pioneers and explorers for generations. In the words of the crew, These stars symbolize the efforts of everyone, including all the countries involved in the design and construction of the International Space Station, guiding us into the future.

Serine 363 is required for nociceptin/orphanin FQ opioid receptor (NOPR) desensitization, internalization, and arrestin signaling.

PubMed

Zhang, Nancy R; Planer, William; Siuda, Edward R; Zhao, Hu-Chen; Stickler, Lucy; Chang, Steven D; Baird, Madison A; Cao, Yu-Qing; Bruchas, Michael R

2012-12-07

We determined the role of carboxyl-terminal regulation of NOPR (nociceptin, orphanin FQ receptor) signaling and function. We mutated C-terminal serine and threonine residues and examined their role in NOPR trafficking, homologous desensitization, and arrestin-dependent MAPK signaling. The NOPR agonist, nociceptin, caused robust NOPR-YFP receptor internalization, peaking at 30 min. Mutation of serine 337, 346, and 351, had no effect on NOPR internalization. However, mutation of C-terminal threonine 362, serine 363, and threonine 365 blocked nociceptin-induced internalization of NOPR. Furthermore, point mutation of only Ser-363 was sufficient to block NOPR internalization. Homologous desensitization of NOPR-mediated calcium channel blockade and inhibition of cAMP were also shown to require Ser-363. Additionally, NOPR internalization was absent when GRK3, and Arrestin3 were knocked down using siRNA, but not when GRK2 and Arrestin2 were knocked down. We also found that nociceptin-induced NOPR-mediated JNK but not ERK signaling requires Ser-363, GRK3, and Arrestin3. Dominant-positive Arrestin3 but not Arrestin2 was sufficient to rescue NOPR-S363A internalization and JNK signaling. These findings suggest that NOPR function may be regulated by GRK3 phosphorylation of Ser-363 and Arrestin3 and further demonstrates the complex nature of G-protein-dependent and -independent signaling in opioid receptors.

Serine 363 Is Required for Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ Opioid Receptor (NOPR) Desensitization, Internalization, and Arrestin Signaling*

PubMed Central

Zhang, Nancy R.; Planer, William; Siuda, Edward R.; Zhao, Hu-Chen; Stickler, Lucy; Chang, Steven D.; Baird, Madison A.; Cao, Yu-Qing; Bruchas, Michael R.

2012-01-01

We determined the role of carboxyl-terminal regulation of NOPR (nociceptin, orphanin FQ receptor) signaling and function. We mutated C-terminal serine and threonine residues and examined their role in NOPR trafficking, homologous desensitization, and arrestin-dependent MAPK signaling. The NOPR agonist, nociceptin, caused robust NOPR-YFP receptor internalization, peaking at 30 min. Mutation of serine 337, 346, and 351, had no effect on NOPR internalization. However, mutation of C-terminal threonine 362, serine 363, and threonine 365 blocked nociceptin-induced internalization of NOPR. Furthermore, point mutation of only Ser-363 was sufficient to block NOPR internalization. Homologous desensitization of NOPR-mediated calcium channel blockade and inhibition of cAMP were also shown to require Ser-363. Additionally, NOPR internalization was absent when GRK3, and Arrestin3 were knocked down using siRNA, but not when GRK2 and Arrestin2 were knocked down. We also found that nociceptin-induced NOPR-mediated JNK but not ERK signaling requires Ser-363, GRK3, and Arrestin3. Dominant-positive Arrestin3 but not Arrestin2 was sufficient to rescue NOPR-S363A internalization and JNK signaling. These findings suggest that NOPR function may be regulated by GRK3 phosphorylation of Ser-363 and Arrestin3 and further demonstrates the complex nature of G-protein-dependent and -independent signaling in opioid receptors. PMID:23086955

31 CFR 537.209 - Expenses of maintaining blocked property; liquidation of blocked account.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Expenses of maintaining blocked property; liquidation of blocked account. 537.209 Section 537.209 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY...

31 CFR 537.209 - Expenses of maintaining blocked property; liquidation of blocked account.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Expenses of maintaining blocked property; liquidation of blocked account. 537.209 Section 537.209 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY...

49 CFR 236.827 - System, block signal.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 49 Transportation 4 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false System, block signal. 236.827 Section 236.827..., MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIR OF SIGNAL AND TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND APPLIANCES Definitions § 236.827 System, block signal. A method of governing the movement of trains into or within one or more blocks by...

49 CFR 236.827 - System, block signal.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 49 Transportation 4 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false System, block signal. 236.827 Section 236.827..., MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIR OF SIGNAL AND TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND APPLIANCES Definitions § 236.827 System, block signal. A method of governing the movement of trains into or within one or more blocks by...

Venous compression syndrome of internal jugular veins prevalence in patients with multiple sclerosis and chronic cerebro-spinal venous insufficiency.

PubMed

Mandolesi, Sandro; Niglio, Tarcisio; Orsini, Augusto; De Sio, Simone; d'Alessandro, Alessandro; Mandolesi, Dimitri; Fedele, Francesco; d'Alessandro, Aldo

2016-01-01

Analysis of the incidence of Venous Compression Syndrome (VCS) with full block of the flow of the internal jugular veins (IJVs) in patients with Multiple Sclerosis and Chronic cerebro-spinal venous insufficiency. We included 769 patients with MS and CCSVI (299 males, 470 females) and 210 controls without ms and ccsvi (92 males, 118 females). each subject was investigated by echo-color-doppler (ecd). morphological and hemodynamic ecd data were recorded by a computerized mem-net maps of epidemiological national observatory on ccsvi and they were analyzed by mem-net clinical analysis programs. VCS of IJVs occurs in 240 subjects affected by CCSVI and MS (31% of total) and in 12 controls (6% of total). The differences between the two groups are statistical significant (X² = 36.64, p<0.0001). Up to day there are no longitudinal studies that allow us to identify the WC of jugular and/or vertebral veins as etiology of a chronic neurodegenerative disease, but we note that Venous Compression Syndrome of IJVs is strongly associated with MS and CCSVI. Chronic Cerebro-Spinal Venous Insufficiency, Multiple Sclerosis, Venous Compression Syndrome.

Continuous PECS II block for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

PubMed

Shakuo, Tomoharu; Kakumoto, Shinichi; Kuribayashi, Junya; Oe, Katsunori; Seo, Katsuhiro

2017-01-01

It has been reported that PECS II block can alleviate postoperative pain following transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TA-TAVI). However, the effectiveness of continuous PECS II block with catheterization has not yet been reported on the postoperative pain in patients undergoing TA-TAVI. We experienced two cases of TA-TAVI who received PECS II block with catheterization to manage postoperative pain. In the first case, a bolus injection for intraoperative pain and subsequent catheterization were performed before the implantation. However, the patient developed severe pain postoperatively in spite of the continuous block due to displacement of the catheter. In the second case, a bolus injection and the catheterization for the continuous block were performed before and after the implantation, respectively, which provided high-quality pain control. Continuous PECS II block may be useful to control perioperative pain associated with TA-TAVI. The insertion of the catheter after the implantation could be useful to avoid its displacement during the surgery.

Geometry modeling and multi-block grid generation for turbomachinery configurations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shih, Ming H.; Soni, Bharat K.

1992-01-01

An interactive 3D grid generation code, Turbomachinery Interactive Grid genERation (TIGER), was developed for general turbomachinery configurations. TIGER features the automatic generation of multi-block structured grids around multiple blade rows for either internal, external, or internal-external turbomachinery flow fields. Utilization of the Bezier's curves achieves a smooth grid and better orthogonality. TIGER generates the algebraic grid automatically based on geometric information provided by its built-in pseudo-AI algorithm. However, due to the large variation of turbomachinery configurations, this initial grid may not always be as good as desired. TIGER therefore provides graphical user interactions during the process which allow the user to design, modify, as well as manipulate the grid, including the capability of elliptic surface grid generation.

49 CFR 236.502 - Automatic brake application, initiation by restrictive block conditions stopping distance in...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... OF SIGNAL AND TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND APPLIANCES Automatic Train Stop, Train Control and Cab Signal Systems Standards § 236.502 Automatic brake application, initiation by restrictive block conditions stopping distance in advance. An automatic train-stop or train-control system shall operate to...

[Cooperation between an NGO and "host" states in the control of leprosy in Latin America].

PubMed

Kalk, Andreas

2003-01-01

The proliferation of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) can be considered the result of the inability of the current democratic system to perform all the tasks desired by its citizens. Although NGOs often do quite positive work, they tend to diminish governmental power and are capable of interfering in the internal affairs of other countries. In this context, there are efforts to control their activities, and this control can produce both negative effects (blocking the defense of human rights) and positive ones (correcting the lack of coordination in the work by NGOs). NGOs working with the control of leprosy have a long history of cooperation with "host" states in Latin America. In the worst cases they work in a vacuum left by the state. In a country like Brazil, where the government prioritizes the control of Hansen disease and community participation in the political process - NGOs generally work "in harmony" with national authorities. The most useful contribution to state efforts has been the technical and financial support for training health personnel, supervision, and awareness-raising campaigns. Thus, the NGO becomes "quasi-governmental" in performing its tasks.

The addition of a regional block team to the orthopedic operating rooms does not improve anesthesia-controlled times and turnover time in the setting of long turnover times.

PubMed

Eappen, Sunil; Flanagan, Hugh; Lithman, Rachel; Bhattacharyya, Neil

2007-03-01

To determine whether a regional block team with a dedicated space for performance of regional anesthetics would decrease turnover time and shorten the working day in a busy orthopedic practice with lengthy turnover times. Prospective, randomized study. Tertiary-care teaching hospital. 927 orthopedic procedures over a three-month period. The randomized placement of a regional block team to the orthopedic operating room (OR) suite. We evaluated the differences in anesthesia-controlled times, first-case start times, turnover times, and OR end times using a computerized OR information system. We also surveyed the surgeons regarding their perceptions of changes in turnover time and anesthesia-controlled times during the study period. Standard descriptive statistics were computed. Of a total of 927 cases, 398 cases were cared for by a regional block team and 529 cases received care in the usual manner, with the OR team providing the regional block. There was no difference between the study and control groups for on-time, first-case starts (57.73% vs 42.27%), induction time (13.2 vs 14.2 min), emergence time (8.1 vs 9.0 min), turnover time (70.3 vs 77.8 min), and OR end times. Most of the surgeons surveyed felt that the regional block team reduced turnover time significantly. A regional block team in this environment does not reduce anesthesia-controlled times and turnover times in an orthopedic OR suite with long turnover times, and it would be virtually impossible to recover the associated extra cost. The surgeons' perspective of turnover time is inaccurate.

Intravenous dexamethasone and perineural dexamethasone similarly prolong the duration of analgesia after supraclavicular brachial plexus block: a randomized, triple-arm, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

PubMed

Abdallah, Faraj W; Johnson, James; Chan, Vincent; Murgatroyd, Harry; Ghafari, Mohammad; Ami, Noam; Jin, Rongyu; Brull, Richard

2015-01-01

Perineural dexamethasone prolongs the duration of single-injection peripheral nerve block when added to the local anesthetic solution. Postulated systemic mechanisms of action along with theoretical safety concerns have prompted the investigation of intravenous dexamethasone as an alternative, with decidedly mixed results. We aimed to confirm that addition of intravenous dexamethasone will prolong the duration of analgesia after single-injection supraclavicular block compared with conventional long-acting local anesthetic alone or in combination with perineural dexamethasone for ambulatory upper extremity surgery. Seventy-five patients were randomized to receive supraclavicular block using 30-mL bupivacaine 0.5% alone (Control), with concomitant intravenous dexamethasone 8 mg (DexIV), or with perineural dexamethasone 8 mg (DexP). Duration of analgesia was designated as the primary outcome. To test our hypothesis, the superiority of DexIV was first compared with Control and then with DexP. Motor block duration, pain scores, opioid consumption, opioid-related side effects, patient satisfaction, and block-related complications were also analyzed. Twenty-five patients per group were analyzed. The duration of analgesia (mean [95% confidence interval]) was prolonged in the DexIV group(25 hours [17.6–32.4]) compared with Control (13.2 hours [11.5–15.0]; P < 0.001) but similar to the DexP group (25 hours[19.5–30.5]; P = 1). [corrected] Both DexIV and DexP had reduced pain scores, reduced postoperative opioid consumption, and improved satisfaction compared with Control. In a single-injection supraclavicular block with long-acting local anesthetic, the effectiveness of intravenous dexamethasone in prolonging the duration of analgesia seems similar to perineural dexamethasone.

Decision-making deficits in patients with chronic schizophrenia: Iowa Gambling Task and Prospect Valence Learning model.

PubMed

Kim, Myung-Sun; Kang, Bit-Na; Lim, Jae Young

2016-01-01

Decision-making is the process of forming preferences for possible options, selecting and executing actions, and evaluating the outcome. This study used the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and the Prospect Valence Learning (PVL) model to investigate deficits in risk-reward related decision-making in patients with chronic schizophrenia, and to identify decision-making processes that contribute to poor IGT performance in these patients. Thirty-nine patients with schizophrenia and 31 healthy controls participated. Decision-making was measured by total net score, block net scores, and the total number of cards selected from each deck of the IGT. PVL parameters were estimated with the Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling scheme in OpenBugs and BRugs, its interface to R, and the estimated parameters were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney U-test. The schizophrenia group received significantly lower total net scores compared to the control group. In terms of block net scores, an interaction effect of group × block was observed. The block net scores of the schizophrenia group did not differ across the five blocks, whereas those of the control group increased as the blocks progressed. The schizophrenia group obtained significantly lower block net scores in the fourth and fifth blocks of the IGT and selected cards from deck D (advantageous) less frequently than the control group. Additionally, the schizophrenia group had significantly lower values on the utility-shape, loss-aversion, recency, and consistency parameters of the PVL model. These results indicate that patients with schizophrenia experience deficits in decision-making, possibly due to failure in learning the expected value of each deck, and incorporating outcome experiences of previous trials into expectancies about options in the present trial.

Femoral nerve block in a representative sample of elderly people with hip fracture: A randomised controlled trial.

PubMed

Unneby, Anna; Svensson, Olle; Gustafson, Yngve; Olofsson, Birgitta

2017-07-01

The number of elderly people with hip fracture and dementia is increasing, and many of these patients suffer from pain. Opioids are difficult to adjust and side effects are common, especially with increased age and among patients with dementia. Preoperative femoral nerve block is an alternative pain treatment. To investigate whether preoperative femoral nerve block reduced acute pain and opioid use after hip fracture among elderly patients, including those with dementia. In this randomised controlled trial involving patients aged ≥70years with hip fracture (trochanteric and cervical), including those with dementia, we compared femoral nerve block with conventional pain management, with opioid use if required. The primary outcome was preoperative pain, measured at five timepoints using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Preoperative opioid consumption was also registered. The study sample comprised 266 patients admitted consecutively to the Orthopaedic Ward. The mean age was 84.1 (±6.9)years, 64% of participants were women, 44% lived in residential care facilities, and 120 (45.1%) had dementia diagnoses. Patients receiving femoral nerve block had significantly lower self-rated pain scores from baseline to 12h after admission than did controls. Self-rated and proxy VAS pain scores decreased significantly in these patients from baseline to 12h compared with controls (p<0.001 and p=0.003, respectively). Patients receiving femoral nerve block required less opioids than did controls, overall (2.3±4.0 vs. 5.7±5.2mg, p<0.001) and in the subgroup with dementia (2.1±3.3 vs. 5.8±5.0mg, p<0.001). Patients with hip fracture, including those with dementia, who received femoral nerve block had lower pain scores and required less opioids before surgery compared with those receiving conventional pain management. Femoral nerve block seems to be a feasible pain treatment for elderly people, including those with dementia. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Comparative study between cold air analgesia and supraorbital and supratrochlear nerve block for the management of pain during photodynamic therapy for actinic keratoses of the frontotemporal zone.

PubMed

Serra-Guillen, C; Hueso, L; Nagore, E; Vila, M; Llombart, B; Requena Caballero, C; Botella-Estrada, R; Sanmartin, O; Alfaro-Rubio, A; Guillen, C

2009-08-01

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an effective treatment for actinic keratoses, Bowen's disease and basal cell carcinoma. The main drawback of PDT is pain during application. To compare the efficacy of supratrochlear and supraorbital nerve block with cold air analgesia to control the pain experienced during PDT. A controlled open clinical trial was conducted in 34 patients having multiple actinic keratoses in the frontal region treated with PDT. On one side of the frontal region the supratrochlear and supraorbital nerves were blocked, while on the other side cold air was used as the method of analgesia. Pain was recorded on a visual analogue scale after treatment. Thirty-one of 34 patients reported less pain in the zone treated with nerve block. This difference was statistically significant. Nerve block is superior to cold air and is an easy, safe, effective means of controlling the pain associated with PDT.

A discrete element modelling approach for block impacts on trees

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toe, David; Bourrier, Franck; Olmedo, Ignatio; Berger, Frederic

2015-04-01

These past few year rockfall models explicitly accounting for block shape, especially those using the Discrete Element Method (DEM), have shown a good ability to predict rockfall trajectories. Integrating forest effects into those models still remain challenging. This study aims at using a DEM approach to model impacts of blocks on trees and identify the key parameters controlling the block kinematics after the impact on a tree. A DEM impact model of a block on a tree was developed and validated using laboratory experiments. Then, key parameters were assessed using a global sensitivity analyse. Modelling the impact of a block on a tree using DEM allows taking into account large displacements, material non-linearities and contacts between the block and the tree. Tree stems are represented by flexible cylinders model as plastic beams sustaining normal, shearing, bending, and twisting loading. Root soil interactions are modelled using a rotation stiffness acting on the bending moment at the bottom of the tree and a limit bending moment to account for tree overturning. The crown is taken into account using an additional mass distribute uniformly on the upper part of the tree. The block is represented by a sphere. The contact model between the block and the stem consists of an elastic frictional model. The DEM model was validated using laboratory impact tests carried out on 41 fresh beech (Fagus Sylvatica) stems. Each stem was 1,3 m long with a diameter between 3 to 7 cm. Wood stems were clamped on a rigid structure and impacted by a 149 kg charpy pendulum. Finally an intensive simulation campaign of blocks impacting trees was done to identify the input parameters controlling the block kinematics after the impact on a tree. 20 input parameters were considered in the DEM simulation model : 12 parameters were related to the tree and 8 parameters to the block. The results highlight that the impact velocity, the stem diameter, and the block volume are the three input parameters that control the block kinematics after impact.

Comparing analgesia and μ-opioid receptor internalization produced by intrathecal enkephalin

PubMed Central

Chen, Wenling; Song, Bingbing; Lao, Lijun; Pérez, Orlando A.; Kim, Woojae; Marvizón, Juan Carlos G.

2007-01-01

Summary Opioid receptors in the spinal cord produce strong analgesia, but the mechanisms controlling their activation by endogenous opioids remain unclear. We have previously shown in spinal cord slices that peptidases preclude μ-opioid receptor (MOR) internalization by opioids. Our present goals were to investigate whether enkephalin-induced analgesia is also precluded by peptidases, and whether it is mediated by MORs or δ-opioid receptors (DORs). Tail-flick analgesia and MOR internalization were measured in rats injected intrathecally with Leu-enkephalin and peptidase inhibitors. Without peptidase inhibitors, Leu-enkephalin produced neither analgesia nor MOR internalization at doses up to 100 nmol, whereas with peptidase inhibitors it produced analgesia at 0.3 nmol and MOR internalization at 1 nmol. Leu-enkephalin was ten times more potent to produce analgesia than to produce MOR internalization, suggesting that DORs were involved. Selective MOR or DOR antagonists completely blocked the analgesia elicited by 0.3 nmol Leu-enkephalin (a dose that produced little MOR internalization), indicating that it involved these two receptors, possibly by an additive or synergistic interaction. The selective MOR agonist endomorphin-2 produced analgesia even in the presence of a DOR antagonist, but at doses substantially higher than Leu-enkephalin. Unlike Leu-enkephalin, endomorphin-2 had the same potencies to induce analgesia and MOR internalization. We concluded that low doses of enkephalins produce analgesia by activating both MORs and DORs. Analgesia can also be produced exclusively by MORs at higher agonist doses. Since peptidases prevent the activation of spinal opioid receptors by enkephalins, the coincident release of opioids and endogenous peptidase inhibitors may be required for analgesia. PMID:17845806

Treatment of chronic neurogenic cough with in-office superior laryngeal nerve block.

PubMed

Simpson, C Blake; Tibbetts, Kathleen M; Loochtan, Michael J; Dominguez, Laura M

2018-04-18

Neurogenic cough is believed to result from a sensory neuropathy involving the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (SLN). We present our outcomes for the treatment of neurogenic cough with localized blockade of the internal branch of the SLN. A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent in-office percutaneous SLN block for treatment of neurogenic cough between 2015 and 2017 was conducted. Patient demographics, indications for injection, and response to treatment were recorded and analyzed. Cough severity index (CSI) scores before and after treatment were compared. Twenty-three patients underwent percutaneous blockade of the internal branch of the SLN in the clinic setting, and five patients were excluded for incomplete records. The indication was neurogenic cough as a diagnosis of exclusion. The injectable substance used was a 1:1 mixture of a long-acting particulate corticosteroid and a local anesthetic. Unilateral injections were performed in 13 patients, and five patients underwent bilateral injections. Of the unilateral injections, 10 were left-sided. Patients underwent an average of 2.4 SLN block procedures (range 1-7). Mean follow-up time postinjection was 85.4 days (7-450 days). Cough severity index scores decreased significantly from an average of 26.8 pretreatment to 14.6 posttreatment (P < 0.0001). The SLN block is an effective treatment for neurogenic cough, with average CSI scores significantly improved following injection. Further study is necessary to determine the characteristics of patients' responses to treatment, long-term outcomes, and efficacy of the procedure when compared to placebo and other accepted treatments for neurogenic cough. 4. Laryngoscope, 2018. © 2018 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

Exciter For X-Band Transmitter And Receiver

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johns, Carl E.

1989-01-01

Report describes developmental X-band exciter for X-band uplink subsystem of Deep Space Network. X-band transmitter-exciting signal expected to have fractional frequency stability of 5.2 X 10 to negative 15th power during 1,000-second integration period. Generates coherent test signals for S- and X-band Block III translator of Deep Space Network, Doppler-reference signal for associated Doppler-extractor system, first-local-oscillator signal for associated receiver, and reference signal for associated ranging subsystem. Tests of prototype exciter show controlling and monitoring and internal phase-correcting loops perform according to applicable design criteria. Measurements of stability of frequency and of single-sideband noise spectral density of transmitter-exciting signal made subsequently.

The Interrelation of Prayer and Worship Service Attendance in Moderating the Negative Impact of Life Event Stressors on Mental Well-Being.

PubMed

Rainville, G

2017-09-13

The interrelation of worship service attendance and private prayer in moderating the negative impact of life event stressors on mental well-being is examined using hierarchical multiple regressions on a national sample of 2601 Americans. A theoretical model is proposed in which stressful life events are made less distressing under conditions in which exposure to pro-social content at worship services is internalized through frequent private prayer. Interactive models controlling for a block of potential confounds are run to confirm that the stress-moderating effects of worship service attendance are noted only when attendance is complemented by relatively frequent engagement in private prayer.

Short- and Long-Term Learning of Feedforward Control of a Myoelectric Prosthesis with Sensory Feedback by Amputees.

PubMed

Strbac, Matija; Isakovic, Milica; Belic, Minja; Popovic, Igor; Simanic, Igor; Farina, Dario; Keller, Thierry; Dosen, Strahinja

2017-11-01

Human motor control relies on a combination of feedback and feedforward strategies. The aim of this study was to longitudinally investigate artificial somatosensory feedback and feedforward control in the context of grasping with myoelectric prosthesis. Nine amputee subjects performed routine grasping trials, with the aim to produce four levels of force during four blocks of 60 trials across five days. The electrotactile force feedback was provided in the second and third block using multipad electrode and spatial coding. The first baseline and last validation block (open-loop control) evaluated the effects of long- (across sessions) and short-term (within session) learning, respectively. The outcome measures were the absolute error between the generated and target force, and the number of force saturations. The results demonstrated that the electrotactile feedback improved the performance both within and across sessions. In the validation block, the performance did not significantly decrease and the quality of open-loop control (baseline) improved across days, converging to the performance characterizing closed-loop control. This paper provides important insights into the feedback and feedforward processes in prosthesis control, contributing to the better understanding of the role and design of feedback in prosthetic systems.

Microplate model for the present-day deformation of Tibet

USGS Publications Warehouse

Thatcher, W.

2007-01-01

Site velocities from 349 Global Positioning System (GPS) stations are used to construct an 11-element quasi-rigid block model of the Tibetan Plateau and its surroundings. Rigid rotations of five major blocks are well determined, and average translation velocities of six smaller blocks can be constrained. Where data are well distributed the velocity field can be explained well by rigid block motion and fault slip across block boundaries. Residual misfits average 1.6 mm/yr compared to typical one standard deviation velocity uncertainties of 1.3 mm/yr. Any residual internal straining of the blocks is small and heterogeneous. However, residual substructure might well represent currently unresolved motions of smaller blocks. Although any smaller blocks must move at nearly the same rate as the larger blocks within which they lie, undetected relative motions between them could be significant, particularly where there are gaps in GPS coverage. Predicted relative motions between major blocks agree with the observed sense of slip and along-strike partitioning of motion across major faults. However, predicted slip rates across Tibet's major strike-slip faults are low, only 5-12 mm/yr, a factor of 2-3 smaller than most rates estimated from fault offset features dated by radiometric methods as ???2000 to ???100,000 year old. Previous work has suggested that both GPS data and low fault slip rates are incompatible with rigid block motions of Tibet. The results reported here overcome these objections.

Influence of additional heat exchanger block on directional solidification system for growing multi-crystalline silicon ingot - A simulation investigation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nagarajan, S. G.; Srinivasan, M.; Aravinth, K.; Ramasamy, P.

2018-04-01

Transient simulation has been carried out for analyzing the heat transfer properties of Directional Solidification (DS) furnace. The simulation results revealed that the additional heat exchanger block under the bottom insulation on the DS furnace has enhanced the control of solidification of the silicon melt. Controlled Heat extraction rate during the solidification of silicon melt is requisite for growing good quality ingots which has been achieved by the additional heat exchanger block. As an additional heat exchanger block, the water circulating plate has been placed under the bottom insulation. The heat flux analysis of DS system and the temperature distribution studies of grown ingot confirm that the established additional heat exchanger block on the DS system gives additional benefit to the mc-Si ingot.

Implicit Block ACK Scheme for IEEE 802.11 WLANs

PubMed Central

Sthapit, Pranesh; Pyun, Jae-Young

2016-01-01

The throughput of IEEE 802.11 standard is significantly bounded by the associated Medium Access Control (MAC) overhead. Because of the overhead, an upper limit exists for throughput, which is bounded, including situations where data rates are extremely high. Therefore, an overhead reduction is necessary to achieve higher throughput. The IEEE 802.11e amendment introduced the block ACK mechanism, to reduce the number of control messages in MAC. Although the block ACK scheme greatly reduces overhead, further improvements are possible. In this letter, we propose an implicit block ACK method that further reduces the overhead associated with IEEE 802.11e’s block ACK scheme. The mathematical analysis results are presented for both the original protocol and the proposed scheme. A performance improvement of greater than 10% was achieved with the proposed implementation.

Brushed block copolymer micelles with pH-sensitive pendant groups for controlled drug delivery.

PubMed

Lee, Hyun Jin; Bae, Younsoo

2013-08-01

To investigate the effects of small aliphatic pendent groups conjugated through an acid-sensitive linker to the core of brushed block copolymer micelles on particle properties. The brushed block copolymers were synthesized by conjugating five types of 2-alkanone (2-butanone, 2-hexanone, 2-octanone, 2-decanone, and 2-dodecanone) through an acid-labile hydrazone linker to poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(aspartate hydrazide) block copolymers. Only block copolymers with 2-hexanone and 2-octanone (PEG-HEX and PEG-OCT) formed micelles with a clinically relevant size (< 50 nm in diameter), low critical micelle concentration (CMC, < 20 μM), and drug entrapment yields (approximately 5 wt.%). Both micelles degraded in aqueous solutions in a pH-dependent manner, while the degradation was accelerated in an acidic condition (pH 5.0) in comparison to pH 7.4. Despite these similar properties, PEG-OCT micelles controlled the entrapment and pH-dependent release of a hydrophobic drug most efficiently, without altering particle size, shape, and stability. The molecular weight of PEG (12 kDa vs 5 kDa) induced no change in pH-controlled drug release rates of PEG-OCT micelles. Acid-labile small aliphatic pendant groups are useful to control the entrapment and release of a hydrophobic drug physically entrapped in the core of brushed block copolymer micelles.

The CRHR1 gene, trauma exposure, and alcoholism risk: a test of G × E effects.

PubMed

Ray, L A; Sehl, M; Bujarski, S; Hutchison, K; Blaine, S; Enoch, M-A

2013-06-01

The corticotropin-releasing hormone type I receptor (CRHR1) gene has been implicated in the liability for neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly under conditions of stress. On the basis of the hypothesized effects of CRHR1 variation on stress reactivity, measures of adulthood traumatic stress exposure were analyzed for their interaction with CRHR1 haplotypes and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in predicting the risk for alcoholism. Phenotypic data on 2533 non-related Caucasian individuals (1167 alcoholics and 1366 controls) were culled from the publically available Study of Addiction: Genetics and Environment genome-wide association study. Genotypes were available for 19 tag SNPs. Logistic regression models examined the interaction between CRHR1 haplotypes/SNPs and adulthood traumatic stress exposure in predicting alcoholism risk. Two haplotype blocks spanned CRHR1. Haplotype analyses identified one haplotype in the proximal block 1 (P = 0.029) and two haplotypes in the distal block 2 (P = 0.026, 0.042) that showed nominally significant (corrected P < 0.025) genotype × traumatic stress interactive effects on the likelihood of developing alcoholism. The block 1 haplotype effect was driven by SNPs rs110402 (P = 0.019) and rs242924 (P = 0.019). In block 2, rs17689966 (P = 0.018) showed significant and rs173365 (P = 0.026) showed nominally significant, gene × environment (G × E) effects on alcoholism status. This study extends the literature on the interplay between CRHR1 variation and alcoholism, in the context of exposure to traumatic stress. These findings are consistent with the hypothesized role of the extra hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing factor system dysregulation in the initiation and maintenance of alcoholism. Molecular and experimental studies are needed to more fully understand the mechanisms of risk and protection conferred by genetic variation at the identified loci. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd and International Behavioural and Neural Genetics Society.

Local wound infiltration plus transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block versus local wound infiltration in laparoscopic colorectal surgery and ERAS program.

PubMed

Pedrazzani, Corrado; Menestrina, Nicola; Moro, Margherita; Brazzo, Gianluca; Mantovani, Guido; Polati, Enrico; Guglielmi, Alfredo

2016-11-01

Few data are available on TAP block in laparoscopic colorectal surgery and ERAS program. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate local wound infiltration plus TAP block compared to local wound infiltration in the management of postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting, ileus and use of opioids in the context of laparoscopic colorectal surgery and ERAS program. From March 2014 to March 2015, 48 patients were treated by laparoscopic resection and ERAS program for colorectal cancer and diverticular disease at the Division of General and Hepatobiliary Surgery, University of Verona Hospital Trust. Among these, 24 patients received local wound infiltration plus TAP block (TAP block group) and 24 patients received local wound infiltration (control group). No differences were observed in baseline patient characteristics, clinical variables and surgical procedures between the two groups. Local wound infiltration plus TAP block allowed to achieve pain control despite a reduced use of opioid analgesics (P = 0.009). The adoption of TAP block resulted beneficial on the prevention of postoperative nausea (P = 0.002) and improvement of essential outcomes of ERAS program as recovery of bowel function (P = 0.005), urinary catheter removal (P = 0.003) and capability to tolerate oral diet (P = 0.027). TAP block plus local wound infiltration in the setting of laparoscopic colorectal surgery and ERAS program guarantees a reduced use of opioid analgesics and good pain control allowing the improvement of essential items of enhanced recovery pathways.

International Space Station (ISS)

NASA Image and Video Library

2000-12-01

This image of the International Space Station in orbit was taken from the Space Shuttle Endeavour prior to docking. Most of the Station's components are clearly visible in this photograph. They are the Node 1 or Unity Module docked with the Functional Cargo Block or Zarya (top) that is linked to the Zvezda Service Module. The Soyuz spacecraft is at the bottom.

International Space Station (ISS)

NASA Image and Video Library

2000-09-01

This image of the International Space Station (ISS) was taken during the STS-106 mission. The ISS component nearest the camera is the U.S. built Node 1 or Unity module, which cornected with the Russian built Functional Cargo Block (FGB) or Zarya. The FGB was linked with the Service Module or Zvezda. On the far end is the Russian Progress supply ship.

Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of buccal misoprostol to reduce the need for additional uterotonic drugs during cesarean delivery.

PubMed

Hernández-Castro, Flavio; López-Serna, Norberto; Treviño-Salinas, Emilio M; Soria-López, Juan A; Sordia-Hernández, Luis H; Cárdenas-Estrada, Eloy

2016-02-01

To determine whether buccal misoprostol during cesarean delivery in conjunction with active management of the third stage of labor reduces the need for additional uterotonic drugs. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was performed in Monterrey, Mexico, between February 2008 and December 2013. Eligible women had risk factors for uterine atony and were to undergo cesarean delivery under epidural block. Using a computer-generated sequence and blocks of six, patients were randomly assigned to receive 400μg misoprostol or 800μg placebo buccally after cord clamping. Both groups received an intravenous oxytocin infusion. The primary outcome was the need for additional uterotonic drugs. Analyses were performed per protocol. Patients, investigators, and data analysts were masked to group assignment. A total of 120 women were included in analyses (60 in each group). At least one additional uterotonic drug was required in 24 (40%) women in the placebo group versus 6 (10%) women in the misoprostol group (relative risk 0.16; 95% confidence interval 0.06-0.44). No adverse effects due to misoprostol were recorded. Buccal misoprostol during cesarean delivery reduced the need for additional uterotonic drugs to treat uterine atony. ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT01733329. Copyright © 2015 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Global harmonization of food safety regulation from the perspective of Korea and a novel fast automatic product recall system.

PubMed

Sohn, Mun-Gi; Oh, Sangsuk

2014-08-01

Efforts have been made for global harmonization of food safety regulations among countries through international organizations such as WTO and WHO/FAO. Global harmonization of food safety regulations is becoming increasingly important for Korean consumers because more than half of food and agricultural products are imported and consumed. Through recent reorganization of the Korean government, a consolidated national food safety authority-the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS)-has been established for more efficient food safety control and better communication with consumers. The Automatic Sales Blocking System (ASBS), which blocks the sales of the recalled food products at the point of sale, has been implemented at over 40,000 retail food stores around the nation using state-of-the art information and communication technology (ICT) for faster recall of adulterated food products, and the e-Food Safety Control System has been developed for more efficient monitoring of national food safety surveillance situations. The National Food Safety Information Service was also established for monitoring and collecting food safety information and incidents worldwide, and shares relevant information with all stakeholders. The new approaches adopted by the Korean Food Safety Authority are expected to enhance public trust with regard to food safety issues and expedite the recall process of adulterated products from the market. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry.

Flight control systems properties and problems. Volume 2: Block diagram compendium

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnston, D. E.

1975-01-01

A compendium of stability augmentation system and autopilot block diagrams is presented. Descriptive materials for 48 different types of aircraft systems are provided. A broad representation of the many mechanical approaches which have been used for aircraft control is developed.

Large Block Test Final Report

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

Lin, W

2001-12-01

This report documents the Large-Block Test (LBT) conducted at Fran Ridge near Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The LBT was a thermal test conducted on an exposed block of middle non-lithophysal Topopah Spring tuff (Tptpmn) and was designed to assist in understanding the thermal-hydrological-mechanical-chemical (THMC) processes associated with heating and then cooling a partially saturated fractured rock mass. The LBT was unique in that it was a large (3 x 3 x 4.5 m) block with top and sides exposed. Because the block was exposed at the surface, boundary conditions on five of the six sides of the block were relatively wellmore » known and controlled, making this test both easier to model and easier to monitor. This report presents a detailed description of the test as well as analyses of the data and conclusions drawn from the test. The rock block that was tested during the LBT was exposed by excavation and removal of the surrounding rock. The block was characterized and instrumented, and the sides were sealed and insulated to inhibit moisture and heat loss. Temperature on the top of the block was also controlled. The block was heated for 13 months, during which time temperature, moisture distribution, and deformation were monitored. After the test was completed and the block cooled down, a series of boreholes were drilled, and one of the heater holes was over-cored to collect samples for post-test characterization of mineralogy and mechanical properties. Section 2 provides background on the test. Section 3 lists the test objectives and describes the block site, the site configuration, and measurements made during the test. Section 3 also presents a chronology of events associated with the LBT, characterization of the block, and the pre-heat analyses of the test. Section 4 describes the fracture network contained in the block. Section 5 describes the heating/cooling system used to control the temperature in the block and presents the thermal history of the block during the test. Sections 5 through 9 report the measurements made on the block during the preheating, heating, and cooling phases. These measurements include temperature, thermal conductivity and diffusivity, hydrological measurements (electrical resistivity, neutron logging, gas pressure, and relative humidity), geomechanics, selected chemical analyses, and microbial activity. These sections also include analyses and simulations of the block behavior. Finally, conclusions are presented in Section 10. Complete data sets were submitted during the time the test was conducted. The data tracking numbers (DTNs) of all of the data are presented in Table 1-1.« less

Effect of Transversus Abdominis Plane Block on Postoperative Pain after Colorectal Surgery: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

PubMed

Liu, Lin; Xie, Yan-Hu; Zhang, Wei; Chai, Xiao-Qing

2018-01-01

To assess the analgesic efficacy of transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in patients undergoing colorectal surgery (CRS). The databases of PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and Embase were searched, and randomized controlled studies (RCTs) that compared TAP block to control for relief of postoperative pain in patients who underwent CRS were included. Outcomes, including postoperative pain at rest and with movement, morphine use, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and the length of hospital stay, were analyzed using STATA software. The weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) or relative risk with 95% CI were used to present the strength of associations. A total of 7 RCTs with 511 patients were included. The results of this study suggested that TAP block significantly relieved postoperative pain during postanesthetic recovery after CRS at rest and during movement (WMDs were -0.98 [95% CI -1.57 to -0.38] and -0.68 [-1.07 to -0.30], respectively), and also decreased pain intensity during movement 24 h after CRS (WMD: -0.57 [95% CI -1.06 to -0.08]). TAP block significantly reduced opioid consumption within 24 h when compared to controls, with a WMD of 15.66 (95% CI -23.93 to -7.39). However, TAP block did not shorten the length of hospital stay. TAP block was an effective approach for relief of postoperative pain and reduced postoperative consumption of morphine. More RCTs with large sample sizes are required to confirm these findings. © 2018 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.

RAFT Dispersion Alternating Copolymerization of Styrene with N-Phenylmaleimide: Morphology Control and Application as an Aqueous Foam Stabilizer

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

We report a new nonaqueous polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) formulation based on the reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) dispersion alternating copolymerization of styrene with N-phenylmaleimide using a nonionic poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) stabilizer in a 50/50 w/w ethanol/methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) mixture. The MEK cosolvent is significantly less toxic than the 1,4-dioxane cosolvent reported previously [YangP.; Macromolecules2013, 46, 8545−8556]. The core-forming alternating copolymer block has a relatively high glass transition temperature (Tg), which leads to vesicular morphologies being observed during PISA, as well as the more typical sphere and worm phases. Each of these copolymer morphologies has been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies. TEM studies reveal micrometer-sized elliptical particles with internal structure, with SAXS analysis suggesting an oligolamellar vesicle morphology. This structure differs from that previously reported for a closely related PISA formulation utilizing a poly(methacrylic acid) stabilizer block for which unilamellar platelet-like particles are observed by TEM and SAXS. This suggests that interlamellar interactions are governed by the nature of the steric stabilizer layer. Moreover, using the MEK cosolvent also enables access to a unilamellar vesicular morphology, despite the high Tg of the alternating copolymer core-forming block. This was achieved by simply conducting the PISA synthesis at a higher temperature for a longer reaction time (80 °C for 24 h). Presumably, MEK solvates the core-forming block more than the previously utilized 1,4-dioxane cosolvent, which leads to greater chain mobility. Finally, preliminary experiments indicate that the worms are much more efficient stabilizers for aqueous foams than either the spheres or the oligolamellar elliptical vesicles. PMID:27708458

Bile Acid-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Enhanced Doxorubicin Encapsulation: Comparing Hydrophobic and Ionic Interactions in Drug Loading and Release.

PubMed

Cunningham, Alexander J; Robinson, Mattieu; Banquy, Xavier; Leblond, Jeanne; Zhu, X X

2018-03-05

Doxorubicin (Dox) is a drug of choice in the design of drug delivery systems directed toward breast cancers, but is often limited by loading and control over its release from polymer micelles. Bile acid-based block copolymers present certain advantages over traditional polymer-based systems for drug delivery purposes, since they can enable a higher drug loading via the formation of a reservoir through their aggregation process. In this study, hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions are compared for their influence on Dox loading inside cholic acid based block copolymers. Poly(allyl glycidyl ether) (PAGE) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were grafted from the cholic acid (CA) core yielding a star-shaped block copolymer with 4 arms (CA-(PAGE- b-PEG) 4 ) and then loaded with Dox via a nanoprecipitation technique. A high Dox loading of 14 wt % was achieved via electrostatic as opposed to hydrophobic interactions with or without oleic acid as a cosurfactant. The electrostatic interactions confer a pH responsiveness to the system. 50% of the loaded Dox was released at pH 5 in comparison to 12% at pH 7.4. The nanoparticles with Dox loaded via hydrophobic interactions did not show such a pH responsiveness. The systems with Dox loaded via electrostatic interactions showed the lowest IC 50 and highest cellular internalization, indicating the pre-eminence of this interaction in Dox loading. The blank formulations are biocompatible and did not show cytotoxicity up to 0.17 mg/mL. The new functionalized star block copolymers based on cholic acid show great potential as drug delivery carriers.

Millisecond ordering of block-copolymer films via photo-thermal gradients

DOE PAGES

Majewski, Pawel W.; Yager, Kevin G.

2015-03-12

For the promise of self-assembly to be realized, processing techniques must be developed that simultaneously enable control of the nanoscale morphology, rapid assembly, and, ideally, the ability to pattern the nanostructure. Here, we demonstrate how photo-thermal gradients can be used to control the ordering of block-copolymer thin films. Highly localized laser heating leads to intense thermal gradients, which induce a thermophoretic force on morphological defects. This increases the ordering kinetics by at least 3 orders-of-magnitude, compared to conventional oven annealing. By simultaneously exploiting the thermal gradients to induce shear fields, we demonstrate uniaxial alignment of a block-copolymer film in lessmore » than a second. Finally, we provide examples of how control of the incident light-field can be used to generate prescribed configurations of block-copolymer nanoscale patterns.« less

Curcumin-Loading-Dependent Stability of PEGMEMA-Based Micelles Affects Endocytosis and Exocytosis in Colon Carcinoma Cells.

PubMed

Chang, Teddy; Trench, David; Putnam, Joshua; Stenzel, Martina H; Lord, Megan S

2016-03-07

Polymeric micelles were formed from poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate)-block-poly(styrene) (P(PEGMEMA)-b-PS) block copolymer of two different chain lengths. The micelles formed were approximately 16 and 46 nm in diameter and used to encapsulate curcumin. Upon loading of the curcumin into the micelles, their size increased to approximately 34 and 80 nm in diameter, respectively, with a loading efficiency of 58%. The unloaded micelles were not cytotoxic to human colon carcinoma cells, whereas only the smaller loaded micelles were cytotoxic after 72 h of exposure. The micelles were rapidly internalized by the cells within minutes of exposure, with the loaded micelles internalized to a greater extent owing to their enhanced stability compared to that of the unloaded micelles. The larger micelles were more rapidly internalized and exocytosed than the smaller micelles, demonstrating the effect of micelle size and drug loading on drug delivery and cytotoxicity.

Interactive Implementation of the Optimal Systems Control Design Program (OPTSYSX) on the IBM 3033.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-03-01

DAS A44 159 INTERACTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OPTIMAL SYSTEMS I CONTROL DESIGN PROGRAM (OPTSYSX) ON THE 1DM 3033(U NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY...noesear end idswtif’r b block number) Optimal Systems Control Systems Control Control Systems 10.; ABSTRACT (Continu an reveree side ff Roe684v ad Id yI...34 by block number) .- This thesis discusses the modification of an existing Optimal Systems Control FORTRAN program (OPTSYS) originally obtained from

Ada Compiler Validation Summary Report: Certificate Number 880318W1. 09042, International Business Machines Corporation, IBM Development System for the Ada Language, Version 2.1.0, IBM 4381 under MVS/XA, Host and Target

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-03-28

International Business Machines Corporation IBM Development System for the Ada Language, Version 2.1.0 IBM 4381 under MVS/XA, host and target Completion...Joint Program Office, AJPO 20. ABSTRACT (Continue on reverse side if necessary and identify by block number) International Business Machines Corporation...in the compiler listed in this declaration. I declare that International Business Machines Corporation is the owner of record of the object code of

Axillary brachial plexus block duration with mepivacaine in patients with chronic renal failure. Case-control study.

PubMed

Mojica, V; Nieuwveld, D; Herrera, A E; Mestres, G; López, A M; Sala-Blanch, X

2017-04-01

Regional anaesthesia is commonly preferred for arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation. Previous studies suggest a shorter block duration in patients with chronic renal failure, maybe because of the changes in regional blood flow. The aim of our study was to evaluate the duration of the axillary block with 1.5% mepivacaine in patients with chronic renal failure scheduled for AVF compared with healthy controls. Patients scheduled for AVF creation for the first time (GIRC) were included. They were compared with patients without renal failure (GC), with similar anthropometric characteristics. Ultrasound-guided axillary blocks with 20mL of 1.5% mepivacaine were performed on all patients. We evaluated onset time, humeral artery diameter and blood flow before and after the block, as well as the block duration. Twenty-three patients (GIRC: 12 and GC: 11) were included. No differences between groups were observed in block duration (GIRC: 227±43min vs GC: 229±27min; P=.781), or in onset time (GIRC: 13±5min vs GC: 12.2±3min; P=.477). The humeral blood flow before and after block was significantly lower in the GIRC (pre-block: GIRC: 52±21ml/min GC: 100±62ml/min; P=.034 and p ost block: GIRC: 130±57ml/min and GC: 274±182ml/min; P=.010). There was no significant correlation between the duration of the block and the preblock humeral blood flow (Spearman Rho: 0.106; P=.657) or the postblock humeral blood flow (Spearman Rho: 0.267; P=.254). The duration of the axillary block with 1.5% mepivacaine in patients with chronic renal failure was similar to that of the control patients. The duration of axillary brachial plexus block seems not to be related to changes in regional blood flow. Copyright © 2016 Sociedad Española de Anestesiología, Reanimación y Terapéutica del Dolor. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Results of the Komplast experiment on the long-term exposure of materials specimens on the ISS surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shumov, A. E.; Novikov, L. S.; Shaevich, S. K.; Aleksandrov, N. G.; Smirnova, T. N.; Nikishin, E. F.; Chernik, V. N.; Petukhov, V. P.; Voronina, E. N.; Sedov, V. V.; Salnikova, I. A.; Babaevskiy, P. G.; Kozlov, N. A.; Deev, I. S.; Startsev, O. V.; Shindo, D. J.; Golden, J. L.; Kravchenko, M.

2015-11-01

The Komplast materials experiment was designed by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center together with Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University and other Russian scientific institutes, and has been carried out by Mission Control Moscow since 1998. The purpose of this experiment is to study the complex effect of the low Earth orbit environment on samples of various spacecraft materials. On November 20, 1998 the Komplast experiment began with the launch of the first International Space Station module Zarya, or Functional Cargo Block (FGB). Eight Komplast panels with samples of materials and sensors were installed on the outer surface of FGB module. Two of eight experiment panels were retrieved during Russian extravehicular activity in February 2011 after 12 years of space exposure and were subsequently returned to Earth by Space Shuttle "Discovery" on the STS-133/ULF-5 mission in March 2011. The article presents the results obtained from this unique long-duration experiment on board of the International Space Station.

Implications of Graphic Cigarette Warning Labels on Smoking Behavior: An International Perspective.

PubMed

Jung, Minsoo

2016-03-01

Graphic warning labels (GWLs) have been developed as a representative non-price policy to block such marketing. This study investigated the current state and effect of the global introduction of GWLs and examines the future tasks related to GWLs. We systematically reviewed literatures on GWL and a tobacco control strategy in the past fifteen years. The policy of enforcing GWLs has spread globally based on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. GWLs are more effective than text warnings and are implemented in over 70 countries. The policy has showed the impact of GWLs as a preventive effect on adolescents' smoking, inducement of smoking cessation, reduction in the amount of tobacco smoked, and reduction in smoking rates. The success of an anti-smoking policy can manifests itself as an effect of individual policies, the rise of tobacco prices, and the introduction of GWLs.

31 CFR 500.556 - Joint bank accounts.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL REGULATIONS Licenses... unblocking a portion of or all of a blocked joint bank account where a non-blocked applicant claims... survivorship provision. Specific licenses are issued unblocking an amount equivalent to that portion of the...

Digital database of microfossil localities in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

McDougall, Kristin; Block, Debra L.

2014-01-01

The eastern San Francisco Bay region (Contra Costa and Alameda Counties, California) is a geologically complex area divided by faults into a suite of tectonic blocks. Each block contains a unique stratigraphic sequence of Tertiary sediments that in most blocks unconformably overlie Mesozoic sediments. Age and environmental interpretations based on analysis of microfossil assemblages are key factors in interpreting geologic history, structure, and correlation of each block. Much of this data, however, is distributed in unpublished internal reports and memos, and is generally unavailable to the geologic community. In this report the U.S. Geological Survey microfossil data from the Tertiary sediments of Alameda and Contra Costa counties are analyzed and presented in a digital database, which provides a user-friendly summary of the micropaleontologic data, locality information, and biostratigraphic and ecologic interpretations.

Dynamic Detection of Malicious Code in COTS Software

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-04-01

run the following documented hostile applets or ActiveX of these tools work only on mobile code (Java, ActiveX , controls: 16-11 Hostile Applets Tiny...Killer App Exploder Runner ActiveX Check Spy eSafe Protect Desktop 9/9 blocked NB B NB 13/17 blocked NB Surfinshield Online 9/9 blocked NB B B 13/17...Exploder is an ActiveX control top (@). that performs a clean shutdown of your computer. The interface is attractive, although rather complex, as McLain’s

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

Veselov, D. A., E-mail: dmitriy90@list.ru; Shashkin, I. S.; Bakhvalov, K. V.

Semiconductor lasers based on MOCVD-grown AlGaInAs/InP separate-confinement heterostructures are studied. It is shown that raising only the energy-gap width of AlGaInAs-waveguides without the introduction of additional barriers results in more pronounced current leakage into the cladding layers. It is found that the introduction of additional barrier layers at the waveguide–cladding-layer interface blocks current leakage into the cladding layers, but results in an increase in the internal optical loss with increasing pump current. It is experimentally demonstrated that the introduction of blocking layers makes it possible to obtain maximum values of the internal quantum efficiency of stimulated emission (92%) and continuouswavemore » output optical power (3.2 W) in semiconductor lasers in the eye-safe wavelength range (1400–1600 nm).« less

Termites live in a material world: exploration of their ability to differentiate between food sources.

PubMed

Inta, Ra; Lai, Joseph C S; Fu, Eugene W; Evans, Theodore A

2007-08-22

Drywood termites are able to assess wood size using vibratory signals, although the exact mechanism behind this assessment ability is not known. Important vibratory characteristics such as the modal frequencies of a wooden block depend on its geometry and boundary conditions; however, they are also dependent on the material characteristics of the block, such as mass, density and internal damping. We report here on choice experiments that tested the ability of the drywood termite Cryptotermes secundus to assess wooden block size using a solid wooden block paired with a composite block, the latter made of either wood and aluminium or wood and rubber. Each composite block was constructed to match mass or low-frequency vibratory modes (i.e. fundamental frequency) of the solid wooden block. The termites always chose the blocks with more wood; they moved to the solid wooden blocks usually within a day and then tunnelled further into the solid wooden block by the end of the experiment. Termites offered composite blocks of wood and rubber matched for mass were the slowest to show a preference for the solid wooden block and this preference was the least definitive of any treatment, which indicated that mass and/or damping may play a role in food assessment. This result clearly shows that the termites were not fooled by composite blocks matched for mass or frequency, which implies that they probably employ more than a single simple measure in their food assessment strategy. This implies a degree of sophistication in their ability to assess their environment hitherto unknown. The potential importance of alternative features in the vibrational signals is discussed.

Computational strategies for the automated design of RNA nanoscale structures from building blocks using NanoTiler.

PubMed

Bindewald, Eckart; Grunewald, Calvin; Boyle, Brett; O'Connor, Mary; Shapiro, Bruce A

2008-10-01

One approach to designing RNA nanoscale structures is to use known RNA structural motifs such as junctions, kissing loops or bulges and to construct a molecular model by connecting these building blocks with helical struts. We previously developed an algorithm for detecting internal loops, junctions and kissing loops in RNA structures. Here we present algorithms for automating or assisting many of the steps that are involved in creating RNA structures from building blocks: (1) assembling building blocks into nanostructures using either a combinatorial search or constraint satisfaction; (2) optimizing RNA 3D ring structures to improve ring closure; (3) sequence optimisation; (4) creating a unique non-degenerate RNA topology descriptor. This effectively creates a computational pipeline for generating molecular models of RNA nanostructures and more specifically RNA ring structures with optimized sequences from RNA building blocks. We show several examples of how the algorithms can be utilized to generate RNA tecto-shapes.

Computational strategies for the automated design of RNA nanoscale structures from building blocks using NanoTiler☆

PubMed Central

Bindewald, Eckart; Grunewald, Calvin; Boyle, Brett; O’Connor, Mary; Shapiro, Bruce A.

2013-01-01

One approach to designing RNA nanoscale structures is to use known RNA structural motifs such as junctions, kissing loops or bulges and to construct a molecular model by connecting these building blocks with helical struts. We previously developed an algorithm for detecting internal loops, junctions and kissing loops in RNA structures. Here we present algorithms for automating or assisting many of the steps that are involved in creating RNA structures from building blocks: (1) assembling building blocks into nanostructures using either a combinatorial search or constraint satisfaction; (2) optimizing RNA 3D ring structures to improve ring closure; (3) sequence optimisation; (4) creating a unique non-degenerate RNA topology descriptor. This effectively creates a computational pipeline for generating molecular models of RNA nanostructures and more specifically RNA ring structures with optimized sequences from RNA building blocks. We show several examples of how the algorithms can be utilized to generate RNA tecto-shapes. PMID:18838281

Transportable Payload Operations Control Center reusable software: Building blocks for quality ground data systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mahmot, Ron; Koslosky, John T.; Beach, Edward; Schwarz, Barbara

1994-01-01

The Mission Operations Division (MOD) at Goddard Space Flight Center builds Mission Operations Centers which are used by Flight Operations Teams to monitor and control satellites. Reducing system life cycle costs through software reuse has always been a priority of the MOD. The MOD's Transportable Payload Operations Control Center development team established an extensive library of 14 subsystems with over 100,000 delivered source instructions of reusable, generic software components. Nine TPOCC-based control centers to date support 11 satellites and achieved an average software reuse level of more than 75 percent. This paper shares experiences of how the TPOCC building blocks were developed and how building block developer's, mission development teams, and users are all part of the process.

Paracervical block for pain control in first-trimester surgical abortion: a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Renner, Regina-Maria; Nichols, Mark D; Jensen, Jeffrey T; Li, Hong; Edelman, Alison B

2012-05-01

Despite lack of efficacy data, the majority of first-trimester surgical abortions are performed with a paracervical block. Women may be unnecessarily exposed to a painful injection and potentially noxious medication. Our objective was to estimate the effect of a paracervical block and the effect of gestational age on patient pain perception. This was a randomized, single-blind trial of patients undergoing abortion receiving paracervical block or sham stratified by gestational age (early: less than 8 weeks of gestation, n=60; late: 8-10 6/7 weeks of gestation, n=60). Premedicated with ibuprofen and lorazepam, all participants received 2 mL 1% buffered lidocaine injected at the tenaculum site followed by a slow, deep injection of 18 mL at four sites (block) or no injection (sham) with a 3-minute wait. The primary outcome was dilation pain (100-mm visual analog scale). Secondary outcomes included pain at additional time points, satisfaction, need for more analgesics, and adverse events. Full enrollment occurred (n=120). We used intent-to-treat analysis. Demographics did not differ between groups. Paracervical block administration was painful (mean 55 mm compared with sham 30 mm, P<.001) but decreased dilation pain (42 mm compared with 79 mm, P<.001) and aspiration pain (63mm compared with 89 mm, P<.001). These results were consistent for both gestational age strata; however, paracervical block benefit was greater at an earlier gestation. Satisfaction scores with pain control and the procedure were significantly higher in the block group. Although paracervical block is painful, it reduces first-trimester abortion pain regardless of gestational age, but the benefit on dilation pain was greater at earlier gestations. ClinicalTrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01094366. I.

Dynamic Properties of the International Space Station throughout the Assembly Process

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-06-29

with the launch of the Russian-built FGB, or Functional Cargo Block (most fitting translation) atop a Russian Proton rocket in June of 1998. Phase Two...experiments were conducted in areas of plant growth, life sciences, and microgravity science. But more importantly, Mir-Shuttle operations presented...Configuration Rationale/Comments 30Jun 1998 1 A/R Russian Proton • Functional Cargo Block (FGB) • FGB is a self-supporting active vehicle. • It provides

Predictive value of grade point average (GPA), Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), internal examinations (Block) and National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) scores on Medical Council of Canada qualifying examination part I (MCCQE-1) scores.

PubMed

Roy, Banibrata; Ripstein, Ira; Perry, Kyle; Cohen, Barry

2016-01-01

To determine whether the pre-medical Grade Point Average (GPA), Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Internal examinations (Block) and National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) scores are correlated with and predict the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part I (MCCQE-1) scores. Data from 392 admitted students in the graduating classes of 2010-2013 at University of Manitoba (UofM), College of Medicine was considered. Pearson's correlation to assess the strength of the relationship, multiple linear regression to estimate MCCQE-1 score and stepwise linear regression to investigate the amount of variance were employed. Complete data from 367 (94%) students were studied. The MCCQE-1 had a moderate-to-large positive correlation with NBME scores and Block scores but a low correlation with GPA and MCAT scores. The multiple linear regression model gives a good estimate of the MCCQE-1 (R2 =0.604). Stepwise regression analysis demonstrated that 59.2% of the variation in the MCCQE-1 was accounted for by the NBME, but only 1.9% by the Block exams, and negligible variation came from the GPA and the MCAT. Amongst all the examinations used at UofM, the NBME is most closely correlated with MCCQE-1.

Structural Transformation of Diblock Copolymer/Homopolymer Assemblies by Tuning Cylindrical Confinement and Interfacial Interactions.

PubMed

Xu, Jiangping; Wang, Ke; Liang, Ruijing; Yang, Yi; Zhou, Huamin; Xie, Xiaolin; Zhu, Jintao

2015-11-17

In this study, we report the controllable structural transformation of block copolymer/homopolymer binary blends in cylindrical nanopores. Polystyrene-b-poly(4-vinylpyridine)/homopolystyrene (SVP/hPS) nanorods (NRs) can be fabricated by pouring the polymers into an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) channel and isolated by selective removal of the AAO membrane. In this two-dimensional (2D) confinement, SVP self-assembles into NRs with concentric lamellar structure, and the internal structure can be tailored with the addition of hPS. We show that the weight fraction and molecular weight of hPS and the diameter of the channels can significantly affect the internal structure of the NRs. Moreover, mesoporous materials with tunable pore shape, size, and packing style can be prepared by selective solvent swelling of the structured NRs. In addition, these NRs can transform into spherical structures through solvent-absorption annealing, triggering the conversion from 2D to 3D confinement. More importantly, the transformation dynamics can be tuned by varying the preference property of surfactant to the polymers. It is proven that the shape and internal structure of the polymer particles are dominated by the interfacial interactions governed by the surfactants.

Cosmonaut Dezhurov Talks With Flight Controllers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2001-01-01

Aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Cosmonaut and Expedition Three flight engineer Vladimir N. Dezhurov, representing Rosaviakosmos, talks with flight controllers from the Zvezda Service Module. Russian-built Zvezda is linked to the Functional Cargo Block (FGB), or Zarya, the first component of the ISS. Zarya was launched on a Russian Proton rocket prior to the launch of Unity. The third component of the ISS, Zvezda (Russian word for star), the primary Russian contribution to the ISS, was launched by a three-stage Proton rocket on July 12, 2000. Zvezda serves as the cornerstone for early human habitation of the Station, providing living quarters, a life support system, electrical power distribution, a data processing system, flight control system, and propulsion system. It also provides a communications system that includes remote command capabilities from ground flight controllers. The 42,000-pound module measures 43 feet in length and has a wing span of 98 feet. Similar in layout to the core module of Russia's Mir space station, it contains 3 pressurized compartments and 13 windows that allow ultimate viewing of Earth and space.

Controlling domain orientation of liquid crystalline block copolymer in thin films through tuning mesogenic chemical structures

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

Xie, He-Lou; Li, Xiao; Ren, Jiaxing

Controlling the macroscopic orientation of nanoscale periodic structures of amphiphilic liquid crystalline block copolymers (LC BCPs) is important to a variety of technical applications (e.g., lithium conducting polymer electrolytes). To study LC BCP domain orientation, a series of LC BCPs containing a poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) block as a conventional hydrophilic coil block and LC blocks containing azobenzene mesogens is designed and synthesized. LC ordering in thin films of the BCP leads to the formation of highly ordered, microphase-separated nanostructures, with hexagonally arranged PEO cylinders. Substitution on the tail of the azobenzene mesogen is shown to control the orientation of themore » PEO cylinders. When the substitution on the mesogenic tails is an alkyl chain, the PEO cylinders have a perpendicular orientation to the substrate surface, provided the thin film is above a critical thickness value. In contrast, when the substitution on the mesogenic tails has an ether group the PEO cylinders assemble parallel to the substrate surface regardless of the film thickness value.« less

International Space Station (ISS)

NASA Image and Video Library

2001-06-08

Astronaut Susan J. Helms, Expedition Two flight engineer, mounts a video camera onto a bracket in the Russian Zarya or Functional Cargo Block (FGB) of the International Space Station (ISS). Launched by a Russian Proton rocket from the Baikonu Cosmodrome on November 20, 1998, the Unites States-funded and Russian-built Zarya was the first element of the ISS, followed by the U.S. Unity Node.

Effective Techniques for Augmenting Heat Transfer: An Application of Entropy Generation Minimization Principles.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-12-01

augmentation techniques, entropy generation, irreversibility, exergy . 20. ABSTRACT (Continue on rovers. side If necessary and Identify by block number...35 3.5 Internally finned tubes ...... ................. .. 37 3.6 Internally roughened tubes ..... ............... . 41 3.7 Other heat transfer...irreversibility and entropy generation as fundamental criterion for evaluating and, eventually, minimizing the waste of usable energy ( exergy ) in energy

An Analysis of Difficulties of Children with Stuttering Enrolled in Turkish Primary Inclusive Classes Who Encounter in Academic and Social Activities: From Their Perspectives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sari, Hakan; Gökdag, Hatice

2017-01-01

Stuttering means that children have difficulties in rhythm, sound, syllable, word and phrase repetitions, or flow of speech cut in the form of extension or block form. In the "International Classification of Diseases" (1992) ("International Classification of Diseases-10" ("ICD-10"), Stuttering was defined as speech…

Aedes aegypti Larval Indices and Risk for Dengue Epidemics

PubMed Central

Sanchez, Lizet; Vanlerberghe, Veerle; Alfonso, Lázara; Marquetti, María del Carmen; Guzman, María Guadalupe; Bisset, Juan; van der Stuyft, Patrick

2006-01-01

We assessed in a case-control study the test-validity of Aedes larval indices for the 2000 Havana outbreak. "Cases" were blocks where a dengue fever patient lived during the outbreak. "Controls" were randomly sampled blocks. Before, during, and after the epidemic, we calculated Breteau index (BI) and house index at the area, neighborhood, and block level. We constructed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to determine their performance as predictors of dengue transmission. We observed a pronounced effect of the level of measurement. The BImax (maximum block BI in a radius of 100 m) at 2-month intervals had an area under the ROC curve of 71%. At a cutoff of 4.0, it significantly (odds ratio 6.00, p<0.05) predicted transmission with 78% sensitivity and 63% specificity. Analysis of BI at the local level, with human-defined boundaries, could be introduced in control programs to identify neighborhoods at high risk for dengue transmission. PMID:16704841

Internal Passage Heat Transfer Prediction Using Multiblock Grids and a Kappa-Omega Turbulence Model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rigby, David L.; Ameri, Ali A.; Steinthorsson, Erlendur

1996-01-01

Numerical simulations of the three-dimensional flow and heat transfer in a rectangular duct with a 180 C bend were performed. Results are presented for Reynolds numbers of 17,000 and 37,000 and for aspect ratios of 0.5 and I.O. A kappa-omega turbulence model with no reference to distance to a wall is used. Direct comparison between single block and multiblock grid calculations are made. Heat transfer and velocity distributions are compared to available literature with good agreement. The multi-block grid system is seen to produce more accurate results compared to a single-block grid with the same number of cells.

31 CFR 537.201 - Prohibited transactions involving certain blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Office of Foreign Assets Control's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”) with the identifier “[BURMA].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Web site: http://www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the...

31 CFR 546.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Control's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”) with the identifier “[DARFUR].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Web site: http://www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the SDN List can be found...

31 CFR 541.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Office of Foreign Assets Control's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”) with the identifier “[ZIMBABWE].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Web site: http://www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining...

31 CFR 546.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Control's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”) with the identifier “[DARFUR].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Web site: http://www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the SDN List can be found...

31 CFR 544.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Office of Foreign Assets Control's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”) with the identifier “[NPWMD].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Web site: http://www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the...

31 CFR 544.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Office of Foreign Assets Control's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”) with the identifier “[NPWMD].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Web site: http://www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the...

31 CFR 541.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Office of Foreign Assets Control's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”) with the identifier “[ZIMBABWE].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Web site: http://www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining...

31 CFR 544.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Office of Foreign Assets Control's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”) with the identifier “[NPWMD].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Web site: http://www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the...

31 CFR 537.201 - Prohibited transactions involving certain blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Office of Foreign Assets Control's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”) with the identifier “[BURMA].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Web site: http://www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the...

31 CFR 546.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Control's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”) with the identifier “[DARFUR].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Web site: http://www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the SDN List can be found...

31 CFR 537.201 - Prohibited transactions involving certain blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Office of Foreign Assets Control's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”) with the identifier “[BURMA].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Web site: http://www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the...

31 CFR 544.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Office of Foreign Assets Control's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”) with the identifier “[NPWMD].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Web site: http://www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the...

31 CFR 546.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Control's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”) with the identifier “[DARFUR].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Web site: http://www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the SDN List can be found...

31 CFR 541.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Office of Foreign Assets Control's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”) with the identifier “[ZIMBABWE].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Web site: http://www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining...

31 CFR 541.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Office of Foreign Assets Control's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”) with the identifier “[ZIMBABWE].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Web site: http://www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining...

Control and Interference in Task Switching--A Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kiesel, Andrea; Steinhauser, Marco; Wendt, Mike; Falkenstein, Michael; Jost, Kerstin; Philipp, Andrea M.; Koch, Iring

2010-01-01

The task-switching paradigm offers enormous possibilities to study cognitive control as well as task interference. The current review provides an overview of recent research on both topics. First, we review different experimental approaches to task switching, such as comparing mixed-task blocks with single-task blocks, predictable task-switching…

31 CFR 515.508 - Payments to blocked accounts in domestic banks.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Payments to blocked accounts in domestic banks. 515.508 Section 515.508 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY CUBAN ASSETS CONTROL...

31 CFR 500.508 - Payments to blocked accounts in domestic banks.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Payments to blocked accounts in domestic banks. 500.508 Section 500.508 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL...

31 CFR 515.551 - Joint bank accounts.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY CUBAN ASSETS CONTROL REGULATIONS Licenses... more of the persons in whose names the account is held is a blocked national, where a non-blocked... equivalent to that portion of the total amount to which the applicant would be entitled if the total were...

31 CFR 515.551 - Joint bank accounts.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY CUBAN ASSETS CONTROL REGULATIONS Licenses... more of the persons in whose names the account is held is a blocked national, where a non-blocked... equivalent to that portion of the total amount to which the applicant would be entitled if the total were...

31 CFR 515.551 - Joint bank accounts.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY CUBAN ASSETS CONTROL REGULATIONS Licenses... more of the persons in whose names the account is held is a blocked national, where a non-blocked... equivalent to that portion of the total amount to which the applicant would be entitled if the total were...

31 CFR 515.551 - Joint bank accounts.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY CUBAN ASSETS CONTROL REGULATIONS Licenses... more of the persons in whose names the account is held is a blocked national, where a non-blocked... equivalent to that portion of the total amount to which the applicant would be entitled if the total were...

31 CFR 515.551 - Joint bank accounts.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY CUBAN ASSETS CONTROL REGULATIONS Licenses... more of the persons in whose names the account is held is a blocked national, where a non-blocked... equivalent to that portion of the total amount to which the applicant would be entitled if the total were...

A comparision of Twin-block and Forsus (FRD) functional appliance--a cephalometric study.

PubMed

Mahamad, Irfanulla Khan; Neela, Praveen Kumar; Mascarenhas, Rohan; Husain, Akhter

2012-01-01

The aim was to compare the effects of Twin-block & Forsus (FRD) functional appliances in the correction of Angles Class II division 1 malocclusions. Pre- and post-treatment lateral cephalograms of 25 patients who underwent treatment with twin block for the correction of class II div 1 were compared with 25 patients who underwent treatment with Forsus appliance. These were again compared with the pre follow up and post follow up lateral cephalograms of 25 patients who have not undergone any treatment during this period. All the 3 group patients were compared for skeletal, dental and soft tissue parameters. Cephalometric analysis revealed that both Twin-block & Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device (FRD) appliances stimulated mandibular growth. Statistically significant differences between the two groups were found. Twin-block patients showed statistically very high significant (p < 0.001) increase in mandibular length (6.02 mm) whereas Forsus appliance patients showed significant (p < 0.05) increase in mandibular length (1.6 mm) when compared with control group (0.3 mm). No significant restriction of maxillary growth was found in either of the two experimental groups when compared to control group. Significant increase in lower anterior facial height & posterior facial height was observed in both experimental groups in relation to control group. Significant reduction of overjet and overbite was observed in both experimental groups. Class I molar relationship and improvement in the soft tissue profile were achieved in both treatment groups compared with control group. Both Twin Block and Forsus were effective in the treatment of Class II Div 1 malocclusion. Class II correction with Twin-block is more due to mandibular skeletal and dentoalveolar changes whereas in Forsus, it is more due to dentoalveolar changes and less skeletal changes.

Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge: 2003 Greener Reaction Conditions Award

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge 2003 award winner, DuPont, developed a genetically engineered microorganism jointly with Genencor International to manufacture 1,3-propanediol, a building block for Sorona polyester.

50 CFR 218.4 - Mitigation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... activities. (ii) The Navy shall follow internal chain of command reporting procedures as promulgated through... noted) of the specified associated reference points: (1) South and East of Block Island (37 km (20 NM...

50 CFR 218.4 - Mitigation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... activities. (ii) The Navy shall follow internal chain of command reporting procedures as promulgated through... noted) of the specified associated reference points: (1) South and East of Block Island (37 km (20 NM...

Ad-hoc and context-dependent adjustments of selective attention in conflict control: an ERP study with visual probes.

PubMed

Nigbur, R; Schneider, J; Sommer, W; Dimigen, O; Stürmer, B

2015-02-15

Cognitive conflict control in flanker tasks has often been described using the zoom-lens metaphor of selective attention. However, whether and how selective attention - in terms of suppression and enhancement - operates in this context has remained unclear. To examine the dynamic interplay of selective attention and cognitive control we used electrophysiological measures and presented task-irrelevant visual probe stimuli at foveal, parafoveal, and peripheral display positions. Target-flanker congruency varied either randomly from trial to trial (mixed-block) or block-wise (fixed-block) in order to induce reactive versus proactive control modes, respectively. Three EEG measures were used to capture ad-hoc adjustments within trials as well as effects of context-based predictions: the N1 component of the visual evoked potential (VEP) to probes, the VEP to targets, and the conflict-related midfrontal N2 component. Results from probe-VEPs indicate that enhanced processing of the foveal target rather than suppression of the peripheral flankers supports interference control. In incongruent mixed-block trials VEPs were larger to probes near the targets. In the fixed-blocks probe-VEPs were not modulated, but contrary to the mixed-block the preceding target-related VEP was affected by congruency. Results of the control-related N2 reveal largest amplitudes in the unpredictable context, which did not differentiate for stimulus and response incongruency. In contrast, in the predictable context, N2 amplitudes were reduced overall and differentiated between stimulus and response incongruency. Taken together these results imply that predictability alters interference control by a reconfiguration of stimulus processing. During unpredictable sequences participants adjust their attentional focus dynamically on a trial-by-trial basis as reflected in congruency-dependent probe-VEP-modulation. This reactive control mode also elicits larger N2 amplitudes. In contrast, when task demands are predictable, participants focus selective attention earlier as reflected in the target-related VEPs. This proactive control mode leads to smaller N2 amplitudes and absent probe effects. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Randomized, controlled clinical two-centre study using xenogeneic block grafts loaded with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 or autogenous bone blocks for lateral ridge augmentation.

PubMed

Thoma, Daniel S; Payer, Michael; Jakse, Norbert; Bienz, Stefan P; Hüsler, Jürg; Schmidlin, Patrick R; Jung, Ui-Won; Hämmerle, Christoph H F; Jung, Ronald E

2018-02-01

To test whether or not the use of a xenogeneic block loaded with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) results in different bone quantity and quality compared to an autogenous bone block. Twenty-four patients with insufficient bone volume for implant placement were randomly assigned to two treatment modalities: a xenogeneic bone block loaded with rhBMP-2 (test) and an autogenous bone block (control). The horizontal ridge width was evaluated prior to augmentation, after augmentation and at 4 months. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were assessed at suture removal and at 4 months. Biopsies were obtained at 4 months and histologically evaluated. Intergroup comparisons were tested by a two-sided Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test, intra-group comparisons were performed with Wilcoxon-signed rank test, and all categorical variables were tested with Chi-squared tests. One autogenous bone block failed. This patient was replaced, and in all subsequently treated 24 patients, implant placement was possible 4 months later. The median ridge width increased from 4.0 mm (Q1 = 2.0; Q3 = 4.0) (test) and 2.0 mm (Q1 = 2.0; Q3 = 3.0) (control) to 7.0 mm (Q1 = 6.0; Q3 = 8.0) (test) and 7.0 mm (Q1 = 6.0; Q3 = 8.0) (control) at 4 months (intergroup p > .05). A higher morbidity was reported at the augmented site in the control group during surgery. Sensitivity was more favourable in the test than that in the control group at 4 months. The biopsies revealed more mineralized tissue in the control group (p < .0043). Both treatment modalities were successful in regenerating bone to place dental implants. PROMs did not reveal any significant differences between the groups except for pain during surgery at the recipient site (in favour of the test group). Histologically, a higher amount of mineralized tissue was observed for the control group at 4 months. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

High-dose versus low-dose local anaesthetic for transversus abdominis plane block post-Caesarean delivery analgesia: a meta-analysis.

PubMed

Ng, S C; Habib, A S; Sodha, S; Carvalho, B; Sultan, P

2018-02-01

The optimal local-anaesthetic (LA) dose for transversus-abdominis-plane (TAP) block is unclear. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to determine whether TAP blocks for Caesarean delivery (CD) with low-dose (LD) LA demonstrated non-inferiority in terms of analgesic efficacy, compared with high-dose (HD) LA. A literature search was performed for randomised controlled trials examining the analgesic efficacy of TAP blocks vs control after CD. The different dosing used in these studies was classified as HD or LD (bupivacaine equivalents >50 or ≤50 mg per block side, respectively). The pooled results of each dose group vs control were indirectly compared using the Q test. The primary outcome was 24 h opioid consumption. Secondary outcomes included 6 and 24 h postoperative pain scores, time to first analgesia, 6 h opioid consumption, opioid-related side-effects, and maternal satisfaction. Fourteen studies consisting of 770 women (389 TAP and 381 control) were included. Compared with controls, the 24 h opioid consumption (milligram morphine equivalents) was lower in HD [mean difference (MD) 95% confidence interval (CI) -22.41 (-38.56, -6.26); P=0.007; I 2 =93%] and LD [MD 95% CI -16.29 (-29.74, -2.84); P=0.02; I 2 =98%] TAP groups. However, no differences were demonstrated between the HD and LD groups (P=0.57). There were also no differences between the HD and LD groups for the 6 h opioid consumption, time to first analgesia, 6 and 24 h pain scores, postoperative nausea and vomiting, pruritus, and maternal satisfaction. Low-dose TAP blocks for Caesarean delivery provide analgesia and opioid-sparing effects comparable with the high-dose blocks. This suggests that lower doses can be used to reduce local anaesthetic toxicity risk without compromising the analgesic efficacy. Copyright © 2017 British Journal of Anaesthesia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of aging and job demands on cognitive flexibility assessed by task switching.

PubMed

Gajewski, Patrick D; Wild-Wall, Nele; Schapkin, Sergei A; Erdmann, Udo; Freude, Gabriele; Falkenstein, Michael

2010-10-01

In a cross-sectional, electrophysiological study 91 workers of a big car factory performed a series of switch tasks to assess their cognitive control functions. Four groups of workers participated in the study: 23 young and 23 middle aged assembly line employees and 22 young and 23 middle aged employees with flexible job demands like service and maintenance. Participants performed three digit categorisation tasks. In addition to single task blocks, a cue-based (externally guided) and a memory-based (internally guided) task switch block was administered. Compared to young participants, older ones showed the typical RT-decline. No differences between younger and older participants regarding the local switch costs could be detected despite the source of the current task information. In contrast, whereas the groups did not differ in mixing costs in the cued condition, clear performance decrements in the memory-based mixing block were observed in the group of older employees with repetitive work demands. These findings were corroborated by a number of electrophysiological results showing a reduced CNV suggesting an impairment of task specific preparation, an attenuated P3b suggesting reduced working memory capacity and a decreased Ne suggesting deficits in error monitoring in older participants with repetitive job demands. The results are compatible with the assumption that long lasting, unchallenging job demands may induce several neurocognitive impairments which are already evident in the early fifties. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm this assumption. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Morphological Evolution of Block Copolymer Particles: Effect of Solvent Evaporation Rate on Particle Shape and Morphology.

PubMed

Shin, Jae Man; Kim, YongJoo; Yun, Hongseok; Yi, Gi-Ra; Kim, Bumjoon J

2017-02-28

Shape and morphology of polymeric particles are of great importance in controlling their optical properties or self-assembly into unusual superstructures. Confinement of block copolymers (BCPs) in evaporative emulsions affords particles with diverse structures, including prolate ellipsoids, onion-like spheres, oblate ellipsoids, and others. Herein, we report that the evaporation rate of solvent from emulsions encapsulating symmetric polystyrene-b-polybutadiene (PS-b-PB) determines the shape and internal nanostructure of micron-sized BCP particles. A distinct morphological transition from the ellipsoids with striped lamellae to the onion-like spheres was observed with decreasing evaporation rate. Experiments and dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations showed that the evaporation rate affected the organization of BCPs at the particle surface, which determined the final shape and internal nanostructure of the particles. Differences in the solvent diffusion rates in PS and PB at rapid evaporation rates induced alignment of both domains perpendicular to the particle surface, resulting in ellipsoids with axial lamellar stripes. Slower evaporation rates provided sufficient time for BCP organization into onion-like structures with PB as the outermost layer, owing to the preferential interaction of PB with the surroundings. BCP molecular weight was found to influence the critical evaporation rate corresponding to the morphological transition from ellipsoid to onion-like particles, as well as the ellipsoid aspect ratio. DPD simulations produced morphologies similar to those obtained from experiments and thus elucidated the mechanism and driving forces responsible for the evaporation-induced assembly of BCPs into particles with well-defined shapes and morphologies.

High-Performance Algorithms and Complex Fluids | Computational Science |

Science.gov Websites

only possible by combining experimental data with simulation. Capabilities Capabilities include: Block -laden, non-Newtonian, as well as traditional internal and external flows. Contact Ray Grout Group

Controlled disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) multiblock copolymers for direct methanol fuel cells.

PubMed

Li, Qing; Chen, Yu; Rowlett, Jarrett R; McGrath, James E; Mack, Nathan H; Kim, Yu Seung

2014-04-23

Structure-property-performance relationships of disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) multiblock copolymer membranes were investigated for their use in direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) applications. Multiple series of reactive polysulfone, polyketone, and polynitrile hydrophobic block segments having different block lengths and molecular composition were synthesized and reacted with a disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) hydrophilic block segment by a coupling reaction. Large-scale morphological order of the multiblock copolymers evolved with the increase of block size that gave notable influence on mechanical toughness, water uptake, and proton/methanol transport. Chemical structural changes of the hydrophobic blocks through polar group, fluorination, and bisphenol type allowed further control of the specific properties. DMFC performance was analyzed to elicit the impact of structural variations of the multiblock copolymers. Finally, DMFC performances of selected multiblock copolymers were compared against that of the industrial standard Nafion in the DMFC system.

Synthesis of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-poly(phenylboronate ester) acrylate and study on their glucose-responsive behavior.

PubMed

Yao, Yuan; Shen, Heyun; Zhang, Guanghui; Yang, Jing; Jin, Xu

2014-10-01

We introduced thermo-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) into the polymer structure of poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(phenylboronate ester) acrylate (MPEG-block-PPBDEMA) by block and random polymerization pathways in order to investigate the effect of polymer architecture on the glucose-responsiveness and enhance their insulin release controllability. By following the structure, the continuous PNIPAM shell of the triblock polymer MPEG-block-PNIPAM-block-PPBDEMA collapsing on the glucose-responsive PPBDEMA core formed the polymeric micelles with a core-shell-corona structure, and MPEG-block-(PNIPAM-rand-PPBDEMA) exhibited core-corona micelles in which the hydrophobic core consisted of PNIPAM and PPBDEMA segments when the environmental temperature was increased above low critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNIPAM. The micellar morphologies can be precisely controlled by temperature change between 15 and 37°C. As a result, the introduction of PNIPAM greatly enhanced the overall stability of insulin encapsulated in the polymeric micelles in the absence of glucose over incubation 80 h at 37°C. Comparing to MPEG-block-PNIPAM-block-PPBDEMA, the nanocarriers from MPEG-block-(PNIPAM-rand-PPBDEMA) showed great insulin release behavior which is zero insulin release without glucose, low release at normal blood glucose concentration (1.0 mg/mL). Therefore, these nanocarriers may be served as promising self-regulated insulin delivery system for diabetes treatment. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Self-assembly Morphology and Crystallinity Control of Di-block Copolymer Inspired by Spider Silk

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Wenwen; Krishnaji, Sreevidhya; Kaplan, David; Cebe, Peggy

2012-02-01

To obtain a fuller understanding of the origin of self-assembly behavior, and thus be able to control the morphology of biomaterials with well defined amino acid sequences for tissue regeneration and drug delivery, we created a family of synthetic silk-based block copolymers inspired by the genetic sequences found in spider dragline, HABn and HBAn (n=1,2,3,6), where B = hydrophilic block, A = hydrophobic block, and H is a histidine tag. We assessed the secondary structure of water cast films by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The crystallinity was determined by Fourier self-deconvolution of amide I spectra and confirmed by wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). Results indicate that we can control the self-assembled morphology and the crystallinity by varying the block length, and a minimum of 3 A-blocks are required to form beta sheet crystalline regions in water-cast spider silk block copolymers. The morphology and crystallinity can also be tuned by annealing. Thermal properties of water cast films and films annealed at 120 C were determined by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry. The sample films were also treated with 1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) to obtain wholly amorphous samples, and crystallized by exposure to methanol. Using scanning and transmission electron microscopies, we observe that fibrillar networks and hollow micelles are formed in water cast and methanol cast samples, but not in samples cast from HFIP.

Tharsis block tectonics on Mars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Raitala, Jouko T.

1988-01-01

The concept of block tectonics provides a framework for understanding many aspects of Tharsis and adjoining structures. This Tharsis block tectonics on Mars is manifested partly by mantle-related doming and partly by response to loading by subsequent volcanic construction. Although the origin of the volcanism from beneath Tharsis is a subject of controversy explanations have to include inhomogeneities in Martian internal structure, energy distribution, magma accumulation and motion below the lithosphere. Thermal convection can be seen as a necessary consequence for transient initial phase of Martian cooling. This produced part of the elevated topography with tensional stresses and graben systems radial to the main bulge. The linear grabens, radial to the Tharsis center, can be interpreted to indicate rift zones that define the crustal block boundaries. The load-induced stresses may then have contributed on further graben and ridge formation over an extended period of time.

75 FR 52545 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Comment Request, State Community Development Block...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-26

... DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR 5377-N-02] Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Comment Request, State Community Development Block (CDBG) Program AGENCY: Office of... Block Grant (CDBG) Program. OMB Control Number, if applicable: 2506-0085. Description of the need for...

The Development of Spatial Skills through Interventions Involving Block Building Activities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Casey, Beth M.; Andrews, Nicole; Schindler, Holly; Kersh, Joanne E.; Samper, Alexandra; Copley, Juanita

2008-01-01

This study investigated the use of block-building interventions to develop spatial-reasoning skills in kindergartners. Two intervention conditions and a control condition were included to determine, first, whether the block building activities themselves benefited children's spatial skills, and secondly, whether a story context further improved…

Tug fleet and ground operations schedules and controls. Volume 2: Part 3, appendixes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1975-01-01

A space tug function description data sheet is prepared for each block of the space tug functional flow diagram. A summary of the basic information regarding the activities performed in its respective functional block is provided. The sheets are catalogued by functional flow block numbers with reference blocks at the end. The specific items of information contained in each data sheet are defined.

Removal of sodium inactivation and block of sodium channels by chloramine-T in crayfish and squid giant axons.

PubMed Central

Huang, J. M.; Tanguy, J.; Yeh, J. Z.

1987-01-01

Modification of sodium channels by chloramine-T was examined in voltage clamped internally perfused crayfish and squid giant axons using the double sucrose gap and axial wire technique, respectively. Freshly prepared chloramine-T solution exerted two major actions on sodium channels: (a) an irreversible removal of the fast Na inactivation, and (b) a reversible block of the Na current. Both effects were observed when chloramine-T was applied internally or externally (5-10 mM) to axons. The first effect was studied in crayfish axons. We found that the removal of the fast Na inactivation did not depend on the states of the channel since the channel could be modified by chloramine-T at holding potential (from -80 to -100 mV) or at depolarized potential of -30 mV. After removal of fast Na inactivation, the slow inactivation mechanism was still present, and more channels could undergo slow inactivation. This result indicates that in crayfish axons the transition through the fast inactivated state is not a prerequisite for the slow inactivation to occur. During chloramine-T treatment, a distinct blocking phase occurred, which recovered upon washing out the drug. This second effect of chloramine-T was studied in detail in squid axons. After 24 h, chloramine-T solution lost its ability to remove fast inactivation but retained its blocking action. After removal of the fast Na inactivation, both fresh and aged chloramine-T solutions blocked the Na currents with a similar potency and in a voltage-dependent manner, being more pronounced at lower depolarizing potentials. A similar voltage-dependent block was observed with aged chloramine-T solution in an axon with intact inactivation. In contrast to the action of the fresh solution, the aged chloramine-T solution was found to accelerate the decay of Na currents.These results suggest that chloramine-T solution contains at least two active molecular forms that act at different sites in the Na channel. PMID:2444276

Ada Compiler Validation Summary Report: Certificate Number: 880318W1. 09041, International Business Machines Corporation, IBM Development System for the Ada Language, Version 2.1.0, IBM 4381 under VM/HPO, Host and Target

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-03-28

International Business Machines Corporation IBM Development System for the Ada Language, Version 2.1.0 IBM 4381 under VM/HPO, host and target DTIC...necessary and identify by block number) International Business Machines Corporation, IBM Development System for the Ada Language, Version 2.1.0, IBM...in the compiler listed in this declaration. I declare that International Business Machines Corporation is the owner of record of the object code of the

Ada Compiler Validation Summary Report: Certificate Number: 880318W1. 09043 International Business Machines Corporation IBM Development System for the Ada Language, Version 2.1.0 IBM 4381 under VM/HPO, Host IBM 4381 under MVS/XA, Target

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-03-28

International Business Machines Corporation IBM Development System for the Ada Language, Version 2.1.0 IBM 4381 under VM/HPO, host IBM 4381 under MVS/XA, target...Program Office, AJPO 20. ABSTRACT (Continue on reverse side if necessary and identify by block number) International Business Machines Corporation, IBM...Standard ANSI/MIL-STD-1815A in the compiler listed in this declaration. I declare that International Business Machines Corporation is the owner of record

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein stimulates CD14-dependent Toll-like receptor 4 internalization and LPS-induced TBK1-IKKϵ-IRF3 axis activation.

PubMed

Tsukamoto, Hiroki; Takeuchi, Shino; Kubota, Kanae; Kobayashi, Yohei; Kozakai, Sao; Ukai, Ippo; Shichiku, Ayumi; Okubo, Misaki; Numasaki, Muneo; Kanemitsu, Yoshitomi; Matsumoto, Yotaro; Nochi, Tomonori; Watanabe, Kouichi; Aso, Hisashi; Tomioka, Yoshihisa

2018-05-14

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is an indispensable immune receptor for lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a major component of the Gram-negative bacterial cell wall. Following LPS stimulation, TLR4 transmits the signal from the cell surface and becomes internalized in an endosome. However, the spatial regulation of TLR4 signaling is not fully understood. Here, we investigated the mechanisms of LPS-induced TLR4 internalization and clarified the roles of the extracellular LPS-binding molecules, LPS-binding protein (LBP), and glycerophosphatidylinositol-anchored protein (CD14). LPS stimulation of CD14-expressing cells induced TLR4 internalization in the presence of serum, and an inhibitory anti-LBP mAb blocked its internalization. Addition of LBP to serum-free cultures restored LPS-induced TLR4 internalization to comparable levels of serum. The secretory form of the CD14 (sCD14) induced internalization but required a much higher concentration than LBP. An inhibitory anti-sCD14 mAb was ineffective for serum-mediated internalization. LBP lacking the domain for LPS transfer to CD14 and a CD14 mutant with reduced LPS binding both attenuated TLR4 internalization. Accordingly, LBP is an essential serum molecule for TLR4 internalization, and its LPS transfer to membrane-anchored CD14 (mCD14) is a prerequisite. LBP induced the LPS-stimulated phosphorylation of TBK1, IKKϵ, and IRF3, leading to IFN-β expression. However, LPS-stimulated late activation of NFκB or necroptosis were not affected. Collectively, our results indicate that LBP controls LPS-induced TLR4 internalization, which induces TLR adaptor molecule 1 (TRIF)-dependent activation of the TBK1-IKKϵ-IRF3-IFN-β pathway. In summary, we showed that LBP-mediated LPS transfer to mCD14 is required for serum-dependent TLR4 internalization and activation of the TRIF pathway. Copyright © 2018, The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Evolution of International Space Station GN&C System Across ISS Assembly Stages

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, Roscoe; Frank, K. D. (Technical Monitor)

1999-01-01

The Guidance Navigation and Control (GN&C) system for the International Space Station is initially implemented by the Functional Cargo Block (FGB) which was built by the Khrunichev Space Center under direct contract to Boeing. This element (Stage 1A/R) was launched on 20 November 1998 and is currently operating on-orbit. The components and capabilities of the FGB Motion Control System (MCS) are described. The next ISS element, which has GN&C functionality will be the Service Module (SM) built by Rocket Space Corporation-Energia. This module is scheduled for launch (Stage 1R) in early 2000. Following activation of the SM GN&C system, the FGB MCS is deactivated and no longer used. The components and capabilities of the SM GN&C system are described. When a Progress vehicle is attached to the ISS it can be used for reboost operations, based on commands provided by the Mission Control Center-Moscow. When a data connection is implemented between the SM and the Progress, the SM can command the Progress thrusters for attitude control and reboosts. On Stage 5A, the U.S. GN&C system will become activated when the U.S. Laboratory is de loyed and installed (launch schedule is currently TBD). The U.S. GN&C system provides non-propulsive control capabilities to support micro-gravity operations and minimize the use of propellant for attitude control, and an independent capability for determining the ISS state vector, attitude, attitude rate. and time.. The components and capabilities of the U.S. GN&C system are described and the interactions between the U.S. and Russian Segment GN&C systems are also described.

Data management system CIU and DIU. Appendix A: CIU and DIU schematics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1975-01-01

The Computer Interface Unit (CIU) and the Data Interface Unit (DIU) of the Data Management System (DMS) were described as to their functional location, purpose and function. This describes the CIU and DIU at the unit level illustrating their interface thru the Data Bus (DBUS) and to other DMS units. All unit level interfaces are defined as to function and characteristics. The controls, indicators, test points and connectors are listed and function, location and application are described for each. The mechanical configuration is defined and illustrated to provide card and component location for modification or repair purposes. Unique disassembly and assembly requirements are outlined where applicable. A unit internal functional block diagram level description is provided.

Polymersome magneto-valves for reversible capture and release of nanoparticles

PubMed Central

van Rhee, P.G.; Rikken, R.S.M.; Abdelmohsen, L.K.E.A.; Maan, J.C.; Nolte, R.J.M.; van Hest, J.C.M.; Christianen, P.C.M.; Wilson, D.A.

2014-01-01

Stomatocytes are polymersomes with an infolded bowl-shaped architecture. This internal cavity is connected to the outside environment via a small ‘mouth’ region. Stomatocytes are assembled from diamagnetic amphiphilic block-copolymers with a highly anisotropic magnetic susceptibility, which permits to magnetically align and deform the polymeric self-assemblies. Here we show the reversible opening and closing of the mouth region of stomatocytes in homogeneous magnetic fields. The control over the size of the opening yields magneto-responsive supramolecular valves that are able to reversibly capture and release cargo. Furthermore, the increase in the size of the opening is gradual and starts at fields below 10 T, which opens the possibility of using these structures for delivery and nanoreactor applications. PMID:25248402

EJSCREEN Version 1, Primary EJ Index

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The primary EJ index measures how much a particular place contributes to overall nationwide differences in environmental indicator values between demographic groups. This EJ index is a combination of a block group environmental factor, the population of the block group, and the demographic composition of the block group. In this index, the demographic composition of the block group is the difference between the block group??s composition and the national average, as measured by the primary demographic index. EJSCREEN is an environmental justice screening tool that provides EPA with a nationally consistent approach to screening for potential areas of EJ concern that may warrant further investigation. The EJ indexes are block group level results that combine multiple demographic factors with a single environmental variable (such as proximity to traffic) that can be used to help identify communities living with the greatest potential for negative environmental and health effects. The EJSCREEN tool is currently for internal EPA use only. It is anticipated that as users become accustomed to this new tool, individual programs within the Agency will develop program use guidelines and a community of practice will develop around them within the EPA Geoplatform. Users should keep in mind that screening tools are subject to substantial uncertainty in their demographic and environmental data, particularly when looking at small geographic areas, such as Census block group

Adaptive neural control of MIMO nonlinear systems with a block-triangular pure-feedback control structure.

PubMed

Chen, Zhenfeng; Ge, Shuzhi Sam; Zhang, Yun; Li, Yanan

2014-11-01

This paper presents adaptive neural tracking control for a class of uncertain multiinput-multioutput (MIMO) nonlinear systems in block-triangular form. All subsystems within these MIMO nonlinear systems are of completely nonaffine pure-feedback form and allowed to have different orders. To deal with the nonaffine appearance of the control variables, the mean value theorem is employed to transform the systems into a block-triangular strict-feedback form with control coefficients being couplings among various inputs and outputs. A systematic procedure is proposed for the design of a new singularity-free adaptive neural tracking control strategy. Such a design procedure can remove the couplings among subsystems and hence avoids the possible circular control construction problem. As a consequence, all the signals in the closed-loop system are guaranteed to be semiglobally uniformly ultimately bounded. Moreover, the outputs of the systems are ensured to converge to a small neighborhood of the desired trajectories. Simulation studies verify the theoretical findings revealed in this paper.

Effects of cooked molasses blocks and fermentation extract or brown seaweed meal inclusion on intake, digestion, and microbial efficiency in steers fed low-quality hay.

PubMed

Leupp, J L; Caton, J S; Soto-Navarro, S A; Lardy, G P

2005-12-01

Five ruminally, duodenally, and ileally cannulated steers (376 +/- 8.1 kg of initial BW) were used in a 5 x 5 Latin square to evaluate effects of cooked molasses block supplementation and inclusion of fermentation extract (Aspergillus oryzae) or brown seaweed meal (Ascophyllum nodosum) on intake, site of digestion, and microbial efficiency. Diets consisted of switchgrass hay (6.0% CP; DM basis) offered ad libitum, free access to water, and one of three molasses blocks (0.341 kg of DM/d; one-half at 0600 and one-half at 1800). Treatments were no block (control), block with no additive (40.5% CP; POS), block plus fermentation extract bolused directly into the rumen via gelatin capsules (2.0 g/d; FS), fermentation extract included in the block (2.0 g/d; FB), and seaweed meal included in the block (10 g/d; SB). Steers were adapted to diets for 14 d followed by a 7-d collection period. Overall treatment effect on hay OM intake tended (8.1 vs. 7.6 +/- 0.5 kg/d; P = 0.14) to increase with block supplementation. Total OM intake (8.4 vs. 7.6 +/- 0.5 kg/d; P = 0.01) increased in steers consuming block compared with control. Apparent and true ruminal OM digestibility increased (P = 0.05) with block consumption. Steers fed SB had greater (P = 0.10) true ruminal OM digestibility compared with steers fed POS (61.0 vs. 57.9 +/- 1.6%). True ruminal CP digestibility increased (P = 0.01) with block supplementation compared with control (37.5 vs. 23.6 +/- 3.7%). Addition of fermentation extract did not affect intake or digestion. Treatments did not alter ruminal pH, total VFA, or individual VFA proportions; however, ruminal ammonia increased (P = 0.01) with block supplementation. In situ disappearance rates of hay DM (3.14 +/- 0.44 %/h), NDF (3.18 +/- 0.47 %/h), and ADF (3.02 +/- 0.57 %/h) were not altered by treatment. Seaweed block increased (P = 0.01) slowly degraded CP fraction compared with POS (39.5 vs. 34.0 +/- 2.07%). Similarly, SB increased (P = 0.01) the extent of CP degradability (74.2 vs. 68.9 +/- 1.81%). No treatment effects (P = 0.24) were observed for microbial efficiency. Block supplementation increased intake, and use of brown seaweed meal seemed to have beneficial effects on forage digestibility in low-quality forage diets.

Road map to adaptive optimal control. [jet engine control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boyer, R.

1980-01-01

A building block control structure leading toward adaptive, optimal control for jet engines is developed. This approach simplifies the addition of new features and allows for easier checkout of the control by providing a baseline system for comparison. Also, it is possible to eliminate certain features that do not have payoff by being selective in the addition of new building blocks to be added to the baseline system. The minimum risk approach specifically addresses the need for active identification of the plant to be controlled in real time and real time optimization of the control for the identified plant.

Internal combustion engine control for series hybrid electric vehicles by parallel and distributed genetic programming/multiobjective genetic algorithms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gladwin, D.; Stewart, P.; Stewart, J.

2011-02-01

This article addresses the problem of maintaining a stable rectified DC output from the three-phase AC generator in a series-hybrid vehicle powertrain. The series-hybrid prime power source generally comprises an internal combustion (IC) engine driving a three-phase permanent magnet generator whose output is rectified to DC. A recent development has been to control the engine/generator combination by an electronically actuated throttle. This system can be represented as a nonlinear system with significant time delay. Previously, voltage control of the generator output has been achieved by model predictive methods such as the Smith Predictor. These methods rely on the incorporation of an accurate system model and time delay into the control algorithm, with a consequent increase in computational complexity in the real-time controller, and as a necessity relies to some extent on the accuracy of the models. Two complementary performance objectives exist for the control system. Firstly, to maintain the IC engine at its optimal operating point, and secondly, to supply a stable DC supply to the traction drive inverters. Achievement of these goals minimises the transient energy storage requirements at the DC link, with a consequent reduction in both weight and cost. These objectives imply constant velocity operation of the IC engine under external load disturbances and changes in both operating conditions and vehicle speed set-points. In order to achieve these objectives, and reduce the complexity of implementation, in this article a controller is designed by the use of Genetic Programming methods in the Simulink modelling environment, with the aim of obtaining a relatively simple controller for the time-delay system which does not rely on the implementation of real time system models or time delay approximations in the controller. A methodology is presented to utilise the miriad of existing control blocks in the Simulink libraries to automatically evolve optimal control structures.

Experimental studies of rapid bioerosion of coral reefs in the Galápagos Islands

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reaka-Kudla, M. L.; Feingold, J. S.; Glynn, W.

1996-06-01

Experimental carbonate blocks of coral skeleton, Porites lobata (PL), and cathedral limestone (LS) were deployed for 14.8 months at shallow (5 6 m) and deep (11 13m) depths on a severely bioeroded coral reef, Champion Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. Sea urchins ( Eucidaris thouarsii) were significantly more abundant at shallow versus deep sites. Porites lobata blocks lost an average of 25.4 kg m-2yr-1 (23.71 m-2yr-1 or 60.5% decrease yr-1). Losses did not vary significantly at depths tested. Internal bioeroders excavated an average of 2.6 kg m-2 yr-1 (2.41 m-2 yr-1 or 0.6% decrease yr-1), while external bioeroders removed an average of 22.8 kg m-2 yr-1). (21.31 m-2 yr-1). or 59.9% decrease yr-1). few encrusting organisms were observed on the PL blocks. Cathedral limestone blocks lost an average of 4.1 kg m-2 yr-1). (1.81 m-2 yr-1). or 4.6% decrease yr-'), also with no relation to depth. Internal bioeroders excavated an average of 0.6 kg m-2 yr-1). (0.31 m-2 yr-1). or 0.7% decrease yr-1). and external bioeroders removed an average of 3.5 kg m-2 yr-1). (1.51 m-2 yr-1). or 3.9% decrease yr-1). from the LS blocks. Most (57.6%) encrustation occurred on the bottom of LS blocks, and there was more accretion on block bottoms in deep (61.4 mg cm-2 yr-1). versus shallow (35.0 mg cm-2 yr-1) sites. External bioerosion reduced the average height of the reef framework by 0.2 cm yr-1). for hard substrata (represented by LS) and 2.3 cm yr-1). for soft substrata (represented by PL). The results of this study suggest that coral reef frameworks in the Galápagos Islands are in serious jeopardy. If rates of coral recruitment do not increase, and if rates of bioerosion do not decline, coral reefs in the Galápagos Islands could be eliminated entirely.

North Atlantic winter eddy-driven jet and atmospheric blocking variability in the Community Earth System Model version 1 Large Ensemble simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kwon, Young-Oh; Camacho, Alicia; Martinez, Carlos; Seo, Hyodae

2018-01-01

The atmospheric jet and blocking distributions, especially in the North Atlantic sector, have been challenging features for a climate model to realistically reproduce. This study examines climatological distributions of winter (December-February) daily jet latitude and blocking in the North Atlantic from the 40-member Community Earth System Model version 1 Large Ensemble (CESM1LE) simulations. This analysis aims at examining whether a broad range of internal climate variability encompassed by a large ensemble of simulations results in an improved representation of the jet latitude distributions and blocking days in CESM1LE. In the historical runs (1951-2005), the daily zonal wind at 850 hPa exhibits three distinct preferred latitudes for the eddy-driven jet position as seen in the reanalysis datasets, which represents a significant improvement from the previous version of the same model. However, the meridional separations between the three jet latitudes are much smaller than those in the reanalyses. In particular, the jet rarely migrates to the observed southernmost position around 37°N. This leads to the bias in blocking frequency that is too low over Greenland and too high over the Azores. These features are shown to be remarkably stable across the 40 ensemble members with negligible member-to-member spread. This result implies the range of internal variability of winter jet latitude and blocking frequency within the 55-year segment from each ensemble member is comparable to that represented by the full large ensemble. Comparison with 2046-2100 from the RCP8.5 future projection runs suggests that the daily jet position is projected to maintain the same three preferred latitudes, with a slightly higher frequency of occurrence over the central latitude around 50°N, instead of shifting poleward in the future as documented in some previous studies. In addition, the daily jet speed is projected not to change significantly between 1951-2005 and 2046-2100. On the other hand, the climatological mean jet is projected to become slightly more elongated and stronger on its southern flank, and the blocking frequency over the Azores is projected to decrease.

Fibronectin on extracellular vesicles from microvascular endothelial cells is involved in the vesicle uptake into oligodendrocyte precursor cells

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

Osawa, Sho; Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511; Kurachi, Masashi

We previously reported transplantation of brain microvascular endothelial cells (MVECs) into cerebral white matter infarction model improved the animal's behavioral outcome by increasing the number of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). We also revealed extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from MVECs promoted survival and proliferation of OPCs in vitro. In this study, we investigated the mechanism how EVs derived from MVECs contribute to OPC survival and proliferation. Protein mass spectrometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed fibronectin was abundant on the surface of EVs from MVECs. As fibronectin has been reported to promote OPC survival and proliferation via integrin signaling pathway, we blocked themore » binding between fibronectin and integrins using RGD sequence mimics. Blocking the binding, however, did not attenuate the survival and proliferation promoting effect of EVs on OPCs. Flow cytometric and imaging analyses revealed fibronectin on EVs mediates their internalization into OPCs by its binding to heparan sulfate proteoglycan on OPCs. OPC survival and proliferation promoted by EVs were attenuated by blocking the internalization of EVs into OPCs. These lines of evidence suggest that fibronectin on EVs mediates their internalization into OPCs, and the cargo of EVs promotes survival and proliferation of OPCs, independent of integrin signaling pathway. - Highlights: • Fibronectin exists on the surface of extracellular vesicles from endothelial cells. • Integrin signaling is not involved in effects of extracellular vesicles on OPCs. • Fibronectin on the surface of extracellular vesicles mediates their uptake into OPCs.« less

Non-amyloidogenic peptide tags for the regulatable self-assembling of protein-only nanoparticles.

PubMed

Unzueta, Ugutz; Ferrer-Miralles, Neus; Cedano, Juan; Zikung, Xu; Pesarrodona, Mireia; Saccardo, Paolo; García-Fruitós, Elena; Domingo-Espín, Joan; Kumar, Pradeep; Gupta, Kailash C; Mangues, Ramón; Villaverde, Antonio; Vazquez, Esther

2012-11-01

Controlling the self-assembling of building blocks as nanoscale entities is a requisite for the generation of bio-inspired vehicles for nanomedicines. A wide spectrum of functional peptides has been incorporated to different types of nanoparticles for the delivery of conventional drugs and nucleic acids, enabling receptor-specific cell binding and internalization, endosomal escape, cytosolic trafficking, nuclear targeting and DNA condensation. However, the development of architectonic tags to induce the self-assembling of functionalized monomers has been essentially neglected. We have examined here the nanoscale architectonic capabilities of arginine-rich cationic peptides, that when displayed on His-tagged proteins, promote their self-assembling as monodisperse, protein-only nanoparticles. The scrutiny of the cross-molecular interactivity cooperatively conferred by poly-arginines and poly-histidines has identified regulatable electrostatic interactions between building blocks that can also be engineered to encapsulate cargo DNA. The combined use of cationic peptides and poly-histidine tags offers an unusually versatile approach for the tailored design and biofabrication of protein-based nano-therapeutics, beyond the more limited spectrum of possibilities so far offered by self-assembling amyloidogenic peptides. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

31 CFR 548.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Foreign Assets Control's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”) with the identifier “[BELARUS].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Web site: http://www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the SDN List can be...

31 CFR 548.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Foreign Assets Control's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”) with the identifier “[BELARUS].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Web site: http://www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the SDN List can be...

31 CFR 548.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Foreign Assets Control's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”) with the identifier “[BELARUS].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Web site: http://www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the SDN List can be...

31 CFR 548.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Foreign Assets Control's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”) with the identifier “[BELARUS].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Web site: http://www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the SDN List can be...

49 CFR 236.512 - Cab signal indication when locomotive enters block where restrictive conditions obtain.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND APPLIANCES Automatic Train Stop, Train Control and Cab Signal Systems Standards § 236.512 Cab signal indication when locomotive enters block where restrictive conditions obtain. The automatic cab signal system shall be arranged so that when a locomotive enters or is...

25. At 1050 Gallery, Block 55, view of gate control ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

25. At 1050 Gallery, Block 55, view of gate control and motor, looking west, (Westinghouse Gearmotor, ca. 1939, type CS induction motor, 440 volts, 43 rpm, 60 cycle). - Columbia Basin Project, Grand Coulee Dam & Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake, Across Columbia River, Southeast of Town of Grand Coulee, Grand Coulee, Grant County, WA

[The neurotrophic effect of endogenous NT-3 from adult cat spared dorsal root ganglion on ganglionic neurons].

PubMed

Zhang, Wei; Zhou, Xue; Wang, Ting-hua; Wang, Te-wei; Liu, Su; Chen, Si-xiu; Ou, Ke-qun

2004-01-01

To investigate the neurotrophic effect of endogenous NT-3 from adult cat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) on ganglionic neurons. Rhizotomy of bilateral L1, L3, L5 and L7 dorsal roots of cats was performed, leaving L2, L4 and L6 DRG as spared DRGs. The separate neurons of normal (control) DRG, spared DRG and anti-NT-3 antibody blocking DRG were cultured in vitro respectively. The number of survival neurons and the length of neurites were measured and used for comparison in the control, spared DRG, and block groups. There were survival neurons and cell clusters in every group. The number of survival neurons and cell clusters of spared DRG group were much larger than those of the control and block groups. The neurite length of neurons, the neurite number and the length of cell clusters of spared DRG group were much greater than those of control and block groups. Endogenous NT-3 from spared DRG may act on ganglionic neurons to maintain survival of neuron and stimulate growth of neurite.

Survey of Malware Threats and Recommendations to Improve Cybersecurity for Industrial Control Systems Version 1.0

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-02-01

not normally blocked by enterprise firewalls . • Some malware exploited zero-day vulnerabilities as well as attempted to exploit vulnerabilities for...servers, receiving updates, and exfiltrating data. Firewalls are routinely configured to block incoming connections while malware within a target...implemented with layers of technical security controls (e.g., ICS-aware firewalls ) to control network traffic and prevent the spread of malware . Intrusion

Accuracy Validation of Large-scale Block Adjustment without Control of ZY3 Images over China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Bo

2016-06-01

Mapping from optical satellite images without ground control is one of the goals of photogrammetry. Using 8802 three linear array stereo images (a total of 26406 images) of ZY3 over China, we propose a large-scale and non-control block adjustment method of optical satellite images based on the RPC model, in which a single image is regarded as an adjustment unit to be organized. To overcome the block distortion caused by unstable adjustment without ground control and the excessive accumulation of errors, we use virtual control points created by the initial RPC model of the images as the weighted observations and add them into the adjustment model to refine the adjustment. We use 8000 uniformly distributed high precision check points to evaluate the geometric accuracy of the DOM (Digital Ortho Model) and DSM (Digital Surface Model) production, for which the standard deviations of plane and elevation are 3.6 m and 4.2 m respectively. The geometric accuracy is consistent across the whole block and the mosaic accuracy of neighboring DOM is within a pixel, thus, the seamless mosaic could take place. This method achieves the goal of an accuracy of mapping without ground control better than 5 m for the whole China from ZY3 satellite images.

Test of a non-physical barrier consisting of light, sound, and bubble screen to block upstream movement of sea lamprey in an experimental raceway

USGS Publications Warehouse

Miehls, Scott M.; Johnson, Nicholas S.; Hrodey, Pete J.

2017-01-01

Control of the invasive Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus is critical for management of commercial and recreational fisheries in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Use of physical barriers to block Sea Lampreys from spawning habitat is a major component of the control program. However, the resulting interruption of natural streamflow and blockage of nontarget species present substantial challenges. Development of an effective nonphysical barrier would aid the control of Sea Lampreys by eliminating their access to spawning locations while maintaining natural streamflow. We tested the effect of a nonphysical barrier consisting of strobe lights, low-frequency sound, and a bubble screen on the movement of Sea Lampreys in an experimental raceway designed as a two-choice maze with a single main channel fed by two identical inflow channels (one control and one blocked). Sea Lampreys were more likely to move upstream during trials when the strobe light and low-frequency sound were active compared with control trials and trials using the bubble screen alone. For those Sea Lampreys that did move upstream to the confluence of inflow channels, no combination of stimuli or any individual stimulus significantly influenced the likelihood that Sea Lampreys would enter the blocked inflow channel, enter the control channel, or return downstream.

Defining Concepts in the War/Peace Field: A Task for Academics and Curriculum Developers Alike. An Occasional Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Freeman, Robert E.

Advocates of the new social studies have long urged the use of concepts as the basic building blocks in social studies. The question of what concepts and definitions of them should be taught is a matter of agreement among qualified judges. As qualified judges in the international relations-war/peace international education field, we can determine…

International Space Station (ISS)

NASA Image and Video Library

2000-09-01

This image of the International Space Station (ISS) was taken when Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-106 mission) approached the ISS for docking. At the top is the Russian Progress supply ship that is linked with the Russian built Service Module or Zvezda. The Zvezda is cornected with the Russian built Functional Cargo Block (FGB) or Zarya. The U.S. built Node 1 or Unity module is seen at the bottom.

Thaumatin crystallization aboard the International Space Station using liquid-liquid diffusion in the Enhanced Gaseous Nitrogen Dewar (EGN).

PubMed

Barnes, Cindy L; Snell, Edward H; Kundrot, Craig E

2002-05-01

This paper reports results from the first biological crystal-growth experiment on the International Space Station (ISS). Crystals of thaumatin were grown using liquid-liquid diffusion in Tygon tubing transported in the Enhanced Gaseous Nitrogen Dewar (EGN). Different volume ratios and concentrations of protein and precipitant were used to test different adaptations of the vapor-diffusion crystallization recipe to the liquid-liquid diffusion method. The EGN warmed up from 77 to 273 K in about 4 d, about the same time it took to warm from 273 to 293 K. The temperature within the EGN was 293-297 K for the majority of the experiment. Air gaps that blocked liquid-liquid diffusion formed in the tubes. Nonetheless, crystals were grown. Synchrotron diffraction data collected from the best space-grown crystal extended to 1.28 A, comparable to previous studies of space-grown thaumatin crystals. The resolution of the best ground-control crystal was only 1.47 A. It is not clear if the difference in diffraction limit arises from factors other than crystal size. Improvements in temperature control and the elimination of air gaps are needed, but the results show that the EGN on the ISS can be used to produce space-grown crystals that diffract to high resolution.

Thaumatin Crystallization Aboard the International Space Station Using Liquid-Liquid Diffusion in the Enhanced Gaseous Nitrogen Dewar (EGN)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kundrot, Craig; Barnes, Cindy L.; Snell, Edward H.; Stinson, Thomas N. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

This paper reports results from the first biological crystal growth experiment on the International Space Station (ISS). Crystals of thaumatin were grown using liquid-liquid diffusion in Tygon tubing transported in the Enhanced Gaseous Nitrogen Dewar (EGN). Different Volume ratios and concentrations of protein and precipitant were used to test different adaptations of the vapor diffusion crystallization recipe to the liquid-liquid diffusion method. The EGN warmed up from -196 C to 0 C in about four days, about the same time it took to warm from 0 C to 20 C. The temperature within the EGN was 20 - 24 C for the majority of the experiment. Air gaps that blocked liquid-liquid diffusion formed in the tubes. Nonetheless, crystals were grown. Synchrotron diffraction data collected from the best space grown crystal extended to 1.28 Angstroms, comparable to previous studies of space-grown thaumatin crystals. The resolution of the best ground control crystal was only 1.47 Angstroms. It is not clear if the difference in diffraction limit is due to factors other than crystal size. Improvements in temperature control and the elimination of air gaps are needed, but the results show that EGN on the ISS can be used to produce space grown crystals that diffract to high resolution.

The Ambulatory Long-Block: An Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Educational Innovations Project (EIP)

PubMed Central

Schauer, Daniel P.; Diers, Tiffiny; Mathis, Bradley R.; Neirouz, Yvette; Boex, James R.; Rouan, Gregory W.

2008-01-01

Introduction Historical bias toward service-oriented inpatient graduate medical education experiences has hindered both resident education and care of patients in the ambulatory setting. Aim Describe and evaluate a residency redesign intended to improve the ambulatory experience for residents and patients. Setting Categorical Internal Medicine resident ambulatory practice at the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center. Program Description We created a year-long continuous ambulatory group-practice experience separated from traditional inpatient responsibilities called the long block as an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Educational Innovations Project. The practice adopted the Chronic Care Model and residents received extensive instruction in quality improvement and interprofessional teams. Program Evaluation The long block was associated with significant increases in resident and patient satisfaction as well as improvement in multiple quality process and outcome measures. Continuity and no-show rates also improved. Discussion An ambulatory long block can be associated with improvements in resident and patient satisfaction, quality measures, and no-show rates. Future research should be done to determine effects of the long block on education and patient care in the long term, and elucidate which aspects of the long block most contribute to improvement. PMID:18612718

Endocytosis of GPI-anchored proteins in human lymphocytes: role of glycolipid-based domains, actin cytoskeleton, and protein kinases

PubMed Central

1996-01-01

GPI-anchored surface proteins mediate many important functions, including transport, signal transduction, adhesion, and protection against complement. They cluster into glycolipid-based membrane domains and caveolae, plasmalemmal vesicles involved in the transcytosis and endocytosis of these surface proteins. However, in lymphocytes, neither the characteristic flask shaped caveolae nor caveolin, a transmembrane protein typical of caveolae, have been observed. Here, we show that the GPI-anchored CD59 molecule on Jurkat T cells is internalized after cross-linking, a process inhibited by nystatin, a sterol chelating agent. Clustered CD59 molecules mostly accumulate in non-coated invaginations of the lymphocyte membrane before endocytosis, in marked contrast with the pattern of CD3-TCR internalization. Cytochalasin H blocked CD59 internalization in lymphocytes, but neither CD3 internalization nor transferrin uptake. Confocal microscopy analysis of F-actin distribution within lymphocytes showed that CD59 clusters were associated with patches of polymerized actin. Also, we found that internalization of CD59 was prevented by the protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine and by the protein kinase A activator forskolin. Thus, in lymphocytes, as in other cell types, glycolipid-based domains provide sites of integration of signaling pathways involved in GPI-anchored protein endocytosis. This process, which is regulated by both protein kinase C and A activity, is tightly controlled by the dynamic organization of actin cytoskeleton, and may be critical for polarized contacts of circulating cells. PMID:8666664

The analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block on postoperative pain and morphine consumption in varicocelectomy.

PubMed

Ömür, Dilek; Oğuzalp, Hüseyin; Kiraz, Hasan A; Ekin, Serpil; Alan, Cabir; Ersay, Ahmet R; Hancı, Volkan

2016-06-01

To evaluate the analgesic effect of transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block administered before varicocele surgery. This study was completed at the Faculty of Medicine, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey, between January 2011 and April 2013. In a prospective, double blind, randomized, placebo controlled clinical study, 40 male patients scheduled for elective varicocele operations were randomized to group T (treatment group) or group C (controls). After receiving general anesthesia, group T received a TAP block using 20 mL 0.25% bupivacaine on the operation side, whereas group C received a control block using 20 mL 0.9% Sodium chloride. During the first 24 hours after surgery, the patient pain was evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) at rest and while coughing. Postoperative patient controlled analgesia morphine consumption, VAS scores, and side effects were recorded. Of 34 patients, Group T (n=18) had significantly lower VAS pain scores than Group C (n=16) both at rest and while coughing. The total morphine consumed was  lower (7.7 ± 4.0) versus 21.6 ± 12.4 mg, p less than 0.001) in the 24 hours after surgery. As part of a multimodal analgesic regime after varicocelectomy surgery, morphine consumption and VAS pain scores were significantly lower among those receiving 20 mL 0.25% bupivacaine administered for a TAP block than among controls.

A randomised trial of the analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block after caesarean delivery under general anaesthesia.

PubMed

Tan, Terry T; Teoh, Wendy H L; Woo, David C M; Ocampo, Cecilia E; Shah, Mukesh K; Sia, Alex T H

2012-02-01

Previous studies examining the efficacy of transversus abdominis plane block after caesarean section have mostly been in parturients under spinal anaesthesia. We postulated that the advantage of performing transversus abdominis plane block after caesarean section might be even more obvious after general anaesthesia, resulting in reduced 24-h consumption of morphine. DESIGN, SETTING, PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: In this single centre, randomised double-blind controlled trial, 40 women who underwent caesarean delivery under general anaesthesia were allocated randomly to receive a transversus abdominis plane block or no block. In those who received the block, 20 ml of levobupivacaine 2.5 mg ml was deposited bilaterally into the transversus abdominis plane under ultrasound guidance using a Sonosite Titan (SonoSite, Bothell, Washington, USA) 7-13 MHz linear transducer at the end of surgery when the patient was still anaesthetised. We recorded patient-controlled intravenous morphine use for 24 h, pain scores at rest and activity, sedation, nausea and vomiting, use of antiemetic medication and overall maternal satisfaction. The primary outcome was 24-h morphine consumption. Patients who received the transversus abdominis plane block used significantly less morphine in 24 h than those in the control group [12.3 (2.6) vs. 31.4 mg (3.1), P<0.001) and had higher satisfaction scores [16 (80%) vs. 5 (25%), P = 0.012). There were no differences between groups in the visual analogue pain scores, sedation level, nausea and vomiting or the use of antiemetic medication. Ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block reduced morphine consumption following caesarean section under general anaesthesia, with increased maternal satisfaction.

Analgesic effect of a single-dose of perineural dexamethasone on ultrasound-guided femoral nerve block after total knee replacement.

PubMed

Morales-Muñoz, C; Sánchez-Ramos, J L; Díaz-Lara, M D; González-González, J; Gallego-Alonso, I; Hernández-Del-Castillo, M S

2017-01-01

Total knee replacement is usually a very painful procedure. A single-dose of femoral nerve block has been shown to provide similar analgesia to an epidural, with fewer side effects, but limited in time. To compare the analgesia provided by dexamethasone used at perineural level in the femoral nerve block after total knee replacement with the one used at intravenous level, and with that of a control group. A prospective, randomised, double-blind controlled trial was conducted on 81 patients randomly assigned to one of three groups: 1)IV dexamethasone (8mg); 2)perineural dexamethasone (8mg), and 3)placebo. All patients received 20ml of ropivacaine 0.5% for femoral nerve block. The primary outcome was the duration of the sensory-analgesic block of the femoral nerve block. The secondary outcomes included pain intensity measurements, patient satisfaction, and incidence of complications. Randomisation was effective. Analgesia duration was significantly higher (P<.0001) in the perineural dexamethasone group (mean 1152.2min, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 756.9-1547.6) in comparison with the control group (mean 186min, 95%CI: 81.2-292) and dexamethasone IV group (mean 159.4min, 95%CI: 109.8-209). Postoperative pain, complications and side effects were also lower in this group. Dexamethasone prolongs sensory block of single dose of femoral nerve block using ropivacaine. It also provides better analgesia and patient satisfaction, with fewer side effects. Copyright © 2016 Sociedad Española de Anestesiología, Reanimación y Terapéutica del Dolor. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

On the representation of atmospheric blocking in EURO-CORDEX control runs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jury, Martin W.; García, Sixto; Gutiérrez, José M.

2017-04-01

While regional climate models (RCMs) have been shown to yield improved projections, due to better representations of orography and higher resolved scales, impacts on mesoscale phenomena like atmospheric blocking have been hardly addressed. In this study we clarify if the EURO-CORDEX domain is large enough to allow the RCMs to significantly amplify the blocking representation in reference to the underlying driving data. Therefore, we analyzed blocking accompanying anomalies in temperature near the surface (TAS) and precipitation rate (PR) for a set of RCMs. 5 RCMs stem from the ensemble of EURO-CORDEX control runs, while 3 RCMs are WRF models with different nudging realizations, all of them are driven by ERA-Interim. The used blocking detection method detects blockings by localizing high pressure systems between 55°N and 65°N with the use of geopotential height gradients on the 500 hPa level (Z500), and was applied to ERA-Interim and the mentioned RCM data between 1981 and 2010. Detected blockings centers were spatially attributed to three sectors, which have been shown to display distinctive impacts on TAS and PR during blocking episodes. As a reference for TAS and PR we used 86 weather stations across Europe from the ECA&D dataset. Our results indicate, that little improvement can be expected in the representation of Z500 fields by the RCMs. Most of them show less blocking than the driving data, while blocking representation was most in agreement with the driving data for RCMs that have been strongly conditioned to the driving data. Further, in our idealized setting the RCMs were not able to reproduce the anomalies for TAS connected to blocking. Moreover, using the blocking index of the driving data could be considered correct, because the representation of TAS and PR for falsely detected blocking and non-blocking days in the RCMs did not deviate strongly.

Sidedness of Carbamazepine Accessibility to Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels

PubMed Central

Jo, Sooyeon

2014-01-01

Voltage-gated sodium channels are inhibited by many local anesthetics, antiarrhythmics, and antiepileptic drugs. The local anesthetic lidocaine appears to be able to access its binding site in the sodium channel only from the membrane phase or from the internal face of the channel. In contrast, the antiepileptic drug carbamazepine was found to inhibit voltage-gated sodium channels only with external, but not internal, application, implying a major difference. We investigated this point using both whole-cell and inside-out patch recordings from human Nav1.7 channels in a stable cell line. In the whole-cell configuration, carbamazepine inhibited sodium current within seconds when applied externally, but had little or no effect when applied internally for up to 15 minutes, confirming previous results. However, carbamazepine inhibited sodium channels effectively and rapidly when applied to the internal face of the membrane using inside-out patch recording. We found that lidocaine also has little or no effect when applied intracellularly in whole-cell recording, but blocks effectively and rapidly when applied to the internal surface using inside-out patches. In contrast, the cationic lidocaine derivative QX-314 (N-ethyl-lidocaine) blocks effectively when applied internally with whole-cell dialysis, as well as when applied to inside-out patches. We conclude that carbamazepine and lidocaine access the sodium channel in similar ways and hypothesize that their lack of effect with internal dialysis in whole-cell recording reflects rapid exit through membrane near the pipette recording site. This effect likely limits the ability of any compound with significant membrane permeability to be applied intracellularly by whole-cell dialysis. PMID:24319110

Effectiveness of a rural sanitation programme on diarrhoea, soil-transmitted helminth infection, and child malnutrition in Odisha, India: a cluster-randomised trial.

PubMed

Clasen, Thomas; Boisson, Sophie; Routray, Parimita; Torondel, Belen; Bell, Melissa; Cumming, Oliver; Ensink, Jeroen; Freeman, Matthew; Jenkins, Marion; Odagiri, Mitsunori; Ray, Subhajyoti; Sinha, Antara; Suar, Mrutyunjay; Schmidt, Wolf-Peter

2014-11-01

A third of the 2·5 billion people worldwide without access to improved sanitation live in India, as do two-thirds of the 1·1 billion practising open defecation and a quarter of the 1·5 million who die annually from diarrhoeal diseases. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of a rural sanitation intervention, within the context of the Government of India's Total Sanitation Campaign, to prevent diarrhoea, soil-transmitted helminth infection, and child malnutrition. We did a cluster-randomised controlled trial between May 20, 2010, and Dec 22, 2013, in 100 rural villages in Odisha, India. Households within villages were eligible if they had a child younger than 4 years or a pregnant woman. Villages were randomly assigned (1:1), with a computer-generated sequence, to undergo latrine promotion and construction or to receive no intervention (control). Randomisation was stratified by administrative block to ensure an equal number of intervention and control villages in each block. Masking of participants was not possible because of the nature of the intervention. However, households were not told explicitly that the purpose of enrolment was to study the effect of a trial intervention, and the surveillance team was different from the intervention team. The primary endpoint was 7-day prevalence of reported diarrhoea in children younger than 5 years. We did intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01214785. We randomly assigned 50 villages to the intervention group and 50 villages to the control group. There were 4586 households (24,969 individuals) in intervention villages and 4894 households (25,982 individuals) in control villages. The intervention increased mean village-level latrine coverage from 9% of households to 63%, compared with an increase from 8% to 12% in control villages. Health surveillance data were obtained from 1437 households with children younger than 5 years in the intervention group (1919 children younger than 5 years), and from 1465 households (1916 children younger than 5 years) in the control group. 7-day prevalence of reported diarrhoea in children younger than 5 years was 8·8% in the intervention group and 9·1% in the control group (period prevalence ratio 0·97, 95% CI 0·83-1·12). 162 participants died in the intervention group (11 children younger than 5 years) and 151 died in the control group (13 children younger than 5 years). Increased latrine coverage is generally believed to be effective for reducing exposure to faecal pathogens and preventing disease; however, our results show that this outcome cannot be assumed. As efforts to improve sanitation are being undertaken worldwide, approaches should not only meet international coverage targets, but should also be implemented in a way that achieves uptake, reduces exposure, and delivers genuine health gains. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie), and Department for International Development-backed SHARE Research Consortium at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Copyright © 2014 Clasen et al. Open Access article distributed under the terms of CC BY-NC-ND. Published by .. All rights reserved.

Adding a transversus abdominis plane block to parenteral opioid for postoperative analgesia following trans-abdominal hysterectomy in a low resource setting: a prospective, randomised, double blind, controlled study.

PubMed

Moyo, Nomaqhawe; Madzimbamuto, Farai D; Shumbairerwa, Samson

2016-01-28

The current gold standard treatment for acute postoperative pain after major abdominal surgery is multimodal analgesia using patient controlled analgesia delivery systems. Patient controlled analgesia systems are expensive and their routine use in very low income countries is not practical. The use of ultrasound in anaesthesia has made some regional anaesthesia blocks technically easy and safe to perform. This study aimed to determine whether adding an ultrasound guided transversus abdominis plane block as an adjunct to the current parenteral opioid based regimen would result in superior pain relief after a trans abdominal hysterectomy compared to using parenteral opioids alone. Thirty-two elective patients having trans abdominal hysterectomy were recruited into a prospective randomised double-blind, controlled study comparing a bilateral transversus abdominis plane block using 21 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine and 4.0 mg dexamethasone with a sham block containing 21 ml 0.9% saline. Sixteen patients were allocated to each group. Anaesthesia and postoperative analgesia was left to the attending anaesthetist's discretion. Primary outcome was visual analogue scale for pain at 2 h and 4 h. Secondary outcomes were time to first request for analgesia, visual analogue scale for comfort and bother. The data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 16). There was no statistically significant difference in the demographics of the two groups regarding weight, height, physical status and type of surgical incision. There was a statistically significant difference in visual analogue scale for pain at 4 h during movement with lower pain scales in the test group (p = 0.034). Women in the control group had an average pain free period of 56.8 min (median 56.5 min) before requesting a rescue analgesic compared to 116.5 min (median 103 min) in the study group. The between group difference in the average total analgesia duration was statistically significant at the 0.05 level (p = 0.005). The addition of a bupivacaine-dexamethasone transverse abdominis plane block to intramuscular opioid does produce superior acute post-operative pain relief following a hysterectomy. However a single-shot block has a limited duration of action, and we recommend a repeat block. Clinical trials registration was obtained PACTR201501000965252. http//www.pactr.org/ATMWeb/appmanager/atm/atmregistry?_nfpb=true&_windowLabel=BasicSearchUpdateController_1&BasicSearchUpdateController_1_actionOverride=%2Fpageflows%2Ftrial%2FbasicSearchUpdate%2FviewTrail&BasicSearchUpdateController_1id=965. The trial was registered on the 12th Dec 2014.

Quality control in diagnostic immunohistochemistry: integrated on-slide positive controls.

PubMed

Bragoni, A; Gambella, A; Pigozzi, S; Grigolini, M; Fiocca, R; Mastracci, L; Grillo, F

2017-11-01

Standardization in immunohistochemistry is a priority in modern pathology and requires strict quality control. Cost containment has also become fundamental and auditing of all procedures must take into account both these principles. Positive controls must be routinely performed so that their positivity guarantees the appropriateness of the immunohistochemical procedure. The aim of this study is to develop a low cost (utilizing a punch biopsy-PB-tool) procedure to construct positive controls which can be integrated in the patient's tissue slide. Sixteen frequently used control blocks were selected and multiple cylindrical samples were obtained using a 5-mm diameter punch biopsy tool, separately re-embedding them in single blocks. For each diagnostic immunoreaction requiring a positive control, an integrated PB-control section (cut from the appropriate PB-control block) was added to the top right corner of the diagnostic slide before immunostaining. This integrated control technique permitted a saving of 4.75% in total direct lab costs and proved to be technically feasible and reliable. Our proposal is easy to perform and within the reach of all pathology labs, requires easily available tools, its application costs is less than using external paired controls and ensures that a specific control for each slide is always available.

EGFR and ADAMs Cooperate to Regulate Shedding and Endocytic Trafficking of the Desmosomal Cadherin Desmoglein 2

PubMed Central

Klessner, Jodi L.; Desai, Bhushan V.; Amargo, Evangeline V.; Getsios, Spiro

2009-01-01

Regulation of classic cadherins plays a critical role in tissue remodeling during development and cancer; however, less attention has been paid to the importance of desmosomal cadherins. We previously showed that EGFR inhibition results in accumulation of the desmosomal cadherin, desmoglein 2 (Dsg2), at cell–cell interfaces accompanied by inhibition of matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-dependent shedding of the Dsg2 ectodomain and tyrosine phosphorylation of its cytoplasmic domain. Here, we show that EGFR inhibition stabilizes Dsg2 at intercellular junctions by interfering with its accumulation in an internalized cytoplasmic pool. Furthermore, MMP inhibition and ADAM17 RNAi, blocked shedding and depleted internalized Dsg2, but less so E-cadherin, in highly invasive SCC68 cells. ADAM9 and 15 silencing also impaired Dsg2 processing, supporting the idea that this desmosomal cadherin can be regulated by multiple ADAM family members. In contrast, ADAM10 siRNA enhanced accumulation of a 100-kDa Dsg2 cleavage product and internalized pool of Dsg2. Although both MMP and EGFR inhibition increased intercellular adhesive strength in control cells, the response to MMP-inhibition was Dsg2-dependent. These data support a role for endocytic trafficking in regulating desmosomal cadherin turnover and function and raise the possibility that internalization and regulation of desmosomal and classic cadherin function can be uncoupled mechanistically. PMID:18987342

77 FR 14592 - Identification of an Entity Pursuant to Executive Order 13582 of August 17, 2011, “Blocking...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-12

... 17, 2011, ``Blocking Property of the Government of Syria and Prohibiting Certain Transactions With Respect to Syria.'' AGENCY: Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The... Executive Order 13582 of August 17, 2011, ``Blocking Property of the Government of Syria and Prohibiting...

40 CFR 63.10685 - What are the requirements for the control of contaminants from scrap?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... not charge to a furnace metallic scrap that contains scrap from motor vehicle bodies, engine blocks... vehicle bodies, engine blocks, oil filters, oily turnings, machine shop borings, transformers or... restriction does not apply to any post-consumer engine blocks, post-consumer oil filters, or oily turnings...

40 CFR 63.10685 - What are the requirements for the control of contaminants from scrap?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... not charge to a furnace metallic scrap that contains scrap from motor vehicle bodies, engine blocks... vehicle bodies, engine blocks, oil filters, oily turnings, machine shop borings, transformers or... restriction does not apply to any post-consumer engine blocks, post-consumer oil filters, or oily turnings...

40 CFR 63.10685 - What are the requirements for the control of contaminants from scrap?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... not charge to a furnace metallic scrap that contains scrap from motor vehicle bodies, engine blocks... vehicle bodies, engine blocks, oil filters, oily turnings, machine shop borings, transformers or... restriction does not apply to any post-consumer engine blocks, post-consumer oil filters, or oily turnings...

Cavity closure arrangement for high pressure vessels

DOEpatents

Amtmann, Hans H.

1981-01-01

A closure arrangement for a pressure vessel such as the pressure vessel of a high temperature gas-cooled reactor wherein a liner is disposed within a cavity penetration in the reactor vessel and defines an access opening therein. A closure is adapted for sealing relation with an annular mounting flange formed on the penetration liner and has a plurality of radially movable locking blocks thereon having outer serrations adapted for releasable interlocking engagement with serrations formed internally of the upper end of the penetration liner so as to effect high strength closure hold-down. In one embodiment, ramping surfaces are formed on the locking block serrations to bias the closure into sealed relation with the mounting flange when the locking blocks are actuated to locking positions.

Refining the GPS Space Service Volume (SSV) and Building a Multi-GNSS SSV

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parker, Joel J. K.

2017-01-01

The GPS (Global Positioning System) Space Service Volume (SSV) was first defined to protect the GPS main lobe signals from changes from block to block. First developed as a concept by NASA in 2000, it has been adopted for the GPS III block of satellites, and is being used well beyond the current specification to enable increased navigation performance for key missions like GOES-R. NASA has engaged the US IFOR (Interagency Forum Operational Requirements) process to adopt a revised requirement to protect this increased and emerging use. Also, NASA is working through the UN International Committee on GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) to develop an interoperable multi-GNSS SSV in partnership with all of the foreign GNSS providers.

Femoral Nerve Block versus Adductor Canal Block for Analgesia after Total Knee Arthroplasty

PubMed Central

Koh, In Jun; Choi, Young Jun; Kim, Man Soo; Koh, Hyun Jung; Kang, Min Sung; In, Yong

2017-01-01

Inadequate pain management after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) impedes recovery, increases the risk of postoperative complications, and results in patient dissatisfaction. Although the preemptive use of multimodal measures is currently considered the principle of pain management after TKA, no gold standard pain management protocol has been established. Peripheral nerve blocks have been used as part of a contemporary multimodal approach to pain control after TKA. Femoral nerve block (FNB) has excellent postoperative analgesia and is now a commonly used analgesic modality for TKA pain control. However, FNB leads to quadriceps muscle weakness, which impairs early mobilization and increases the risk of postoperative falls. In this context, emerging evidence suggests that adductor canal block (ACB) facilitates postoperative rehabilitation compared with FNB because it primarily provides a sensory nerve block with sparing of quadriceps strength. However, whether ACB is more appropriate for contemporary pain management after TKA remains controversial. The objective of this study was to review and summarize recent studies regarding practical issues for ACB and comparisons of analgesic efficacy and functional recovery between ACB and FNB in patients who have undergone TKA. PMID:28545172

Femoral Nerve Block versus Adductor Canal Block for Analgesia after Total Knee Arthroplasty.

PubMed

Koh, In Jun; Choi, Young Jun; Kim, Man Soo; Koh, Hyun Jung; Kang, Min Sung; In, Yong

2017-06-01

Inadequate pain management after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) impedes recovery, increases the risk of postoperative complications, and results in patient dissatisfaction. Although the preemptive use of multimodal measures is currently considered the principle of pain management after TKA, no gold standard pain management protocol has been established. Peripheral nerve blocks have been used as part of a contemporary multimodal approach to pain control after TKA. Femoral nerve block (FNB) has excellent postoperative analgesia and is now a commonly used analgesic modality for TKA pain control. However, FNB leads to quadriceps muscle weakness, which impairs early mobilization and increases the risk of postoperative falls. In this context, emerging evidence suggests that adductor canal block (ACB) facilitates postoperative rehabilitation compared with FNB because it primarily provides a sensory nerve block with sparing of quadriceps strength. However, whether ACB is more appropriate for contemporary pain management after TKA remains controversial. The objective of this study was to review and summarize recent studies regarding practical issues for ACB and comparisons of analgesic efficacy and functional recovery between ACB and FNB in patients who have undergone TKA.

Role of solution structure in self-assembly of conjugated block copolymer thin films

DOE PAGES

Brady, Michael A.; Ku, Sung -Yu; Perez, Louis A.; ...

2016-10-24

Conjugated block copolymers provide a pathway to achieve thermally stable nanostructured thin films for organic solar cells. We characterized the structural evolution of poly(3-hexylthiophene)- block-poly(diketopyrrolopyrrole–terthiophene) (P3HT- b-DPPT-T) from solution to nanostructured thin films. Aggregation of the DPPT-T block of P3HT- b-DPPT-T was found in solution by small-angle X-ray scattering with the P3HT block remaining well-solvated. The nanostructure in thin films was determined using a combination of wide and small-angle X-ray scattering techniques as a function of processing conditions. The structure in solution controlled the initial nanostructure in spin-cast thin films, allowing subsequent thermal annealing processes to further improve the ordering.more » In contrast to the results for thin films, nanostructural ordering was not observed in the bulk samples by small-angle X-ray scattering. Finally, these results suggest the importance of controlling solvent induced aggregation in forming nanostructured thin films of conjugated block copolymers.« less

Role of solution structure in self-assembly of conjugated block copolymer thin films

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

Brady, Michael A.; Ku, Sung -Yu; Perez, Louis A.

Conjugated block copolymers provide a pathway to achieve thermally stable nanostructured thin films for organic solar cells. We characterized the structural evolution of poly(3-hexylthiophene)- block-poly(diketopyrrolopyrrole–terthiophene) (P3HT- b-DPPT-T) from solution to nanostructured thin films. Aggregation of the DPPT-T block of P3HT- b-DPPT-T was found in solution by small-angle X-ray scattering with the P3HT block remaining well-solvated. The nanostructure in thin films was determined using a combination of wide and small-angle X-ray scattering techniques as a function of processing conditions. The structure in solution controlled the initial nanostructure in spin-cast thin films, allowing subsequent thermal annealing processes to further improve the ordering.more » In contrast to the results for thin films, nanostructural ordering was not observed in the bulk samples by small-angle X-ray scattering. Finally, these results suggest the importance of controlling solvent induced aggregation in forming nanostructured thin films of conjugated block copolymers.« less

A Fully Implanted Drug Delivery System for Peripheral Nerve Blocks in Behaving Animals

PubMed Central

Pohlmeyer, Eric A.; Jordon, Luke R.; Kim, Peter; Miller, Lee E.

2009-01-01

Inhibiting peripheral nerve function can be useful for many studies of the nervous system or motor control. Accomplishing this in a temporary fashion in animal models by using peripheral nerve blocks permits studies of the immediate effects of the loss, and/or any resulting short-term changes and adaptations in behavior or motor control, while avoiding the complications commonly associated with permanent lesions, such as sores or self-mutilation. We have developed a method of quickly and repeatedly inducing temporary, controlled motor deficits in rhesus macaque monkeys via a chronically implanted drug delivery system. This assembly consists of a nerve cuff and a subdermal injection dome, and has proved effective for delivering local anesthetics directly to peripheral nerves for many months. Using this assembly for median and ulnar nerve blocks routinely resulted in over 80% losses in hand and wrist strength for rhesus monkeys. The assembly was also effective for inducing ambulatory motor deficits in rabbits through blocks of the sciatic nerve. Interestingly, while standard anesthetics were sufficient for the rabbit nerve blocks, the inclusion of epinephrine was essential for achieving significant motor blockade in the monkeys. PMID:19524613

Dual action of memantine in Alzheimer disease: a hypothesis.

PubMed

Wu, Tzong-Yuan; Chen, Chih-Ping

2009-09-01

In this study, we proposed a hypothesis to explain the mechanisms of memantine action in treating Alzheimer disease (AD). Memantine may reduce the expression of amyloid precursor protein and tau protein, as well as acting as an antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in the brain. Two neuropathologic characteristics of AD are neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. The major molecular components of the plaques and tangles are amyloid-beta peptide and tau, respectively. Drugs able to reduce the expression of amyloid-beta and tau protein provide potential pharmaceutical treatments for AD. We found that memantine inhibited internal ribosome entry site-mediated translation initiation in COS-1 cells. This suggests that the memantine may not only inhibit neuronal excitotoxicity, but also act as an inhibitor of the internal ribosome entry site, to block the expression of amyloid precursor protein and tau in neurons. Memantine may function not only as an antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, but also as an inhibitor of the internal ribosome entry site to block the expression of amyloid precursor protein and tau, and so ameliorate the symptoms of AD.

Efficacy of Exclusive Lingual Nerve Block versus Conventional Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block in Achieving Lingual Soft-tissue Anesthesia.

PubMed

Balasubramanian, Sasikala; Paneerselvam, Elavenil; Guruprasad, T; Pathumai, M; Abraham, Simin; Krishnakumar Raja, V B

2017-01-01

The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to assess the efficacy of exclusive lingual nerve block (LNB) in achieving selective lingual soft-tissue anesthesia in comparison with conventional inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB). A total of 200 patients indicated for the extraction of lower premolars were recruited for the study. The samples were allocated by randomization into control and study groups. Lingual soft-tissue anesthesia was achieved by IANB and exclusive LNB in the control and study group, respectively. The primary outcome variable studied was anesthesia of ipsilateral lingual mucoperiosteum, floor of mouth and tongue. The secondary variables assessed were (1) taste sensation immediately following administration of local anesthesia and (2) mouth opening and lingual nerve paresthesia on the first postoperative day. Data analysis for descriptive and inferential statistics was performed using SPSS (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0, Armonk, NY: IBM Corp. Released 2013) and a P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. In comparison with the control group, the study group (LNB) showed statistically significant anesthesia of the lingual gingiva of incisors, molars, anterior floor of the mouth, and anterior tongue. Exclusive LNB is superior to IAN nerve block in achieving selective anesthesia of lingual soft tissues. It is technically simple and associated with minimal complications as compared to IAN block.

Efficacy of Exclusive Lingual Nerve Block versus Conventional Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block in Achieving Lingual Soft-tissue Anesthesia

PubMed Central

Balasubramanian, Sasikala; Paneerselvam, Elavenil; Guruprasad, T; Pathumai, M; Abraham, Simin; Krishnakumar Raja, V. B.

2017-01-01

Objective: The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to assess the efficacy of exclusive lingual nerve block (LNB) in achieving selective lingual soft-tissue anesthesia in comparison with conventional inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB). Materials and Methods: A total of 200 patients indicated for the extraction of lower premolars were recruited for the study. The samples were allocated by randomization into control and study groups. Lingual soft-tissue anesthesia was achieved by IANB and exclusive LNB in the control and study group, respectively. The primary outcome variable studied was anesthesia of ipsilateral lingual mucoperiosteum, floor of mouth and tongue. The secondary variables assessed were (1) taste sensation immediately following administration of local anesthesia and (2) mouth opening and lingual nerve paresthesia on the first postoperative day. Results: Data analysis for descriptive and inferential statistics was performed using SPSS (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0, Armonk, NY: IBM Corp. Released 2013) and a P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. In comparison with the control group, the study group (LNB) showed statistically significant anesthesia of the lingual gingiva of incisors, molars, anterior floor of the mouth, and anterior tongue. Conclusion: Exclusive LNB is superior to IAN nerve block in achieving selective anesthesia of lingual soft tissues. It is technically simple and associated with minimal complications as compared to IAN block. PMID:29264294

Algorithm and Application of Gcp-Independent Block Adjustment for Super Large-Scale Domestic High Resolution Optical Satellite Imagery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Y. S.; Zhang, L.; Xu, B.; Zhang, Y.

2018-04-01

The accurate positioning of optical satellite image without control is the precondition for remote sensing application and small/medium scale mapping in large abroad areas or with large-scale images. In this paper, aiming at the geometric features of optical satellite image, based on a widely used optimization method of constraint problem which is called Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM) and RFM least-squares block adjustment, we propose a GCP independent block adjustment method for the large-scale domestic high resolution optical satellite image - GISIBA (GCP-Independent Satellite Imagery Block Adjustment), which is easy to parallelize and highly efficient. In this method, the virtual "average" control points are built to solve the rank defect problem and qualitative and quantitative analysis in block adjustment without control. The test results prove that the horizontal and vertical accuracy of multi-covered and multi-temporal satellite images are better than 10 m and 6 m. Meanwhile the mosaic problem of the adjacent areas in large area DOM production can be solved if the public geographic information data is introduced as horizontal and vertical constraints in the block adjustment process. Finally, through the experiments by using GF-1 and ZY-3 satellite images over several typical test areas, the reliability, accuracy and performance of our developed procedure will be presented and studied in this paper.

Creamer uses communication equipment in the FGB during Expedition 22

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-01-14

ISS022-E-025400 (14 Jan. 2010) --- NASA astronaut T.J. Creamer, Expedition 22 flight engineer, uses a communication system in the Zarya Functional Cargo Block (FGB) of the International Space Station.

Influence of Obstructive Jaundice on Pharmacodynamics of Rocuronium

PubMed Central

Lin, Mi-Jia; Tan, Bo; Qiu, Hai-Bo; Yu, Wei-Feng

2013-01-01

Background Anesthetics are variable in patients with obstructive jaundice. The minimum alveolar concentration awake of desflurane is reduced in patients with obstructive jaundice, while it has no effect on pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of propofol. In this study, we investigated the influence of obstructive jaundice on the pharmacodynamics and blood concentration of rocuronium. Methods Included in this study were 26 control patients and 27 patients with obstructive jaundice. Neuromuscular block of rocuronium was monitored by acceleromyography. Onset time, spontaneous recovery of the height of twitch first (T1) to 25% of the final T1 value (Duration 25%, Dur 25%), recovery index (RI), and spontaneous recovery of train-of-four (TOF) ratios to 70% were measured. The plasma rocuronium concentrations were determined by high performance liquid chromatography using berberine as an internal standard. Results There was no significant difference in onset time between the two groups. The Dur 25%, the recovery index and the time of recovery of the TOF ratios to 70% were all prolonged in the obstructive jaundice group compared with the control group. The plasma concentration of rocuronium at 60, 90 and 120 min after bolus administration was significantly higher in the obstructive jaundice group. Conclusions The neuromuscular blockade by rocuronium is prolonged in obstructive jaundice patients, and therefore precautions should be taken in case of postoperative residual neuromuscular block. The possible reason is impedance of rocuronium excretion due to biliary obstruction and increased plasma unbound rocuronium because of free bilirubin competing with it for albumin binding. PMID:24147111

Influence of obstructive jaundice on pharmacodynamics of rocuronium.

PubMed

Wang, Zhen-Meng; Zhang, Peng; Lin, Mi-Jia; Tan, Bo; Qiu, Hai-Bo; Yu, Wei-Feng

2013-01-01

Anesthetics are variable in patients with obstructive jaundice. The minimum alveolar concentration awake of desflurane is reduced in patients with obstructive jaundice, while it has no effect on pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of propofol. In this study, we investigated the influence of obstructive jaundice on the pharmacodynamics and blood concentration of rocuronium. Included in this study were 26 control patients and 27 patients with obstructive jaundice. Neuromuscular block of rocuronium was monitored by acceleromyography. Onset time, spontaneous recovery of the height of twitch first (T1) to 25% of the final T1 value (Duration 25%, Dur 25%), recovery index (RI), and spontaneous recovery of train-of-four (TOF) ratios to 70% were measured. The plasma rocuronium concentrations were determined by high performance liquid chromatography using berberine as an internal standard. There was no significant difference in onset time between the two groups. The Dur 25%, the recovery index and the time of recovery of the TOF ratios to 70% were all prolonged in the obstructive jaundice group compared with the control group. The plasma concentration of rocuronium at 60, 90 and 120 min after bolus administration was significantly higher in the obstructive jaundice group. The neuromuscular blockade by rocuronium is prolonged in obstructive jaundice patients, and therefore precautions should be taken in case of postoperative residual neuromuscular block. The possible reason is impedance of rocuronium excretion due to biliary obstruction and increased plasma unbound rocuronium because of free bilirubin competing with it for albumin binding.